With Feed Or Magazine Means Patents (Class 81/57.37)
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120048067
    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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: MICHAEL J. RANTA
  • Publication number: 20120017728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a setting tool for fasteners in the form of a hand-held tool, including a drive unit and a transfer and setting head that is drivably connected to the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Heiko Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8087325
    Abstract: A tool device includes a frame, a barrel extending from the frame, a first magazine having first passages for containing work or drive bits, and a second magazine having second passages for containing fasteners. A shaft is movable over a path that extends through the barrel. When a second passage is vacant and aligned with a selected first passage, a work bit in the first passage is urged by the shaft through the vacant second passage and through the barrel, to be set at a distal end of the barrel for use on a work object. When a second passage containing a fastener is aligned with a selected first passage, a drive bit in the first passage is urged by the shaft to engage the fastener and advance the fastener to the distal end of the barrel, to enable the bit to drive the fastener into the work object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Seth L. Neubardt
  • Patent number: 8086340
    Abstract: Distance meters measure distances from a reference position to a first area including an upper pitch circle portion and a second area including a lower pitch circle portion. Center coordinates of the hub is calculated based on respective center coordinates of two hub bolts included within the first and second areas. Coordinates of three points defining apexes of a triangle are acquired. Inclination angle of the hub relative to a vertical plane is calculated based on the coordinates of the three points, and an orientation of each of the hub bolts is calculated based on the center coordinates of the hub and the center coordinates of the hub bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kondo, Takao Shibayama
  • Patent number: 8079291
    Abstract: An exemplary fastener feeder includes a pair of guiders, a slot cover and a blocker. The guiders define a sliding slot therebetween. Each guider includes a sloped part and a level part, bodies of the fasteners are capable of being received in the sliding slot, and a head of each fastener is capable of sliding down from the sloped parts and stopping on the level parts. The slot cover defines an opening for providing a path through which a fastener pickup device can pass through and engage with a fastener located on the level parts. The blocker is located below the level parts. When the fastener pickup device moves the fastener head engaged therewith away from the opening and a length of the fastener is greater than a distance between the blocker and the level parts, the fastener is blocked by blocker and disengaged from the fastener pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Luo, Hu-Dong Guo
  • Patent number: 8051750
    Abstract: A guiding device includes a connecting member, a first clamping arm, and a second clamping arm. The first clamping arm defines a first restricting groove and a first receiving groove in an end, and the first restricting groove communicates with the first receiving groove. The second clamping arm defining a second restricting groove and a second receiving groove in an end, and the second restricting groove communicates with the second receiving groove. The first clamping arm and the second clamping arm are rotatably connected to the connecting member. When the first clamping arm resists the second clamping arm, the first restricting groove and the second restricting groove cooperatively form a guiding portion. The first receiving groove and the second receiving groove cooperatively form a receiving portion. The receiving portion is substantially perpendicularly to the guiding portion to form a T-shaped groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiong Zhou, Gang Peng
  • Patent number: 8047100
    Abstract: A tool assembly with a driving tool and a holder assembly. The driving tool has a housing, a motor, an output member and a transmission for rotatably coupling the output member to the motor. The motor and the transmission are housed in the housing. The holder assembly has a leg, which is telescopically coupled to the housing, a fastener guide and an adjustment mechanism. The fastener guide includes a longitudinally extending groove that is configured to support a threaded fastener and a cam that is disposed transverse to the groove. The adjustment mechanism couples the fastener guide to the leg on a side of the leg opposite the housing. The adjustment mechanism is configured to vary a distance between the groove and a rotational axis of the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Wade C. King
  • Publication number: 20110232430
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Troy Hale
  • Patent number: 7992469
