CA2162810A1 - Double needle button attacher - Google Patents
Double needle button attacherInfo
- Publication number
- CA2162810A1 CA2162810A1 CA002162810A CA2162810A CA2162810A1 CA 2162810 A1 CA2162810 A1 CA 2162810A1 CA 002162810 A CA002162810 A CA 002162810A CA 2162810 A CA2162810 A CA 2162810A CA 2162810 A1 CA2162810 A1 CA 2162810A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- needles
- housing
- needle
- trigger
- linkage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41H—APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A41H37/00—Machines, appliances or methods for setting fastener-elements on garments
- A41H37/005—Hand implements
- A41H37/008—Hand implements provided with a needle tube
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C7/00—Affixing tags
- B65C7/003—Affixing tags using paddle-shaped plastic pins
- B65C7/005—Portable tools
Abstract
Within a rigid housing cavity, freely moveably received members respectively support oppositely oriented spaced needles.
Double "T" bar end type attachments situated between parallel connector bars are dispensed through the needles to attach buttons.
Depressing protrusions accessible from the exterior of the housing moves the needle support members to alter the needle spacing to accomodate buttons with a variety of thread hole spacings. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachments from the connector bars, the connector bars are severed from the ends of each attachment at slightly different times during the trigger stroke. A triangular linkage associated with the trigger provides a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate, transmitting maximum force towards the end of the stroke, as the filament connecting the "T" bars stretches around the portion of the button between the thread holes. The ejector rods are moveably mounted such that alignment between each ejector rod and the associated needle is maintained regardless of changes in the relative position of the needles.
Double "T" bar end type attachments situated between parallel connector bars are dispensed through the needles to attach buttons.
Depressing protrusions accessible from the exterior of the housing moves the needle support members to alter the needle spacing to accomodate buttons with a variety of thread hole spacings. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachments from the connector bars, the connector bars are severed from the ends of each attachment at slightly different times during the trigger stroke. A triangular linkage associated with the trigger provides a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate, transmitting maximum force towards the end of the stroke, as the filament connecting the "T" bars stretches around the portion of the button between the thread holes. The ejector rods are moveably mounted such that alignment between each ejector rod and the associated needle is maintained regardless of changes in the relative position of the needles.
Description
~16281~
TEVEN KUNREUTHER R&B-20 JACK W. ~ALBFEL~
IMPROYED DOUBLE NEEDLE BUTTON ATTACHER
The present invention relates to spparatus designed primarily for attaching buttons to garments or the like of the type which utilizes a pair of spaced hollow needles through which the "T" bar ends of plastic fasteners are dispensed and more particu-larly to a button attacher having a rigid housing enclosing needle support me~bers which are moveable to vary the relative spacing between the needles to accommo~ate buttons with di f ferent thread hole spacing.
Attachers which dispense double "T" bar fasteners from clips with parallel connector bars, through fixed position parallel spaced hollow needles, are known. The attacher which is disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. 5,020,713, issued June 4, lg91 and entitled "Assembly of Attachments and Device for Attaching Same" is an example.
Such ~ixed position double needle attachers, although not specifically designed for attaching buttons, can be used for that purpcse i~ the needle spacing is such that the needles can be received through the thread holes of the button. However, the fixed position nature of the needles presents a limitation on the usefulness of the attacher when it is used to attach buttons C:\WP51\R03ER~ 20 A}~S 2 216281n ecause, although the spacing between the thread holes of buttons of various sizes differs only to a relatively small extent, this difference ~s significant enough to prevent 8 fixed needle attacher from being used with many button sizes.
~ t is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved double needle attacher which includes a rigid housing defining a cavity into which freely moveable needle support members are received in a W2y which easily permits the attacher to accommodate buttons with thread hole~ having different spacing.
~ ouble needle attachers with position adjustable needles are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,361,101 entitled "Pocket Button Attaching De~lce" issued November 30, 1982 to Walter H.W. Marsh et. al. teaches 2 device which consists of a single biIurcated needle support made of elastomeric material. The arms of ihe needle support can be s~ueezed together to move the needles. However, this de~-ice uses thread which must be tied to anchor the but~on. It is therefore not very easily or quick to use.
U.S. Patent No. 4,533,~76 entitled "Dispensing Qf Attachments" issued August 6, 1985 to Donald L. Bourque teaches a double ne~dle apparatus for dispensing plastic staples fro~ a continuous roll of stock. The needle support members are pivota~ly mounted on a common shaft to make them position ad]ustable along an C:~WP51\}~0~ \~iP-20.ABS 3 2~28~0 ~rcuate slot, to permit different size stock to be utllized.
However, changing the position o~ the needles requires the loosing adjusting screws, moving the support members and retighter~ng the screws. This requires a tool, such as a screw driver, to ~e used each time the position of the needle is altered.
