US2267719A - Full throw mechanism for stapling machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941. s R BY 2,267,719

FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Deg. 30, 1941. s. A. cRo-sBY FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1941'. s. A. CROSBY FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Filed Jan. 2, 1937 Dec. 30, 1941. 5 CROSBY 2,267,719

FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2; 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 C v v in. v:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FULL THROW MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Stephen A. Crosby, New York, N. Y., assignor to Speed Products Company, New York, N. Y.

Application January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,811

16 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) The present invention deals generally with Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of the forward stroke control devices and specifically is conpart of the magazine showing the rail secured 1 cemed with an improved full throw mechanism therein to form the longitudinal staple strip for stapling machines and the objects, advanguide channel and the front vertical staple racetages, and functional and structural features way. thereof will be best understood from a consid- Figs. 18 to 30 illustrate the stroke control deeration of the following detailed description taken vice which in operation precludes the admission in the light of the accompanying drawings whereof a next successive staple of the staple strip in in: the vertical raceway when a staple therein has Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved not been previously ejected by the driving blade stapling machine according to my invention. of the plunger and in particular Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the Fig. 18 is a longitudinal and fragmentary secstapling machine used as a tacker. tional view of the pivoted arm showing the plung- Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the staer partly depressed and theintervenor interposed pling machine illustrating the swingable arm between the fixed mount and the inwardly overthereof partly open to permit ready inspection hanging stop lip of the reciprocably guided oi the staple strip in the magazine. plunger.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. I 8 wherein the stapling arm fully opened and the follower at plunger has been retracted before a full down the rear of the magazine -to permit loading of stroke thereof has been made and in such relastaples in the latter. tion the inner lip of the plunger is abutting the Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in eleslidably guided intervenor, thus preventing a full vation of the stapling machine ona larger scale. retraction of the plunger and thus precluding 'Fig. 5' is a transverse sectional view on the I the admission of a next successive staple within line fl-t of Fig. 5.. 45 the front vertical raceway.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 0-6 of Fig. 20 shows the blade of the plunger fully Fig. 5 however with parts of the base omitted. depressed and the shiftable intervenor yieldingiy Fig. 'l is a broken view in perspective of the disposed in a locked position. staple magazine. Fig. 21 shows the blade of the plunger fully re- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 7, show- 30 tracted or returned and above the staple raceway. ing a part of the pivoted latch associated with the intervenor'beingillustrated yieldingiy abutthe base of the stapling machine removably but ting the stop lip of the plunger and ready to in-' slidably interlocked with the magazine. tervene just as soon as the plunger moves down- Fig. 9., is a vertical transverse sectional view wardly, the stop lip being shown abutting the on the line 9-4 of Fig. 5. mount or the support for the intervenor.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the Fig. 22 is a side view of Fig. 21 however with line llll of Fig. 5. a side wall of the sheath thereof removed for Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the purposes of cleamess to show the normal posiline ll-il of Fig. 5. 4 tion of the intervenor at a time when the plunger Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on the is fully up orretracted. line li-II of Fig. 5. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the plunger Fig. 13 is an exploded view in perspective of showing the inner stop lip and the rectangularly the swingable magazine, the rail, and the autosh uldered driving blade thereof.

matically controlled staple follower block. Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the channel Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded view of the shaped mount or support on which the float or cover or housing of the swingable arm. intervenor is slidably and pivotally sustained.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the front part of the Fig. is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 22.

V staple magazine showing the staple ejecting gap showing the intervenor in a nonintervening poand the spaced extruded rail positioning and se- 5 sition when the plungerv is inits fully up or norcu ing means. mal position.

Fig. 16 is an underneath view of the front Fig. 26 shows theintervenor when in an interpart of the rail showing lower perforated in-' vening position when the plunger has been dewardly turned lugs adapted to be received and pressed slightly as in the case of Fig.1&. positioned by the spaced upstanding pins shown Fi 7 sh ws he intervenor receding. bein in Fig. 15.

"", urged rearwardly by the inclined cam surfaces of the plunger on the downward stroke thereof and about ready to fall into locking recesses in the fixed mount.

Fig. 28 shows the position of the intervenor in its locking recess of the mount at the completion of the downward stroke ofthe plunger as in the case of Fig. 20.

Fig. 29 shows the intervenor just about to be removed by the plunger from the locking recesses of the.mount at the close of the completion of the full return stroke.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the intervenor.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3 |3| of Fig. 1.

Fig. 32 is a plan view of the rear end of the plunger raising spring anchored to the rear end of the intervenor mount and Fig. 33 is a plan view of the butterfly locking latch carried by the closure and utilized to disconnectably interlock with the magazine.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the stapling machine generally denoted |0, comprises, a base ||,and a pivoted arm l2 which includes; a staple magazine 3, a staplebarrying rail M, a staple follower IS, a magazine cover or closure IS in the form of a housing comprising a pair of overlapped channeled members l6 and I1, both of the latter being of pleasing streamline appearance and may be considered for purposesof speciflcation a fuselage or casing, a staple driving plunger generally denoted l8, and the strok'e control device illustrated in Figs. 18 to 30 inclusive.

Slidably mounted on base II is an anvil l9 embodying spaced clinching indentations 20 for. temporary fastening of staples 2| of the staple strip 22 and the elongated clinching indentation 23 for permanent anchoring of the staples.

