US2345267A

US2345267A - Stapler

Info

Publication number: US2345267A
Application number: US441656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keil Henry
Original assignee: Signode Steel Strapping Co
Current assignee: Signode Corp
Priority date: 1942-05-04
Filing date: 1942-05-04
Publication date: 1944-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1961-03-28

Description

H. KEIL STAPLER Marel 28, 1944.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 QINI NWN/l we# NWN 9 H. KEIL STAPLER March 28., 1944.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1942 H. KElL STAPLER Filed May 4. 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet .'5

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H. KEIL STAPLER March 28, 1944,

Filed May 4, 1942 H. KEIL March 28, 1944.

STAPLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1942 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 STAPLEB Henry Keil, Chicago, IIL, assignor to Signode Steel strapping Company. Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,656

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My invention relates generally to staplers, and it will be described as embodied in an automatic hand operated staple hammer.

An object of my invention is the provision of a stapler which is of solid and substantial construction and which is economical to manufacture.

. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved stapler, wherein an inertia member is mounted to carry through the stapiing stroke independently of the rest of the stapler. A further object is to provide a stapler having relatively great staple driving power in proportion to its size, and which is suiiiciently compact to be used in restricted spaces.

A further object of my invention is to provide a stapler with an improved staple magazine closure.

Another object oi my invention is to provide a stapler which may be refilled easily and which will not eject staples during the refilling operation.

A further object is to provide a stapler in which a single part serves both as a staple magazine closure and as an impact member which comes into contact with the object to be stapled.

Another object is to provide a stapler which is capable -or driving a staple into an object when held at an angle thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stapler in which the magazine is completely accessible and which is readily and completely de mountable for ordinary repairs without the need of tools.

A further object is to provide a stapler with a minimum number of movable wearing parts.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appeal 4 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a stapling hammer embodying my invention:

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an irregular transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, the outer hand grip being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the head or striking portion oi' the stapler, partially broken away, and shown in normal or inoperative position:

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 4, showing the stapler in an operative position near the completion of a staple inserting stroke.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the entire stapler taken on the lines 6-8 of Fig. 1;

'l is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the staple magazine and its associated parts;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the front maga'- zine guide and handle bracing member: n Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latch car- Fig. 11 is a front pier; I Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I2-i2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is an irregular sectional view taken on the line I3I3 of F18. 62

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-M of Fig. 6;

Fig. 15 is a detailed elevational view of the lf)ront magazine guide and handle bracing mem- Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on .the line lli-i6 ci' Fig. 15:

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line I'I-I'l of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a view, partially in section, of the stapler with the handle member and its associated parts withdrawn to prepare the stapler for loading, but with the staple gate and driving member in normal position.

General description of the staplerA Referring to Fig. l, the stapler is composed generally o! a head portion 20, which constitutes generally the staple driver. and a handle portion 22 which serves also as a staple magazine. A staple-feed spring housing 24 is made integral with the outer tubular member 2| oi the handle portion 22.

view of the head of the sta- The head portion is made up of a number oi maior parts, namely, a striking member 26 adapted to come into forceful contact with the object to be stapled, and an inertia member 2l which receives its impetus fromthe striking member 2| and which during one stage of operation travels in a direction opposite thereto. The inertia member 2B is secured to an attenuated staple driver 3l which drives the staples, one by one, into the object to be stapled, i. e., thev work (see Fig. 5). Transfer of momentum between the striking member 26 and inertia member 2l is attained by means of a rack and pinion arrangement to be explained. Riveted to the spring housing 24, and extending forward therefrom, are a pair or stops 3l which limit the movement of both the striking member 26 and the inertia member 28.

'I'he handle portion 22 carries the spring housing 24 in which is a coil spring 32 ior urging forward the staples 3| within the magazine. A

latch 38 may be depressed by the operator to permit the handle to be drawn away from the head portion during a refilling operation or in case repairs are necessary. A hand grip 48 of rubber or similar material is provided to facilitate handling of the stapler.

The staple driving mechanism The staple driving mechanism may be considered to be in the head portion of the stapler while the staple feeding mechanism, consisting of the magazine and its associated parts, may be considered to be in the handle. The striking member 28, when in an inoperative position, extends below the body of the stapler. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the rear portion of the striking member 28 has inwardly directed flanges 58 which extend throughout its length and which hold the striking member 28 slidably on a drive guide 52. While the outer edges of the drive guide serve as a-slide for the striking member, the drive guide has in addition an elongated rectangular slot 54 (see Fig. 16), extending throughout the greater part of the length thereof to serve as a slideway for the inertia member 28. Inertia member 28 and staple driver 38 are secured together and both are slidably mounted relative to guide member 52. Thus staple driver 38 has a key 58 formed integrally therewith, this key extends through the elongated slot 54 in guide member 52, and inertia member 28 is fastened to key 58 by pins 88. The forward portion of the inertia member 28 provides two additional bearing surfaces 82 which bear against the rear of the drive guidey and which,`in conjunction with the staple driver 38 and the key 58, serves to hold both the inertia member 28 and the staple driver 38 in tight but slidable relation with the drive guide 52 Qsee Fig. 13).

