US2251833A

US2251833A - Staple driving machine

Info

Publication number: US2251833A
Application number: US209886A
Authority: US
Inventors: Polzer Fridolin; Lester L Wheeler; Roy E Peterson
Original assignee: Hotchkiss Co E H
Current assignee: E H HOTCHKISS Co; Hotchkiss Co E H
Priority date: 1938-05-25
Filing date: 1938-05-25
Publication date: 1941-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-05

Description

, Aug. 5, 1941. F. PoLzER Erm.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE 3 Sfeets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1938 l|IIIIl|IIIINIIIIIIIIIIHIIHNIIIIIIH 64 Aug. 5, 1941. F. PoLzER Erm.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 all;

TTORNEY5` l Patented Aug. 5, 1941 s'rAPLE DRIVING MACHINE Fridolin Polzer, Lester L. Wheeler, and Roy E. Peterson, Norwalk, Conn., assignors to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 25, 1938, Serial No.1209,886

19 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in staple .driving machines.

An object oi' the invention is to provide a staple-driving machine of generally improved appearance.

Another object is to provide a staple driving machine including an arrangement whereby loading of the machine with staples may be easily and quickly accomplished from the front of the machine.

Another object is to provide a staple driving machine and improved construction of safety means preventing a second staple entering the raceway of the machine until after the rst staple entering the raceway has been driven therefrom.

A further object is to provide a staple driving machine adapted Ifor use either as a stapling machine or as a tacker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall Within the scope of the invention and of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the complete machine;

Fig. la. is a transverse section substantially on line la-ia of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view as along the linl 2-2 of Fig. 1 on a somewhat enlarged scale, but with the staple guide bar in projected position for loading of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view looking from the lower side of Fig. 2 but with the head of the machine shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevational view of the front portion of the staple guide bar showing the manner in which the same may be loaded from front end; l

Fig. 6 is an end view looking into the guide bar as from the left in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the construction of the follower means of the l machine;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, also on an enlarged scale, of such follower means;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view showing the anvil which may be employed when the machine is used as a stapling machine;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the front portion of the base, the yielding foot piece or block being omitted whereby the manner in which the anvil is mounted may be better illustrated;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view as along the line II-Ii of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is the longitudinal sectional view through a modified construction of staple driving machine;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view as along the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12 but with the staple guide bar projected as when it is to be loaded with staples;

Fig. 14 is a view looking from the lower side of Fig. 13 but with the head portion of the machine shown in section longitudinally of the machine;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view as along the line |5-i5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the relation of the guide bar to other portions of the head of the machine;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as along the line ll-I'I of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is an elevational View of the forward portion of 'the guide bar of the machine and showing the manner in which such bar may be loaded from its front end;

Fig. 19 is an elevational view looking into the front end of the guide bar as it is illustrated in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a front elevational view of the head of the machine;

Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of the forward portion of the head of the machine;

Fig. 22 is a front elevational view of a locking plate or member employed;

Fig. 23 is a front perspective view of the driver of the machine;

Fig. 24 is a front perspective view of a wear plate to be disposed over the driver;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the rear end portion of the staple guide bar removed from the machine;

Fig. 26 is a vertical longitudinal section through the front lower portion of the housing of the machine similar to Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 27 is a similar section of the rear portion of the machine;

Fig. 28 is a section similar to the rear portion gi' Fig. 3 on a larger scale and showing the follower just before it reaches the limit of its forward movement when the staple guide is drawn forwardly:

Fig. 29 is a detail section of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the staple driving plunger in locked position;

Fig. 30 is asection on an enlarged scale similar to Fig. 4 but showing the position of the locking device when the plunger is in its upward movement after being fully depressed :I

Fig. 31 is a side elevation of the rear end portion of the staple guide bar of Figs. 1, `2 and 3;

Fig. 32 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale substantially on line 32-32 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 33 is a transverse sectionon an enlarged scale substantially on line 33-33 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 34 is an exploded view of the front portion of the housing of the form of device shown in Fig. 12 indicating how the inner housing may be removed from .the outer housing.

Fig. 35 is a transverse section of a modified form of staple guide bar, and staple used therewith shown in elevation.

Referring in detail'to the drawings, and at first more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 11, the machine as .there disclosed comprises a main upper portion or body generally designated I and a base II with which said body is associated when the machine is being used as a stapling machine. 'I'he body I8 and base II are detachably connected whereby the former may readily be removed from the base and used as a tacker when desired.

Body I0 includes a sheet metal housing comprising a top wall portion I2 and side walls I3, the housing in transverse section being substantially of inverted U-shape. Located between the lower edge portions of housing walls I3 is an elongated tubular member I4 rectangular in transverse section as shown in Fig. 4. Member I4 may be welded or otherwise secured to the walls I3, and is preferably bent up of sheet metal and so arranged that its bottom wall I5 comprises the edge portions of the sheet from which it is bent, such edge portions being somewhat spaced apart to provide a channel I6 extending for the length of the member.

