US3803698A

US3803698A - Control system for assembling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3803698A
Application number: US00357040A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Schmidt; V Schmidt
Original assignee: Textron Inc
Current assignee: Universal Fasteners Inc
Priority date: 1972-07-11
Filing date: 1973-05-03
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16
Also published as: JPS5047081A; AU5778673A; DE2335285A1; NL7309528A; CA987557A; ES416798A1; BE802177A; FR2191994A1; IT996081B; GB1433952A; AU451617B2

Abstract

A control system for apparatus for assembling head and backing elements of a fastener with a piece of material includes a ram driven by a fluid motor for moving a backing element to an attaching station, an anvil driven by a fluid motor for moving a head element to the attaching station, a control valve supplying pressure to the fluid motors to drive the ram and anvil, a restriction delaying the supply of pressure to the anvil during fluid motor such that the ram is moved toward the attaching station before the anvil, and a pressure responsive assembly sensing pressure at the anvil driving fluid motor and responsive to a predetermined pressure thereat to operate the control valve to separate the ram and anvil automatically after the ram and anvil meet. Delivery means for supplying the fastener elements to the ram and anvil is controlled by a cycle of a fluid motor and a cycle control valve is responsive to operation of the delivery fluid motor to prevent the supply of pressure to a control valve for the delivery fluid motor until the delivery fluid motor has completed a cycle.

Description

United States Patent [1 Schmidt et al.

[ CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Erich A. Schmidt; Volker E.

Schmidt, both of Lexington, Ky.

[73] Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence, RI.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 357,040

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 270,755, July ll,

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. .29/208 C, 29/207.5 [51] Int. Cl B23p 19/04 [58] Field of Search 29/208 C, 208 R, 208 D, 29/207.5, 208 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570,101 3/l97l Stead 29/208 C Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager RESERVOIR Apr. 16, 1974 ABSTRACT A control system for apparatus for assembling head and backing elements of a fastener with a piece of material includes a ram driven by a fluid motor for moving a backing element to an attaching station, an anvil driven by a fluid motor for moving a head element to the attaching station, a control valve supplying pressure to the fluid motors to drive the ram and anvil, a restriction delaying the supply of pressure to the anvil during fluid motor such that the ram is moved toward the attaching station before the anvil, and a pressure responsive assembly sensing pressure at the anvil driving fluid motor and responsive to a predetermined pressure thereat to operate the control valve to separate the ram and anvil automatically after the ram and anvil meet. Delivery means for supplying the fastener elements to the ram and anvil is controlled by a cycle of a fluid motor and a cycle control valve is responsive to operation of the delivery fluid motor to prevent the supply of pressure to a control valve for the delivery fluid motor until the delivery fluid motor has completed a cycle.

20 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 42 FILTER LUBRICATOR PATENTEDAPR 16 1974 RESERVOIR LUBRICATOR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part application of pending application Ser. No. 270,755 filed July I1, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to control systems for assembling apparatus and, more particularly, to a fluidic control system for assembling apparatus for attaching fastener elements to a piece of material.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Fasteners such as buttons, snap fasteners, rivets and the like, characterized by including at least two components to be assembled together through a piece of material such as a garment, are becoming extremely popular due to the inexpensive manufacture thereof and the inexpensive assembly of the fastener elements with a piece of material. The components of such fasteners will hereinafter be referred to as head elements having prongs extending therefrom and mating backing elements for receiving the prongs of the head elements.

The head and backing elements are normally stored in separate hoppers and are fed via separate chutes to an attaching station where an anvil and ram drive the elements together to fix the fastener to the material.

During the driving of the elements together the prongs of the head element are upset or deformed in the backing element to secure the fastener elements together.

Systems for controlling the operation of the anvil and ram apparatus for assembling fasteners must be extremely precise in order to avoid damage to either the fastener elements or the material to which they are to be fixed; however, in order to make such assembling apparatus economically feasible, such apparatus must be automatic and require as little manual labor and supervision as possible. To this extent, the control system should be as simple as is feasible and require a minimum of movingparts in order to avoid costly delays due to, breakdown and replacement of parts.

Prior art control systems for such assembling apparatus have required precision meeting of the anvil and ram at the level of the material to which the fastener components are to be fixed; and, thereafter, the anvil and ram have been moved together, normally in the direction of movement of the ram, for a predetermined distance, which distance of travel of the ram and anvil is detected after a predetermined length to cause the ram and anvil to separate and return to their ready positions for uniting the next fastener elements to be supplied thereto. The operation of detecting movement of the ram and anvil is imprecise and further requires the use of structure subjected to shock and vibration and, therefore, prone to frequent replacement or fixing.

