US1356927A - Stapling-machine - Google Patents

Description

C. LEA.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1916.

1,356,927, Patented Oct. 26 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1- 1210631703": C'fi/az'ies Lea C. LEA.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATlONFILED 0507, I916.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

& 4 l

Inventor.- '4 v 6 W595 Lew by LEI/figs.

C. LEA.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0507,1916.

1,356,927. Patented 00:. 26, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I I Invenior:

CharZeusLea,

0 wags.

C. LEA.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, I916.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

4 SHEETSS HEET 4.

Izwenio z" Gnu/vies Lea CHARLES LEA, or BOSTON,

COMPANY A STAPLING-MACHINE.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARnEsI JEA, a citi zen of the United States, and a resident of Boston,. district of Dorchester, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in stapling-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is 'a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to stapling machines, beingmore particularly concerned with a machine for'forming staples from a wire and driving them into the work, the machine being especially useful in offices for the fastening together of two or more sheets of paper, although it is'susceptible of general use wherever staples are required to the Work; and

fasten thicknesses of material together.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will bemore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a staple forming and setting machine embodying my invention; i

Fig. 2 is a plan section on irregular line 2-2inFig'.1;.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4- is a central, longitudinal section of the machine with a portion of the hand lever broken away;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustrating the mechanism in various positions, Fig. 5 showing the initial or normal position, Fig. 6 showing the position which the parts occupy just after the wire has been severed, Fig. 7 showing the parts as they appear just after the staple has been formed, and Fig. 8 showing the parts as they appear after the staple has been set. j

Fig. 9 is a detailed plan of the gage for Fig. 10'is a rear elevation of the machine.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of my invention which I have selected for illustration, I have there shown a staple-forming and settin machine having as the preferred stap e -forming material a wire 11, supplied in the form of a Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT omen.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'ro 'EvEm'iADY MFG.-

OF BOSTON.

I Patented Oct. 26,1920. 7, 1916. Serial No. 135,525.

coil wound on a suitable spool 12, the latter being herein formed of sheet metal, and provided with two flanges 13 and 14, be-' tween which the coils of wire are wound. This spool may be mounted upon a suitable spool holder 15, the latter being herein in the shape of a hub formed as a part of a frame 16, constituting a combined support and housing for the mechanism. In the present instance, the frame is provided with an annular shell or casing 17 which encircles the spool, and-there is thus provided between said casing and the hub. an annular spool chamber 18 in which the spool is housed. The entrance to the spool chamberis closed by a part of the spool, which is herein the flange 14. The spool may be held in its place in the chamber by any suitable means, here- ,in a retaining spring 19 mounted on a pivot 20' on thehub 15, and adapted to beswung about its pivot across the face of the flange, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 10, thereby to hold the spool in place. By simply swinglng this spool retainer around until it clears the inner circumferential edge of the flange 14, the spool may be withdrawn in a rearward direction. v

The wire 11 is led from the spool through a suitable opening 21 in the casing '17, whence it is fed by any suitable mechanism, such as that which I will now describe. Mounted on the front face of the combined frame and housing 16 is an oscillating feed member 22, herein provided with a plurality of segmental slots 23', 24 and 25. Suitable guides, herein a plurality of screws or studs 26, 27 and 28 passing through the slots 23, 24 and 25, respectively, are threaded into the front faceof the frame and serve to enforce a circular movement of the feed member 22 as well as to limit the movement of the latter in opposite directions. The feed member is herein provided with an arm 29 having an opening 30 through which the wire 11 loosely passes. Attached to this arm is a species offeedpawl 31, herein in the form of .a spring, secured at 32 to the feed member and having a free end 33 which engages the wire. Also engaging the wire and preferably adjacent the feed pawl is a species of' spring secured at- 35 to the casing 17 and having a free end 36 engaging the wire 11..