Such a system may be adequate for an industrial at~acher, where needle position changes are required only occasionall~, such as when stock of a different size is used. ~owever, it is highly incon~enient for the type of adjustments necessary in a c~nsumer product to accomodate di f ferent buttons which must be qu ck and easy. MoreoYer, the Bourque attacher is designed to use rol stock of plastic staples for attaching tags. It cannot be Lsed to dispense fasteners provided in clips which are more suita-1e for use in a consumer product.
A significant advance in the art of designing double needle attachers for consumer use in attaching buttons is repre-sented by the attacher disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,205,458 issued April 27, 1993 entitled "Button At~acher With V~riable Needle Spacing". In that attacher, the halves of the a_tacher housing, each of which carries one of the needles~ are fl-exibly joined by ~ living hinge. Squeezing the halves brings the ~eedles closer toge~her so as to quickly and easily alter the needle spacing, a~ required by the button.
C: \WP51~P~D;~OE~;,.--~ ,, . . ~ K\};&~i--20~AB5 4 2i~2~
Although the sttacher of U.S. Patent No. 5,205,458 repre-sented a significant step toward solving the problem of quickly and easily accomodating different size buttons, that design has proved dilficult to implement in practice because of fabrication difficulties. In particular, using a single material which is molded into parts which are rigid in some areas and flexible in others proved difficult to achieve at a commercially acceptable price.
~ nother concern is the amount of force which must be applied by the user to the trigger in order to dispense the attach-ments. Repea~ed use of the attacher cLn lead to fatigue. It has been deterr~ned that most of the total force required during the attachmen} dispensing operation must be appl}ed to the trigger at the beginning of the trigger stroke and near the end of the stroke.
Thus, a significant advantage is achieved if the force at the ~eginning and near the end of the s~roke can be reduced.
F~Ten with conventional single connecLor bar attachments, at the beginning of the trigger stroke, a relatively large amount of force i ~equired to sever the attachment from the connec~or bar which maintains the attachments in the clip. W'hen double 'IT" bar end attachments with spaced parallel connector bars are involved, as here, the force requirement at the beginning of the stroke becomes even more significant because both connector bars would normally ~e severed from the attachments at the same time. This c:~s1~s~ ~L~ L\~s-20.~ 5 2~281~
ncreases the peak force required ~t the beginning of the stroke dramatically.
Near the end of the stroke, a large amount of force is required to anchor the attachment because the filament is stretched somewhat, around the portion of the button between the thread holes, as the "T" bars sre ejected from the needles and lodge on the opposite side of the fabric to secure the button. Thus, it is highly advantageous to m~ke provision in a double needle button attacher for reducing the force applied to the trigger to complete attachmer~ the operation.
In the present invention, the ~'T'I bar ends of the fastener are severed fro~. the connector bars at different times, reducing the peak force required at the beginning of the stroke.
We have also greatly reduced the force near the end of the stroke by using a unique mechanical trigger linkage. The linkage has a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate as the stroke prog-esses.
Ejector rod alignment is also an important concern. It is necessary to drive an ejector rod through the re~atively long, small dlameter channel in the needle to eject the "T" bar. If the ejector rod is not accurately aligned with the needle channel, binding ~ay occur, resulting in jamming of the attacher and/or bending of the ejector rod. This alignment pro~lem becomes parti-C~ ROBE}~CS~ liB-ZO.ABS 6 ~ ~ -281~
larly troublesome when a position adjustable needle is involved, and even more difficult to deal with when two position adjustable needles and two simultaneously driven ejector rods are employed.
The present invention overcomes the alignment problem by a unique method of mounting and guiding the ejector rods. The ejector rods are attached to the sli~e of the drive mechanism in a manner which permits the rods to change position relative to each other, and to the slide, as the needle support members move. Each ejector rod is positioned by a guide which is part of the support member of the associated needle and ~hus the rod always maintains suitable ~lignment with that needle, regardless of the relative positions of the needles.
It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide a double needle button attacher having a rigid housing defining a cavity into which needle support members are freely moveabl~ re_eived so to permit the relative position of the needles to be quic~ly and easily varied.
Tt is another object of the present invention to provide a double n2edle button attacher which employs a trigger linkage with a mechanical advantage which increases dramatically toward the end of the stroke of the trigger.
2~S28~
It is another object of the presen~ invention to provide a double needle button attacher where each attachment is cevered from the two connector bars at different times, reducins the peak amount of force necessary at the beginning of the trigger stroke.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double needle button attacher wherein the ejector rods are mounted to move with the associated needles to maintain alignment of the ejector rod therewith, as the relative positions of the needles change.
~ n accordance with one aspect of the present invention, apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments of the type having two "T" bar ends connected by a filament. The apparatus comprises a rigid ho~low housing defining a cavity. First and second means for supporting first and second hollow needles respectively are freely moveably received within the housing cavity. First and second e7ector rods are aligned with the first and second needles~
respectively. Means are provided for d~iving the ejector rods so as to push the "T" bar ends of an attachment through with the needles. The needle support means are moveable within the housing cavity to permit movement of the needles relative to each other between a remote position and a proximate position. Means, accessible from the exterior of the housing, are provided for manipulating the needle support means to move the needles.
