There is provided an automated fastener system having an automated washer installation. The automated fastener system includes an automated washer feed system holding and dispensing one or more washers, and providing a selected washer for the automated washer installation. The automated fastener system further includes an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, and providing a selected fastener for the automated washer installation; an automated shuttle assembly; an automated inspection system; an automated delivery system; an automated installation system; and a control system. The automated washer installation is performed at one or more of, before inspection of the selected fastener, after inspection of the selected fastener, or after delivery of the selected fastener and the selected washer by the automated delivery system to the automated installation system.

A process arrangement for carrying out a fully automatic setting process, in which a setting device drives a clip element into a component pilot hole. The process arrangement has a transfer unit, in particular a robot, to which the setting device is attached, and the transfer unit is adjustable between a pickup position, in which the setting device grabs the clip element, and a setting position, in which the setting device drives the clip element into the component pilot hole.

There is provided an automated fastener system having fastener conductivity testing. The automated fastener system has an automated fastener holder assembly holding fastener(s); an automated fastener shuttle assembly having shuttle cup(s); an automated fastener inspection system having an inspection center shaft, and inspection gripper fingers; an automated delivery system having a delivery device; an automated fastener installation system having an end effector with an end effector center shaft, and end effector gripper fingers; an automated eddy current conductivity probe system; and a processing system. The eddy current conductivity probe system has an eddy current conductivity probe assembly integrated in one of, the one or more shuttle cups, the inspection center shaft, the inspection gripper fingers, the end effector center shaft, or the end effector gripper fingers. The eddy current conductivity probe assembly contacts a selected fastener to perform the fastener conductivity testing, and to obtain an electrical conductivity measurement.

There is provided an automated fastener system having fastener conductivity testing. The automated fastener system has an automated fastener holder assembly holding fastener(s); an automated fastener shuttle assembly having shuttle cup(s); an automated fastener inspection system having an inspection center shaft, and inspection gripper fingers; an automated delivery system having a delivery device; an automated fastener installation system having an end effector with an end effector center shaft, and end effector gripper fingers; an automated eddy current conductivity probe system; and a processing system. The eddy current conductivity probe system has an eddy current conductivity probe assembly integrated in one of, the one or more shuttle cups, the inspection center shaft, the inspection gripper fingers, the end effector center shaft, or the end effector gripper fingers. The eddy current conductivity probe assembly contacts a selected fastener to perform the fastener conductivity testing, and to obtain an electrical conductivity measurement.

There is provided an automated fastener system having an automated washer installation. The automated fastener system includes an automated washer feed system holding and dispensing one or more washers, and providing a selected washer for the automated washer installation. The automated fastener system further includes an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, and providing a selected fastener for the automated washer installation; an automated shuttle assembly; an automated inspection system; an automated delivery system; an automated installation system; and a control system. The automated washer installation is performed at one or more of, before inspection of the selected fastener, after inspection of the selected fastener, or after delivery of the selected fastener and the selected washer by the automated delivery system to the automated installation system.

An O-ring processing station for an automated mass production system includes: (a) at least one feed device operable to control discharge of O-rings from an output end of the feed device; (b) an indexing device having a plurality of O-ring retainers, the indexing device operable to advance each retainer to a loading position in alignment with the output end for receiving an O-ring from the feed device, and an unloading position spaced apart from the loading position for unloading the O-ring from the retainer; and (c) a pick-and-place robot including at least one end effector movable between a pick-up position in alignment with a retainer at the unloading position for removing the O-ring from the retainer, and a drop-off position spaced apart from the pick-up position for installation of the O-ring onto a workpiece.

Disclosed herein is a gripper tooling comprising a frame and a plurality of clip positioning actuators mounted on the frame, wherein each clip positioning actuator comprises a cylinder with an internally guided piston, and a finger attachment for a fingertip at a distal end of the piston. In embodiments, the clip positioning actuators may be mounted on the frame in positions adjacent to each other in a rectangular array of at least two rows. Also disclosed are a clipping cell and a method for inserting clips in workpieces.