The forward face oi' the drive guide 52 is provided with a groove 83 to form part of a slide-way for the staple driver 38. The rearward face of the striking member 28 is similarly grooved to complete the slide-way for the staple driver. This slide-way 84, formed by the complementary grooves of the two

members

28 and 52 serves as a passageway for the staple as it is impelled by the staple driver 38.

'Io facilitate the removal of the pins 88 and the disconnecting of the staple driver 88 from the inertia member 28 in case repairs are necessary, the inertia member 28 is provided with holes 88 located in the side thereof and in axial alignment with the pins 88. These holes 88 have a bore sufflcient to allow passage of the pins 88 therethrough. On the opposite side of the inertia member 28 are additional holes 88 of slightly smaller diameter than the holes 88, butin axial alignment therewith. The purpose of the smaller holes 88 is to permit the insertion of a punch or similar tool to engage the pins 88 and force them out of the inertia member 28 through the holes 88 (see Fig. 13).

In order toassure rigidity of the assembled parts of the head, and in order to provide for secure attachment of the head of the stapler to the handle, the drive guide 52 and the base 12 of the stapler are madeintegral. (See Figs. 15 and 16.) This base is of relatively heavy metal, and is in the form of a hollow square in cross section, providing a space through which extends the front staple guide 14. (See Fig. 9.) The front staple guide has dual functions. First, it serves as the forward end of the staple magazine to support and guide the staples to position t5 below the driver I8: secondly, it provides a rigid handle bracing member. As a handle bracing member, the front staple guide 14 bears a great part of the shock of each blow of the stapler. The method of attaching the head to the handle by means of the staple guide will be described in greater detail subsequently.

Extending upward from the base 12, and made integral therewith, is a pinion support 18 carrying a stub shaft 'I8 near its upper end. This pinion support is located slightly to the rear of the drive guide 52 and approximately in the same plane as the edge of the drive guide. The stub shaft 18 extends outward beyond the plane of both the pinion. support and the drive guide (see Figs. 15 and 16).

The inertia member is urged to its inoperative or upper position by means oi a spring 88, one end of which extends into a bore 82 in the inertia member, and the other end of which exte'nds into a shallow cavity 84 in the upper surface of the base l2 of the stapler (see Fig. 6). The upper limit of the movement of the inertia member 28 is determined by contact of the key 58 with the upper end of the slot 54 in the drive guide 52.

The rack and pinion assembly in the head of the stapler is shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. The striking member 28 carries arack 88 adjacent its upper end. This rack engages a pinion 88 carried by the stub shaft 18. A second rack 98, slidably mounted in an elongated channel 82 in the inertia member 28, completes the rack and pinion assembly. This slidable rack provides a novel and effective means of delivering the full force of the blow to the staple.

The channel 82 is appreciably longer than the rack 88 in order to permit a longitudinal sliding movement of the rack within the channel. The rack is provided throughout the greater part of its length with an enlarged bore 84 terminating at an annular shoulder 88 in a smaller bore 88. A pin |88, the ends of which are carried by the end walls of the channel 82, extends through the bores to maintain the rack in position Within the channel. The smaller bore 88 serves as a bearing for one end oi the rack, while a bushing I 82, slidably mounted in the open end of the enlarged bore 84, serves as a bearing for the other end. A coil spring |84 positioned in the bore 84 surrounds the pin |88. One end of the spring |84 abuts the bushing |82, urging the bushing against the upper end of the channel 82. The other end of the spring abuts the annular shoulder 88, thus urging the rack 88 against the lower end |88 of the channel 82 when the inertia member is in its inoperative position (Fig. 4) Observing the head portion of the stapler in Figs. 4 and 5, it may be seen that when the striking member 28 is struck sharply against the object |88 to be stapled, the striking member remains stationary against the object, while the force of the blow carries the remainder of the head portion, as well as the handle, in the direction of the object to be stapled, the entire assembly sliding on the drive guide 52 which is integral with the base 12 of the stapler.