    Abstract: A screw feeding device includes a feeder box, a stopper member, an operating member, and a resilient member. An adjustment slot is formed in the stopper member, and has two closed ends and alternate large-diameter and small-diameter slot portions. An operating protrusion of the operating member has a large-diameter protrusion portion and a small-diameter protrusion portion. The operating protrusion is biased by the resilient member away from the feeder box. The operating member is movable relative to the feeder box between a first position whereat the large-diameter protrusion portion is disposed within a selected one of the large-diameter slot portions, and a second position whereat the small-diameter protrusion portion is disposed in the adjustment slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Shin-Nan Chang, Hung-Da Chen
  • Patent number: 7950312
    Abstract: A fastening element feeding device for a power drive-in tool includes a transportation device (30) having a transportation wheel (32) for a magazine strip (50), at least one actuation member (35) displaceable in a control track (16) in a first component (11) for effecting a relative displacement between the first component (11) and the second component (21), which results in a transportation displacement of the transportation wheel (32); a displacing member (31) having one end region (39) which is adjacent to the head (22), supporting the rotary axle (D) together with the transportation wheel (32), and having another of its end regions (38) supporting the at least one actuation member (35); and a guide arrangement that provides for displacement of the displacing member (31) over the second component (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Matthiesen, Marco Zurkirchen, Marcel Koelliker
  • Patent number: 7931660
    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: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Gregg C. Krehel, Thomas Wenchell, Earl M. Zergiebel
  • Publication number: 20110030513
    Abstract: A tightening head (1) is provided with at least two sockets (4i, 4ii) which are alternatively connected to an output shaft of a nut runner (3), a socket replacing mechanism (6) and a bolt supplying mechanism (7). The socket replacing mechanism (6) is provided with a moving mechanism (61) and a posture changing mechanism (64). The moving mechanism (61) moves each socket (4i, 4ii) between a using position where the socket (4i, 4ii) agrees with an axis of the output shaft of the nut runner (3) and a waiting position which is distant from the axis. The posture changing mechanism (64) changes a posture of each socket (4i, 4ii) to an upward posture corresponding to the waiting position and to a tightening posture corresponding to the using position. The bolt supplying mechanism 7 is provided with bolt magazines (8i, 8ii) and bolt holding mechanism (9i, 9ii). During a bolt tightening step is executed by one socket in the using position, the bolt (B) is supplied to the other socket in the waiting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinobu Kobayashi, Tetsuo Ishii
  • Patent number: 7866236
    Abstract: An automatic screw feeding apparatus includes a base assembly, a slide assembly, a first spring, a screw carrier driving device, and a screw carrier guidance device. The slide assembly is mounted to the base assembly, movable forward and backward between a first position and a second position along a straight path. The first spring is mounted between the base and slide assemblies for keeping the slide assembly at the first position. The screw carrier guidance device includes a connection member connected with the base assembly, a guide member mounted to the connection member and movable forward and backward between a third position and a fourth position, and a second spring mounted between the guide and connection members for keeping the guide member located at the third position. The second spring can greatly lighten the load of the first spring to prevent the fed screws from being jammed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hung Hsu
  • Publication number: 20100326244
    Abstract: A screw fastener includes a screwdriver that includes a sleeve having an absorption hole configured to absorb a top surface of a screw, a bit housed in the absorption hole and having a tip engageable with a recess of the screw, and a rotation unit configured to rotate the bit with the sleeve, a movement unit configured to move the screwdriver between a container configured to accommodate the screw and a work, an optical sensor provided to the sleeve and configured to detect the recess of the screw while a bottom surface of the sleeve and a top surface of the screw are arranged in noncontact manner, and a controller aligns the tip of the bit with the recess of the screw based on a detection result of the pressure detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tsutomu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20100275736
    Abstract: A screw feeding device includes a feeder box, a stopper member, an operating member, and a resilient member. An adjustment slot is formed in the stopper member, and has two closed ends and alternate large-diameter and small-diameter slot portions. An operating protrusion of the operating member has a large-diameter protrusion portion and a small-diameter protrusion portion. The operating protrusion is biased by the resilient member away from the feeder box. The operating member is movable relative to the feeder box between a first position whereat the large-diameter protrusion portion is disposed within a selected one of the large-diameter slot portions, and a second position whereat the small-diameter protrusion portion is disposed in the adjustment slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Shin-Nan Chang, Hung-Da Chen