Another disadvantage of prior art control systems for assembling apparatus is that the delivery means for supplying the fastener elements to the attaching station, normally formed of hoppers and chutes as described above, is conventionally controlled by a fluid motor in such a manner that control system failure or untimely operation of the apparatus by an operator can adversely affect the cycling of the fluid motor. It is important that the cycling of the delivery means be maintained constant with each cycle completed prior to initiation of the next cycle in order to prevent jamming of the delivery means and improper and untimely positioning of the fastener elements at the attaching station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally characterized in a control system for assembling apparatus having a ram and anvil driven toward each other, the control system including a ram driving fluid motor for controlling movement of the ram toward and away from the anvil, an anvil driving fluid motor for controlling movement of the anvil toward and away from the ram, control means having a drive state for supplying pressure to the ram driving fluid motor and the anvil driving fluid motor to'drive the ram and anvil toward each other and a return state for separating the ram and anvil, a selectively operated valve for placing the control means in the drive state, and a pressure responsive assembly for sensing fluid pressure at the anvil driving fluid motor and placing the control means in the return state when the pressure at the anvil driving fluid motor exeeds a predetermined pressure whereby the ram and anvil are automatically separated after the ram and anvil meet.

The present invention is further generally characterized in a control system for apparatus for assembling fastener elements supplied by delivery means to an attaching station including a fluid motor for operating the fastener element delivery means, control valve means for moving the fluid motor through a complete cycle, selectively operated valve means for supplying fluid to commence operation of the apparatus, and cycle control means for supplying fluid from the selectively operated valve means to the control valve means to commence the cycle, the cycle control means being responsive to operation of the fluid motor once the cycle has commenced to prevent supply of fluid from the selectively operated valve means to the control means until the cycle is completed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a'control system for fastener assembling apparatus overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to construct a control system for assembling apparatus including a ram and anvil such that the ram and anvil meet with a predetermined pressure at an attaching station to limit the wearing of parts of the assembling apparatus.

I A further object of the present invention is to separate a ram and anvil of an assembling apparatus after a predetermined pressure is applied to either the ram or anvil.

The present invention has another object in that a maximum pressure limit can be set with respect to the meeting of a ram and anvil of an assembling apparatus, and once the predetermined maximum pressure is reached the ram and anvil are separated.

'Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a control system for a ram and anvil assembling apparatus including a pressure adjustment device for regulating the pressure at which the ram and anvil are separated after assembly of a fastener.

A further object of the control system of the present invention is to actuate a ram before an anvil of a fastener assembling apparatus such that a backing element carried by the ram engages a piece of material prior to the insertion of prongs of a head element carried by the anvil through the material and into the backing element for attachment thereto whereby damage to the material is minimized during assembly of the fastener elements.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the .supply of fluidto a control valve controlling the operation of a fluid motor operating delivery means to supply fastener element to an attaching station such that the control valve cannot be actuated until a full cycle of the fluid motor is completed.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art are that by separating the ram and anvil in response to pressure rather than distance, the chances of injury to personnel as well as damage to the material to which the components are fixed are reduced, there is less wear on the parts of the assembling apparatus and the control system, the pressure at which the ram and anvil separate is easily adjusted, and the fastener element delivery means is operated with constant uninterrupted cycling.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a diagrammatic illustration of a control system according to the present invention.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A control system according to the present invention is shown in the FIGURE and will be described hereinafter with respect to the attachment of a fastener composed of head and backing elements to a piece of material; however, the control system of the present invention is-not limited to such use and may be utilized with any assembling apparatus wherein a ram and anvil or similar elementssuch as dies are driven together. The structure of the assembling apparatus relating to the delivery of the head and backing elements of thefastener to the ram and anvil does not form a part of the present invention and, accordingly, is not specifically described herein in that any suitable delivery means, such as a hopper and chute mechanism, may be utilized with the present invention to deliver elements to the ram and anvil. Reference is made, however, to copending patent application Ser. No. 205,550 filed Dec. 7, 1971, entitled Snap Attaching Apparatus and assigned to the assignee of the present application for further details and reference with respect to assembling apparatus with which the control system of the present invention maybe utilized, the above-mentioned patent application being incorporated herein by reference.

The control system of the present invention is illustrated in the FIGURE as operating a ram and an anvil 12 at an attaching station 14. As mentioned above, a backing element will be supplied to ram 10 and a head element supplied to anvil 12 with a piece of material being positioned by suitable means between the ram and anvil. The ram-l0 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement by means of a rod 16 in response to movement of pivotally connected

links

18 and 20 which are joined at a pivotal couple 22. Anvil 12 is similarly mounted for vertical reciprocation by means of a rod 24 pivotally connected to one end of a lever 26 supported at a fulcrum 28 and carrying an abutment 30 on the other end thereof.

