US2877461A - Automatic stapler - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1959 J. J. OUSSANI AUTOMATIC STAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR es J. Oassano BY JMATTQRNEY llllllllllu'l'llulnl iin 'March 17, 1959 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER a Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR ussanz/ James J O AATTORNEY Filed March 24, 1955 March 195.9 J. J. OUSSANIV 2,877,461

AUTOMATIC STAPLER Filed March 24, 1955 a Sheets-Sheet 3 T1q.4

INVENTOR James I 8 6 1 March 17, 1959 J. J. oL lssAm 2, 77,461

AUTOMATIC STAPLER Filed March 24, 1955 a Sheds-Sheet 4 /dw ATTORNEY.

N m r-ifi 2\ INVENTOR JamesJY Oussanp 3 March 17, 1959 J. J. OUSSANI AUTOMATIC STAPLER Filed March 24, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 1;. James J Owssanz ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 'J. J. OUSSANI AUTOMATIC STAPLER Mm s Q INVENTOR James J Oussanv MTT RNEY mN 6w, gi h .3 N

Filed March 24, 1955 March 17, 1959 March 17, 1959 J, ouss 2,877,461

AUTOMATIC STAPLER Filed March 24, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet? WIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIA'IIIJ INVENTOR James I Ouss ocnv 325% &.;d ATTORNEY March '17, 1959 J. J. OUSSANI AUTOMATIC STAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 24, 1955 INVENTOR James J Ouss'anz/ ,a ATTORNEY United States Pate 2,877,461 Patented *Mar. 17, 1959 ime This invention relates to stapling or fastener driving machines; more particularly to electrically powerized and operated fastener or stapling machines. i

My invention, in its more particular form, constitutes improvements pertinent to electrical fastener or stapling machines of the character disclosedin my Patents Nos. 2,205,861, granted June 25, 1940, and-2,403,947, granted July 16, 1946.

In my aforesaid patents, I have described fully automatic stapling or fastener driving mechanism and controls therefor which eliminate tiresome hand or foot controls, leaving both hands free for working, to secure speedy and efficient operation by resorting to the driving influence of a solenoid which, in turn, transmits its impelling movement to the component parts of an existing stapling machine. Reliance is made upon novel electrical making and breaking circuits which are activated by the insertion of the work to be fastened between the componentv parts of the stapling or fastener driving mechanism. The electric control in my aforementioned patents, which while attractive in that the operation thereof avoided skipping, repeating or jamming, has been found limited in its work in the range of staples or fasteners which may be used in driving operations,,so that depths were limited to those of the capacity of hand operative staplers.

More specifically, in accordance with my prior inventions, hand operated stapling or fastener driving machines were indirectly powerized to convert the same to an automatic stapler, relying upon the insertion of the sheets to be bound to complete an electric circuit for driving the existing stapling head into engagement. Such stapling action was limited to depths of stapling operations of about four inches from the edge of the sheet and to driving staplers or fasteners indirectly, with the timing limited by the design of a hand stapling contrivance.

Indirect staple driving evenas hand operation, relying upon the momentum of the driving blade,-h as been found ineffectual Where stapling in the nature of book binding is required, in that the collated sheets do not respond uniformly to the impelling force as increased thicknesses of sheets are stapled, to penetrate the stack without some deformation.

I have discovered that by the provision of apparatus which distinguishes portions of the cycle of driving and stapling to secure rapidly executed distinctoperations, the powerized fastener driving or stapling operations may be extended to a wide variety of staples of considerable depth, without sacrificing uniformity, accuracy and complete clinching operation.

