Hole forming apparatus

In a fastener forming apparatus for forming fasteners from cylindrical workpieces, the apparatus comprising:

• a workpiece gripper supported for reciprocal movement along a forming axis and configured to releasably grip and carry a generally cylindrical workpiece in a coaxial disposition along the forming axis;
• a forming tool spaced from the gripper along the forming axis;
• at least one of the workpiece gripper and tool supported for relative reciprocal motion along the axis between a remote position and a proximate position, the gripper and tool disposed farther apart in the remote position than in the proximate position;
• a workpiece transfer mechanism configured to sequentially transfer a series of workpieces into the workpiece gripper and to drive preceding workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path;
• a reciprocator operatively connected to a reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the reciprocating portion of the apparatus comprising one of the workpiece gripper and tool, to drive one of the workpiece gripper and tool between the extended and retracted positions, the reciprocator having a stationary end connected to a stationary support and a reciprocating end operatively connected to the reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the stationary end being hydro-pneumatically coupled to the reciprocating end, the motion of the reciprocating end and the reciprocating portion of the apparatus being hydraulically dampened;
• a rotator operatively connected to one of the workpiece gripper and the tool;
• a hole forming implement included in the forming tool;
• the improvement comprising:
• the hole-forming implement being configured to alter the configuration of a previously formed hole in a workpiece;
• and
• the apparatus including an electronic controller configured to detect workpieces that lack a previously formed hole.

In a fastener forming apparatus for forming fasteners from cylindrical workpieces, the apparatus comprising:

• a workpiece gripper supported for reciprocal movement along a forming axis and configured to releasably grip and carry a generally cylindrical workpiece in a coaxial disposition along the forming axis;
• a forming tool spaced from the gripper along the forming axis;
• at least one of the workpiece gripper and tool supported for relative reciprocal motion along the axis between a remote position and a proximate position, the gripper and tool disposed farther apart in the remote position than in the proximate position;
• a workpiece transfer mechanism configured to sequentially transfer a series of workpieces into the workpiece gripper and to drive preceding workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path;
• a reciprocator operatively connected to a reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the reciprocating portion of the apparatus comprising one of the workpiece gripper and tool, to drive one of the workpiece gripper and tool between the extended and retracted positions, the reciprocator having a stationary end connected to a stationary support and a reciprocating end operatively connected to the reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the stationary end being hydro-pneumatically coupled to the reciprocating end, the motion of the reciprocating end and the reciprocating portion of the apparatus being hydraulically dampened;
• a rotator operatively connected to one of the workpiece gripper and the tool;
• a hole forming implement included in the forming tool;
• the improvement comprising:
• the forming tool being supported on the rotator;
• and
• the gripper being supported on the reciprocator.

In a fastener forming apparatus for forming fasteners from cylindrical workpieces, the apparatus comprising:

• a workpiece gripper supported for reciprocal movement along a forming axis and configured to releasably grip and carry a generally cylindrical workpiece in a coaxial disposition along the forming axis;
• a forming tool spaced from the gripper along the forming axis;
• at least one of the workpiece gripper and tool supported for relative reciprocal motion along the axis between a remote position and a proximate position, the gripper and tool disposed farther apart in the remote position than in the proximate position;
• a workpiece transfer mechanism configured to sequentially transfer a series of workpieces into the workpiece gripper and to drive preceding workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path;
• a reciprocator operatively connected to a reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the reciprocating portion of the apparatus comprising one of the workpiece gripper and tool, to drive one of the workpiece gripper and tool between the extended and retracted positions, the reciprocator having a stationary end connected to a stationary support and a reciprocating end operatively connected to the reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the stationary end being hydro-pneumatically coupled to the reciprocating end, the motion of the reciprocating end and the reciprocating portion of the apparatus being hydraulically dampened;
• a rotator operatively connected to one of the workpiece gripper and the tool;
• a hole forming implement included in the forming tool;
• the improvement comprising:
• a tool adapter head configured to releasably engage various forming implements.

In a fastener forming apparatus for forming fasteners from cylindrical workpieces, the apparatus comprising:

• a workpiece gripper supported for reciprocal movement along a forming axis and configured to releasably grip and carry a generally cylindrical workpiece in a coaxial disposition along the forming axis;
• a forming tool spaced from the gripper along the forming axis;
• at least one of the workpiece gripper and tool supported for relative reciprocal motion along the axis between a remote position and a proximate position, the gripper and tool disposed farther apart in the remote position than in the proximate position;
• a workpiece transfer mechanism configured to sequentially transfer a series of workpieces into the workpiece gripper and to drive preceding workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path;
• a reciprocator operatively connected to a reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the reciprocating portion of the apparatus comprising one of the workpiece gripper and tool, to drive one of the workpiece gripper and tool between the extended and retracted positions, the reciprocator having a stationary end connected to a stationary support and a reciprocating end operatively connected to the reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the stationary end being hydro-pneumatically coupled to the reciprocating end, the motion of the reciprocating end and the reciprocating portion of the apparatus being hydraulically dampened;
• a rotator operatively connected to one of the workpiece gripper and the tool;
• a hole forming implement included in the forming tool;
• the improvement comprising:
• the workpiece transfer mechanism being driven by reciprocal motion of the reciprocator.

A fastener forming apparatus for forming fasteners from cylindrical workpieces, the apparatus comprising:

• a workpiece gripper supported for reciprocal movement along a forming axis and configured to releasably grip and carry a generally cylindrical workpiece in a coaxial disposition along the forming axis;
• a forming tool spaced from the gripper along the forming axis;
• at least one of the workpiece gripper and tool supported for relative reciprocal motion along the axis between a remote position and a proximate position, the gripper and tool disposed farther apart in the remote position than in the proximate position;
• a workpiece transfer mechanism configured to sequentially transfer a series of workpieces into the workpiece gripper and to drive preceding workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path;
• and
• a reciprocator operatively connected to a reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the reciprocating portion of the apparatus comprising one of the workpiece gripper and tool, to drive one of the workpiece gripper and tool between the extended and retracted positions, the reciprocator having a stationary and connected to a stationary support and a reciprocating end operatively connected to the reciprocating portion of the apparatus, the stationary end being hydro-pneumatically coupled to the reciprocating end, the motion of the reciprocating end and the reciprocating portion of the apparatus being hydraulically dampened;
• a rotator operatively connected to one of the workpiece gripper and the tool;
• a hole forming implement included in the forming tool;
• the improvement comprising:
• a positive stop including a reciprocating stop surface disposed on the reciprocating portion of the apparatus in a position to engage a stationary stop surface when the workpiece gripper and tool are in the proximate position to prevent the reciprocator from causing the reciprocating portion of the apparatus to overshoot or undershoot the extended position.