CA1070541A - Pinning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PINNING APPARATUS
Abstract of the Disclosure There is disclosed a tag attaching method, particularly a method of pinning tags to merchandise and apparatus for carrying out the method. The illustrated apparatus includes a plunger and a cooperable anvil between which a tag and merchandise are positioned and through which a fastener specifically a pin is driven to attach the tag to the merchandise. While the pin is being driven through the tag and merchandise, a movable pin guiding and crimping member moves relative to the plunger, the tag and the pin. The pin is driven firstly through the tag, secondly through the merchandise, thirdly through the merchandise again, fourthly through the tag again, and fifthly through the tag again, and thereupon the movable pin guiding and pin crimping member is moved again to crimp the pin. A bottom tag in a stack is separated by feeding it toward the pinning zone in one machine cycle and the separated tag is positioned between the anvil and the plunger during the early part of the next machine cycle. The tag feeding device for separating the bottom tag and the tag feeding device for positioning the separated tag at the pinning zone move relative to each other during the pinning cycle. A
cycle of machine operation can only be initiated when manually operable actuators disposed on opposite sides of the anvil and plunger are both actuated.

Description

' Doc~et M-3~7-C ~070541 Cross-Reference to Related Applications Reference is hereby made to co-pending Canadian Patent Applications Serial No~. 263,956; 263,957; and 269,958 which claim certain of the subject matter dis-closea in the present application.

Summary of the Invention One of the features of the invention relates to the drive mechan$sm for one of the operative components l~ o a pinning machine, specifically the tag feeding means.
It i9 desired to move the tag feeding device through a con-siderable distance without the use of large or expensive cam~. There is thus provided a drive pin which is movable in a circular path. The drive pin is received in an elongated ~lot in a follower and it is preferred that the follower be pivotally mounted and that the pin engage in the slot between the pivot and the place where the tag feeding device is con-nected to the follower so that the movement of the tag feeding - 1~7~541 Docket M-327-C

dovice i8 relatively large. Another feature of the drive mechani m is in the power transmission from a cam shaft which i~ disposed generally horizontally to operative components including a pin driver which is disposed above the level of the cam shaft. More particularly, a vertical shaft mounted in vertically spaced-apart bearings i5 rotated by cam means on the cam shaft to effect transfer of driving force to the pin driver.

~ocket M-327 1070541 : Background of the Invention Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of tag attaching apparatus and methods, and particularly pinning machines and methods.
Brief Description of the Prior Art The following U.S. patents relate primarily to pinning machines:
Patent No. Patentee Issued 1,954,287 Flood April 10, 1934 1,971,963 Kohnle August 28, 1934

2,023,045 Flood December 3, 193S
2,914,768 Flood Dec~mher 1, 1959

3,025,054 Clemens et al March 13, 1962 3,285,604 Parker November 15, 1966 3,357,618 Parker December 12, 1967 3,527,396 Dudley September 8, 1970 3,709,420 Grushon January 9, 1973 3,837,554 Grushon September 24, 1974 The following U.S. patents relate primarily to sheet feeders:
Patent No. Patentee Issued 998,012 Keyes et al July 18, 1911 1,034,972 Brown August 6, 1912 1,643,646 Swift September 27, 1927 2,265,007 ~yan ~ecember 2, 1941 2,902,279 Spiatto September 1, 1959 3,019,017 Brownsey January 30, 1962 3,029,726 ~ampton et al April 17, 1962 Docket M-327 Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view showing major components of a pinning machine for carrying out the invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view on a larger scale than FIGURE 1, showing major components of the tag feeding mechanism;
PIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the gate structure shown in exploded form in FIGURE 2;
1~ FIGURE 4 i8 a perspective view of the gate structure from a different viewing angle;
FIGURE 5 is an elevational view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIGURE 33;
FIGURE 6 i8 a view showing a fragmentary portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 5, but in a different position;
FIGURE 7 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 5, in yet a different position;
FIGURE 8 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of 2~ the mechanism shown in FIGURE 5 in still a different position;
FIGURE 9 i8 an exploded perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a plunger, an anvil, and a pin driver in their initial or home positions, with merchandise positioned between the plunger and the anvil, and with a tag moving toward its final position at the pinning zone between the anvil and the plunger;

107054~
Docket M-327-C

FIGURE lOA, located on sheet 4, is an enlarged Rectional view taken along line lOA--lOA of FIGURE 10.
FIGURE lOB, located on sheet 4, is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10B--10B Of FIGURE 10.
FIGU~E 10B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10B--10B of FIGURE 10 .
FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10, but showing the pin guiding and crimping member as having moved downwardly into contact with the tag, the plunger as moving oupwardly toward the anvil, and the pin driver as starting to drive a pin;
FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11, but ahowing the plunger cooperating with the anvil;
FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12, but ~howing the pin as having been driven through both the tag and the merchandise once;
FIGURE 14 i9 a view showing the pin as having been driven through both the tag and the merchandise twice and showing the pin guiding and crimping member as having moved upwardly;
FIG~RE 15 is a view showing the pin penetrating the tag for the third time and showing the pin guiding and crimping member as having moved downwardly aga~n;
FIGURE 16 is a view showing the pin as having been driven through the tag for the third time and showing the pin guiding and crimping member as having moved upwardly again;
FIGURE 17 is a view showing the pin guiding and crimping member as moving toward the plunger to crimp the pin, the leading end portion of which is supported by a guide 3a or support;

Docket M-327-C 1070541 FIGURE 18 is an exploded perspective view showing mainly the anvil and the pin guiding and crimping member;
FIGU~E 19, loca~ed on sheet 5, is an elevational ViQW pa~tly in section showing a brake mounted by the anvil;
FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the manner in which merchandise is manually inserted between the anvil and the plunger and the manner in which the user's hands contact actuators to initiate a cycle of operation;
FIGURE 21 i8 a sectional view taken along line ~21--21 of FIGURE 29;
FIGURE 22, located on sheet 1, is a view similar to FIGURE 21 but showing operative follower parts in posi-tions in which the plunger encounters undue resistance;
FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23--23 of FIGURE 29;
FIGURE 24 is a side elevational fragmentary view ~howing the manner in which the trailing marginal ends of the tag8 in the hopper are supported and showing a yieldable handle member;
FIGURE 25 is a top plan view of the pinning machine;
FIGURE 26 is a left siae elevational view of the pinning machine;
FIGURE 27 is a front elevational view of the pinning machine;
FIGURE 28 is a right side elevational view of the pinning machine;
FIGURE 29 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing a portion of the drive train for the pinning machine and the relationship of the feeding mechanism with ~respect thereto;

