Riveting machine

Claim 2

In a riveting machine, apparatus for maintaining rivets in a predetermined orientation as they are received from a feed tube for subsequent injection into rivet grasping means, each rivet having a head portion, a shank portion of smaller cross-section extending therefrom, and an axis extending longitudinally of said shank portion and each rivet traveling along said feed tube with said shank portion disposed forwardly of said head portion, said apparatus comprising: (a) means defining a rivet-receiving opening located in a plane, said opening being of a size to receive the shank of a rivet and having an edge formation for supporting the rivet head in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of the rivet is substantially perpendicular to said plane; (b) means defining a passage leading from said feed tube having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said plane and said passage converging in a direction toward said rivet-receiving opening for funneling and slowing a rivet traveling toward said opening and preventing flipping and jamming of rivets; and (c) means defining an air jet passage opening to said converging passage for directing a jet of air toward said opening and traversing the path of the rivet traveling toward said opening and disposed at a predetermined angle relative to said plane containing said opening to act on the rivet and hold it in position supported by said opening.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge formation surrounding said rivet-receiving opening is contoured to avoid flat surfaces and sharp corners which otherwise could cause jamming of rivets.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air jet passage is disposed at an angle of about 65 degrees with respect to said plane.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said edge formation surrounding said opening includes at least one surface portion disposed at an angle selected to provide a contour which accepts a rivet without allowing tipping or jamming of the rivet.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the edge formation surrounding said rivet receiving opening includes a first surface portion leading from said opening and disposed at a first inclination with respect to the plane of said opening and a second surface portion leading from said first portion and disposed at a second inclination with respect to the plane of said opening, said first and second inclinations being different.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first inclination is greater than said second inclination.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first surface portion defines an angle of about 50 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the plane of said opening and said second surface portion defines an angle of about 60 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the plane of said opening.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1, further including means defining a slot extending from said rivet-receiving opening having spaced apart substantially parallel edges, said edges being spaced apart a distance allowing the rivet shank to pass through and at the same time engaging the rivet head in a supporting manner.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8, further including means defining a pair of transition surface portions between said opening and said edges of said slot.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, further including movable means for engaging the shank portions of rivets to move the same from said opening along said slot into engagement with rivet holding fingers of said riveting machine.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means defining said converging passage has a first end and a second end of smaller diameter, said first end being in registry with the exit end of said feed tube and said second end being in registry with said rivet receiving opening so that upon leaving said passage a rivet immediately comes to rest in said opening.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air jet passage opens to said converging passage near said rivet-receiving opening.

Claim 14

In a riveting machine, apparatus for maintaining rivets in a predetermined orientation as they are received from a feed tube having an exit end for subsequent injection into rivet grasping means, each rivet having a head portion, a shank portion of smaller cross-section extending therefrom, and an axis extending longitudinally of said shank portion and each rivet traveling along said feed tube with said shank portion disposed forwardly of said head portion, said apparatus comprising: (a) means defining a rivet-receiving opening located in a plane, said opening being of a size to receive the shank of a rivet and having an edge formation for supporting the rivet head in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of the rivet is substantially perpendicular to said plane; (b) means defining a passage leading from said feed tube having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said plane, a first end and a second end of smaller diameter, said passage converging in a direction toward said rivet-receiving opening for funneling and slowing a rivet traveling toward said opening and preventing flipping and jamming of rivets, said first end of said passage being in registry with the exit end of said feed tube and said second end being in registry with said rivet-receiving opening so that upon leaving said passage a rivet immediately comes to rest in said opening; (c) means defining an air jet passage opening to said converging passage near said rivet-receiving opening for directing a jet of air toward said opening and traversing the path of the rivet traveling toward said opening and disposed at a predetermined angle relative to said plane containing said opening to act on the rivet and hold it in position supported by said opening; and (d) said edge formation surrounding said opening including at least one surface portion disposed at an angle selected to provide a contour which accepts a rivet without allowing tipping or jamming of the rivet.

Claim 15

In a riveting machine, apparatus for maintaining rivets in a predetermined orientation as they are received from a feed tube having an exit end for subsequent injection into rivet grasping means, each rivet having a head portion, a shank portion of smaller cross-section extending therefrom, and an axis extending longitudinally of said shank portion and each rivet traveling along said feed tube with said shank portion disposed forwardly of said head portion, said apparatus comprising: (a) means defining a rivet-receiving opening located in a plane, said opening being of a size to receive the shank of a rivet and having an edge formation for supporting the rivet head in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of the rivet is substantially perpendicular to said plane; (b) means defining a passage leading from said feed tube having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said plane, a first end and a second end of smaller diameter, said passage converging in a direction toward said rivet-receiving opening for funneling and slowing a rivet traveling toward said opening and preventing flipping and jamming of rivets, said first end of said passage being in registry with the exit end of said feed tube and said second end being in registry with said rivet-receiving opening so that upon leaving said passage a rivet immediately comes to rest in said opening; (c) means defining an air jet passage opening to said converging passage near said rivet-receiving opening for directing a jet of air toward said opening and traversing the path of the rivet traveling toward said opening and disposed at a predetermined angle relative to said plane containing said opening to act on the rivet and hold it in position supported by said opening; and (d) said edge formation surrounding said opening including at least one surface portion disposed at an angle selected to provide a contour which accepts a rivet without allowing tipping or jamming of the rivet.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the edge formation surrounding said rivet receiving opening includes a first surface portion leading from said opening and disposed at a first inclination with respect to the plane of said opening and a second surface portion leading from said first portion and disposed at a second inclination with respect to the plane of said opening, said first and second inclinations being different.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first inclination is greater than said second inclination.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first surface portion defines an angle of about 50 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the plane of said opening and said second surface portion defines an angle of about 60 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the plane of said opening.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13, further including means defining a slot extending from said rivet-receiving opening having spaced apart substantially parallel edges, said edges being spaced apart a distance allowing the rivet shank to pass through and at the same time engaging the rivet head in a supporting manner.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 17, further including means defining a pair of transition surface portions between said opening and said edges of said slot.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17, further including movable means for engaging the shank portions of rivets to move the same from said opening along said slot into engagement with rivet holding fingers of said riveting machine.