US2801418A - Staple magazine and feeding means - Google Patents

Description

1957 I R. w. JENNY 2,801,418

STAPLE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS Original Filed March 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1 l L F i: l

INVHVTOR: Robri VIZ/entry ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 6, 1957 R. w. JENNY STAPLE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS ori inal Filed March 25, ,1955

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Rob erl VIZ/Jenny BY I E 2 AT TORNEYS'.

United States Patent STAPLE :MAGAZINE AND FEEDINGIMEANS "RobertW. Jenny, Bellevue, 'Wa'sh., assignor to Bostitch, Inc., Stoningtonr Conn., a corporation of Rhodejlsiand Original application March 25, 1955, Serial No. 4*)6,641. .Divided and this application'March 29, 1956, Serial 4 Claims. (Cl. 1-49) "ing' means comprising-a staple-driver.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having a hollow magazine for containing a supply of staples with means slidable therein for feeding the staples forwardly into the throat or raceway through which theyare'driven.

3A particularlobjectof the invention'is toprovide-a magazine .adapted for convenient insertion of the staples intorits end 1 by withhlding the staple-feeding means 'to permit free passage-10f thestaple-stick'beyond said feeding means.

Another object is tOTPIOVldC' means for manually withdrawing the stapleeteeding means 'or .pusherand retaining it in'position. aboveithe'core in the-magazine to allow .a stick of staples'tobe;slid 'thereunder.

.Another-object of the invention is'to'provide :means .forretaining the staple-pusher in' inoperative relationship while adaptingit to beeasily released andreturne'd to position for feedingr'the staples-after the magazine has beenloaded.

Furtherobjects of-t-heinvention'areiset forth in'the following specification which describes: a-,preferred form of constructionof .the'magazine, the staple-pusheriand its 'retaining means as illustratedby 111116 accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is-a general viewinside'elevation oftthe complete implementshownwith itspartsinnormal-rela- .tionsh'ip;

.Fig...2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofuthe implement taken :onits .median axis and illustrating the staple applying. mechanism. contained .within its hollow frame;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the .end of thestaple magazine showing,therstaplerpusher retractedand held in raised relationship-above the staple-core torprovide for sliding the staple-stick or refill thereunderjnv loading the magazine;

'Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the staple magazine showing the staple-pusher in operative relationship therein;

Fig. 5 is a frontelevational' view of a portion of the implement showing'the removable closure plate which forms the. front wall .ofthe throat orstaple raceway;

*Figx6 is a transversesectional view of .the staple magazine'and' its supporting means taken .on line 6- 6 of Fig.

1; and

Fig.7 is a similar-transversesectional view of'the staple magazine taken on line 77'ofFig. 3 and. illustrating the staple-pusher as raised and'retainedinplace above the core in the'magazine.

The present improvements areherein "shown and 'described as applied to use with a-fluid;pressure-operated staplersuch 'asdisclose'd 'in my "pending application referred to hereinabove; but it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to other types of machines, either power-driven or hand-operated.

Referring to the drawings, as herein shown the stapling implement may consist in a hollow handle-member '2 (Fig. 2) having a'cylindrical head 3 atits forward end mounted on, or'made a part of, a vertical cylinderSin which is a reciprocable piston 6 for actuating a bladelike staple-driver 7. The cylinder 5 is formed with, or has attached thereto, a rearwardly-extending member or arm 9 overlying andsupporting a hollow magazine 10 for containing a supply of staples s.

The handle-member 2 contains a chamber 11 forcompressed air or hydraulicfiuid supplied thereto from a suitable source through'a tube or hose 12 connected to the'top of the head 3. A manually-operable valve 15 communicates with the pressure-chamber 11 through a duct 16 to admit compressed air into the upper end of the cylinder 5 for operating the piston 6 to slide the staple-driver7 'for driving a staple into the work. A

trigger 18 pivoted at 19 on the under side of the handle 2 provides for manually opening the valve 15. As passage 13'leading from the valve 15 through the handle 2 is open to the atmosphere at its end for exhausting the air during-the return stroke of the piston 6. A helical spring17 seated in the bottom of the cylinder 5 has its upper end'engaging thepiston 6 to slide it upwardly in a return'stroke after each staple-driving operation.

'The magazine 10 comprises a trough-shaped casing'having a bottom wall 20 and parallel side walls 21 (Figs.