Docket M-327-C 1070541 FIGURE 30, located on sheet 1, is a top plan view ~howlng follower parts in a position in which the pin driver encounters undue resi~tance;
FIGURE 31 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 31--31 of FIGURE 29;
FIGURE 32 is an enlarged sect~onal view taken generally along line 32--32 of FIGURE 29;
FIGURE 33 is an enlarged top plan view of the frontal portion of the pinning machine showing the relationship l~ of certain operative components;
FIGURE 34 is an enlarged front elevational view showing the frontal portion of the machine;
FIGURE 35 is a view taken along line 35--3S of FIGURE 29 showing operative follower parts in both solid and phantom line po~itions;
FIGURE 36 is a view ~imilar to FIGURE 35 showing th- follower parts moved relatively apart due to undue rQsistance encountered by the tag feed~ng mechanism;
FIGURE 37 is a per~pective view of one of the actuator~ used to initiate a machine cycle;
FIGURE 38 is a front elevational view of a tag feeding assembly of the tag feeding mechanism;
FIGURE 39 is a top plan view of the tag feeding assembly shown in FIGURE 38;
FIGURE 40 is a sectional view taken generally along line 40--40 of FIGURE 39;
FIGURE 41 is a sectional view taken generally along line 41--41 of ~IGUR~: 39;

_7_ Docket M-327-C

FIGURE 42 i9 a view similar to FIGURE 41 but showing a ~lide of the assembly as moving away from the home or initial po~ition shown in FIGURES 38 through 40;
FIGURE 43 is a view similar to ~IGURES 41 and 42, wherein the latches have been tripped but the needles of the assembly being held out of impaling relationship with respect to the bottom tag in the stack;
FIGURE 44 is a view similar to FIGURES 41 through 43, but showing the needle as having moved the bottom tag forward l~ and partially through the gate structure;
FIGURE 45, located on sheet 2, is a fragmentary perspective exploded view showing the manner in which the needles are removably mounted to the assembly;
FIGURE 46 is a circuit diagram for the apparatus;
FIGURE 47 i9 a circuit diagram show~ng an alternative embodiments and FIGURE 48 i8 a t~ming diagram for the pinning machine;

Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference initially to FIGURE 1 in which there is shown a fragmentary portion of a pinning machine generally ~nd~cated at 50, there is ~hown an electric motor 51 which drives a ~peed reducer 52. A sprocket 53 is keyed to output shaft 54 of the speed reducer 52 by a key 55. A roller chain 56 is drivingly engaged with the sprocket 53 and a sprocket 57.

A connector generally indicated at 58 has a shaft portion 59 which extends through a bore 60 in a bearing 61. The shaft portion 59 is suitably secured to sprocket 57. The connector 58 .. . . .~

_~_ Docket M-327 107~541 also has a shaft portion 62 which is suitably secured to the input side 63 of a single revolution wrapped-spring clutch 64. The clutch 64 is engaged by the action of an electromagnet or solenoid 65. Output side 66 of the clutch 64 is secured to cam shaft 67. The cam shaft 67 is thus rotatably supported by the bearing 61 and in a bearing 70 mounted in a bracket 71 ~FIGURES 23 and 29). Cams 72 through 76 and a crank 77 are secured to and rotate as a unit with the cam shaft 67.
~he speed reducer 52, the bearing 61, and the bracket 71 are secured to a generally horizontal base plate 78 (FIGURE 29) of a frame generally indicated at 79. The frame 79 also includes a generally horizontal frame plate 80 (FIGURE 29) disposed above the base plate 78. The base plate 78 mounts a bearing 81 and the frame plate 80 mounts a bearing 82 disposed vertically above the bearing 81. Referring again to FTGURE 1, there is shown a generally vertical shaft 83, which is rotatable in the bearings 81 and 82. An arm 84 is secured to the shaft 83 by a set screw 85. An actuator 86 is spaced from the arm 84 by a washer 87. The shaft 83 extends through a hole 88 in the actuator 86 and through a hole 88' in the arm 84. The arm 84 and the actuator 86 have respective flanges 89 and 90 which anchor the ends of a tension spring 91. The arm 84 and the actuator 86 also have respective flanges 92 and 93. A screw 94 is threadably recei~ed by the flange 92 and is held in its adjusted position ~y a lock nut 95.
Free end 96 of the screw 94 is normally in contact with the flange 93 due to the action of the tension spring 91, and in this position the arm 84 and the actuator 86 rotate as a unit together with the shaft 83.