The anvil I9 is provided with serrations 24 on its sides to facilitate gripping thereof where it is desired to shift the same longitudinally of the base H for permanent or temporary fastening of the staples as is well understood.

Fixedly anchored to the shiftable anvil is a channeled shaped flanged member 25 (see Figs. and 5 comprising a boss 26 'slidably guided in elongated slot 21 of the base Boss 26 is provided with a downwardly extending struck out medially arranged curved projection 28 which cooperates with a companion curved stud or stop 29 secured at the forward end of a relatively'elongated flat spring 30 having its intermediate part anchored by a rivet 3| secured to the base.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the staple clinching anvil is set against the forward transverse abutment end of slot 21 of the base. In such relation, elongated indentation 23 cooperates with the driving blade of the plunger to bend the legs of the staple for permanent fastening. Curved stud 29 however cooperates with projection .28 to lock the anvil against accidental slidable rearward displacement relative to slot 2'! of the base.

For temporary fastening of the staples, the anvil may be readily slidably shifted rearwardly to place spaced indentations 20 in alinement with the blade of the driver. In this connection the serrated sides of the anvil are grasped and urged rearwardly, thus snapping or riding projection 28 over the stop or stud 29 and the rear end of boss 26 abuts the rear transverse end of slot 21.

' On this operation post 29 first moves downwardly thus flexing fore part of the flat spring 30 which in effect is a cantilever beam. .After projection 28 has cleared the stud 29, the latter is automatically raised by the leaf spring 30 and now prevents accidental slidable displacement of the anvil towards the front of thebase. When the anvil is shifted the transverse ends of slot 21 cooperate with the transverse ends of the boss 26 to automatically dispose either the temporary clinching indentations or the permanent clinching indentation in vertical alinement with the staple raceway of the swingable arm.

Seated on the rear end of flat spring is a pivoted or swingable latch 32 (see Figs. 2, 5, 8 and 12). This latch comprises a depending lug 33 pivotally arranged in slot 34 of the flat spring 30. Specifically however latch 32 includes a downwardly inclined rearwardly disposed portion 33' seated on the rear terminal part of spring 30. Latch 32 also comprises a depending lug 34 having a finger engaging lip or manipulator 35.

The latch 32 comprises a rearwardly inclined T shaped head 36 (Figs. 8 and 12) defining lugs 31 and the reduced portion 38. The lower vertical part of latch 32 is loosely disposed in the enlarged trapezoidal vertical opening 33 of the base H and its T shaped head 36 may be conveniently and removably arranged to interlock with the bottom wall of the magazine |3 which includes an enlarged opening 40 communicating with reduced slot 4| defined by spaced shoulders 42 in the bottom wall of the magazine.

As shown in Fig. 2, the base H is unlocked from the magazine |3 of the arm |2 which is swingably sustained by transverse fulcrum pin 43 carried by the base. With the magazine free of latch 32, the intermediate part of the latter is substantially vertical and is disposed at the front j part of opening 39 of the base since the rear part of the fiat leaf spring 30 normally holds portion 33' against stop of the base.

When however arm I 2 is swung towards the base, the upper inclined T shaped head 36 first enters enlarged opening and subsequently strikes shoulders 42 of the magazine, thus tiltably displacing or rocking the latch against the energy of spring 30, hence causing the rear end of the latter to flex. However as the reduced part of the T shaped head of the. latch 32 falls into reduced opening 4|, lugs 3'! interlock with shoulders 42 or in other words the T shaped head of latch 32 disconnectably interlocks with the ma azine and isso held by the automatic release of the spring 30. Therefore accidental separation of the magazine of the pivoted arm I2 and the base H is prevented. If the arm I2 is interlocked with latch 32 and plunger I8 is depressed, shoulders 42 of the bottom wall of the magazine abut shoulders 38 to actuate latch 32 downwardly and consequently the rear part of spring 30 is flexed. Upon removal of manual pressure from the arm, the rear end of spring 30 automatically raises shoulder 38 of the latch and the arm I2 is restored to its normally raised position alglgough it is interlocked with the head of latch To disconnect the magazine from the base, lip 35 of latch 32 is pulled down against the energy of spring 30, causing latch 32 to swing rearwardly thereof. Hence the head of the latch is removed from restricted opening 4| and is freely disposed in the large opening 40 from which it may be readily removed upon swinging the pivoted arm away from the base.

The magazine |3 may be considered as a box or a shoe having its longitudinal channel facing upwardly. It is a one piece rectangularly shaped member as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Itincludes zine is a pair of spaced upstanding posts (see Figs. 13, 15 and 17)- for a purpose hereinafter described. Bottom wall 45 also includes a U shaped opening 52 (see particularly Fig. 15) defining a transverse slot 53 and the communicating longitudinally disposed slots 54.

Appropriately positioned within the magazine is the U shaped staple supporting rail H which includes spaced depending sides 56 having depending lugs 51 at the forward ends thereof (see Figs. 13 and 16) and the inwardly turned flanges 58 each provided with an opening 59. The rail also comprises'the spaced but relatively large openings 60" at the forward portion thereof and the rearwardly disposed overhanging lug 6i.

