US1634840A

US1634840A - Stapling machine or tacker

Info

Publication number: US1634840A
Application number: US48771A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur H Maynard
Original assignee: Boston Wire Stitcher Co
Current assignee: Bostitch Inc
Priority date: 1925-08-07
Filing date: 1925-08-07
Publication date: 1927-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1944-07-05
Also published as: GB256636A; FR620160A

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. H. MAYNARD STAPLING MACHINE OR TACKER Fi led Au. 7.

July 5 1927.

A. H. MAYNARD STAPLING MACHINE OR TACKER Filed Au. 7. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1927. I Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTE UR H. MAYNARD, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIG-NOIlEt TO BOSTON WIRE STITCHER COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.-

STAPLING MACHINE OR TACKER.

This invention relates to improvements in stapling machines or tackers for stapling or tacking tags and labels on wooden boxes and cases, for tacking paper or drawings to 6 a board, and for attaching other articles to different objects.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact device or appliance of the type specified which is convenient to operate and efiicient in. use for thepurpose described.

Another object of the invention is to pro ide a device of the type specified having a holder for carrying a reserve supply of staples, tacks, or other fasteners to be used in. the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which is strong and staunch. in structure and proof against derangement or getting out of order under rough handling in use.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device of the type specified which may economical to produce by stamping opera-' be manufactured practically in its entirety of sheet-metal parts, whereby to render it tions.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the type specified havin a minimum number of parts, capable of being assembled without the use of tools and read ily detachable for repair or replacement.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stapling ma- I chine or tacker embodying a preferred con struction of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device, part sectional in a vertical plane taken on its medial axis;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower portion 1 of the device, 'part sectional on

line

3,3 of

F g- ;v

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the devlce: Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a: part secticnal view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a part sectional plan view of the forepart of the device taken on line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view showing the construction of the knob or hand-rest for the driver-plunger; and

Fig. 9 is a view of the rearward end of the device. Y

y The invention consists in general in providing a stapling machine or tacker adapted to be held conveniently in the hand to be placed against the work and having means operated from a plunger to drive the staples, tacks or other fasteners into the work combined with automatically-operated means for successively feeding the staples or other fasteners to the driving-means.

Referring to the drawings, the device as herein illustrated is constructed substantially in its entirety of sheet-metal parts stamped out and struck up in suitable dies. The main frame 2 of the machine comprises in one piece a flat foot or base 3 with a side wall or flange 4 bent upwardly at rightangles thereto and extending longitudinally along one side thereof. The flange 4 is con- 'tinued upwardly at either end in two verti tending upwardly beyond the arms 5 and 6 is rolled over and continued on the under side to abut its edge against the side of the arms; while a portion of themetal sheared away from the main strip in the space between the arms is carried outwardly to meet the rolled over top portion on the medial line 8 extending longitudinally of the under side of the cylinder. The cylindrica holder or'handle 7 preferably stands at a slight angle to the base of the frame 2 and may be grasped in the hand with the fingers reaching through the opening between the two vertical arms 5 and 6.

At the forward end of the frame 2 is a vertically disposed tube or housing 9, within which the plunger 10 slides. The housing 9 is rectangular in cross-section and is con structed integral with the main frame 2 b folding an extension of the sheet-metal of the arm 6 into box-like shape, as shown in Fi 1 and 7. As illustrated particularly in d ig. 7, an extension of the metal in the arm 6 is bent at right-angles at 12 to form the front of the housing 9, folded rearwardly again at 13 in parallel relation to the arm, and then bent inwardly again at 14 to form the rearward side of the housing with its edge abutting the side of the arm.

The slidable plunger 10 for operating the staple or fastener-driving means is similarly constructed, being formed from a strip of sheet-metal folded into a tube of rectangular cross-section, see Figs. and 7. At the top of the plunger its sides are split or sheared apart at the corners and bent outwardl to form lu s or prongs 15 which support t e crowned mob or hand-rest 16 seated thereagainst. Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 8, the lugs 15 are bent to conform to the concaved under side of the knob or hand-rest 16, which latter part is constructed from a disk of sheet-metal with its peri )heral rim flan ed or rolled inwardly to over ap the ends 0 the lugs. Through this ingenious construction a secure joint is made between the hand-rest and the plunger with the connections concealed from view, the structure being thus especially simple to manufacture besides having a neat and artistic appearance.

