Abstract:
A screw alignment device for assisting engagement of a screw driving tool during a fastening operation with a screw of the type having a shank disposed between a head end and a front end, the screw tool being of the type having a shaft with a gripping formation at one end thereof for engagement with the screw head. The screw alignment device includes a screw guide having a body of generally annular configuration formed from a resilient material and having an internal capacity of generally frusto-conical configuration. There is also a tool guide spaced rearwardly from the screw guide and aligned with the cone axis. The device further includes a connector which connects the screw guide to the tool guide.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to improvements to screw guides and cartridges such as those described in co-pending application PCT/AU01/00870. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Due to variability of finished product, variations due to manufacturing tolerances and similar manufacturing difficulties, some screw alignment devices as described in PCT/AU00/00676, may in use from time to time have one or both of the head of a screw and or the screw driving end of the screw driver pop out of the screw guide. 
   Further, the cartridges and screw guides described in PCT/AU00/00676 can be complex to manufacture and thus the cost of manufacture can be such that the pricing in the market place of the cartridge system will be greater than the market is prepared to pay. Thus it is desirable to develop a screw alignment guide and a cartridge system which is conducive to relatively low cost manufacture. 
   The applicant does not concede that the subject matter of PCT/AU00/00676 is a part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in this art. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a screw alignment device for assisting engagement of a screw driving tool during a fastening operation with a screw of the type having a shank disposed between a head end and a front end, the screw driving tool being of the type having a shaft with a gripping formation at one end thereof and an engaging formation at the other end thereof for engagement with the screw head, the screw alignment device including:
         a screw guide having a body of generally annular configuration formed from a resilient material and having an internal cavity of generally frusto-conical configuration tapering convergently towards a forward end of the device, said screw guide including therein a slit therethrough wherein the slit provides an overlapping portion of one side of said screw guide with respect to the other side of said screw guide so that when overlapping portions of said screw guide on either side of said slit are moved apart with respect to each other as said screw head passes through said screw guide, said overlapping portions remain in an overlapped condition;   a tool guide spaced rearwardly from the screw guide and aligned generally with the cone axis; and   a connector which connects the screw guide to the tool guide; where, in use, a screw is located in the screw guide so as to be aligned generally with the cone axis, the front end of the screw projecting through said forward end and the head of the screw being held by the screw guide, and a tool passing through the tool guide can be engaged with the screw head thereby holding the tool and screw aligned, and by driving the screw forwardly, the head of the screw will cause the screw guide to flex outwardly to permit the screw to pass through the screw guide.       

   The overlapping portions can be formed on either side of a generally circumferential closed slit which allows one side of said overlapping portion to slide over the other. The screw head size will need to be predetermined to prevent the overlapping portions from being separated to the point of not overlapping in rise. 
   Alternatively the overlapping portion can be formed by a radially directed slit through the guide which also extends axially along the guide so that the slit lies on either side of a longitudinal axis of the screw guide. Such a slit can be shaped in a sinusoidal fashion, a zig zag fashion or other shape to produce at least one projection or finger which overlaps or lies across a straight line axis of said screw guide. By this means there is formed a slit such that at the furthest expansion of the slit, for a predetermined size of screw head passing through said screw guide when in use, the extremities of the at least one projection or finger on one side of the slit will not move past the extremities on the other side. Thus as an example the interlacing of the cuneiform portions of a zig zag on one side with the cuneiform portions on a zig zag on the other side, will allow for the expansion of the slit without providing a clear radially directed path out of the screw guide for said screw head or said tool. 
   The present invention provides a screw alignment device for use with a screw driving tool and a screw during a fastening operation, with said screw being of the type having a shank disposed between a screw head and a distal end, the screw driving tool being of the type having a shaft with a gripping formation at one end thereof and a screw engaging formation at the other end thereof for engagement with the screw head, said screw alignment device including:
         a screw guide having a body of generally annular configuration formed from a resilient material and having an internal cavity of generally frusto-conical configuration tapering convergently towards a forward end of the screw guide;   a tool guide spaced rearwardly from the screw guide and aligned generally with frusto-conical configuration;   a connector which connects the screw guide to the tool guide;   at least one cartridge receiving formation between said screw guide and said tool a cartridge member thereon from which cartridge member at least one screw can be dispensed.       