Member I4 extends from the rear wall I1 of the body housing -to a point at the inner side of the raceway I8 (Fig. 1) of the machine. Within said member is a U-shaped staple guide bar I9 longitudinally movable in the member and provided on its underside with lugs 20, which may be pressed from the metal of the guide bar, and which are normally disposed in the channel I6 above referred to whereby movement of the guide bar relative to member I4 is limited and guided.

Extending through the guide bar I9 is a rod 2| the rear end of which is fixed to the housing wall I1 at 22 (Fig. 1) and said rod extends for substantially the entire length of the guide bar. About the rod is a coil spring 23 which functions to urge a follower 24 forwardly along the guide bar and feed staples forwardly to driving position. Such follower is of inverted U-shape and straddles .the upper side of the guide bar whereby as it moves forwardly along the latter it will push staples along the guide bar toward the raceway I8. Follower 24 is provided in its top wall toward its forward end with an opening 25 (Figs. 'I and 8) immediately rearwardly of which is a strap-like portion 26 followed by an opening 21, the rear edge of which last opening is defined by the forward edge 28 of a depressed portion 29 of the top wall leading to the rear end of the follower.

On the follower is a member 30 having an upstanding forwardend 3f therear side of which ls curved or bevelled as at 32. The rear end of member 38 comprises a pair of spaced apart depending portions 33 straddling the rod 2l and against which the forward end of spring 23 presses. As clearly shown in Fig. l the member 3 0 includes aportion-disposed on the depressed portion 2li of the top wall of the follower and a portion 34 located under the follower strap portion 26, while the upturned forward end 3I of the member projects through the opening 25 in the follower.

Obviously, the spring 23 pressing against the portions 33 of member 30 and the latter being mounted on the follower, the spring is constantly tending to move the follower forwardly along the guide bar I9. It is also noted that the member 30 may rock on the follower about the edge 28 of the portion 29 of the latter whereby the upstanding forward end 3I of the member may move downwardly or inwardly with respect to the follower. 'I'he purpose of this arrangement will later be fully set forth.

Mounted in the forward portion of the body I0 is an upright U-shaped member 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) which may be welded or otherwise secured in place and which receives and acts as a guide for a plunger 36. Such plunger is vertically movable and is normally held in the elevated or retracted position of Fig. 1 by 'coil spring 31. At its forward side plunger 36 is provided with a lug 38 entering an opening in a driver plate 39 located between the plunger and the connecting portion 40 of the U-shaped member 35. With this arrangement as the plunger is moved the driver is carried with it, and as the plunger is depressed the lower portion of the driver is moved downwardly through the raceway or guideway I8 to drive a staple therethrough. Lugs 4I (Figs.

2, 4 and 30) struck up from the side arm portion of U-shaped member 35 prevent movement of the plunger and driver in a direction away from wall 49.

At its upper end plunger 36 includes a roller 42 bearing against a wear plate 43 at the innerside of an operating member 44. Such operating member is adapted to be depressed by pressure of the hand and is located between the upper forward portions of the housing side wall I3, and in its normal or upwards position forms a continuation of the Atop wall I2 of the housing. 'I'he operating member is somewhat in form of an inverted U when viewed in cross section and includes depending side portions 45 entering between the housing side walls I3, and at their rear ends such depending portions 45' are notched at 46 to receive an inturned flange 41 at the forward edge of housing wall I2.

Attached to the housing top wall I2, as by a rivet 48, is a flat spring 49 projecting forwardly beyond the4 flange 41 and pressing against a plate-like member 50 'carried by the operating member 44. With this arrangement the spring 49 maintains the notches 46 in position receiving the flange 41 and the spring has some tendency to return the operating member to retracted position when depressed, but for the accomplishment of this function it is the spring 31 which is relied upon. Toward their forward ends side portions 45 carry inturned lugs 5I (Figs. l and 4) which engage under shoulders 52 of the plunger whereby the operating member is secured to the plunger in such manner as not to have any appreciable movement independent of the plunger.

Attached to the forward end portion of the guide bar I9 is a U-shaped piece 53 .the bottom or connecting wall 53a of which is secured against the outer side of the corresponding wall of the guide bar, and the side arms 54 of which are spaced from the side arms of the guide bar (see Figs. 2 and 6) in a manner to permit of the passage of the legs of staples. A U-shaped spring 55 has on the ends of its side arms inwardly bent ears 55a to enter openings 55 in the arms 54 of member 53 whereby 'such spring-is susceptible of pivotal movement relative to the member 53.

