Elongated article feeding and driving mechanism

摘要

A mechanism for receiving elongated articles such as dowel pins, etc., from a bulk source is disclosed which separates the pins and positions them for ejection and insertion by a ram driven driver tool. The mechanism includes a rotary feed cylinder having a plurality of pin receiving chambers extending in directions tending to converge and arranged circumferentially about the feed cylinder axis. The feed cylinder is adapted to receive pins into each chamber via an inlet from the bulk source, while upon rotation about its axis the feed cylinder repositions the pins to be horizontal in the ejection position so to be able to be advanced out of the chamber by means of the driver tool. Rotation and positioning of the feed cylinder is produced by a unique indexing arrangement operated by the driver tool ram, including a ratchet wheel drivingly connected to rotate with the feed cylinder. The ratchet wheel is engaged by an indexing pawl which is in turn oscillated to a cocked position by the driver tool ram and adapted to incrementally advance the ratchet wheel with each stroke of the mechanism upon withdrawal of the driver tool after ejection of an article from a chamber.