Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided, including a handpiece, a lever operably coupled to the handpiece and movable between first, second, and third positions, a shaft assembly extending distally from the handpiece, and an ultrasonic waveguide extending through the shaft assembly and defining a fixed jaw member at a distal end portion thereof. An outlet at the distal end of the fixed jaw member provides irrigation of fluid. The waveguide functions as an aspirator well as a transector/dissector of tissue. A movable jaw member is disposed towards a distal end portion of the shaft assembly and is operably coupled to the lever such that movement of the lever between the first, second, and third positions moves the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member between a retracted position, an extended open position, and an extended closed position.

Abstract: A jaw movement mechanism for surgical tools has improved mechanical efficiency and other advantages. The jaw movement mechanism controls the orientation and position of a movable jaw relative to a fixed jaw through a range of movement of the movable jaw. The jaws maintain a parallel orientation throughout a portion of the range of movement of the movable jaw. The jaws maintain an angular relationship throughout a portion of the range of movement of the movable jaw.

Abstract: A rivet fastening air tool for rivets includes a supplying actuator, an implanting actuator, and a switching valve. The supply actuator receives a rivet row, tears off a fragile portion of a front-row rivet, and supplies it in a loaded position. The implanting actuator retains a head portion of the rivet supplied in the loaded position, and moves the rivet in a direction of being pulled out of a communicating bore of the rivet. The switching valve is provided in an air supply route which reaches the supplying actuator. When the head portion of the rivet is moved in the direction of being pulled out, the switching valve is switched by the implanting actuator so that the supplying actuator is returned.

Abstract: Object is to improve the workability as well as to provide a safe loop pin connecting device. Because the loop pin connecting device comprises a grip lever rotatably pivoted to the grip section of the device proper, a driving arm rotated by the grip lever, the first pin holder section linearly traveling on the first guide rail by the driving arm, the first feeding pin mounted to the first pin holder section, the second pin holder section linearly traveling on the second guide rail by the driving arm, the second feeding pin comprising a flexible member whose base end is fixed to the second pin holder section, and the guide member for guiding the head end section of the second feeding pin and the guide member bends and its head end lowers to the first feeding pin position arranged with the height and horizontal position varied, entangling of the filament section is able to be prevented and occurrence of jams in operation is able to be prevented.

Abstract: A needle assembly for a tagger gun includes a needle carrier slidably disposed within the tagger gun casing, a needle removably mounted into a needle bore in the needle carrier, and a needle lock snap-mounted into a needle lock bore in the needle carrier. The needle lock includes a locking post having a first end and a second end, and an enlarged head formed onto the second end. The locking post is shaped to include a longitudinally-extending slot which bifurcates the first end into a pair of parallel fingers. A ratchet-shaped tooth is formed onto each finger, each tooth including a tapered surface for guiding the needle lock into needle lock bore and an engagement surface for retaining the needle lock mounted in the needle carrier. In use, the needle lock can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to selectively lock the needle in place within the needle bore.

Abstract: A fastener for splicing ends of conveyor belts together is provided having a rivet that is pre-inserted thereto to provide speed and ease in installation. The rivet is held in an aperture of the upper plate by an interference fit at the lower end thereof. Preferably, the interference fit is achieved by knurling of the lower end portion of the rivet shaft to create raised interference portions or ridges integral therewith that are sized to be in an interference fit in the upper plate aperture. The remainder of the shaft can be sized to provide clearance between it and the aperture. An applicator machine tool is also provided for automatically securing a strip of the pre-inserted rivet fasteners to a belt end in a fast and efficient manner. The tool uses operating members to first drive pilot nails through the belt lower surface into registry with the rivets, and thereafter the rivets are driven coordinated with the pilot nails that are withdrawn back through the belt.

