EP0474938A1 - Gruppe von Befestigungselementen und Vorrichtung zu deren Anbringung - Google Patents

Gruppe von Befestigungselementen und Vorrichtung zu deren Anbringung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0474938A1
EP0474938A1 EP90312279A EP90312279A EP0474938A1 EP 0474938 A1 EP0474938 A1 EP 0474938A1 EP 90312279 A EP90312279 A EP 90312279A EP 90312279 A EP90312279 A EP 90312279A EP 0474938 A1 EP0474938 A1 EP 0474938A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
attachments
housing
assembly
bar
needles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90312279A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0474938B1 (de
Inventor
Steven J Kunreuther
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/575,853 external-priority patent/US5020713A/en
Priority claimed from US07/575,855 external-priority patent/US5038931A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0474938A1 publication Critical patent/EP0474938A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0474938B1 publication Critical patent/EP0474938B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C7/00—Affixing tags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C7/00—Affixing tags
    • B65C7/003—Affixing tags using paddle-shaped plastic pins
    • B65C7/005—Portable tools

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to plastic attachments and to a device for attaching same and more particularly to a uniquely configured assembly of attachments which includes spaced, parallel connecting bars between which attachments having T-bar ends are situated in parallel, spaced relation and for a specially design device for attaching same.
  • tags and the like were attached to garments and other soft goods by strings or straight pins.
  • new tagging systems were developed which increased the speed of the tagging operation and made it more efficient by decreasing the time and labor required.
  • the first tagging system was commercialized in the 1960's when Dennison Manufacturing Company of Framingham, Massachusetts began selling an assembly or clip of plastic attachments and an attacher therefore, both of which are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,103,666 of September 16, 1963 to Arnold Bone entitled "Attaching Apparatus".
  • Those attachments included a T-bar end and an enlarged paddled end connected by a flexible filament which is stretched to increase its strength.
  • the attachments are injection moulded in clips or assemblies of 20 to 50 attachments each.
  • the attachments are held together by means of a single connecting bar.
  • the T-bar ends of the attachments are situated in spaced, parallel relation along the connecting bar.
  • the attaching device employes a hollow needle designed to penetrate the object to be tagged and the tag. After the needle was properly positioned, a single attachment was severed from the assembly and the T-bar end thereof is pushed through the channel in the needle such that the T-bar end of the attachment is situated on one side of the garment and the paddle end of the fastener on the other.
  • the attachments of the type described in the Bone patent became widely used in the industry. They were employed for attaching all kinds of tags and labels to articles to be sold at retail, where the attachments proved particularly effective in preventing unscrupulous shoppers from switching tags, that is, removing a tag from a low priced article and attaching it to a higher priced article. They are used as well for securing groups of articles together, such as shoes in a pair or matching tops and bottoms. The attachments were also useful for many other purposes.
  • the attachments could be applied at an extremely rapid rate, even by relatively unskilled personnel, thus greatly reducing the cost of the tagging operation.
  • other companies have distributed similar types of attachments and attaching devices. This type of system has virtually surplanted all other attaching methods.
  • the Lankton patent also discloses an embodiment, as far as I know never commercialized, which utilizes a connecting bar on the paddle end as well as on the T-bar end. However, unlike the T-bar ends, the enlarged paddle ends are connected directly without spacing elements, to the connecting bar.
  • the attachments consisted of two T-bar ends and where connected directly together at the tip of the T-bars to form continuous stock which could be rolled. These attachments were designed to be used in a manner similar to that of staples or tacks because both T-bar ends are situated on one side of the object to be tagged with the filament on the other side. In order to accomplish this the attachments were structured to be dispensed through devices which include two needles such that the T-bars are fed through the needles simultaneously. Here again, no connecting bars are employed.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,675,648 entitled “Fastener Attachment Apparatus and Method” issued April 8, 1975 to Arnold R. Bone discloses such attachments and apparatus for attaching same.
  • the present invention in general, relates to a differently configured attachment assembly designed for uses similar to that of the attachments disclosed in the Bone patent referred to in the previous paragraph and a uniquely designed device for attaching the attachments.
  • the assembly of attachments of the present invention includes first and second connecting bars between which attachments are situated in spaced, parallel relation.
  • Each attachment has a first and a second T-bar end. The ends are joined by a flexible fillament.
  • attachments include two connecting bars. Each of the T-bar ends is connected to a different one of the connecting bars. Unlike the Lankin converted paddle fasteners, the attachments of two present inventions have T-bars at both ends which are joined to and spaced from two connecting bars. Unlike the continuous stock fasteners, the attachments of the present invention include connecting bars and are situated in parallel, spaced relation instead of contiguous, coplanar relation.
