GB2151967A - Method for securing label or other sheet-like rigid member to second member, a fastener, and tool for applying method - Google Patents

Abstract

Previously labels embedded in the soil of plant pots were easily dislodged. The invention provides a method of securing a label to the pot, but has wider applications. A sheet-like member of rigid material (4) is secured to another member (5) using a self-piercing fastener. The fastener is driven against the sheet-like member to pierce through it if it has no hole, and the other member (5) also. The fastener 1 has (1) having a shank (2), a head (3) at one end and an abutment (7) at the other to prevent withdrawal after piercing. A tool (26) for driving the fastener has an anvil (29) which is locatable in opposed relationship to a fastener driving means (28). The tool may also include retaining means (68) cooperating with back surface (67) of anvil (24) whereby one of the members, usually the sheet-like member (4), is held by the tool for movement with the anvil into the path along which a fastener is driven to thereby dissipate the driving force energy back into the tool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method for securing label or other sheet-like rigid member to second member a fastener and tool for applying method This invention relates to labelling involving the use of a relatively rigid card-type label - for example, of the kind used in nurseries to identify seedlings or plants. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to that example application, but the invention has other uses.

Seedlings and plants are commonly identiifed in nurseries and other sales establishments by means of a card-type label which is simply embedded in the body of soil provided within the seedling or plant container. Although that method of labelling is widely used, it has the substantial disadvantage that the label can be easily removed or dislodged and thereby separated from its container. That presents a continuing problem for nurseries and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of attaching a card-type label to a support structure, which in one example application may be a container as used in nurseries to store seedlings or plants. It is another object of the invention to provide an improved fastener for attaching a label to a support structure of sheet or plate-like nature, such as the wall of a nursery container. It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for securing labels to sheet or plate-like support structures.

A method according to the invention is applicable to the mutual attachment of any two members of plate or sheet-like structure. It is particularly applicable however, in the case of members formed of plastics material or material of similar nature.

That is, a material which has some degree of rigidity but is nevertheless flexible and/or resilient. Labelling of nursery containers provides a suitable application for the invention as the containers are usually manufactured from a plastics material and the label cards are also manufactured of plastics material or a plasticized paper board.

The method is characterized in that the two members are secured in face to face relationship by a fastener which can be driven through the members without the need for a pre-formed hole and which retains the members in association as a simple consequences of piercing those members.

That is, after the members are pierced by the fastener, there is no need to further treat the fastener or the members to secure the attachment.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing two sheetlike members of rigid material in face-to-face relationship, including the steps of, placing said members in face-to-face relationship, and driving a selfpiercing rivet against a surface of one said member with such force that it will displace and rupture the underlying portion of both said members and thereby penetrate through both said members, said rivet having an enlarged head at one end which is engagable with said surface to prevent complete passage of the rivet through said members and an abutment adjacent the opposite end thereof which resists withdrawal of said rivet back through the rupture in said members.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing a sheet-like member of rigid material to another member having a preformed hole including the steps of, placing said members in face-to-face relationship, and driving a self-piercing rivet along a path which passes through said preformed hole and against a surface of said sheet-like member with such force that it will displace and rupture the underlying portion of said sheet-like member and thereby penetrate through both said members, said rivet having an enlarged head at one end which is operable to prevent complete passage of the rivet through said members and an abutment adjacent the opposite end thereof which resists withdrawal of said rivet back through the rupture in said sheet-like member.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool for driving a self-piercing fastener through rigid sheet-like material including, a body, locating means on said body for positioning a fastener to be driven, reciprocable driving means carried by said body for movement relative thereto between a rest position and an extended position, said driving means being engagable with a fastener positioned by said locating means during movement thereof towards said extended position and thereby driving said fastener in a fastener applying direction, actuator means operable to cause said driving means to move through a driving stroke from said rest position to said extended position and a return stroke back to said rest position, and an anvil carried by said body so as to be locatable adjacent to and spaced from said locating means to permit said sheet-like material to be interposed between said locating means and said anvil and in the path of movement of a said fastener being driven in said fastener applying direction.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-piercing fastener for securing a sheet-like member in face-to-face relationship with another member including, an elongate shank having a piercing end, an enlarged head portion at the end of said shank opposite said piercing end, and an abutment adjacent said piercing end and facing generally towards said head portion.

