A tape feed apparatus for a self-piercing rivet machine comprising: a supply reel , a receiver assembly , and an exhaust reel ; a tape path extending in a forward direction from the supply reel , through the receiver, and to the exhaust reel , and the tape path extending in a reverse direction from the exhaust reel , through the receiver, and to the supply reel ; a tape extending along the tape path , the tape having rivet apertures 56) configured to carry self-piercing rivets and a rivet positioning aperture corresponding to each rivet aperture; the receiver assembly being configured to be coupled to an end of a self-piercing rivet spindle and configured to receive self-piercing rivets carried by the tape along the tape path below a self-piercing rivet punch of the spindle ; the tape feed apparatus being characterized in that the receiver assembly includes a reverse locking pawl configured to permit movement of the tape along the tape path in the forward direction and to bring a lead self-piercing rivet into a position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch by engaging the corresponding rivet positioning aperture of the tape to stop movement of the tape in the reverse direction as the lead self-piercing rivet in the rivet apertures comes into the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch from the reverse direction; and a two-directional tape indexing system configured to move the tape in the forward direction causing the lead self-piercing rivet to move into an overalignment position on the tape path in which the lead self-piercing rivet is beyond the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch in the forward direction, and configured to move the tape in the reverse direction causing the lead self-piercing rivet to move from the overalignment position into the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch from the reverse direction. a supply reel , a receiver assembly , and an exhaust reel ; a tape path extending in a forward direction from the supply reel , through the receiver, and to the exhaust reel , and the tape path extending in a reverse direction from the exhaust reel , through the receiver, and to the supply reel ; a tape extending along the tape path , the tape having rivet apertures 56) configured to carry self-piercing rivets and a rivet positioning aperture corresponding to each rivet aperture; the receiver assembly being configured to be coupled to an end of a self-piercing rivet spindle and configured to receive self-piercing rivets carried by the tape along the tape path below a self-piercing rivet punch of the spindle ; the tape feed apparatus being characterized in that the receiver assembly includes a reverse locking pawl configured to permit movement of the tape along the tape path in the forward direction and to bring a lead self-piercing rivet into a position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch by engaging the corresponding rivet positioning aperture of the tape to stop movement of the tape in the reverse direction as the lead self-piercing rivet in the rivet apertures comes into the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch from the reverse direction; and a two-directional tape indexing system configured to move the tape in the forward direction causing the lead self-piercing rivet to move into an overalignment position on the tape path in which the lead self-piercing rivet is beyond the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch in the forward direction, and configured to move the tape in the reverse direction causing the lead self-piercing rivet to move from the overalignment position into the position of alignment with the self-piercing rivet punch from the reverse direction. <EOS>