US1855405A - Nailing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. F LJMACKENZIE 1,855,405

NAILING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

" A ril 26,1932.

F. LA MACKENZIE NAILING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1928 Fig.2

2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITE stares: PAT oFFmE EnEn L. MACKENZIE, E BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 uNI'rEn snoE" MACHINERY c-onronerron; 0E PATEn soN, NEW JEEsEY,'A conPoE'ArIoNo'E NEW JERSEY Application filed. July 24,

My invention relates to nailing machines, of whichan example is furnished by those employed for attaching-heels to shoes. The invention concerns more particularly the supplying apparatus of these machines, by which nails are delivered from a source to the nailing mechanism; 7

Objects of theinvention are to improve lo the delivering device of the supplying apparatus, which may be furnished by a slotted plate and whichseparates nails one by one or group by group from araceway or raceways each preferablyarranged to condu'ct'a I lfi series of nails hanging by th'eir'heads. In theattainment of this object, I associate with the separating" device means for moving it, as a spring,.retaining means, as a'latch, and means arranged to release the retaining 2(i means and leave the separating device free to act. The releasing meansis preferably a member under the control "of the operator,

and is shown as a treadle connectedto the latch. This operator-controlled member may also govern the operation of the nailing mechanism by causing its connection to power actuating mechanism, as through a clutch. The action'of the separating device may beinitiated, for exampleby, putting its spring 3t under tension, through such means as an operator-controlled lever, which also governs means for transferring the separated nails to the nailing or fastening-inserting mechanism. The elements are so related that a second delivery of fastenings is prevented until those previously delivered. have been inserted. Since some such element as a spring is prefer ably utilized for producing movement of the separating device, full travel of this device, 49 eiiected by the spring after opposite or spring-energizing movement, might give too great momentum and resui ing nail-displacing shock when the end of its path is reached.

I preferto retain control of the separating device by the initial moving means during a portion of its separating and delivering movement. This control may betermmated when the device is latchedl After release, the

spring may act independently of the initial moving means. To insure accurate'co-opera NAILING MACHINE 1928. Serial No. 295,086;

tion of the separating device with its raceway, it is shown as mounted upon 'a 'movable carrier, there being-interposed means, shown as an eccentric device, for varying the posi tion ofthe separator upon the carrier, andtherefore its relation to the raceway, and re taining said separator in-its adjustedposig tion. It'may be desiredto cause the opera the manner of actuation andth'e control of apparatus may be made eifective or inelifec tive. In additionto the clutch whiclfcom trols the nailing mechanism, power is also furnished to the nail-supplying apparatus through a clutch in which driven member" is normally urged toward a-driving member, as by a spring.'- As movement' is not to be continuously transmittedwhile the spring is efi'ective, something-must be included in =the connections, as a: friction device, which-will permit relative'rotatio'n between the elements at the drivingand-driven sides of the clutch! Inthis'way, undue weanmaybe introduced while the friction isslip'pingi Toav'oid' such an efiect, there is provided automatic-means for moving the driven member away from f the driving member, this being-shownas ineluding a cam acting against thespring. To obtain correct timing oft-he automatic means,

I operate it" from the 'drivenielementof the clutch mechanism, and to insure the comple tion ofthe disengagementofthe driven mem-' her, the powerof'the clutch is supplemented by other power means," as *a spring initially tensioned' and preferably further tensioned" while the'clutch' is being disengaged, an'dex erting its force to'complete' the I disengagement. The efiec't'of thespring may be'varied by means adapted to adjust'its initial ten m the accompanying. drawings is illustrated a particular embodiment'of the inventiong';

Fig. 1 showingab'roken-side elevationof a heel-attaching machine to which my invention is applied;

Fig. 2 being a partial front elevation, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3, an enlarged broken top plan view of the nail-separating mechanism;

Fig. 4, a detail in vertical section through one of the adjusting devices for theseparating plate;

Fig. 5, an enlarged vertical section on the line V-V of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6, a longitudinal section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5, but showing the full length of the supplemental clutch-shifting mechamsm.