The essential features of the invention and further optional features, are described in detail in the following passages of the specification which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the features (whether they be essential or optional features) shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of fastener suitable for use with the method and apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is a semi diagrammatic view showing the fastener of figure 1 arranged to pierce two superimposed sheet-like members; Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 2 but showing the fastener forced into the members; Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 3 but showing the members actually ruptured by the fastener; Figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4 but showing a more advanced stage of the passage of the fastener through the members; Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 5 but showing the fastener completely penetrating through the members; Figure 7 is a view similar to figure 2 but showing one of the members having a preformed hole; Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 6 but relating to the arrangement shown in figure 7;; Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a container to which the method of the invention can be applied; Figure 10 is a semi-diagramatic view of a label card to which the method of the invention can be applied; Figure 11 shows the container and label card of figures 9 and 10 attached by a fastener as shown by figure 1; Figure 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line XII-XII of figure 6; Figure 13 shows an alternative form of fastener; Figure 14 shows a variation of the fastener shown in figure 1; Figure 15 is another view of the fastener shown in figure 14; Figure 16 is a sectional view of one form of tool suitable for carrying out the method of the invention; Figure 17 is a view of portion of the tool shown in figure 16 but showing the tool in the process of operation; Figure 18 is a view similar to figure 17 but showing a more advanced stage of the operation;; Figure 19 is a view taken along line XIX-XIX of figure 16 but showing the fastener in place on the tool; Figure 20 is an exploded view of portion of the tool shown in figure 16; Figure 21 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in figure 16 but showing the tool in the operative condition; Figure 22 is a cross sectional view taken along line XXII-XXII of figure 16; Figure 23 is a perspective view of a front portion of the tool of figure 16 showing a label card being attached to that tool; Figure 24 is a view similar to figure 23 but showing the label card guide removed from the main body of the tool; Figure 25 shows the tool of figure 16 being used to attach a label card to a container.

In one form, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, the fastener includes an elongate shank 2 having a head 3 at one end to prevent the fastener 1 from passing completely through the members 4 and 5, and an enlargement 6 or lateral projection at the opposite or piercing end to provide an abutment 7 which resists withdrawal of the fastener 1 from the pierced position (figure 6). The fastener 1 is projected through the two members 4 and 5 in any appropriate manner. For example, a power operated tool as hereinafter described may be utilized to impart sufficient driving force to the fastener 1 to cause it to penetrate and project through the members 4 and 5.

The fastener 1 pierces the members 4 and 5 as a consequence of being engaged with a surface 8 of the outermost member 4 and being driven with sufficient force against that surface 8 to cause displacement of material within the body of the members 4 and 5, followed by rupture of the members 4 and 5 at the zone of engagement (see figures 3, 4 and 5). That is, the fastener 1 first penetrates into the engaged surface 8 by causing resilient displacement of material at the zone of engagement (figure 3), and that displacement continues to the yield point of the material after which rupture occurs (figure 4) so that the fastener 1 is able to pass completely through the members 4 and 5 (figures 5 and 6).In the method of the invention as herein described, two members 4 and 5 are simultaneously subjected to the foregoing because of their face to face relationship, but those members could be spaced apart or the fastener 1 might operate to pierce one member only. In an example of the latter situation one of the members may have a preformed hole so that the piercing operation as described is only performed on the other member.

It is therefore a characteristic of the method that a self-piercing fastener 1 is employed to secure the two members 4 and 5 together. As that fastener 1 bursts through the members 4 and 5, material of which the members 4 and 5 are formed is displaced in the direction of movement of the fastener 1 and also in a laterally outward direction (figures 4 and 5). Thus, at completion of the operation there will usually be a slight crater 9 at the side of the two members 4 and 5 first engaged by the fastener 1, and a slight hump 10 at the opposite or exit side of those members 4 and 5. In any event, material displaced to allow the fastener 1 to pierce the members 4 and 5 will usually tend to return towards the undisplaced condition and as a consequence will bear against the shank 2 of the fastener 1 as shown in figures 5 and 6 to provide an obstacle against withdrawal of the fastener 1.