~: \WP51~ r ~ 20 .ABS 8 2~ ~28~
The housing defines a substantially cylindrical internal cavity with arcuate interior walls. The needle support means includes first and second oppositely oriented, independently moveable, arcuate ~earing means situated within the cavity. The support ~eans also comprises first and second needle mounting means. The needle mounting means are attached to and move with the first and second bearing means, respectively.
The biasing means may be provided acting on the needle support means. The biasing means urges the needle support means to move the needles towards the remote position.
Yeans ar~ provided for moveably mounting each of the ejector rods to the ejector rod drive means. In this manner, each ejector rod can maintain alignment with the needle associated with it, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The means for manipulating the needle support means pre-ferrably comprises protrusion means extending through an opening in the housing. Preferably, the protrusion means comprises first and second sets of protrusions.
Tn accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments of the type having a "T" har end. The apparatus comprises a housing having a hollow needle. An ejector rod is mounted within the housing.
t':\WP51~ROB~l'~uh~:~rL~\~B-2Q.AB5 9 ~1~2810 ans for driving the ejector rod are provided so as to push the "T" bar end of the attachment through the needle. Means are provided for actuating the ejector rod driving means. The actuating means includes trigger means pivotally mounted to the housing proximate one end thereof to permit the trigger means to move relative to the housing between first and second positions.
Linkage means operably connect the trigger means with the ejector rod driving means. The trigger means and the linkage neans cooperate to provide a mechanical ad~antage which increases st an increasing rate as the trigger means pivots relative to the housing, from the first toward the second position.
The linkage comprises first and second linkage arms each having firct and second ends. The first end of the first arm is pivotally connected to the ejector rod driving means. The second end of the second arm is pivotally connected to the housing. The second end of the first arm is pivotally connected to the fir~. end of the secon~ arm to form a moveable joint.
Tne arms of the linkage form an angle at the joint. As the trigger pivots~ the angle formed by the arms changes. The mechanical advantage of the linkage is dependent upon changes in the angle and increases dramatically as the angle approaches 180 , near the end of the stroke.
~ :\WP51\ROBER~DOCS~ r~ ;&B-ZO.ABS 10 ~62810 ~ ~he ejector rod drivin~ means includes a slide. ~eans are provided for guiding the slide for movement within the housing between eject and home positions, in a direction substantially parallel tc the center line of the housing. Spring means are provided for urging the slide toward the home position.
The trigger means comprises a gripping surface. The gripping surface includes a protrusion.
The slide includes an extending portion to which the filst arm of the linkage is pivotally connected. The first linkage arm i~ bifurcated and includes first and second spaced parts. The second ends of the parts of the first linkage arm are pivotally connected to the second linkage arm. The other end of the second linkage ar~. is pivotably connected to the housing.
Tn accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, ~n apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments mounted in a clip ~etween spaced connector bars. The attachments are of the type having first and second "T" bar ends connected by 2 f i 1 a-ment. Th~ apparatus includes a housing ~ith first and second spaced hollow needles through which the "T" ~ar ends of successive a,tachment~ are dispensed. Means are proviaed for pushing the "T"
bar ends Gf the attachments through the needles. Trigger means actuate the pushing means. Means are provided for severing the respective "T" bar ends of the attachmen~s from their associated C: ~ S~ 20 .i~
2~2sla ~ nnector bars st different times during the actuation of the push means by said trigger means, to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachment from the connector bars.
ln one preferred embodiment, one of the needles is offset with respect to the other, along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, to accomplish the non-simultaneous severing operations. In particular, first and second means are provided for severing the "T" bar ends of the attachments from the associated connector bar. The severing means are asso-ciated with the first and second needles, respectively. Because the needles are longitudinal~y offset, the severing means asso-ciated with one of the needles severs the "T" bar end being dispensed through that needle from its connector bar before the severing means associated with the other needle severs the "T" bar end ~eing dispensed through that needle from its connector bar.
In another preferred embodiment, the pushing means comprises a slide and first and second ejector rods. Means are provided for mounting the ejector rods to the slide a~
longitudinally offset location5.
In another preferred embodiment, one of the ejector rods is slightly longer than the other. This results in the severing operations taking place at slightly different times.
c~ zo.~ 12 28~0 ~ In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments mounted in a clip between ~paced connector bars. The attachments are of the type having first and second "T" bar ends connected by a filament. The apparatus includes a housing having a longitudinal axis. First and second spaced hollow needles ~re supported in the housing for relative movement. The "T" bar ends of successive attachments are dispensed through the needles. Means are provided for pushing the "T" bar ends of the attachments through the needles. Trigger means actuates the pushing means. The pushing means comprises a slide moveable w-ithin the housing in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis of the housing. First and second eiector rods are associated with the first and second needlesf respectively.