Secured to the connecting portion of spring 55 as by rivets 51 is a plate 58 which when the spring is in a position of Figs. 1 and 2 is located opposite the forward end of guide bar I9 and so forms in effect a continuation of the wall 40` and defines the forward side of the raceway I8. Since this plate 58 is held in place by the spring 55 only, it will be understood that should an oversized staple or staple of a thicker wire enter the raceway the spring will yield to permit the plate 58 to move outwardly from normal position under action of the staple to permit of such oversized staple being forced through the raceway by the driver 39. The spring 55 is bent inwardly at 55h to permit this.

Notches 59 (Figs. 1, 26 and 31,'are formed in the upper edges of the side walls of the guidebar adjacent the rear end thereof, and normally the lower end vportion of a pawl 50 enters such notches whereby to hold the guide bar in place in its normal position of Fig. 1 within the housing. Pawl 50 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 5I and toward its forward end carries a button 52 projecting through an opening in the housing top wall I2. A coil spring 53-engages the pawl and normally maintains it in the position of Fig. 1 wherein the pawl is functioning to maintain the guide bar in a retracted position with its forward end so located that the raceway I8 is aligned with thedriver 39.

When a supply of staples on the guide bar has been exhausted the operator depresses button 52 so as to rock the pawl 55 into a position removing Vits lower end from the notches 59 in the guide bar. Thereupon the spring 23 acting through the follower 24 causes the entire guide bar to -move forwardly, because when there are staples on the guide bar they are pressed against the front wall 55 by the follower 24 under action of spring 23,and when there are no staples on the bar the forward end of follower 24 presses against the wall 58, and the operator may grasp the spring 55 and draw the guide bar out to the position of Figs. 2 and 3.

As the guide bar is being drawn outwardly through the front end of member I4, the upturned toelike portion 3| of the member 30 is riding against the undersurface of the top wall of member I4 and such member 30 is slightly tilted as in the dotted line position of Fig. 1 and full line positions of Figs. 26 and 28. Adjacent its front end the top wall of member I4 is provided with an opening 58 (Figs. 1, 3, 26 and 28), the front edge of which is flat while its rear edge 56a may be curved or tapered as shown. Therefore, as the guide bar reaches its fully', extended position, the follower 24 also reaches a position where the portion 3| moves into the opening 55 (see Fig. 3 and dotted lines Fig. 28) and coming against the forward edge of such opening cannot move further and thus forms a stop to limit forward movement of the guide bar I9 and prevent its being drawn clear from the housing as the shoulders I9a (Figs. 28 and 31). Also shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the top edges of guide bar I9 engage the rear end of the follower 24. The spring 23 bearing against the portions 33 is constantly trying to r'ock the member 30 into the position of Figs. 3 and '7. The guide bar being thus exposed, staples may be dropped vertically onto it in positions straddling it. In Fig. 3 the staples 54 are about to be dropped onto theV may be moved onto the guide bar over the front end thereof as suggested by the arrow 55a in Fig. 5.

The guide bar having been loaded with staples (and the spring 55 having been returned to the full line position of Fig. 2 if it has been moved from such position) the guide bar is pushed back into the member I4, and when it reaches the proper position the spring 53 will influence the pawl 58 to rock it to the position of Fig. 1 securing the guide bar in such proper position. The U-shaped piece 53 at the forward end of the guide bar may be provided with a lug 51 to enter the forward end of the channel I5 in order to insure along with the lugs 20 that the guide bar is in proper alignment within the member I4.

The guide bar being back in position, operating member or hand piece 44 may be depressed to move driver 39 through the raceway to drive a staple therefrom, it being understood that the follower 24 is constantly urging the staples'along the guide bar toward such raceway. Means are provided to prevent a second staple from entering the raceway until after the first staple to enter it has been driven from it. This means, as here disclosed, includes a pawl 58 (Figs. 1 and 4) loosely pivoted on a rod 59 about which is coiled a portion of a spring having an arm 10 bearing against a base plate 1I and having an arm 12 engaging the pawl. The tendency of the spring acting through its arm 12 is to press the pawl against the rear wall of the plunger 35. Such rear wall has an opening 13 adjacent which is a projection or cam 14 having a flat inclined side 15 and a curved side 11.

As the plunger moves downwardly the opening 13 comes opposite the hooked end of pawl 58 and the spring tends to move such pawl end into the opening. Should the plunger be driven only a portion of a stroke the driver will carry a. staple only part way through the raceway I8. If the operating member 44 is then released, as the pawl 58 has remained in alignment with the opening 13 its upper hooked end will engage the lower edge of the opening 13 as shown in Fig. 29 and prevent complete retraction of the plunger and driver so that the lower end of the driver will remain partly across the forward end of the guide bar and prevent a second staple entering the raceway.