The heeling machine disclosed is generally of the type illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States N 0. 1,545,575, Standish, July 14, 1925. Upon a frame 10 is mounted a jack 12, in vertical passages in which reciprocate nail-inserting drivers 14. The drivers are actuated from a power-shaft 16, journaled in the frame, through clutch mechanism 18 controlled by a treadle 20. Cooperating with the jack is a head or pressureabutment 22 movable into contact with a heel applied to a jacked shoe for the purpose of resisting the driving force exerted upon the attaching nails. This head is brought into contact with the work by connections 23 to the treadle, acting before the clutch is tri ped.

11 its more essential particulars, the apparatus which supplies nails to the passages of the jack 12 resembles that of the application filed in the United States Patent Office on October 24, 1924,'in the name of John M. Benjamin, and bearing the Serial No. 745,684. The nails, which maybe of different sizes, are delivered from drums 24, 24 of a distributing mechanism to slotted raceways 26 (Fig. 3) and slide down these hanging by their heads." A separating device A, associated with each set of raceways, picks off the nails in successive groups, each furnishing a load which is to attach a heel. A device 28 associated With'each raceway reverses the sepa rated nails, so they fall points up into one of a set of tubes 30, and then through a footplate 32, in which the tubes terminate, into openings in a loader-block 34, by which they are transferred to the driver-passages in the jack. The foot-plate is preferably mounted upon an arm pivoted upon the frame. This enables the operator to readily swing back the foot-plate to allow inspection of the loader-block and the freeing of clogged nails. The tubes 30 may be flexible to facilitate this movement. In the loader-block-openings, the nails are temporarily retained by a shutter 36 mounted to move at the under sideof the block and normally held in nail-retaining relation by a spring 37. Contact of the shutter with the jack in the nail-delivering position causes therelease of the nails.

The loader-block is moved from the nailreceiving position beneath the foot-plate to the nail-delivering position over the ack by a reciprocatory bar 38 mounted to slide horizontally in the frame, and upon the forward extremity of which the block is carried. On the under side of the bar is formed a rack 39, with which meshes a gear 40 upon a shaft 42 rotatable in the frame above the main shaft 16. A friction device 44 (Fig. 2) connects the gear to the shaft to cause them to turn together, yet permits the gear to be held against movement while the rotation of the shaft continues. Rotated by and movable longitudinally of the shaft 42 is a driven member 46 of clutch mechanism C. Loose upon the shaft are driving clutch members 48 and 50, turned respectively in opposite directions by connections 52 from the shaft 16 and bevel-gearing 54. By the clutch mechanism O, the shaft 42 may be rotated to carry the loader-block to either of its extremes of movement beneath the foot-plate and above the jack, the friction 44 slipping when these are reached. Through a bore in the shaft 42 passes a rod 56 joined at one end to the clutch member 46 and at the other to a block 58, in which it is free to turn. The block is trunnioned in a yoke formed in a lever 60 fulcrumed at 62 upon the frame. A tensionspring 64, extending between the lever and frame, urges the driven member 46 toward the driving member 48, so that, when the lever is released by the operator, such engagement of the clutch will be produced as to carry the loader-block rearwardly to its nail-receiving position. When the lever is moved to the left against the tension of the spring 64, the driven clutch member is first carried away from the driving member 48, from which, however, it has been disengaged by means to be hereinafter described, which modifies the action of the spring 64, and then is brought into engagement with the reversely rotating driving member 50. This causes a forward movement of the loaderblock to its nail-delivering position above the jack. In this shift of the lever, a projection 66 upon its side is withdrawn from a depression in the adjacent face of a cam-disk 68 upon the shaft 42. A one-way clutch-connection 70 (Fig. 1) which may be of the Horton type, transmits the rotation of the shaft to the disk only when the loader-block is being advanced. After the removal of the projection from the depression, as a result of the outward movement of the lever by the operator, the disk, turned by the shaft, carries the depression away from the projection 66. So, when the lever is released, the projection 66 rests against the outer face of the disk and the clutch members 46 and 50 are held locked in engagement until, at the end of a single rotation, the depression again reaches the projection, which enters it and allows the spring 64 to disconnect the driven:

er yieldable through an opening in the lever against a spring 72. This capacity of the projection for yield reduces the shocks to which the co-operating elements may be subjected upon change of position of the lever. As the disk 68 rotates, ,its cam-periphery acts to swing a bell-crank lever 7 4 fulcrumed upon the. frame, Thiselevates a rod 76 against a spring 78 and moves about their fulcra, at the bottom of the distributor-frame, two bell- cranklevers 80, 80,..eaeh of which is joined by a link 82, slotted at 83, to one of the separating mechanisms A. Aturnbuckle 84in the rod 76 permits the time of when of connections between the cam and separating devices to be varied. These separators and the effect which they produce will be later described.

When the loader-block is in its rearward position beneath the. foot-plate 32, with bllv driven member 46 of the clutch C connected I to the driving member 48, it is clear that the friction device 44 must slip continuously. To avoid undue wear of the friction-surfaces,

the machine includes means for shifting the Y driven memberto a neutral position after the withdrawal of the loader block has been completed. Extending horizontally from the frame 10. below the lever 60. is a fixed spindle 86 (Fig. 6) about which is free to turn gear 88 meshing with a pinion 90 fast uponthe shaft 42 and having a long hub 89. In the gear is an arcuate slot 92 receiving a pro ection 94 from the adjacent face of disk 96 loose upon the hub of the gear; Surrounding the hub of the disk, oppositethe gear, is a torsion-spring-98 connected at one extremity to the gear and at the other to a disk 100 surrounding the gear-hub. Th1s disk 100 is adjustably secured to the gear, so its angular relation. thereon may be altered and the normal spring-tension varied, by a pin 102 passing into some one of a series of horizontal openings near its periphery and an opening in an. outer disk 104 keyed to the hub of said gear. The face of the disk 96 opposite the gear 88 hasa cam-projection 106., which. as it diverges from the disk rearwardly (Fig. 2) has first a somewhat steeply inclined contactsurface 108 and then a more gradual incline 110 leading to the point of maximum projection. With the projection 106 co-operates a roll 112 rotatable upon the inner side of the clutch controlling lever 60. When the operator shifts the leveroutward to the driving side 50 of the clutch, and thus rotate the ca1ndisk 68 to aifectthe nail-separating mechanism and at the same time rotate the gear 40 to actuate the loading mechanism, the gear 88 and disk 96a're together turned anticlockwise, as viewed in' Fig. 5.; The projection '94 lies at the leftof the slot 92,'and,thespring 98, is underits normal tension; Inwthis roe tation, the'projection106 leaves theroll 112 the lever not being affected bythissince ltllS locked out by the projection 66 riding upon the face of the disk68. hen the-delivery of nails has been effected by the loader-block, the lever 60 is released to allowzthe loader block to be returned to its nail-receiving position. The consequent engagement of the driven clutch member 46 with the driving member 48 is permitted by the entrance of the projection 66 into the depression in the disk 68, and the actuating gear 88 and disk 96 are rotated oppositely to the direction during nail-delivery, the roll 112 now being in contact with or in proximity to the plane surface of this disk at the foot of the cam-incline 108. As the loader-block moves rearwardly, the incline 108 strikes the roll .112, and, on account of the steepness. of the angle which it makes with the surface of the disk, holds the latter against rotation and allows the slot 92 to travel clockwise past the projection. At this time, a further tension is imparted to the spring 98. When the'left-hand end ofthe slot has reached the projection, the disk 96 is positively rotated and the end of the incline- 108 is advanced to the roll 112. Just at the time the final disengagement of the clutch: member 46 is being effected by the action of the cam-incline 108 upon the lever 60, were there no other force available than that ex"- erted by themember itself, there would be a tendency for the teeth of the clutch to strike and chatter while rotating; .but the force which has been imparted to the spring 98, plus that which it hadinitially, is suflicient to urge past the roll 112 the end of the steeper incline 108 and then the more gradual shrface 110. Atthe time of spring-action, th projection 94 moves clockwise through the slot 92. The torsion of the spring continues the movement of the disk until the projection 106 has completely withdrawn the driven clutch member 46 from the driving member 48 and continues to hold it in a neutralposition until the next cycle of the mechanism.