Even in the absence of such a tendency, withdrawal of the fastener 1 will be resisted by the enlargement 6 of the fastener 1 pressing against the adjacent member 5 and thereby tending to reduce the size of the opening 11 (figure 5) formed by the piercing operation, particularly when there is a hump 10 at the exit side as referred to above.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative arrangement in which the member 4 has a preformed hole 80 so that only the member 5 is actually pierced by the fastener 1. The fastener 1 nevertheless passes through the hole 80 and thereby secures the two members 4 and 5 together. It will be appreciated that the positions of the members 4 and 5 could be the reverse of that shown.

In the case of fastening a label card 12 to a wall 13 of a container 14 as shown in figures 9 to 11, it is usually preferred to place the label 12 against the inner surface of the wall 13 and drive the fastener 1 against the outside of the container wall 13 to pass through that wall 13 and the label 12 in turn. The label 12 and wall 13 are therefore equivalent to the members 5 and 4 respectively of figures 2 to 6. The foregoing arrangement enables the lower end 15 of the label 12 to be embedded in the container soil (not shown) if desired, thereby aiding in achieving a secure location of the label 12.

The driving speed and/or force applied to the fastener 1 may be varied to suit different container materials. Usually, a slower speed will be preferred with materials of relatively low resilience, but in any particular situation a suitable speed can be easily found by simple trial and eror. Two or more fasteners 1 may be applied to the label 12 and container wall 13 according to requirements.

The fastener 1 can be of any appropriate form, but in the particular example of figure 1 the shank 2 of the fastener is of square, rectangular or other non-circular shape so that in the operative condition the fastener 1 resists rotation of the label 12 relative to the container 14. Preferably, as shown, the fastener 1 is a substantially flat member and the head 3 is formed by two bars 16 extending laterally outwards beyond respective opposite sides of the shank 2. In some cases, the fastener 1 may be quite small - e.g., ten millimetres long - and for convenience of handling in those cases the head bars 16 may project outwaredly of the shank 2 for a substantial distance as shown.

It is preferred that the shank 2 has a larger cross sectional size adjacent the head 3 than at its opposite end or piercing end 19. In a flat fastener 1 as shown above, that may be achieved by providing a suitable taper along the sides 17 of the shank 2 from which the head bars 16 project. It is further preferred that those sides 17 merge with the head bars 16 through a suitable radius 18. Both the radius 18 and the taper contribute towards providing the shank 2 with suitable strength at the head end.

The piercing end 19 of the shank 2 may be pointed or of wedge shape as shown. In the latter case, the converging surfaces 20 forming the wedge are preferably at the same sides of the shank 2 as are the tapered sides 17. At least one of the wedge surfaces 20 extends laterally beyond the adjacent shank side 17 to provide a rearwardly facing step which functions as the previously referred to abutment 7. As shown however, it is preferred that both wedge surfaces 20 are so arranged with the result that the end portion 6 of the fastener 1 has something of an arrow head configuration, at least when viewed from the broad sides of the fastener 1.

The wedge shaped end portion 6 of the fastener 1 tends to control the rupturing characteristic of the material which it pierces. Rather than permitting the material to fracture along lines of particular weakness, the aforementioned configuration encourages fracture such that sections of the material are spread apart on opposite sides of the wedge. That is, the fracture lines 21 (figure 12) will usually be in the general direction of divergance of the wedge.

A fastener 1 as described above is particularly suitable for use in securing labels 12 to nursery containers 14. It may be used for other applications however, and it may be used in fastening methods other than that particularly described above. The fastener 1 may be conveniently manufactured from acetal or another suitable plastics material, but materials other than plastics materials could be suitable.

