Patent ID: 7827667

Claim:
A method for assembling an article using oriented and sequenced small hardware presentation comprising: (a) providing a small hardware dispensing substrate comprising: (i) a flexible rectangular band having a plurality of index markings spaced at equal intervals along the length of said band, said markings defining a plurality of sequenced band segments; and (ii) means for fastening a plurality of small hardware items onto said band segments whereby each one of said plurality of hardware items is secured to said flexible rectangular band by a mounting feature cut into said band in each of said segments, in a manner and orientation by which every one of said items may be plucked from said band with a tool that can grasp any one or more of said items, pull said item off said band, transport said item to an article being assembled, and install said item onto said article without intermediate re-orientation or disengagement from said tool; (b) offline populating said small hardware dispensing substrate with a plurality of small hardware items, fastening at least one of said plurality of small hardware items onto each successive band segment, in an order and orientation in which it is to be withdrawn and assembled onto a chassis, however, never allowing more than one type or size item in a single band segment, thereby forming a populated hardware dispensing substrate; (c) online providing a chassis onto which components and small hardware items are to be assembled in a sequence of assembly steps to form an article; (d) online providing a plurality of components to be assembled on said chassis; (e) online placing a first component on said chassis; (f) online presenting a first segment of said populated hardware dispensing substrate, said first segment having at least one small hardware item fastened thereon; (g) successively withdrawing, each one of said at least one small hardware items from said first segment and installing said item on said chassis, thereby securing said first component; and (h) thereafter and in the same manner successively mounting other components on said chassis, while advancing said hardware presentation substrate to present successive segments accordingly to install other components, thereby completing assembly of said article.