Abstract: The present invention is an assembly and method for continuously manufacturing fasteners. A die press actuated at a first speed receives the contoured wire into a die having a piercing element for piercing an aperture and a cutting element for cutting a fastener from the wire. A guide receives the fasteners from the die press and a drive unit engages the fasteners oriented by the guide and conveys the fastener to an elevated height relative to a tapping device. The guide redirects the fasteners by a first router. The fasteners are gravity fed into the first router and redirected to one of the tapping devices. Each tapping device has a tapping element for forming internal ribs in the aperture of the fastener. The tapping devices each actuates at a second speed that in aggregate is generally equal to the first speed of the die press.

Abstract: An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.

Abstract: A thread tapping machine for tapping female threads into a series of associated articles that are held in an associated stationary fixture includes a housing mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from the stationary fixture. The housing is rotationally fixed. A spindle is carried by the housing for reciprocating movement therewith and for rotational movement within the housing. A shank is carried by the spindle and is configured for rotational and reciprocal movement with the spindle. The shank has a flute tap section, an elongated shank body, a transverse section opposite the flute tap and a bent section between the transverse section and the elongated body. The housing is moved toward and into contact with a first of the series of articles with the spindle rotating so that the flute tap section engages the article to form a thread therein.

Abstract: A device for threading a nut blank includes an elongated guide member. Formed through the guide member is a bore. A recess is formed in the bottom end of the elongated guide member and is sized to receive a nut blank therein. A guide member holder, which includes a vertical wall and a pair of opposing horizontal walls, maintains the nut blank in the recess in the elongated member. A tap with a top end and a bottom end is adapted to be threaded through the guide member holder, through the guide member and into the nut blank. Removably secured to the top end of the tap is a tap handle for facilitating the threading of the tap into the nut blank.

Abstract: Immediately behind a tap of an automatic threading machine to which nuts or like pieces are fed in succession, is a straight portion of a cast-off sheet coaxial with the tap and which is followed by an inclined portion including an obtuse angle with the straight portion. Another straight portion parallel to the first includes an obtuse angle with the inclined portion and guide passages are formed around the inclined portion and the final parallel portion in a head which is rotated to drive the tap. The nuts thus pass over the tap and the cast-off shaft and axial play of the cast-off shaft is minimized.

Abstract: A machine and method for continuous thread tapping of threads in fasteners such as nut blanks or the like having a fastener blank advancement mechanism incorporated into a fastener blank holding and guidance assembly. A continuous stream of fastener blanks are fed into and securely held and advanced onto a tap by a modular worm jaw assembly. Fastener blanks are continuously fed into the worm jaw assembly so that a continuous progression of blanks are advanced onto the tap by forward turning of worms rotating within laterally opposed jaws which hold the fastener blanks and prevent them from rotating as they are advanced over the rotating tap. Once the nut blank is advanced over the tap, it is pushed by a progression of successive nuts along the length of the shank which supports the tap to the end of the shank opposite the tap die from which the tapped nuts drop into a receptacle. The worm jaw assembly is of modular construction to facilitate easy removal and replacement.