-o and '7) extending upwardly therefrom with a narrow space at the top beneath the horizontal member or arm 9. Within the interior of themagazineltl is a longitudinally-extending U-shaped staple-core 25 formed from sheet-metal'with a bottom wall 26 and parallel spaced sidewalls ZTprojecting upwardly to a height equal to that of the side walls 21 of the magazine. In the rearward end of thecore25 isuan insert 28 (Figs. 2 and4) welded or. otherwise fastened'to its side walls 27 and projecting outwardly beyond the end of the magazine 10 with its top of ;arcuate shape or. inclined downwardly toward its end to provide a rest for guidingvthe end of a staple-strip thereinto. The projecting portion of the rest 28 is of a width-corresponding to that of the'core 25 with its sides beveled towardthe end to render it convenient for placing a staple-stick S thereon. The staple-core 25 is seated in a channel-shaped sheet-metal strip 30 welded or otherwise fastened to the bottom wall 20 of the magazine 10. A cross-pin 31 inserted through holes in the side walls 21 of the magazine 10 and through apertures inthe side walls 27 of thecore 25 fastens the core in place.

A staple-pusher 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed from sheetmetal hasv a central top wall 41 with U-shaped portions .42 folded downwardly at its .sides in overlying relation to the walls27 of the core 25 to adaptthe pusher to be slidably mounted in straddled relation thereon. The pusher 40 is also provided with outer depending legs 43 overlying the outer side walls 21 of the magazinell) in contact therewith. .The legs 43 are provided with concaved finger-tabs 44 welded or otherwise fastened thereto which serve for manually sliding the pusher 4i rearwardly on the core 25. The pusher 40' is advanced longitudinally in the magazine 10 by means of a helical wirenspring 45 (Figs. 2 and 6) anchored at one end-to a pin 46 bridging a central longitudinal slot 47 inthe horizontal arm 9 and held fast in apertures in the sides thereof; the spring 45 being housed in said slot'47. At the forward end of'the slot 47 in the arm 9 is a roller or-pulley 49-journaled on a pin 50 'held fast in holes in 'the sides of the arm. The spring d5 extends forwardly from=the pin-49 and then down around the "pulley 49 to reach rearwardly with its end fastened to a lug 51 bent up from the top wall of the pusher 40.

A nosepiece 55 constructed integral with, or fastened to, the forward end of the magazine 10 has its upper portion fitting closely within a recess 56 atthebottom of the cylinder The nosepiece 55 is clamped to the front of the supporting member or arm 9 by means of a cross-member 65 (Figs. 1 and 5) havinglateral ears 66 with apertures therein through which a pair of screws 67 are inserted to project through holes in the nosepiece with their ends threaded into tapped holes in the end of the member 9. The screws 67 thus support the forward end of the magazine from the member 9 and its rearward end is suspended therefrom by means of a lug 68 projecting upwardly and secured to the rearward end of the arm by a screw 69. The nosepiece 55 is of U-shape in cross-section with its inner face 70 extending downwardly across the end ofthe magazine 10 to form the rearward wall of the staple-throat 71 through which the' staples are driven. As shown and described in my pending application for patent referred to hereinabove, the nosepiece 55 is grooved vertically at its sides to form guideways 72 (Fig. 5) for receiving the marginal portions of a detachable closure-plate The clamp 65 is formed on its front with a central projecting box-like casing 80 (Fig. 2) having a horizontal bore 81 for receiving a slidable plunger or latch 82. A pointed projection 83 at the forward end of the latch 82 is adapted to engage in the slot between adjacent teeth 86 and 87 formed on the face of the closure-plate 75 to lock the plate in position at the front of the throat 71. The plunger 32 has an axial bore 84 containing a helical wire spring 85, one end of which engages with the end of the bore 81 of the casing 80 for sliding the plunger to engage its pointed projection 83 between the teeth 86 and 87. It will thus be observed that when the closure-plate 75 is slid upwardly in the guideways 72 on the nosepiece 55 the beveled end tooth 87 will engage the pointed projection 83 on the end of the plunger 82 to automatically retract the latch against the tension of the spring 85; whereafter the projection 83 will snap into the slot between the tooth 87 and the next adjacent tooth 86 as shown in Fig. 2 to releasably lock the closure-plate in place. The purpose of the remaining teeth in the series on the closure-plate 75 is to provide a slot for the insertion of a screw-driver or other tool whereby the closure-plate may be slid downwardly manually to release it from the spring-pressed latch 82. By this means the closure-plate 75 may be readily removed from the nosepiece 55 when it is required to clear the staple-throat 71 by dislodging caught or jammed staples therefrom.