Cut into the rearward side of the plunger 10 is an elongated slot 17 adapted to be engaged by a latch or detent 18 which limits the sliding movement of the plunger to hold it within its housing 9. The latch 18 consists of a strip of sheet-metal having its main arm 19 slightly bowed into angular shape and provided with a detent-toe or lug 20 bent at right-angles to its lower end. The latch 18 is held between the forward inclined end of the tubular handle or holder 7 of the frame 2 and the rearward side of the housing 9 with its detent-toe 20 inserted through a slot 21 in the side of the housing, the forward end of the toe being thus adapted to engage the ends of the slot 17 in the plunger 10. A sheet-metal spring 22 is fastened to the upper end of the latch 18 by inserting its tip through a slot and under a raised cross-piece 23 on the latch, see Fig. 2, the springbeing angnlarly bent or bowed to adapt it to rest across the end of the handle 7 in such position as to tend to rock the latch 18 to maintain its detent-toe 20 in engagement with the slot in the plunger 10. By pressing the upper end of the latch 18 toward the housing 9 the detent-toe 20 may be released from the slot 17 in the plunger 10 to allow the removal of the latter from the housing.

The plunger 10 carries a driver-blade 25 which acts on the staples, tacks or other fasteners fed into position therebeneath to drive them into t e o k. The d ver 2 is preferably constructed of hardened steel an is held between the plunger 10 and the forward wall of the housing 9 with its upper edge abutting the under side of one of the lugs or prongs 15 to take the thrust during the downward stroke of the plun er in drivin the staple into the work. Re erring to igs. 2, 4 and 7, the driver 25 is held laterally with respect to the plunger 10 by means of a circular stud or projection 26 on the forward side of the plunger en aging a hole 27 in the driver. As illustrate more particularly in Fig. 7, the stud or pro'ection 26 may be made integral with the plunger 10 by striking it up therefrom, the metal being cupped on its inner face to force it out in a circular teat. Preferabl there is a slight clearance between the stud 26 and the hole 27 so that the end of the driver-blade will invariably abut the under side of the forward lug 15 at the top of the plunger 10 to take the thrust at this point rather than on the stud. The driver-blade 25 is reversible in position so that either end may be used to operate on the staples, thus providing for longer resistance to wear in this part of the device. As shown in Fig. 4, the driver-blade 25 has its main portion of a width adapted to slide freely within the sides of the housing 9, while its ends are narrowed to a width appropriate to the width of the staple or other fastener to be operated upon. The hole 27 in the driver, with which the stud or projection 26 engages, is disposed centrally with respect to the ends of the driver so that the latter may be reversed in position for the purpose before explained.

Normally, the plunger 10 is maintained in raised position, with the driver 25 elevated above the staples being fed, by suitable means such as a coil spring 30. The spring 30 is pocketed within the sides of the hollow plunger 10 with its upper end bearing against the under side of the handrest 16 and its lower end supported from a yoke-member 31 to be later described.

The staples 8, shown in Fig. 1, are fed to the driver 25 along a carrier, guide or core 35 which is mounted above and in parallel relation to the foot or base 3 of theframe 2. The carrier or core 35 may consist of a rod or bar of rectangular cross-section having a stud or projection 36 at its rearward and held in a hole in an upstandinglug 37 bent at right-angles to the foot or base 3 of the frame. The forward end of the core 35 is supported by a rectangular block 38 of hardened metal which has an integral stud or pin 39 riveted through a hole in the core. The block 38 is received within a slotted recess 29 at the forward end of-the foot or base 3 of the frame 2 to hold the core from lateral movement at its forward end; while longitudinal movement of the core is prevented by means which fasten it to the housing 9, to be later described.

