CA1233624A - Fastener installation apparatus - Google Patents
Fastener installation apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1233624A CA1233624A CA000476046A CA476046A CA1233624A CA 1233624 A CA1233624 A CA 1233624A CA 000476046 A CA000476046 A CA 000476046A CA 476046 A CA476046 A CA 476046A CA 1233624 A CA1233624 A CA 1233624A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- plunger
- passage
- stationary
- moveable member
- self
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A simplified reliable fastener installation apparatus or head assembly particularly suitable for installing self-attaching pierce or clinch nuts.
The head assembly includes a stationary base plate for attachment to a die shoe and a mating relatively moveable member. The moveable member, which may be formed from a single block of metal, includes intersecting transverse passages, including a first passage receiving fasteners for installation and a plunger passage. The head portion of T-shaped plunger is retained by the base plate and the plunger leg portion is telescopically received in the plunger passage of the moveable member. The moveable member is retained to the stationary member, stabilized and guided by guide bolts which are threadably attached to the base member and parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger.
A simplified reliable fastener installation apparatus or head assembly particularly suitable for installing self-attaching pierce or clinch nuts.
The head assembly includes a stationary base plate for attachment to a die shoe and a mating relatively moveable member. The moveable member, which may be formed from a single block of metal, includes intersecting transverse passages, including a first passage receiving fasteners for installation and a plunger passage. The head portion of T-shaped plunger is retained by the base plate and the plunger leg portion is telescopically received in the plunger passage of the moveable member. The moveable member is retained to the stationary member, stabilized and guided by guide bolts which are threadably attached to the base member and parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger.
Description
~233~j~4 152.312 FASTENER INSTALLATION APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastener instillation apparatus having a reciprocating plunger, which is particularly suitable for instilling self-attaching fasteners, such as pierce and clinch nuts. More specifically, the present invention relates to instillation heads for pierce and clinch nuts of simple, rugged design.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The fastener installation head of this invention is particularly although not exclusively, designed for self-piercing fasteners or pierce nuts, such as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,648,747, assigned to the assignee of the instant application. The pierce nut disclosed in said patent includes a rectangular pilot which pierces an opening in a panel, 8 pair of flanges on opposed sides of the plot having panel bearing faces spaced below the pilot and reentrant grooves in the Lange bearing surfaces, on opposed sides of the pilot.
Upon forced engagement with the panel, the pilot pierces an opening in the panel and the pierced panel edges are deformed into and retained by the reentrant grooves. The pierce nuts may be interconnected by fraslgible connector means, as shown in United States Patent No. 39845,860, assigned to the assignee of the instant application, or in bullock form. The installation apparatus of this invention may also be used to install the generally T-shaped pierce nuts as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,152,628, or clinch nuts as disclosed in United States Patent No. 29750,660; both patents are fissioned to the assignee of the instant application.
,., 1~3~4 Installation heads for pierce and clinch nuts goner-ally include telescopic housing members, which are relatively complex in design and machined from metal castings. The tote-scopic portions of the housing members provide support and guidance for the reciprocating or movable housing member, as shown in United States Patents Nos. 3,098,576 and 3,108,368, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the instant asp-ligation. As shown, in the above referenced patents, the housing assembly includes several components, including a fixed housing member which supports and retains the plunger and a relatively movable housing assembly which includes a sup-crate nose piece and a feeder tongue assembly. The feeder tongue assembly includes a passage which receives the pierce nuts and which communicates with a coccal aligned passage in the nose piece. The nose piece includes a plunger passage which telescopically receives the end of the plunger for in-stallation of pierce nuts received from the tongue assembly, beneath the plunger. The separate movable housing member supports and guides the nose piece and tongue assembly during installation of a nut.
More recently, pierce nut installation heads include a positive feed mechanism located within the telescopic housing assembly, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,969,808.
The positive feed mechanism includes a feed paw, which is driven by a linkage, interconnected between the telescopic housing members which feeds a pierce nut beneath the plunger upon each stroke of the press.
Pierce nut installation heads are generally incorporated in a die press assembly, wherein the pierce nut is installed in a panel and the panel may be simultaneously formed by the die press. The stationary housing member is 1233~
152.312 attached to a die shoe, platter or die member and the panel is supported on a piercing or clinching die located in the die press assembly opposite the plunger passage of the nose piece. Upon relative movement of the die press assembly, the nose piece engages the panel end collapses the telescopic housing assembly.
The plunger engages a nut received through the nut passages to install the nut in the panel, as described in the above referenced patents.
