Abstract: A retraction mechanism allows the full distal retraction of the firing drive from various positions. The retraction mechanism has been developed for use with a hand held surgical apparatus. An embodiment of the retraction mechanism includes a drive member, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a firing drive. The drive mechanism is configured to be driven by a motor. The first pulley is configured to rotate when the motor drives the drive mechanism. The second pulley is movable relative to the first pulley between a proximal position and a distal position. The firing drive is movable relative to the first pulley between proximal and distal positions. In operation, the first pulley rotates in a first direction in response to a distal translation of the firing drive and wherein the firing drive moves proximally upon rotation of the first pulley in a second direction.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism allows the full distal retraction of the firing drive from various positions. The retraction mechanism has been developed for use with a hand held surgical apparatus. An embodiment of the retraction mechanism includes a drive member, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a firing drive. The drive mechanism is configured to be driven by a motor. The first pulley is configured to rotate when the motor drives the drive mechanism. The second pulley is movable relative to the first pulley between a proximal position and a distal position. The firing drive is movable relative to the first pulley between proximal and distal positions. In operation, the first pulley rotates in a first direction in response to a distal translation of the firing drive and wherein the firing drive moves proximally upon rotation of the first pulley in a second direction.

Abstract: A screw starting device is provided. The screw starting device includes a body, an adjustment assembly and a screw holder. The body includes a screw holding portion and an indexing surface. The adjustment assembly is integral with the screw holding portion. The screw holder is removably attachable to the adjustment assembly. The screw holder includes an insert selected from a group of inserts respectively compatible with screws of varying types. The adjustment assembly is operable to adjust a location of the screw holder relative to the indexing surface.

Abstract: A punch assembly includes a punch that defines an axis and a sleeve that is spring biased to the punch, the sleeve movable axially along the axis between a compressed position and an extended position.

Abstract: Novel recessed surgical fastening devices are disclosed. The fastening devices have a compressible member and a fastening element disposed at least partially within the compressible member. The fastening element has at least one tissue engagement member that is extensible through the compressible member to engage tissue when a force is applied to the fastening device.

Abstract: A nail gun includes a body, a valve unit, a nail striking member and a detector. The body has a nail path, an air chamber, and an intake chamber guiding flow of air into the air chamber. The nail striking member is drivable by air pressure in the air chamber for striking a nail in the nail path. The valve unit is operable to switch between unblocking and blocking states to respectively permit and prevent fluid communication between the intake chamber and the air chamber. The detector is connected pivotally to the body, and is contactable with the valve unit such that, when there is no nail in the nail path, the valve unit is controlled by the detector to be in the blocking state.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the application, a device for driving a fastening element into a substrate has an energy-transfer element for transferring energy to the fastening element. The energy-transfer element can move preferably between a starting position and a setting position, wherein the energy-transfer element is located, before a driving-in procedure, in the starting position and, after the driving-in procedure, in the setting position. According to another aspect of the application, the device comprises a mechanical-energy storage device for storing mechanical energy. The energy-transfer element is then suitable preferably for transferring energy from the mechanical-energy storage device to the fastening element.

Abstract: Surgical fasteners, including tacks are disclosed for fastening a surgical mesh to underlying tissue during surgical procedures to repair body tissue, such as in hernia repair. Such tacks can include a head, a elongated body portion having a distal end and a proximal end, and an anchoring element on an outer surface of the body portion for inhibiting the removal of the tack from the mesh and body tissue.

Abstract: In a gas combustion type nail driving device, a head part (3) which is disposed on the front surface of the main body is provided with (a) a guide tube (35) through which a rod (17) and a nail n pass; (b) a main guide body (36) on which the guide tube (35) is disposed; (c) a subguide (37) which makes a pair with the main guide body (36) and forms a nail feed space; (d) a feed motor (48); and (e) a gear unit (46) which is driven by the feed motor (47). The nail connecting body N is fed to the guide tube (35) by the feed gear (73).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical method or procedure for securing a prosthesis to bone. More particularly, the present invention relates to (i) a surgical method or procedure for securing a low load bearing prosthesis such as, for example, an adhesion barrier, to a patient's bone, (ii) a tack or drive screw for securing the low load bearing prosthesis and (iii) associated instrumentation for driving the tack or drive screw into the patient's bone.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool including a power source having a reciprocating driver blade, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, a magazine constructed and arranged to house a supply of the fasteners and a magazine feeder mechanism associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose. The feeder mechanism operates between a retracted position and an advanced position. An electromechanical retention device is operationally associated with the feeder mechanism and is configured for retaining the feeder mechanism in the retracted position until the driver blade is positioned to allow fastener advancement into the nose.

