US2635235A

US2635235A - Label-applying device

Info

Publication number: US2635235A
Application number: US162155A
Authority: US
Inventors: Duke D Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-05-16
Filing date: 1950-05-16
Publication date: 1953-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-21

Description

April 21, 1953 D. D. GREEN 2,635,235

LABEL-APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l g- ZSnnentor J DUKE 0. GREEN Gttomegi D. D- GREEN LABEL-APPLYING DEVICE April ZI, I953 Filed May 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ZSnventor 0w: 0. Glass/y (Ittornegs Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to power operated labelsecuring or stapling devices adapted particularly for electromagnetic operation. So arranged a stapling instrument is used for attaching labels, papers, tags, price tickets, identification marks and so on to goods or other work passed within the label-applying device proper.

In the prior art some proposals have already been made for electrically operated or powerdriven label-applying units. Devices of this type are particularly useful in the dry cleaning field, where many garments must have labels applied thereto in order to identify ownership and thereby prevent confusion and loss subsequent to removal from the dry cleaning unit proper. It has been found difficult to attach labels rapidly by hand-operated units because handling delays so occasioned become vital and delay frequently the operation of the cleaning establishment. At the same time, in order to make certain that the labels, tags or other identifying marks are secure- 1y attached, it is desirable that the operator hold the garments securely relative to the stapler, particularly to avoid damaging the goods being handled.

Power-operated stapling or fastening devices have heretofore been proposed, but, o far as is known, have not proven satisfactory in practice. In one form of unit there was attached to a stapling device an arm which was pivoted at one end to a support and attached at its other end to the actuating knob of the stapling device. Intermediate the point of pivotal support and the free end secured to the stapling device a drive mechanism in the form of an electromagnet which could be treadle operated was arranged to draw the arm downwardly for operating the stapling unit.

It was found that a unit of such type would not satisfy the operating condition experienced in practice. Components had to be large to be conveniently usable. The expense of such units was considerable, and the operating efficiency relatively low, disregarding the fact that the unit was both cumbersome and expensive.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art arrangement through the utilization of a structure of relatively small size which serves as the support for a staplingor fastener-applying unit. Within the support structure an electromagnet is suitably positioned for use in operating the stapling arrangement. Operation of the stapling unit itself is accomplished by linking the free end of the depressible movable lever or operating arm of the normal stapler or fastener-applying device and the movable armature position within the electromagnet. As linked in thi fashion a yoke member consisting of a unitary structure bent to provide the effect of a double yoke, or a structure which is of itself a double yoke, serves as the connecting medium. The connection between the armature and the yoke is preferably of a rather rigid character in that the armature is drawn abruptly within the magnet at times of magnet energization. With this armature motion the thereto-attached yoke moves a distance substantially axially of the magnet at each step in the operation. The opposite end of the yoke member may then be actuatingly engaged or united with the free end and actuating knob ol the movable lever from which the fasteners or staples are discharged so as to cause this movable lever element to close upon a suitable garment support platform and thereby discharge the staples or other fastening elements used to secure the label and the like. The end of the yoke arranged to actuate the hinged depressible lever may then be removably or releasably secured to the free end of this depressible lever element. In one form of arrangement the yoke serving to actuate the lever element is arranged in such a way that upon downward motion thereof, for instance, it may rest over the free end of the depressible lever and fractionally move the lever downward. In another form of arrangement the yoke may consist of a multiplicity of parts and the end thereof remote from the armature may attach pivotally to a pin rigidly secured to the free end of the depressible lever element of the fastener-applying unit. So arranged, actuation of the fastener-applying unit may be provided by closing through the use of a treadle switch or an equivalent of an electrical circuit to energize the magnet and thereby operate the fastem'ng unit.

With the foregoing thoughts in mind the invention has as one of its main objects that of providing a power-driven device for releasing staples or other fastening elements at times selected by the operator of the device.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a stapling or fastening device for applying labels, tags and the like in which the stapling unit is arranged to be electrically operated and in which the unit itself is contained in a readily portable light-weight, compact and efficientlyoperated housing unit which can be manufactured and sold in a low price bracket.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of one form of yoke member for actuating a stapling or label-applying device not there shown;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, to show one form of yoke actuating magnet mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the structure of Fig. 2, looking from the right of Fig. 2 toward the magnet assembly;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the magnet arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3 with the armature removed but showing the switch-operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the arrangement of 3 Fig. 2 showing a different form of yoke mechanism for actuating the stapler or fastening device;

Fig. 6 is a view of the general type of Fig. 3 but showing a mechanism for securing the yoke member of Fig. 5 to the stapling or fastening unit 'in a manner somewhat like the securement of the free ends of thge yokes of Figs. 2, 3 and 5 to the magnet armature; and

Fig. '7 is a view in section to illustrate, generally schematically, the manner in which staples may be driven outwardly from the stapling device.

