Sensor-Guided Riveting Position Locking to Prevent Missed Fastening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing riveting processes suffer from fastening omission and incorrect positioning, leading to defective products and reduced production efficiency due to manual operation of rivet guns, which are prone to human error.

Innovation Solution

A riveting apparatus equipped with a riveting unit, moving unit, position sensors, and a locking mechanism to ensure precise positioning and prevent fastening omission by measuring and maintaining correct coordinates using laser sensors and hydraulic control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation of rivet gun is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to fastening omission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The riveting apparatus performs self-checking through position sensors that automatically detect and record fastening positions, eliminating the need for manual verification by workers. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring its own operation status and preventing fastening omission through automated position tracking and comparison with standard patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit receives feedback from position sensors that continuously monitor the riveting unit's position and the fastening member's insertion status. This feedback loop enables real-time comparison with standard fastening patterns, allowing the system to detect deviations and prevent fastening omission by controlling the driving unit to maintain correct positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automated riveting system is introduced, then reliability is improved by preventing fastening omission, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The riveting unit integrates multiple functions into a single device: it performs the actual riveting operation, monitors its own position through integrated sensors, tracks fastening member insertion status, and controls the driving mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate monitoring and control systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The position sensors and control unit are merged with the riveting unit to form an integrated system. The control unit combines functions of position monitoring, fastening status detection, and driving control into a single centralized controller, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If position sensors and locking unit are added, then manufacturing precision is improved by preventing incorrect positioning, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The position sensors are positioned in advance to detect the riveting unit's location before fastening occurs. The control unit pre-compares the detected position with the standard fastening pattern and determines whether the position is correct before allowing the fastening operation to proceed. This preliminary position verification prevents incorrect positioning and ensures manufacturing precision without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking unit acts as an intermediary between the position detection system and the fastening operation. It receives position information from sensors, validates it against the standard pattern, and only permits fastening when the position is confirmed correct. This intermediary function simplifies the control logic by creating a clear pass/fail decision point rather than requiring continuous complex adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If manual checking of fastening positions is performed, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-verification of fastening positions through automated sensors that continuously monitor and record each fastening location. This eliminates the need for workers to manually check each position, significantly reducing the time required per unit while maintaining operational simplicity. The system checks its own work automatically without adding complexity to the fastening process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The position sensors operate continuously throughout the riveting process, monitoring positions in real-time rather than requiring intermittent manual checks. This continuous automated monitoring occurs simultaneously with the fastening operation, eliminating idle time for inspection and maintaining continuous productive action without interrupting the workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4406675B1Riveting apparatus capable of preventing fastening in incorrect positions, and riveting method using same
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4406675B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4406675B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4406675B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a riveting apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of fastening omission and a riveting method using the same, and more particularly to a riveting apparatus including a riveting unit, a moving unit connected to the riveting unit, the moving unit being configured to move the riveting unit, a first moving guide unit configured to guide the longitudinal movement of the moving unit, a pair of second moving guide units located at longitudinal opposite ends of the first moving guide unit, the pair of second moving guide units being configured to guide the transverse movement of the first moving guide unit, a first position sensor provided under one end of the first moving guide unit, and a second position sensor provided under one end of one of the pair of second moving guide units and a riveting method using the same.