Machine for automatically driving threaded fasteners

Claim 2

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated fastener driver, a finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion sized to telescope over a fastener, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, mechanism for delivering a fastener to a driving position in which the fastener is in line with said end portion of said finder, and means associated with said mechanism for causing said finder to move from its extended position and toward its retracted position as said faStener is moved toward said driving position and then for causing said finder to move back to its extended position and into telescoping relation with said fastener after the fastener has been delivered to said driving position.

Claim 3

A machine as defined in claim 1 in which said mechanism comprises a pair of opposed jaws adapted to move between closed and open positions to hold and release said fastener, a carriage mounting said jaws for movement between said open and closed positions and also for movement between a pick-up station where the jaws receive a fastener and a delivery station where the jaws place said fastener in said driving position, said last-mentioned means comprising elements connected to said carriage and said finder and coacting to move said finder toward said retracted position as said carriage moves said jaws toward said delivery station.

Claim 4

A machine as defined in claim 2 in which said coacting elements comprise a cam connected to said carrier and a linkage connected to said finder, said cam engaging said linkage as said jaws are moved toward said delivery station and acting through said linkage to move said finder toward said retracted position.

Claim 5

A machine as defined in claim 3 in which said linkage comprises a pivoted lever positioned to engage said cam, a link extending between said lever and said finder to move said finder toward said retracted position when said lever is rocked in one direction, and a lost-motion connection between said finder and said link to enable said finder to move back and forth between said extended and retracted positions without said finder imparting movement to said lever.

Claim 6

A machine as defined in claim 4 further including signaling means carried by said lever and adapted to be switched back and forth between a first state and a second state when said finder moves back and forth between said extended and retracted positions without imparting motion to said lever, said signaling means remaining in an unchanged state when said finder is moved from said extended position toward said retracted position by said lever and said link, and said signaling means being operable to initiate movement of said jaws back and forth between said stations when said signaling means are switched back and forth between said states.

Claim 7

A machine as defined in claim 5 in which said signaling means comprise a valve carried by said lever, said valve being opened and closed when said finder moves back and forth between its positions without imparting motion to said lever, the state of said valve remaining unchanged when said finder is moved toward retracted position by said lever and said link.

Claim 8

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated fastener drive, a finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion sized to telescope over a fastener, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, said finder normally being disposed in said extended position, a holder movable between pick-up and delivery stations and being disposed in said delivery station when said finder is in said normal extended position, said holder receiving a fastener when in said pick-up station and thereafter moving to said delivery station and retaining the fastener in a driving position in telescoping relation with said end portion of said finder, said finder being moved toward said retracted position upon pressing the telescoped fastener against the workpiece and then returning toward said extended position upon being released from the driven fastener, and means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position for causing said holder to move from said delivery station to said pick-up station to receive a new fastener and responsive to return movement of said finder toward said extended position to cause said holder to move back toward said delivery station and place the new fastener in said driving positioN.

Claim 9

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated fastener drive, a finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion sized to telescope over a fastener, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, said finder normally being disposed in said extended position, a holder movable between pick-up and delivery stations and being disposed in said delivery station when said finder is in said normal extended position, said holder receiving a fastener when in said pick-up station and thereafter moving to said delivery station and retaining the fastener in a driving position in telescoping relation with said end portion of said finder, said finder being moved toward said retracted position upon pressing the telescoped fastener against the workpiece and then returning toward said extended position upon being released from the driven fastener, and means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position for causing said holder to move from said delivery station to said pick-up station to receive a new fastener and responsive to return movement of said finder toward said extended position to cause said holder to move back toward said delivery station and place the new fastener in said driving positioN.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 7 in which last-mentioned means comprise signaling means adapted to be switched back and forth between first and second states when said finder moves back and forth between said extended and retracted positions.

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 8 in which said signaling means comprise a valve, and a link between said finder and said valve and operable to cause opening and closing of the valve as the finder is moved back and forth between its positions.

