CA1044502A - 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 thereafter 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. In accordance with still another embodiment, means for moving the push rod and the pawl includes cooperating gears and one of the gears includes a groove or slot. A link movably connected to the pawl carries a projection received in the groove. The groove terminates at spaced apart abutment faces. The gears are driven by an actuator. When the actuator is operated, the gear with the groove moves until one abutment face contacts the pro-jection to move the pawl from a first position to a second position and when the actuator is released the gear with the groove moves relative to the projection until the other abutment face contacts the projection and moves the pawl to in turn drive the toothed wheel.

Description

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. ~, . . , .. Background of the Invention J Field of the Invention ~.
This invention relates to the art of tag attaching "~ apparatus.
~ 10 Brief Description of the Prior Art .
U.S. patent No. 3,103,666 to A. R. Bone dated ~ September 17, 1963 discloses a tag attac.hing 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 lS a fastener assembly, a pivotally mounted knife for severing an . ;~ .
;; attachment which is in register with the needle from the i.~ remainder of the fastener assembly, and a hand lever includin~
means for operating the toothed wheel, the knife and the push rod in sequence. Japanese Utility Model Registration No.
. 20 949,012 to T. Kameya et al dated December 13, 1971 discloses .,.
~-- 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 siide carries the push rod and actuates the .;
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.~s pawl that cooperates with the index wheel. ~U.S. patent No.
:. 25 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 .

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Docket M-320 apart abutments for driving a pawl by means of a pin rcceived in a slot in the slide. When the hand lever i8 actuat~, the push rod and slide are operated. W~en the pin contacts one r end of the slot the tooth of the pawl is driven over a tooth of a ratchet wheel. When the hand lever is released, a return spring causes the pin to engage the other end of the slot, thereby driving the pawl to cause the ratchet and feed wheels to advance the fastener assembly. U.S. patent No.
3,652,004 to ~. Lozio dated March 28, 1972, includes a needle, a push rod, a kinematic mechanism, and a hand lever for driving the push rod and the kinematic mechanism. The kinematic mechanism includes a pivotally mounted pawl r ; cooperable with a ratchet wheel to feed a fastener assembly to the needle and the push rod. U.S. patent No. 3,759,435 15 to A. R. 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 slide 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 of a fastener through the needle.
When the hand lever is released, spring means returns the push rod and causes the toothed member 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 This invention relates to a tag attaching apparatus in which a pawl and a push rod are operated by cooperating gears and in which one of the gears has a cutout or groove 5 which controls the actuation of the pawl. The pawl is movable from a first position to a second position, and the pawl drives a toothed wheel during movemeilt of the pawl from the second position back to the first position. ~ link is movably connected to the pawl and carries a projection received 10 in the groove. The groove has spaced-apart opposed abutment faces. A manually operable actuator drives the gears. When the gear with the groove is driven in one direction, *he pro- i jection contacts the one abutment face near the end of gear ; travel in the one direction to move the pawl from the first r 15 position to the second positio~ and when the gear with the groove i driven in the other direction, the projection contacts the other abutment face near the end of gear travel in the other direction to move the pawl from the second position to the first position to in turn drive the toothed wheel. When the 20 tooth is driven the fastener assembly is indexed so that a leading bar section is brought into alignment with a hollow needle. The ends of the groove are so spaced and oriented ~, .
relative to the proiection so that the pawl travels the proper distance and so that the push rod does not interfere with the 25 proper advance of the leading bar section into alignment with -~ the bore.
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~ief Description of the Drawings : FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away for clarity, showing operative components . of a tag attaching apparatus in their initial positions;
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;; 5FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2--2 of FIGURE li ; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken ~ along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2:
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FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of a fastener 10 assembly; !
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view :`. of the fastener assembly shown in FIGURE 4;
?'. FIGURE 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;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a toothed `., member shown in FIGURES 1 and 6;
20FIGURE 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 ~ :
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~- position from the po~itions shown in FIGURES 1 and 6;
FIGURE lO is a fragmentary side elevational view of .~ .
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 of FIGURE 10;
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FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sidc elevational view of operating structure for advancing the fa~tener as~embly and for driving a fastener, in accordance with another embodiment;
FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13--13 of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 14 iS a fragmentary side elevational view r of operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly and for driving a fastener, in accordance,with another embodiment;
FIGURE 15 is a sectional 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;
$~ 15 FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view of another r ~ embodiment of tag attaching apparatus;
.` FIGURE 19 is an enlarged side elevational view of - a fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 18, showing the operating structure in the same relative position as in FIGURE 18;
: FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 19, but showing ~ the operating structure in a different relative position;
; ` FIGURE 21 iS a sectional view taken generally along line 21--21 of FIGURE 20; r FIGURE 22 iS an enlarged side elevational, partly sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention;
and FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken along line ~ 23--23 of FIGURE 22.

