An orientation device for objects (O) provided with a stem (S) and with a head (H) that has a minimum width (R), characterised in that it comprises: a slot (3) which has two edges separated by a predetermined distance (D), less than the minimum width (R) and greater than the maximum width of the stem (G); an uncoupling device (4), movable between an active configuration, in which it is able to retain an object (O) with respect to lifting, and an inactive configuration, in which it is not able to interact with an object (O); a magnetic gripping element (2), movable along at least a vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position, in which an object (O) associated with the gripping element (2) is in a position such as to be retained by the uncoupling device (4) so as to be detached from the gripping element (2).

A method of installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners that extend from a surface comprises sequentially delivering the pre-molded seal caps, arranged on a carrier strip, to a plunger mechanism via a feed system. The method also comprises sequentially removing the pre-molded seal caps from the carrier strip using the plunger mechanism, operating in concert with the feed system. The method further comprises individually installing the pre-molded seal caps onto selected ones of the fasteners using the plunger mechanism.

A robot vision-based automatic rivet placement system and method. The automatic rivet placement system includes: an industrial robot installed on a frame, a multi-functional end effector, a rivet blowing mechanism, a detection disk, and a rivet holding tray. The multi-functional end effector consists of a flange disk, a support frame, an industrial CCD camera, a laser displacement sensor, a spring, a mixing rod, and a vacuum nozzle. The multi-functional end effector is connected to a terminal end of the industrial robot via the flange disk. The industrial CCD camera is installed directly in front of the support frame, and is used to acquire a rivet image and measure a rivet parameter. The laser displacement sensor is installed at a side surface of the support frame, and is used to measure a rivet depth.

An end effector for installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners comprises a cap-dispenser assembly and a cap-placement assembly. The cap-placement assembly comprises a main housing and a plunger mechanism, comprising an outer plunger housing and an inner gripper. The inner gripper is rotatable relative to the outer plunger housing between a cap-retaining configuration and a cap-releasing configuration. The plunger mechanism is selectively translatable from an extended position to a retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position. The main housing is selectively rotatable from a cap-receiving position, in which the plunger mechanism is aligned with the seal-cap-delivery-sleeve central axis, to a cap-installing position, in which the main housing is angularly displaced from the cap-receiving position, and from the cap-installing position to the cap-receiving position.

A method is provided for filling a rivet cartridge with rivet elements by means of a rivet loading station having a rivet delivery unit for delivering the rivet elements and having a rivet cartridge receiving means for receiving a rivet cartridge. The rivet elements are supplied from the rivet delivery unit to a rivet cartridge which is received in the rivet cartridge receiving means and are received therein in an aligned manner. The rivet loading station detects pre-determined characteristics of the rivet elements that are relevant to the drilling process and/or the riveting process prior to supplying them to the rivet cartridge.

An automatic production equipment includes a strip-material feeding device set, a continual stamping die set and a rivet providing mechanism. The strip-material feeding device set feeds a strip material. The continual stamping die set includes a upper stamping die group and a lower stamping die group. The lower stamping die group includes a lower die plate, a strip receiving groove formed on the lower die plate for receiving the strip material, a sliding block slidable on the strip receiving groove, and a guide groove formed on the sliding block to connect to the strip receiving groove. The upper stamping die group includes an upper clamping plate, a pushing lever and a riveting punch. The pushing lever and the riveting punch are located on the upper clamping plate. The rivet providing mechanism is connected to the sliding block, and feeds rivets into the guide groove in order.

A nose arrangement for a fastener setting tool having a punch for setting fasteners comprises a support that receives the punch and a nosepiece for guiding the punch and a fastener during a fastener setting operation. The nose arrangement defines first and second fastener transfer areas where wait to be transferred under the punch. A transfer mechanism transfers the fasteners from the first and second fastener transfer areas under the punch and comprises a movable member that can be moved between first and second configurations. In the first configuration the movable member holds a first fastener in a stand-by position under the punch while it collects a second fastener from the first fastener transfer area. In the second configuration, the movable member holds the second fastener in the stand-by position while it collects a third fastener from the second fastener transfer area.

A device and method for producing a component are provided. The device or method includes steps or units for providing a first component element having a recess in or on a first surface of the first component element, and for positioning a second component element in the region of the recess. The device or method also includes a step or unit for pressing the first component element and the second component element together, and as a result forming a material fit, positive fit and/or non-positive fit between the first and the second component elements at least in the region of the recess. The positioning and the pressing can be carried out or are carried out functionally, in particular, spatially and/or temporally, in terms of equipment, separately from each other.

The screwdriving system for connection of components that require high contact pressures for their screw connection, having a screwdriving unit which is connected to an articulated robot, wherein the screwdriving unit contains a motor for the rotary drive, an actuator for the linear drive, a gear mechanism, a torque shaft, a tool holder for a screwdriving tool and a feed head which is supplied with screws, which are held in the feed head during the screwing-in operation, the tool holder, the screwdriving tool and the feed head being arranged on a common screw axis, includes an articulated bearing arrangement, the pivoting of which is able to compensate for a deflection of a robot axis of the articulated robot caused by contact pressures and for a tilted position of the screwdriving unit resulting therefrom.

An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assembles, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.