Device and method for driving a part

A device for driving a part, comprising:

• a parts driver having a drive axis;
• a nosepiece including at least three jaws defining an axial passage therebetween, said at least three jaws being displaceable between a first configuration to retain the part within said axial passage and a second configuration to allow the part to be discharged from said axial passage, an adjacent pair of said at least three jaws defining a transverse passage therebetween intersecting said axial passage;
• and
• a parts delivery conduit positioned in communication with said transverse passage to deliver the part through said transverse passage and into said axial passage.

A device for driving a part, comprising:

• a parts driver having a drive axis;
• a parts receiver defining an axial passage extending generally along said drive axis and a transverse passage intersecting said axial passage;
• and
• a parts delivery conduit including a movable portion displaceable between a first position in which said movable portion is positioned in communication with said transverse passage to deliver the part through said transverse passage and into said axial passage and a second position in which said movable portion is displaced in an outward direction transverse to said drive axis, said movable portion being entirely removed from said transverse passage when in said second position to provide uninhibited access to said parts receiver.

A device for driving a part, comprising:

• a parts driver having a drive axis;
• a parts receiver defining an axial passage extending generally along said drive axis and a transverse passage intersecting said axial passage;
• and
• a parts delivery conduit including a movable portion and a stationary portion, said movable portion being displaceable between a first position in which said movable portion is positioned in communication with said transverse passage to deliver the part through said transverse passage and into said axial passage and a second position in which said movable portion is displaced in an outward direction transverse to said drive axis, said stationary portion being disposed proximately adjacent said movable portion to define a substantially continuous parts delivery flowpath when said movable portion is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said stationary portion is adjustably positionable relative to said movable portion.

A device for driving a part, comprising:

• a parts driver having a drive axis;
• a parts receiver defining an axial passage extending generally along said drive axis and a transverse passage intersecting said axial passage;
• and
• a parts delivery conduit including a movable portion and a stationary portion, said movable portion being displaceable between a first position in which said movable portion is positioned in communication with said transverse passage to deliver the part through said transverse passage and into said axial passage and a second position in which said movable portion is displaced in an outward direction transverse to said drive axis, said stationary portion being disposed proximately adjacent said movable portion to define a substantially continuous parts delivery flowpath when said movable portion is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said movable portion is pivotable between said first and second positions;
• and
• wherein said movable portion defines a first peripheral edge and said stationary portion defines a second peripheral edge substantially complementary to said first peripheral edge;
• and
• wherein said first peripheral edge is disposed proximately adjacent said second peripheral edge to define said substantially continuous parts delivery pathway when said movable portion is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said first peripheral edge does not interfere with said second peripheral edge when said movable portion is pivoted from said first position toward said second position;
• and
• wherein said first and second peripheral edges are substantially arcuate shaped.

A device for driving a part, comprising:

• a parts driver having a drive axis;
• a parts receiver defining an axial passage extending generally along said drive axis and a transverse passage intersecting said axial passage;
• and
• a parts delivery conduit including a movable portion and a stationary portion, said movable portion being displaceable between a first position in which said movable portion is positioned in communication with said transverse passage to deliver the part through said transverse passage and into said axial passage and a second position in which said movable portion is displaced in an outward direction transverse to said drive axis, said stationary portion being disposed proximately adjacent said movable portion to define a substantially continuous parts delivery flowpath when said movable portion is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said parts receiver includes at least three jaws defining said axial passage therebetween, said at least three jaws being transitionable between a first configuration to retain the part within said axial passage and a second configuration to allow the part to be discharged from said axial passage, an adjacent pair of said at least three jaws defining said transverse passage therebetween.

A device for driving a part into engagement with a work piece, comprising:

• means for receiving the part, including:
• at least three jaws defining a parts drive passage therebetween extending generally along a drive axis, an adjacent pair of said jaws defining a parts inlet passage therebetween in communication with said drive passage;
• and
• means for biasing said jaws toward one another to enable said plurality of jaws to selectively retain the part within said drive passage in a drive position;
• means for delivering the part through said inlet passage and into said drive passage, said delivering means including means for guiding the part into said drive passage, said guiding means being pivotable between a first position in which an end portion of said guiding means is at least partially disposed within said drive passage and a second position in which said end portion of said guiding means is pivoted in an outward direction transverse to said drive axis;
• and
• means for driving the part from said drive passage and into engagement with the work piece.

A method for driving a part having a head and an internally threaded shank into engagement within an opening in a work piece, comprising:

• providing a parts driver, including:
• a drive shaft extending along a drive axis and defining a threaded portion engageable with the internally threaded shank, the parts driver being adapted to displace the drive shaft generally along the drive axis and to rotate the drive shaft about the drive axis;
• and
• a receiver defining an axial passage extending generally along the drive axis and opening onto a distal end of the receiver;
• delivering a part into the axial passage with the shank extending toward the distal end of the receiver;
• engaging the drive shaft to the part;
• discharging the part from the axial passage and positioning the head of the part beyond the distal end of the receiver by displacing the drive shaft in a first axial direction;
• compressing the head of the part against the distal end of the receiver by displacing the drive shaft in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction to substantially prevent rotation of the part about the drive axis relative to the receiver;
• positioning the shank of the part within the opening in the work piece;
• and
• threading the threaded portion of the drive shaft along the internally threaded shank by rotating the drive shaft about the drive axis in a first rotational direction, the threading causing a portion of the shank to buckle, the work piece being securely engaged between the head and the buckled portion of the shank.