SEPARATOR FOR PROVIDING SEGMENTS OF COLLATED FASTENERS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a separator, a separator combined or integrated with a collator and a method of such separators, in order to provide segments of collated fasteners. Segments of collated fasteners are mainly used by builders, who are assembling e.g. wooden structures or for mounting purposes, to engage the fasteners by shooting or screwing the fastener into a structure with a pneumatically operated tool such as a nail gun. The separator is adapted for receiving a continuous flow of collated fasteners, wherein the separator comprisesa fastener counter connected to a controller and configured to send a signal to the controller corresponding to at least one fastener having been counted,a puncher adapted for punching an end section of at least one fastener to separate a segment including a plurality of collated fasteners in a punching direction, and where the controller is configured to timely activate the puncher, when a predetermined number of collated fasteners in the continuous flow have been counted and a corresponding time for the counting of the predetermined number of collated fasteners has been determined.

Claims

1. A separator for providing segments of collated fasteners, wherein the separator is configured to receive a continuous flow of collated fasteners, and wherein the separator comprises: a fastener counter connected to a controller and configured to send a signal to the controller corresponding to at least one fastener having been counted, and a puncher adapted for punching an end section of at least one fastener to separate a segment including a plurality of collated fasteners in a punching direction, wherein the controller is configured to timely activate the puncher, when a predetermined number of collated fasteners in the continuous flow have been counted and a corresponding time for the counting of the predetermined number of collated fasteners has been determined.

2-15. (canceled)

16. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises opposite and parallel guide rails arranged for guiding the continuous flow of collated fasteners.

17. The separator according to claim 16, wherein the puncher is located to provide punching action by end sections of the guide rails.

18. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the puncher is arranged to pivot and wherein, when a segment of fasteners has been separated, the puncher is pivoted by pressure from upstream collated fasteners for moving the puncher from a punching position in a direction of movement of and by at a speed at least corresponding to the flow of collated fasteners.

19. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises an activator configured to move the puncher from a punching position in a direction of movement of and by at a speed at least corresponding to the flow of collated fasteners.

20. The separator according to claim 18, wherein an activator or a spring is arranged for returning the puncher to the punching position.

21. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the counter comprises a pinion with a diameter and a number of teeth corresponding to the fastener to fastener distance, wherein the pinion is engaged with and driven by the collated fasteners.

22. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners each have a longitudinal direction in a vertical plane in the flow of collated fasteners.

23. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the separated segments are accelerated to a speed, which is higher than a speed of the continuous flow of fasteners, by an acceleration unit.

24. The separator according to claim 23, wherein the acceleration unit, downstream of the collated fasteners that are separated into segments, comprises guide rails and a brush-like driving structure for engaging the segments, moving and accelerating the segments.

25. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the separator is combined or integrated with a collator, and wherein the collator is arranged for supplying a continuous flow of collated fasteners to the separator.

26. A method of operating a separator for providing segments of collated fasteners, wherein the method comprises: receiving a continuous flow of collated fasteners, counting received fasteners with a counter connected to a controller and configured to send a signal to the controller corresponding to at least one fastener having been counted, and timely activating a puncher by the controller, when a predetermined number of collated fasteners in the continuous flow have been counted and a corresponding time for the counting of the predetermined number of collated fasteners has been determined, wherein the puncher is configured to punch an end section of at least one fastener to separate a segment including a plurality of collated fasteners in a punching direction, and wherein the separator is operated to separate segments of collated fasteners by punching an end section of at least one fastener based on activation of the puncher by the controller.

27. A method of operating a separator and collator in combination for providing segments of collated fasteners, wherein the method comprises: collating fasteners with the collator, providing collated fasteners from the collator to the separator in a continuous flow, receiving a continuous flow of collated fasteners, counting received fasteners with a counter connected to a controller and configured to send a signal to the controller corresponding to at least one fastener having been counted, timely activating a puncher with the controller, when a predetermined number of collated fasteners in the continuous flow have been counted and a corresponding time for the counting has been determined, wherein the puncher is configured to punch an end section of at least one fastener to separate a segment including a plurality of collated fasteners in a punching direction, and wherein the separator is operated to separate segments of collated fasteners by punching an end section of at least one fastener based on activation of the puncher by the controller.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the puncher, after a segment has been separated, is moved from a punching position in a direction of movement of and by a speed at least corresponding to the flow of collated fasteners.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the puncher after the separation is retracted away from the segment, while the puncher is moved from a punching position in a direction of movement of the flow of collated fasteners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] The separator according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a separator in combination with a collator, where the separator comprises an acceleration unit,

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of section A of FIG. 1,

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a separator, where a continuous flow of collated fasteners and parts of the separatorhere a pinion for counting, guide rails and a puncher,

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of section B of FIG. 3,

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a separator, where the puncher has initiated punching action,

[0046] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of section C of FIG. 5,

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a separator, where the puncher is in punching action and separation of a segment of collated fasteners,

[0048] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of section D of FIG. 7,

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a separator, where a segment of collated fasteners have been separated, and where the puncher is in a retracted position,

[0050] FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of section E of FIG. 9,

[0051] FIG. 11 shows a side view of a separator having an accelerator unit, which is creating a distance between the separated segments,

[0052] FIG. 12 shows another type of guide for the collated fasteners,

[0053] FIG. 13 shows yet another type of guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Collated fasteners may be collated in a number of ways. Also, the fasteners come in a large variety, such as with respect to type and size. This includes: [0055] the collated fasteners are collated with a shank to shank distance [0056] the collated fasteners are collated with overlapping heads [0057] the collated fasteners are fasteners with a D-shaped head [0058] the collated fasteners are nails [0059] the collated fasteners are screws [0060] the collated fasteners are pins [0061] the collated fasteners are clamps [0062] the collated fasteners are two-legged nails [0063] the collated fasteners are two-legged staples [0064] the collated fasteners are a punched-into a substrate type or a rotated-into a substrate type [0065] the fasteners are collated by metal wire [0066] the fasteners are collated with a tape having a polymer which may be heated to stick to the fasteners, [0067] the fasteners are glued together [0068] the fasteners are assembled by lacquer [0069] etc.

