Abstract: A gravity fed, track arrangement for assemblying orienting, and aligning a plurality of fasteners for use with an automatic screw feeding machine is disclosed. Inclined tracks having a space therebetween are provided with a pivotable stabilizing bar which bears upon the heads of the fasteners within the tracks. Vibrations are induced into the stabilizing bar and the tracks so as to assist gravity in urging the fasteners down the tracks and so as to continually act to maintain the alignment position of the fasteners within the tracks. Track purging apparatus is provided whereby any misaligned fastener is purged from the tracks.

Abstract: An escapement mechanism for an automatic screw feeding machine is disclosed. A rotor within a housing receives a fastener from a track feed arrangement and delivers the fastener to a delivery opening in communication with a conduit leading to the driver head of the automatic screw feeding machine. A cutout within the rotor is specially sized and positioned and the motion of the rotor is arranged so that no edges are presented which may cause the fastener to hang up or cause jamming of the escapement apparatus. A reed valve is used to open and close the delivery opening so that pneumatic apparatus may be used to drive the fastener to the driver head.

Abstract: Driver jaws for a driver head of an automatic screw feeding machine are disclosed. A pair of cantilever springs are oppositely disposed on a mandrel or housing. The springs are arranged such that the tips thereof form an opening therethrough which comprises the jaws for holding a fastener during the insertion process. The cantilever springs allow the jaws to open to permit the head of the fastener to pass therethrough after the fastener is fully inserted and to be released from the driver jaws. The cantilever springs permit an exceptionally small clearance spaced around the head of the installed fastener. The tips of the jaws spaced the movable portions of the apparatus away from the work surface so that marring or scratching of the work surface is avoided.