If the plunger is moved downward to its lowest position the hooked upper end of the pawl 58 shown 'in Fig. 15) and is swung somewhat to the left tensioning the spring 12. When the plunger reaches its lowermost position, which is' its position when the driving of the staple is completed, the upper end of cam 14 is below the hook of the pawl. 'I'he tensionedspring 12 then swings the upper hooked end of the pawl to the right to carry the hook over the curved right hand side 11 of the cam, and which is the position shown in Fig. 30. Therefore, as the plunger starts its return movement the surface 11 of the cam moves under the hooked end of the pawl and moves it to the right thus keeping such end -away from the opening 13 so that it cannot engage the lower edge of this opening to thus stop upward movement of the plunger. The plunger, therefore, is allowed to complete its return or upward movement, whereupon the lower end of surface 11 moving past the pawl, the latter returns to the normal position of `Figs. 1 and 4. The pawl 68 may be a spring member to permit the hooked upper end to have this lateral movement and to return it to the normal position after the hook passes the lower end of the cam.

In short the left hand side 16 of cam 14 keeps the hook of the pawl in alignment with the opening 13 in the plunger until the plunger reaches its lowermost position to complete driving of the staple. Therefore if the plunger is released before it is operated to this position the hook on the pawl will engage the lower edge of opening 13 as the plunger moves upwardly and prevents its moving to its fully retracted or normal upper position. On the other hand if the plunger is operated to its lowermost position the upper end of cam 14 is below the hook of the pawl and this hook is swung to the right by spring 12 to a position over and in alignment with the right hand side 11 of the cam. Then as the plunger rises this wall 11 shifts the hook to the right out of alignment with the lower edge of opening 13 so that it cannot engage this edge to arrest upward movement of the plunger, and the plunger is permitted to move to its uppermost or normal position.

As above suggested, when the machine is to be used as a. stapling machine the body and the parts carried thereby are mounted on the base Such base includes an elongated body 18 which may be formed of sheet metal, and it is open in its upper side toward its rear end and at each side of such opening is provided with upstanding ears 19. Such ears carry a pin 80 (Figs. 1, 1a and 27) spanning the opening. Secured to the base body as by means 8| is a at spring 82 having an end portion 83 protruding through such opening so as to be disposed between the ears 19.

Welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the member I4 (Figs. l, la and 27) adjacent to the rear thereof is a housing mounting means comprising an inverted U-shaped member including a connecting portion 84 and a pair of side arms or portions 85. Arms 85 are each provided with a bayonet slot 86 and are so spaced apart as to be receivable between the ears 19. When the housing is to be mounted on the base the open ends of the slots 86 are aligned with the pin 80 and at such time the lower edges of the arms 85 are in engagement with the projecting end of the spring 83. 'Ihen the whole rear portion of the housing is forced downwardly and the housing shifted forwardly to locate the pin 80 in the closed end portions of the slots 86. This is as shown in Figs. 1 and 27 and the spring 82 is ten- 2,251,833 moves amng the1eft hand side 16 of cam 14 (as sioned maintaining the housing on the base, and the spring also normally maintains the forward portion of the housing spaced above an anvil 81 by pressing on the lug 85a or the edges of arms 85 forwardly of the pivot pin 80.

The forward portion of base is bowed or crowned and includes an intermediate portion 88 (Figs. 1, 9, l0 and 11) which is depressed and lbetween its ends provided with transverse channels or grooves 89 (Fig. 1). At opposite sides of such portion are slots which may be described as arranged in two pairs designated 90 and 9| (Fig. 10). The anvil 81 carries leg-like portions 92 (Fig. 33) projecting downwardly through the slots 9|. Also, the anvil carries legs 93 projecting through the slots and such legs 93 include forwardly directed portions 94 (Figs. 1 andl 10) spaced from the wall of the base and somewhat hook-shaped.

Located at the underside of the base is a spring having end portions 96 received by the hooklike arm portions 94 and such spring includes forwardly and rearwardly directed arms 91 and 98 (Figs. 1, 9 and 10) which, as shown best in Fig. l, bear against the underside of the base. The tendency of this spring is to hold the anvil 81 down against the depressed base portion 88. In its upper surface the anvil is provided with permanent clinching recesses 99 arranged to bend both prongs of the staple inwardly toward each other and with recesses |00 and |00a the latter to be used when a staple is to be employed as a temporary fastener, the recess |00 bending one prong inwardly and the recess |00a bending the other prong in the same direction or outwardly. The formation of these recesses is accomplished in a manner to provide depressed portions |0| at the lower side of the anvil.

When such depressed portions are in the rear pair of the grooves 89 the anvil is so located that the permanent fastening recesses 99 are in alignment with the raceway 8 and when the anvil is slid forwardly to have the projections |0| in the forward and intermediate groove 89 the temporary fastener clinching recesses. |00 and |00a are in alignment with the raoeway. The spring 95 keeps the anvil against the base portion 88 so as to retain the interlocking engagement between these parts, but it will be apparent that it is not a positive but only a frictional action. Therefore, the anvil may be manually shifted to one position or the other as desired, the spring moving with the anvil but bearing at the ends of its

arms

91 and 98 against the underside of the base so that the projections at the undersideV of the anvil are snapped into the grooves 89. 'I'he movement of the anvil is guided by the portions of the base immediately at the sides of the depressed portion 88 and also to the location of the

legs

92 and 93 in the slots 9| and 90.

