US2208259A - Wire stitching and stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940. G. H. HARRED WIRE AS'IITCHING AND STPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1940.V G. H. HARRED WIRE STITCHING AND STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jub' 15, 1940 G. H. HARRED 2,208,259

WIRE STITCHING AND STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22. 1936 4 Shsets-Sheet 5 July 16, 1940.

sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 1936 'umreo ESTATES PATENT OFFICE' y. L cazoazss Applicata@ August 2z, 193s, serial No. 97,385

19 Claims.

This inventionrelates to wire stitching and stapling machines and more particularly to improvements in the control mechanism for shifting the work-support and concurrently starting and stopping the operation of the stitching mechanism.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a control mechanism of the type indicated which permits agreater range of movement of the treadle to start and stop the stitching mechanism without shifting the work-support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated in which the worksupport is shifted into operative position and the stitching operation started in a particular sequence and the stitching operation stopped and the post released with a delayed sequence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated in which the work-support is automatically locked in its operative position independently of the means for` shifting it into such position. c

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine o f the type indicated which may be used over long periods of time without the worksupport becoming loose or shackly due to wear of the operating mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an operating mechanism of the type indicated having a simple and compact structure and capable of operating in a positive and emcient manner to perform its intended functions.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specication which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a box stitching machine incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of av portion of the base of themachine showing the mounting for the work-support and the arrangement of the elements of the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the v same taken online 3 3 of Fig. 2 illustrating the work-support in its inoperative position and showingthe relationship of the parts of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the work-support shifted to and locked in its operative vposition and the control means in position for starting the operation of the stitching mechanism; Y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the work-support locked in its operative position and the control mechanism moved to a position to arrest the operation of the stitching mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 3 showing the pivotal mounting for the worksupport;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line I--l of Fig. 5 showing the interengaging means on the control lever and locking lever for actuating the latter to release the support; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line l-I of Fig. 5 showing one of the studs for attaching the mounting for the work-support to the base of the machine.

Manually controlled means of the type illustrated and described in U.S. Letters Patent No.

1,802,822 to A. H. Maynard, dated April 28, 1931, I

have heretofore been provided for successively shifting the work-support and actuating the clutch which controls the operation of the stitching mechanism. In control mechanisms of this type the clutch is operated and the work-support shifted in the same sequential order, thus permitting only a very limited movement of the operating means to actuate the clutch without shifting the work-support. Further, the frictional engagementof the operating member with the work-support, or other actuated part causes wear of the parts which results in loosening the mounting for the work-support.

The present invention relates generally to a control mechanism including means for shifting the work-support and operating the clutch and a separate means for locking the work-support in operative position. The locking means is so consticted and arranged as to be automatically actuated without causing any appreciable friction or wear on the connections. Wear and strain on the parts is thus reduced and the work-support rendered less liable to become loose or shackly. Moreover, the arrangement is such that the locking means is `not released until the control mechanism is returned to its initial position, thereby permitting a considerably greater range of movement of the treadle or other manuallyoperated means to actuate the clutch without releasing the work-support. The invention also incorporates a form of construction which permits ready and convenient adjustment of the parts.

Referring to the drawings, the stitching or stapling machine may be of conventional type comprising a stitcher-head l0. mounted at the end of an arm Il which overhangs the side of a support or standard I2. The standard I 2 may be bolted or otherwise suitably attached to the top of la. column I3 which is provided with a base or pedestal I4 adapted to be supported from the floor.v

The Sumner-head lo is usually constructed with a casing or bonnet enclosing the stitching mechanism which, as is well known to those versed in the art, comprises means for feeding appropriate lengths of wire. :forming the wire into staples, and successively driving the staples into the work. Such a form of stapling or stitching mechanism is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,760,031 to H. G. Allen, dated May 27, 1930, and the specinc construction of this part of the machine is not therefore herein shown and described. Suiiice it to state that the staples are formed with opposite parallel legs which are driven through the work, and usually a clincherblock or anvil is arranged beneath the stapling head III for supporting the work to be stapled and to coact with the staple-driving means to bend over the legs of the staple after they have been driven through the work. As before indicated, the work-support comprising the clincherblock or anvil constitutes an essential element of the present invention and will be referred to hereinafter more in detail.