Means are provided for individually moveably mounting the ejector rods on the slide, such that each ejector rod main~ains alignment with the associated needle, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The slide includes a laterally extending member. The ejec~or rsd mounting means comprises ~irs and second bearings independen.ly mounted for movement along the laterally extendins member.
The needle support means each include ejector rod guide means. The ejector rod guide means are attached to and move with C~51~ Y\~-2C~ 13 '~1628~
~le needle support means to maintain the e~ector rods in alignment with the needles.
~ n accordance with the above and to such other objects which may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an improved double needle button attacher, as set forth in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, an in which:
Fig. 1 is a side plan vie~ of a first preferred embodiment the attacher of the present invention;
Fig. 2A is a bottom vieh~ of the attacher of Fig. l, showing the trigger linkage;
Fig. 2B is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the attacher of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3A and 3B are top cross-sectional views of the attacher taken alone line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with the needles in the remote and in the proxi~ate positions, respectively;
Fig. is a side cross sectional view of the attacher showing the trigger and triangular linkage in the rest and eject positions;
c:\~sl~Ros~\~un~l~n\~B-20 ~ 14 216281~
~ Fig. 5 is an enlarged frasmentary top cross-sectional view of the front portion of the attacher of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the front portion of a second preferred embodiment of the attacher;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the attacher, taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a top cross-section view of the ~ront portion of the attacher, taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of the needle holders, taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the needle hol~ers, taken along line 10-lO of Fig. 4;
Fig. ll is an enlarged fragmenta~ section of a needle mounting member; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 4.
C\~51~T\ ~ ~ .r~K\~-20~ 15 2~0 ~ At best seen in Fig. 1, the attacher of the present invention consists of a housing, generally designated A, co~rising two mirror ~mage, injection molded, substantially rigid plastic housing halves 10, 12 joined together by conventional mean-, such as screws, to permit access to the interior for repair or by ~dhesive for a more permanent bond. Extending outwardly from the interior of the housing, through an opening in the front of the attacher, and beyond the front sur~ace of the housing, are a pair of hollow steel needles, 14, 16, each of which is formed in tube-like fashion defining a channel with a slot.
Needles 14, 16 are carried on individual needle suppcrt members, collectively generally designated B, which are freely moveably received within a cavity formed inside the forw-ard portion of the rigid housing. The needle support me~bers B are m_~eable relative to each other to cause needles 14, 16 to change p-sition and orientation relative to each other, to a limited extent (compare Figs. 3A and 3B). In this manner, the attacher can be used ~ith buttons of various sizes having different spacing ~etween the thread holes.
The attacher is designed to receive a clip of attachments of the double "T" bar end type through an opening 18 in the top surface 20 of the forwar~ portion 22 of housing A. Each cl~p consists of a plurality of substantially parallel attachment~, each consisting of spaced "T" bar ends 24, 26 joined by a thin plastic C:~WP51~ 20.A}3S 16 '~162~10 ilament 28. The clips are commonly injection molded with 25, 50 or 100 attachments each. The attachments are mounted at equally spaced intervals between connector (sometimes known as runner) bars 30, 32.
Support members ~ define an internal, substantially "H"
shaped channel through which the clip of attachments may move vertically through the attacher. Many attachers include mechanisms for automatically advancing the clip along the channel. However, the illustrated embodiments are adapted for manual advancement of the clip through the attacher. The clip is advanced a distance equal to the spacing between attachments, to bring the next attachment into line with the plane of needles, each time the attacner is actuated.
After each attachment is moved into the plane of needles 14, 16, the attacher is actuated such that the "T'l bar ends 24, 26 of the attachments are pushed through the needle channels and out of the needles. The needles have slots which face each other. The slots pe~mit the filament 28 to move with the "T~' bar ends, as the "T" bars travel down the needles.
The "T" bars are pushed through the needles by a pair of ejector ~ods 34, 36. Rods 34, 36 are moved by a linkage mechanism, generally designated C, which is driven by movement of a trigger.
The trigger is pivotally mounted to the front of housing A so as to c~s1\Ros~c~ K\~zO~ 17 '~16281~
e mo~eable relative to housing A between an extended position (Fig. 1 and solid in Fig. 4) remote from housing A and a retracted position ~phanton in Fig. 4~ proximate housing A. The trigger is spring loaded toward the extended position. Squeezing the trigger toward the retracted position causes rods 34, 36 to move forward, engage the "T" bar ends of the aligned attachment and push the "T"
bar ends through needles 14, 16. At the beginning of forward movement, the "T" bar ends are severed from their respective connector ~ars by knife ~lades 14b, i6b, which form the rear portions of the needles.
As the ejector rods approach the end of the forward motion, increased force is required. This is in part due to the fact that since buttons are made of relatively rigid plastic, in order to eject the "T" bars from the needle and properly situate them on the far side of the fabric from the button, filament 28 connecting the "T" bar ends 24, 28 must stretch to some extent.
This stretching of the filament occurs near the end of the attaching operation, SG that is where much of the force is required.