It is not necessary for the fastener 1 to be pointed at the piercing end 19. Successful attachment of members has been achieved with a blunt ended fastener. One such fastener 101 is shown by figure 13 and is a generally cylindrical member having a slight enlargement at each end to form the head 103 and abutment 107 respectively. The same dumb-bell-like configuration may be employed with a flat or other non-cylindrical fastener.

The fastener 1, in any of its possible forms, can be modified in many ways. For example as shown in figure 14, the shank 202 may be split longitudinally by a slot 222 extending from the piercing end 219 for a distance towards the head 203. The slot 222 allows temporary reduction of the cross sectional size of the shank 202 at the piercing end 219 as it penetrates the members to be attached (see figure 15). After passing through those members there will be a tendency for the split portion of the shank 202 to expand and the retention effect of the fastener is thereby increased.

In yet another modification (not shown), a plurality of abutments may be provided in spaced relationship along the axial length of the fastener. In still another modification, the fastener may include an expanding or keying element which is moved relative to the main body of the fastener after the fastener has pierced the members to be attached, so as to increase the retention of the fastener by an expansion or keying effect.

Other modifications and arrangements of the fastener are clearly possible.

A fastener of the foregoing general kind may be driven by any suitable fastening tool. It will be convenient however, to describe one particular tool which is particularly suited for attaching labels to nursery containers and which is adapted to drive the flat fastener 1 first described above.

One form of fastener driving tool 26 is shown partially sectioned in figure 16 and includes fastener locating means 27, fastener driving means 28, and an anvil 29 locatable in opposed relationship to the driving means 28. It is preferred also to include a fastener magazine 30 and means for feeding fasteners 1 in sequence from that magazine 30 to the locating means 27. The provision of an anvil 29 is an improvement over prior fastener driving tools in that it provides for a closed system in which energy expended in driving a fastener will be dissipated back into the tool body through the anvil 29. In prior fastener driving tools it is usual to dissipate the driving energy into the member or members receiving the fastener and that produces a recoil which can be uncomfortable to the user.

A tool 26 of the foregoing kind may be powered by electricity from a mains source or from a batery contained in or connected to the tool 26, whichever is preferred. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the example of an AC powered tool.

The tool body can be of any suitable form and construction and includes an actuator 31 for the fastener driving means 28. In a preferred arrangement shown, the actuator 31 includes a solenoid 32 which, when energized by the power source, operates to move the driving means 28 is a fastener applying direction. Also in the arrangement shown, the driving means 28 is in the form of a sliding plunger 33 of plate-like form having an outer driving edge 34 of similar size and area to that of the back edge of the head 3 of the flat fastener 1 previously described. The plunger 33 is connected to a core 35 of the solenoid 32 so as to reciprocate through a driving stroke and a return stroke in response to operation of the solenoid 32.

In the particular arrangement shown the plunger 33 is connected to the solenoid core 35 through a pin 36 and a spring 37 holds the core 35 in the position shown in figure 16 when the solenoid 32 is not energized. That position of the core 35 corresponds to a rest position of the plunger 33 at which its driving edge 34 is clear of the part of the locating means 27 which receives a fastener to be driven. Energization of the solenoid 32 causes the core 35 to be drawn by electromagnetic force into the body 38 of the solenoid as shown in figures 17 and 18. Figure 18 shows the fully extended position of the plunger 33 and after that position is reached the solenoid 32 is de-energized and the spring 37 then returns the core 35 and plunger 33 to the position shown in figure 16.

It is preferred that the relationship between the solenoid 32 and the plunger 33 is predetermined so that the peak driving force of the solenoid 32 is reached at about the position shown in figure 17.

At that position the fastener 1 which is being driven by the plunger 33 is about to engage and penetrate a member and it is therefore appropriate for the maximum driving force to occur at that time. In that regard, it is characteristic of solenoids that the magnitude of the driving force progressively increases as the solenoid core is drawn into the solenoid body. Furthermore, the magnitude of that force will decay very rapidly if no load is encountered so that efficient operation is achieved in the present case by having the driving force peak slightly before or at the same time as the driven fastener 1 engages the member to be penetrated.

