Self-diagnosing pierce nut installation apparatus
AssigneeWhitesell International Corporation
InventorHarold T. Woods
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-diagnosing pierce nut installation apparatus including an installation head attached to an upper die member of a die press having a reciprocating plunger driving a pierce nut against a panel, piercing a slug from the panel upon closing of the press and a rod telescopically received in the plunger resiliently biased through the nut bore if a slug is pierced from the panel or against the panel if not pierced, and a sensor sensing axial movement of the rod, stopping the press if the rod engages the panel. A die located in the lower die member includes a slug sensor confirming receipt of the panel slug through the die member.
Claims27
A pierce nut installation apparatus for installing pierce nuts in a panel, said pierce nuts each having a bore therethrough, comprising:
- a pierce nut installation head having a plunger passage receiving a pierce nut for installation in said panel;
- a plunger reciprocating in said plunger passage having a proximal end driving the pierce nut through said plunger passage against the panel opposite said plunger piercing a slug from said panel and installing said pierce nut in a pierced opening formed in said panel, said plunger passage having an axial opening telescopically receiving a slug probe rod resiliently biased toward said proximal end of said plunger and extending beyond said proximal end of said plunger through said nut bore if a slug is pierced from said panel and engaging said panel if a slug is not pierced from said panel;
- and
- a sensor sensing axial movement of said slug probe rod to determine whether a slug has been pierced from said panel.
A pierce nut installation apparatus for installing pierce nuts in a panel, each pierce nut having a nut bore, comprising:
- a pierce nut installation head including a pierce nut feed passage, a plunger passage communicating with said feed passage receiving pierce nuts from said feed passage, a plunger reciprocating in said plunger passage having a bore therethrough and a proximal end driving the pierce nuts through said plunger passage into a panel opposite said plunger passage and the pierce nuts piercing an opening in said panel, a slug probe rod telescopically supported in said bore of said plunger resiliently biased toward said proximal end of said plunger adapted to be received through said nut bore against the panel in the event that an opening is not pierced in said panel, and a sensor sensing axial movement of said slug probe rod to determine whether an opening has been pierced in said panel.
A pierce nut installation apparatus, comprising:
- a pierce nut installation head attached to an upper die shoe of a reciprocating die press and a die member attached to a lower die shoe of said reciprocating die press, said pierce nut installation head including a plunger passage receiving a pierce nut having a nut bore therethrough for installation in a panel supported on said die member opposite said plunger passage, a plunger reciprocating through said plunger passage upon closing of said die press having a proximal end driving said pierce nut through said plunger passage, said pierce nut piercing a slug from said panel forming a pierced panel opening in said panel and said die member installing said pierce nut in said panel opening, said plunger having an axial opening telescopically receiving a slug probe rod having a proximal end portion, said slug probe rod resiliently biased toward said proximal end of said plunger and said proximal end of said slug probe rod extending through said nut bore in the event that a slug is pierced from said panel or engaging said panel in the event that a slug is not pierced from said panel, and a slug probe rod sensor sensing movement of said slug probe rod in said axial opening of said plunger to determine whether an opening has been pierced in said panel connected to a control of said reciprocating die press and stopping said die press in the event that said proximal end of said slug probe rod engages said panel.
A pierce nut installation apparatus for installing pierce nuts in a panel, said pierce nuts having a nut bore therethrough, comprising:
- a pierce nut installation head including a pierce nut feed passage, a plunger passage communicating with said pierce nut feed passage receiving pierce nuts from said pierce nut feed passage, a plunger reciprocating in said plunger passage having a proximal end driving pierce nuts through said plunger passage into a panel opposite said plunger passage and the pierce nuts piercing a slug from said panel forming a pierced opening through said panel receiving the pierce nuts, and a die button opposite said plunger passage supporting said panel having an opening coaxially aligned with said plunger passage and a slug sensor having an opening therethrough coaxially aligned with said opening through said die button detecting receipt of a panel slug pierced from said panel and received through said opening in said sensor.
A die button for attaching a pierce nut to a panel located in a lower die shoe of a reciprocating press, said pierce nut including a central pilot portion, flange portions on at least opposed sides of said pilot portion and a groove, said die button comprising:
- a projecting die lip configured to be received in said groove of said pierce nut, an opening through said die button configured to receive a slug pierced from said panel by said pilot portion of said pierce nut and a slug sensor receiving said slug and sensing receipt of said slug through said sensor and said sensor connected to a control of said reciprocating die press stopping said die press if said slug sensor does not sense a slug received through said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.