US2905942A

US2905942A - Removable front for stapling machine

Info

Publication number: US2905942A
Application number: US622456A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Hugh M Grey; Henry E Coley
Original assignee: GREY EQUIPMENT Inc
Current assignee: GREY EQUIPMENT Inc
Priority date: 1956-11-15
Filing date: 1956-11-15
Publication date: 1959-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-29

Description

H. M. GREY, JR, ET AL 2,905,942

REMOVABLE FRONT FOR STAPLING MACHINE Sept. 29, 1959 Filed Nov. 15} 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 R R E mR GE Y W E m m a ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1959 H. M. GREY, JR.. ETAL 2305,

REMOVABLE FRONT FOR STAPLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 & s R m Ag W Y V E mm p I .E M w w u N an, i M U .llnd w m W M J B 2,905,942 REMOVABLE FRONT non STAPLING MACHINE Application November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,456

8 Claims. or. 1-49 This invention relates to improvements in stapling machines and more especially to a removable front or face plate for hand and power operated staple driving machines.

Heretofore, in staple driving machines, where the staples are driven down a staple guiding slot or passageway by a plunger, the slot may become clogged or jammed because a defective staple becomes wedged in the slot as it is driven therethrough by the plunger. In order to clear a jammed staple from the staple guiding slot it is usually necessary to remove the face plate covering the staple guiding slot in order to gain access to the slot and remove the damaged staple. The face plates on stapling machines are usually held in place to cover the slot or passageway by screws or bolts. Since jamming is a fairly frequent event with most staplers, after repeatedly removing the face plate the heads of the screws or bolts become damaged to the extent that the plate cannot be removed again and then the screws or bolts have to be replaced. When using a staple driving machine in combination with an automatic machine, for positioning the articles to be stapled, the time lost in removing the face plate and unjamming the slot or passageway in the stapler can prove a costly and time consuming operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easily releasable front or face plate for a stapling machine for quickly exposing the staple guiding slot through which the staples are driven by the usual plunger in order to remove jammed staples.

It is another object of this invention to provide an easily removable front or face plate for a stapling machine Which can be repeatedly removed and replaced without damaging the face plate or the linkage holding the face plate in position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a typical stapling machine with the improved removable front attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the stapling machine taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the lower portion of the stapling machine taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the stapler indicated broadly at is shown as being a pneumatically operated stapling machine of a conventional type. Although the removable front is shown on this type stapler, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to this stapler but may be adapted towork with any stapling machine having a staple guiding passageway and a plunger for driving staples therethrough. The stapler shown includes a handle 11, a trigger 12, an air intake line 13 and an air operated plunger driving head 14 which is provided to drive a staple driving plunger 15 upon actuation of the trigger 12.

The lower portion of the housing 14 has the upper end of a substantially U-shaped staple track supporting member 20 fixed thereto as by screws 21. The front end of a suitable staple housing which is in the shape of a rectangular channel 22 is fixed in the lower end of the U-shaped track supporting member 20. The lower por-" tion of the channel 22 supports a staple guide bar 23 (Figure 5) for supporting and guiding a straddling row of staples S. The row of staples S are urged forwardly along the staple guide bar 23 by a follower 25 (Figure 4), the front end of which engages the rear end of the row of staples S and the rearward end of which has an upstanding portion 27 integral therewith and which extends to above the channel 22 (Figure l). The upstanding portion 27 is penetrated by the forward end of a spring guide rod 30, the medial portion of which is surrounded by a compression spring 31. The front end of the compression spring 31 bears against the upstanding portion 27 and the rear end of the compression spring 31 bears against a rod support member 32 to which the rear end of the rod 30 is fixed. The lower end of the rod support member 32 is suitably hooked to a transversely extending plate 33 integral with the staple guiding channel 22. The particular stapler shown is usually provided with a front guide plate 35 suitably secured to the lower portion of the head member 14 and the U-shaped member 20 as by respective screws 36 and 37 (Figures 2 and 5). The guide plate 35 is usually provided with a plunger and staple guiding passageway 40 (Figure 3) for guiding the lower end of the plunger 15 as it drives the staple S into the material being stapled and the front end of the passageway 40 usually acts as a stop for the first of the group of staples S as they are urged forwardly by the spring 31 and follower 25.