It is preferred that the tool includes control means as part of a printed circuit board 81 which functions to create a time delay between de-energization and re-energization of the solenoid 32.

That is, a timer (not shown) functions to lock-out the switch 57 for a predetermined period of time immediately following each de-energization of the solenoid 32 and thereby prevent the possibility of continuous ejection of fasteners.

Locating means 27 as previously referred to places the fastener 1 in a position on the tool body to be aligned with the plunger 33 and so that the piercing end 19 of the fastener 1 faces away from the plunger 33 (see figure 19). Initially, there may be a space 39 between the fastener head 3 and the plunger driving edge 34, and the plunger 33 must traverse that space before driving movement is imparted to the fastener 1. In the arrangement shown, a further space 40 is provided between the piercing end 19 of the fastener 1 and the outer surface of a container wall or other member through which the fastener 1 is to be projected, and that space 40 may be determined by the relationship between the fastener locating means 27 and a stop surface 41 of the tool body which is engaged against the aforementioned outer surface.

In the construction shown, the solenoid 32 and the driving plunger 33 are located within a main part 42 of the tool body, and the fastener locating means 27 includes a platform 43 attached to or formed integral with that part 42 and extending beyond an end 44 thereof (figures 16 to 18). An outer edge of that platform 43 constitutes or form part of the stop surface 41. The upper surface 45 of the platform 43 is aligned with the lower side of a transverse slot-like opening 46 in the body main part 42 and towards which the plunger 33 extends to perform its driving function.

A pair of laterally spaced guide surfaces 47 (figure 19) are provided at the upper surface 46 of the platform 43 to form a guide channel for the fastener 1 during its movement from the rest position as shown in figure 19. Those surfaces 47 also form part of the fastener locating means 27 in that they locate the fastener 1 in alignment with the plunger 33. Such a guide groove can be formed in other ways and may be an integral part of the platform 33.

The fastener guide as shown also includes a cover member 48 which overlies, but is spaced from the platform surface 45 of the guide channel at least over the outer portion of that channel. The arrangement is such that the fastener 1 is laterally confined and is also held against lifting from the surface 45 particularly at the time when the fastener 1 engages the container or other member.

it is preferred to provide a plurality of fasteners in a cartridge form 49 (figure 20) which can be located in the magazine 30 of the tool so that individual fasteners can be automatically fed in sequence to the locating station 27 at the platform 33. That is, when the plunger 33 is withdrawn from driving one fastener, and returns to the position shown in figure 16 another fastener is automatically fed into position to be engaged by the plunger 33 during its next working stroke. The magazine 30 can include a tubular member 50 of suitable cross section secured to the tool body to project upwardly from the platform 43. A space is provided between the platform surface 45 and the lower end of the magazine 30 to allow fasteners to be driven from the rest position by the plunger 33.

Feed means for the fasteners may comprise a spring 51 as shown or other biasing means associated with the magazine and which continually biases the group of fasteners in the magazine 30 towards the platform 43.

As shown in figure 20 the feed means of the example cosntruction includes a cap member 52 which is releasably securable to the upper end of the tubular member 50, a pusher head 53 which engages the uppermost fastener in the cartridge 49, and the spring 51 which acts between the cap member 52 and the pusher head 53. The pusher head 53 is slidable along a guide rod 54 which is secured to the cap member 52 and retains the spring 51 in position.

The anvil 29 of the tool is preferably movably mounted on the tool main part 42 so as to be movable into and out of an operative position at which it is at least substantially aligned with the path of travel of a fastener. In the arrangement shown, the anvil 29 is connected to a movable handle part 55 of the tool. That handle part 55 may be pivotally connected to the tool body main part 42 as at 56 for movement about an axis extending transverse to the direction of travel of the plunger 33. It is preferred that the handle part 55 is biased into a position of maximum separation from the main part 42 and that movement of the handle part 55 towards the main part 42 is operative to actuator a switch 57 or other means which controls the supply of power to the solenoid.