The control system will be described for illustrative purposes as being operated with air; however, any suitable fluid medium may be utilized to provide the desired control. Air is supplied to an inlet 32 to the system from any suitable source, such as a compressor, and passes through a filter 34 and a lubricator 36 to a pressure regulating valve 38. A pressure guage 40 communicates with pressure regulating valve 38 to provide a visual indication of the regulated pressure, and pressure regulating valve 38 has a main outlet communieating through a conduit 42 with a reserve tank or reservoir 44 and a pilot outlet communicating through a conduit 46, a miniature control valve 48, a conduit 50, a miniature control valve 52, a conduit 53 with a main four-way control valve 55 while a conduit 56 provides communication from conduit 53 through a four-way cycle control valve 57 and a conduit 58 with a four-way control valve 60. a

Miniature control valve 48 includes a plunger 61, having a through-passage 62 and a port 63 communicating with the atmosphere, and miniature control valve 52 similarly includes a plunger 64 having a through-passage 65 and a port 66 communicating with the atmosphere. The plunger 61 of control valve 48 extends from the valve casing and is adapted to be depressed to initiate operation of the control system. Accordingly, control valve 48 is disposed within easy reach of an operator, preferably near the floor for foot operation. The plunger 64 of control valve 52 extends from the valve casing to engage an actuator lever 67 which is pivotally mounted at one end and has the other end engaging abutment 30 carried by lever 26.

.The reservoir 44 supplies air'to a main conduit 68 which communicates through a port 69 with main control valve 55 and through

passages

70 and 71 with control valve 60 and a four-way control valve 72, respectively.

Control valves

60 and 72 operate a fluid motor 73 including a piston 74 movable in a cylinder 75 through an inlet conduit 76 at an inlet end of the cylinder and an exhaust conduit 78 at an outlet end of the cylinder, and the inlet end of cylinder 75 communicates with cycle control valve 57 through a conduit 79. Piston 74 carries a rod 80 which is adapted to operate a hopper and chute mechanism to deliver head and backing elements to the ram and anvil in any suitable manner; and, if desired, a pair of similar fluid motors may be operated in tandem to provide the required supply of fastener elements. Inlet conduit 76 is exhausted to the atmosphere through a port 82 in control valve 60 when the control valve is in its inoperative or rest position as illustrated, and exhaust conduit 78 communicates with passage 66 through control valve 60 in its operative position and through a leg 84 with an end chamber of control valve 70. Control valve 60 has an exhaust port 86 to the atmosphere and communicates through a passage 87 with control valve 72. A reciprocating rod 88 carrying four spaced pistons is movable in control valve 60, and control valve 72 has a reciprocating rod 90 carrying four spaced pistons biased by a spring 92.

The main control valve 55 controls a ram driving fluid motor 93 including a piston 94 slidable in a cylinder 96 andhaving a rod 98 engaging couple 22 between links 18 and of the ram reciprocating linkage. Cylinder 96 is controlled through an inlet conduit 100 and an exhaust conduit 102. Main control valve 55 also controls an anvil driving fluid motor 103 including a piston 104 slidable in a cylinder 106 and carrying a rod 108 engaging lever 26 as indicated by dotted line 110. Cylinder 106 communicates with conduit 100 through an inlet conduit 112 and an adjustable restriction 114 including a screw 115 movable into and out of the conduit, and cylinder 106 has an exhaust conduit 116 communicating with exhaust conduit 102 of ram cylinder 96.

Main control valve 55 includes a rod 118 carrying spaced

pistons

120, 122, 124 and 126 movable within a cylinder 128 under the control of

valves

48 and 52 and a drive pressure regulating assembly generally indicated at 130. Cylinder 128 has

ports

132 and 134 exhausting to the atmosphere and receives fluid from reservoir 44 through main conduit 68 and port 69. With the rod 118 in the rest or return state, as illustrated, communication is established between port 69 and a port 136 communicating with

exhaust conduits

102 and 116 of the ram and anvil cylinders, respectively, and atmospheric pressure is communicated through exhaust port 134 to inlet conduit 100 of ram cylinder 96 and inlet conduit 112 of anvil cylinder 106 through a port 138.

Pistons

122 and 124 are spaced such that when rod 118 is moved to place main control valve 55 in the drive state, port 69 communicates with port 138 and port 132 communicates with port 136 thereby communicating pressure from main conduit 68 to

inlet conduits

100 and 112 of the ram and anvil cylinders and venting exhaust conduits 102 and 1160f the ram and anvil cylinders to the atmosphere.

Drive pressure regulating assembly 130 includes a block 140 having a central passage 142 therein communicating at one end with main control valve 55 adjacent piston 126 and through a valve seat 144 at the op posite end to a chamber 146. Chamber 146 communicates through a conduit 148 with a driving pressure chamber 150 in anvil cylinder 106 and through a passage 152 with. a pressure gauge 154.'Block 140 has an externally threaded nipple receiving an internally threaded member 156 which has an annular shoulder sealably compressing a diaphragm 158 with the end of the externally threaded nipple of block 140. A valve member 160 is centrally carried by diaphragm 158 to engage valve seat 144 and valve member 160 has a bleed passage 162 extending centrally therethrough in alignment with' passage 142. A pressure adjusting, externally threaded screw 164 has a bleed port 166 therein, and a helicoidal spring 168 is mounted in compression between member 164 and an annular shoulder on valve member 160. Spring 168 supplies pressure to diaphragm 158 through valve member 160 such that diaphragm 158 deflects upward away from valve seat 144 when the pressure in chamber 146 is greater than the pressure supplied by spring 168.

