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 disclosure relates to a processing station for aircraft structural components, having a gantry processing machine, a clamping frame for fastening at least one component, and a holding device assembly for receiving the clamping frame, wherein the gantry processing machine has a gantry and the gantry supports a processing tool which defines a processing point, wherein the processing tool is configured so as to be pivotable in relation to the gantry, and wherein the processing tool for displacing the processing point is height adjustable in the z direction in relation to the gantry, wherein the holding device assembly has at least two holding devices, and wherein at least one holding device has a drive for the height adjustment, and the clamping frame is height-adjustable in the z direction by means of the holding device.

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 transfer station for temporarily storing at least one interchangeable die. The die can be removed by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation and can be returned back into the transfer station after the joining operation. The transfer station including a carriage that is movable between a first position, wherein a first die receptacle is in a standby position, and a second position, wherein a second die receptacle is in the standby position. In the standby position the chosen die receptacle is accessible by the joining tool when in its 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 shank-fastener apparatus comprises a shank-fastener housing, a shank-fastener turret, an indexing-pin assembly, a drill, and a shank-fastener delivery assembly. The shank-fastener turret is supported by the shank-fastener housing and is selectively rotatable relative to the shank-fastener housing about a shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The indexing-pin assembly is supported by the shank-fastener housing and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener housing between an indexing-pin-assembly extended position and an indexing-pin-assembly retracted position along an indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The drill is supported by the shank-fastener turret and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener turret along a drill axis (C) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The shank-fastener delivery assembly also supported by the shank-fastener turret.

A receiver-fastener apparatus comprises a receiver-fastener housing, a receiver-fastener turret, an indexing-collet assembly, an anvil, a receiver-fastener delivery assembly, and a swager assembly. The receiver-fastener turret is selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The indexing-collet assembly is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The anvil is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The receiver-fastener delivery assembly is configured to operatively position receiver fasteners for operative placement on shank fasteners, corresponding to the receiver fasteners. The swager assembly is movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z).

A shank-fastener apparatus (100) comprises a shank-fastener housing (170), a shank-fastener turret (102), an indexing-pin assembly (103), a drill (104), and a shank-fastener delivery assembly (105). The shank-fastener turret (102) is supported by the shank-fastener housing (170) and is selectively rotatable relative to the shank-fastener housing (170) about a shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The indexing-pin assembly (103) is supported by the shank-fastener housing (170) and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener housing (170) between an indexing-pin-assembly extended position and an indexing-pin-assembly retracted position along an indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The drill (104) is supported by the shank-fastener turret (102) and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener turret (102) along a drill axis (C) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The shank-fastener delivery assembly (105) also supported by the shank-fastener turret (102).

A receiver-fastener apparatus (200) comprises a receiver-fastener housing (270), a receiver-fastener turret (202), an indexing-collet assembly (203), an anvil (204), a receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205), and a swager assembly (206). The receiver-fastener turret (202) is selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The indexing-collet assembly (203) is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The anvil (204) is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205) is configured to operatively position receiver fasteners (506) for operative placement on shank fasteners (504), corresponding to the receiver fasteners (506). The swager assembly (206) is movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z).

A method and system are provided to position and drill an opening for a fastener through one or more workpieces. In the context of a method, a peen mark is formed on a workpiece at a location at which the opening is to be drilled. The method also includes utilizing a robotic vision system to identify the peen mark on the workpiece and thereafter drilling the opening configured to receive the fastener at the location designated by the peen mark. In the context of a system, the system includes a dot peen marking system configured to form a peen mark on a workpiece at a location at which the opening is to be drilled. The system also includes a robot comprising a vision system configured to identify the peen mark on the workpiece and a drilling machine configured to drill the opening at the location designated by the peen mark.