Slidably mounted on the rail is the inverted U shaped follower block l5 having its depending sides 63 slidably straddling the sides 56 of the rail. The depending sides 63 of the follower or follower block l5 each comprise an inwardly turned lug 64 cooperating with lower parts of the sides 56 of the rail (see Fig. 12) to prevent removal of the follower from the rail after assembly. By this arrangement the follower block I5 is interlocked with the rail l4 although movable longitudinally thereof.

In assembling, the follower I5 is first placed on the rail and the latter is arranged within the staple box or magazine. In this connection, the rear lug 6| is first placed into the closely fitting elongated slot 5| in the rear wall of the magazine. Hence the rail is positioned transversely and vertically in respect to the magazine. The front part of the rail is now dropped, causing openings 59 of the inwardly turned flanges 58 of the rail to receive the extruded upstanding posts or pins 5! of the magazine. The rail is now properly positioned longitudinally of the magazine. In such relation posts 5| are in vertical alinement with enlarged openings 60 of the upper horizontal wall of the rail and lugs 5'! of the sides 56 of the rail I4 are within the longitudinally disposed slots. 54 of the U shaped gap 52 and straddle lip 66 (see Figs. 15, 16 and 1'7) of the bottom wall 45 of the magazine.

With the rear lug 6| of the rail arranged within slot 5| of the rear wall of the magazine,

. and extruded posts 5| of the magazine received -by holes 59 of flanges 58, the rail is correctly and spatially positioned in respect to the magazinc. Since posts 5! project through flanges 58 they are accessible through openings 60 of the rail. passed into these openings 60 for upsetting the upper ends of the posts, thus forming means to positively anchor the rail to the magazine. In such relation the forward transverse face 61 (see Fig. 17) of the rail is spaced from the rear transverse face 68 of the front wall 46 of the magazine forming a vertically disposed transverse gap or staple raceway 69 for guiding a Thereafter a suitable tool (not shown) :'s

single staple 2| of the staple strip 22 downwardly to be ultimatel free of the magazine. It should The swingable arm l2 for purposes of specification may be considered as comprising cornplementary components characterized by the magazine [3 and the hollow cover l5. These components have their rearears 49 and H (see Figs. 13 and 14) hingedly r pivotally supported on the transverse fulcrum pin 43 carried by the rear curved perforated cars 12 of base I l. Ears 12 of the base straddle perforated cars 49 of the magazine and the latter straddles ears H of the stream lined fuselage or channel shaped member I6 of the closure 15'. In the particular instance illustrated, it will be appreciated that closure I5 for the magazine may be swung relative to the magazine on fulcrum pin 43 and accordingly the swingable arm l2 may be opened as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In such relation, all the staples within the magazine are accessible and may be readily observed. With this advantage, if the supply of staples within the magazine has become exhausted, a new staple strip may be readily supplied. If on the other hand, a staple of the strip is' improperly deformed, it may be readily removed. If the staple raceway is clogged, the clogging staples can be easily seen and removed even by the most unskilled operator. By the present arrangement, the source of trouble due to improper guiding of staples in the staple channel and raceway may be readily determined and easily corrected. This is an important feature of the invention.

The swingable or hinged cover I5 is in effect a housing for concealing the staples within the magazine. closure comprises the rearwardly disposed U shaped member or fuselage l6 having its channel facing downwardly while the sheath I! of the cover I5 is also a U shaped member having is vertical channel facing rearwardly.

Channeled shaped member l6 embodies an upper pleasingly curved and gradually sloping wall 12 having depending sides 13 each provided with a bayonet slot 14, a perforation 15, a compound or irregularly shaped elongated slot 16, an overhanging perforated lug 11 comprising a curved stop 78. The bayonet slotsl4 of sides 13 are in "horizontal al nement and appropriately receive openings 88. the perforated depending ears 89,

and the upstanding lug 90.

With mount 82 arranged within channel shaped member or rear part l6 of the hinged magazine cover or closure l5, alined openings 88 thereof are in alinement and register with alined openings 15 in the depending-sides 13 of fuselage or casing H; of the cover l5. Also alined openings 9| in the ears 89 of the mount are in registration with alined open ngs 92 of the forwardly arranged stop lugs 11 of the fuselage or casing l8 and at the proper time pins 93 and 94 are positioned in these alined openings of the mount 82 and the casing I6 to fixedly anchor the mount in the latter as is well understood.

When the mount 82 is anchored to channeled member or casin IS, the forward portions of the sides 84 thereof overhang the forward part As previously stated this cover or of the channeled member I6 (see Fig. 22). The sides 84 of the mount at the forward overhanging portion are slidably straddled by the spaced sides 95 of the U shaped plunger I8, that is, the sides 84 of the mount serve to vertically guide the plunger I8. Also the front transverse faces 98 (see Figs. 14 and 22 of the overhanging stop lugs 'I'I of rear channeled member I6 together with the rear transverse face 99 of the front wall 8| of sheath I 'I constitute a transverse vertical gap above but in alinement with the vertical staple raceway 69 to closely but slidably guide the lower part of the staple driving blade 96, thus preventing flexing of or distorting of the latter.

