Fastening machines
First Claim
1. A fastener feeder assembly for a fastener delivery apparatus comprising a sealed container of fasteners and a hopper having at least one aperture into which the sealed container of fasteners is releasably secured, a gate which is moveable relative to the hopper between positions which open and close the at least one aperture, a reservoir into which released fasteners are dispensed, characterised in that the container has a frangible seal, the assembly further comprises means to check that the contents of the container are correct and means to break the frangible seal, so that when the feeder assembly is satisfied that the contents are correct so as to release the fasteners, the gate is moved to the open position to pass the fasteners to the reservoir.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, the transfer station being moveable between a first position in which an exit of the transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a loaded fastener. The delivery tube has wear resistant elements. The apparatus allows smooth, rapid and reliable delivery of fasteners of various sizes and types to the nose of a setting tool in any particular order and provides all the fastener types for any particular work cycle.
40 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A fastener feeder assembly for a fastener delivery apparatus comprising a sealed container of fasteners and a hopper having at least one aperture into which the sealed container of fasteners is releasably secured, a gate which is moveable relative to the hopper between positions which open and close the at least one aperture, a reservoir into which released fasteners are dispensed, characterised in that the container has a frangible seal, the assembly further comprises means to check that the contents of the container are correct and means to break the frangible seal, so that when the feeder assembly is satisfied that the contents are correct so as to release the fasteners, the gate is moved to the open position to pass the fasteners to the reservoir.
Specification