US2311643A - Stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1943. s. A. CROSBY STAPLING MACHINE Filed DSC. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 23, 1943; s, A CROSBY 2,311,643

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mh. Mm, Q\ h 1 1 i gnam Q ,iw P R V.. RJ \\l||\ o E si| 1 T N |l| N1 1 N R. w o u I l m \w\N/NN| Patented Feb. 23, 1943 STAPLING MACHINE Stephen A. Crosby, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as-

signor to Speed Products Company, New York, N. Y.

Application December 29, 1938, Serial No. 248,331

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a stapling machine and within the meaning of the latter, analogous articles, such as stapling pliers, and stapling tackers are intended, and the invention has for objects: the provision of a simplified but irnproved stapling machine including a hinged arm having a staple magazine member pivotally carrying a cover which is substantially coextensive with the length of the arm and which slidably carries a latch integrally merged with an arcuate bearing for movably guiding an elongated and helicoidal spring which has one end fastened to the cover and another end connected to a slidably guided staple follower whereby upon closing of the cover transversely spaced portions of the latch automatically interlock with vertically arranged upstanding wings of the maga zine; the provision of a cover for the magazine characterized by a cooperative sheath constituting the front component of the cover and by rearwardly extending sides closely embracing the forward portion of a channel shaped member or rear component f the cover, the arrangement of the front and rear components being such that they include transversely alined upper and lower bearings for the slidable latch utilized to lock the cover and magazine; the provision of a cover of the character referred to wherein the upstanding wings of the magazine are spaced from corresponding rear portions of the sides of the sheath in the fully closed relation of the cover and magazine and wherein th'e rear parts of the slidably guided latch are automatically retracted by helicoidal spring means trained over the bearing of the latch and have limited retractive motion on striking spaced and reentrant stop means of the rear component of the cover; the provisions of a slidably guided staple plunger normally held in a retracted or raised position by a vertically arranged helicoidal spring having one end anchored to forwardly projection means extending from an upper curved wall of the rear component of the cover and to biased projecting means 43 carried by the plunger. Broadly speaking the invention has as a further object to provide a relatively light Weight but durable base for the swingable arm and a relatively light weight cap for the staple ej ecting plunger slidable in the arm, the base and cap each being of a suitable thermo plastic material having means adapted to absorb any of the impacts and thrusts applied thereto during stapling operations without however setting up cold ow of the thermo plastic material in the base or cap thus preventing the shape of these parts from being changed or warped from their desired and original contour. Specifically however the invention has a further and important object to provide a relatively light weight but reinforced base of a thermo plastic moldable material and comprising reinforcing means in the form of skeletonized framework with a plurality of spaced and transversely disposed ribsor partitions interconnecting the sides of the base and a plurality of spaced strengthening ribs or braces disposed longitudinally of the base and merging with the ends of the base, and a plurality of strengthening ribs disposed in an inclined relation in respect to the longitudinal axis of the base together with circular brace means, the arrangement being such that the reinforcing means absorbs the shock imparted to the base to prevent the latter from spreading or deforming in its cold state when in actual use. Further important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stapling machine according to my invention.

Fig. 1a is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stapling machine showing the swingable arm in an opened relation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the stapling machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an underneath view of the reinforced base.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the slidable latch for locking the cover and magazine of the swingable arm.

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear component of the swingable arm.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary part of th'e bottom wall of the magazine.

Fig. 13 is an underneath view of another reinforced base.

Fig. 14 is an underneath view of the reinforced cap and zine M and a cover C having rear depending lugs I swingably or rotatably mounted on the c fulcrurn pin I2 carried by lugs I3 of the base. For purposes of specification the cover I3 may be said to include the rear channel shape component I3 and the channel shaped sheath or front component i4 having sides I5 closely straddling and secured to the forward parts of the sides I5 of the rear component I3.