According to the invention a stroke control device is provided for the plunger to prevent the latter from fully retracting unless the blade thereof has first concluded a complete down stroke. To this end, attention is directed to the fioat or intervenor I shown in perspective in Fig. 30, in section in Figs. 18-21, and in side elevation in Figs. 25 to 29. At this time attention is also directed to the inwardly overhanging projection IOI carried by plunger I8, the alined notches I02 of the mount 82, and the alined notches I03 of the latter formed by the stepped transverse opening 81 therein (see Fig. 24). These alined notches I02 and I03 in the sides of the mount 82 form spaced vertical shoulders I04 and I05 and define alined but spaced steps I06. The intervenor I00, projection IOI of the plunger, the stepped transverse opening 81 of the mount and the helicoidal spring I01 which has its ends connected to the lug 90 of the fixed mount 82 and to the upstanding tail I08 of the intervenor constitute the stroke control device.

As shown, the intervenor comprises an elongated rectangularly shaped body having laterally extending lugs I09. Tail I08 extends upwardly and is slidably guided in rectangular opening 86 in the upper wall 83 of the mount 82. a

In the normal or fully raised position of the plunger I8, lugs I09 of the intervenor slightly overhang and are seated on the alined steps I 08 of the mount or support 82 and are spaced from vertical alined shoulders I04 which are flush with alined vertical faces IIO of the sides 95 of the plunger. Shoulders I04 and vertical faces IIO form stop means to limit forward movement of the lugs I09 of the intervenor I 00 when the plunger is depressed.

When the-plunger is fully raised, projection IOI (see Fig. 21) is against the upper wall 83 of mount 82 and hence the plunger cannot be further raised. This is the normal raised position of the plunger. In this relation intervenor I 00 is yieldingly abutting projection WI, and the lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 although seated on steps I06, are spaced from stop shoulders I04 and H0 (see Figs. 11, 21, 22 and 25).

When, however the plunger is slightly depressed, the intervenor I00 automatically slidably travels into the gap formed between upper wall 83 of the mount 82 and projection IN 01' the plunger (see Fig. 18) due to the action of the normally expanded spring I01. In this particular instance, lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 abut alined shoulders or stop faces I04 and H0 (see Fig. 26).

If before the completion of av full down stroke of the plunger, the latter is retracted, intervenor I00, prevents full retraction thereof (see Fig. 19) that is, in this relation, the lower part of the staple driving blade 96 serves as a closure preventing the next successive staple of the staple strip to enter the vertical raceway. But where a full down stroke has been made a full return stroke thereof may be consumated. In this connection, it will be observed that sides 95 of the plunger I8 are provided with alined inclined faces III for actuating lugs I09 01 the intervenor which overhang the sides 84 of the mount 82, causing the intervenor to move bodily rearwardly or recede during the descent of the plunger.

Towards the completion of the downward stroke of the plunger (see Figs. 20 and 28) overhanging lugs I09 of the intervenor have been moved rearwardly and past the alined steps I08 of the mount and into alined recesses I03 thereof, thus yieldingly abutting vertical and alined stop faces I05 of the sides of the mount and are thus held due to the expansion of spring I01. Thus locked the forward end of the intervenor is out of the path of projection IOI (see Fig. 20).

In accordance with the invention the plunger is automatically raised or retracted after each complete down stroke thereof. For this purpose an elongated metal leaf spring H2 is utilized. This leaf spring I I2 has its upper end abutting lugs I I3 struck out of the sides of plunger I8 while its lower end is provided with a reduced portion II4 defining a T shaped head II5 (see Fig. 32) comprising lugs II6 cooperating with ends II! of the sides 84 of the mount to prevent longitudinal displacement of spring H2 in one direction while shoulders II8 cooperate with the rear vertical side of opening 85 in the mount to prevent longitudinal displacement of the spring I I2 in an opposite direction. By the present arrangement it is apparent that the lower end of the spring is interlocked with the mount and may be readily attached to or disconnected therefrom if desired.

Referring back to the stroke control device, if the plunger I8 has made a complete downward stroke, the intervenor I00 is in a locked position as shown. in Figs. 20 and 28. With manual pressure removed from the resilient head I20 attached to the plunger I 8, leaf spring II 2 automatically raises the latter. Therefore towards the close of its up stroke shoulders I2I of sides of the plunger I8 strike the overhanging lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 lifting these lugs I09 out of the alined transverse recess I03 to clear alined steps I09 (see Fig. 29) but only after projection IOI has about reached upper wall 83 of the mount. When however lugs I09 clear steps I06, spring I01 contracts, thus bodily moving the intervenor I00 forwardly and the forward part thereof yieldingly abuts the back or rear wall I23 of projection IOI (see Fig. 21) or in other words the lugs I09 of the intervenor are in the position shown in Figs. 22 and 25, in the normal or fully raised position of the plunger.

Downward vertical displacement of the plunger I8 is limited by sheath II, that is, the elongated plate I26 fixedly attached to the top of the plunger I8 to which the recessed and grooved I resilient or rubber head or cushion I20 is disconnectably secured, strikes the upper part of the sheath or front part I! of the cover I5 (see Fig. 20) thus distributing and absorbing the force caused by such impact over a relatively wide area and in such relation reinforcing lugs 18 are slightly spaced fromthe curved notches I 25 in the sides of the plunger (see Figs. 20 and 22).

