Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members which comprises feeding a mass of washer members along a given path, cascading washer members from said path downwardly into association with a plurality of washer accommodating pockets moving along an inclined circular path, removing unaccommodated washer members from said circulaR path, feeding rotary fastener members having a washer receiving shank along a different path into juxtaposition and alignment with washer members from said circular path, telescopically assembling said members, swaging said rotary fastener members to secure washer members against dislodgement therefrom and recirculating unaccommodated washer members along a predetermined path to said first mentioned path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members which comprises feeding a mass of washer members along a given path, cascading washer members from said path downwardly into association with a plurality of washer accommodating pockets moving along an inclined circular path, removing unaccommodated washer members from said circulaR path, feeding rotary fastener members having a washer receiving shank along a different path into juxtaposition and alignment with washer members from said circular path, telescopically assembling said members, swaging said rotary fastener members to secure washer members against dislodgement therefrom and recirculating unaccommodated washer members along a predetermined path to said first mentioned path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of recirculating washer members unaccommodated by said pockets along an inclined path to the first mentioned path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of vibrating said washer members during the recirculation thereof so as to cause said washers to advance forwardly and upwardly along an inclined path to the point of cascading.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of successively advancing said rotary fastener members into juxtaposition and alignment with washer members cascaded from an indiscriminately arranged mass thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 4, including the step of forcing said fastener members axially to assure complete telescopic assembly thereof with complementary washer members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of cascading the washer members in the form of an indiscriminately arranged mass into association with said washer accommodating pockets, selecting only those washer members occupying a predetermined position of orientation into registration with said pockets, and then recirculating the unaccommodated washer members along said predetermined path to the point of cascading.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of advancing the telescopically assembled members along a second circular path, before swaging the rotary fastener members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 7, including the step of diverting completely assembled fastener and washer members from said second circular path into a third circular path before swaging the fastener members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 7, including the step of elevating fastener members during movement thereof into alignment with complementary washer members, and then lowering said fastener members into telescopic assembly with complementary washers before diverting the assembled members from said second circular path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 9, including the step of applying pressure axially of said telescopically associated members to assure complete telescopic assembly thereof after diverting the assembled members from said second circular path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, including the step of selecting unaccommodated washer members from the lower area of said inclined circular path and recirculating such washers to the first mentioned path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of assembling rotary fastener members with washer members as set forth in claim 1, which includes feeding rotary fastener members along a second circular path into successive juxtaposition and alignment with complementary washer members in the first mentioned circular path, subjecting the aligned fastener members and washer members to partial telescopic assembly and moving said aligned and partially assembled fastener members and washer members along the second circular path.