Returningto the nail-separating mechanisms A, and considering one of these only,

since they may be substantiallyidentical,

there is supported opposite the raceways a readily removable end block 114, in the inner face of which are downwardly extending recesses 116 respectively 'alined with the raceway-slots and leading to the tubes 80. A similar structure is disclosed in Letters Pat- 'ent of the United States No. 1,002,422,

lVlcFeely, September 5, 1911. Guided in the distributor-frame, at the inner side of the end block and below-the raceway-ends, is ,a carrier-slide 118 having at its opposite ex tremities forwardly extending arms 120, 120. Each arm has a perforated enlargement divided at122and provided with a clamping. screw 124. Within theenlargementis iin held a stud 126, from which rises an eccentric projection 128 carrying a transversely grooved holder 130. By variation in the angular positions of the eccentrics, independent adjustment of the opposite ends of the holder with respect to the extremities of the raceways is made possible. In these alined grooves in the holders of the two arms 120 is secured a plate 182, in which, or in a series of applied plates 134, are formed nail-separating slots 136, one of which cooperates with each raceway. Each slot is inclined at an acute angle to the edge of the plate'adjacent to the ends of the raceways, and is of such width that it will permit the shank of a nail to pass while the head is supported on the top of the plate at opposite sides of the slot. At the forward end of each raceway-slot is an enlargement 138, which is of sufiicient diameter to permit the nail-heads to pass through it. In the movement of the carrier-slide and plate, each opening 138 is brought into registration with one of the recesses 116 in the end block. Each separating slot is carried by the actuating mechanism of the plate into three positions, one appearing in full lines at a in Fig. 3, and in which the nails are received from the raceway; an intermediate position, shown in dotted lines at b at the right, in which a nail has been picked by the separat ing point 140 of the plate and temporarily held for delivery; and a third position, indicated in dotted lines 0 at the left, and in which the opening 138 delivers the nail to the corresponding recess 116 and its tube 80. Into the slot 83 of the link 82, reciprocated by the cam 68, extends a pin 142 fixed in the carrierslide 118. Contact of the left end of the slot (Fig. 1) with the pin moves the separatorplate to position a by the full throw of the cam 68. An arm 144 projects outwardly from the slide, and is acted upon by a plunger 146 and a spring 148 movable in the distributor-frame, the spring tending to carry the arm into contact with an adjustable stopscrew 150 and to shift the separator-plate to position 0. The spring is compressed and made ready for action by the previously described travel of the slide with the plate to position a. After the cam 68 has presented its maximum radius to the lever 74 and its periphery retreats therefrom, the slide 118 is urged from the nail-receiving position a of the slots 136, under the influence of the spring 148, and the points 140 separate the terminal nails from the raceways. Because of this actuation of the separating device by a'yieldable member, no injury to the mechanism will result if the nails clog. When the separator-slot reaches position Z), the travel of the slide is arrested by the hooked end of a pivoted latch 152. The latches for both separating mechanisms A, A are preferablysecured to a horizontal shaft 158 journaled in the distributor-frame. Each latch has been riding against a surface 154 at the under side of the slide, and in position 6 contacts with a shoulder at the end of such surface. The cam 68 rotates to the initial position and is stopped by the projection 66. The movement of the link 82 continues under the influence of the spring 78, as the lever follows the cam. The elements are now in the relation illustrated in Fig. 1, there being a space between the left-hand end of the slot 83 and the pin 142, through which the latter may travel when the slide is released from the latch 152. Against the outer extremity of one latch, and extending beneath it, rests a head 156 carried by a vertical rod 158. The lower end of the rod is articulated to the rear of the treadle 20. When the treadle is depressed for the purpose of supplying power to the nailing mechanism, the latch is turned upon its pivot by the rise of the head to release both slides, and each separator-plate is urged by the spring 148 to position 0, delivering the separated nails to the recesses 116 and tubes 30. Through the latter, they fall to the loader-block 34, which is now in receiving position beneath the footplate 32. Because of the partial reverse movement of the separator-plate, under the control of the cam 68 and intermediate connections, a portion of the expansive force of' the spring has been lost, though it was fully available during the picking off of the nails from the raceways. Consequently, when the slide is stopped by the screw 150, the shock is not great enough to cause the nails to be displaced from the slots in the plate.