It has been previously pointed out that the swingable cover or closure I therefor.

lng rear lip I42.

relative to. the magazine.

arm II comprises a staple magazine I3 and a These parts may be quickly 'swingably separated and may be readily closed. If in a closed relation and it is desired to swing the cover away from the magazine, a slidabl latch generally denoted I30 is first manipulated to unlock the cover from the magazine. a

This latch-I30 is slidably arranged in the upper part of the alined openings 16 in the spaced sides 130! the channel member or back part I6 ofthe coverr Latch I3! is also slidably guided in the horizontally and transversely alined slots I32 in the spaced sides 30 of sheath, I1. Slots I3I overlap the sides of the rear part I6 of the 1 cover I 5 and are in alinement with the elongated slots. I31 in thespaced sides 13 thereof.

Asshown, the intermediate rear curved faces I33 of the spaced sides 80 of thesheath H are complementary to the front but transverse cam faces I34 of the spacedwings of the magazine tended. This operation however causes the latch to become free of openings I35 of the wings 43 of the magazine and accordingly the cover may be swung away from the magazine and thus the staple arm is separated and full access is had to the staple supporting rail. It should be observed however that after latch I30 has been unlocked from the magazine and finger pressure against wings I3I is removed, spring I50 automatically retracts the latch I30.

With thecover I5 of the arm shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch and consequently shoulders I45 of latch I30 abut I3. When the cover is closed complementary faces I33 and I34 are disposed in close proximity and sides 80 of the sheath and flush with the spaced'wings of the magazine.

The curved cam faces I34 of wings 48 however include the transversely alined horizontal gaps or slots I35 which are complementary to alined gaps I32 of the sheath and these combine when the cover is closed to form elongated slots I35 in which the butterfly latch I30 is slidably uided.

Slidably mounted within and supported by the lowerwalls of the reduced alined slots I31 in sides 13 of casing I6 is a transversely disposed shaft I30 supporting roller or wheel I30 which in part is received by the central reentrant recess I40 in the body of the manipulatable latch I3I which includes the spaced notches I4I defin- The sides of recess I40 are formed by the spaced lugs I43 integral with the body of latch I30 and these lugs I43 are spaced from the forward portions of wings I3I to form spaccdnotches I44 (see Figs. 6 and 33).

Asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the cover I5 'is latched. or locked to the notched wings 48 of the magazine I3.

' I30 may be considered retracted.

If the slidable "latch I 30- be interlocked with the magazine it is prevented from accidentally unlocking by the cocked helicoidal spring I50 trained over the roller or pulley I39 and has one endretained by lug I5I struck out of a side I3 of the channeled member or casing I6 and has its other end I52 anchored to the curved eye I53 struck out of the follower block I5. If therefore the cover or closure I5 is latched to the magazine'it isheld in such relation until latch I30 is grasped at the manipulatable and overhanging wings I3I and slidably-moved towards the front of the machine, thus projections or lugs I43 of slidable latch I30 strike the ends of shaft I33 thus slidably and bodily moving the latter in the alined' guide slots I5 in a similar direction. It follows that the roller I39 is correspondingly displaced and the spring I50 is dis the rear vertical transverse faces I56 (see Figs. 6 and 14) of the openings 16 in the sides 13 of the casing or fuselage I6 Therefore shoulders I45 are in the path of the curved cam faces I34 of the upstanding wings 48 of the magazine when the cover I5 is swung to a closing position and accordingly these cam faces I 34 constitute means for actuating latch I30 bodily forwardly until shoulders I45 of the latch are in alinement. with notches I35 of wings 48. Thereupon spring I50 automatically retracts latch I30 causing shoulders I45 to fall into notches I35 and hence the latch I30 is interlocked with the wings 48 at a time when the cover is closed in respect to the magazine.

By the present arrangement, to open the cover, the operator simply moves latch I30 forwardly out of wings 48 of the magazine and the coveris swung rearwardly on fulcrum pin 43. It

formed staples therein or the cover may be further swung away from the magazine as illustrated in Fig. 4 to permit loading of the latter at which time the resilient head or cushion I20 of the plunger I8 lies against a suitable supporting surface, such as, the top surface of a desk or the like. The spaced rubber feet I60 secured to base II also cooperate to prevent scratching of the supporting surface. With the cover as shown in Fig. 4 it should be noted follower I5 is at the rear of the staple supporting rail I4 or at the end of its rearward stroke. In Fig. 3. follower I5 has not completed its rearward stroke.

Where the magazine is interlocked with the swingable latch 32 and the cover is swung rearwardly, lugs 31 of latch 32 cooperate with the shoulders 42 of the bottom wall 45 of the maga- I rear end of the leaf spring 30. It follows that although the magazine is held in a desired raised position by spring 30, the rail thereof is fully accessible to permit loading of stapics thereon as is evident upon inspection of Fig. 4.