The stapling mechanism in the head I is operated from a horizontal shaft I5 journaled in suitable bearings in the arm II and adapted to be driven from a pair of belts I6 passing over a driving pulley I1 on the end of the shaft, the belts being driven by a suitable motor I8 supported on a shelf above the standard I2. The pulley I1 is f usually driven continuously by the belts I6 and a suitable clutch-member I9 is provided for connecting the pulley with and dl-connecting it from the shaft I5 tor start and stop the machine. The clutch-device may beof any preferred form, for example, of the construction illustrated and described in U. S. Letters Patent to Maynard, No. 1,495,342, dated May 27, 1924. Referring to Fig. 1 of the present drawings, the clutch-device is operated by an axially slidable plunger-pin o'r stud mounted in a bearing on the support I2.

The plunger 20 is withdrawn from engagement with the clutch-member I9 to effect the clutchingof the pulley I1 with the shaft I5 and is slid into engagement with the clutch-member to declutch the pulley through the operation of a. bellcrank lever 25. The bell-crank lever is pivoted at 26 on the standard I2 and has an arm 21 reaching upwardly to engage a. peripheral groove 23 in the plunger 20 whereby to slide the 'I'he other arm 29 of latter` in either direction. the bell-crank lever 25 is connected by a link to a collar 3l secured to a plunger 32. The plunger 32 is slidably mounted in suitable spaced bearings 33 on the standard I2 and is normally urged upwardly by a spring 34 acting between the lower bearing 33 and a collar 35, the collar 35 being adjustable longitudinally of the plunger 32 by means of a set-screw 36 acting against the collar 3l to tension the spring 34. The lower end of the plunger 32 extends through the bearing 33 and is connected to one end of a rocker-arm m the base I4 of the column I3 by a link 31 extending downwardly within the column. 'I'he rocker-arm 40 is pivoted at 4I intermediate its ends with its free end 42 adapted to be operated by a treadle-motion carried on the base or pedestal I4; these connections providing for starting and stopping the machine under foot-control so that the operators hands are left free for folding and feeding the work.

The foot-control for the machine which, as

"before indicated, may be manipulated to regulate 7 41 is formed with a hub pinned or otherwise 1U ilxedly secured to the end of a rock-shaft 49 journaled in bearings formed in one marginal Wall of the base I4 and ribs 56 depending from the base. An arm or lever 52 is pinned or otherwise keyed to the shaft 49 between the )5 spaced ribs 50 on the under side of the base I4 and extends forwardly and rearwardly of the shaft. The rearward end of the lever 52 carries an adjustable element 54 in the form of a setscrew which lies directly under the forward end 20 42 of the rocker-arm 40. As the foot-rest 46 is depressed the shaft 43 and lever 52 are rocked thereby which causes the set-screwA 54 to engageunder the forward end 42 of the rocker-arm 40 to actuate the clutch device I9 through the con- 2;, necting linkage previously described. 'I'he setscrew54 provides means for adjusting the play or lost-motion between the lever 52 and rockerarm 46 tol effect the proper coaction between the treadle and the stopping mechanism of the ma- 30 chine in the manner as hereinafter more fully described. A tension-spring 55 is connected between a lug 56 on the lever 52 and a xed abutl ment 51, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and '7, for

returning the treadle to its inoperative position.vr 35 In accordance with the present invention the work-support comprises a post 60 carried by a cradle 6I swivelly mounted on the base or pedestal I4 to adapt it for movement into and out of cooperative relationship with the stitching 40 mechanism in the head I0. In the present illustrated embodiment of the invention the cradle 6I is swiveled in a supporting frame 62 detachably mounted on the base or pedestal I4 to adapt it to be applied to use with a standard type of machine. The frame 62 has a substantially rectangular plate portion 63 with a series of tapped holes 64 disposed to aline with tapped holes 65 in the pedestal. Hollow externallythreaded sleeves 66, illustrated in detail in Fig. 50