In accordance with my invention, it'is an object thereof to provide a staple or fastener driving mechanism direct- 1y powerized to effect, in each cycle, an initial stack clamping operation which compacts the collated'pages, and a secondary fastener driving operation, preferably with no lost motion, which drives and clinchesthe fastener into engagement with the compacted sheets as distinguished from driving and compacting the stacked sheets.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to combine with a directly effective solenoid powerized staple or, fastener driving assembly, means to assurean initial, relatively SlOW bllt powerful clamping action on a stack of collated sheets and then an impellingstaple or fastener driving action executed directly upon a staple or fastener, without 'lost motion, and thereby clinching without warping or deforming the staple byreason of the high momentum achievedy the movementof a core or armature from its solenoid coil. u

Still more particularly, it isan object of my invention to provide a staple or fastener driving assembly which has a highcapacity for depth of penetration or edgewise variation ofthe staple -including features which permit continuous operation without. loss of timetorefill the staple retaining track, andincluding provisions formal;- ing replacementsofacharge without interfering with an existinglsupply of stapler or fastener elements. .St-ill more particularly,.it.is. an object, of this invention to extend thev control of a staple driving assemblytoobject s of considerablewidth,depth and number, and to assure penetration of a fastener. or staplewithoutspreading as the clinching takes effect, to assure a compactly integrated assembly of the objects which are clinched.

To attain these objectsand.suchfurther objects as may appearhereinor be hereinafterpointed out, I make reference-to the accompanying drawing, forming .a parthereof, in which- Figure lis a. side elevationalview of a staplingassemmy in accordance with my invention;

Figure .2 is,.a section taken on the line 2- 2 of Figurel; I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3E3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectiontaken on theline 4-4 of Figure 1;

v Figure 5 isasectiOntaken on the line 5, 5,of Figure 4, in oneposition;

.Figure -6 is a view similar tion thereof;

Figure 7 .is a section taken on the line 7,-,7 of-Ftgure 4;

Figure 8 is almagn ified section taken on the line 8' 8 ofFigure 4; Figure 9,is a fragmentary section taken ontbe line 9,-.9 of,Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 10- 10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the l ne 11 -,11 of Figure 9; I Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective viewofa detail corresponding to Figure ll;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure l-in accordance to Figure 4, in .anotherposiwith another embodiment of my invention;

Figure ,l4is a section taken on the'line 1 4-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a section taken Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section on the line 16-16 of Figure-13; j

Figure 17 :is a 'fragmentarysection takenon the-line 17-17 of Figural-6;

Figure 18' is a fragmentary ;section taken on ;,the line 1871801? Figure ,1-6;

on the line :15-15 of Figure 19 is ,a fragmentary section itaken on the line 19--19 of Figure 16; Figure 2 0 is asection ,taken on ,the line 20 20 of Figurel4; i I V I I ,Figure 2l.is a fragmentarvsectiontaken. on the line 21- -21 of Figure 20; i

Figure 22 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 20; a

Figure 23 is a fragmentary section of the magazine before assembly to the position on the rail as shown in Figure 22. r 6

I now make reference to the drawing, showing my invention which will be described in connection with the isolated primary features thereof, notwithstanding the fact that the benefits thereof may be obtained in using all of these features in combination with each other.

In the drawings the electrified fastener driver is shown inthe form of a base plate 10 having feet 11, supporting the same on a table or like supporting surface. The base plate 10 is provided with standards 12 and 13 (Fig. 4), between which, at their rearmost position, there is extended the bearing pin 14 (Fig. 1), about which the track member 15 is pivotally mounted to work engaging or releasing position.

The track 15, at its forward end 16, overhangs the anvil 17 of known construction where clinching is desired. Mere driving of a fastener to fully embed the staple into the work will eliminate the need of a clinching anvil as will be readily understood. The track 15 has its upper surface 18 shaped to carry the staples S. The staples S are guided between the surface 18 of track 15 and a generally U-shaped channel 19 (Fig. 10) which has its lower branch 20 spaced from the surface 18'for the thickness of the staples S, permitting sliding movement therebetween.

The channel 20 has its side branches 21, 22 overhanging the track 15 and pivotally supports a gate 23' therebetween on the pivot pin 24. The gate 23 comprises a generally U-shaped channel having side flanges 25 and 26 embracing the channel 15, to outline the slot 27 through which the staples S may slide vertically. A forward branch 28 of the gate 23 is spaced from the guide face 29 of the track 15 to provide a clearance slot 30, corresponding to the thickness of the wire or sheet of which the staples S are formed.

