With Feed Or Magazine Means Patents (Class 81/57.37)
  • Patent number: 11951600
    Abstract: A setting tool system includes a housing. The housing includes a first conduit that receives one or more anchoring systems at a first end, and a second conduit at least partially separated from the first conduit with an interior wall. The second conduit includes a weighted shaft that moves freely within the length of the second conduit. The first and second conduits merge at a second end opposite the first end. The housing also includes a head having an opening at the second end. Each of the one or more anchoring systems inserted at the first end are individually received at the opening at the second end. Each anchoring system contacts the weighted shaft at a top surface, and contacts an external surface at a bottom surface. Each of the one or more anchoring systems are individually fastened via the weighted shaft to the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Matteo Spampatti
  • Patent number: 11926488
    Abstract: A fastening component supplying apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed fastening component supplying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for supplying a plurality of bolts aligned by a bolt aligning device to a fastening portion of a fastening target part includes: a bolt picking unit rotatably installed to an arm front end of a handling robot and picking a plurality of bolts aligned in the bolt aligning device; and a bolt drop unit installed to an arm front end side of the handling robot and dropping the bolts picked by the bolt picking unit to the fastening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jongmin Park, Jung Pyo Kim, Jeong Seong An, Junhyeok Bae
  • Patent number: 11919066
    Abstract: A self-piercing rivet escapement mechanism for a rivet setting machine includes a self-piercing rivet track in which self-piercing rivets are receivable. A first resiliently biased jaw is biased towards a closed configuration in which the first resiliently biased jaw retains self-piercing rivets in the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is moveable to an open configuration in which a self-piercing rivet can escape the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is configured to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration upon exertion of a load upon the first resiliently biased jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited
    Inventors: Wojciech Gostylla, Stuart Edmond Blacket
  • Patent number: 11660713
    Abstract: A fastening device for fastening a bolt to a fastening target object, wherein the bolt has a bolt head female screw section in an inner circumferential surface of a recess provided in an upper surface of a bolt head section. The fastening device includes a tension rod having a rod male screw section engaging the bolt head female screw section; a drive socket circumferentially surrounding the tension rod and having a lower end section with a grasper for laterally grasping the bolt head section; a supporter circumferentially surrounding the drive socket and having a lower end section protruding downward beyond a lower end section of the drive socket; a sensor for sensing compression force acting on the supporter in the upward/downward direction; a first motor for rotating the tension rod around an axis extending in the upward/downward direction; and a second motor for rotating the drive socket around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOHNICHI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ogata, Kyoichi Komatsu, Seiji Ito
  • Patent number: 11472138
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for identifying processing locations in composite layups. An optical magnetic marker is magnetically supported by a layup tool at a target position, such that a portion of the marker protrudes above the tool processing surface. When a composite layup is placed onto that surface, the protruding portion extends into the layup at a processing location. When the layup is cured, the marker is permanently embedded into the layup. Separating the cured layup from the tool removes the marker from the tool and allows an additional marker to advance into the target position for processing another layup. The embedded marker or, more specifically, marker's reflective surface is used during optical inspection of the layup surface to precisely determine the processing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jerald A. Hull
  • Patent number: 11224923
    Abstract: A tool holder for a machine tool, in particular for a core drilling machine, having a hollow shaft which has, at one end for coupling to the drive of the machine tool, a connector and, at the other end, a receiving opening with a plurality of openings in which locking elements are accommodated which are radially adjustable between a clamping position and an release position for securing a tool accommodated in the receiving opening. A switching sleeve is provided, which is adjustably mounted on the hollow shaft between a first switching position and a second switching position, a first subset of the locking elements being provided in the first switching position for locking the tool in the receiving opening, and a second subset of the locking elements being provided in the second switching position for locking the tool in the receiving opening, while the adjustment of the respective remaining locking elements is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH
    Inventor: Kristopher Stoker
  • Patent number: 11167340
