Method of operating a rivet machine
AssigneeNewfrey LLC
InventorsDieter Mauer, Reinhold Opper, Joachim Möser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a conveyor for elongate components (12) designed with a head and a shank. The conveyor comprises a feed arrangement (7). The feed arrangement (7) comprises a transfer arrangement (8) with a transfer region (15) in which a component (12) can be positioned. In the transfer region (15), a feed duct (11) having a head guiding duct (13) and a shank guiding duct (14) passes into a conveying duct (16). The transfer arrangement (8) comprises at least one catch unit (17). The catch unit (17) comprises at least one catch element (18). The catch element (18) is arranged opposite the head guiding duct (13) and penetrates at least partially therein. It can be deflected from the head guiding duct (13) against a spring force.
Claims33
A method of operating a rivet machine, the method comprising:
- (a) pneumatically feeding a rivet along an elongated feeding duct, at least a section of the feeding duct having an open and substantially T-shaped cross section;
- (b) contacting an enlarged head of the rivet with an elongated element of the machine while the rivet travels along the duct;
- (c) pivoting an end of the element away from a rivet feed path in the duct to allow the rivet to pass;
- (d) locating the rivet in a position aligned with a plunger, after step (c);
- (e) moving two elongated positioning segments, located adjacent the plunger, to engage the rivet;
- and
- (f) advancing the plunger to drive the rivet past the positioning segments.
A method of rivet feeding, the method comprising:
- (a) feeding a rivet along a feeding duct;
- (b) rotating a beam about a pivot pin from a feeding duct-intruding orientation to a retracted orientation;
- (c) abutting an end of the beam against the rivet after the rivet has moved past the beam, to deter reverse movement of the rivet;
- and
- (d) inwardly moving segments toward each other, each segment including a rivet-engaging recess, to temporarily hold the rivet adjacent an end of the duct.
A method of manufacturing using a riveting machine, the method comprising:
- (a) pneumatically moving a rivet past a catch element in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plunger-advancing direction;
- (b) pushing the catch element to open a movement path through contact of the rivet with the catch element;
- (c) temporarily holding the rivet in rivet-receiving recesses adjacent an end of a plunger;
- and
- (d) preventing the rivet from moving in reverse back past the catch element due to movement of the catch element to a substantially blocking position.
A method of operating a rivet machine, the method comprising:
- (a) feeding a self-punching rivet along an elongated feeding duct, at least a section of the feeding duct including a substantially T-shaped cross sectional internal passage;
- (b) rotating a catch into the passage of the duct by a spring;
- (c) contacting the rivet against the catch to control movement of the rivet;
- (d) holding the rivet in a position aligned with an elongated plunger, and aligned with an adjacent end of the duct;
- and
- (e) linearly advancing the rivet through an inwardly biased open end portion of the rivet machine, spaced away from a portion performing step (d), by movement of the plunger.
A method of riveting, the method comprising:
- (a) feeding a rivet along an elongated feeding duct;
- (b) inwardly rotating positioning segments toward a centerline of an elongated plunger, the segments each being elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the centerline;
- (c) holding the rivet adjacent an end of the duct and aligned with the centerline of the plunger;
- and
- (d) driving the rivet with the plunger after step (c).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.