8, have slots 6l at their ends to adapt them to be screwed into the tapped holes 64 and into engagement with the pedestal I4. After the threaded sleeves 66 have been adjusted to properly position the frame 62 on the pedestal I4, 5

bolts 68 are passed through the hollow sleeves and tightened in the tapped holes 65 in the pedestal. With this construction the frame 62 is supported on the base or pedestal I4 at a plurality of spaced points which permits it to be accurately 60 and rigidly mounted thereon without machining the parts to form a seat.

The plate-portion 63 of the frame 62 has a central opening 69 and spaced uprights or stanchiens 10 on-opposite sides of the opening, see 65 Figs. 2 and 6. The uprights or stanchions 10 are provided with alined bores 1I in which are mounted bearing bushings 12 having inwardlydirected frusto-conical faces 13. The bushings 12 have integral offset flanges 14 at their outer 70 ends with screws 15 extending therethrough and threaded into the stanchions 10 to provide for t-.vk accurately adjusting the bushings axially in the K' i stanchions. The stanchions 10 are split at one side of the bores., 1I with screws 15 extending 75 through their split portions to provide for clamping the bushings 12 in adjusted position. p

The Icradle 6| is swivelly mounted between the stanchions 18 on a rock-shaft 16 formed with frusto-conicalfends 11 seated in the correspondngly-formed conical faces 1'3 of the bushings 12; the bushings being adjusted to prevent end play of the rock-shaft while allowing free rotative movement thereof. The cradle 6|, preferably constructed as a-casting, ,comprises a cylindrical socket 18 for mounting the post 68 and laterally-extending bearing hubs 19 atopposite sides thereof. Preferably the socket 18 is split at 88, see Figs. 2 and 3, and adapted to be clamped around the end ci e post 68 by means of a bolt 8|. The bearing hubs 19 are also split to adapt them tobe clamped to the rock-shaft 15-by bolts 82, but any other suitable form of clamping means for these parts may be provided if desired. 'I'he cradle 6| is rocked by a crank-arm 83 formed with a hub 84 at one end loosely embracing the rock-shaft 16 between the bearing hubs 19. The crank-arm 83 extends downwardly through the opening 69 in the plate-portion 63 ofl the cradle and an alining opening 85 in the pedestal. 'Ihe lower end of the crank-arm 83 is bifurcated or forked and carries a pin or shaft 86. A relatively large roller 81 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 86 between the sides of the fork and a smaller roller 88 is journaled on the laterally-projected end thereof. A depending arm 89 on the cradle 6| carries a set-screw 98 at its end adapted to be engaged by the crank-arm 83 intermediate its ends to rock the cradle 6|; the set-screw 98 providing for adjustment of the extent of swinging movement of the cradle under the impulse of the crank-arm.

An adjustable stop is provided' on the plateportion 63 of the frame 62 adapted to be engaged by a lug 92 on the cradle. As herein illustrated the stop is in the form of a hollow threaded stud 9| which may be screwed into and out of the plate 63 and locked in position by a check-nut 9|'. A plunger 93 in the hollow stud 9| is urged by a spring 93' to act on the lug 92 to normally swing the cradle 6| to inoperative position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

'I'he cradle 6| is rocked to its operative position, illustrated in Fig. 4, against the action of the spring-pressed plunger 93 by a cam 94 at the forward end of the lever 52 of the operating mechanism which engages the roller 81 at the end of the crank-arm 83. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the cam 94 takes the form of a beveled or angular face at the end of the lever 52 which merges into a circular recess 95 adapted to receive the roller 81. The beveled cam-face 94 is adapted to act against the periphery of the roller 81 to move the bifurcated end of the crank-arm 83 outwardly from its inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 3 to .its operative position illustrated in Fig. 4.

