With Means To Assure Correct Orientation Of Member(s) Patents (Class 227/119)
  • Patent number: 4795072
    Abstract: A button orienting and placing apparatus comprises a guide table defining a substantially horizontal first guide channel, and a chute defining a slanting second guide channel communicating at its lower end with one end portion of the first guide channel remotely from a die. Each of the first and second guide channels is composed of a button-head guide passageway for receiving a head of the button, and a claw guide passageway for receiving a pair of claws of the button. The claw guide passageway of the first guide channel has a arcuate lower end portion curved toward the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Sodeno
  • Patent number: 4765524
    Abstract: A garment-fastener assembling apparatus includes a drive mechanism for reciprocating an optical position indicator toward and away from an indicating position located in registry with the path of movement of a punch. The drive mechanism is constructed to operate under direct control of the movement of the ram so that the position indicator is reciprocated without interference with the punch or any other movable part of the apparatus and without causing prolongation of the cycle time of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Keiichi Yoshieda
  • Patent number: 4765057
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fastener installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button. The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding a central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph R. M. Muller
  • Patent number: 4757596
    Abstract: A rivet has a head and an elongated shank of generally circular cross section extending axially therefrom. The head has a periphery including a multiplicity of spaced portions projecting radially outwardly of the periphery of the shank and at least three guide portions between these projecting portions which provide guide surfaces extending axially of the rivet with their root surface disposed in substantial axial alignment with the periphery of the shank. The head may have a configuration shaped like a dome, or an inverted frustoconical element, or a prism, and the guide portions can be arcuate in transverse section or rectilinear. The rivet shank may have a groove along its length to facilitate securing of the workpieces therewith without requiring upsetting of the shank, and the shank may have a sharp cutting edge at its free end to facilitate penetration of the workpieces to avoid the necessity for predrilling and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Trumpf Grusch AG
    Inventor: Eugen Herb
  • Patent number: 4732296
    Abstract: A gravity fed, track arrangement for assemblying orienting, and aligning a plurality of fasteners for use with an automatic screw feeding machine is disclosed. Inclined tracks having a space therebetween are provided with a pivotable stabilizing bar which bears upon the heads of the fasteners within the tracks. Vibrations are induced into the stabilizing bar and the tracks so as to assist gravity in urging the fasteners down the tracks and so as to continually act to maintain the alignment position of the fasteners within the tracks. Track purging apparatus is provided whereby any misaligned fastener is purged from the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventors: Michael Heck, Nathan Singer
  • Patent number: 4724991
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting direction of two component fasteners having a head element and a backing element for attachment to garment. The apparatus is a reciprocable driving device (8) for receiving the head element (7a) fed in from a hopper feeder (4a) through a chute (5) and charging it into a clamping device (12). The apparatus comprises an interlocking mechanism for rotating a support seat (9) for the head element (7a) in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the driving device (8), a stopper (56) for stopping the rotation of the head element (7a), and a stopper exchanging device. The stopper exchanging device is a head element pressing section (43) comprising two layers (49, 50). The upper layer (50) having the stopper (56) is rotatable relative to the lower layer (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Morito Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisaku Niijima
  • Patent number: 4723357
    Abstract: A marking light, or an attaching-position indicator, for a buttoning apparatus to indicate the position where each button member is to be attached in place, comprises a slender optical pointer member, engaging means secured to the rear end of the optical pointer member for selective engagement with a part of a pusher of the buttoning apparatus, a fixing member for the indicator including a support having means to support the front end portion of the pointer member so as to be movable back and forth with respect to a position immediately below an upper attaching die of the apparatus, release means connected to the engaging means for disengaging the engaging means from a part of the pusher, and means for biasing the pointer member in the direction of withdrawal clear of the upper attaching die. The support is equipped with a resilient engaging means fixed at one end to the fixing member and so disposed as to engage resiliently a part of the support at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Scovill Japan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Suyama, Koji Omori
  • Patent number: 4717061
