Abstract: Devices, instruments, assemblies, and systems for holding and inserting staples and staples for compressing bones or bone fragments. The staple insertion assembly including a staple holder and a staple. The staple holder including a first and second end with a gripping portion at the first end, at least one slot extending from second end toward first end, and a receiving portion at the second end. The receiving portion with at least one staple contact portion, a first recessed region positioned adjacent to the at least one staple contact portion on a first side and a second recessed region positioned adjacent to the at least one staple contact portion on a second side, and a first engagement member positioned adjacent to the first recessed region and a second engagement member positioned adjacent to the second recessed region. Methods for using the assemblies to compress bones or bone fragments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: To provide a staple using insertion-cutting blades that are manufacturable inexpensively, by which the strength of the insertion-cutting blades that are necessary when penetrating binding sheets is secured and the penetration of a staple through the binding sheets is executed reliably. The stapler is constituted by including a handle, a frame and a base. The frame is provided, in the vicinity of the front edge portion of a feeding path through which the interlinked staples are fed, with a driver executing the penetration of the staple with respect to the binding sheets. Punching blades are mounted respectively on the right and the left of a staple push down unit at the lower edge portion of the driver main body portion. Each punching blade has a predetermined length and is provided with a blade edge at one edge portion.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjuster operatively associated with a staple leg diverter. The single selectively operable adjuster is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions to affect the lateral movement of the staple leg diverter. The different leg deflective positions effects an amount to which the diverter will deflect the legs of the driven staple during a drive stroke. A single operation of the single selectively operable adjuster both moves the adjuster and retains the adjuster in an adjusted position within the range of leg deflecting positions.

Abstract: A forming plate and a driver plate are held at a front portion of a path of supplying connected staples in a laminated state. A staple in a C-shape formed at an inside of a strike out path formed between a front end face of a supply path and a back face of the face plate arranged on a front side of the supply path is pressed to supply to inside of the strike out path toward the face plate by a pusher urged by a spring. The staple is struck out by the driver plate. The pusher is made to constitute a first pusher, and a second pusher for pressing a leg portion of the staple to the face plate is aligned to be arranged to a side of a staple strike out port of the first pusher.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjusting mechanism that is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions is disclosed. The stapler includes a staple leg diverting member that is carried by a portable structure for lateral movement into and out of a drive track. Successively driven staples are driven with a selected leg deflection between a minimum deflection and a maximum deflection. The adjusting mechanism is selectively adjusted within the range of positions to adjust the amount of bias of a biasing structure acting on the leg diverting member.

Abstract: A stitching apparatus for manufacturing stitching wire staples, in particular annular eyelet staples, for stitching stacked sheet materials, includes a stitching head basic body having a driver for driving the stitching wire staples into the stacked sheet materials in a downward movement of the driver. A former shapes the stitching wire staples, in particular annular eyelet staples. The former is pivoted away during the downward movement of the driver. A wire clamping lever is mounted pivotably in the former. The wire clamping lever has a control element which runs on a control cam in such a way that the former is supported as a result in the upward movement of the driver, with the result that the former is pivoted-in in the upward movement to a different point than the pivoting-out of the former in the downward movement.

Abstract: A staple forming mechanism having at least first and second configurations. The staple forming mechanism including a bend surface having a first surface width in the first configuration and a second surface width in the second configuration for forming staples having first and second crown sizes, respectively. The forming mechanism also includes at least two side portions spaced apart by a first former width in the first configuration and by a second former width in the second configuration. The side portions cooperate with the bend surface to form the staples. A stapler includes the forming mechanism and a driver including a driving surface having a first driver width in the first configuration and a second driver width in the second configuration for driving the staples of the first and second crown sizes into a stack of papers.