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Descri~tion of the Preferred Embodiments , .
: Referring to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9, there is disclosed a tag attaching apparatus generally indicated at 27. The apparatus 27 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 assembly33 of the type shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The fastener r as~embly 33 includes a plurality of fasteners 34. Each fastener 34 includes a head or bar 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 r ::; 38 by respective coupling members 39. The guideway 32 is adapted to receive the common carrier member 38, the coupling members 39, and the bar section 35 and the filament sections 37 extend out of the side of the apparatus 27.
: The nose portion 31 mounts a hollow needle 40 having an elongated slot 41. The bar section 35 is able to pass through the bore or passage 42 which extends through the . ~
needle 40 while its filament section 37 extends or projects through the slot 41. The needle 40 has a rear cutting edge .
43 for cutting the bar sections 35 from their respective coupling members 39. The needle 40 has a slot 44 through . which the bar sections 35 can descent into the needle 40.
An actuator generally indicated at 45 is shown to comprise a hand lever 46 adapted to be engaged by the user's fingers.
; The hand lever 46 is pivotally mounted to the body 28 by a ; pin or shaft 45'. The lever 46 is drivingly connected to gear ~ means generally indicated at 47 by a link or connecting member '.

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io4~5~z 48. ~he connecting member 48 i8 pivotally connected to the hand lever 46 by a pin 48' and to the gear means 47 ~ -by a pin 49. The gear means 47 is shown to comprise a pair of gear segments 50 and 51 having respective teeth 52 and 53. The gear segments 50 and 51 are in turn pivotally mounted to the body 28 by means of aligned posts 54 and 55 formed integrally with respective body sections 29 and 30.
A slide generally indicated at 56 is guided for sliding movement in guideways or slots 57 and 58 in the respective f lo body sections 29 and 30. The slide 56 has a plurality of sets of holes 59 to receive the teeth 52 and 53. Thus, the r slide 56 includes a gear section or specifically a rack with which the gear segments 50 and 51 cooperate. An ejector or :: push rod 60 is securely 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 moves in '~ allgnment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. When the user ~ ' squeeze~ the hand lever 46 while the body 28 is against the : 20 palm of the user's hand, the hand lever 46 pivots counter-clockwise (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 it drives the bar section 35 of the fastener 34 through : 25 the needle 40 and in so doing causes the bar section 35 to be severed from its respective coupling member 39. A return spring mechanism generally indicated at 61 comprises a cavity ;
62 formed in the body 28 to allow movement of a telescoping !

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member 63 receive~ in the cavity 62. The telcscopin-J member 6~ is pivotally connccted to the g~ar s~ymont~ 50 and 51 by pin structure indicated at 64. One end of a compression spring 61' bears against the body 28 in the cavity 62 and its other end bears against member 63. When the hand lever 46 is released from the squeezing action exerted by the user, the return spring mechanism 61 will cause the hand lever 46, the member 48, the gear means 47, the slide S6 and the push rod 60 to return to their respective initial positions shown in FIGURE 1.
The apparatus 27 includes a 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 section 50. The toothed wheel 66 is positioned in a space between a member 69, shown broken away in PIGURE 1 but shown . more fully in U.S. patent No. 3,759,435, and body portion 30.
The gear 66 has a plurality of teeth 70 disposed on the : periphery 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 generally reciprocable movement and is con-:~ 25 structed using two basic parts, namely a toothed member 72 ;, having a tooth 73 an~ a link or link member 74. A pin 75 ^ pivotally connects the members 72 and 74. The member 72 is -~x, provided with a slot generally indicated at 76 through which `~ the shaft 67 extends. The member 72 is adapted to rock back and forth over the shaft 67 as the result of movement of link . member 74. The tooth 73 is hook-like and engages one tooth 70 ... .