In the forward end of the staple-core 25 is a hardened block-like insert 90 welded or otherwise secured to the interior walls of the core with its upper face conforming to the shape of the cross-bars or heads of the staples used in the implement. The forward vertical face of the insert 90 provides a shearing edge at the top for severing the foremost staple s from the strip or refill-cartridge S as the driver 7 descends to drive a staple through the throat 71 for setting it in the work.

At the rearward end of the horizontal member or arm 9 is a rectangular recess 91 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) on its under side adapted to receive the upper portion of the staple-pusher when it is retracted to retain it raised therein for loading the magazine with staples. At the forward end of the recess 91 the arm 9 is beveled at 92 on its under side to adapt the staple-pusher 40 to be rocked slightly and slid upwardly thereinto; a notch 93 in the forward end of the recess being engageable by the forward edge of the top wall 41 of the pusher 40 for latching it in raised relationship above the core 25 so that a stick of staples s may be slid thereunder (Fig. 3). A rectangular opening 95 in the lug 68 surrounds the core 25 to allow the stick S to pass therethrough. After the forward end of the stick S has been supported on the tapering end of the rest 28 and advanced alongthe core 10 beneath the raised and latched pusher 40, it is slid forwardly therebeyond. The pusher 40 may be released from the recess 91 by retracting it to disengage it from the notch 93 and then rocking its forward end downwardly under the beveled portion 92 of the member 9. The spring will draw the pusher forwardly for engaging the staples s to successively feed them into the throat 71 in the nosepiece 55 at the front of the magazine 10. The manner of using the implement is as next explained.

For operating the implement after the magazine 10 has been loaded with staples s the handle-member 2 may be held in one hand to apply the staples to the work. It will be understood that thejimplement may be connected to a source of power, either pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, by attaching a hose thereto. As the implement is held conveniently in one hand the operators forefinger is looped under the trigger 18 for rocking it upwardly to raise the valve-plunger and open the valve 15. Pressure is thereby admitted to the upper end of the bore in the cylinder 5 to act against the piston 6. Pressure on the piston 6 forces the staple-driver 7 down through the throat 71 at the front of the nosepiece 55, thereby causing it to shear the foremost staple s from the stick S in the magazine 10 and drive it into the work. Release of the trigger 18 causes the pressure in the air-chamber 11 to act against the head of the plunger of the valve 15 to close the intake port of the valve and open the exhaust port for releasing the air to exhaust through the passage 13 in the handle 2. Upon relief of pressure on the piston 6 the spring 17 will raise it to the upper end of the bore in the cylinder 5 for withdrawing the staple-driver 7 from the throat 71 in the nosepiece 55. As the staple-driver 7 is withdrawn in this manner the pusher 40 will slide the staple stick S forwardly under the tension of the spring 45 to feed another staple s into the throat 71. The parts of the staple driving mechanism are thus returned to initial relationship to condition the implement for a successive operation. When the'supply of staples in the magazine 10 becomes exhausted the operator may grasp the fingertabs 44 overlying the outer sides of the magazine to draw the staple-pusher 40 rearwardly and raise it into the recess 91 for latching it in inoperative relationship. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 7 that when the staple-pusher'40 is lifted into the opening or recess 91 its two runners 42 are raised to clear the staple-core 25 so that the stick of, staples may he slid under the pusher. A fresh supply of staples then may be inserted into the open rearward end of the magazine by supporting the forward end of the stick S on the rest or guide 28. It is to be noted that in the present novel form of construction the legs 43 at the sides of the pusher are of considereably greater depth than the runners 42 so that they will not be withdrawn from engagement with the sides of the magazine 10 when the pusher is raised above the core. The purpose of this improved form of construction is to prevent lateral displacement of the pusher 40 when it is'raised by providing means, i. e., the legs 43, for guiding the pusher 40 downwardly with its runners 42 in alinement with the sides of the core 25 to insure their proper engagement therewith. In some types of stapling devices no staple-core is necessary, the staples being supported directly on the floor of the magazine, in which case the staple-pusher is merely held raised .thereabove.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides an improved stapler or fastener-applying implement which may be operated by pneumaticor hydraulic pressure, or in other instances may embody manually-operable mechanical means for actuating the staple-driver.

