Abstract:
A magazine for holding a quantity of blind rivets ready for use in an automatic rivet setting tool. The rivets are connected together in spaced relation along the length of an elongated rivet carrying strip or ribbon of flexible material by having a distal portion of each mandrel inserted or pierced therethrough. The magazine includes longitudinal panels connected together in a preferably even, spaced, radially extending arrangement forming a spool. The longitudinal panels each define an outer distal longitudinal edge, all of which are preferably substantially parallel one to another and to a central spool axis. Each rivet carried on the flexible strip, when the flexible strip is spiral-wound around said longitudinal distal edges, is positioned in somewhat radially oriented fashion between adjacent longitudinal panels with the head of each rivet positioned inwardly toward the spool axis.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to automatic riveting devices, and more particularly to a rivet magazine for an automatic feed blind or pop-rivet setting device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Considerable technological effort has been expended in developing blind or pop or mandrel-type rivets, hereinafter collectively referred to as blind rivets, and the associated manually operated devices for setting such rivets. The primary requirement for setting blind rivets is to support the enlarged flange of the rivet body against an anvil or rivet table with the rivet body inserted through a closely mating hole in a work surface. The mandrel extends axially through the rivet table and is gripped by jaws which tension and pull the mandrel rearwardly, expanding the body of the rivet to a point where the mandrel is fractured away. Thus, blind rivets are particularly useful in situations where a conventional riveting tool does not have access to both sides of the working surfaces to be rivet-connected together. 
     What appears to be a second stage in the development of blind rivets has been toward the automatic setting of the rivet wherein a source of power such as a motor, a pneumatic actuator or hydraulics are utilized to replace manual effort in expanding and setting the rivet through mandrel pull. 
     This riveting technology has also expanded into the development of automatic riveting devices which include an automatic feed means for the rivets themselves. Prior to such development, the user has been required to manually insert each fresh rivet into the rivet table one at a time. Because these devices still require the user to depress an actuator or trigger to set each rivet, these devices are referred to as “semi-automatic” rivet machines having an automatic feed. 
     The bulk of these automatic feed rivet devices fall generally into two categories. The first category is one wherein the nosepiece and/or rivet table is pivotally or arcuately connected wherein these components swing apart radially outwardly from one another so that a new rivet may be passed forward longitudinally from behind this arrangement into position, whereupon the nosepiece and/or rivet table components are closed around the rivet body and mandrel with the flange of the rivet against the distal end surface of the rivet table. 
     The second general category of automatic rivet feed means is directed to an external arm arrangement which swings or pivots a fresh rivet into coaxial alignment forwardly of the rivet anvil and then either automatically draws or allows the rivet to be manually moved rearwardly wherein the mandrel enters the longitudinal aperture of the rivet anvil. 
     Despite this considerable effort and incentive in developing such an automatic feed rivet setting device, only one such machine has successfully been marketed and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,873. A rivet magazine is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,497. 
     The present invention provides an improved feed magazine for compactly holding a large quantity of blind rivets for such a rivet setting device, which in prototype and pre-production form, has operated successfully and reliably to date. This invention offers fully automatic rivet magazine feed means for an accompanying riveter which will set rivets automatically as quickly as an operator can act to position each new rivet head into another hole in the work surface and activate the riveter. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an improved one-piece magazine for compactly holding and feeding therefrom a quantity of blind rivets to a blind rivet setting device which automatically feeds blind rivets into a specially designed rivet table, then sets the rivet by pulling and detaching the mandrel. The magazine holds a thin elongated strip or ribbon of flexible material which holds and grips the mandrel tips pierced through the strip in evenly spaced apart fashion. The strip, spiral wound on the magazine, is drawn from the magazine into a feed slot formed transversely through a rivet table of the rivet setting device generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the riveter. A spring biased retracting device may be used to continuously pull the strip through the feed slot so that the next rivet in succession facing the rivet table is automatically drawn into axial alignment within the rivet table ready for positioning and setting into a work surface. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved magazine for grippingly holding a quantity of rivets for automatic feed into an automatic rivet setting device for setting blind rivets which includes an automatic rivet feed arrangement. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved economically manufactured one-piece magazine for holding a quantity of rivets as part of an automatic blind rivet feed arrangement for riveting devices. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fully assembled prior art magazine utilized with the semi-automatic rivet setting tool as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,873. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the two-part magazine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved magazine of the present invention holding a quantity of rivets each held by an elongated strip of flexible material. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the improved magazine of  FIG. 3  absent the rivets and flexible rivet carrying strip. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3  including the rivets and flexible rivet carrying strip. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the magazine invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top or bottom plan view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the support shaft releasably attached thereto. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a longitudinal section view of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan broken view of  FIG. 13  showing a distal lead portion of the rivet carrying strip and rivet attached thereto in phantom. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the magazine support shaft. 