In accordance with the present invention the cradle 6| and post 68 are locked in operative position independently of the operating lever 52. In the present illustrated embodiment the locking means is in the form of a lever 96 having a bearing hub 91 at one end loosely journaled on the shaft 49 between spaced ribs 58 on the pedestal at one side of the lever 52, see Fig. 2. The end of the locking lever 96 rides on the smaller roller 88 at the end of the crank-arm 83, being resil- -iently heldin engagement therewith by a tensionspring 98 connected to a pin |88 in the locking lever and anchored to a pin 99 in the lever 52.

The outer end of the locking lever 96 is cut away to form a shoulder |8I adapted for locking ensagement with the roller 88 when the lever`96 is moved by the spring 98 after the crank-arm 83 and cradle 6| have been moved to their operative position as shown in Fig. 5. The locking lever 96 is provided with a lug, |83 adapted to be engaged by a lug |82 on the actuating lever 62, see Fig. '1. at the end of the return stroke of the latter to move the locking lever to release its shoulder |8| from the roller 88.

The work-support post 68 may be of anyl suitable construction and as herein illustrated comprises a cylindrical tube having a reduced end I2 adapted to ilt within the cylindrical socket 18 of the cradle 6|. A tubular member or sleeve ||3 having screw threads on its periphery is telescoped within the upperend of the post 68 and adapted to be adjusted vertically by means of an internally-threaded collar ||4. Slidably mounted in the tubular member ||3 is a plunger ||5 having a head I6 at its lower end yieldingly held against a shoulder ||1 in the bore of the member ||3 by a compression spring ||8. An anvil ||8 is mounted on the upper end of the plunger ||5 and carries a block |28 having clincher-grooves |2| formed therein. A pin |22 projecting into the bore of the post 68 engages a slot |23 in the member ||3 and a pin |24 in the member ||3 projects into a slot |25 in the plunger I I5 to hold the anvil ||9 and clincher-block |28 from turning on the post.

The construction and arrangement of the work-support, and the control mechanism having now been described in detail, the method of operation of the complete machine will next be explained. Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings illustrate the machine with the work-support post 68 thrown out of operative relationship with respect to the stitcher-head I8 to adapt it to receive the box. carton or other work W to be placed thereon.. It will be noted that in this position the roller 81 at the lower end of the crank-arm 83 is seated in the recess 95 at the end of the lever 52 and the set-screw 98 at the end of the `arm 89 depending from the cradle 6| is in engagement with the crank-arm intermediate its ends. The crankarm 83 is thus held in position by the lever 52 to support the post 68 against further movement by the spring-pressed plunger 93 acting against the lug 92 on the cradle.

The operator places the box, carton or other work W across the anvil 9 and depresses the foot-rest 46 which causes the treadle 45 to rck the shaft 49 and operating lever 52 pinned thereto. 'I'he inclined cam-face 94 on the lever 52 is thus caused to act on the roller 81 torock the crank-arm 63 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and due to the engagement of the setscrew 98 with the crank-arm the cradle 6|, and shaft 16 to which it is clamped, are rocked with the crank-arm. The Work-support post 68 carried by the cradle 6| is thus swung up into its operative position to aline the clincher-grooves |2| in the block |28 with the stapling mechanism in the head |8, the movement of the cradle 6| being limited by the engagement of the lug 92 with the stop 9|. During the rocking movement of the crank-arm 83 the roller 88 rides along the bottom of the locking lever 96 and when the worksupport post 68 reaches its operative position the shoulder' |8| in the cut-out portion of the lever will overlie the side of the roller. Consequently, the spring 98 will then act to rock the locking lever 96 and thereby automatically engage the rock -box ilaps or other work.