A staple-guard or retainer 40 encloses three sides of the staple-core 35, extending longitudinally thereof to hold the staples in place on the core. The guard 40 is con structed from a strip of sheet-metal folded into channel form, as illustrated most-clearly in Fig. 6. One side 41 of the channeled guard 40 abuts the under side of the core and .is welded, brazed, riveted or otherwise secured thereto. Another side 42 extends vertically in parallel spaced-relation to the side of thecore 35, while the third side 43 overlies the top of the core 35 in spaced relation thereabove. The staples 'are straddled across the core 35 with their cross bars and legs sliding in the spaces between the core and the sides of the guard.

v At its forward end the guard is provided with upwardly-projecting spaced-apart extensions or wings 44, see Fig. 5, which are formed with holes for receiving a cross-pin 45 inserted through the sides of the housing 9 on the frame 2. The pin 45 thus serves to hold the staple-core in place with the stud 36 at its rearward end seated in the hole in the upstanding lug 37 on the frame 2, see Fig. 2. y

The pin 45 also serves a second purpose in providing a pivot for a swinging door or gate which is normally held in closed position at the forward end of the core 35. The gate 50 is of channel-shape in crosssection, having two opposite side walls 51 which enclose the sides of the forward end of thecore 35 with their edges abutting the ends-of the base 3 of the frame 2, as illustrated in Fig, 1. Joining the side walls 51 is a front vertical wall 52 which when the gate isin closed position stands parallel to the forward end of the core 35 and spaced at a slight distance therefrom. The staples 8 feed 'ofi fromthe core 35 into the space between its forward end and the front wall,

52 of the gate 50, see Fig. 1, and the driver 25 slides downwardly through this space to act on the staples to drive them into the work. The gate 50 has ears 53 projecting upwardly from its side walls and abutting the sides of the upwardly bent wings 44 at the front end of the staple-guard 40. These ears 53 are provided with holes for receiving the cross-pin 45, previously referred to, which thus serves as a pivot for the gate.

Straddled across the upper edge of the wings 44 on the guard 40 is a yoke-shaped member 31, see Fig. 5, which serves as a seat or rest to take the thrust of the plungerspring 30. Preferably, the yoke 55 is formed with a teat or projection 56 struck up from its top-portion and adapted to enter within the" end coil of the spring, as indicated in Fig. 5, to hold the latter from lateral displacement. The yoke-member 31 has two downwardly bent Wings or flanges 57 which abut the inner walls of the housing 9 on the frame 2, and straddle the cars 53 on the gate 50. The under ed es of the wings 57 are formed with circu ar openings or notches 58 adapted to engage with peripheral grooves 59 cut or scored on the surface of the pin 45, whereby to hold the pin in place. The pressure of the spring 30 holds the yoke-member 31 seated against the edges of the upstanding wings 44 on the staple-- guard 40, as illustrated in Fig. 5, with its notched side flanges engaged with the grooves 59 in the pin 45.- When it is required to remove the pin 45 the yoke-member 55 is lifted slightly to release its notched flanges from the grooves in the pin 45, after which the latter may be withdrawn from the holes in the housing 9. It willthus be seen that the pin 45 is made to serve a dual purpose, namely, to hold the staplecore 35 in place on. the frame 2 and also as a pivotal mounting for the gate 50, and that said pin may be assembled with the parts or withdrawn therefrom to allow their detachment without releasing any screws, nuts or other fastening-means.

The gate 50 is held in closed position, as

illustrated in Fig. 1, by means of a clampmember 60 pivoted to the front of the housing 9 with its lower end adapted to swing across the front wall of the gate to frictionally engage therewith. The clamp 60 consists of a strip of sheet-metal bent or deformed slightly into arcuate shape and provided with a screw-threaded stud 61 which screws into a threaded opening in the front wall of the housing 9, see Fig.2. The stud 61 is formed with a flat-sided shank 62, see Fig. 4, which projects through a similarly shaped slot in the clamp 60 with its end riveted over to provide a permanent join'der therewith. The clamp 60 is attached in place on the housing 9 by turning it to striking up the metal of the gate to protrude it from the front, as shown most* clearly in Fig. 2. When the clamp 60 is swung into the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 4 its lower crimped end will snap over the projection 54 to normally hold the clamp in secure engagement .with' the forward wall of the gate 50 to maintain the latter in closed relation. To release the gate to allow it to be opened the clamp is ill swung to one side as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 4.