Toward the completion of the closing of the cover, wings 48 automatically actuate the butterfly latch to bodily shift or slide the latter forwardly until this latch reaches notches I35 of the wings and spring I50 retracts the latch I30, thus the latter disconnectably interlocks with the magazine, however, on the completion of the closing of the magazine by the cover the bottom peripheral face IBI of sheath I! is against and.

seated on the upper horizontal faces I62 of the magazine and lower margins I53 of spaced sides 13 of the fuselaged channeled member or back of the cover I5 project downwardly beyond the sheath or front part I! of the cover I5 and are telescopically but removably received between .I2 opened as 0 I30 is retracted that the staple sides 41 of the magazine l3 (see Figs. 9 and 31) to aline the cover relative to the magazine, and in effect, the upper peripheral faces I62 of the sides of the magazine serve as stop means to limit downward displacement of the cover and also serves to absorb and distribute the impact of the cover in closing but the lower margin I63 is slightly above the staple strip 22 and hence casing It serves to prevent upward displacement of the staples mounted on the staple supporting rail.

During closing of the cover l of the swingable arm l2, the action of spring I50 causes the follower ii to slidably and automatically move forwardly thus urging a forward staple 2| of the staple strip 22 to be disposed within the vertical raceway 0! but Just below the squared corner Where one staple is in raceway 69, another staple of the staple strip cannot be admitted due to the action of the stroke control device which prevents complete retraction. or return of the the spaced fside'softhe fective raceway by utilizing a U shaped housing at the front end of the machine having the inner face of the transverse wall thereof forming the front guide face of the plunger and the front wall of the raceway. But even in these types of con-' structions control in manufacturein respect to dimensions of the raceway has been dimcult.

As previously pointed out, the raceway of the magazine of the present construction is formed by a front transverse wall of a U shaped box or shoe drawn out in a single operation in sheet metal and by the front transverse wall of an inverted-U shapedrailwhile the longitudinal guidechannelfor the staple strip is formed by oftherail therein." Inthis typed! staple raceway is controll j by a singledimension which is the" distance betwe n the front trans-- verse face It or the shoe or magazine: and the transverse-planeinterlecting the origins of. the extruded pins cr'rivdts li, that is, the distance a:

, shown in figsfiband i'lfljs'ince these pins cooperate-witnperforatiohstl'oflugs I of therail,

the latten is ice-axially with the magszine, that is, cooperation of pins 58 with lugs ll of the raiLc ntrolsthe width of the .verticalracestaple driving blade whereby the lowerportion of I the latter serves as a closure preventing the admission of a next successive staple of the staple strip to enter the raceway 69 until driven staple within the raceway is ejected therefrom (see Fig. 19). At the completion of the full down stroke of the plunger squared projections 91 cooperate with the corners of a staple in the raceway 69 and with the aid of the anvil the legs of the staple are deformed for clinching purposes as is well understood. i

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the base of the machine has been disconnected from the magazine. and swung approximately one hundrecl'and eighty degrees in respect to the arm. In such relation, the arm of the machine is utilized as a tacker since no clinching anvil is required. The base ll however may be readily swung to be underneath. the arm as shown in Fig. 1. During such operation the swingable latch 32 automatically interlocks with the magazine which may be disconnected from latch 32 by manually actuating manipulator 35 to free head 38 thereof and hence the arm I2 may be swung away from the base.

Comparing the present embodiment with stapling machines of the prior art, it is important to note that with prior art stapling machines the latter possessed an inherent functional and structural defect in the matter of the arrangement of the several members defining the walls of the front vertical staple raceway, which defect caused in actual practice, large variations in size or control of dimensions of the raceway. With the prior art machines, the dimensions of the raceway were difficult to control due to the springing and yielding of the parts of the raceway under load. Broadly speaking many parts haying numerous controlling dimensions were fabricated and assembled to form the staple raceway walls and in the manufacture, the difificulties arising in maintaining the accuracy of the numerous controlling dimensions of the several parts resulted in the practical impossibility way II. fwhentherefore pins 6| have beenpreviously disposed in companion openings ,0, the rail is correctly; positioned both longitudinally, transversely'and vertically'in respect to the magazine even though'only one dimension is controlled, namely, the distance :0.

Hitherto the stapling machines of .the prior art so far as I am aware were socalled front or r earstaple, loaders. In these typesif the staple strip was locked in the longitudinal staple I channel .it was at times impossible to'remove the locked staples without knocking down the machine. Usually an inexperienced oflice operator has not sufficient skill to disassemble the machine toremove thew'edged or locked staples in the staple strip channel. 'Hence the machine I was sent to the factory-to be knocked down to this difficulty whereby even an unskilled operators,

may readily determine where the locked or wedged staples in the magazine are by simply unlocking and swinging the cover away from the magazine. Thus having full access to the staple strip, the troublesome or wedged staple maybe quickly removed by a finger nail file or the like, that is, according to the present invention, the swingable arm of the stapling machine is split to provide a staple magazine and cover therefor whereby these members may be separated to permit convenient loading of the magazine or" to determine where any wedged staples may be pres; ent for ready removal thereof since access may be conveniently had to the vertical raceway and the entire staple strip, see for example, Figs. 3 and 4.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a staple follower which is interlocked with the rail and thus cannot after assembly be damaged by the user due to accidental removal therefrom. Further advantages are the novel butterfly latch for properly alining and locking the cover with the magazine, the' provision of a cocked spring I50 which has many important to provide in stapling machines of the prior art a more efmagazine and the sides.

cements-an. the width of the 2 With the cover I open, the follower is at the.

rear of the rail. When closed, cocked spring I50 imparts pressure to the staple strip to permit the foremost staple thereof to be in the vertical raceway In closing of the cover, however, pres-. sure is applied by spring I50 gradually and progressively to the follower to prevent an appreciable or abrupt impact against the staple strip which otherwise causes involuntary telescoping of the staple strip as is well apparent.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that on the downward stroke of the plunger the impact thereof is transmitted by its elongated upper plate or bar Ill to the upper rim of sheath l I (see Fig. and through the latter vertically to the magazine, and to the anvil, however, without affecting or varying the size, or transverse and longitudinal dimension of the vertical staple raceway or the staple strip channel and as shown, the former, that is, the raceway being slighty longer than the height of a staple.