In operation of the conventional stapler, upon actuation of the trigger 12 compressed air will force the plunger 15 down the pasageway 40 and drive the leading staple S of the group of staples down the passageway 40 and into the material. If there is any defect in the legs of or variation in thickness of the staple S or should one of the staples S be moved into the slot 46 in other than an upright position the descending plunger 15 may cause the staple S to become jammed in the passageway 40 and necessitate removing the guide plate 35 to remove the damaged staple S in order to unjam the passageway of the machine. In order to remove the guide plate 35, it is necessary to remove the

screws

36 and 37 to gain access to the passageway 40 andthe jammed staple S. Where the stapling machine is used in combination with an automatic article handling machine, this removal of the guide plate 35, in order to clear a jam, will cost a loss in production time of the machine and upon repeated removal of the guide plate 35 the slots or heads of the

screws

36 and 37 become enlarged to the point that the

screws

36 and 37 can no longer be removed and have to be replaced.

In order to provide an easily and quickly removable front for the stapler in order to gain access to the passageway 40 the guide plate 35 has been modified by mill ing a vertically extending slot 42 therein (Figures 2 and 4) which extends substantially the Width of the plunger 15 and the staples S. In order to cover the milled slot 42 and extend partially therein a removable guide plate 45 is provided to partially cover the guide plate 35 and has a rib 46 integral therewith adapted to fit into the slot 42 in the guide plate 35. Suitable aligning means has been provided for vertically aligning the removable guide Patented Sept. 29, .1959

' t 3 plate 45 in the proper position in relationship to the guide plate 35 and which aligning means comprises balls 50 suitably embedded in the removable guide plate 45 and adjacent QPPQ i Q. d. i fli r 11 (F u e th plate 45 'is in proper vertical alignment with the plate 35. he a s w l exte into drilled hole 51 adj cent P- aq t des th l 1 n, e P ate. ,5

' The removable guide plate 45 is held in engagement with the guide plate 35 by an adjustable abutment in the f orm of a threaded bolt 53 which is held in adjusted positign by a locking nut 54, The bolt 53 is threadably mounted in the medial portion of a locking plate 55 one end of which is bifurcated and hinged on the forward sad of, a tati y up t 3 1 a Th e r end of the arm 57 is suitably secured, as by welding, to the. ide. one L f he U- haped support m r 'ljhe outer or free end of the locking plate 55 has arm engaging seat or cut-out 56 for reception of one end at. a l nkin rm 6- e po or e r en i th locking 69 is bifurcated and pivotally connected as at 61 to the medial portion of a locking handle 62 The inner end of the locking handle 6; is pivotally connected as at 64 to a bifurcated bracket 65 secured to the rear edge of one leg of the U-shaped support member 20.

In order to remove the removable guide plate 45 an operator may grasp the handle 62 and move the same to the dotted line position in Figure 4 to thereby release the grip of the arm 60 on the locking plate 55 so that the locking plate 55 may be swung outwardly from the plate 45 to substantially the dotted line position shown in Figare. 4 e re e guide p ate 45 m t e be Isrnoved from the guide plate 35 to expose the passageway 40 so that any damaged staples S may be removed, Upon the passageway 40 being cleared of bent or defective staples S, the removable guide plate 45 may be again positioned on the guide plate 35 so that the balls 50 line tip with the holes 51 in the guide plate 35, swing the locking plate 55 to the solid line position (Figure 4), swing the free end of the arm 60 into engagement with the seat 56 at the edge of the locking plate 55 and move the handle 62 from the dotted line position to the solid line position {Figure 4) to thus lock the plate 55 in position and hold the removable guide plate 45 in fixed relationship to the guide plate 35.

Although the removable face plate or front 45 is shown and described as being an auxiliary or additional plate psed in combination with the conventional guide plate 35, which has been modified, it is to be understood that the conventional guide plate 35 could be used without modification by simply not using the

screws

36 and 37 holding the guide plate 35 in position with the loclring plate 55, arm 60 and handle 62. If this were done the guide plate 35 would need no modification since the pas,- sageway 40 normally extends to the bottom of the guide plate 35 and the locking plate 55 and associated linkage could easily be used to hold the guide plate 35 in position for quick removal upon a jam in the passageway 40. The guide plate 35 could be provided with pins, balls or ether aligning means to align the plate 35 with the body of the stapler upon replacement thereof and before looking the same in place by the locking plate 55, arm 60 and handle 62. i

It is thus seen that we have provided a novel removable front or face plate which may be quickly and easily removed to expose the staple guiding passageway in a stapler to facilitate unjarnrning of the passageway. The removable front is adapted to be used with a large variety of staplers and will not become damaged after re.- peated use.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope .of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a fastener driving device having a head provided with a fastener receiving and driving passageway, a fastener driving plunger slidable in said passageway and a fastener supplying magazine for progressively feeding fasteners to said passageway; a guide plate fixedly secured on'said head and having a vertically extending. opening therein in alignment with said passageway, said'openirig exposin'g said passageway through said guide plate, an auxiliary removable guide plate covering said opening in said guide plate, and quick releasable means for removal of said auxiliary guide plate to provide access to said passageway through said openmg.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary guide plate has an integ ral vertically extending rib projecting therefrom, and said rib being matingly received within the opening in said guide plate for covering said opening.