Abstract: A staple forming mechanism having at least first and second configurations. The staple forming mechanism including a bend surface having a first surface width in the first configuration and a second surface width in the second configuration for forming staples having first and second crown sizes, respectively. The forming mechanism also includes at least two side portions spaced apart by a first former width in the first configuration and by a second former width in the second configuration. The side portions cooperate with the bend surface to form the staples. A stapler includes the forming mechanism and a driver including a driving surface having a first driver width in the first configuration and a second driver width in the second configuration for driving the staples of the first and second crown sizes into a stack of papers.

Abstract: Staple forming arrangement (11) forming part of a stapler (1) in which a workpiece (6), primarily a sheaf of papers, is stapled together. The arrangement includes a bending punch (15), which is driven by a drive mechanism (12,13) and which bends elongated staple blanks (8) over a bending cushion (15). The staple blanks, which are stored in a magazine (7) in the stapler and are fed to the bending cushion by an integral feeding device (14), are bent essentially into a U-shape having a crown (24) and a first leg (25) and a second leg (26), respectively and whereupon the bending punch is withdrawn from the bent staple by the drive mechanism. After the withdrawal of the bending punch from the bent staple, the bent staple is fed by the feeding device to a staple guide channel (27) in which the staple is driven by a drive blade (17) incorporated in the stapler into the multi-piece workpiece in order to staple the pieces together.

Abstract: A staple-former (11) in a stapler (1) that uses a driver blade (10) to drive staples (17), preferably into a sheaf of paper (16). The stapler contains a magazine (7) of staple blanks (8). A feed device (6) advances staple blanks onto an integral bending die (15) for bending into staple shape. Each staple has a first and a second leg (18, 19) and a crown portion (20). The staple-former (11) includes first and second leg-bending parts (24, 26) and crown-forming part (28). A staple forms when a drive device (12, 13, 14), moves the leg-bending parts (24, 26) and the crown-forming part over the bending die (15) causing a staple blank (8) to assume a staple shape. The staple-former then reciprocates to its starting positions, the staple advances to the driver blade (10), and a biasing element (32) urges the crown-forming part (28) away from the staple-former (11).

Abstract: A fastener driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade and a nosepiece, and being configured for sequentially feeding fasteners to the nosepiece for engagement by the driver blade for subsequent driving into a workpiece, each fastener defining a plane, further includes a deformation formation in the nosepiece configured for engaging a portion of each of the fasteners so that upon impact of the fastener by the driver blade, the engaged fastener portion is deformed in a direction transverse to the plane to define a deformed portion, the deformed portion configured for providing a clamping force upon at least one of the workpiece and a workpiece material being secured to the workpiece. A fastener is provided for use in such a tool and includes a crown configured so that, upon impact with at least one of the workpiece and the workpiece material, the crown has a nonlinear configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stapler for forming staples according to a thickness of a stack and clinching the stack with at least one of the formed staples.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade and a nosepiece, and being configured for sequentially feeding fasteners to the nosepiece for engagement by the driver blade for subsequent driving into a workpiece, each fastener defining a plane, further includes a deformation formation in the nosepiece configured for engaging a portion of each of the fasteners so that upon impact of the fastener by the driver blade, the engaged fastener portion is deformed in a direction transverse to the plane to define a deformed portion, the deformed portion configured for providing a clamping force upon at least one of the workpiece and a workpiece material being secured to the workpiece. A fastener is provided for use in such a tool and includes a crown configured so that, upon impact with at least one of the workpiece and the workpiece material, the crown has a nonlinear configuration.

Abstract: A staple forming mechanism having at least first and second configurations. The staple forming mechanism including a bend surface having a first surface width in the first configuration and a second surface width in the second configuration for forming staples having first and second crown sizes, respectively. The forming mechanism also includes at least two side portions spaced apart by a first former width in the first configuration and by a second former width in the second configuration. The side portions cooperate with the bend surface to form the staples. A stapler includes the forming mechanism and a driver including a driving surface having a first driver width in the first configuration and a second driver width in the second configuration for driving the staples of the first and second crown sizes into a stack of papers.