The construction and arrangement of the slidable staple-pusher 40 and the latching means therefor adapts it to be retained out of the way at the rearward end of the staple magazine and thus provides for greater convenience in loading the staples thereinto. Moreover, it eliminates the necessity for removing the pusher from the magazine and replacing it after the staples have been loaded thereinto. With the present form of construction it requires only a slight efiort to withdraw the staplepusher 40 against the tension of the spring 45 and raise it into the pocket or recess 91 where it may be conveniently held by latching its forward end in the slot 93. Likewise, it is most convenient after the magazine has been loaded with staples to simply release the forward end of the pusher 40 from the notch 93 and drop it down onto the core 25, whereafter it will be propelled forwardly by the spring 45 to advance the staple strip S and continue to act to successively feed the staples into the throat or raceway 71 at the front of the magazine.

While the invention is herein shown and descn'bed as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, Without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a stapling implement comprising a frame embodying means for driving staples, a U-shaped magazine extending longitudinally of said frame, a core extending longitudinally within the magazine and spaced from the sides thereof to adapt it to support staples straddled thereacross, the combination of a staple-pusher formed with a top wall with runners depending therefrom for straddling the sides of the core, legs depending from the top wall of the pusher and spaced outwardly from said runners to adapt them to straddle the outer sides of the magazine for preventing lateral displacement of the pusher, said legs being of greater depth than said runners, a spring fastened to the frame and connected to said pusher to slide it forwardly on the magazine, and a recess in said frame positioned above the core at the rearward end of the magazine to adapt the pusher to be raised and pocketed therein whereby to elevate the runners on the pusher above the core to permit staples to be slid thereunder and into the magazine in straddled relationship on the core while the legs of the pusher remain in engagement with the sides of the magazine.

2. In a stapling implement embodying a longitudinallyextending supporting member, a hollow U-shaped magazine for staples mounted below said supporting member with a slot-like opening therebetween, a core in said magazine extending longitudinally of its interior for supporting staples straddled thereacross, a staple-pusher having a top wall with runners projecting downwardly therefrom for engagement with the sides of the core, legs depending from the top wall of said pusher and extending downwardly beyond said runners in spaced relation thereto to adapt them to engage the opposite sides of the magazine for preventing lateral displacement of said pusher, a spring connected to the pusher for advancing it along the core to feed the staples forwardly in the magazine, a recess at the rearward end of said supporting member disposed above the magazine to adapt it to receive the upper portion of the pusher With its runners elevated above the core without disengaging the legs of the pusher from the sides of the magazine, and a notch in the forward end of said recess for engaging the forward edge of the top wall of the pusher to maintain it raised within said opening for adapting a supply of staples to be slid under the pusher and onto the core without obstruction by the runners of the pusher.

3. In a stapling implement embodying a hollow U- shaped magazine for containing staples, a core extending longitudinally within said magazine with its sides spaced from the inner sides thereof, the combination of a staplepusher formed from sheet-metal with a top wall folded downwardly in U-shape to provide opposite depending runners adapted to straddle and slide along said core in the magazine, said pusher also provided with depending legs projecting downwardly in spaced relation to said runners and extending below the lower ends thereof, said legs adapted to overlap and engage the outer sides of the magazine to prevent lateral displacement of the pusher when its runners are raised above the top of the core for inserting staples under the pusher and into the magazine to straddle the sides of the core.

4. In a stapling implement comprising a longitudinallyextending member, a hollow U-shaped staple-magazine extending beneath said frame member with a space therebetween, and a core extending longitudinally within the magazine with its sides spaced inwardly from the sides thereof, the combination of a staple-pusher having a top wall with depending runners for straddling the sides of said core to adapt it to slide thereon, resilient means for sliding said pusher forwardly on the magazine to feed the staples forwardly along said core, a pair of legs depending from opposite sides of the pusher in spaced relation to said runners to adapt them to engage the outer sides of said magazine for preventing lateral displacement of the pusher, said legs being of greater depth than said runners whereby the pusher may be lifted above the core with the runners raised thereabove to permit a supply of staples to be slid forwardly on the core into position beyond the pusher while said legs remain in engagement with the sides of the magazine to prevent lateral displacement of the pusher in replacing it on the core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,075 White July 2, 1889 2,202,259 MacDonald May 28, 1940 2,522,931 Curtiss Sept. 19, 1950 2,542,879 Peterson Feb. 20, 1951 2,738,505 Vail Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 117,717 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1918 688,770 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1953

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