   In use, a screw located on said cartridge is aligned with said screw guide and is engageable by said tool and moveable by the tool into the screw guide so as to be aligned generally with said axis of said frusto-conical configuration and so that the distal end of the screw projects through said forward end and the head of the screw being held by the screw guide, said screw and said tool being releasably held together in substantial alignment. By driving the screw forwardly into a surface to receive said screw, said head of said screw will cause the screw guide to flex outwardly to permit the screw to pass through the screw guide. 
   The at least one carriage receiving formation can include means to releasably hold said cartridge member thereon. 
   The cartridge receiving formation can include means to index the movement of said cartridge through or across said cartridge receiving formation. 
   The cartridge receiving formation can include a forward and rearward flange to slidably hold said cartridge member. Said flanges can include at least one projection or depression thereon for engaging said cartridge member. 
   The cartridge receiving formation is preferably generally planar. 
   The cartridge receiving formation can be formed as part of said connector. 
   Preferably said screws are held onto said cartridge by means of adhesive. The adhesive can be in the form of adhesive tape. 
   The screws can be dispensed from said cartridge by means of axial force and or by the rotation screw by said tool. 
   The cartridge can include screw thread engagement means so as to enable the screw to be rotated on the cartridge and translate thereacross. The screw thread engagement means can be a forward and rear holding member so as to hold each screw at a forward and rearward location. Said forward and rearward members being spaced relative to each other and space from said screw guide when in use such that as said screw is rotated so as to travel towards said screw guide, said screw travels through said rearward member and breaks therethrough. By this time the forward end of said screw will be in said screw guide and remains aligned by virtue of the screw guide and the hold of said forward member. Further rotation of said screw will then break the hold of said forward member allowing the screw to proceed through the screw guide. 
   Alternatively the screw thread engagement means can be a series of depressions or projections to engage a screw thread. The series of depressions and or projections can be formed into the base of said cartridge or on a separate member which is attachable to said cartridge. The screw thread engagement means can alternatively be an adhesive, plastic or silicon holding formation which secures a screw to a cartridge base. The holding formation can be sufficiently rigid so that once set, a screw can be rotated in the holding formation allowing said screw to translate relative to the holding formation. 
   The cartridge can include indexing means so that as said cartridge moves in said cartridge receiving means said cartridge will stop moving when a screw is aligned with said tool and said screw guide. The indexing means can include one or more projections or depressions associated with said cartridge receiving means which will cooperate with depressions or projections on said cartridge. 
   Preferably the cartridge includes a multiplicity of screws thereon. 
   Preferably said cartridge includes a profiled cross section to accommodate the shape of a screw so that each screw can be presented to said tool with its axis of rotation generally coincident with the axis of rotation of said tool. 
   The cartridge can be manufactured from any suitable material such as cardboard, polymeric material etc. 
   Preferably said cartridge is colored so that the color represents the type of screw on the cartridge or the use of those screws; such as for use with metal; or for use with hardwoods; or for use with medium or softwoods; or for use with plaster board; etc. 
   The cartridge receiving means can be discrete channel portions mounted on the rear end of said screw guide and the forward end of the too] guide. The connector can include a concave upper surface which will cooperate with said channel portions to slidably capture and or index said cartridge. 
   A cartridge used with such a cartridge receiving means can have a series of pockets which have an surface which is convex. 
   If desired the cartridge can have a series of pockets on only one side. Alternatively there can be present a series of pockets on both sides, so that after dispensing screws contained in the pockets from one side of said cartridge the cartridge can be flipped through 180 degrees to dispense the screws from the pockets on the other side. 
   Such a cartridge can includes at least one rail portion which extends along one edge of the cartridge edge is preferably a forward or rear edge. 
   Preferably there are two such rail portions. The rail portions fitting into said channel portions for guide movement of said cartridge in said rail portions. The rail portions can also serve to retain screws in said pockets. 
