Abstract: A unitary fastener collation tube for retaining a plurality of fasteners useable in a stand-up fastener driving tool. The fastener collation tube includes an elongated body member having a channel having a substantially T-shaped cross section for receiving the fasteners arranged side by side therein. At least one end of the elongated body member includes a resilient fastener retaining member engageable with an endmost fastener of the plurality of fasteners so as to retain the plurality of fasteners in the channel of the fastener collation tube, whereby the plurality of fasteners retained in the fastener collation tube are releasable from the fastener collation tube when the resilient fastener retaining member is disengaged from the endmost fastener.

Abstract: Stapling devices, which form staples from a staple wire transported from supply rolls, are arranged in a stapling apparatus. The supply rolls are associated with a threading-in device which is mounted displaceably on the stapling apparatus. Transport mechanisms as well as feed-in and guide mechanisms are associated with each supply roll. Flexible guide tubes connect the threading-in device to the respective stapling device. The threading-in device can be moved into a position pulled out of the stapling apparatus device, in which the supply rolls can easily be inserted. The leading end of the wire is pushed, in simple and conveniently visible fashion, between a transport roller pair by way of a guide element and a funnel-shaped feed-in tube.

Abstract: In a roofing washer-dispensing and fastener-driving machine, which has a fastener-feeding tube, a fastener-engaging pawl is mounted operatively to the tube, near its upper end. The pawl is pivotable between a normal position wherein the pawl is arranged to engage a fastener dropped into the tube so as to prevent the fastener from dropping through the tube and a pivoted position wherein the pawl is arranged to disengage from the fastener. An elongate rod is arranged to pivot the pawl from the normal position into the pivoted position when the machine is operated.

Abstract: A unitary fastener collation tube for retaining a plurality of fasteners useable in a stand-up fastener driving tool. The fastener collation tube includes an elongated body member having a channel having a substantially T-shaped cross section for receiving the fasteners arranged side by side therein. At least one end of the elongated body member includes a resilient fastener retaining member engageable with an endmost fastener of the plurality of fasteners so as to retain the plurality of fasteners in the channel of the fastener collation tube, whereby the plurality of fasteners retained in the fastener collation tube are releasable from the fastener collation tube when the resilient fastener retaining member is disengaged from the endmost fastener.

Abstract: A stand-up fastener driving tool including a rotary driver having a rotatable shaft with a fastener driving member disposed on a distal end thereof and disposed within telescoping upper and lower tubes, wherein the lower tube has a nose-piece with an opening for retaining a fastener therein. The fastener driving member is extendable toward and away from the nose-piece upon contraction and extension of the lower and upper tubes. A plurality of fasteners are retained side by side in a magazine of the tool, and are individually releasable therefrom upon contraction and extension of the upper and lower tubes. A feed tube connects the magazine to the nose-piece, and includes a magnetized wall portion for capturing and retaining fasteners fed from the magazine.

Abstract: A fastening machine (1) has guide block (11) with a rivet delivery passage (12). Rivets (17) are supplied from a source via tube (22) and are delivered to the rivet delivery passage (12) by a rivet supply passage (20). The head of the rivet (17) is engaged by spring-loaded balls (60) to hold the rivet (17) in alignment with the rivet delivery passage (12) and a punch (16). When a limit switch (30) detects the presence of a rivet (17) in the rivet delivery passage (12), the punch (16) is advanced and the rivet (17) is releasably supported by the balls (60) and secondary balls (60A) as it is advanced to work pieces to be secured together.

Abstract: Laminar staple for staple driving machines having a loader which includes a guide channel with a cross section that is complementary to the shape of the staple. The staple includes two walls substantially perpendicular to each other and defines a corner and two ribs extending substantially perpendicularly to the walls. The walls and the ribs of the staple have a cutting edge and at least one of the ribs is provided at the end opposite to the cutting edge with a chamfer cooperating with a respective relief formed in the channel of the loader.