After the drums 24 of the distributor have been supplied with nails, the operator may wish to employ for attaching a small number of heels, as in repair work, a different size of nail. In this case, he may disconnect the treadlo 20 from the separating mechanisms A by moving the rod 158 rearwardly about its pivotal connection to the treadle. This is shown as accomplished by a rod 160 guided for horizontal movement in the distributor-frame and connected at 162 to the treadle-rod, which passes through an opening it. The rod 160 has, at its forward extremity convenient for manipulation by the operator, a handle 164. Secured to the handle is a spring-latch 166 arranged for engagement with either one of two depressions 168 formed in the frame above the rod 160. When the latch is in the forward one of these depressions, the head 156 is held in co-operation with the separator-latch 152, so this is released upon the treadling of the machine by the operator. When the latch 166 is in the rear depression 168, the head is moved out of alinement with the separator-latch. Consequently, the depression of the treadle has no effect upon the latch, the rod 158 rising idly. As a result of this,v actuation of the nailing mechanism will not cause the separating devices A, A toact.

Theoperation of'the machine may be summarized as follows: Normally, the loaderblock 34 is at the rear of its travel, resting beneath the foot-plate 32 and containing a load of nails. These nails were supplied during a previous cycle of the machine from'the drums 24, which had been charged with the proper sizes. Each separator-plate 132 is in position a, or that in which it delivered the nails through the tubes 30 to thefootpiate. The driven clutch member as is in its neutral position, held away from the driving member 48 by the contact of the cam-projection 106 of disk 96 with the roll 112 upon lever 60. The operator takesa shoe and the heel which is to be attached'to it, and, before jacking the work, moves the lever 60 outwardly,pro-

ducing engagement between the driven member 46 and the driving member 50 of clutch C. The rotation of the cam-disk 68, resulting from this, looks the clutch by contact of the side of the disk with the lever-projection 66, while the periphery of'the disk, through the intermediate connections, carries each separator-plate to position a, and then allows it to be-returnedby the spring 148, picking off a load of nails intothe slots 136 and holding them there while the separator-plateslide is retained by the latch 152 in position b. At the same time,the gear 40 is carrying forward, the'loader-block to a point over the jack 12, wherethe shutter36 is tripped and the contained nails delivered to the jack. After a single'rotation of the disk 68 hasbeen com- :pleted, theprojection'66 enters its depression and causes the lever to be moved to the -rightby the spring 6d (Fig. 2). Since the projection 106 was withdrawn from the roll 112 of the lever during the advance of the loader-block, this movement of thelever is not interferred with. By it, the driven clutch member 46 is caused to engage the driving section 48 rotated oppositely to the section 50. This restores the'loa'der-block to its normal position beneath the foot-plate. During this travel of the loader-block, thecam-projection 106 is again approaching the lever-roll 112. By the resistanceoffered by the roll to'the rotation of the disk 96, the latter is first held back and the spring 98 is put under tension,

and this is utilized at the end of the disengaging movement of the clutch member'416 to completely withdraw it fromthe member 48 and carry it to a neutral position, where it is retained by the cam 106. If, for example, repair work is to be done, employing other nails than are contained in'the drums 24:, a movement of the handle 164; rearwardly throws the head 156 out of active co-operation with the latches 152 controlling the separator-plates 132. Therefore, treadling the machine to actuate the nailing mechanism leaves .the distributing -mechanism undisturbed.

