Screw shank slotting mechanism

A machine for slotting fastener devices having a head and shank with wings extending radially from the shank, including a rotatable turret for conveying the fastener devices about a predetermined path of travel and having, at its periphery, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets opening outwardly from the periphery, each of the pockets including an elongated seat portion positioned therein with the longitudinal dimension of the seat traversing the path of travel, said seat portions adapted to receive and support one side of a fastener device shank throughout its length with its other side exposed for facilitating an operation performed at a work station adjacent the path of travel, means for supporting a rotary slotting tool mounted at a work station for generally back and forth movement in a predetermined direction adjacent a predetermined portion of the path of travel, the rotary slotting tool adapted to engage a region of the exposed side of the fastener device, means for inducing rotation of the fastener device about its axis, comprising an abrasive element mounted adjacent the path of travel so as to create a drag force on a fastener as it travels along said path past said abrasive element, said means for inducing rotation being located adjacent a predetermined portion of the path of travel in a position in advance of the means for supporting the rotary slotting tool, the seat portion including a longitudinal recess and intersecting lateral recess formed therein so that the longitudinal recess will accommodate the shank of the fastener device with the lateral recess accommodating the wings extending radially from the shaft, abutment means located in and interrupting the lateral recess in a region adjacent one extremity of said lateral recess thereby precluding further movement of the wings through said lateral recess and limiting the rotation of the fastener device about its axis to expose a predetermined region of the fastener device shank which is intermediate a pair of oppositely disposed wings to the rotary slotting tool as a result of engagement of the radially extending wings with the abutment means.