Patent ID: 7262383

Claim:
Feed device ( 1 ) for a fastening element ( 2 ) comprising a positioning piston ( 6 ) for engaging and positioning the fastening element ( 2 ), a catching clamp ( 5 ) with a catching pocket ( 8 ) therein for receiving and pre-positioning the fastening element ( 2 ) before its engagement with the positioning piston ( 6 ), and a housing ( 3 ) for holding the positioning piston ( 6 ) and the catching clamp ( 5 ), the housing ( 3 ) having a feed channel ( 4 ) for feeding the fastening element ( 2 ) to the catching clamp ( 5 ), and the positioning piston ( 6 ) being displaceable relative to the housing ( 3 ), wherein the positioning piston ( 6 ) is movable forward into the catching clamp to engage the fastening element and is coupled with the catching clamp ( 5 ) in such a way that during forward movement of the positioning piston the catching clamp ( 5 ) is opened by the positioning piston to release the fastening element ( 2 ) for forward movement by the positioning piston ( 6 ).