    Abstract: A button feeder feeds a button to a button applicator which applies the button to a garment fabric piece. The button feeder has a feed guide, a first side guide member having a substantially wedge-shaped groove, and a second side guide member having a wall confronting the wedge-shaped groove. The first side guide member includes a first guide element fixed to the base and a second guide element movably mounted on the first guide element for movement toward and away from the first guide element, the wedge-shaped groove being defined between the first and second guide elements. The second guide element is normally urged resiliently toward the first guide element. When the button is fed by the button feeder, its circular head tends to be wedged into the wedge-shaped groove, which is then spread by the movement of the second guide element away from the first guide element to allow the circular head to be smoothly moved without undue frictional resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Fumio Seki
  • Patent number: 4714034
    Abstract: A button feeding device includes a button alignment shaft having a longitudinal axis which is displaceable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main drive shaft. The button alignment shaft and the main drive shaft are advantageously linked for rotation by a coil spring. The device has a pin holder which aligns the button and transfers it into a button clamp, a carriage being provided to move the pin holder over a substantially linear quadrangular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Durkoppwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Riss, Richard Fuerhoff
  • Patent number: 4709842
    Abstract: A tool for fastening an elongated object on a supporting surface with U-shaped clips, each embracing the elongated object and being secured to the supporting surface by a fastening member extending through one of its legs. The tool comprises a magazine for receiving a succession of clips to be successively fed through the magazine, a feed device which is adapted to feed the succession of clips in a direction towards a determined mounting position at the front end of the tool, and a driving device with a driver for driving the fastening member of a clip in the mounting position into the supporting surface. The magazine is designed to receive the clips with their fastening members in such an orientation that each clip has its U-legs disposed after each other in the longitudinal direction of the magazine so that it may be secured over the elongated object oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction of the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Isaberg AB
    Inventor: Bengt A. Westerlund
  • Patent number: 4707908
    Abstract: A J-nut, which is a clip having a crown on one side, is inserted into a hole in a portion of an element in a single plane so that portions of the clip are on opposite sides of the portion having the hole with the J-nut having its crown, which may have a greater thickness than the remainder, either above or below the remainder of the J-nut. The J-nut is inserted by a tool having a locator disposed within the hole after the J-nut has been advanced to a position in the tool in which a portion of the J-nut is positioned within a passage within the locator. When the crown is on the bottom of the J-nut, the crown rests within this locator passage. The J-nut is oriented with the crown either up or down even though all the J-nuts are fed from a feeder in the same orientation. The locator is not positioned in the hole in the element until the J-nut is positioned with a portion within the locator passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventors: Paul R. Everhard, Roy K. Monroe
  • Patent number: 4700470
    Abstract: An installation apparatus and method of attaching a female element, such as a nut, to a panel, wherein the panel is pierced and the female element is permanently installed in the pierced panel opening in a continuous operation. The female element includes a body portion and an annular barrel portion. In one of the methods disclosed, the panel is pierced by the free end of the barrel portion and the panel slug is disposed in the barrel portion as the nut is installed in the panel. In the presently preferred method, the panel is pierced by a punch received through the body and barrel portions, prior to driving the female element into a mechanical interlock with the panel. In the preferred installation, the free end of the barrel portion is deformed into a hook-shaped end portion, opening toward the body portion, and the panel is simultaneously driven into the hook-shaped barrel end portion, forming a very secure mechanical interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph R. M. Muller
  • Patent number: 4699306
    Abstract: A mechanical feeding mechanism for delivering plugs seriatum from a cylindrical delivery chute having upper and lower latching mechanisms. Each of the upper and lower latching mechanisms are movable from a latching position wherein the latching mechanism engages a plug in the chute and an unlatching position. Linkage mechanism connects the upper and lower latching mechanisms such that when one of the latching mechanisms is in the unlatching position the other latching mechanism is biased toward the latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Allen C. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4691853
