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US 6,276,050 B1Granted
Riveting system and process for forming a riveted joint
AssigneeEmhart Inc.
InventorsDieter Mauer, Hermann Roeser, Reinhold Opper, Andreas Wojcik, Christian Schoenig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A riveting system is operable to join two or more workpieces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.
Claims30
A riveting system comprising:
- a riveting tool including:
- (a) an electric motor;
- (b) a transmission operable to convert rotary motion caused by energization of the electric motor to linear motion;
- (c) a punch linearly movable in response to actuation by the transmission;
- a die aligned with the punch and spaced away from the punch when the punch is in a retracted position;
- at least one electronic control unit electrically connected to the riveting tool, the electronic control unit being operable to control energization and deenergization of the electric motor;
- a self-piercing rivet operably moved toward the die by advancement of the punch, the rivet being operably prevented from directly contacting against the die when the rivet is in an optimum workpiece-engaging position between the punch and the die;
- a first feeder;
- a first feed tube coupled to the first feeder, the first feeder and feed tube operably carrying a first size of the rivet;
- a second feeder;
- a second feed tube coupled to the second feeder, the second feeder and feed tube operably carrying a second size of the rivet different than the first size;
- and
- a selector connected to the first feed tube, the second feed tube and the electronic control unit;
- the electronic control unit being operable to control which size rivet the selector will transfer to the riveting tool.
11 more elements
A riveting system comprising:
- a riveting tool including:
- (a) an electric motor;
- (b) a transmission operable to convert rotary motion caused by energization of the electric motor to linear motion;
- (c) a rivet advancing member linearly movable in response to actuation by the transmission;
- at least one electronic control unit electrically connected to the riveting tool, the electronic control unit being operable to control energization and deenergization of the electric motor;
- a rivet operably driven by the punch;
- a first sensor located in the riveting tool and electrically connected to the electronic control unit, the sensor operably sending a signal to the electronic control unit indicating a riveting characteristic;
- a first feeder;
- a first feed tube coupled to the first feeder, the first feeder and feed tube operably carrying a first size of the rivet;
- a second feeder:
- a second feed tube coupled to the second feeder, the second feeder and feed tube operably carrying a second size of the rivet different than the first size;
- and
- a selector connected to the first feed tube, the second feed tube and the electronic control unit;
- the electronic control unit being operable to control which size rivet the selector will transfer to the riveting tool.
11 more elements
A riveting system comprising:
- a riveting tool including an automatic actuator and a rivet pushing member operably driven by the actuator;
- an electronic control unit electrically connected to the riveting tool, the electronic control unit being operable to control energization and deenergization of the actuator;
- a first set of rivets operably driven by the member;
- a first feeder storing the first rivets;
- a first feed tube coupled to the first feeder, the first feed tube operably transporting at least one of the first rivets from the first feeder;
- a second set of rivets operably driven by the member, the second rivets having a different characteristic than the first rivets;
- a second feeder storing the second rivets;
- a second feed tube coupled to the second feeder, the second feed tube operably transporting at least one of the second rivets from the second feeder;
- and
- a selector connected to the first feed tube, the second feed tube and the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit being operable to control which of the first and second rivets the selector will transfer to the riveting tool.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.