The pierce nut installfltion head assemblies disclosed in the prior art are relatively complex, expensive end subject to failure. There is a need, therefore, for R simple, rugged pierce nut installation head assembly, as disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As described above, the installation apparatus or head assembly of this invention is adapted for installing self-attaching fasteners, particularly self-piercing fasteners, such as pierce nuts Ed clinch nuts. The apparatus includes Q
stationary member for attachment to a die shoe or member and a relatively movable member. The movable member includes a first passage for receiving the pierce nuts or self-attaching fasteners and a transverse plunger passage intersecting the first passage. A plunger is connected to the stationary member and projects into the plunger passage of the movably member, in telescopic relation. A spring means, such as a conventional coil spring, is resiliently biased between the stationary and movable members and normally separates the movable member from the stationary member. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the movable member is supported for movement and guided by elongated ode members which a-e parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger. In the disclosed embodiment, the guide members are bolts which are received in parallel coccal aligned bores in the movable and stationary 152.312 members. The ends of the jolts are thread~bly fastened to the stationary member and the bolts include an enlarged head portion disposed in counter bores in thy movable member, permitting limited movement of the movable member, relative to the stationary member for installation of the pierce nut us described above. Briefly, self-attaching fasteners or pierce nuts are received in the first passage in the movable member, beneath the plunger in the plunger passage.
When the movable member engages a panel supported on a pierce or clinch die, as described above, the movable member is moved toward the stationary member, telescoping the purer in the plunger passage and installing a fastener in the panel.
In the simplified, rugged design of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the stationary or base member may be a metal plate having sun opening or slot which receives or retains the end of the plunger. The plunger ispreferably T-shaped and integrally farmed from a single piece of metal. The head portion is received in an opening or slot in the stationary base member andthe leg portion projects into the plunger passage of the movable member in telescopic relation.
The movesble member of the installation head is preferably formed from a single block of meal having perpendicular intersecting passages, as described above. The guide bolts are received in counter bores in the movablemember and thread ably bolted to the stationary member through spaced parallel coccal aligned bores. As described, the guide bolts are parallel to and equidistant from the axis of the plwlger, permitting limited movement of the movable member, relative to the stationary base plate, against the compression of the spring.
The simplified head assembly of this invention my be generally wedge~haped, having a reduced width at the plwlger for receipt of the working portion of the head in a tight location. The width of the apparatus spaced from I
the plunger is wider to accommodate the spaced guide bolts.
In the preferred embodiment, the axes of the guide bolts are spaced approximately equidistant from each other and the axis of the plunger, defining an equilateral triangle and providing good support for movement of the plunger in the plunger passage.
The installation apparatus or head assembly of this in-mention is therefore relatively simple, yet rugged in con-struction. Further, the head assembly may be made very small and compact, compared to conventional pierce nut installation heads having the complex telescopic construction described hereinabove. Other advantages and meritorious features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the follow-in description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims and the drawings, a brief description of which follows.
In view of the above, therefore, the invention relates to an apparatus for installing a self-attaching fastener on a panel. The apparatus includes a stationary member for attachment of a dye member and a relatively movable member connected to the stationary member, the movable member having a first passage for receiving self-piercing fasteners and a traverse plunger passage intersecting the first passage, and a plunger connected to the stationary member and projecting therefrom into the movable member plunger passage. A spring means is resiliently biased between the stationary and movable members, and spaced guide bolts generally parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger received in parallel coccal aligned bores in the stationary movable members, the connection between the relatively movable members and the stationary member consisting essentially of the guide bolts. The guide bolts are fastened at one end to the stationary member and have an en-tanged head portion disposed in a Canterbury in the movable member.
The guide bolts support and permit limited movement of the move ~L2~33~
able member relative to the stationary member against the reaction of the spring means parallel to the axis of the plunger. The guide bolts and the plunger cooperate to guide the movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member.
The invention further relates to an apparatus for installing self-attaching metal fasteners in a panel, the fasteners each having a projecting pilot portion for piercing an opening in a panel and a groove retaining the fastener in the pierced panel opening. The apparatus is comprised of a stationary base member for attachment Jo a die member and a relatively movable member connected to the stationary base member. The stationary base member and the movable member have mating engaging faces, the movable member having a first passage configured to receive the self attaching fasteners and a traverse plunger passage inter-sooting the first passage, the plunger passage opening into the mating faces and extending through the movable member. A goner-ally T-shaped plunger is provided having a head portion retained in the opening in the base member and an elongated leg portion projecting from the base portion mating face into the plunger passage in telescopic relation. A compression spring is located between the member mating faces resiliently biasing the movable member from the stationary base member, and a pair of spaced guide means generally parallel to and equidistant from the plunger permitting limited movement of the movable member net-alive to the stationary member. The connection between the movable member and the stationary base member consists essentially of the spaced guide means, the movement of the movable member relative to the stationary base member being guided essentially only by the spaced guide means and the plunger. The first pass-age is adapted to receive self-attaching fasteners beneath the plunger when the plunger installs the fasteners in the panel supported opposite the plunger passage upon movement of the movable member relative to the stationary base member.
