Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting components into workpieces, particularly for insertion of electrical components into printed circuit boards. Multiple component magazines are provided on a shuttle which places the desired component beneath an inserter. The inserter moves through a limited reciprocation to pick up a component from the shuttle, and the shuttle is withdrawn from the path of the inserter. The inserter then moves downward to insert the component. The inserter includes an ejector which maintains contact with the inserted component during withdrawal of the inserter. The ejector includes a shock absorber which gives way if unusual resistance is met during insertion. The shock absorber is spring-biased, and the degree of stiffness of the spring is adjustable.

Abstract: In an apparatus for joining together a pair of fastener elements of a garment fastener, such as a snap fastener, a button or an ornamental article, with a garment fabric sandwiched between the two fastener elements, a punch assembly for forcing one fastener element against its mating fastener element has a clamp-holder divided into a pair of separate pieces, and an adjustable spring means for imparting an appropriate amount of braking force to the two clamp-holder pieces.

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.

Abstract: A system to facilitate installation of push-in type fasteners including apparatus to feed fasteners to an escapement unit and a manually actuable hand tool to take the fasteners from the escapement unit and insert them in a workpiece. The apparatus includes a vibratory bowl feeder for providing a continuous supply of fasteners to a track member extending between the vibratory bowl feeder and the escapement unit. The escapement unit aligns a first fastener for receipt in the fastener inserting tool, positions a second fastener for subsequent alignment, and limits advancement of the second fastener until the first fastener has been removed from the escapement unit. The fastener inserting tool comprises an outer housing or handle that carries a press rod and an outwardly biased insert body. The insert body has fastener grasping jaws at one end.

Abstract: A nosepiece for temporarily supporting a fastener in front of a fastener installation tool is disclosed. The nosepiece comprises a split support provided by a plurality of support members which define between them a cavity which receives the fastener. The fastener is supported peripherally by the support members which can move to allow a fastener to move through said members in a forwards direction, from the back to the front of the nosepiece to allow installation of the fastener. The support members also restrain undesired movement of the fastener in the cavity in the reverse direction (i.e. from the front to the back of the nosepiece) as well as undesired movement in the forwards direction.

Abstract: A riveting press wherein the female component of a composite button, knob or a like article of hardware is introduced between the jaws of first tongs below a sheet of textile material whose marked side faces upwardly, and wherein the male component of the article is introduced between the jaws of second tongs at a level above the sheet. The first tongs deposit the female component on a stationary anvil while the second tongs descend toward the upper side of the sheet to place the male component into the path of movement of a descending ram which causes a deformable part of the male component to penetrate through the sheet and to be deformed into permanent engagement with the female component by a centering stud which is provided on the anvil. The mechanism which moves the first tongs up and down derives motion from the mechanism which moves the second tongs and the ram.

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.

Abstract: The tool has a reciprocating barrel mounted in a housing and includes a ram mounted in the barrel for driving a fastener into a work surface. The firing mechanism has a firing pin and a firing pin driver which the operator strikes with a hammer to fire a cartridge chambered in the tool. The firing pin driver is biased to a retracted safe position when the tool is not cocked so as to prevent drop fire. A detent pawl is mounted on the ram to provide frictional retention forces for the ram and barrel. The pawl cooperates with a resilient stop mounted on the housing to return the ram from a driven position to a driving position when the barrel is reciprocated in the housing, and the pawl also engages a breechward stop formed in the housing which prevents the ram from contacting a chambered cartridge when the tool is in a breech-closed, ready-to-fire condition. Bellville washer stacks are used to position the firing mechanism. An improved hand grip is also provided.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A riveting apparatus comprises a portable riveting assembly which may be hand held or mounted on a robot arm. The assembly comprises a C-frame having an anvil mounted on one arm and a hydraulic ram mounted on the other arm. Rivets are supplied to a head assembly located between the anvil and piston rod via a flexible tube having a T-shaped cross-section. After a rivet has been supplied it is held positively in position ready for setting within pocket members by air pressure supplied along tube. Thus, the assembly can be moved rapidly and used in various orientations without displacing the rivet. Connections between the assembly and rivet supply and hydraulic power source are by way of flexible connections.

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.

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.

Abstract: A setting device includes a driving piston propelled by high pressure gases through a casing for driving fastening elements into a receiving material. A stop device located within the casing secures a stop element in a recess in the driving piston for holding the piston in the firing position. The stop device includes a first spring and a second spring each biasing the stop element into the recess. The first spring has a greater biasing force than the second spring. To release the driving piston from the firing position so that it can drive a fastening element into a receiving material, the propelling forces acting on the piston displace the stop element against the force of the springs and then the first spring biases the stop element against the second spring. After the stop element is displaced out of the recess only the second spring acts on the stop element so that movement of the driving piston relative to the stop element is effective without any appreciable holding action limiting such movement.