The-stop pawl 34 prevents retrograde movement of the wlre during the backward or non-working stroke of the pawl 31 (contraclockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive). When the feed pawl is moved in the opposite direction it exerts a wedging action against the wire, firmly clamping the latter in the hole 30 in'the arm 29, thereby causing the wire to be advanced, it being understood that at such time the stop pawl 34 tends to swing away from the wire and allow the latter to be advanced without undue restraint. I

Herein the feed member 22 is moved on its working stroke by a suitable spring 37 having one end fixed at 38 and its other end bearing against an abutment 39 on the feed member 22, thereby constantly tending to move the latter in a clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive). The idle or nonworking stroke of the feed member may be produced by any suitable means, herein the pin 40, which is intermittently brought into engagement with the abutment 39 during the operation of the machine by suitable means hereinafter described.

Turning now to the staple forming and setting mechanism, the latter herein comprises a pair of staple-forming plungers 41 and 42 between which astaple driving plunger 43 is disposed. These plungers are herein mounted to slide in a suitable guideway formed by two side guides 44 and 45, a rear guide 96 and a front guide 97, the latter being in the form of a removable plate held between shoulders 98 and 99 of the side guides and secured to the latter by screws 100.

Cooperating with the staple forming plungers 41 and 42 is a staple-forming block 103 across which the wire 11 is fed by the wire feeding mechanism hereinbefore described. The free end of the wire is guided into its placeacross the forming block-by a wire guide. the latter herein for convenience. of manufacture being formed as a part of the side plunger guide 44, by simply providing the latter with a perforation 105 slightly larger in diameter than the wire. This guide, moreover, as will presently appear, constitutes a cutter which, in cooperation with the forming plunger 41 during the early part of the descent of the latter serves to sever the wire. Preparatorvto this cutting of the wire, its advancing end is broughtagainst the inner face of the side plunger guide 45,- which stops the wire and serves as a gage for determining the length of wire which is to be cut oif preparatory to the formation of the staple.

The plungers may be actuated in properly timed relation by any suitable means. In the present instance. cams 46and 47, co-

v operating with the plungers 41 and 42. re-

spectively. cause the latter to descend in unison and somewhat n advance of the plunger 43, the latter being actuated by a cam 48. This cam, for convenience of manufacture, is herein formed as a part of an actuating lever 49, provided with a suitable handle 50, which maybe struck or pressed upon by the palm of the hand in a downward direction to cause the cams to operate their respective plungers. As a means for limiting the movement of this lever, the latter is herein provided with "two arms or lugs 51 and 52 arranged to strike suitable stops. In the present example, the plate 97 serves as a convenient stop for the arm 51 to limit the downward motion of the lever, while the upward motion of the latter is limited by the arm 52 striking against a stop 53, herein formed as a part of the hub 15. A suitable spring 54 serves to restore the plungers and the actuating lever to their initial positions after having been depressed. .Herein, this spring is of generally U-shaped form, and extends across and beneath lugs 55 and 56 formed on the plungers 41 and 42, respectively, and a lug 57 formed on the plunger 43. The arms of the spring are preferably provided with coils 58, while the terminal portions 59 of said arms are secured to a suitable support 60 herein a part f the hub 15, the latter being herein drilled as at 61 to provide 'sockets for the ends of thespring. The

cams 46, 47 and 48 are herein secured together and mounted upon a shaft 62, which constitutes a fulcrum for the actuating lever 49. I

The staple forming block, hereinbefore referred to, it will be observed, is disposed intermediate the paths of the forming plungers and in the path of the driving plunger, and since itis in the path of the latter, suitable provision must be made to cause said forming block to recede from the path of said driving plunger during the working stroke of the latter. accomplished by any suitable means, but herein the forming block is provided with means for utilizing the'working stroke of the driving plunger to cause said forming block to recede from the path of said ,plunger. In the present instance, the forming This may be block is mounted to slide in a suitable guideway 63 formed-in the combined frame and housing 16; This. guideway is transverse to the path of the driving plunger 43 and permits the forming block to recede in a rearward direction against the tension of a suitable spring 64. Herein the forming block is provided with .an appropriately formed cam 65 having a face which is oblique with respect to the path of the driving plunger 43, so that as the latter descends and its lower end engages such oblique surface, the forming block is forced in a rearward direction and caused to recede from the path of the driving plunger.

