Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Richard W Mrozik, Jr

Lawrence S Shelton

Donald E Bergstrom

Michael J Christensen

Algis P Suopys

Isaac H Heskel

Joseph J Righter, Jr

Eldrige J Presnell

A method for making a collated fastener assembly includes arranging a plurality of fasteners in a row parallel to one another, in a plane, and spaced from one another, preheating the fasteners, applying a molten polymer material onto the fasteners and conveying the fasteners with the polymer into a mold cavity. The fasteners are maintained in the plane. The polymer is molded onto the fasteners and between adjacent fasteners to form a molding having a collar encircling a shank of each fastener and a connecting portion between adjacent fasteners. The molding maintains the space between the fasteners. A cooling stream is introduced onto the fasteners and the molding as the fasteners and the molding exit from the mold cavity.

Method for making debris-free nail collation

An apparatus for forming a plastic molded collated fastener assembly includes a conveyor for carrying a plurality of fasteners in a horizontal plane defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a preheater for preheating the plurality of nails and a plastic collation molding station. The molding station includes injection nozzles for applying molten plastic to the upper surface of the fasteners and to the lower surface of the fasteners. The station further includes forming wheels including a holding section to, in cooperation with the conveyor, secure the fasteners. The wheels include a forming section to mold the molten plastic to the fasteners to form a collation having a collar encircling the fasteners' shanks and a connecting portion extending between the collars. The apparatus includes at least one cooling spray nozzle to spray a cooling vapor onto the fasteners and collations and at least one cooling spray nozzle to spray a cooling vapor onto the forming wheels. An air chiller further cools the collations.

Apparatus for making debris-free nail collation

A method for making a collated fastener assembly includes the steps of arranging a plurality of fasteners each having a head and a tip, in a row parallel to one another, the fasteners being arranged in a plane. The plurality of fasteners are preheated to elevate the temperature of the fasteners and a molten polymer material is applied onto the preheated plurality of fasteners. The fasteners, maintained in the plane, are conveyed with the molten polymer thereon between a pair of forming wheels. The molten polymer material is molded onto the preheated fasteners and between adjacent fasteners to form a plastic molding having a collar encircling a shank of each fastener and a connecting portion between adjacent fasteners. A cooling vapor is sprayed onto the fasteners and the plastic molding as the fasteners and the plastic molding exit from between the molding wheels. A gaseous cooling stream is forced over the fasteners and the plastic molding to cool the strip to form the fastener assembly.

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West Dundee, IL, United States of America

Richard W Mrozik, Jr