    Abstract: A surgical stapler device of the so-called pistol grip type includes a stack of staples loaded into a lower cartridge in an orientation similar to a conventional paper stapler. A former rotates and turns a leading staple 90.degree. or normal to its prior orientation in the stack of staples as the former slides between a start position and an intermediate position. The rotational movement of the staple insures maximum clarity in the surgeon's line of visions when placing a staple in position. The former is further displaced between an intermediate and a final position wherein the staple is formed around a staple forming surface of an anvil. The former also cams the anvil downwardly separating the formed staple from the anvil lip, thereby allowing the former to receive a staple from the stack of staples onto its staple transport surface for sequential stapling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Technalytics, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Storace
  • Patent number: 4657167
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and positioning disks upon insulation or roofing membrane for attachment to a roof or deck by fasteners driven through the disks into the underlying layer. A support frame is provided with two wheels on only one side to avoid wrinkling a roofing membrane. A disk supply magazine supports a stack of disks. A separating and feeding structure supplies individual disks to an oblique chute which conveys them to a driving position which is laterally offset from the magazine. The disks are attracted by magnet into position upon a pair of resiliently bendable springs which are cantilevered from opposite edges of the bottom opening of the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventor: Gary S. Mays
  • Patent number: 4643345
    Abstract: A staple gun tacker having a staple driving blade is disclosed which is adapted to be used in driving and setting a rivet of the type having a pin member mounted in a rivet shank having an expandable workpiece piercing free end. The staple gun tacker includes a front cover over the driving mechanism which has a recess or slot formed therein to receive the pin member or top of the rivet and guide it into alignment with the drive blade of the staple gun so that upon operation of the staple gun the driving blade applies a driving force to drive the pin member of the rivet and thus expands the free end of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Arrow Fastener Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Knispel, Rudolf Wingert
  • Patent number: 4625380
    Abstract: A J-clip is inserted by a tool into a hole in a portion of an element in a single plane or a hole at the intersection of two substantially perpendicular portions of an element so that portions of the clip are on opposite sides of the portion of the element having the hole. The tool has a hook disposed in a hole in the single plane portion when the clip is to be inserted into the hole and guide surfaces engaging the single plane portion cooperating with the hook to orient the tool relative to the single plane portion. The tool has a pair of locater fingers for disposition within the hole at the intersection of the two substantially perpendicular portions of the element when a clip is to be inserted therein and toes engaging the intersection of the two substantially perpendicular portions of the element cooperating with the locater fingers to orient the tool relative to the two substantially perpendicular portions of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventors: Paul R. Everhard, Roy K. Monroe
  • Patent number: 4615473
    Abstract: An apparatus, for assembling a pair of fastener elements of a garment fastener, including a lower or die unit having a retainer which is disposed immediately upstream of a die and which is vertically movable between a retracted position in which an upper end portion of the retainer is retracted below a top of the die to allow one fastener element to be supplied onto the die, and a projected position in which the upper end portion of the retainer projects from the top of the die to engage a peripheral edge of the head of the fastener element to thereby prevent the latter from being displaced on the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Taga
  • Patent number: 4609134
    Abstract: Air pressure means for maintaining rivets in axial alignment as they pass through a feed tube to a riveting machine. The air pressure means comprises a circumferentially spaced series of air discharge passages directed obliquely toward the axis of the feed tube and in the direction of travel of the rivets whereby a conical pattern of air pressure is directed against the shanks of the rivets to urge them into axial alignment in the feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Gemcor Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: John W. Davern
  • Patent number: 4606487
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a fastener such as a snap closure composed of a first fastener member and a second fastener member to be combined together through a web-like material such as a fabric therebetween, includes a lower pocket mechanism for supporting the second fastener member thereon, a punch mechanism movable toward the lower pocket mechanism for fixing the first fastener member to the second fastener member with the web-like material interposed therebetween, and an upper pocket mechanism for supporting the first fastener member, the upper pocket mechanism being movable toward the lower pocket mechanism and having means for centering the first fastener member in alignment with the second fastener member. A safety mechanism is operatively coupled with the upper pocket mechanism for actuating the punch mechanism only when the upper pocket mechanism reaches a predetermined position with respect to the lower pocket mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Douri