  • the attaching device of the present invention includes a recess which has spaced portions adapted to accept the connecting bars, respectively. This structure permits the attachments to move through the attaching device with greater precision and reduced chance of jamming.
  • the attaching device includes simultaneously movable ejector rods, both of which are connected to a single actuator.
  • dual indexing means cooperate with the assemblies, proximate each side thereof, such that the indexing operation is smooth and reliable.
  • the system of the present invention is particularly useful in applying attachments for tacking or stapling labels or headers to articles or packaging.
  • attachments for tacking or stapling labels or headers to articles or packaging.
  • those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a multitude of other uses to which the present invention is suited.
  • an assembly of attachments including first and second substantially parallel connecting bars between which individual attachments are situated in substantially parallel, spaced relation.
  • Each of the attachments includes first and second T-bar ends with a substantially flexible filament extending therebetween.
  • Means are provided for joining the first T-bar end in spaced relation with the first connecting bar. Similarly, means are provided for joining the second T-bar end in spaced relation with the second connecting bar.
  • the connecting bars are situated in a plane substantially perpendicular to the planes in which the attachments are situated.
  • the connecting bars and the attachments are integral and composed of molded plastic.
  • a device for dispensing attachments of the type having first and second T-bar ends with a flexible filament therebetween, the attachments being supplied in an assembly between first and second spaced connecting bars joined to the first and second T-bar ends, respectively.
  • the device includes a housing.
  • a recess in the housing has first and second spaces sections adapted to receive the first and second connecting bars, respectively.
  • First and second hollow needles extend from the housing.
  • Each of the needles includes a channel through which a different one of the T-bar ends is adapted to move.
  • Means are provided within the housing for pushing the T-bar ends through the needles to dispense an attachment.
  • Means are provided for severing each of the T-bar ends from the connecting bars to which it is joined, prior to being dispensed.
  • Means are provided for advancing the assembly of attachments through the housing.
  • the means for pushing the T-Bar ends preferably includes first and second ejector rods displaceable relative to the needles and means for simultaneously displacing the ejector rods.
  • the means for simultaneously displacing the ejector rods includes means mounted for movement relative to the housing between a first position where the rods are spaced from the needles and a second position where the rods are situated within the channels.
  • This means includes depressable means and slide means operably connected to the depressable means for movement in response to the actuation of the depressable means. Both rods are operably connected to the slide means.
  • the advancing means include second slide means operably connected to the depressable means and movable in the response to the actuation of the depressable means.
  • First and second gear means are located in the housing intersecting the recess. The first and second gear means are adapted to engage the assembly proximate first and second connecting bars, respectively. Means are provided for simultaneously indexing the first and second gear means in response to the movement of the second slide means.
  • the first and second needles are substantially oppositely oriented.
  • the housing has first and second guide means associated with the first and second ejector rods, respectively.
  • the present invention relates to an assembly of attachments and a device for attaching same as disclosed in detail on the following specification, as recited in the claims and taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts and in which:
  • the attacher of the present invention includes a housing, generally designated A, which has two halves 10 and 12.
  • the housing havles 10, 12 are substantially mirror images of each other and are fastened together by a series of screws 14.
  • Housing A is generally pistol shaped and has a handle 16 with a depressable trigger 18 extending from its forward portion.
  • the front of housing A has a pair of oppositely oriented needles 20, 22 extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation.
  • the forward portion of housing A is provided with a recess 24 which extends there through in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of needles 20 and 22.
  • Recess 24 has a generally "H" shaped configuration and includes spaced portions 26, 28 adapted to receive the connecting bars 30, 32, respectively, of the assembly of attachments, generally designated B.
  • each assembly B of attachments includes a plurality of attachments 36 situated in a substantially spaced, parallel relation and connected between connecting bars 30 and 32.
  • Each of the attachments includes first and second T-bar ends 38, 40. The T-bar ends are connected by a thin stretched plastic flexible filament 39.
  • the layers are held in face-to-face relation.
  • the attacher is manipulated such that the material and attacher are moved relative to each other until needles 20, 22 penetrate the layers.
  • Trigger 18 is actuated causing T-bars 36 and 40 to move through hollow needles 20 and 22.
  • trigger 18 is pivotally mounted to the housing by pin 46.
  • Trigger 18 is pivotally connected to lever 48 by pin 50 located near the lower end of lever 48 which cooperates with slot 49 in lever 48 to provide for a lost motion connection.
