Duo-fast Corporation

Frank R Potucek

Allen R Obergfell

A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to 'fan out' the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs. In one embodiment, a reciprocating motor in the feeding mechanism retracts the portion of the strip adjacent the drive path to insure that the tab is not inadvertently fastened to a workpiece by the driven fastener.

Fastener strip

Fastener strip and strip feeding apparatus

A fastener feed assembly for a tool such as a power screwdriver having a drive member such as a rotatable bit includes a base fixed to the tool and a nose assembly slidably related to the base. The nose assembly includes a workpiece engaging surface, and when the tool is moved toward the workpiece during a fastener driving operation, the base moves toward the nose assembly. A return spring separates the base and nose assembly when the tool is withdrawn away from the workpiece. A strip of fasteners is fed from a magazine along a feed path through the nose assembly with sequential fasteners located in a drive position. Normally the drive member is spaced from a fastener in the drive position. During movement of the tool toward the workpiece in a driving operation, the drive member moves into engagement with a fastener in the drive position, and then continues to move in order to drive the fastener into the workpiece. A pawl is engageable with the strip in order to advance the strip along the feed path. During the driving operation, a feed mechanism operates in response to movement of the base toward the nose assembly to cock the pawl by moving it away from its home position along the strip away from the drive position. A lost motion arrangement delays cocking of the pawl until after secure engagement of the drive member with a fastener in the drive position. In response to withdrawal of the tool from the workpiece, the feed mechanism returns the pawl to its home position to feed an adjacent fastener of the strip to the drive position. Feed movement of the pawl is delayed until withdrawal of the drive member from the strip feed path. The strip includes a carrier with structure deformed during the drive operation for preventing reverse movement of the strip during cocking of the pawl.

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Des Plaines, IL, United States of America

Frank R Potucek