Apparatuses for and methods of installing pre-molded seal caps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10865820-B2
Application number	US-201816031472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2018
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners that extend from a surface is disclosed. Apparatus comprises a plunger mechanism, configured to individually install the pre-molded seal caps onto selected ones of the fasteners. Apparatus also comprises a feed system, configured to sequentially deliver the pre-molded seal caps, arranged on a carrier strip, to the plunger mechanism. Apparatus additionally comprises a take-up mechanism, configured to collect the carrier strip as the pre-molded seal caps are sequentially removed from the carrier strip. The plunger mechanism is also configured to operate in concert with the feed system to sequentially remove the pre-molded seal caps from the carrier strip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners that extend from a surface, the apparatus comprising:
a plunger mechanism, configured to individually install the pre-molded seal caps onto selected ones of the fasteners;
a feed system, configured to sequentially deliver the pre-molded seal caps,
arranged on a carrier strip, to the plunger mechanism; and
a take-up mechanism, configured to collect the carrier strip into a roll after the pre-molded seal caps are sequentially removed from the carrier strip; and
wherein the plunger mechanism is also configured to operate in concert with the feed system to sequentially remove the pre-molded seal caps from the carrier strip.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a control system, configured to enable the plunger mechanism to individually install pre-molded seal caps onto the selected ones of the fasteners after the plunger mechanism individually removes the pre-molded seal caps from the carrier strip only when the plunger mechanism has a predetermined angular orientation relative to each of the selected ones of the fasteners.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a housing that comprises:
a chamber;
an inlet opening, in communication with the chamber; and
an outlet opening, in communication with the chamber; and
wherein:
the feed system is positioned within the housing and the plunger mechanism is positioned within the chamber;
the feed system is configured to transport the carrier strip to the chamber; and
the plunger mechanism is configured to transport pre-molded seal caps, removed from the carrier strip, out of the chamber of the housing through the outlet opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising at least three feet, positioned adjacent the outlet opening and configured to be positioned around one of the fasteners, and wherein each one of at least the three feet is configured to retract into the housing only when the plunger mechanism has the predetermined angular orientation relative to the one of the fasteners and a downward force is applied to the housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the control system comprises at least three sensors; and
each one of at least the three sensors indicates when a corresponding one of at least the three feet is retracted within the housing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the plunger mechanism is configured to sequentially install the pre-molded seal caps onto the selected ones of the fasteners only when each one of at least the three sensors indicates that at least the three feet are retracted within the housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the plunger mechanism comprises a plunger, positioned within the chamber of the housing;
the plunger has a travel path within the chamber;
the plunger is configured to individually remove the pre-molded seal caps from the carrier strip; and
the plunger is also configured to sequentially transport the pre-molded seal caps, removed from the carrier strip, from the chamber, through the outlet opening and onto the selected ones of the fasteners.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the plunger mechanism further comprises an inner plunger, positioned within the plunger; and
the inner plunger is configured to rotate with respect to the plunger.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
the plunger is elliptical and has a plunger major-ellipse dimension and a plunger minor-ellipse dimension;
the inner plunger is elliptical and has an inner-plunger major-ellipse dimension and an inner-plunger minor-ellipse dimension;
the inner plunger has an initial position that aligns the inner-plunger major-ellipse dimension with the plunger major-ellipse dimension; and
the inner plunger is configured to retain the pre-molded seal caps as the inner plunger rotates with respect to the plunger to align the inner-plunger minor-ellipse dimension with the plunger major-ellipse dimension.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plunger mechanism further comprises a stem, connected to the inner plunger, and a first motor, configured to rotate the stem and the inner plunger.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
the plunger mechanism comprises a sleeve, connected to the first motor and having an opening;
the stem of the plunger mechanism comprises a portion that engages the opening in the sleeve; and
when the sleeve is rotated with respect to the plunger, the opening engages the portion of the stem, causing the stem and the inner plunger to rotate with respect to plunger.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the stem of the plunger mechanism comprises a plurality of teeth.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein:
the plunger mechanism further comprises a gear and a second motor, configured to rotate the gear; and
the gear engages the plurality of teeth on the stem of the plunger mechanism to move the plunger, inner plunger, and the stem within the chamber.

14. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the feed system comprises:
a first drive wheel, having a first-drive-wheel rotational axis;
a second drive wheel, rotatably mounted within the housing; and
an idler roller, having an idler-roller rotational axis and configured to support a portion of the carrier strip;

the idler roller is selectively locatable at least in a first position relative to the housing, such that the travel path of the plunger is between the idler-roller rotational axis and the first drive wheel, or in a second position, such that the idler-roller rotational axis is between the first drive wheel and the travel path of the plunger;
the first drive wheel is rotatably mounted within the housing; and
the first drive wheel is configured to rotate about the first-drive-wheel rotational axis to transport the carrier strip from the inlet opening to the chamber.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the feed system further comprises:
a first drive-wheel motor, configured to selectively rotate the first drive wheel;
a third drive wheel; and
at least one belt between the first drive wheel and the third drive wheel; and

at least the one belt is configured to rotate the third drive wheel by rotating the first drive wheel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein:
the feed system comprises a feed-system sensor, configured to detect an individual one of the pre-molded seal caps entering the chamber; and
the first drive-wheel motor is configured to selectively prevent the first drive wheel from rotating responsive to the feed-system sensor detecting the individual one of the pre-molded seal caps entering the chamber.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein:
the take-up mechanism comprises a take-up spindle,
configured to wind up the carrier strip into the roll;
the second drive wheel of the feed system is configured to rotate about a second-drive-wheel rotational axis to transport the carrier strip from the idler roller to the take-up spindle; and
the second drive wheel is configured to move the idler roller between,
inclusively,
the first position,
such that the travel path of the plunger is between the idler-roller rotational axis and the first drive wheel, and
the second position,
such that the idler-roller rotational axis is between the first drive wheel and the travel path of the plunger.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein:
the take-up m

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Buhager John M
• Chant Stephen J

Classifications

• B65G23/22

  Arrangements or mountings of driving motors {(B65G23/08 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B25B23/045

  using disposable strips or discs carrying the screws or nuts · CPC title

• B64D37/32

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• B64D45/02

  Lightning protectors; Static dischargers · CPC title

• B23P19/00 Primary

  Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation {(connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K)}; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes (hand tools in general B25) · CPC title