Abstract: A stapler for clinching materials together with a generally U-shaped staple. The stapler has an anvil with spaced-apart wedges disposed adjacent a backing plate, and the spaced-apart wedges have respective chamfers that contact legs of the staple and guide the legs away from each other. A driver blade is movable between the spaced apart wedges and pushes against a staple crown. As an actuator pushes the driver blade between the wedges, the staple is being pushed over the wedges. The actuator retracts the driver blade from between the spaced-apart wedges substantially independent of a biasing force pushing the spaced apart wedges against the backing plate.

Abstract: A staple forming mechanism having at least first and second configurations. The staple forming mechanism including a bend surface having a first surface width in the first configuration and a second surface width in the second configuration for forming staples having first and second crown sizes, respectively. The forming mechanism also includes at least two side portions spaced apart by a first former width in the first configuration and by a second former width in the second configuration. The side portions cooperate with the bend surface to form the staples. A stapler includes the forming mechanism and a driver including a driving surface having a first driver width in the first configuration and a second driver width in the second configuration for driving the staples of the first and second crown sizes into a stack of papers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stapler for forming staples according to a thickness of a stack and clinching the stack with at least one of the formed staples.

Abstract: A staple forming mechanism having at least first and second configurations. The staple forming mechanism including a bend surface having a first surface width in the first configuration and a second surface width in the second configuration for forming staples having first and second crown sizes, respectively. The forming mechanism also includes at least two side portions spaced apart by a first former width in the first configuration and by a second former width in the second configuration. The side portions cooperate with the bend surface to form the staples. A stapler includes the forming mechanism and a driver including a driving surface having a first driver width in the first configuration and a second driver width in the second configuration for driving the staples of the first and second crown sizes into a stack of papers.

Abstract: Staple forming arrangement (11) forming part of a stapler (1) in which a workpiece (6), primarily a sheaf of papers, is stapled together. The arrangement includes a bending punch (15), which is driven by a drive mechanism (12,13) and which bends elongated staple blanks (8) over a bending cushion (15). The staple blanks, which are stored in a magazine (7) in the stapler and are fed to the bending cushion by an integral feeding device (14), are bent essentially into a U-shape having a crown (24) and a first leg (25) and a second leg (26), respectively and whereupon the bending punch is withdrawn from the bent staple by the drive mechanism. After the withdrawal of the bending punch from the bent staple, the bent staple is fed by the feeding device to a staple guide channel (27) in which the staple is driven by a drive blade (17) incorporated in the stapler into the multi-piece workpiece in order to staple the pieces together.

Abstract: A staple-former (11) in a stapler (1) in which staples (17) are driven by a driver blade (10) into a workpiece (16), preferably a sheaf of paper, wherein the stapler contains a staple magazine (7) in which are stored longitudinally extended filiform staple blanks (8). The staple blanks are advanced by a feed device (6) contained in the stapler onto an integral bending die (15), which bending die has an upper support surface (21) over which the staple blanks are bent by the staple-former into staple shape; a shape that exhibits a first and a second leg (18, 19) with an intermediate crown portion (20). The staple-former includes a first leg-bending part (24) and a second leg-bending part (26) with an intermediate crown-forming part (28) that exhibits a stamping surface (29).

Abstract: A stapler attachment for use with an electromechanical device driver comprises a staple holding member which is spring mounted to a staple closing member, which is, in turn, mounted to a threaded driver element concentrically mounted about a threaded shaft such that staple closing member and the staple holding member can be advanced and retracted along a track within a housing. A staple is advanced by the rotation of the threaded shaft until the staple holding member is stopped against an opening lip formed in an opening at the distal staple discharging end of the housing. At this position, the prongs of the staple have been advanced out of the distal staple discharging end and into the tissue to be joined. The staple closing member continues to advance as the spring between the staple holding member and the staple closing member compresses. This advancement permits the staple closing member to deform the staple into a closed D-shape conformation.