-I-36~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of one embodiment of the fastener installation apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a side partially cross-sectioned view of the fastener installation apparatus shown in Figure 1 in the direction of view arrows 2-2;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the fastener installation head shown in Figure l;
Figure 4 is an end view of the embodiment of the fast-ever installation shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener - installation apparatus as shown in Figure 2, in the direction of view arrows 5-5.
-5(b~-~;233~
: DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_ As described above, the fastener installation apparatus or head 20 includes a stationary housing member 22, which may be secured to a die shoe or member and a movable housing member 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the stationary housing member includes a base plate 26 and a hardened back-up plate 28, the function of which is described hereinbelow. The base plate 26 and backup plate 28 are secured together by any suitable means, including screws 30.
The movable housing member 24, which may be formed from a single block of metal, includes a first passage or nut pass-age 32 and a transverse intersecting plunger passage 34. The first passage 32 includes an enlarged rectangular opening 36, coccal aligned with the nut passage, which receives a plastic chute 38, which is secured in place by set screws 40. As shown, the screws 40 are threaded into the sides of the plastic chute retaining the chute against accidental removal.
As described above, the fastener installation appear-anus of this invention is particularly adapted to install self piercing fasteners, such as the pierce nuts disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,648,747. Pierce nuts of this type may be supplied in strip form, wherein the fasteners are inter-connected by frangible connector means such as wires as disk closed in United States Patent No. 3,711,931. The fasteners are received in the first passage 32 of the installation head 20 through a flexible chute 38. A separate nut feed mechanism may be provided or the nuts may be fed by gravity. As described above, however, the fastener installation head of this invention may also be utilized to feed other pierce or clinch nuts, ~,336;24 including the T-shaped pierce nut disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,152,628. Also, the nuts may be supplied to the head in bulk or loose form. The plastic chute 38 and first passage 32 are internally configured to receive the self-piercing fasteners to be installed by the installation head.
-I-~33i1~4 152.312 The plunger passage 34 is preferably perpendicular Jo the nutpassage 32 and terminates in an enlarged clearance opening 42 as described hereinbelow. The opposed surfaces OX the stationery housing member and the movable housing member, 44 and 46, respectively, are preferably flat and include coccal aligned cylindrical openings, 48 and 50, respectively, which receive a compression coil spring 52. The coil spring is resiliently biased between the members to norsTIally separate the members, as shown. It will be understood, however, that other spring means may be utilized to perform the same f unction.
The preferred embodiment of the fastener installation apparatus of this invention includes an integral T-shaped plunger 56. The plunger includes a rectangular head portion 58 (see figure 4) which is received in a slot or opening 60 in the base plate 26, and an elongated leg portion 62 which is telescopically received in the plunger passage 34.
The movable member 24 is supported and guided on the base plate 26 for reciprocating motion by two guide bolts 66. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, each of the guide bolts is received in coccal aligned bores in the stationary and movable housing members, 68 and 70, respectively. The guide bolts each include a cylindrical shank portion 72 hiving a threaded end portion 74 which is thread ably received in a threaded counter-bore in the base plate 26.
Each of the guide bolts include an enlarged head portion 76 which is telescopically received in an enlarged cylindrical counter-bore 78 in the movable housing member 24.
As described above, installation heads for self-piercing fasteners are generally incorporated in a die press assembly, wherein the pierce nut is installed in 8 panel and the panel may be simultaneously formed by the die press.
The stationery housing member a is therefore attached to a die shoe, platen or if I 4 152.312 die member, not shown. In the disclosed embodiment, for example, the stationary die member I my be attached Jo Q moveRble die member in a press assembly. Locating holes 82 are provided in the stationary die member for receipt of locating dowels. The locating dowels are received in the die shoe to accurately locate the installation head relative to the clinching die, so described below. In the disclosed embodiment, the stationary die member is provided with three threaded bores 84 for attschnnent of the stationery die member to a die shoe.
The operation of Use disclosed embodiment of the installation head is as follows. Self-piercing fasteners are received in the first p~sssge 32through plastic chute 38. A self-piercing fastener is thus received beneath the plunger 62 in the plunger passage 34. A separate retainer means for the end fastener my be provided as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,946,478 where the nuts ore received in bull form. A support means is not required where the nuts are intercoMected by frangible connector means as described flbove. As shown in Figure 2, the leg portion 62 of the plunger extends into the plunger passage 34, adjacent the intersection of the nut and plunger passages when the housing members are fully separated by the spring 52. In the disclosed embodiment, the leg portion 62 of the plunger is rectangular as shown in Figure 3 sod the plunger passage I is rectangular to closely receive the plunger.