An inner channel 31 (Figs. 9 and 10) has its front edge 32 spaced from the branch 28 to form a guide for the plunger 33, there being a leading edge 34 of camoutline to guide the relatively thin plunger with its edge 35 into the clearance slot 30. The plunger 33 (Fig. l) is coupled by the pin 36 to the joint 37, protruding from and integral with the armature 38 guided slidably within the solenoid 39. The solenoid 39 with suitable connection for electrical energizing is supported by the bracket 40 on the standard 12. The armature 38, at its lower end, is provided with a collar 41 and arranged to engage a cushioning bumper 42 of rubber or like cushioning material, thereby to limit the upward movement of the armature in one direction flush with the supporting bracket 40 for the solenoid at the lower end.

The opposed or free end 43 of the armature 38 is provided with a kick-off plate in the form of a laterally extended disk 44, below which on the more constricted neck formed by the armature 38 is positioned the compression spring 45, biasing, in a measure, the armature 38 in an upward direction by engaging the superimposed flange 46 of the bracket as a shoulder. The kick-off plate 44 is arranged to engage member 106 of a switch release, which will be described hereafter as this description proceeds.

The channel 19 (Fig. 4) supports the upstanding arms 47 from which extends the lug 48 (Fig. 1), coupled by the expansion spring 49 to the anchor pin 50, extending from the standard 12, thereby normally urging the track and its assembly spaced from the anvil 17 or base plate 10 and to hold-the same pivotally upwardly extended on the cross bar 14.

The upstanding arms 47 (Figs. 1 and 4) supports the cross bar 51 rigidly in the direction of the armature 38,

where it terminates in a finger piece 52 (Fig.

7), con- 7 4 forming to the armature 38 but riding over the flange of the collar 41.

Mounted beneath the cro ss bar 51 is a channel shaped release arm 53 (Fig. 4) which is pivoted on the pin 54 at one end on the arms 47, and biased into position underlying the arm 41 by the spring arm 55. The release arm 53 has side edges 56 co-terminous with the side edges of the cross bar 51,.the edges whereof are engaged by the latches 57 to hold the release arm 53 and bar 51 together. The latches 57 are pivotally mounted on the pins 58 which are supported on the flange upstanding from the cross bar 51 (see Figures 1, 4, 7 and 8). Springs 59 bias the latches 57 into engagement with the edges 56 by engagement of the tails 60, having camming edges 61 lying in the path of the fingers 62, fixedly mounted and extending laterally from the lower solenoid flange 46 (Fig. 1) in the path of the camming edges 61.

From the description thus far made, it will be observed that an actuation of the plunger 33 through the medium of the armature 38 will effect two sequentially motivated functions. The first movement from the normal position shown in Figure 1 will serve to move the armature 38 carrying the collar 41 to engage the release arm 53. This transmitted movement of the release arm 53 draws with said release arm the latches 57 (Fig. 4) and, accordingly, draws with it the cross bar 51 on which the latches are mounted, to transmit the motion through the upstanding arms 47 to the channel 19, to which the track 15 is connected. As the cross bar 51 is dragged downwardly, the moving tails 60 engage the fingers 62 fixedly mounted on the flange 46, tripping the latches 57 from engagement with the edges 56, releasing the cross arm 51 in the further movement of the armature until the release arm 53 engages the upstanding angularly directed stops 63 extended from the channel 31 (see Figures 1 and 9).

The initial projection described in moving the armature collar 41 downwardly against the release arm 53 drives the track 15 downwardly, to clamp the work W between the surface 64 and the anvil supporting surface 17 of the base plate 10, clamping collated pages or like material which may be extended in this position before exposing the piercing ends of the staples S in an unsupported position. It will thus be observed that as the collar 41 is moved under the impelling force of the armature 38, it will bear against the release arm 53 and carry with the arm 53 the latches 57 which engage the rim 56. Since the latches 57 are coupled with the cross bar 51, the cross bar will move with the release arm and impart a compressive force to the track 15 through the upstanding arms 47 against the biasing influence of the spring 49. Such movement of the assembly of the cross bar 51 and release arm 53 is relative to the stationary 62 affixed on the flange 46, thereby to direct the camming edges 61 against the fingers 62. This action uncouples the latches 57, as shown in Figure 6. The sudden camming of the latches 57 releases the plunger 33, to transpose the initial rather slow compressive action of the armature on the work through the track member 15 into a more rapid irnpelling force.