At the rear end of the base there is secured a rubber cushioning block |02 and a somewhat similar but larger block |03 is located at the under side of the forward end of the base. Block |03 is provided with openings which receive leg-like portions |04 welded or otherwise secured to the under side of the base at |05. This block 03 is hollow at its upper side as shown in Figs. 1 and 11 and so does not interfere with movement of the spring95 or of the

legs

92 and 93 of the anvil. As here shown the latter toward its rear end is provided with lateral enlargements |06 which may be manually engaged when shifting the anvil from one position to the other.

It will be noted the top surface of anvil 81 is I' t of the upper body I0 at convexly curved in a plane transverse to the plane of the staple being driven. This insures that the papers or articles being stapled are gripped between the top surface of the anvil and the bottom the plane of the staple and closely held tothe staple is being so that they are properly gether atthe point where driven.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 12 through 25, the same comprises a body generally designated |01 and which may be used alone as a tacker or which may be detachably connected with the base by means of the pin 80 and bayonet slot 86 the same as previously described in connection with the form of Fig. 1. The body |01 includes a housing formed of sheet metal and comprising a top wall |08 and side Walls |09 between which is located a transversely U-shaped sheet metal frame including side walls and a bottom wall I I2 which latter rests on the bottom Wall I I3 of the outer housing. This bottom wall ||3 may be brazed, soldered or welded to the side walls of the housing. Resting on said bottom or connecting Wall ||2 is a staple magazine and guide bar generally designated I |4 (Figs. 12 and 14) and including an inner staple guide bar ||5 and outer U-shaped or channel bar ||6 (Figs. 13, 14 and 17) located one within the other. Such channel bars have their bottom walls, or connecting portions secured together as by rivets I I1 while their side portions are spaced apart to provide channels ||8 (Figs. 13 and 19) for the accommodation of the legs of staples placed on and straddling the inner channel bar Straddling the inner channel bar ||5 of the guide bar is a follower I I9 formed of sheet metal and of inverted U-shape, and to the rear portion of which (by any suitable means such as a bent up ear ||9a) is connected an end |20 of a flat coiled spring |2| while the other end of such spring is fixed to a bar |22. The spring is constantly tending to coil about the bar |22 and thus is constantly tending to draw the follower forwardly along the guide bar in a manner to urge the staples |23 therealong, whereby to deliver the staples to a raceway |24 at the forward end of the guide bar.

On the forward end of the guide bar is a U- shaped member generally designated |25 and including a front plate or connection portion |26 and side arm portions |21 which latter have on their free end portions ears |21a inturned and disposed in openings |28 in the outer channel member ||6 of the guide bar. With this construction the member |25 may be swung from the full line position of Fig. 14 to the dotted line position of that figure, or to the full line position of Figs. 18 and 19. The purpose of this arl.

rangement will later be set forth. Here it is noted that the plate |26 forms the forward side of the raceway |24 and that the bent in ends [21a of the arms |21 do not have a tight i-lt in the holes |28 but have limited movement therein in a direction longitudinally of the guide bar ||4. Therefore the entire member may yield forwardly as suggested in Figs. 13 and 14 when a staple of larger diameter wire is being driven through the raceway, this however being held in the normal position by the spring plate |43 as will be later described.

In the forward portion of the housing there is arranged a plunger |29 having on its forward side a lug |30 projecting through an opening |3| in a driver plate |32 and also into an opening |33 in a wear plate |34. A closure |35 is disposed over the front end of the housing and includes flange-like side portions |36 which embrace the housing side walls |09. Such side walls include forwardly projecting perforated ears |31 (Figs..13 and 20) and the closure |35 includes a forwardly projecting portion |38 through the sides |39 of which pass a pin |40 which pin also passes through the ears |31 whereby the closure is secured in place. The front edges of the sides ||0 of the inner frame have similar ears |31a at the inner sides of the ears |31 through which the pin |40 also passes.

A slot |4| (Fig. 20) opens through the upper end of the closure |35 and the lower end of the closure is substantially out away providing an opening |42. Opening .|42 aligns with the forward end of the guide bar ||4 and when the latter is in normal position within the housing the lower end |43 of a spring locking plate |44 is extending across and in engagement with the connecting portion |26 of the U-shaped member |25 and yieldingly holds this member in proper position to form the front wall of the raceway |24 to help guide the staple being driven. Such locking plate is located between the front wall of the closure |35 and the wear plate |34 as shown in Fig. 12 and when in its lower position as in Figs. ,12 and 20 its lower end portion |43 extends under the lower end of plate |34 so as to engage the front wall of member |25 as shown in Fig. 16, and serves to hold the guide bar within the housing as well as hold member |25 in normal staple guiding position.