Docket M-327 1070541 The shaft 83 carries a bracket 97. The bracket 97 includes aligned posts 98 and 99 (FIGURE 29) for rotatably mounting respective roller followers 100 and 101. The followers 100 and 101 are driven by respective cams 72 and 73 to rock the shaft 83 in opposite directions about the generally vertical axis A as indicated by double-headed arrow 102 in FIGURE 1. One complete revolution of the cam shaft 67 will cause the actuator 86 to be driven in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 to move a pin driver 103 generally to the left and will thereafter cause the actuator 86 to be driven in the counterclockwise direction to move the pin driver 103 generally to the right.
A bracket 104 is se~ured to the base plate 78 by fasteners 105 (FIGURE 29). The bracket 104 has aligned holes 106 which rotatably msunt end portions 107 of a shaft 108.
A lever or bell crank generally indicated at 109 has arms 110 and 111. The arm 110 rotatably mounts a roller follower 112 and the arm 111 rotatably mounts a roller follower 113.
The followers 112 and 113 cooperate with respective cams 75 and 74. A lever or bell crank 114 is movably mounted on and with respect to the shaft 108. A tension spring 115 is anchored at one end to a pin 116 carried by the arm 111 and is anchored at its other end to the lever 114, as better shown in FI~URE 21. The arm 110 has a flange 117 which threadably receives a set screw 118. The bell crank 114 has an arm 119 having a flange 120. ~he screw 118 normally abuts the flange 120 as shown in FIGURE 21 due to the force exerted by the spring 115, and accordingly, the bell cranks 111 and 114 rotate Docket M-327 together as a unit. The lever 114 has a bifurcated end 121 which receives a pin 122 which extends through bifurcated end 123 of a plunger 124. The plunger 124 is suitably guided for generally vertical movement along a vertical axis Al in a guide 125 (FIGURE 21). The guide 125 is secured to a frame member or plate 126 which also consititutes part of the frame 79. The upper end of the plunger 124 has a pin guide groove 127. The plunger 124 is cooperable with an anvil generally indicated at 128. The anvil 182 is shown dia-grammatically in FIGURE 1 and in detail in FIGURE 18.
Movably mounted to the anvil is a movable member 129 (FIGURE 18) which serves the dual function of guiding and crimping the pin.
As seen in FIGURE 1, the crank 77 includes a pin 130. Rotation of the cam shaft 67 causes the pin 130 to be driven in a circular path. The pin 130 drives a follower generally indicated at 131. The follower 131 includes a palr of follower members or sectiong 132 and 133. A bracket 134 i8 suitably ~ecured to the base plate 78. The bracket 134 mounts a shaft 135. The follower sections 132 and 133 are generally flat plates. The follower section 132 is secured to a bushing 136 rotatably mounted on the shaft 135 and the follower section 133 is secured to a bushing 137 rotatably mounted on the shaft 135.
The follower section 132 bears against a post 138 in the position shown in FIGURE 1. Springs 139 and 140 urge Docket M-327 1070541 a face 141 (FIGURE 36) of follower section 132 against the post 138. As shown in FIGURES 35 and 36 springs 139 and 140 are connected at their respective ends to posts 142 and 143 on the respective follower sections 132 and 133. In the position of the follower 131 shown in FIGURES 1 and 35, the follower sections 32 and 133 provide an elongated slot 144 in which the pin 130, which includes a roller 145, is received. In that the pin 130 is eccentric with respect to the cam shaft 67 and because slot 144 is positioned between the shaft 135 and a pivot 146 secured to the follower section 133, the pivot 146 travels through a considerable distance. This movement through a considerable distance is accomplished using the follower 131 which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. With reference to FIGURE 1, a rod 147 has a hole 148 in which the pivot 146 is received. The other end of the rod 147 passes freely through a hole in a connector 149. Nuts 150 (FIGURE 2) threadably received by the rod 147 securely connect the connector 149 to the rod 147 at a selected position. With reference to FIGURE 2, the connector 149 haæ a hole 151 in which a post or pivot 152 is received. The pivot 152 is secured to a block or slide 153. $he slide 153 has bearings 154 (FIGURE 23). A rod or guide 155, which is shown to be annular, extends through and slidably mounts the bearings 154.
The rod 155 is secured at one end to the frame plate 126 and at its other end ~o a frame plate 156 which constitutes Docket M-327-C

