Lockbolt Collar Feeder for Single-Handed Serial Swaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mechanical fastening systems using lockbolts with swageable collars are inefficient in serially swaging collars onto lockbolt shanks, as they require manual operation and separate collar feeders, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A collar feeder device is designed to be easily attached to a swaging tool, featuring a rear stationary body, a lower assembly with a gripper, and an actuator assembly with spring arms, allowing for automatic transfer of collars from a loading position to a presentation position aligned with the tool's operating axis, enabling efficient serial swaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation with separate collar feeders is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the productivity is low and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The collar feeder device is merged with the swaging tool by attaching the feeder to the nose assembly of the swaging tool. The feeder device includes a rear body that attaches to the nose assembly, a lower assembly with a gripper, and an actuator assembly with spring arms. This integration allows the collar feeding function to be combined with the swaging operation, enabling serial swaging of collars onto lockbolt shanks without requiring separate manual feeding operations, thereby improving productivity while maintaining operational simplicity
2Productivity
If automatic collar transfer is implemented, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower assembly of the feeder device is designed to pivot between a presentation position and a loading position dynamically. The actuator assembly with spring arms provides automatic actuation of this pivoting motion. When the swaging tool is activated, the actuator assembly causes the lower assembly to pivot, automatically transferring the collar from the loading position to the presentation position where it can be applied to the lockbolt shank. This dynamic mechanism enables automatic collar transfer without complex control systems, improving productivity while keeping the device structure relatively simple
3Loss of time
If separate collar feeding and swaging operations are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder device is designed to automatically perform the collar feeding and positioning functions without requiring direct operator intervention for each individual collar placement. The actuator assembly with spring arms automatically actuates the lower assembly to pivot and transfer collars based on the swaging tool operation. The operator simply needs to position the lockbolt and trigger the swaging operation, at which point the entire collar feeding and swaging process occurs automatically. This self-service mechanism significantly reduces the time lost to manual collar placement while maintaining ease of operation through simple triggering
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device streamlines the process by allowing operators to focus on swaging while the feeder automatically positions and installs collars, enhancing efficiency and convenience by integrating collar feeding directly with the swaging operation.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator assembly is located on the front of the front movable body 100 assembly and includes a pair of parallel spring arms providing a resilient 'collapse' function that produces the pivotal motion between the front movable body and lower assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A device is disclosed for supplying swageable collars from a magazine to a swaging tool such that the collars may be affixed to the shanks of lockbolts in a series of application steps. The feeder device can be mounted on the nose assembly of a swaging tool so that collar feeding and swaging can be accomplished in a single-handed operation. The feeder device responds to contact pressure against a work surface during a collar placement maneuver to release a collar from a presentation position for normal swaging. Releasing pressure on the workpiece allows a lower assembly of the feeder device to lift the next collar available from a magazine into the presentation position for application to the next lockbolt shank in a series of lockbolts to be finished.