Automatic screw driver system and method for utilizing same

An automatic air-operated screw driving system comprising:

• air-operated motor means,
• said air-operated motor means coupled to driver means extending from said motor means to the head of a screw device for driving said screw device into an object;
• locator means radially dispersed about said driver means and said screw device;
• said locator means having means for distributing the torque applied to said object;
• said locator means aligning and fixedly restraining the positions of said driver and said screw device relative to said object;
• motor activation means for initiating the rotation of said motor means, said driver means and said screw device for insertion of said screw device into said object;
• and
• attachment means for attaching said air-operated screw driving apparatus to a workbench,
• said attachment means comprising a substantially C-shaped bracket, having a motor attachment member supporting said motor means, a mounting member with mounting apertures for attachment of said bracket to a workpiece, and a locator support member,
• said attachment means restraining said motor means and said locator means in a fixed position.

An automatic air-operated screw driving system comprising:

• air-operated motor means,
• said air-operated motor means coupled to driver means extending from said motor means to the head of a screw device for driving said screw device into an object;
• locator means radially dispersed about said driver means and said screw device,
• said locator means having means for distributing the torque applied to said object;
• said locator means aligning and fixedly restraining the positions of said driver and said screw device relative to said objects;
• motor activation means for initiating the rotation of said motor means, said driver means and said screw device for insertion of said screw device into said object;
• said locator means for distributing the torque applied to said object comprising a substantially square-shaped elongated locator, having an upper and lower end;
• an apertured center along its elongated axis enabling the passage therethrough of said driver means from the lower end of said apertured center,
• the tip of said driver means ending within said apertured center,
• said upper end of said apertured center in said locator being bored to receive the end of said screw device at a position closely proximate to said tip of said driver means;
• a substantially cylindrically shaped locator guide telescopically receiving said locator within its internal periphery,
• said internal periphery having a substantially square shape so as to closely proximate the outer periphery of said locator in a slidingly fashion,
• locator springing means comprising a coiled spring extending from the interior of said locator guide into a restrained position within said locator thereby urging said locator telescopically upward from said locator guide.

A method for automatically prepositioning screw devices and for screwing said screw devices into objects through the use of an inverted automatic air-operated screw driving system having a spring-loaded screw device locator, said locator having means for distributing the torque applied to said object, a locator guide, and a pneumatically powered driver and activation system for initiating the rotation of said driver and said screw device comprising the steps of:

• a. positioning said screw device in said locator in an inverted fashion,
• b. aligning said object up to and in contact with said locator at the desired location of screw device at fixation,
• c. preliminarily activating and rotating said pneumatically powered driver for rotation of said screw device by depressing said locator which in turn blocks said pneumatic activation system to route air into said driver;
• d. depressing said locator further with said object thereby drawing said screw device into contact with said object;
• e. driving said screw device into said object to a desired depth;
• f. distributing the torque applied to said object through said locator after driving said screw device into said object to a desired depth;
• g. removing said object and affixed screw device from said automatic screw driver thereby separating said screw from said driver.