US3026518A - Automatic stapler - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl v AUTOMATIC STAPLER l8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 24, 1955 RNEY March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC sTAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Y ATTORNEY SN s@ Original Filed March 24, 1955 March 27, 1962 J, J, QQSSANI` 3,026,518

AUTOMATIC STAPLER Original Filed March 24, 1955 mx. 4 44W 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 'ATTORNEY March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 24, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 24, 1955 LMPHHWHHHE .l MN r l w A E m,\\ Wmv Rmhw k @www m m .www 1 m NQ QQ t @WS HW/E` l m w S QW MUM um ww 5 .@.l I|U|||1| Il AQ i -|||l AQ d NS MW.

March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed March 24, 1955 jamon ATTORNEY 4 March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER Original Filed March 24. 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY March 27, 1962 J. J. oussANl AUTOMATIC STAPLER Original Filed March 24, 1955 Tull F R5 I IjlIII/I/l/Tlllllllllllllll IIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll||||||ll||||||m|m| /5/ 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR `JAMES J. OUSSANI /ZM ATTORNEY States arent Oce 9 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to magazines for stapling machines; more particularly to electrically operated stapling machines.

My invention, in its more particular form, constitutes improvements pertinent to electrically operated stapling machines of the character disclosed in 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 eicient 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 component 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, this invention is directed to details disclosed in my Patent No. 2,877,461, granted March 17, 1959, dealing with the features of the track structure and magazine refilling components particularly useful in assuring consistent and continuous, uninterrupted use of the stapling assembly; and still more particularly this invention has as its object the provision of means for the rapid refilling of a supply of staples by a novel form of magazine and track whereby long and continuous service and operation of an electrically operated stapling machine is achieved.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, `forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational v-iew of a stapling assembly in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 o f FIG- URE 1;

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

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sect-ion taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4, in one position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, in another position thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a magnified section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8a is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of the arrows 8a-8a of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE `9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 2; Y

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

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail corresponding to -FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 in accordance with another embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 14 is a section taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a section taken on the line 20--20 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 21-21 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 22-22 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 1-8 is a fragmentary section of the magazine before assembly to the position on the rail as shown in FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of the magazine by itself.

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 electried fastener driver is shown in the 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 move between Work engaging 'and releasing positions.

The track 15, at its forward end I6, 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 by the thickness of the staples S, permitting sliding movement therebetween.

The channel 19 at its lower branch 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 anges 25 and 26 embracing the track 15, to outline the slot 27 (see FIG. 9 and FIG. 15) 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 clear-ance slot 30 (see FIG. 9), corresponding to the thickness of the material of which the staples S are formed.

While I have `described in the parent application, now Patent No. 2,877,461, granted March 17, 1959, the filling of the track with a row of staples RS upon swinging the gate 23 to the open position shown in dotted lines, I may accomplish a somewhat similar objective by a charging aperture 20a (FIGURES 9 and ll) which is formed in the lower branch 20 of the LLI-shaped channel 19 in a rearward portion, to receive a row of said staples for positioning in a slidable spanning position on ,the track 15, with the driving points P lowermost. A plug 19a comprising a U-shaped channel piece, whose lower branch 19b corresponds to the aperture 20a, is utilized to cover the aperture 20a. The plug 19a may be held in position between the channel branches 21, ,22 to fill the aperture 20a by detent pins 21a, which extend through one of the side Walls of the channel 19.

To fill the track 15 with staples in this embodiment, the plug 19a is removed by lifting the same against the friction of the detent pins 21a (see FIGURES 1l and l2). The pusher plate 108, which has a rearwardly extended portion for a length corresponding at least to the length of the aperture 20a along the track 15 is retracted from adjacent the discharge end against the tension of the spring 111 by means of the extension bar 123 (FIGURES 2 and 3), one end of the spring being anchored to the anchor fingers 112 extending outward from the channel 19 and the other end to the extension 109 of the bar 110 which carries the pusher plate 108. This bar has a finger piece 124 projecting through the standard 12, which bar may be moved until it encounters the wall 67. At this point there is provided a latch 125 (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 14) having a tooth 126 which may be moved to engage the extension bar 123.