A self-piercing fastener is received in the plunger passage 34, beneath the plunger 56, with the piercing pilot facing the panel, not shown. As described in the above-referenced patents, the panel is normally supported on clinching die opposite the plunger page The clinching die has a rectangular opening, coccal aligned with the plunger pQ~Sage which receives the pilot of the pierce nut and the slug punched from the panel The clinching die my also include clinching lips or upstandDg flanges which deform the panel into locking grooves provided in the nut.
~331~24 ;
152.312 When the die press assembly is closed, the movable housing member 24 first engages the panel, stopping relative movement between the housing member 24 and the panel. Where the stationery member 22 is attached to the movably die member of the die assembly, the stationary member 22 continues to move toward the panel, telescoping the plunger 56 and the supportedpierce nut in the plunger passage 34 until the pierce nut engages the panel. Thepierce nut then pierces a slug from the panel and the nut is simultaneously installed on the panel, in one stroke of the die press assembly. It will be understood, however, that the panel may be supported on the movable die member, in which case the panel is moved toward the he'd assembly 20 until the panel engages the movable die member 24. Continued movement of the die member moves the movable member 24 toward the stationary member 22, telescoping the plunger 56 and the supported nut in the plunger passage 34 to install a nut in the panel. Where the nuts are interconnected by frangible connector means in a nut strip, the initial movement of the plunger strips the end nut from the strip. The next nut is then received beneath the plunger upon opening of the die press assembly. The clearance opening 42 receives the panel metal forced upward, passed the non clinched sides of the nut, during installation.
The movable die member 24 may be formed from a single Mock of metal hiving perpendicular passages 32 and 34, as described. This construction eliminates the requirement for complex metal castings which may be subject to failure. The movable member 24 is supported for reciprocating motion on the stationary member by guide bolts 66. As best shown in Figure 3, the axes of the guide bolts 66 are spaced equidistant from the assess of the go Swiss 152.312 plunger 56. The guide bolts are preferably spaced apart so far as possible to support and guide the movable housing member. In the most preferred embodiment, the distance between the axes of the guide bolts is approximately equal to the distance between the guide bolts and the plunger, providing balanced support for the movable housing member.
The installation apparatus of this invention may be relatively small when compared to the irlstsllation apparatus disclosed in the prior art. For example, a commercial embodiment of the disclosed installation he'd is 3.63 inches long sod 2.25 inches wide at its broadest point. The width of the he'd assembly portion including the plwlger is only 1.5 inches, permitting use of the fastener installation head in tight locations in the die assembly. The height of the die assembly, measured in the skis of the plunger leg, is 2.5 inches closed and 3 inches when the movable member is fully separated from the stationary member, as shown in Figure 2.
The installation head may be easily disassembled by unthreading the guide bolts 66. The plunger is removed by removing the back-up plate 28.
The plastic chute 38 is removed by removing set screws 40. The simplified design of the disclosed embodiment therefore has many advantages over the more complex designs disclosed in the prior art. The installation he'd of this invention is therefore relatively simple, yet rugged in construction. Further, the assembly is relatively smfill and compact, increasing the applications for pierce nuts. It will be understood, however, that various modifications may be made to the disclosed fastener instsll~tion apparatus of this invention within the purview of toe appended claims, which hollow.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastener instillation apparatus having a reciprocating plunger, which is particularly suitable for instilling self-attaching fasteners, such as pierce and clinch nuts. More specifically, the present invention relates to instillation heads for pierce and clinch nuts of simple, rugged design.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The fastener installation head of this invention is particularly although not exclusively, designed for self-piercing fasteners or pierce nuts, such as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,648,747, assigned to the assignee of the instant application. The pierce nut disclosed in said patent includes a rectangular pilot which pierces an opening in a panel, 8 pair of flanges on opposed sides of the plot having panel bearing faces spaced below the pilot and reentrant grooves in the Lange bearing surfaces, on opposed sides of the pilot.
Upon forced engagement with the panel, the pilot pierces an opening in the panel and the pierced panel edges are deformed into and retained by the reentrant grooves. The pierce nuts may be interconnected by fraslgible connector means, as shown in United States Patent No. 39845,860, assigned to the assignee of the instant application, or in bullock form. The installation apparatus of this invention may also be used to install the generally T-shaped pierce nuts as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,152,628, or clinch nuts as disclosed in United States Patent No. 29750,660; both patents are fissioned to the assignee of the instant application.