The reaction of the springs 45, 49 and 55 re-establishes the armature to the initial position, the shock whereof being taken up by the bumper 42 and the finger piece 52, which is made of thin, leaf spring material.

The assembly thus far described may carry out, in a measure, the automatic action of my Patent No. 2,403,947 previously mentioned.

In the present construction, the standards 12 and 13 (Fig. 4) are formed with work clearing overhangs 65 and 66, defining, with the base 10, slots 65' and 66', into which the work, such as collated pages, may he slid towards the fastener or stapler head, the limit being defined by the wall 67 beyond the staple head at the gate 23.

Extended from the standard 13 is a slot 68 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), through which extends the bolt 69, having at one end a knurled tensioning knob 70. The inner end of the bolt 69 has supported thereon a bracket 71 whichsupports the guard 72 and the switch assembly 73 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The guard 72 (Fig. 5) is in a leading position to the abutment 74, as the work is fed into the stapling position, one end 75 of which being guided in the slot 76 of the base plate 10. The abutment 74 is carried on the switch arm 77, pivoted on the bearing 78, and is normally urged toward the entrance end of the slot 68 by the tension spring 79 against the limiting stop pin 80 forwardly. The switch arm 77 carries a trigger 81, projecting through the insulating housing 82 carried on the standard 83.

The insulating housing 82 (Fig. 4) mounts on its upper end 84 the contact bars 85 and 86 in insulated relationship to each other, to extend the contacts 87 and 88 in opposed relation. The contact bar 85 has an aperture 89 outlining a trigger engaging edge 90. The trigger 81 is pivotally mounted on the pin 91 so that its weight normally is urged in the direction of the edge 90.

A resilient tailpiece 92 '(Fig. 5) extends in the path of the release finger 93 on the bar 94, which is slidably guided by the slots 95 in the bar and the pins 96 on the standard 83. A tension spring 97 normally urges the bar 94 upwardly to move the finger 93 out of the path of the tailpiece 92.

The bar 94 has a finger piece 98 (Figs. 1 and 4) lying in the path of the rail 99. The rail 99 is carried by'the cross arms 100 on the bracket 101 extended from the standard 12 on the pivots 102. An extension arm 103, mounted on the flange 46 of the solenoid, supports a tension spring 104 normally to urge the rail 99 upwardly just to limit the support of the rail'99 from exercising any weight on the finger piece 98.

The forward cross arm 100 (Figs. 1 and 4) carries the push arm 105 to extend an inwardly directed finger 106 in the path of the disk 44, mounted on the uppermost end of the armature 38. The rail 99 extends for the full length of the slot 68 and in parallelism therewith. When it is desired to staple or fasten the work W, the position at which the staple is to be driven is determined by the position of the abutment 74 carried on the switch assembly 73. Release of the knob 70 is effected to slidably position the abutment 74 inwardly from the end 16 in accordance with the marginal position at which the staple is to be fixed on the work.

