A switch arrangement for the selection of joining elements, which comprises a switch that comprises at least three supply points in which joining elements can be supplied to the switch in a position-oriented manner. Furthermore, an output point is provided where joining elements can be output in a position-oriented manner, the switch comprising a conveying element which has at least three receiving compartments each being adapted to receive a supplied joining element each at the supply point. A conveying element can convey the joining elements from a receiving position to an output position from the supply point to an output point, which is fixed relative to the supply points, and output.

Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.

A robot vision-based automatic rivet placement system and method. The automatic rivet placement system includes: an industrial robot installed on a frame, a multi-functional end effector, a rivet blowing mechanism, a detection disk, and a rivet holding tray. The multi-functional end effector consists of a flange disk, a support frame, an industrial CCD camera, a laser displacement sensor, a spring, a mixing rod, and a vacuum nozzle. The multi-functional end effector is connected to a terminal end of the industrial robot via the flange disk. The industrial CCD camera is installed directly in front of the support frame, and is used to acquire a rivet image and measure a rivet parameter. The laser displacement sensor is installed at a side surface of the support frame, and is used to measure a rivet depth.

A nose arrangement for a fastener setting tool having a punch for setting fasteners comprises a support that receives the punch and a nosepiece for guiding the punch and a fastener during a fastener setting operation. The nose arrangement defines first and second fastener transfer areas where wait to be transferred under the punch. A transfer mechanism transfers the fasteners from the first and second fastener transfer areas under the punch and comprises a movable member that can be moved between first and second configurations. In the first configuration the movable member holds a first fastener in a stand-by position under the punch while it collects a second fastener from the first fastener transfer area. In the second configuration, the movable member holds the second fastener in the stand-by position while it collects a third fastener from the second fastener transfer area.

A system and method for forming a foundation truss for a box spring or mattress foundation frame includes a first truss rail assembly station having a series of block feeders, a top rail hopper and a filler strip hopper that received stacks of truss components such as blocks, top rails and filler strips and feed such truss components into stacked registration. The stacked truss components are moved into engagement with a series of staplers that secure the filler strips, top rails and blocks together to form first truss rail portions, which are then fed to a second truss rail assembly station where a bottom rail is automatically applied thereto.

A method for sensing the presence of a fastener in a feeder and fastening system for joining a fastener to a workpiece comprises a head with a receiving element for receiving the fastener, a joining drive element, a feeder for feeding fasteners from a magazine to the receiving element, a feeding tube adapted to receive fasteners from the magazine and through which the fasteners are driven to the receiving element by compressed air. The feeder further includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed air flowing through the feeding tube and a microprocessor for processing and computing the pressure to detect the presence or passage of a fastener in the feeding tube.

A fastening device for feeding fasteners to a workpiece and for joining it, the fastening device comprising a fastening tool, a fastening device system. The fastening device including a magazine arrangement mounted on the fastening tool. The magazine arrangement having a magazine for holding a fastener, a magazine plate, and a base plate. The magazine plate includes a plate body and a closure arrangement with a closure slider adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, and a toggle mechanism adapted to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position.

A feeder for a swage gun comprises a collar magazine and a guide-block assembly. The guide-block assembly comprises a guide block that comprises a slot, configured to receive the lock collar from the collar magazine at a first guide-block position along the slot. The guide-block assembly also comprises an actuator, operable to move the lock collar along the slot from the first guide-block position to a second guide-block position. Feeder further comprises a feed tunnel, coupled with the guide-block assembly, and a dispensing bulkhead, coupled with the feed tunnel. Feeder also comprises a gripping assembly, coupled with the dispensing bulkhead.

A system and method for forming a foundation truss for a box spring or mattress foundation frame includes a first truss rail assembly station having a series of block feeders, a top rail hopper and a filler strip hopper that received stacks of truss components such as blocks, top rails and filler strips and feed such truss components into stacked registration. The stacked truss components are moved into engagement with a series of staplers that secure the filler strips, top rails and blocks together to form first truss rail portions, which are then fed to a second truss rail assembly station where a bottom rail is automatically applied thereto.

A system and method for forming a foundation truss for a box spring or mattress foundation frame includes a first truss rail assembly station having a series of block feeders, a top rail hopper and a filler strip hopper that received stacks of truss components such as blocks, top rails and filler strips and feed such truss components into stacked registration. The stacked truss components are moved into engagement with a series of staplers that secure the filler strips, top rails and blocks together to form first truss rail portions, which are then fed to a second truss rail assembly station where a bottom rail is automatically applied thereto.