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 nose portion assembly of a riveting apparatus is rotatable between a first vertical position and a second angled position which is adjacent an end of a rivet feed ramp. The angled position of the nose assembly matches the angle of a rivet feed ramp from a rivet feed member positioned on the side of the riveting apparatus.

A nose portion assembly of a riveting apparatus is rotatable between a first vertical position and a second angled position which is adjacent an end of a rivet feed ramp. The angled position of the nose assembly matches the angle of a rivet feed ramp from a rivet feed member positioned on the side of the riveting apparatus.

A method for installing a self-piercing rivet by introducing acoustic (ultrasonic) vibrational energy is provided. The method includes positioning multiple workpieces between a blank holder and a die, applying ultrasonic vibrations to locally soften the workpieces and driving, using a press tool, the self-piercing rivet into the workpieces, causing the self-piercing rivet to deform in a radially outward direction, thereby joining the workpieces together without thermal processing and without permanent alterations to the microstructure of the workpiece materials.

A method for installing a self-piercing rivet by introducing acoustic (ultrasonic) vibrational energy is provided. The method includes positioning multiple workpieces between a blank holder and a die, applying ultrasonic vibrations to locally soften the workpieces and driving, using a press tool, the self-piercing rivet into the workpieces, causing the self-piercing rivet to deform in a radially outward direction, thereby joining the workpieces together without thermal processing and without permanent alterations to the microstructure of the workpiece materials.

A supply device for a joining element which has a shaft, extending along a joining element axis with a first diameter, and an adjacent head with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The supply device comprising a base enclosing a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel, which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane, and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining element. And the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5 to 45, while the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction with a switching arrangement.

A supply device for a joining element which has a shaft, extending along a joining element axis with a first diameter, and an adjacent head with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The supply device comprising a base enclosing a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel, which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane, and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining element. And the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5 to 45, while the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction with a switching arrangement.

A method of manufacturing a joint structure, includes: setting a shaft in a pre-fixed state in which the shaft is not fixed to a fixed part while the shaft is inserted into a through hole formed through a movable part, and a distal end of the shaft is inserted into a through hole formed through the fixed part; inserting a punch into an opening of a counterbore while swinging the punch; pressing, by lowering the punch while swinging the punch in the counterbore, sides of the punch alternately against sides of an inner curved surface of the counterbore according to the swinging of the punch; and fixing the shaft to the fixed part by enlarging an inner diameter of the counterbore to make the distal end of the shaft be closely in contact with the inner curved surface of the through hole of the fixed part.

A nose portion assembly of a riveting apparatus is rotatable between a first vertical position and a second angled position which is adjacent an end of a rivet feed ramp. The angled position of the nose assembly matches the angle of a rivet feed ramp from a rivet feed member positioned on the side of the riveting apparatus.

A nose portion assembly of a riveting apparatus is rotatable between a first vertical position and a second angled position which is adjacent an end of a rivet feed ramp. The angled position of the nose assembly matches the angle of a rivet feed ramp from a rivet feed member positioned on the side of the riveting apparatus.