At its upper end the locking plate |44 includes a relatively thin or narrow neck-like portion |45 projecting through the open ended slot |4| in the upper end of cover |35 and beyond such cover the neck-like portion carries a hand piece |46 which may, if desired, be moulded to said portion. The plunger |29 together with the driver |32 and the plate |34 are vertically movable at the inner side of the locking plate and the plunger is guided in its movements between the side walls ||0 of the inner frame and between the locking plate |44 and the inturned ends or anges |41 (Fig. 13) of plates |48 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the frame sides I0. The slidable locking plate |44 is cut away on its opposite side edges as shown at |44a (Fig. 22) to form clearance for ears |31 and |31a and the shoulders |44b formed at the lower ends of these notches engage the ears to limit the upward movement of the plate. Associated with the plunger is a safety means comprising the pawl 68 and the spring 12 and associated parts functioning as and for the purpose described in connection with the iirst form of the invention.

A hand operating member |49 includes side flanges |50 which enter between the housing walls |09, and a pin |5| passing through said flanges and the upper portion of plunger |29 secures the operating member to the latter. 'I'he inner or rear end portion |52 (Fig. 12) of the operating member is disposed under the forward edge portion of the housing top wall |08 and such operating member closes the space between the upper edges of the forward portion of the side walls |09 of the housing. A coil spring |53 serves to return the plunger and the operating member |49 to their normal or retracted positions after they have been depressed to have driver |32 drive a staple through the raceway |24.

When the machine is to be reloaded with staples the locking plate |44 is moved upwardly so as to position its lower end portion |43 above vthe opening |42 as shown in Fig. 14 whereupon the guide bar and magazine ||4 may be drawn outwardly to the position of Figs. 13 and 14. A screw |54 secured to the rear end of the guide bar ||4 passes through a slot |55 (Fig. 25) in a plate |56 and has anchored to it one end of a small coil spring |51 the other end of which is anchored to a lug |58 at the forward end of said plate |56. At the rear end of the plate there is an upturned portion |59, and when the guide bar is within the housing such end |59 bears against the rear wall |60 of the housing (Fig. 12) whereby the forward end of the plate is l moved forwardly with respect to screw |54 thereby tensioning spring |51. With this arrangement as soon as the locking plate |44 is elevated as above described to release the guide bar H4, plate |56 actuated by spring |51 will function as a kicker to move the guide bar outwardly of the housing a sufcient distance where it may be grasped and pulled out to its fully extended position for loading the staple strip into it.

Thus the operator by grasping the forward 1 end of the guide bar may draw it forwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Thereafter staples |6| may be moved downwardly on to the guide bar as suggested by arrow Isla, v Fig. 14, so as to have the staples straddle the inner channel member |I5. If for any reason the staples may not be so applied, the front member |25 on the end of the guide bar is swung upwardly as in Figs. 18 and 19 and then the strip |62 of staples is moved onto the channel `member I from the end thereof as suggested by arrow |6241. in Fig. 18 This may be used for straight staples, as sometimes people who have gotten used to sliding the staple strip on to the staple guide bar from the end wish to continue to do so, or this end loading permits the use of a guide bar and staples in which the staple strip cannot be placed on the bar from the top, such `for example as staples in which instead of the legs being parallel they are inclined inwardly as shown at |61 in Fig. 35 and the sides |68 of the guide bar |69 are tapered inwardly and downwardly in the manner disclosed in the patent to Vogel, No. 2,016,466, issued Oct. 8, 1935. When the guide bar reaches the desired outermost position the screw 54 as shown in Fig. 14 comes against the inner end of the follower ||9 so that the guide bar may not be drawn entirely out of the housing, and outward movement of the follower is limited since the end |20 of the spring |2| is attached to the follower and the spring passes over a plate |63 as shown best in Fig. 14. After the guide bar is loaded with staples it is pressed back into the housing again tensioning spring |51, and thereafter the locking plate |44 is pushed down to the locking position of Figs. 12 and 20. Portions |64 are lanced from the side walls l0 of the inner frame and pressed over, as best shown in Fig. 17, so as to overlie the upper edge of the guide bar, and particularly the channel I8 thereof, whereby to prevent any upward movement of the staples olf the guide bar. The upper edge of the opening resulting from the formation of these flanges or portions |64 is shown at |64a.

Projecting from the lower side of the guide bar at the forward end thereof is a lug |65 (Fig. 18) which may comprise the head of the screw |66 (Fig. 16), and the forward end of the bottom wall ||2 of the inner frame is notched at |61 to receive such lug whereby when the guide 75 bar is in normal position it is additionally held against any lateral movement.

When the cover member |35 has been removed the entire inner frame ||0 of the machine, including the guide bar and plunger means, as a unit with such frame, may be drawn outwardly through the forward end of the housing so as to better expose the various parts for repairs. 'I'he beginning of such movement is suggested Aby the dotted lines at the left in Fig. 12.

