The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1991
David Michalewski, Cheektowaga, NY (US);
Robert J Kellner, Orchard Park, NY (US);
James J Birke, N. Tonawanda, NY (US);
Mark J Andrews, Niagara Falls, NY (US);
Steven Gross, Lancaster, NY (US);
Gemcor Engineering Corp., Buffalo, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus (10) for fastening upper and lower workpieces (20, 22) without movement of the workpieces. The apparatus is provided with a frame having upper and lower portions (24.1, 24.2) carrying upper and lower riveting ram assemblies (26, 28), respectively. Each riveting ram assembly includes a buck ram (30 or 32), a buck ram moving assembly (62 or 90, 92), a pressure foot (34 or 36), a pressure foot moving assembly (38 or 40), a buck ram position measuring device (74 or 104), and a pressure foot position measuring device (78 or 108). The upper pressure foot moving assembly (38) further includes an upper pressure foot compensation cylinder assembly (42). The apparatus also includes a load cell (112) carried by one of the buck rams for sending a force signal in response to the force being applied to the fastener during upset and thereafter. A programmable process controller (82) is provided which is capable of having programmed into it the length of a fastener, and a deflection compensation table which sets forth the deflection of a portion of the frame during upset. The controller modulates sequential operation of the various moving assemblies during operation to move the buck rams and the pressure feet in response to signals received from the position measuring devices and the load cell in such a manner that the fastener may be upset while maintaining the upper surface (122) of the upper workpiece (20) in a desired workplane (124) even though one portion of the frame may deflect more than another portion of the frame.