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at a time of the toothed wheel 66 to rotate it. The slot 76 has parallel upper and lowex walls 77 and 78 which are angularly disposed with respect to tooth 73 so that when the member 72 is rocked in one direction, the tooth 73 is cammed out of engage-5 ment with the wheel 66 and when rocked in the opposite direction the tooth 73 is cammed into engagement with the wheel 66. There exists an acute angle A between the parallel walls 77 and 78 and tooth 73 to effect the camming movement.
When the member 72 is moved sufficiently by the link 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 engagement between the two adjacent teeth 70 and move-ment 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 engagement will then cause , s rotation of the whee} 66. In order to prevent wheel 66 from rotating as the member 72 is rocked back and forth relative to the wheel 66 there is provided on member 69 a resilient member 79 having a projection or detent 80. The detent 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 assembly 34 is pulled upwardly out of the guideway 32. The link member 74 is supported at its rearward end by a member 81 slidably ~-'. movable in a cavity 82 in the body section 30. The member , .
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81 is urged upwardly against pawl member 75 by a sprin~ U4 toward a projection or pin 83. The structure described above under this headin~ is the same as in U.S. patent No.

3,759,435 to which further reference may be made for further constructional details.
Referring now to the present improvement, FIGURE
1 shows the link member 74 as having a single abutment or projection 85 depending in the downward d'irection. The abutment 85 has an abutment or ~top face 86 with which a pin or projection 87 connected to the gear segment 51 can cooperate. In the position shown in FIGURE 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 link member 74 and the other end of lS the spring 88 bears against body section 30. In the position shown in FIGURE 1, the member 72 is in its initial position in the se~uence of operation which is the same as its final position in the sequence. When the actuator 45 is squeezed, the gear means 47 and hence the projection 87 move counter-~- 20 clockwise and during such counterclockwise movement the link member 74 moves to the left (FIGUR~ 1) under the biasing action of the spring 88. As the link member 74 moves to the left ` from the position c~hown in FIGURE 1 through the position shown ;~ in FIGURE 9 toward the position shown in FIGURE 6 the pro-jection 87 loses contact with the stop face 86 when the left-hand movement of the link member 74 is arrested due to the . ~ .
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fact that the shaft 67 is now in contact with one end 89 of the slot 76. When the user discontinues ~queezin~ the actuator 45, th~ return 9pring mechanism 61 causes the gear means 47 to rotate clockwise and when the projection 87 moves into contact with the abutment face 86, the projection 87 begins driving the link member 74 to the right against the action of the spring 88. When the gear means 47 neaxs the end of ; its ciockwise movement, the link member 74 drives the member 72 to a position in which end 90 of the 810t 76 contacts the shaft 67 and pivots the member 72 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 1.
As the link member 74 continues to be driven to the right by clockwise rotation of the gear means 47 and projection 87, the toothed member 72 drives the wheel 66 counterclockwise.
The counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 66 brings the next successive bar section 35 into alignment with the needle bore 42 and the end 60' of the push rod 60. Thus, the wheel 66 rotates through such an angle as to advance the fastener ; assembly 33 through a distance equal to the distance from the 20 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 88 is relatively light and the spring 61 is relatively heavy so that release of the hand lever 46 by the user overcomes the force of the spring 88.
-; Briefly stated the sequence of operation of the apparatus 27 is as follows, assuming the apparatus has been ~ .
loaded with a fastener assembly 33. The user squeezes the . ~
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45i~)2 actuator 45, whicll cause3 the ~ear mearl~ 47 to pivo~counterclockwise (FIGURE 1) to drive the slide 56 and the push rod 60 to the left (F~GUI~ 1). Wh~n 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 gear means 47 is pivoting counterclockwise, the link member 74 moves to the left under the action of the spring 88, thereb~ moving the member 72 from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user releases the squeeze on the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 drive the gear means 47 clockwise (FIGURE 6) to withdraw the push rod 60 from the needle 40 and move end 60' clear of the next bar section - 35 to enable its descent into the needle through the slot 44.
Continued clockwise movement causes the projection 87 to contact abutment face 86 to drive link member 74 to the right to thus move the member 72 to a position between adjacent 20 teeth 70 of the wheel 66 and to drive the wheel 66 to in turn ; advance the fastener assembly 33.