Abstract: An air-drive impact hammer is used to drive nails in locations where it is not possible to hold them in position with one hand and, using an ordinary hammer, drive them home using the other hand. A driver assembly has a driver shaft supported in the impact hammer, the front end surface of this shaft being a nail driving surface situated in perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the driver shaft. An intermediate ball keeper sleeve is concentrically and slidably mounted around the driver shaft, and an outer sleeve is concentrically and slidably mounted around the ball keeper sleeve. Four detaining ball receiving openings extend radially through the ball keeper sleeve on radial axes while lying in a common plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driver shaft. Nail head detaining balls are situated in each of the ball receiving openings.

Abstract: A machine for driving a pin into a hole in a work piece. The pins are fed by gravity in a continuous succession from a pin supply to a passage extending through a pin receiving rotor. With a pin in the rotor, the rotor is turned through a selected angle to bring the pin and the passage through the rotor into alignment with a pin driving punch. Upon actuation of the punch, the pin is driven from the rotor into a passage in an adjacent aligned sliding pin guide. Movement of the pin through the pin guide temporarily ceases when the pin encounters a resilient stop. Continued movement of the punch then moves the pin guide and the pin therein until the nose of the pin guide engages the work piece. The punch, continuing to move through the passage in the now stationary pin guide, drives the pin past the resilient stop and into the aligned hole in the work piece. Upon withdrawal of the punch, the pin guide aided by a spring returns to it original position adjacent the rotor.

Abstract: Device in a mechanical nailing apparatus including a nail holder to support and guide a nail into position for nailing by means of a nail driver. The device is especially designed for nails (51) which, after being nailed, has at least one laterally expanded anchoring portion (52). The inner cavity of the nail holder (55, 56) intended to receive the nail defines, along part of the nail (51), a guide seat (53) of non-circular section adapted to co-operate complementarily with a guide portion (52) on the nail (51) such that the nail, as it is carried into position for nailing, is given a definitely fixed angle of orientation about its longitudinal axis relative to the nail holder. By positioning of the nail holder, i.e. the nailing apparatus, into a suitable angle for anisotropic materials, e.g. the fibre direction in wood, an expansion nail may be nailed in the angular position where the nail will reach maximum gripping power.

Abstract: An improved nailing tool for supporting and driving a nail in which an elongated tubular guide sleeve member has means at one end for releasably retaining a nail to be driven and a hand grip at the opposite end. The nail driving rod is axially slidable in an elongated tubular guide sleeve member in which the lower end engages the nail retaining means and the upper end extends beyond the hand grip with the nail retaining means having an anvil in which there is an axial bore for cooperatively receiving a nail head therein with the anvil having a substantially planar driving rod impact surface on the face of the anvil opposite from the bore. Means are included in the axial bore for releasably engaging a nail head upon axial displacement of the nail driving rod in the guide sleeve member.

Abstract: A nail driving tool includes a plunger rod attached to one end of a cylindrical handle including a radially extending finger guard located at the end of the handle nearer the plunger rod. A guide tube fits slidably on the plunger rod and has a flange extending radially from one end. When the flanged end of the guide tube is adjacent to the handle the plunger rod can be pushed through the guide tube until the driving face of its tip is approximately even with the opposite end of the guide tube. When the plunger rod is inserted into the guide tube with the flanged end away from the handle, the tube end fits to a predetermined depth into a cavity in the handle, exposing the tip of the plunger rod to that extent beyond the flange, for countersinking nails to the predetermined depth.

Abstract: A compensating nail chuck includes a driving rod (12) having a yieldable force-transmitting member (34) comprised of a belleville-washer spring system which compresses in size in response to a back force on the driving rod created by driving a nail. A main housing (10) of the chuck has freedom of vertical movement on a chuck bar (26) for a distance equal to a tolerance difference to be compensated for.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements onto a garment comprising a plunger reciprocably mounted in a bored head for movement along a path toward and away from a stationary die mounted on a table in opposite relation to the bored head, the plunger having a punch for coacting with the die to attach the pair of fastener elements onto the garment from opposite sides thereof, and first and second means mounted respectively on the bored head and on the die for releasably holding the fastener elements in the path in front of the punch and the die. The first means is actuatable by the punch for releasing the one element. The second means is responsive to coaction with the first means for releasing the other element.

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.

