Foot operated riveter with changeable feed assemblies and method of using the same

Abstract

A foot operated riveter with changeable feed assembly and a method of use is disclosed. The riveter includes a slot which is shaped and configured to receive a complementary connector provided on one or more feed assemblies. Each feed assembly is provided to hold and supply a different type of fastener for securing workpieces together. The connector on the feed assembly also includes a locking member for locking the feed assembly to the riveter. The riveter also includes an enclosed linkage assembly which connects the foot pedal to a plunger which drives a fastener presented by the engaged feed assembly into one or more workpieces.

1 . A riveter and a feed assembly in combination, wherein the feed assembly is adapted to hold and feed a plurality of a first fastener; and wherein the feed assembly is selectively detachably engageable with the riveter. 
     
     
         2 . The combination as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the riveter includes a head which defines a slot therein; wherein the slot is of a first cross-sectional shape; and the feed assembly includes a connector having a first region complementary in configuration to the first cross-sectional shape, and when the feed assembly is engaged with the riveter, the first region is received within the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The combination as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first region dovetails with the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The combination as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the slot has an opening thereto defined in a face of a head of the riveter; and wherein the first region of the connector is insertable into the opening to the slot and moves along the slot to an operational position. 
     
     
         5 . The combination as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the slot is horizontally oriented. 
     
     
         6 . The combination as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the connector further includes a locking member configured to retain the feed assembly in the slot in a fixed position. 
     
     
         7 . The combination as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the locking member comprises a thumbscrew that is rotatable in a first direction and into a locking position thereby preventing relative motion between the first region and the slot; and the thumbscrew is rotatable in a second direction to an unlocked position where relative motion between the first region and the slot is possible. 
     
     
         8 . The combination as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising an assembly stop provided on the head a distance inwardly from the face of the head which defines the opening to the slot; said assembly stop limiting inward travel of the first region of the engaged feed assembly in a direction away from the face. 
     
     
         9 . The combination as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the assembly stop comprises a projection extending outwardly into the slot from a wall which defines the slot therein. 
     
     
         10 . The combination as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the riveter is a foot-operated riveter. 
     
     
         11 . The combination as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the foot-operated riveter comprises:
 a base adapted to rest on a floor surface;   a post extending upwardly from the base; wherein the head of the riveter is mounted on the post a distance from the base;   a foot pedal extending outwardly from the post;   a plunger mounted for reciprocal movement within the head, said plunger being positioned to engage a part of the feed assembly and to contact a fastener retained by that part; and   a linkage assembly engaged with the foot pedal and the plunger;   wherein movement of the foot pedal in a first direction causes the linkage assembly to move the plunger within the head in a first manner; and   movement of the foot pedal in a second direction causes the linkage assembly to move the plunger within the head in a second manner.   
     
     
         12 . The combination as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the post defines a bore therein and the portion of the linkage assembly not in the head is retained entirely within the bore of the post. 
     
     
         13 . The combination as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the feed assembly comprises:
 a tumbler including a feed chute with an opening into which the plurality of the first fasteners are adapted to be fed;   a raceway extending downwardly from the tumbler and defining a feedslot therein which is adapted to receive first fasteners therein one at a time from the tumbler;   a pair of opposed spring arms secured to the raceway;   a guide block provided on each spring arm;   a channel defined between the guide blocks of the two spring arms, the channel being adapted to receive a lowermost first fastener from the raceway therein; and wherein the plunger passes through the channel and is adapted to contact the lowermost first fastener.   
     
     
         14 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the feed assembly further comprises a lever arm operatively engaged with a rotatable section of the tumbler and with the plunger; said lever arm being movable by the plunger between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         15 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the feed assembly further includes a spring extending between the lever arm and the tumbler; and the spring returns the lever arm from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a rivet stop provided on one of the spring arms; said rivet stop being adapted to selectively contact the second from lowermost first fastener and prevent this second from lowermost first fastener from moving downwardly along the raceway. 
     
     
         17 . The combination as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the spring arms are spaced a first distance from each other adjacent the stop when the plunger extends through the channel; and the spring arms are spaced a second distance from each other adjacent the rivet stop when the plunger does not extend through the channel; and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         18 . The combination as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the rivet stop is adapted to prevent downward movement of the second from lowermost first fastener when the spring arms are spaced the second distance from each other; and
 the rivet stop does not prevent downward movement of the second from lowermost fastener when the spring arms are spaced the first distance from each other.   
     
     
         19 . The combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second feed assembly that is selectively detachably engaged with the riveter when the feed assembly is disengaged from the riveter; wherein the at least one second feed assembly is adapted to provide second fasteners for the securement of workpieces. 
     
     
         20 . The combination as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the second feed assembly includes a connector having a first region that is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of a slot in the riveter. 
     