   Preferably the cartridge is reusable. 
   The spacing of said channel portions from said connector is such it is less than the spacing of said rail on said cartridge to the convex outside surface of the pockets. By this means a pocket can be situated adjacent said concave surface of said connector with said rail located in said channel until forced from this position. Also by this means an indexing system is produced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a screw alignment device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a right side elevation view of the screw alignment device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a left side elevation view of the screw alignment device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation view of another screw alignment device. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross sectional view through the screw guide of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross sectional view through the connector of the screw alignment device of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a cross sectional view through the tool guide of the screw alignment guide of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic view of a radial slit having an axially extending sinusoidal shape through a screw guide. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic view of a radial slit having an axially extending zig zag shape through a screw guide. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a screw alignment device and cooperating cartridge. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a plan view of the cartridge with screws mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross sectional view through the line A—A of the cartridge of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a plan view of a cartridge similar to that of  FIG. 10 and 11 , except that the screw are held by mechanical means. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a cross sectional view through the line B—B of  FIG. 12  where the cartridge of  FIG. 12  is manufactured from folded cardboard. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a similar cross sectional view through the line B—B of  FIG. 12  where the cartridge is of  FIG. 12  is manufactured from injection molded plastic. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a a plan view of a cartridge assembly similar to that of  FIG. 10 , with screw engagement means. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a side view of the cartridge of  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a plan view cartridge similar to  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates an exploded perspective view of an alternative cartridge. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a front elevation view of the cartridge of  FIG. 18  when assembled. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a plan view of the cartridge of  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative means to attach screws to a cartridge. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a front elevation view of the cartridge of  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a rear perspective view of a further screw alignment guide and cartridge system. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a cross sectional view through the screw alignment guide of  FIG. 23  with the cartridge of  FIG. 23  shown in rear elevation. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates a perspective view of a cartridge similar to that in  FIG. 23  with a single level of screws. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  is a screw alignment device  10 . The screw alignment device  10  functions and is constructed in the same manner as that described in PCT/AU00/00676 and that description is incorporated herein by reference. 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the frusto-conical shaped screw guide  12  has a radial slit  14  (radial in the sense that the separation plane through the slit extends through the screw guide  12  in a radial direction) which also extends axially along the surface of the screw guide  12 . The slit  14  starts on the forward end  16  of the screw guide  16  on the right side of the screw guide  12  at location  18 . The slit  14  then progresses in a straight line for a portion and then moves in a helical or slanted direction at  20  until a mid point (both with respect to the length and the width of the screw guide  12 ) is reached at  22 . Then a similar shaped section  24  takes a helical or slanted path through the screw guide  12  as in  FIG. 3 , with the slit  14  terminating in a straight line path section  26  which terminates at the rear end  28  of the screw guide  12  on the left side thereof. 
   This slit  14  forms a portion  30  on one side of the screw guide  12  and a second portion  32  on the other side. The portions  30  and  32  are effectively projections or fingers which circumferentially extend around the longitudinal axis  34 . Thus when a screw head is made to pass through the screw guide  12  in the same manner as described in the specification of PCT/AU00/00676, the portions  30  and  32  will move away from each other thereby causing the slit  14  to become wider. However as the portions  32  and  30  effectively form fingers or projections which as can be seen from  FIG. 1  extend over the center line  34 , as the screw guide expands no path is provided for a screw head or the screw diving tool to radially escape from the screw guide  12 . 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  are alternatively configured radial slits  14 A and  14 B. In  FIGS. 7 and 8  like parts have been like numbered with the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8  the two portions  30  and  32  each have as in  FIG. 7  fingers or projections  54  &amp;  56  and  50  &amp;  52 , while in  FIG. 8  the zig zag pattern provides fingers or projections (of cuneiform shape)  58  &amp;  60  &amp;  62  on portion  32  and  64  &amp;  66  &amp;  68  on portion  30 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the slits  14 A and  14 B can be opened out quite considerably without the fingers or projections on portion  30  crossing over a vertical plane through longitudinal axis  34 . These arrangements will thus also not provide a path for a screw head or a screw diving tool to radially escape from the screw guide  12  as the slits  14 A and  14 B expand. 