Certain impro~ements in the structure of the attacher compens~te for the increased force requirements at the beginning and toward the end of the stroke. These include altering the effective length of the ejector rods such that the "T" bar ends of each attachment are severed from the respective connector bars at C:\WI'51~5E~D~ 20.AB~ 18 2~281~
lightly different points during the stroke, instead of at the same point, such that the force required to sever the attachment is spread out and does not peak sharply at the beginning of the stroke. This can be achieved by using different length rods, offset mounting of the rods or offset mounting of the needles.
The increased force requirement during the final portion of the stroke is compensated for by the trigger linkage which has a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate as the stroke progresses. Toward the end of the stroke, as the angle formed by the arms of the linkage approaches a straight angle, the mechanical advantage of the linkage is signiricantly enhanced.
As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, each needle 14, 15 has a sharp tip at the end of a tubular body 14a, 16a, defining a channel with a slot. Each needle includes a rear portion which forms a flat blade 14b, 16b with a sharp edge. The edge of blade 14b, 16b forms the knife blade which acts to sever the ~'T" bar fror,i the adjacent connector bar, as the attachments are dispensed.
The needles 14, 16 are mounted in an oppositely oriented position in a needle support B which is formed of two me~bers, generally designated 38 and 40. In particular, as best seen in ~igs 9, 10 and 11, each needle 14, 16, snap fits into the forward portion of the associated member 38, 40. Needle support members 38, 40 include first and second upstanding bearing walls 42, 44, C:~WP51~R~ 20.ABS 19 216~810 .
espectively. The bearing walls 42, 44 have arcuate exterior surfaces ~hich move along the arcuate walls of the interior of the housing cavity. Needle support members B are freely moveably received and independently moveable within z substantially oval housing cavity about axes defined by the centers of the cavity walls. Each needle support member 38, 40 has a forward extending portion 38a, 40a on which the body 14a, i6a of each needle is supported By moving support members 38, 40 relstive to each other, a~out vertical axes defined by the centers of the arcuzte walls of the housing cavity, the spacing and orientat~Qn of the needles can be altered.
A seen in Figs. 1-6, the forward portions 3~a, 40a of the needle support members 38, 40 are each provided with an outwardly extending stem 45, 47 which extends through an opening in the housing. Fnlarged heads 51, 53 are mounted on stems 47, 49 respectively. The needle support members 38, 40 each has a rea~wardl~ extending poriion 38b, 40b to which a stem 46, 48 is affixed. Stems 46, 48 protrud~ through oPenings in housing A and carry enlarged heads 50, 52 respectively.
~ n this embodiment, two sets of stems are pro~ided, a forward se~ 45, 47 and a rear set 46, 48. Pushing the rear set toward each other moves the needles apart (Fig. 3A). Pushing ~he forward set toward each other brings the needles toward each other ~Fig. ~).
c~C , ~
C:~P51\RO~ 20.ABS 20 '~S2810 ~ As best seen in Figs. 6 and 8, in the second preferred embodiment, the forward set of stems 45, 47 may be deleted and a pair of compression springs 54 situated in a cylindrical cavity formed in needle support members 42, 44. Springs 54 normally urge the rear portions of the members sway from each other. The manual exertion of inwardly directed forces on heads 50, 52 will cause the rear portions of members 42, 44 to move toward each other, against the action of the springs 54, such that the tips of needles 14, 16 will move outwardly away from each other, from a proximate position in which the needles are relatively close to each other, toward a remote position to the degree required by the particular button being aitacned. In the extreme spread position, the needles are substantially parallel.
In both embodiments, needle support members 38, 40 are each pro~ided with a slightly reduced forward surface so as to provide clearance at space 55 (Fig. 5). This pe~mits limited rotation of the members relati~e to each other.
Fig. 2B illustrates the different positions of thP T bar ends 24, 26 o~ an attachment as the needle support members 38, 40 change rel2tive position. When the needles are substantially parallel r the T-bar ends are also substantially parallel, as shown in solid. When the needles are moved to a position proximate each other, the T-bar ends are slightly skewed with respect to each otherr as shown in phantom in this figure.
c\~sl~~~ K\~-zc.~ 21 ~ The structure of both preferred embodiments also includes first and second ejector rod guides 56, 58 which are part of the rear portions 38b, 40b of members 38, 40, respectively, and serve to guide ejector rods 34, 36 to maintain alignment between the needles and the associated ejector rods, as the needle support members move. The rear ends of the ejector rods are mounted for lateral mo~ement so as to accomodate this movement. In this way, the individual ejector rods move with the associated needles and are always colinear with the associated needle, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The rear portions of the ejector rods 34, 36, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 12, each have 2 downwardly bent portion 60, 62.
Portions 60, 62 are received in bearings 64, 66 which are freely slideably received on separate halves of a laterally extending members 68, 69 which form a portion of slide 70. Slide 70 is connected to the trigger linkage C and moves from a home position (solid in Fig. 4~ to an e]ect position (phanton in Fig. 4) to move ejection rods 34, 36. Slide 70 is spring loaded toward the rear of the housing by spr~ngs 72.