  • Publication number: 20100162855
    Abstract: A guiding device includes a connecting member, a first clamping arm, and a second clamping arm. The first clamping arm defines a first restricting groove and a first receiving groove in an end, and the first restricting groove communicates with the first receiving groove. The second clamping arm defining a second restricting groove and a second receiving groove in an end, and the second restricting groove communicates with the second receiving groove. The first clamping arm and the second clamping arm are rotatably connected to the connecting member. When the first clamping arm resists the second clamping arm, the first restricting groove and the second restricting groove cooperatively form a guiding portion. The first receiving groove and the second receiving groove cooperatively form a receiving portion. The receiving portion is substantially perpendicularly to the guiding portion to form a T-shaped groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JIONG ZHOU, GANG PENG
  • Patent number: 7661335
    Abstract: The screw tightening apparatus includes a motor, an output shaft to which a bit for screw tightening is connected so as to be rotatable integrally with the output shaft and which is axially movable, the output shaft being driven to be rotated by the motor, a spring whose one end contacts a member constituting a main body of the screw tightening apparatus, and a spring receiving member which the other end of the spring contacts and transmits a biasing force of the spring to the output shaft. The screw tightening apparatus further includes a conductive member which contacts the output shaft and the spring receiving member. This configuration enables static electricity generated on the bit to certainly flow into the main body of the apparatus (ground) via the output shaft, the conductive member, the spring receiving member, and the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Makoto Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 7661340
    Abstract: A screw fastening device allows efficient mounting and advancing of screws carried on a screw strip along a guide chute to prevent the screws from impacting a target object and damaging the target object and to precisely move the screw strip forward to precisely set the screws at a desired positioning point in a completely fixed condition and also allows for correcting the orientation of the sharp tip of the screw with a guiding and holding device and stably holding a body of the screw to prevent improper orientation of the screw and incorrect screwing thereby effectively and precisely screw the screw to a target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Jun-Xiu Xu
  • Publication number: 20100018354
    Abstract: A screw feeder includes a magazine configured to store a plurality of screws arranged along a single line, and a magazine table configured to support the magazine. A pair of rail members slidably support head portions of the screws. A spacer is sandwiched and fixed between the rail members. Threaded portions of the screws are accommodated in a slot formed by the spacer being sandwiched between the rail members. The rail members and the spacer are detachably attached to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Makoto Kuboyama
  • Publication number: 20100000374
    Abstract: An exemplary fastener feeder includes a pair of guiders, a slot cover and a blocker. The guiders define a sliding slot therebetween. Each guider includes a sloped part and a level part, bodies of the fasteners are capable of being received in the sliding slot, and a head of each fastener is capable of sliding down from the sloped parts and stopping on the level parts. The slot cover defines an opening for providing a path through which a fastener pickup device can pass through and engage with a fastener located on the level parts. The blocker is located below the level parts. When the fastener pickup device moves the fastener head engaged therewith away from the opening and a length of the fastener is greater than a distance between the blocker and the level parts, the fastener is blocked by blocker and disengaged from the fastener pickup device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen)Co., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuan Luo, Hu-Dong Guo
  • Publication number: 20090308207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screw gun including a driving unit fitted with a slidable cartridge holder adapted for receiving and indexing a separate cartridge containing a plurality of screws. The invention further relates to the replaceable cartridge containing the plurality of screws for use in a screw gun. The invention allows for the loading and insertion of a plurality of screws from a cartridge without requiring a worker to handle and insert the individual screws into the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Davicorp Inc.