Abstract: A clearance is set between a nail feeder and an outer profile portion so that the nail feeder can turn. A pin as a first restriction member that inhibits movement of the nail feeder to an ejection portion by engaging with the nail feeder and can release the engagement with the rotation of the nail feeder is provided to the outer profile portion. The position at which the nail feeder and a spring engage is set in deviation from the position at which the nail feeder and the pin engage, in a reciprocating direction of the nail feeder and in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A nailer carries a supply of coil nails, such as commonly used by roofers, and is swung by hand like a hammer. Each swing drives out a nail, and advances another nail ready to be driven.

Abstract: A semi-automatic machine for affixing an anti-theft device, such as an EAS marker, to an article of clothing or the like. The anti-theft device is of the type made up of two elements that are to be snapped together through the article of clothing. Each of the two kinds of elements is stored in a respective vibrating bowl and transferred to an assembly station by a respective vibrating conveyor. One of the two elements is positioned on a working surface at the assembly station. The second element is taken up by a snap-connection mechanism. A laser provides a reference mark at the working surface so that an operator can precisely position a desired part of the article of clothing for receiving the anti-theft device. After the article is positioned in accordance with the reference mark, the snap-connection mechanism is actuated to insert the second element into the first element through the article of clothing.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided, including a housing substantially enclosing a power source including a reciprocating piston with a driver blade. A nosepiece is associated with the housing and is configured for receiving the driver blade and for sequentially receiving fasteners for engagement with the driver blade for driving into a workpiece. A magazine is configured for retaining a supply of the fasteners and for sequentially feeding the fasteners to the nosepiece, the magazine storing a plurality of elongate strips of the fasteners, and being configured for rotating about a longitudinal axis of the magazine for providing access of fasteners in each fastener strip to the nosepiece.

Abstract: The nail presser lid structure for a nailer includes a coupling end and a swinging end. The swinging end is provided with a flexible presser, formed of a presser portion and a spring. The presser portion protrudes from the swinging end to press on the closing side of the removable cover. An inclined guide plane is placed outside of the presser portion. When the removable cover presses the inclined guide plane, the presser portion is forced to return and press the spring to accumulate elastic restoring force. When the closing side of the removable cover overpasses the inclined guide plane, the presser portion will recover again and press the positioning portion of the closing side, such that the nail presser lid and removable cover of the nail box are closed flexibly, offering greater operational friendliness and practicability.

Abstract: A coil nailing device for finishing materials is invented that comprises a standby part for temporarily retaining and loading the nails into a muzzle. A door is installed adjacent to the standby part to check the nail supply. A door latch consists of a hook, coil spring and latch hinge shaft. The door and door latch are operated in the lateral direction, perpendicular to the axis of the main body. The muzzle consists of an adapter, lever arm and a pair of arc-shaped sliding grooves formed on both lateral surfaces. The adapter is attachable to the nose of the main body. A clearance setting device is designed to allow the use of various sizes of nails by setting the depth of the magazine depending on the loaded nail size. An interval setting device is convenient to nail a series of shingle panels by setting the panel interval while the coil nailing device is sliding along the edge of the panels.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners may be provided with connecting portions between individual fasteners. Each individual fastener may include a body portion and at least one nail portion. The body portion may include at least a pair of leg members spaced from one another in a first direction and a crown portion joining the at least a pair of leg members. The nail portion may include an elongated shaft portion having a shaft portion central longitudinal axis and an elongated head portion attached to one end of the shaft portion. The elongated head portion may have a head portion central longitudinal axis that is transverse to the shaft portion central longitudinal axis. In a method of manufacturing the strip of fasteners, the nails may be simultaneously inserted into each fastener body portion. In a tool for installing fasteners, a pivot member may be provided to prevent jamming.

