CA1041818A - Tag attaching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

TAG ATTACHING APPARATUS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is disclosed a plurality of embodiments of tag attaching apparatus of the type having a hollow needle with a slot along one side, an ejector or push rod aligned with the needle, and feeding means for successively advancing an assembly of fasteners into position to be pushed through the needle by means of the push rod. According to one embodiment, the feeding means is advanced by a pawl cooperable with a toothed wheel, and a gear segment drives a gear section which in turn drives the push rod. A spring causes the pawl to move to a first position. The gear segment also drives the pawl from a first position to a second position to feed the fastener assembly. According to another embodiment, the gear segment is provided with a pair of radially spaced apart projections and a pawl of a fastener assembly feeding mechanism carries an abutment with which the projections cooperate. When the gear segment is rotated in one direction one projection cooperates with the abutment to drive the pawl in one direction and when the gear segment is rotated in the opposite direction the other projection cooperates with the abutment to drive the pawl to in turn drive the toothed wheel.
In yet another embodiment a lost-motion connection including link means couples the gear segment and a pawl of the fastener assembly feeding mechanism. When the gear segment rotates in one direction and has moved the link means in one direction a certain extent further movement of the link means is prevented and motion is transmitted to the pawl to drive the pawl from a first position to a second position and when the gear segment rotates in the opposite direction and has returned the link means then the link means can drive the pawl in the opposite direction to in turn drive the toothed wheel and hence the fastener assembly. In still another embodiment, a pawl of the fastener assembly advancing mechanism movably mounts first and second abutment members. A gear segment has first and second projections that cooperate with the respective first and second abutment members, first to move the pawl from a first position to a second position with respect to the toothed wheel and therafter to the first position to cause advance of the toothed wheel. In another embodiment, a lost-motion connection is provided between the gear segment and a pawl of the fastener assembly feeding mechanism by means of a slotted link. The link connects the gear segment and the pawl. In another embodiment, the lost-motion connection is provided between the gear segment and the pawl by providing the pawl with a slot and by driving the pawl by means of a link coupled to the gear segment and having a projection received in the slot in the pawl. In accordance with another embodiment, a hand lever drives a gear segment which in turn drives a gear section to which the push rod is connected. The hand lever carries a plate. A pivot is carried by the plate and a pawl is mounted by the plate. A spring secured to the hand lever and the pawl urges the pawl into contact with a toothed wheel. The pawl has a handle by which it can be disengaged from the toothed member against the force of the spring.

Description

~13~ 8 Background of the Invention - Field of the Invention ._ ~
This invention relates to the art of tag attaching apparatus, This application discloses subject matter disclosed in copending Canadian application no. 226,610 filed May 9thi 1975.
Brief Description of the Prior Art U,S. patent No. 3,103,666 to A, R. Bone dated September 17, 1963 discloses a tag attaching apparatus having a slotted needle, a push rod or plunger for driving a bar of a fastener through the needle, a toothed wheel for advancing a fastener assembly, a pivotally mounted knife for severing an . attachment which is in register with the needle from the remainder of the :: :
fastener assembly, and a hand lever including means for operating the toothed "i'!
r~` wheel, the knife and the push rod in sequence. Japanese Utility Model ~ .-Registration No. 949,012 to T. Kameya et al dated December 13, 1971 discloses ;.'AI a tag attaching apparatus including a needle, an index wheel, a push rod, a --( slide, a knife, and a hand lever for actuating the slide, The slide carries the push rod and actuates the pawl that cooperates with the index wheel.
U.S. patent No. 3,650,452 to E. W. Finke dated March 21, 1972 discloses a tag attaching apparatus having a needle, a feed wheel coupled to a ratchet wheel, a push rod, a slide and a hand lever for driving the push rod and the slide, , the slide having spaced apart abutments for driving a pawl by means of a pin , received in a slot in the slide. When the hand lever is actuated, the push - rod and slide are operated. When the pin contacts one end of the slot the tooth of the pawl is driven over a tooth of a ratchet wheel, When the hand lever -:
iR r-leased, a roturn spring cau66s the pin to engage the ~ ~ ~