The latch 125 is mounted on the cross pin 127 and is normally urged into disengaging position by the spring 128 against the stop pin 129. The pin 127 is headed at 130 (see FIGURES 2 and 14) and lies on the exterior face of the standard 12, at which position the pin 127 is keyed to the thumb piece 131.

In the fully retracted position of the pusher plate 108 by the bar 123, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 2, 3 and 14, the latch 125 is depressed by pressing down on the thumb piece 131, which engages the tooth 126 (see FIG- URE 3)` against the bar 123 to retain the pusher in retracted position. lIn this position a charge of staples in the form of a row, corresponding substantially to the length of the aperture 20a, may be bodily mounted on the track 15, with the driving legs P advancing first to pass over the track and to have the side branches of the staples straddling the portion 1S. rThereupon, the plug 19a may be pressed back into position. 'Ille latch 125 is then released to the normal position shown in FIGURE 3, thereby releasing the pusher plate 108 to slide the row of staples forwardly toward the gate 23.

As shown in FIGURE 9 for the first filling of the stapling device, in view of the rearward position of the aperture 20a and its aligned relation to :the position of the abutment screw 132, a whole row of staples RS can be retained and has `been slid into the slot between the channel 20 and the track 15 before the leading staple reaches the gate 23. The pusher plate 108 can go no further since the end of the `bar 110 wil-l then reach the abutment screw 132 (see FIG. 9). Thereupon the plug 19a is again removed, the -bar 123 latched in locking position at the rearmost retraction of the bar 123 and another row of staples RS is mounted upon the track through the aperture a and the plug 19a again replaced in position, as before.

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 row until the lead-ing edge of the pusher bar 110 encounters the abutment screw 132 (see FIGURE 9), to assure restraining the edge 108a (see FIGURE 8) of the pusher plate 108 to move short of coincidence with the end of the filling aperture 20a and to drive the edge 108:1 short of coincidence with the slot 30 which is located in the path of the plunger 33. This action limits the discharge end of the staples not to pass beyond the end of the filling aperture 20a, so that an improperly seated staple does not pass beyond the filling aperture 20a onto a portion of the track 15 beneath the channel 20, staples beyond the filling aperture 20a always being discharged by being pushed through a row of staples between the filling aperture and the plunger slot 30.

, 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 (FIGS. 2, 4, 8 and 8a), having notches 134 along the length thereof. These notches may be irreversibly engaged by the pawl 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 135 encounters an abutting finger 140 to restrain unlimited downward pivotal movement of the pawl 135 by the spring 137 about the pin 136. An upstanding wing 141 on the tail 139 engages the abutting finger 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 (see FIGURE 8a) to cause the depressed pawl 135 to ride on the outer edge 142 of the rack bar 133 and hold the pawl 135 out of engagement from 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, since the pawl has a loose lateral rocking as well as pivotal mounting on the pin 136.

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 infiuence which the pusher plate provides (see FIGURES l, 9 and ll). This condition has utility not only to assure proper seating of the plug 19a whose branch 19b should overlie the staples, but is also of usefulness in connection with the second phase of my invention, employing a multiple row magazine in the filling operation of this expedient. 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. Irreversible movement of the pusher plate to preclude any endeavor to fill staples upon the track 15 except for a full row has utility not only to assure proper seating of the plug 19a whose lower branch 19b overlies the staples, to act as a guide, but also in connection with the second phase of the invention with a magazine filler to be described as this description proceeds.

This form of use of the stapler may therefore hold approximately a double, straight-in-line charge of staples, to provide a continuous supply representing approximately five hundred, where staples of the kind normally employed in book binding devices are employed.