In addition to the relative movement between the striking member 28 and the rest ofthe stapler, the inertia member 28 and the staple driver 38, to which the inertia mem-ber is attached, move independently in the direction of the object to be stapled. 'I'his movement is imparted to the inertia member through the rack and pinion arrangement in the following manner: Upon striking the object |88, the striking member remains in contact with the object, while the rest oi' the stapler, impelled by the force of the blow, follows through the stroke in the direction of the object |08, as described. 'I'he relative movement between the striking member, which of course becomes stationary when it strikes the work, and the moving head of the stapler, to which the pinion 88 is attached. causes the pinion to rotate in a clockwise direction, impelled by contact with the rack 88. As the pinion 88 rotates, the rack 90 which is meshed therewith travels forcibly downward in the direction of the object |08, carrying with it the inertia member 28 and the staple driver 30 attached thereto. The spring 80 within the bore 82 of the inertia member is made sufficiently compressible to give readily under the impact, and yet is of sumcient resilience to return the parts to an inoperative position at the conclusion of the stapling stroke.

When the bottom I| of the base 12 strikes against the object |08 to be stapled, the inertia member continues to drive by reason of its own momentum in the direction of the object |08. The striking member 26 linked to the inertia member through the racks and pinion also continues the relative movement in an upward direction until brought to a sudden stop by the contact of the two lugs I I2 with the pair of stops 3|. Contact of the lugs ||2 with the stops 3| terminates .not only the travel of the striking member 26, but also abruptly terminates the movement of the

racks

86, 90 and the pinion 88 as well. Although the eiective movement of the racks and pinion has been terminated' the inertia member, being slidably associated with the rack 90, continues to travel forcefully in the direction of the object |08. The power which has been applied to the inertia member through the racks and pinion, coupled with the original downward 'movement of the inertia member in the direction of the object, imparts an extraordinary driving force to the inertia member near the completion of its stroke, thereby assuring a well driven staple IIS.

The inertia member 28 is brought to a stop by contact with the upper edges of the stops 3|. 'I'his position marks the completion of the stapling stroke (see Fig. 5). It is to be noted that the staple driver 30 is made suiiiciently long to protrude slightly below the base 12 at the conclusion of the stapling stroke. 'I'his not only makes it possible to drive the staple slightly below the surface of the object |08, if desired, but 4 The staple feeding mechanism The handle portion 22 of the stapler, which carries the staple feeding mechanism, is composed primarily of two telescoping tubular members, approximately square in cross section. The inner tubular member is termed a staple retainer |26,I andis securely attached to the head of the 'stapler by means of the front staple guide 14, as will be described, and by welding, |28. (See Figs. 6, 8, and 9.) The front staple guide, which serves also as a handle bracing mem-ber, hasv an enlarged frontal portion the sides |30 of which are flanged to provide a forward runway |32 for the staples 34. The sides |30 of the front staple guide fit snugly within the staple retainer |26, and the base of the frontal portion of the front staple guide rests within the base 12 o f the stapler.

members, the latch, when extending through the slot |16, may be depressed again and the outer Exam'm The forward end of the lower side of the staple retainer |28 is cut short so that it abuts the bottom edge ||0 of the base of the stapler (sec- Fig. 8). A weld |28 is made at this point. The remaining three sides of the staple retainer extend through the hollow base 12 of the staples, two of the sides |34, |36 forming part of the slideway 64 in the forward face of the drive guide 52 (Fig. 12') A hole |38 in the frontal portion of the front staple guide 14 is threaded to receive a screw |40 which firmly connects the front staple guide with'the base 12 of the stapler. The rearward portion of the front staple guide is provided with a number of vertical holes |42 by means of which it is securely riveted tothe staple retainer |26 with rivets |44, |48. A hole |48 in the upper side of the staple retainer provides for access to the forward rivet |44 during the assembly of the stapler.

A staple support core |52 abuts the front staple guide 14 and is attached to the staple retainer 26 by means of a number of countersunk rivets |54. The core |52 is provided with spacers |56 at intervals in order to make certain that it will be of uniform width throughout its length so that the staples will not bind. The top of the staple retainer |26 comprises two inwardly disposed flanges |56 extending the length thereof. These flanges are spaced apart from each other, and so provide an open space running the length of the handle of the stapler through which the staples on the magazine may be manipulated in case a iam should occur. The flanges are spaced from the top of the staple support core |52 a distance sufficient only to permit the free passage of staples 34 along the magazine, thereby preventing the staples from` becoming displaced, even when subjected to severe jarring, and even though the stapler may be held in an inverted position (see Fig. 3). g

member and the staple retainer I 26 in the closed position shown in Figs. 2 and 6. In this telescoped relation the tubular members constitute a strong, rigid handle, well able to withstand the severe shocks to which stapler is subjected.

