Automated fasterner feed system for fastener attachment devices

An automated fastener feed system for fastener attachment devices required to be delivered to a utilization device, comprising:

• a) a bowl having an outer periphery for receiving a quantity of said fastener attachment devices in a disoriented mass;
• b) means for vibrating the bowl to effect individual migration of said fastener attachment devices radially and circumferentially within the bowl toward and along said outer periphery of the bowl;
• c) an orientation module detachably mounted on the outer periphery of the bowl adapted to receive said migrating fastener attachment devices and operable to orient said fastener attachment devices for delivery to said utilization device in an acceptable orientation;
• and
• d) a singulator module operatively associated with said orientation module and adapted to receive said oriented fastener attachment devices from said orientation module in said acceptable orientation and propel them to said utilization device in said acceptable orientation,
• e) said orientation module comprising a monolithic tool steel body having opposed first and second end surfaces, opposed upper and bottom surfaces and opposed side surfaces intercepted by said opposed end surfaces, said opposed first and second end surfaces being angularly related by about 30 degrees, a portion of said upper surface being angularly related to the remaining portion of the upper surface by about 30 degrees, a flange coincident with one of said side surfaces projecting above a portion of said upper surface, a threaded bore in said bottom surface, and a pair of alignment bores in said bottom surface.

An automated fastener feed system for fastener attachment devices required to be delivered to a utilization device, comprising:

• a) a bowl having an outer periphery for receiving a quantity of said fastener attachment devices in a disoriented mass;
• b) means for vibrating the bowl to effect individual migration of said fastener attachment devices radially and circumferentially within the bowl toward and along said outer periphery of the bowl;
• c) an orientation module detachably mounted on the outer periphery of the bowl adapted to receive said migrating fastener attachment devices and operable to orient said fastener attachment devices for delivery to said utilization device in an acceptable orientation;
• d) a singulator module operatively associated with said orientation module and adapted to receive said oriented fastener attachment devices from said orientation module in said acceptable orientation and propel them to said utilization device in said acceptable orientation;
• and
• e) a main base plate, said means for vibrating said bowl, and said bowl, being mounted on said base plate, means for isolating said base plate from vibration generated by said means for vibrating the bowl, and a pedestal detachably mounted on said base and therewith isolated from vibration with said bowl, said singulator module being detachably mounted on said pedestal in close association but spaced from said orientation module whereby said singulator module is isolated from vibration of said orientation module.

An automated fastener feed system for fastener attachment devices required to be delivered to a utilization device, comprising:

• a) a bowl having an outer periphery for receiving a quantity of said fastener attachment devices in a disoriented mass;
• b) means for vibrating the bowl to effect individual migration of said fastener attachment devices radially and circumferentially within the bowl toward and along said outer periphery of the bowl;
• c) an orientation module detachably mounted on the outer periphery of the bowl adapted to receive said migrating fastener attachment devices and operable to orient said fastener attachment devices for delivery to said utilization device in an acceptable orientation;
• d) a singulator module operatively associated with said orientation module and adapted to receive said oriented fastener attachment devices from said orientation module in said acceptable orientation and propel them to said utilization device in said acceptable orientation;
• and
• e) wherein said system includes a main base plate, said means for vibrating said bowl is mounted on said base plate, a pedestal mounted on said main base plate and having a singulator module mounting plate on the upper end thereof, alignment means on said mounting plate, complementary alignment means on said singulator module, and a threaded thumb screw rotatably mounted on said singulator module and digitally manipulable to detachably engage a complementarily threaded bore in said mounting plate, whereby said insulation module may quickly and easily without tools be detachably secured to said mounting plate.