Abstract: A staple wire cutting element (4) is mounted displaceably on a stapling device (1) in which staple wire segments are shaped into a staple and driven into a sheet stack. A control lever (8) that is in engagement with a radial cam unit (6) engages the cutting element (4). The radial cam unit (6) is driven via an overrunning clutch (10), one end of which has a gear (11) which is fixed to the radial cam unit (6) and engages into a gear (5b) of a stepping motor (5). The other end of the overrunning clutch (10) has a gear (12) which is fixed to a transport wheel (13) for staple wire transport. A gear (27), which is mounted displaceably along its rotation axis and is mounted rotatably about the same rotation axis as the gear (5a), engages into the gear (12). The gears (5b, 27) are equipped at their sides facing one another with tooth sets (28).

Abstract: A stapling device has a holddown element, a staple forming member, and a staple driving means, which are guided linearly and are movable perpendicular to the upper side of a sheet stack to be stapled.A first pressure spring with a lower spring force is associated with the holddown element. A second pressure spring whose spring force is greater than that of the first pressure spring, is associated with the staple forming member. A third pressure spring is associated with the staple driving means, its spring force being greater than that of the second pressure spring. The pressure springs are arranged with identical working directions perpendicular to the upper side of the sheet stack.The first pressure spring is arranged in preloaded fashion between the holddown element and the staple forming member. The second pressure spring is arranged in preloaded fashion between the staple forming member and the staple driving means.

Abstract: Projected portions 17, 18, 19 are formed at three positions in the middle and on left and right ends of the front surface of a driver 13 of a staple hammer. The width of the projected portion 18 in the middle is smaller than the distance between both leg portions S.sub.3, S.sub.4 of a staple S, and the projected portion 18 is not in contact with the upper surfaces of bends S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the staple S. Further, the distance between the projected portions 17, 19 on both left and right ends is slightly smaller than the total width of the staple S. The projected portions 17, 19 are located above the bends with radii, and are not in contact with the bends. At the time of hammering, the projected portion 18 in the middle impinges the middle portion of the top surface of the staple S, allowing both leg portions S.sub.3, S.sub.4 of the staple S to ground upon the object to be hammered so as to be expanded.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler which allows for the multi-directional release of staples includes a stapler body and a driver contained therein. A magazine is connected to the stapler body and includes a plurality of staples. The magazine also includes an anvil having a staple forming surface at a distal end thereof for forming a staple thereon. The anvil is movable from a staple forming position to a staple release position. A feeder element which is spring biased against the staples is used for feeding each staple to the staple forming surface. A trigger is operatively connected to the driver and is movable from a pre-fire position to a firing position for advancing the driver against the anvil for forming the staple against the staple forming surface of the anvil. The trigger is operatively connected to the anvil for moving the anvil from the staple forming position to the staple release position for releasing the staple from the stapler.

Abstract: A stapling device has a stapler and a staple wire cassette detachably attached directly thereto, in which the leading end of the wire emerging from the staple wire cassette terminates directly in the working region of the stapler. The stapler has a base member serving as a staple-forming and holddown element, on which a driver and a sleeve are guided linearly so as to engage in telescoping fashion within one another, and are movable perpendicular to the upper side of a sheet stack. Compression springs of different spring forces, having the same working direction, engage on the base member, the driver, and the sleeve. The stapler is acted upon by a drive system which is movable in the working direction of the compression springs. The compression springs are associated with the base member, the driver, and the sleeve, and arranged in preloaded fashion thereon, in such a way that upon actuation of the stapler, a force-controlled drive occurs in an operationally correct sequence.

Abstract: A cassette (10a, 10b, 11), which contains juxtaposed wire staple blanks releasably interconnected to form at least one strip (8) of staple blanks, is adapted to be used in a stapler for driving staples into an object, such as a sheaf of papers. The stapler comprises a base and a stapler head movable in relation to the base. The cassette accommodates a reciprocating staple shaper (20), adapted to successively shape the staple blanks of the strip (8) into U-shaped staples, and a reciprocating staple driver (19), adapted to successively release the thus-formed staples from the strip (8) and drive them into an object. The cassette has a front wall (11) in which the staple shaper (20) and the staple driver (19) are displaceably guided, as well as recesses through which projections on the staple shaper and the staple driver project, so as to engage, when the cassette is mounted in the stapler head, a drive mechanism (4) arranged in the stapler head to reciprocate the staple shaper and the staple driver.