In the arrangement shown by figure 16 the handle part 55 includes a base plate 58 which is located within a space 59 formed between two sections 60 and 61 of the main part 42. A spring 62 acting between the section 60 and the base plate 58 urges the handle part 55 into the position shown in figure 16. A set screw 63 attached to the base plate 58 is arranged to engage and operate the switch 57 and the position of that screw 63 can be adjusted to vary the time at which the switch 57 is operated during movement of the handle part 55 towards the position shown in figure 21.

A forward extension 64 of the handle part 55 carries the anvil 29 which can be in the form of a plate-like member having a slot or recess 65 in its lower edge to enable movement over the shank 2 or piercing end 19 of a fastener 1. In the maximum separation of rest position of the handle part 55 as shown in figure 16, the anvil 29 is located above and clear of the path of travel of the fastener 1.

When the handle part 55 is moved towards the main part 42 however, the anvil 29 is carried across that path of travel and, in its final position as shown in figure 21 it is located close to the stop surface 41 of the tool body. It is preferred that the space 66 (figure 21) between that stop surface 41 and the anvil 29 is preferably of substantially the same dimension as the combined thickness of the two members to be connected by a fastener, which in the example under consideration will be a label card 12 and a container wall 13.

It is also preferred that the tool includes retain ing means for a label card 12 and that means may be conveniently associated with the anvil 29 or the handle extension 64 which carries the anvil 29. In the arrangement shown, the retaining means includes a back surface 67 of the anvil 29, and a retaining member 68 which overlies an upward extension 69 of the surface 67. The retaining member 68 as shown is a wheel-like member which is connected to the handle extension 64 for rotation about an eccentrically located pivot pin 70. Preferably, as shown in figure 22, there are two such members 68 and they are mounted on the same pivot pin 70.The pin 70 is located between the radial centre of the members 68 and the surface 67, or the extension surface 69, so that gravity urges the members 68 to rotate in a direction such that the peripheral surface 71 of each is moved towards the surface 67 or 69.

With the foregoing arrangement a label card 12 can be moved downwards between the surface 69 and the members 68, but movement in the reverse direction is resisted by a clamping action of the members 68. During downward movement of the label card 12 its engagement with the members 68 causes those members 68 to swing outward such as to increase the gap between their peripheral surfaces 71 and the opposed surface 69. Any attempt to then draw the label card 12 upwards will tend to cause the members 68 to swing in the reverse direction and thereby result in the card 12 being firmly clamped between surfaces 69 and 71.

It will be appreciated that other retaining means such as leaf springs could be used in place of the members 68.

In the arrangement shown the surface 69 is formed by a rear surface of an adaptor 72 which is removably connected to the handle extension 64 as shown in figures 23 and 24. The adaptor 72 has a locating groove 73 and associated opening 74 through which a label card 12 is fed to locate between the surfaces 69 and 71 (figure 23). The adaptor 72 is interchangable with others having a groove 73 and an opening 74 of different widths so as to suit label cards 12 of different dimensions.

Figure 24 shows the adaptor 72 in the removed condition.

Operation of the above described fastening tool is as folows.

Initially, the handle part 55 is in its raised or maximum separation position as shown in figure 14, and that position is retained as a label 12 is placed in the position behind the anvil 29 as shown in figure 23. The adaptor groove 73 guides the label 12 so that the lower pointed end portion 15 thereof is fed between the members 68 and side edge portions of the label 12 are then subsequently located in the downwardly converging space between the peripheral surfaces 71 and the opposed surface 69. Slight pressure is sufficient to force the label 12 past the members 68 which thereafter function to hold the label 12 against the surface 69 without preventing continuing downward movement of the label 12.Such downward movement of the label 12 can be stopped when desired so long as part of the label 12 will be aligned with the fastener path of travel when the anvil 29 is placed in its operative position as shown in figures 21 and 25.

Assuming a cartridge 49 of the fasteners 1 is in the magazine 30, the lowermost fastener 1 of the cartridge group will be positioned on the tool platform 43 ready for engagement by the plunger 33.

