Abstract: An automatic assembly machine with a rotatable socket adapted to be advanced downwardly through an active stroke to drive a hex head screw into a workpiece. Screws are supplied one at a time to the socket by a loading mechanism having a pair of jaws adapted to close and open to grip and release a screw. While the jaws are closed, a screw is forcibly blown into the jaws through a pneumatic supply tube. As the socket retracts, the jaws are shifted transversely inwardly toward the socket and move beneath the socket as soon as the socket moves upwardly past the jaws. Thereafter, the jaws are moved upwardly along the same path as the socket but at a speed greater than the speed of the socket to enable the jaws to overtake the socket and place the screw into the socket. When the socket starts its downstroke, the jaws move downwardly away from the socket and are cammed open to release the screw.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool comprising a tool body defining a fastener drive track, a fastener driver mounted in the drive track for movement through successive drive and return strokes, a magazine providing a space for retaining a coiled strip of fasteners, a guide passage leading from the magazine to the drive track along which a leading end portion of the strip with supported fasteners can be moved, and a fastener feeding mechanism for moving the leading end portion of the strip with fasteners along the guide passage. The feeding mechanism includes a L-shaped member having a horizontally extending portion and a vertical portion extending upwardly therefrom. The L-shaped member is disposed with respect to the guide passage such that the horizontal extending portion extends through a continuous longitudinal gap in the strip and the vertically extending portion extends alongside the inner surface of the continuous wall of the strip defining the upper portion of the gap.

Abstract: An automatic screwdriver for driving a screw in a horizontal direction comprises a chute for supplying screws with their shanks hanging down, a gate for allowing the screws to be discharged one at a time out of the chute, an index mechanism for carrying a screw discharged from the chute along an angular interval to a catcher disposed in front of a screwdriver bit unit. The index mechanism has a carrier arm angularly movable between a first position in which it receives the screw from the chute and a second position in which the screw is transferred from carrier arm onto the catcher. The screwdriver bit unit comprises a suction pipe for drawing the screw therein from the catcher and a screwdriver bit rotatably disposed in the suction pipe and axially movable for driving the screw into a workpiece. The automatic screwdriver is driven by a pneumatic control system for actuating the gate, the index mechanism, and the screwdriver bit unit.

Abstract: A power-driven screwdriver for use with a motor-driven tool for driving a strip of screws one at a time into a workpiece and having an outer guide frame in which a slide block and a slide plate are slidably mounted. A screw indexing lever is angularly movably mounted on the slide block and has a pin received in a first cam slot having an oblique portion and defined in the outer guide frame and a second cam slot defined in the slide plate. When the motor-driven tool is pushed toward a workpiece, the slide block and the slide plate are slid into the outer guide frame, allowing a screwdriver bit to engage and drive a screw into the workpiece. After the screw has been driven, the motor-driven tool is retracted away from the workpiece, whereupon the slide block and the slide plate are forced to slide out of the outer guide frame under the bias of a spring around the screwdriver bit.

Abstract: An attachment for a power driven installation tool for a threaded fastener and a stress plate includes a barrel assembly connectable at a first end to the driver and terminating in an outer barrel at a second end. The outer barrel terminates in a stress plate holder and the stress plate holder is free to move with respect to the rest of the tool. In a preferred embodiment, a floating barrel is positioned for slidable movement within the distal end of the outer barrel and a stress plate holder is rigidly secured to the floating barrel and external of the outer barrel.