Abstract: The stationary die of a flat die thread rolling machine is supported on a series of stacked members which may be automatically unclamped, automatically adjusted and then automatically re-clamped to hold the stationary die in a precisely adjusted position relative to a reciprocating die. Fastener blanks from a supply hopper are fed to the dies along a set of parallel rails and are captivated by an upper hold-down rail, there being means for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the elevation of the hopper and the parallel rails and there further being means for independently adjusting the angle and elevation of the hold-down rail. Adjacent blanks in the parallel rails are separated from one another by a catcher which enables a pusher to insert the blanks between the dies in a smooth and trouble-free manner.

Abstract: Screws are delivered into the entrance end of a rotating horizontal drum and are advanced axially through the drum by an annular helical conveyor flight extending around and along the inner wall of the drum. During the advance, the screws are sprayed with a hot cleaning solution to remove oil from the screws, the screws being dried by heating coils prior to being discharged from the drum. A shield at the entrance end of the drum prevents screws from becoming trapped between the end of the drum and the initial turn of the conveyor flight as the screws are delivered into the drum. The cleaning solution sprayed into the drum is returned to a reservoir where oil is seperated from the solution by means of a rotating disc which attracts and picks up the oil and by means of squeegee blades which scrape oil from opposite sides of the disc for discharge to a drain.

Abstract: The stationary die of a flat die thread rolling machine is supported on a series of stacked members which may be automatically unclamped, automatically adjusted and then automatically re-clamped to hold the stationary die in a precisely adjusted position relative to a reciprocating die. Fastener blanks from a supply hopper are fed to the dies along a set of parallel rails and are captivated by an upper hold-down rail, there being means for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the elevation of the hopper and the parallel rails and there further being means for independently adjusting the angle and elevation of the hold-down rail. Adjacent blanks in the parallel rails are separated from one another by a catcher which enables a pusher to insert the blanks between the dies in a smooth and trouble-free manner.

Abstract: The stationary die of a flat die thread rolling machine is supported on a series of stacked members which may be automatically unclamped, automatically adjusted and then automatically re-clamped to hold the stationary die in a precisely adjusted position relative to a reciprocating die. Fastener blanks from a supply hopper are fed to the dies along a set of parallel rails and are captivated by an upper hold-down rail, there being means for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the elevation of the hopper and the parallel rails and there further being means for independently adjusting the angle and elevation of the hold-down rail. Adjacent blanks in the parallel rails are separated from one another by a catcher which enables a pusher to insert the blanks between the dies in a smooth and trouble-free manner.

Abstract: Washers are cascaded downwardly from a vibratory feeder into a reservoir which overlies a rotatable disc having a series of angularly spaced pockets. As the disc rotates, each pocket picks up a washer and carries the washer to an assembly station where a screw blank is telescoped into the washer, the screw blanks being delivered to and being carried by heads spaced angularly around a rotatable turret. A feeler senses the approximate quantity of washers in the reservoir and causes the vibratory feeder to be activated automatically when the supply of washers is low and to be de-activated when the supply is large. An arcuate shoe, an agitator, and a sensor also are provided for camming the washers into position to be received by the pockets, for agitating the washers in the supply, for ejecting excess washers from the pockets, for detecting the absence of washers in the pockets and for ejecting any washers which might not receive screw blanks, respectively.