    Abstract: A nose arrangement for a fastener setting tool having a punch for setting fasteners comprises a support that receives the punch and a nosepiece for guiding the punch and a fastener during a fastener setting operation. The nose arrangement defines first and second fastener transfer areas where wait to be transferred under the punch. A transfer mechanism transfers the fasteners from the first and second fastener transfer areas under the punch and comprises a movable member that can be moved between first and second configurations. In the first configuration the movable member holds a first fastener in a stand-by position under the punch while it collects a second fastener from the first fastener transfer area. In the second configuration, the movable member holds the second fastener in the stand-by position while it collects a third fastener from the second fastener transfer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited
    Inventors: Wojciech Gostylla, Stuart Edmond Blacket
  • Patent number: 10429819
    Abstract: A device with a processing unit and a storage device also has a base, a cover including a plurality of guiding holes, a plurality of receiving members, an installation member, a plurality of first sensing devices, and a plurality of second sensing devices. The processing unit determines by a specific one of the first sensing devices corresponding to a specific one of the receiving members that the installation member is to acquire a fastening element from the specific receiving member. Then, the processing unit determines by a specific one of the second sensing devices corresponding to a specific one of the guiding holes that the installation member is to move towards the specific guiding hole. The processing unit controls the installation member to fasten the fastening element to an electronic device through the specific guiding hole when the specific first sensing device corresponds to the specific second sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Xu Jin, Ting-Hui Deng, Long-Fong Chen
  • Patent number: 9969068
    Abstract: An installation tool for fastening a top plate to a roof support member and other structural connections is adapted to drive threaded fasteners at a pre-established angle. The tool preferably includes a rotary driver assembly and a telescopic tube assembly. A guide head assembly is mounted adjacent the outer end of the telescopic tube assembly. Locating structures function to properly precisely set the drive angle of the fastener. Spaced stabbers prevent the fastener from moving during the installation. A releasable lock mechanism locks the guide head assembly to the end of the telescopic tube assembly. The guide head assembly has a floating guide to align the fastener head with a drive bit, and a wear sleeve for centering and aligning the fastener screws. A spacer collar is dimensioned to set a pre-established penetration depth for the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OMG, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Walters, R. Timothy Irwin, Mark A. Dicaire, Timothy F. Gillis, David L. Mathieu
  • Patent number: 9427851
    Abstract: A screwing machine includes a machine frame, a locking device, a first moving mechanism, a suction jig, a blowing jig and a second moving mechanism. The locking device has a screwdriver. The first moving mechanism moves the machine frame. The suction jig has a suction head. The blowing jig has a target head. The suction jig and the blowing jig are alternatively mounted on the screwing machine. The suction jig is mounted on the screwing machine by connecting to the locking device. The suction jig sucks to attract at least one screw to the suction head. The blowing jig is mounted on the screwing machine by connecting to the machine frame. The blowing jig blows to supply the screw to the target head. The second moving mechanism connects the locking device to the machine frame for moving the locking device relative to the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Kuo, Lung-Chiang Chu, Tung-Chien Tai
  • Patent number: 9216483
    Abstract: A screw device, for screws to a workpiece, comprises a platform, a feeding mechanism, a transferring mechanism, and a mechanism. The transferring mechanism is mounted on the platform and communicating with the feeding mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a mounting plate, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, and a pneumatic sucker. The mounting plate is fixed on the platform. The first driving assembly is mounted on the mounting plate. The second driving assembly is fixedly connected to the first driving assembly. The pneumatic sucker is mounted on an end of the second driving assembly adjacent to the platform, and is located near an end of the first transferring member, the first driving assembly driving the second driving assembly and the pneumatic sucker to move along an axis of the pneumatic sucker. The second driving assembly drives the pneumatic sucker to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Lu Yang, Ya-Dong Zhang, Xiao-Xing Ren
  • Patent number: 9079275
    Abstract: An automatic screw tightening apparatus suppresses damage of an inner wall of a transfer tube, stabilizes the posture of the screw, stably supplies the screw to a driver bit, and reduces screw tightening time. A rotatable arm is installed at the screw discharging unit and a feed head unit is installed at a fore end of the rotatable arm to be brought into close contact with a driver bit portion of a fore end of the screw tightening mechanism. The feed head unit is movable between close contact with the driver bit portion and an evacuation position where the feed head unit is far from the driver bit unit. At the close contact position, the driver bit portion of the fore end of the screw tightening mechanism is brought into contact with the screw and sucks a head portion of the screw to engage the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: OHTAKE ROOT KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitake Ota, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8960496