It will now be appreciated that bearings 64 and 66 and guides 56, ~8, cooperate to maintain each ejector rod colinear with the aligned needle, throughout the stroke, regardless of the relative positions of the needles. This is essential to avoid bending of the rods and the maintenance of a smooth action.
C\~,~X~\~ Y~E-20.~ 22 21~28~0 ~ As best seen in Fig. 3A, one of the bearings 66 may be mounted at a position forward of the other bearing 64 on slide 70.
This may be achieved by having element 68 rea~wardly offset as compared to element 69. This will cause the forward tip of ejector rod 36 to be positioned slightly ahead of the forward tip of ejector rod 34, as the ejector rods are simultaneously moved by slide 70. In this way, rod 36 pushes "T" bar end 26 aligned with it through needle 16 slightly ahead of the "T" bar end 28 ~-hich is pushed by rod 34. Thus, the "T" bar end 26 aligned with rod 36 will be severed by blade 16~ from connector bar 32 slightl~ before the "T" bar end 26 aligned with rod 34 is se~ered ~y blade l~b from connector bar 30. The effect of severing the "T" bar ends at slightly di ferent positions along the stroke is to spread QUt the force required at the beginning of the stroke and significant~y reduce, actually cut in half, the peak force required to se--er the attachment from the connector bars.
There are two other ways to achieve a similar resul~.
One simple way is to make one ejector rod slightly shorter than the other. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, where rod 36 is sho~. to ~e slightly shorter than rod 34. The second way is to mount one needle slightly forward of the other needle. This is illustrated in Fig. 3B, where elements 6~ and 6g of slide ~0 are shown as colinear ~ut needle 14 is mounted in member 38 slightly outwardly the point where needle 16 is mounted in member 40. Any of these C: \WPS ~\}~ I. KKU'.'~ 20 ,A~35 23 ~2~ ~
tions will result in the "T" bar ends being severed at slightly different positions along the stroke.
As best seen in Figs. 4 and 12, a trigger 74 is pivotally mounted to housing A by internal shaft 76 such that the attacher has a scissor-like squeeze action. Trigger 74 is connected to slide 70 by a mechanical linkage which consists two linkage arms 78, 80 wh~ch are pivotally joined together at one end by a pin 82.
The sur~ace of the joint fonmed by linkage arms 78, 80 at pin 82 bears against a track 85 which is situated within trigger 74.
Linkage arm 78 is formed of two parts 78a and 78b. The forward ends of parts 78a and 78b are pivotally mounted to a pin 84 on slide 70. Linkage arm 80 consists of a single part which is pivotally connected to a pin 86 which is mounted in the rear of housing A between halves 10, 12 and behind the path of travel of slide 70.
Squeezing trigger 74 so as to move the trigger toward housing A causes the linkage arms to move from the position shown in solid in Fig. 4 to the position shown in phantom in that figure.
As this occurs, the bottom surfaces 88 of the arm joint travel along inclined section 85a of track 85 and linkage arms 78, 80 spread apart such that slide 70 is moved forward against the action of springs 72. As the arms 78, 80 move apart, the angle formed between the arms (as seen from the side) changes from an acute C:\WPSl\ROBERT;~CS~ K~ 20.A3~ 24 '~1628~ 0 gle to a straight angle. As this angle becomes larger, the mechanical advantage of the linkage changes trigonometrically, in accordance with a cotangent function, thereby increasing the force transmitted from the trigger to the slide, as the stroke progress-es. Specifically, the mechanical advantage of the linkage increases at an increasing rate throughout the stroke. In this way, a greater portion of the force is transmitted near the end of the stroke, during the time when the filament is being stretched.
It will now be appreciated that the present invention is an attacher with a rigid housing forming a caviiy into which needle support me~bers are freely mcveably received to permit easy and guick adjust~ent of needle spacing and orientation to accomodate different size buttons. The force normally required to be applied on the trigger at the beginning of the stroke to sever both "T/' bar ends is reduced by having the respective severing operations occur at different times~ elther by mounting one needle or one ejector rod forward of the other or by altering the length of one of the ejector rods. The force normally required to be applied to the trigger toward the end of the stroke is reduced by providing a linkage associated with the trigger wnich has a mechanical ad~-antage which increases dramatically near the end of the stroke.
Ejector rod alignment is maintained by a floating ejector rod mounting structure.
C:\WP51~RO~ DOC5~ur~s~rr~ -20.AB5 25 ~ While only a limited number of preferred embodiments have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be apparent that many variations and modifications could be made thereto. It is intend to cover all of these variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims:
WP51\P~0~ r. r~ 2C_ABS 26
TEVEN KUNREUTHER R&B-20 JACK W. ~ALBFEL~
IMPROYED DOUBLE NEEDLE BUTTON ATTACHER
The present invention relates to spparatus designed primarily for attaching buttons to garments or the like of the type which utilizes a pair of spaced hollow needles through which the "T" bar ends of plastic fasteners are dispensed and more particu-larly to a button attacher having a rigid housing enclosing needle support me~bers which are moveable to vary the relative spacing between the needles to accommo~ate buttons with di f ferent thread hole spacing.