Abstract: A supply wire cassette is removably mounted on the face plate of a wire stitching machine head. The cassette carries a rotatable reel of wire from which wire is unreeled over a flexible, resilient brake lever through a check pawl and a guide tube, which guides the unreeled wire along an arcuate, wire-straightening path to an outlet at a cutter on the head. A wire holder is removably mounted on the cassette housing and holds the free end thereof in position at the outlet until the cassette is mounted on the face plate to ensure that the wire passes through the feed mechanism of the head. Actuation of the feed mechanism withdraws wire from the cassette, pivoting the brake lever to unbrake the supply reel. When a predetermined length of unreeled wire accumulates in the cassette housing, the brake lever is biased back into braking engagement with the reel. A sensor including a switch removably mounted in the cassette housing indicates when the supply reel is nearly empty.

Abstract: A staple and stapler for injecting the staple in a manner so that the staple maintains a near constant width upon penetration of material to be joined and during staple closure/forming such that material perturbation and staple to staple spacing may be minimized. The staple has a rectilinear bridge part from which depend oppositely positioned side parts and from the side parts a pair of straight legs. In a preferred embodiment, the oppositely positioned side parts consist of a proximal arcuate section attached to the bridge part and an oppositely directed distal arcuate section attached to the legs. The legs may have sharpened points. Also disclosed is a stapler adapted to force the oppositely directed distal arcuate sections outward, in one embodiment, thereby forcing a reaction of the legs of the staple to face each other in linear alignment and form a closed staple.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for stapling to a material (1) at predetermined distances along a web formed by the material with the aid of a stapling cylinder (2), a counterpressure cylinder (3), a forming drum (4) and a horn (5) which extends around the periphery of the stapling cylinder between the forming drum and the counterpressure cylinder, wherein the stapling cylinder (2) coacts with a stapling fork (6) which is intended to cut a staple-forming section from wire-like material (10) in a region (B) between the stapling cylinder (2) and the forming drum (4) and to form therefrom a U-shaped staple which can be carried by the stapling cylinder (2) to a region (A) between the stapling cylinder (2) and the counterpressure cylinder (3) and there fastened to a material web (1) passing between the stapling cylinder (2) and the counterpressure cylinder (3).

Abstract: A stapler capable of stapling one or more stapling portions of a sheaf of sheets to be bound with only one movable staple driver in a corner binding manner, one-side binding manner or doublespread binding manner regardless of the width and length of the sheets is applicable to a sheet handling device such as a copying machine and printer to compose a sheet-binding system. The staple driver and clinching means with an anvil for bending the staple into a non-returnable state are connected by a connecting member formed in a substantially U-shape so as to satisfactorily receive the sheets to be stapled.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and driving staples in a single stroke includes a former (4) for forming staples from pre-cut lengths of staple wires, a forming block around which each staple wire is bent by the former, and a driver (3) for driving each formed staple into a workpiece. The former (4) and driver (3) each comprise a substantially flat plate, with the driver slideable within a cut-out portion (33) of the former, and with both plates having their two major surfaces in sliding contact with parallel, spaced apart, guide plates (5, 6). A common driving member (7) is linked to the driver (3) and disengageably linked to the former (4) by means of a retractable link pin (38). The driving member (7) is arranged to initially drive the driver and former together to form a staple around the forming block. Once the staple has been formed, the forming block is withdrawn from within the formed staple.