  • Patent number: 4605150
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements of a garment fastener to a garment fabric, comprises an optical indicator for designating a position of the garment fabric where the two fastener elements are to be attached. The indicator includes a light projector having a light source for projecting a beam of light, a reflector for reflecting the light beam downwardly, and means defining an aperture for the passage therethrough of the reflected light beam. An actuator is operatively connected to the light projector for reciprocating the same toward and away from a position where the aperture is in registry with a common vertical axis of the two fastener elements. The indicator is structurally and functionally separated from a pusher mechanism for supplying one fastener element to an upper unit of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichiro Ikehara
  • Patent number: 4598852
    Abstract: A portable fastener driving tool (10) having a raceway (26) with driver blade (21, 60) reciprocating therein from a retracted position to a fastener-driven position for driving fastener (33, 61) seriatim from a fastenerstick (19, 62) positioned at an angle to the raceway. The first-to-be-driven fastener (33, 61), while attached to the stick (19, 62), is positioned in raceway (26) so that descending blade (21, 60) serves to orient the fastener (33, 61) to a position substantially parallel to the raceway (26) for driving down and out the raceway into the workpiece. Ramp means (37, 46) which form part of tool exit opening (38) re-orients fastener (33) as necessary and guides it during its exit. The fastenerstick (19, 62) may be supported in raceway (26) by detent stud means (29, 31) which retract from the raceway (26) when staple (33, 61) descends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Swingline Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Olesen
  • Patent number: 4596349
    Abstract: Male or female annular components of fasteners are applied to articles of clothing in a machine wherein the lower tool of a pair of confronting tools has a socket for reception of the heads of discrete rivet-like connectors whose shanks extend upwardly toward the upper tool which has tongs with jaws for releasably holding a male or female component in such orientation that the central aperture of the component is in register with the shank of the connector in the socket of the lower tool. The upper tool further includes a ring-shaped hold-down device for the male or female component which is held by the tongs as well as a deforming plunger which can upset the tip of the shank after the latter has penetrated a garment between the two tools and thereupon through and partly beyond the aperture of the component in the tongs in response to downward movement of the upper tool. The hold-down device is movable axially relative to the tongs and the plunger is movable within limits axially of the hold-down device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: William Prym-Werke KG
    Inventor: Ernst Herten
  • Patent number: 4592501
    Abstract: A button orientation apparatus comprising a setting die for receiving a button for attachment to a garment fabric, a clamping means for clamping the button on the die, a cam means for angularly moving the clamping means about its axis, and a control means operatively associated with and controlling rotation of the cam means so that the clamping means is oriented to position the button in the proper orientation with respect to the garment, the control means including a stopper pin engageable selectively with one of a plurality cam plates in the cam means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sodeno, Yukio Taga
  • Patent number: 4586641
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements onto a garment fabric comprising a cooperating pair of an upper die unit and a lower die unit, a stationary anvil mounted in the lower unit, a plunger reciprocably mounted in the upper unit, a punch movable relative to the plunger along a path of movement toward and away from the lower unit, and a pair of clamping jaws operatively associated with the upper die unit for releasably clamping one of the fastener elements. A means is provided for holding one fastener element in proper position against displacement for aligned engagement with the other mating element. The apparatus further includes means for manually releasing the fastener element which has been trapped in the event of failure of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Oura
  • Patent number: 4579270
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements onto a garment includes a gripping mechanism for temporarily holding one fastener element and for releasing the latter immediately before a reciprocally punch arrives at the predetermined lowermost position in which the one fastener element is clinched to the other fastener element supported on a die with the garment sandwiched between the fastener elements. The apparatus may comprises a guide mechanism including a chute having a guide track for the passage of the one fastener element, and a speed reducing device disposed in the chute for slowing down the movement of the one fastener element prior to the arrival of the latter at a retaining portion of the gripping mechanism. An overturning device may be provided in the chute for turning over the one fastener element as the latter slides along the guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4577794
