Continuous fastener feeding apparatus and method
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorsVelibor Kilibarda, William Maybee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for continuous fastener feeding for sequentially delivering single fasteners to a fastener installation device are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first fastener reel for supporting a first fastener tape securing a plurality of fasteners and a second fastener reel for supporting a second fastener tape for securing a plurality of fasteners. A fastener tape joining device positioned downstream of the first and second fastener reels receives the respective first and the second fastener tapes and selectively engage the first and second fastener tapes when one of the fastener tapes becomes depleted of fasteners.
Claims9
A method for continuously feeding fasteners to a fastener installation device through use of a fastener tape having a plurality of mechanical fasteners sequentially positioned along the tape and extending transversely thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first fastener tape from a first fastener reel through a tape merging device toward a fastener installation device, the first fastener tape having a plurality of sequentially positioned mechanical fasteners extending transversely to the first fastener tape, the first fastener tape having a tail section, the tape merging device being partially closed and defining an interior cavity having a tape joining device positioned therein;
- partially uncoiling a second fastener tape from a second fastener reel, the second fastener tape having a plurality of sequentially positioned mechanical fasteners extending transversely to the second fastener tape, the second fastener tape having a leading section, the leading section of the second fastener tape having no fasteners;
- positioning the leading section of the second fastener tape in the tape merging device in spaced proximity to and in alignment with the first fastener tape;
- the tape joining device engaging mechanical fasteners in the tail section of the first fastener tape with the leading section of the second fastener tape at an end of the first fastener tape so that the second fastener tape begins supplying mechanical fasteners to the fastener installation device.
A method for continuously feeding mechanical fasteners to a fastener installation device, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first fastener tape through an elongate tape merging device defining an internal cavity containing a fastener tape path of travel toward a fastener installation device, the first fastener tape defining sequential apertures for receiving respective mechanical fasteners, the first fastener tape having a tail section and the elongate tape merging device including a tape joining device positioned in the internal cavity of the elongate tape merging device;
- positioning a second fastener tape inside the internal cavity of the elongate tape merging device, in communication with the tape joining device, and in alignment with the first fastener tape, the second fastener tape defining sequential apertures for receiving respective mechanical fasteners, a leading section of the second fastener tape being devoid of the mechanical fasteners in the sequential apertures;
- selectively engaging the tail section of the first fastener tape with the leading section of the second fastener tape to interlock mechanical fasteners of the tail section of the first fastener tape with sequential apertures in the leading section of the second fastener tape such that the second fastener tape begins supplying mechanical fasteners to the fastener installation device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.