  • Lever 48 is movably mounted to housing A proximate its mid section by pin 52.
  • Lever 48 and thus trigger 18 are spring loaded towards the undepressed position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a tension spring 54 connected between lever 48 at point 56 and housing A at point 58.
  • the upper end of lever 48 is bifuricated, with the legs 48a and 48b associated with a different one of two slides 60a, 60b.
  • Each slide 60a, 60b is situated between a pair of guides 62 and 64 on each housing half 10, 12 for movement within housing A.
  • Slides 60a, 60b have apertures adapted to accept the ends of ejector rods 66, 68 respectively.
  • Each of the ejector rods 66, 68 is bent at a right angle near its rear end so as to fit into the respective apertures in slides 60a, 60b.
  • the upper end of leg 48a of lever 48 has an elongated opening 70 therein so as to accommodate the ejector rod and its sleeve as lever 48 is pivoted about pin 52.
  • ejector rods 66 and 68 are situated behind needles 20 and 22, a distance sufficient to permit the T-bar ends 36, 40 of an attachment to be positioned in alignment with the channels of the respective needles 20, 22.
  • lever 48 rotates about pin 52 and slides 60a, 60b move forward.
  • ejector rods 66 and 68 are simultaneously moved toward needles 20, 22 such that the rods cause the T-bar ends 38, 40 of the attachment to move through the channels of needles 20 and 22, respectively.
  • Each housing half 10, 12 is provided with two ejector rod guide members 61 or 63.
  • Members 61, 63 function to guide the movement of ejector rods 66, 68 to insure accurate movement and to eliminate jamming or bending of the rods.
  • Each half 10, 12 of housing A is provided with a knife blade 72 which is preferably removable from the housing so that it can be replaced when dull.
  • the function of knife blade 72 is to sever the T-bar ends of the attachments from their respective connecting bars as the ejector rod pushes the T-bar end of the attachment through the needle.
  • the T-bar ends 38, 40 of the attachments 36 are connected to and spaced from the respective connecting bars 30, 32 by bridge elements 74 which is relatively thin. Elements 74 are long enough to space the T-bar ends from the connecting bar associated therewith a distance sufficient to permit engagement of the bridge element by the gear wheels which make up the indexing mechanism. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, bridge elements 74 cooperate with the teeth of indexing gears 78 to advance the assembly of attachments through the housing. Two indexing gears 78 are provided, one on each side of the housing. Each cooperates with the bridge element 74 on a different side of the attachment.
  • the fastener indexing means includes first and second parallelly situated mechanisms one of which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. For simplicity, the operation of only one indexing mechanism will be described, it being understood that both mechanisms are operated simultaneously by the movement of a single trigger 18.
  • Each indexing mechanism includes an indexing gear 78 rotatably mounted to the housing half. Gear 78 cooperates with lower and upper spring loaded pawls 80, 82 also mounted in that housing half. Each of the lower pawls 80 is pivotably mounted on a portion 84 of slide 86 by pin 87. A spring 81 urges the pawl 80 clockwise, such that tooth 83 normally engages gear 78. Slide 86 is reciprocated relative to the housing as trigger 18 is depressed, moving pawl 80 between the position shown in Fig. 3 and that shown in Fig. 4.
  • slide portion 86 has a recessed portion 88 into which the upper portion of one of the legs of lever 48 is received forming a lost motion connection with lever 48 such that a relatively large amount of movement of lever 48 results in a relatively small movement of slide 86 and hence slide portion 84.
  • a downwardly projecting finger 90 which cooperates with a spring loaded lever 92 to limit the movement of the slide.
  • lever 48 is rotated clockwise due to the action of spring 54, slide 86 moves rearwardly.
  • Spring 81 urges tooth 83 of pawl 80 into engagement with the teeth of gear 78, and gear 78 rotates through an arc sufficient to bring the next attachment 36 into alignment with the needles. This occur because pawl 82 is cammed against the action of spring 95, allowing gear 78 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction.
  • Upper pawl 82 normally prevents movement of the gear 78 in the clockwise direction unless it is manually pivoted in a clockwise direction by depression of projection 98.
  • Projection 98 extends above the housing such that it is manually accessible.
  • finger 85 of pawl 82 and finger 83 of pawl 80 are no longer enmeshed in the teeth of gear 78, such that gear 78 can move freely. This permits the assembly of attachments to be removed from the housing.
  • the indexing mechanism and the ejector mechanism illustrated in the drawings are modified versions of typical corresponding mechanisms which have been widely used in single needle attachers.
  • the important aspect is that the mechanism provides for simultaneous ejection and indexing of specially configured attachments with dual T-bars 38, 40.
  • the present invention relates to an assembly of attachments which includes attachments with T-bars at either end.
  • the attachments are situated in substantially parallel, spaced relation between first and second substantially parallel connecting bars.
  • the attacher of the present invention includes a recess having spaced sections adapted to receive the connecting bars and a pair of oppositely oriented, parallel needles extending from the front thereof. Simultaneously displaceable ejector rods serve to move the respective T-bar ends through the needles to dispense an attachment. Means are provided for indexing the assembly through the housing as each attachment is dispensed. The attachments are automatically severed from the connecting bars as they are dispensed.