Under these conditions, the loading is done manually. After shifting-the lever6O and to clamp the heel. upon the shoe, and then, upon continued motion ofthe treadle, causes engagement ofthe clutch 18 and the actuation of the drivers 14 to insert the nails and com! plete' the heel-attaching; operation. As the rear extremity of the treadle moves totrip the clutch, rod 158 rises, and the head 156 withdrawsthe latches 152 from their slideretaining position. This permits each sepa rator-p late tobe moved by itsspring l4r8 at less than its full tension toposition "c, which is determined by contact of the slide withthe stop-screw 150. In this position, the nails,

which in position b were held at intermediate points-in the slots 136, are allowed to fall through the enlargements 138- and end+block recesses 116 tothe tubes 30. These discharge them through the foot-plate into the-loaderblock, which is waiting to receive them. This delivery being dependent upon the putting of the nailing mechanism into operation, :no nailsleave the separator-plate until the previous load has been driven'from theijack into the work. Consequently, double loading -is prevented. If the operatorthrowsthe lever 60 a second time after the removal of a heeled shoe from the jack and before depressing the treadle the separator-plate merely rec procates-idly, the contained load of nails preventing the entrance of another load intothe slots 136. 'The-loader bl'ock will correspondingly'travel back and forth but will contain no nails after the load is delivered. Upon removal of the work from the jack, the machine is ready for another operation.

Having described my invention, what -I claim asnew: and desire to securebyLetters Patent of the United States is l 1. The combination with a raceway arrangedto conduct aseries-of nails hanging by their-heads, of a movable nail-delivering device co-operating with one extremity of the raceway to successively separate terminal nails of the series, means. for movingthe delivering device, means for retaining the delivering device with the separated nails against movement, and means arranged to 7 release the retaining means and leave the delivering device freetoact. v

2. The combination with a raceway, of a movable nail-delivering device co-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with the delivering device, means for moving the delivering device and thereby "energizing the spring, means for latching the delivering deivice with the spring energized, and means ar- .rangedvto release" the latching means and a1- i so low the spring to actuate the device and deliver the nail 3. The combination with a raceway, of a movable nail-separating device co-o-perating therewith, a spring co-operating with the separating device, means for moving the separating device and thereby energizing the spring, means for latching the separating device with the spring energized, and operatorcontrolled means for releasing the latching means.

4. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of a plate movable across the ends of the raceways and having nail-receiving slots for alinement therewith, a spring for moving the plate to separate the received nails, and a latch for holding the plate with the spring energized.

5. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of a plate movable across the ends of the raceways and having nail-receiving slots for alinement therewith, a spring for moving the plate to separate the received nails, a latch for holding the plate with the spring energized, a treadle, and connections between the treadle and latch.

6. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism, means for supplying nails to the nailing mechanism and including a movable nail-separator, means for retaining the separator against movement, and a member arranged to both cause the connection of the actuating mechanism to the nailing mechanism and move the retaining means to release the separator.

7. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism forthe nailing mechanism and including a clutch, means for supplying nails to the nailing mechanism and including a movable nail-separator, a spring formoving the separator, a latch for the separator, a treadle, and connections between the treadle and the clutch and latch.

8. In a nailing machine, nail-ing mechanism, nail-supplying means including separatmg mechanism and transferring mechanism, means common to both for controlling the'action of the separating mechanism and transferring mechanism, and means common to both for controlling the action of the separating mechanism and nailing mechanism. 9. Ina nailing machine, nailing mechanism, nail-supplying means including separating mechanism and transferring mechanism, means common to both for initiating the action of the separating mechanism and starting the transferring mechanism, and means common to'both for causing the completion of the action of the separating mechanism and starting the nailing mechanism.

10. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, a nail-distributor, a nail-loader, a lever arranged for manipulation by an operator to control the action of the distributor and loader, and a treadle arranged to control the action of the distributor and nailing mechanism.

11. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, a nail-distributor including a movable separator, a spring arranged to move said separator in one direction, a latch for the separator against the energy of the spring, a loader arranged to transfer separated nails to the nailing mechanism, a member arranged to control the energizing of the spring and the action of the loader, and a member arranged to control the latch and the action of the nailing mechanism.

12. The combination with fastening-insert ing means, of fastening-supplyin means, means for transferring supplied fastenings to the inserting means, power means for actu ating the transferring means, operator-controlled means for governing the application of power to the transfer ing means, and means for preventing a second delivery of fastenings to the'inserting means until the previously delivered fastenings have been inserted.

13. The combination with fastening-inserting means, of fastening-supplying means in cluding separating mechanism, means for transferring separated fastenings to the inserting means, power means for actuating the inserting means, separating mechanism and transferring means, operator-controlled means for governing the application of power to the transferring means and separating mechanism independently of power applied to the inserting means, and means for prevent ing a second delivery of fastenings by the transferrin means to tae insertin means until the previously delivered fastenings have been inserted.

14:. In a nailing machine, nail-driving mechanism, a nail-distributor including a nail-separator, a nail-loader for transferring separated nails to the driving-mechanism, means for actuating the loader under the power of the machine, a member controlled by the operator for governing such application of power to the loader, and means for preventing repeated action of the separator until the previously separated nails have been driven.

15. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-supplying means including separating mechanism and transferring mechanism, means for actuating the separating mechanism and transferring mechanism under the power of the machine, a member movable by the operator for governing the application of power to the mechanisms, and a member movable by the operator to control the completion of action of the separating mecha- 1118111.

16. In a nailing machine, nail-driving mechanism, a nail-distributor including a nail-separator, loading mechanism for transferring separated nails to the driving mechalla'u able by the operator to govern the application V of power to the driving mechanism and for controlling the completion ot operation of the separating mechanism.

17. The combination with a racewa oi 3 movable nail-separating device co-operating therewith means arran ed to move the se aarating device throughout its entire travel in one direction, and means for moving the separating device throughout its travel in the opposite direction, the first-mentioned means retaining control of the separating device during such reverse travel.

18. The combination with a raceway, of movable nail-separating device co-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with th separating device, and means for moving the separating device in one direction and thereb ener 'izin the sprin said sarin bein a b L b9 0 arranged to move the separating device throughout its travel in'the opposite direction, for a portion of said travel under the control of the moving means and for the remainder independently of the moving mean.

19. The combination with a raceway, ofa movable nail-separating device co-operat .ig therewith, a spring co-operating with the separating device, means for moving the separating device in one'direction and thereby energizing the spring, said spring being arranged to move the separating device throughout its travel in the opposite direction, for a portion of said travel under the control of the moving means, and means for removing the separating device from the control of the moving means and for thereafter permitting the spring to act.

20. The combination with a raceway, of a movable nail-separating device co-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with the separating device, means for moving the separating device in one direction and thereby energizing the spring, said spring being adapted to move the separating device throughout its travel in contact with the moving means, a member arranged to retain the separating device against travel with the moving means, and means for releasing the separating device from the retaining member.

21. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of aplate mounted to reciprocate across the ends of the raceways'and having nail-receiving slots for alineinent therewion,

" means for moving the plate in. one direction to bring the slots into nail-receiving relation, a spring for moving the plate in the opposite direction to separate the nails, a latch-for the plate, the moving means controlling the effect of the springuntil the plate is engaged by. the latch, and means'fon releasing the latch to permit the spring to. actuate the plate independently of the moving means.

.22. The combination with a plurality of "raceways, of. a plate mounted to reciprocate across the ends otthe raceways and having nail-receiving slots for. alinement therewith, a cam and connections including a slotted link for moving the plate in one direction to bring the slots into nail-receiving relation, a spring for moving the plate in the opposite direction to separatethe nails, a latch for the plate, the link controlling the effect of the spring until the plate is engaged by the latch. andmeans fol-releasing the latch to permit the spring to actuate the plate independently of the link.