4 2,200,251! shoulder Ill with the roller tftlock the crank? cooperation of the parte the treadle- Il arm Il, cradle Il and work-supportpost in is depresseduntil the upper end of the inclined operative positionasilhistratedinlllg.4. cam-face. is in engagement with the roller Further continued' movement ofthe footcauses the adjustable set-screw rearward end-oi the operating the forward' end l2 o! the rocker-arm Il and the latter about its pivot 4|. Referring to Fig. 1, the motion of the rocker-arm Il is transmitted through the link 31, plunger 32 and link 3l, to rock the bell-crank-lever 25 against the action of the spring ll. As the bell-crank lever 25 is rocked in this manner its arm 21 withdraws the plunger-pin or stud 20 from the clutch-device to cause the clutch-member -Il to connect the driving pulley I1 with the shaft l5. The stitchlng mechanism in the head I will thus be operated to drive staples their legs engaging the Into clinch them against grooves |2I in the block the under sideA of the Should the driving of the staplebe impeded, as by its legs engaging another staple or for any other reason, the spring H8 permits the anvil Il! to yield to prevent excessive strain on or breakage of the parts.

The operation of the stitching mechanism may be maintained continuously as the operator slides the box or other work across the anvil -to stitch a seam; but if the time elapsed in forming and driving the staples is not vsuilicient for this purpose, or if for any other reason it is desired to stop the stitching operation, the operator may manipulate the foot control to disengage the clutch without releasing the work-support or post 60. Without entirely'releasing the foot-rest 45 the operator may permit the .shaft 49 and operating lever 52 to be rocked by the spring 55 through a considerable range of movement to release the set-screw 54 from engagement with the rocker-arm 40. The plunger 32 will then be raised by the spring 34 acting between *he abutment 33 and the collar 35 fixed to the plunger. 'I'he upward movement of the plunger 32 acts through the link 30 to rock the bell-crank lever 25 to withdraw the plunger 20 to disengage the clutch. During the movement of the lever 52 to actuate the clutch-operating mechanism the' work-supporting post 60 is held in its operative position by the locking lever 96 as shown in Fig. 5. The treadle 45 may thus be manipulated intermittently with a considerable freedom of movement to operate the stitcher-mechanism without releasing the work-support or post 50.

At the end of a stitching operation the operator removes his .foot from the foot-rest I to release the treadle l5 and the operating lever 52 will then be rocked by the spring 55 in the manner previously explained. The lever 52 first releases the rocker-arm 40 and continued movement oi the lever engages its lug |02 with the lug |03 on the locking lever 95 to raise the latter to release the shoulder |0| from locking-engagement with the roller 88.` The lugs |02 and |03 are so re- A lated that the shoulder |0| will release the roller 88 at the 'end of the return strolre of the actuating lever 52 at which time the recess 35 is opposite the roller 81. I'he post 60 is thus released in delayed sequence with respect to the sequence of initially shifting the post and actuating the clutch mechanism I S. When the crank-arm 83 is released by the locking lever 98 the springpressed plunger $3 acts on the lug 92 to rock the cradle 6| toits inoperative position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

' To initially adjust the control mechanism for Il at the. lever I2'to engage through the work with I1, as shown in Fig. 5. The set-screw l0 on the arm ll of the cradle 0| is then adjusted until the post 5I is in its upright position with the clincher-grooves |2| in register with the staple- 'driving means in the stitcher-head I0. 'I'he bushings 12 are then .adjusted by means of the screws until the clincher-grooves 12| are in the proper lateral position with respect to the staple-driving means when they are clamped in position by the screws 15'. The stop 9| -is next 'adjusted with respect to the plate-portion 53 of the frame 52 to engage the lug 92 on the cradle 6|. The set-screw 5l at the rearward end of the operating lever 52 mayr then be adjusted to operate the clutch mechanism in timed relation as desired. f

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel form of control mechanism for stitching and stapling machines which may be operated to shift the worksupport and start the operation .of the stitching mechanism in a particular sequence; or to arrest the operation of the stitching mechanism and shift the work-support with a delayed sequence. It will further be observed that the means for automatically locking the work-support in its operating position prevents the work-support from becoming loose or shackly due to wear of the parts. Y

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it s to be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims. Therefclire, without limiting myself in this respect, I C aim:

1. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of stitching mechanism, a clutch for controlling the operation of the` stitching mechanism, a' laterally-movable work-support adapted to be shifted into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, and manually-operated means so constructed and arranged as to directly actuate the work-support to shift it into operative position and thereafter engage the clutch in a particular sequence and to disengage the clutch and effect the shifting of the work-support to inoperative position in delayed sequence with respect to the particular sequence.

2. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of stitching mechanism, a clutch for controlling the operation of the stitching mechanism, a work-support adapted to be shifted laterally into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, manually-operated means for successively shifting the work-support into operative position and actuating the clutch, and means separate from the manually-operated means for positively locking the work-support in operative position to permit the clutch to be operated without releasing the work-support.

3. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of stitching mechanism, a clutch for controlling the operation of the stitching mechanism; a work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support laterally into inoperative-position with respect to the stitching mechanism,fmanual1yoperated means for successively shifting the work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism and actuating the clutch, locking means for positively 75 holding the work-,support in its operative position independently of the operating means, and means controlled by the manuually-operated means for actuating the locking means to release the 'worksupport.

4. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of stitching mechanism, a clutch for controlling the operation of the stitching mechanism, a work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support laterally into inoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, means for operating the clutch, means for shifting the work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, a lever for successively actuating the shifting means and clutch-operating means during its forward stroke, means for positively locking the Work-supportinoperative position,andinterengaging means on the lever and locking means operative during the last increment of movement of the lever through its return stroke to actuate the locking means to release the work-support.

5. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of stitching mechanism, a clutch forcontrolling `the operation of the stitching mechanism, a work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support into vinoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, a manually-operable lever having a cam for shifting the work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, a locking lever for locking the work-support in operative position, and means actuated by the manually-operable lever for operating the clutch without releasing the locking lever,

6. In a machine of the type indicated, stitching mechanism, a laterally-movable work-support adapted to be shifted into and out of cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, manually-operated means for shifting the work-support from an inoperative to an operative position, and means for positively locking the work-support in operative position independently of the operating means.

`7. In a machine of the type indicated, stitching mechanism, a laterally-movable work-support, resilient means normally urging the Worksupport into inoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, manually-operable means for shifting the work-support into coop.- erative relationship with the stitching mechanism, and means automatically operative to positively lock the work-support in operative position independently of the manually-operated means.

8. In a machine of the type indicated, stitching mechanism, a laterally-movable Work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support into inoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, manually-operable means for shifting the work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism during a substantial portion of its forward stroke, automatically-operative means for positively locking the work-supportin operative position, and means controlled by the manually-operable means and operative during the last increment of movement of the latter through its return stroke to actuate the locking means to release the work-support with a delayed action.

9. In a machine of the type indicated, stitching mechanism, a work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support into inoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, manually-operated means including a cam operative in one direction to shift the Work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, means for automatically locking the work-support in its operative position, and means for actuating the locking means adJacent the end of the return stroke of the manually-operable means to release the work-support with a delayed action.

10. In a machine of they type indicated, stitch- 4ing mechanism, a work-support, resilient means normally urging the work-support into inoperative position with respect to the stitching mechanism, a pedally-operated lever, a cam on said lever for shifting the work-support into cooperative relationship with the stitching mechanism, a lever adjacent the pedally-operated lever having means for locking the work-support in operative position, and interengaging means on the two levers for operating one from the other to release the work-support.

11. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, a cradle pivotally supported on the frame, a work-support mounted on the cradle, a manually-operable lever, a cam on said lever for rocking the cradle on its pivot to swing the worksupport into operative position, and means for locking the cradle to retain the work-support in operative position independently of the manually-operable lever.

12. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, a cradle pivotally supported on the frame and having a socket, a work-support post mounted in the socket, a crank-arm for rocking -the cradle on the frame, a manually-operable lever, a cam on said lever for engaging the crank-arm to rock the cradle and post into operative position, a

lever adjacent the manually-operable lever having means for engaging the crank-arm to lock the cradle, and a spring connecting the two levers whereby the locking lever is yieldingly urged into locking engagement with the crank-arm as the manually-operable lever is actuated to shift the post.

