With Means To Assure Correct Orientation Of Member(s) Patents (Class 227/119)
  • Patent number: 5632431
    Abstract: A nail magazine of nail stapler comprises a main body, a cap, a nail pushing member, an end plate member and a cover plate. The nail magazine is provided with a receiving slot for accommodating the U-shaped nails, a linear slot for accommodating the single-legged nails having a head, and a linear groove for accommodating the single-legged nails without a head. The nail magazine can also accommodate nails of various lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph Lin
  • Patent number: 5605269
    Abstract: A hand-held appliance (1) includes a tubular element (17) to accommodate a bonded strip (36) of staples or tacks (14a . . . e). A guide bar (18) is positioned internally of the tubular element (17) along which the refill strip (36) is slidable. A spring-loaded element (27) pushes the strip (36) in the direction of a restraining plate (30) located at one end of the tubular element (17), and a punch rod (7) separates the staples or tacks singly from the strip and drives them downwards, sliding against the surface of the plate (30). The top part of the guide bar (18) is chased with a longitudinal and vertically disposed groove (21), while the restraining plate (30) affords one or more slits or grooves (32 or 33a, 33b) in which to seat at least one leaf spring (33' or 33a, 33b) extending toward the longitudinal groove (21), or lower, and serving to maintain the correct position of the staple or tack as the rod (7) moves downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: FIMCA S.r.L.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Musiani
  • Patent number: 5603442
    Abstract: A rotary hopper includes a door, which is pivotally mounted on the main mounting plate for pivoting about a vertical axis, having a transparent element to enable viewing of the interior of the rotary hopper. The pivotally mounted door enables easy access to the interior of the hopper. On the opposite side of the main mounting plate from the door, a shaft is supported for rotatably supporting a cone having a gauging ring with gauging grooves mounted thereon. A recess in the cone, the interior of the gauging ring, and the interior of the transparent element on the door form a reservoir in the rotary hopper for the fastener elements. On the side of the main mounting plate having the door, the main mounting plate has a vertical groove to receive the fastener element in each of the gauging grooves when each of the gauging grooves is aligned therewith during rotation of the gauging ring. The vertical groove communicates with a setting station of an attaching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventors: Volker Schmidt, Erich A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5588576
    Abstract: A Feeder for elongate components, in particular components designed with a head, has a feed tube with an inlet orifice which can be connected to a feed line and an orifice in the top region thereof and a gripper with at least two gripping arms (1) which are provided with a front gripping region (2) and a rear pivot axis region (3).The gripper is arranged in the feed tube which has, in its top region, a lower plane surface and an upper plane surface opposed to it;The gripping arms (1) each have a guide step (6) which preferably tapers and extends from the pivot axis region to the gripping region (2) on a longitudinal end face (5) turned toward the upper plane surface, the guide step (6) serving to guide the head of an elongate component; andThe gripping arms (1) have, in the gripping region (2), a recess (7) adapted to the external shape of the elongate components to be gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Knetsch
  • Patent number: 5579975
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool capable of locating a preformed hole in a first workpiece, aligning the drive track of the tool with the hole, and thereafter driving a fastener, such as a nail, through the hole and into a second workpiece to attach the first workpiece to the second workpiece. The tool has a magazine comprising an outer portion affixed to the tool and its drive track containing guide body, and an inner portion containing a strip of nails and pivoted at its rearward end to the rearward end of the outer magazine portion. The inner magazine portion is pivotable within the outer magazine portion between a first position wherein the forwardmost nail of the strip extends well beyond the nose of the guide body serving as a probe to locate and enter the workpiece hole, and a second position wherein the forwardmost nail of the strip is still engaged in the workpiece hole and is properly aligned in the drive track to be driven by the tool driver through the first workpiece hole and into the second workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Senco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Moorman
  • Patent number: 5575054