Abstract: An adjusting device for a nail gun includes a magazine, a shaft, a disc feeder and a positioning assembly. The shaft is mounted in the magazine and has two sliding grooves longitudinally formed respectively in the shaft and multiple positioning recesses formed on the sliding grooves. The disc feeder includes a rotating disc and a sleeve mounted around the shaft and has two mounting holes each corresponding to a positioning recess. The positioning assembly includes a clamp and an E-clip having two stops. The clamp is mounted in the sleeve and has two clamping arms each having a boss. The stops are mounted respectively in the mounting holes, respectively abutting the clamping arms and held by the E-clip. Therefore the magazine can be adjusted in one direction at multiple stages by pulling up and in the other direction by pressing the clamp that releases the stops for easy adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screw gun including a driving unit fitted with a slidable cartridge holder adapted for receiving and indexing a separate cartridge containing a plurality of screws. The invention further relates to the replaceable cartridge containing the plurality of screws for use in a screw gun. The invention allows for the loading and insertion of a plurality of screws from a cartridge without requiring a worker to handle and insert the individual screws into the driver.

Abstract: A clearance is set between a nail feeder and an outer profile portion so that the nail feeder can turn. A pin as a first restriction member that inhibits movement of the nail feeder to an ejection portion by engaging with the nail feeder and can release the engagement with the rotation of the nail feeder is provided to the outer profile portion. The position at which the nail feeder and a spring engage is set in deviation from the position at which the nail feeder and the pin engage, in a reciprocating direction of the nail feeder and in a vertical direction.

Abstract: With a feeding roller 42 being in contact with the peripheral face of a rolled staple 3 composed of a larger number of staples linearly coupled to form a roll shape, the feeding roller 24 is rotated by a driving motor and the rolled staple 3 is rotated in a roll-winding direction so that the tip of the rolled staple 3 is guided/supplied to a staple supplying path 100.

Abstract: An automatic washer feeder for an automatic nail gun comprises a washer storage container that stores a coil of washers interconnected together edge-to-edge and a feeding mechanism that uncoils the washers and feeds them one at a time into a position wherein the washers are in alignment with nails being driven by the nail gun. The feeding mechanism is synchronized with the nail in driver such that one washer is placed in line with each nail before it is driven. The washers are attached together edge-to-edge by a breakable linkage which is broken or cut whet a washer is driven into contact with a substrate surface being nailed by the action of the nail gun. The linkage can be an adhesive tape that breaks when the tape is pierced by a nail and the washer is driven into a substrate. Alternatively, the linkage can be formed by integrally molding the washers with an interconnecting link or by string collation.

Abstract: A nail magazine for a nailer comprises a base, a cover pivotally and elastically connected to the base, and a receiving disc. Once the cover is pulled outward, it can be pushed a certain angle away from the base automatically. On a side of the cover are formed an ear and a rotary shaft. The receiving disc is correspondingly provided with a rotary member. By disengaging the cover from the base and moving it to an angle and then keeping moving it, the receiving disc can be moved out of the base completely, for easy nail loading. Therefore, the operation is simple, quick and can be done with one hand.

Abstract: A manually swingable hammer-type stapling tool having an elongate housing having a striker movably mounted thereon; a staple driving blade mounted on the housing and movable relative to the striker along a staple discharge path when the striker impacts against a surface; a staple magazine carried on said housing and containing a clip of staples so that a leading staple of the clip is disposed in a staple discharge path below the driving blade; and a cap supply and feeding arrangement mounted on the housing for positioning a cap in a discharge position wherein it is disposed below the leading staple, the arrangement including a cap magazine containing a significant number of individual caps disposed in adjacent and joined edge-to-edge relationship to define a connected strip of caps, and a manual feeding mechanism for advancing a leading cap of the strip into the discharge position.

Abstract: A coil-type magazine for nails has a body and a driving member mounted on the body. The driving member is engaged with a channel of the body and moves along the channel via springs. A spool is connected to the driving member and deviates from a handle of a nail gun. Hence, the coil-type magazine for nails is not limited by a space between the coil-type magazine and handle and it is easy to receive the nails into the coil-type magazine.

