Device and method for driving a part

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. A parts delivery conduit is pivotally coupled to the nosepiece and includes an end portion pivotable between a first position in which the end portion extends into the drive passage to aid in guiding the part into the drive passage and a second position in which the end portion is displaced away from the drive axis. The parts delivery conduit also includes a stationary end portion that is disposed proximately adjacent the pivotable end portion. The stationary and pivotable end portions define a substantially continuous parts delivery flowpath when the pivotable end portion is in the first position.