US3866641A — Fluid-operated fastener feeding apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 252 words

In combination, a fluid-operated fastener feeding apparatus and a power operated fastening tool, said combination comprising a hopper adapted to contain therein a number of fasteners, a rotary drum rotatably mounted onto said apparatus and forming one side of said hopper, a fluid-operated drive mechanism for rotating said rotary drum, a track downwardly extending from said hopper for downwardly guiding a row of fasteners that has been supplied onto said track from the bottom of said hopper by said rotary drum, an escapement mounted on said track for successively separating the downwardly guided fasteners one at a time and feeding each fastener to said fastening tool, fluid-operated detection means located along said downward sloping track for detecting the presence and absence of fasteners on said track, a fluid signal generator attached to said fastening tool for generating a fluid signal whereby the feeding of fasteners from said escapement assembly to said fastening tool is regulated, and a fluid control circuit to which is connected a fluid source for providing fluid power to operate said fastening tool, said fluid generator, and said escapement mechanism, for providing power to control said escapement mechanism by providing the fluid for the fluid signal generated by said fluid signal generator directed to said escapement mechanism, and further providing a source of fluid power to operate said fluid-operated drive mechanism in response to a fluid signal from said fluid-operated detection means, fluid for the signal generated by said fluid-operated detection means aLso being provided by said fluid source.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 252 words

In combination, a fluid-operated fastener feeding apparatus and a power operated fastening tool, said combination comprising a hopper adapted to contain therein a number of fasteners, a rotary drum rotatably mounted onto said apparatus and forming one side of said hopper, a fluid-operated drive mechanism for rotating said rotary drum, a track downwardly extending from said hopper for downwardly guiding a row of fasteners that has been supplied onto said track from the bottom of said hopper by said rotary drum, an escapement mounted on said track for successively separating the downwardly guided fasteners one at a time and feeding each fastener to said fastening tool, fluid-operated detection means located along said downward sloping track for detecting the presence and absence of fasteners on said track, a fluid signal generator attached to said fastening tool for generating a fluid signal whereby the feeding of fasteners from said escapement assembly to said fastening tool is regulated, and a fluid control circuit to which is connected a fluid source for providing fluid power to operate said fastening tool, said fluid generator, and said escapement mechanism, for providing power to control said escapement mechanism by providing the fluid for the fluid signal generated by said fluid signal generator directed to said escapement mechanism, and further providing a source of fluid power to operate said fluid-operated drive mechanism in response to a fluid signal from said fluid-operated detection means, fluid for the signal generated by said fluid-operated detection means aLso being provided by said fluid source.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 149 words

A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid-operated drive mechanism comprises a geared wheel mounted on said rotary drum in coaxial relation therewith; a piston-cylinder drive means having a piston rod movable between extended and retracted positions; translating means for translating linear motion into rotary motion, said translating means connected between said piston rod and said geared wheel whereby reciprocal movement of said piston rod causes said rotary drum to rotate in one direction; and a drive signal generating means operatively positioned adjacent to said piston rod for generating a fluid signal in response to the movement of said piston rod toward its extended position, the fluid drive signal generated by said drive signal generating means being directed to the piston-cylinder drive means whereby the piston rod in the piston cylinder drive means is directed to retract toward the retracted position upon reaching its fully extended position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 111 words

A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid-operated detection means comprises at least one fluid flow detector having a first fluid passage connected to the fluid source and situated on one side of said downward-sloping track, and a second fluid passage positioned on the opposite side of said track, said second passage being connected to the fluid control circuit and aligned with said first passage to receive fluid flowing from said first passage whereby said fluid detector generates a fluid signal when the flow of fluid from said first passage to said second passage is established due to the absence of the row of the fasteners on said track.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first fluid passage is arranged at the upstream side with respect to the track and said second fluid passage is located at the downstream side with respect to the frack, whereby the fasteners on the track are forced to move downwardly along the track by the fluid flowing between said fluid passages.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 130 words

A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said escapement assembly comprises a solid body having a cylinder bore and a passage therein, said passage being connected to said fastening tool by means of a flexible tube; a fluid-movable plunger slidably housed within said bore; an escapement plate connected with said plunger and movable back and forth in direct relation to the back and forth movement of said plunger, said escapement plate operating to transfer individually the fasteners in the row on the track to said passage; and shutter means for selectively closing and opening said passage, said shutter means having an opening for feeding into said flexible tube the fluid under pressure used for operating said plunger, thereby thrusting the fastener in said flexible tube onto the fastening tool.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 187 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening tool comprises a fastening body; a fluid signal generator, said fluid signal generator comprised of a generator body rigidly secured to said fastening body, said generator body having therein a cylinder bore and a first fluid passage, said first fluid passage being open to said cylinder bore at one end and open to the fluid source at the other end; an axially slidable rod mounted within said cylinder bore, said slidable rod having a second fluid passage running therethrough, said second fluid passage being open to an exhaust at one end and at the other end selectively open and closed to the cylinder bore opening of said first fluid passage in response to the sliding movement of said slidable rod; and a slidable hook plate situated above said axially slidable rod and connected thereto, said hook plate having both ends formed with angled members; and a slidable member telescopically and movably on said fastening body, said slidable member having a dog for engaging with the angle members of said hook plate and thereby moving said hook plate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 218 words

A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid control circuit includes: a fluid supply circuit for controlling the supply of fluid in the entire system from the fluid source; an escapement assembly circuit connected to said fluid supply circuit for controlling the operation of the escapement assembly in response to the fluid signal from said fluid signal generating device located on the fastening tool, said escapement assembly circuit having a delay valve forming a pilot circuit when the fluid signal generating device is supplied with fluid under pressure; a fastener transfer instruction circuit connected to said supply circuit for controlling the time necessary for rotating said rotary drum by the fluid-operated drive mechanism to replenish the fasteners to the track from the hopper in response to a fluid signal from said fluid-operated detection means, said fastener transfer instruction circuit having a relay valve means and fluid tank means, said fluid tank means located between said relay valve means and said fluid-operated detection means, for controlling the length of time of operation of said fluid-operated drive mechanism; and nd a rotary drum drive circuit connected to said fastener transfer instruction circuit for producing the driving motion of said fluid-operated drive mechanism rotating said rotary drum in response to a fluid signal from said fastener transfer instruction circuit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-02-17	1978-08-19	1979-02-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-02-17	1982-08-19	1983-02-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-02-17	1986-08-19	1987-02-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid-operated fastener feeding apparatus

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