JP2010105156A - Carrier strip system and method for different diameter fasteners - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrier strip system which can operate in the same magazine provided for a setting tool, even fasteners respectively have different diameters. <P>SOLUTION: The carrier strip system includes a plurality of discrete carrier strips for respectively receptive of fasteners of substantially different dimensions. The carrier strips comprise internal characteristics composed to engage with the fasteners. Further, the carrier strips comprise substantially identical external dimensions. The external dimensions are substantially symmetrical with respect to a virtual surface defined by inclusion of axes of the plurality of discrete fasteners. The external dimension can be engaged with a single setting tool magazine so that the fasteners respectively with different dimensions have consistent alignment within the single setting tool magazine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/30890 filed on September 20, 2005, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.

  In the construction industry, fastener setting tools have become widely known tools. The ability to drive the fastener completely by simply pulling the trigger is significantly more efficient than hammering or screwing the fastener. In the past, setting tools had to be loaded with fasteners in place in the setting tool one by one before being driven into the workpiece. Modern setting tools include a magazine with several fasteners spring loaded for automatic loading, which significantly increases the speed at which multiple fasteners can be driven. Such magazines are enhanced in function due to the appearance of fastener holders in the form of carrier strips.

  A wide variety of fasteners are now available for use with setting tools. The need to be abundant in this way is to meet the specific demand for the workpieces to be joined. One common variable for fasteners is their diameter. Different diameter fasteners are used in different magazines or different setting tools. In order to ensure an adequate supply of fasteners, the best different magazines are required for each. Such an arrangement requires the user to use different diameter fasteners to have multiple magazines or multiple setting tools, and more time to replace the magazines to accommodate different diameter fasteners. It also becomes. This creates inefficiencies and is therefore undesirable.

  The carrier strip system includes a plurality of separate carrier strips each receiving a different size fastener, the carrier strip having an internal feature adapted to engage the fastener, the carrier strip further having substantially the same external dimensions. External dimensions are generally symmetric with respect to a virtual plane defined including a plurality of separate fastener axes, and fasteners of different dimensions are uniformly aligned within a single setting tool magazine External dimensions can be engaged with a single setting tool magazine.

  A method of supplying different sized fasteners to a single setting tool through a single setting tool magazine adjusts the internal dimensions of a plurality of separate carrier strips to engage different dimensions of a plurality of separate fasteners. Loading separate fasteners into a plurality of separate carrier strips, and the plurality of separate carrier strips simply by at least external dimensions so that the separate fasteners are uniformly aligned with a single setting tool magazine. Maintaining the external dimensions of the plurality of separate carrier strips so as to be engageable with a single setting tool magazine.

1 is a front view of a large diameter carrier strip assembly of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the carrier strip assembly of FIG. 1. 1 is a front view of a small diameter carrier strip assembly of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the carrier strip assembly of FIG. 3. 1 is a front view of a multiple diameter carrier strip assembly of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the carrier strip assembly of FIG. 5 at arrows 6-6. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of another carrier strip having a short fastener.

  Referring to the drawings, like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures.

  In connection with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the concept disclosed in the present invention allows fasteners of different diameters to be fitted into the same magazine of the setting tool. In order to allow such applications, the outer diameter of the fastener carrier strip must remain the same for different fastener diameters and the fastener must be held more firmly in place. In addition, if a smaller diameter fastener is utilized in the same setting tool magazine, the setting tool magazine uses the fastener's diametrical surface as an additional guide surface, so if using a smaller diameter fastener, There must be a capacity to guide the outer diameter of the large diameter fastener.

  FIG. 1 shows a large diameter carrier strip assembly 1. The large diameter carrier strip assembly 1 comprises a large diameter fastener 2, a large diameter head end break free strip 4 consisting of several head end segments 5, and a large diameter point end break free strip 6 consisting of several point end segments 7. And comprising. The carrier strip assembly 1 is shown ready to be loaded into a fastener setting tool such as a combustion driven fastening system.

  Referring to FIG. 2, each head end segment 5 has a through hole 12, and each point end segment 7 has a through hole 14. The distance between the segment 5 and the segment 5 of the head end break free strip 4 is equal to the distance between the segment 7 and the segment 7 of the point end break free strip 6, and the distance between the through hole 12 and the through hole 12 is the through hole 14. And the distance between the through-holes 14. The sizes of the through holes 12 and 14 are those that cause an interference fit with the outer diameter portion 3 of the large-diameter fastener 2. The interference fit maintains the relative positions of the large diameter head end break free strip 4, the large diameter point end break free strip 6, and the large diameter fastener 2.