3. in combination with a stapling machine having a head provided with a staple receiving and driving passage-I way, a staple driving plunger slidable in said passage 'ay and a staple supplying magazine for progressively feeding staples to said passageway; a removable guide plate ering said passageway, and quick releasable mean's'for removal of said guide plate to provide 'access' to sai d passageway comprising a locking plateengageable with said guide plate and hinged at one side on said headf 'a loclting arm engageable with the opposite side ofs'aid locking plate and a locking handle hinged to said head and connccted to said locking arm. i

4. In combination with a stapling machine having a head provided with a staple receiving and driving passage way, a staple driving plunger slidable iri said passageway, a staple supplying magazine for progressively feeding staples to said passageway'and means in said headfo t driving said staple plunger in said passageway to engage the staple disposed in said passageway; a guide plate on said head, said guide plate covering said staple' any; ing plunger and having a vertical opening therein iil align ment with said passageway, an auxiliary removable giiide plate covering said passageway, quick releasable "means for removal of said auxiliary guide plate toprovide" access to said passageway comprising alockin'gplat'e' etigageable with said auxiliary guide plate and'hin'ged at one side on said head, a locking arm engageable warmest; posite side of said loclring plate, andado ckiri'g handle hinged tosaid head and connected to said locking arm.

5. In a stapling machine having a staple driving 'pluiig'ei for driving staples into an article, a magazine for progressively feeding the staples to said plunger andmeans including a face plate forming a throat and throughwhich the staples are driven; the combination therewith" of means forreleasing said face plate to expos s'ai'd throat, said releasable means comprising a locking plate hinged at one side to said stapling machine, an adjustable abutment in said locking plateand engageable with saidface plate, an arm engageable with the free side of said "locking plate and a locking handle hinged at one end to said stapling machine and atta ched intermediate its ends to said arm, said handle being movable to a firstposi'tioh re release said arm, said locking plate and said face plate and being movable to a second position to lock said arm, said locking plate and said face plate. A

6. In a stapling machine having a staple driving plunger for driving staples into an article, a magazine for progressively feeding the staples to said plunger and a face plate having a recess forming a throat therethrough and through which the staples are driven; the combination therewith of an auxiliary plate removably engaging 'said face plate and having a vertical rib integral'therewith, said face plate having an opening therein for reception of said rib on said auxiliary plate, said rib forming one wall of said throat, means for releasing said auxiliary plate to expose said throat, said releasable means consprising a locking plate hinged at one side to said stapling machine, an adjustable abutment in said locking plate engageable with said auxiliary plate, an arm engageable with the free side of said locking plate and a locking handle hinged at one end to said stapling machine and attached intermediate its ends to said arm, said handle being movable to a first position to release said arm, said locking plate and said auxiliary plate, and being movable to a second position to lock said arm, said locking plate and said auxiliary plate.

7. In a fastener driving device having a fastener driving plunger, a fastener supplying magazine, and means including a removable guide plate defining a fastener receiving and driving passageway, said plunger being slidable in said passageway to drive a fastener therefrom and said magazine progressively feeding additional fasteners to said passageway as they are driven therefrom; quick releasable means for removal of said guide plate to provide access to said passageway, said quick releasable means comprising a locking plate engageable with said guide plate and hingedly connected at one side to said fastener driving device, a locking arm engageable with the other side of said locking plate, and a locking handle hingedly connected to said fastener driving device and to said locking arm.

8. In a fastener driving device having a fastener driving plunger for driving fasteners into an article, a fastener supplying magazine for progressively feeding the fasteners to said plunger, and means including a removable guide plate forming a fastener receiving passageway through which the fasteners are driven; the combination therewith of means for releasing said guide plate to expose said passageway, said releasable means comprising a locking plate hinged at one side to said fastener driving device, an adjustable abutment in said locking plate 'engageable with said guide plate, an arm engageable with the other side of said locking plate and a locking handle hinged at one end to said fastener driving device and attached intermediate its ends to said arm, said handle being movable to a first position to release said arm, said locking plate and said guide plate, and being movable to a second position to lock said arm, said locking plate and said guide plate in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 90,7 63, involving Patent N 0. 2,905,942, H. M. Grey, Jan, and H. E. Coley, REMOVABLE FRONT FOR S'TAPLING MACHINE, vfinal judgment adverse to the patente '1 and 2.

@dezfte March 30, 1965.]

es was rendered Aug. 16, 1960, as to claims