Abstract: A rivet setting anvil is provided with a replaceable clinching head that allows the rivet rolling surface to be replaced without replacing the entire anvil. The clinching head may be threaded to the pedestal portion of the anvil or retained with a releasable locking arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for countersinking rivet holes preformed at circumferential spacings in the fuselage of an airplane and in annular reinforcing ribs of H-shaped cross section in the fuselage at axial spacings. Included is a carrier arm cantilevered to a frame for insertion in the fuselage and reinforcing ribs. The carrier arm has a fluid-actuated cylinder and a fluid motor. The cylinder has a piston rod to which is coupled an offset anvil assembly for pressing the fuselage and a rib against a toolhead mounted to the frame. The piston rod, together with the anvil assembly thereon, is not only linearly displaceable but also rotatable about its own axis. The fluid motor actuates the piston rod for revolving the anvil assembly through an angle of at least 180 degrees. With such angular displacement of the anvil assembly, the apparatus is readily adaptable for countersinking two annular rows of rivet holes formed in those parts of the outer flange of each rib which are on the opposite sides of its web.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are provided to automatically align an insert for insertion into a hole of a predrilled board. The hole is located by a retractable centering pin on the apparatus to ensure an accurate alignment with the insert, and, once aligned, the insert is inserted into the hole with a force axially applied by the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for joining soft body tissues and a device for practicing the method which includes a retainer strip formed of a material which in time is absorbed by the body and which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings and a fastener strip also formed of a material which is similarly absorbed and which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced prongs each having a barbed end portion and an axial passage. Both the retainer strip and fastener strip are preferably formed of biologically absorbable plastic material for gradual absorption by the body and are movable together so that the prongs are inserted through the tissue to be joined and through the retainer strip openings with the tissue secured between the strips. The strips are movable together by means of a rigid anvil member engageable with the retainer strip and a rigid pusher member engageable with the fastener strip.

Abstract: A blind rivet assembly and tool for inserting same for facilitating blind riveting processes. A carrier element having a removably secured blind rivet body provides for improved automatic insertion techniques. A carrier element has the blind rivet bodies uniformly disposed along the longitudinal dimension thereof. The rivet body is adapted for insertion within a given workpiece without the need for an integral pulling stem or mandrel. The insertion tool cooperatively engages an end portion of the rivet body forming the rivet head.

Abstract: A device for holding male and female mating snap members in alignment during a snap attaching operation has an elongated rigid barrel with a pin resiliently retractable into the leading end thereof. The pin is used as a centering means while the leading end of the barrel provides a driving device when the pin is retracted and the tool is struck at the opposite end of the barrel. The leading end of the barrel comprises a rim adapted to engage standard sized male and female mating snap members near their peripheries and the pin is adapted for maintenance of proper alignment of these members during attachment.

Abstract: A pneumatic machine for cutting flexible tubing and inserting the cut pieces onto a printed circuit board is disclosed. The machine unwinds a spool of tubular material, cuts a predetermined length off the end thereof and inserts the cut length onto a printed circuit board. The sequencing and timing relationship between the feeding, cutting, and inserting steps is controlled by a cyclic sequencing apparatus which is activated by a foot switch.A machine for forming and inserting eyelets into a printed circuit board is also described. The eyeleting machine unwinds a spool of tubular solderable material, cuts off a length of the tubular material, and inserts the cut tubing into a printed circuit board hole and then forms a shoulder on both ends of the inserted tubing. The sequencing and timing between the feeding, cutting, and inserting operations is controlled by a sequencing apparatus which is activated by a foot switch.

Abstract: A tubular rivet is picked up by a rivet engaging pin supported on a support which is releasably coupled to means for urging the pin into a position in which it can engage with a rivet. Control means allow the urging means to move the pin into the position at a first station. The rivet is moved to a second station at which a force bypassing the pin is applied to the support to break the coupling to cause the pin to move to an inoperative position to avoid permanent deformation of the pin. The control means causes the reconnection of the coupling as the pin is moved from the second station to the first station.