Embodiments of connectors for joining metal sheets, and methods of using the same, are described.

A pneumatic tool for joining steel decking includes a pneumatic actuator assembly which drives a push rod. The push rod is coupled to a linkage assembly including a rocker link having one end coupled to the frame of the tool, a punch arm having one end coupled to the frame, and a coupler link rotatably coupled to both the rocker link and the punch arm. At the bottom of the tool, a punching mechanism is formed. A trigger mechanism releases a flow of pressurized air into the actuator assembly, thereby driving the push rod out of the housing of the actuator assembly. Movement of the push rod causes the rocker link to rotate about a joint link, thereby driving the coupler link toward the punch arm and causing the punch to rotate about the joint link and mate with the fixed die.

A stitcher (1) for connecting an end portion of an outgoing metal strip to a starting portion of an incoming metal strip for a continuously operated strip processing system comprises a first punching tool (20), which is designed to connect metal strips having a first thickness range and/or strength range to one another, and a second punching tool (30), which is designed to connect metal strips having a second thickness range and/or strength range to one another. Both thickness ranges and/or strength ranges are different from one another.

The present invention relates to a step drive mechanism to be attached into the hollow body of a tool, making it possible to produce a thrust movement that can be easily carried out. To this end, the mechanism includes: a rack (2) that has a first (3) and a second (4) cog having back-slanted teeth (3a, 4a) arranged on an upper (2a) and a lower (2b) edge, respectively; a front end (2c); a pivotable lever (5) that comprises a hollow top end (5a) receiving a torsion spring (8), bearing against said hollow top end (5a) of the lever and against a thrust pawl (7) pivoting in the hollow body (1) in front of the hollow top end (5a) of the lever, and has a crosspiece (7a) inserted between the teeth (3a) of the first cog (3); and a pivotable locking pawl (8) provided with a crosspiece (8a) inserted between the teeth (4a) of the second cog (4). A compression spring (9) is arranged such as to bear against the locking pawl (8) and against an abutment (2d) located at a rear end (2e) of the rack (2).

A joining method is a method of joining a plate set composed by a plurality of stacked plate members including a first plate member and a second plate member by using a tapping screw. When the tapping screw is advanced into the plate set while the tapping screw is rotated in a state of applying a pressure onto the plate set so as to form through-holes in the first plate member and the second plate member, a first pressure applied onto the tapping screw is reduced down to a second pressure at the time when the tapping screw penetrates the first plate member.

A vial access device, includes a body having a projecting annular skirt that is elastically deformable, for engaging a complementary shaped neck of a vial. A tubular spike extends coaxially within the annular skirt for introducing into the vial, and a tubular connector protrudes from the body on the side opposite to the annular skirt and in fluid communication with the tubular spike. The tubular spike and the annular skirt are arranged, respectively, within a first and a second part, distinct from each other, and of which the first part is permanently joined to the body and the second part is connectable to the first part through an irreversible coupling.

The present invention proposes a crimping punch making it possible to obtain a crimping that is resistant to pulling out. To this end, the punch (20) for a crimping tool comprises a fixing part (21) for fixing to the tool and a punching part (22) consisting of a spike (23) connected to the fixing part by two crimping faces (24) that each exhibit a rectilinear primary profile (241), each crimping face also comprising a secondary profile (242), provided with four notches (243) having a radius of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 1.2 mm and 2 mm, advantageously 1.5 mm.

A pneumatic tool for joining steel decking includes a pneumatic actuator assembly which drives a push rod. The push rod is coupled to a linkage assembly including a rocker link having one end coupled to the frame of the tool, a punch arm having one end coupled to the frame, and a coupler link rotatably coupled to both the rocker link and the punch arm. At the bottom of the tool, a punching mechanism is formed. A trigger mechanism releases a flow of pressurized air into the actuator assembly, thereby driving the push rod out of the housing of the actuator assembly. Movement of the push rod causes the rocker link to rotate about a joint link, thereby driving the coupler link toward the punch arm and causing the punch to rotate about the joint link and mate with the fixed die.

The present application provides a processing method of a metal composite structure including a first metal layer and a second metal layer stacked on the first metal layer. The processing method includes the steps of defining a first through hole in the first metal layer, and drilling in the first through hole toward the second metal layer to form a traction hole in the second metal layer. Then, hot melt drilling is performed on a surface of the second metal layer away from the first metal layer toward the first through hole, thereby causing the second metal layer to crack under a traction force of the traction hole to form a second through hole, and a portion of the second metal layer to be melted and squeezed to form a bushing which adheres to at least a portion of a sidewall of the first through hole.

The present invention proposes a crimping punch making it possible to obtain a crimping that is resistant to pulling out. To this end, the punch (20) for a crimping tool comprises a fixing part (21) for fixing to the tool and a punching part (22) consisting of a spike (23) connected to the fixing part by two crimping faces (24) that each exhibit a rectilinear primary profile (241), each crimping face also comprising a secondary profile (242), provided with four notches (243) having a radius of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 1.2 mm and 2 mm, advantageously 1.5 mm.