With this assembly, staple or fastener driving may be effected by feeding the work W until the edge thereof engages the abutment 74 (Fig. 5). The effect is to drive the switch arm 77 from the position in engagement with the pin 80 to the limiting position determined by the stop pin 80a. The effect is to draw the contacts 87 and 88 into engagement with each other as the trigger 81 engages the edge 90, to draw the contact arms, normally spaced from each other, into such engagement closing the electrical circuit which these contacts control. The contact arms 85 and 86 are connected by the leads 106 and 107 in the electrical circuit by suitable conductors to control switches activating the solenoid 39, in accordance with the principle disclosed in my Patent No. 2,403,947, above mentioned, and the actuation thereof need not be here repeated it being understood'that upon the closing of the electrical circuit as an incident of push ing the contacts 87 and 88 into engagement by reason of the shifting of the abutments 74 from the position shown in solid line in Figure 5, to the position shown in dotted line, that the armature 38 is thereby impelled from the core to drive the collar 41, the extension 37 and the plunger 33 thereof into stapling engagement in the manner already described. The impelling movement adjacent the limit of the stroke will drive the flange 44 into engagement with the finger 106 and downwardly project the rail 99 to slide the bar 94 downwardly against the resiliency of the spring 97 and engage the tail 92 to tilt the trigger 81 to the released position, thereby ref6 leasing the contacts 87 and 88 to their normally spaced position from each other, and breaking the energizing circuit for the solenoid.

It will be understood that the leads 106' and 107 are flexible conductors of suflicient length and flexibility to follow the switch block assembly 73 in any of the positions in which it may be placed by the shifting of the knob 70within the guide slot 68, thereby securing adjustment for a depth along "the slot 68, which may include a calibrated scale to adepth ranging up to the full limit of the rail 99, thereby placing no limitation on the book binding operations and making the driving mechanism suitable for binding books to the middle of a fold located as far as eight inches from one edge.

The operation cycle is fully automatic, leaving the hands of the operator free to control the work so that rapid, accurate, fatigueless stapling and driving action may be performed as rapidly as the work may feed and withdraw'the work.

In the construction described, I have referred to a gate 23 (Figs. 1 and 9), of general U-shape, spanning the forward end 29 of the rail 15 to provide the clearance slot through which the plunger 33 operates. The employment of a slide rail 15' presents a bearing face 29, assuring the maintenance of an undistorted condition of the staple or fastener in all positions through the clearance slot 30.

Filling of the fasteners S along the track 15 may be accomplished by pivoting the gate 23 (Fig. 1) about the pin 24 as shown in dotted lines. For retaining the gate in operating position, the edges of the gate are formed with a pair of wings 25' and 26', extended from the flanges 25 and 26, respectively, to a height whereby the edges 25a and 26a encounter pawls 25b and 26b, which are spring pressed normally by the wing springs 25cand 26c into engagement with the wings. Each of the pawls has thumb pieces 25d and 26d for manually manipulating the pawls into and out of engagement with the wings extending from the gate. Front filling of the carriage or track through the end 16 may be effected by swinging the gate 23 forwardly, merely pressing the thumb and forefinger which may span the gate 23 against the thumb pieces 25d, 26d of the pawls which, in their angular position, are cammed to the releasing position readily to permit the gate to be pivoted forwardly for the filling operation.

A pusher plate 108 which conforms'to the staple outlining section 18 of the track 15 and'isof a thickness of metal of a staple slides on the track 15. At its rearward end the plate 108 is aflixed to upward and two lateral extensions 109 of the pusher bar 110 which envelops the larger and lower portion of the track 15. The pusher bar 110 is biased by contracting springs 111 (Fig. 2) which are coupled with the anchor fingers 112 to urge the row of staples RS under constant biasing pressure of the springs 111 in the direction of the arrows toward the gate 23.

To hold back the row of staples in filling the track with a charge of staples or in servicing the track, I provide a pawl 113 (Fig. 9), pivotally mounted on the cross pin 114, having a toothed portion 115 extending through the aperture 116 of the channel walls 20. A branch 117 is engaged by one loop of a spring 118, wound on the pin 114. The anchoring end 119 presses against the channel 20 to hold the tooth projecting into the path of the row of staples RS 21 short distance from the gate 23. When the gate 23 is closed, a cross pin 120, carried by the gate, presses against the edge 121 of the pawl 113, to swing the edge 115 clear. from engaging the row of staples RS and permit free sliding movement of the staples past the toothed portion 115 toward the gate. When the gate 23 is swung open, carrying with it the cross pin 120, in the initial movement the tooth 115 is released to the staple engaging position, restraining the action of the springs llland the pusher car- -ried thereby from ejecting the row of staples from the gatefend'.