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a basket processing apparatus that includes a basket storage portion in a form of a horizontal load rail (2). A plurality of slide storage baskets (4) can be located in series on the rail (2). Each basket is “side loading” and the side loading aperture of each basket can be selectively covered by a slide retaining bar (6). When the baskets (4) are placed on the load rail (2) (e.g. by hooking or clipping the baskets onto the rail), the basket can be moved along the horizontal rail by a basket moving means. The arrangement of the rail and the basket moving means is such that the baskets can be pushed together and move as a “train”. Baskets moved to the pick-up end (12) of the rail can then be removed from the rail and processed. A vertical lift mechanism can be used to remove the basket and transport it to a processing device, for example a coverslipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Shandon Ltd
    Inventors: John Temple, Ian Kerrod, Alan Prile, Roger Smith, Stephen Hankey
  • Patent number: 8943927
    Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventor: Philip Watt
  • Patent number: 8904615
    Abstract: A fastening device includes a rotational drive portion that rotationally drives a socket, an advance/retract drive portion that causes this socket to advance or retract along a rotational axis thereof, a magazine that retains a plurality of heads that retain bolts, and a switching portion that moves this magazine to selectively position one of a plurality of heads ahead and on the rotational axis of the socket. One of the heads is selected and positioned on the rotational axis of the socket by the switching portion, then the socket is advanced by the advance/retract drive portion and the head thus selected is retained by the socket, then the socket is advanced further by the advance/retract drive portion and the head to detach is detached from the magazine, and then the head is rotated by driving the rotational drive portion, thereby fastening a bolt retained in the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ohno, Mitsutaka Igaue, Kenichiro Ono, Takeshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140338505
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for driving fastening elements into a substrate, comprising a receptacle for a fastening element, having a driving-in element which drives a fastening element in the receptacle into the substrate, a transport element which can be brought into engagement with a fastening element or a strip comprising a fastening element in order to transport the fastening element in a transporting direction into the receptacle, and a catch which has a blocking position and an enabling position, wherein the catch blocks a transporting movement of the fastening element in the blocking position and enables the transporting movement in the enabling position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Foser, Oliver Prinz
  • Patent number: 8869656
    Abstract: An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has a narrow front-end profile so that it is capable of driving screws that are in hard-to-reach positions, such as corners or channel members. The slide body subassembly has an extending mechanism, so that the fastener drive elements extend farther away from the main body structure of the tool/attachment, while still providing a stable and rugged overall tool structure to drive larger screws. The “lick-out” dimension is increased without also increasing the length and width of the feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Desmond, William H. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140290440
    Abstract: A screwing system includes at least one screw feeder, and a screwing device configured to move between the screw feeder and a screwing position and tighten a screw obtained from the screw feeder on a part at the screwing position. The screwing system includes a robot capable of holding the part. The robot carries the held part to the screwing position, changes a posture of the part, and carries the part from the screwing position. While the robot holds the part, the screwing device screws the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iwai, Masato Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8813610
    Abstract: An automatic screw tightening apparatus is to fasten at least one screw into a screw hole of a workpiece and comprises a work platform, a movable carrying deck, an image observation module, a screw fastening module and a fastening inspection module. The movable carrying deck has a carrying portion to carry and hold the workpiece and a movement portion to control the workpiece moved sequentially to a first position, a second position and a third position that are respectively corresponding to the image observation module, screw fastening module and fastening inspection module to confirm the position of the screw hole, fasten the screw and inspect fastening correctness of the screw. Thus the workpiece can be assembled quickly and fastening can be done correctly to achieve mass production and reduce cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Tera Autotech Corporation
    Inventor: Yi-Lung Lee
  • Patent number: 8800409