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  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Wire Processing (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
EP90312279A 1990-08-31 1990-11-09 Gruppe von Befestigungselementen und Vorrichtung zu deren Anbringung Expired - Lifetime EP0474938B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US575855 1990-08-31
US07/575,853 US5020713A (en) 1989-05-04 1990-08-31 Assembly of attachments and device for attaching same
US07/575,855 US5038931A (en) 1989-05-04 1990-08-31 Assembly of attachments and device for attaching same
US575853 1990-08-31

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0474938A1 true EP0474938A1 (de) 1992-03-18
EP0474938B1 EP0474938B1 (de) 1995-10-18

Family

ID=27076804

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90312279A Expired - Lifetime EP0474938B1 (de) 1990-08-31 1990-11-09 Gruppe von Befestigungselementen und Vorrichtung zu deren Anbringung

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0474938B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0692334A (de)
KR (1) KR950000370B1 (de)
CA (1) CA2027494C (de)
DE (1) DE69023136T2 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0616946A1 (de) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 Tamotsu Miyamoto Verfahren zum Etikettieren von Stoffstücken und Verfahren zum Anbringen von Etiketten an einem Etikettenaufhängemagazin
CN102046475A (zh) * 2008-05-28 2011-05-04 M.I.T.国际有限公司 扣合片安装装置
CN109969513A (zh) * 2019-04-22 2019-07-05 吕惠敏 一种胶针机
US11161642B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2021-11-02 Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, Llc Fastener assembly
US11465795B2 (en) 2017-04-14 2022-10-11 Avery Dennison Corporation Automation for plastic disc

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6564984B1 (en) * 2000-04-27 2003-05-20 M.I.T. International Co., Ltd. Loop pin connecting device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1371502A (en) * 1970-09-30 1974-10-23 Monarch Marking Systems Inc Apparatus for dispensing fasteners
FR2253607A1 (de) * 1973-12-07 1975-07-04 Dennison Mfg Co
GB1469114A (en) * 1974-05-30 1977-03-30 Japan Banok Co Ltd Tag attacher
US4039078A (en) * 1973-04-04 1977-08-02 Dennison Manufacturing Company Fastener attachment stock
US4533076A (en) * 1981-11-25 1985-08-06 Dennison Manufacturing Company Dispensing of attachments
US4877172A (en) * 1988-09-02 1989-10-31 Dennison Manufacturing Company Dispensing of attachments

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4935187U (de) * 1972-06-23 1974-03-28
JPS5528963B2 (de) * 1972-08-17 1980-07-31
JPS5940690A (ja) * 1982-08-30 1984-03-06 株式会社ピーエフユー 連想文字パタ−ン発生方式

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1371502A (en) * 1970-09-30 1974-10-23 Monarch Marking Systems Inc Apparatus for dispensing fasteners
US4039078A (en) * 1973-04-04 1977-08-02 Dennison Manufacturing Company Fastener attachment stock
FR2253607A1 (de) * 1973-12-07 1975-07-04 Dennison Mfg Co
GB1469114A (en) * 1974-05-30 1977-03-30 Japan Banok Co Ltd Tag attacher
US4533076A (en) * 1981-11-25 1985-08-06 Dennison Manufacturing Company Dispensing of attachments
US4877172A (en) * 1988-09-02 1989-10-31 Dennison Manufacturing Company Dispensing of attachments

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0616946A1 (de) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 Tamotsu Miyamoto Verfahren zum Etikettieren von Stoffstücken und Verfahren zum Anbringen von Etiketten an einem Etikettenaufhängemagazin
CN102046475A (zh) * 2008-05-28 2011-05-04 M.I.T.国际有限公司 扣合片安装装置
CN102046475B (zh) * 2008-05-28 2014-12-10 M.I.T.国际有限公司 扣合片安装装置
US11161642B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2021-11-02 Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, Llc Fastener assembly
US11465795B2 (en) 2017-04-14 2022-10-11 Avery Dennison Corporation Automation for plastic disc
CN109969513A (zh) * 2019-04-22 2019-07-05 吕惠敏 一种胶针机
CN109969513B (zh) * 2019-04-22 2023-10-13 吕惠敏 一种胶针机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69023136T2 (de) 1996-06-20
DE69023136D1 (de) 1995-11-23
JPH0692334A (ja) 1994-04-05
EP0474938B1 (de) 1995-10-18
CA2027494A1 (en) 1992-03-01
CA2027494C (en) 1995-06-27
KR950000370B1 (ko) 1995-01-16
KR920004126A (ko) 1992-03-27

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