Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming boxes from template blanks includes moving the blank forward on a drive line while one or more side panel fingers raise and lower various side panels of the blank in an alternating fashion. One or more holders maintain the side panels in position as the blank moves forward on the drive line. The raised and lowered side panels rigidify various panels from which they extend. The rigidified panels may be less susceptible to bending along false scores that extend transversely across the blank during folding and bending steps of the box forming process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming boxes from template blanks includes moving the blank forward on a drive line while one or more side panel fingers raise and lower various side panels of the blank in an alternating fashion. One or more holders maintain the side panels in position as the blank moves forward on the drive line. The raised and lowered side panels rigidify various panels from which they extend. The rigidified panels may be less susceptible to bending along false scores that extend transversely across the blank during folding and bending steps of the box forming process.

Abstract: Fasteners, such as rivets, are fed to a fastener insertion tool (1) via a buffer magazine (5) adjacent to the tool. The buffer is movable with the tool and C-frame between an operative position where fasteners can be inserted int a workpiece and a re-filling position where it is docked at a docking station (13) to reload. Fasteners are delivered to the docking station from a source (14) and held there ready for when the tool docks. Once docked a transfer gat is opened at an interface between the buffer magazine (15) and the docking station (13) and fasteners from the docking station are transferred into the buffer magazine. A fastener insertion cycle is executed while the docking station is refilled with fasteners. A control cycle is used to control the quantity of fasteners loaded into a storage track at the docking station and operates to reduce overfilling of the buffer.

Abstract: A hand-held tool, in which multiple fasteners are successively fed, is provided with: an ejection detecting portion for detecting an ejection of the fasteners; and a control portion for switching from a power saving wait mode of small power consumption to an active mode capable of executing normal processing when the ejection detecting portion detects the ejection of the fasteners, and for switching from the active mode to the wait mode when the normal processing is ended.

Abstract: An electric driving machine includes a remaining fastener sensor 257 which detects the amount of fasteners (e.g., nails) remaining, in an aligned and held manner, in a magazine 2 and which generates a residual-quantity signal (a signal showing depletion of fasteners) when the amount of remaining fasteners has decreased to a predetermined level or less; a remaining fastener detection circuit 406 which outputs a control signal (a signal of level 0) for controlling control means (299, 283, and other means) in accordance with an input of the residual-quantity signal (a switch-on signal) generated by the remaining fastener sensor 257; and a delay circuit 401 for delaying the remaining signal (the ON signal) generated by the remaining fastener sensor 257 by a predetermined period of time (e.g., 20 milliseconds) and inputs the thus-delayed remaining signal to the remaining fastener detection circuit 256 (406).

Abstract: A fastener-driving tool has a cam-actuated pneumatic switch mechanism system operatively incorporated thereon which is adapted to control the timed driving or discharge of fasteners out from a hand-held fastener-driving tool and into a substrate at predeterminedly spaced positions with respect to each other. The arrangement is particularly adapted for use in connection with the driving of fasteners into corner regions of structural workpieces, although the same may also be used to drive fasteners into flat planar surfaces.

Abstract: A hand-held tool, in which multiple fasteners are successively fed, is provided with: an ejection detecting portion for detecting an ejection of the fasteners; and a control portion for switching from a power saving wait mode of small power consumption to an active mode capable of executing normal processing when the ejection detecting portion detects the ejection of the fasteners, and for switching from the active mode to the wait mode when the normal processing is ended.

Abstract: A gas combustion type coil nailer is provided with (a) a main body (1) which is provided with combustion chamber; (b) a head part (3) which is disposed on the front surface of this; and (c) a magazine 4 which is disposed on the bottom surface of the head part (3) so that it can be attached and detached easily. A coil shaped nail connecting body is loaded onto the magazine (4). The head part (3) is provided with (d) a guide tube (35) through which the rod (17) and the nail n pass; and (e) with a feed motor (47). The nail connecting body N is fed to the guide tube (35) by a feed gear which is driven by the feed motor (47). Power is supplied to the feed motor (47) from a battery. The rod (17) is driven and the nail is fed by separate motive forces so that the nail can be fed reliably without adversely affecting the accuracy and reliability of the driving capacity of the rod (17).

