Gripping jaw assembly with in phase jaws

Apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank and a plurality of grooves therein and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrically shaped anvil member having a forward portion thereof for engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrically shaped collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axially extending collet bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a preselected shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a jaw assembly including a plurality of gripping jaws and a support member, said gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and defining a conically tapered outer surface adapted to generally matably fit said preselected shape within said guide tracks of said collet member and each having an inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the grooves of the pin member, said support member disposed in said collet bore including a jaw follower including retaining means constructed of an elastomeric material for securing said gripping jaws to a forward end, said jaw follower with said retaining means and said gripping jaws being movable within said collet bore from a first position in which said jaws are engaged with said guide tracks and are radially closed thereby and a second position in which said jaws are in a radially open condition, each of said jaws having a reduced section end portion, said retaining means comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to removably, grippingly receive said reduced section end portion for radial, sliding movement in translation as said gripping jaws are moved between the first and second positions whereby said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws are maintained axially in phase.

Apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank and a plurality of grooves therein and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrically shaped anvil member having a forward portion thereof for engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrical collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in a tapered opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a preselected shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a jaw assembly including a plurality of gripping jaws and a support member, said gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and defining a conically tapered outer surface adapted to generally matably fit said preselected shape within said guide tracks of said collet member and each having an inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the grooves of the pin member, said support member disposed in said collet bore and including a jaw follower including retaining means for securing said gripping jaws, said gripping jaws being individually removably secured to a forward end of said retaining means, each of said jaws having a reduced section end portion, said retaining means having a plurality of pockets integrally formed at said forward end and adapted to grippingly receive said reduced section end portion, said jaw follower with said retaining means and said jaws being movable within said guide tracks from a first position in which said jaws are engaged with said tapered opening and are radially closed thereby and a second position in which said jaws are in a radially open condition, said jaws as secured in said pockets of said retaining means being movable radially inwardly and outwardly in translation as said jaws are moved between closed and open conditions.

Apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank with a pull portion thereon and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising a generally tubular anvil member having a forward portion thereof for operatively engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally tubular collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a generally arcuate shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides with said guide tracks being partially closed, a jaw assembly comprising a plurality of gripping jaws and a jaw follower member, said gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and having a radially outer guide shaft section having an arcuate contour adapted to generally matably fit within said arcuate shape of said guide tracks of said collet, each of said gripping jaws having a radially inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the pull portion of the pin member, said jaw follower disposed in said axial bore of said collet member and having retaining means for securing said gripping jaws to a forward end of said jaw follower for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said jaws are moved axially and radially angularly in said guide tracks, each of said jaws having an end portion, said retaining means of said jaw follower comprising a plurality of pockets at said forward end and adapted to receive said end portions, said pockets having a contour adapted to engage said end portions to permit said end portions and thus said jaws to move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained, said jaw follower thereby locating said jaws in axial alignment with each other with said guide tracks maintaining said jaws radially and circumferentially in phase whereby said teeth on said jaws are maintained in phase with each other whereby misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws is substantially precluded, said pockets having openings whereby manual insertion and removal of said jaws is facilitated.

Apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank with a pull portion thereon and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising an anvil member having a forward portion thereof for engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an angulated, tapered opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a preselected shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a jaw assembly including a plurality of gripping jaws and a jaw follower, said jaws being of a rigid construction and defining a generally angulated tapered outer surface adapted to generally matably fit within said guide tracks of said collet member and each having an inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the pull portion of the pin member, said jaw follower disposed in said collet member and having retaining means for securing said gripping jaws to a forward end of said jaw follower for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said jaws are moved axially and angularly in said guide tracks, each of said jaws having an end portion, said retaining means of said jaw follower adapted to receive said end portions of said jaws and having a contour adapted to engage said end portions to permit said end portions and thus said jaws to move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained whereby axial misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated one of said jaws is substantially precluded.

Apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank with a pull portion thereon and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical anvil member having a forward portion thereof for operatively engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrical collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said tapered opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a generally circumferential contour being open at their radially inner sides by axially extending slots at their radially inner sides, said cross section extending for greater than 180° up to said slots whereby said guide tracks are partially circumferentially closed, a jaw assembly comprising a plurality of gripping jaws and a jaw follower member, said gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and having a radially outer guide shaft section having a contour adapted to generally matably fit within said enclosed contour of said guide tracks of said collet member, each of said gripping jaws having a radially inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the pull portion of the pin member, said jaw follower disposed in said axial bore of said collet member and having retaining means for securing said gripping jaws to a forward end of said jaw follower for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said jaws are moved axially and radially angularly in said guide tracks, each of said jaws having an end portion including a radially extending end portion, said retaining means of said jaw follower comprising a plurality of radially extending pockets at said forward end and adapted to receive said end portions, said pockets being partially closed at said axially forward end to overengage said rod portions, said pockets having a radial length adapted to grippingly engage said end portions to permit said end portions to slidably move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained, said jaw follower thereby locating said jaws in axial alignment with each other with said guide tracks maintaining said jaws radially and circumferentially in phase whereby said teeth on said jaws are maintained in phase with each other whereby misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws is substantially precluded.