    Abstract: Disclosed is low aspect ratio screw finder for receipt and optimal alignment of a screw. The screw finder may be used in conjunction with a complete screw bit assembly including a screw insertion assembly and a driver. The screw finder includes a screw guide, a screw guide sleeve, and a retraction mechanism. The screw guide is coupled to the screw guide sleeve for movement relative to the screw guide sleeve and provides a surface to abut against the screw to maintain the screw in an optimal orientation for movement from the tube into a bottom portion of the screw insertion assembly. The retraction mechanism retracts the screw guide towards the screw guide sleeve to allow the screw to enter the bottom portion of the screw insertion assembly and to allow the driver to extend through the bottom portion of the screw insertion assembly to engage the head of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wuester, Sr., Jambunathan Vangal-Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 8789446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a screw feeding apparatus to deliver a screw from a screw feeder having a vibrating rail to a screw guide tube. The screw feeding apparatus comprises a first actuator having a pocket and a second actuator having a screw pickup. The first actuator is moveable between a detection position and a retracted position, wherein the first actuator is configured to detect a screw in the pocket received from the vibrating rail of the screw feeder in the detection position and to then move to the retracted position. The second actuator is moveable between a pickup position and a drop position, wherein the screw pickup of the second actuator is configured to pick up the screw from the pocket of the first actuator in the pickup position and to move to the drop position to drop the screw into the screw guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Komgrit Sungkhaphong, Tirasak Nakpoom, Yuranan Rattanaphanna, Seksan Foythong
  • Publication number: 20140137706
    Abstract: A screw locking device includes a feeding mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and a pneumatic screw driver. The conveying mechanism includes a base, a pneumatic driver slidably mounted on the base, a pair of blocking members slidably mounted on the base, a conveying bridge, a flexible tube, and a controller. Each blocking member includes a blocking end positioned below the pneumatic driver. The conveying bridge communicates with the feeding mechanism, and extends to the blocking ends. The flexible tube aligned with a gap between the blocking ends, and communicates with the pneumatic screw driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN) CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: JIN-HUA LU, DA-ZHUANG XU, XUE-BING WANG
  • Patent number: 8726765
    Abstract: An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has an external depth of drive adjustment subassembly that is mounted external to the feed tube housing, yet has a simple adjustment that does not lose its setpoint easily. By placing the depth of drive mechanism outside of the interior areas of the feed tube, the slide body subassembly can be lengthened without increasing the overall length of the feed system. Certain surfaces of slide body subassembly exhibit a dovetail shape, which allows the slide body subassembly to be robustly mounted so that it is capable of operating with long fasteners while also having the nosepiece mounted in an extended position for use with those fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140116209
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an automatic locking screw machine, which includes an automatic separating module, an automatic feeding module, and an automatic locking module. The automatic separating module separates a plurality of screws arranged in an array. The automatic feeding module is connected to the automatic separating module, and includes a feeding duct for conveying the screws separated by the automatic separating module. The automatic locking module is connected to the automatic feeding module, and includes a first spring ball mechanism and a screwdriver. The first spring ball mechanism supports the screws conveyed by the feeding duct, and the screwdriver locks the screws supported by the first spring ball mechanism onto a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Patent number: 8677863
    Abstract: A fastener positioning device for a die block including a punch tube arranged to receive the fastener, at least one aperture extending radially out from the tube, at least one displaceable retainer disposed in the at least one aperture, and a resilient ring urging the at least one retainer towards an axis of the punch tube. In an example embodiment of the invention, the aperture includes a first diameter proximate the punch tube and a second, larger diameter radially outside of the first diameter. The retainer may be a ball, the resilient ring may be an O-ring, and the fastener may be a stud or nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timothy Simon, Raymond Imars, Kenneth Gloeckner
  • Patent number: 8635933
    Abstract: A power screwdriver is disclosed including a screw advance mechanism for advancing a screwstrip, and a hinged feed track for feeding the screwstrip to the screw advance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Hale
  • Patent number: 8627749
    Abstract: An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has a narrow front-end profile so that it is capable of driving screws that are in hard-to-reach positions, such as corners or channel members. The slide body subassembly has an extending mechanism, so that the fastener drive elements extend farther away from the main body structure of the tool/attachment, while still providing a stable and rugged overall tool structure to drive larger screws. The “lick-out” dimension is increased without also increasing the length and width of the feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Desmond, William H. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140007742
    Abstract: A screw fastening device includes: a supply target member which extends in one direction and to which male screws are to be supplied; a first magnet that positions the male screw supplied to the supply target member by a magnetic force so that the male screw extends in the one direction and makes a head portion of the male screw face one side; a holding member that is movable relative to the supply target member in the one direction, includes a second magnet as defined herein, and holds the male screw as defined herein; and an applying member that applies torque to the male screw held by the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Osamu TOCHIBORI