[0070] The present invention is suitable for separating any of these types of collated fasteners into segments, each having a number of fasteners.

[0071] In the Figures and accompanying description supports and frame work are not shown, only parts having a function. This is chosen for reasons of providing improved information and as the skilled person may straight away build adequate supports and frame work. The same applies for electrical wiring and signalling.

[0072] FIGS. 1 and 2 display a separator 1, which receives a continuous flow 2 of collated fasteners 8. In FIG. 1 the continuous flow 2 of fasteners is received from an output side 43 of a not shown collator. The fasteners 8 are driven in a direction by drivers 10 towards the separator 1. The drivers 10 may also by placed at the separator 1. The separator further has a counter 3, a puncher 4 and guide rails 5. Separated segments 27 are conveyed to an accelerator unit 11, which also have guide rails 12. The counter 3 has a pinion 14 engaged with the fasteners 8. The pinion 14 is connected to an encoder 20. The encoder is connected to a non-shown controller. The counter 3 could also be arranged similar to the drivers 10 to be engaged with shanks of the fasteners. A counter may be made in a number of other configurations, such as having an arm arranged for touching passing fasteners and a controller adapted to register every flexing movement of the arm. Or by having a a digital camera providing images of passing fasteners and an image processor adapted to identify and register passing of fasteners and provide signals accordingly to a controller. The puncher 4 is shown in a configuration, where a punching element 18 is connected to a pneumatic actuator 16 via brackets 17. The pneumatic actuator 16 may in another configuration be replaced by an electrical actuator based on electro-magnetic force. Also a linear drive with a servomotor may be used. The puncher 4 is preferably configured to handle a speed of flow of collated fasteners, where the speed is at least 500 fasteners per minute, or 2000 to 3000 fasteners per minute, or more, where the segments 27 may include 30 to 100 collated fasteners. These speeds correspond to state of the art fastener making machines as well as collators. And hence, the separator 1 should work with those speeds, in order not to become a bottle neck in the production line.

[0073] FIGS. 3 to 10 display details of the operation of the separator. The continuous flow of collated fasteners has the direction indicated by the arrow 31. The fasteners are collated by collating tape 28. The counter is engaged with the fasteners by a pinion 14. The puncher 4 has a swivel joint 15, an actuator 16, bracket 17 and a punching element 18. The fasteners are here shown as supported by their heads 22 by upper guide rails 5 and lower guide rails 33.

[0074] In FIGS. 3 and 4 the puncher 4 is located in a punching position 21 located at the end section 7 of the upper guide rails 5.

[0075] In FIGS. 5 and 6 the puncher has been activated in a direction parallel to the arrow 35 and the punching element 18 hits the fastener head 22.

[0076] In FIGS. 7 and 8 a segment 27 of collated fasteners has been separated from the flow 2 of fasteners. The segment 27 is now guided by the lower guide rails 33. The upstream arriving fasteners of the flow 2 press the punching element 18 and thereby the puncher in the direction indicated by the arrow 34. The puncher 4 will hereby pivot about the swivel joint 15. Instead of using the press of the flow 2, a non-shown activator may be used. Also, instead of the pivoting motion, the entire puncher 4 may be moved by a non-shown linear actuator.

[0077] In FIGS. 9 and 10 the segment 27 moves on due to press from the upstream continuous flow 2 of fasteners. In order for the puncher 4 to return to the punching position, the punching element 18 is first retracted upwards as indicated by the arrow 36 and then pivoted back as indicated by the arrow 37. A non-shown spring or actuator may be used for rotating the puncher back. After these events, the puncher will be back in the punching position 21 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0078] FIG. 11 shows a separator 1 receiving a continuous flow 2 of fasteners in the direction indicated by the arrow 31. A pinion 14 is engaged with the fasteners. A 5 puncher 4 separates segments 27 from the flow 2 by tearing over a collating tape 28. The flow 2 and the segments 27 are guided by upper guide rails 5 and lower guide rails 33, respectively. An acceleration unit 11 having a brush-like driving structure 13 moves and accelerates the segments 27 to obtain a distance 30 between the segments.

[0079] FIG. 12 shows a U-shaped upper guide rail 38 and lower guide rail 40 for guiding a flow 2 of fasteners 8. Such guide rails are used, when the fasteners have a no or very small heads, so the fasteners are guided by the inner sides and bottom of the recess 39. Segments 27 are separated by an end section 7 of the upper guide rail 38.

[0080] FIG. 13 shows a upper guide rail 41 and lower guide rail 42 for guiding a flow 2 of fasteners 8. The guide rails have a rectangular cross section. Such guide rails may be used, when the fasteners are staples, like in FIG. 13. The staples are guided by the outer sides and top of the rails 41 and 42. Segments 27 are separated by an end section 7 of the upper guide rail 41. Another option would be to guide the staples in U-shaped rails as in FIG. 12.

[0081] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments and alternatives, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.