'I'he same form of shiftable anvil 61 to give permanent or temporary setting of the staples may be used in the form of Figs. 12 to 25 the same as in the form of Figs. 1 to 11. In order to reassemble the parts in the housing it is but necessary to push the frame and parts carried thereby back into the housing and to then apply driver |32 and plate |34 against the front side of the plunger, position the locking plate |44 and the cover |35 and then insert the pin |40.

Having thus ,set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

l. A staple driving machine including a housing, a staple driver for driving the staples, a staple guide bar for carrying staples to said driver and normally enclosed in said housing, said guide bar being longitudinally shiftable to and from an exposed position to permit of loading of the bar while in said exposed position, means for feeding the staples along the guide bar to driving position under the driver, and releasable means normally securing the bar in its enclosed position.

2. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar, a raceway at the forward end of the guide bar to which staples are to be fed from said guide bar, means for driving staples through said raceway, said housing enclosing said guide bar, said guide bar being longitudinally movable with respect to said enclosing housing whereby the guide bar may be withdrawn from the enclosing housing for loading, and releasable means normally securing the guide bar within the enclosing housing.

3. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar in said housing, a raceway, a follower for moving staples along said guide bar to said raceway, means for driving staples through said raceway, said guide bar being longitudinally movable to a position projecting from said housing and in which position staples may be placed on the guide bar, and means normally locking the guide bar in position within the housing.

4. In a staple driving machine, a housing including side walls, an elongated tubular member in the lower portion of said housing between said side walls, a staple guide bar normally within said member but Withdrawable therefrom for loading, said member including an upper wall preventing upward movement of staples off the guide bar while the latter is in normal position, said guide bar having a shoulder, a pawl, spring means maintaining said pawl in position engaging said shoulder whereby to secure said guide bar in its normal position, and means operable from the outer side of said housing to shift said pawl against the action of said spring to release the guide bar.

5. In a staple driving machine, a housing including side walls, an elongated tubular member in the lower portion of said housing between said walls, a staple guide bar normally within said member but longitudinally movable through the forward end thereof to a loading position, a spring actuated follower on said guide bar for urging staples therealong towardthe forward end thereof, means normally retaining the guide bar within said tubular member and manually releasable to permit movement of the bar to the loading position, means providing a stop shoulder adjacent the forward end of said member, and means on said follower engageable with said stop shoulder when the follower reaches a forwardmosty position whereby to prevent the follower moving out of the member as the guide bar is being moved through the forward end thereof to the loading position.

6. In a staple driving machine, an elongated tubular member, a staple guide bar normally within said member but longitudinally movable through the forward end thereof for loading, manually releasable means for retaining said guide ,bar in normal position, and cooperating positioning means between said memben and guide bar and comprising a channel in one and a projection on the other whereby to insure proper positioning of the guide bar within the member.

"7. In a staple driving machine, an elongated tubular member, a staple guide bar normally within said member but movable through the forward end thereof for loading, a follower on said guide bar, a spring normally urging the follower along the guide bar toward the forward end thereof, manually releasable means normally retaining the guide bar within the member, said tubular member having an opening in its upper wall providing a shoulder adjacent its forward end, said follower including an element mounted on the follower body for movement relative thereto, said means including a projecting portion, said spring normally engaging said element for moving the follower along the guide bar and maintaining the projecting portion of the element against the upper side of the tubular member whereby as the follower reaches the forward end of the tubular member the action of the spring on said element shifts the same to cause the projecting portion thereof to enter said opening in the top wall of the member to prevent movement of the follower out of said member.

8. In a staple driving machine, a staple guide bar, a raceway to which staples are to be fed from said guide bar, means for driving staples through said raceway, a housing normally enclosing said guide bar and staple driving means, said guide bar being movable longitudinally through the forward end of said housing to expose a portion of the guide bar whereby the latter may be loaded with staples, manually shiftable means normally securing the guide bar within the housing, means on the forward end of the guide bar and carried thereby and cooperating therewith to form a wall of said raceway, and said means being yieldably secured to said guide bar whereby to be capable of movement outwardly with respect thereto to permit of an oversized staple being driven through said raceway.

9. In a staple driving machine, a staple guide bar, a raceway to which staples are fed from said guide bar, means for driving staples through said raceway, a housing normally enclosing said guide bar and staple driving means, said guide bar being movable through the forward end of said housing to an outer position, manually shiftable means normally securing the guide bar within the housing, means carried on the forward end of the guide bar and cooperating therewith when the guide bar is in normal position to form the forward wall of said raceway, and pivots mounting said means on the guide bar whereby when the latter is in an outer position the means may be shifted relative to the guide bar to clear the end thereof to permit of the loading of the guide bar by the movement of staples on to the same in the forward end thereof.

