End effectors and feeders for swaging operations

US11117183B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• John W. Pringle, IV · Torrance, US
• David Stien Pedersen · Irvine, US
• Matt Barnhart · Henry's Drive, US
• David Lepore · Long Beach, US
• Yousef Aziz · Torrance, US
• Jigar Bhadriklal Patel · Peoria, US
• Surajit Roy · Gilroy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2020
• Grant date: Sep 14, 2021
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16B39/026
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A feeder for a swage gun comprises a collar magazine and a guide-block assembly. The guide-block assembly comprises a guide block that comprises a slot, configured to receive the lock collar from the collar magazine at a first guide-block position along the slot. The guide-block assembly also comprises an actuator, operable to move the lock collar along the slot from the first guide-block position to a second guide-block position. Feeder further comprises a feed tunnel, coupled with the guide-block assembly, and a dispensing bulkhead, coupled with the feed tunnel. Feeder also comprises a gripping assembly, coupled with the dispensing bulkhead.