Considering now the drawing for a further understanding of the invention, a support base ii is arranged to carry any suitable form of staplingor fastener-applying device, conventionally represented at l3. The staple-applying device usually comprises a platform l5 which may be detachably secured to the support base i l in any desired fashion such as by the screws 56. At one end of the platform [5 and supported usually from a pivot I! is a movable depressible driver lever i9 which is normally so supported by a spring-like member (not shown) surrounding the pivotal hinge I! as to remain in ppened position at its free end relative t the platform !5.

It is unnecessary to enter into a lenthy. description herein of the fastener-applying or stapling unit, other than to point out that the depressible lever arm l9 functions as an operating arm and discharges staples from the magazine and therewith associated driver element 78 against the clinching anvil 23 at times when the depressible driver lever is is rotated about the pivot H in a clockwise direction from the position shown by Fig. 2. This acts to move the depressible driver lever l9 in the direction shown by arrow on Fig. 3.

As can be seen from the showing made schematically in Fig. 7, the so-called gate portion 2i of the stapling device is so arranged that the stapledriver i8 is adapted to move inside thereof. In referring to Fig. 7 the hollow stapling arm M constitutes generally a magazine to hold the staples 15. These staples surround or are laid over a core '16 and pressed forward toward the staple driver element 18 under the influence of a staple feeding spring #9, which, preferably, moves within a channel member (not shown) and is adapted to force the staple pusher (also not shown) in a direction such that the staples move in the direction of the gate 2!. In the usual form of stapler the spring 19 moves over a roller pulley 8i] and one end thereof is anchored generally at the rear of the depressible driver lever l9. At the forward end of the channel member which holds the staples there is located a check-pawl or dog 8i, which has several functions in connection with the stapling operation. This dog is pivoted on a transverse pin 82 and has a rear head 83 which is formed with a depending beak, as indicated. The beak engagesbetween the heads of the staples straddling the staple-holding core 76. At its opposite end the dog Si has a projecting tail 85, from which there is a depending leg portion. The tail 85 extends through a vertical slot (not shown) in the staple driver it, so that with depression of the depressible driver lever ii). the staple driver 18 forces the staples downwardly behind the gate 2!. The dog BI is held by a substantially hairpin-shaped spring 85, which forms a toggle spring and is normally adapted to hold the dog 8! in a suitable operating position. Further details of the general form of stapling arrangement may be had by referring to the disclosure of an illustrative form of stapling mechanism depicted by United States Letters Patent No. 2,037,334, granted April 14, 1936, to Arthur H. Maynard.

The supporting base ll forms the upper part of a housing, represented at 25, in which an electromagnet 2? is appropriately housed. Any convenient method of securing the magnet within the housing, such as the bent pins 29, may be provided. The magnet has the armature 3|, to which an appropriate pin-like element 33 is fastened at its upper end. This pin-like element 33 extends through the armature and terminates in two flattened extensions 35, through which the rods 3! and 38, representing either end of a yoke member 39, extend. The yoke member is held in any desired position by means of any appropriate form of clamping element.

Energization of the electromagnet is effected by various means, such as the treadle-controlled switch il, schematically represented by Fig. 4, of which the leads 43 connect to the electromagnet 2i and the leads d5 lead to any suitable source of power supply plug. When the armature Si is drawn within the magnet 21 by reason of energizaticn of the latter, the pin 33 and the therewith-associated yoke member 39 are moved downwardly within the slot 41 formed at either side of the housing member 25.

As is indicated by Fig. 2 particularly, the yoke member 39 is formed in an upright portion for attachment to the ends 35 of the pin 33, and after protruding upwardly, as shown particularly by Figs. 2 and 3, in a direction to surround substantially the stapling or fastening unit l3 these arms are curved inwardly so as to join and form substantially into a loop-shaped section 5! surrounding the actuating knob or head 53 of the stapler unit. In this form it is usually unnecessary rigidly to connect the loop section 5! of the yoke 39 to the actuating knob. It merely may be actuatingly united or engaged with this knob so that upon actuation of the magnet to draw the armature therein the loop 5| of the yoke will press downwardly upon the knob 53 to cause the staple to be ejected each time the magazine and driver element is pressed against the clinching anvil. Accordingly, if any work is placed between the anvil section 23 and the lower portion of the gate 2! behind which the staple driver element 78 moves to force staples from the magazine with a downward movement of the depressible driver lever l9, it will be apparent that labels, tags or the like may be attached by reason of the operation of the stapling unit. The yoke member 3? may be formed from heavy material substantially rigid and capable of moving the depressible lever downwardly upon magnet energizationl For purposes of strengthening, however, it frequently becomes desirable toprovide additional bracing arms, such as shown at 55.

