A process monitoring method for monitoring the joining of at least two workpieces by means of a self-piercing riveting device having a joining gun including a) a total sheet metal thickness, a rivet length and a bending constant of the joining gun are detected for a plurality of joining operations for each operation before joining; b) a punch path for a certain force, an end force, a path end value for the end force, a setting path of the rivet, and a rivet head end position are detected for the plurality of joining operations; c) a force/path window for the joining operations is determined; and d) a determined force/path window of one additional joining operation is compared to the force/path window of the joining operations determined in step c), and the additional joining operation is monitored so that any joining-related defects are identified.

There is provided an automated rivet apparatus for installing a semi-tubular fastener rivet. The apparatus includes a numerical control (NC) drilling and riveting machine and a controller. The NC drilling and riveting machine includes a lower head having a lower pressure bushing, a lower drill spindle, and a lower anvil to apply an upset force to a tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet. The NC drilling and riveting machine further includes an upper head having an upper pressure bushing, an upper drill spindle, and an upper anvil that holds the semi-tubular fastener rivet to insert the semi-tubular fastener rivet in a rivet-receiving hole. The lower drill spindle countersinks the rivet-receiving hole from a lower side of a workpiece. The controller directs movement of a nose of the lower anvil to apply the upset force and form a predetermined flare contour in the tail portion within a lower countersink.

Methods and devices for controlling a mechanical joining or forming process, in particular friction drilling in thin-walled materials, apply several reverse pulses acting on a process parameter to bring the course of an actual curve of the parameter more into line with the course of a predetermined nominal curve of the process parameter. The number and length of the reverse pulses and the length of the intervals between the pulses are determined as a function of at least one immediately detectable variable associated with the process parameter.

A rivet tool for setting a rivet, the rivet tool including a motor and a pulling mechanism. The pulling mechanism is configured to receive torque from the motor and includes a moveable member moveable between first and second positions. A plurality of jaws are configured to Clamp onto a mandrel of the rivet and pull the mandrel in response to the moveable member moving from the first position to the second position. A magnet is coupled for movement with the moveable member and includes a north pole face, an adjacent south pole face, and a pole junction therebetween. The north and south pole faces face away from the moveable member. A first sensor is configured to detect the pole junction when the moveable member is in the first position. A second sensor is configured to detect the pole junction when the moveable member is in the second position.

A fastening tool includes a housing, a handle, an anvil, a pin-gripping part, a motor, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is configured to move the pin-gripping part along a first axis defining a front-rear direction, relative to the anvil. The driving mechanism includes a rotary member, a movable member, a driving gear and an idler gear. The rotary member has a driven gear formed on its outer periphery and is rotatable around the first axis. The movable member is connected to the pin-gripping part and configured to be linearly moved in the front-rear direction by rotation of the rotary member. The driving gear is configured to be rotated around a second axis extending in parallel to the first axis below the first axis. The idler gear is engaged with the driving gear and the driven gear.

This relates to a method for the quality control of a blind fastener installation in a structure comprising a sleeve and a core bolt, with a deformation of a rear side of the structure, a signal being generated during the installation process. The process includes a) identification of two notable points of the signal, chosen among: pulling start point (S1); buckling (B1) of the sleeve; contact (B2, S2) of the sleeve or of the core bolt; force setpoint (B3) or fracture (S3) of a portion of the core bolt; b) estimation of a first parameter as a function of a notable point, characterizing a bulb in contact with the rear side; c) estimation of a second parameter as a function of a notable point, characterizing a tension applied in the core bolt; and d) for each estimated parameter, comparison with a condition that indicates the proper installation of the fastener.

A portable tool comprising a hollow body delimiting two chambers and comprising a shoulder and a barrel extending from the shoulder. A piston slides in the chambers and a stem is secured to the piston and is accommodated in the barrel. A C-shaped head with a first end forms a shoe which presses against the shoulder and in which is created a bore into which the barrel fits, and with a second end facing the free end of the stem. A fastening system comprises a channel on the barrel perimeter. Two sliders are slidably mounted on the shoe parallel to a plane of movement which is perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Each slider has an arc shaped face and movable between a retracted position in which the face is accommodated in the channel and an extended position in which the face is outside the channel.

Disclosed is a method for automatically determining quality of a self-piercing riveting process, including the following operations: inputting standard values, acquiring data in real-time, and comparing data and determining quality of riveting. Riveting parameters and process curves are obtained in real time by a data acquisition system, the measured values for determining quality of riveting is calculated according to the real-time change of the riveting force curve and information of the riveted plates, the quality of the riveting process can be automatically determined by comparing the measured values and the standard values, the efficiency of monitoring quality is improved, inspection of all riveting points can be realized, abandonment of white vehicle bodies due to poor riveting quality is greatly reduced, and the problem that a large number of white vehicle bodies with defective quality cannot be found is avoided, and the riveting quality of the white vehicle bodies is guaranteed.

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting installation of a fastener. One method includes monitoring hydraulic pressure of a tool that is installing the fastener, detecting that the hydraulic pressure has dropped by more than a threshold amount within a period of time, determining that a pintail of the fastener has snapped in response to the detecting, and reducing the hydraulic pressure in response to the determining.

A method for determining the quality of a joint fabricated in a plurality of metal sheets by a joining device and a control method. The joining device comprises a drive element, and a hold-down device The method may have the following steps: moving the drive element to move the punch and, via at least one first and one second spring, the hold-down device; recording of a force applied by the drive element with a first sensor and of a distance covered by the drive element with a second sensor during a movement of the drive element in a mating direction and opposite thereto as a force/displacement curve; and comparing a linear relief range in the recorded curve with a reference curve.