         FIG. 17  is a longitudinal section view of  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior Art 
     The complete specification and drawings disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,497 have been previously incorporated by reference and are repeated herein. 
     Referring firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a prior art magazine is there shown generally at numeral  10  and includes two identical mating magazine halves  12  shown in  FIG. 2  which mating engage together to form the magazine  10 . Each of the magazine halves  12  includes radially extending longitudinal panels  16  and  18  which are oriented in spaced apart radially extending coplanar fashion and formed at a proximal end thereof with a rectangular transversely oriented end plate  14 . Each end plate  14  includes a central drive aperture  20  which is operably engageable onto a rotatable support and drive spindle (not shown). The distal ends of each longitudinal panel  16  and  18 , respectively, include locking tabs  26  and  28  and locator pins  30  and  32 , respectively, which align and lockingly engage into cavities  22  and  24  and locator holes  34  and  36 , respectively, formed on the inner surface of each of the end plates  14 . 
     When assembled, a length of flexible MYLAR or plastic strip or ribbon carrying spaced apart rivets as disclosed in the ′497 patent are windingly engageable around the outer distal longitudinal edges or margins  38  and  40  of each of the longitudinal panels  16  and  18 , respectively, and in the same orientation of rivet heads inward and shanks outward as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 of the ′497 patent. The end plates overhang the distal longitudinal edges  38  and  40  at  46  and  48 , respectively. 
     The Invention 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A and  4 B, one embodiment of the present invention is there shown generally at numeral  50  and includes a uniquely configured magazine  52  and a loaded flexible plastic or MYLAR rivet carrying strip  54  carrying a quantity of rivets  58  in evenly spaced relation therealong. The distal end portion  60   a  of each of the mandrels  60  of each rivet  58  is pierced through the flexible plastic strip  56  which is of sufficient strength and resiliency to retain the tip portion  60   a  of each of the rivets  58  in the position shown until such time as the carrying strip  56  delivers each rivet  58  into the prepared slot formed into the rivet table of the ′497 rivet setting tool. 
     The magazine  52  is formed as a single unit of molded plastic and includes a central support passageway  72  for the mounting of the rivet magazine  52  onto a mating support or drive shaft either attached to a rivet setting tool (not shown) or a separate support. Each of the four longitudinal panels  70  includes stiffening ribs  76  and stiffened distal longitudinal edges  78  longitudinally extending therealong. An end plate  74  is disposed at one end of the magazine  52  to provide structural strength and stability for each of the longitudinal panels  70  and to provide some supportive assistance in preventing the heads  62  of the rivets  58  from falling outside of the end envelope of the rivet magazine  52 . 
     However, because of the relative spacing along the flexible strip  56  of each of the mandrel end portions  60   a , the rivet heads  62  each press against one of the longitudinal panels  70  thus acting together in pairs tipped inwardly as best seen in  FIG. 4B  to create a flexure of the flexible carrying strip  56  which has been wound taught around the longitudinal distal edges  78  of each of the longitudinal panels  70  starting at  64  and ending at  66 . By this arrangement, a biasing effect is produced by the flexing of the tensioned flexible rivet carrying strip  56  which adds stability to the rivets  58  in place within the magazine  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , another embodiment of the magazine of the invention, the preferred embodiment, is there shown generally at numeral  80 . This rivet magazine  80  includes four longitudinal panels  82  which extend longitudinally between transverse end panels  84 . This embodiment  80 , also formed as a unit, includes a central longitudinal passageway  94  and drive engaging apertures  92  formed in each of the end panels  84 . 
     The peripheral edges of each end panel  84  are scalloped at  86  between corners  88  thereof and between each of the adjacent longitudinal panels  82  for weight reduction and rivet carrying strip loading and packaging convenience. The flexible strips loaded with rivets as previously described and shown in  FIG. 3  are tightly spiral wound around the longitudinal distal edges  96  of each of the longitudinal panels  82  such that, even with the scalloped portions  86 , each of the end panels  84  provide some support for retaining the heads  62  of each rivet  58  held by the tightly wound flexible rivet carrying strip within the envelope defined by the magazine  80 . 
     To prevent the tightly wound flexible rivet carrying strip from inadvertently slipping off of the distal longitudinal edge  96  of one or more of the longitudinal panels  82 , the tips or corners  88  of each of the end panels  84  extend radially outwardly beyond the distal edge of each longitudinal panel  82  as best seen in  FIG. 6  at  90 . Thus, when a fully loaded magazine is jostled or handled roughly, the flexible rivet carrying strip  56  is much less likely to inadvertently slip from the distal margins of each of the longitudinal panels  82 . 