    Inventors: William V. Goodhue, David E. Daw, David L. Mathieu
  • Patent number: 7461574
    Abstract: A multiple screw dispensing apparatus and method for surgical applications includes a body and a screw set loaded within the body. The screw set includes a plurality of releasably coupled screws. A block is slidably mounted with respect to the body and abuts a head portion of the screw. After driving a screw into a material, another screw may be positioned for use by engaging the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Biomet Microfixation, LLC
    Inventors: Derek S. Lewis, Shawn D. Roman
  • Patent number: 7454996
    Abstract: A screw nail magazine for an electric screwdriver includes a fixed holder member, a movable holder member reciprocally moveably mounted inside the fixed holder member, a positioning member fastened to the moveable holder member, and a nailing depth adjustment device. The nailing depth adjustment device has a control member pivotally mounted in the fixed holder member for rotation by a user, a driven member fixedly connected to the control member and located inside the fixed holder member, a slider coupled to the driven member and movable along a fixed path by the driven member actuated by the control member, and a stop block mounted on the slider and stopped at the positioning member for limiting the moving stroke of the moveable holder member inside the fixed holder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hung Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080276761
    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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Troy Hale, Jeremy Scott Park
  • Patent number: 7424840
    Abstract: A nail gun with an improved nail-belt transmission mechanism that comprises a ratchet wheel coupled to a transmission gear wheel through a transmission axle. One end of the transmission axle is provided with a link capable of driving the first ratchet wheel by a second ratchet wheel mounted on the inner wall aside the transmission gear wheel. There is a retaining part engaged with the second ratchet wheel from above for maintaining equal-pace rotation of the transmission gear wheel, thereby facilitating screw nail mounting by the nail gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Inventor: Shu-Chung Huang
  • Patent number: 7415910
    Abstract: A continuous screw tightening machine including a driving machine (4) equipped with a grip handle (2); a tightening machine main body (3) with which a bit (7) for screw tightening is removably connected to the driving machine (4) through a reduction gear and a clutch; and a screw feed mechanism through which the bit (7) is rotatably inserted and which sequentially feeds a screw to the position where a tightening operation is to be carried out by the bit 7. The screw tightening machine also includes a screw feed mechanism main body (6) which is connected to the front of the tightening machine main body (3) so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, a screw supply mechanism (110) which continuously supplies a number of single-part screws in sequence to the screw feed mechanism under the force of gravity, and a tip block (12) which is connected to the screw feed mechanism main body, providing a surface to be contacted with an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Muro Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 7401659
    Abstract: A positioning structure of the transmission device of a screw fastening apparatus is disclosed. The transmission device includes a stopping block, gear body and a braking body. An elastic rim is positioned between the lateral side of the stopping block and the inner face of a mobile seat. The gear body is H-shaped structure and one lateral side is provided with a plurality of slanting holes for corresponding protruded blocks, and the other lateral side is provided with a plurality of engaging holes. One side of the seat plate of the braking body is protruded with a shaft for mounting with the gear body, and the stopping block and the elastic rim are mounted to the hole on the mobile seat, and the seat plate is provided with a plurality of engaging blocks to engage with the engaging holes of the gear body. The other lateral side of the seat plate corresponding to the center of the shaft is a slot to accommodate a spring urging a square-shaped board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Hsu
  • Patent number: 7293486
    Abstract: The structure of a screw nailer includes a body with a functional space inside; a rotary driver, placed in the functioning space rotated from a point of support and having a gear wheel that moves the nail belt; a one-way driving component moving the rotary driver in a single direction; an indexing fixer creating elastic positioning when the rotary driver turns in a direction in a preset angle, so that the rotary driver achieves the indexing positioning. A blockage fixer, and by position of the blockage fixer to nail the screw by rotational inertia when the rotary driver of the screw nailer is rotating in direction with preset angle to keep the nail belt from turning the angles, so that the screws may be nailed accurately and securely to the designated location, and largely increase the accuracy, quality and effects of the screw nailer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventor: Shin-Nan Chang
  • Patent number: 7165478
    Abstract: A pneumatically operated screw driver ensuring a complete return of a piston to its top dead center. The screw driver has a compressed air return chamber for returning the piston to its top dead center by applying a compressed air in the return chamber to the piston. The piston includes a main piston and an auxiliary piston. The auxiliary piston includes a piston section and a flange section those being disposed in the main piston. The piston section is slidably movable relative to the main piston, and the flange section is axially spaced away from the piston section and radially spaced away from the main piston. After the main piston reaches its bottom dead center, the auxiliary piston further moves toward its bottom dead center. An air space chamber is provided between the piston section and the flange section and within the main piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamo, Yasuo Sasaki, Michio Wakabayashi, Haruhiko Oouchi