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othcr end of the slot, thcreby drivin~ the pawl to cause the ratchet and feed wheels to advance the fastener assembly.
U.S. patent No. 3l652,00~ to B. Lozio dated March 28, 1972, includes a needle, a push rod, a kinematic mechanism, and a - 5 hand lever for driving the push rod and the kinematic mechanism. '!
The kinematic mechanism includes a pivotally mounted pawl;i cooperable with a ratchet wheel to feed a fastenex assembly to the needle and the push rod; U.S. patent No. 3,i59,435 to A. ~, Bone dated September 18, 1973 discloses a tag attaching apparatus including a slotted needle, a push rod, a toothed , wheel, a toothed member cooperable with the toothed wheel, a ` ~lide for driving the push rod and the pawl, gear means for ;~ driving the slide, and a hand lever for driving the gear means.

-When the hand lever is actuated, the push rod drives a bar section ~ ~-;~15 of a fastener through the needle. When the hand lever is released, r spring means retuxns the push rod and causes the too~led membex to drive the toothed wheel. A release control is provided to pull the pawl away from the teeth of the toothed wheel to permit the fastener assembly to be pulled out of the apparatus.
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Summary of the Invention ; The invention relates to improvements to tag t attaching apparatus especially to apparatus accordin~ to U.S. patent No. 3,759,435 of Bone which issued 1973. In , one embodiment, the apparatus includes a slotted needle having a side opening, a toothed wheel, a pawl cooperable with the toothed wheel, a push rod, a slide, a knife, an actuator, and gear means coupled to the actuator, the slide ;~ -having a gear seckion cooperable with the gear means. The ælide is used only for driving the push rod, and the fastener -~-assemhly is advanced by a simple pawl and ratchet mechanism.
The pawl is mounted on a pivot carried by a plate. ~he plate ! --~ is secured directly to the hand lever, and a ratchet wheel ;~ secured coaxially to the feed wheel is driven by the paul when -~
3 the hand lever is released. The pawl has an extension or -~i handle by which the pawl can be disengaged so that the - fastener assembly can~be removed from the apparatus.
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; FIGU~J 1 is a side clcvati.ol-al vi.cw with ccrtain parts broken away for clarity, showincJ op~rative componcnts of a ta~ attaching apparatus in thcir initial positions;
FIGURE 2 is a sectionàl view tàken ~cnerally along line 2~-2 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2; ~ r ; FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of a fastener assembly;
FIGURE S is a fragmentary side elevational view of the fastener assembly shown in FIGUR~ 4; ; r FIGU~E 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing ~:
the operative components in a different position than in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7--7 of FIGURE l; ¦:
TIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a toothed member .
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~hown in FIG~ES 1 and 6; j-: .
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FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly for driving a fastener, but showing the structure in a different position fxom the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 6;
FIGU~E 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of ~i 25 operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly and for --:. -driving a fastener, in accordance with a different embodiment;
FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11--11 of ~ FIGURE 10;

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FIGUI~ 12 is a fragmentary si~le~ ~leva~ional view of ' operating s~ructure for advancing thc fastener assembly and for drivin~ a fastencr, in acco~?nce with anotller embodimcnt;
FIGUR~ 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13- 13 of FIGURE 12; 1' FIGUR~ 14 is a rayme-,ntary side elevational view I of operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly and : for driving a fastener, in accordance with another embodiment; ,.
FIGUR~ 15 is a sec~ional view taken along line 15--15 of FIGURE 14;
FIGURES 16 and 17 are fragmentary side elevational views of different embodiments of operating structures for ~ advancing the fastener assembly and for driving a fastener;
` FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view of another ji.
embodiment of tag attaching apparatus;
i FIGURE 19 is an enlarged side elevational view of a ¦ fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 18, showing ~j the operating structure in the same relative position as in FIGURE 18;
~20 FIGURE 20 is a view similar to ~IGURE 19, but showing .~ the operating structure in a different relative position; and-, FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken generally along ¦
line 21--21 of FIGURE 20. l -~, . . - li ~