Vertically and slidably guided between the front vertical edges I1 of the spaced sides I6 of the rear component I3 and front wall f8 and side walls I5 of the sheath I4 is a channel shaped plunger I9 having a fixed blade 23 for driving a foremost staple 2l of a staple strip 22 downwardly through a staple raceway 23 dened by the front wall 24 of the magazine and the forward faces 25 of the sides 2B of the inverted U shaped rail 21 fixedly disposed longitudinally of and within the staple magazine M,

The plunger I9 has its upper portions 23 fixedly fastened to a shock absorbing metal plate 23 which extends longitudinally of the thermo plastic and relatively light weight cap 30. More particularly however plate 29 is held in spaced relation with the top curved wall 3l of the cap and in a spaced relation with the periphery of rim 32 depending from top wall 3I but against the depending bosses 33 integral with the top wall 3| and the rim 32, against the arcuate front and rear ribs 34 integrally merged with the sides of rim 32 and the upper wall 3I, and against the longitudinally arranged and oblique ribs 35 integrally merged with the transverse ribs 34 and the top wall of the cap. Bosses 33 together with ribs 34 and 35 reinforce the cap and prevent spreading or involuntary warping of rim 32 and wall 3l. The frame work constituted by the ribs 34 and 35 with bosses 33 receive the impact imparted to the shock absorbing metal plate 29 upon the latter striking the upper peripheral edge 35 of the sheath I4. The shock absorbing plate 29 is xedly held against the framework by rivets or ferrules 36 carried by the bosses 33. Consequently on each down stroke of the plunger the impact to plate 23 is dissipated through the framework.

To normally hold the plunger and its staple ejecting blade in an elevated position, a helicoidal spring 31 is provided. This spring has its upper end fastened to a notched lug 38 projecting forwardly of but integral with the downwardly and rearwardly curved top wall 39 integral with the side walls I6 of the rear component I3 of the cover. The lower end of spring 31 is appropriately retained by `a biased lug 49 extending from the front transverse wall of the plunger I3. By the present arrangement the upper end of the spring may be readily hooked onto the cverhanging lug 33 and locked within the reentrant notches 38 and lower end of the spring can be quickly arranged on the biased lug 49 and consequently it is a relatively easy matter to assemble these parts.

Slidably associated with and guided by the front and rear components I3 and I4 of the cover is a latch generally denoted 4I which comprises a curved bearing portion 42 integral with a recti; linear plate 43 having laterally projecting lugs 414 movably straddling sides I5 of the sheath I4. The sides i6 of rear component I3 include the transversely alined expanded openings 45 each having in communication therewith a slot p0rtion 46 disposed in alinement and communicating with slots 41 in the sides I5 of the sheath I4 while the upper and lower horizontal walls of the alined slots 43 and 41 serve as rectilinear bearing means for slidably guiding plate 43 of the latch 4I longitudinally of the cover. It should be noted that the curved bearing 42 of the latch 4I has a grooved portion 48 movably guiding but retaining the helicoidal spring 49 including one end 50 anchored to lug 5I at the -rear of component I3 and another end 52 coiled about the curved projection 53 extending from the staple follower block 54 slidably interlocked and guided on rail 21. Follower block 54 has sides 55 closely but movably straddling the sides of the rail and the sides 55 include inwardly turned lugs 53 cooperating with the lower faces of the sides of the rail to interlock therewith to prevent upward displacement of the follower block 54. i

Sides 51 of the magazine each include a rearwardly disposed ear 58 swingably mounted on the fulcrum pin I2 and these ears closely straddle sides I3 of the rear component lf3 of the cover. As illustrated in Fig; 2, the lower marginal portions 59 of the sides I3 of the rear component I3 extend below the sides I5 of the front component I4 and are telescoped within the magazine (Fig. 6) to prevent upward displacement of the staple strip in the closed relation of the cover. At this time shoulders 6U forming a part of the lower peripheral face of the sides I5 of sheath I3 are against upper peripheral face 6I of the sides 51 of the magazine and these faces GI serve as stop means to limit downward pivotal displacement of the cover upon complete closing thereof at which time depending alining lug 62 of the front component I4 is interlocked between the vertical walls of notch or recess 63 in the front wall of the magazine, the arrangement being-such that extensions 59 telescope within and between the sides of the magazine and the lug 32 telescopes within the front wall of the magazine to facilitate proper positioning of the cover in respect to the magazine upon' closing of the cover.