   Illustrated in FIGS.  4 , 5 , 6 , and  6 A is another embodiment which functions in a similar manner to those described above except that a generally circumferential slit  14 C (circumferential in the sense that the separation plane through the slit extends through the screw guide  12  in a circumferential direction) is provided between the portions  30  and  32 . Thus the portions  30  and  32  act as overlapping flaps which overlie each other along the whole of the axial length of the screw guide  12 , with a limit of circumferential overlap (see dimension Z in the enlarged view) being the amount of circumferential expansion the screw guide will take before a path is provided which will allow a screw head or the screw driving tool to escape the screw guide  12  in a radial direction therefrom. 
   If desired, a similarly constructed overlap  60  can be provided on the tool guide portion  62  at the rear of the screw alignment device, as an alternative for the tool guide construction of the embodiments described in PCT/AU00/00676. 
   The embodiments of  FIGS. 1 to 3  and  7  and  8  are readily adapted to a screw alignment device, which is manufactured from nylon or from other polymeric materials such as those described in PCT/AU00/00676 and are adapted for injection molding. Whereas the embodiment of FIGS.  4 , 5 , 6  and  6 A readily adapted to a screw guide when manufactured from sheet metal such as that specified in PCT/AU00/00676. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 11  is an embodiment of a screw alignment device  100  having a screw guide  102  at its forward end and a tool guide  104  at its rearward end. The screw guide  102  and the tool guide  104  are connected together by means of a connector  106  and are preferably integrally formed together. 
   The connector  106  has thereon a cartridge receiving formation in the form of a platform  108 . The platform  108  is positioned so as to be below an imaginary line representing the axis of rotation of a screw driver  110 , which axis extends from the screw guide  102  to the tool guide  104 . 
   Attached to and extending above the platform  108  is an L-shaped forward flange  112  which has its upper portion  116  extending in a rearward direction, and an L shaped rearward flange  114  which has its upper portion  118  extending in a forward direction. 
   The platform  108  and flanges  112  and  114  are integrally molded with the connector  106 , screw  102  and tool guide  104 . 
   The distances between the lower faces of portions  116  and  118  and the upper face of the platform  108  are approximately the thickness of a forward edge  126  and a rearward edge  128  respectively of a cartridge  120 . As can be seen from the cross section of  FIG. 11 , the forward edge  126  of the cartridge  120  is of greater thickness by comparison to the rearward edge  128 . The purpose of this will be described later. 
   As is also illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the L-shaped flanges  112  and  114  each have two curved projections  122  thereon. These projections  122  extend into the bights  130  on the cartridge  120  so that in use, when the projections  122  are located in the bights  130  a screw  140  will be located generally coincidently with the axis of rotation of the screw driver  110 . 
   Each screw  140  is held in spaced relation from adjacent screws by means of adhesive tape  142 . The adhesive tape  142  includes on either side of each screw  140  a series of perforations  144  which assist the screw when in use in a screw alignment device  100 , to break away therefrom. The adhesive tape  142  can also include a lubricant, which may be the adhesive or another lubricant added to the tape  142 . The lubricant or the adhesive can assist in reducing the friction associated with the screw being driven into a material. 
   Thus the screw  140  can be dispensed from the cartridge  120  by means of axial force exerted by the screw driver  110 , or by axial force produced by the rotation of the screw  140  relative to the cartridge  120  by means of the screw driver  110 . 
   As is illustrated in  FIG. 11 , an inclined plane  136  is present between the rearward edge  128  and the forward edge  126 . This inclined plane  136  allows the screw to be mounted on to the cartridge so that its axis of rotation is substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the screw driver  110 , when the cartridge is positioned on the platform  108  with projections  122  in the bights  130 . 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 12  is an alternative cartridge  200  which is similar in shape to the cartridge  120  described above and like parts have been like numbered. Where the cartridges  100  and  200  differ is that the cartridge  200  has a forward rail  202  and rearward rail  204 . Both rails  202  and  204  are formed by folding and gluing (or sonic welding or other appropriate joining process) the cardboard or sheet material from which the cartridge  200  is manufactured. This is illustrated in the cross section of  FIG. 13 . 