    Abstract: A cartridge for use in a stapler for driving staples during orthopedic surgery is described. The cartridge has a case comprising a first wall and side walls projecting from this first wall. The cartridge has inner guide surfaces intended to guide the movement of staples when they are ejected by the stapler, and these preferably include the top of extended projections from a spacer element which is snap fit to the case. Within the case are a stack of staples supported on a follower which pushes on the side of the stack of staples so as to sequentially present each one in turn in a position to be ejected by the stapler. The follower is centered and slidably mounted on a guidepost which helps the follower resist any tendency for misalignment of the follower within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William P. Klinzing, Barry W. Robole
  • Patent number: 5556235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting rock bolts. The device employs a common element for affixing the end of a feed shell with respect to a rock surface, stabilizing the feed shell and providing a common centralizer for centering all subsequent bolt setting operations. The device also has a bolt magazine which stores, advances and positions the bolts in line with a bolt driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Cannon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Morrison, Perry L. Coombs
  • Patent number: 5549234
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a tool for use with the fastener. The fastener includes a shank defining a first pointed end and an opposed second end, and a plate is connected to the second end. A first head is connected to the plate and the head defines a first opening therethrough and a slot which extends from the opening through an exterior surface of the head. The tool is configured for cooperation with the fastener for attaching the fastener to a wall, ceiling or other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Wong Y. Hong
  • Patent number: 5522533
    Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastener driving tool is adapted for feeding a fastener stick having fasteners connected in series into a driver guide. The magazine has a magazine body and a slide door. The magazine body has a bottom defining a guide surface for the fastener stick. The slide door is mounted on the magazine body and is slidable in a feeding direction of the fastener stick relative to the magazine body between a closed position and an open position. The slide door in the closed position and the bottom of said magazine body cooperate to define a fastener storing chamber for storing the fastener stick therebetween. The fastener storing chamber is opened to the outside when the slide door is at the open position. A pusher serves to push the fastener stick in the fastener storing chamber in the fastener feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Mukoyama, Noriaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5509595
    Abstract: A stapling mechanism includes a base, a chute and a cover pivotally coupled together at one end. A guide rail is disposed in the chute for slidably supporting staples and a pusher may push the staples toward the free end of the chute for engaging with a drive plunger. The guide rail includes a recess formed in the upper portion of the free end for allowing engagement of the staples with the bottom surface of the chute so as to suitably guide the staples and so as to prevent the inclination of the staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Hsi-Chiun Ho
  • Patent number: 5497931
    Abstract: A stapler has a staple magazine with a plurality of staple clips. Each clip is designed to hold a different staple. The desired staple size is selected by rotating an indicator until a staple magazine contacts an inserted stack of paper. Once known, the desired staple clip can be selected by unlocking the staple magazine for rotation about a suspension rod until the desired clip is above an anvil. The magazine is locked, and a staple is punched therefrom. The act of locking, selecting and unlock is accomplished with only one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Maruzen Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5495974
    Abstract: A fastener attaching tool particularly suited for use in attaching buttons to clothing, etc. and which is constructed for use with a fastener clip which includes a pair of runner bars and one or more U-shaped fasteners having transverse bars at opposite ends, each transverse bar being connected on its side to a corresponding runner bar by a severable connector post. The tool includes a pair of needles each having a longitudinal slotted bore adapted to receive one of the transverse bars and a knife edge formed on one side which is adapted to sever a connector post from its associated transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed through the needle. The body includes a transverse feed slot disposed just to the rear of the needles down through which the fastener clip is manually inserted. The tool also includes an ejector mechanism, which is slidably mounted back and forth within the body and is rearwardly biased by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Deschenes, Terence J. Jones, William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 5484094
    Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool, which may be a pneumatically powered or combustion-powered pin-driving or nail-driving tool, and which comprises a nosepiece and is adapted to drive a fastener from the nosepiece, through a workpiece, into a substrate, a workpiece-contacting probe comprising two permanent magnets is mounted to the nosepiece for magnetically and releasably holding a washer plate made of magnetizable steel between the nosepiece and a workpiece. Thus, a fastener driven from the nosepiece is driven through a washer plate held by the workpiece-contacting probe, through a workpiece, into a substrate. The workpiece-contacting probe adapts the fastener-driving tool particularly but not exclusively for fastening metal lath to concrete walls, concrete blocks, or other building substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Harish C. Gupta
  • Patent number: 5480087
    Abstract: A fastener feeding apparatus which is adapted for concurrently feeding a plurality of fasteners to respective driving machines, and wherein the fasteners are fed from a vibratory hopper along a single delivery chute to a slide assembly. Upon movement of the slide assembly in a loading direction, the fasteners are loaded into individual slots on the slide assembly, and upon return movement of the slide assembly to a dump position, the loaded fasteners are concurrently released into respective discharge tubes which lead to the fastener driving devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Design Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Young, Fred E. Church
  • Patent number: 5476204
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for attaching studs to fabric such as leather jackets jeans, shirts or the like. The apparatus including a feeder for supplying studs to the apparatus, a stud support, a stud placement member, a stud driving member for guiding a stud through its full path of travel until the legs contact a fabric into which they are inserted, a stud positioning member configured to displace the stud placement member and to displace the stud support and a stud fastening member disposed below the stud driving member for bending at least one leg of a stud upon the stud driving member guiding the stud through its full path of travel. The stud support and the stud placement member hold a stud in place for the stud driving member to drive a stud into a fabric and contacting the stud fastening member which bends at least one leg of a stud to fasten a stud to a fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: National Die & Button Mould Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Eisenpresser, Jusis Stanislaw
  • Patent number: 5452835
    Abstract: In a powered fastener-driving tool including a nosepiece arranged to guide a fastener driven by the tool and an actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biased toward the extended position for disabling the tool unless the actuator is moved toward the retracted position, an improved mechanism is disclosed for positioning the tool relative to an opening in a workpiece to be fastened to a substrate. The mechanism comprises a probe having a tapered end adapted to extend into the opening of the workpiece for aligning the nosepiece with respect to the opening of the workpiece so that a fastener can be precisely driven through the opening of the workpiece. The mechanism further comprises a pivot pin for mounting the probe pivotally to the actuator via an arm mounted fixedly to the actuator and a bracket mounted fixedly to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Yury Shkolnikov
  • Patent number: 5437404
    Abstract: An adjustable shear block for guiding fasteners of at least two different lengths as they are driven by a fastener driving tool includes a shear block guide surface connected to the shear block which can be manipulated between a first position for driving substantially longer fasteners and a second position for driving substantially shorter fasteners and prevent the shorter fasteners from tipping or tumbling as they are driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Yury Shkolnikov
  • Patent number: 5398860
    Abstract: A fastener delivery tube (21) incorporates an internal guide (22)--such as a continuous sleeve lining, flexible, or resiliently deformable spring strips (34, 37, 38) or re-circulating balls (54)--forming a longitudinally movable constriction, inhibiting fastener free-fall through the tube and preserving fastener orientation, by maintaining fastener (25) contact with a driving plunger (28) in its passage there-through and upon exit there-from into contact with a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Cyril K. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5370295
    Abstract: In a fastener driving apparatus including a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving a fastener driving element therein movable through an operating cycle including a drive stroke and return stroke, and a fastener feeding track communicating laterally with the drive track, an improved mechanism for feeding fasteners from a fastener package into a position to be driven by the fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof is provided. The feeding mechanism includes an actuating mechanism mounted for movement through an operating cycle including (1) an operative stroke in a direction along the fastener feeding track toward the drive track for feeding fasteners to the drive track and (2) a return stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Stanley-Bostitch, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Simonelli
  • Patent number: 5363999