Pivoted on the stud 36 which projects from the rearward end'of the staple-core 35 is a swinging gate having a cap or closure for closing the end of the magazine-handle 7, see Figs. 1 and 9. The gate 65 is held between the end of the core 35 and the upstanding lug 37 'on the base 3 of the frame 2 and is formed at its upper end with a circular cap 66 conforming to the 0 en end of the magazine-handle 7. Prefera ly, the cap 66 is cupped on its rearward side to form a circular projection on its forward face adapted to snap into the circular o ening in the tubular magazine-handle By swinging the gate 65 to one side, as indicated by dash lines in Fig. 9, the cap is removed from the magazine to allow the placing of the staples, fasteners, or other articles therein; and when the gate is swung into closed position, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 9, the cap will slide across the end of the magazine until its circular projection snaps into the open end thereof to hold it closed. The means for feeding the staples 8 along the staple-core 35 consists of a traveler or pusher 70 which slides on the core under the impulse of a compression-spring 75. The spring is preferably formed with its coils of rectangular contour to adapt it to fit closely around the staple-guard 40 which encloses the core 35. The rearward end of the spring 7 5 bears against the lower portion of the gate 65, while its forward end acts against a washer 77 abutting the rearward end of the pusher 70. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6 the pusher 70 is constructed in two parts, comprising an outer inverted U-shaped member 71 formed from a strip of sheetmetal folded into trough-shape to adapt its sides to straddle the core 35 and its guard 40. At the rearward end of the member 71 is a tab 72, bent at right-angles to the side of the pusher to provide a finger-piece which may be conveniently grasped in the hand to slide the pusher rearwardly on the staplecore 35. The pusher proper consists in a member 73, constructed of thinner sheetmetal and bent into inverted U-shape to conform to the shape of the staples, whereby it is adapted to straddle the core 35 as shown in Fig. 6 and to slide thereon to feed the staples forward. The member 73 is attached to the side of the outer member 71 by riveting, brazing, or welding it thereto, so that the two parts of the pusher are permanently united to act as one. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the outer side of the usher-member 71 has a lug 74 projecting orwardly to adapt it to strike against the rearward edge of the sideof the gate 50 to restrain the sliding movement of the pusher after the last staple inthe series has been slid off from the spring 75 will be to cant or rock it into the positionillustrated in Fig. 3 so that its engagement with the detent-notch 7 8 is effected automatically. By canting the pusher in the opposite direction its forward edge is released from the notch 78 to permit it to slide forward on the core 35 under the action of the spring 75.

The method of operation of the complete machine is as follows: Before loading the device the pusher 70 is slid back on the core 35 into the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon its forward edge engages with the detent-notch 78 to hold it in retracted position in the manner as above explained. The gate 50 at the forward end of-the staple-core 35 is next opened by releasing its clamp 60 and the machine is then ready to receive a charge of staples. To load the machine the staples are usually slid off from the stick on which they are packaged onto the forward end of the staple-core 35, a suitable number being placed on the core to substantially fill the space forward of the pusher 70. The gate 50 is then closed down into the position shown in Fig. l and the clamp-member 60 swung around to snap across the projection 54 to lock it in place. The pusher 70 is now released by rocking or canting it to disengage its forward edge from the detent-notch 78, whereupon it will be urged forward by the spring 75 to cause it to advance the staples along the core 35 until the leading staple in the series brings up against the front wall of the gate 50. The machine is now ready to operate and its method of use is as follows:

The operator grasps the appliance by its handle 7, and placing the tag, label, drawing or other piece in position on the object to which it is to be attached, holds the device with its flat base 3 thereagainst. With the other hand the operator then presses on the knob or hand-rest 16 to force the plunger 10 downwardly in its housing 9 against the action of the spring 30. Under this action thedriver 25 will be slid downwardly to engage its lower edge with the top of the for ward staple a which has been fed beneath it and held in place by the gate 50. The driver 25 slides down through the space between the forward end of the staple-core 35 and the front wall of the gate 50 and thus acts on the top of the staple s to drive the latter down across the front face of the block 38 and into the work. Upon release of the knob or hand-rest 16 the plunger 10 will be raised under the action of its spring 30 to retract especially to be noted that the frame of the pin for holding them in place. This pin arms surmounting the base; of fastenerdriving means reciprocable on said frame, and means to deliver the fasteners in posi- I tion beneath the driving-means.

