Self-adjusting head
AssigneeMultifastener Corporation
InventorHarold A. Ladouceur
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is disclosed for installing fasteners in a panel and automatically sensing and compensating for certain error conditions which commonly arise in the installation process. The system includes monitoring the load exerted during the installation process and comparing the exerted load to nominal load values. If an error results between the two load values, appropriate corrective action is taken. If there is no corrective action which can be initiated to rectify the error condition, the system is halted.
Claims26
A fastener installation apparatus having a plunger with a free end and a die button spaced from said free end, said plunger free end facing said die button, said installation apparatus being adapted to be mounted between the platens of a press for installing a fastener into a panel by impacting said fastener and panel with said fastener installation apparatus during the stroke of one of said platens toward the other of said platens;
- said press having a shut height defined as the distance between the platens when said one platen is at the bottom of its stroke;
- said fastener installation apparatus being adapted to be operatively mounted between the platens of said press within said shut height and having an operative length defined as the distance between the free end of said plunger and said die button when said one platen is at the top of its stroke;
- control means operatively coupled to said fastener installation apparatus for periodically adjusting the operative length of said installation apparatus and for controlling said press to ensure proper installation of said fastener into said panel.
A press having a fastener installation apparatus mounted between the platens of said press for installing a fastener into a panel by impacting said fastener and panel between said fastener installation apparatus during the stroke of one of said platens toward the other of said platens;
- said press having a shut height defined as the distance between the platens when said one platen is at the bottom of its stroke;
- said fastener installation apparatus being operatively mounted between the platens of said press within said shut height and having an operative length defined as the distance travelled by said fastener installation apparatus during installation of said fastener;
- control means coupled to said fastener installation apparatus for periodically adjusting the operative length of said installation apparatus with respect to said platens of said press and for controlling said press to ensure proper installation of said fastener into said panel;
- a sensing means for sensing the force applied against said fastener and said panel;
- a comparator for comparing said sensed force with a predetermined force, said comparator producing a result;
- said control means reacting to said produced result and adjusting said operative length of said installation apparatus or disabling said press in response to said result.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.