part of the frame 79. The rod 155 extends generally hori-zontally and is disposed below the frame plate 80 which is connected to the frame plates 126 and 156. ~he slide 153 has four upstanding posts 157, 158, 159 and 160 (FIGURE 2) and respective aligned holes 161 and 162 for receiving res-pective pivot pins 163 and 164 carried by respective feed fingers 165 and 166. The posts 157 and 159 have respective threaded bores 167 and 168 which receive respective set screws 169 and 170 which can be locked into oposition by means of nut~ 171 and 172. The set screws 169 and 170 bear against inclined shoulders 173 and 174 of the respective feed fingers 165 and 166. The set screws 169 and 170 enable individual angular adjustment of the res-pective feed fingers 165 &nd 166 with respect to the horizontal. The feed fingers 165 and 166 are free to move ln respective slots 175 and 176 in the frame plate 80.
The feod fingers 165 and 166 have respective drive faces 177 and 178 which are disposed below respective overhanging abutments or faces 179 and 180. It is apparent that the initial ~oand final positions of travel of the feed fingers 165 and 166 can be adjusted by loosening the nuts 150 and moving the con-nector 149 to a different position with respect to the rod 147 and when the connector 149 is in the selected adjusted position the nuts 150 can ~e retightened.
With reference to F~GURE 2, the feed fingers 165 and 166 and the sllde 153 constitute one feed assembly or device generally indicated at 181. The tag feeding or tag separating device 181 and a tag feeding or tag positioning Docket M-327 10~0541 assembly or device generally indicated 182 constitute a tag feeding mechanism 183 of the apparatus 50. The tag feeding device 182 is used to separate the bottom tag T in a stack S held in a hopper generally indicated at 184. The tag feeding device 182 separates the bottom tag T
from the stack S by feeding the bot~om tag a predetermined distance toward a tag attaching or specifically a pinning zone Z ~FIGURE 1) between the plunger 124 and the anvil 128, and the feed fingers 165 and 166 engage a separated tag T
and feed the separated tag T to the proper position in the pinning zone Z. The tag feeding device 182 will be described in greater detail in connection with FIGURES 24 and 38 through 44.
The hopper 184 is constructed to accept tags of various lengths and widths. The hopper 184 includes a generally vertical side plate 185 which is secured to the generally horizontal frame plate 80. A generally vertical front plate 186 is secured to the frame plate 80 and to the side plate 185. The plates 185 and 186 provide reference planes for side edges Sl and leading edges Ll of the tags T, res-pectively. A plate or guide 187 is positioned against trailing edges Tl of the tags T, as best shown in F~GURE 26. The guide 187 is secured to a bracket generally indicated at 188 by screws 189. The bracket has aligned pivots 190 which pivotally Docket N-327 mount a support 191 having support fingers or members 192.
The support 191 has a hole 193. A handle 194 is coupled to a connector generally indicated at 195 secured to the tag feeding device 182. With reference to FIGURES 2 and 24, the S connector l9S is shown to have a body 196, an annular flange 197, a shoulder 198, and a screw 199 projecting from the shoulder. The connector l9S is shown to ~e of one-piece construction. The handle 194 and the connector 195 are coupled by a jaw clutch generally in2icated at 200.
The jaw clutch 200 is comprised in part by three equally annularly spaced teeth 201 and in remainder by three equally annularly spaced teeth 202 on the connector 195. The jaw clutch 200 enables the handle 194 to be rotated in opposite directions to tighten or loosen screw 199. Rotation of the handle 194 so as to tighten screw 199 and cause the support 191 to pivot counterclockwiae tFIGURE 24~ due to the action of the flange 197 bearing on the upport 191. When the handle 194 is rotated so as to loosen the screw 199 the support 191 will pivot clockwise tFIGURE 24) due to gravity. In the position shown in FIGURE 24, the trailing marginal ends of the tags T are raised above the plate 80 on which the tags T are supported. The trailing marginal ends of the tags T rest on ledges 203 of the respective support fingers 192 and are thus spaced from the plate 80 that supports the remainder of the tags T. In order to prevent the user from breaking the handle 194 by pushing or pulling on it, there are gaps between the teeth 201 of the handle and the teeth 202 of the Docket M-327 connector 195. A tension spring 204' is connected at one end to a post 205' mounted inside the handle 194 and to a post 206' mounted inside the connector 195. Construction of the jaw clutch 200 will enable the handle to be deflected with respect to the connector 195 and the spring 204 will return the handle 104 to the upright position shown in FIGURES 2 and 24. The screw 199 is received in a threaded bore 204 in frame or body 205 of the device 182. Upon tightening of the screw 199, the flange 197 bears against the support 191 and the body 205 is drawn up against the underside of the plate 80 to prevent movement of the support 191, the associated bracket 188, the plate 187, and the tag feeding device 182. The screw 199 and a pin 206 secured to the body 205 extend through elongated slot 207 in the plate 80.
The pin 206 and upper shank of the screw 199 fit in the slot 207 with a minimum of clearance 80 that the tag feeding device 182, the bracket 188, the support 191, and the guide 187 can be slid for guided movement toward and away from the pinning zone Z upon loosening the screw 199. There-after, upon tightening the screw 199 by rotating the handle 194, the device 182, the bracket 188, the support 191, and the plate 187 can be clamped in position. The hopper 184 also includes a side guide generally indicated at 208.
With reference to FIGUR~S 2 and 34, side guide 208 is shown to be mo~able into guided contact with side edges S2 of the tags T. The lower edge of the side guide 208 contacts the upper surface of the plate 80. A generally U-shaped bracket 209 is welded to the side guide 208. Screw 210 extends through arms 211 and 212 of the bracket 209. A washer 213 bears Docket M-327 against the underside of the plate 80 and a nut 214 thread-ably received by the screw 210 bears against the underside of the washer 213. A spring 215 bears against the arm 211 and against the C-ring 216 secured to shank 217 of the S ~crew 210. The arm 211 has a depending flange 218 which bears against the upper surface of the plate 80. The forces exerted on the plate 80 by the guide 208 and the flange 218 and the opposite force exerted on the plate 80 by the washer 213 frictionally hold the side guide 208 in any desired lateral position. The frictional forces can be changed by loosening or tightening the nut 214 relative to the screw 210. The side guide 208 can be shifted laterally manually.
The side guide 185 (FIGURE 2) has a vertically extending undercut groove 219 for receiving mating pins 220 of a weight 221. The weight 221 exerts a downward force at the leading marginal edge of the top tag T of the stack S. The guide 187 has an undercut groove 222 for receiving mating rollers 223 mounted to a weight 224.
By unthreading a handle 225 from the weight 224, the weight 224 can be oriented so ~hat the rollers 226 fit into the groove 222 for tags of narrower width. A gate mechanism generally indicated at 227 includes a body 227' having a bore 228 for receiving annular shank 229 o~ a pivot screw 230, a threaded portion 231 of which is received in a threaded bore 232 in a mounting member 233 connected to the plate 80. A plate 234 is secured to the body 227' by screws 235 received in threaded bores 236. A gate Docket M-327 member generally indicated at 237 is secured to the body 227' by screws 238 also received in the threaded bores 236. The threaded portion 231 extends freely through an oversized hole 239 in the gate member 237. The gate member 237 has an upstanding portion 240 joined to a generally horizontal laterally extending portion 241. A gate element gener~lly indicated at 242 is connected to the portion 241.
Another gate member generally indicated at 243 has a gate element 244 which is spaced from the gate element 242 to provide a gate opening or throat T'. The gate element 243 has a pin 245 received in an elongated slot 246 in the plate 234. An eccentric 248 received in the hole 247 is secured to a shaft 249 which extends through a hole 250 in the plate 234. The shaft 249 is secured to a knob 251.
The plate 234 has a plurality of depre~sions 252. A ball 253 acted on by a 8pring 254 disposed in the knob 251 can co-operate with the depressions 252 to hold the knob 251, the shaft 249 and the eccentric 248 in a selected position.
Rotation of the knob 251 will rotate the eccentric 248 and raise or lower the gate member 243 in accordance with the direction in which the knob 251 i8 rotated, thereby changing the gate opening or throat T'. In the assem~led condition of the gate mechanism 227 illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the body 227', the plate 234, the gate members 237 and 243 and the associated hardware rotate as a unit about the shan~
229 of the pivot screw 230. The gate mechanism 227 is urged clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 2 by a compression Docket M-327 ~070 541 spring 255, a portion of which is received in a depression 256 in the body 227. The spring 255 bears against the surface of the ~ide guide 185. The spring 255 causes the gate element 242 to contact the leading marqinal edge of the bottom tag T in the stack S.
FIGURES 1 and 2 show the pin driver 103 carried by a slide 258. The slide 258 has a socket 260 for receiving a ball-shaped end portion 261 of an extension 262 threadably secured to a flange 263 of the arm 86 and held in ad~usted position by lock nuts 264. The slide 258 and the pin driver 103 are received in a guideway generally indicated at 265 (FIGURE 34) provided by upper and lower plates 266 and 267 and front and rear plates 268 and 269. The plates 266, 267, 268 and 269 are considered to be part of the frame 79.
When the arm 86 pivots clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1, the pin driver 103 i5 driven to the left and when the arm 86 pivots counterclockwi~e, the pin driver 103 is driven to the right. With reference to FIGURE 5, the rear plate 269 mounts a lever 270 for pivotal movement about an adjust-able eccentric pivot 271. The one end of the lever 270 on one side of the pivot 271 is bifurcated as indicated at 272 and receives a pin 273 carried by the movable member 129. With reference also to FIGURE 9, the lever 270 has a threaded bore 274, a one-way drive connection 275 including a plate 276 having a hole 277 and a pair of posts 278 and 279.
An eccentric 280 received in the ho}e 277 pi~otally mounts the plate 276. A screw 282 extends through the collar 281, the eccentric 280, and an elongated slot 283 in a cam plate 284 and is received in the threaded bore 274. A tension ~ocket M-327 spring 285 is connected at one end to the post 279 and at its other end to a post 279' connected to the plate 269. The tension spring 285 normally urges the plate 276 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5 to a position in which the post 278 rests against the cam plate 284. The cam plate 284 has cam lobes 284a and 284b. The cam lobe 284a is considered to be an extension of a cam face or surface 286 on the lever 270. The cam face 286 is adapted to be contacted by a roller 262' on the actuator 86 to pivot the lever 270 counterclockwise as the roller 262 moves to the left as viewed in FIGURE 10. Counterclockwise pivoting of the lever 270 will drive the movable member 129 toward the plunger 124 and the tag T. The member 129 will thus be driven from the position shown in FIGURE 10 to the position shown in FIGURE 11. In the position shown in FIGURE 11, the lever 270 has pivoted countercloc~wise and bears against the lobe 284a. In the position shown in FIGURE 11, the member 129 preferably just touches a tag T at the pinning zone Z without bending that tag T. As the cam shaft 67 continues to rotate, the plunger 124 continues to move upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 12. It should be noticed that because of dwell in cams 72 and 73, the roll 262' is in the same position in FIGURES 11 and 12 and the same is true for the pin driver in 103. However, in FIGURE 12 the plunger 124 has moved upwardly to its fullest extent and has bent the tag T which is supported by a guide 185', by edge 314' of an anvil member 311 tFIGURE 18), by concave surface 315 of an anvil member 309, by movable Docket M-327 member 129 and by a guide or support 185n. As the roller 262' continues to move toward the left to the position shown in FIGURE 13 it encounters a drive face 287 on the plate 276, thereby causing the plate 276 to be rotated clockwise against the light force exerted by the spring 285.
In the poæition of FIGURE 13, pin P has passed through the tag T and the merchandise M once and is in guided relationship by a guide groove 129' in member 129. The pin P is inclined downwardly slightly with respect to the horizontal as shown but remains straight. When the cam-shaft 67 has rotated so that the roll 262' is in the position shown in FIGURE 14, the lever 270 has rotated clockwise ~nder the urging of the spring 285, thus raising the member 129 or, stated another way, moving the member away from the tag T, the pin P, and the plunger 124. The pin driver 103 has driven the pin P to a position in which its leading end i~ contacting groove 129". While the roll 262' moves from the position ~hown in FIGURE 14 to the position shown in FIGURE 15, the lever 270 rotates counterclockwise thus driving the member 129 toward the plunger 124, the tag T
and the pin P. This movement of the member 129 causes the pin P to be guided or bent toward the tag T as best shown in FIGURE 15. As the roll 262' continues to move to the left the roll 262' moves off the lobe 284b and the lever 270 is thus urged clockwise by the spring 285, thus raising the member 129 away from the pin P, the tag T and the plunger 124. In the position shown in FIGURE 16, the pin P has Docket M-327 iQ70541 passed through the tag T for the third time and the leading marginal end P' of the pin P is guided or supported by the pin guide or support 185". Due to the inclination of the face of the support 185" and the angle of approach of the pin P, the leading marginal end P' of the pin P is driven upwardly as the pin P continues to be pushed to the left by the pin driver 103. After the roll 262' has moved to the left to the end of its travel, it begins to move to the right. When the roll 262' encounters the cam lobe 284b the lever 270 pivots counterclockwise to drive the member 129 downwardly, however, when the roll 262' encounters a cam face 288 on the plate 276 the member 129 is driven further toward the plunger 124, the tag T and the pin P
into the position illustrated in FIGURE 17 in which the pin P i8 crimped. During crimping the plunger 124 is momentarily urged downwardly against the action of the spring 115. The member 129 is in its maximum downward position when the lower tip 289 of the cam face 288 i8 immediately above the high point of the roll 262'. In the position shown in FIGURE 17, the member 129 has been driven downwardly to a greater extent than in the embodiments of FIGURES 11, 12, 13 and 15. After the drive member 129 has cleared the cam face 288, the spring 285 pivots the lever 270 clockwise and the roll 262' rides along the lobe 284a and cam face 286 until the drive member 262 has returned to the position shown in FIGURE 1~. As shown the cam surfaces 284a and 284b lie along a straight line passing through the axis of rotation of the lever 270 so that the member 129 is in the same position in FIGURES 11, 12, 13 and 15, Docket M-327 1~7054~