  • Publication number: 20130340573
    Abstract: An automatic screw tightening apparatus is to fasten at least one screw into a screw hole of a workpiece and comprises a work platform, a movable carrying deck, an image observation module, a screw fastening module and a fastening inspection module. The movable carrying deck has a carrying portion to carry and hold the workpiece and a movement portion to control the workpiece moved sequentially to a first position, a second position and a third position that are respectively corresponding to the image observation module, screw fastening module and fastening inspection module to confirm the position of the screw hole, fasten the screw and inspect fastening correctness of the screw. Thus the workpiece can be assembled quickly and fastening can be done correctly to achieve mass production and reduce cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Yi-Lung LEE
  • Publication number: 20130319182
    Abstract: A screw locking device, for locking screws to a workpiece, comprises a platform, a feeding mechanism, a transferring mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The transferring mechanism is mounted on the platform and communicating with the feeding mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a mounting plate, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, and a pneumatic sucker. The mounting plate is fixed on the platform. The first driving assembly is mounted on the mounting plate. The second driving assembly is fixedly connected to the first driving assembly. The pneumatic sucker is mounted on an end of the second driving assembly adjacent to the platform, and is located near an end of the first transferring member, the first driving assembly driving the second driving assembly and the pneumatic sucker to move along an axis of the pneumatic sucker. The second driving assembly drives the pneumatic sucker to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MING-LU YANG, YA-DONG ZHANG, XIAO-XING REN
  • Patent number: 8584554
    Abstract: A torque multiplier includes a main body, a torque input shaft, at least one torque sensor, an angle sensor, and an information transmission circuit. The main body contains therein at least one gear train. The gear train has upper and lower ends respectively forming a torque input port and a torque output shaft. The torque output shaft is coupleable with a tool piece, such as a socket. The torque input shaft has an end fit into the torque input port and an opposite end coupleable with a torque device, such as a hand tool, an electrical tool, or a pneumatic tool. The torque device applies a torque input to the torque input shaft that in turn rotates the gear train to provide a multiplied torque output to the torque output shaft. The torque sensor is mounted to a surface of the torque output shaft of the gear train of the main body to detect the torque value of the torque output shaft and provide a torque value signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Legend Lifestyle Products Corp.
    Inventor: Chiang Kao Chen
  • Publication number: 20130276591
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards. The tool can include a feed mechanism that automatically and sequentially feeds collated fasteners to a nose assembly. The nose assembly can include a guide having an alignment projection extending downwardly from the guide, and configured to engage a board corner and/or side surface, so as to align an angled bore through which fasteners are guided with the board corner and or side surface. The nose assembly can include a magnetic element located adjacent a path on which the collated fasteners are advanced. The magnetic element can exert a magnetic force on an individual fastener, aligning it for precise entry into the angled bore. The nose assembly can include a guide pocket to positively constrain a fastener as it rotates to ensure a desired advancement trajectory. A related method of installation is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Roger A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 8544369
    Abstract: A screwdriver for collated screws in which a tip of the screw projects forwardly of the tool prior to initiation of the screwdriving sequence and, preferably, a forwardly directed socket carried on a retractable nose portion engages the head of the screw to be driven and urges the screw forwardly into a workpiece such that the pinching of the screw between the nose portion and the workpiece initiates retraction of the nose portion preferably leading to engagement of the screw by a rotating driver shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Scott Park
  • Patent number: 8534164
    Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventor: Philip Watt
  • Publication number: 20130212883
    Abstract: A head of a riveting device—for Hi-Lite type rivets—of at least two components of a structure for installing automatically collars on pins previously inserted in the structure. The head comprises: a collar installation tool; a collar supply to supply collars to the collar installation tool; a tool actuating device; a linear displacement device to linearly move the tool during the threading operation; a withdrawal device arranged to withdraw the second part of the collars; a control arrangement configured to automatically perform the installation of collars on pins and after this the withdrawal of the second part of the collars, using tools and collars appropriate for the pins. Also a robot having as end-effector the head and to a method of riveting two components of an aircraft fuselage are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventor: Airbus Operations S.L.