Abstract: A staple forming and driving apparatus utilizes bulk wire as the starting material. The apparatus has a fixed anvil block and movable forming and driving blocks. The anvil block contains an anvil about which a staple is formed and a stripper member which is normally biased to the extended position covering the anvil block. A forming block has a pair of projecting camming surfaces which, when it approaches the anvil block, causes the stripper member to recede. After the stripper has been cammed back, wire enters the anvil block across the anvil unit until it contacts the opposite side. The forming block continues to advance until a centrally disposed pressure foot contacts the wire holding the wire in place against the anvil. A forming blade on either side of the pressure foot continues to advance, cutting the wire and bending it around the anvil to form a staple.

Abstract: A stapling apparatus is provided. The stapling apparatus includes a shaft which is swivelably mounted on a supporting part of a stapling head. The stamp is seated rotationally firmly on the shaft. For the purpose of accepting a wire section from a wire section dispenser, the shaft can be swiveled clockwise by 180.degree. from its staple placing position. The wire section accepted by the stamp is formed into a staple on a slotted link. The lateral arms of the staple are guided in grooves of the stamp arms. In the staple placing position, the staple is ejected from the stamp by means of a ram.

Abstract: A magazine fed, trigger driven surgical stapler to close a surgical incision. The stapler has an anvil and a staple driving die, an adjustable stop for controlling movement of the staple driving die so that staples can be reformed to a range of closed positions. The anvil is pivotable under control of the staple driving die between a staple engaging position and position clear of the staples. A forcep assembly operable under actuation control of the staple driving die acts to draw the edges of the incision into close approximation. A staple blank with a concave back, upper arms extending the concave shape of the back and pointed lower arms extending downwardly and inwardly from the upper arms, which blank on reformation around the anvil will adopt a substantially hexagonal configuration.

Abstract: A chain link type stapler operates in transit at about 45,000 items per minute to staple and crease printed paper products. Only two link chains are required and they have a common contiguous path for receiving and clasping the paper products for transit while being stapled by means of mating, stapler and anvil links. The stapler link operates to receive wire lengths, form staples therefrom, insert and clinch the staples over a cyclic path of the chain. This is achievable by means of a reciprocating wire clip assembly journalled in an internal cavity of the stapler link. Reciprocation is programmed by a cam arm extending externally from the clip assembly and stapler link on which roller means is mounted to ride in a cam track about the chain travel path.

Abstract: A stitching head includes a crank rotatable about a longitudinal axis through an oscillatory displacement in each of the opposite drive and return directions of a cycle. The crank has a plurality of crank pins displaced radially from the longitudinal axis of the crank. A pivotally mounted staple supporter receives and supports an elongated piece of wire. A reciprocably mounted staple former cooperates with the staple supporter to form the piece of wire into a staple. A reciprocably mounted staple driver cooperates with the staple supporter and former to drive the staple into a product. A plurality of links couple the crank pins with the staple supporter, former and driver. The links cause independent but coordinated movement of the supporter, former and driver to form and drive the staple into the product. The crank pins are disposed at a plurality of separate locations on the crank radially displaced at different distances from the longitudinal axis of the crank.

Abstract: A stapler device of the type including an anvil for forming elongated preforms into U-shaped staples and a spring pressed feeder for engaging the legs of the formed staple to advance the supply. The device includes a mounting for the anvil, the feeder and the feeder spring as a self-contained assembly on the stapler housing for movement from an operative position in a lateral direction away from the drive track into a staple clearing position and from the staple clearing position in a lateral direction toward the drive track into the operative position. A manually operable assembly is provided for effecting movement of the anvil, the feeder and the feeder spring from the operating position into the staple clearing position.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a supply of staples which are fed one at a time to the discharge opening where a driver in the stapler housing bends the staple around the anvil, the anvil being retracted within the housing away from the discharge opening as the driver completes the bending operation.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for implanting and clinching staples in the body of a patient employs a reciprocally movable, retractable anvil and a reciprocally movable former for forming a staple about the end of the retractable anvil. A toggle is mounted in a stapler trigger which simultaneously actuates the former and toggle. The toggle removes the anvil end into and out of the path of the former whereby desired release of a formed staple from the anvil is assured following clinching of the staple ends.

