System and method for riveting clips to conveyor-belt ends

Abstract

A clip-mounting machine secure a clip by at least one rivet to a belt end. The clip has front and back legs each formed with a throughgoing hole and adapted to embrace the belt end with each leg engaging the respective belt face and a U-shaped bight interconnecting the legs. The rivet has one end formed as a head with an outwardly directed end face and an opposite free end formed with an oppositely directed end face centrally formed with a generally conical recess. The machine has a front jaw formed with at least one guide passage adapted to hold the rivet, a holder on the front jaw for retaining the front leg of the clip thereon with the respective hole aligned with the passage, and a back jaw displaceable between a closed position relatively close to and engaging the back leg of the clip whose front leg is in the holder to compress the belt end between the legs and an open position spaced from and not engaging the clip in the holder. A centering point is provided on the back jaw aligned with the holes of the legs in the closed position. A punch displaceable in the guide passage drives the rivet along the passage, through the hole in the front leg, through the belt, and through the hole in the back leg until the recess fits over the centering point and the free rivet end on the point is upset to form another head.