  • Publication number: 20130112050
    Abstract: An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has an external depth of drive adjustment subassembly that is mounted external to the feed tube housing, yet has a simple adjustment that does not lose its setpoint easily. By placing the depth of drive mechanism outside of the interior areas of the feed tube, the slide body subassembly can be lengthened without increasing the overall length of the feed system. Certain surfaces of slide body subassembly exhibit a dovetail shape, which allows the slide body subassembly to be robustly mounted so that it is capable of operating with long fasteners while also having the nosepiece to mounted in an extended position for use with those fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: William H. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130112046
    Abstract: An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has a narrow front-end profile so that it is capable of driving screws that are in hard-to-reach positions, such as corners or channel members. The slide body subassembly has an extending mechanism, so that the fastener drive elements extend farther away from the main body structure of the tool/attachment, while still providing a stable and rugged overall tool structure to drive larger screws. The “lick-out” dimension is increased without also increasing the length and width of the feed tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SENCO BRANDS, INC
    Inventors: Michael R. Desmond, William H. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8424420
    Abstract: A feeder assembly is provided for a fastener tool, such as a screw driver, structured to install a number of fasteners, such as screws, in a work piece. The screw driver includes a driver assembly having a driver bit. The screws have a predetermined shape. The feeder assembly includes a nose assembly operatively coupled to the driver assembly, and a conduit. The nose assembly receives the screws and retains them in a predetermined orientation below the driver bit. The conduit is coupled to the nose assembly, and includes a passageway. The passageway aligns and delivers the screws to the nose assembly in the predetermined orientation. The passageway has a predetermined shape substantially similar to the predetermined shape of the screws. A fastener tool and an associated method of using the fastener tool are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Ranta
  • Patent number: 8424418
    Abstract: A floating head couples a screwdriver to a screw finder. The floating head includes a screwdriver attachment assembly that attaches to a screwdriver for driving a first rotation member (FRM). The floating head includes a screw finder attachment assembly that attaches to a bit of a screw finder such that driving a second rotation member (SRM) drives the bit. The floating head includes a ball shaft having a first end portion (EP) engaged in a first socket of the FRM and a second EP engaged in a second socket of the SRM. When the FRM is driven by the screwdriver, the ball shaft translates rotation of the FRM to the SRM. When the FRM and the SRM are displaced relative to one another, the ball shaft tilts such that the first EP maintains engagement with the first socket and the second EP maintains engagement with the second socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wuester, Sr., Jambunathan Vangal-Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20130067711
    Abstract: In judging loosening of a crew, a measuring section measures a position of a bit as a relative position in relation to a placement surface of a screw supplying device when the screw is acquired from the screw supplying device. The measuring section also measures the position of the bit as a relative position in relation to a workpiece surface when fastening of the screw onto a workpiece has been completed. A judging section judges that screw loosening has not occurred when, based on the first and second bit positions, a difference between the first and second bit positions falls within an allowable range. The judging section judges that screw loosening has occurred when the difference does not fall within the allowable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Toyoo HARADA
  • Patent number: 8356534
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a fastener in a driving system. A positioning assembly is positioned at the first end of a guide tube to engage a fastener driven by a driver shaft out of the guide tube. The positioning assembly includes a first jaw having an interior cavity and a mounting portion allowing the jaw to be mounted to the guide tube. The positioning assembly includes a second jaw having an interior cavity and a mounting tab allowing the jaw to be mounted to the guide tube. The first and second jaw are rotatably coupled to the guide tube in a retractable manner such that a fastener exiting the guide tube separates the jaws and is centered about the axis passing longitudinally through the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Hale, Jeremy Scott Park
  • Patent number: 8347766
    Abstract: An automatic screw tightening apparatus has a screw discharging unit for transferring a screw to a transfer tube, an engaging unit for engaging the head part of the screw transferred from the transfer tube with a front end of a driver, and an openable and closable sealing cover for preventing air from leaking and which is opened and exposes the screw for tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ohtake Root Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitake Ota, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120318108