  As mentioned above, there are several strip registers in the magazine (not shown), both diametrically or axially. These registers are provided on surfaces on the parts that make up the large diameter carrier strip assembly 1 to ensure that the large diameter carrier strip assembly 1 is properly guided and indexed in a magazine and setting tool (not shown). Contact. Diameters 8 and 9 are aligned in the magazine to ensure proper alignment of fastener 2 prior to firing from the fastener setting tool. The diameter 8 is just beyond the radial surface 16 of the head end segment 5 in the direction of the point end of the fastener 2, and the diameter 9 is the radius of the point end segment 7 in the direction of the point end of the fastener 2. It is just beyond the directional surface 20. The radial surfaces 18 and 20 are also aligned in the magazine to properly locate the fastener 2 in the axial direction prior to firing from the fastener setting tool. The radial surface 18 is formed from the head end of the segment 7 and the radial surface 20 is formed from the point end of the segment 7. Since the surface 18 and the surface 20 are formed on the segment 7 which is the same part, the distance between them can be adjusted accurately.

  As can be readily seen in FIG. 2, the segments 5 and 7 are in contrast around an imaginary plane defined including the fastener 2 constituting the strip 1 and the axes of the segments 5 and 7. Such symmetry allows the fastener setting tool to contact the segments 5, 7 from either or both sides of the imaginary plane, thereby allowing the fastener 2 to be accurately aligned with the fastener setting tool. The symmetry of the strip 1 also allows the strip 1 to be placed in one of two orientations and eliminates the need for the strip 1 to be oriented in one of the two orientations with respect to the magazine. Are loaded more easily and faster into the magazine.

  Referring to FIG. 3, small diameter fastener 22, small diameter head end break free strip 24 composed of several head end segments 25, and small diameter point end break free composed of several point end segments 27. A small diameter carrier strip assembly 10 comprising a strip 26 is shown. The carrier strip assembly 10 is shown ready to be loaded into a fastener setting tool, such as a combustion driven fastening setting tool.

  Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 4, each head end segment 25 has a through hole 42, and each point end segment 27 has a through hole 44. The distance between the segment 25 and the segment 25 of the head end break free strip 24 is equal to the distance between the segment 27 and the segment 27 of the point end break free strip 26, and the distance between the through hole 42 and the through hole 42 is equal to the through hole 44. And the distance between the through hole 44 and the distance between the through hole 12 and the through hole 12 of the large-diameter head end break-free strip 4. The size of the through-holes 42 and 44 is an interference fit with the outer diameter portion 23 of the small-diameter fastener 22. The interference fit maintains the relative positions of the small diameter head end break free strip 24, the small diameter point end break free strip 26, and the small diameter fastener 22 with each other.

  As previously mentioned, there are several registers for guiding the large diameter carrier strip assembly 1 within the magazine of the fastener setting tool. Thus, the surface on the part of the small diameter carrier strip assembly 10 that interacts with the register in the magazine so that the small diameter carrier strip assembly 10 is properly fed into the magazine of the fastener setting tool. Must match the one from 1.

  Thus, the segments 27 that make up the small diameter point end carrier strip 26 have a surface that coincides with the surface of the segment 7 of the large diameter point end carrier strip 6. Specifically, the radial surface 48 and the radial surface 50 are aligned within the magazine, like the radial surface 18 and the radial surface 20 for the large diameter head end segment 5. Further, the axial distance separating the radial surface 48 and the radial surface 50 of the segment 27 coincides with the axial distance separating the radial surface 18 and the radial surface 20 of the segment 7. Thereby, either the large diameter fastener carrier strip 1 or the small diameter fastener carrier strip 10 can be axially aligned within a single magazine.

  Similarly, the diametric alignment surfaces coincide. Specifically, the diameter portion 28 of the segment 25 located just ahead of the radial surface 46 coincides with the diameter portion 8 which is the axis of the large diameter fastener. The diameter 28 is formed as a part of the segment 25 while the diameter 8 is formed as a part of the fastener 2, as long as the diameter is the same, the alignment within the magazine is affected. Does not affect.