described. I

Referring now to the forming plungers 41 and 42, the inner or opposed faces of the latter are'herein provided respectively with grooves 66 and 67 disposed lengthwise thereof and of such proportions in cross section as to receive the wire. As before stated, the latter isfed across the forming block (see Fig. 5) it is then severed (see Fig. 6), and further descent ofthe forming plungers 41 and 42 causes .the projecting ends of the previously cut piece of wire to be bent in a downward direction (see Fig. 7), it being understood, of course, that the intermediate portion'of the wire rests upon the forming block 103 and thus enforces the formation of K a U-shaped staple. The grooves 66 and 67 receive the legs of this staple as they are formed, and when, upon descent of the drivin-g .plunger43, the forming block 103 is caused to recede from the path of the driving plunger, the staple is then supported in the grooves of the forming plungers by reason of the frictional engagement of the staple legs with the grooves, it being understood, of course, that the staple legs will have a sufficient tendency to spring in an outward direction to cause the staple thus to be held in readiness for the action of thedriving plunger. The latter now continues its descent, while the forming plungers 41 and 42 remain stationary, and thus the staple isforced in a downward direction and its legs compelled to pass through the work.

bend them inwardly (see Fig. 8). By this means the staple is set or clenched. and the thicknesses of material 71 through which it is driven are united.

The anvil 68 is herein mounted on a suitable base 72, thelatter being herein for convenience of manufacture formed of thin sheet material pressed into the desired shape and preferably provided with suitable legs,

herein rubber cushions or pads 73,. one at each corner of the base. These cushions are intended to rest upon the desk, table or other support and prevent the latter from becoming scratched. The anvil may be secured to the base in any suitable manner, but is here- 1 in combined with a work gage 74, the latter being provided with abutments '75 for the edge of the-work and a slot 76, which latter receives a plate 77 interposed between the bottom of the anvil and the top of the base. This plate fills the slot 76 from side to side and serves as aguide for the gage. A clamping'screw 78, introduced in an upward directionthrough the base 72 and plate-77 is threaded into the anvil' and serves the double purpose of clamping the anvil in fixed position on the base-and causing the anvil to clamp thegage 74 to its base. By simply loosening this screw very slightly the gage The frame 16 may, and herein does, constitute a convenient species of presser to hold the work firmly upon the anvil while the staple is being driven, and to thisend said frame is pivoted on the base, the latter for this purpose. being provided with a depression '79 in which is disposed a boss 80 secured therein by a screw 81. This boss is herein provided with a hole 82 through which a shaft or pin 83 passes into' a pair of ears 84 formed on the frame 16. The latter is herein provided with yielding means tending'to maintain the'same normally in an elevated position, thus to hold the' staple forming and driving mechanism and the presser foot elevated above the anvil to permit of the introduction of the work therebetween. To this end I have herein provided 4 a spring 85 of generally U-shaped form,

similar to that hereinbefore described. and

having coiled'portions 86-and arms 87, the

latter being inserted in holes 88 provided therefor in the boss 80. This spring exerts a constant tendency to urge the frame 16in an upward direction away from the anvil. but is of sufficiently light tension to permit the. frame at once to descend upon the work the moment downward pressure is applied upon the handle 50.

-The combined frame and housing 16 as herein constructed constitute a convenient support for astaple-foiming and driving mechanism as well as for the wire feeding mechanism, both of these mechanisms being herein organized so that the former-is par tially disposed within the latter, thus produclng a very neat, compact and efiicient organlzation. This result is herein obtained by making the hub 15 hollow to receive some shaft or pin 62 which constitutes the fulcrum for the'cams and the actuating lever 49 is mounted in the hub 15, the latter for such purpose being provided with holes 92 and 93 which receive the terminal portions of the shaft. I In order to permit the introduction and withdrawal of the latter, the casing or shell 17 isiprov/ided with perforations 94 and 95. It will be understood, of course, that when the shaft is to be introduced or withdrawn, the wire holding spool must first be removed from its chamber.

The pin 40 hereinbefore referred to in connection with the description of the wire feeding mechanism may be conveniently thismeans the feed member 22 is given its idle or non-working stroke during the formation and driving of a staple. The working stroke of the feed member, as before stated, takes place under the influence of the spring 37 and this occurs during the restoration of the staple-forming and driving mechanism to its initial position. It is therefore evident that with each working stroke of the lever 49 a staple is completely formed and driven.

While I have herein shown and described one form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes and have distion of stapleorming means, means includ-- closed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodimentherein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be madewithou't departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is 1. In a stapling machine, the combination of staple-forming means, and means for feeding staple-forming wire thereto, the last-mentioned means including a wire-holding spool inclosing a portion ;of the firstmentioned means.

2. In. a stapling machine,- the combination of staple-forming means, and means for feeding staple-forming'wire thereto, the last-mentioned means including a 'wire-,

holding spool and a wire-pro ressihg device incloslng a portion of the rst mentioned means.

3. In a stapling machine, the combination of staple-forming means, means for feeding staple-forming wire thereto, includin "a spool; and a hollowhub upon the outside of which said spool is mounted and within which hub a portion of said stapleforming means is disposed.

4;. In a sta ling machine, the combinaing a spool for supplying staple-forming wire thereto, and common supporting means ber actuated thereby, means including a spool for supplying staple-forming wire to said staple-forming means, and common supporting means therefor including a hollow support upon which said spool is mounted and within which said rocking member is disposed, and a support on which said reciprocating member is mounted for coop- .eration with said rocking member.

6. In a stapling machine, the combination of staple-forming means including a rocking member and a reciprocating member actuated thereby, means including a spool for supplying staple-forming wire to said staple-forming means, and common supporting means therefor including a hollow hub about which said spool is mounted to turn, within which hub said rocking member is disposed and on one end of which hub said reciprocating member is mounted.

7. In a stapling machine the combination of staple-forming means including a rocking member and a reciprocating member act-uated thereby, means including a spool for supplying staple-forming wire to said stapleforming means,and a combined'support and housing therefor comprising a hub about which said spool is mounted to turn, a pivotal support for said rocking member, 'a guide for said reciprocating member, and an inclosure for said spool.-

8L In a stapling machine, the combination of staple-forming means including a rocking member and a reciprocating member actuated thereby, means including a spool for supplying staple-forming wire to said'staple' forming means, and a combined support and housing therefor having an annular chamber in which said spool is disposed, an inner chamber in which said rocking, member is disposed, and a guideway in which said reciprocating member is disposed.

9.. In a stapling machine, the. combination of staple-forming means including a rocking member and a reciprocating member actuated thereby, means including a spool for supplying staple-forming wire to said stapleforming means, and a combined support and housing therefor having an annular chamber in' which said spool is disposed, a part of said spool constituting a closure for the entrance to said chamber, an interior chamber in which said rocking member is disposed, and a guideway in which said recip rocating member is disposed.

10. Inav fastener setting machine, the combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the work with relation to said anvil, a base on which said anvil is mounted, and means to secure said anvil to said base and to cooperate with said anvil to secure said gaging means in proper relat10n thereto.

11. In a fastener setting machi ne, the combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the work with relation to said anvil; a base on which said anvil is mounted, and means extending through said base to secure said anvil to said base and to cooperate with said anvil to secure said gaging means in proper relation thereto.

12. In a fastener setting machine, the combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the work with relation to said anvil; a base on which said anvil is mounted, and means extending through said base and having screw-threaded engagement with said anvil to secure said anvil to said base and to coiiperate with said anvil to secure said gaging means in proper relation thereto.

