A blind riveting apparatus (1) comprises a motor (3), and a clamp (31) for gripping the mandrel of a blind rivet, the clamp being movable substantially along the axis of the rivet. The apparatus further comprises a first transmission (51) configured to transfer rotary motion of the motor (3) to the clamp (31) when engaged; and a second transmission (52) configured to convert rotary motion of the motor (3) to linear motion of the clamp (31), and thereby retract the clamp (31) to pull on the mandrel, when engaged. A transmission control apparatus is arranged to selectively adjust the degree of engagement of at least one of the first (51) and second (52) transmissions, the transmission control apparatus comprising a variable-influence brake or clutch (58). Methods of blind riveting, and further pieces of blind riveting apparatus, are also disclosed.

A rivet rotational feeding method for friction self-piercing riveting (F-SPR) system, comprising: a semi-hollow rivet, a driving spindle and a die. The bottom surface of the rivet head is connected to the semi-hollow rivet shank. The semi-hollow rivet shank has a wedge-shaped end. The rivet head has rotation driving structures and positioning structure on the top end. The rotation driving structures are central symmetric concave or convex surfaces. The positioning structure is a central symmetric and mirror symmetric concave or convex surface. The matching between the driving spindle and the rivet can improve the rotation reliability and positioning accuracy of the riveting at a high rotational speed during F-SPR process, which is beneficial to solve the problems of poor stability and non-coincidence between the geometry axis and the rotation axis of the rivet.

A method for joining a plurality of workpieces includes providing a rotating drive tool. A fastener is secured to the drive tool. The drive tool is then rotatably driven such that a distal end of the fastener rotates against a surface of the plurality of workpieces. A heated material zone is then generated on the plurality of workpieces as caused by friction from the rotation of the fastener against the surface of the plurality of workpieces. The distal end of the fastener is rotatably and axially driven through the heated material zone. Finally, the drive tool is removed from the fastener, such that when the heated material zone cools, a portion of the heated material zone is fused to the fastener.

A collet assembly including an actuator and a collet connected to the actuator. The collet assembly is adapted to be installed on a welding electrode holder having an electrode. The collet is moveable by the actuator from an advanced position, in which the collet is adapted to grip a fastener such as a welding rivet, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted into the actuator to enable the electrode to engage the fastener for welding to a work piece, and the collet is adapted to release the fastener.

A two-part mechanical fastener comprising an elongated body with a bore slidably carrying a mandrel adapted to interferingly engage the body is described. The fastener body has one or more protuberances on its exterior surface. In an aspect, the protuberances form a thread. The fastener is adapted to form an opening in, and penetrate, a stack of two or more workpieces. To secure the workpieces in the workpiece stack and form a robust joint, the fastener body is deformed by the mandrel, expanding the body, so that a body end engages a surface of the workpiece stack and the one or more protuberances are brought into engagement with the walls of the opening. Methods of using such a fastener to secure non-ferrous or polymer-based sheet-like workpieces to one another are disclosed.

A mounting assembly for a spot-joining apparatus comprises a first support arm (24). The first support arm (24) has a mounting surface (26), and receiving portion configured to receive an actuator or an anvil. The mounting assembly also comprises an alignment bracket (28) configured to engage with the actuator or anvil. The alignment bracket (28) is movable between a plurality of locations on the mounting surface (26) of the first support arm (24). The mounting assembly further comprises a clamp assembly (52, 29, 66a, 66b, 70, 70b or 52, 29, 88, 92, 98, 90, 96) configured to secure the alignment bracket (28) in any of the plurality of locations.

A jaw assembly for a rivet setting tool the jaw assembly including a plurality of jaws each jaw defining part of an interlocking mechanism and an oppositely located part of another interlocking mechanism wherein adjacent jaws interlock via engagement of the parts of the interlocking mechanisms of the respective jaws for enabling radial movement of the jaws relative to each other while restricting axial movement of the jaws relative to each other.

The present disclosure relates to a structure for electrically-connecting an external conductor. The structure comprises a wiring-substrate comprising a stack based arrangement of a plurality of layers, wherein said layers are defined as electrically conducting layers and insulating layer. A rivet is supported from the wiring substrate and comprises an embedded portion within the wiring substrate. The embedded portion comprises: an upper section extending through the stack of the plurality of layers, and, a bottom section extending laterally with reference to the upper section. A portion protruding from wiring substrate is provided for receiving an external-conductor and for thereby electrically connecting with the wiring substrate.

A system, apparatus, or method for joining components is provided. The system applies force along an axis, with a friction pin, to a first substrate, such as with a joiner or joining apparatus. The system also frictionally melts a portion of the first substrate adjacent the friction pin by rotating the friction pin about the axis at a first speed within the first substrate. The system also applies force to the second substrate along the axis and frictionally melts a portion of the second substrate adjacent the friction pin by rotating the friction pin at a second speed within the second substrate. The system embeds a portion of the friction pin within the first substrate and the second substrate. In some configurations, the first speed and the second speed are substantially equivalent. In other configurations, the first speed is different from the second speed.

A method of inserting a rivet into a workpiece comprises moving the rivet and workpiece relative to one another, along a longitudinal axis of the rivet, so as to drive the rivet into the workpiece. The rivet is rotated about its longitudinal axis, relative to the workpiece, for at least part of the time during which it is in contact with the workpiece. The speed of said rotation, or the speed of movement along the longitudinal axis of the rivet, is altered at least once before driving of the rivet into the workpiece is complete. One axial end of the rivet has a tip for piercing the workpiece, and the rivet has a substantially cylindrical shank extending longitudinally from the tip. The shank has one or more surface irregularities.