The cycle control valve 57 receives air from conduit 56 at a port 170; and, with the cycle control valve in the inoperative position, the air received at port 170 is supplied through a port 172 to conduit 58. The end chamber of cycle control valve 57 communicates with con duit 79 through a port 174, and a port 176 communicates with the atmosphere. A reciprocating rod 178 carrying spaced pistons is movable in cycle control valve 57 and biased toward the inoperative position by a spring 180.

Since the structure and operation of four-way control valves are well known, the structure of

control valves

57, 60 and 72 has not been described in detail; however, the main control valve 55 has been described in detail due to the important role thereof in the operation of the control system of the present invention.

The control system is illustrated in the FIGURE in the inoperative or rest position with ram piston 94 and anvil piston 104 withdrawn into

cylinders

96 and 106, respectively, due to pressure supplied from main conduit 68 through ports 59 and 136 of main control valve 55 to exhaust

conduits

102 and 116. Fluid motor 73 is similarly in its inoperative position with piston 74 withdrawn in cylinder due to pressure from main conduit 68 supplied through passage 70, control valve 60 and exhaust conduit 78 and inlet conduit 76 being vented to the atmosphere through port 82 in control valve 60. Since inlet conduit 76 is vented to the atmosphere, the end chamber of each control valve 57 will sense atmospheric pressure and spring 180 will bias rod 178 upward to the inoperative position to place cycle control valve 57 in an enable state permitting communication between

ports

170 and 172. Thus, with the control system in the rest position ram 10 and anvil 12 are moved away from attachment station 14 to spaced positions in preparation for assembly of a fastener to a piece of material and rod is withdrawn into cylinder 75 in preparation for supplying head and backing elements to the attaching station 14.

In order to commence operation of the control system for the assembling apparatus, the plunger 61 in miniature. control valve 48 is depressed such as by the foot of the operator. With control valve 48 actuated, the through-passage 62 in the plunger passes air from pressure regulating valve 38 to miniature control valve 52, which is normally open to supply pressure to main control valve 55 through conduit 53,

ports

170 and 172 in cycle control valve 57 and conduit 58 to control valve 60. The pressure supplied to control valve 60 moves rod 88 to the left such that pressure from main conduit 68 is supplied through passage 70, control valve 60 and inlet conduit 76 to move piston 74 within cylinder 75. As mentioned above, the rod 80 extending from piston 74 is utilized to either directly or indirectly move backing and head elements to the attaching station 14 adjacent ram 10 and anvil 12, respectively.

Movement of rod 88 in control valve 60 is permitted by the exhausting of the end chamber through passage 87 to control valve 72. Rod in control valve 72 is moved to the right by spring 92 due to the exhausting of the end chamber through passage 84 and port 86 in control valve 60 to the atmosphere, and the movement of rod 90 permits communication between main conduit 68 and passage 87 through passage 70 to move rod 88 to the right to its inoperative position. With control valve 60 returned to its inoperative position, control valve 72 is returned to its inoperative position due to the pressure supplied to passage 84 through control valve 60 and fluid motor 73 is returned to its inoperative position due to the pressure supplied to exhaust conduit 78 through passage 70 and control valve 60. The monostable-type interaction between

control valves

60 and 72 is accomplished in a predetermined period of time according to the period required to move the head and backing elements to the attaching station. I

Cycle control valve 57, which is normally in its inoperative position as shown in the drawing, always assures a complete cycle of the fluid motor 73 and the hopper and chute mechanism is provided for each attaching operation in that, upon initial depressing of plunger 61 to actuate miniature control valve 48, only a single shot of air is supplied to control valve 60 and further shots of air, either from continuous or premature depression of the plunger 61 or from system failure, are prevented from being supplied to control valve 60 until fluid motor 73 has completed its cycle. Initially air is supplied through

ports

170 and 172 in cycle control valve 57 in the enable state to control valve 60 to operate fluid motor 73 in the manner described above; however, when air is supplied to inlet conduit 76, the air pressure is communicated to the end chamber of cycle control valve 57 through conduit 79 and port 174 to move rod 178 downward to its operative position and place cycle control valve 57 in the inhibit state to prevent communication between

ports

170 and 172 and vent conduit 58 to the atmosphere through port 176. Accordingly, no further shots of air can be supplied to control valve 60 until cycle control valve 57 is returned to the inoperative state by spring 180.