Abstract: A component installation tool of the type having a rearward stroke to accommodate delivery of a component to the front of the tool and a forward stroke to engage, deliver and install the component at a workpiece, the tool including a housing, a reciprocating mechanism contained therein, a feeder support mounted on the housing, a reciprocal magazine mounted on the feeder support for reciprocation between a component receiving position adjacent the tool and a position for delivering a component in front of the mechanism; and delivery means for delivering a component to a chamber in the magazine when the magazine is in the component receiving position and the mechanism is in the forward stroke.

Abstract: An improved laparoscopic technique for treating female urinary incontinence and devices for use therein. These devices include an urethral sound, a stapling device, and a staple saw. The sound is substantially L-shaped having a handle at one end and a probe tip at the opposite end. The probe tip has a plurality of beads protruding therefrom which are observable through the wail of the bladder enabling the junction between the lower border of the bladder and urethra to be located. The stapling device attaches the pelvic floor to the pubic bone. The stapling device comprises of a handle, a stapling head, and an elongated member extending therebetween. The stapling head is pivotally attached to the elongated member. A push rod advances a pair of target pins to anchor the pelvic floor to the pubic bone. A small trigger loads staples into a discharge chamber. A large trigger discharges staples from the stapling head into the pelvic floor and pubic bone.

Abstract: Apparatus for presenting blind rivets (11) of the type comprising a shell (12) and a projecting stem (13), one at a time for pick-up by the nosepiece (28) of a rivet setting tool, includes gate means comprising a pair of guide members (24) for receiving a rivet (11) blown by air along a hose (39). The guide membes are urged by a spring (25) into their closed position, in which they arrest each rivet and position it in uniform orientation with its stem (13) projecting. Locating means (30) receives the nose piece (28) and guides it into the correct position and orientation for picking up the rivet by its projecting stem. A proximity detector (37) detects when the tool nose tip is correctly located, and actuates a pneumatically driven plunger (18) which pushes the guide members (24) apart to release the rivet into the tool nosepiece (28).

Abstract: Apparatus for taking a plurality of terminals arranged in a first spatial configuration, and rearranging them into a second spatial configuration for insertion into a stator or other electrical component, is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of tubes, one for each terminal, which convey the terminals to new locations and, if necessary, twist along the way to change the orientations of the terminals.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a pointing device permitting the tool to be positioned against a workpiece so that a fastener is driven precisely at a target point. The tool includes a body with a nose portion in which is a fastener drive track. A foot assembly moves from a rest position toward the tool body to a drive position when the tool is pressed against the workpiece. In the rest position, the pointing device is aligned with the drive track and is adjacent the workpiece. When the tool is moved to the drive position, the pointing device is retracted, the nose portion approaches the workpiece, a safety mechanism is operated and a fastener is driven into the selected target point.

Abstract: An automatic fastening machine where strips of covered fasteners (11) are fed from a reel 16 of fasteners into the rear of the fastening machine along a guide means (12) as needed. A fastener advancing means (13) intermittently urges the strip of fasteners toward a drive element (60). The drive element engages the top of the foremost fastener of the strip of fasteners to force the fastener into a work piece.

Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated setting device includes a housing containing a barrel with a muzzle forming a muzzle bore at the outlet end of the barrel. Nails held in a carrier strip are fed from a magazine through a first or insertion aperture into the muzzle bore. Each nail has a head projecting outwardly from one side of the carrier strip and the nail heads have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the muzzle bore. The heads serve as stops limiting movement of the carrier strip out of the magazine. Due to the diameter difference between the nail heads and the muzzle bore, the nail heads in the stopped position do not align with the muzzle bore axis. When a nail is to be driven, it is displaced opposite to the feed direction out of the magazine into axial alignment with the muzzle bore.

