Abstract: An anvil assembly having a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple pockets formed in the tissue contact surface. Each of the plurality of staple pockets including first and second staple forming cups, each of the first and second staple forming cups having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in close relation to each other and the outside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in spaced relation to each other. Each of the first and second staple forming cups being defined by sidewalls and an elongated base surface, wherein upper portions of the sidewalls intersect the tissue contact surface at a line of intersection, and wherein the line of intersection is curved along a majority of its length between the outside portion and the inside portion of each of the staple forming cups.

Abstract: A nailing system may include a bracket that mounts to a nail gun, and an arm. The system may also include a movable joint to connect the arm to the bracket. The system may further include an anvil carried by the arm where the arm positions the anvil to be under a driver of the nail gun, and the anvil bends nails driven by the driver.

Abstract: An anvil assembly for use with a surgical stapler having a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple pockets formed in the tissue contact surface. Each of the plurality of staple pockets including first and second staple forming cups, each of the first and second staple forming cups having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in close relation to each other and the outside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in spaced relation to each other. Each of the first and second staple forming cups being defined by sidewalls and an elongated base surface, wherein upper portions of the sidewalls intersect the tissue contact surface at a line of intersection, and wherein the line of intersection is curved along a majority of its length between the outside portion and the inside portion of each of the staple forming cups.

Abstract: A stapler has a supporting base, a magazine assembly, a trigger assembly, a leg-flatting device and a rail assembly. The magazine assembly and the trigger assembly are connected pivotally to the supporting base. The leg-flatting device is mounted on the supporting base and has a moving base and an anvil element. The moving base is connected operationally to the supporting base and has an anvil hole. The anvil element is mounted moveably in the anvil hole and has a functional segment and a non-functional segment. The rail assembly mounted on and protrudes from the bottom face of the supporting base and has at least one rail bracket protruding from the bottom face of the supporting base. Each one of the at least one rail bracket has a rail in which the non-functional segment of the anvil element is slidably mounted.

Abstract: A device for impacting a fastener in one embodiment includes a housing with an upper housing portion, a middle housing portion, and a side housing portion extending between the upper housing portion and the middle housing portion, a drive cylinder configured to vent within the housing, an air passage extending through the housing and including a mouth at the upper housing portion, and a strike plate extending over the upper housing portion and including a top portion positioned apart from the upper housing portion, and a first side extension extending downwardly from the top portion along the side housing portion to a location above and spaced apart from an outwardly extending first surface of the middle housing portion.

Abstract: A stapler has a supporting base, a magazine assembly, a trigger assembly, a leg-flatting device and a rail assembly. The magazine assembly and the trigger assembly are connected pivotally to the supporting base. The leg-flatting device is mounted on the supporting base and has a moving base and an anvil element. The moving base is connected operationally to the supporting base and has an anvil hole. The anvil element is mounted moveably in the anvil hole and has a functional segment and a non-functional segment. The rail assembly mounted on and protrudes from the bottom face of the supporting base and has at least one rail bracket protruding from the bottom face of the supporting base. Each one of the at least one rail bracket has a rail in which the non-functional segment of the anvil element is slidably mounted.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjuster operatively associated with a staple leg diverter. The single selectively operable adjuster is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions to affect the lateral movement of the staple leg diverter. The different leg deflective positions effects an amount to which the diverter will deflect the legs of the driven staple during a drive stroke. A single operation of the single selectively operable adjuster both moves the adjuster and retains the adjuster in an adjusted position within the range of leg deflecting positions.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjusting mechanism that is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions is disclosed. The stapler includes a staple leg diverting member that is carried by a portable structure for lateral movement into and out of a drive track. Successively driven staples are driven with a selected leg deflection between a minimum deflection and a maximum deflection. The adjusting mechanism is selectively adjusted within the range of positions to adjust the amount of bias of a biasing structure acting on the leg diverting member.