  • Patent number: 7165481
    Abstract: A screwdriver includes a driver portion, a slider case having a guide slot, a slider (7), comprising parts (7A) and (7B) reciprocating, in the slider case, an arm portion comprising shaft arm (16) and clutch arm that is supported and rotates in the slider (7), engaged with the guide slot of the slider case, and oscillates in accordance with the reciprocation of the slider, and a cylindrical drum that is supported and rotates in the slider, has two flanges (11b) and (11c) engaged with a screw chain belt and a ratchet (11e) engaged with the arm portion, and intermittently delivers the screw chain belt in accordance with the oscillation of the arm portion. The ratchet (11e) of the drum (11) is formed on an inner surface of the flange (11b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7134367
    Abstract: A fastener feeding device may include a housing that is securable to a power tool, a glider assembly that is slidably coupled to the housing, a depth control nose slidably coupled to the glider assembly and the housing, and a locking member pivotally coupled to the glider. The locking member may include a mounting sleeve coupleable to a power tool for providing a quick release connection of the feeding device to the power tool. A depth stop may be coupled to the mounting sleeve and may be engageable with a depth stop adjusting ring to adjust a depth to which a fastener driven by the system is driven relative to a surface of a workpiece. A depth control locking member may be pivotally coupled to the glider assembly for adjusting the depth nose control nose with respect to the glider assembly. An extension may be connectable between the power tool and the feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Gehring, Peter B. Lane, Tom J. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7121174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a screw-feeding device for a screw-driving tool comprising: a housing; a belt carrier is rotatably disposed in the housing and provided on the outer periphery with a plurality of teeth; a motion-transmitting member is disposed in the housing for driving the belt carrier to rotate unidrectionally; a guide rod assembly having a first free engaged with the motion-transmitting member and having a second free end used to rotate the motion-transmitting member; a positioning assembly pivotally is disposed in the housing for positioning the motion-transmitting member. The screw-feeding device is not only capable of feeding the screws precisely into the firing position, but also can hold the screws firmly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Chun Chih Lai, Shin Nan Chang, Hsu Psung Min
  • Patent number: 7055408
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for tightening a hexagon head bolt (13) includes a vertically movable automatic robot arm (16), a screwing mechanism (18) having a rotational part (19), a shaft member (20) mounted to the rotational part, a socket portion (21) mounted to the shaft member for receiving therein a head (14) of the bolt, and a retention means (22) for retaining the head received in the socket portion or retaining the head released from the socket portion. When the arm moves vertically with the head received in the socket portion, the rotational part is rotated along with the shaft member and the socket portion to screw the bolt into a threaded aperture (12) of a crankcase (11) of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuiti Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6978698
    Abstract: A fastener guide (6) for use in a power-operated drive in device (4), particularly of a stand-up tool (2), having a guide path (16) in which a plurality of fasteners (14) can be received and which has a device-side opening (18) and a free opening (20), the guide path (16) being curved toward the device-side opening (18) proceeding from the free opening (20). The fastener guide (6) can be mounted on the drive in device (4) in a detachable manner by connection means, and the guide path (16) has a fall-out prevention device (26, 48) at each of the two openings (18, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hofbrucker, Bernhard Liebert, Markus Looser, Manfred Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6952983
    Abstract: A power drive-in tool (4) for use in a stand-up tool includes a holding device (16) arranged in a front, in a drive-in direction, section of the drive-in tool and in which a fastening element (18) can be automatically received and released, a guide (6) for the fastening element (18) associated with the driving-tool (4) and connected to the holding device (16) by a feed track (7), an intermediate securing device (20) located in the feed track (7) and in which the fastening element (18) is held before being fed toward the holding device (16) and which is provided with a side stop displaceable into the feed track (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mnfred Ludwig, Markus Looser, Bernhard Liebert, Thomas Hofbrucker
  • Patent number: 6945140
    Abstract: An automatic screwfeeder is adapted for use with a hand drill. The automatic screwfeeder operates to transfer uncollated screws from a screw holder into a staged position. A driving bit sequentially engages individual fasteners and drives them into a workpiece. The screwfeeder includes a front assembly separable from a rear assembly to allow replacement of the driving bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Gibbons, David C. Campbell, Rod Muir, Aldo Balatti
  • Patent number: 6880431