Claim 12

A machine as defined in claim 9 further including a movable member connected to said link and operable to cause movement of said finder from said extended position toward said retracted position and then back to said extended position as said holder is moved from said pick-up station to said delivery station, said valve being carried on said member and remaining in an unchanged state when movement of said finder is caused by movement of said member.

Claim 13

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which said member comprises a pivoted lever, and means associated with said holder for causing said lever to rock first in one direction and then in the other direction as said holder is moved from said pick-up station to said delivery station.

Claim 14

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated fastener driver, a finder telescoped over said driver having an end portion sized to telescope over and seat against a fastener, first means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, second means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a holder movable between pick-up and delivery stations and being disposed in said delivery station when said finder is in said normal extended position, said holder receiving a fastener when in said pick-up station and thereafter moving to said delivery station and retaining the fastener in telescoping relation with said end portion of said finder, said finder being moved toward said retracted position upon pressing the telescoped fastener against the workpiece and then being urged back to said normal extended position upon being released from the driven fastener, third means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position for causing said holder to move from said delivery station to said pick-up station to receive a new fastener and responsive to return movement of said finder toward said normal extended position to cause said holder to move back toward said delivery station with a new fastener, and fourth means associated with said holder and operable as said holder is moved back toward said delivery station to first cause said finder to retract and thereby enable the new fastener to be placed in line with said end portion of said finder and thereafter to cause said finder to extend and telescope over the new fastener.

Claim 15

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated fastener driver, a finder telescoped over said driver having an end portion sized to telescope over and seat against a fastener, first means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, second means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a holder movable between pick-up and delivery stations and being disposed in said delivery station when said finder is in said normal extended position, said holder receiving a fastener when in said pick-up station and thereafter moving to said delivery station and retaining the fastener in telescoping relation with said end portion of said finder, said finder being moved toward said retracted position upon pressing the telescoped fastener against the workpiece and then being urged back to said normal extended position upon being released from the driven fastener, third means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position for causing said holder to move from said delivery station to said pick-up station to receive a new fastener and responsive to return movement of said finder toward said normal extended position to cause said holder to move back toward said delivery station with a new fastener, and fourth means associated with said holder and operable as said holder is moved back toward said delivery station to first cause said finder to retract and thereby enable the new fastener to be placed in line with said end portion of said finder and thereafter to cause said finder to extend and telescope over the new fastener.

Claim 16

A machine as defined in claim 12 in which said third and fourth means comprises a pivoted lever, a cam associated with said holder for causing said lever to rock back and forth as said holder is moved from said pick-up station to said delivery station, a link extending between said lever and said finder and operable to cause said finder to move back and forth between said extended and retracted positions when said lever is rocked back and forth, a lost-motion connection between said finder and said link to enable said finder to move between said retracted and extended positions during and after driving of the fastener without imparting motion to said lever, a valve carried by said lever and normally held in a closed position by said link, said link allowing said valve to open only when said finder is moved toward said retracted position during driving of the fastener, said link closing said valve when said finder returns to said extended position after driving of the fastener, and means responsive to said valve for moving said holder from said delivery sTation toward said pick-up station as said valve is opened and for returning said holder from said pick-up station toward said delivery station as said valve is closed.

Claim 17

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener and comprising a power-rotated fastener driver, a tubular finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion sized to receive a fastener, and mechanism for transferring a fastener from a pick-up station to a delivery station where the fastener is in axial alinement with said finder, said mechanism comprising a pair of opposed jaws adapted to hold a fastener, and means supporting said jaws for final movement into said delivery station along a path extending generally radially of said finder and for initial movement out of said delivery station along a different path extending generally axially of said finder.

Claim 18

A machine for automatically driving a threaded fastener and comprising a power-rotated fastener driver, a tubular finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion sized to receive a fastener, and mechanism for transferring a fastener from a pick-up station to a delivery station where the fastener is in axial alinement with said finder, said mechanism comprising a pair of opposed jaws adapted to hold a fastener, and means supporting said jaws for final movement into said delivery station along a path extending generally radially of said finder and for initial movement out of said delivery station along a different path extending generally axially of said finder.

Claim 19

A machine as defined in claim 14 in which said means comprise a shiftable carriage which supports said jaws for movement between said stations and also for movement between open and closed positions, a main support having a cam track with a first portion extending generally radially of said first and a second portion extending generally axially of said finder, a follower on said carriage, and means for keeping said follower in engagement with said first portion of said cam track when said carriage is shifted to effect final movement of said jaws into said delivery station and for keeping said follower in engagement with said second portion of said cam track when said carriage is shifted to effect initial movement of said jaws out of said delivery station.

Claim 20

A machine as defined in claim 15 further including a spring associated with said jaws and operable to apply spring pressure to the jaws to hold the jaws in their closed position during their initial movement from said pick-up station toward said delivery station, means for releasing the spring pressure from said jaws during the final movement of the jaws into said delivery station, means on said support for engaging said jaws and clamping the jaws in their closed position during said final movement and while the jaws are in said delivery station, and said jaws being shifted out of clamping engagement with said clamping means upon initial movement of said jaws out of said delivery station whereby the jaws are free to open and move axially along said finder.

Claim 21

A machine for automatically driving a screw into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated screw driver, a finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion adapted to telescope over and seat againt the head of a screw, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a pair of opposed jaws movable between a closed position to hold the shank of a screw and an open position to release the shank, means mounted said jaws for movement between pick-up and delivery stations, said jaws receiving a screw at said pick-up station and holding the screw shank while moving said screw to said delivery station for telescoping of the screw head into the end portion of the extended finder, means for keeping said jaws in said closed position on the screw shank as said screw first engages said workpiece whereby the jaws continue to hold the screw shank during initial threading of said screw into said workpiece, means for enabling said jaws to move to said open position during continued threading of said screw and as said finder moves to said retracted position, and means for moving the opened jaws to said pick-up station.

Claim 22

A machine for automatically driving a screw into a workpiece and comprising a power-rotated screw driver, a finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion adapted to telescope over and seat againt the head of a screw, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a pair of opposed jaws movable between a closed position to hold the shank of a screw and an open position to release the shank, means mounted said jaws for movement between pick-up and delivery stations, said jaws receiving a screw at said pick-up station and holding the screw shank while moving said screw to said delivery station for telescoping of the screw head into the end portion of the extended finder, means for keeping said jaws in said closed position on the screw shank as said screw first engages said workpiece whereby the jaws continue to hold the screw shank during initial threading of said screw into said workpiece, means for enabling said jaws to move to said open position during continued threading of said screw and as said finder moves to said retracted position, and means for moving the opened jaws to said pick-up station.

Claim 23

A machine as defined in claim 17 further including means associated with said jaws for causing said finder to move from said extended position toward said retracted position and then back to said extended position as said jaws move from said pick-up station to said delivery station.

Claim 24

A machine as defined in claim 18 in whiCh said last-mentioned means are responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position during driving of the screw and cause said jaws to shift toward said pick-up station as an incident to such movement, said last-mentioned means also being responsive to movement of said finder toward said extended position after driving of the screw and causing said jaws to shift toward said delivery station as an incident to such movement.

Claim 25

A machine as defined in claim 17 further including means supporting said jaws for final movement into said delivery station along a path extending generally radially of said finder and for initial movement out of said delivery station along a path extending generally axially of said finder.

Claim 26

A machine as defined in claim 17 further including a spring for holding said jaws in said closed position as said jaws are moved from said pick-up station toward said delivery station, means for disabling said spring and releasing pressure from the jaws during final movement of the jaws into said delivery station, means for engaging said jaws and clamping the jaws in their closed position during said final movement and while the jaws are in said delivery station, said jaws being shifted out of clamping engagement with said clamping means upon initial movement of said jaws out of said delivery station, and means for enabling said spring and re-applying the spring pressure to said jaws as the jaws move into said pick-up station.

Claim 27

A machine for automatically driving a threaded screw into a workpiece and comprising a main support, a power-rotated screw driver mounted on said support, a tubular finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion adapted to telescope over and seat against the head of a screw, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a pair of opposed jaws movable between a closed position to hold the shank of a screw and an open position to release the shank, a carriage pivotally mounting said jaws for movement between said positions and also mounting said jaws on said main support for movement between pick-up and delivery stations, said jaws receiving a screw at said pick-up station and holding the screw shank while moving said screw to said delivery station, means for applying spring pressure to said jaws during initial movement of said jaws toward said delivery station thereby to keep the jaws closed on the screw shank, means coacting between said carriage and said support for causing said jaws to move along a path extending generally radially of said finder during final movement of said jaws into said delivery station, means operable during said final movement for shifting said finder from said extended position toward said retracted position and then back to said extended position whereby the screw is moved into axial alinement with said finder by said jaws and then is telescoped into and seated within said finder as the latter returns to said extended position, means operable during said final movement of said jaws into said delivery station for releasing said spring pressure and for engaging said jaws to clamp the latter closed while the jaws are in said delivery station, means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position during initial driving of said screw for causing said jaws to move out of said delivery station and return to said pick-up station, said coating means between said carriage and said support causing initial movement of said jaws out of said delivery station along a path extending generally axially of said finder, said clamping means freeing said jaws for movement to said open position as the jaws are moved along said axial path whereby the jaws release the screw shank and move axially alongside said finder, means for re-applying said spring pressure to said jaws as the jaws move into said pick-up station thereby to close the jaws, and means responsive to movement of said finder to said extended position after driving of the screw and operable to cause said jaws to move from said pick-up station to said delivery station.

Claim 28

A machine for automatically driving a threaded screw into a workpiece and comprising a main support, a power-rotated screw driver mounted on said support, a tubular finder telescoped over said driver and having an end portion adapted to telescope over and seat against the head of a screw, means for supporting said finder for movement between extended and retracted positions along said driver, means for urging said finder to and for normally keeping said finder in said extended position, a pair of opposed jaws movable between a closed position to hold the shank of a screw and an open position to release the shank, a carriage pivotally mounting said jaws for movement between said positions and also mounting said jaws on said main support for movement between pick-up and delivery stations, said jaws receiving a screw at said pick-up station and holding the screw shank while moving said screw to said delivery station, means for applying spring pressure to said jaws during initial movement of said jaws toward said delivery station thereby to keep the jaws closed on the screw shank, means coacting between said carriage and said support for causing said jaws to move along a path extending generally radially of said finder during final movement of said jaws into said delivery station, means operable during said final movement for shifting said finder from said extended position toward said retracted position and then back to said extended position whereby the screw is moved into axial alinement with said finder by said jaws and then is telescoped into and seated within said finder as the latter returns to said extended position, means operable during said final movement of said jaws into said delivery station for releasing said spring pressure and for engaging said jaws to clamp the latter closed while the jaws are in said delivery station, means responsive to movement of said finder toward said retracted position during initial driving of said screw for causing said jaws to move out of said delivery station and return to said pick-up station, said coating means between said carriage and said support causing initial movement of said jaws out of said delivery station along a path extending generally axially of said finder, said clamping means freeing said jaws for movement to said open position as the jaws are moved along said axial path whereby the jaws release the screw shank and move axially alongside said finder, means for re-applying said spring pressure to said jaws as the jaws move into said pick-up station thereby to close the jaws, and means responsive to movement of said finder to said extended position after driving of the screw and operable to cause said jaws to move from said pick-up station to said delivery station.