System for assembling dental floss dispenser components

Apparatus for assembling a cutter bar and an insert into a subassembly for use in a dispenser for thread products, said cutter bar including a cutting blade portion and said insert including a body portion defining an arbor adapted to rotatably support a spool of wound thread and a superstructure contiguous with said body portion, said superstructure including a platform, a first flange joined by a first web to said platform, a second flange joined by a second web to said platform and cutter bar receiving structure carried by said second flange, said apparatus comprising:

• a assembly member including at least one pocket;
• means for moving said assembly member into a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of assembly stations of said apparatus;
• means for inserting an insert in a first direction into said at least one pocket at a first of said assembly stations;
• means for delivering a cutter bar to a second of said assembly stations;
• operator means for connecting a cutter bar to the cutter bar receiving structure of an insert at said second assembly station;
• and
• discharge means for discharging at least an insert from said at least one pocket in a direction substantially opposite said first direction at a third of said assembly stations.

A method of assembling parts, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving an assembly member having at least one pocket to a first assembly station;
• (b) inserting a first part in a first direction into said at least one pocket at said first assembly station;
• (c) moving said assemble member to a second assembly station;
• (d) connecting a second part to a first part at said second assembly station;
• (e) moving said assembly member to a third assembly station;
• and
• (f) discharging at least a first part from said at least one pocket in a direction substantially opposite said first direction at said third assembly station.

A method for assembling a cutter bar and an insert into a subassembly for use in a dispenser for thread products, said cutter bar including a cutting blade portion and said insert including a body portion defining an arbor adapted to rotatably support a spool of wound thread and a superstructure contiguous with said body portion, said superstructure including a platform, a first flange joined by a first web to said platform, a second flange joined by a second web to said platform and cutter bar receiving structure carried by said second flange, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving an assembly member having at least one pocket to a first assembly station;
• (b) inserting an insert in a first direction into said at least one pocket at said first assembly station;
• (c) moving said assembly member to a second assembly station;
• (d) connecting a cutter bar to the cutter bar receiving structure of an insert at said second assembly station;
• (e) moving said assembly member to a third assembly station;
• and
• (f) discharging at least an insert from said at least one pocket in a direction substantially opposite said first direction at said third assembly station.