When fluid motor 73 is returned to the inoperative position as described above, inlet conduit 76 is vented to the atmosphere; and, thus, the end chamber in cycle control valve 57 is vented to the atmosphere to permit spring 180 to return the cycle control valve to the enable state to permit another shot of air to be supplied to control valve 60 the next time plunger 61 is depressed. Accordingly, cyc-le control valve 57 is responsive to operation of the fluid motor 73 to inhibit operation of the control valve 60 once a cycle is commenced to supply head and backing elements to the attaching station and to enable operation of control valve 60 again only after fluid motor 73 has completed a full cycle.

. The pressure in conduit 53 moves rod 118 up in cylinder 12810 place main con-trol valve 55 in the drive state. The movement of rod 118 exhausts the end chamber in cylinder 128 through passage 142 and bleed passage 162. With main control valve 55 in the drive state, the exhaust conduits 1 02 and 116 of

cylinders

96 and 106, respectively, communicate with the atmosphere through

ports

132 and 136. At the same time pressure from main conduit 68 is supplied through

ports

69 and 138 in main control valve 55 to the

inlet conduits

100 and 112 of

cylinders

96 and 106, respectively, I

Pressure is immediately supplied to ram cylinder 96 to move piston 94 to the right such that rod 98 moves couple 22 to drive ram down toward anvil 12. The pressure supplied through inlet conduit 112 to anvil cylinder 106 is delayed by restriction 114; and, accordingly, piston 104 is moved down at a slower rate within cylinder 106 relative to the movement of piston 94 in cylinder 96. Upon movement, which is variable in accordance with the setting of screw 115, piston 104 is moved down and rod 108 contacts lever 26 thereby moving anvil 12 up toward ram 10 such that the prongs in the head element pierce the material and are upset in the backing element carried by ram 10. Movement of lever 26 also lowersabutment 30 which permits the plunger 64 in miniature control valve 52 to move down and place conduit 53 in communication with the atmosphere.

Once ram 10 and anvil 12 meet, the pressure in chamber upstream of anvil piston 104 is increased, and this increase in pressure is communicated through conduit 148 to chamber 146 in the pressure regulating assembly 130. When the pressure in chamber 150 is increased above the pressure from spring 168, as set by adjustment of screw 164, diaphragm 158 will deflect upward to move valve member away from valve seat 144 and communicate pressure to piston 126 of main control valve 58. The pressure applied to piston 126 forces rod 118 down to place main control valve 55 in the rest or return state thereby supplying pressure to the exhaust conduits of

cylinders

96 and 102 to return

pistons

94 and 104 to their inoperative positions. Once the pressure in chamber 146 is sufficiently reduced, the force from spring 168 will move diaphragm 158 down such that valve member 160 engages valve seat 144. Any pressure in the chamber defined above piston 126 in valve 58 can escape to the atmosphere through

passages

142, 162 and 166.

The pressure gauge 154 provides a visual indication of the pressure at which the ram and anvil separate, and the separating pressure may be adjusted by movement of screw 164 to permit separation at any desired pressure as determined for optimum performance.

The control system of the present invention, thus, operates to automatically separate the ram and anvil after they meet to assemble the fastener elements to a piece of material by sensing the increase in pressure in the drive pressure chamber corresponding to the force transmitted from the meeting of the ram and anvil through the anvil driving rod and piston. The pressure at which the ram and anvil are separated may be adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw to decrease or increase the force from the helicoidal spring. For instance, while the-pressure of the fluid in the reservoir may be 80 psi, the ram and anvil may separate at a pressure of 40 psi or the separation pressure may be adjusted as desired, for instance to 60 psi by tightening the adjusting screw.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter described above or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for assembling apparatus including a ram and anvil adapted to be driven toward each other, said control system comprising ram driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the ram toward and away from the anvil;

anvil driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the anvil toward and away from the ram;

control means for selectively supplying fluid pressure to said ram driving fluid motor means and said anvil driving fluid motor means, said control means having a drive state for moving said ram driving rod in a direction for driving the ram toward the anvil and for moving said anvil driving rod in a direction for driving the anvil toward the ram, and said control means having a return state for moving said ram driving rod and said anvil driving rod to separate the ram and anvil;

selectively operated valve means communicating with said control means to place said control means in said drive state; and

pressure responsive means communicating with said anvil driving fluid motor means for sensing fluid pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means, said pressure responsive means communicating with said control means and being responsive to a predetermined pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means to place said control means in said return state whereby the ram and anvil are separated in response to pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means.

2. The control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive means includes means for adjusting said predetermined pressure at which said control means is placed in said return state.