2. In an appliancefor driving'fasteners, the combination with a frame comprising the driver 25 above the top of the staple-core 35, whereupon the staple-pusher will act to again feed the staples forward to deliver another one into position beneath the driver. In this way the machine may be operated continuously to feed the staples successively into position and drive one into the work at n 16 Pi ce a base, a handle surmounting the base and a vertical housing; of a driver slidable in the housing to. act on the fasteners fed therebeneath, and means to suecessively feed the fasteners into position It will be observed that my invention pron h the vides a particularly simple, compact and ef- In an appllancefor dr ving fasteners, ficient device for the purpose stated. It is q blnatwn wlth a one-piece frame com-' prising a base, a tubular handle surmountmachine is constructed in one piece from n. g the s nd a tubular housln disposed single strip of sheet-metal, struck up and VfE the base; of adriver slida Is in the f d or h ed t id th various housln to act on the fasteners fed therecooperating portions as named. Moreover, fl and means to feed the fasteners ti ll ll f th th parts f th successively 1nto pos1t1on beneath the dr1ver. device are likewise constructed of sheet-metal Ih h PP -W for drlvlhg f with the exception of the staple-core, so that the lon wlth a frame-member conthe whole machine may be economically stlucted P h gl strlp 0f h t-metal manufactured at a relativel small cost. f compris ng a base, a handle surmount Another fact to be note is that there is g the P and of but a single screw in the whole machine; and b e 1n the houslng t0 act 011 t f this requires no screw-driver or wrench for ehels d thereto, and means to successively each operation of the plunger 10; the ma-. chine beingmoved' from point to point or slid over the word: in accordance with requirements.

its application or removal. All of the, parts l eed the fasteners into position b neath the of the device are designed for assembling v rwithout the use of toolsand with only one I deviqe of the yp Specified, the

combination with a frame constructed of sheet-metal and formed with a relatively flat base, arms rising from the base, a tubular handle supported from the arms, and a tubular housingat the forward end of the frame; of a plunger slidable in the housing, a driver carried by the plunger to act on the staples fed therebeneath, a staple-core on the base of the frame, and means to feed the staples along the core to deliver them successively to the driver.

6. In a device of the type specified, the combination with staple-driving means and means for feeding the staples thereto, of a frame for carrying said drivingand feeding-means, said frame constructed from a strip of sheet-metal folded to provide a relatively fiat base with arms rislng therefrom, the metal of the arms being continued and rolled into a tube to provide a cylindrical handle, and the metal extending from one of the arms folded to provide a housing for the driving-means.

7. In a. device of the type specified, the combination of a frame constructed from a 12 single strip of sheet-metal folded to provide a fiat base with arms rising from said base and a tubular handle surmounting the arms, the metal in one of said arms being continued forwardly and folded into a rectangular housing, staple-driving means slidablein said housing, and means to feed the staples into osition beneath the driving-means.

8. n a device of the type specified, the

performs several functions and is designed for easy assembling and quick detachment by simply releasing its locking-member which is normally held in position by the spring for the operating plunger.

The device is convenient to hold in the hand for placing against the work and is readily operated b a slight pressure to drive the staples or ot ier fasteners into place. The feeding of the staples is automatic and the parts of the mechanism of the drivin and feeding means are strong and durabe and proof against derangement or getting out of order. The handle of the device serves as a holder or reserve magazine for carrying an extra supply of staples or for containing tools, such as ascrew-driver or tack-puller. It is obvious that while the invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine for drivin double-pointed fasteners or staples, it is capable of use with other types, of fasteners, suchxas tacks, brads or the like. It is also to be understood that while I have herein illustrated and described a preferred form of the device, various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement ofits parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In an appliance for driving fasteners, the combination with a one-piece frame comprising a base, arms rising from the base and a tubular handle supported from said combination with a sheet-metal frame comend with lugs bent outwardly from its sides,

a driver carried by said plunger, and a knob-like hand-rest constructed from a disk of sheet-metal engaging the lugs on the plunger with its run flanged over the ends thereof to secure it in position thereon.