Abstract: A stapler anvil and method for clinching a staple is disclosed. The anvil includes a body having a well. The well has an axis extending between the legs of a staple and is defined by a first surface having a first portion along which the first leg of the staple is directed as the staple is being clinched, and a second portion extending substantially at an angle relative to the first portion to direct the second leg of the staple at least partially away from the axis as the staple is clinched. The well is further defined by a second surface spaced from the first surface. The second surface is configured to redirect the second leg of the staple at least partially back toward the axis after the second leg has been directed at least partially away from the axis by the second portion of the first surface.

Abstract: A fastener for splicing ends of conveyor belts together is provided having a rivet that is pre-inserted thereto to provide speed and ease in installation. The rivet is held in an aperture of the upper plate by an interference fit at the lower end thereof. Preferably, the interference fit is achieved by knurling of the lower end portion of the rivet shaft to create raised interference portions or ridges integral therewith that are sized to be in an interference fit in the upper plate aperture. The remainder of the shaft can be sized to provide clearance between it and the aperture. An applicator machine tool is also provided for automatically securing a strip of the pre-inserted rivet fasteners to a belt end in a fast and efficient manner. The tool uses operating members to first drive pilot nails through the belt lower surface into registry with the rivets, and thereafter the rivets are driven coordinated with the pilot nails that are withdrawn back through the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning tooling with respect to a workpiece such as for positioning an anvil and clamping members on the inner surface of a fuselage being riveted. The apparatus comprises a tooling head, a frame for supporting the head, a carriage for moving the frame relative to the workpiece including movement of the frame along an axis. The frame is movable radially of the axis toward and away from the workpiece for macro-movement of the head. The head is also movable relative to the frame for movement of the tooling radially of the axis toward and away from the workpiece for micro-movement of the tooling for clamping to and unclamping from the workpiece as well as to clear flange portions of stringers being riveted to the workpiece.

Abstract: A real-time fastener measurement system includes an anvil (10) having a striking surface (16) that engages a fastener as it is upset. Three proximity sensors (20) are disposed at 120.degree. intervals around a striking surface of the anvil. A computer system (110) reads the electronic signals produced by the proximity sensors just after the fastener has been upset and converts the signals to digital values. The computer stores a piecewise linear function that has been predetermined for each sensor and uses the function to convert the digital values of the proximity sensor to fastener head height.

Abstract: A movable frame is supported by a counter balancing winch or a robot and carries a horizontally movable shuttle on which is mounted a motor driven drill spindle and a parallel spaced anvil both movable in a vertical direction by corresponding fluid cylinders. A clamping bushing is supported by the frame for receiving a drill bit carried by the drill spindle and then receiving a rivet carried by spring fingers on the anvil. A J-shaped or C-shaped slide member is supported by the frame for vertical movement and carries a ram which opposes the anvil when in the clamping bushing. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the frame and has a downwardly projecting piston rod connected to the slide member, and a clamping tool is supported adjacent the ram by a fluid cylinder within the slide member.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting fasteners which are press fit through aligned apertures in side-by-side workpieces. The apparatus includes a frame which is moveable relative to the side-by-side workpieces, the frame including a main frame and a subframe mounted on the main frame and moveable between the first and second positions. The subframe carries tooling in the form of a drill and an upper ram. Also, mounted on the main frame are upper and lower spaced apart clamps which may be selectively moved into contact with upper and lower surfaces of upper and lower workpieces. The upper ram can be moved into contact with a headed fastener to force the shank of the fastener through aligned apertures drilled in the workpieces. A vibrating apparatus is associated with the upper ram and will be operated to hammer the upper ram while it is still being maintained in contact with the fastener after the fastener has been inserted into the workpieces to fully insert the fastener and relieve any stresses which may be present.

Abstract: An apparatus for countersinking rivet holes preformed at circumferential spacings in the fuselage of an airplane and in annular reinforcing ribs of H-shaped cross section in the fuselage at axial spacings. Included is a carrier arm cantilevered to a frame for insertion in the fuselage and reinforcing ribs. The carrier arm has a fluid-actuated cylinder and a fluid motor. The cylinder has a piston rod to which is coupled an offset anvil assembly for pressing the fuselage and a rib against a toolhead mounted to the frame. The piston rod, together with the anvil assembly thereon, is not only linearly displaceable but also rotatable about its own axis. The fluid motor actuates the piston rod for revolving the anvil assembly through an angle of at least 180 degrees. With such angular displacement of the anvil assembly, the apparatus is readily adaptable for countersinking two annular rows of rivet holes formed in those parts of the outer flange of each rib which are on the opposite sides of its web.

