Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for initially orienting and then injecting fasteners (F) into fastener grasping fingers (46), the fasteners being received by the apparatus (10) from a non-dedicated feed tube (18). The apparatus includes, as its principle components, a mounting frame (20), an adjustable orientator (12) mounted on the frame, an adjustable injector (14) also mounted on the frame, and a dedicated feed tube assembly (16) extending between the adjustable orientator and the adjustable injector. The orientator includes right and left slides (50, 52, and 56, respectively) the spacing between them being adjustable, and further includes an orientation detector (136, 138) for determining whether or not proper orientation has been achieved. The adjustable injector includes an injector body (192), an injector slide assembly (214) slidably mounted within the body, an injector knife (226) moveable relative to the slide, and a cylinder assembly (268) for moving both the injector and the injector slide from a retracted position to an intermediate extended position, and for further moving the injector to a full injection position.

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First Claim