Rivet Feeding System

Abstract

A rivet feeding system having a hopper, an inclined rail, and a fastening assembly is disclosed. The hopper accommodates a plurality of rivets, each having a head and a tail, in a barrel rotatably mounted to a stationary back. The hopper permits a single rivet to exit the hopper at a time and the exiting rivets are received by the inclined rail. The inclined rail has a channel defined by two sidewalls and the channel is sized to accommodate the rivet tail and the two sidewalls are positioned to support the rivet head. The inclined rail is positioned to receive rivets in a first orientation and to deliver rivets to the fastening assembly in a second orientation that is distinct from the first orientation. The fastening assembly includes a stationary anvil positioned below a moveable punch and a pair of pivotable jaws positioned between the anvil and the moveable punch.

1 . A rivet feeding system comprising:
 a hopper configured to accommodate a plurality of rivets, each rivet having a head and a tail, wherein the hopper includes a barrel rotatably mounted to a stationary back, the barrel includes a plurality of notches formed around a rim, and the rim is spaced a distance apart from the stationary back to permit a single rivet to exit the hopper at a time by the rivet tail passing through a notch in the barrel and the rivet head passing between the rim of the barrel and the stationary back;   an inclined rail positioned to receive a rivet exiting the hopper, the inclined rail having a channel defined by two sidewalls, wherein the channel is sized to accommodate the rivet tail and the two sidewalls are positioned to support the rivet head; and   a fastening assembly comprising a stationary anvil positioned below a moveable punch and a pair of pivotable jaws positioned between the anvil and the moveable punch,   wherein the inclined rail includes a first end positioned to receive rivets from the hopper and a second end positioned to deliver rivets to the fastening assembly, and   wherein the inclined rail is positioned to receive rivets at the first end in a first orientation and to deliver rivets to the fastening assembly in a second orientation that is distinct from the first orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the inclined rail is positioned above the second end of the inclined rail and rivets are transported from the first end of the inclined rail to the second end of the inclined rail by gravity alone. 
     
     
         3 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel of the inclined rail includes an upper surface positioned to contact the rivet heads retained therein. 
     
     
         4 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the first orientation of the rivets received by the inclined rail is a horizontal orientation and the second orientation of the rivets delivered to the fastening assembly is a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the two pivotable jaws each have a recessed region sized to support a rivet head. 
     
     
         6 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 5 , wherein the recessed regions of the two pivotable jaws form a circular pocket for the rivet head. 
     
     
         7 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the two pivotable jaws are each spring-loaded. 
     
     
         8 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to feed tubular rivets, semi-tubular rivets, or solid rivets. 
     
     
         9 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is configured to feed rivets having a diameter of ⅛ inches. 
     
     
         10 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 9 , wherein the system configured to feed rivets having a maximum grip length of less than ⅛ inches. 
     
     
         11 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a singulation device configured to receive rivets from the second end of the inclined rail and to transport the rivets to the fastening assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 11 , wherein the singulation device is operated by a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a T-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The rivet feeding system of  claim 13 , wherein the channel has a first width and a second width, the first width is positioned closer to an opening of the channel than the second width, and the first width of the channel is less than the second width of the channel.