Fastener feed system

Abstract

A rivet feed system which includes a base feeder assembly (28), having a rivet passageway (30) extending lengthwise therethrough. The base feeder assembly (28) includes cutout regions to receive rivet injectors (24) which are moved in operation between a first position and a second position. In the first position, an opening (80) in the injectors (24) forms a part of the passageway (30) through the base feeder assembly (28), while in the second position, the opening (80) is positioned directly beneath a vertically oriented rivet cartridge (22) to receive a rivet therefrom. The passageway (30) is connected to a source of pressurized air (32) which moves rivets therealong to a rivet machine or the like. The plurality of cartridges (22) positioned along the base feeder assembly contain rivets of various selected sizes. The rivet cartridges (22) are filled off line by means of a vibrating bowl feeder (117) and a rivet insertion assembly which includes a rivet pump (120) which automatically and repetitively moves rivets which have been inserted thereinto from the bowl feeder (117) into the rivet cartridge (22).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.