Nut feeder and installation machine
AssigneeDoben Limited
InventorDavid M. Simone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of feeding a fastener in a machine for installation onto a workpiece, the method includes a) feeding a fastener into a block having channel with a stop against which the fastener abuts in a fastener loading position, the channel is at least partially covered by a flexible retainer plate that captures the fastener within the channel, b) moving the block relative to a pin to engage the fastener with the pin, the pin has a longitudinal pin axis, c) forcing the fastener into the retainer plate in a direction of the longitudinal pin axis to deflect the retainer plate away from the channel and disengage the fastener from the stop, d) retracting the block relative to the pin to support the fastener on the pin clear of the block, and e) securing the fastener to the workpiece.
Claims15
A method of feeding a fastener in a machine for installation onto a workpiece, the method comprising:
- a) feeding a fastener into a block having channel with a stop against which the fastener abuts in a fastener loading position, the channel at least partially covered by a flexible retainer plate that captures the fastener within the channel;
- b) moving the block relative to a pin to engage the fastener with the pin, the pin having a longitudinal pin axis;
- c) forcing the fastener into the retainer plate in a direction of the longitudinal pin axis to deflect the retainer plate away from the channel and disengage the fastener from the stop;
- d) retracting the block relative to the pin to support the fastener on the pin clear of the block;
- and
- e) securing the fastener to the workpiece.
A machine for securing a fastener to a workpiece, comprising:
- a fastener feeder having a block with a channel providing a stop, the channel configured such the fastener abuts the stop in a fastener loading position, a flexible retainer plate at least partially covering the channel and configured to capture the fastener within the channel;
- a fastener joiner with a head having a pin with a pin axis configured to engage the fastener;
- wherein the fastener feeder and pin are configured to cooperate to forcing the fastener into the retainer plate in a direction of the longitudinal pin axis to deflect the retainer plate away from the channel and disengage the fastener from the stop, wherein retracting the block relative to the pin supports the fastener on the pin clear of the block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.