The present invention relates generally to a fastener machine, and more particularly, to a rivet guide head that guides a rivet during a rivet machine drive stroke.
Rivet machines generally include a punch that is configured to engage and drive a rivet through workpieces to join the workpieces together. In general, the punch directs the rivet through a rivet guide head that guides the rivet in a desired orientation toward a selected area on the workpieces. With reference to
A first pair of set screws 30 secures the first pair of plunger assemblies 14 to the guide head 10. A second pair of set screws 32 secures the second pair of plunger assemblies 16 to the guide head 10. During operation, the respective plungers 20 and 24 act on an outer surface 36 of a rivet 40. In this regard, the plungers 20 and 24 translate in a direction perpendicular to a guide bore axis to follow an outer profile of the surface 36 of the rivet 40 through the drive stroke.
As shown in
In accordance with the present invention, a rivet guide head that guides a rivet during a rivet machine drive stroke is provided. The rivet guide head includes a rivet guide body having a rivet guide surface defined along a rivet guide bore having a guide bore axis. A first elongated guide pin is disposed in the rivet guide head that extends along a first guide pin axis and has an outer engagement surface. The guide bore axis is substantially parallel to the first guide pin axis. The rivet guide head is configured to guide the rivet along the outer engagement surface of the first elongated guide pin during the drive stroke. According to further aspects, the first elongated pin deflects laterally outwardly during the drive stroke. A first biasing member is disposed in the rivet guide head and is configured to bias the elongated guide pin in a direction toward the guide bore axis.
According to still other aspects, the first biasing member comprises an elongated elastomeric member that extends along a first member axis that is parallel and laterally offset from the guide bore axis. The rivet guide head is configured to slidably and concurrently engage the rivet at the rivet guide surface with the engagement surface of the first elongated member during the drive stroke. According to another aspect of the present invention, the first elongated pin deflects to a guide position upon initial engagement with the rivet and substantially remains at the guide position subsequent to the initial engagement through the drive stroke until the rivet is urged to a location adjacent a terminal end of the first elongated pin. In other features, a second elongated guide pin and a second biasing member are both disposed in the rivet guide head and cooperate with the first elongated guide pin and first biasing member to guide the rivet through the rivet guide head through the drive stroke.
Further advantages and areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
A vibratory bowl 136 supplies individualized fasteners, such as a self-piercing rivet 140, to the feeding mechanism 130 via a pneumatically pressurized and flexible hose 142. When multiple workpiece sheets 144 are inserted between the punch guide 114 and the die 110, the punch 134 will thereafter push and set the rivet 140 into the upper surface of the workpieces 144 as they are being compressed against the die 110. The self-piercing rivet 140 is preferably a solid (e.g., not hollow) rivet, which punches out a blank or slug from the previously unpunched workpiece areas. The rivet ends are generally flush with the adjacent outside surfaces of the workpieces 144. One such self-piercing rivet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,922 entitled “Headless Riveting System,” which issued to Koett on Dec. 26, 1978, which is incorporated by reference herein. Additional description of the rivet setting machine 100 may also be found in commonly owned and currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/162,974, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
With particular reference now to
The rivet guide body 158 includes a rivet guide surface 180 defined along a rivet guide bore 182 having a guide bore axis 183. The rivet guide body 158 further defines a first lateral cavity 190 and a second lateral cavity 192. The rivet guide body 158 includes a rivet entry slot 194 (
A first guide pin 200 and a second guide pin 202 are disposed in the rivet guide body 158 of the rivet guide head 120. The first and second guide pins 200 and 202 are formed from a rigid material such as hardened steel. The first guide pin 200 includes an elongated body 204 having an outer engagement surface 205 that extends between a first terminal end 206 and a second terminal end 208. The elongated body 204 extends along a first guide pin axis 209. The first guide pin axis 209 is generally parallel to and laterally offset relative to the guide bore axis 183. The first guide pin 200 has a chamfered leading end 210. The second guide pin 202 includes an elongated body 214 having an outer engagement surface 215 that extends between a first terminal end 216 and a second terminal end 218. The elongated body 214 extends generally along a second guide pin axis 219. The second guide pin axis 209 is generally parallel to and laterally offset relative to the guide bore axis 183. The second guide pin 202 has a chamfered leading end 220. The first guide pin 200 is received by the first lateral cavity 190 of the rivet guide body 158. Similarly, the second guide pin 202 is received by the second lateral cavity 192 of the rivet guide body 158. The first and second guide pins 200 and 202 are trapped in the rivet guide body 158 by the nose 152 of the punch guide body 150 subsequent to attaching the fasteners.
A first biasing member 230 is disposed in the first lateral cavity 190 of the rivet guide body 158. A second biasing member 232 is disposed in the second lateral cavity 192 of the rivet guide body 158. The first and second biasing members 230 and 232 are formed from elastomeric material. In one example, the biasing members 230 and 232 are chord springs having a durometer of between 30 and 70 and preferably 40. The first and second biasing members 230 and 232 can be elongated members that extend generally along respective axes 234 and 236.
The first and second biasing members 230 and 232 are configured to bias the first and second guide pins 200 and 202, respectively, in a direction toward the guide bore axis 183. As will become appreciated from the following discussion, the first and second biasing members 230 and 232 cooperate to urge the first and second guide pins 200 and 202, respectively, into contact with the rivet 196 such that a trailing edge outer surface 240 of the rivet 196 slidably engages the respective outer engagement surfaces 205 and 215 of the first and second guide pins 200 and 202 through the drive stroke as shown in
During the drive stroke, the first and second guide pins 200 and 202 may deflect initially outwardly such as from a position shown in
With reference now to
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
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Entry |
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AKH System Manual published or offered for sale prior to Jun. 2011, 17 pages. |
AKH FAS-NER Drawing No. WIS-146, Jun. 2011, 1 page. |
Rivet Guide Head published or offered for sale prior to Jun. 2011 by AKH, 1 page. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120324690 A1 | Dec 2012 | US |