Fastener magazines, and related supply systems and methods

A rivet supply system for supplying rivets to a rivet setting tool comprising a punch for setting the rivets, a nose arrangement defining at least one rivet-receiving zone for receiving the rivets in preparation for setting operations, and a die provided opposite the nose arrangement for reacting the punch, the nose arrangement being movable towards the die to engage with a workpiece, the rivet supply system comprising:

• at least one rivet delivery track for delivering the rivets to the rivet-receiving zone;
• at least one rivet transfer device for holding, and subsequently releasing, the rivets received at the rivet-receiving zone;
• at least one refillable magazine for storing the rivets in proximity of the setting tool,
• the magazine comprising at least a magazine portion of said rivet delivery track, wherein the rivets can be stored within the magazine, or can transit through the magazine,
• the magazine comprising at least one docking interface for docking the magazine to a bulk-supply apparatus for refilling the magazine,
• wherein the magazine is in rivet-supply relation with the nose arrangement and is supported so as to be moveable together with the nose arrangement;
• and,
• wherein a substantially undeformable rivet delivery track length extends to said rivet-receiving zone.

A machine for setting rivets comprising:

• a rivet supply system for supplying rivets to a rivet setting tool including
• a punch for setting the rivets, a nose arrangement defining at least one rivet-receiving zone for receiving the rivets in preparation for setting operations, and a die provided opposite the nose arrangement for reacting the punch, the nose arrangement being movable towards the die to engage with a workpiece, the rivet supply system comprising:
• at least one rivet delivery track for delivering the rivets to the rivet-receiving zone;
• at least one rivet transfer device for holding, and subsequently releasing, the rivets received at the rivet-receiving zone;
• at least one refillable magazine for storing the rivets in proximity of the setting tool,
• the magazine comprising at least a magazine portion of said rivet delivery track, wherein the rivets can be stored within the magazine, or can transit through the magazine,
• the magazine comprising at least one docking interface for docking the magazine to a bulk-supply apparatus for refilling the magazine,
• wherein the magazine is in rivet-supply relation with the nose arrangement and is supported so as to be moveable together with the nose arrangement;
• and,
• wherein a substantially undeformable rivet delivery track length extends to said rivet-receiving zone.

A method of supplying rivets to a rivet setting tool having a punch for setting the rivets, a nose arrangement defining at least one rivet-receiving zone for receiving the rivets in preparation for setting operations, and a die provided opposite the nose arrangement for reacting to the punch, the nose arrangement being movable towards the die to engage with a workpiece, the method comprising:

• feeding at least one rivet through at least one rivet delivery track for delivering the rivet to the rivet-receiving zone;
• holding and/or releasing the rivet at the rivet-receiving zone by means of at least one rivet transfer device;
• storing and/or transiting the rivet in a refillable rivet magazine in proximity of the setting tool,
• the magazine comprising at least a magazine portion of said rivet delivery track,
• the magazine comprising at least one docking interface for docking the magazine to a bulk-supply apparatus for refilling the magazine,
• wherein the magazine is in rivet-supply relation with the nose arrangement and is supported so as to be moveable together with the nose arrangement;
• wherein a substantially undeformable rivet delivery track length extends to the rivet-receiving zone.