   If it is desired the rails  202  and  204  can have a series of slots therein so that the screws  140  can be snapped into position on the cartridge  200 . Alternatively there can be holes formed in the rails  202  and  204 , before or after the folding and joining process. Respective holes on rail  202  being in line with respective holes in rail  204 , so as to receive a screw  140  therein. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 13  the height of the rails  202  and  204  above the upper surface of the cartridge  200  is such that the screw  140  can have its shank, and thus its axis of rotation, generally parallel to the upper surface of the cartridge  200 . This means that unlike the cartridge  120  described earlier, the cartridge  200  does not require a thicker forward edge by comparison to the rearward edge. As a consequence the respective heights of L-shaped flanges  112  and  114  of  FIG. 9  can be the same height to receive this cartridge  200 . 
   If it was desired to manufacture the cartridge  200  from injection molded plastic it would have a cross section as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . In which case respective holes in the rails  202  and  204  can be formed to receive the screws  140 . Alternatively, as the cartridge  200  can be injection molded the cartridge  200  can be injection molded around an array of screws, thereby molding and packaging in one step. 
   Th cartridges  120  and  200  can be color coded so as to indicate the types of screws mounted on the cartridge. For example a blue color can be used to indicate that the screws are for use with metals; a red color to indicate that the screws are for use with hardwoods; or an orange color to indicate that the screws are for use with medium or softwoods; or a white color to indicate that the screws are for use with plaster board. In the case of injection molded or plastic cartridges  120  or  200  the color can be contained within the plastics material, or the plastics material can be the color concerned. In the case of cartridge  120  being manufactured from cardboard an adhesive tape  142  can be used having these colors. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16  is a cartridge  300  which is similar to the cartridge  120  of  FIG. 10  and like parts have been like numbered. The cartridge  300  differs from the cartridge  120  by the presence of a series of formations  302 , in this case depressions, which are impressed into the cardboard or plastic of the cartridge  300 . Alternatively the formations  302  can be projections formed on or added to the top surface of the cardboard or plastic of the cartridge  300 . 
   The formations  302  act as screw thread engagement formations so that when a screw thread is positioned on the cartridge  300  and secured thereto by adhesive frangible tape  142 , the depressions and or projections in the formations  302  will allow translation of a screw  140  when that screw  140  is rotated on the cartridge  300 . As can be seen in  FIG. 16 , as the formations  302  are raised, a screw  140  can have its shank substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the screw driver  110 , without the need for a tapered base like that of  FIG. 11 . 
   The pitch or distance between adjacent projections, adjacent projections and depressions or adjacent depressions in the formations  302  are preferably the same as the pitch of the screw thread on the screw  140  so as to provide the best possible thread interaction. 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 17  is a plan view of a cartridge  400  similar to that of  FIG. 15 , with like parts being like numbered. The cartridge  400  differs from cartridge  300  by the left and right edges  126  and  128  of the cartridge  400  having a series of indexing projections  131 , which will engaged a series of depressions or apertures (not illustrated) which would replace the projections  122  present on the L-shaped flanges  112  and  114  of the screw alignment guide  100  of  FIG. 9 . The cartridge  400  will thus function in the same manner as the previously described cartridges. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 18 to 20  is another cartridge  500 . For ease of illustration the other features of the previously described cartridges are not drawn with only the means of attachment and dispensing being shown. In the cartridge  500 , the screws  140  are secured to a base  502  by means of a small quantity of silicone, plastic of other adhesive  504 . 
   The silicone, plastic or other adhesive  504  can also serve a lubrication function, or if desired a lubricant can be added to the adhesive or the screw so as to assist in reducing the friction associated with the driving of a screw into a material. 
