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.

Abstract: A nail starter/shield is adapted for use in combination with a nail set and a hammer for driving fasteners such as nails into boards. The nail starter/shield includes a body and a head. The head is provided with nail retaining structure for retaining one or more nails in position relative to the workpiece, for starting the nails into the workpiece. After the nails are started, the head is disengaged from the nails. The body is provided with a slot, and the nail starter/shield is repositioned such that the nails are located within the slot. The nails are then driven into the board while the nails are disposed within the slot, with the body functioning to prevent the hammer from striking the board during driving of the nails. After the nail heads are driven in close proximity to the upper surface of the body, the nail starter/shield is withdrawn and a nail set is used to complete driving of the nails and to embed the nail heads into the board.

Abstract: For use in a robotically operated workstation, apparatus for installing fasteners, for example tubular blind rivets, comprises a pneumatically operated fastener installation tool 16. The tool 16 has a part in the form of a headed mandrel 22 which is loaded with and carries a finite supply of the fasteners, a gripping and pulling actuator 26 and a nose assembly 21 which provides an abutment 18 for supporting successive rivets while the mandrel is pulled to draw its head through and set the rivet. For reloading the tool with further fasteners, after use, the apparatus includes a nest 96b for detaching and receiving the mandrel 22, together with the nose assembly 21, from the actuator 26, and a similar nest 96a provided with another nose assembly and another mandrel fully loaded with fasteners which it presents and attaches to the actuator 26.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a port within an aperture of a web of film, including a chain loop having a plurality of forks for releasably retaining ports. The chain loop is fed around a first, a second, and a third rotatable sprocket. The first and second rotatable sprockets are coupled to a frame and located in a substantially aligned relationship to each other, perpendicular to a portion of the film, the third sprocket is located at a position offset from a plane defined by the first and second sprockets. The first and second sprockets can be moved from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position. During operation, the rotation of the third sprocket is releasably prevented, to accurately regulate the rotation of the first sprocket an indexer is provided.

Abstract: Simultaneous multiple pin insertion into a printed circuit board in which the pins are held by a carrier with the pins initially having ends located within holes in the board with the pins supporting the carrier above the board. The carrier is then urged towards the board conveniently by press head operation to drive the pins through the board. Conveniently the press head also operates with a pin straightener, after pin insertion, the press head being reciprocable in two horizontal directions to perform a pin straightening operation.

Abstract: A hand-held mechanism for holding staples. The invention comprises a flexible member having a substantially flat main section and at least one handle extending therefrom. The main section has a plurality of first slots for holding staples, the slots extending at an angle to facilitate the placement and attachment of the staples. The invention further comprises a plurality of second slots interspersed to either hold different sized staples or aid in aligning the first slots with the workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding tacks to a heel lasting machine has one or more slideways which deliver series of successive tacks from discrete receptacles to selected axially parallel flutes in the peripheral surface of a rotor in such a way that the shanks of the tacks enter the flutes and the heads of the tacks overlie the upper side of the rotor. The peripheral surface of the rotor is surrounded by the internal surface of a stationary housing which has a set of pockets for reception of entire tacks from the rotor. The transfer of tacks from the rotor into the pockets of the housing is effected pneumatically, and the conveying of tacks from the pockets into the lasting machine takes place by gravity and/or pneumatically. The apparatus has a discrete stop for the discharge end of each slideway; such stop or stops can be actuated to bias the head of the adjacent tack against the upper side of the respective slideway and to thus interrupt the delivery of tacks from the respective receptacle to the rotor.

Abstract: Interlocking means are provided on the front and rear surfaces of adjacent clips to restrain relative movement between adjacent clips in one direction and to permit relative guided movement between adjacent clips in another direction and wherein the restraint of the relative movement is maintained for at least a substantial portion of the movement of the one of the adjacent clips toward a secured position on the support surface. Also, each clip has at least one bore means having first and second cross-sectional configurations so as to provide a shoulder and a surface penetrating fastening device having an enlarged head portion located in the bore means so that, when a force is applied to the surface penetrating fastening device to drive the surface penetrating fastening device into the support surface, the enlarged head will contact the shoulder so that the clip is firmly held in position on the support surface.

Abstract: A system for fastening cable to a support system using an insulated, protective housing that has surface penetrating fastening devices mounted thereon in such a manner so as to allow a multiplicity of housings to be positioned, discharged and applied in a uniform automated process. The applicator has a base plate with a slot that cooperates to position the housings slightly above the support surface with a portion of the cable passing through the slot.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for placing linear staple sutures includes a body having a closed rectangular frame. Each of the lateral sides of the frame are provided with a slot which is located on an inner surface of the lateral side close to the adjacent side of the frame. The axis of the slot is parallel to each of the lateral sides. A die is provided with a plurality of recesses and secured on the adjacent side of the frame. The extreme recesses of the die are arranged inside the slots on the frame lateral sides. A staple head is accommodated in the body. A detachable staple magazine has a plurality of staple slots and positioned so that its portions provided with extreme staple slots should engage the slots in the lateral sides of the frame, a staple ejector, and actuators of the staple head and of the staple ejector, respectively.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for fasteners, which receives the fasteners, such as nails, pins, or screws attached to a supply belt, has a cutter for cutting off sections of the supply belt as the latter comes out empty of a belt guide channel in which the fasteners are removed, one by one, from the supply belt. Thus, the empty supply belt can be easily removed and prevented from hindering the operation of the driving apparatus. The cutter may be operated manually or by pressure applied by a piston cylinder.