10. In a staple rdriving machine, a housing, said housing having a' raceway therein, means in said housing for feeding staples to said raceway, means in said housing for driving staples through said raceway, a base, an anvil on the forward portion of said base, said base having an opening in the upper side thereof toward its rear end, a spring secured to the base and projecting above said opening, an upstanding ear on the base at each side of said opening, a pair of depending ears on the lower side of said housing adjacent the rear'end thereof, cooperating means on the ears of the base and the ears on the housing whereby the housing may be readily mounted on or removed from the base, said cooperating means comprising a cross pin carried by one of said pairs of ears and bayonet slots in the other pair of ears for receiving said pin, and said spring serving when the housing is on the base to yieldingly maintain the parts in relation with said pin in the closed end portions of said slots.

-1l. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple driving plunger in the housing, a staple guide bar within the housing to supply staples to the plunger and mounted for sliding movement in the housing, means for feeding staples along the guide bar to a position to be driven by the plunger, said housing having an opening in an end thereof and through which the guide bar may be projected for loading, means normally holding the guide bar within said housing, and means preventing complete withdrawal of the guide bar from the housing when the guide bar is projected for loading.

12. In a staple driving machine, a. housing, said housing having a raceway therein, means /in the housing for feeding staples to the raceway,

means in the housing for driving staples through the raceway, a base having a top wall portion convexly curved in a direction transversely of the plane of the staple, an anvil mounted on said curved portion and provided with two sets of recesses to cooperate with the driving means for permanent and temporary setting of the staples, said anvil being convexly curved similarly to the curvature of the base and being slidable thereon to bring either set of recesses into alignment with the driving means, and means for retaining the anvil in the different positions.

13. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar within said housing, said housing having an opening in an end thereof and through which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading, a movable locking plate normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within the housing, and means at the outer side of said housing and operable to shift said plate to permit of movement of the guide bar through said opening.

i4. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar within said housing, said housing having an opening in the forward end thereof and through which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading, a slidable locking plate on the forward end of said housing and normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within the housing, means at the outer side of said housing and operable to shift said plate to expose said opening, and a spring actuated kicker means on said guide bar and normally urging the same toward said opening whereby as said plate is shifted to expose the opening the bar is partially projected through the latter by the kicker means.

15. In -a staple driving machine, a housing. a staple guide bar within said housing, said housing having an opening in the forward end thereof and through which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading, a slidable locking .plate on the forward end of said housing and normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within the housing, means at the outer side of said housing and operable to shift said plate to expose said opening, kicker means associated with said guide bar and normally urging the same toward said opening whereby as the latter is exposed on movement of said plate the guide bar is partially projected through the opening, said kicker means comprising a slotted plate having an end bearing against the rear wall of said housing, a stud secured to the guide bar and projecting through the slot of the plate, and a coil spring anchored at its forward end to the forward end of said plate and at its rear end to said stud whereby the spring is tensioned while the guide bar is within the housing.

16. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a frame within the housing, a guide bar in said frame, means defining a raceway at the forward end of said guide bar, follower means on the guide bar for moving staples therealong toward said raceway, means on said frame and operable to drive staples through said raceway, said housing including a cover-like front wall, means removably securing said front wall to the housing,

and said frame and all parts carried thereby being slidable out of said houisng through the forward end thereof on removal of said front wall.

17. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a frame within the housing, a guide bar in said frame, means defining a raceway at the forward end of said guide bar, follower means on the guide bar for moving staples therealong toward said raceway, means on said frame and operable to drive staples through said raceway, said frame including side wall portions, and flanges lanced and pressed from said side wall portions and disposed to extend partly over the upper side of said guide bar whereby to prevent upward movement of the staples thereon.

18. In a staple driving machine, a housing having a raceway therein. a staple guide bar within said housing, means for moving staples along said bar to said raceway, said housing having an opening in the forward end thereof and through which said guide bar may be partly withdrawn for loading, a locking plate having a resilient yieldable portion normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar Within the housing, means for shifting said plate to expose said opening, means at the forward end of said guide bar and normally forming a side of said raceway and bearing against said locking plate, and means connecting said means with the guide bar in a manner to permit of limited outward movement of said means away from the end of the guide bar whereby to permit of an oversized staple being driven through said raceway.

19. In a staple driving machine, a housing having a raceway therein, a staple guide bar within said housing, means for moving staples along said b ar to said raceway, said housing hav- `ing an opening in the forward end thereof and through` which said guide bar may be partly withdrawn for loading, a locking plate having a resilient yieldable portion normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within the housing, means for shifting said plate to expose said opening, a guide member pivoted to the forward end of said guide bar and normally forming the forward wall of said raceway, said guide member being mounted on the guide bar for limited movement away from the end of the bar, and said locking plate when in closing position backing up said guide member to retain itin normal position and permit it to move outwardly to allow staples of thicker wire to pass through the racewa FRIDOLIN POLZER. LESTER. L. WHEELER. ROY E. PETERSON.