Attachers which dispense double "T" bar fasteners from clips with parallel connector bars, through fixed position parallel spaced hollow needles, are known. The attacher which is disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. 5,020,713, issued June 4, lg91 and entitled "Assembly of Attachments and Device for Attaching Same" is an example.
Such ~ixed position double needle attachers, although not specifically designed for attaching buttons, can be used for that purpcse i~ the needle spacing is such that the needles can be received through the thread holes of the button. However, the fixed position nature of the needles presents a limitation on the usefulness of the attacher when it is used to attach buttons C:\WP51\R03ER~ 20 A}~S 2 216281n ecause, although the spacing between the thread holes of buttons of various sizes differs only to a relatively small extent, this difference ~s significant enough to prevent 8 fixed needle attacher from being used with many button sizes.
~ t is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved double needle attacher which includes a rigid housing defining a cavity into which freely moveable needle support members are received in a W2y which easily permits the attacher to accommodate buttons with thread hole~ having different spacing.
~ ouble needle attachers with position adjustable needles are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,361,101 entitled "Pocket Button Attaching De~lce" issued November 30, 1982 to Walter H.W. Marsh et. al. teaches 2 device which consists of a single biIurcated needle support made of elastomeric material. The arms of ihe needle support can be s~ueezed together to move the needles. However, this de~-ice uses thread which must be tied to anchor the but~on. It is therefore not very easily or quick to use.
U.S. Patent No. 4,533,~76 entitled "Dispensing Qf Attachments" issued August 6, 1985 to Donald L. Bourque teaches a double ne~dle apparatus for dispensing plastic staples fro~ a continuous roll of stock. The needle support members are pivota~ly mounted on a common shaft to make them position ad]ustable along an C:~WP51\}~0~ \~iP-20.ABS 3 2~28~0 ~rcuate slot, to permit different size stock to be utllized.
However, changing the position o~ the needles requires the loosing adjusting screws, moving the support members and retighter~ng the screws. This requires a tool, such as a screw driver, to ~e used each time the position of the needle is altered.
Such a system may be adequate for an industrial at~acher, where needle position changes are required only occasionall~, such as when stock of a different size is used. ~owever, it is highly incon~enient for the type of adjustments necessary in a c~nsumer product to accomodate di f ferent buttons which must be qu ck and easy. MoreoYer, the Bourque attacher is designed to use rol stock of plastic staples for attaching tags. It cannot be Lsed to dispense fasteners provided in clips which are more suita-1e for use in a consumer product.
A significant advance in the art of designing double needle attachers for consumer use in attaching buttons is repre-sented by the attacher disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,205,458 issued April 27, 1993 entitled "Button At~acher With V~riable Needle Spacing". In that attacher, the halves of the a_tacher housing, each of which carries one of the needles~ are fl-exibly joined by ~ living hinge. Squeezing the halves brings the ~eedles closer toge~her so as to quickly and easily alter the needle spacing, a~ required by the button.
C: \WP51~P~D;~OE~;,.--~ ,, . . ~ K\};&~i--20~AB5 4 2i~2~
Although the sttacher of U.S. Patent No. 5,205,458 repre-sented a significant step toward solving the problem of quickly and easily accomodating different size buttons, that design has proved dilficult to implement in practice because of fabrication difficulties. In particular, using a single material which is molded into parts which are rigid in some areas and flexible in others proved difficult to achieve at a commercially acceptable price.
~ nother concern is the amount of force which must be applied by the user to the trigger in order to dispense the attach-ments. Repea~ed use of the attacher cLn lead to fatigue. It has been deterr~ned that most of the total force required during the attachmen} dispensing operation must be appl}ed to the trigger at the beginning of the trigger stroke and near the end of the stroke.
Thus, a significant advantage is achieved if the force at the ~eginning and near the end of the s~roke can be reduced.
F~Ten with conventional single connecLor bar attachments, at the beginning of the trigger stroke, a relatively large amount of force i ~equired to sever the attachment from the connec~or bar which maintains the attachments in the clip. W'hen double 'IT" bar end attachments with spaced parallel connector bars are involved, as here, the force requirement at the beginning of the stroke becomes even more significant because both connector bars would normally ~e severed from the attachments at the same time. This c:~s1~s~ ~L~ L\~s-20.~ 5 2~281~
ncreases the peak force required ~t the beginning of the stroke dramatically.
Near the end of the stroke, a large amount of force is required to anchor the attachment because the filament is stretched somewhat, around the portion of the button between the thread holes, as the "T" bars sre ejected from the needles and lodge on the opposite side of the fabric to secure the button. Thus, it is highly advantageous to m~ke provision in a double needle button attacher for reducing the force applied to the trigger to complete attachmer~ the operation.