With the cover moving downwardly, spring 49 which is ,guided in part within groove 48 `and trained over bearing 42 urges the follower towards and against the rear part of the staple strip 22 to position the foremost stable ZI thereof in alinement with the staple raceway 273 which in turn is in alinement with the blade 20 of the driver or plunger I9. However as the cover moves towards its closed position the rear transverse face 64 of latch 4I strikes and rides along the curved ca-m faces F5 of the spaced wings or ears E6 extending upwardly from sides 51 of the magazine and each of the wings includes a notch or recess 61 having vertical face B8 disposed to the rear of but adjacent the vertical stop walls 63 of the transversely alined slots 41 in the sides I6 of the rear component I3 and walls 69 of the rear component I3 serve as stop means to limit rearward Ydisplacement of the latch 4I, that is, to limit displacement of the rear transverse face 64 thereof after latch 4I registers or falls into alined notches 61 of the wings 65 of the magazine upon closing of the cover at which time these notches are in alinement with the alined slots 48 and 41 of the components |3 and |4 of the cover. To prevent wobbling of slidable latch 4|, the sides 48' of the bearing 4| are straddled and guided by spaced sides I6 of the rear component i3. The action of spring 49 is such that after the rear part of the slidable latch 4| registers with notches 61, the latch is automatically moved rearwardly and consequently interlocks with the notched wings 66 of the magazine and in the fully closed position of the cover the rear arcuate faces 10 of sheath i4 are adequately spaced from the cam faces 65 of the wings 58 to prevent jamming of these faces while stop faces B9 prevent jamming of the latch 4| in respect to the walls of the notches 61 of wings 56 thus permitting latch 4| to be readily unlocked when desired.

For opening the cover, wings 44 are grasped and moved forwardly, that is, in a direction towards the front wall of the sheath i4 and of course against the resistance offered by spring 49. Thus the cover and magazine are unlocked. Thereafter the cover is pivotally swung away from the magazine and this action automatically moves the follower along the rail but towards the rear of the magazine and in the fully opened position of the cover, the latter is approximately one hundred and eighty degrees away from the magazine.

According to the invention, novel locking means is employed to yieldingly hold the arm in its normal raised relation preparatory to stapling. In this connection, a clearing latch generally denoted 1| is utilized. This latch comprises a reduced part 12 freely but tiltably mounted on a biased and free portion 13 of a leaf spring 14 having a fixed end 14 within recess 14 in part defined by the depending and relatively wide ribs 15. Specifically however a rivet 15 is sustained by the base and is utilized to hold a flat washer 11 against the retained end 14 of the leaf spring 14 iixedly against the upper horizontal face of recess 14".

The biased portion 13 of spring 14 normally `yieldingly holds shoulders 18 and 19 of the clearing latch 1| against the under face 80 of the base and against depending boss 8| whereby the intermediate part 82 of latch 1| extends into a relatively narrow slot 83 bounded by the reinforcing and depending lugs 84 disposed longitudinally of the base.