3. The control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said anvil driving fluid motor means includes a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder and carrying said anvil driving rod, a drive pressure chamber disposed in said cylinder, inlet conduit means communicating with said control means and said drive pressure chamber to supply pressure to said piston when said control means is in said drive state to move said rod to drive the anvil toward the ram, and said pressure responsive means includes conduit means communicating with said drive pressure chamber to sense fluid pressure therein.

4. The control system as recited in claim 3 wherein said pressure responsive means includes pressure operated valve means for controlling supplying of pressure to said control means, said pressure operated valve means being responsive to said predetermined pressure in said drive pressure chamber to open and supply pressure to said control means to place said control means in said return state.

5. The control system as recited in claim 4 wherein said pressure operated valve means includes a diaphragm defining a pressure sensing chamber on one side thereof, said pressure sensing chamber communieating withsaid drive pressure chamber through said conduit means, biasmeans' applying a pressure corresponding'to said predetermined pressure to the opposite side of said diaphragm, a valve seat disposed between said pressure sensing chamber and said control means, and a valve member carried by said diaphragm for engaging said valve seat, said diaphragm moving said valve member away from said valve seat when the pressure in said pressure sensing chamber exceeds said predetermined pressure.

6. The control system as recited in claim 5 wherein said bias means includes'an adjustable screw and a spring mounted in compression between said diaphragm and said screw, said predetermined pressure being adjustable by adjustment of said screw.

7. The control system as recited in claim 5 wherein said ram driving fluid motor means includes inlet conduit means and exhaust conduit means, said anvil driving fluid motor means includes exhaust conduit means, and said control means includes a supply of fluid under pressure and a control'valve having first port means communicating with said fluid supply, second port means communicating with the atmosphere, third port means communicating with said ram driving inlet conduit means and said anvil driving inlet conduit means,

fourth port means communicating with said ram driving exhaust means and said anvil driving exhaust means, and a slidable valve member providing communication between said first and third p'ort means and said second and fourth port means with said control means in said drive state and providing communication between said first and fourth port means and said second and third port means with said control means in said return state.

8. The control system as recited inclaim 7 wherein said control means includes restriction means in said anvil driving inlet conduit means to delay movement of said anvil driving rod until movement of said ram driving rod has commenced.

9. The control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes restriction means for delaying the supply of driving pressure to said anvil driving fluid motor means such that said anvil driving rod is moved to drive the anvil toward the ram after said ram driving rod commences movement to drive the ram toward the anvil.

10. A fluid control system for apparatus for assembling head and backing elements of a fastener to a piece of material at an attaching station, said fluid control system comprising a ram adapted to move a backing element to the attaching station;

first reciprocating means supporting the ram for movement toward and away from the attaching stateion;

an anvil adapted to move a head element to the attaching station;

second reciprocating means supporting the anvil for movement toward and away from the attaching station;

a ram driving fluid motor including a cylinder having a drive pressurechamber therein, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod attached to said piston for operating said first reciprocating means, inlet conduit means communicating with said cylinder, and exhaust conduit means communicating with said cylinder;

an anvil driving fluid motor including a cylinder, a

piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod attached to said piston for operating said second reciprocating means, inlet conduit means communicating with said cylinder, and'exhaust conduit means communicating with said cylinder;

a supply of fluid under pressure;

control valve means communicating with said fluid supply, said ram driving fluid motor and said anvil driving fluid motor, said control valve means having a drive state supplying pressure to said ram driving inlet conduit means and said anvil driving inlet conduit means to move said ram dirving rod and said anvil driving rod to operate said first and second reciprocating means and move said ram and anvil toward the attaching station to assemble the head and backing elements with the piece of material, and said control valve means having a return state supply-ing pressure to said ram driving exhaust conduit means and said anvil driving exhaust conduit means to move said ram driving rod and said anvil driving rod to operate said first and second reciprocating means and move said ram and anvil away from the attaching station to separate said ram and anvil;

selectively operated valve means communicating with said control valve means to place said control valve means in said drive state; and

pressure sensing means communicating with said drive pressure chamber in said anvil driving cylinder and said control valve means and responsive to the pressure in said drive pressure chamber reaching a predetermined level to place said control valve means in said return state whereby said ram and said anvil are automatically separated after said anvil 'meets said ram.

11. The control system as recited in claim wherein said anvil driving inlet conduit means has a restriction therein to delay the supply of pressure to said anvil driving cylinder relative to the supply of pressure to said ram driving cylinder whereby said ram is moved toward said attaching station before said anvil is moved toward said attaching station.

12. The control system as recited in claim 10 wherein said pressure sensing means includes pressure operated valve means opened in response to the pressure in said drive pressure chamber reaching said predetermined level to place said control valve means in said return state.

