Fastening device, method of loading fastening member, and device for loading fastening member

A method of loading a fastening member to a plurality of heads retained to a magazine, comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of said plurality of heads;
• disposing the selected head between a socket and the fastening member;
• advancing the socket in an advancing direction toward the selected head and engaging said socket with said selected head;
• retaining the selected head on the socket;
• moving the socket further in the advancing direction so as to detach the selected head from the magazine and move the selected head away from the magazine in the advancing direction while retaining the selected head on the socket;
• engaging the selected head with the fastening member;
• retaining the fastening member on the selected head by fitting the fastening member into the selected head as the socket and selected head are moved in the advancing direction;
• and
• retracting the socket and the selected head together with the retained fastening member so as to move the socket and selected head in a retracting direction, which is opposite to the advancing direction and toward the magazine,
• wherein the step of retaining the fastening member includes the steps of:
• rotating the socket, while advancing the selected head toward the fastening member;
• initiating detection of a torque reaction force of the head, and measurement of an elapsed time required in the fastening member retaining;
• monitoring a relative distance of the selected head relative to the fastening member, while determining whether the elapsed time required in fitting of the fastening member has exceeded a predetermined time value;
• determining whether the torque reaction force of the head is at least a predetermined torque reaction force value when the relative distance is equal to or less than a first predetermined value, while determining whether the relative distance is less than a second predetermined value;
• and
• determining that the fastening member is fitted to the selected head when the torque reaction force of the head is at least the predetermined value.