Abstract: A rivet setting tool is provided to provide improved monitoring of riveted connections during rivet setting. The rivet setting tool includes a head piece for holding a rivet, a device for gripping a rivet pin, a pulling apparatus connected to the device for gripping a rivet pin, and a device for measuring the tension of the pulling apparatus. Using the setting implement according to the invention, a cause of a fault can be determined by means of a comparison between measured values and stored values.

Abstract: An apparatus nails a plurality of cross members to an underlying stringer to produce a pallet. The carriage moves in a continuous motion without stopping over the cross members until the cross members are nailed to the stringer. The carriage includes at least one nailing gun for driving nails and a hydraulic accumulator mounted on the carriage in hydraulic communication with the at least one nailing gun for supplying hydraulic fluid to provide a force to the nailing gun to nail the cross members to the stringer. The nailing gun may be pivotally secured to the carriage wherein the nailing gun pivots with respect to the carriage while driving a nail into the cross member and the underlying stringer. The nail gun is also positioned into a nail driving position pneumatically and when in the nail driving position the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to drive the nail into the cross member.

Abstract: A staple sheet-detecting mechanism of an electric stapler having improved detection accuracy and miniaturization has a passage for feeding a staple sheet composed of straight forward staples arranged in parallel, and a forming plate and driver arranged above an anvil of the passage. A staple is inserted into papers located under the staple by moving the forming plate and the driver to a side of the staple. Above the anvil, where the forming plate waits, is a sensor (rocking member) of which one end contacts a tip edge of the staple sheet in a feeding direction, while the other end turns on or off an interrupter (detecting element). A rocking fulcrum of the sensor is provided biased to a side of the staple sheet in the passage. The forming plate and the driver are provided with recessed portions and, respectively, for allowing the sensor to rock.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for actuating a tag attaching tool of the type which dispenses plastic fasteners from a clip of fasteners in response to the depression of a trigger. Each of the fasteners has a T-bar. The fasteners are dispensed by severing the fastener from the clip and ejecting the T-bar of the fastener through the hollow slotted needle of the tool. The tag attaching tool is actuated in two stages. During the first actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is partially depressed as the tool and an abutment are moved relative to each other such that the lead fastener is severed from the clip of fasteners. During the second actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is depressed completely, as the tool and abutment are moved further toward each other, causing the severed fastener to be ejected from the hollow needle of the attaching tool.

Abstract: A motor-driven stapler is disclosed which comprises a table (100) arranged as opposed to a staple drive portion for driving a staple and provided movably up and down on a stapler body, and a driver for driving a staple from the staple drive portion to sheets of paper when the table (100) has been moved to press the sheets of paper against the staple drive portion. The table (100) is moved up and down by allowing the table (100) to rotate about axles (27) that are provided on the side plate portions (24, 25) of the frame (12) of the stapler body (10).

Abstract: In a stapler for variably stapling a set or stack of sheets manually inserted through the stapler entrance path with different orientations, there is a sheet guide system with movable guide members automatically differently repositioned into different sheet guiding positions in the entrance path by the sheet stack insertion and its angle of insertion, including switching in between a corner angled stapling alignment position and a linear sheet edge aligned stapling position, respectively differently positioning the sheet stack for stapling. It may include a base plate, a pair of guide elements movably mounted on the base plate, and a fixed registration wall. The guide members in the corner angled stapling position may present opposing converging 45 degree angled edge registration surfaces to the inserted sheet stack. For edge stapling, the same guide members and/or the registration wall may present one, or two straight edge registration surfaces to the inserted stack.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided which is detachably attached to a main body of a unit. The main body of the unit houses a connected clip body where a plurality of clip plates are interconnected in ribbon form by tape and wound in roll form, and the main body is equipped with a device for clipping an end portion of a sheet bundle. The cartridge has a main body (103), which is in turn formed with a chamber (102) for housing the connected clip body and a conveyer path (113) for feeding a clip plate of the connected clip body housed in the housing chamber to a clipping position by a feed unit. The housing chamber (102) is provided with an opening (105A) at its circumferential wall (105) which becomes an inlet between the housing chamber (102) and the conveyer path (113). The opening (105A) has nearly the same diameter as the diameter of the housing chamber (102).

Abstract: A fully automated frame maker which makes rectangular frames includes a controller device for controlling a cycle of operation and preferably multiple cycles of operation to form a plurality of frames. The apparatus also broadly includes a framing device for cyclically feeding precut mitered frame members and for forming a rectangular frame therefrom.