13. In a fastener setting machine, the combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the work with relation to said anvil; a base on which said anvil and said gaging means are supported; means on said base to guide and position said gaging means and to permit adjustment of the latter with reference to said anvil; and means to secure said anvil to said base and to cooperate with said anvil to secure said gaging means in the desired position of adjustment.

14. In a fastener setting machine, the combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the .work with relation to said anvil, said gaging means being provided with a slot; a base on which said anvil and said gaging means are supported; means located in said slot to guide said gaging means and to permit adjustment of the latter with relation to said anvil; and means extending through said slot to secure said anvil to said base and to cotiperate with said anvil to secure said, gaging means in the desired position of adjustment.

15. In a fastener setting machine, th combination of fastener setting instrumentalities including an anvil; gaging means for positioning the work with relation to said anvil, said gaging means being provided with a slot; a base on which said anvil and said gaging means are supported; an oblong member located in said slot to guide said gaging means and to permit adjustment of the latter with reference to said anvil, said member'being provided with a perforation; and a member extending through saidperforation and having threaded engagement with said anvil to secure said anvil and said gaging means to said base.

member having provision for supporting a Wire 0011 thereabout, a staple former and 16. In va stapling machine, an annular means to feed wire from the coil to the form-er comprising an arc-shaped oscillating element mounted'on said annular member.

17. In a stapling machine, an annular member having provision for supporting a wire coil thereabout, a staple former and 'means to feed wire from the coil to the former comprlsin an arc-shaped element mounted on said annular member for oscillation on the same and having provision for gripping the wire on one phase of its oscillation.

18. In a stapling machine, an annular member having provision for supporting a 'wire coil, a staple former, an" arc-shaped feed member mounted to oscillate on a face of said annular member and having provision for gripping the wire on one phase of its oscillation and means-for operating the feed member by the movement of the staple former.

19. In a stapling machine, an annulushaving provision for supporting a wire coil thereabout, staple forming plungers extending substantially radially from said annulus, rocking operating devices for said plungers within the annulus and a device for feeding wire from the coil to the plungers mounted on the face of the annulus.

. 20. In a stapling machine, an annulus having provision for supporting a wire coil thereabout, staple forming plungers extending substantially radially from said annulus, rocking operating devices for saidplungers within the annulus and a device for feeding wire from the coil to the plungers J comprising an arc-shaped member mounted ried thereby, means for operating the plun-- gers located in the center of said frame and wire feed means comprising a member having pin and slot connection with said frame and having wire gripping means associated therewith and means correlating with movement of the plungers for oscillating the member.

23. -In a stapling machine, an annular frame, staple forming plungers extending radially thereof, driving means therefor located Within the opening of the annulus, an arc-shaped member having pin and slot connection With the face of the annulus,

frame, means for reciprocating them and l means to move. the member against the spring on one phase of the reciprocation.

25. Ina stapling machine, a base, an arm pivoted thereon, a transverse enlargement of said arm having provision for holding a Wire coil thereabout, staple forming plungers extending transversely of the enlar ement, means. on the enlargement to feed Wire to the plungers and an anvil on the base cooperating with the plungers.

26. In a stapling machine, a base, an armpivoted thereon, an annulus transverse to the arm having provision for holding a'wire coil thereabout, rockable plunger-operating devices, in the opening of the annulus, staple forming plungers carried radially of the annulus, means on the annulus for feeding ire to the plungers and an anvil on the base cooperating with the plungers.

27. In" a stapling machine, an annular or open-centered frame, staple forming and driving plungers carried thereby, alever for operating the plungers pivoted at the center of the frame, and stops carried thereby adapted to engage the frame at opposite sides thereof to limit oscillatory movement of the lever.

28. In a stapling machine an open-centered frame having a transverse shaft journaled therein, a set of staple forming and driving plungers arranged longitudinally of the shaft, cams on the shaft for operating the plungers and an operating lever for operating the shaft projecting transversely from the center of the frame.

29. A machine as described in claim- 28 wherein the frame provides for the support of a coil of staple-forming Wire concentrically thereabout.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my I name to this specification.

CHARLES LEA

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