Abstract:
A screwdriver includes a locking member, a positioning member, a retaining member, and a rotatable member. The locking member defines a locking member hole therein. The positioning member is received in the locking member hole, and defines first and second positioning member holes. An angled surface is located between the first and second positioning member holes. The retaining member secures the positioning member to the locking member, and defines a retaining member hole to receive the positioning member. The rotatable member is received in the first positioning member hole, and slidable to abut the angled surface to slide the positioning member from a first position where the rotatable member is positioned in the first positioning member hole, to a second position where the rotatable member is positioned in the second positioning member hole so as to splay the second positioning member hole.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to fastener technology, and particularly to a screwdriver capable of fixing screws. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Screws are often used for mounting and fastening a wide array of device and apparatus elements. A screwdriver is required for engagement of the screws. However, when operated mechanically or robotically, the screwdriver frequently encounters difficulty in accurate alignment of screws. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a screwdriver in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of a locking member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of a retaining member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of a retaining member of  FIG. 4  along V-V direction. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shows the rotatable member engaging a screw. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a screwdriver in accordance with an embodiment includes a rotatable member  10 , a mounting member  20 , a locking member  30 , a positioning member  50 , a spring member  60 , a retaining member  70 , and a transmitting member  80 . 
         [0014]    The rotatable member  10  is rotatable when a turning force is applied thereon, and includes a base body  11 , and a driver portion  13  extending from an end of the base body  11 . The driver portion  13  has a smaller dimension than a diameter of the base body  11 . 
         [0015]    The mounting member  20  includes a mounting portion  21  and an extending portion  23  extending from the mounting portion  21 . Two mounting holes  211  are defined in the mounting portion  21 . A through hole  25  is defined in the mounting member  20  through the mounting portion  21  and the extending portion  23 . The through hole  25  has a diameter substantially equaling the diameter of the base body  11  of the rotatable member  10 . 
         [0016]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the locking member  30  includes a first locking portion  31  and a second locking portion  33  extending from the first locking portion  31 . The first locking portion  31  has a diameter exceeding that of the second locking portion  33 . Two securing holes  311  are defined in an end of the first locking portion  31 . A first locking member hole  313 , a second locking member hole  315 , and a third locking member hole  316  are defined in the locking member  30 . The first locking member hole  313  communicates with the second locking member hole  315 , and has a diameter substantially equaling that of the extending portion  23  of the mounting member  20 . The second locking member hole  315  has a diameter substantially equaling that of the through hole  25  of the mounting member  20 . The third locking member hole  316  has a diameter exceeding that of the second locking member hole  315 . A feeder hole  317  is defined in the second locking portion  33  to communicate with the second locking member hole  315 , and is angled relative to an axis of the first locking member hole  313 . 
         [0017]    The positioning member  50  includes three separated positioning blocks  501 . A positioning portion  51  is located on an outer surface of an end portion of the positioning member  50 , and has a diameter less than that of the third locking member hole  315 . A locating portion  53  is located on an outer surface of a middle portion of the positioning member  50 . An angled surface  531 , such as a conical surface, is located on the locating portion  53  at a side adjacent to the positioning portion  51 . A first positioning member hole  55  and a second positioning member hole  57  are defined in the positioning member  50 , and the first positioning member hole  55  communicates with the second positioning member hole  57 . The first positioning member hole  55  has a diameter exceeding that of the second positioning member hole  57 , and substantially equaling the diameter of the base body  11  of the rotatable member  10 . An angled surface  551  is located on an inner surface of the first positioning member hole  55  adjacent to the second positioning member hole  57 . 