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: An apparatus for final assembly of framed artwork includes a conveyor for translating a plurality of art frames past a robot arm assembly. A fastener driver module is supported by the robot arm assembly, the module including a support plate and a magazine secured to the support plate by a pivot assembly at the upper end of the magazine, with the freely pivoting lower end of the magazine depending from the support plate. A pneumatic actuator extends laterally from the support plate to rotate the lower end of the magazine to impinge on the art frame, and another pneumatic actuator supported on the magazine is coupled through a lever arrangement to a driver blade extending through the lower end of the magazine. The driver blade engages the lowermost fastener in the magazine and ejects it forcefully, driving it into the interior opening of the frame on the table.

Abstract: A motor-drive industrial robot which can be used as a painting robot is mainly constructed by a direct-drive motor, a fixed portion such as a base, and a movable portion such as a rotary table, an arm etc. The direct-drive motor for driving the movable portion is constructed by a rotor and a stator. Preferably, the stator is attached to the fixed portion, while the rotor is attached to the movable portion. In order to avoid the generation of sparks in the flammable atmosphere, this robot is designed as the explosion-proof construction, so that the protective gas ie enclosed within the direct-drive motor. This protective gas is supplied into an annular space formed between the rotor and stator via a through hole formed through the stator or rotor. In addition, this annular space is sealed such that the protective gas is not leaked from the direct-drive motor.

Abstract: A vacuum pulls a spent mandrel through a gun bore and into a collection tube which discharges into a collector. Gun operation and mandrel entry into and departure from the collection tube are sensed and blockage of the mandrel within the collection tube and the jamming of the mandrel in the rivet gun are determined and signalled to the operator. The cycle immediately continues when the mandrel is cleared.

Abstract: Rivets are delivered from a feed chute to a transfer location and blown through a feed tube to a loading device. The presence of a rivet is sensed both at the transfer location and at the loading device and a fault indicator is operated in the event a rivet sensed and transported from the transfer location does not wind up in the loading device. The operator hits the reset button which blows clean air thru the feed tube in an attempt to free the jammed rivet. In the event this does not occur, the system assumes the operator cleared the jam and loads the next rivet into position to be transferred and continues the cycle.

Abstract: An automatic riveting machine is disclosed which counts the rivets, as set, to control the feeding of rivets from a feeder to the rivet track or chute. The track will be resupplied after a selected number of rivets are set or sooner should the track become prematurely empty by removal of rivets from the track.

Abstract: A vacuum pulls a spent mandrel through a gun bore and into a collection tube which discharges into a collector. Gun operation and mandrel entry into and departure from the collection tube are sensed and blockage of the mandrel within the collection tube and the jamming of the mandrel in the rivet gun are determined and signalled to the operator. The cycle immediately continues when the mandrel is cleared.

Abstract: A machine for assembling a jamb member, two sides members, and a stop member into a finished door jamb. The individual members are placed into the machine, which positions and aligns members and transports them in the proper relationship to a fastening station which automatically fastens the members into a door jamb assembly. The machine automatically spaces the fasteners along the length of the assembly.

Abstract: A replaceable, closed, container, cartridge or supply-item cassette holds a roll of stitcher wire from which U-shaped wire staples are to be formed by operation of a stitcher. The wire's end is led from the cassette to the stitcher by way of a flexible tube that terminates in a coupler/handle member. The coupler/handle member includes a releasable wire clamp that is operable to hold the wire's end. The coupler/handle member is constructed and arranged to protect the operator's hands from contact with the wire's sharp, needle-like end. When the coupler/handle member is locked or coupled to the stitcher, the stitcher's wire feed rollers automatically move to a nip-closed position, to entrap the end of the wire, and the wire is automatically released from the wire clamp. The stitcher's wire feed rollers are driven by a stepping motor. The cassette includes a brake that is operable to control the orderly feeding or wire by the stepping motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading food for alignment with food sticks is provided. A food bin stores the food to be processed. The bin is filled with food which is gravity fed into J-shaped sections of a food conveyor belt. Concurrently, a stick conveyor system carries and aligns food sticks with the food. When the correct number of food items is aligned with the food sticks, the sticks are automatically inserted into the food items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling mouldings incorporating several rabbets, which comprises a table for positioning the mouldings, slides supporting this table, rendered fast with two columns which are connected in their lower part by a base under which is mounted a jack whose rod is connected to a hammer which penetrates in a clip magazine, and in their upper part by a piece provided with a presser member located opposite the hammer. According to the invention, a clipping assembly is provided which bears the hammer and a sliding guide fast with the hammer, as well as a sensor; two small columns on which the clipping assembly may slide vertically; balancing means mounted on each small column below the clipping assembly; and a plate disposed at the top of the rod, and on which the hammer and the sliding guide rest, and which comprises a matching member opposite the sensor. The invention is more particularly applicable to the manufacture of wooden frames.

