Abstract: The invention is concerned with a nail driving tool preferably operable in pneumatical manner, comprising a magazine for nails composed to form straight rows or straight strips, which nails are successively forced from the front end of a guide, possibly corresponding to the staggered arrangement of the nails, and obliquely terminating into a drive-out channel via a lateral inlet channel into a presenting composition for being, e.g., pneumatically forced out of the drive-out channel. For increasing the magazine capacity while maintaining a handy volume, it is provided that the magazine be formed as a box-type magazine of a width suitable for accommodating two or more nail strips or rows in side-by-side relationship and that the nail strips or rows can be successively forced in a direction normal to the planes of the nail strips or rows into alignment with the inlet channel of the drive-out channel.

Abstract: A staple throat for a stapling machine comprising a one-piece body member having a central longitudinal bore therethrough, and diametrically opposed elongated guide slots in the sides of the bore for receiving and guiding staples and a flat staple driver toward an anvil in the stapling machine.

Abstract: Under direction of a machine controller, conveyor mounted clips sequentially present electrical components to an unload station while holding the components by their leads, and the components are centered relative to a loader assembly by lateral displacement of the clip relative to a loader axis. Thereafter, a loader assembly clamps the leads of the component and transfers the component to a load station and into engagement with the jaws of an insertion head. The loader assembly is then actuated to drive the leads of the component into the jaws of the insertion head for subsequent insertion of the leads into holes of a printed circuit board. The component, gripped in the jaws of the insert head, is oriented about an insert axis, according to a controller and prior to insertion.

Abstract: A gun for successive adhesion of fasteners, comprising a body, a slide which is slidably fitted in the body, an actuator of the slide having an operating trigger, a fastener loading station on the body, a fastener preadhering station located below the fastener loading station and in front of the slide, a shutter plate for bringing fasteners on the fastener loading station into the fastener preadhering station one by one, and a fastener exiting station in front of the fastener preadhering station, the slide being moved to push out the fasteners located at the fastener preadhering station from the gun.

Abstract: A shiftable magazine clip feed for orienting a U-shaped clip and a staple fastener at the head of a fastener driving tool triggered after the separation of a single clip from a stacked supply thereof, the clip being automatically positioned for application to a work piece and mounted thereon through engagement of the magazine with the work piece and that retracts the stacked supply of clips from said single clip.

Abstract: A stick hopper box has a floor and dividers mounted on the floor defining vertical guide channels for stacks of single rows of wieners. A plunger assembly includes individual plungers for expelling the lowermost wiener from the several guide channels into aligned clamps of a wiener clamping mechanism. A stick hopper for round sticks includes a box and transversely spaced dividers defining vertical guide channels for stacks of single sticks, the stick hopper guide channels being aligned with the wiener hopper guide channels and wiener clamps. A push rod mechanism, including individual push rods for each stick hopper guide channel, expels the sticks from the channel and inserts the sticks into wieners clamped in the wiener clamping mechanism.

Abstract: An improved nailing machine including a reciprocatable plunger for sequentially severing and driving nails from a nailing strip, and a reciprocatable piston for advancing and retracting the plunger. The machine includes a unique reciprocatable control valve actuating and nail guide means which serves both to set a control trigger for activating the reciprocatable plunger, and to properly align a nail with a workpiece as the nail is driven into the workpiece, while at the same time maintaining the nailing strip in a fixed position to prevent contact between the driven nail and the next nail to be severed from the nailing strip. The machine further includes a magazine having retractable nailing strip advancing means which positively moves a nailing strip along the runway of the magazine, and which, in its retracted position, enables a nailing strip to be easily and readily inserted into or removed from the magazine of the machine.

Abstract: A tool for driving uncollated nails includes a tool body with a nose portion defining a drive track wherein a driver blade moves in drive and return strokes. A magazine carried by the body supports a row of nails, and a pusher urges the nails along a feed path toward the drive track. The magazine is adjustable for tailoring the feed path width to the nail size. Individual nails are advanced from the magazine to a drive position in the drive track by an escapement mechanism operated in timed relationship with the driver blade, and an advanced nail is held in the drive position by a magnet assembly supported by the tool nose portion. Nails are positively advanced and are properly oriented by the escapement mechanism independently of the number of nails, the pusher force, or other conditions in the magazine. The tool magazine is quickly and conveniently loaded with nails supplied in an oriented condition from a loading chute.

Abstract: A clip magazine and feed for orienting a U-shaped clip and a staple fastener at the head of a fastener driving tool triggered after the separation of a single clip from a stacked supply thereof, the clip being automatically positioned for application to a work piece and mounted thereon through engagement of an actuator with the work piece and that retracts the stacked supply of clips from the single clip.

Abstract: Apparatus automatically feeds screws to a screw-in tool of a screwing mechanism, especially a rapid constructional screwing mechanism. To simplify the feed of screws, a feed channel is provided which is arranged to provide relative movement between it and the screwing mechanism in the direction of the axis of the screwing tool. The screws gravitate along the channel. A container is fixedly connected with the screwing mechanism. A spring biases the feed channel and the screwing mechanism apart (up to a stop) until the screw pin is disengaged above the screw head. To screw-in the screw, the screwing mechanism is displaced downwardly toward the feed channel.

Abstract: A machine for driving a spring pin or other similar cylindrical object into a hole in a work piece. One pin at a time is automatically fed into a shuttle. The shuttle is moved laterally to bring the pin into alignment with a pin inserting punch. Upon subsequent movement of the punch, the shuttle with the pin therein is moved downwardly until the work piece therebelow is engaged. The punch continues its downward movement, entering the shuttle and driving the pin into the aligned hole in the work piece. The downward moveability of the shuttle enables pins to be driven into work pieces whose upper surfaces may be a different vertical levels. Adjustable means controlling the stroke of the punch limits the depth of insertion of the pin into the work piece.