Abstract: A machine 10 to insert "T Nuts" 77 into a piece of timber, the machine 10 including a pneumatically operated insertion assembly 12 having an air nozzle 46 which moves the "T-Nut" 77 to an insertion location and a pneumatically operated ram 20 which has a piston 26 movable from a retracted position to an extended position inserting the "T-Nut" 77.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuated tool for setting blind rivets of the type having a body, a head and breakaway pull mandrel. The tool comprises a body having a double-acting cylinder therein, a handle attached to the body, a guide body affixed to the body beneath the cylinder, a pull track in the guide body for the rivets and a bore in the body connecting the cylinder and the pull track, the cylinder, the bore, and the pull track being coaxial. The tool is provided with a rivet pickup and pull mechanism comprising a lower load piston having a downwardly depending tubular assembly slidable within the body bore and pull track and terminating in a nose piece, and an upper pull piston having a downwardly depending tubular assembly telescopicly and shiftably located within the lower load piston tubular assembly and terminating in a chuck provided with mandrel-engaging jaws. The tool has a magazine connected to the guide body and containing a strip of rivets.

Abstract: A quick disconnect system for use in rapidly changing die shoes in a press. The system is adapted for use with a fastener installation head. The system includes a receptacle connected to a supply of fasteners and a power outlet connected to a power means, both mounted in the press, and a fastener plug and power inlet connected to the installation head and mounted in the die shoe. The die shoe is adapted to be mounted adjacent the receptacle and inlet. Upon engagement, fasteners and power are supplied to the installation head. In the preferred embodiment, there are several receptacles located in the press to accommodate any number and location of plugs. In this manner, the die shoes act as a unit and, by fastening a die shoe to the press, fastener supply and power supply are automatically connected to the installation head regardless of the position of the installation heads.

Abstract: A fastener-installing tool comprises a housing in which a collet which holds a fastener moves back and forth between a forward fastener-installing position and a rear loading position. A curved feed tube is pivoted on the housing to swing about its center of curvature into a fastener delivering position in front of the retracted collet to feed into it a fresh fastener delivered through a hose from a supply. The feed tube swings out of the path of the collet when it next advances.

Abstract: First and second separately actuatable triggers are mounted to a housing which carries a hollow needle through which a fastener is dispensed. The needle is mounted to the housing for movement between original and extended positions. The article to be tagged is situated adjacent the front of the housing. When the first trigger is depressed, a tag is moved from a stack on the housing into alignment with the needle as the needle is moved forward to pierce the tag and article. Also, a fastener is fed into the needle. When the second trigger is depressed, the fastener is moved through the needle such that the T-bar end is situated behind the article and the needle retracts to its original position. The apparatus is pulled away from the article, leaving the tag affixed by the fastener. The apparatus is lightweight, easily manipulatable, and can be operated by a single hand.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements onto a garment includes a gripping mechanism for temporarily holding one fastener element and for releasing the latter immediately before a reciprocally punch arrives at the predetermined lowermost position in which the one fastener element is clinched to the other fastener element supported on a die with the garment sandwiched between the fastener elements. The apparatus may comprises a guide mechanism including a chute having a guide track for the passage of the one fastener element, and a speed reducing device disposed in the chute for slowing down the movement of the one fastener element prior to the arrival of the latter at a retaining portion of the gripping mechanism. An overturning device may be provided in the chute for turning over the one fastener element as the latter slides along the guide track.

Abstract: A simplified reliable fastener installation apparatus or head assembly particularly suitable for installing self-attaching pierce or clinch nuts. The head assembly includes a stationary base plate for attachment to a die shoe and a mating relatively moveable member. The moveable member, which may be formed from a single block of metal, includes intersecting transverse passages, including a first passage receiving fasteners for installation and a plunger passage. The head portion of a T-shaped plunger is retained by the base plate and the plunger leg portion is telescopically received in the plunger passage of the moveable member. The moveable member is retained to the stationary member, stabilized and guided by guide bolts which are threadably attached to the base member and parallel to and spaced equidistant from the plunger.