Abstract: Dimpling and riveting a workpiece wherein the workpiece is clamped, the dimpling, drilling and riveting occur sequentially while the workpiece is clamped, and the workpiece is heated prior to dimpling. During clamping a pressure foot force is applied to one side of the workpiece, and during dimpling a force is applied to the opposite side causing slight movement of the workpiece against the pressure foot force. The dimpled recess in the workpiece is about the shape of a truncated cone and a rivet-receiving hole is drilled through the workpiece in the recess. To provide a fluid-tight seal, the minor diameter of the truncated cone is made slightly greater than the diameter of the rivet-receiving hole thereby providing an annular step between the hole and the outwardly diverging wall of the dimpled recess. During upsetting of the rivet the workpiece material is compressed radially around the annular step to provide a fluid-tight seal between rivet and workpiece.

Abstract: A tubular sleeve clamps the work during a drilling step, following which a tubular anvil moves within the sleeve to support the work while a rivet is thrust into the work with an interference fit. The tubular anvil is then withdrawn and moved with an anvil pin to form an upset head. If desired, the pin can then be retracted, and the outer portion of the upset head partially sheared by the tubular anvil and flattened against the work.

Abstract: A riveting press wherein a stationary lower tool is in line with a vertically reciprocable upper tool which is moved up and down in response to rotation of a first cam mounted on the output shaft of an electric motor. The output shaft carries a second cam with an endless cam groove for the follower at the upper end of a first elongated bar which is coupled to the upper portion of a second elongated bar with limited freedom of reciprocatory movement. The lower portion of the second bar carries a pair of grippers which can releasably hold a component of an article of hardware to be affixed to a sheet of textile material between the two tools. A coil spring biases the two bars apart so as to increase the distance between the follower and the grippers and to thereby close an electric switch which is in circuit with the motor.

Abstract: A machine for affixing e.g. snap fasteners, rivets and the like to workpieces has a stationary lower tool and a downwardly movable cooperating upper tool. To protect the finger of an operator against injury by the tools the machine also has a finger guard positioned to move ahead of the descending upper tool. The finger guard is mounted on two parallel upright links which are longitudinally shiftable relative to each other. When the finger guard encounters an obstacle this results in shifting of one link relative to the other and two normally engaged contacts in an electrical circuit for the machine drive move apart, interrupting the circuit and shutting down the machine drive.

Abstract: A machine for inserting quilting or tufting buttons of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,174, has male and female button drive mechanisms similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,889, driven by a foot powered lever arrangement for rapidly tufting a pad or the like.

Abstract: An anvil having a working end away from a mounting shank, has compressed air flowing through the anvil to feed outward to the working end. An insert fastened to a panel is secured to the panel by forming on one end of the insert and by bonding with an adhesive on the other end. The working end of the anvil presses against the insert during forming and the flowing compressed air blows excess adhesive from the contacted surface of the insert.

Abstract: An anvil having a working end away from a mounting shank, has compressed air flowing through the anvil to feed outward to the working end. An insert fastened to a panel is secured to the panel by forming on one end of the insert and by bonding with an adhesive on the other end. The working end of the anvil presses against the insert during forming and the flowing compressed air blows excess adhesive from the contacted surface of the insert.

Abstract: A shipping reel for storing coiled products, such as hose, cable, rope, wire and the like, and apparatus facilitating the assembly thereof. Reel components, inclusive of side flanges and a center drum that are provided in a disassembled more compact relation, are readily assembled at a point of use. Upset ends of a plurality of through rods engage dished washers disposed in counterbored recesses of a top flange to pass through the center drum and through similar openings and counterbored recesses of a base flange. Hammer blows directed at the upper upset ends of the rods drive the rods through openings in locking washers of dished recess shape that are disposed on bushings of an assembly table supporting the base flange and staking pins disposed in the bushings and having cross chisel points slightly flare the lower ends of the rods to hold the washers, flanges and center drum in assembled relationship for use.