Patent · US Expired

Screw aligning and guiding device having arrangement which facilitates loading and unloading of screw strip

US6212980A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
45References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 12, 1999
Grant dateApr 10, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB25B23/06
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for sequentially aligning a number of screws with a screwdriver and guiding the number of screws during advancement by the screwdriver is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body which includes (i) a channel adapted to receive a screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon, (ii) a feed passage adapted to sequentially receive the number of screws from the channel, and (ii) a guide track having a planar segment and an inclined ramp segment. The apparatus further includes a movable pawl which travels on the guide track through the planar segment and the inclined ramp segment, wherein (i) the movable pawl contacts at least one of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located on the planar segment of the guide track and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel, and (ii) the movable pawl is spaced apart from all of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located on the inclined ramp segment of the guide track and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel. Moreover, the movable pawl includes a spring and a slider assembly. The spring biases the sli…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.