# US 2009/0260413 A1 · System for loading collars onto bolts in large-scale manufacturing operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260413 A1 - Document ID: US20090260413A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/934,694 - Filed: 2007-11-02 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-02 - Assignees: Electroimpact, Inc. - Inventors: Scott C. Tomchick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260413A1 ## CPC - B65G 51/02: Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases - B21D 43/00: Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, apparatus for working or processing sheet metal, metal tubes or metal profiles; Associations therewith of cutting devices - B21D 43/02: Advancing work in relation to the stroke of the die or tool - B21J 15/022: {Setting rivets by means of swaged-on locking collars, e.g. lockbolts} - B21J 15/32: Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements - B23P 19/001: {Article feeders for assembling machines (screws or nuts being carried by a disposable strip or disc B25B23/045)} - B23P 2700/01: Aircraft parts - Y10T 29/49998: Work holding - Y10T 29/53387: by deforming - Y10T 29/53478: with magazine supply - Y10T 29/53717: Annular work - Y10T 29/5377: Riveter - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The system includes a moving feed assembly through which a collar is moved by compressed air to a position in substantial alignment with the centerline of a swaging die assembly. Two spring-loaded fingers are mounted on opposing sides of the feed assembly for receiving the collar by compressed air action where it is maintained in substantial alignment with the swaging die assembly. The spring action of the fingers is strong enough that the collar can be pressed firmly against a curved receiving portion of the fingers by the compressed air. A die pin portion of the swaging die is then inserted into the collar, thereafter maintaining the position of the collar as the feed assembly with the opposing fingers are stripped away from the collar, leaving the die pin-engaged collar free to be moved by action of a ram assembly to a stackup of parts to be fastened, where the collar can be transferred onto a bolt which extends through the stackup. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gripperless system for conveying collars having a center opening to a position where an axis of the center opening of the collar is alignable with a centerline axis of a swaging die tool for bolts, the swaging die tool being part of a tool assembly for manufacturing operations, comprising: a collar feed assembly, including a feed channel therein through which a collar is conveyed by compressed air, the feed channel being generally perpendicular to the swaging die tool centerline axis as the feed channel approaches the swaging die tool, wherein the feed assembly includes a stop assembly for the collar, the collar being operatively positioned, solely by action of the compressed air, relative to the swaging die tool centerline axis, wherein there is sufficient clearance between the collar and the channel to permit movement of the collar as a forward end of a die pin portion of the die tool engages the center opening of the collar, resulting in accurate loading of the collar onto the die pin, wherein the feed assembly or the swaging die tool are movable sufficiently thereafter to permit a die pin-engaged collar to be moved forward for engagement with a tail end of a bolt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feed channel has a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, including a slot in one side of the channel, the slot being configured to physically center the die pin/die with respect to the channel as the die pin moves therethrough to engage the collar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a forward end portion of the die pin increases in size between the forward end of the die pin and a selected point along the length of the die pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the forward end portion is tapered, the forward end of the taper being larger than half the side-to-side clearance between the collar and the channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the forward portion of the die pin is radiused, the forward end of the radius being larger than half the side-to-side clearance between the collar and the channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bolt is extended through a workpiece prior to the collar engaging the bolt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the collar is moved forward to a stackup of parts to be fastened prior to the bolt being moved through an opening in the stackup for engagement with the collar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the channel receives collars from a flexible feed tube, the collars moving through the channel to the stop assembly, wherein the channel is configured and sized relative to the collar to prevent tumbling of the collar therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the die tool or a portion thereof is compliant mounted so that it can move slightly to permit reliable engagement of the bolt and the collar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feed assembly moves transversely relative to a center axis of the collar sufficiently to permit the collar to be moved toward a workpiece after the collar has been engaged with the die pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the stop assembly includes at least one spring-loaded finger against which the collar is maintained by compressed air, wherein movement of the feed assembly away from the die pin-engaged collar results in the spring-loaded finger being stripped away from the die pin-engaged collar, permitting a ram assembly to move the collar adjacent the workpiece, so that the collar can engage the bolt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, including a sensor positioned to confirm the presence of a collar at the stop assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the collar can only be removed from the feed assembly by engaging the collar with the die pin and by stripping the collar past the spring-loaded fingers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the die tool and the die pin-engaged collar are moved relative to the feed assembly sufficiently to permit the collar to be moved toward the workpiece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the stop assembly includes at least one spring-loaded finger against which the collar is maintained by compressed air action, wherein the die pin portion of the swaging tool is configured to engage the collar sufficiently that after the fingers have been stripped away from the collar due to transverse movement of the swaging die tool, a ram assembly portion thereof is permitted to move the collar to adjacent the workpiece, in registry with an opening in a stackup of parts to be fastened, through which the collar may engage the bolt. ### Claim 17 A gripperless system for loading collars onto a die pin portion of a swaging die tool and for transferring a loaded collar onto a tail portion of a bolt extending through an opening in a workpiece stackup during manufacturing operations, comprising: a collar feed assembly, including a channel which includes a stop assembly in the vicinity of the end of the channel, defining a receiving cavity for the collar, wherein the receiving cavity is configured to permit a collar therein to move slightly, thereby permitting the die pin portion of the die tool to reliably engage a center opening of the collar, the collar thereby coming into accurate alignment with the center axis of the die tool, wherein the feed assembly is moveable sufficiently thereafter to permit the die pin-engaged collar to be moved toward a workpiece, wherein the die tool is mounted so as to be moveable slightly transversely to permit a reliable transfer of the collar onto the bolt, the center axis of the die tool and the collar thereby coming into alignment with a center axis of the bolt, wherein the collar is more compliant than the die tool during loading of the collar onto the die pin and wherein the die tool is more compliant than the collar during transfer of the collar from the die pin onto the bolt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the die tool is compliantly mounted for transverse movement on a ram portion of the tool assembly, the ram portion in operation moving the die tool and the collar engaged by the die pin to the stackup. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the die pin and die tool have a fixed radial relationship. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein during loading of the collar onto the die pin, the collar moves slightly within the cavity to align its center axis to the center axis of the die tool, and during transfer of the collar onto the bolt, the die tool moves slightly transversely to align the center axis of the collar to the center axis of the bolt. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, including a slot in one side of the channel, the slot being configured to physically center the die pin/die with respect to the channel as the die pin moves therethrough to engage the collar. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein a forward end portion of the die pin is chamfered. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the chamfer has a size that is larger than half the clearance between the collar and the channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the bolt is extended through the stackup prior to the collar engaging the bolt. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the collar is moved forward to a stackup prior to the bolt being moved through an opening in the stackup for engagement with the collar.