    Abstract: A fastener feeding assembly for a fastener driving apparatus including a pair of spaced support members disposed in an opposed relation to one another along a feed path for a fastener package, the feed path having a proximal end leading laterally into a drive track of the apparatus. The feeding assembly includes a multiplicity of resilient bristles supported by one of the support members and extending transversely and toward the proximal end within the feed path. One of the support members supports the fastener package so that the package is engaged by free ends of the bristles by a force sufficient to maintain the package on the feed track against movement in a direction away from the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Stanley-Bostitch, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip M. Braun, David J. Simonelli
  • Patent number: 5328077
    Abstract: An improved laparoscopic technique for treating female urinary incontinence and devices for use therein. These devices include an urethral sound, a stapling device, and a staple saw. The sound is substantially L-shaped having a handle at one end and a probe tip at the opposite end. The probe tip has a plurality of beads protruding therefrom which are observable through the wail of the bladder enabling the junction between the lower border of the bladder and urethra to be located. The stapling device attaches the pelvic floor to the pubic bone. The stapling device comprises of a handle, a stapling head, and an elongated member extending therebetween. The stapling head is pivotally attached to the elongated member. A push rod advances a pair of target pins to anchor the pelvic floor to the pubic bone. A small trigger loads staples into a discharge chamber. A large trigger discharges staples from the stapling head into the pelvic floor and pubic bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Ek-Seng Lou
  • Patent number: 5326012
    Abstract: A button feed unit to guide a button element from a button supply to a button applicator and arrange the direction of surface pattern provided on a front face of the button element. The button feed unit is adaptable for a variety of buttons of different sizes by exchangeable components of a feed path for the button element. The feed path for the button element is provided with a button rotating attachment having a button element guide path of a wedge-shaped cross section to pinch a part of the periphery of the button head and to urge the button head resiliently toward a cooperating feed path guide member, wherein at least the attachment is exchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Toshiaki Sodeno
  • Patent number: 5323919
    Abstract: A button feeder for guiding and feeding a button element having an oriented pattern on its front face along a feed path and for insuring a desired orientation of the pattern. This button feeder provides a button pusher having a finger member projected from its frontal edge and urged resiliently downwardly from the pusher and the pusher provides a cam contactor projecting downwardly, the cam contactor riding on a cam surface, wherein the frontal edge of the pusher is guided and downwardly moved along the cam surface during transport and rotation of the button by the pusher along the feed path, and the finger member is lowered to engage a recess formed on the back face of the button head to arrest the rotation of the button element so as to orient and place a pattern on the button surface in a desired orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Toshiaki Sodeno
  • Patent number: 5316200
    Abstract: An automatic nailing head for an automatic nailing device is disclosed. A nailing head including a means for causing an angle between a central shank axis of the nail and a central axis of the throughbore to gradually decrease as the nail passes through a nail feed channel and into the throughbore is described. A picker plate capable of receiving a nail when in a first position and dropping the picked nail when moved to a second position is described. A nailing head with a quick release body portion for unjamming the heads without the use of tools is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Roger W. Wallin
  • Patent number: 5273200
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided with replaceable wear guards which provide for three point support of the tool on its side. The three point support system prevents wear on the handle casting and the magazine housing when the tool is dragged across abrasive surfaces, such as roofing surfaces. The fastener driving tool is also provided with a muffler incorporated into a low profile top cap which reduces the overall profile of the tool. A diverter plate is also provided to discharge the exhaust downwardly in front of the tool in a direction more ergonomically pleasing to end users. The fastener driving tool also includes an improved fastener feed system which minimizes nail jams and allows for axial alignment of the driver blade with respect to the fasteners for collated fastener systems wherein the fastener heads are relatively large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Duo-Fast Corporation
    Inventor: Robert F. Hoefler
  • Patent number: 5267391