  Another diametric alignment surface from the large diameter carrier strip 1 is the diameter portion 9 of the large diameter fastener shaft. Accordingly, the diameter portion 29 of the segment 27 coincides with that of the diameter portion 9 of the large diameter fastener 2.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a carrier strip assembly 100 having various diameters (hereinafter referred to as various diameter carrier strip assemblies 100) is shown. The strip assembly 100 comprises a plurality of multi-diameter fasteners 110, a multi-diameter head end break free strip 114 composed of several head end segments 118, and a multi-diameter point end break composed of several point end segments 126. And a free strip 122. The carrier strip assembly 100 is shown ready to be loaded into a fastener setting tool, such as a combustion driven fastening setting tool.

  Referring to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the various diameter carrier strip assembly 100 is shown. One of the various diameter fasteners 110 is shown as having a first diameter portion 130 and a second diameter portion 134, with the first diameter portion 130 having a larger diameter than the second diameter portion 134. The first multi-diameter portion 138 transitions from the first diameter portion 130 to the second diameter portion 134. However, although the first multi-diameter portion 138 of this embodiment has a frustoconical shape, other transition shapes can be used between the first diameter portion 130 and the second diameter portion 134. Similarly, in the second variable diameter portion 142, the second diameter portion 134 transitions to the tip 146 of the fastener 110 having a truncated cone shape. The tip of this embodiment has a flat surface that cuts through the second multi-diameter portion 142, but other embodiments can have other point shapes, for example, a small sphere radius at the apex.

  Each head end segment 118 has a through hole 150, and each point end segment 126 has a through hole 154. The distance between the segment 118 of the head end break free strip 114 is equal to the distance between the segment 126 and the segment 126 of the point end break free strip 122, and the distance between the through hole 150 and the through hole 150 is the large diameter head. The distance between the through hole 154 and the through hole 154 that matches the distance between the through hole 12 and the through hole 12 of the end break free strip 4 is the same. The through holes 150 and 154 have dimensions such that they can be fitted with the first diameter portion 130 and the second diameter portion 134, respectively. The friction caused by the interference fit maintains the relative position of the multi-diameter head end break free strip 114, multi-diameter point end break free strip 122, and multi-diameter fastener 110. A portion 158 of the first multi-diameter portion 138 may be located within the axial range of the through hole 150. This is because the part 162 of the first diameter portion 130 is also located within the axial range of the through hole 150. Thus, the interference fit between the portion 162 of the first diameter portion 130 and the through hole 150 creates the friction necessary to maintain the relative position of the multi-diameter head end break free strip 114 relative to the fastener 110. Similarly, the portion 166 of the second various diameter portion 142 may be located within the axial range of the through hole 154. This is because a part 170 of the second diameter portion 134 is located within the axial range of the through hole 154. Thus, an interference fit between the portion 170 of the second diameter portion 134 and the through hole 154 creates the friction necessary to maintain the relative position of the multi-diameter point end break free strip 122 relative to the fastener 110.

  The multi-diameter carrier strip assembly 100 has several registers that guide the strip assembly 100 within the magazine of the fastener setting tool. These registers of the strip assembly 100 are an interference fit with the registers in the magazine and align with the registers in the large diameter carrier strip assembly 1 so that the strip assembly 100 can be properly fed into the magazine of the fastener setting tool. Specifically, the segment 126 has a surface that matches the surface of the segment 7 of the large diameter point end carrier strip 6. For example, the radial surface 174 and the radial surface 178 are aligned within the magazine, similar to the radial surfaces 18 and 20 of the large diameter head end segment 5. Further, the axial distance separating the radial surface 174 from the radial surface 178 of the segment 126 coincides with the axial distance separating the radial surface 18 from the radial surface 20 of the segment 7, thereby increasing the It becomes possible to axially align the diameter fastener carrier strip 1 or the various fastener carrier strips 100 within a single magazine.

  Similarly, the radial alignment surface is aligned. Specifically, the diameter portion 134 immediately below the radial surface 186 (in each figure) of the segment 118 is aligned with the diameter portion 8 and the diameter portion 182 immediately below the radial surface 178 is aligned with the diameter portion 9. To do. In this embodiment, the diameter portion 134 is part of the fastener 110, but in other embodiments, the diameter portion 134 can be located on a portion of the segment 118, for example. Having a common alignment diameter between the various embodiments of strip assemblies 1, 10, and 100, for example, diameter 134 immediately below radial surface 186 and diameter 182 immediately below radial surface 178. Thus, the fitting with the same fastener setting tool magazine and the subsequent fitting with the fastener setting are ensured.

