Patent ID: 8434215
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: B21J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A self-piercing rivet fastening device operable to drive a self-piercing rivet into a plurality of work-piece members, so that the plurality of members are fastened together, the self piercing rivet fastening device comprising: a C-shaped frame including a first end and a second end; a rivet punch and a punch driver are located on the first end of the C-shaped frame, and a die is located on the second end of the C-shaped frame so as to oppose the punch, and the punch driver is selectively operable to drive the rivet punch toward the die; a receiver including a rivet driving chamber, for accepting the rivet fed from a rivet feeder, is mounted on the first end of the C-shaped frame proximate to the punch; a rivet feeder tube extends from the rivet feeder and is connected to the receiver; a moveable gate operatively associated with the rivet driving chamber and being provided in the receiver; a rivet arrival detection sensor is provided proximate to the receiver for detecting whether the rivet is present in the rivet driving chamber; the rivet arrival detection sensor being operative to directly sense the presence of the rivet in the rivet driving chamber independent of the position of the gate; and when the rivet arrival detection sensor has not detected that a rivet is present in the driving chamber, then the drive for the punch is prevented in response to a signal from that sensor.