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a hand-held tool for use by a construction worker and comprises a top plate, a main drive assembly with a return spring, and a demountable-wall drop tube insert for receiving a belt of clips. The worker places the tool flat along one edge of a wall panel with one hand and mallets an exposed end of the main drive assembly with the other hand. The resulting forward motion of the main drive assembly snags a single clip from the drop tube insert, separates the clip from the belt, and drives a barbed end of the clip squarely into the wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: John D. Ingraham
  • Patent number: 5263627
    Abstract: A machine (1) for attaching buttons, rivets or the like, preferably to articles of clothing, which buttons, rivets or the like consist of an upper part (124, 125) and a lower part (67, 68) which are fed to an upper tool (9) and lower tool (10) from magazines and are brought into form-locked connection with each other with the interposition of the material (167) by the stroke of a ram (140); in order to optimize the use of different button parts, it is proposed that the upper tool (9) and the lower tool (10) be arranged opposite each other, lying in each case one behind the other in a row on the upper (51) and lower (48) arms of a U-shaped carriage (30) by the positioning of which the upper tool (9), which is to be placed in action in each case, enters into coupling position with respect to the ram (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignees: Schaeffer GmbH, William Prym-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Theo Breuer, Karl J. Kochs, Heinz D. Kopatz, Ulrich Viering, Gunter Wolfertz
  • Patent number: 5232142
    Abstract: A paper binding apparatus such as staplers in the form of a thin, compact device employing pre-formed U-shaped staples where the staples are pushed through the papers by pressure applied directly by a hand pressing one of the stapler bars. The stapler enables a reduction in size of the stapler's dimensions, in particular its width, so that its width would be determined only by the thickness of the magazine. The stapler is based on performing the "stapling operation" in two steps. Initially, the stapler is closed and the magazine is parallel to the direction of the moving driving mechanism. The second stage, the operational one is that at which the magazine becomes perpendicular to the direction of movement of the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventors: Abraham H. Reichert, Yehuda A. Malik, Gregory A. Dubrovski
  • Patent number: 5199506
    Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-actuated tool, a nosepiece has an aperture, through which a fastener can be axially driven. A shuttle has a passageway to receive the fastener, as guided by a flexible tube, in a fastener-receiving position of the shuttle. A shuttle-moving mechanism is used to move the shuttle from the fastener-receiving position into a fastener-delivery position. A driving mechanism enables the fastener to be axially driven from the passageway, through the aperture, in the delivery position of the shuttle. A magnet or a spring, such as a torsional spring having an arm to engage the fastener, is used to retain the fastener in a pre-driving position. As a stand-up tool, the tool has a primary trigger and a secondary trigger, which enables the primary trigger to be remotely actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Dewey, Ronald J. Allen
  • Patent number: 5199625
    Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-actuated tool, a nosepiece has an aperture, through which a fastener can be axially driven. A shuttle has a passageway to receive the fastener, as guided by a flexible tube, in a fastener-receiving position of the shuttle. A shuttle-moving mechanism is used to move the shuttle from the fastener-receiving position into a fastener-delivery position. A driving mechanism enables the fastener to be axially driven from the passageway, through the aperture, in the delivery position of the shuttle. A magnet or a spring, such as a torsional spring having an arm to engage the fastener, is used to retain the fastener in a pre-driving position. As a stand-up tool, the tool has a primary trigger and a secondary trigger, which enables the primary trigger to be remotely actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Dewey, Ronald J. Allen
  • Patent number: 5193729
    Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-actuated tool, a nosepiece has an aperture, through which a fastener can be axially driven. A shuttle has a passageway to receive the fastener, as guided by a flexible tube, in a fastener-receiving position of the shuttle. A shuttle-moving mechanism is used to move the shuttle from the fastener-receiving position into a fastener-delivery position. A driving mechanism enables the fastener to be axially driven from the passageway, through the aperture, in the delivery position of the shuttle. A magnet or a spring, such as a torsional spring having an arm to engage the fastener, is used to retain the fastener in a pre-driving position. As a stand-up tool, the tool has a primary trigger and a secondary trigger, which enables the primary trigger to be remotely actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Dewey, Ronald J. Allen
  • Patent number: 5192012