The'pawl 113 is provided with finger engaging extensions122 (Fig. 2) which maybe manually actuated when the gate 23 is open, to lift the tooth 115 and eject the carriage clear of any staples which may be charged, as when making any repairs or replacement of any distorted staples which may he accidentally charged or improperly placed on the track.

While I have described the filling of the track with therow of staples RS upon swinging the gate to the open position, I may accomplish a somewhat similar objective by a charging aperture 20a (Figs. 9 and 11) which is formed in the lower branch 20 of the inverted U-shaped channel 19'. A plug 1%, comprising an inverted U-shaped channel piece whose lower flange 19b corresponds to the aperture 20a, may be frictionally held in position between the channel branches 21, 22 to fill the gap by detent pins 21a extending through one of the side walls of the channel 19.

In filling the stapler through the aperture 20a, the plug 19a is removed and the pusher plate 108 is retracted against the tension of the springs 111 by the extension bar 123 (Fig. 3) which has a finger piece 124 projecting through the standard 12 until it encounters the wall 67, at which point there is provided a latch 125 having a tooth 126, which may be projected into the path of the extension bar 123. The latch 125 is mounted on the cross pin 127 and is normally urged in the disengaged position by the spring 128 against the stop pin 129. The pin 127 is headed at 130 (Fig. 2) on the exterior face of the standard 12, at which point it is keyed to a thumb piece 131.

In the fully retracted position of the pusher plate 108 by the bar 123, as shown in Figure 2, the latch 125 is depressed by pressing on the thumb piece 131, which engages the tooth 126 against the bar 123 and prevents retraction against the tension of the springs 111. In this position a charge of staples corresponding to a length of the aperture 20a may be mounted upon the track 15, straddling the portion 18 Thereupon the plug 19a may be pressed back into position. The latch 125 is then released to the normal position shown in Figure 3, releasing the pusher plate 108 to actuate the row of staples and slide them forwardly toward the gate 23. By using a track of extended length and an overlying channel 19, as described, a large charge of staples may be mounted on the track which, in the instant case, is double the length of the charging aperture, to permit a row of temporarily cemented staples IRS to be inserted.

The finger piece 124 which projects outside of the standard 12 acts as an index to the position of the follower with relation to the track, giving advance information as to the quantity of the staples or fasteners which remain on the track, and for this purpose the bar 123 is positioned adjacent the forward end of the pusher plate 108 but spaced inwardly from the leading edge 108a (Figure 8) to project the pusher plate 108 forwardly for the full length of the roll until it encounters the abutment screw 132, to assure restraining the edge 108:! of the pressure plate short of coincidence with the slot 30 in the path of the plunger 33.

While I have shown the channel with a filling aperture 2011 large enough to insert a full strip of staples, I make provision for assuring charging of the track 15 only when the pusher 108 has been fully retracted rearwardly of the aperture 20a. For this purpose, the pusher bar 110 is provided with a rack bar 133 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 8), having notches 134 along the length thereof. These notches may be irreversibly engaged by the pawl 135 pivoted on the pin 136 on the sides of the channel 19. The pawl 135 is urged into constant contact with the rack bar 133 by the spring 137. The pawl 135 has a loose lateral rocking as well as pivotal mounting on the pin 136 so that at the end of the stroke of the pusher plate 108, the rack bar 133 exposes a camming face 138 in the path of the pawl 135.

A tail 139, extended from the pawl encounters an abutting finger 140 to restrain unlimited downward pivotal movement of the pawl 135 by the spring 137. An upstanding wing 141 engages the stop surface 140 to urge the pawl 135 into engagement with the outer face of the branch 21 on which the pawl 135 is mounted.

