The present invention relates to a rivet feeding apparatus and, more particularly, a feeder for resistance spot weld rivets.
Current methods of fastening workpieces such as sheets to one another include conventional spot welding, the use of self-piercing rivets, and the use of flow drill rivets. The latter two methods require feeding systems for the rivets. What is needed is a compact rivet feeding apparatus that fits within a limited space and does not employ complicated actuators and mechanisms, as well as an apparatus that provides robust means to hold a rivet in place that is not sensitive to environmental factors, such as dirt, carbon build-up, clogging, dust, and sparks.
In an embodiment, a fastener feed apparatus includes a mounting portion and a feed portion attached movably to the mounting portion. The feed portion includes a feed body and a feeding block. The feed body has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an internal track extending through the feed body from the first end to the second end. The internal track is sized and shaped to enable conveyance of a fastener therethrough from the first end to the second end. The feeding block includes a body and a pair of feed fingers, each of which includes a first end attached to the body and a free, second end opposite the first end of the feed finger. A track is formed between the feed fingers. The track includes a first end adjacent the first ends of the feed fingers and a second end adjacent the second ends of the feed fingers. The track is sized and shaped to convey the fastener from the first end of the track to the second end of the track. The track is contiguous with the internal track of the feed body. The second end of the track includes a retention point. The feed fingers are sized and shaped to enable retention of the fastener at the retention point.
In an embodiment, each of the feed fingers of the feeding block includes an inner guiding diameter portion located proximate to the second end thereof. The inner guiding diameter portions define a first distance therebetween. In an embodiment, the retention point of the track of the feeding block includes the inner guiding diameter portions. In an embodiment, each of the feed fingers of the feeding block includes an inner wall located proximate to the first end thereof. The inner walls of the feed fingers face one another and define a second distance therebetween. The second distance is greater than the first distance. In an embodiment, each of the feed fingers of the feeding block includes a stop point located proximate to the inner guiding diameter portions of the feed fingers and intermediate the inner guiding diameter portions and the second ends of the feed fingers. The stop points define a third distance therebetween. In an embodiment, the third distance is less than the first distance. In an embodiment, the feed fingers are sized and shaped to prevent them from flexing away from one another to an extent such that the fastener is free to pass between the stop points of the feed fingers when the fastener impacts the stop points after traveling along the internal track of the feed body from the first end of the feed body to the second end of the feed body and along the track of the feeding block from the first end of the feeding block to the second end of the feeding block. In an embodiment, the feed fingers are sized and shaped so as to enable them to flex away from one another to an extent such that the fastener is permitted to pass between the stop points of the feed fingers when the feed portion is operated to move away from a workpiece along first and second axes thereof.
In an embodiment, each of the feed fingers of the feeding block includes an anti-return point located proximate to the inner guiding diameter portions and intermediate the inner guiding diameter portions and the first ends of the feed fingers. The anti-return points of the feed fingers define a fourth distance therebetween. In an embodiment, the fourth distance is less than the first distance. In an embodiment, the feed fingers are sized and shaped so as to allow them to flex away from one another to an extent such that the fastener is permitted to pass between the anti-return points of the feed fingers.
In an embodiment, the feed portion includes a finger cover overlaying the second ends of the feed fingers. In an embodiment, the finger cover includes a bowl-shaped cavity overlaying the retention point of the feeding block. In an embodiment, the cavity is sized and shaped to receive a first fastening arm of a fastening apparatus. In an embodiment, the fastener feed apparatus also includes a linear actuator configured to move the feed portion relative to the mounting portion. In an embodiment, the fastener includes a rivet. In an embodiment, the fastener includes a plurality of rivets stacked among one another.
Referring to
Referring now to
Proximate to the second end 46, the inner wall 48 of each of the feed fingers 38, 40 includes an inner guiding diameter portion 56, which forms an anti-return point 58 at one end thereof and a stop point 60 at the other end thereof. In an embodiment, the anti-return points 58 and the stop points 60 cooperate to act as a retention means for rivets R, and are positioned such that one of the rivets R may be held in position therebetween. In other embodiments, the feed body 16 includes a retention detent or a leaf spring that provides an anti-return feature, either rather than or in addition to the anti-return points 58. In an embodiment, the width between the inner guiding diameter portions 56 is narrower than the width of between the inner walls 48 of the feed fingers 38, 40. As to be discussed in greater detail below, the fingers 38, 40 are adapted to receive and maintain in position one of the rivets R for welding to a workpiece WP. The inner guiding diameter portion 56, the anti-return point 58, and the stop point 60 thereby cooperate to define a retention point at which one of the rivets R may be retained prior to fastening.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the feed fingers 38, 40 employ a momentum-based retention system. In this regard, the rivet R travels through the feed body 18 and along the feed track 27 at a relatively high velocity (i.e., as induced by air pressure that feeds the rivet R into the feed track 27, as described above). The velocity of the rivet R is such that when the rivet R engages the track 54 of the feeding block 28, the momentum of the rivet R causes the feed fingers 38, 40 to flex open laterally and outwardly (i.e., away from the space 42) as the rivet R passes the anti-return points 58 on the feed fingers 38, 40. However, the momentum of the rivet R is not high enough for the feed fingers 38, 40 to flex apart from one another to such an extent that the rivet R is able to travel completely past the second ends 46 of the feed fingers 38, 40. This is the case because the width between the inner guiding diameter portions 56 of the feed fingers 38, 40 is narrower than the width between the inner walls 48. As a result, more force than is provided due to the momentum of the rivet R would be required to flex the feed fingers 38, 40 apart from one another to a great enough extent to allow the rivet R to travel past the second ends 46 of the feed fingers 38, 40. Consequently, the rivet R is stopped by the stop points 60 of the feed fingers 38, 40 and is prevented from traveling completely past the second ends 46 of the feed fingers 38, 40. When the rivet R has reached the stop points 60, it is nestled within the guiding diameter portions 56 of the feed fingers 38, 40, and is in position and ready to be fed under the upper welding electrode UE by the Y-axis and Z-axis motions of the feeding block 28.
The electrode UE of the welding arm UA is positioned to pin the rivet R to the workpiece WP. In an embodiment, the workpiece WP can be steel, aluminum or carbon fiber. Once the rivet R is pinned to the workpiece WP by the electrode UE, the feed portion 12 is retracted in the directions of the Y-axis and Z-axis to leave the rivet R behind. Current is applied by the electrodes UE, LE to weld the rivet R to the workpiece WP. Afterwards, the feed portion 12 is moved to the next location to be riveted, next rivet R is fed into the feed portion 12 with pressurized air, and the cycle repeats.
The rivet feed system 10 may accommodate rivets R having various depths of the rivet pin RP without the need to change the feed portion 12. In an embodiment, the rivet feed system 10 is used for resistance spot weld rivets. In other embodiments, the rivet feed system 10 can be utilized for other types of rivets or fasteners.
It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as exemplified by the appended claims.
This application is a Section 111(a) application relating to and claiming the benefit of commonly owned, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/219,206, titled “RIVET FEEDING APPARATUS,” having a filing date of Sep. 16, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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