A nut feeding apparatus for feeding a weld nut to an upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, whose size and production cost are reduced, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a piston rod, a tension rod, a tube, a link mechanism and a nut chuck. When the piston rod is in a most retracting state, an upper surface of the nut chuck becomes substantially flush with a lower portion of an opening of the tube. While the tension rod is at a stop in a most advancing state and when the piston rod further advances, the link mechanism rotates around a rotation axis at a tip of the tension rod, and thereby, the weld nut held by the nut chuck moves to a feeding position of the weld nut in the upper electrode.

An apparatus providing a platform for installing screws can include a cart with wheels, an assembly rail system mounted to the cart, and a screw assembly mounted to the assembly rail system. The screw assembly can include a screw feeding device, a screw guide tube, and a screwing device such as a drill that rotates a drive shaft that engages a screw received from the screw guide tube. The screw feeding device can include a screw rack that holds screws, and a magnetic grip that moves a screw from the screw rack to a screw feeding tube that is connected to the screw guide tube. The screw guide tube can include bristles for centering a screw received from the screw feeding tube. The apparatus can include a computer control system that operates the screwing device and the screw feeding device.

An apparatus providing a platform for installing screws can include a cart with wheels, an assembly rail system mounted to the cart, and a screw assembly mounted to the assembly rail system. The screw assembly can include a screw feeding device, a screw guide tube, and a screwing device such as a drill that rotates a drive shaft that engages a screw received from the screw guide tube. The screw feeding device can include a screw rack that holds screws, and a magnetic grip that moves a screw from the screw rack to a screw feeding tube that is connected to the screw guide tube. The screw guide tube can include bristles for centering a screw received from the screw feeding tube. The apparatus can include a computer control system that operates the screwing device and the screw feeding device.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a positioner for holding one or more fasteners (e.g. screws and/or nails) which allows a user to push the fasteners out directly into a target material. For example, a user may locate the positioner over a location on the target material and/or drive the fastener through the positioner into the target. In some embodiments, the positioner includes multiple fasteners, for example the positioner maybe used as a magazine of fasteners and/or a storage box for fasteners. Optionally, the positioner includes a hard frame and/or a soft passage holding the fastener. For example, a fastener is inserted into the top of the passage and driven (e.g. pushed, hammered and/or screwed) through, out the bottom of the passage into the target. Optionally, multiple positioners may be arranged along a guide.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a positioner for holding one or more fasteners (e.g. screws and/or nails) which allows a user to push the fasteners out directly into a target material. For example, a user may locate the positioner over a location on the target material and/or drive the fastener through the positioner into the target. In some embodiments, the positioner includes multiple fasteners, for example the positioner maybe used as a magazine of fasteners and/or a storage box for fasteners. Optionally, the positioner includes a hard frame and/or a soft passage holding the fastener. For example, a fastener is inserted into the top of the passage and driven (e.g. pushed, hammered and/or screwed) through, out the bottom of the passage into the target. Optionally, multiple positioners may be arranged along a guide.

The application relates to a braking unit for braking a processing element, said braking unit comprising a guide channel for the processing element, wherein the guide channel has a guide channel inlet and a guide channel outlet, wherein the guide channel has at least one curved section to apply a centrifugal force to the processing element to be braked that moves along the guide channel, said centrifugal force pressing the processing element against an outer curvature region of an inner peripheral surface of the curved section, and wherein the at least one curved section is configured to brake the processing element by friction between the inner peripheral surface of the guide channel and the processing element such that the processing element loses at least 50% of its kinetic energy between the guide channel inlet and the guide channel outlet. The application furthermore relates to a method for braking a processing element comprising the steps: inserting the processing element into a curved section of a guide channel at an input speed, generating a centrifugal force on the processing element, generating a centrifugal force-induced friction between the processing element and an inner peripheral surface of the curved section of the guide channel, and braking the processing element by means of the centrifugal force-induced friction to an output speed that is at most 75% of the input speed.

A handheld tool includes a magazine accommodating a plurality of fasteners coupled by a coupling band, a lid portion opening and closing the magazine, a nose portion having an injection passage and an injection port, a supply passage connecting the injection passage and the magazine for feeding the fasteners coupled by the coupling band to the injection passage; and a driver bit separating the fasteners of the injection passage from the coupling band and driving the fasteners toward the injection port. The nose portion has a discharge port for discharging the coupling band from which the fasteners are separated. The injection passage and the discharge port have an opening portion on a lateral side perpendicular to the extending direction of the injection passage, and the lid portion exposes and covers the opening portion.

A nut feeding apparatus for feeding a weld nut to an upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, whose size and production cost are reduced, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a piston rod, a tension rod, a tube, a link mechanism and a nut chuck. When the piston rod is in a most retracting state, an upper surface of the nut chuck becomes substantially flush with a lower portion of an opening of the tube. While the tension rod is at a stop in a most advancing state and when the piston rod further advances, the link mechanism rotates around a rotation axis at a tip of the tension rod, and thereby, the weld nut held by the nut chuck moves to a feeding position of the weld nut in the upper electrode.

A fastener installing vehicle includes an articulating frame having at least one mounting rail. A plurality of fastener installing assemblies are installed along the mounting rail with each including a mounting rail grip, a rotary impact driver, a fastener magazine, and a fastener-orienting tip. A power transmission system is capable of rotating wheels or tracks counter to each other to provide zero turning radius maneuverability. The fastener installing assembly has a feed tube communicating between the fastener magazine and the fastener-orienting tip, while the rotary impact driver is extendable along an axis transverse to the mounting rail. The rotary impact driver is electrically powered with means for monitoring electric current applied to it and process controller programmed to stop it when a predetermined applied current level has been met. The frame preferably includes lighting for illuminating a work area where fasteners are installed.

A fastener installing vehicle includes an articulating frame having at least one mounting rail. A plurality of fastener installing assemblies are installed along the mounting rail with each including a mounting rail grip, a rotary impact driver, a fastener magazine, and a fastener-orienting tip. A power transmission system is capable of rotating wheels or tracks counter to each other to provide zero turning radius maneuverability. The fastener installing assembly has a feed tube communicating between the fastener magazine and the fastener-orienting tip, while the rotary impact driver is extendable along an axis transverse to the mounting rail. The rotary impact driver is electrically powered with means for monitoring electric current applied to it and process controller programmed to stop it when a predetermined applied current level has been met. The frame preferably includes lighting for illuminating a work area where fasteners are installed.