I may, with the same construction, increase the capacity of the stapling device many fold. For this purpose I make reference to FIGURES 13 to 19. In this ernbodiment I no longer utilize the plug 19a shown in FIGURES 9, l1 and l2. Between the branches 21, 22 of the channel 19, upstanding guides 143, 143 are affixed comprising channel members having bottom branches 144 and side branches 145, which correspond to the outlining edges of the filling aperture 20a. Into the guides formed by the channels 143, 143, I may position a bodily removable, integral magazine 146, shown in perspective in FIGURE 19. The magazine is a tubular casing conforming identically in contour with the aperture 20a, and fitting with a sliding fit in between the channels 143, 143. The magazine 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 cf the magazine 146 and provide a sliding,

capping action to cover the opening 147 and prevent displacement in the longitudinal direction of sliding movement.

With the cap removed, a plurality of rows of staples may be filled into the opening 147 (see FIGURES l5| to 19). The magazine 146 has a depth sufticent to hold in superimposed position a plurality of rows of staples (ten for example), each row constituting about tive hundred staples, so that the driving legs P (FIGURE 18) ride the outer 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 151 which restrain the staples from edgewise removal in the direction of the lips 151.

The end walls 152 of the magazine 146 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 cutouts 153.

Upon lling the magazine to the fullest extent, one row over the other, there is superimposed on the last row LRS (FIGURES 15, 17, 18 and 19), apressure shoe 154 which conforms to the cross-section of the magazine 146. The pressure shoe has upstanding skids 155 (see FIG- URES 15 and 19) which guide the shoe 154 smoothly between the end walls 152 and side walls 150, as well as to guide the staples RS when in the lowermost position under the force of the feed of the pusher plate 108, as will be described. A W-spring 156 of leaf spring steel overrides Ithe shoe 154 and urges the charge of rows in the magazine toward the lips 151 under constant pressure, when the casing is capped by the cap 148, as shown in FIGURES 13, 18 and 19.

The magazine 146 imay be reloaded by unsnapping the cover 148. This is done by squeezing the side walls 150 toward each other to u-nlatch the overhanging side edges 149 of the cover. The shoe 154 and the W-spring are withdrawn and the full charge of rows oct staples SRS stacked within the container, the bottom row FRS being held against discharge through the opening previously described by the inwardly turned lips 151, each row above the bottom row resting with the driving legs P of the row of staples `on the bridge B of another row of staples, as shown in FIGURES l7 to 19. As many rows are superimposed in this fashion as will leave enough clearance to hold the shoe 154 and W-spring 156 in the fully compressed condition of the latter. The cover 148 is then snapped back into engagement with the magazine 146, trapping the W-spring under its biasing iniiuence between the cover and the shoe overlying the topmost row of staples LRS, `to hold the stacked rows in parallelism with the bottommost row FRS and in engagement with the lips 151.

As indicated in connection with the rst embodiment and in my parent patent above mentioned, all parts being referred to `by identical reference characters, the pusher plate 188 has two lateral extensions 109 (see FIGURES 9 and ll) which envelope the larger and the lower portions of the track member 15. The pusher bar 110 is biased by contr-acting springs 111 (see FIGURES 2 and V14) which are coupled with the anchoring fingers 112 to urge the row of staples RS under constant biasing pressure of the springs 111 in the direction of the arrows (see FIGURES 8 and 9).

The same holdback construction is utilized in holding the pusher plate in retracted position during reloading as described in connection with FIGURES 3 and 9 of the prior embodiment.