    Abstract: A rivet injector/rejector device (10) is provided for use with a riveting machine (12) having a plurality of rivet gripping fingers (120, 122). The device (10) includes a supporting member (16) fixedly mounted to the riveting machine (12). A tubular member (92) is provided for delivering a rivet (148) to the fingers (120, 122). The tubular member (92) is mounted to the supporting member (16) so that an end portion (118) of the tubular member may be moved downwardly relative to the fingers (120, 122). The end portion (118) is shaped so that as it moves downwardly it spreads the fingers thereby permitting a rivet to drop free therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Armstrong, Douglas L. Boob, Homer R. Burrous, Oldrich Fryc, David L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4574991
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Duo-Fast Corporation
    Inventor: Elmer J. Thorsen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4569470
    Abstract: In a button orienting and placing apparatus, a pushing mechanism, for pushing a button out of a guide channel in a horizontal guide, includes a slide slidable in and along the guide channel, and a horizontal pushing plate pivotally mounted on the slide and having on its forward end a pushing surface engageable with a shank of the button so as to push the latter forwardly and against one of a pair of opposed side walls of the guide as the slide is moved forwardly along the guide channel. The pushing mechanism also includes a locking lever vertically pivotally mounted on the slide and having at its forward end a single downwardly directed claw projecting through an opening in the pushing plate for catching a tab of the button to thereby stop turning of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Notion Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4552296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stapling gun and in particular to one comprising a main body portion, a pusher, a guide way, a drives, a covering plate and an adjustable wire attachment, characterized in that the stapling gun can be used with various types of staples on the market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: Wang Sheng
  • Patent number: 4549682
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a nail driving apparatus having a percussive air hammer driving a chisel. The apparatus has a base member, having guide means upstanding from each side of the base member. A cradle means is movable along the guide means and means carried by the cradle means is adapted to mount the air hammer securely to said cradle means. A nail barrel means is carried by the base member into which both nails to be driven and the chisel of the air hammer is positioned on the base member to be received and one of the guide means upstanding from the base member forms a nail chute having means for delivering nails singly to the barrel means beneath the chisel when the air hammer and cradle is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Soloco, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis A. Hebert
  • Patent number: 4540111
    Abstract: An article is clamped in a predetermined position on a support, which is movable along a reciprocating path by a stepping motor. This movement of the support positions selected and spaced portions of the article at a fixed location at which a fastener element is attached to an edge of the article. The movement of the stepping motor is controlled by a computer program whereby the selected and spaced portions of the article are spaced from each other as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Inventors: Volker Schmidt, Erich A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4513498
    Abstract: A terminal strip 10 (see FIG. 7) is assembled by the method and apparatus so that two tiers of pins 11 are forced fitted into blind holes 13 formed in a plastic strip 12. Two tiers of terminal pins are advanced by two rows of pusher rods 41 and 42 from stacks 16 of pins through holes 31 and 32 in a slide bar 28 into passageways 26 and 27 of a loader block 21 so that the leading end of the pins project from the block while the trailing ends are fully seated within the passageway. The slide block 28 is shifted to block the rear end of the passageways 26 and 27. Next, a work holder nest 51 loaded with a plastic strip 12 is moved toward the now held pins 11 to force seat the pins into the blind holes 13. The nest is withdrawn, and cleats 63, 64 and 58 pull the plastic strip 12 to withdraw the pins 11 from the passageway to permit the subsequent removal of the assembled terminal strip 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Kent
  • Patent number: 4493448
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and placing a button for attachment to a garment, comprising: a support; a guide mounted or said support and having a guide channel for guiding the button therethrough; a pusher slidably mounted in said guide for pushing the button through and out of said guide channel; a clinching die fixed to said support contiguous to one end of said guide for receiving thereon the button having been pushed out of said guide channel; a finger holder axially slidably and rotatably mounted on said clinching die and having at its upper end a pair of fingers for clamping the button on said clinching die, said finger holder having on its periphery a first gear; a second gear carried by said support and meshing with said first gear; a fluid-pressurized cylinder operatively connected with said second gear for turning the latter through a predetermined angle; and means for adjustably regulating the extent to which said second gear is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Fumio Seki