23. The combination with a raceway, of a nail-separator co-operating withtthe raceway, a movable carrieruponwhich the separator is mounted, and means arranged to vary the position ofthe separator upon the carrier and to retain it against movement thereon. i

24. The combination with. araceway, of a carrier-slide movable transversely of the raceway, a nail-separating plate co-operating with the raceway, and an ad usting device 'mounted upon the carrierrslide and connected to the plate.

.25. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of a'carrier-slide'movable transversely of the raceways, a nail-separating plate having a slot for co-operation with each operator-controlled member a governing said connections, connections between-the member and nail-supplying mechanism, and means arranged to render the connectionsto the nailsupplying mechanism effective or inetl'ective. 27. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, nail-supplying mechanism, actuating mechanism, connections between the actuating nechanism and nailing mechanism, an

operator-controlled member governing said connections, connections between the member and nail-supplying mechanism, and a handle joined to the connectionsto thenail-supplying mechanism and arranged to move said connections to diiierent positions.

28. In a nailing machine, nailingmechanisin, actuating mechanism for the nailing mechanism including a clutch, nail-distributing mechanism including a separating device and a latch therefor, atrea'dle joined to the clutch, connections .from the treadle to the latch, and means arranged: torender the conpectlions efiective or ineffective to release the ate 1.

29. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism for the nailing mechanism including a clutch, nail-distributing mechanism including a separating device and a latch therefor, a treadle joined to the clutch, a rod connected to the treadle and co-operating with the latch, and a handle arranged to move the rod into and out of alinement with the latch.

30. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, means arranged to normally urge the driven clutch member to- Ward the driving member, and automatic means for moving the driven member away from the driving member.

31. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having opposite driving members and a driven member arranged to engage either driving member, means arranged to move the driven clutch member to ward the driving members, and automatic means for moving the driven member to neutral position.

32. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, means for normally urging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, and means operable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members.

33. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, a lever arranged for control by the operator to separate the driven and driving members, and automatic means acting upon the clutch mechanism to effect its disengagement.

34. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having opposite driving members and a driven member arranged to engage either driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutch member toward a driving member, an operator-controlled member arranged to move the driven member into engagement with the opposite driving member, and means acting against the spring for disengaging the driven clutch member.

35. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutch member toward a driving member, means operable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members, and means for supplementing the power furnished by the clutch mechanism to effect disengagement.

36. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, means operable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members, and a spring arranged to be tensioned during the disengagement of the clutch and to exert the force thus generated to complete such disengagement.

37. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, said clutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutch member toward a driving member, means operable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members, a spring having an initial tension and arranged to be tensioned during the disengagement of the clutch, said spring exerting its force to complete such disengagement, and means arranged to vary the initial tension of the spring.

38. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutch having a driving and a driven member, means for producing engagement of the driving and driven members, a revoluble cam acting against said means to separate the members, and connections to the driven member of the clutch mechanism for revolving the cam.

39. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutch having a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagement of the driving and driven members, a revoluble cam acting against the spring to separate the members, and a spring for actuating the cam.

40. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutch having a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagement of the driving and driven members, an actuating member rotatable by the driven clutch member, a disk rotatable adjacent to the member and having a cam-projection, a shifting member connected to the driven clutch member and co-operating with the cam-projection, a pin-and-slot connection between the actuating member and cam-disk, and a spring connected to the cam-disk and actuating member.

41. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-delivering member, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutch having a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagement of the driving and driven members, an actuating member rotatable by the driven clutch member, a disk rotatable adjacent to the member and having a cam-projection, a shifting member connected to the driven clutch member and co-operating with the cam-projection, a pin-and-slot connection between the actuating member and cam-disk, a spring connected to the cam-disk and actuating member, and means arranged to adjust the normal tension of the spring.

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

FRED L. MACKENZIE.

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