Patent ID: 7131564

Claim:
A fastener feed and insertion system comprising a bulk feeder for fasteners and fastener insertion apparatus, a first elongate supply passage extending from said bulk feeder and releasably connectable to the insertion apparatus via a docking station in order to supply fasteners thereto, the insertion apparatus comprising a fastener setting tool having a nose portion with a fastener delivery passage therein and a fastener entry port, a first actuator reciprocally disposed for movement in said delivery passage for driving a fastener disposed in said delivery passage out of the passage and into a workpiece, a buffer magazine for the temporary storage of fasteners disposed between said docking station and the setting tool, the buffer magazine having an inlet and an outlet, a first part of the docking station being connected to an end of the first supply passage and a second part of the docking station being connected to the inlet of the buffer magazine, the first and second parts of the docking station being releasably connectable, a second fastener supply passage disposed between said buffer magazine outlet and the tool, a fastener feeder assembly, at or adjacent to said tool, for advancing fasteners from the second fastener supply passage to the delivery passage via the entry port, wherein the feeder assembly comprises a sensor device for detecting that the fastener has been loaded into the nose.