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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.:

US 9687946 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2017

Filed:

Apr. 18, 2014

Automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly

Applicant:

The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, CA (US);

Inventors:

David William Cole, Bellevue, WA (US);

Franklin Bernard French, Auburn, WA (US);

Daniel Thomas Long, Federal Way, WA (US);

Assignee:

THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US);

Attorney:

Armstrong Teasdale LLP

Primary Examiner:

Erica E Cadugan

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B23P 23/00 (2006.01); B23P 19/06 (2006.01); B23B 39/00 (2006.01); B23Q 3/18 (2006.01); B23B 35/00 (2006.01); B23P 19/12 (2006.01); B23P 19/04 (2006.01); B21J 15/14 (2006.01); B64F 5/00 (2017.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B23Q 3/183 (2013.01); B21J 15/142 (2013.01); B23B 35/00 (2013.01); B23P 19/04 (2013.01); B23P 19/06 (2013.01); B23P 19/12 (2013.01); B23B 39/00 (2013.01); B23P 2700/01 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); Y10S 901/41 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49815 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49947 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49954 (2015.01); Y10T 29/5107 (2015.01); Y10T 29/5143 (2015.01); Y10T 29/5176 (2015.01); Y10T 29/5191 (2015.01); Y10T 29/53 (2015.01); Y10T 408/93 (2015.01);
Abstract

An automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly is provided. The apparatus includes an end effector, a cutting mechanism coupled to the end effector and that forms an opening in the assembly when a potential opening location is substantially aligned with a cutting mechanism center point. The apparatus also includes at least one of a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly coupled to the end effector. The first sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener insertion mechanism that inserts a temporary fastener through the opening in the assembly when the opening is substantially aligned with an insertion mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point. The second sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener removal mechanism that removes installed temporary fasteners from the assembly when the installed temporary fastener is substantially aligned with a removal mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point.

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