Abstract: An attachment for a power driven installation tool for a threaded fastener and a stress plate includes a barrel assembly connectable at a first end to the driver and terminating in an outer barrel at a second end. The outer barrel terminates in a stress plate holder and the stress plate holder is free to move with respect to the rest of the tool. In a preferred embodiment, a floating barrel is positioned for slidable movement within the distal end of the outer barrel and a stress plate holder is rigidly secured to the floating barrel and external of the outer barrel.

Abstract: A ram tip component for inserting terminal posts in a wiring board includes an elongated body having an end face and a terminal post receiving passageway extending into the body through the end face and having outer and inner portions with respect to the end face. A terminal post entry slot extends laterally through the body and the end face and opens into the outer portion of the passageway, and a retaining spring is positioned in the inner portion of the passageway to bias the terminal post in the passageway against a wall thereof. The end of the body opposite the end face is provided with a bore communicating with the inner portion of the passageway, and terminal post stop pins of varying axial length are adapted to be supported in the bore to limit displacement of a terminal post axially inwardly of the passageway.

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.

Abstract: A driver assembly for reliably driving relatively small-diameter washered and nonwashered fasteners from an indirect-acting powder-actuated tool comprises an adapter, carried on the muzzle end of the tool barrel and having a bore wherein is operatively disposed an adapter piston adapted for cooperation with the tool piston. The adapter bore comprises two portions: a first portion, of a size to slidingly admit the shank of the tool piston, and a second portion, having a diameter of a size to guide and support the fastener during driving thereof. The adapter piston includes a head slidingly fitted in the first adapter bore portion and a shank so fitted in the second bore portion. The adapter piston is preferably spaced apart from the tool piston when both are in the driving position, whereby tool recoil is reduced.

Abstract: A sleeve-like holding member is positioned within the housing of an explosive powder operated gun-like setting device for gripping the fastening element before it is propelled from the housing. The holding member has at least one axially extending slot so that it is radially expandable against its own inherent tension. When a plurality of slots are provided, they are spaced angularly apart and extend from one end toward but short of the other end of the holding member. Adjacent slots extend from different ends of the holding member.

Abstract: In a fastener driving tool having a fastener holding nosepiece comprised of three concentric sleeves, the middle one of which is axially movable to carry a circumferential array of radially shiftable balls to and from inwardly cammed engagement against cam surfaces in the outer sleeve to grip the fastener head against the inner sleeve and release the head, improved structure wherein (1) the inner and outer sleeves have portions axially displaced from the middle sleeve which are threadedly connected to adjust the axial distance between the cam surfaces and inner sleeve for accommodating fastener heads of different axial thicknesses and radial tolerances; (2) to facilitate interchangeability of nosepieces, the inner sleeve is axially slidably retained on an adapter sleeve against a spring bias by a pin and slot connection with inner and adapter sleeves having means cooperable upon relative turning thereof to withdraw the pin from the slot and the pin being movable inwardly into engagement with a retaining ring

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a nail gun includes three wing portions pivotally mounted on a nozzle holder to define a nozzle tapering towards a nozzle outlet. When the wing portions are in their inner closed position they can support an upholsterer's nail with the nail head resting on the inner walls of the nozzle, and the nail stem located in the nozzle outlet. When the nail is being driven into upholstery, the nail head forces apart the wing portions against the action of a resilient support ring. The wing portions may be surrounded by an outer casing which may be rotatable. This outer casing may have a cut-away portion or flat formed on it.

