Multifastener Corporation

Fabristeel Products, Inc.

Dale H Goodsmith

Harold A Ladouceur

John J Vrana

David W Sickels

Harold T Woods

Jon M Smallegan

Kenneth V York

Horton Matthews

A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Method of feeding and installing self-attaching nuts

Fastener feed and installation head

An installation apparatus for use in attaching fasteners to a panel is provided having a magazine plate, plunger, fastener holder and retainer. The fastener holder is comprised of an elastically expanding body and includes generally inwardly sloping internal sidewalls defining a conically shaped passage therethrough and wall members which are slit therethrough. The installation apparatus is of particular use in fastener dispensing and installation devices which require the fastener to maintain a precise orientation during delivery and fastening.

Fastener installation apparatus

An installation head for attaching self-attaching fastening elements, including self-clinching, self-riveting and self-piercing fasteners. The installation head of this invention includes a self-cleaning means built into the installation head for cleaning the fastener sensing means, such as a conventional proximity switch, each time a fastener is installed by the installation head. The installation head may be a conventional installation head, including a first passage receiving the fastening elements, a second passage intersecting the first passage through which a plunger reciprocates to install the fasteners and a fastener sensor means, such as a proximity switch, in the second passage opposite the first passage to sense the presence of a self-attaching fastening element ready for installation beneath the free end of the plunger. The cleaning means in the improved installation head of this invention comprises an air passage in the plunger having an outlet adjacent the free end of the plunger, preferably angularly directed toward the fastener sensor means, which sweeps across the sensor means with each stroke of the plunger, thereby cleaning the fastener sensor means of oil, burs, chips and other debris which may collect on the fastener sensor means during normal operation. In the most preferred embodiment, the plunger includes a plurality of generally parallel ports directing a plurality of air jets toward the fastener sensor means, sequentially sweeping across the sensor means as the plunger reciprocates through the second passage to install a self-attaching fastening element.

Self-attaching fastener installation head

A quick disconnect system for use in rapidly changing die shoes in a press. The system is adapted for use with a fastener installation head. The system includes a receptacle connected to a supply of fasteners and a power outlet connected to a power means, both mounted in the press, and a fastener plug and power inlet connected to the installation head and mounted in the die shoe. The die shoe is adapted to be mounted adjacent the receptacle and inlet. Upon engagement, fasteners and power are supplied to the installation head. In the preferred embodiment, there are several receptacles located in the press to accommodate any number and location of plugs. In this manner, the die shoes act as a unit and, by fastening a die shoe to the press, fastener supply and power supply are automatically connected to the installation head regardless of the position of the installation heads.

Quick disconnect coupler

The present invention relates to an automatic verification probe for verifying the proper installation of a fastener to a workpiece. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of probes are used in a single press to test each fastener for proper installation. The probe has a fluid-operated extensible member mounted to the ram or base of the press. By extension of the member, each fastener is tested individually to verify proper location, absence of material in the thread cylinder and minimum retention capability.

Verification probe

The fastener installation head and bolster assembly of this invention is particularly adapted to assure constant installation pressure for fasteners installed in a reciprocating press die, such as pierce and clinch nuts. The fastener installation head includes a plunger supported on one die platen, a movable housing member which receives the fasteners to be installed, reciprocably supported on the plunger, and a die member supported on the opposed die platen, opposite the movable housing plunger passage. The bolster assembly includes a fluid pressure ram operably supporting the plunger between the plunger and the die platen having a source of constant fluid pressure and a plunger release which permits the plunger to recede when the press tonage exceeds the preferred fastener installation force.

Fastener installation tool and bolster assembly

In a nut installation head having a nut passage receiving a plurality of nuts in side by side relation, a transverse plunger passage communicating with said nut passage, a plunger reciprocating in said plunger passage to install a nut received in said plunger passage, a reciprocal feed for feeding a nut successively into said plunger passage, said head having an apertured nose with said plunger passage extending through said nose and said nut passage extending into said nose and said plunger moving through said nose. The improvement comprises a nut guide for said head, including a cylindrical slot formed in said nose, parallel to and displaced laterally of said plunger passage. A resilient retainer is nested within said slot having an upright recess. A hardened steel dowel of cylindrical shape is positioned within said slot and laterally and guidably nested partly within the retainer recess with a portion of the dowel extending into the plunger passage to guidably support a nut therein. Successive downward movement of the plunger moving said nut along said dowel is adapted to forcefully project the nut into piercing and interlocking registry with a panel underlying said nose, said dowel guidably engaging said nut during its downward movements. Said dowel is adapted for transverse movement and resilient deforming engagement with said retainer as the nut is moved past said dowel. Said dowel under the expansive action of said retainer automatically returns into said plunger passage to its initial nut supporting position.

Nut guide for installation head

A fastener installation head having a fastener receiving passage, a transverse plunger passage having a reciprocating plunger therein, a feed means feeding fasteners from the fastener passage beneath the plunger and a restrictor means preventing a fastener located ready for installation from withdrawing into the fastener passage. The restrictor means includes an arm pivotally connected to the fastener installation head having a finger resiliently biased into the fastener receiving passage, normally blocking withdrawal of a fastener from the ready location. The stop finger includes a camming face facing fasteners entering the plunger passage, whereby a fastener may enter the plunger passage upon actuation of the feed means but is prevented from withdrawing into the fastener passage.

Fastener installation head

A fastener installation head having a reciprocating plunger receiving fasteners through a transverse fastener passage from a feed means. The feed means comprising a drive link pivotally connected to a stationary housing component, a guide means translating the arcuate motion of the drive link free end into linear motion relative to a relatively movable housing component, a driven link pivotally connected to the movable housing component and a pawl means reciprocating in the fastener passage feeding fasteners to the plunger.

A fastener installation head having a reciprocating plunger receiving fasteners through a transverse fastener passage from a feed means and a fastener sensor means located within the fastener passage sensing the presence or absence of fasteners in the fastener passage ready for installation. The fastener sensor means includes an electrical switch which may be interconnected to the plunger activation circuit, opening the circuit and stopping the plunger when a fastener is not ready for installation.

A fastener installation head having a nut receiving passage, a transverse plunger passage, a plunger reciprocating in the plunger passage through the intersection of the passages and a guide means for the nuts in the plunger passage. The guide means includes a pair of parallel rails generally in the plane of the nut supporting surface of the nut passage, supporting a nut beneath the plunger. The rails are resiliently biased to support the nut until impact by the plunger. Further, a resilient pad parallel to the reciprocating axis of the plunger is provided to guide the nut through the plunger passage.

A fastener installation head having a nut receiving passage, a transverse plunger passage having a reciprocating plunger therein, a feed means feeding nuts from the nut passage to the plunger passage and a stop means preventing nuts from entering the plunger passage except upon actuation of the feed means. The stop means comprising two parallel cylindrical posts located on opposite sides of the nut passage at the intersection of the passages. The cylindrical posts being resiliently biased into the fastener receiving passage and normally preventing fasteners from entering the plunger passage except upon actuation of the feed means.

A fastener installation head having a first passage receiving fasteners, a second transverse passage having a reciprocating plunger, a feed means feeding fasteners from the first passage to the second passage, beneath the plunger, during each downward stroke of the plunger and a stop means preventing a fastener from being fed into the second plunger passage except during the downward stroke of the plunger. The stop means comprising a stop lever pivotally connected to the housing within the plunger passage and the plunger having camming surfaces rotating the stop lever into and out of blocking engagement with the first fastener receiving passage. In the disclosed embodiment, a nut entering the plunger passage will cam the stop out of blocking relation upon actuation of the plunger.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Dale H Goodsmith