US3907014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for feeding and driving screws
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-29
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1994-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for feeding screws having a kerf head from a preloaded replaceable turret-type magazine to a motor driven rotating screw driver having a kerf engaging tip for driving the screws is disclosed which mechanism includes a novel combination of features to insure efficient automatic jam-free operation. An embodiment of the mechanism in which the screws are force fed to the screw driver, as well as an embodiment in which the screws are fed by gravity to the screw driver, is described. Structural means for adapting the mechanism to feed fasteners having a range of diameters and which render the mechanism insensitive to length of the fasteners are disclosed and a disposable magazine for use with the mechanism is described.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony P Manino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:14
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/02; B25B23/04; B25B23/06; B25B23/08; B25B23/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
In a mechanism for feeding elongated cylindrical threaded fasteners having a shank of given diameter and a driving head of given larger diameter including a driving surface at one end thereof, one by one from a magazine containing an array of a plurality of said fasteners in substantially coaxial alignment along a given axis into coaxial alignment with an elongated cylindrical tool including a motor for rotating said tool about its cylindrical axis, said tool having a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said driving head of said fasteners and having a tip adapted to engage said driving surface in said head of said fasteners; said cylindrical axis of said tool intersecting said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners in said magazine at a given angle; and said tool and said magazine being mechanically interconnected for reciprocating movement with respect to each other whereby each of said plurality of fasteners may be individually driven in turn along said cylindrical axis of said tool; the improvement comprising: a. a block member located at the intersection of said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners with said cylindrical axis of said tool, said block member including a cylindrical passageway therethrough having a diameter larger than said diameter of said tool coaxially aligned with said cylindrical axis of said tool and means for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving; and b. an elongated rigid frame means having one end rigidly fixed to said block, at least a portion of said frame extending along said given axis and removably supporting said magazine in fixed relationship to said block, the other end of said frame means being mechanically interconnected with said tool for slidable movement with respect to said tool in directions parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool whereby said given angle formed between said given axis and said cylindrical axis remains constant during reciprocating movement of said frame together with said block and magazine with respect to said tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
In a mechanism for feeding elongated cylindrical threaded fasteners having a shank of given diameter and a driving head of given larger diameter including a driving surface at one end thereof, one by one from a magazine containing an array of a plurality of said fasteners in substantially coaxial alignment along a given axis into coaxial alignment with an elongated cylindrical tool including a motor for rotating said tool about its cylindrical axis, said tool having a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said driving head of said fasteners and having a tip adapted to engage said driving surface in said head of said fasteners; said cylindrical axis of said tool intersecting said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners in said magazine at a given angle; and said tool and said magazine being mechanically interconnected for reciprocating movement with respect to each other whereby each of said plurality of fasteners may be individually driven in turn along said cylindrical axis of said tool; the improvement comprising: a. a block member located at the intersection of said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners with said cylindrical axis of said tool, said block member including a cylindrical passageway therethrough having a diameter larger than said diameter of said tool coaxially aligned with said cylindrical axis of said tool and means for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving; and b. an elongated rigid frame means having one end rigidly fixed to said block, at least a portion of said frame extending along said given axis and removably supporting said magazine in fixed relationship to said block, the other end of said frame means being mechanically interconnected with said tool for slidable movement with respect to said tool in directions parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool whereby said given angle formed between said given axis and said cylindrical axis remains constant during reciprocating movement of said frame together with said block and magazine with respect to said tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherin said means of said block for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving, comprises a tubular insert in said cylindrical passageway of said block dimensioned to receive said tool in one end thereof with a close spaced sliding tubular fit, said insert having a slot through the wall and intermediate the ends thereof with a length at least equal to the length of said fasteners and a width dimensioned to receive said fasteners laterally, said insert being mounted in said block to receive each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn through said slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein spring means are interposed in said insert for resiliently retaining each of said fasteners in said passageway against axial movement thereof in said passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said block member includes an arch-like stop means having its open end positioned above said slot in said insert at the end thereof adjacent said magazine, the legs of said arch-like stop means being positioned on opposite sides of said given axis of alignment of said fasteners in said magazine, the surface of said arch-like stop means adjacent said magazine extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said block member includes a further passageway therethrough extending parallel to but spaced from said cylindrical axis of said tool, and an elongated ratchet member having one end fixed to said motor extends into said further passageway, said block member being provided with double acting ratchet means cooperating with said ratchet member to require a reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in a given direction to be completed before reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in the opposite direction can easily take place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein spring means are included for biasing said block member and said tool toward the extreme end of a reciprocating movement therebetween in one direction thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes spring means urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor is an electrical motor mounted in a housing having a pistol grip and a trigger type control switch, and chuck means removably couples said cylindrical tool to said motor through appropriate gear means, said other end of said frame member being slidably mounted on said housing of said motor to allow relative movement therebetween in a direction parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein spring means are included for urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member and said block member includes spring means at the top of said arch-like means urging said fasteners to move toward the open end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein a tubular nozzle member of resilient material having an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said insert is coaxially mounted in the end of said insert remote from said tool, said nozzle member having an inwardly extending flange at its free end, said flange and a portion of the side wall of said insert being slotted to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers having inwardly extending portions at the free end thereof, and an annular member of resilient material compressively engaging the outer periphery of said nozzle member intermediate the ends of said slotted portion thereof to resiliently restrain said fingers from bending outwardly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |