Lockbolt Collar Feeder Integration for Single-Handed Serial Swaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing swageable collars on lockbolts are inefficient and labor-intensive, requiring manual placement and separate collar feeders, which can disrupt the operation of swaging tools and do not facilitate serial swaging of collars onto pre-located lockbolt shanks.
Innovation Solution
A collar feeder device is designed to be attached to a swaging tool, featuring a collar transfer assembly with axially oriented rods and a magazine, allowing collars to be serially fed and swaged onto lockbolt shanks efficiently, with a gripper mechanism that aligns collars in a presentation position for easy installation and automatic retrieval from a supply tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual collar placement is used, then operator control is maintained, but installation efficiency is low and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The collar feeder device automatically feeds collars to the swaging tool without requiring manual intervention. The device includes a collar supply magazine, a feeder mechanism with grippers, and automated positioning systems that present collars to the tool in sequence, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous operator input.
Solution Approach 2:
Collars are pre-loaded into the feeder device's magazine in advance of the swaging operation. The feeder mechanism pre-positions and pre-orients collars in the correct presentation position before they are needed by the swaging tool, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle and position each collar during the installation process.
2Productivity
If separate collar feeders are used, then collar supply is provided, but tool operation is disrupted and integration is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collar feeder device is designed to be integrated with the swaging tool as a unified system. The feeder mechanism is positioned and configured to work in conjunction with the tool's swaging head, allowing collars to be fed directly into the tool's working position. This merging of functions enables serial swaging operations where collars are continuously supplied and processed without separation between feeding and swaging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder device is designed with universal compatibility to work with various swaging tool models and collar types. The presentation position and gripper mechanism are configured to accommodate different collar dimensions while maintaining integration with the tool's operational cycle, allowing the same feeder design to serve multiple tool configurations without requiring custom integration for each tool type.
3Manufacturing precision
If collars are fed one at a time manually, then precise positioning is achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder device maintains continuous operation by keeping multiple collars in ready positions within the magazine and presentation area. While one collar is being positioned or installed, the next collar is already prepared and positioned in advance. This continuous preparation and presentation of collars eliminates idle time between installations while maintaining precise positioning through the automated gripper and alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Collars are pre-positioned in the magazine and pre-oriented in the presentation position before they are needed by the swaging tool. The feeder mechanism prepares each collar in advance by gripping, orienting, and positioning it correctly, so that when the tool is ready to install, the collar is already in the precise position required. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time needed for manual positioning during the actual installation cycle.
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 feeder device simplifies the process of placing swageable collars onto lockbolt shanks, enabling efficient and convenient serial swaging, reducing operator effort and allowing seamless integration with various swaging tools without disrupting their operation.
Implementation Method 1
The rods are pushed rearwardly against resistance provided by a set of biasing springs
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.