Abstract: A system for dispensing components one-at-a-time upon demand for utilization comprises a component handling assembly and a buffer assembly. The component handling assembly receives bulk quantities of the components and when activated, properly orients each component and supplies the components in a randomly timed sequence to the buffer assembly. The buffer assembly comprises a cylindrical upper receiving housing having a plurality of cylindrical through-chambers radially disposed in a circular pattern and rotatable about a central generally vertical axis. A cylindrical lower dispensing member is closely aligned and coaxially rotatable both independently and together with the receiving housing. The dispensing member has a planar upper surface which forms a bottom cover for the chambers in the upper receiving housing and has a single passageway that can be aligned with each of the upper receiving chambers to dispense a component.

Abstract: A fastener positioning apparatus includes a magnetized engaging element for slidably holding fasteners next to an elongated member as they are pushed from a first position into a hammering position by a positioning mechanism. In the hammering position, a hammering device seats the fastener into a desired medium. The entire fastener positioning apparatus may be placed on a cart for mobile use, and controlled so as to provide automatic placement of fasteners at predetermined intervals across the medium. Alternatively, manual control may be used instead of automatic control so that fasteners are positioned in accordance with specific selection of an operator. In the cart embodiment, a feed tube connects a tray for holding fasteners with a positioning device. The feed tube may include a vibrating device to ensure proper movement of the fasteners therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for discriminating signature sets of abnormal total thickness from signature sets having normal total thickness in a saddle-wired preparing apparatus. The discriminating apparatus includes means for electrically detecting the movement of sensor wheels which are adapted to discriminate a signature set of normal thickness from one having abnormal thickness, means for timing the output of this detected signal through a mechanical detector, and solenoid means for switching a stitcher and a deflector lever.

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: A machine for automatically driving object such as staples into a rod at substantially equally spaced intervals comprises a stapling device for driving staples into the rod, a driving assembly for moving the rod past the stapling device, and an indexing wheel contacting the rod so as to be driven to rotate by movement of the rod. A series of spaced switch activators such as pins on the wheel are positioned to operate one or more switches each time they rotate into contact with a switch. The activator for each switch is arranged to control operation of the stapling device, so that a staple is driven into the rod each time the switch is activated and a series of staples are driven into the rod at spacings controlled by the switch activator spacings. Where there is more than one switch corresponding to different staple spacings, a switch selector is provided to select any one of the switches for controlling the stapling device.

Abstract: A fastener feeding apparatus is used to supply a pair of strips of detachably connected staples to a magazine of a fastener driving device in each loading cycle of the feeding apparatus. A plurality of pairs of strips of staples are supplied to an inclined receiving bin of the fastener feeding apparatus in a nested configuration and a pair of strips slide along the bin until positioned against a stop block in alignment with a pusher mechanism. When the fastener driving device is positioned adjacent an exit chute for receiving the strips of staples, the pusher mechanism engages one of the strips of staples and pushes the one strip of staples toward the exit chute. The other strip of staples is held in place by a stop so that the one strip is separated from the other strip of staples. Once the strips of staples are separated, the stop is retracted and the pusher moves both strips of staples along an orienting device adjacent the exit chute.

Abstract: In a copying machine a copy-receiving device is provided which includes a table with a plate inclined to a horizontal at a predetermined angle and supporting thereon sets of copies or sheets to be stapled together by a stapling device which is insertable into the copy-receiving device and arranged at the lower end of the inclined plate. The stapling device is actuated by a drive motor, a crank drive with a pulling bar having an end portion with a compression spring thereon, and an actuating arm pivotally connected to the end portion of the pulling bar. The spring compensates for various thickness is of the stacks of sheets being stapled and provides for displacement-free stapling of the sheets.