,., 1~3~4 Installation heads for pierce and clinch nuts goner-ally include telescopic housing members, which are relatively complex in design and machined from metal castings. The tote-scopic portions of the housing members provide support and guidance for the reciprocating or movable housing member, as shown in United States Patents Nos. 3,098,576 and 3,108,368, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the instant asp-ligation. As shown, in the above referenced patents, the housing assembly includes several components, including a fixed housing member which supports and retains the plunger and a relatively movable housing assembly which includes a sup-crate nose piece and a feeder tongue assembly. The feeder tongue assembly includes a passage which receives the pierce nuts and which communicates with a coccal aligned passage in the nose piece. The nose piece includes a plunger passage which telescopically receives the end of the plunger for in-stallation of pierce nuts received from the tongue assembly, beneath the plunger. The separate movable housing member supports and guides the nose piece and tongue assembly during installation of a nut.
More recently, pierce nut installation heads include a positive feed mechanism located within the telescopic housing assembly, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,969,808.
The positive feed mechanism includes a feed paw, which is driven by a linkage, interconnected between the telescopic housing members which feeds a pierce nut beneath the plunger upon each stroke of the press.
Pierce nut installation heads are generally incorporated in a die press assembly, wherein the pierce nut is installed in a panel and the panel may be simultaneously formed by the die press. The stationary housing member is 1233~
152.312 attached to a die shoe, platter or die member and the panel is supported on a piercing or clinching die located in the die press assembly opposite the plunger passage of the nose piece. Upon relative movement of the die press assembly, the nose piece engages the panel end collapses the telescopic housing assembly.
The plunger engages a nut received through the nut passages to install the nut in the panel, as described in the above referenced patents.
The pierce nut installfltion head assemblies disclosed in the prior art are relatively complex, expensive end subject to failure. There is a need, therefore, for R simple, rugged pierce nut installation head assembly, as disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As described above, the installation apparatus or head assembly of this invention is adapted for installing self-attaching fasteners, particularly self-piercing fasteners, such as pierce nuts Ed clinch nuts. The apparatus includes Q
stationary member for attachment to a die shoe or member and a relatively movable member. The movable member includes a first passage for receiving the pierce nuts or self-attaching fasteners and a transverse plunger passage intersecting the first passage. A plunger is connected to the stationary member and projects into the plunger passage of the movably member, in telescopic relation. A spring means, such as a conventional coil spring, is resiliently biased between the stationary and movable members and normally separates the movable member from the stationary member. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the movable member is supported for movement and guided by elongated ode members which a-e parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger. In the disclosed embodiment, the guide members are bolts which are received in parallel coccal aligned bores in the movable and stationary 152.312 members. The ends of the jolts are thread~bly fastened to the stationary member and the bolts include an enlarged head portion disposed in counter bores in thy movable member, permitting limited movement of the movable member, relative to the stationary member for installation of the pierce nut us described above. Briefly, self-attaching fasteners or pierce nuts are received in the first passage in the movable member, beneath the plunger in the plunger passage.
When the movable member engages a panel supported on a pierce or clinch die, as described above, the movable member is moved toward the stationary member, telescoping the purer in the plunger passage and installing a fastener in the panel.
In the simplified, rugged design of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the stationary or base member may be a metal plate having sun opening or slot which receives or retains the end of the plunger. The plunger ispreferably T-shaped and integrally farmed from a single piece of metal. The head portion is received in an opening or slot in the stationary base member andthe leg portion projects into the plunger passage of the movable member in telescopic relation.
The movesble member of the installation head is preferably formed from a single block of meal having perpendicular intersecting passages, as described above. The guide bolts are received in counter bores in the movablemember and thread ably bolted to the stationary member through spaced parallel coccal aligned bores. As described, the guide bolts are parallel to and equidistant from the axis of the plwlger, permitting limited movement of the movable member, relative to the stationary base plate, against the compression of the spring.
The simplified head assembly of this invention my be generally wedge~haped, having a reduced width at the plwlger for receipt of the working portion of the head in a tight location. The width of the apparatus spaced from I
the plunger is wider to accommodate the spaced guide bolts.
In the preferred embodiment, the axes of the guide bolts are spaced approximately equidistant from each other and the axis of the plunger, defining an equilateral triangle and providing good support for movement of the plunger in the plunger passage.
The installation apparatus or head assembly of this in-mention is therefore relatively simple, yet rugged in con-struction. Further, the head assembly may be made very small and compact, compared to conventional pierce nut installation heads having the complex telescopic construction described hereinabove. Other advantages and meritorious features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the follow-in description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims and the drawings, a brief description of which follows.
In view of the above, therefore, the invention relates to an apparatus for installing a self-attaching fastener on a panel. The apparatus includes a stationary member for attachment of a dye member and a relatively movable member connected to the stationary member, the movable member having a first passage for receiving self-piercing fasteners and a traverse plunger passage intersecting the first passage, and a plunger connected to the stationary member and projecting therefrom into the movable member plunger passage. A spring means is resiliently biased between the stationary and movable members, and spaced guide bolts generally parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger received in parallel coccal aligned bores in the stationary movable members, the connection between the relatively movable members and the stationary member consisting essentially of the guide bolts. The guide bolts are fastened at one end to the stationary member and have an en-tanged head portion disposed in a Canterbury in the movable member.