Abstract: A delivery and locating apparatus for receiving an orientated rivet dispensed from a supply of rivets and positioning the rivet for a heading operation. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism movable between a rivet receiving position and a rivet locating position and includes gripping surfaces which are biased together by a spring member for gripping the shank portion of a rivet provided from a delivery tube. The delivery tube includes a cam portion which separates the gripping surfaces against the bias from the spring member when the gripping mechanism moves into a rivet receiving position so that the shank portion of the rivet from the delivery tube can move freely between the gripping surfaces. As the gripping mechanism moves away from the delivery tube the gripping surfaces are forced together by the bias from the spring, and the gripping surfaces hold the shank portion of the rivet firmly as the gripping mechanism moves from its rivet receiving to its rivet locating position.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing metallic inserts into thermoplastic material. The apparatus comprises a heating device in combination with a heating element having a first bore adapted to receive the heating device. The heating element is formed into an elongated tip specifically shaped to grasp a metallic insert which is then heated by conduction to a temperature suitable for melting the thermoplastic material. A longitudinal bore in alignment with the first bore and coupled thereto with a second bore extends through the heating element elongated tip. Plunger apparatus slidably inserted in the longitudinal bore and second bore is positioned by spring apparatus located in the second bore to maintain the metallic insert in engagement with the elongated tip of the heating element during the heating and insertion of the metallic insert into the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for attaching a snap fastener having a first and a second snap fastener portion to a material. The device is adapted for use with pliers having a first and a second plier jaw. The invention comprises a first and a second support capable of mounting on the first and the second plier jaw. First and second threaded fasteners respectively secure the first and second supports to the first and second plier jaws. A first die insert includes a projection for locating the first snap fastener portion of the snap fastener relative to the first die insert. A second die insert including internal resilient means locates the second snap fastener portion of the snap fastener relative to the second die insert. First and second apertures are located in the first and second supports for respectively receiving the first and second die inserts.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing electrical contacts from a carrier strip and loading the severed contacts into a hand tool which can then be used to insert the contacts individually into an apertured circuit element such as a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A hand-held driver tool is disclosed for holding and aligning the axis of elongated fastener with another axis such as the axis of the tool or such as an axis through a pair of apertures in upper and lower belt fastener plates and an aperture in an underlying anvil support means. The preferred driver tool comprises a housing means with an elongated bore within one end of which there is received an expandable chuck means and within the other end of which there is slidably received a driver means. An elongated fastener such as a rivet-nail is inserted within the bore and into the chuck for being driven into a piece such as a belt upon an impact force being applied to the driver. A cone-shaped end on the lower end of the tool is inserted into a cavity in the belt fastener and a cooperating flange abuts the belt fastener to align coaxially the apertures and the axis of the elongated rivet-nail assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to slug riveting apparatus wherein a pair of opposed rivet head forming anvils move relatively toward each other to form heads at the opposite ends of a cylindrical rivet blank, more or less simultaneously, after the blank has been inserted in the workpieces. An annular elastomeric polyurethane member is associated coaxially with one of the rivet head forming anvils and has a bore for receiving and resiliently gripping a cylindrical rivet blank. The elastomeric annular member holds the blank during insertion of the blank in the workpieces as the anvils move relatively toward each other, and the rivet blank is moved out of engagement with the elastomeric annular member by the associated head forming anvil during the head forming operation by resilient radial expansion of the elastomeric annular member. The rivet forming anvils have flat bottomed head forming recesses with sloping side walls.

Abstract: A self locking and unlocking clamp for use in cooperation with an automatic fastener driving tool. The clamp includes a fastener receiving head having a pair of jaw members pivotably mounted thereto. The jaw members are operated to securely hold individual fasteners along their central axes while they are being attached to or driven into a workpiece. A trigger assembly and a cooperating locking assembly is provided on the clamp for (a) locking the jaws together in order to securely hold successive fasteners relative to the tool, and (b) unlocking to enable the jaws to move apart and thereby release successive fasteners once they become securely attached to a workpiece.

Abstract: Power-operated tools require an adaptor for holding in place a clip while the tool projects a fastener through the clip to fasten it to a ceiling or other structure. This improved adaptor is held on the barrel of the tool by a connection that permits the clip or the tool to be rotated into the most advantageous position, and the adaptor has a simple and easily manipulated retainer for holding the clip.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for attaching an ornament by a pronged setting to sheet material, which includes a base having an anvil in the form of a turret on which the sheet material is placed and a pivotally connected head which receives the setting. A plunger on the head registers with the anvil when the head is pivoted relative to and toward the base. The plunger comprises a sleeve and a punch reciprocable axially within the sleeve. The sleeve contacts the sheet material and holds it in engagement with the anvil, and the punch moves axially within the sleeve to force the prongs of the setting into and through the sheet material and to deform the prongs so as to fasten the ornament to the material. A spring is disposed between the sleeve and the plunger to permit relative axial movement therebetween and to bias them apart after the ornament has been affixed.

Abstract: An improved fastener driving tool having particular utility at locations that are otherwise inaccessible is disclosed. The fastener driving tool of this invention includes an elongated cylinder having one closed end. A ram is slidably mounted in the cylinder so that one end of the ram bears against the inside surface of the closed end of the cylinder. An axially displaceable rod is mounted on the outside surface of the cylinder and includes a clip that is adapted to hold the head of the nail against the outside surface of the closed end of the cylinder. With the nail so positioned the tool may be inserted behind a wall, for example through a pre-existing window opening, so that a header may be secured to a stud. By using the tool of the present invention, it is not necessary to remove any plaster or wallboard in order to expose the header and studs that are to be nailed. The ram is moved axially in two opposite directions within the cylinder until the nail is sufficiently started.