    Abstract: A nail driving tool is disclosed as including a magazine (9) which, in turn, includes a guide path (7) for guiding a plurality of nails (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2, 10.sub.3. . . ) which are preferably disposed in the form of a nail strip. The guide path (7) is open at an outlet opening (2) from or through which a first or leading nail (10.sub.1) is conveyed into a discharge channel (3). A driving mechanism, such as, for example, a pneumatic driver (11) is disposed within the discharge channel (3) for driving or discharging the leading nail (10.sub.1) from or through the discharge channel (3). A cantilevered leaf spring (8) has one end thereof fixedly mounted upon the magazine (9) while the opposite free end thereof engages the second nail (10.sub.2) disposed immediately upstream of the leading nail (10.sub.1) so as to retain all of the nails disposed upstream of the leading nail (10.sub.1) while the leading nail (10.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schafer, Alfred Schneider, Horst Tacke, Gerhart Hartmann
  • Patent number: 5181315
    Abstract: An installation apparatus for use in attaching fasteners to a panel is provided having a magazine plate, plunger, fastener holder and retainer. The fastener holder is comprised of an elastically expanding body and includes generally inwardly sloping internal sidewalls defining a conically shaped passage therethrough and wall members which are slit therethrough. The installation apparatus is of particular use in fastener dispensing and installation devices which require the fastener to maintain a precise orientation during delivery and fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventor: Dale H. Goodsmith
  • Patent number: 5110029
    Abstract: The likelihood of successful transfer of a blind rivet from a loading device to the nose of a blind rivet setting tool is substantially improved by conforming the end surface of the nose which receives the blind rivet to the convex surface of the blind rivet flange which is received and by making the inner diameter of the nose bore correspond to the inner diameter of the convex rivet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Blake
  • Patent number: 5074453
    Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool including a start valve adapted to be open for start a fastener driving operation by pneumatically driving a driving rod forwardly, and a vent hole for connecting to start valve to atmospheric air to let compressed air escape to atmosphere when compressed air is accidentally supplied through the start valve after one cycle of fastener driving operation is completed due to bouncing of the piston, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Company, Limited
    Inventors: Sueji Tachihara, Akira Uno, Katsuaki Tobita
  • Patent number: 5060839
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the stroke of a light projector of a button setting machine includes a rod connected at its one end to the light projector, a holder holding the opposite end of the rod and pivotably connected to one end of a pivotable actuating lever pivotally movable in response to the reciprocating movement of an upper pusher, a leaf spring acting between the actuating lever and the rod to urge the latter upwardly, a spring urging the actuating lever to turn in a direction to retract the light projector from a path of movement of a punch, and an adjustable stopper engageable with the actuating lever to limit pivotal movement of the same against the force of the spring. With this construction, the light projector has a stroke considerably shorter than the stroke of the upper pusher and can be adjusted independently of the stroke of the upper pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Fumio Seki
  • Patent number: 5052607
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a pointing device permitting the tool to be positioned against a workpiece so that a fastener is driven precisely at a target point. The tool includes a body with a nose portion in which is a fastener drive track. A foot assembly moves from a rest position toward the tool body to a drive position when the tool is pressed against the workpiece. In the rest position, the pointing device is aligned with the drive track and is adjacent the workpiece. When the tool is moved to the drive position, the pointing device is retracted, the nose portion approaches the workpiece, a safety mechanism is operated and a fastener is driven into the selected target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Duo-Fast Corporation
    Inventor: Donald M. Dutton
  • Patent number: 5048741
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a horizontally reciprocable light projector from collision with a vertically reciprocable punch of a button setting machine, wherein a lost motion mechanism is provided for producing a delay between retracting movement of the light projector and the downward movement of the punch to such an extent that the light projector is retracted from the vertical path of movement of the punch before the punch starts moving downward. The lost motion mechanism is composed of a shaft having an annular actuating flange, and a cylinder member slidably receiving therein the shaft. The actuating flange is normally separated from the cylinder member and engageable with the cylinder member to lower the punch when the light projector is retracted from the vertical path of movement of the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Toishi, Toshiaki Sodeno