When the operator desires to load the stapler or to disassemble it, the latch 36 is depressed, thereby permitting the outer tubular member 2| to be moved rearwardly relative to the staple retainer |26 as shown in Fig. 18. An additional slot |16 adjacent the forward end of the outer tubular member 21 serves to catch the latch 38| and prevent the outer tubular member from becoming entirely separated from the staple retainer. In case it is desired to separate these tubular member removed entirely.

The latch carrier |60 performs the additional function of preventing the staples from sliding beyond the rear of the staple support core |52.

This is accomplished by means ot a aange |18 A..1 a J on the latch carrier (see Figs. 6 and 10). This flange is somewhat higher than the lower ends |88 of the staples in the magazine and so engages the lower ends of the rearmost staple thereby preventing further rearward movement of the staples.

The staples are urged forward by a staple pusher |84 traveling slidably between the anges |58 and the staple support core |52 in the same relative position as the staples. The coil spring 32 which activates the staple pusher iscarried by a spring tensioner |86 journaled in the spring housing 24 and locked in position by means of a cotter pin |88. The free end of the coil spring is bent over upon itself and is attached to the staple pusher |84 by means of a rivet |88. Figure 6 shows the stapler with the magazine entirely loaded with staples, the staple pusher |84 being at the extreme rear of the staple magazine. As the staples are used, the spring 32 and the staple pusher |84 urges the staples forward, so that they may be used oneby one. As the last staple in the magazine is used, a detent |82 on the staple pusher encounters a shoulder |94 on the front staple guide 14, thereby preventing the staple pusher from protruding into the path of the staple driver 38 and becoming damaged.

The rearward end of the outer tubular member 2| is closed by means of a cap |94 held in place by a rivet which extends through the tubular member.

The staple gate An important feature of my invention resides in thestaple gate or closure 288 which is made integral with the striking member 26 (see Figs. 1l and 12). It will be observed that the outer face ofthe staple gate 288 is recessed in order to diminish its weight, so that the full inertia of the striking member may be transmitted to the inertia member 28 without undue loss of power. As has been described, the groove in the rearward face of the striking member, combined with the groove 83 oi' the forward face of the drive guide 52 forms the slide-way 64 in which travels the staple and the staple driver 38. The slide-way 64 is of a width sufllcient to accommodate only one staple at a time. Therefore, when the staples 34 within the magazine are urged forward by the staple pusher |84, there is room in the slideway 64 for only the foremost staple when it is brought to bear against the rearward face of the staple gate 288. Upon the staple being driven, and after the return oi the parts to an inoperative position, the next staple will be urgedforward into the slide-way ready for the next staple driving operation.

Not only does my novel staple gate make certain that only one staple at a time is in a position to be driven, but in conjunction with the staple feeding mechanism, the staple gate performs the further function of preventing staples from becoming ejected from the stapler during a refilling operation. It will be noted that when the inner and outer tubular handle members are completely telescoped, 'the stops 3|l are in their forward position as shown in Fig. 2. It is therefore not possible to remove the staple gate 288 until the stops 3| are withdrawn from the path of the lugs ||2. This may be done by depressing the latch 38 and moving the outer tubular member 2| rearwardly, carrying the stops 3| with it. The outer tubular member is moved rearwardly until the latch 38 engages the Vforward slot |18; this relative position of the will cause the staple gate to move upwardly on the drive guide 52 until the rack 88 on the staple gate is no longer meshed with the pinion 88. The stamjale may then be slid manually` frgmthe drive gui el" efiiertiember allowed to springt-lancements',ypnemrinoperauve pdsition"v 'A'I'lie'rward opening of j llinagazine is thereby eiwamemsupblx 0f i staplesl'gillltedilthemagazinef Fig. 8 sho'w'the stapler head 28 with the staple gate 288 removed and the forward end of the magazine opened to receive a new stick of staples.

Although a supply of staples may have been left in the magazine at the time the staple gate 288 is removed, my stapler will not cause the staples to be ejected, as is the case with many conventional stapling machines. It will be noted that in order to remove the staple gate 288, it is rst necessary to withdraw the outer tubular member 2| to the rear. Inasmuch as the spring `housing 24, the spring 32, and the staple pusher |84, are all carried by the outer tubular member, these members likewise move rearwardly. The staple pusher |84 is thereby withdrawn from contact with the staples remaining in the magazine, and when the staple gate is removed and the forward or open end of the magazine made accessible, the staples within the magazine will remain in place.

