Fastener inserting machines

Claim 2

A machine for installing mandrel rivets in a workpiece comprising a raceway inclined in a vertical plane for feeding successive mandrel rivets from a supply and in rivet-up condition to a pickoff position, a riveting head reciprocable to and from the workpiece and operative in a plane spaced from and parallel to that of the raceway, said head being adapted to receive and set mandrel rivets when in rivet-down condition, and transfer means operative in time relation to the head to receive successive mandrel rivets at the pickoff position, and reorient them for presentation adjacent to the workpiece and in alignment with the head when the head is retracted.

Claim 3

A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer means is operatively connected to means for reciprocating said head.

Claim 4

A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transfer means is reciprocable along and about an axis, and means is provided for angularly adjusting the operating path of the head about said axis.

Claim 5

A machine for installing mandrel-rivets in a workpiece piece comprising an inserting head reciprocable toward and from the work piece, said head including a tubular end for abutting a flange of each rivet to be set and for receiving its mandrel, and means relatively retractable along an axis extending through said tubular end to tension the mandrel therein, power means for controlling reciprocation of the head and said retractable means, and feed means operable by said power means for transferring successive mandrel rivets cyclically from a random mass thereof and into alignment with said axis for reception in said end, said feed means comprising mechanism disposing successive mandrel rivets at an angle to and offset from said axis, and transfer means movable to carry a mandrel rivet between the offset position and a presenting position on said axis, said transfer means being rotatable to invert successive mandrel rivets during transfer by substantially said angle.

Claim 6

A machine for installing mandrel-rivets in a workpiece piece comprising an inserting head reciprocable toward and from the work piece, said head including a tubular end for abutting a flange of each rivet to be set and for receiving its mandrel, and means relatively retractable along an axis extending through said tubular end to tension the mandrel therein, power means for controlling reciprocation of the head and said retractable means, and feed means operable by said power means for transferring successive mandrel rivets cyclically from a random mass thereof and into alignment with said axis for reception in said end, said feed means comprising mechanism disposing successive mandrel rivets at an angle to and offset from said axis, and transfer means movable to carry a mandrel rivet between the offset position and a presenting position on said axis, said transfer means being rotatable to invert successive mandrel rivets during transfer by substantially said angle.

Claim 7

A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein the transfer means is movable along a horizontal axis in time relation to the reciprocation of said head, and the operating path of the head is angularly adjustable about said horizontal axis.

Claim 8

A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein the feed means includes an inclined raceway, and the transfer means includes a fastener-carrying shaft movable axially and about its axis, and fastener holdinG means including aligned mandrel engaging shoulders offset from the shaft axis and arranged to pick off successive fasteners from the raceway, a surface of the shaft serving during transfer to retain other fasteners in the raceway.

Claim 9

A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the holding means is in the form of a permanent horseshoe-shaped magnet.

Claim 10

A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shaft is formed with a cam groove curved along its circumference to determine the angular movement of the shaft during fastener transfer and orientation.

Claim 11

A machine as set fort in claim 8 wherein the transferring means is operatively connected to the head by linkage including a lost-motion means, and said curved groove in the fastener carrying shaft has terminal portions substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft.