Method and apparatus for clearing a rivet from a riveting tool
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsWilliam C. Moision, Loi V. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, tool and method for clearing a rivet from an automated riveting tool. The riveting tool has a nose that supports the rivet as the rivet is installed by a punch. A clamping ring engages a work piece while installing the rivet. A clamping ring engages a block, but defines a clearance area into which the rivet is ejected when an unsuitable rivet is detected. A sensor monitors the rivets in the nose and prevents installation of the rivet when the rivet in the nose is not suitable for installation. System controls are provided to stop insertion of an unsuitable rivet while the robot continues to move the rivet tool through the complete cycle without inserting rivets until the unsuitable rivet is cleared.
Claims20
An apparatus for clearing a rivet from a riveting tool having a nose that supports a rivet, and a clamping ring, the apparatus comprising:
- means for detecting an unsuitable rivet in the nose;
- and
- a block engaged by the clamping ring, wherein the block defines a clearance area into which the unsuitable rivet is ejected into after the unsuitable rivet is detected and before inserting the rivet in a workpiece.
A tooling system for installing a plurality of rivets in a plurality of locations on a work piece comprising:
- a riveting tool having a ring encircling a punch that engages the rivet to drive the rivet into a work piece, the riveting tool has a nose that encloses the punch and receives the rivets;
- a robot moves the riveting tool in a programmed sequence to install the rivets in the plurality of locations;
- a rivet detection system monitors the rivets in the nose and prevents installation of the rivet when the rivet is not suitable for installation;
- and
- a controller interrupts the programmed sequence when the rivet detection system prevents installation of a rivet and sets up a clear rivet cycle, wherein during the clear rivet cycle the ring of the riveting tool is moved into engagement with a block and the punch is cycled to clear the rivet from the nose, and is then moved in the programmed sequence.
A method of installing a plurality of rivets in a work piece with a riveting tool that is moved by a robot, the method comprising:
- installing the rivets in a programmed sequence in the work piece;
- detecting that a rivet is not suitable for installation;
- initiating a clear rivet cycle by moving the riveting tool to a block that opposes a clamping ring of the riveting tool as a punch drives the rivet from the riveting tool into a clearance area defined by the block;
- and
- resuming installing the rivets in the programmed sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.