The claims in this application are limited to the stroke control device per se and it should be noted that applicant in his copending application, S. N. 146,708, filed June 7, 1937, has claims covering the stapling machine disclosed herein apart from the stroke control device.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim:

1. A stroke control device supporting a plunger having a projection, a support having an opening defining ained steps, an intervenor movably guided on said support, and a spring normally urging said intervenor forwardly, said intervenor pose said overhanging means in a locked relation in respect to said support whereby said forward part is out of 'the path of said projection on retraction of said plunger.

2. A stroke control device, comprising a reciprocab'e plunger having a projection, a support having a stepped transversely disposed opening, an intervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sides of said support, and spring means cooperating with said intervenor to hold said laterallydisposed means at the upper portion of said opening and the forward end of said intervenor against said projection in the normal raised position of said plunger, said intervenor adapted to be disposed between said projection and support on initial downward displacement of said plunger, said plunger having means cooperating with said laterally disposed means to bodiy move said intervenor rearwardly to arrange said laterally disposed means in a lower portion of said stepped opening to widely space said intervenor from said projection at the com-' pletion of a full down stroke of'said plrngerto permit full retraction of the latter.

3. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having a projection, a support having a stepped transversely disposed opening, an intervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sides of said support, and spring means cooperating with said'intervenor to hold said laterally disposed means at the upper portion of said opening and the front end of said intervenor yieldingly against said projection in the normal raised position of said plunger, said intervenor adapted tobe disposed between said projection and support upon initial downward displacement of said plunger, said plunger having means cooperating with said laterally disposed means to bodily move said intervenor rearwardly and arrange said laterally disposed means in a lower portion of said stepped opening to widely space said intervenor from said projection at the completion of a full down stroke of said plunger to permit full retraction thereof, said plunger having means to raise said laterally disposed means out of the lower portion of said shoulder means, an intervenor having projecting ment means, said plunger having means duringfurther downward displacement thereof for actuating said projecting means to displace said intervenor rearwardly and from said shoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shoulder means and adjacent said lower abutment means.

5. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having a projection, a member having upper and lower abutment means and shoulder means, anintervenor having projecting means movably seated on said shoulder means, and spring means for holding said projecting means in close proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion of said intervenor against said projection in the normally raised position of'said plunger, said spring mean urging said forward portion forwardly and between said member and projection during initial downward displacement of said plunger whereby said projecting means strikes said upper abutment means. said plunger having means during further downward displacement thereof for actuating said projecting means to displace said intervenor rearwardly and in a direction away from said shoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shoulder means and adjacent said lower abutment means, said spring means cooperating to hold said projecting means against said l ower abutment means at which time said forward portion of said intervenor is held in a spaced relation in respect to said projection on upward displacement of said plunger.

6. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having a projection, a member having upper and lower abutment means and shoulder means, an intervenor having projecting means movably seated on said shoulder means, and spring means for holding said projecting means in close proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion of said intervenor against said projection in the normally raised positionof said plunger, said spring means urging said forward portion forwardly and between said member and projection during initial downward displacement of said plunger whereby said projecting means strikes said upper abutment means, said plunger having means during further downward displacement thereof for actuating said projecting means todispl-ace said intervenor rearwardly and in a direction away from said.

shoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shoulder means and adjacent said lower abutment means, said spring means cooperating to hold said projecting means against said lower abutment means at which time said forward portion of said intervenor is held in a spaced relation in respect to said projection on upward displacement of said plunger, said plunger having means operative towards the completion of the upward displacement of said plunger for actuating said projectingmeans to elevate the latter to said shoulder means at which time said projection is disposed forwardly of said intervenor and said spring means yieldingly holds the 1 latter against said projection.

7. A stroke control device comprising, a reciprocable plunger having ajprojection, a member having upper and lower abutment means and shoulder means, an intervenor having projecting means movably seated on said shoulder means, spring means for holding said projecting means in close proximity to said upper abutment means and the forward portion of said intervenor rearwardly of and against said projection in the nordownward displacement of said plunger to prevent complete retraction of said plungerzprior to a complete down stroke of the latter, said plunger having means cooperating with said laterally disposed means to bodily move'said intervenor rearwardly to arrange said laterally disposed means oiT said stepped portion to widely space said front end from said projection at the completion of ,a full down stroke of said plunger to permit full re-' traction of the latter,

