Abstract: A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock includes a motor-driven head assembly adapted to receive the supply of fastener stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply and in turn eject the severed fastener. The head assembly includes a pair of needle block assemblies that retain corresponding hollow needles, each needle block assembly being shaped to define a feed channel that transitions a side rail for the fastener stock into axial alignment behind its corresponding needle. In addition, at least one needle block assembly includes a rearward shelf and a forward bowing plate. In use, the lowermost cross-links of the fastener stock fittingly align between the shelf and the bowing plate. In this manner, the lowermost cross-links are limited to distort uniformly upward within the single plane defined by the pair of feed channels, thereby optimizing feed reliability of the device.

Abstract: A device for attaching fasteners has a casing having a grip, a lever supported by the casing rotatably about its upper end and urged forward, a link arm actuated by the rotation of the lever, a piston engaged slidably by the upper end of the link arm, a driving rod slidable with the piston, a hollow needle situated at the leading end of the driving rod and having a slit and a guide formed behind the hollow needle for fitting an assembly of plastic fasteners. A guide attachment which can be changed to another is removably held below the assembly fitting guide for guiding a connecting bar in the assembly in the direction of its ejection.

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 housng 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 light-weight, easily manipulatable, and can be operated by a single hand.

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 of 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 light-weight, easily manipulatable, and can be operated by a single hand.

Abstract: An assembly of closely spaced attachments, a method of manufacturing an assembly of closely spaced attachments and a method of applying interleaved attachments to objects. The assembly has alternating attachments having different types of heads and having different lengths. The shorter attachments may be subsequently stretched to engage the longer attachments. In this manner the spacing between attachments can be decreased. One result of using such an assembly with a conventional dispensing device is that the advancing mechanism of the device can advance attachments two at a time by only contacting a single position at every other attachment in the assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for laminating crossties comprising means for conveying a plurality of railroad crossties in substantially mutually parallel relationship onto a lifting mechanism, said lifting mechanism being operable for simultaneously moving a plurality of the crossties into a clamping apparatus wherein the crossties are securely clamped in side-by-side relation, drill means operable for drilling transversely extending bore means through said plurality of crossties, means for inserting dowel pine through said bores for securing the plurality of crossties together in a laminated arrangement and means for removing the laminated crossties from the clamped position and from the apparatus.