         [0018]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the retaining member  70  includes a first retaining portion  71 , and a second retaining portion  73  having a diameter less than that of the first retaining portion  71 . A first retaining member hole  74 , a second retaining member hole  75 , and a third retaining member hole  76  are defined in the retaining member  70 . The first retaining member hole  74  has a diameter substantially equaling the diameter of the second locking portion  33  of the locking member  30 . The second retaining member hole  75  has a diameter less than the diameter of the first retaining member hole  74 , but substantially equaling the minimal diameter of the angled surface  531  of the locating portion  53  of the positioning member  50 . The third retaining member hole  76  is conical, and has a minimum diameter equal to that of the second retaining member hole  75 . In one embodiment, the inner surface of the third retaining member hole  76  includes a first portion and a second portion. In one embodiment, a first angle is formed between the angled inner surface of first portion of the third retaining member hole  76  and a vertical end surface. The first angle α may be 76°, for example. A second angle β is formed between the angled inner surface of second portion of the third retaining member hole  76  and a vertical end surface, and is less than the first angle α. The second angle β may be 74°, for example. 
         [0019]    The spring member  60  is resiliently deformable, and configured to surround the positioning member  50  between the positioning portion  51  and the locating portion  53 . An outer diameter of the spring member  60  exceeds the second retaining member hole  75  of the retaining member  70 , but less than that of the third locking member hole  316  of the locking member  30 . The transmitting member  80  is configured to be received in the feeder hole  317  to transmit screws  40  to the locking member  30 . Each screw  40  includes a head portion  41  and a threaded portion  43  extending from the head portion  41 . The head portion  41  has a diameter less than that of the first positioning member hole  55  of the positioning member  50 , and defines a slot (not shown) to receive the driver portion  13  of the rotatable member  10 . The threaded portion  43  has a diameter less than that of the head portion  41 , but equal to that of the second positioning member hole  57  of the positioning member  50 . 
         [0020]    Referring also to  FIGS. 4-5 , in assembly, the extending portion  23  of the mounting member  20  is received in the first locking member hole  313 . The base body  21  abuts the end of the locking member  20 , and the mounting holes  211  align with the securing holes  311  of the locking member  30 . Two fasteners (not shown) are fixed in the mounting holes  211  and the securing holes  311  to secure the mounting member  20  to the locking member  30 . The spring member  60  is located on the positioning member  50  between the positioning portion  51  and the locating portion  53 , and the positioning member  50  is received in the retaining member  70 . The positioning member  50  and the spring member  60  are positioned in the first retaining member hole  74 , and the locating portion  53  is positioned in the third retaining member hole  76 . 
         [0021]    The retaining member  70 , together with the positioning member and the spring member  60 , is secured on the locking member  30 . The second locking portion  33  is secured in the first retaining member hole  74 . The positioning portion  51  of the positioning member  50  and the spring member  60  are positioned in the third locking member hole  316 , and the first positioning member hole  55  aligns with the third locking member hole  316 . The transmitting member  80  is received in the feeder hole  317  of the locking member  30 , and the rotatable member  10  is received in the through hole  25  of the mounting member  20 . 
         [0022]    Referring also to  FIG. 6 , in use, the transmitting member  80  transmits the screw  40 , the threaded portion  43  of which towards the feeder hole  317 . The screw  40  is pushed, for example by air, through the feeder hole  317 , the second locking member hole  315 , and the first positioning member hole  55  of the positioning member  50 , until the threaded portion  43  is positioned in the second positioning member hole  57  and the head portion  41  abuts the angled surface  551 . The rotatable member  10  is driven until the driver portion  13  engages the slot of the head portion  41  of the screw  40 . Then the rotatable member  10  is further urged to push the screw  40 . The angled surface  551  of the positioning member  50  is contacted by the head portion  41  of the screw  40 , thereby sliding the positioning member  50  further out of the retaining member  70 . At this time, the spring member  60  is resiliently deformed by the positioning portion  51 . The locating portion  53  is slid from a position where the third retaining member hole  76  has a minimum diameter to a position where the third retaining member hole  76  has a maximum diameter. The positioning blocks  501  of the positioning member  50  are separated until the head portion  41  of the screw  40  can be slid through the third retaining member hole  76 . Thus, the screw  40  can engage screw holes, and the rotatable member  10  is rotated to screw the screw  40  in the members to secure the members together. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.