In this position of retraction of the pusher plate through the use of the bar 123, the pawl 135 is pushed laterally by the camming surface 138 to cause the depressed pawl 135 to ride on the outer e lge 142 of the rack bar 133 and hold the'pawl 135 out of engagement with the notches 134 until the leading edge 133a of the rack bar has passed the pawl 135, in which position the pawl 135 is pressed into contact with the branch 21 of the channel 19 to position the sharp point of the pawl 135 into engaging position with the notches 134.

In this position the track 15 may be charged through the aperture 20a. However, irreversible movement of the pusher plate 108 is secured, to preclude any endeavor to fill staples upon the track 15 except for a full row, by the shielding influence which the pusher plate 108 provides (see Figs. 1, 9 and 11). Thus, the staples are always guided within an enclosure formed by the channel section 20 or the corresponding wall of the plug 19a, Where the plug is placed into position after filling through the aperture 20a.

While I have shown and described a stapler which may hold approximately a double charge of staples, to provide a continuous supply representing approximately five hundred wire staples of the kind normally employed in book binding devices, I may, with the construction described, increase the capacity of the stapling device many fold.

For this purpose I make reference to Figures 13 to 23 wherein corresponding parts have been similarly numbered. 1

In this embodiment I dispose of the plug shown in Figure 12 and extend between the branches 21 and 22 upstanding guides 143, 143 comprising channel members having lower branches 144 and side branches 145, which correspond to the outline of the filling aperture 20a when spaced adjacent the ends of the filling aperture.

Into the guides formed by the channels 143, 143, I may direct a magazine 146. The magazine 146 is a tubular casing conforming identically in outer contour with the aperture 20a, to provide a good sliding fit. It has a filling opening 147 covered by a cap 148. The cap 148 has dependent overhanging side edges 149 constricted at their edges to engage outwardly flared edges of the magazine 146, to provide a sliding, capping action to uncover the edge 147 and prevent displacement in the longitudinal direction. Through this edge which is the filling opening there may be inserted a plurality of rows of staples, shown more clearly in Figures 20 to 23.

In the magazine as shown, the depth thereof is sulficient to hold in superimposed position a plurality of rows, ten for example, of staples, each row constituting about five hundred staples, so that the driving legs P (Fig. 23) ride the bridge B on each adjacent row, with the driving legs P in the leading position adjacent the bottom of the magazine, at which point the side walls 150 are formed with inwardly directed lips 15]., which restrain the staples from edgewise removal'in the direction of the lips 151.

The end walls 152 (Figure 20) of the magazine have cutouts 153 slightly greater than the depth of the staples, to permit of sidewise sliding of a row of staples in the direction of the end walls 152 through the cutout 153.

Upon filling the magazine to the fullest extent, there is superimposed on the last row LRS (Fig. 22) a pressure shoe 154 which conforms to a cross section of the magazine. 'Upstanding skids 155 (Fig. 20) guide the shoe 154 tion as the pusher plate 1%, acting as a asrmm smoothly between the walls 152 as well as to guide the pusher plate 108 through the magazine. A W-spring 156 of leaf spring metal over-rides the shoe 154 and urges the charge of staples in the magazine toward the lips 151 under constant pressure when the cap 148 is placed in position.

With a magazine 146 as described assembled, the stapler is adjusted first to retract the pusher plate 198 rearwardly until its shielding influence over the aperture Zita. is withdrawn when it is completely retracted, unobstructedly to expose the upper edge 18 of the track 15. In this position, the hold back latch 125 (Figs. 14 and 15) is manually depressed. When the latch is so positioned the magazine 146 is guided to be pushed down between the channels 143, 143 to direct the lips 1.51 in the leading position until they engage the track 15. Continued downward pressure causes engagement of the lips 151 with the constricted portion of the track 15, until the lips engage the camming shoulders 15a, in which position the lips are spread apart, slightly spreading the side walls of the magazine near the botton and releasing direct contact of the walls 150 with the first row of staples FRS, so that they contact the edge 18 of the track 15, as more clearly shown in Figure 22. When in this position, the magazine is latched into position by the spring latches 157. The holding latch 125 (Fig. 15) is then manipulated to tilt it upwardly and release its engagement with the cross bar 123 to the biasing action of the feed springs 111. The stapler is now ready for automatic feeding until the first row of staples FRS has been pushed from the magazine in the direction of the gate by the shield 108.