namely just touching the tag T without bending it as is preferred.
Referring to FIGURE 5, the slide 258 carries a pin 258' which is used to actuate the pin strip actuating mechanism S generally indicated at 288. Referring bxiefly to FIGU~E 10, the pins P are carried in the paper strip PS. The paper strip PS is folded as shown in FIGURE 10 and passes in the folded condition under the bottom guide 267 and from there it passes between the nip of respective idler roll 290 and feed wheel 290'. The feed wheel 290' contains a one-way clutch 291.
The clutch 291 is operated by an arm 292 having a pin 293.
Links 294 and 295 are pivotally connected by a pin 296.
The link 294 is pivotally connected to the pin 293 and the link 295 is pivotally mounted on a pin 297 mounted to the plate 269. The drive pin 258' contactq the link 295 as the slide 258 moves to the left (FIGURE 51 thereby causing the arm 292 to pivot clockwise and rotating the feed wheel 290' clockwise as shown in FTGURE 8. A tension spring 298 i8 connected at one end to the pin 293 and at its other end to the pin 297. When the slide 258 is moved to the right during the next operating cycle of the machine, the dri~e pin 258' is mo~ed to the right and the spring 298 moves the links 294 and 295 to a position (F~URE 5) in which the adajcent ends of the links 294 and 295 abut an outturned flange 299 of an adjustable slotted stop 300 held in position by screw 301. Adjustment of the stop 300 will adjust the counterclockwise travel of the arm 292 and consequently the angle of rotation of the one-way clutch 291 and the travel of the feed wheel 290.