With the magazine 146 as described, assembly may now be made with rthe stapler. The stapler is first adjusted to retract the pusher plate y188 rearwardly until the leading edge 108a is withdrawn rearwardly of the aperture 20a so that the pusher plate, forming a Shield, is withdrawn completely and no longer obst-ructs access to the upper edge -18 of the track 1-5. YIn this position, the

holdback latch (see FIGURES 3 4and 14) is manually depressed. When the latch is in this position, the magazine 146 is guided between the channels 143, 143 to direct the lips 151 in the leading position until they engage the track 15 (see FIGURE 17). Continued downward pressure on the magazine causes the engagement of the lips 151 with the more constricted portion of the track 15 until the lips 151 eng-age the c-arnming shoulders 15a. This causes the lips 151 to spread yapart slightly, spreading the side walls of the magazine 146 near the bottom and releasing direct contact of the walls 158l with the first row of Staples FRS .so that the bridges B of the staples contact the upper edge 18 of the track 15, yas more clearly shown in FIGURE 17. The biasing iniiuence of the spring 156 shifts the entire stack of rows of staples down so that the bottommost row FRS spans the track 15. When in this position, the magazine is latched into position by the spring latches 157 (see FIGURE 13). These two members, exten-ding from the channels 143, are snapped over the cover 148 to hold the magazine against displacement.

The stapler is not ready for automatic feeding until the first irow of staples FRS has been pushed from the magazine in the direction of the gate by the pusher plate 1118. Accordingly, the iirst operation effected is to feed one row of staples through the aperture 20a into the slot between the channel 2d Vand the track 15. Due to the spacing of the opening 2da rearwardly of the gate, the pusher plate will .shift the first row of staples to the gate 23 in line with the slot 27 (see FIGURES 9 and l0) and hold all of the staples liat in the slot between the channel 28 and the track `15. When said latter slot is lled, the pusher plate 108 may then be retracted. The pusher plate, by reason of its rearwardly extended length, shields the track 15 from contact with the next row of staples SRS so that the driving legs P ride thereon.

The movement rearwardly of the pusher plate 108 is possible after one row of staples has been moved to the gate 23, since the holdback pawl has reached a position opposite the `rack 133 adjacent the cam 138 (see FIGURES 8, 8a). At this point, the pawl 135 drops in the space between the finger 105 and the cam 138, to free the pawl 135 from engagement with the rack bar 133, Under the biasing iniiuence of the spring 111, the pusher plate 108 and the push bar 110 may again be moved rearwardly from the gate, the pawl 135 being swerved along the edge of the rack bar 133 to hold the tooth of the pawl 135 disengaged from the rack bar notches 134, and to permit the push bar 111) to be drawn back, the pawl 1:35 being pivotally and tiltably mounted on the pin 136, as will be `apparent from inspection of FIGURE 4.

The rearward movement of the pusher plate 108 against the biasing influence of the spring 111 moves the pusher plate 108 again to uncover the aperture 28a and permit the second row of staples previously described to drop in nested position upon the track 15.

The stapler is then operated until a single row of staples has been exhausted yand the leading edge 108:1 (see FIGURE 8) of the pusher plate 1118 passes the aperture 20a and the bar 110 abuts the stop 132. In this position, the procedure already described may be repeated, to drop the next row of staples LRS into positionupon manual retraction of the bar 123.

The electrical operation of the stapler has already been described in the patent of which this application is a division, where such subject matter is claimed.

It will be observed that when a single row of staples adjacent the gate 23Vis exhausted, such condition is indicated lby thehandle 124 as it rides along the slot 65 in the standard 12 toward the forward end or gate 23'. Again at such stage, the pawl 135 will then have dropped clear of the rack bar notches 134 on the camming edge 138 of the rack hat', disengaging the tooth of the pawl 135 to permit retracting of the pusher plate S in the direction opposite to the arrow shown in FIGURE 8. In this position of the pawl 135, the bar 123 is moved against the biasing influence of the spring 111 rearwardly away from the gate. This uncovers the aperture 20a as the rearwardly directed shielding portion of the pusher plate 108 rides beneath the lowermost row of staples in the magazine `and directs the leading edge 108e to the fully rearward position. In this uncovering position of the aperture 20a, the next row of staples is free to be projected upon the track by reason of the expansive spring projecting action of the shoe 154 on the remaining complete column of superimposed rows of staples.

The stapler is now ready for use of the next row of staples. If the cross bar 123 has been held in latching position by the latch 125, manual retraction may be necessary.

It is to be observed that it is unnecessary to manipulate the holdback latch 125 when the magazine is full or has a charge left, to hold the bar 123 in the retracted position, as the row of staples will have dropped into position on the track as soon Ias the pusher plate 1108, acting as a shield on the rearward stroke, uncovers the track to the overlying stack of rows of staples which may be in the magazine.

The assembly permits of high speed and continuous operation in accordance with the quantity of staples in the magazine, interruption being experienced only for retracting the pusher plate 108 through the expedient of the bar 123.

By reason of the pawl 135 acting upon the rack bar 133, return movement of the rack bar is made possible only when the pusher plate 108 has moved completely to expose the track beneath the aperture 20a. The extended shielding influence of the pusher plate 108 prevents 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 effected, especially in employing staples which are frozen 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 in to the magazine 146.

By the construction as described, as the last row of staples in the magazine LRS is consumed, the operator need only bodily remove the magazine by deflecting the latches 157 (see FIGURE 13) from each other to permit removal of the magazine and make replacement with a loaded magazine, quickly to supply a new charge.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 496,465, filed March 24, 1955, now Patent 2,877,461, granted March 17, 1959, entitled Automatic Stapler.

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

l. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track upon which a row of said staple fasteners of predetermined length may be slid along its length when spanning said track to a discharge end, adjacent which end a driving plunger is positioned to impel said staple fasteners into the work, and an overlying guide channel cooperating with said track, said channel and track being spaced from each other to form a slot to hold a row of said fasteners of said predetermined length slidably nested on said track, said guide channel and track outlining said slot each having portions extended rearwardly from said discharge end for a length holding n second row of said staple fasteners of said predetermined length, and said rearwardly extended portion of said extended channel having a lling aperture along the length thereof along and over said rearwardly extended portion of said track through which said second row of staple fasteners may be bodily positioned into spanning position on the track in said slidable nested position on said track, and a slidable, spring biased pusher mounted on said track to slide along said track, said pusher having a shielding rearward extension to close said filling aperture, thereby to feed said fasteners into said slot outlined between said track and channel and of a length to shield said filling aperture from receiving said second row of said staple fasteners until the first said row has been discharged and thereby to slide said rst row of said staple fasteners through said slot to said discharge end adjacent said driving plunger, whereby retraction of said slidable pusher serves to shield the said aperture to the filling of a still further row of staples on said track through said aperture, and means to overlie said second row of said staple fasteners frictionally removable from engagement with said rearward portion having said filling aperture, to contact said second row of said fasteners on said track on said rearwardly extended portion of said track.

2. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track having a portion substantially conforming to said staple and along which track said fasteners may be slid, the combination therewith of a bodily removable casing providing a magazine arranged to hold a stack of said rows with the staple prongs faced in one direction, said casing comprising side and end openings, towards which the staples are faced, the side opening of the casing having a lateral discharge opening for a row of said staples and the end opening being outlined by extensions resiliently holding said staples but permitting spanning of said track, and staple holding means adjacent said end opening engaging the prongs of the staples of the lowermost row of said stack to hold said staples against longitudinal displacement normally while releasing said staples onto said track when mounted in track spanning position.

3. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track having a portion substantially conforming to said staple and along which track said fasteners may be slid, the combination therewith of a bodily removable casing providing a magazine arranged to hold a stack of said rows with the staple prongs faced in one direction, said casing having side and end openings, towards which the staples are faced, the side opening having a lateral discharge opening for a row of said staples and the end opening being outlined by extensions resiliently holding said staples but permitting spanning of said track, and staple holding means adjacent said end opening to hold said staples against longitudinal displacement and cooperating means on said track to release said holding means and discharge laterally a row of said staples from said magazine onto said track.

4. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track having a portion substantially conforming to said staple and along which track said fasteners may be slid, the combination therewith of a bodily removable casing providing a magazine arranged to hold a stack of said rows with the staple prongs faced in one direction, said casing comprising side and end openings, towards which the staples are faced, the side opening of the casing having a lateral discharge opening for a row of said staples and the end opening being outlined by extensions resiliently holding said staples but permitting spanning of said track, and staple holding means adjacent said magazine end opening comprising spring lips upon which the staple prongs are seated against displacement and means on said track to restrain placement of a partial row through said lling opening comprising a shield for said filling opening, said shield comprising a pusher plate arranged to span the track and feed the staples along the same.

5. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track having a portion substantially conforming to said staple and along which track said fasteners may be slid, the combination therewith of a bodily removable casing providing a magazine arranged to hold a stack of said rows with the staple prongs faced in one direction, comprising side and end openings, towards which the staples are faced, the side opening of the casing having a lateral discharge opening for a row of said staples and the end opening being outlined by extensions resiliently holding said staples but permitting spanning of said track, and staple holding means adjacent said magazine having spring feeding means and an end opening comprising spring lips lupon which the staple prongs are seated against displacement and lip spreading means on said track to release said lips from said prong engaging position to said track spanning position.

6. In a fastener driving device, a fastener carrier for staple fasteners comprising a track having a portion substantially conforming to said staple and along which track said fasteners may be slid, the combination therewith of a bodily removable casing providing a magazine arranged to hold a stack of said rows with the staple prongs faced in one direction, said casing comprising side and end openings, towards which the staples are faced, the side opening of the casing having a lateral discharge opening for a row of said staples and the end opening being outlined by extensions resiliently holding said staples but permitting spanning of said track, and staple holding means adjacent said magazine having spring feeding means and an end opening comprising spring lips upon which the staple prongs are seated against :displacement and lip spreading means on said track to release said lips from said prong engaging position to said track spanning position and spring biased shield means to move said row of staples along the track and block a partial row from said track.

7. A magazine for use in a fastener driving device which has a fastener carrier for staple fasteners including a track upon which a row of said staples may be slid along its length, said magazine comprising a substantially tubular housing within which stacked rows of staples may be positioned, said magazine having side and end openings adjacent one end of the magazine towards which the staples are arranged to be faced with their prongs in track conforming position, the end opening having means upon which the staple prongs are seated against displacement comprising spreadable lips arranged to cooperate with means on the track for releasingsaid staples into track spanning position.

8. A magazine for use in a fastener driving device which has a fastener carrier and a track substantially conforming to said staples, said magazine being arranged for loading rows of staples on said track, a lling aperture adjacent one end, a shoe, biasing means for said shoe for feeding rows of said staples laterally toward the opposite end of said magazine, said latter end of said magazine having side and end openings toward which the pronged ends of the staples are faced, the said side opening being arranged for a lateral discharge of a row of said staples and the end opening having holding means restraining discharge of said staples by said shoe.

9. A magazine for use in a fastener driving device which has a fastener carrier and a track substantially conforming to said staples, said magazine lbeing arranged for loading rows of staples on said track, a filling aperture adjacent one end, a shoe, biasing means for said shoe for feeding rows of said staples laterally toward the opposite end of said magazine, said latter end of said magazine having side and end openings toward which the pronged ends of the staples are faced, the said side opening being arranged for a lateral discharge of a row of said staples and the end opening having holding means restraining discharge of said staples by said shoe and said holding means being arranged for cooperation with means on said track to release a row of said staples into track spanning position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,941 Weber Apr. 5, 1938 2,203,412 Hill June 4, 1940 2,266,534 Cavanagh Dec. 16, 1941 2,279,624 La Place Apr. 14, 1942 2,342,671 Kilpatrick Feb. 29, 1944 2,368,552 La Place Jan. 30, 1945 2,585,942 Iulifs Feb. 19, 1952 2,723,392 Cole Nov. l5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 597,350 `Great Britain Jan. 23, 1948 618,079 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1949

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