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, ,,,., . . . , , . . . -Descr.ip~ion of tl~c rrcfcrred J~mbo~imcnts Referriny to thc embodimcnt of FIGUR~S 1 through 9, there is discloscd a tag attaching apparatus gencrally indicated at 27. The apparatu`s 77 has a body 28 with two body sections 29 and 30. The body 28 has.a nose portion 31 having a guideway 32 adapted to receive a fastener assembly 33 of the type shown in FIG~RES~ 4 and 5. The fastener assembly . 33 includes a plurality of fasteners 34. Each fastener 34 includes ; a head or bax section 35 and a head or button section 36 joined by a filament section 37. The fasteners 34 are connected to a common carrier member or runner 38 by respective coupling members 39. The guideway 32 is adapted to receive the ~- ~ommon carrier member 38, the coupling members 39, and the bar .. section 35 and the filament sections 37 extend.out of the side of the appara~us 27.
; The nose portion 31 mounts a hollow needle 40 having 3 an elongated slot 41. The bar section 35 is able t~ pass through *he bore or passage 42 which extends through the needle 40 while . -its filament section 37 extends or projects through the slot !"~
, 20 41. The needle 40 has a rear cutting edge 43 for cutting the . :
. bar sections 35 from their respective coupling,members 39. ~--:~he needle 40 has a slot 44 through which the bar sections 35 .
. can descend into the needle 40. An actuator generally indicated . . . .
-~ at 45 is shown to comprise a hand lever ~6 adapted to be engaged .
~, 25 by the user's fingers. The hand lever 46 is pivotally mounted . -f to the body 28 by a pin or shaft 45'. The lever 46 is drivingly :~ -connected to gear means generally indicated at 47 ~y a link ..
. or connecting member 48. The connecting member 48 i9 pivotally connccted to the l~and lever 46 by a pin 4~'and to the gear -6- ~ .
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1(~4 ~L~h~ ' , means 47 by a pin 49. Thc gear mcans 47 is shown to comprise L
.~ a pair of gear scgments 50 and Sl h~vlng ro.spective teeth 52 . and 53. The gcar segments 50 and 51 are in turn pivotally mounted to the body 28 by means`'of aligned posts 54 and 55 formed S integrally with xespecti.ve body sections 29 and 30. A slide generally indicated at 5G is guided for sliding movement in guide-. ways or slots 57 and 58 in th~ respective body sections 29 and 30. r The slide 56 has a plurality of sets of holes S9 to receive the , -teeth 52 and 53. Thus, the slide 56 includes a ge~r section or specifically a rac~ wi~h which the gear segments 50 and 51 cooperate. ~n ejector or push rod 60 is segurely held to the slide 56 so that the slide 56 and the push rod 60 move as a unit .. upon manual actuation of hand lever 46. The push rod 60 is guided by means of a guide member 60" so that the push rod 60 :~ 15 moves in alignment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. When ~ the user squeezes the hand lever 46 while the body 28 is .:} against the palm of the usex's hand, the hand lever 46 pivots ` counterclockwise (FIGURE 1) about pin 45' and thus the gear means . 47 pivots counterclockwise and the slide 56 and the push rod 60 ~
are driven to the left. As the push rod 60 moves to the left ~t drives the bar section 35 of the fastener 34~through the needle ' 40 and in so doing causes the bar section 35 to be severed from l-.
`' its xespective coupling member 39. A return spring mechanism ~ -:j generally indicated at 61 comprises a cavity 62 formed in the ,-:
~ 25 body 28 to allow movement of a telescoping member 63 receivcd .~ in the cavity 62. The-telescoping member 63 is pivotally con- ~-nected to the gear se~nents 50 and 51 by pin structure indicated at 64. One end of a compression spring 61' bears against the body 28 in the cavity G2 and its other end bears against mem- -~, 30 ber 63, When thc hand levcr 46 is releascd from the squeezing ~ction exex~cd hy the usor, the return sprin~ mechanism 61 will ~, . .