' 9. A stroke control device comprising areciprocable plunger having a projection, a member having a stepped portion, a movable intervenor,

and spring means cooperating with said intervenor V to hold the forward part thereof on said stepped portion but yieldingly at the rear. of and against said projection in the normal raised position of said plunger, said spring means acting on said intervenor to dispose said forward part between said projection and member upon initial downward displacement of said plunger to prevent complete retraction of said plunger prior to a complete down stroke of said plunger, said intervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sides of said member, said plunger havmally, raised position of said plunger, said spring meansurging said forward portion forwardly and, between said member and projection during initial downward displacement of said plunger whereby said projecting means strikes said upper abutment means, said plunger having means during further downward displacement thereof for actuating said projecting means to displace said intervenor rearwardly and in a direction away from said shoulder means and dispose said projecting means below said shoulder means and adjacent said lower abutment means, said spring means cooperating to hold said projecting means against said lower abutment means at which time said forward portion of said intervenor is held in a spaced relation in respect to said projection on upward displacement of said plunger, said plunger having means operative towards the completion of the upward displacement of said plunger for actuating said projecting means to elevate the latter to said shoulder means at which time said projection is disposed forwardly of said intervenor and said spring means yieldingly holds the latter against said projection, saidmember having means to limit upward displacement of said intervenor at the completion of the upward displacement of said plunger and said projecting means constituting means to limit upward displacement of said plunger.

8. A stroke control device comprising a refill ing cam means cooperating with'said laterally disposed means to bodily move said intervenor rearwardly to arrange said laterally disposed means on said stepped portion to widely space said forward part away from said projection at the completion of the full down stroke of said plunger to permit full retraction of the latter and permit said projection to be disposed in advance of said intervenor, said plunger having means operative towards the completion of the return stroke thereof to actuate said laterally disposed means to raise the latter on said stepped portion at which time said spring means yieldingly holds said forward part in back of but against said pro- 4 jection.

10. A stroke control device comprising a reciprocable plunger having a projection, a member having a stepped portion, a movable intervenor,

and spring means cooperating with said intervenor to hold the forward part thereof on said stepped portion but yieldingly against said projection in the normal raised position of said plunger, said spring means acting on said intervenor to dispose said forward part of the latter between said projection and member upon initial downward displacement of said plunger to prevent complete retraction thereof prior to a complete down stroke of the latter, said intervenor having laterally disposed means overhanging the sidesof said member, said plunger having inclined cam means cooperating with said laterally disposed means to bodily move said intervenor rearwardly to arrange said laterally disposed means ofi. said stepped portion to widely space saidintervenor away from said projection at the completion of a full down stroke of said plunger to permit full retraction of the latter and permit said projection to be disposed in advance of said forward part, said plunger having shoulder means operative towards the completion of the return stroke thereof to actuate said laterally disposed means to raise the latter on said stepped portion at which time said spring means yielding holds said forward part in back of but against said projection.

11. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger having a wall and spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides having alined shoulders, alined rectilinear portions, and alined cam portions, amount straddled by said sides and including alined steps, an intervenor movably mounted on said mount and comprising laterally disposed means normally seated on said alined steps and actuated by said cam portions to be removed from said steps, and spring means to hold the forward part of said intervenor at the rear of and against said projection in the fully raised position of said plunger and said laterally disposed means spaced from said rectilinear portions, and said shoulders constituting means for elevating said laterally disposed means on retraction of said plunger.

12. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger .having a wall and spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides having alined shoulders, alined rectilinear portions, and alined inclined portions, a mount straddled by said sides and including alined steps, an intervenor movably mounted on said mount and comprising laterally disposed means normally seated on said alined steps and actuated by said inclined portions to be removed from'said steps spring means to hold the forward part of said intervenor at the rear of and against said projection in the fully raised position of said plunger and said laterally disposed means slightly spaced from said rectilinear portions, said spring means on initial downward displacement of said plunger shifting said intervenor forwardly to permit the forward portion of the latter to be interposed between said projection and mount to prevent complete retraction of said plunger when the latter has been retracted prior to a complete downward stroke, and said shoulders constituting means for elevating said laterally disposed means on retraction of said plunger.

13. A stroke control device comprising a slidable plunger having a wall and spaced sides, a projection carried by said wall, said sides having alined rectilinear portions, and alined cam portions, a mount straddled by said sides and including alined steps, an intervenor movably mounted on said mount and comprising laterally disposed means normally seated on said alined steps and actuated by said cam portions, and spring means to hold the forward part of said intervenor at the rear of and against said projection in the fully raised position of said plunger and said laterally disposed means adjacent said rectilinear portions, said spring means on initial downward displacement of said plunger shifting said intervenor forwardly to permit the forward portion of the latter to be interposed between said projection and mount to prevent complete retraction of said plunger when the latter has been retracted prior to a complete downward stroke, said cam portions on downward movement of said plunger pursuant .to said initial downward movement of the latter cooperating with said laterally disposed means to shift the latter from said steps to rearwardly displace and spatially arrange the forward part of said intervenor from said plunger.

14. The stroke control device according to claim 13 wherein said mount includes means for holding said laterally disposed means when removed from said steps locked against forward displacement on completion of the downward stroke of said plunger and during incomplete retraction or said plunger,

15. 'The stroke control device according to claim 13 wherein said mount includes means for holding said laterally disposed means when removed from said steps locked against forward displacement on completion of the downward stroke of said plunger and during incomplete retraction of said plunger and the latter having shoulders constituting means to unlock said laterally disposed means towards the completion of the retraction of said plunger for automatically raising said

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