Abstract: An improved cartridge and driver assembly is provided for a surgical stapling instrument of the type which drives staples through tissue to be joined and against an anvil to form the staples. The cartridge has a forming pocket or slot for each staple to be driven by a single actuation of the surgical stapling instrument. Each forming pocket is of elongated, transverse, biconvex cross-section, terminating in ends adapted to frictionally receive the legs of a surgical staple. The driver comprises a tine for each forming pocket, shiftable within the forming pocket to engage the crown of the staple to drive the staple from its forming pocket. Each driver tine is of substantially biconvex transverse cross-sectional configuration. Each forming pocket of the cartridge is of matching biconvex configuration to slidably receive its respective driver tine so that the tine engages the staple crown including those portions thereof directly over the staple legs.

Abstract: A staple forming and driving tool (10) employing a vertical front portion of a staple head base (34), and sheath (40) to provide a space for reciprocating former member (70) and driver (80). Spring (50) urges base (34) toward sheath (40) with spacer lugs (33) maintaining a defined distant between base (34) and sheath (40).A belt (94) is fed through an opening (100) in base (34) by a cartridge (90) which protrudes into opening (100) and belt advancing means (104, 112) is held inoperative by forming tang (75) during a portion of the forming and driving stroke to prevent movement of staple wire (200) during critical periods of such stroke.The former (70) is moved during the forming and driving stroke through a path which permits former lugs (72) to guide the former staple down to a point adjacent the workpiece (300).

Abstract: In a surgical fastener applying instrument of the type in which the tissue is first clamped by operation of a lever mechanism, a releasable latch is included in the lever mechanism for releasably holding the tissue clamping elements at an intermediate latching position. In this position, the tissue to be fastened is enclosed but not fully clamped by the instrument so that the position of the instrument relative to the tissue can be adjusted without reopening the instrument.

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.

Abstract: Surgical fastener applying apparatus including an actuator and a removable surgical fastener container cartridge. The cartridge fits loosely into a cartridge holder part of the actuator which translates linearly toward or away from an anvil part of the actuator. As the cartridge holder translates toward the anvil, the cartridge is automatically brought into alignment and registration with the anvil.

Abstract: The invention relates to surgical instruments used for suturing or stapling tissues and organs.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which, upon activation, spaced lugs on a driver advance open staples along a track between two grooved rails frictionally holding the staples so that the leading staple will be closed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture adjacent living tissue. Subsequently cam members which maintained the lugs in engagement with the staples as the lead staple was closed are biased by a spring to a position at which the lugs separate from and move around the staples as the driver is returned to its original position at which the lugs again engage subsequent staples along the track.

Abstract: In a surgical stapling instrument in which tissue is stapled between the opposing legs of a U-shaped frame, the staple carrying assembly automatically engages the free ends of both legs of the frame to structurally reinforce the frame during operation of the instrument.

Abstract: Surgical stapler apparatus in which the actuator elements can be pivoted out of the actuator housing to facilitate cleaning of the apparatus between uses without disassembly of the apparatus.

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.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved multiple suture stapler in which two rows of staples are pushed by a comb-like ram out of a magazine of a frame and are clinched by an anvil releasably latched to the frame. The frame is of one-piece plastic construction and includes a pair of handles hinged to the magazine and having forwardly projecting, hinged arms welded to a push rod connected to the ram. One of the handles has a thumb grip used when the anvil is closed on the magazine. A stapler forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes a latching rod splined to a frame with a thumb grip serving to push the latching rod into a latch mechanism of an anvil, and also adapted to be manually turned to turn the rod to a latch releasing position.

Abstract: A scissor-type surgical stapler is disclosed in which a pair of pivotally connected forcep handles are used with an elongated cartridge housing at the forward end of one of the handles, this cartridge housing being adapted to hold a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples positioned in a line along the length of the housing, and an anvil is positioned in parallel apposition to the cartridge housing in line with the staples to be ejected from the staple cartridge, the anvil and the cartridge housing being interlinked so as to be relatively movable toward and away from each other while maintaining said parallel apposition as the handles are moved to open and close the staples.

Abstract: A heel attaching machine is provided with a shoe support particularly well suited for attaching stilletto-type heels by means of a plurality of nails and a staple driven into the rear portion of a heel seat and inclined toward the center of the heel.

Abstract: Staples are delivered to guides in a vertical column by a plurality of slides which move out of the way after the delivery. A boot or shoe and a heel to be stapled is fitted upside down over a heel-shaped last at the top of the column. A pneumatic cylinder and hammers force the staples through the guides and into the shoe and heel thereby attaching them together.