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cause the hand lever 46, the member ~8, the gear means 47, the slide 5G and thc push rod 60 to return to their respective : initial positions shown in FIGURE 1.
The apparatus 27 includes fastener assembly feeding mechanism generally indicated at 65 for feeding the fastener assembly 34 to position one bar section 35 at a time into alignment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. The feeding :. mechanism 65 is shown to include a toothed wheel 66 secured to a shaft 67 rotatably mounted in a hole 68 in the body .10 section 30. The toothed wheel 66 is ~ositioned in a space between a cover 69, shown broken away in ~IGURE 1 but shown : more fully in U.S. patent No. 3,759,435, and~body portion 30. The gear 66 has a plurality o~ teeth 70 disposed on the peripllery for engaging the coupling members 39. The wheel 66 is rotated counterclockwise (FIGURES 1, 6 and 9) by action of a cooperable '-pawl generally indicated at 71. The pawl 71 is mounted for li .
generally reciproca~le movement and is constructed using ~wo l-:
hasic parts, namely a toothed member 72 having a tooth 73 and a pawl member 74. A pin 75.pivotally connects the members ,20 72 and 74. The member 72 is provided with a slotted pivot hole ~ -. 76 or slot generally indicated at 76 through wl-ich the shaft 67 - .
extends. The member 72 is adapted to rock back and forth over the shaft 67 as the result of movement of pawl member 74. The 3 tooth 73 is hook-like and engages one tooth 70 at a time of the ~- -;l25 toothed wheel 66 to rotate it. The slot 76 has parallel upper .~ and lower walls 77 and 78 which are angularly disposed wi~h ¦ respect to tooth 73 so that when the member 72 is rocked. in ! - -one direction, the tooth 73 is cammed out of engagement wi.th ~he ',-.
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~ 8-s 1,, wheel 66 and wllcn rocked in the opposite direction thc tOOtll -73 is cammcd into engac3cment wi~h tlle wl~ccl 66, There exis~s an acute angle ~ between the parallel walls 77 and 78 and tooth 73 to effect the camming movement. When the member 72 S is moved suf~iciently by the p.awl member 74 the one end of the slotted hole 76 contacts the shaft 67. Because the walls 77 ;;
; and 78 are angled with respect to the tooth 73, movement in one direction causes tooth 73 to cam out of enga~ement between the two adjacent teeth 70 and movement in the other direction causes tooth 73 to cam into engagement with wheel 66, Further movement of the member 72 in the direction which causes engage-ment will then cause rotation of the wheel 66. In o~der to prevent wheel 66 from rotating as the member 72 is rocked back and . forth relative to the wheel 66 there is provided on cover member ,15 69 a xesilient member 79 having a projection or detent 80. The 3 det~nt 80 is adapted to be positioned in the space between two adjacent teeth 70 to prevent the wheel 66 from rotating except ' . when actuated by the member 72 or when the fastener s, assembly 34 is pulled upwardly out of the guideway 32. The ~20 pawl member 74 is slidably mounted in the body 28 between the . initial position shown in FIGURE 1 and the posLtion shown in ~IGURE.6. The pawl member 74 is supported at its rearward end ! -by a member 81 slidably movable in a cavity 82 in the body i l -., section 30. ~he member 81 is urged upwardly against pawl member ~25 75 by a spring 84 toward a projection or pin 83. The structure ;3 described àbove under this heading is the same as ln U.S. rl :
patent No 3~759~435 to wh.ich further reference may be made for ~ !
further constructional details.

