# US 2019/0171191 A1 · Automated fastener insert installation system for composite panels

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- Number: US 2019/0171191 A1
- Document ID: US20190171191A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/272,828
- Filed: 2019-02-11
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-23
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Aaron Coon; Chris G. McInelly; Bret Hoeksema; Ryan Lillibridge; Tom Allen; Steve Solack; Kevin Bowe; Gary K. Allen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171191A1

## CPC

- G05B 19/41805: {characterised by assembly}
- B23P 19/001: {Article feeders for assembling machines (screws or nuts being carried by a disposable strip or disc B25B23/045)}
- B23P 19/04: for assembling or disassembling parts
- B29C 65/524: {by applying the adhesive from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface of the part to be joined}
- B32B 3/06: for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support {, or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking}
- B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12}
- F16B 5/01: by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels
- B29C 65/483: {Reactive adhesives, e.g. chemically curing adhesives}
- B29C 65/542: {by injection}
- B29C 65/564: {hidden in the joint, e.g. dowels or Z-pins (B29C65/603 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/7802: {Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring}
- B29C 66/30321: {making use of protrusions belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 66/30325: {making use of cavities belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat}
- B29C 66/72525: {comprising honeycomb cores}
- B29C 66/863: {Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm}
- B29L 2031/3076: {Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08)}
- B32B 2305/024: Honeycomb
- B32B 2607/00: Walls, panels
- G05B 2219/40111: For assembly
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

An automated fastener insert installation system for composite panels is provided. A first module receives and secures a composite panel with respect to an origin of a first coordinate system, wherein the composite panel has opposed major surfaces and defines an insert-receiving orifice extending through one of the major surfaces, and is secured such that one of the major surfaces is externally accessible. A second module engages each of a plurality of fastener inserts with an installation aide. Third module determines a configuration of the orifice defined by the composite panel, selects a corresponding one of the fastener inserts engaged with the installation aide, inserts the selected fastener insert into the orifice, and dispenses an adhesive material through the installation aide and into the orifice about selected fastener insert such that the adhesive material secures the selected fastener insert within the orifice. Associated systems are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automated fastener insert installation system for use in a composite panel fastener insert installation process, comprising:
an adhesive material preparation system, including:
a mixing device arranged to mix and actuate the adhesive material in an adhesive material kit; and
a manipulation device arranged to direct the adhesive material kit to the mixing device and to direct the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein from the mixing device for dispensation of the mixed and actuated adhesive material from the adhesive material kit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising a controller in communication with and arranged to direct the manipulation device to recover the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein upon expiration of a predetermined working time following mixing and actuation of the adhesive material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is arranged to direct the manipulation device and the mixing device to prepare a subsequent adhesive material kit for mixing and actuation of the adhesive material therein prior to expiration of the working time of the actuated adhesive material in a previous adhesive material kit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to monitor dispensation of the actuated adhesive material from the adhesive material kit with respect to a predetermined working time following mixing and actuation of the adhesive material, and to direct the manipulation device and the mixing device to prepare a subsequent adhesive material kit for mixing and actuation of the adhesive material therein prior to an earlier occurrence of exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material from dispensation thereof or expiration of the predetermined working time of the actuated adhesive material, within a previous adhesive material kit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is arranged to monitor for exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material by determining an amount of the actuated adhesive material dispensed from the adhesive material kit or by determining an amount of the actuated adhesive material remaining in the adhesive material kit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is arranged to direct the manipulation device to recover the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein upon exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material from dispensation thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material kit includes a multiple-part adhesive compound, the multiple parts of the adhesive compound, when mixed, forming the actuated adhesive material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the multiple-part adhesive compound comprises a two-part potting compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material kit includes a tubular body having two components of the adhesive material therein separated by a membrane, and a mixer extending into the tubular body, and wherein the mixing device is arranged to urge the mixer along a longitudinal axis with respect to the tubular body so as to rupture the membrane and introduce the two components of the adhesive material to each other within the tubular body, the mixing device being further arranged to rotate the mixer about the longitudinal axis and to simultaneously translate the mixer along the longitudinal axis such that the two components of the adhesive material are mixed and the adhesive material actuated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the mixing device is arranged to remove the mixer from the tubular body following the actuation of the adhesive material therein, so as to form a dispensation opening in the tubular body, the actuated adhesive material being dispensable through the dispensation opening.

### Claim 11

A method of providing an adhesive material in a composite panel fastener insert installation process implemented in an adhesive material preparation system of an automated fastener insert installation system, the method comprising:
mixing and actuating the adhesive material in an adhesive material kit using a mixing device;
directing the adhesive material kit to the mixing device using a manipulation device; and
directing the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein, using the manipulation device, from the mixing device for dispensation of the mixed and actuated adhesive material from the adhesive material kit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising directing the manipulation device, using a controller in communication therewith, to recover the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein upon expiration of a predetermined working time following mixing and actuation of the adhesive material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, comprising directing the manipulation device and the mixing device, using the controller in communication therewith, to prepare a subsequent adhesive material kit for mixing and actuation of the adhesive material therein prior to expiration of the working time of the actuated adhesive material in a previous adhesive material kit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising monitoring, using the controller, dispensation of the actuated adhesive material from the adhesive material kit with respect to a predetermined working time following mixing and actuation of the adhesive material; and directing the manipulation device and the mixing device to prepare a subsequent adhesive material kit for mixing and actuation of the adhesive material therein prior to an earlier occurrence of exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material from dispensation thereof or expiration of the predetermined working time of the actuated adhesive material, within a previous adhesive material kit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising monitoring, using the controller, for exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material by determining an amount of the actuated adhesive material dispensed from the adhesive material kit or by determining an amount of the actuated adhesive material remaining in the adhesive material kit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising directing the manipulation device, using the controller, to recover the adhesive material kit having the mixed and actuated adhesive material therein upon exhaustion of the actuated adhesive material from dispensation thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the adhesive material kit includes a multiple-part adhesive compound, and wherein mixing and actuating the adhesive material in an adhesive material kit comprises mixing the multiple parts of the adhesive compound such that the mixed multiple parts form the actuated adhesive material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the multiple-part adhesive compound comprises a two-part potting compound.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the adhesive material kit includes a tubular body having two components of the adhesive material therein separated by a membrane, and a mixer extending into the tubular body, and wherein mixing and actuating the adhesive material in an adhesive material kit comprises urging the mixer along a longitudinal axis with respect to the tubular body, using the mixing device, so as to rupture the membrane and introduce the two components of the adhesive material to each other within the tubular body; and rotating the mixer about the longitudinal axis and simultaneously translating the mixer along the longitudinal axis, using the mixing device, such that the two components of the adhesive material are mixed and the adhesive material actuated.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, comprising removing the mixer from the tubular body, using the mixing device, following the actuation of the adhesive material therein, so as to form a dispensation opening in the tubular body, the actuated adhesive material being dispensable through the dispensation opening.