  • Patent number: 4473180
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Thomas F. Lowrance
    Inventors: Thomas F. Lowrance, James B. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4463888
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Duo-Fast Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard W. Geist, Edmund Frank, Richard H. Doyle, Raymond F. Novak
  • Patent number: 4447948
    Abstract: Keying members (42--42), used to permit mating connectors (32--32) to be inserted onto the proper locations on a backplane (22) of a PCB mounting shelf (10), are initially inserted in a transfer member (62). The transfer member (62) is then positioned proximate the backplane (22) and the keying members (42--42) are urged therefrom onto the backplane (22) by an ejection apparatus (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: AT & T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Golinski, Willard E. Rapp
  • Patent number: 4427146
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and placing a button for attachment to a garment comprises a guide having a button guide channel, and a spring-biased locking lever pivotable on a button pushing slide slidably mounted on the guide. The pushing slide has a stepped end portion engageable at its tip end with the button head on its peripheral edge. The locking lever has a flanged end portion extending beyond the stepped end portion and terminating in a pair of claws for catching therebetween a tab disposed on the reverse side of the button head. The guide channel is defined by a side wall and a friction member. The friction member has a frictional surface tangentially engageable with the button head for causing the button to turn or roll, when the latter is pushed by the pushing lever in the guide channel, until the tab of the button is catched by the claws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Fumio Seki
  • Patent number: 4417683
    Abstract: Electrical components are processed faster and more reliably with an improved centering device. In one embodiment, thread slack is provided in the relatively slow adjuster used to preset a component processing machine to a particular insertion span, and a faster acting adjuster makes use of this thread slack to vary the preset span and center the component body in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Alan C. Lewis, Phillip A. Ragard, Robert C. Shiptenko
  • Patent number: 4403723
    Abstract: Under direction of a machine controller, an endless chain conveyor is incrementally passed by a plurality of loader heads. The loader heads receive a series of components taped on a reel supplied substrate, sever individual taped components from the supply, and load the individual taped components onto clip carriers of the endless conveyor, on command, in a preferred sequence. The clip carrier mounted components are then indexed past a cutter assembly for trimming the lengths of the leads and removing the substrate, and a positioning disc assembly for positioning the components in the clip carriers before being passed to a rotary transfer assembly. The rotary transfer assembly removes individual components from the conveyor and rotates to an unload position above a linear loader, which laterally transfers the components from the rotary transfer to an insert head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Weibley J. Dean, David L. Merithew, Phillip A. Ragard
  • Patent number: 4403726
    Abstract: Under direction of a machine controller, an endless chain conveyor is incrementally passed by a plurality of loader heads. The loader heads receive a series of components taped on a reel supplied substrate, sever individual taped components from the supply, and load the individual taped components onto clip carriers of the endless conveyor, on command, in a preferred sequence. The clip carrier mounted components are then indexed past a cutter assembly for trimming the lengths of the leads and removing the substrate, and a positioning disc assembly for positioning the components in the clip carriers before being passed to a rotary transfer assembly. The rotary transfer assembly removes individual components from the conveyor and rotates to an unload position above a linear loader, which laterally transfers the components from the rotary transfer to an insert head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Snyder, Crawford A. Matson
  • Patent number: 4397412
    Abstract: A standup screwgun having the capacity to drive twelve inch fasteners. The feed tube merges with the guide tube at a shallow angle enlarging the interface between the two tubes. Two triangular panel members extend along the interface with a first side of each lying generally on the inner cylindrical surface of the guide tube, a second side lying generally on the inner cylindrical surface of the feed tube and the third side extending angularly between the two tubes forming an inclined camming surface. The panels are spaced apart a distance capable of receiving the fastener shank but less than that of the fastener head. The leading end of the fastener is transferred gradually from the feed tube to the guide tube while the head is cammed laterally over a short length. This same or additional structure can prevent a misoriented fastener from reaching the guide tube and creating a jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: George G. Dewey