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~ efcrring now to the prcsent improvcm~nt, FIGU~E 1 ~hows the pawl membcr 74 as having a sin~le abutmcnt or pro-jection 85 depending in the do~mward direction. The a~utmcnt 8S has an abutment or stop face 86 with which a pin or projection 87 connected to the gear se~ment Sl can cooperate.
In the position shown in FIGU~E 1, the projection 87 bears against the abutment face 86 in counteraction to a compression spring 88. One end of the spring 88 bears against the rearward end of the pawl member 74 and the other end of the spring 88 bears against body section 30. In the position shown in FIGURE 1, the member 72 is in its initial position iD the sequence ,- of operation which is the same as its final position in the ; ~e~uence. When the actuator 45 is squeezed, the gear means 47 and hence the projection 87 move counterclockwise and during such counterclockwise movement the pawl member 74 moves to the left (FIGURE 1) unaer the biasing action of the spring 88.
As the pawl member 74 moves to the left from the position ~hown in FIGURE 1 through the position shown in FIGURE 9 towa d the position shown in FIGURE 6 the projection 8i loses contact i 20 with the stop face 86 when the lefthand movement of the pawl ^~ member 74 is arrested due to the fact that the shaft 67 is now in contact with one end 89 of the slot 76. When the user discontinues squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring :
j mechanism 61 causes the gear means 47 to ~otate clockwise 1 25 and when the projection 87 moves into contact with the abutment :
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~cc 8G, the projectioll 87 ~egins (triving ~he pawl mcn!l~cr 74 to the rigl~t against the action of ~he spring 88. Whcn the gear means 47 nears the end o~ i~s clockwisc movemen~, the pawl member 7~ clrives the member 72 to a position in which ~nd 90 of the slot 76 cont~cts th~ sl~ft 67 and pivots the membcr 72 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 1. As the pawl member 74 continues to be driven to the right by clockwise rotation of the gear means 47 r and projection 87, the toothed member 72 drives the wheel 66 ` 10 counterclockwise. The counterclockwise rotation of the wheel ,, 66 brings the next successive bar section 35 into ali~nment with '~ ' the needl,e bore 42 an~ the end 60' of the push rod 60. Thus, the wheel 66 rotates through such an angle as to advance the l --fastener assembly 33 through a distance equal to the distance ! -`
from the centerline of one bar ,section 35 to the centerline . of the next adjacent bar section 35. The springs 61' and 88 ,~
~ are shown to be in force opposition. It is noted that the spring r ', 88 is re.latively iight and the spring 61 is relatively heavy so ,,~ - that release of the hand lever 46 by the user overcomes the force ,~ 20 of the spring 88.
Briefly stated the sequence of operation of the apparatus 27 is as follows, assuming the apparatus has'been loaded 1.
i ' with a fastener assembly 33. The user squeezes the actua~or 45~ 1' j ~ which causes the gear means 47 to pivot counterclockwise 2S (FIGVRE 1) to drive the slide 56,and the push rod 60 to the '~ left,~FIGURE 1). When the end 60' of the'push rod 60 acts on one end of the bar section 35, the knife 43 severs the coupling member 39 and the bar section 35 continues to move through the ,needle 40 as the push rod 60 continues to move. While the year .,~ .
means 47 is pivoting counterclockwise, the pawl member 7~ moves to the lct undcr the action o the spring 88, thereby moving thc ... . .

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'11-mem~cr 72 from tlle position ShOWII in FIGURE 1 to the position ---sl)own in FICURE 6. Whcn the uscr releases the sque~ze on the actuator ~5, tlle return sprin~ m~chanism 61 drivcs thc gear means 47 clockwise (FIGURE 6) ~o withdra~ the pusl- rod 60 from the needle ~0 and mov~ end:60r clear of.the ncxt ba~- section 35 to enable its descent into thc needlc through tl~e slot 44.
Continued clockwise movcment causes the projection 87 to contact abutment face 86 to drive pawl member 74 to thc right to thus move ~he member 72 to a position between adjacent teeth 70 of the wheel ~6 and to drive the wheel 66 to in turn : advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 of the drawings, the tag attaching apparatus 27A is the .same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as sho~n in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 are shown with like reference characters as ln the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The pawl member 74a ~lffers from the pawl member 74 in that the pawl member 74a has : ~-an abutment or stop 95 with abutment or stop faces 96 and 97.
, ~0 The gear means 47 has a pair of radially spaced apart pro- ~
jections or pins 98 and 99. When the gear means 47 is in the ' .--posil-ion shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, .the pawl member 74a is in ,:--the position of the pawl member 74 in FIGURE 1, and a sociated . , parts such as the push rod 60 and the toothed wheel 66 and the , :.:
toothed member 72 are in their respective positions shown in . .
, ~IGURE 1. When ~he user squeezes the actuator 45, the gear - ~ans 47 is pivoted couliterclockwise (FIGUR~ 10) and when the projéction 99 starts contacting the abutment ~ace 97 o~ the j n ,~"~'"
~butment 95, the pawl membex 74a is driven to the le~t, thexeby .. .