The guide bolts support and permit limited movement of the move ~L2~33~
able member relative to the stationary member against the reaction of the spring means parallel to the axis of the plunger. The guide bolts and the plunger cooperate to guide the movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member.
The invention further relates to an apparatus for installing self-attaching metal fasteners in a panel, the fasteners each having a projecting pilot portion for piercing an opening in a panel and a groove retaining the fastener in the pierced panel opening. The apparatus is comprised of a stationary base member for attachment Jo a die member and a relatively movable member connected to the stationary base member. The stationary base member and the movable member have mating engaging faces, the movable member having a first passage configured to receive the self attaching fasteners and a traverse plunger passage inter-sooting the first passage, the plunger passage opening into the mating faces and extending through the movable member. A goner-ally T-shaped plunger is provided having a head portion retained in the opening in the base member and an elongated leg portion projecting from the base portion mating face into the plunger passage in telescopic relation. A compression spring is located between the member mating faces resiliently biasing the movable member from the stationary base member, and a pair of spaced guide means generally parallel to and equidistant from the plunger permitting limited movement of the movable member net-alive to the stationary member. The connection between the movable member and the stationary base member consists essentially of the spaced guide means, the movement of the movable member relative to the stationary base member being guided essentially only by the spaced guide means and the plunger. The first pass-age is adapted to receive self-attaching fasteners beneath the plunger when the plunger installs the fasteners in the panel supported opposite the plunger passage upon movement of the movable member relative to the stationary base member.
-I-36~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of one embodiment of the fastener installation apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a side partially cross-sectioned view of the fastener installation apparatus shown in Figure 1 in the direction of view arrows 2-2;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the fastener installation head shown in Figure l;
Figure 4 is an end view of the embodiment of the fast-ever installation shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener - installation apparatus as shown in Figure 2, in the direction of view arrows 5-5.
-5(b~-~;233~
: DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_ As described above, the fastener installation apparatus or head 20 includes a stationary housing member 22, which may be secured to a die shoe or member and a movable housing member 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the stationary housing member includes a base plate 26 and a hardened back-up plate 28, the function of which is described hereinbelow. The base plate 26 and backup plate 28 are secured together by any suitable means, including screws 30.
The movable housing member 24, which may be formed from a single block of metal, includes a first passage or nut pass-age 32 and a transverse intersecting plunger passage 34. The first passage 32 includes an enlarged rectangular opening 36, coccal aligned with the nut passage, which receives a plastic chute 38, which is secured in place by set screws 40. As shown, the screws 40 are threaded into the sides of the plastic chute retaining the chute against accidental removal.
As described above, the fastener installation appear-anus of this invention is particularly adapted to install self piercing fasteners, such as the pierce nuts disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,648,747. Pierce nuts of this type may be supplied in strip form, wherein the fasteners are inter-connected by frangible connector means such as wires as disk closed in United States Patent No. 3,711,931. The fasteners are received in the first passage 32 of the installation head 20 through a flexible chute 38. A separate nut feed mechanism may be provided or the nuts may be fed by gravity. As described above, however, the fastener installation head of this invention may also be utilized to feed other pierce or clinch nuts, ~,336;24 including the T-shaped pierce nut disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,152,628. Also, the nuts may be supplied to the head in bulk or loose form. The plastic chute 38 and first passage 32 are internally configured to receive the self-piercing fasteners to be installed by the installation head.
-I-~33i1~4 152.312 The plunger passage 34 is preferably perpendicular Jo the nutpassage 32 and terminates in an enlarged clearance opening 42 as described hereinbelow. The opposed surfaces OX the stationery housing member and the movable housing member, 44 and 46, respectively, are preferably flat and include coccal aligned cylindrical openings, 48 and 50, respectively, which receive a compression coil spring 52. The coil spring is resiliently biased between the members to norsTIally separate the members, as shown. It will be understood, however, that other spring means may be utilized to perform the same f unction.
The preferred embodiment of the fastener installation apparatus of this invention includes an integral T-shaped plunger 56. The plunger includes a rectangular head portion 58 (see figure 4) which is received in a slot or opening 60 in the base plate 26, and an elongated leg portion 62 which is telescopically received in the plunger passage 34.
The movable member 24 is supported and guided on the base plate 26 for reciprocating motion by two guide bolts 66. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, each of the guide bolts is received in coccal aligned bores in the stationary and movable housing members, 68 and 70, respectively. The guide bolts each include a cylindrical shank portion 72 hiving a threaded end portion 74 which is thread ably received in a threaded counter-bore in the base plate 26.