Extending above slot 83 and integral with the intermediate part 82 of the clearing latch 1| is a reduced head 85 provided with a reentrant recess 88 dening an upper lip portion 81, a lower shoulder 88 and the vertical wall 89. 'Ihe head 85 includes a cam face 90 and the intermediate part 82 of the latch is provided with a curved part 9| which may be moved downwardly and outwardly in respect to slot 83 when the manipulating or tail portion 92 is moved in a direction towards the upper wall 93 of the base, which action causes lip 81 and shoulder 88 bounding recess 86 to be removed from its interlocking relation with the abutment portion 94 of the bottom wall 94 of the magazine M Which wall includes the enlarged opening 95 and the communicating reduced opening 95. In other words, the clearing latch 1| may be readily manipulated to unlock the magazine of the swingable arm in which case the boss 8| serves as a fulcrum for the tiltable shoulder 19. After the magazine is un-Vy locked and the arm is swung away from the base and upon removal of manual pressure from the manipulating tail portion 92, spring 14 automatically restores the clearing latch to its normal position shown in Fig. 3. Thus it is appreciated that the clearing latch 1| is in a waiting relation and ready to automatically interlock with the magazine when the arm is again swung towards the base. To this end the abutment 94 of the magazine strikes cam face 99 of the hook or head 85, thus causing the latter as well as the body of the latch 1| again to tilt in a counter clockwise direction but against the resistance of leaf spring 14 until however reentrant recess 86 of the latch is in alinement with the abutment portion 94 of the bottom wall of the magazine at which time leaf spring 14 automatically swings this latch in a clockwise direction until vertical shoulder 89 of recess 8% meets the stop face 91 of the abutment portion 94 in which event the clearing latch is again in a norma-l position. Under such circumstances, the stapling ejecting plunger i9 may be actuated by moving cap 39 downwardly to permit the foremost staple of thel staple strip to be ejected from the arm and be automatically clenched by the cooperating anvil 99 carried by the base.

However in this connection, abutment 94 carries out another function, namely, to depress the clearing latch bodily and vertically downwardly on each pivotal and downward stapling stroke of the arm. In other words, latch 1| is downwardly and rec tilinearly displaced against the resistance of the leaf spring 14 and of course during the displacement of the latch, it is closely but movably guided by the depending ribs 84 in part bounding the Walls of slot 83. Stated in another way whenever the stapling arm is pivotally depressed shoulders 18 and 19 of latch 1| move away from upper surface and the boss 8| of the base. It follows that by the present arrangement the stapling arm is automatically retracted upon removal of manual downward pressure from the hollow thermo plastic cap of the plunger, since leaf spring 14 bodily raises the clearing latch to assume its normal position shown in Fig. l. Of course cap 38 and the plunger associated therewith is also raised or retracted to its normal position due to spring 31 in which case lugs 99 struck out of sides of the plunger i9 cooperate with the marginal portions of the overhanging notched lug 38 to limit retraction of the plunger.

Although the base and cap of the herein disclosed stapling machine are of a thermo plastic material suitable means is provided to absorb the impacts or thrusts imparted thereto without however changing its pleasing and desired appearance illustrated. Concerning the cap 39, the shock absorbing plate 29 in association with the skeletonized frame work characterized by the rib or brace instrumentalities 33, 34, and 35 (Fig. 14) constitute such strengthening means as previously specifically set forth. However in the matter of the base, the latter receives also appreciable shock and stresses during the course of stapling operations and in this connection suitable strengthening means likewise is employed to resist spreading or deforming the desired structural characteristics thereof.

During stapling substantially pact caused by the stapling arm is the anvil and to absorb the blows to the anvil and to resist deforming of the plastic base which vof course is slightly flexible and is susceptible to each downward stroke of said arm against the resistance of said spring in the interlocked relation of said head and said bottom wall, said cam portion in the non-interlocked relation of said latch and armadapted to be actuated by said bottom wall to tilt said latch against one of said spaced shoulders to permit the notched portion of said latch to removably straddle and disengageably interlock with the portion of said wall adjacent said reduced portion.

2. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm comprising a cover having a rear wall, a lug projecting from a forward end of said wall and having spaced notches, a staple ejecting plunger vertically slidable in said arm and comprising a downwardly and rearwardly extending projection, stop means carried by said plunger, and a helicoidal spring having one end disposed in said spaced notches and another end connected to Said projection for lnormally holding said plunger in its complete retracted portion and concomitantly sustain said stop means against said lug.

3. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm comprising a cover having a rear wall, a lug ending forwardly of said Wall, a staple ejecting plunger vertically slidable in said arm and comprising sides having struck out means, a downwardly inclined projection extending from said plunger, and a helicoidal spring interconnecting said'l lug and projection to normally hold said prunger in its complete retracted position and concomitantly sustain said struck out means against said lug.

4. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm comprising a cover having a downwardly and rearwardly curved rear closure wall including a STEPHEN A. CROSBY.

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