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driving the mcn~cr 72 to the posi~ion of r~IGUR~ 6. In the meantime thc push rod 60 has pusll~d a bar scction 35 ~hrough boxe 42 of the needle 40. When the user ceases squcezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 drivcs the ~ear means ~7 clockwise, and when the projection 98 starts', contacting the abutment face 96 o~ the abutment 95, the pawl member 74a is driven to the right until the gear means 47 has reached the initial position shown in FIGUR~ 10, thereby driving the toothed wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 12 and 13, . the tag attaching apparatus 27B is the same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawin~s and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURES 12 and 13 are !:
shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of !! -~15 FIGURES 1 through 9. The pawl member 74b differs from the pawl member 74 in that it mounts a paix of abutment members 100 and 101 which are mounted on and independently movable relative to f, the pawl member 74b by respective pivots 102 and 103. The abutment m$mbers 100 and 101 are urged to respective positions ~20 parallel to pawl member 74b by respective leaf sprin~s 104 and !-,,.104'. The abutment members 100 and 101 have respective abutment .
or stop faces 105 and 106. The gear means 47 has a pair of ~, radially spaced apaxt projections or pins 107 and 108. When the ~ gear means 47 is in the position shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 the ~, .~2S pawl memher 74b is in the position of the pawl member 74 in FIGURE 1, and associated parts such as the push rod 60 and the toothed wheel 66 and the member 72 are in their respective .

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positions shown in FIGUl~ 1. When the user s~ueezcs the actuator 45, the gear means q7 is pivoted countcrclockwise ~FIGURE 12) and the projection 107,moves out of contact ,;
with the abutmcnt facc 105. As tl-e gear means 47 and the projection 107 move counterclockwise the spring 104' urges the abutment member 101 clockwise to a position parallel to the pawl member 74b. When the projection 108 contacts the r lower surface of the abutment member 100, the projection 108 pivots the abutment member 100 clockwise a~ainst the -urging of the spring 104 and near the end of travel of the projection 108, the projection 108 contacts the abutment face ,~
'` 106 of the abutment member 101 and thereby drives the pawl j I -- -member 74b to the left. This causes member 72 to move from -' the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE
,~15 6. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the gear ' '~
t means 47 is driven clockwise by the return spring mechanism 61, j-, the abutment member 101 is pivoted counterclockwise by the projection 107, and when the gear means 47 nears the initial , -- ., . .- .
position, the projection 107 contacts the abutment face 105 and -,~20 drives the pawl member 74b to the right, thereby causing the ' -1 'toothed member 72 to advance the toothed wheel 66 to advance I -~
'' the fastener assembly 33. ' I' .. ~ i , With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 14 and f ~ 15, the tag attaching apparatus 27C is the same as the tag ~' $.25 attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and r i indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURES 14 !. ' ~ and 15 are shown with like reference characters as in the , j ' ' i e~bodiment o FIGU~S 1 through 9. The pawl member 74c di~fers iJ from the pawl member 74 in that it carries a pivot 109 and the 1~
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gear scgment 51 carries a pivot 110. ~ link 111 is pivotally conncc~ed to the pivot 109; and the. gear segmcnt 51 carries a pivot 110. Links 111 and 11~ are pivotally connected to each othe.r by ,neans of a pivot 113. The link 112 has an integrally -. 5 formed turned out tag which provides a stop 114. The stop 114 , is disposed in the plane of the link lll.so that when the links r ; 111 and 112 buckle to the phantom line positions shown in FIGURE
14 the stop 114 limits the relative pivotal movement of the links 111 and 112. Thus, when the actuator 45 is squeezed, the ;10 gear means 47 begins to pivot counterclockwise (FIGURE 14) and ,;
the links 111 and 112 pivot without imparting any motion to the ` pawl member 74c. However, when the abutment 114 contacts the '~ link 111 and upon continued counterclockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the pawl member 74c is driven to the left (FIGURE
,.15 . 14), thereby moving the member 72 from the position shown in ,' . ~ . . I . .. ~IGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 . pivots the gear means 47 clockwise and the links 111 and 112 ~i ' move to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 14 in which the ! i .~20 link 111 contacts stop pin or projection li4' carried by the Ij. -pawl member 74c. Upon continued clockwise rotation of the ~!
. gear means 47, the link 111 exerts a pulling ~orce on the pawl. !1 member 74c to drive the pawl member 74c to the right (FIGURE 141, -~
thereby driving member 72 to drive-the wheel 66 to advance the ~1 -a8tener assembly 33. .¦