  • Patent number: 4393568
    Abstract: A method which involves an improved fastener member or form bracket for use in attaching a wooden form to a concrete surface, is disclosed. The form bracket comprises a base plate configured to be disposed substantially abutting the concrete surface, and a side plate attached to the base plate. The side plate is configured to be disposed abutting the wooden form. Apertures are provided in the base plate for insertion of a fastener member, such as a nail, to attach the form bracket to the concrete surface. At least one pair of apertures configured for the receipt of a staple of a predetermined size is provided in the side plate. A standard size staple may be driven through the pair of apertures into the wooden form to attach the side plate to the wooden form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Inventor: Ramon Navarro
  • Patent number: 4342414
    Abstract: The glazier holds the toe of the driver on the glass, adjacent the edge of the sash, such that a handle trigger can be operated to drive the lowermost point from the magazine into the sash by the action of a coiled compression spring. The magazine has an insert associated with it so that points of various size can be accommodated in a single point driver. Since larger points require a greater spring force, means is also provided for conveniently adjusting the compression springs displacement. The guide block and push plate assembly for driving the points into the sash are slidably supported in the frame so as to precisely engage only the lowermost point in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: The Fletcher-Terry Company
    Inventors: Eugene W. Grzeika, Vincent T. Kozyrski
  • Patent number: 4305539
    Abstract: Disclosure is made of a surgical instrument, comprising a supporting body with a replaceable die, a magazine with staples, a carriage-holder, a staple ejector, a carriage-holder mechanical actuator, and a staple ejector mechanical actuator.The replaceable die is provided with a shaped guide plate corresponding to each of the suture types.The end surface of the magazine and of the staple ejector are also shaped so as to suit the type of suture being applied and to conform to the shape of a respective die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Inventors: Ivan A. Korolkov, Viktor S. Saveliev, Evgeny G. Yablokov, Georgy V. Astafiev, Viktor V. Tishin, Boris A. Smirnov
  • Patent number: 4290178
    Abstract: A machine to assemble electrical contact retention clips in an insulator including an indexing turret having jaws, a jaw operator, a clip carrying strip feed, a clip loading and clip shear-from-strip mechanism, an X-Y table driven by a conventional microcomputer numerical control to position the insulator and a plunger reciprocable through the jaws to insert clips into the insulator holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
    Inventor: Egon F. Friese
  • Patent number: 4287656
    Abstract: Fastening elements, such as bolts, studs or nails, are inserted into a hard receiving material, such as concrete or rock, first, by drilling a blind borehole into the receiving material. The diameter of the borehole is formed so that it is greater than the diameter of the leading end of the fastening element. A setting device containing the fastening element is then aligned with the blind borehole and the fastening element is driven into the receiving material. The fastening element enters the receiving material at the base of the blind borehole. The length of the fastening element inserted into the receiving material is at least half the axial length of the borehole and may have a length considerably greater than the axial length of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst-Detlef Gassman, Ernst Wohlwend
  • Patent number: 4285456
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a consecutive nailing machine with specially joined nails manufactured in rows. The machine is capable of hammering the joined nails one by one, separatively and consecutively, into wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventor: Wu Sheng-Wei
  • Patent number: 4253598
    Abstract: An improved power-driven hammer driver tool is provided wherein a pneumatically- or hydraulically-operated piston mounting a cylindrical rod-shaped hammer is designed to impart a vertically-oriented impact to an indexed fastener within the tool. A face plate is mounted between the driver tool foot portion, and an attached fastener feeding magazine. The face plate defines part of the hammer bore and incorporates an inclined semi-cylindrical fastener guide groove that enables a misaligned impact-driven fastener to be oriented into alignment by a camming action imparted to the fastener tip, thereby resulting in a fastener "anti-jamming" function that assures proper entry of the previously misdirected fastener into a waiting work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Inventor: Harry M. Haytayan
  • Patent number: 4252260
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a nail gun includes a nozzle barrel 2 which is frictionally and rotatably coupled to a nozzle holder 10. The nozzle barrel 2 includes a nail guiding portion 4 having formed on it a cut-away part 24 and a flat 26. In operation, the barrel 2 is rotated so that if necessary the part 24 and flat 26 fit over an adjacent nail head or projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Fisco Products Limited
    Inventor: Stanley J. Burton