: With reference to the embodiment of FIGURFS 10 - and 11 of the drawings, the tag attaching apparatus 27A is the . same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in - ~ 25 the drawings and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment ~. of FIGURES 10 and ll are shown with like reference characters , - ~ ., .
as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74a differs from the linklmember 74 in that the link member 74a ~- has an abutment or stop 95 with abutment or stop faces 96 and 97.
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~he ~ear mean~ 47 has a pair of radially ~paced apart pro-jections or pins 98 and 99. When the gear mean~ 47 is in the position shown in FIGUR~S 10 and ll, the link member 74a is in the position of the link member 74 in FIGURE 1, and 5 associated parts such as the push rod 60 and the toothed wheel 66 and the toothed member 72 are in their respective r positions shown in FIGURE 1. When the user squeezes the actuator 45, the gear means 47 is pivoted'counterclockwise (FIGURE 10) and when the projection 99 starts contacting 10 the abutment face 97 of the abut~ent 95, the link member 74a is driven to the left, thereby driving the member 72 to the position of FIGURE 6. In the meantime the push rod 60 has pushed a bar section 35 through bore 42 of the needle 40. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the , 15 return spring mechanism 61 drives the gear means 47 clock- ' wise, and when the projection 98 starting contacting the abutment face 96 of the abutment 95, the }ink member 74a ;- is driven to the right until the gear means 47 has reached the initial position shown in FIGURE 10, thereby driving the .; 20 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 drawings ~ and indicated below., Like parts in the embodiment of ;,~, 25 FIGURES 12 and 13 are shown with like reference characters - ' as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74b differs from the link member 74 in that it mounts a pair of abutment members 100 and 101 which are mounted on and .. ~ . .
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Doc~et M-320 10445~)Z
independently movable relative to the link member 74b by respective pivots 102 and 103. The abutment members 100 and 101 are urged to respective positions parallel to link member 74b by respective leaf springs 104 and 104'. The abutment me~bers 100 and 101 have respective abutmen~ or stop faces 105 and 106. The gear means 47 has a pair of ; radially spaced apart projections or pins 107 and 108.
~ When the gear means 47 is in the position shown in FIGURES
; 12 and 13 the link member 74b is in the position of the link 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 positions shown in FIGURE 1, When the : user squeezes the actuator 45, the gear means 47 is pivoted . cou~terclockwise (FIGURE 12) and the projection 107 moves .. . . .
out of contact with the abutment face 105. As the gear means 47 and the projection 107 move counterclockwise the ., spring 104' urges the abutment member 101 clockwise to a :. position parallel to the link member 74b. When the projection , 108 contacts the lower surface of the abutment member 100, the projection 108 pivots the abutment member 100 clockwise : against the urging of the spring 104 and near the end of travel of the projecti~n 108, the projection 108 contacts the abutment face 106 of the abutment member 101 and thereby drives the link member 74b to the left. This causes member 72 to move from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, ;;
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Docket M-320 1~4~ 32 the gear means 47 is driven clockwise by the return spring mechanism 61, the abutment member 101 is pivoted counter-clockwise by the projection 107, and when the gear means 47 nears the initial position, the projection 107 contacts S the abutment face 105 and drives the link member 74b to the right, thereby causing the toothed member 72 to advance the toothed wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 14 and 15, the tag attaching apparatus 27C is the same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 e~cept as shown in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURES
14 and 15 are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74c differs : from the link member 74 in that it carries a pivot 109 and the gear segment 51 carries a pivot 110. A link 111 is pivotally connected to the pivot 109, and the gear segment 51 carries a pivot 110. Links 111 and 112 are pivotally connected to each other by means of a pivot 113. The link 112 has an integrally formed turned out tab which provides a stop 114.
The stop 114 is disposed in the plane of the link 111 so : that when the links 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 gear means 47 begins to pivot counterclockwise ~FIGURE 14) and the links 111 and 112 pivot without imparting any motion to the link member 74c. However, when the abutment 114 contacts the link 111 and upon continued ~:`
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Dock~t M-320 1~ 5~

counterclockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link member 74c is driven to the left (FIGURE 14), thereby moving the member 72 from the position shown in FIGURE 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 move to the ~olid line position shown in FIGURE 14 in which the link 111 contacts stop pin or projection 114' carried by the link member 74c. Upon continued clockwise rotation of the gear means 4i, the link 111 exerts a pulling force on the link member 74c to drive the link member 74c to the right (FIGURE 14), thereby driving member 72 to drive the wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 16, ; the tag attaching apparatus 27D is the ~ame as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURE 16 are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74d is like the link member 74 except it carries a projection 115. A link 116 has an elongated slot or cutout generally indicated at 117 in which the projection 115 is received. The link 116 is pivotally 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 link 116 i~ driven to the left from the position shown. When abutment end 119 of the slot 117 contacts the projection 115, the pawl member 74d is driven to the left, thereby causing the member 72 to be dri~en from the position shown in FIGURE 1 3~ to ~he position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases :

Docket M~320 1~4~50~

squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 rotates the gear means 47 clockwise and the link 116 is driven to the right. When other abutment end 12~ of the ~lot 117 contacts the projection 115 and upon con-tinued clockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link116 exerts a pulling force on the link member 74d to drive the link member 74d to the right, thereby driving the member 72 to drive the wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 17, the tag attaching apparatus 27E is the same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURE 17 are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of FIGU~ES 1 through 9. The link member 74e is like the link member 74 except that it has an elongated slot or cutout generally indicated at 121. A link 122 carries a projection or pin 123. The gear means 47 carries a pin 124 to which the link 122 is pivotally connected. When the actuator 45 is squeezed, the gear means 47 pivots counterclockwise and the link 122 is driven to the left from the position shown.
When the projection 123 contacts end or abutment 125 of the cutout 121, the pawl 74e is driven ~o the left, thereby causing the member 72 to be driven from the position shown in FIGURE 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 i9 driven to the right. When the projection 123 contact the other end or abutment 126 of the cutout 121 and upon continued clockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link 122 exerts a pulling force on the link member 74e to drive the link .

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Docket M-320 10~5¢~'~
member 74e to the right, thereby driving member 72 to drive the wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
The tag attaching apparatu 27F is the same as the tag attaching apparatu~ 27 except as shown in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURES
18 through 21 are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of FIGU~ES 1 through 9. In the embodiment of FIGURES 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 considered to be an extension of the hand lever 46. The plate 127 carries a post 129 which pivotally mounts a pawl 130. The pawl 130 is shown to be of onepiece construction unlike the pawl 71 used in the embodiments of FIGURES 1 through 17. The pawl generally indicated at 130 has a tooth 131 which is cooperable with a toothed wheel in the form of a ratchet wheel 132. The ratchet wheel 132 has a plurality of teeth 133 disposed at its periphery. The ratchet wheel 132 is secured to the shaft 67 to which the toothed wheel 66 is also secured. A 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 pawl 130 has a manually engageable extension 136 which extends beyond the tooth and which is disposed at an end of the pawl 130 opposite the end 135. The pawl 130 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 132 to advance the fastener assembly 33 through Docket M-320 ~ 5~

