Fastener stacking and removal system
First Claim
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1. A method for delivering fasteners to a work station, said method comprising:
- loading at least one storage tube of at least one storage device with at least one fastener and at least one spacer adapted to properly orient the fastener within the storage tube;
substantially simultaneously retrieving the fastener and the fastener spacer from the storage tube utilizing an unloading mechanism;
substantially simultaneously retaining the fastener within an extractor catcher of the unloading mechanism and transporting the spacer to a spacer storage receptacle; and
depositing the fastener in a delivery conduit adapted to transport the fastener to a work station.
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Abstract
A system is provided for delivering fasteners to a work station. The system includes at least one fastener storage device than has at least one storage tube. The system additionally includes at least one fastener spacer that is adapted to properly orient at least one fastener stored in the storage tube. The system further includes at least one unloading mechanism that includes at least one extractor catcher. The unloading mechanism is adapted to remove the spacer and the fastener from the storage tube in a single operation.
11 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for delivering fasteners to a work station, said method comprising:
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loading at least one storage tube of at least one storage device with at least one fastener and at least one spacer adapted to properly orient the fastener within the storage tube; substantially simultaneously retrieving the fastener and the fastener spacer from the storage tube utilizing an unloading mechanism; substantially simultaneously retaining the fastener within an extractor catcher of the unloading mechanism and transporting the spacer to a spacer storage receptacle; and depositing the fastener in a delivery conduit adapted to transport the fastener to a work station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for delivering fasteners to a work station, said method comprising:
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substantially simultaneously retrieving a fastener and a fastener spacer from the storage tube utilizing an unloading mechanism; substantially simultaneously retaining the fastener within an extractor catcher of the unloading mechanism and transporting the spacer to a spacer storage receptacle; and depositing the fastener in a delivery conduit adapted to transport the fastener to a work station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for delivering fasteners to a work station, said method comprising:
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loading at least one storage tube of at least one storage device with at least one fastener and at least one spacer adapted to properly orient the fastener within the storage tube; substantially simultaneously retrieving the fastener and the fastener spacer from the storage tube using an unloading mechanism that provides a vacuum force from a vacuum generator to remove the fastener and spacer from the storage tube; retaining the fastener within the extractor catcher of the unloading mechanism utilizing the vacuum force; transporting the spacer through the extractor catcher and the vacuum generator utilizing the vacuum force; propelling the spacer through a spacer transport tube to a storage receptacle utilizing a vacuum exhaust created by the vacuum generator; and depositing the fastener in a delivery conduit adapted to transport the fastener to a work station. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification