Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a flat substrate has a thickness, T. A roller press station is used to press T-nuts into holes in the substrate. An optical vision system detects the location of the holes in the moving substrate and aligns the t-nuts with the holes. A computer controlled pick and place robot takes T-nuts from an escapement of a hopper feed system and aligns, but does not fully insert, the t-nuts in the substrate. A conveyor system feeds the substrates through the optical vision system, the pick and place robot station and the roller press station. A first roller is spaced apart from a second roller by a gap in the roller press station and the gap is less than the thickness of the substrate. The hopper feed system includes a bulk hopper, a bowl, a track and an escapement.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: An insertable fastener installation apparatus for a flat substrate has a thickness, T. A roller press station is used to press T-nuts into holes in the substrate. An optical vision system detects the location of the holes in the moving substrate and aligns the t-nuts with the holes. A computer controlled pick and place robot takes T-nuts from an escapement of a hopper feed system and aligns, but does not fully insert, the t-nuts in the substrate. A conveyor system feeds the substrates through the optical vision system, the pick and place robot station and the roller press station. A first roller is spaced apart from a second roller by a gap in the roller press station and the gap is less than the thickness of the substrate. The hopper feed system includes a bulk hopper, a bowl, a track and an escapement.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A fastener in combination with a substrate wherein the fastener is affixed to the substrate in a manner that does not damage the substrate. The fastener comprises a barrel having an interior, an exterior, a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. The first end portion of the barrel includes a flange. The exterior of the barrel proximate the flange includes a gripping portion with a spline having at least 12 teeth. The interior of the barrel proximate the second end portion of the barrel includes a counterbore. The interior of the barrel proximate the intermediate portion is threaded. The second end portion of the barrel is flared. The substrate includes a cylindrically shaped bore extending therethrough. The barrel of the fastener partially resides in the bore of the substrate and the 12-toothed spline on the exterior of the barrel of the fastener engages the bore of the substrate and surrounding material with minimal deformation.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

Abstract: A fastener in combination with a substrate wherein the fastener is affixed to the substrate in a manner that does not damage the substrate. The fastener comprises a barrel having an interior, an exterior, a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. The first end portion of the barrel includes a flange. The exterior of the barrel proximate the flange includes a gripping portion with a spline having at least 12 teeth. The interior of the barrel proximate the second end portion of the barrel includes a counterbore. The interior of the barrel proximate the intermediate portion is threaded. The second end portion of the barrel is flared. The substrate includes a cylindrically shaped bore extending therethrough. The barrel of the fastener partially resides in the bore of the substrate and the 12-toothed spline on the exterior of the barrel of the fastener engages the bore of the substrate and surrounding material with minimal deformation.