13.111 a machine cf the type indicated, a

frame, stitching mechanism carried by the frame, a cradle pivotally mounted on the base of the frame for swinging movement laterally of the stitching mechanism, a work-supporting post carried by the cradle, a crank-arm for rocking the cradle, a manually-operable lever, a cam on said lever cooperating with the crank-arm to rock the cradle to shift the post into cooperative relation with the stitching mechanism, a lever adjacent the manually-operable lever having means for locking the post in operative position, and interengaging means on the manually-operable lever and locking lever for actuating the latter to release the post adjacent the end of the return movement of the manually-operable lever.

14. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, a cradle pivotally mounted on the frame and having a socket, a work-supporting post' mounted in the socket, a crank-arm for rocking the cradle on its pivot, a rock-shaft pivotally mounted on the frame, a treadle for rocking said shaft, a lever fixed to the rock-shaft, a cam on said lever engaging the crank-arm to rock the cradle to shift the post into operative position, a second lever loosely mounted on the shaft and having means engaging the crank-arm to lock the cradle in operative position, a spring connecting the two levers for automatically moving the locking means into engagement with the crank-arm as the latter is moved by the cam, a spring for moving the treadle to inoperative position, and interengaging means on the levers for actuating the VYIIS locking lever to release it from engagement with the crank-arm when the treadle is returned to inoperative position.

15. In a machine of the type indicated, a pedestal, stitching mechanism mounted above the pedestal, and a work-support adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relationship with said stitching mechanism, said work-support comprising a frame having adjustable abutments for engaging the pedestal at a plurality of spaced points, means for clamping the frame to the pedestal, a post pivotally mounted on the frame and having clincher-grooves at its upper end, a treadle mechanism pivotally mounted on the pedestal, and interengaging means on the post and treadle for rocking the post Vto swing the work-support into operative position as the treadle is operated.

16. In a machine of the type indicated, a pedestal having an opening in its base.v stitching mechanism mounted above the pedestal, and a work-support adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relationship with said stitching mechanism, said work-support comprising a frame having hollow adjustable abutments for engaging the pedestal at a plurality of spaced points around the opening therein, bolts extending through the hollow abutments and screwed into the pedestal to attach the frame to the ped-V i estal, a post pivotally mounted on the frame and having clincher-grooves at its upper end and an arm depending through the opening in the pedestal, and treadle mechanism pivotally mounted on the pedestal and having means engaging the arm for rocking the postto swing the Work-support into operative position.

1'7. In a stapling machine the combination of a staple forming and driving mechanism, a clincher post for coaction with said mechanism and tiltable between work-loading and clinchinz positions, a control lever, means controlled by said lever for controlling the actuation oi said mechanism, a rockable member operable to shift said post into clinching position, manually adjustable means between said member and post for regulating the eiIect thereof upon said post, and cam means actuated by said lever for actuating said member prior to actuation of said mechanism.

18. In a stapling machine the combination of a staple forming and driving mechanism, a clincher post ior coaction therewith and tiltable between work-loading and clinching positions, a control lever, means controlled by said lever for controlling actuation oi' said mechanism, a member rockably supported independently of said post and operable thereon to shift the latter into clinching position, and cam means actuated by said lever for actuating said member prior to actuation of said mechanism and eiective to lock said post in clinching position throughout the period of actuation of said mechanism.

19. In a stapling machine the combination of a. staple forming and driving mechanism, a clincher post for coaction therewith and tiltable between work-loading and clinching positions,

a depressible pedal lever', means controlled by depression of said lever for effecting actuation of said mechanism, a member rockable to shift said post into clinching position,n manually adjustable means for regulating the effect of said member on said post, cam means actuated by said lever for rocking said member prior to actuation of said mechanism, and adjustable means coacting with said manually adjustable means to accurately position said post in clinching position.

GEORGE H. Hannan.

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