Docket M-327 1070541 With reference to FIGURE 18, the anvil 128 is ~hown to include anvil members 307, 308 and 309. The members 307, 308 and 309 can be considered to be anvil mPmhers in that they individually absorb some of the force exerted by the plunger 124. The anvil member 308 is generally plate-like but has guide members 310 and 311 which provide a guide groove 312 in which plate-like movable member 129 is received. The anvil member 309 is also plate-like and serves as a retainer for retaining and guiding the movable member 129 for straight line movement and more particularly vertical movement in the groove 312. The anvil member 307 is formed integrally with the plate 269. The anvil member 307, 308 and 309 have respective concave surfaces 313, 314, and 315 which are shown to face downwardly. The curvature of the concave ~urface 315 is offset from the curvature of surfaces 313 or 314 as best shown in FIGURES 10 through 17.
The ~nvil members 307, 308 and 309 are shown to be held in assembled relationship by screws 316 and 317 which extend through respective holes 318, 319, and 321 and 322 and are threadably received in respective threaded holes 320 and 323. The movable member 129 carries the post or pin 273 which extends through aligned elongated slots 325 and 326 in respective anvil members 307 and 308, and is received by bifurcated end 272 of the actuator 27~. The anvil 128 mounts a pivotal brake generally indicated at 327.
The brake 327 exerts a braking force against the tag T
as it is fed to the pinning zone 2. The brake 327 includes a brake member 328 having a hole 329 at its one end portion 330. The end portion 33~ is received in guided relationship in a slot 331 in the anvil member 307. A

Doc~et M-327 1070541 -`

pivot screw 332 passes through portion 333 of the anvil member 307 and i8 threaded into threaded hole 334. A compression spring 335 is received in a bore 336 (FIGURE 19) in the anvil member 309 and bears against the other end portion 336 of the brake member 328. The force that the spring 335 - exerts on the brake member 328 is adjustable by means of a movable abutment 337 carried by an arm 338. A screw 339 received in a threaded bore 340 in the anvil member 309 hold~ the arm 338 and its abutment 337 in the adjusted position. The brake member 328 is also guided in slot 341 in the anvil member 309.
With reference to FIGURE 20, there are shown two manually operable actuators 342 and 343 also shown in FIGURES
1, 26, 27, 28 and 34 for example for operating respective 5witche5 344 and 345 shown in FIGURE 46. In accordance with the invention, the machine 50 can only be operated by manual operation of both actuators and not either one of the actuators 342 or 343 alone. According to FIGURE 20, the merchandise M
is shown as having been inserted to a position between the plunger 124 and the anvil 128 in which the user's index fingers are shown to be in contact with the actuator~ 342 and 343. The actuators 342 and 343 are spaced on opposite sides of the plunger 124. The anvil 128 is shown in outline only in FIGURE 20. The spacing of the acutator 342 from the plunger 124 and the anvil 128 and the spacing of the actuator 343 from the plunger 124 and the anvil 128 is such that the hands of the user are free from the pinning zone Z where the tag T is clamped between the plunger 124 and the anvil 128 and where the pin P is driven through the tag T and the Docket ~-3Z7 1070541 ; merchandise M. In that two-hand manual actuation is required to initiate a cycle of machine operation, both hands of the u~er must be free of the pinning zone, and yet the merchandise can be grasped at spaced-apart locations as shown in FIGURE 20, 80 that the plunger 124 and the anvil 123 can cooperate with ,the tag T and the merchandise M. The circuit diagram shown in FIGURE 46 will be,explained in connection with the overall operation of the machine.
Tha actuators 342 and 343 and their associated , 10 mounting means are identical and accordingly only one actuator 342 and its associated mounting means and switch is shown :~. in FIGURE 37. The mounting assembly generally indicated at 346 is shown to include a bracket 347 for mounting a pin 348. The pin 348 pivotally mounts the actuator 342. The bracket 347 also mounts the switch 344 which has an actuating spring-urged plunger 349. Straps 350 secured to the actuator 342 and to the pin 348 enable the actuator 342 and the pin 348 to pivot as a unit. A post 351 secured to the pin 348 anchor~ one end of a tension spring 352. The other end of the spring 352 is anchored to a flange 353 of the bracket 347 and no~mally urges the actuator 342 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 37, thereby depressing the plunger 349.
Manual actuation of the actuator 342 causes the actuator 342 to pivot countercloc~wise, thereby causing the plunger 349 to move outwardly to close the switch 344. Release of Docket M-327 1070541 the actuator 342 will enable the spring 352 to pivot the actuator 342 clockwise, thereby depressing the plunger 349 and opening the switch 344. The position of the actuator 344 can be adjusted by means of set screw 354, the free end of which abuts the bracket 347 due to the action of the spring 352 when the acutator 342 is released. Accordingly, the amount of movement of the actuator 342 can be adjusted ~y adjusting the set screw 354. The position of the mounting assembly 346 and the actuator 342 can be adjusted toward and away from the front of the machine S0 by means of screws 355 passing through slots 356 in the flange 353 and threadably received in the base plate 78.
With reference to FIGURE 39, plates 357 and 359 are secured to the plate 358 by threaded fasteners 360.
A bracket 361 spaced from the plate 358 is connected-to the plates 357 and 359 by ~a~teners 362. A plate 363 is secured to the top of the plate 358 by fasteners 364. The plate 358 has holes 365 for receiving generally hat-shaped members 366 which are retained by flanges 366'. The plates 357, 358, 359, and 363, the bracket 361, and the members 366 are considered to be part of the body or frame 205.
A slide 367 is slidably mounted on a post or guide 368 threadably received in the plate 358. Springs 369 and 370 are e~uidistantly spaced on opposite sides o~ the post 368 so that the slide 367 is normally urged toward the right as shown in FIGURE 3~, for example, that is, toward the pinning zone Z between the plunger 124 and the anvil 128 at the front of the machine. The slide 367 is capable of being moved in the opposite direction, that is, away from the pinning zone Z