Abstract: A staple forming and driving tool for forming staple wires fed from a staple belt into staples and driving such staples into a workpiece comprising a driver, a former positioned to be driven by the driver, a former block and a sheath, all of which parts are held to a stationary stapler head by means of a single spring. The driver blade, former, sheath and stapler head have generally planar portions positioned in parallel planes and are held in contact with one another by the spring. In the event of jamming, the spring may give permitting the sheath to move away from the fixed stapler head, thus providing space for ejection of one or more jammed staples or staple blanks. Upon correction of the jamming, the parts promptly reassume their proper position under the urging of the spring and the device is ready for operation once again.

Abstract: A medical stapler adapted to bend a staple closed around an anvil into a generally loop-like shape. The stapler includes a mechanism for retracting the anvil from within the closed staple as a ram that closed the staple moves away from the anvil.

Abstract: A wire loop stitching machine includes a reciprocating drive coupled to a staple-forming and drive means and to a wire feed means for feeding a length of staple wire to a holder and severing it. A bender forms the wire over the holder into a generally inverted U-shaped staple. A supporter with a rounded projection is then inserted between the legs of the staple and a recessed driver deforms the bight portion of the staple over the projection into a curved loop portion and then drives the formed loop staple into an associated workpiece, retracting the supporter in the process.

Abstract: A "loop"-type wire stitching machine head includes a reciprocating drive coupled to a staple-forming and driving means and to a wire feed means for feeding a length of staple wire to a holder and severing it. A bender forms the wire over the holder into a generally inverted U-shaped staple. A supporter with a rounded projection is then inserted between the legs of the staple and a drive bar deforms the bight portion of the staple over the projection into a curved loop portion and then drives the formed loop staple into an associated workpiece, retracting the supporter in the process. The supporter is biased to its supporting position and a guide plate guides its movement to that position. A cam positively holds the supporter in its supporting position during forming of the loop portion of the staple and effects positive movement thereof partway to its retracted position after formation of the loop portion to accommodate driving of the staple.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongated body having a working zone at a distal end thereof. Kinematically connected between themselves and disposed within the body are: a mechanism for feeding wire into the working zone of the body, a mechanism for forming U-shaped staples from the wire, and a mechanism for reshaping U-shaped staples into rectangular ones, provided with a driver and anvils. The driver is connected with a reciprocating drive along the longitudinal axis of the body and is provided with a working portion in the form of two V-shaped projections. The anvil is disposed in the working zone of the body perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis in a plane of motion of the driver so that it can be moved out of this plane. The length of the anvil is less than the transverse side of the U-shaped staple.

Abstract: A device for use with a staple supply in the form of a roll of wire including a housing assembly within which a single motion transmitting member is adapted to be moved by any suitable source of power through successive operating cycles each of which includes an operative stroke and a return stroke. The cycle of movement of the single member is used to effect operation of the usual wire stitching elements for handling and feeding the wire supply, cutting and forming an end section therefrom into a U-shaped staple, and driving the same.

Abstract: A stapler for automatically driving staples of at least two different characteristics, such as length, into a workpiece. The stapler includes a staple driving member for driving staples into a workpiece, a staple forming member for forming staple blanks into staples and apparatus for selectively providing to the staple forming member staple blanks of at least first and second different lengths. Staple material of preselected first or second lengths is fed from a supply of a continuous length of staple material and severed from the continuous length to form the staple blanks.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying designs to pierceable materials, such as fabrics, paper goods, leather, etc., from a continuous supply strip containing intermittent design portions equally spaced along the length of the supply strip. The apparatus comprises feeding means for intermittently feeding the supply strip to a shearing, bending, driving and clinching station positioned above a clinching die; shearing means for severing a length of said supply strip from the end thereof; bending means for bending the cut off length into an approximately U-shaped member having a bight portion and side leg portions; driving means for driving the U-shaped member into the clinching die and through any pierceable material positioned above the die; and locater means for establishing a proper start position for the supply strip so that the design portions thereof will constitute the bight portions of the U-shaped members.