Abstract: Fastener-advancement systems comprise a multiple lever and linkage mechanically operated system operatively connected to the driver blade member of the fastener driving tool, as well as electro-mechanically operated systems, for advancing a leading fastener of a collated strip of fasteners into the driver blade channel of the fastener-driving tool. In the electro-mechanically operated systems, push-type, pull-type, and rotary solenoid actuating members are utilized for moving the fastener-advancement feed pawl or claw member.

Abstract: An electric stapler comprises a feed mechanism for sequentially feeding a staple from a magazine loaded with a plurality of staples to a striking portion, a striking mechanism for striking the staple fed to the striking portion toward sheets of paper by a driver plate, a clincher mechanism for bending a staple leg struck by the driver plate and penetrated through the sheets of paper along a backside of the sheets of paper, a drive mechanism for driving the feed mechanism, the striking mechanism and the clincher mechanism by the electric motor, a detection mechanism placed in contact with a rotary member provided in the drive mechanism and for detecting a consumed amount of the drive mechanism, and an indicator mechanism for indicating a consumed amount detected by the detection mechanism, thus making it possible to detect an endurance life of the electric stapler.

Abstract: A fastening tool includes a housing assembly having a nosepiece and a magazine assembly that is coupled to the housing assembly. The magazine assembly includes a canister, a door structure, a feed pawl and a follower structure. The canister is configured to hold a plurality of collated fasteners and has a first canister portion and a second canister portion that is movable relative to the first canister portion between a closed position and an open position. The fastening tool further includes a coil feeder assembly having an indexing pawl. The indexing pawl advances a fastener into operative engagement with the feed pawl upon movement of the second canister portion from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A nail magazine for use in a power nailing hand tool to hold and feed a rolled belt of nails is constructed to include a casing, a magazine shaft vertically disposed inside the casing at the center, the magazine shaft having an upright shaft at the center inside the casing and a nail carrier sleeve vertically movably supported on a magazine spring around the upright shaft and adapted to carry a rolled belt of nails for feeding, and a cover hinged to the casing, the cover defining with the casing a nail feed hole when closed on the casing.

Abstract: A stapler apparatus includes right and left side frames each opposing the other, a reciprocally moving staple driving member arranged between the side frames, a cam member interlocked to the staple driving member to reciprocally move the staple driving member and a drive motor interlocked to the cam member. The drive motor, the cam member and the staple driving member are arranged in order between the left and right frames.

Abstract: A fastener-driving tool includes an integrated function member that performs at least two of the following three functions: a check pawl function, a last fastener-retaining function, and a dry fire lock-out function. In the disclosed embodiment, the integrated function member is provided as a lever-type structure that constitutes part of the access door assembly by means of which access is gained to the fastener drive track along which fasteners (e.g., roofing nails) are fed to the driving portion of the tool. Also disclosed is an improved method of retaining the last nail in the drive track by a lateral head gripping action and a tool for performing the method.

Abstract: A nail box of a nail driver comprises a main casing; a lower side of the main casing being installed with a firmly secured with a first magnetic element; a sub-casing pivotally installed to the main casing as so to form a casing; a lower side of the sub-casing being formed with an inclined resisting portion; a receiving unit for receiving a plurality of nails; a lower side of the receiving unit being firmly secured with a second magnetic element; one lateral side of a lower portion of the receiving unit being formed with a push portion corresponding to the inclined resisting portion of the sub-casing. The receiving unit is installed below the main casing and received in the casing; the same polarity of magnetic elements of the receiving unit and the main casing are oppositely arranged so as to generate an impulsive force.

Abstract: A construction tool and method of use for affixing holding cap washers to roofing paper and building wrap tar paper. The tool is a combination of a fastener-driving gun together with a feeding magazine holding a clip of plastic cap washers to be affixed, and the feed magazine feeds successive cap washers under the nose of the fastener-driving gun so that fasteners, such as nails or staples, can penetrate the cap washer and hold down the roofing paper or building wrap tar paper. As the cap approaches the nose of the gun, the cap feeder flips the cap ninety degrees along an axis transverse to the feed direction. A shortened shuttle is used with a spring arm holding one edge of the leading cap in the magazine and the rearward portion of the shuttle holding the other edge of the leading cap.

