Abstract: A method and apparatus for more accurately fastening a raised heel to a shoe outsole includes a shoe support column having an impact head at an upper end thereof. The impact head is contoured to substantially conform to the inner heel portion of the shoe upper. The impact head includes a plurality of bores each having a piston-operated driver therein that propels a nail upwardly through the shoe insole and into the raised heel. Proximal the bore outlets is an alignment button that is inserted into a channel formed through the shoe insole and outsole. An alignment pin is positioned within both an alignment aperture formed on the shoe heel and a centrally disposed cavity on the button. When the alignment aperture, button and channel are axially aligned, the raised heel is properly positioned on the shoe outsole ensuring accurate penetration of the nails.

Abstract: A system may install a floor above a sub-floor surface, the floor having a board abutting adjacent boards. The system may include a lowering apparatus, a positioning apparatus, and a securing apparatus. The lowering apparatus may be adapted to receive the board and to lower the board to the floor. The positioning apparatus may be adapted to position the board in contact with one or more of the adjacent boards. The securing apparatus may be adapted to secure the board to the sub-floor surface.

Abstract: A method for precisely aligning a product to be stapled in relation to a stapling device in a gatherer stapler, includes the steps of determining an exact position of the product to be stapled, comparing the determined position with an expected position of the product, supplying a determined positional deviation to a drive as a control variable and performing a compensatory movement by controlling at least one of respective drives of the gathering chain and of the stapling device so that the determined positional deviation is compensated for at the start of the stapling operation. A device for performing the method and a gatherer stapler are also provided.

Abstract: The invention is a stapler and staple guide assembly for same. The stapler provides automated stapling for stacks of sheet material regardless of stack thickness. In a first embodiment two staple guides load individual sheets or small stacks of sheets onto a staple with the staple supported in a base. The staple is then cut to an appropriate height and cinched. In another embodiment, numerous split guides may be cascaded to increase staple loading speed. Other improvements to a stapling process include dimpling sheets of material and/or pre-drilling sheets of material to simplify loading sheets onto a staple.

Abstract: A tagging apparatus for attaching tags to plants includes a frame member, a holding/clamping member operably connected to the frame member for holding a tag, and a first jaw movably mounted on the frame member. The first jaw is adapted to close against a second jaw on the frame member, with the jaws including surfaces forming an opening adapted to enclose a plant stem/branch when closed. A pneumatically driven mechanism is attached to the frame member and is adapted to grip and advance a strip of flexible material onto the surfaces so that the surfaces direct the strip of flexible material around the opening means to form a loop around the plant stem/branch. The apparatus also includes a pneumatically powered cutter and stapler mechanism attached to the frame member for cutting the strip from a roll of strip material and then for stapling the strip of flexible material in the loop around the stem/branch and to the tag to thus permanently retain the tag to the stem/branch.

Abstract: The system disclosed herein includes a pair of polymeric elongated edge-binding strips, each of which includes upstanding staple-like members extending from the strip adjacent the center and the ends thereof. Staple deforming depressions are positioned adjacent each staple-like member. In use a pair of edge-binding strips are positioned opposite each other and are used to bind a series of stacked sheets. In such a case, the strips are arranged to face other with staples from one strip aligned with depressions and another strip and vice versa.

Abstract: A heel nailing machine having a holddown for the heel which clamps the heel against movement during attachment. The holddown is then moved upwards to lift the heel and attached shoe off the stand. The holddown then swings to one side and the shoe is released. The shoe is thus automatically ejected from the machine.

Abstract: A shoe support for supporting a shoe to have a heel attached thereto comprises a generally planar support surface against the heel seat region of the shoe and the heel are located. The support has at least one nail guide formed therein which is inclined to the normal to the support surface and contains a pusher member movable normally to the support surface. A driver rests on the pusher member and is movable, by movement of the pusher member, along the guide to drive a nail therefrom into the heel seat region and the heel. As the pusher member moves sliding movement takes place, normally to the direction of movement of the pusher member, between the pusher member and the driver.

Abstract: A connector housing (10) with projecting terminal pins (11) is moved through a set of blades (41-45) which act to align the columns of terminal pins. At an assembly area (38), a group of aligning pins (111) are advanced through openings in the blades to align the rows of terminal pins (11). A jaw device (62) advances an apertured block (13) into the position above the terminal pins, whereafter a pusher (103) advances an apertured retainer card (24) onto the block (13). A multi-fingered insertion tool (121) is moved to push the retainer card (24) and the block (13) onto the coordinately aligned terminal pins.

Abstract: A conventional fastener attacher is vertically mounted to a support in a fixed position relative thereto in a manner which permits pneumatic actuation thereof. A carriage, which is movable along an upstanding guide mounted on the support, has mounted thereon a pneumatically actuated tag feed mechanism. When actuated, the mechanism feeds a tag from a position out of alignment with the axis of the needle of the attacher to a position in alignment with the axis of the needle. Thereafter, the carriage is moved toward the attacher, in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the needle, to place the fed tag on the needle. In one embodiment, a second carriage, movable along a second upstanding guide, carries a hook feed mechanism which, when actuated, feeds a hook to a position spaced from, but in alignment with the needle. The article to which the tag and hook are to be attached is held between the needle and the hook.

Abstract: A process for attaching one or more layers of materials to a base or backing having an anvil in its composition. A backing has incorporated therein an anvil strip of high impact material with formed depressions for clenching staples driven through the layer or layers to be attached. The anvil strip may be a metal strip embedded in the spine of a binder or may be formed by the boundary line of a relatively hard material and a relatively soft material through which a staple or tack may pass and the layers may be a stack of paper or signature sheets.