Anvil design for rivet setting machine

An anvil for a rivet setting machine, said anvil comprising:

• a member having opposite first and second portions, said first portion configured to abut and support a workpiece during a riveting process, said second potion configured such that said member is affixable to the rivet setting machine, said first portion having a cavity therein for accommodating a deformation of the workpiece during the riveting process;
• said cavity defining at least one side wall and a main portion, said at least one side wall having a straight portion and an arced portion, said straight portion having a first end and a second end, said first end of said straight portion being connected to an end of said member, said second end of said straight portion being connected to said arced portion, said straight portion extending angularly inwardly from said end of said member to said arced portion such that said cavity has a width proximate to said end of said member that is larger than a width of said cavity proximate to said arced portion of said cavity, said straight portion allowing for deformation of said workpiece during the riveting process, wherein said workpiece does not encounter resistance from said straight portion during said deformation;
• said arced portion having first and second ends, said first end of said arced portion being connected to said second end of said straight portion and said second end of said arced portion being connected to said main portion;
• said main portion generally having a first end and a second end, said first end of said main portion being connected to said second end of said arced portion such that said arced portion is positioned generally between said straight portion and said main portion;
• said second end of said main portion generally extending to a center of said cavity, said main portion extending from said center of said cavity at an angle away from said end of said member and toward said straight portion;
• said arced portion forming a relief pocket within said cavity, said relief pocket being situated at a position below a line tangential to a surface of said main portion, said relief pocket having a depth sufficient to provide an area which remains substantially unoccupied by the workpiece and rivet throughout the entire riveting process.

A method of attaching a rivet to a workpiece with a rivet setting machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the rivet setting machine with an anvil having a cavity therein, said cavity being defined by a main portion and a relief portion proximate to said main portion, said relief portion further including a relief pocket, said relief pocket having a depth sufficient to provide an area which remains substantially unoccupied by the workpiece and rivet throughout the entire riveting process;
• b) driving the rivet into the workpiece;
• c) Supporting the workpiece on said main portion;
• d) deforming the workpiece and the rivet into said relief portion;
• e) accommodating the deformation of the workpiece and the rivet in said relief portion without the workpiece substantially deforming into the relief pocket, such that the workpiece and rivet can freely deform without hindrance.

A method of attaching a rivet to a workpiece with a rivet setting machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the rivet setting machine with an anvil having a cavity therein, said cavity being defined by a main portion and a relief portion proximate to said main portion, said relief portion further including a relief pocket;
• b) driving the rivet into the workpiece;
• c) supporting the workpiece on said main portion;
• d) deforming the workpiece and the rivet into said relief portion;
• e) accommodating the deformation of the workpiece and the rivet in said relief portion without the workpiece substantially deforming into the relief pocket, such that the workpiece and rivet can freely deform without hindrance, wherein said relief portion defines at least one side wall, said at least one side wall extending angularly inwardly toward said main portion, wherein said main portion extends angularly downwardly from a center of said cavity toward said at least one side wall.