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame provided with a handle and a vertical housing spaced away from the end of the handle to provide an opening therebetween, a plunger slidable in said housing and formed with a slot on its side, a latch extending loosely throu h the opening between the end of the hand e and the side of the housing and formed with a detent projecting through a slot in the housing to hold the latch in place while adapting its projection to engage the slot in the plunger, and a spring acting on the latch to hold it in position with its detent normally in engagement with the slot in the plunger, said spring adapted for compression to permit the latch to be readily attached to and detached from the frame.

11. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a one-piece sheet-metal frame provided with a base, a handle surmounting the base and a housing at one end of the frame; of a hollow plunger slidable in said housing, a driver carried by said plunger, a staple-carrier extendin longitudinally above the base and means for feeding the staples along the carrier to deliver them into position beneath the driver.

12. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame, staple-driving means reciprocable on said frame, a staplecarrier along which the staples feed to the driving-means, a gate pivoted to swing down into position in spaced relation with respect to the forward end of the carrier, and a clamp adapted to swing across the gate to hold it in position.

13. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base surmounted by a handle, said base formed with an upwardly projecting lug at one end and a slotted opening at its opposite end, a staple-core extendin longitudinally above thebase and provide with means at one end engaging the lug on the base, means at the forward end of the core engaging the opening in the base to hold the core against lateral movement, and means to secure the core against longitudinal movement with respect to the base.

14. Ina device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base and a housing above the base, a staple-core extending longitudinall above the base and secured thereto at its rearward end, a guard fastened to said core and provided with wings at the forward end thereof projecting into the housing on the frame, and a cross pin inserted through holes in said wings and housing for securing the parts together.

15. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base and a housing arranged above the base, a staplecoro extending longitudinally above the base and fastened thereto at one end, means projecting upwardly from the forward end of the core into the housing, a pin rojecting laterally through said means an engaging holes in the sides of the housing, said pin having peripheral grooves adjacent its ends, and a yoke-member held within the housing and provided with notches engaging the grooves in the pin to retain the latter in place.

16. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base with a housing arranged thereabove, a staplecore extending longitudinally above the base with its rearward end sup orted therefrom and provided at its forwar end with wings projecting upwardly into the housing, a pin projecting through holes in the side of the housing and the wings on the core, said pin provided with peripheral grooves, a gate pivoted on said pin, a yoke-member having portions straddlin the wings on the core and provided witi notches engaging the grooves in the pin, and means for yieldingly holding said yoke-member in position with its notches engaging the grooves in the pin.

17. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base and a housing arranged above the base, a staplecore extendin longitudinally above the base and providef with wings projecting upwardly into the housing, a pin extending through said wings and the sides of the housing and provided with peripheral grooves, a oke-member straddling the wings and provi ed with notches in its edges engaging the rooves in the in, a plunger slidable in t e housing, an a spring for holding the plunger in raised position, said spring bearing against the yoke-inember to hold it in engagement with the pin.

18; In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a base surmounted by a housing, a plunger slidable in said housing, a driver carried by said plunger, a staple-carrier along which the staples feed to the driver, a te pivoted to close into position at the ont of the staple-carrier, a clamp pivoted to swing across the gate to hold it in position, and a stud riveted to said clamp and threaded into an opening in the housing whereby the clamp may swing with respect to the gate and may be removed from the frame by turning it to unscrew its stud from the opening in the housing.

19. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame havinga base and a hollow handle surmounting the base, sta ple-driving means on said frame, means to feed the staples or other fasteners to the driving-means, and a closure pivoted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom whereby it may be swung into position to close the end of the handle to adapt the latter to serve as a holder for a reserve supply of staples.

20. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame having a hollow handle and a base provided with a lug at one end, staple-driving means on said frame, a staple-core arranged above the base and having a stud held in the lug thereof,'1neans to feed the staples or other fasteners along the core to deliver them to the drivingmeans, and a closure pivoted on the stud between the lug and the end of the staple-core and adapted to swing across the end of the 30 handle to adapt the latter to serve as a holder for a reserve supply of staples.

In testimong whereof I affix my signature. RTHUR H. MAYNARD.