Abstract: A nail magazine for use in a power nailing hand tool to hold and feed a rolled belt of nails is constructed to include a casing, a magazine shaft vertically disposed inside the casing at the center, the magazine shaft having an upright shaft at the center inside the casing and a nail carrier sleeve vertically movably supported on a magazine spring around the upright shaft and adapted to carry a rolled belt of nails for feeding, and a cover hinged to the casing, the cover defining with the casing a nail feed hole when closed on the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screw gun including a driving unit fitted with a slidable cartridge holder adapted for receiving and indexing a separate cartridge containing a plurality of screws. The invention further relates to the replaceable cartridge containing the plurality of screws for use in a screw gun. The invention allows for the loading and insertion of a plurality of screws from a cartridge without requiring a worker to handle and insert the individual screws into the driver.

Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.

Abstract: A rotary device for a rivet setting machine for self-punching rivets that includes a rotatable pick-up device (1) having an angle of rotation lock (2), wherein the angle of rotation lock (2) in the open state allows free rotation of the pick-up device (1) relative to a headpiece (12) and in the closed state stops the pick-up device (1) at predeterminable angle positions. An important feature of the present invention is that the pick-up device (1) in the open position permits free rotation, while in the closed position, stops its rotation relative to a headpiece (12) and this can be accomplished in a simple manner, manually and without the use of a separate or special tool.

Abstract: A collation strip for use within a nail gun is fabricated from a suitable polypropylene composition and has a relatively large thickness dimension, however, in order to impart enhanced flexibility to the thickened collation strip, the collation strip is provided with a plurality of auxiliary apertures within its spine section, or alternatively within its spine and hinged sections. Such enhanced flexibility permits the collation strip to be utilized under relatively low temperature conditions such that the collation strip will not experience jamming within the nail gun.

Abstract: A powered nail gun is disclosed that has two chambers to hold nails of different sizes or types wherein each chamber can be selectively rotated into a ready-for-use position. A pivot assembly can be provided having a pivot member, a rotatable connecting plate depending therefrom, and first and second supply cartridges connected to the connecting plate and facing in opposing directions. Each supply cartridge has one of the chambers and a firing position to receive and position a nail for impact by a drive mechanism. When one of the supply cartridges is rotated to the ready-for-use position, its firing position is in registration with an impact end of the drive mechanism. Each supply cartridge includes a spring-biased follower to urge the nails in the cartridge toward the firing position.

Abstract: The present application related to a fastener driving system and, more particularly, to a magazine assembly for use with a fastener driving system.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener inserter and hopper for the same is disclosed for use in inserting fasteners into material being secured. The hopper comprises a rotatable drum which tumbles the fasteners therein into position so that the shanks thereof protrude outwardly between spaced-apart bars. The fasteners are discharged from a discharge opening formed in the hopper and are delivered to a magazine which is in communication with an entrapment apparatus which feeds the fasteners to a feed tube under pressure. The air pressure in the feed tube delivers the individual fasteners to the inserter with the fastener being positioned between pivotally movable head fingers which open to receive the fastener to position the same for subsequent insertion and which pivot to enable the fastener to be driven outwardly therefrom by a piston rod so that the fastener is driven into and through the material being secured.

Abstract: A magazine for a coiled strip of nails useable in nailing tools, combinations thereof and methods therefor, having generally a magazine tray with an inner post having a recessed axial slot formed therein, and a nail plate having an outer post extending therefrom. The outer post is reciprocatingly disposed about the inner post, and a pin disposed through the outer post is biased so that an enlarged head thereof is biased into a recess of the axial slot to axially fix the nail plate relative to the inner post.

Abstract: An improved magazine structure for nailing machines includes a magazine body. The magazine body includes a base disk, a supporting disk, and a rod fixedly disposed on the supporting disk. The base disk is provided with a slot for passage of the rod. The rod has a sliding wheel disposed at a bottom portion thereof to allow the rod to displace slidably along the slot. The rod is disposed at a central position of the base disk, whereby the rod disposed at the central position of the base disk is caused to displace slidably outward to bring the support disk to displace therewith, so that a nail reel can be fitted vertically onto the supporting disk to achieve convenient and quick installation of the nail reel.