Each of the guide bolts include an enlarged head portion 76 which is telescopically received in an enlarged cylindrical counter-bore 78 in the movable housing member 24.
As described above, installation heads for self-piercing fasteners are generally incorporated in a die press assembly, wherein the pierce nut is installed in 8 panel and the panel may be simultaneously formed by the die press.
The stationery housing member a is therefore attached to a die shoe, platen or if I 4 152.312 die member, not shown. In the disclosed embodiment, for example, the stationary die member I my be attached Jo Q moveRble die member in a press assembly. Locating holes 82 are provided in the stationary die member for receipt of locating dowels. The locating dowels are received in the die shoe to accurately locate the installation head relative to the clinching die, so described below. In the disclosed embodiment, the stationary die member is provided with three threaded bores 84 for attschnnent of the stationery die member to a die shoe.
The operation of Use disclosed embodiment of the installation head is as follows. Self-piercing fasteners are received in the first p~sssge 32through plastic chute 38. A self-piercing fastener is thus received beneath the plunger 62 in the plunger passage 34. A separate retainer means for the end fastener my be provided as disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,946,478 where the nuts ore received in bull form. A support means is not required where the nuts are intercoMected by frangible connector means as described flbove. As shown in Figure 2, the leg portion 62 of the plunger extends into the plunger passage 34, adjacent the intersection of the nut and plunger passages when the housing members are fully separated by the spring 52. In the disclosed embodiment, the leg portion 62 of the plunger is rectangular as shown in Figure 3 sod the plunger passage I is rectangular to closely receive the plunger.
A self-piercing fastener is received in the plunger passage 34, beneath the plunger 56, with the piercing pilot facing the panel, not shown. As described in the above-referenced patents, the panel is normally supported on clinching die opposite the plunger page The clinching die has a rectangular opening, coccal aligned with the plunger pQ~Sage which receives the pilot of the pierce nut and the slug punched from the panel The clinching die my also include clinching lips or upstandDg flanges which deform the panel into locking grooves provided in the nut.
~331~24 ;
152.312 When the die press assembly is closed, the movable housing member 24 first engages the panel, stopping relative movement between the housing member 24 and the panel. Where the stationery member 22 is attached to the movably die member of the die assembly, the stationary member 22 continues to move toward the panel, telescoping the plunger 56 and the supportedpierce nut in the plunger passage 34 until the pierce nut engages the panel. Thepierce nut then pierces a slug from the panel and the nut is simultaneously installed on the panel, in one stroke of the die press assembly. It will be understood, however, that the panel may be supported on the movable die member, in which case the panel is moved toward the he'd assembly 20 until the panel engages the movable die member 24. Continued movement of the die member moves the movable member 24 toward the stationary member 22, telescoping the plunger 56 and the supported nut in the plunger passage 34 to install a nut in the panel. Where the nuts are interconnected by frangible connector means in a nut strip, the initial movement of the plunger strips the end nut from the strip. The next nut is then received beneath the plunger upon opening of the die press assembly. The clearance opening 42 receives the panel metal forced upward, passed the non clinched sides of the nut, during installation.
The movable die member 24 may be formed from a single Mock of metal hiving perpendicular passages 32 and 34, as described. This construction eliminates the requirement for complex metal castings which may be subject to failure. The movable member 24 is supported for reciprocating motion on the stationary member by guide bolts 66. As best shown in Figure 3, the axes of the guide bolts 66 are spaced equidistant from the assess of the go Swiss 152.312 plunger 56. The guide bolts are preferably spaced apart so far as possible to support and guide the movable housing member. In the most preferred embodiment, the distance between the axes of the guide bolts is approximately equal to the distance between the guide bolts and the plunger, providing balanced support for the movable housing member.
The installation apparatus of this invention may be relatively small when compared to the irlstsllation apparatus disclosed in the prior art. For example, a commercial embodiment of the disclosed installation he'd is 3.63 inches long sod 2.25 inches wide at its broadest point. The width of the he'd assembly portion including the plwlger is only 1.5 inches, permitting use of the fastener installation head in tight locations in the die assembly. The height of the die assembly, measured in the skis of the plunger leg, is 2.5 inches closed and 3 inches when the movable member is fully separated from the stationary member, as shown in Figure 2.
The installation head may be easily disassembled by unthreading the guide bolts 66. The plunger is removed by removing the back-up plate 28.
The plastic chute 38 is removed by removing set screws 40. The simplified design of the disclosed embodiment therefore has many advantages over the more complex designs disclosed in the prior art. The installation he'd of this invention is therefore relatively simple, yet rugged in construction. Further, the assembly is relatively smfill and compact, increasing the applications for pierce nuts. It will be understood, however, that various modifications may be made to the disclosed fastener instsll~tion apparatus of this invention within the purview of toe appended claims, which hollow.