a distance equal to the distance from the centerline of one bar section 35 and the centerline of the next adjacent bar section 35 upon each full actuation of the hand lever 46, that is~ squeezing the hand lever 46 drives the pawl 130 from the initial positions shown in FIGURES 18 and 19 to the position shown in PIGURE 20, and release of the hand le~er allows mechanism 61 to return the pawl 130 to its initial position and in so doing the pawl 130 drives the ratchet wheel 132.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 22 and 23, the tag attaching apparatus 27H is the same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURES
22 and 23 are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The gear segment 51 of the gear 47 is provided with a groove or cutout 200 which is shown to be arcuate and to be concentric with the shaft 54. A member or link 201 is preferably movably connected to link membex 74h of the pawl 71 by a pin or pivot 202. The link 201 is shown to carry a projection or pin 203 received in the groove 200.
The groove 200 has spaced apart ends or abutment faces 204 and Z05. When the actuator 45 is operated, the gear 47 pivots : clockwise (FI~URE 22) and the push rod 60 is moved to the right to sever a bar section 35 from the respective connector 39 by means of cutting edge 43 and to move the bar section 35 through the needle 40 while the filament section 37 extends . through the slot 41. ~ear the end of clockwise travel of the gear 47, the abutment face 204 contacts the projection 203 and therehy dr~ves the link member to the right and pivots the toothed member 72. When the clockwise rotation of the gear 47 ` - 1 9 -, Docket M-320 10'~L5~
is completed and the actuator 45 is released, the return ~pring mechanism 61 drive3 the actuator 45, the link 48, the gear 47 and the slide 56 to their initial positions and near the end of the counterclockwise movement of the gear 47, the projection abuts the abutment face 205 to move the link member 74h to the left, thereby pivoting the toothed member clockwise to drive the toothed wheel 66 to bring the next successive bar section 35 of the respective fastener 34 into alignment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. The spacing and location of the abutment faces 204 and 205 is such that the push rod 60 is moved clear of the path of movement of the : leading bar section 35 before ~he leading bar section 35 is - advanced into alignment with the bore 42, thus preventing the leading bar section 35 from bumping into the retreating push rod 60.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will sugge~t themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.

Claims (3)

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 while a filament section of the fastener extends through the slot, means engageable with the coupling members for feeding the fastener assembly to bring the bar sections one-at-a-time along a path into alignment with the push rod, means for severing the bar sections from the respective coupling members, the feeding means including a toothed wheel, a pawl for engaging the wheel to advance the wheel, the pawl being movable between first and second positions, and means for moving the push rod and the pawl in a sequence, the moving means including a slide having rack teeth, a gear segment in mesh with the rack teeth, the gear segment having a groove with spaced apart abutment faces, a projection received in the groove, a link connected to the pawl and to the projection, a manually operable actuator coupled to the gear section, the projection cooperating with one abutment face upon manual actuation of the actuator to move the pawl from the first position to the second position, means for returning the push rod, the slide, the gear segment, and the actuator to their initial positions, the projection being cooperable with the other abutment face after the push rod has moved clear of the path of movement of the bar sections for moving the pawl from the second position to the first position to effect advance of the toothed wheel.

2. 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 while a filament section of the fastener extends through the slot, means engageable with the coupling members for feeding the fastener assembly to bring the bar sections one-at-a-time along a path into alignment with the push rod, means for severing the bar sections from the respective coupling members, the feeding means including a toothed wheel, a pawl for engaging the wheel to advance the wheel, the pawl being movable between first and second positions, and means for moving the push rod and the pawl in a sequence, the moving means including cooperating gears, one of the gears having a groove with spaced apart abutment faces, the push rod being connected to one of the gears, a projection received in the groove, means connecting the pawl and the projection, a manually operable actuator coupled to the gear with the groove, the projection cooperating with one abutment face upon manual actuation of the actuator to move the pawl from the first position to the second position, means for returning the push rod, the gears and the actuator to their initial positions, the projection being cooperable with the other abutment face after the push rod has moved clear of the path of movement of the bar sections for moving the pawl from the second position to the first position to effect advance of the toothed wheel.

3. 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 while a filament section of the fastener extends through the slot, means engageable with the coupling members for feeding the fastener assembly to bring the bar sections one-at-a-time along a path into alignment with the push rod, means for severing the bar sections from the respective coupling members, the feeding means including a toothed wheel, a pawl for engaging the wheel to advance the wheel, the pawl being movable between first and second positions, and means for moving the push rod and the pawl in a sequence, and moving means including a slide having rack teeth, a gear segment in mesh with the rack teeth, the push rod being connected to the slide, a manually operable actuator coupled to the gear section, the pawl including a line member, a toothed member coupled to the link member and cooperable with the toothed wheel, a groove in the gear segment, a projection received in the groove, a link connecting the link member and the projection, the projection cooperating with one abutment face upon manual operating of the actuator to move the pawl from the first position to the second position, means for returning the push rod, the slide, the gear segment and the actuator to their initial positions, the projection being cooperable with the other abutment face after the push rod has moved clear of the path of movement of the bar sections for moving the pawl from the second position to the first position to effect advance of the toothed wheel.