WO1991004195A3 - Dispensing of attachment members - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing fasteners from continuously connected fastener stock (100) includes a needle assembly (130) for dispensing plastic fasteners (101) as part of a tool having a feed track through which a fastener assemblage is fed, such needle assembly (130) incorporating a needle (140) which is encased in a holder which may be easily secured to and removed from such tool. The holder defines in conjunction with the remainder of the tool at least a major portion of the feed track (120). The holder may include an antiback (135) device for permitting the motion of the fastener assemblage within such feed track toward the needle but not in reverse direction. In such dispensing apparatus, the fastener stock is advanced to a transfer site along a feed axis which is parallel to and proximate the axis of the needle through which severed fasteners are dispensed. A knife (83) is mounted on a support slide (81) which is slideable transversely to the feed axis, such support slide (81) being urged toward the feed axis to cause the knife (83) to sever an individual fastener (101) from the fastener stock (100). A transfer slide (85) engages a portion of the side member which becomes a T-bar of the severed fastener, and urges it toward the needle axis. The transfer slide (85) is yieldably coupled to the support slide to permit the transfer slide to lag behind the knife until severing occurs. Such apparatus incorporates a reciprocably driven actuator slide (35), the motion of which induces transverse motion of a cam bar (65). The cam bar in turn drives the transfer slide (85). An antiback device (25, 40) in the form of a catch lever (45) engages the trigger (16) of the tool to prevent its premature release.