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.

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.

The invention relates to a riveting machine comprising a piercing tool (52), an upper sheet clamp (71), and a lower sheet clamp (21), mounted movable relative to each other in the direction of bringing said sheet clamps (71, 21) closer to each other, an upper riveting tool (51) and a lower riveting tool (29) for flaring a rivet disposed inside an orifice formed through the parts (8) to be riveted. The upper sheet clamp (71) has a passage opening (72) facing which the drilling tool (52) is adapted to be positioned to enable said drilling tool (52) to pierce an area of said parts (8) clamped between the upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21). The upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21) are mounted movable relative to each other along a direction transverse to the piercing axis. The invention also relates to a riveting method.

The invention relates to a riveting machine comprising a piercing tool (52), an upper sheet clamp (71), and a lower sheet clamp (21), mounted movable relative to each other in the direction of bringing said sheet clamps (71, 21) closer to each other, an upper riveting tool (51) and a lower riveting tool (29) for flaring a rivet disposed inside an orifice formed through the parts (8) to be riveted. The upper sheet clamp (71) has a passage opening (72) facing which the drilling tool (52) is adapted to be positioned to enable said drilling tool (52) to pierce an area of said parts (8) clamped between the upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21). The upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21) are mounted movable relative to each other along a direction transverse to the piercing axis. The invention also relates to a riveting method.

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.

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.

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.

The method includes the step of positioning the sheets in an at least partially overlapping relationship. The method continues with the step of inserting a rivet that has a height through an overlapping area of the sheets. The method proceeds with the step of, with the rivet at a temperature in the range of 15-30° Celsius, collapsing the rivet between a pair of ramming surfaces to shorten the rivet and partially expand the rivet outwardly to lock the rivet with the sheets. The entire method results in a very strong connection between the sheets and with a great durability at a low cost.

The invention relates to a riveting machine comprising a piercing tool (52), an upper sheet clamp (71), and a lower sheet clamp (21), mounted movable relative to each other in the direction of bringing said sheet clamps (71, 21) closer to each other, an upper riveting tool (51) and a lower riveting tool (29) for flaring a rivet disposed inside an orifice formed through the parts (8) to be riveted. The upper sheet clamp (71) has a passage opening (72) facing which the drilling tool (52) is adapted to be positioned to enable said drilling tool (52) to pierce an area of said parts (8) clamped between the upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21). The upper sheet clamp (71) and the lower sheet clamp (21) are mounted movable relative to each other along a direction transverse to the piercing axis. The invention also relates to a riveting method.