Automated screw driving machine

Abstract

An automated screw driving machine may include a hopper adapted to hold associated fasteners, a chuck assembly adapted to hold an individual fastener in position with respect to an associated component part, a feeder assembly adapted to convey the fasteners from the hopper to the chuck assembly; and, a driver assembly that takes fasteners from the chuck assembly and attaches them to the associated component part.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An automated screw driving machine, comprising:
 a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of fasteners; and   a feeder assembly operably engaged to the hopper, wherein the feeder assembly is adapted to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the hopper to a chuck assembly, and wherein the feeder assembly is configured to be movable to convey at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the feeder assembly to the hopper.   
     
     
         2 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder assembly is configured to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the hopper to a chuck assembly in an upright position. 
     
     
         3 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder assembly is configured to remove the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the feeder assembly to the hopper in a retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder assembly further comprises:
 a first fastener conveyance structure;   a fastener orientation structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure, wherein the fastener orientation structure is configured to orient each fastener of the plurality of fasteners to a predetermined orientation;   a first fastener removal structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure; and   a second fastener removal structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure, wherein the second fastener removal structure is adapted to be movable relative to the first fastener removal structure;   wherein each of the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure is configured to remove the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the feeder assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener orientation structure further comprises:
 a transport surface operably engaged with each of the hopper, the first fastener removal structure, and the second fastener removal structure.   
     
     
         6 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 5 , where the transport surface further comprises:
 a groove defined in the transport surface extending from a first end of the transport surface to an opposing second end of the transport surface; wherein the groove is configured to receive a fastener shank of the at least one fastener of the plurality of fastener for orienting the at least one fastener of the plurality of fastener to the predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         7 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 6 , wherein the transport surface further comprises:
 an opening defined in the transport surface at the second end of the transport surface; wherein the opening provides fluid communication between the feeder assembly and the chuck assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 5 , wherein the first fastener removal structure further comprises:
 at least one blower positioned above the transport surface of the feeder assembly, wherein the at least one blower is configured to exert an air force across the transport surface of the feeder assembly for removing the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the transport surface to the hopper.   
     
     
         9 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 5 , wherein the second fastener removal structure further comprises:
 a movable portion operably engaged with the transport surface of the feeder assembly, wherein the movable portion is configured to be moveable between an upright position and a retracted position for removing the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the transport surface to the hopper.   
     
     
         10 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 9 , wherein the second fastener removal structure further comprises:
 an opening defined by the movable portion; and   a rod operably engaged with the movable portion inside of the opening, wherein the movable portion is adapted to move along the rod between the upright position and the retracted position when removing the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the transport surface to the hopper.   
     
     
         11 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 10 , wherein the moveable portion guides at least one aligned fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the transport surface to the chuck assembly in the upright position. 
     
     
         12 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 10 , wherein the moveable portion guides the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the transport surface to the hopper in the retracted position. 
     
     
         13 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 7 , wherein the feeder assembly further comprises:
 a second fastener conveyance structure operably engaged with the transport surface, wherein the second fastener conveyance structure is configured to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the first fastener conveyance structure towards the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure.   
     
     
         14 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 13 , wherein the second fastener conveyance structure further comprises:
 at least one vibrator operably engaged with the transport surface, wherein the at least one vibrator is configured to convey the at least one fastener from the plurality of fasteners from the first fastener conveyance structure towards the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure.   
     
     
         15 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 13 , wherein the feeder assembly further comprises:
 a third fastener conveyance structure operably engaged with the transport surface, wherein the third fastener conveyance structure is configured to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure to the opening defined by the transport surface.   
     
     
         16 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the third fastener conveyance structure further comprises:
 a supporting structure; and   at least one tab operably engaged to the supporting structure, wherein the at least one tab and the supporting structure are moveable relative to the transport structure.   
     
     
         17 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 16 , wherein the third fastener conveyance structure further comprises:
 an extension operably engaged with the at least one tab, wherein the extension is configured to be inserted into a groove of the transport surface, and wherein the extension is configured to guide the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure to the opening defined by the transport surface.   
     
     
         18 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 17 , wherein the third fastener conveyance structure further comprises:
 a first cylinder operably engaged with the supporting structure and the at least one tab, wherein the cylinder is configured to collectively vertically move the supporting structure and the at least one tab relative to the transport surface.   
     
     
         19 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 17 , wherein the third fastener conveyance structure further comprises:
 a second cylinder operably engaged with the supporting structure and the at least one tab, wherein the cylinder is configured to collectively horizontally move the supporting structure and the at least one tab relative to the transport surface.   
     
     
         20 . An automated screw driving machine, comprising:
 a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of fasteners; and   a feeder assembly operably engaged to the hopper, wherein the feeder assembly is adapted to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the hopper to a chuck assembly, the feeder assembly comprising:
 a first fastener conveyance structure; 
 a fastener orientation structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure, wherein the fastener orientation structure is configured to orient each fastener of the plurality of fasteners to a predetermined orientation; 
 a first fastener removal structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure; and 
 a second fastener removal structure operably engaged with the first fastener conveyance structure, wherein the second fastener removal structure is adapted to be movable relative to the first fastener removal structure; 
   wherein each of the first fastener removal structure and the second fastener removal structure is configured to remove the at least one misaligned or extra fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the feeder assembly.