Automated percussive riveting system

Abstract

A fastener carrier for fasteners for use in a riveting system, said carrier comprising at least one holding zone and at least one release zone, wherein said holding zone holds a fastener in a stored position and said release zone releases said fastener from said carrier, said holding zone having a diameter smaller than said release zone.

1 . A fastener carrier for fasteners for use in a riveting system, said carrier comprising at least one holding zone and at least one release zone, wherein said holding zone holds a fastener in a stored position and said release zone releases said fastener from said carrier, said holding zone having a diameter smaller than said release. 
     
     
         2 . The fastener carrier of  claim 1  wherein said holding zone and said release zone are proximate each other, further said holding zone comprises an aperture of a first diameter and said release zone comprises an aperture of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, further said holding zone and said release zone are interconnected. 
     
     
         3 . The fastener carrier of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of holding zones and release zones wherein each pair of said holding zone and release zone are evenly spaced on the fastener carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The fastener carrier of  claim 3  wherein the carrier is a tape, the fastener is a rivet having a stem and a head, while the diameter of the holding zone is substantially equal to the diameter of the rivet stem and the diameter of the release zone is at least larger than the rivet head. 
     
     
         5 . The fastener carrier of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of holding zone and release zone pairs. 
     
     
         6 . The fastener carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener feeding system, wherein said fastener feeding system comprises:
 a holder for the fastener carrier, 
 an opening to receive a hammer to fasten a fastener, 
 an advancing unit for movement of said fastener carrier to said opening, 
 a controller for controlling the position of the fastener carrier. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said controller further controls the speed and direction of motion of said fastener carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The fastener feeding system of  claim 6 , further comprising: a support system for supporting a fastening device, wherein said support system is selected from the group consisting of handheld systems, stationary systems and robot supported systems; preferably said fastening device is selected from a pressure or percussion device, 
     
     
         9 . The fastener feeding system of  claim 8  wherein said fastening device is a percussive riveting device comprising a plunger. 
     
     
         10 . The fastener feeding system of  claim 9 , further comprising a control system comprising a software program, wherein said program receives data input, such as material properties and fasteners positions, and generates instructions to said fastener application system. 
     
     
         11 . The fastener feeding system of  claim 8  further comprising a backing system, said backing system comprising a mobile gantry, controlled by CNC control to provide a hitting surface for the fastening device. 
     
     
         12 . The backing system of  claim 11  further utilized as a jig for mounting and holding members to be fastened. 
     
     
         13 . The backing system of  claim 11  wherein said system has at least two degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         14 . The backing system of  claim 13  wherein said system has at least 3 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         15 . The backing system of  claim 14  wherein said system has at least 5 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         16 . The fastener feeding system of  claim 9 , further comprising a microprocessor system comprising a software program and a backing system, the software program controlling and synchronizing the fastener feeding system and the backing system to perform fastening of pre-drilled members by rivets. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8  configured to perform percussive riveting fastening by a repetitive cycle of operations as follows:
 moving a fastener application system by a support system to a riveting position; 
 moving a mobile gantry to a riveting position; 
 feeding a rivet into the fastener application system; 
 forwarding fastener application system to insert rivet; 
 energizing fastening device to rivet; 
 retracting support system; and 
 retracting mobile gantry. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method of fastening by percussive riveting of two or more predrilled members comprising the following steps:
 positioning a rivet in front of a percussive plunger,   setting the rivet inside a predrilled hole of the predrilled members by the means of a support system,   forwarding a fastener carrier to the operational position in which the head of the rivet is positioned proximate the center of a release zone of the fastener carrier,   setting a backing system in an operating position,   actuating a percussive plunger in order to fasten the predrilled members by the means of pressing the rivet between a hitting surface and the percussive plunger thus plastically deforming said rivet.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  controlled by a microprocessor system. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A fastener application system, for introducing a fastener for attachment of two or more predrilled members, said system comprising: a robotic support system for supporting a percussive fastening device comprising a plunger, and a fastener feeding system; said fastener feeding system comprises a feeding channel to support the fastener carrier in front of the plunger of the percussive fastening device, an aperture in the feeding channel for passing the plunger of the fastening device, a forwarding mechanism to forward the fastener carrier through the feeding channel, a fastener feeding control system to control the position of the fastener and the fastener carrier in the fastener application system.