Abstract: There is disclosed a trolley which runs along unfastened rails of a track, in which each rail is positioned between a respective one of two pairs of housings on each sleeper, the trolley moving from sleeper to sleeper in order to complete permanent fastening of the rails to the sleepers. The trolley has a pair of rail-clip driving apparatus on each side, one associated with each rail, of which each comprise a pair of magazines for storing e-shaped clips, and a clip driver for each magazine which drives a lowermost clip in a stack of clips in the magazine into a sleeper housing. Each apparatus includes a longitudinally displaceable support tube on which the magazines are mounted, the tube moving one way or the other depending upon which magazine first comes into cooperation with its respective housing in order to bring the other magazine into cooperation with its housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially feeding headed fasteners such as rivets includes a carrier band of resilientily stretchable material with the fasteners driven through undersize holes equally spaced along the band, the band being advanced intermittently by a reciprocating actuator, toothed for simultaneous engagement with several of the fastener heads, to bring the fasteners in sequence between a striker and the entry to a delivery conduit, the striker being reciprocated to drive each fastener brought into alignment therewith into the delivery conduit, the fastener head being forced through the stretchable band, a jet of air through the striker impelling the fastener through the delivery conduit.

Abstract: The fastener installation head and bolster assembly of this invention is particularly adapted to assure constant installation pressure for fasteners installed in a reciprocating press die, such as pierce and clinch nuts. The fastener installation head includes a plunger supported on one die platen, a movable housing member which receives the fasteners to be installed, reciprocably supported on the plunger, and a die member supported on the opposed die platen, opposite the movable housing plunger passage. The bolster assembly includes a fluid pressure ram operably supporting the plunger between the plunger and the die platen having a source of constant fluid pressure and a plunger release which permits the plunger to recede when the press tonage exceeds the preferred fastener installation force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for aligning and press-fitting connector terminals into a substrate. The terminals are initially supported together by a bandolier strip, and an alignment tool aligns the terminals with apertures in the substrate to which the terminals will be press-fitted. A pressing tool engages the shanks of the terminals to fold the bandolier away from the terminals and thereafter press the terminals into the apertures.

Abstract: A machine for the attachment of rivets, buttons or the like on clothing pieces, with an upper tool to be moved onto the lower tool, which upper tool sits on a vertically guided tool ram with electrical drive. Two different strength magnets are coordinated to the upper tool ram, the latter being spring-biased in the reverse direction, such that the weaker electromagnet which sits in the range of a cross-sectionally-smaller step of the upper tool ram surrounds the upper tool ram in ring-like manner and the stronger electromagnet has a core which core forms a pot-shaped recess for moving a plate armature therein, the latter being arranged on the free end of the upper tool ram.

Abstract: A fastener loading device for a powder-actuated fastening tool comprises a ram-equipped, tubular fastener retaining member hingedly carried on legs secured to the tool receiver and forming therewith a four bar linkage, whereby the retaining member may be displaced from a first position, atop or alongside the receiver, to a second position, in communication with the barrel bore, whereat the retaining member ram may conveniently be utilized to insert the fastener into the barrel.

Abstract: A machine for the attachment of rivets, buttons, or the like, particularly to clothing pieces, with an upper tool and a lower tool and with magazine chambers for upper and lower parts, from which chambers the upper and lower parts, respectively, are brought via feed rails into the region of the working position. The magazine chambers are arranged floor-like one above the other. A single slide is coordinated to both chambers, the slide being moved up and down in front of the rear wall of the chambers. On its front wide face the slide is equipped with stroke and sorting ledges which are inclined downwardly in the direction of one of the side walls. In the upper position the ledges lie flush in alignment with the discharge openings of the magazine chambers - side walls.

Abstract: A compiling and stapling system with a compiling station for receiving and stacking sets of printed sheets inputted in a defined direction of movement for compiling and stapling them along a sheet edge transverse that movement direction with a two-part stapler providing ejection of the stapled sets out through that two-part stapler in the same direction of movement. This stapler has a staple driving unit separate from its staple clinching unit with an unobstructed spacing between them providing for unobstructed feeding of the stapled sets completely through the stapler in between the two separate units. An interlocking system such as a solenoid retractable alignment pin normally interlocks the two units in correct alignment for cooperate stapling and clinching of the collated set. The interlocking system then automatically unlocks the two units to provide an unobstructed set output path between the two units in that same direction of movement as the input path to the system.