Various embodiments relate to a rivet element supply unit for providing rivet elements, wherein the rivet element supply unit comprises a rivet element provision unit and a handling unit, wherein the rivet element provision unit for conveying the rivet elements comprises a spiral conveyor having a longitudinal axis and a spiral, which extends around the longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined to the direction of gravity, wherein the rivet element provision unit has a pick-up region to which the spiral conveyor supplies rivet elements and from which the handling unit picks up the rivet elements for transporting to a rivet element receptacle.

A die changing apparatus comprises a first die support for supporting a plurality of dies, the die support having first and second die supporting portions which are spaced from one another. The die support is movable so that either the first die supporting portion or the second die supporting portion are locatable at a first transfer position. There is also provided a transfer arrangement comprising a first grip portion configured to grip a die from one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and thereby remove said gripped die from the first die support. The transfer arrangement is movable, independently of the die support, between a first configuration in which the first grip portion can grip said die from said one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and a second configuration in which the first grip portion can release said die and pass it to a second die support of a rivet setter located at a second transfer position.

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 rivet supply system supplies rivets to a rivet setting tool comprising a punch, an extendable nose arrangement and a die, and comprises at least one rivet delivery track for delivering the rivets to the nose arrangement, at least one rivet transfer device for holding or releasing the rivets received at the rivet-receiving zone, and at least one refillable magazine for storing the rivets in proximity of the setting tool. The magazine comprises a magazine portion of the rivet delivery track, wherein the rivets can be stored within the magazine, or can transit through the magazine to be delivered to the setting tool. The magazine also comprises at least one docking interface for refilling the magazine from for example a bulk feeder. The magazine is in rivet-supply relation with the nose arrangement so that it can supply rivets to the setting tool, and is moveable together with the nose arrangement.

A method for manufacturing a hydraulic device is described, in which at least one hydraulic channel and at least one connection are manufactured and/or hydraulically connected to one another, the hydraulic device being manufactured from at least two plates, and the plates being formed and connected to one another with the aid of the processes of cold forming, deep drawing, punching, punch riveting, and/or clinching.

The present invention discloses a fastener assembly having an engaging portion with a projecting stem which is interiorly hollowed over at least an intermediate extending range. The stem includes a solid end most extending portion. A receiving portion is provided with an inner rim defined edge, a diameter of an aperture between the rim edge being less than a diameter of an inserting portion of the stem. Upon forcible passage of the solid end of the fastener past the narrowed rim edge, an intermediate hollowed interior portion of the stem aligning with the narrowed rim edge and exhibiting a controlled collapse against said rim edge in order to anchor the portions together.

Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a smooth, rapid and reliable delivery of fasteners of various sizes and types to the nose of a setting tool in any particular order and provides all the fastener types for any particular work cycle.

A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a turbine shell and a damper assembly fixed to the turbine shell by at least one rectangular rivet. A method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter is also provided. The method includes fixing a turbine shell and a damper assembly together by a plurality of rectangular rivets.

A method for crimping and a crimping tool, such as an automaton, to crimp a ring on an attachment rod extending along an axis of the attachment rod from a panel. The tool involves moving a movement clip of the automaton to grip the ring so that the attachment rod is introduced into the ring and moving a crimping nose of the automaton so as to prevent the removal of the ring from the attachment rod. Once crimped, the ring is released and the crimping nose is moved so as to ready the crimping tool for subsequent crimping of rings on attachment rods.

A cookware handle includes a plastic grip portion molded over a portion of an insert. The insert inserts into a bore of a flange. The grip portion is externally flush with the flange interface and the insert internally connects the grip portion to the flange. This allows the grip portion to be over molded on a first part of the insert so the other portion can be welded or otherwise attached to the flange after external surface finishing of the flange. The insert and flange may be welded together along a portion of the insert that contacts the flange within the bore and that is not visible when the flange is attached to a cookware vessel sidewall to provide the grip molded as a handle for the cookware vessel.