Collar fastening system and method of operating

A robotic device comprising:

• an end effector comprising:
• a collar fastening tool;
• and
• a collar loading assembly coupled to said collar fastening tool, said collar loading assembly comprising:
• a loading arm;
• and
• a holding member coupled to said loading arm, wherein said loading arm is configured to position said holding member between a loading position and an unloading position, said holding member comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, an arcuate side wall extending therebetween, and a vacuum opening defined in said arcuate side wall, said holding member configured to receive a collar when at the loading position, and configured to selectively hold the collar against said arcuate side wall with a retaining force provided by a vacuum applied via said vacuum opening, and
• wherein said loading arm is configured to provide the collar to said collar fastening tool when at the unloading position.

A method of operating a collar fastening system including a collar fastening tool, said method comprising:

• feeding, from a container configured to hold a plurality of collars, a collar towards a loading zone defined within a collar capture receptacle;
• positioning, with a loading arm, a holding member into a loading position within the loading zone, wherein the holding member includes an arcuate side wall configured to receive the collar when at the loading position;
• holding the collar against the arcuate side wall of the holding member with a retaining force provided by a vacuum applied via a vacuum opening defined in the arcuate side wall;
• and
• positioning, with the loading arm, the holding member from the loading position into an unloading position, wherein the holding member is configured to provide the collar to the collar fastening tool when at the unloading position.