    Abstract: A tool to drive fastening elements into a substrate, with a prefastening position for a fastening element, with a driving element that drives a fastening element in the prefastening position in a fastening direction into the substrate, with a transporting element, which can he meshed with a fastening element or a strip embracing a fastening element, so as to transport the fastening element in a transporting direction into the prefastening position, wherein the driving element has a fastening element that actuates the transporting element for the transporting of the fastening element into the prefastening position, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus KIEBER, Marco ZURKIRCHEN
  • Patent number: 8328823
    Abstract: There is provided a powered tacker device for use in installing multiple surgical fasteners through a prosthetic mesh into tissue. The powered tacker device generally includes a handle assembly and a tacker assembly extending distally from the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a motor and self-contained power assembly to rotate the surgical fasteners into tissue. The handle assembly is provided with a drive assembly which allows for rotation, as well as distal longitudinal movement, of a surgical fastener relative to the powered tacker device. The tacker assembly includes an inner tube for containing the plurality of surgical fasteners and a driver which is movable out of alignment with the inner tube so as to install a single fastener at a time into tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Gregg C. Krehel, Thomas Wenchell, Earl M. Zergiebel
  • Patent number: 8267491
    Abstract: Apparatus including a vending machine compartment including a dispensing door openable to permit removal of merchandise from the compartment, the compartment being pivotedly connected to a box assembly, and wherein the dispensing door includes a link element that is constrained to move along a track formed in the box assembly such that the dispensing door is not openable at a first portion of the track and is openable at a second portion of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hotel Outsource Management International, Inc.
    Inventor: Eyal Artsiely
  • Patent number: 8240232
    Abstract: A power screwdriver is disclosed including a screw advance mechanism for advancing a screwstrip, and a hinged feed track for feeding the screwstrip to the screw advance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Hale
  • Patent number: 8220367
    Abstract: A transmission extension adapter for connection between a work head and the chuck of a power hand tool includes a cylindrical cap shell coupled to the power hand tool around the chuck and having radial through holes and a positioning member in each radial through hole. An axle sleeve is rotatably coupled to the cylindrical cap shell and has locating holes on the periphery thereof. A transmission axle is inserted through the axle sleeve and has a rear end connected to the chuck and a front end connected with a supplementary chuck for holding the work head. A front cap assembly is affixed to the front end of the axle sleeve to hold an automatic feeder for allowing rotation of the automatic feeder with the axle sleeve. A multi-angle positioning device is adapted for holding down the positioning members in the locating holes to lock the axle sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8196496
    Abstract: A screwdriver includes a locking member, a positioning member, a retaining member, and a rotatable member. The locking member defines a locking member hole therein. The positioning member is received in the locking member hole, and defines first and second positioning member holes. An angled surface is located between the first and second positioning member holes. The retaining member secures the positioning member to the locking member, and defines a retaining member hole to receive the positioning member. The rotatable member is received in the first positioning member hole, and slidable to abut the angled surface to slide the positioning member from a first position where the rotatable member is positioned in the first positioning member hole, to a second position where the rotatable member is positioned in the second positioning member hole so as to splay the second positioning member hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Shih, Tian-Ping Xu, Fu-Chun Cheng, Xia-Gu Liao, Ren-Qiang Xiao
  • Publication number: 20120067176
    Abstract: In an automatic screw tightening apparatus, a feed head unit is movable to and from close contact with a driver bit portion. The driver bit portion contacts the screw and sucks the head portion of the screw in close contact. The feed head unit includes a longitudinal groove opened to the outside and connected to a vertically extending screw feed hole. Only a thread portion of the screw is capable of horizontally advancing and retreating in the longitudinal groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Ohtake Root Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitake Ota, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8127643
    Abstract: An electric screwdriver assembly includes a body portion, a screwdriver and a vacuum coupling assembly. The body portion defines a screw conduit therethrough which has a distal end and at least one opening spaced apart from the distal end. The screwdriver is disposed within the body portion and includes a free end facing the distal end of the screw conduit that defines a screwdriver bit. The screwdriver bit is moveable through the screw conduit between a position proximal from the opening and a position distal from the opening. The vacuum coupling assembly is configured to couple to a vacuum generator to the body portion in order to generate a partial vacuum within the screw conduit through the opening to substantially align the screw with the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jit Han Tan