Insertable fastener installation apparatus and method

An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a substrate, comprising:

• said substrate is flat and has a thickness T;
• an escapement;
• a plurality of fasteners;
• each of said fasteners include prongs;
• said substrate includes a plurality of holes H therein;
• a robot system;
• said robot system includes a gripper;
• said gripper engages one of said plurality of insertable fasteners in said escapement and removes said one of said plurality of insertable fasteners F therefrom;
• said escapement comprises:
• a first end portion and a second end portion;
• a flange slot and a prong slot for guiding said insertable fasteners between said first end portion of said escapement and said second end portion of said escapement;
• a base portion;
• and, an upper portion;
• said base portion includes:
• said prong slot therein extending between said first end portion and said second end portion of said escapement, said prong slot comprises a first prong guide wall and a second prong guide wall, and said first prong guide wall and said second prong guide wall slidingly guide prongs of each one of said insertable fasteners therein;
• and, said prong slot includes a beveled opening in said first end portion;
• said flange slot includes a beveled opening in said first end portion;
• said base portion includes an upper surface and a bottom surface;
• said upper portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface, said bottom surface of said upper portion is affixed to said upper surface of said base portion and forms said flange slot;
• an end portion affixed to said second portion of said escapement;
• said end portion abuts said first prong guide wall and said second prong guide wall;
• said second end portion of said base portion includes a first notch and a second notch therein;
• said first notch and said second notch provide an opening for said gripper of said robot to engage said insertable fasteners and remove them therefrom;
• and,
• said robot using said gripper positions said insertable fasteners partially in said holes, H, of said substrate.

An insertable fastener installation method using pre-drilled substrates, comprising the steps of:

• an insertable fastener installation apparatus operator places said pre-drilled substrates on a conveyor belt, said substrates must not overlap each other;
• advancing said substrates through an entrance passageway of said safety enclosure and passing said substrates under a vision system;
• utilizing said vision system and a computer, recognizing and recording presence of pre-drilled holes in said substrates;
• gripping an insertable fastener from an escapement using a pneumatic gripper;
• placing a portion of each of said insertable fasteners into said pre-drilled holes of said substrate and approximately centering said insertable fasteners into said pre-drilled holes without seating said insertable fastener into said substrate;
• passing said substrates and said insertable fasteners through a roller press station wherein said insertable fasteners are inserted into said substrate;
• and,
• expelling said substrates from said safety enclosure on a discharge conveyor.

An insertable fastener feeding apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of insertable fasteners;
• each one of said plurality of insertable fasteners includes prongs;
• an escapement for holding and positioning said insertable fastener;
• said escapement includes a first end portion and a second end portion;
• said escapement comprises:
• a flange slot and a prong slot for guiding each one of said insertable fasteners between a first end portion and a second end portion;
• a base portion;
• and, an upper portion;
• said base portion includes:
• said prong slot therein extending between said first end portion and said second end portion, said prong slot comprises a first prong guide wall and a second prong guide wall, and said first prong guide wall and said second prong guide wall slidingly guide prongs of each one of said plurality of insertable fasteners therein;
• an upper surface and a bottom surface;
• said prong slot includes a beveled opening in said first end portion of said escapement;
• said flange slot includes a beveled opening in said first end portion of said escapement;
• and, an upper surface and a bottom surface;
• said upper portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface, said bottom surface of said upper portion is affixed to said upper surface of said base portion and forms said flange slot therebetween;
• an end portion affixed to said second end portion of said escapement;
• said end portion abuts said first prong guide wall and said second prong guide wall;
• said second end portion of said base portion includes a first notch and a second notch therein;
• and,
• said first notch and said second notch provide an opening enabling removal of each one of said insertable fasteners from said escapement.

An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a substrate, comprising:

• said substrate is flat and has a thickness T;
• a plurality of fasteners;
• said substrate includes a plurality of holes therein;
• each one of said plurality of insertable fasteners residing in a respective one said holes;
• a roller press station;
• said roller press station includes a first roller and a second roller which together form a roller press;
• said first roller includes a first axis and said second roller includes a second axis;
• said first axis and said second axis are parallel;
• said first roller is cylindrically shaped and includes a metal surface;
• said second roller is cylindrically shaped and includes a metal surface;
• said metal surface of said first roller is spaced apart from said metal surface of said second roller by a gap G therebetween;
• said gap G is less than said thickness T of said substrate;
• each one of said plurality of said insertable fasteners is inserted into a respective one of said plurality of holes in said substrate as said substrate passes between said first roller and said second roller.