13. The control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said pressure sensing means includes a diaphragm defining a pressure sensing chamber on one side thereof, conduitmeans communicating with said pressure sensing chamber and said drive pressure chamber and bias means applying a pressure to the other side of said diaphragm corresponding to said predetermined pressure, and said pressure operated valve means includes a valve seat, a passage communicating with said control valve means and said valve seat, and a valve member carried by said diaphragm and movable to be in contact with and away from said valve seat to control communication through said valve seat between said pressure sensing chamber and said passage, said diaphragm deflecting to move said valve member away from said valve seat when said pressure in said pressure sensing chamber exceeds said predetermined level.

14. The control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said bias means includes an adjustable screw and a spring mounted in compression between said diaphragm and said-screw, said pre-determined pressure being adjustable by adjustment of said screw.

15. The control system as recited in claim 14 wherein said valve member has a bleed passage therethrough communicating with said control valve means through said passage, and said adjustable screw has a vent to the atmosphere therethrough.

16. A fluid control system for apparatus for assembling fastener elements supplied by delivery means to an attaching station comprising fluid motor means for operating the fastener element delivery means;

control valve means for moving said fluid motor means through a complete cycle;

selectively operated valve means for supplying fluid to commence operation of said apparatus; and

means to commence said cycle, said cycle control means being responsive to operation of said fluid motor means once said cycle has commenced to prevent supply of fluid from said selectively'operated valve means to said control valve means until said cycle is completed.

17. The control system as recited in claim 16 wherein said fluid motor means includes a piston and rod slidable in a cylinder having inlet and outlet ends, said control valve means includes an inlet conduit for supplying fluid to said inlet end of said cylinder to move said piston and rod in a forward stroke and an exhaust conduit for supplying fluid to said outlet end of said cylinder to move said piston and rod in a return stroke, said forward and return strokes constituting said cycle, and said cycle control means having an enable state permitv ting the supply of fluid from said selectively operated cycle control means for supplying fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve valve means to said control valve means and an inhibit state responsive to fluid pressure at said inlet end of said cylinder to prevent the supply of fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve means until said cycle is completed.

18. The control system in claim 17 wherein said control valve means includes first and second control valves communicating to control said cycle over a predetermined time period.

19. The control system as recited in claim 16 wherein said assembling apparatus includes a ram and anvil adapted to be driven toward each other, said control system further comprising ram driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the ram toward and away from the anvil; anvil driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the anvil toward and away from the ram; control means for selectively supplying fluid pressure to said ram driving fluid motor means and said anvil driving fluid motor means, said control means having a drive state responsive to fluid supplied by said selectively operated valve means for moving said ram driving rod in a direction for driving the ram toward the anvil and for moving said anvil driving rod in a direction for driving the anvil toward the ram, and said control means having a return state for moving said ram driving rod and said anvil driving rod to separate the ram and anvil; and pressure responsive means communicating with said anvil driving fluid motor means for sensing fluid pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means, said pressure responsive means communicating with said control means and being responsive to a predetermined pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means to place said control means in said return state whereby the ram and anvil are separated in response to pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means.

20. The control system as recited in claim 19 wherein said control means includes restriction means for delaying movement of said control means to said drive state in response to fluid supplied by said selectively operated valve means such that said fluid motor means for operating the fastener element delivery means is operated prior to said control means. k

Claims

1. A control system for assembling apparatus including a ram and anvil adapted to be driven toward each other, said control system comprising ram driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the ram toward and away from the anvil; anvil driving fluid motor means including a rod for controlling movement of the anvil toward and away from the ram; control means for selectively supplying fluid pressure to said ram driving fluid motor means and said anvil driving fluid motor mEans, said control means having a drive state for moving said ram driving rod in a direction for driving the ram toward the anvil and for moving said anvil driving rod in a direction for driving the anvil toward the ram, and said control means having a return state for moving said ram driving rod and said anvil driving rod to separate the ram and anvil; selectively operated valve means communicating with said control means to place said control means in said drive state; and pressure responsive means communicating with said anvil driving fluid motor means for sensing fluid pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means, said pressure responsive means communicating with said control means and being responsive to a predetermined pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means to place said control means in said return state whereby the ram and anvil are separated in response to pressure at said anvil driving fluid motor means.

5. The control system as recited in claim 4 wherein said pressure operated valve means includes a diaphragm defining a pressure sensing chamber on one side thereof, said pressure sensing chamber communicating with said drive pressure chamber through said conduit means, bias means applying a pressure corresponding to said predetermined pressure to the opposite side of said diaphragm, a valve seat disposed between said pressure sensing chamber and said control means, and a valve member carried by said diaphragm for engaging said valve seat, said diaphragm moving said valve member away from said valve seat when the pressure in said pressure sensing chamber exceeds said predetermined pressure.