Abstract: A tool for applying fasteners to fasten an article to the workpiece. A compressible foot is provided to limit the drive distance of a plunger to position dependent upon the thickness of the article. A drive groove in the tool provides support for the fastener until it is driven into the workpiece. The fastener may be a plastic staple and multiple driving strokes may be used to drive the staple into the workpiece. A retainer activated by the compressible foot may be utilized to prevent the advancement of the next staple to the drive position while multiple drive strokes are being used.

Abstract: The present driver for fasteners such as nails, screws and the like is provided with a separator member operatively located between the ejector channel and a fastener supply magazine. The separator member takes up a fastener arresting position in which the separator member reaches between the shafts of two fasteners and a retracted position in which the separator member releases a fastener for movement into the ejector channel. The separator member cooperates with a holding device which holds a fastener in the ejector channel after release by the separator member and prior to the driving stroke. The holding device may comprise two permanent magnets. The separator member has a tip which reaches into the ejector channel to different extents depending on the adjustment of an adjusting device for the separator member.

Abstract: The present driver for fasteners such as nails, screws and the like is provided with a separator member operatively located between the ejector channel and a fastener supply magazine. The separator member takes up a fastener arresting position in which the separator member reaches between the shafts of two fasteners and a retracted position in which the separator member releases a fastener for movement into the ejector channel. The separator member cooperates with a holding device which holds a fastener in the ejector channel after release by the separator member and prior to the driving stroke. The holding device may comprise two permanent magnets.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving pins into a printed circuit board and the like which comprises: table means for receiving and retaining a board into which the pins are to be driven; magazine means for holding a supply of the pins in a position parallel to the plane of the table, and receiver means, pivotally movable to receive the pin from the magazine means in one pivotal position and to pivot the pin into transverse relation with the table means in a second pivoting position. Loading means are provided for inserting the pins into the receiver means. Means are also provided for moving the receiver means while in the second pivoting position to drive the pin inserted in it into the board.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a magnetized driver or a driver with an embedded permanent magnet that is of a tapered configuration. The tool also includes a fastener feeding mechanism that wedges or ejects a fastener from a fastener strip whereupon the fastener is attracted during free-flight to the driver by the magnet. The tool further includes a stop lever that prevents feeding of fasteners if the driver is in a position other than the full return position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for inserting terminal pins into an apertured workpiece. The apparatus includes feeding means for sequentially advancing a supply strip of terminal pins integrally joined by intermediate web portions toward a first station of the apparatus; first clamping means for grasping the terminal pin adjacent the leading one of the terminal pins; second clamping means for grasping the leading one of the terminal pins; punch means for removing the intermediate web portion joining the leading one of the terminal pins and the terminal pin adjacent the leading one of the terminal pins; and insertion means for inserting the leading one of the terminal pins into the apertured workpiece.

Abstract: An automatic screwdriving and feeding apparatus has a screwdriver body with a tubular housing axially moveable thereon. Screw holding elements are mounted in the tubular housing and are resiliently biased inwardly, or are resiliently deformable, so as to hold a screw for driving. Drive means in the body can move axially relatively to engage the screw and apply rotary drive. Feed means supply screws one at a time to the screw holding elements.

Abstract: A staple cartridge and feed means for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil about which a staple is formed during emplacement thereof in the skin or fascia of a patient. The cartridge comprises a body having a vertical staple feeding track adapted to hold a stack of staples and a separate vertical staple forming track with a staple former reciprocable therein by the surgical stapling instrument. The staple forming track and the staple feeding track are in parallel relationship separated by a divider wall. A window, defined by the cartridge body and the divider wall, provides a horizontal path between the staple feeding track and the staple forming track and is so sized as to permit the passage therethrough of a single staple from the bottom of the staple stack. Horizontal feeder means normally prevent passage of the bottommost staple from the stack through the window into the staple driving track.

Abstract: A fastener element is oriented by rolling the element along a friction surface until a projection on the back of the element engages a ledge extending along the path of movement of the element such that the element then slides with a predetermined orientation. Additionally, an orienting element having a sinuous edge for orienting double pronged elements can be retracted.

Abstract: A machine for driving a spring pin into a work piece. The pins are automatically fed from a supply to the pin driving means. Pins of varying lengths and diameters can be accommodated by changing a few parts. The work piece to receive the pin is placed at a correct location below the driving means. The machine, when actuated, goes through one complete cycle of driving a pin into the work piece and reloading itself for the next cycle.

Abstract: A fastener installation head having a fastener receiving passage, a transverse plunger passage having a reciprocating plunger therein, a feed means feeding fasteners from the fastener passage beneath the plunger and a restrictor means preventing a fastener located ready for installation from withdrawing into the fastener passage. The restrictor means includes an arm pivotally connected to the fastener installation head having a finger resiliently biased into the fastener receiving passage, normally blocking withdrawal of a fastener from the ready location. The stop finger includes a camming face facing fasteners entering the plunger passage, whereby a fastener may enter the plunger passage upon actuation of the feed means but is prevented from withdrawing into the fastener passage.

Abstract: Fasteners, such as nails, tacks, screws, rivets or the like are continuously fed from a vibratory, bowl feed-type supply hopper into a vibrating delivery chute or slide from whence they are removed, one at a time, by an escapement mechanism and delivered into one end of a feed conduit that is connected at the other end to a fastener driving device. An air supply is connected to the conduit downstream from the outlet of the escapement mechanism thereby inducing a negative pressure which pulls the fasteners from the escapement mechanism and delivers them headfirst into the conduit and on to the receiving chamber of a fastener driving device. The fasteners are delivered into the receiving chamber headfirst in a rearward direction into engagement with the front end of the drive piston.