Operation of the stapler 'Assuming that the stapler is empty, it is rst necessary to fill the magazine with staples before the stapler can be used. Ordinarily, the staples are provided in magazine form, a considerable number of staples being held together by some form of binder in the nature of a light glue. The staples are inserted in the magazine, as previously described, after which the inertia member s manually depressedbthgtaple mupxdriye; guidejzandtbe racliapnh Hare... allowedl tof.' mesh... Upon. releasing thenertia member, the spring 88 carriesv the parts to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 18. The tubular handle members are then completely telescoped, so that the staple pusher |84 urges the foremost staple against the staple gate 288 and into -position in the slide-way B4 (Fig. 2 and Fig. 6). The foremost staple is then ready to be driven. The stapler is firmly grasped in the hand of the operator and the striking member is struck against the object to be stapled, the force of the blow being transmitted to the inertia member, as described. The staple driver 38 is thereby brought to bear suddenly and forcefully against the staple within the slide-way 64. The impact breaks the bond between the staples and carries the driven staple completely into the object to be stapled.

Upon removing the striking member from contact with the object which has been stapled, the spring 88 returns the parts to their original position. The staple driver 38 returns to its inoperative position, shown in Fig. 12, thereby clearing the slideway 64, and permitting the next staple to be pushed forward against the staple gate ready for the next'stapling stroke.

While I have described my invention in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modiilcations may be made from the'structure disclosed without; de-

parting from the underlying principles of my in` vention. I therefore wish to include within the scope of the following claims all constructions by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained by substantially the same or equivalent means.

Having illustrated and explained typical embodiments of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A magazine stapler of the type having a striking member for initially engaging the work, a hammer member movable relatively to the striking member for driving a staple into the work, a magazine for holding a plurality of staples, and a staple feed for-advancing staples from the magazine into the path of travel of the hammer member; characterized by an inertia member rigidly secured to the hammer member, a rack and pinion connection between the striking member and the inertia member causing the inertia member and the hammer' member carried thereby to continue movement after movement of the striking member has been stopped by engagement with the work, and means permitting relative movement between the inertia member and the rack and pinion connection after the rack and pinion connection ceases to function.

2. A magazine stapler ot the type having a striking member for initially engaging the work, a hammer member movable relatively to the striking member for driving a staple into the work, a magazine for holding a plurality of staples, and a staple feed for advancing staples from the magazine into the path of travel of the hammer member; characterized by an inertia member rigidly secured to the hammer member, a rack and pinion connection between the striking member and the inertia member causing the inertia member and the hammer member carried thereby to continue movement after movement of the striking member has been stopped by engagement with the work, a stop for arresting the functioning of the rack and pinion connection, and means permitting relative movement between the inertia member and the rack and pinion connection after vthe rack and pinion connection ceases to function.

3. A stapler having a striking member for impact against the object to be stapled, an inertia member actuated by the relative motion of the stapler to the striking member, a staple driver operated by the inertia member, and means for feeding staples one by one to the staple driver, said stapler being characterized by means terminatng the relative effective movement between the stapler and the striking member at the termination of the power travel of the stapler, and means carried by said inertia member to permit it to travel toward the work independently of the travel of the stapler and the striking member.

4. A stapler of the type having a movable striking member for impact against the object to be stapled, a rack 'integral with the striking member, an inertia member, a second rack slidably mounted in said inertia member, means preventing relative motion between said second rack and said inertia member, a pinion meshed with said racks, a staple driver carried by said inertia member, means for feeding staples one by one to said staple driver, said stapler being characterized by means for stopping the effective relative movement between the stapler and the striking member before the stapling stroke is completed, and said relative motion preventing means, said last mentioned means being rendered inoperative when the travel oi?A the stapler is stopped at the work to permit the inertia member to complete the stapling stroke.

HENRY KEIL.

CERTIFICATE OF COHRECTI ON.

Patent No'. 2,5ll5,267.

miren 28, 19141;.

HENRY KEIL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring oorrecti. on as follows: Page 5, seccorrection therein that the same mw conform to the record of the in the Patent Office.

'l line 6, for staples read stapler; line 58, before "stapler and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this Signed and sealed this 61h day oi June, A. D. 19h14..

(Seal) Leslie Frazer )Acting Commissioner of Patents.

be made from the'structure disclosed without; de-

HENRY KEIL.

CERTIFICATE OF COHRECTI ON.

Patent-No; 2,5h5,267.

Maren 28, 19th.

HENRY KEIL.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer )Acting Commissioner of Patents.