Docket M-327 1070541 by the action of a cam-controlled lever 371 in the form of a bell crank. The lever 371 has arms 372, 372', and 373 secured to a shaft 374. The outer ends of arms 372, 372', and 373 rotatably mount respective rollers 375, 375' and 376 which are equidistantly spaced ~rom the guide 368. Referring to FIGURE 23, for example, the cam 76 drives a roller follower 377 carried by a bell crank generally indicated at 378. The bell crank 378 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 108. The bell crank 378 carrie~ a roller 381 which drives a slide 382. The slide 382 i8 guided for vertical movement by pins 383 received in slots 384 in the slide 382. Retainers 385 prevent horizontal movement of slide 382. The slide 382 is movable from the lowered or solid line position shown in FIGURE 23 to the raised or phantom-line position shown in lS FIGURE 23. As the slide 382 moves from the home or fully lowered position shown in FIGURE 41, to the position shown in FIGURE 42, bell crank 371 pivots counterclockwise driving the slide 367 to the left. Lowering o~ the slide 382 as shown in FIGURE 44 enables springs 369 and 370 to drive the ~lide 367 to the right. Roller 376 can ride on the horizontal upper surface of the slide 382 and cause movement of needles 411, 412 and 413 in any selected position of the device 182 relative to the pinning zone Z.
The slide 367 comprises a plate 386 to which plates 387 and 388 are connected by fasteners 390. The plates 387 and 388 have horizontally elongated guide slots 387a and 388a in which respective guide pins 387b and 388b, mounted by plates 357 and 359, are received. The plate 386 has three slots 391, 392, 393 A pin or shaft 395 extends through a bore in the Docket M-327 1070541 plate 386 and all of the slots 391, 392 and 393. Therefore, identical latches 396, 397 and 398 disposed in respective 810ts 391, 392 and 393 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 395.
A pin or shaft 395' is mounted at its end portions in plates 387 and 388. Independently movable needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' are pivotally mounted on the shaft - 395'. Spacers 401 and 402 are disposed on opposite sides of the member 396'. The spacer 402 and a spacer 403 are disposed on opposite sides of the member 397'. The spacer 403 and a spacer 404 are disposed on opposite sides of the member 398'. The mounting members 396', 397' and 398' are identical so that only one, namely the mounting member 396', i8 shown in detail in FIGURE 45. The respective needle mounting members 396', 397', and 398' are urged counter-clockwise by respective spiral springs 405', 406' and 407' a~ viewed in FIGURE 41, for example. In that the latche~
396, 397 and 398 operate substantially in unison, the operation of these latches and their respective needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' will be described with reference only to latch 396 and its respective needle mounting member 396'.
In FIGURE 41, for example, the needle mounting member 396' is latched in its clockwise position by the latch 396.
In particul~r, latching is accomplished by a shoulder 396a of the latch 396 bearing against a pin 396b carried by the member 396'.
As the sliae 367 moves to the left as viewed in FIGURE 42, the latches 396, 397 and 398 eventually contact abutments or stop screws 396c, 397c and 398c.
In the position shown in FIGU~E 42, the needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' are still latched by Docket M-327 107054~