    Abstract: A pneumatically operated screw driver driven by a compressed air to drive screws into a workpiece. A drive bit connecting portion is rotated in a right-hand direction by rotation of a pneumatic motor and is formed with a right-handed threaded hole. A drive bit is formed at one end with a right-handed male threaded screw and at the other end with an engagement tip that engages with screws that are to be screwed into the workpiece. The drive bit is engaged with the drive bit connecting portion through threading engagement of the right-handed threaded hole and the righted-handed male threaded screw. For detaching the drive bit from the drive bit connecting portion, a rotation prevention mechanism prevents free rotation of the drive bit connecting portion. In this state, the engagement tip of the drive bit is engaged with an external tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Wakabayashi, Akira Uno
  • Patent number: 6845693
    Abstract: The present invention provides a screw alignment device (10) for use with a screw driving tool and a screw (71) during a fastening operation, with said screw being of the type having a shank disposed between a screw head and a distal end, the screw driving tool being of the type having a shaft with a gripping formation at one end thereof and a screw engaging formation at the other end thereof for engagement with the screw head, said screw alignment device including a screw guide having a body of generally annular configuration formed from a resilient material and having an internal cavity (14) of generally frustoconical configuration tapering convergently towards a forward end of the screw guide (17); a tool guide (20) spaced rearwardly from the screw guide and aligned generally with the cone axis (18); and a connector which connects the screw guide to the tool guide; where, in use, a screw can be located in the screw guide so as to be aligned generally with the cone axis, the distal end of the screw projecti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Alex Babij, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040221686
    Abstract: A fastener guide (6) for use in a power-operated drive in device (4), particularly of a stand-up tool (2), having a guide path (16) in which a plurality of fasteners (14) can be received and which has a device-side opening (18) and a free opening (20), the guide path (16) being curved toward the device-side opening (18) proceeding from the free opening (20). The fastener guide (6) can be mounted on the drive in device (4) in a detachable manner by connection means, and the guide path (16) has a fall-out prevention device (26, 48) at each of the two openings (18, 20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Hofbrucker, Bernhard Liebert, Markus Looser, Manfred Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20040216563
    Abstract: A power drive-in tool (4) for use in a stand-up tool includes a holding device (16) arranged in a front, in a drive-in direction, section of the drive-in tool and in which a fastening element (18) can be automatically received and released, a guide (6) for the fastening element (18) associated with the driving-tool (4) and connected to the holding device (16) by a feed track (7), an intermediate securing device (20) located in the feed track (7) and in which the fastening element (18) is held before being fed toward the holding device (16) and which is provided with a side stop displaceable into the feed track (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Mnfred Ludwig, Markus Looser, Bernhard Liebert, Thomas Hofbrucker
  • Patent number: 6769332
    Abstract: A successive screw driving attachment is used by being connected to an electric screwdriver D, wherein a driver unit 2 has a screw feed mechanism 3 that is slidable in the drive direction of a screw S. The screw feed mechanism 3 is provided with a screw feeder 20 comprising a screw feed prong 15 that successively feeds screws S to the driving position of a bit 8, and the screw feeder 20 is structured such that the next screw S is instantly fed to the driving position. An adjustment device is provided to vary the stroke of the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Muro Corporation
    Inventor: Giichiro Muro
  • Publication number: 20040139822
    Abstract: A fastener feeding device may include a housing that is securable to a power tool, a glider assembly that is slidably coupled to the housing, a depth control nose slidably coupled to the glider assembly and the housing, and a locking member pivotally coupled to the glider. The locking member may include a mounting sleeve coupleable to a power tool for providing a quick release connection of the feeding device to the power tool. A depth stop may be coupled to the mounting sleeve and may be engageable with a depth stop adjusting ring to adjust a depth to which a fastener driven by the system is driven relative to a surface of a workpiece. A depth control locking member may be pivotally coupled to the glider assembly for adjusting the depth nose control nose with respect to the glider assembly. An extension may be connectable between the power tool and the feeding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Todd M. Gehring, Peter B. Lane, Tom J. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6729522
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a driver having a driver shaft extending therefrom, a first extension member operably connected to the driver and a second extension member operably connected to the first extension member. The tool is for use on roof deck panels. The second extension member slidingly engages the first extension member between a loading position and a driving position. A bearing assembly operably connects the first and second extension members. The bearing assembly is formed from a non-metallic, low-friction material. A portion of the bearing assembly is mounted to one of the first and second extension members for sliding engagement with the other extension member and is disposed to prevent direct contact of the first and second extension members with one another. A fastener receiving member is mounted to the second extension member for receiving fasteners when in the loading position and for supporting and releasing the fasteners when in the driving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dave C. Hempfling, Larry Reinebach, Dan McAuley