When this action has been efiected, the position of the indicator handle 124 will show that condition as it rides along the slot in the standard 12. The pawl 135 will then have dropped clear of the rack bar notches 134 adjacent the camming edge 138 of the rack bar, retracting the pusher plate 108 from its shielding position. In this position, the next row of staples SRS is free to be projected in track engaging position by reason of the expansive action of the shoe 154 on the complete column of superimposed rows of staples. The stapler is now ready for use of the next row of staples.

it is unnecessary to manipulate the latch 125 when the magazine is full to hold the bar 123 in the retracted posishield, will encounter the row of staples just dropped into position to feed the same forwardly toward the gate 23.

This assembly permits of high speed continuous operation in accordance with the quantity of staples in the magazine, interruption being experienced only for retracting the pusher plate 1% (or shield acting member) through the expedient of the bar 123, which, by reason of the pawl 135 acting upon the rack bar 133, is made possible only when the shield has completely exposed the track 15', thereby preventing any pushing action on a row of staples unless a full row of the staples is fully and completely seated on the track 15 tending to keep the rows in parallelism.

By the provision of the magazine as described, economies are eifected, especially in employing staples which are rozen" or otherwise temporarily cemented to each other in that the necessity for manually handling a row of such fragile articles is eliminated. To a degree also, except for convenience, the staples need not be cemented if suitably frictionally charged into the magazine.

By my construction as the last row of staples LRS is consumed, the operator need only deflect the latches 157 10 to permit removal of the magazine 146 and make replacement with a loaded magazine to have a new charge of large magnitude in readiness. High speed continuous operation without stopping to load the stapler, is thereby made possible.

Subject matter shown herein and not claimed has been transferred to my copending application Serial No. 659,678, filed May 6, 1957, as a division hereof.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrically operated fastener driving machine for driving fasteners from a magazine into work comprising, in combination, a base plate and work clamping means including a fastener magazine for said fasteners movably carried over said base plate, a solenoid and armature supported on said base plate for actuating said work clamping means into work clamping position upon energizing of said solenoid, a plunger connected with said armature for driving fasteners from said magazine into the work, releasable coupling means between said clamping means and said armature, said coupling means being released from said clamping means upon an initial movement of the clamping means into work clamping position by said armature, whereby upon an initial movement of the armature, the plunger and clamping means move together and then after the coupling means between the armature and clamping means are released, the plunger moves independently of said clamping means to drive the fastener.

2. In an electrically operated fastener driving machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said releasable coupling means comprise interengaging latching means.

3. In an electrically operated fastener driving machine comprising a base plate, a fastener magazine pivotally mounted for relative movement to said base plate supported on said base plate, a standard extending from said base plate, a solenoid supported by said standard over said base plate, a plunger having an armature connected to said solenoid to drive fasteners from said carrier, switching means carried on said standard, switch operating means movably mounted on said standard for horizontal adjustment and including work abutment means to be shifted to actuate said switching means into making and breaking connection of a circuit for said solenoid, an elongated bar resiliently and pivotally mounted on said standard and having means adapted to be contacted by the plunger at the end of its driving stroke to pivot said bar to shift said switch operating means in all positions of the work abutment means.

4. In an electrically operated fastener driver machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said elongated bar is pivotally mounted on said standard by cross arms at each end thereof and includes means on one of said cross arms contacted by said plunger at the end of its stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,205,861 Oussani June 25, 1940 2,328,983 La Place Sept. 7, 1943 2,403,947 Oussani July 16, 1946 2,409,049 Lang Oct. 8, 1946 2,542,879 Peterson Feb. 20, 1951 2,588,929 Jacobus Mar. 11, 1952 2,651,775 Sasser Sept. 15, 1953 2,652,563 Leibowitz Sept. 22, 1953 2,698,938 Stebbings Jan. 11, 1955 2,723,392 Cole Nov. 15, 1955

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