The operator can then place the tool so that the stop surface 41 engages the outer surface of a container side wall 13 and with the handle part extension 64 positioned over the top edge of that wall 13 as shown in figure 25. Downward movement of the handle part 55 relative to the main part 42 of the tool body will then carry the anvil 29 towards its operative position at which it straddles the path of travel of the fastener 1. The label 12 is carried with the handle extension 64 so that a lower portion of that label 12 overlies the inner surface of the container wall 13 and intersects the aforementioned path of travel.

As the handle part 55 approaches the end of its movement towards the main part 42, the power switch 57 is operated tocause energization of the solenoid 32. The solenoid 32 then moves the plunger 33 outward and continued movement of the plunger 33 results in it engaging the fastener 1 and driving that fastener 1 against the container wall 13. The fastener 13 pierces the container wall 13 and label 12 and as that piercing takes place the anvil 29 provides a support against which the driving force is reacted and the piercing end 19 of the fastener 1 can pass through the slot or recess 65 of the anvil 29.

Upon completion of the fastening operation, the handle part 55 is released to return to its rest position and the anvil 29 is thereby carried clear of the fastener 1. The tool can then be removed from its engagement against the container 14. In an example tool of the foregoing kind, the piercing operation is completed in less than one one hundredth of a second.

It will be appreciated that the tool described provides a convenient and effective device for applying fasteners, and particularly applying labels to nursery containers. The association of a movable anvil with the means for actuating the tool results in an extremely safe device in that accidental operation of the device will not result in a fastener being propelled into free space. A fastener will be driven from the tool only after the anvil has been located in the path of travel of such a fastener.

In some applications of the invention it may be desirable to provide labels or other sheet material in continuous roll form rather than as separate members as represented by the label card 12 shown in the drawings. The tool described can be readily adapted to carry a roll of material in strip form so that said strip is fed through the retainer means in the manner previously described. Sections of the strip may be separable along perforation lines or other lines of weakness, or the tool may have an automatic severing facility.

The tool is not limited to the particular use described, nor is it limited tothe particular fastener described. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the tool need not be of the general form described.

The tool may be bench mounted for example, or otherwise arranged so that a user places a container against the tool rather than placing the tool against a container. Also, the tool need not be hand operated as described but could be foot operated or otherwise operated to suit the circumstances of use. For example, operation of the tool may be automatically triggered by location of a container against the tool.

Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (29)

1. A method of securing two sheet-like members of rigid material in face-to-face relationship, including the steps of, placing said members in face-to-face relationship, and driving a self-piercing rivet against a surface of one said member with such force that it will displace and rupture the underlying portion of both said members and thereby penetrate through both said members, said rivet having an enlarged head at one end which is engagable with said surface to prevent complete passage of the rivet through said members and an abutment adjacent the opposite end thereof which resists withdrawal of said rivet back through the rupture in said members.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one said member is a side wall of a container formed of a plastics material and the other said member is a label card.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said rivet is formed of a plastics material and comprises an elongate shank having a piercing end, an enlarged head at the end of said shank opposite said piercing end, and an abutment adjacent said piercing end and which faces generally towards said head.

4. A method of securing a sheet-like member of rigid material to another member having a preformed hole, including the steps of, placing said members in face-to-face relationship, and driving a self-piercing rivet along a path which passes through said preformed hole and against a surface of said sheet-like member with such force that it will displace and rupture the underlying portion of said sheet-like member and thereby penetrate through both said members, said rivet having an enlarged head at one end which is operable to prevent complete passage of the rivet through said members and an abutment adjacent the opposite end thereof which resists withdrawal of said rivet back through the rupture in said sheet-like member.

5. A tool for driving a self-piercing fastener through rigid sheet-like material including, a body, locating means on said body for positioning a fastener to be driven, reciprocable driving means carried by said body for movement relative thereto between a rest position and an extended position, said driving means being engagable with a fastener positioned by said locating means during movement thereof towards said extended position and thereby driving said fastener in a fastener applying direction, actuator means operable to cause said driving means to move through a driving stroke from said rest position to said extended po sition and a return stroke back to said rest position, and an anvil carried by said body so as to be locatable adjacent to and spaced from said locating means to permit said sheet-like material to be interposed between said locating means and said anvil and in the path of movement of a said fastener being driven in said fastener applying direction.

