Shank-fastener and receiver-fastener apparatuses and systems and methods for joining panels

A receiver-fastener apparatus (200) for joining, in concert with a shank-fastener apparatus (100), a first panel (500) and a second panel (502), at least partially overlapping each other, the receiver-fastener apparatus (200) comprising:

• a receiver-fastener housing (270);
• a receiver-fastener turret (202), supported by the receiver-fastener housing (270) and selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z);
• an indexing-collet assembly (203), supported by the receiver-fastener housing (270) and selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z);
• an anvil (204), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202) and selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z);
• a receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202) and configured to operatively position receiver fasteners (506) for operative placement on shank fasteners (504), corresponding to the receiver fasteners (506);
• and
• a swager assembly (206), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202) and movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z).

A system (1000) for joining a first panel (500) and a second panel (502), at least partially overlapping each other, the system (1000) comprising:

• a shank-fastener apparatus (100), comprising:
• a shank-fastener housing (170);
• a shank-fastener turret (102), supported by the shank-fastener housing (170) and selectively rotatable relative to the shank-fastener housing (170) about a shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A);
• an indexing-pin assembly (103), supported by the shank-fastener housing (170) and selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener housing (170) between an indexing-pin-assembly extended position and an indexing-pin-assembly retracted position along an indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A);
• a drill (104), supported by the shank-fastener turret (102) and selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener turret (102) along a drill axis (C) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A);
• and
• a shank-fastener delivery assembly (105), supported by the shank-fastener turret (102);
• and
• a receiver-fastener apparatus (200), comprising:
• a receiver-fastener housing (270);
• a receiver-fastener turret (202), supported by the receiver-fastener housing (270) and selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z);
• an indexing-collet assembly (203), supported by the receiver-fastener housing (270), selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z), and configured to cooperate with the indexing-pin assembly (103) to secure the shank-fastener apparatus (100) and the receiver-fastener apparatus (200) relative to the first panel (500) and the second panel (502);
• an anvil (204), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202), selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z), and configured to cooperate with the drill (104) for operative drilling of a drilled hole (508) through the first panel (500) and the second panel (502);
• a receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202) and configured to position receiver fasteners (506) for operative placement on shank fasteners (504), corresponding to the receiver fasteners (506), by the shank-fastener delivery assembly (105);
• and
• a swager assembly (206), supported by the receiver-fastener turret (202), movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z), and configured to swage the receiver fasteners (506) on corresponding ones of the shank fasteners (504).