  Referring to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of a multi-diameter carrier strip assembly 200 is shown. The strip assembly 200 is similar to the strip assembly 100 in that the head end segment 118 and point end segment 126 used in the strip assembly 100 are also used in the strip assembly 200. Using the same segment 118, 126 ensures that the strip assembly 200 fits and functions within the same setting tool and magazine as the strip assembly 100. The difference between strip assembly 200 and strip assembly 100 is that strip assembly 200 uses a multi-diameter fastener 210 that is shorter than multi-diameter fastener 110 used in strip assembly 100. In fact, the fastener 210 is very short and does not exceed the radial surface 214 that is the farthest portion of the strip assembly 200 in the direction of the tip 218 of the fastener 210. The only limitation on the length of the fastener 210 is that the second diameter portion 134 extends through the through hole 154 for a length sufficient to frictionally engage the fastener 210 and the point end segment 126 relative to each other. Having an extending portion 222. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention disclosed in FIG. 7 is a setting tool for receiving a magazine and a magazine having a fastener smaller in diameter (at least in one direction) than the guide strips 118, 126 to which the fastener itself is attached and secured. Allows use within.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the members of the embodiments without departing from the field of the invention, and It will be understood that equivalents can be substituted. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the basic scope thereof. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but the invention is intended to cover all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. including.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Large diameter carrier strip assembly 2 Large diameter fastener 10 Small diameter carrier strip assembly 22 Small diameter fastener 100 Various diameter carrier strip assembly 110 Various diameter fastener 200 Various diameter carrier strip assembly 210 Various diameter fastener

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/30890 filed on September 20, 2005, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. This application is a divisional application of US Patent Application No. 11/766380 filed on June 21, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (16)

  A plurality of separate carrier strips each receiving fasteners of different dimensions, the carrier strips having internal features adapted to engage the fasteners, the carrier strips further having substantially identical external dimensions. The external dimensions are substantially symmetric with respect to a virtual plane defined including a plurality of separate fastener axes, the fasteners each having a different dimension being constant within a single setting tool magazine A carrier strip system in which the external dimensions are engageable with the single setting tool magazine so that they are aligned with each other.   The carrier strip system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate carrier strips further comprises a head end break free strip and a point end break free strip.   The carrier strip system of claim 2, wherein the internal feature is adapted to engage the fastener and a tip of the fastener is disposed within the point end break free strip.   The carrier strip system of claim 1, wherein the internal feature engaging the fastener is an inner diameter.   The carrier strip system according to claim 4, wherein a portion shorter than the entire length of the inner diameter portion is engageable with the fastener.   The carrier strip system of claim 1, wherein the internal features are adapted to engage fasteners of different lengths.   The carrier strip system of claim 1, wherein the internal feature is adapted to engage fasteners of different diameters.   The carrier strip system of claim 4, wherein the fastener has a plurality of diameter portions.   6. The carrier strip system of claim 5, wherein the head end break free strip engages a first diameter portion of the fastener and the point end break free strip engages a second diameter portion.   The carrier strip system of claim 9, wherein the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion are different diameters.   The carrier strip system of claim 9, wherein the first diameter portion is larger than the second diameter portion.   The carrier strip system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of one of the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion varies over an axial dimension of the fastener.   The carrier strip system of claim 1, wherein the internal feature is adapted to frictionally engage the fastener. A method of supplying fasteners having different dimensions to a single setting tool through a single setting tool magazine,
Adjusting the internal dimensions of the plurality of separate carrier strips to engage different dimensions of the separate fasteners;
Loading the separate fasteners into the plurality of separate carrier strips;
The plurality of separate carrier strips are engageable with a single setting tool magazine by at least the external dimensions of the plurality of separate carrier strips so that the separate fasteners are uniformly aligned with the single setting tool magazine. And maintaining the external dimensions.   11. The method of claim 10, further comprising maintaining the external dimension of the plurality of separate carrier strips to be symmetric with respect to an imaginary plane defined including a plurality of the separate fastener axes. the method of.   The method of claim 11, further comprising loading the plurality of separate carrier strips in one of two directions within a single setting tool magazine.

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