Abstract: A transport table reciprocates between a collator, at which it receives a stack of loose sheets, and a stapling head for stapling the sheets together. Cam followers on the table engage cam surfaces during the reciprocating table movement to cause jogging movements of end and side retaining means to jog the loose sheets into a neat stack. The stack is delivered into a gap between the stapling head and an anvil, and the stapling head moves through a first half cycle, forming a staple and clamping the stack. A gate on the transport table lifts to free the stack while the table retracts, and then the stapling head drives the staple through the stack. The gate lowers when the transport table returns to its original position.

Abstract: A cyclical wire stitching machine head includes a reciprocating staple-forming and driving apparatus which is coupled to a wire gripping and feeding mechanism which reciprocates with it. During each cycle of the machine the supply wire is gripped and a predetermined length thereof is fed through a cutter to a holder and severed while, simultaneously, the length severed in the preceding cycle is formed into a staple and driven through the work against a clincher. On the retraction stroke, the holder is rotated to bring the severed length of wire into position for forming and driving during the next drive stroke. A guide tube positively guides and supports the unstraightened wire from a supply coil along a feed path from the input end of the head to the gripping and feeding mechanism. Guide means are also provided for guiding the wire from the cutter to the holder while accommodating rotation of the severed length of wire with the holder.

Abstract: A cyclical wire stitching machine includes a reciprocating driving coupled to a staple-forming and drive means, which is in turn coupled by a rack and pinion mechanism to a wire feed means, so that the wire feed means and the staple-forming and driving means reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions. The wire feed means includes a wire gripper which grips the supply wire for feeding it, while the feed means moves in one direction, to a wire holder where a predetermined length of wire is severed from the supply, the gripper then being locked open for releasing the wire while the feed means retracts in the opposite direction and the fed length of wire is formed into a staple and driven. Thus, during each cycle, the machine feeds a length of wire and forms and drives that same length of wire so that at the end of the cycle there is no severed wire in the wire holder.

Abstract: A wire stitching machine includes a head frame carrying a support, a staple former and a staple driver all reciprocally movable with respect to the head frame under the action of a single reciprocating drive bar coupled by crank mechanism to a rotary drive means. Wire feed rolls and a wire-supporting anvil are carried by the support. The support, staple former and staple driver are so coupled to each other and to the reciprocating drive bar that during a first portion of its drive stroke all three are moved to the associated workpiece and during a second portion of the drive stroke the support is arrested while the staple former and staple driver continue moving to form the staple and during a third portion of the drive stroke the staple former is arrested while only the staple driver continues moving to drive the formed staple into the workpiece. The anvil includes a forming shoe and is of integral one-piece construction movable as a unit between forming and driving positions.