Abstract: A successive screw feeder driver includes a grip handle, a rotating mechanism provided on the upper side of the grip handle, a screw driving bit attached removably to the front portion of the rotating mechanism, a reduction mechanism formed above the rotating mechanism and a drive unit for rotating the bit. The drive unit is connected to the reduction mechanism and is positioned behind and above the grip handle. A screw feed mechanism body is mounted on the front portion of the grip handle and is slidable in the longitudinal direction with the bit being inserted rotatably into the screw feed mechanism body. A supporting and pushing portion extends from the upper portion of the rear end of the grip handle to a lower surface of the housing for the drive unit beyond the position where a virtual rotation line extending rearward of the axis of the bit is formed. A screw feed mechanism is provided in the screw feed mechanism body for feeding screws successively to a screw driving position.

Abstract: A cassette (10a, 10b, 11), which contains juxtaposed wire staple blanks releasably interconnected to form at least one strip (8) of staple blanks, is adapted to be used in a stapler for driving staples into an object, such as a sheaf of papers. The stapler comprises a base and a stapler head movable in relation to the base. The cassette accommodates a reciprocating staple shaper (20), adapted to successively shape the staple blanks of the strip (8) into U-shaped staples, and a reciprocating staple driver (19), adapted to successively release the thus-formed staples from the strip (8) and drive them into an object. The cassette has a front wall (11) in which the staple shaper (20) and the staple driver (19) are displaceably guided, as well as recesses through which projections on the staple shaper and the staple driver project, so as to engage, when the cassette is mounted in the stapler head, a drive mechanism (4) arranged in the stapler head to reciprocate the staple shaper and the staple driver.

Abstract: A housing including a handle portion and drive portion is provided. A power operated drive in the housing drive portion is operable to be selectively moved through a drive stroke and a return stroke. A nosepiece and magazine assembly are carried by the housing including cooperating fixed and movable structure defining an elongated drive track, a feed track leading laterally into the drive track, and a coil container leading into the feed track. A fastener driving element is slidably mounted in the drive track and operatively connected with the power operated drive so as to drive a leading fastener fed into the drive track from the feed track outwardly of the drive track. The unitary movable structure is mounted for pivotal movement when a fastener package has been depleted from a closed operating position in cooperating relation with the fixed structure into an open loading position. An actuating mechanism is provided for actuating the power operated drive to move through an operating cycle.

Abstract: A stapler includes a staple magazine rotably connected to an operating assembly. The operating assembly rotates around a shaft in response to pressure applied by a user to a operating handle. The staple magazine includes a plurality of staple clips capable of holding different size staples. The stapler includes means for determining a desired staple size. The staple magazine is rotated by the user to select a desired size staple. A stopper assembly, slidably mounted on a base of the stapler, is positioned by the user to limit and guide a front edge of a stack of papers being stapled. The means for determining a desired staple size and the stopper assembly are free from interference with each other. The stopper assembly is constructed so that a portion contacting the front edge of the stack of papers remains perpendicular to the front edge during a stapling operation.

Abstract: A rotary hopper includes a door, which is pivotally mounted on the main mounting plate for pivoting about a vertical axis, having a transparent element to enable viewing of the interior of the rotary hopper. The pivotally mounted door enables easy access to the interior of the hopper. On the opposite side of the main mounting plate from the door, a shaft is supported for rotatably supporting a cone having a gauging ring with gauging grooves mounted thereon. A recess in the cone, the interior of the gauging ring, and the interior of the transparent element on the door form a reservoir in the rotary hopper for the fastener elements. On the side of the main mounting plate having the door, the main mounting plate has a vertical groove to receive the fastener element in each of the gauging grooves when each of the gauging grooves is aligned therewith during rotation of the gauging ring. The vertical groove communicates with a setting station of an attaching apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary hopper includes a door, which is pivotally mounted on the main mounting plate for pivoting about a vertical axis, having a transparent element to enable viewing of the interior of the rotary hopper. The pivotally mounted door enables easy access to the interior of the hopper. On the opposite side of the main mounting plate from the door, a shaft is supported for rotatably supporting a cone having a gauging ring with gauging grooves mounted thereon. A recess in the cone, the interior of the gauging ring, and the interior of the transparent element on the door form a reservoir in the rotary hopper for the fastener elements. On the side of the main mounting plate having the door, the main mounting plate has a vertical groove to receive the fastener element in each of the gauging grooves when each of the gauging grooves is aligned therewith during rotation of the gauging ring. The vertical groove communicates with a setting station of an attaching apparatus.