6. A tool according to claim 5, wherein said body includes a main part and a handle part which are connected together for limited relative movement, said locating and driving means are carried by said main part and said anvil is carried by said handle part, and said handle part is movable relative to the main part between an operative position at which said anvil is adjacent said locating means and an inoperative position at which said anvil is moved away from said locating means in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said driving means.

7. A tool according to claim 6, wherein retaining means is carried by said handle part and is operative to receive and retain one of said sheets so that in said operative position of said handle part said one sheet is positioned in said path of movement of a fastener.

8. A tool according to claim 7, wherein said retaining means includes a retaining member and a plate having a sheet engaging surface, said retaining member and plate being relatively arranged so that a said one sheet can be located between said retaining member and said sheet engaging surface, and said retaining member is operative to hold said one sheet in face-to-face engagement with said sheet engaging surface.

9. A tool according to claim 8, wherein said plate forms an upward extension of said anvil, and said retaining member is operative to allow said one sheet to be moved between it and said sheet engaging surface in a downwards direction relative thereto but resists such relative movement in the opposite direction.

10. A tool according to claim 8, wherein said retaining member is a wheel-like member which is connected to said handle part for relative movement about an eccentric axis which is located between said plate and the radial centre of said wheel-like member, and said wheel-like member is urged by gravity into a position at which it engages and retains a said one sheet.

11. A tool according to claim 7, wherein interchangeable guide means is associated with said retaining means and is operable to guide a said one sheet for correct location relative to said anvil.

12. A tool according to claim 6, wherein said handle part is pivotally connected to said main part for said limited relative movement, and biasing means urges said handle part in said operative position.

13. A tool according to claim 6, wherein operation of said actuator means is controlled through switch means and said switch means is responsive to movement of said handle part to said operative position thereof to cause operation of said actuator means.

14. A tool according to claim 6, wherein said actuator means includes an electrically energized solenoid.

15. A tool according to claim 14, wherein said solenoid is arranged relative to said driving means so that the driving force of said solenoid reaches a maximum substantially at the time when said driving means is positioned to press a said fastener against said sheet-like material.

16. A tool according to claim 5, wherein feed means is provided for feeding a series of said fasteners in succession to said locating means.

17. A self-piercing fastener for securing a sheetlike member in face-to-face relationship with another member including, an elongate shank having a piercing end, an enlarged head portion at the end of said shank opposite said piercing end, and an abutment adjacent said piercing end and facing generally towards said head portion.

18. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein said head portion is a bar-like portion which extends transverse to said shank and projects laterally beyond each of two opposite sides thereof.

19. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein said shank is of rectangular shape in transverse cross-section and two oppositely facing sides of that shank diverge towards said head portion, said piercing end is formed by a wedge shaped end portion having two diverging sides which are on the same sides of said fastener as are said oppositely facing sides of the shank, and said abutment is formed by a step between each said diverging side and the respective adjacent said oppositely facing side.

20. A fastener according to claim 19, wherein said head portion is formed by two bars which project laterally outwards from a respective one of said oppositely facing sides, and a radius is formed at the junction between each said bar and the adjacent said oppositely facing side.

21. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein said piercing end is pointed.

22. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein said fastener is a single piece structure formed of a plastics material.

23. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein said abutment is formed by an enlargement at said piercing end and said piercing end is blunt.

24. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein both said shank and said head portion are substantially cylindrical and said abutment is formed by a substantially cylindrical end portion of the fastener located remote from said head portion.

25. A fastener according to claim 17, wherein a slot extends longitudinally of said fastener from said piercing end for a distance towards said head portion so as to divide the piercing end portion of the fastener into two laterally spaced sections.

26. A method substantially as hereinbefore described for securing a sheet-like member to another member.

27. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 16 to 25.

28. A fastener substantially as herein before de scribed and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 8 or Figures 14 and 15.

29. A fastener substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figure 13.