     Still another embodiment of the magazine of the invention is shown generally at numeral  100  in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In this embodiment  100  of the magazine, similar longitudinal panels  102  are provided in orthogonal orientation one to another and strengthened in that relationship by end panels  104 . These end panels  104  include drive apertures  108  for receiving a mating drive shaft which slidably engages through a longitudinally extending a longitudinally extending clearance passage  110 . 
     To insure that the flexible rivet carrying strip (not shown in these drawings) is prevented from slipping off of the distal edges  112  of each of the longitudinal panels  102 , overhang tabs  106  are also provided which extend radially outwardly at  114  a distance sufficient to prevent slippage of the flexible rivet carrying strip therefrom. 
     In  FIG. 11 , still another yet more economical embodiment of the magazine of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  120 . In this embodiment  120 , longitudinally extending longitudinal panels  122  orthogonally oriented one to another and radially extending about an imaginary center line of the magazine as with respect to all of the other embodiments described hereinabove, are also provided. A small stabilizing end panel  124  is disposed centrally against each end margin of the longitudinal panels  122 , the entire magazine  120  being formed as a unit of molded plastic material. A drive aperture  130  is disposed in each of the end panels  124  in alignment with a central passageway  132  while radially extending overhang tabs  126  providing a slight overhang at  134 , prevent the flexible rivet-carrying strip from sliding from its wound positioning around the distal longitudinal edges  128  of each of the longitudinal panels  122 . 
     Note in this embodiment  120  that the reinforcing end panels  124  are only for providing a drive aperture  130  and for reinforcing the orientation of the end panels  122  so that they do not substantially flex when the loaded flexible rivet-carrying strip is wound therearound. That is to say that the stability of the rivets held between each adjacent longitudinal panel  122  is maintained and the rivet heads are kept from substantial movement outside of the end profile of the magazine  120  by the biased effect of the rivets against the side walls of the longitudinal panels  122  created by the flexing of the flexible rivet-carrying strip by the biasing of the entire rivet against the sides of each of the longitudinal panels  122  as previously described. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 to 17 , the preferred embodiment of the magazine is there shown generally at numeral  140  formed as a single molded plastic unit including four longitudinal panels  144  longitudinally extending between transverse end plates  142  thereof. An elongated longitudinally extending central passageway  146  is tapered toward the central portion thereof as best seen in  FIG. 14  to accommodate and to releasably, yet lockingly engage onto a support shaft  160  which is described more fully herebelow. 
     To insure that the MYLAR carrying strip  56  shown in phantom in  FIG. 15  carrying rivets  58  does not slip from its wound ready-for-use position around each longitudinally extending edge  144   a  of each of the panels  144 , each the distal end portions  148  of each of the end panels  142  extend radially slightly beyond the corresponding edge  144   a.    
     As best seen in  FIG. 15 , this embodiment  140  also includes molded elongated slender carrying strip attaching pins  150  which are positioned on and extend at a slight inward angle to tangent from at least one of the panels  144 . These pins  150  are positioned in close proximity to one or both of the end panels  142  and at a specified distance radially inwardly from the corresponding longitudinal distal edge  144   a . Pin  150  is sized to be snuggly inserted into an empty aperture formed into the lead portion of the carrying strip  156  which is then pulled taught at  64  to bend around the distal edge  144   a  to begin the carrying strip winding process of loading the rivets  60  onto the magazine  140 . By slightly tipping the pins  150  inwardly, a self-locking benefit is derived when the carrying strip wrapping process begins. In this embodiment  140 , the transverse perimeter measurement around the distal edges is about 12¾″ so that the rivet spacing on the carrying strip is about 1.9″ 
     The support shaft  160  is best seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17  and is formed in two main rigid components, a tapered outer shaft  162  and an inner shaft  174 . The outer shaft  162  matches the tapered passageway  146  best seen in  FIG. 14  and is of sufficiently shallow angle of taper so as to be self-locking when tapped into the position shown in  FIG. 12 . However, to further insure the releasable attachment to avoid inadvertent disengagement between the support shaft  160  and the magazine  140  when in use, a machined micro finish of 125 microns is applied to the outer surface of the outer member  162  for additional frictional engagement into the tapered passageway  146 . Note that other forms of surface finishing such as bead blasting, knurling and the like may be applied for this enhanced releasable attachment feature. 
     The inner shaft  174  is held in position by a threaded fastener  172  which exerts pressure against a spring or crush washer  176  positioned between an enlarged head  164  of the outer shaft  162  and an enlarged flange  168  of the inner shaft  174 . By this arrangement, by adjusting the tightness of threaded fastener  172 , which variably compresses the spring washer  176 , relative resistance to frictional rotation between the outer tapered member  162  and the threaded proximal end  170  which remains stationary and locked into the rivet setting tool is accomplished. The threaded proximal end  170  threadably engages into a mating female thread formed into a side portion of the rivet setting tool housing as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,873 which has previously been incorporated by reference to support the magazine  140 . 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.