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Wit:ll rC~CrerlCC ~0 ~ IIC cm~odimcnt o~ FIGU~E 16, tho ta(J ~ttaching app~ra~uY 27D is tlle samc as the tag a~tachin~3 appa~a~us 27 excc~t as shown in tlle drawing~ and indicated below, Like parts in the cmbodimcnt of FIGUR~ 16 are shown S wi~h like reference characters às in the cmbodim~nt of FIGUR~S ,~
1 through.9. The pawl m~mber 74d is like the pawl member 74 except it carries a projection 115. ~ link 116 has an ; elon~ated slo~ or cutout generally indicated at 117 in which the projection 115 is rec~ived. The link 116 is pivotally I -connected to the gear means 47 by a pin 118 secured to the gear means 47. When the actuator 45 is squeezed, the gear means 47 pivots counterclockwise and the lin,k 116 is driven to the left from the position shown. When abutment end 119 of the slot 117 contacts the projection 115, the pawl member 74d j?---,15 is driven to the left, thereby causing the member ?2 to be ~ -driven from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the positlon shown i in FIGURE 6. ~hen the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, `, the return spring mechanism 61 rotates the gear means 47 clock- i ; wise and the link 116 is dxiven to the right. When other abut~ ¦
~0 ment end 120 of the slot 117 contacts the projection 115 and upon continued clockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the ¦~
link 116 exerts a pulling force on the pawl member 74d to drive ! ~- - -the pawl member 74d to the right, thereby driving the member 72 to drive the wheel 66 ~o advance the fastener assembly 33. f ~5 With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 17, the ¦ -t tag attaching apparatus 27E is the same AS the tag attaching ~i apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and indicated li i below. Like parts of the embodiment of ~IGURE 17 are shown ¦
with like reerence characters as in the en~odiment of FIGURES
~ 1 through 9. The pawl membcr 74e is like the pawl member 74 ¦ -,,' i ::
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except that it has an elongatcd slot or cutout gcnerally indicated at 121. A link 122 carrics a projcction or pin 123. The gear mcans 47 carr~es a pin 124 to which the link 122 is pivotally connected. When the actuator ~5 is squeezed, the gear means 47 pivots counterclockwise and the link 122 is driven to the.le~t rom the position shown. j When the projection 123 contacts end or abutment 125 of the cutout 121, the pawl 74e is driven to the left, thereby causing the member 72 to be driven ~rom the position shown in FIGURE
``10 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 rotates the gear means 47 clockwise and the link 122 is driven ^i . ~ j i to the right. When the projection 123 contacts other end i or abutment 126 of the cutout 121 and upon continued clockwise j15 rotation of the gear means 47, the link 122 exerts a pulling r;
force on the pawl member 74e to drive the pawl member 74e to `
i the right, thereby driving member 72 to drive the wheel 66 to . advance the fastener assembly 33. 1, -~' The tag attaching apparatus 27F is the sa~e as the If tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown:in the drawings 1, and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURES
18 through 21 are shown with like reference characters as in l' j the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. In the embodiment of ,'---M GURES 18 through 21, the only function of the gear means 47 is to drive the slide 56. A plate 127 is secured to the hand lever 46 by fasteners 128. The plate 127 is generally flat and is constructed of metal. The plate 127 can be f'` ' ' ' ' 1i ,, . ~' .
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considcrcd to be an extcn~ion o~ the hand lcver 46, Thc platc 127 carrics a pos~ 129 which pivotally mounts a pawl 130. The pawl 130 is shown to bc of one-picce construction : unlike the pawl 71 used in the èn~odiments of ~IGURES 1 through '. 5 17. The pawl generally indicated at 130 has a tooth 131 which ,, is cooperable with a toothed wheel in ti~e form of a ratchet '. .
wheel 132. The ratchet wheel 132 has a plurality of teeth r ~
., !
133 disposed at its periphery. The ratchet wheel.l32 is secured ' ~
to the shaft 67 to which the toothed wheel 66 is also secured. I -~ tension spring 134 is connected to one end 135 of the pawl 130. The-other end of spring 134 is connected to a tang secured to the plate 127. The post 129 is disposed between the end 135 ,;
and the tooth 131. The p wl 130 has a manually engageable I ~ .
extension 136 which extends beyond the tooth and which i5 dis~
t, . .
~15 pos~d at an end of the pawl 130 opposite the end 135. The 1~ :
pawl 130 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 132 to advance the ¦~
fastener.assembly 33 through a distance equal to the distance from the centerline of one bar section 35 and the centerline ¦-~,t~. of the next adjacent bar section 35 upon each full actuator ¦---~,20 of the hand lever 46, that is, squeezing the hand lever 46 j: .
drives the pawl 130 from the initial positions shown in ~
i FIGURES 18 and 19 to the position shown in FIGURE 20, and release 1 -of the hand lever allows mechanism 61 to return the pawl 130 to c . its initial position and in so doing the pawl 130 drives the L~
5 ratchet wheel 132.