Claims (8)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for installing a self-attaching fastener on a panel, said apparatus having a stationary member for attachment to a die member and a relatively moveable member connected to said stationary member, said moveable member having a first passage for receiv-ing self-piercing fasteners and a transverse plunger passage intersecting said first passage, a plunger conn-ected to said stationary member and projecting therefrom into said moveable member plunger passage, spring means resiliently biased between said members, and spaced guide bolts generally parallel to and spaced equidistant from said plunger received in parallel coaxially aligned bores in said stationary and moveable members, the conn-ection between said relatively moveable member and said stationary member consisting essentially of said guide bolts, said guide bolts being fastened at one end to said stationary member and having an enlarged head portion disposed in a counterbore in said moveable member, said guide bolts supporting and permitting limited movement of said movable member relative to said stationary mem-ber against the reaction of said spring means parallel to the axis of said plunger, said guide bolts and said plunger cooperating to guide the movement of said move-able member relative to said stationary member.
2. The apparatus for installing a self-attaching fastener defined in claim 1, characterized in that said plunger is T-shaped having a head portion retained in a slot in and bearing against said stationary member and an elongated leg portion telescopically received in said moveable member plunger passage.
3. The apparatus for installing a self-attaching nut defined in claim 2, characterized in that said stat-ionary member is a metal plate and said moveable member is formed from a single pierce metal block, said members having opposed aligned cylindrical openings receiving a compression coil spring, said coil spring providing said spring means.
4. The apparatus for installing a self-attach-ing fastener defined in claim 3, characterized in that said plunger passage includes an elongated rectangular opening which receives a plastic chute receiving self-attaching fasteners for installation by said apparatus, said chute retained in said opening by retainer screws received through said moveable member block which are threaded into the sides of said chute, releaseably retaining said chute in said moveable member opening.
5. An apparatus for installing self-attaching metal fasteners in a panel, said fasteners each having a projecting pilot portion for piercing an opening in a panel and a groove retaining the fastener in the pierced panel opening, said apparatus comprising a stationary base member for attachment to a die member and a relatively moveable member connected to said stationary base member, said members having mating engaging faces, said moveable member having a first passage configured to receive said self-attaching fasteners and a transverse plunger passage intersecting said first passage, said plunger passage opening into said mating faces and extending through said moveable member, a generally T-shaped plunger having a head portion retained in an opening in said base member and an elongated leg portion projecting from said base portion mating face into said plunger passage in telescopic relation, a compression spring located between said member mating faces resiliently biasing said moveable member from said stationary base member, and a pair of spaced guide means generally parallel to and equidistant from said plunger permitting limited move-ment of said moveable member relative to said stationary member, the connection between said moveable member and said stationary base member consisting essentially of said spaced guide means, the movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary base member being guided essentially only by said spaced guide means and said plunger, said first passage receiving self-attaching fasteners beneath said plunger, said plunger installing said fasteners in a panel supported opposite said plunger passage upon movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary base member.
6. The apparatus for installing self-attaching fasteners defined in claim 5, characterized in that said base member is a metal plate and said moveable member is a single piece generally rectangular metal block hav-ing generally perpendicular intersecting passages defin-ing said first and plunger passages, and said member mating faces being generally flat and having opposed openings receiving said compression spring.
7. The apparatus for installing self-attaching fasteners defined in claim 6, characterized in that said pair of guide means are bolts received in spaced parallel bores coaxially aligned in said base and moveable members, said bolts each having a threaded end portion threadably attached to said base member and an enlarged head portion received in an elongated counterbore in said moveable member, said bolts per-mitting limited movement of said moveable member relative to said base member against the compression of said spring, said spring being disposed between said plunger and each of said bolts.
8. The apparatus for installing self-attaching metal fasteners defined in claim 6, characterized in that said first passage has a rectangular opening in the wall of said moveable member and said apparatus including a plastic chute delivering self-attaching fasteners to said first passage releaseably retained in said first passage opening, said chute retained by threaded fasten-ers threadably received through said moveable member and threaded into the sides of said chute, releaseably retaining said chute.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000476046A CA1233624A (en) | 1985-03-08 | 1985-03-08 | Fastener installation apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000476046A CA1233624A (en) | 1985-03-08 | 1985-03-08 | Fastener installation apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1233624A true CA1233624A (en) | 1988-03-08 |
Family
ID=4129983
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000476046A Expired CA1233624A (en) | 1985-03-08 | 1985-03-08 | Fastener installation apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1233624A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-03-08 CA CA000476046A patent/CA1233624A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |