Cartridge and magazine apparatus for storage and automatic feed of screw fasteners

• US 4,998,452 A
• Filed: 08/28/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kurt E. Blum
• Original Assignee: Kurt E. Blum
• Inventors: Blum, Kurt E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US07/399,024
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 81/57.37, 81/434, 221/232, 221/279, 29/240, 29/813, 206/338, 206/345-347, 206/820
• US Class Current: 81/57.37
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/045 using disposable strips or discs carrying the screws or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/06 using built-in magazine B25B23/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/82 Separable, striplike plural articles

Abstract

An apparatus for storage and automatic feeding of screws into an electric screwdriver comprises a plurality of re-usable or disposable cartridges with internal means for retaining and centering a screw. A magazine holes an upwardly biased column of cartridges.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding, feeding, and centering screws in cartridges for use with a powered drill having a chuck comprising:

(a) a cylinder having a bore placed through it, said bore having a first end and a second end;

(b) a stop having a forwardly facing surface toward said second end and a rearwardly facing surface toward said first end slidably received and directed by said bore;

(c) means for preventing said stop from exiting said first end and said second end;

(d) a shank centrally aligned with said bore and attached to said rearwardly facing surface of said stop, said shank adapted for insertion into said chuck, said shank passing through said first end;

(e) a shaft centrally aligned with said bore and attached to said forwardly facing surface of said stop, said shaft passing through said second end;

(f) means for biasing said stop away from said second end;

(g) a screwdriving bit coaxially attached to said shaft distally from said stop;

(h) a magazine releasably received by said cylinder proximate to said second end, said magazine having a container for receiving said cartridges, said magazine having a chamber aligned with said bore when said magazine is received by said apparatus;

(i) said bit adapted for engagement of said screws in said cartridges in said chamber when said magazine is received by said cylinder;

(j) a means for biasing said cartridges toward said chamber;

(k) said chamber having a lateral slot adapted for receiving said cartridge not held in said container and discarding said cartridges from said chamber;

(l) means for ejecting said cartridges from said slot of said magazine; and

(m) said ejector means comprising a finger-push piston placed through a hole inside of said magazine placed adjacently to said chamber and biased away from said magazine by a spring.