  • Patent number: 6701806
    Abstract: A machine for clamping material to be fastened and automatically installing screws has been disclosed through a method of a self loading barrel that also aligns the screw to be installed thus relieving the operator of the strain of holding an unstable screw in place during the driving phase. This machine also automatically provides the force needed to keep the fastener from stripping at the head driver connection point through its unique design and also relieving the operator of much of the work related strain associated with these operations. This tool also provides another benefit in its design by automatically clamping the material during the fastening operation, that would normally have to be done separately with another tool. Another embodiment permits single loading of fasteners into the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swanson, Eric S. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6647836
    Abstract: A driver attachment (12) for a collated screwstrip (13) carrying screws (16) in which a slide body (20) is slidable in a housing (18) parallel a longitudinal axis (52) about which a drive shaft (34) is rotatable. The slide body (20) receives a screwstrip (13) such that a screw feed activation mechanism coupled between the housing (18) and the slide body (20) advances successive screws (16) into a position to be driven by the drive shaft (34) with relative sliding of the slide body (20) relative the housing (18) between an extended and a retracted position. A latch system is provided to latch the slide body (20) to the housing (18) against extension towards the extended position beyond an extension limit position. With the slide body (20) and housing (18) latched together, the drive attachment (12) may be used to drive or withdraw separate screw (16) independently of the screwstrip, with or without the screwstrip (13) engaged in the slide body (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: G. Lyle Habermehl
  • Patent number: 6622596
    Abstract: A drive tool which does not require any upper-body force from an operator to install a fastener. The drive tool includes a top portion which is engageable with a drive source and a lower portion which is engageable with a fastener. The drive tool includes springs which are configured to urge the lower portion and upper portion of the tool away from each other (i.e. relative movement) and provide that a generally axial force is applied to the fastener engaged with the lower portion of the tool. As a result, the operator does not need to apply any upper-body axial force to the drive tool to install the fastener. Preferably, the lower portion of the drive tool includes one or more foot pads on which an operator may stand, and the spring(s) become compressed when the operator stands on the foot pad(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Janusz, David C. Goss
  • Publication number: 20030131690
    Abstract: A machine for clamping material to be fastened and automatically installing screws has been disclosed through a method of a self loading barrel that also aligns the screw to be installed thus reliving the operator of the strain of holding an unstable screw in place during the driving phase. This machine also automatically provides the force needed to keep the fastener from stripping at the head driver connection point through its unique design and also reliving the operator of much of the work related strain associated with these operations. This tool also provides another benefit in its design by automatically clamping the material during the fastening operation, that would normally have to be done separately with another tool. Another embodiment permits single loading of fasteners into the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swanson, Eric S. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20030075023
    Abstract: A tong system includes an upper tong having grips for gripping a tubular and a rotation mechanism to rotate the grips and the tubular. A lower tong also has grips and a rotation mechanism to rotate the grips to provide rotation to a lower tubular, such that the upper and lower tubulars may be made up/broken out from one another, also so that string of tubulars may be rotated for drilling purposes without requiring a rotary table. Also, an apparatus and method for circulating fluid through a tubular string has a first fluid conduit for supplying fluid to the bore of an upper tubular to be made up into or broken out from the tubular string and a second fluid conduit for supplying fluid to the bore of the tubular string, which allows continuous circulation of fluid to occur whilst running the string into/pulling the string from, a borehole and also whilst making up tubulars into/breaking out tubulars from the string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Dicky Robichaux
  • Patent number: 6550359
    Abstract: A device for driving a part, including a parts driver having a drive axis and a nosepiece including three jaws arranged uniformly about the drive axis and defining an axial drive passage therebetween. The jaws are resiliently biased toward one another and are transitionable between a first configuration to retain the part within the drive passage and a second configuration to allow the part to be discharged from the drive passage by the parts driver. An adjacent pair of the jaws defines a transverse parts feed passage intersecting the drive passage and being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the drive axis. Each of the adjacent pair of jaws defines a substantially symmetrical portion of the feed passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: S. Neal Graham