Apparatus for applying fasteners to workpieces which fasteners include pin members each having a shank and a plurality of pull grooves therein and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin members, the fasteners including a first fastener having a first pin member with a shank having pull grooves of a first pitch and a second fastener having a second pin member with a shank having pull grooves of a second pitch said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical anvil member having a forward portion thereof for operatively engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrical collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks located in quadrature with each other, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a generally arcuate shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides, said arcuate cross section extending for greater than 180° whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a first jaw assembly comprising a first pair of gripping jaws and a first jaw follower member and a second jaw assembly comprising a second pair of gripping jaws and a second jaw follower member, said first and second pairs of gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and having a radially outer guide shaft section having an arcuate contour adapted to generally matably fit within said arcuate shape of said guide tracks of said collet member, each of said first and second gripping jaws having a radially inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon, said jaw teeth of said first gripping jaws having a first pitch adapted to matingly engage the pull grooves of the first pitch of the first pin member and said jaw teeth of said second gripping jaws having a second pitch adapted to matingly engage the pull grooves of the second pitch of the second pin member, said first and second jaw followers disposed in said axial bore of said collet member, said first jaw follower having first retaining means for securing said first pair of gripping jaws in diametrically opposed locations at a forward end of said first jaw follower for location in one diametrically opposed set of said guide tracks, said second jaw follower having second retaining means for securing said second pair of gripping jaws in diametrically opposed locations at a forward end of said second jaw follower for location in the other diametrically opposed set of said guide tracks in quadrature with the other set of said guide tracks, said first and second pairs of gripping jaws being secured by said first and second retaining means for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said first and second pair of jaws are moved simultaneously axially and radially angularly in the respective ones of said guide tracks, each of said jaws having an end portion including a radially extending rod portion connected to a reduced section neck portion, said first and second retaining means of said first and second jaw followers comprising a plurality of radially extending pockets at said forward ends and adapted to receive said rod portions, said pockets being partially closed at said forward end to overengage said rod portions and said neck portions, said pockets having a radial length adapted to engage said rod portions to permit said rod portions to slidably move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained, said first and second jaw followers thereby locating the associated jaws of said first and second pairs of jaws in axial alignment with each other with said guide tracks maintaining said associated jaws of said first and second pairs of jaws radially and circumferentially in phase whereby said teeth on the associated ones of said jaws are maintained in phase with each other whereby misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws is substantially precluded.

Apparatus for applying fasteners to workpieces which fasteners include pin members each having a shank and a plurality of pull grooves therein and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, the fasteners including a first fastener having a first pin member with a shank having pull grooves of a first pitch and a second fastener having a second pin member with a shank having pull grooves of a second pitch said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical anvil member having a forward portion thereof for operatively engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrical collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a preselected shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a first jaw assembly comprising a first pair of gripping jaws and a first jaw follower member and a second jaw assembly comprising a second pair of gripping jaws and a second jaw follower member, said first and second pairs of gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and having a conically tapered radially outer seating section adapted to generally matably fit within said guide tracks in said opening of said collet member, each of said first and second gripping jaws having a radially inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon, said jaw teeth of said first gripping jaws having a first pitch adapted to matingly engage the pull grooves of the first pitch of the first pin member and said jaw teeth of said second gripping jaws having a second pitch adapted to matingly engage the pull grooves of the second pitch of the second pin member, said first and second jaw followers disposed in said axial bore of said collet member, said first jaw follower having first retaining means for securing said first pair of gripping jaws in diametrically opposed locations at a forward end of said first jaw follower for location in said guide tracks of said collet member, said second jaw follower having second retaining means for securing said second pair of gripping jaws in diametrically opposed locations at a forward end of said second jaw follower for location in said guide tracks of said collet member in quadrature with said first pair of gripping jaws, said first and second pairs of gripping jaws being secured by said first and second retaining means for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said first and second pair of jaws are moved simultaneously axially and radially angularly in said guide tracks, each of said jaws having a reduced section end portion, said first and second retaining means of said first and second jaw followers comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to grippingly receive said reduced section end portions to permit said reduced section end portions to slidably move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained, said first and second jaw followers thereby locating the associated jaws of said first and second pairs of jaws in axial alignment with each other whereby said teeth on the associated ones of said jaws are maintained in phase with each other whereby misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws is substantially precluded.

In apparatus for applying a fastener to workpieces which fastener includes a pin member having a shank and a plurality of grooves therein and with the fastener being secured to the workpieces in response to a relative axial force applied to the fastener including an axial pulling force applied to the pin member, said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical anvil member having a forward portion thereof for operatively engaging the fastener and including a front anvil opening adapted to receive the pin shank, a generally cylindrical collet member slidably located within said anvil member and having an axial bore terminating at its forward end in an opening in axial alignment with said front anvil opening, said opening having a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide tracks, each of said guide tracks being defined by radially inclined, axially extending bores having a cross section defining a generally arcuate shape with axially extending slots at their radially inner sides, said arcuate cross section extending for greater than 180° whereby said guide tracks are partially closed, a jaw assembly comprising a plurality of gripping jaws and a jaw follower member, said jaw follower disposed in said axial bore of said collet member and having retaining means for securing said gripping jaws to a forward end of said jaw follower for radially inward and outward translational movement between open and closed positions as said jaws are moved axially and radially angularly in said guide tracks, said retaining means of said jaw follower comprising a plurality of radially extending pockets at said forward end and adapted to receive said end portions, said pockets being partially closed at said forward end to overengage said end portions, said pockets having a radial length adapted to engage said end portions to permit said end portions to slidably move radially inwardly and outwardly in translation while being axially restrained, the combination including said gripping jaws being of a rigid construction and having a radially outer guide shaft section having an arcuate contour adapted to generally matably fit within said arcuate shape of said guide tracks of said collet member, each of said gripping jaws having a radially inner surface with a plurality of jaw teeth thereon adapted to grip the grooves of the pin member, said end portion of each of said jaws having a radially extending rod portion connected to a reduced section neck portion with said rod portion and neck portion being located in gripping engagement in said pockets, said jaw follower thereby locating said jaws in axial alignment with each other with said guide tracks maintaining said jaws radially and circumferentially in phase whereby said teeth on said jaws are maintained in phase with each other whereby misalignment of said jaw teeth of operatively associated ones of said jaws is substantially precluded.