respective latches 396, 397 and 398. As the slide 367 continues to move toward the left to the position shown in FIGURE 43, the stop screws 396c, 397c, and 398c cause the latches 396, 397 and 398 to pivot counterclockwise in the direction of arrow A2. The needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' are prevented from rotating counter-clockwise because their respective abutment portions 405, 406 and 407 contact respective stop screws or abutments 408, 409, and 41Q. Depending upon the relative adjustments of screws 396c, 397c and 398c and related stop screws 408, 409 and 410, the abutment portions 405, 406 and 407 may contact stop screws 408, 409 and 410 before the slide 367 has moved to the end of its travel to the left to its fully retracted position. In this event, the needle mounting members 396', 397', and 398' will actually pivot clockwise. On the other hand, if the latches 396, 397 and 398 are tripped before abutment portions 405, 406 and 407 contact stop screws 40a, 409 and 410, then tripping of the latches 396, 397 and 398 will cause the needle mounting members 396', 2~ 397' and 398' to pivot counterclockwise until their respective abutment portions 405, 406 and 407 contact respective stop screws 408, 409 and 410. In any event, needles 411, 412 and 413 mounted by respective members 396', 397' and 398' remain below the bottom tag T in the stack S. As the slide 382 is lowered, the follower 371 pivots clockwise and the springs 369 and 370 drive the slide 367 to the right. As the slide 367 moves to the right, the needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' pivot counter clockwise until pins 396b, 397b and 398b Doc~et M-327 1070541 contact respective abutment faces 396d, 397d, and 398d during pivotal movement of the needle mounting members 396', 397' and 398' from the position shown in FIGURE 43 to the position shown in FIGURE 44. The abutment faces 396d/ 397d and 398d latch the respective needle mounting member 396', 397' and 398' in respective positions so that penetration of the needles 411, 412, and 413 is limited.
The needles 411, 412, and 413, thus, pivot into impaling engagement with the bottom tag T. The needles 411, 412 and 413 penetrate or pierce the bottom tag without passing through the bottom tag T. As the slide 367 continues to move to the right, the bottom tag T passes through the gate mechanism 227 to the phantom line position shown in FIGURE 44.
At the end of travel of the slide 367, namely its fully extended position shown in FIGURE 44, stop screws or abut~ents 414, 415, and 416 abut the needle mounting members 3g6', 397' and 398' to cause their pivotal movement in a clockwise direction about shaft 395' so that the latches 396, 397 and 398 can be pivoted clockwise by respective springs 396e, 397e, and 398e as shown in FIGURE 40.
FIGURE 40 shows the components in the home position as in FIGURES 38, 39 and 41. It is noted in FIGURE 40 that the rod 155 passes through a hole 418 in the plate 358 with ade~uate clearance so that no part of the tag feeding assembly 182 contacts a rod 155.
With reference to F~GURE 45, the needle mounting mem~er 396' is shown as having an elongated through-slot 419. The needle 411 is received in the slot 419 and a Docket ~-327 1070541 flexible resilient plate 420 contacts the needle 411 and frictionally and removably holds the needle 411 in the slot 419. The plate 420 has a tab 421 against which blunt end 422 of the needle 411 is seated. Two screws 423 passing through re~pective holes 424 in the plate 420 are received in threaded holes 425 in the mem~er 396'. An end portion 426 of the plate 420 adjacent the slot 419 is bent outwardly.
A worn needle 411 can be readily removed as by grasping the exposea end portion with pliers and pulling the needle 411 out of the groove 419. A new needle having a sharp end can be inserted into the groove 419 using pliers which can be used to push the needle into the groove until end 422 is seated against the tab 421. The other mounting members 3g7' and 398' and associated latch components are identical to those shown in FIGURE 45.
Referring now to FIGURE 46, the switches 344 and 345 include mechanically connected switches 430 and 431 and 432 and 433, respectively. When the switch 344 is closed, the switches 430 and 431 are closed, and vice versa. When the ~witch 345 is closed, the switches 432 and 433 are closed, and vice versa. The clutch solenoid 65 is connected to a normally closed switch 434. The switch 430 is connected to a lead 435 and the switch 434 is connected to a lead 436.
The switches 430 and 432, the clutch solenoid 65, and the switch 434 are connected in series. The seitches 431 and 433 are connected to the lead 435 and to a node 437'. A coil 438' of a relay 438 is connected to the node 437' and to a node 439. A normally open switch 440 and a normally open switch Doc~et M-327 10~0541 441 in parallel with each other are connected to a node 439 and to the lead 436. The switch 440 is controlled by a cam 437 secured to the cam shaft 67. When the cam shaft 67 i8 in the home position the cam 437 holds the switch 440 open. The electric motor 51 is connected to the leads 435 and 436 through a switch 438a. The motor 51 operates whenever the switch 438a is closed. When one of the switches 344 or 345 is closed and the other one is open, neither the clutch coil nor the relay coil 438' can be energized. It 0 i5 apparent that manual actuation of the actuator 342 or the actuator 343 without actuation of the other is ineffective. It is only when the switches 344 and 345 are simultaneously in the closed position, that the clutch coil 65 is energized through the switches 430 and 432 and the normally closed switch 343. Energization of the clutch coil 65 will cause the clutch 64 to be engaged, thereby causing the cam shaft 67 to rotate. Rotation of the cam shaft 67 will cause the cam 437 to rotate, thereby closing the switch 440. When the switch 440 is closed and assuming that at least one of the switch elements 431 and 433 is still in the closed condition, the relay 438 will be energized, thersby opening the switch 434 and closing the switch 441.
The switches 434 and 441 are part of the relay 438 and are mechanically coupled to the relay coil 438' as indicated by respective bro~en lines 442 and 443. Opening of the switch 434 causes the clutch solenoid to ~e deenergized thereby causing disengagement of the clutch at the end of one complete rotation of the cam shaft 67. Energization of the relay Doc~et M-327 1070541 coil 438' so long as at least one of the switches 431 or 433 is clo~ed, prevents the switch 434 from closing and consequently prevents energization of the clutch solenoid 65. If both of the actuators 342 and 343 are released, then both the switches 344 and 345 will be open and conse~uently the switches 431 and 433 fail to complete a circuit through the relay coil 438', thereby causing the switch 434 to close and the switch 441 to open. Accordingly, the clutch can only be operated again by actuating both actuators 342 and 343 so that the switches 344 and 345 are simultaneously in the closed condition. It is apparent that the switch 344 can be closed before the switch 345 is closed, or vice versa, but it is only when both the switches 344 and 345 are in the closed condition that the clutch solenoid 65 is operated and the clutch solenoid 65 cannot again be operated until after both the switches 344 and 345 are released.
With reference to an alternative embodiment ~hown in FIGURE 47, there are shown leads 444 and 445. The lead 445 is connected to a node 446 through a switch 447.
The electric motor 51 is connected to the node 446 and to a node 448 which is connected to the lead 444. Switches 449 and 450 and the clutch solenoid 65 are connected in series with each other and in turn to respective nodes 446 and 443. The switches 449 and 450 are positioned to be acutated by actuators 342 and 343 and are disposed in the same positions relative to the actuators 342 and 343 as are the switches 344 and 34S in the other embodiment. The switches 449, 450 and 447 are required to be in the closed condition Doc~et M-327 before the clutch solenoid 65 can be operated. During operation of the machine, the switch 447 is closed to operate the motor 51 and consequently actuation of the actuators 342 and 343 such that the switches 449 and 450 are both in the closed condition at the same time will cause energization of the clutch coil 65'.
With reference to FIGURE 48, there is shown a timing diagram showing the movement of the pin driver 103, the plunger 124, the feed fingers 165 and 166 and the feed as~embly ~lide 367, with respect to degrees of cam shaft rotation. It is apparent that the device 182 which separates the tag T from the stack S moves through an operational sequence which overlaps the operational sequence of the tag feeding device 181 which advances the tag T to the lS pinning zone. It is to be noted that the movement of the feed is completed relatively early in the machine cycle to po~ition a tag T at the pinning zone Z which was separated from the stock S by the device 181 in the previous machine ~ cycle. It is apparent that in each machine cycle, a tag T is positioned at the pinning zone Z and later in the same cycle a tag T is separated from the stack S.
Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggest 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 (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for pinning tags to merchandise and including a frame, an anvil mounted to the frame, a plunger cooperable with the plunger for holding a tag and merchandise together in a bent orientation, means for feeding a tag to a pinning position between the plunger and the anvil, means for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise while the plunger and the anvil are cooperating, means for moving the tag feeding means, the plunger and the pin driving means including a generally horizontal cam shaft, a connection between the cam shaft and the plunger including resilient means for preventing movement of the plunger toward the anvil upon encountering excessive resistance, and a connection between the cam shaft and the pin driving means including resilient means for preventing movement of the pin driving means toward the pinning position upon the pin driving means encountering excessive resistance, the improvement comprised in the connection between the cam shaft and the pin driving means and including a generally vertical shaft, a pair of followers mounted on opposite sides of the shaft, a pair of cams secured to the cam shaft and cooperable with the pair of followers, and vertically spaced bearings for mounting the generally vertical shaft for rotation about a generally vertical axis.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame has a generally horizontal base plate and a generally horizontal frame plate disposed above the base plate, wherein one of the bearings is mounted by the base plate and another of the bearings is mounted to the frame plate.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein the connection between the cam shaft and the pin driving means includes a movable arm connected to the generally vertical shaft between the bearings.

4. Apparatus for pinning tags to merchandise and including a frame, an anvil mounted to the frame, a plunger cooperable with the anvil for holding a tag and merchandise together in a bent orientation, means for feeding a tag to a pinning position between the plunger and the anvil, means for driving a pin through the tag and merchandise while the plunger and the anvil are cooperating, and means for moving the tag feeding means, the plunger and the pin driving means in sequence, the moving means including a generally horizontal cam shaft having cam means, the improvement comprising that the moving means includes a generally vertical shaft driven in opposite directions about a generally vertical axis by the cam means, means including an arm driven by the generally vertical shaft for moving the pin driving means, and means including a slide driven by the cam means for moving the tag feeding means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, including means for guiding the slide for generally vertical straight line movement.