     
         21 . The combination as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one second feed assembly includes a locking member provided on the connector thereof, said locking member being moved between a locked and unlocked position; and when the locking member is in the locked position, the at least one second feed assembly is secured to the riveter; and when the locking member is in the unlocked position, the at least one second feed assembly is detachable from the riveter. 
     
     
         22 . A method of using a riveter to secure two separate workpieces together; said method comprising:
 providing a riveter having a base adapted to rest on a floor surface, a post extending upwardly from the base, a foot pedal extending outwardly from the post, a plunger mounted for reciprocal movement within the head, and a linkage assembly operatively engaged with the foot pedal and the plunger; wherein movement of the foot pedal in a first direction causes the linkage assembly to move the plunger within the head in a first manner; and movement of the foot pedal in a second direction causes the linkage assembly to move the plunger within the head in a second manner;   providing a first feed assembly which holds and delivers a type of first fastener for securement of the workpieces;   engaging the first assembly with the riveter; and   operating the riveter to drive one or more of the first fasteners into the workpieces to secure the workpieces together.   
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing a second feed assembly which holds and delivers a type of second fastener for securement of the workpieces;   selecting one of the types of first or second fasteners to secure the two workpieces together;   selecting the associated one of the first and second feed assemblies;   engaging the selected one of the first and second feed assemblies with the riveter; and   operating the riveter to drive one or more of the selected first or second fasteners into the workpieces to secure the workpieces together.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the step of engaging the selected one of the first and second feed assemblies with the riveter includes:
 inserting a first region of a connector on the selected one of the first and second feed assemblies into a slot on a head of the riveter;   moving the first region of the connector along the slot in a first direction.   
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the step of engaging further includes:
 contacting an assembly stop on the head of the riveter with a first end of the first region of the connector; and   engaging a locking member to prevent further motion of the first region of the connector along the slot.   
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the step of engaging the locking member includes:
 rotating the locking member in a first direction;   applying pressure on the first region of the connector; and   urging the first region of the connector into frictional engagement with a wall of the riveter which defines the slot within which the first region of the connector is received.   
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising:
 depressing the foot pedal in a first direction;   moving the plunger downwardly to drive a lowermost of the selected one of the first and second fasteners disposed in the selected one of the first and second feed assemblies through the workpieces;   joining the workpieces together;   releasing the foot pedal so that the foot pedal moves in a second direction;   moving the plunger upwardly away from the workpieces; and   removing the joined workpieces from the riveter.   
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 sliding a plurality of the selected one of the first and second fasteners along a feedslot in the selected one of the first and second feed assemblies;   positioning the lowermost of the plurality of the selected ones of the first and second fasteners in a position to be engaged by the plunger when the plunger moves downwardly.   
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , further comprising:
 positioning workpieces to be joined above a spreader on the riveter;   depressing the foot pedal to move the plunger downwardly toward the spreader;   contacting the lowermost of the plurality of the selected ones of the first and second fasteners with a tip of the plunger;   driving the lowermost of the plurality of the selected ones of the first and second fasteners downwardly and into the workpieces to be jointed;   spreading a shaft of the lowermost of the plurality of the selected ones of the first and second fasteners using the spreader.   
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , further comprising:
 selecting new workpieces to be joined together above the spreader.   
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 30 , further comprising the step of selecting the other of the first and second fasteners to join the new workpieces together. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 31 , further comprising:
 changing a tip of the plunger to be complementary to the selected other of the first and second fasteners.   
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 32 , further comprising:
 changing the spreader to be complementary to the selected other of the first and second fasteners.   
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising:
 rotating the locking member in a second direction;   releasing pressure on the first region of the connector;   moving the first region of the connector along the slot in a second direction until the first region of the connector moves out of an opening to the slot; and   engaging the other of the first and second feed assemblies with the riveter.   
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the step of engaging the other of the first and second feed assemblies includes:
 inserting a first region of a connector on the selected other of the first and second feed assemblies into the opening to the slot;   moving the first region of the connector of the selected other of the first and second feed assemblies along the slot in the first direction;   contacting the assembly stop with the first region of the connector of the selected other of the first and second feed assemblies to halt further movement thereof in the first direction; and   engaging a locking member on the selected other of the first and second feed assemblies to lock the selected other of the first and second feed assemblies to the riveter.   
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 35 , further comprising:
 depressing the foot pedal of the riveter in a first direction;   moving the plunger downwardly to drive one of the selected other of the first and second fasteners disposed in the selected other one of the first and second feed assemblies through the new workpieces to be joined;   joining the new workpieces together;   releasing the foot pedal so that the foot pedal moves in a second direction;   moving the plunger upwardly away from the joined new workpieces; and   removing the joined new workpieces from the riveter.