114,330. Gill, H. A., (Boston Wire Stitcher Co.). March 22, 1917. Stapling and discontinuous wire-stitching.-In a wire-stitching or stapling-machine, the stapleformer and staple-driver are operated with a differential timing of the movement thereof through the intervention of a crank-shaft and associated link mechanism, and the stapling &c. mechanism is adapted to be connected with the crank mechanism in different positions of angular adjustment in relation to the actuating crank to vary the direction in which the staples &c. are. driven into the work. The staple.-forming and driving devices are carried in a rectangular casing or head B, Fig. 3, adapted to be attached in different positions to an overhanging arm A<1> of the machine through which extends a hanger H having bearings for the main shaft S. To vary the position of this shaft and its connected mechanism in accordance with the thickness of the work, the hanger H is formed at its ends with a convex bearing ring fitted to the bore of the hub at the rear end of the arm A<1> to enable the front end of the hanger to be tilted by means of adjusting-screws 7. The shaft S carries a crank 8 and wrist pin 9 for operating the reciprocating elements of the staple forming and driving devices in the head B. These comprise a driving-bar D, Figs. 3 and 4, a driver-bar D<1> connected to it by a tongue and groove 14 and carrying a driver D<2>. a staple-former F having extensions 16 adapted to straddle an anvil 17, which is slotted at 19 for holding the wire, and a staple-supporter 20 hinged to the back of the staple-former F and housing a spring plunger 25, which maintains guide-pins 23 in contact with cam blocks 22; the plunger 25 bears against the end of a second plunger 28 housed in a block 29. These elements are of substantially the same construction and arrangement as those usually employed in machines of this type, the invention residing in improved means for operating them. The plunger 28, which is acted upon by a spring 31, carries a pin 33 having a head 34 fitted to slide in a slot 35 in the front of the block 29, and is provided with a projection 36 which enters a recess in the staple-former F. The block 29 is recessed at 45 to receive a pin 43 driven into a boss 41 on an offset portion of a bell-crank 38, which is journaled on the wrist pin 9; a second link 39 pivoted to the link 38 carries a pin 44 arranged to engage a hole 46 in an offset portion 11 of the driving- bar D. In operation, as the crank 8 starts to move downwards in the direction of the arrow Z, Fig. 6, the staple.former F commences its descent, and the driving-bar D, after being slightly raised owing to the angular relation of the bellcrank 38 to the link 39, starts to follow it. The members F, D descend at substantially the same speed, but as soon as the member F engages the work, the speed of the member D will be accelerated due to the opposite turning movement of the bell-crank 38 about the pin 43. As the crank 8 throws across its centre, the block 29 will only be moved downwards to a slight extent to cause the staple-bending legs 16 of the member F to bear against the work as a presser-foot, the spring 31 yielding to allow the head of the pin 33 to slide in the slot 35 in the block 29. Meanwhile, the member F has bent the wire over the anvil 17 to form a staple, which, after the anvil has been pressed back by the descending driver, is held in grooves 15 in the extensions 16 of the member F and is afterwards forced out by the driver and driven through the work. In the continued throw of the crank 8, the spring 31 allows lost motion between the block 29 and member F so that the latter remains in contact with the work until the slot 35 again engages the head of the pin 33, when the .member F is raised. The driver, however, does not commence its upward movement until after the member F, so that it acts as a clearer, to prevent an improperly formed staple from becoming jammed in the extensions 16. In the. ascent of the driver, the links 38, 39 cause the speed of the member D to be accelerated relatively to the member F, and the various parts are returned to their initial positions. The head B in the, arrangement shown in Fig. 3, is secured to the arm A<1> by bolts b, and the staples are driven parallel to the edge of the work. The head, however, may be turned through a right-angle and secured by the same bolts b, Fig. 12, and the pins 43, 44 are then engaged with holes in cleats 47, 48, Fig. 4, secured to the block 29 and the offset portion 11 of the driving-bar D respectively by bolts engaging threaded portions of the recesses 45, 46. In this position, the staples are driven at rightangles to the edge of the work. In another arrangement, to enable the staples to be driven at an angle to the edge of the work, the head B is fitted into a casing K<2> of the form shown in Fig. 11, and the pins 43, 44 are then engaged with holes 51 in cleats 49 of angular form. The clinching means is made adjustable to correspond with the direction in which the staples are driven. For this purpose, an arm C, Figs. 3 and 13, extends through openings c in the front and rear walls of the main frame A, and may be adjusted laterally by forward bolts 54, the rear end of the arm being engaged by a bolt 53 extending through a chamfered hole 55. A bar C' on tho top of the arm C carries at one end a transverse clincher block 59, and at its other end a block set longitudinally of the bar but at a slight angle to its side. The bar is removably secured in place by inserting one end beneath a. clamp 63 and passing a screw bolt 64 through the arm into its other end. The block 59 is operative when staples are driven parallel to the edge of the work, and the block, with a lateral adjustment of the arm C, when they are driven at right-angles to the edge of the work. With the arrangement of the head B shown in Fig. 11, a clincher block is set into a similarly arranged bar at the proper inclination to aline with the staple-driver. The head B carries a face-plate O, Fig. 3, for supporting the operating-means for the wire feed and severing devices, which are of known form. The face-plate carries a block 70 which is engaged directly, or through a cleat corresponding to the cleats 47, 48, 49, by a. pin 69 projecting from a hub 68 on a link 67 connected to the hanger H. When, therefore, the latter is adjusted to the thickness of the work, the wire feed and severing devices are correspondingly adjusted.