   Once secured, over the ends of the shanks of the screws  140  a cardboard or plastic strip  506  is adhered to the base  502  sandwiching the ends of the screws  140 . The strip  506  has an array of formations  508  which are a series of depressions and projections, or a series of depressions, or a series of projections which will serve as screw thread engagement formations similar to the formations  302  of  FIG. 14 . 
   As is illustrated in  FIG. 20  the strip  506  can have along its outboard edge as series of projection serve the indexing function described above. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 21 and 22  is another cartridge  600 . For ease of illustration the other features of the previously described cartridges are not drawn with only the means of attachment and dispensing being shown. In this embodiment the cartridge  600  has the screws  140  attached to it by means of silicon, adhesive or melted plastic  602  which is able to set sufficiently so that once set, a screw  140  can be rotated on the cartridge  600  and thereby be translated on the cartridge for insertion into a surface to receive the screw  140 . 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24  is an alternative cartridge  700  for use with an alternative screw alignment guide  800 . The screw alignment guide  800  is similar to the screw alignment guide of previous Figures in that there is present similarly shaped screw guide  802 , tool guide  804  and a connector  806  joining them. The connector  806  differs from those above in that there is provided a concave upper surface  808  whose purpose will be discussed below. 
   The rear of the screw guide  802  includes a left channel  810  and a right channel  812  which are in alignment with each other and which extend away from the screw guide  802 . Similar left and right channels  814  and  816  extend away from the tool guide  804 . The channels  814  and  816  are also in alignment with each other as well as with channels  810  and  812 . 
   The channels  810 ,  812 ,  814  and  816  receive a rail  702  and  704  on the cartridge  700 . The rails  702  and  704  extend along the front and rear sides of the cartridge  700 . 
   The cartridge  700  is formed from a corrugated base  706 . The corrugated base  706  has corrugations along both its upper and lower faces. Each corrugation forms a pocket or cavity  708  in which can be positioned a screw  140 . The screws  140  are held in place by means of a tape  710  which can be color coded and or lubricated as described above. Of course the screws in the pockets on the lower surface of the base  706  will be held in place by tape as well. 
   In use the rails  702  and  704  are slid into the left channels  810  and  814 , (or the right channels  812  and  816 ) until the outside undersurface  712  of the first pocket  708  engages the outside edge  820  of the connector  806  as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . This engagement occurs because the height or spacing of the channels  810 ,  812 ,  814  and  816  from the edge  820  is not as great as the height or spacing of the rails  702  and  704  from the furthermost point on the outside surfaces  712  of the pockets  708 . Because the cartridge has some inherent flexibility, the user can push the cartridge so that the surface  712  rides over the edge  820  and locates the surface  712  into the concave formation of upper face  808  of connector  806 . From this location the screw  140  in the pocket  708  can be dispensed. 
   By application of force on the cartridge  700  relative to the screw alignment guide  800 , the cartridge  700  can be moved in an indexed manner to the next pocket  708  which contains a screw to be dispensed. 
   Once all screws on one face of the cartridge  700  have been dispensed the cartridge  700  can be flipped 180 degrees and screws from the other face dispensed. 
   If desired instead of tape to hold the screws  140  in position on the cartridge  700 , the base  706  can be made wholly from plastic with an under and upper surface being present for each pocket so as to surround the screw leaving only openings at the front and rear for insertion of the screw and its dispensing from the cartridge. This could be made by upper and lower corrugated sheets being joined together to sandwich screws therein effectively placing each screw into a tube like formation. 
   The cartridge  700  is illustrated as having upper and lower faces with screws located in both faces. If desired a cartridge  900  as illustrated in  FIG. 25 , having a single face containing screws can be utilized. The cartridge  900  has intermittent rails  902  and  904  at the forward and rearward sides. A tape  910  of appropriate color can be used to hold the screws in position and if desired the tape  910  can include a lubricant or its adhesive can provide lubrication for the screws. 
   Throughout the above description of embodiments it has been described how adhesive or similar can be used as a lubricant to lubricate the entry of a screw into a material. An adhesive can be chosen having such lubrication properties and which will also be suitable for the screw retention requirements with respect to the cartridge. 
   It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. 
   The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.