  • Patent number: 5031815
    Abstract: A feed path for transporting a button body with the front face of a buttonhead facing upward is disposed between a trough, which is formed longitudinally on the underside of an upper member and has a receiving surface on its one side receiving a part of the periphery of the buttonhead, and a pressuring surface of a lower member, which faces the receiving surface and is urged resiliently upward. According to a preferable embodiment, the pressuring surface is inclined relatively downward and away from the periphery of the rear face of the buttonhead and has a recess on its side to allow a tongue to rotate. While the button body is pushed by the pusher along the feed path, a part of the periphery of the buttonhead is pressed by the pressuring surface. Accordingly, friction force is increased there to facilitate that the button body can be transported while it rotates about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Fumio Seki, Yasuhiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5014897
    Abstract: A tool for applying fasteners to a workpiece includes a housing, a fastener driving mechanism for driving a fastener through a driveway, a fastener guide assembly containing the driveway, a fastener magazine for holding and sequentially feeding fasteners to the guide assembly, and an arrangement for properly positioning the driveway relative to the workpiece. The fastener guide assembly includes a head through which the fasteners are driven, and the positioning arrangement includes a pair of opposite beveled surfaces on the sides of the head for longitudinally aligning the driveway relative to the workpiece, and a substantially U-shaped channel in the bottom face of the head for longitudinally aligning the driveway relative to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Arvo F. Uuskallio
  • Patent number: 4998660
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a button body with a hub and a flange applied to a part between a chute through which the button body is fed gravitationally from a hopper and a button feeder of a button applicator to which the button body is delivered. According to a preferred embodiment, a receiving member, which is pivotably fixed to a stopper placed facing an outlet of the chute and which is urged to the chute by a spring, has a receiving projection as well as a cam projection. A pusher moving backward and forward along a space between the receiving member and the outlet of the chute is provided with a cam receiving surface including a notch on its side face facing the receiving member. A pocket is formed by the fore end of the pusher and the inner face of the receiving projection in order to receive the hub of the button body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshiro Kanzaka
  • Patent number: 4998659
    Abstract: An installation head for attaching self-attaching fastening elements, including self-clinching, self-riveting and self-piercing fasteners. The installation head of this invention includes a self-cleaning means built into the installation head for cleaning the fastener sensing means, such as a conventional proximity switch, each time a fastener is installed by the installation head. The installation head may be a conventional installation head, including a first passage receiving the fastening elements, a second passage intersecting the first passage through which a plunger reciprocates to install the fasteners and a fastener sensor means, such as a proximity switch, in the second passage opposite the first passage to sense the presence of a self-attaching fastening element ready for installation beneath the free end of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventors: Dale H. Goodsmith, Harold T. Woods
  • Patent number: 4995543
    Abstract: A magnetic riveting stem and a novel vertically fixed pocket mechanism is provided for a stationary riveting machine which permits such machines to be used for riveting applications which were impossible or impractical with prior art riveting stem and pocket mechanisms. The vertically fixed pocket receives ferrous rivets from a rivet feed mechanism and aligns them in a head-up orientation to be picked up by the stem for setting through registered holes in the work. A stationary riveting machine equipped in accordance with the invention is capable of setting a ferrous rivet in practically any location on a work piece where the head of the rivet can pass. This offers an advantage over traditionally equipped stationary riveting machines which require vertically displaceable pockets for guiding a rivet to the pilot pin of a rivet anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Gordon C. Earl
  • Patent number: 4991763
    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 a first intermediate forward position. The former is further displaced to a second intermediate forward position wherein the staple is moved in its perpendicular orientation within the device to the forming position which in turn moves a lower anvil. The former is further displaceable to a third intermediate forward position wherein the staple is formed around a staple forming surface of the lower anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Technalytics Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Storace
  • Patent number: 4989438