6. The control system as recited in claim 5 wherein said bias means includes an adjustable screw and a spring mounted in compression between said diaphragm and said screw, said predetermined pressure being adjustable by adjustment of said screw. 7. The control system as recited in claim 5 wherein said ram driving fluid motor means includes inlet conduit means and exhaust conduit means, said anvil driving fluid motor means includes exhaust conduit means, and said control means includes a supply of fluid under pressure and a control valve having first port means communicating with said fluid supply, second port means communicating with the atmosphere, third port means communicating with said ram driving inlet conduit means and said anvil driving inlet conduit means, fourth port means communicating with said ram driving exhaust means and said anvil driving exhaust means, and a slidable valve member providing communication between said first and third port means and said second and fourth port means with said control means in said drive state and providing communication between said first and fourth port means and said second and third port means with said control means iN said return state.

8. The control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said control means includes restriction means in said anvil driving inlet conduit means to delay movement of said anvil driving rod until movement of said ram driving rod has commenced.

10. A fluid control system for apparatus for assembl-ing head and backing elements of a fastener to a piece of material at an attaching station, said fluid control system comprising a ram adapted to move a backing element to the attaching station; first reciprocating means supporting the ram for movement toward and away from the attaching stateion; an anvil adapted to move a head element to the attaching station; second reciprocating means supporting the anvil for movement toward and away from the attaching station; a ram driving fluid motor including a cylinder having a drive pressure chamber therein, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod attached to said piston for operating said first reciprocating means, inlet conduit means communicating with said cylinder, and exhaust conduit means communicating with said cylinder; an anvil driving fluid motor including a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod attached to said piston for operating said second reciprocating means, inlet conduit means communicating with said cylinder, and exhaust conduit means communicating with said cylinder; a supply of fluid under pressure; control valve means communicating with said fluid supply, said ram driving fluid motor and said anvil driving fluid motor, said control valve means having a drive state supplying pressure to said ram driving inlet conduit means and said anvil driving inlet conduit means to move said ram dirving rod and said anvil driving rod to operate said first and second reciprocating means and move said ram and anvil toward the attaching station to assemble the head and backing elements with the piece of material, and said control valve means having a return state supply-ing pressure to said ram driving exhaust conduit means and said anvil driving exhaust conduit means to move said ram driving rod and said anvil driving rod to operate said first and second reciprocating means and move said ram and anvil away from the attaching station to separate said ram and anvil; selectively operated valve means communicating with said control valve means to place said control valve means in said drive state; and pressure sensing means communicating with said drive pressure chamber in said anvil driving cylinder and said control valve means and responsive to the pressure in said drive pressure chamber reaching a predetermined level to place said control valve means in said return state whereby said ram and said anvil are automatically separated after said anvil meets said ram.

11. The control system as recited in claim 10 wherein said anvil driving inlet conduit means has a restriction therein to delay the supply of pressure to said anvil driving cylinder relative to the supply of pressure to said ram driving cylinder whereby said ram is moved toward said attaching station before said anvil is moved toward said attaching station.

13. The control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said pressure sensing means includes a diaphragm defining a pressure sensing chamber on one side thereof, conduit means communicating with said pressure sensing chaMber and said drive pressure chamber and bias means applying a pressure to the other side of said diaphragm corresponding to said predetermined pressure, and said pressure operated valve means includes a valve seat, a passage communicating with said control valve means and said valve seat, and a valve member carried by said diaphragm and movable to be in contact with and away from said valve seat to control communication through said valve seat between said pressure sensing chamber and said passage, said diaphragm deflecting to move said valve member away from said valve seat when said pressure in said pressure sensing chamber exceeds said predetermined level.

14. The control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said bias means includes an adjustable screw and a spring mounted in compression between said diaphragm and said screw, said pre-determined pressure being adjustable by adjustment of said screw.

16. A fluid control system for apparatus for assembling fastener elements supplied by delivery means to an attaching station comprising fluid motor means for operating the fastener element delivery means; control valve means for moving said fluid motor means through a complete cycle; selectively operated valve means for supplying fluid to commence operation of said apparatus; and cycle control means for supplying fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve means to commence said cycle, said cycle control means being responsive to operation of said fluid motor means once said cycle has commenced to prevent supply of fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve means until said cycle is completed.

17. The control system as recited in claim 16 wherein said fluid motor means includes a piston and rod slidable in a cylinder having inlet and outlet ends, said control valve means includes an inlet conduit for supplying fluid to said inlet end of said cylinder to move said piston and rod in a forward stroke and an exhaust conduit for supplying fluid to said outlet end of said cylinder to move said piston and rod in a return stroke, said forward and return strokes constituting said cycle, and said cycle control means having an enable state permitting the supply of fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve means and an inhibit state responsive to fluid pressure at said inlet end of said cylinder to prevent the supply of fluid from said selectively operated valve means to said control valve means until said cycle is completed.

20. The control system as recited in claim 19 wherein said control means includes restriction means for delaying movement of said control means to said drive state in response to fluid supplied by said selectively operated valve means such that said fluid motor means for operating the fastener element delivery means is operated prior to said control means.