In another modification of the invention, as illustrated particularly by Figs. 5 and 6, the stapling unit of the type shown and described in connection with Fig. 2 is again provided to rest upon the support surface 59 of a housing 6|. In this instance the magnet unit 2? is contained inthe housing, preferably substantially immediately below the stapling unit section, whereat the staple driver element 1% operating in such a way as to be guided behind the gate 2! meets the clinching anvil section 23. With this construction there is attached to the upper-end .of

the armature 3| by means of a pin section terminating in a flattened extension 35, substantially like that shown in Fig. 3, a two-part yoke member 63 of substantially U-shaped configuration. The end 65 of each yoke member 83 is secured by appropriate screws or rivets to the pin fastened to the upper end of the armature 3|. The yoke members 63 may be made exceedingly strong and yet light in weight by constructing them of steel, iron or the like, which may be readily cast and yet provide extreme strength and rigidity. The upper end 61 of the yoke 63 is provided, in this instance, with apertures 69 through which a pin Il may be passed and fastened by any appropriate means, such 2;"

as the indicated cotter pins. The pin "ll then is rigidly attached and secured to the operating knob 53 of the depressible hinged driver lever 19 by a bracket 12 or other equivalent means. With the openings 69 forming bearing surfaces for the pin ll it is clear that the depressible hinged driver lever l9 readily may be closed on the anvil section 23 to provide the stapling action upon magnet actuation. The upper part of the housing 6| is provided with two elongated openings or slots substantially adjacent the stapling unit to provide space within which the U-shaped yoke members may be passed. Depending upon the selected shaping of the yoke member 63 will depend the length of the slot section 13 to pro- ,2,

vide for adequate up-and-down motion of the yoke member without contacting the sidewalls or support surface of the housing.

Having set forth the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unit having a magazine, a driver for driving staples from the magazine, a clinching anvil and a movable depressible driver lever hinged at one end to operate the driver for actuating it to apply staples from the magazine to work adapted to be positioned between the magazine and the clinching anvil at times of lever depression, an electromagnet supported beneath the stapling unit, an armature for the magnet and a yoke having one end secured to the armature and the other end actuatingly engaged with the unhinged end of the hinged depressible driver lever so that upon magnet energization the hinged driver lever will be depressed to operate the driver.

2. A labe1-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unit having staple-driving means and a movable depressible driver lever hinged at one end to actuate the staple-driving means upon lever depression, an electromagnet supported beneath the stapling unit, a magnet armature extending outwardly from the electromagnet, a pin secured to the end of the armature remote from the electromagnet; a lever actuating yoke attached to each end of the pin and also actuatingly engaged with the free end of the hinged depressible driver lever so that upon magnet energization the hinged lever is depressed toward the base member and staples are ejected to be applied to the work.

3. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unit having a base member and a hinged driver lever arm secured at one end of the base member and arranged to eject staples from the free end thereof upon depression; an electromagnet supported substantially beneath the stapling unit support base; an armature for the magnet and connections from the free end of the depressible driver lever of the stapling unit to the armature for drawing the pivoted depressible driver lever toward the support base so that the staples are elected to be applied to the work upon magnet energization.

4. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a fastener-applying implement provided with a platform detachably mounted on the support base, said implement having a pivoted lever arm secured at one end to the platform and having at its other end a stapler-ejecting mechanism, a pin attached to the free end of the lever, an electromagnet positioned beneath the pivoted lever, an armature carried within the electromagnet and adapted upon magnet energization to be drawn within said electromagnet, and connecting links between each end of the lever supported pin and the armature for moving the free end of the depressible lever into substantial parallelism with the platform and support base upon magnet energization so as to actuate the staple-ejecting mechanism substantially concurrently with operation of the lever element.

5. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a fastener-applying implement detachably mounted on the support base, said implement having a platform and a lever arm pivotally secured at one end to the platform, a stapler-ejecting mechanism located at the free end of the pivoted lever, a pin secured to the free end of the lever, an electromagnet positioned beneath the pivoted lever arm, an armature carried within the magnet and adapted upon magnet energization to be drawn within the magnet and connecting links between each end of the lever arm supported pin and the armature for moving the free end of the depressible driver lever arm into substantial parallelism with the platform and base member upon magnet energization so as to actuate the staple-ejecting mechanism in conjunction with an operation of the depressible lever arm, and a manually operated switch element to control the periods of energization of the electromagnet.

6. A label-securing unit comprising a support base having included therein an electromagnet and an armature supported within the field of the magnet and adapted upon magnet energization to be drawn within the magnet, a fastenerapplying implement releasably secured to the support base and comprising a platform and a depressible driver lever arm pivotally secured to the platform at one end and normally raised above the platform at the free end and having a staple-ejecting mechanism at the free end for applying staples to the work upon closure of the lever arm against the platform, said support base having a slotted portion adjacent each side of the platform and extending for a portion of the length of the platform, and a yoke member extending through each slot and having one end of each yoke secured to the magnet armature and means to attach the other end of each yoke to the free end of the depressible driver lever so that upon magnet energization the armature is drawn within the magnet and the therebycarried yoke members produce a closure of the free end of the depressible driver lever upon the platform.

Name Date Maynard Apr. 14, 1936 Number