Abstract: A grooved passageway surface in a magnetic gas gate, the gas gate adapted to operatively connect two adjacent chambers, in the first chamber of which process gases are introduced for depositing a first layer upon a magnetic substrate and in the second chamber of which process gases are introduced for depositing a second layer atop the first layer. Since it is important to prevent the second chamber gases from contaminating the first chamber gases, a constant pressure differential established between the chambers is employed to provide a substantially unidirectional flow of gases from the first chamber into the second chamber. Magnetic gas gates have been used in the prior art to reduce the size of gas gate passageways by creating a magnetic field which urges the unlayered surface of the substrate toward a wall of the passageway.

Abstract: A board nailing machine, herein disclosed in the form of a pallet maker, in which the stringer or inner boards are automatically fed in spaced apart relation into a nailing station and the deck boards or outer boards are automatically fed into nailing position at said nailing station on opposite sides of the stringers and thereafter the deck boards are nailed to the stringers at said nailing station. In the specific embodiment disclosed the stringers are automatically fed from supply magazines into a nailing station wherein they are disposed in horizontal parallel spaced apart relation and the deck boards are automatically fed from supply magazine into said nailing station on opposite sides of the stringers and are disposed in upstanding substantially vertical nailing position at said nailing station, and the nailing mechanism is specifically designed to drive the nails horizontally through the deck boards into the stringers at said nailing station.

Abstract: A stitching assembly for stitching together sheets of paper, card and similar materials comprises a frame carrying a number of stitching machines each of which includes a stitching head and a clinch block connected together so that each stitching head and its associated clinch block are movable along the frame as a unit. A code bar assembly which is mounted on the frame includes a number of code bars and co-operating means on the stitching machines and the code bars which co-operate to locate the stitching machines at positions along the frame determined by the spacing of the co-operating means along the code bar. The spacing of the co-operating means on each of the code bars is different and the code bar assembly includes means to move the code bars to enable each one of them to be associated with the co-operating means on the stitching machine.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in nail feeding control as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,776. The ratchet system of the reference patent has been improved upon by use of a two-position drum bar which is moved by a cylinder. The latter is activated by a programmer to select nails in accordance with a first predetermined pattern for the top deck of, for example, a pallet, and at the other position a second predetermined pattern of nails is fed for driving into the bottom deck. Any number of stringers may be attached using the one pattern for the top deck and the other pattern for the bottom deck.

Abstract: The tag-dispensing device is designed for use with a hand-held plastic fastener attacher of the type having a needle for penetrating an article to be tagged and through which a fastener is dispensed. The device includes a support to which the attacher is movably mounted and upon which is situated a stack of tags. A slide is utilized to move a tag along the plane between the stack and a position in alignment with the needle of the attacher. The attacher is mounted to the support by a plate which is movable relative to the support between a position wherein the needle is remote from the plane of slide movement and a position wherein the needle intersects the plane. Slide movement may be accomplished manually or automatically in conjunction with the movement of the attacher by using a mechanical linkage, an electrically driven motor, a solenoid, or a pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a plurality of sheets are stapled to one another. The stapling frequency is dependent upon the number of sheets being stapled together.The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: An automatic sheet jogging and stapling machine is disclosed and includes a downwardly, sidewardly inclined platform for receiving sheets of paper, and a side wall and bottom release gate that extend upwardly from the platform to define a sheet receiving corner. Longitudinally and laterally movable jogging fingers are provided to align the sheet edges against the release gate and side wall and a stapling head is mounted spaced above the sheet receiving platform to staple the sheets together. The release gate is opened to gravitationally eject the stapled paper. A cam operated control sequentially actuates the longitudinally and laterally movable jogging fingers, the stapling head, and the release gate.

Abstract: A box stitching machine is disclosed which includes a stitching head and a set of pull rollers for intermittently moving a box to be stitched past the stitching head. An operating motor drives a shaft which is connected to the pull rollers through a clutch brake combination. Logic circuitry is disclosed which is responsive to a pair of photocells for starting and stopping operation of the stitching head; a manual switch for adjusting the desired spacing between stitches applied by the stitching head and a plurality of photocells for finely adjusting the stitch spacing.