Apparatus and method for loading fastener collars onto a mandrel
AssigneeHuck Manufacturing Company
InventorKeith S. Jeffery
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic means for centering a flexible elongated mandrel within a vertical passage (chute) without any physical connection between the mandrel and the passage surface. The mandrel carries a tapered nose piece that includes an elongated magnetized rod. An array of cooperating magnets is arranged around the perimeter of the passage, so that the magnetic circuits of the rod and perimeter magnets interact to produce a radial repulsion of the rod to a position on the passage axis.
Claims15
A an apparatus for assembling annular fastener collars onto a flexible mandrel, comprising:
- a housing having a passage formed therein;
- means for feeding annular fastener collars into said passage;
- a nose piece disposed within said passage and removably connected onto said flexible mandrel positioned within said passage of said housing for guiding said fastener collars onto said mandrel;
- and
- magnetic means carried by said housing and said noise piece for centering said nose piece in said passage.
The method of magnetically centering a fastener collar flexible mandrel within a collar feeding apparatus which includes a housing having a passage formed therein, means for feeding said fasteners into said passage, and a nose piece disposed within said passage and connected to said mandrel for guiding said collars onto said mandrel, and means carried by said housing and said nose piece for magnetically centering said nose piece in said housing, said method comprising:
- providing first magnetic means in the housing of said collar feeding apparatus;
- providing second magnetic means on said nose piece;
- attaching said nose piece carrying said second magnetic means onto said flexible mandrel;
- and
- centering said nose piece within said passage by magnetic repulsion between said first and second magnetic means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.