Method and apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts

An apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising:

• a threaded-part holding member operatively positioned to advance and retract along an advance and retraction axis, said holding member being formed for receiving a threaded part therein and for holding the threaded part along a predetermined position axis;
• a part feeding tube whose end opens on or adjacent the advance and retraction axis of said holding member;
• an advancing and retracting detection member positionally aligned with said holding member to linearly advance into and retract out of said holding member, said detection member being positioned for detecting and verifying a presence of the threaded part in said holding member when said detection member is advanced;
• and
• a rotary feed rod having an engaging head, said rotary feed rod positioned to rotatingly and linearly advance and retract orthogonal to the advance and retraction axis of said holding member, and coaxially align with the position axis of the threaded part when said holding member is operatively aligned with said rotary feed rod to allow the engaging head to engage the threaded part.

An apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising:

• a threaded-part transfer member operatively positioned to advance and retract along an advance and retraction axis;
• a part feeding tube having an end which opens on or adjacent the advance and retraction axis of said transfer member;
• a rotary feed rod having an engaging head, said rotary feed rod positioned to rotatingly and linearly advance and retract orthogonal to the advance and retraction axis of said transfer member;
• part holding means attached to a front end of said transfer member, for holding a threaded part provided from said part feeding tube in a position coaxial to a rotary axis of said rotary feed rod and in a predetermined position axis;
• and
• an advancing and retracting detection member positionally aligned with said transfer member to linearly advance into and retract out of said part holding means, said detection member being positioned to detect and verify a presence of the threaded part held in said part holding means when said detection member is advanced.

A method of feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• feeding a threaded part through a part feeding passage to an end of the passage;
• holding the threaded part on a threaded-part holding member that is adapted to be advanced and retracted, the holding member holding the threaded part at or adjacent the end of the part feeding passage;
• linearly advancing a detecting member into the holding member to detect and thereby verify a presence of the threaded part;
• retracting the detecting member from the holding member;
• linearly moving the threaded-part holding member to a position wherein the threaded part is coaxial with a rotary feed rod;
• rotatingly and linearly advancing the feed rod so as to engage the threaded part with an engaging head of the feed rod, while substantially at the same time retracting the holding member;
• rotatingly and linearly advancing the feed rod toward a workpiece with the threaded part engaged;
• and tightening the threaded part within the workpiece.

An apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising:

• a threaded-part holding member operatively positioned to advance and retract along an advance and retraction axis, and further positioned so as to be in a standby position adjacent an end of a part feeding tube, said holding member being formed so as to hold a threaded part in a predetermined position axis;
• an advancing and retracting detection member positionally aligned with said holding member to linearly advance into and retract out of said holding member, said detection member being positioned to detect and verify a presence of the threaded part in said holding member when said detection member is advanced;
• and
• a rotary feed rod having an engaging head, said rotary feed rod positioned to rotatingly and linearly advance and retract orthogonal to the advance and retraction axis of said holding member.

An apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising:

• a threaded-part transfer member operatively positioned to advance and retract along an advance and retraction axis, and further positioned to be in a standby position adjacent an end of a part feeding tube;
• a rotary feed rod having an engaging head, said rotary feed rod positioned to rotatingly and linearly advance and retract orthogonal to the advance and retraction axis of said transfer member;
• part holding means attached to said transfer member, for holding a threaded part provided from said part feeding tube in a position coaxial to a rotary axis of said rotary feed rod and in a predetermined position axis;
• and
• an advancing and retracting detection member positionally aligned with said transfer member to linearly advance into and retract out of said part holding means, said detection member being positioned to detect and verify a presence of the threaded part held in said part holding means when said detection member is advanced.

A method of feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• feeding a threaded part through a part feeding passage;
• holding the threaded part with a threaded part holding member;
• linearly advancing a detecting member into the holding member so as to detect and thereby verify a presence of the threaded part;
• retracting the detecting member from the holding member;
• positioning with threaded part where the threaded part is placed coaxial with a rotary feed rod;
• advancing and rotating the rotary feed rod to engage with the threaded part;
• advancing and rotating the rotary feed rod toward a workpiece with the threaded part engaged;
• and
• tightening the threaded part within the workpiece.

An apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts to and within a workpiece, comprising:

• a threaded-part holding member operatively positioned to advance and retract relative to a rotary feed rod, said holding member being formed to hold a threaded part in a predetermined position axis;
• a part feeding tube positioned to feed the threaded parts to said holding member;
• an advancing and retracting detection member positionally aligned with said holding member to linearly advance into and retract out of said holding member, said detection member being positioned to detect and verify a presence of the threaded part when said detection member is advanced;
• and
• a rotary feed rod having an engaging head which engages the threaded part held by said holding member in conjunction with advance and retract operation of said holding member.