The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2001
Daniel D. Bloch, St. Peters, MO (US);
Roy L. Barr, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Edward E. Fiekert, St. Charles, MO (US);
David McCoy, Creve Coeur, MO (US);
Kevin J. Sitton, Winfield, MO (US);
Ernst A. Oswald, Ballwin, MO (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A portable fastener delivery system is provided that comprises an automated unloading mechanism that removes fasteners from a fastener storage device and delivers the fasteners through a delivery conduit to a work station. Generally, the portable fastener delivery system is mobile throughout a production facility so that fasteners may be delivered to a plurality of work stations. In operation, a signal is transmitted to a control system requesting a specific fastener configuration, and the control system causes positioning of the unloading mechanism adjacent the fastener storage device. A pneumatic source is then activated to cause the unloading mechanism to remove a fastener from the fastener storage device using a vacuum generator, and once the fastener is removed, the fastener is transported through a delivery conduit to the work station using pressurized air from the pneumatic source through a flexible fastener delivery tube.