A spring arm sleeve, with which a joining element of a joining device is positionable and which comprises the following features: a tubular section which is formed by a circumferential or all-round wall, the circumferential wall comprises in the circumferential direction a plurality of U-shaped apertures regularly spaced apart from one another, which form a plurality of one-sidedly fastened spring arms which are inclined radially inwards into the tubular section and extend from a fixed end in a first longitudinal direction.

A spring arm sleeve, with which a joining element of a joining device is positionable and which comprises the following features: a tubular section which is formed by a circumferential or all-round wall, the circumferential wall comprises in the circumferential direction a plurality of U-shaped apertures regularly spaced apart from one another, which form a plurality of one-sidedly fastened spring arms which are inclined radially inwards into the tubular section and extend from a fixed end in a first longitudinal direction.

A fastening tool includes a motor, a fastening mechanism, a tool body and a main handle. The motor includes a motor body and a motor shaft. The fastening mechanism is configured to fasten workpieces via a fastener by pulling a pin of the fastener rearward relative to a tubular part of the fastener along a driving axis defining a front-rear direction of the fastening tool. The tool body houses the motor and the fastening mechanism. The main handle extends in a direction crossing the driving axis and connected to the tool body such that the main handle and the tool body together form an annular part. A rotational axis of the motor shaft extends parallel to the driving axis. A portion of the main handle is located in a rear space extending behind the motor body.

A fastening tool includes a motor, a fastening mechanism, a tool body and a main handle. The motor includes a motor body and a motor shaft. The fastening mechanism is configured to fasten workpieces via a fastener by pulling a pin of the fastener rearward relative to a tubular part of the fastener along a driving axis defining a front-rear direction of the fastening tool. The tool body houses the motor and the fastening mechanism. The main handle extends in a direction crossing the driving axis and connected to the tool body such that the main handle and the tool body together form an annular part. A rotational axis of the motor shaft extends parallel to the driving axis. A portion of the main handle is located in a rear space extending behind the motor body.

A rivet tape joining clip (302) comprising an elongate body provided with a plurality of projections (310) which extend from one side of the elongate body, wherein the projections are provided with laterally projecting lips. The invention further relates to different apparatuses and methods used for the joining of rivet tapes.

A tool for repeatedly feeding individual fasteners from a fastener supply includes a receiver, a guide, a flexible, linear thruster, an electric drive, an activator, and a feeder with a dispenser. The guide extends along a curved guide track from the receiver into the feeder and terminates at the dispenser. Along the guide track the guide has a substantially constant opening cross section radially defined by a guide element relative to the guide track to guide the fasteners directly adjacent to one another along the guide track. The thruster extends from the receiver into the guide and has an external cross section adapted to the opening cross section and configured to be moved in a guided manner by the drive in the guide along the guide track. The drive is coupled to the activator and moves the thruster in the direction of the dispenser when the activator is actuated.

A tool for repeatedly feeding individual fasteners from a fastener supply includes a receiver, a guide, a flexible, linear thruster, an electric drive, an activator, and a feeder with a dispenser. The guide extends along a curved guide track from the receiver into the feeder and terminates at the dispenser. Along the guide track the guide has a substantially constant opening cross section radially defined by a guide element relative to the guide track to guide the fasteners directly adjacent to one another along the guide track. The thruster extends from the receiver into the guide and has an external cross section adapted to the opening cross section and configured to be moved in a guided manner by the drive in the guide along the guide track. The drive is coupled to the activator and moves the thruster in the direction of the dispenser when the activator is actuated.

An apparatus for automated application of rivets to a part is described, in which an operator is not required to manually align a rivet gun with each hole to be riveted or to manually squeeze the rivet into place. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a tool positioning assembly attached to the frame assembly, and a movable tool assembly engaged with the tool positioning assembly and configured to be moved with respect to the tool positioning assembly. The tool positioning assembly is adjustable to correspond with a position of a number of rivet holes on a part to be riveted. In this way, the movable tool assembly is able to sequentially align with each of a number of rivet holes via alignment with the tool positioning assembly and to apply a rivet to each of the rivet holes.

An apparatus for automated application of rivets to a part is described, in which an operator is not required to manually align a rivet gun with each hole to be riveted or to manually squeeze the rivet into place. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a tool positioning assembly attached to the frame assembly, and a movable tool assembly engaged with the tool positioning assembly and configured to be moved with respect to the tool positioning assembly. The tool positioning assembly is adjustable to correspond with a position of a number of rivet holes on a part to be riveted. In this way, the movable tool assembly is able to sequentially align with each of a number of rivet holes via alignment with the tool positioning assembly and to apply a rivet to each of the rivet holes.

A system and method for drilling a hole in a vehicle structure and installing a fastener in the hole. A drill plate having openings and associated machine-readable elements is positioned on the structure. A drill gun is positioned in a particular opening and reads hole information from the associated element, and a computer determines whether the drill gun is properly set-up to drill the hole. A fastener insertion gun is positioned in the particular opening and reads fastener information from the element, and the computer determines whether the hole has been drilled and, if so, whether the fastener insertion gun is properly set-up to insert the fastener. A fastener delivery subsystem stores, tracks, and delivers fasteners to the fastener insertion gun. A system computer monitors the drilling of every hole, the insertion of every fastener, and the overall operation of the fastener delivery subsystem.