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Other embodirnen~s and modifications.of this in-vention will suyyest thcmselvcs to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come wi.thin the spirit of this invention are includcd within i~s scope as best defincd by the appended claims.

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Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for attaching tags using fasteners, the fasteners being arranged in an assembly, each fastener including a bar section and a head section joined by a filament section, the fasteners being coupled to a common carrier member by respective coupling members, the apparatus comprising: a body, a hollow needle having an elongated slot along one side supported by the body and extending outwardly of the body, a push rod supported by the body for driving a bar section of a fastener through the needle with a filament section of the fastener extending through the slot, means engageable with the coupling manners for feeding the fastener assembly so that one bar section of one fastener at a time can-be brought into position to be pushed through the needle by the push rod, the feeding means including a toothed wheel, a manually en-gageable hand lever, a gear segment, a gear section driven by the gear segment for driving the push rod, a pivot carried by the hand lever, a pawl pivotally mounted on the pivot, a tooth carried by the pawl, a spring acting on the pawl and on the hand lever for urging the pawl into contact with the wheel, the hand lever being effective upon actuation to cause the push rod to be driven to drive a fastener through the needle and to drive the pawl from a first position to a second position, and return spring means for returning the hand lever, the push rod, the gear segment and the gear section to their initial positions and for driving the pawl from the second position to the first position to advance the fastener assembly.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a manually engageable handle on the pawl for enabling dis-engagement of the pawl from the toothed wheel to enable the assembly to be removed.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the feeding means further includes an indexing wheel secured against rotation of the toothed wheel for engaging the coupling members of the fastener assembly.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plate secured to the hand lever and the pivot being secured to the plate.

5. Apparatus for attaching tags using fasteners, the fasteners being arranged in an assembly, each fastener including a bar section and a head section joined by a filament section, the fasteners being coupled to a common carrier member by respective coupling members, the apparatus comprising: a body, a hollow needle having an elongated slot along one side supported by the body and extending outwardly of the body, a push rod supported by the body for driving a bar section of a fastener through the needle with a filament section of the fastener extending through the slot, means engageable with the coupling members for feeding the fastener assembly so that one bar section of one fastener at a time can be brought into position to be pushed through the needle by the push rod, the feeding means including a toothed wheel, a manually engageable hand lever, a pivot carried by the hand lever, a pawl mounted on the pivot and cooperable with the toothed wheel, a spring acting on the pawl and the hand lever for urging the pawl into contact with the wheel, the hand lever being effective upon actuation to cause the push rod to drive a fastener through the needle and to drive the pawl from a first position to a second position, and return spring means for returning the hand lever, the coupling means and the push rod to their initial positions and for driving the pawl from the second position to the first position.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including a plate secured directly to the hand lever, the pivot being mounted on the plate.