    Abstract: A power actuated device for attaching a protective metal strip to the outside corner formed by two intersecting wall panels is provided. The device includes a shoe releasably mounted on the device for holding the device and the protective in alignment along the corner. The shoe is provided in a number of differing shapes, each one of which complements the contour of an associated protective strip. The device further includes attaching means supported on the shoe for attaching the metal strip to the wall, a toggle mechanism for moving the attaching means between an inactive and an attaching position and an electrically powered actuator supported on the shoe and connected to the toggle mechanism to move the attaching means between their inactive and attaching positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Nastasi-White, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolphe J. Simon
  • Patent number: 4978046
    Abstract: A riveting press wherein the reciprocable ram of the upper tool can be rotated by a stepping motor to transmit torque to an article holding device which is reciprocable independently of the ram to pick up randomly oriented articles from a transferring device. The latter accepts successive randomly oriented articles from a chute and carries a sensor which interrupts rotation of the article and of the holding device when its follower detects a marker on the article. An adjustable selector switch or a computer is provided to induce the motor to turn the holding device and the article therein to a final angular position prior to application of the article to a garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: William Prym-Werke GmbH, & Co. KG
    Inventors: Paul Hagmann, Manfred Hardt
  • Patent number: 4832245
    Abstract: An automatic nailing apparatus includes a housing having a piston driving system for driving a piston, a percussion rod having a concave at only the tip thereof, a nosepiece having a round channel being provided with a pair of nail head guide rails, and a nail magazine for supplying interconnected nails. The forefront nail of the interconnected nails can be nailed in a direction normal to a workpiece because a point of application on nailing exists on the center axis of the forefront nail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunehisa Terayama, Seki Moriguchi, Toshifumi Kubota
  • Patent number: 4819856
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for inserting fasteners into holes in a workpiece. The apparatus includes a finger carrying device which is carried by an anvil for telescoping movement relative to the anvil, the finger carrying device includes a bore coaxial with the anvil and through which the anvil may pass as it moves from a raised position to a lowered position. The finger carrying device is provided with a side port through which fasteners may be inserted by a gravity injector, the side port being disposed below the anvil when it is in its raised position. A plurality of annular arrays of resilient fingers are mounted in the bore below the side port. A fastener, after being injected into the bore of the finger carrying device, is pushed by the anvil through the fingers as the anvil moves to its lowered position, the annular arrays of resilient fingers properly orienting the fastener in coaxial alignment with the anvil and with a hole in a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Gemcor Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: John W. Davern, Frank T. Mazurik
  • Patent number: 4799611
    Abstract: A garment-fastener assembling apparatus includes a combined supporting and connecting mechanism composed of a pivot lever rotatably mounted on a frame and pivotably connected at its one end with the cylinder tube of a punch-driving cylinder and at the other end with a first pusher mechanism having a first pusher, and a spring-biased slide rod slidably mounted on the frame and having one end pivoted to the pivot lever adjacent to the cylinder tube. The slide rod is normally urged such that during a portion of the movement of the piston rod from the cylinder tube adjacent to the fully retracted position of the piston rod, the pivot lever operates the first pusher mechanism to retract and advance the first pusher. With the combined mechanism thus constructed, a punch and the first pusher can be driven in an accurate timed relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Yukio Taga
  • Patent number: 4796350
    Abstract: A jig comprising a support frame rectangularly-configured having first and second longitudinal sides, against the first of which a major beam is to be clamped. A pair of spaced pattern members are fixedly positioned on the frame and in which minor beams are mounted in contemplation of being secured (nailed) to the major beam and assembled, joined secured roofing panels. The pattern members include spaced notches to receive the minor beams in a perpendicular attitude to the clamped major beam. An outwardly upwardly inclining rack mounted along the second longitudinal side mounts the panels for assembly, joining and stapling in sequential fashion. Then the panels are mounted on the major beam and minor beams on the support frame, with an overhanging edge of the panels aligned with the centerline of the clamped major beam by aligning means on the jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Christopher W. French