Tension fed fastener installation tool and related methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023398666-A1
Application number	US-202318237683-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2023
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An installation tool and related methods are provided. The tool can pull a strip of collated fasteners along a collated fastener path to a guide, where individual fasteners are sequentially separated from the strip and advanced into a workpiece. The tool can include a tension feeder located downstream of the guide. The tension feeder is configured to apply tension to the strip between the guide and a leading end of the strip. The tool can include a driveshaft configured to attach to a conventional drive tool chuck or a drive tool having hexagonal type drive components. The guide can be one piece and replaceable, with a guide body and a guide head. A strip slot can be defined in the same to align a fastener head with a backstop and facilitate entry of a fastener shank in a feed slot. Related methods of use are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of installing a fastener comprising:
pulling on a strip at a first location downstream of a guide defining a bore, the strip including a plurality of fasteners, with a pin extending through the strip; rotating a drive element adjacent the strip; and sequentially advancing the plurality of fasteners through the bore and into a work piece with the drive element that extends through the strip, wherein a feeder element is joined with the pin, wherein the feeder element and the pin move with the strip, farther and farther away from the guide with each succeeding fastener advanced from the plurality of fasteners, wherein the strip is pulled with the pin as the pin moves along and adjacent a surface of a frame.

2 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein each fastener defines a hexalobular drive hole, wherein the drive element includes a hexalobular drive head, wherein the drive head enters the drive hole above the strip, wherein the hexalobular drive head pushes through the strip during the advancing step.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
aligning a first fastener over the bore, which is a cylindrical bore, while a second fastener, immediately adjacent the first fastener, is disposed on the strip upstream of the cylindrical bore within a feed slot, and unaligned with the cylindrical bore.

4 . The method of claim 3 , comprising:
aligning the first fastener over the bore, while the second fastener, immediately adjacent the first fastener, is disposed on the strip upstream of the bore within a feed slot and unaligned with the bore, wherein the feed slot extends toward the bore and a guide wall, wherein the first fastener engages the guide wall entering the bore.

5 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the pin includes a hook shape.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
rotating a first fastener with the drive element less than ½ inch away from a second fastener in the strip.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
rotating a first fastener with the drive element less than ¼ inch away from a second fastener in the strip.

8 . The method of claim 1 comprising:
rolling a spring upon itself to pull the feeder element away from the guide.

9 . The method of claim 1 comprising:
extending an elongated spring along the frame to the strip.

10 . The method of claim 9 comprising:
placing the pin through a hole in the strip and releasing the feeder element so that the elongated spring exerts tension on the strip downstream of the guide.

11 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the strip is pulled automatically with a tension feeder including the pin and the feeder element, the tension feeder including a spring disposed inside the frame.

12 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the strip is pulled automatically with a tension feeder including the pin and the feeder element, along a slot downstream of the guide.

13 . A method of installing a fastener comprising:
pulling on a strip at a first location downstream of a guide defining a bore, the strip including a plurality of fasteners, the strip engaged at a leading end thereof with a pin projecting past at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the strip; and sequentially advancing the plurality of fasteners through the bore and into a work piece with a drive element that extends through the strip while rotating.

14 . The method of claim 13 ,
wherein a feeder element is joined with the pin, wherein the feeder element and the pin move with the strip, farther and farther away from the guide with each succeeding fastener advanced from the plurality of fasteners, wherein the strip is pulled with the pin as the pin moves along and adjacent a surface of a frame.

15 . The method of claim 13 , comprising:
pulling a spring element to place a feeder element adjacent the leading end; inserting the pin past the at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the strip; and releasing the feeder element.

16 . The method of claim 13 comprising:
advancing a spring element and the pin along a frame toward the strip;
inserting the pin past the at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the strip.

17 . The method of claim 16 comprising:
releasing the feeder element so the spring element automatically pulls on the strip.

18 . The method of claim 13 comprising:
exerting a spring force on the feeder element to automatically pull the leading end of the strip farther and farther away from the bore as a spring element retracts adjacent a frame to which the guide is attached.

19 . The method of claim 13 comprising:
automatically pulling the leading end of the strip farther and farther away from the bore with a spring element extending along the frame away from the guide.

20 . A method of installing a fastener comprising:
pulling on a strip of fasteners downstream of a guide defining a bore with a spring that extends along a frame, the strip engaged at a leading end thereof with a pin projecting past at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the strip; and sequentially advancing the plurality of fasteners through the bore and into a work piece with a drive element that extends through the strip while rotating.

Assignees

• Nat Nail Corp

Inventors

• Vandenberg Roger A

Classifications

• B25B23/045 Primary

  using disposable strips or discs carrying the screws or nuts · CPC title

• B25B23/005

  Screw guiding means · CPC title

• B25B21/002

  for special purposes · CPC title

• B25C1/003

  for belts of nails · CPC title

• F16B27/00

  Bolts, screws, or nuts formed in integral series but easily separable, particularly for use in automatic machines {(arrangements for feeding screws or nuts in spanners, wrenches or screw-drivers with built-in magazines B25B23/06)} · CPC title