In the present invention, the ~'T'I bar ends of the fastener are severed fro~. the connector bars at different times, reducing the peak force required at the beginning of the stroke.
We have also greatly reduced the force near the end of the stroke by using a unique mechanical trigger linkage. The linkage has a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate as the stroke prog-esses.
Ejector rod alignment is also an important concern. It is necessary to drive an ejector rod through the re~atively long, small dlameter channel in the needle to eject the "T" bar. If the ejector rod is not accurately aligned with the needle channel, binding ~ay occur, resulting in jamming of the attacher and/or bending of the ejector rod. This alignment pro~lem becomes parti-C~ ROBE}~CS~ liB-ZO.ABS 6 ~ ~ -281~
larly troublesome when a position adjustable needle is involved, and even more difficult to deal with when two position adjustable needles and two simultaneously driven ejector rods are employed.
The present invention overcomes the alignment problem by a unique method of mounting and guiding the ejector rods. The ejector rods are attached to the sli~e of the drive mechanism in a manner which permits the rods to change position relative to each other, and to the slide, as the needle support members move. Each ejector rod is positioned by a guide which is part of the support member of the associated needle and ~hus the rod always maintains suitable ~lignment with that needle, regardless of the relative positions of the needles.
It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide a double needle button attacher having a rigid housing defining a cavity into which needle support members are freely moveabl~ re_eived so to permit the relative position of the needles to be quic~ly and easily varied.
Tt is another object of the present invention to provide a double n2edle button attacher which employs a trigger linkage with a mechanical advantage which increases dramatically toward the end of the stroke of the trigger.
2~S28~
It is another object of the presen~ invention to provide a double needle button attacher where each attachment is cevered from the two connector bars at different times, reducins the peak amount of force necessary at the beginning of the trigger stroke.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double needle button attacher wherein the ejector rods are mounted to move with the associated needles to maintain alignment of the ejector rod therewith, as the relative positions of the needles change.
~ n accordance with one aspect of the present invention, apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments of the type having two "T" bar ends connected by a filament. The apparatus comprises a rigid ho~low housing defining a cavity. First and second means for supporting first and second hollow needles respectively are freely moveably received within the housing cavity. First and second e7ector rods are aligned with the first and second needles~
respectively. Means are provided for d~iving the ejector rods so as to push the "T" bar ends of an attachment through with the needles. The needle support means are moveable within the housing cavity to permit movement of the needles relative to each other between a remote position and a proximate position. Means, accessible from the exterior of the housing, are provided for manipulating the needle support means to move the needles.
~: \WP51~ r ~ 20 .ABS 8 2~ ~28~
The housing defines a substantially cylindrical internal cavity with arcuate interior walls. The needle support means includes first and second oppositely oriented, independently moveable, arcuate ~earing means situated within the cavity. The support ~eans also comprises first and second needle mounting means. The needle mounting means are attached to and move with the first and second bearing means, respectively.
The biasing means may be provided acting on the needle support means. The biasing means urges the needle support means to move the needles towards the remote position.
Yeans ar~ provided for moveably mounting each of the ejector rods to the ejector rod drive means. In this manner, each ejector rod can maintain alignment with the needle associated with it, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The means for manipulating the needle support means pre-ferrably comprises protrusion means extending through an opening in the housing. Preferably, the protrusion means comprises first and second sets of protrusions.
Tn accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments of the type having a "T" har end. The apparatus comprises a housing having a hollow needle. An ejector rod is mounted within the housing.
t':\WP51~ROB~l'~uh~:~rL~\~B-2Q.AB5 9 ~1~2810 ans for driving the ejector rod are provided so as to push the "T" bar end of the attachment through the needle. Means are provided for actuating the ejector rod driving means. The actuating means includes trigger means pivotally mounted to the housing proximate one end thereof to permit the trigger means to move relative to the housing between first and second positions.
Linkage means operably connect the trigger means with the ejector rod driving means. The trigger means and the linkage neans cooperate to provide a mechanical ad~antage which increases st an increasing rate as the trigger means pivots relative to the housing, from the first toward the second position.
The linkage comprises first and second linkage arms each having firct and second ends. The first end of the first arm is pivotally connected to the ejector rod driving means. The second end of the second arm is pivotally connected to the housing. The second end of the first arm is pivotally connected to the fir~. end of the secon~ arm to form a moveable joint.
Tne arms of the linkage form an angle at the joint. As the trigger pivots~ the angle formed by the arms changes. The mechanical advantage of the linkage is dependent upon changes in the angle and increases dramatically as the angle approaches 180 , near the end of the stroke.
~ :\WP51\ROBER~DOCS~ r~ ;&B-ZO.ABS 10 ~62810 ~ ~he ejector rod drivin~ means includes a slide. ~eans are provided for guiding the slide for movement within the housing between eject and home positions, in a direction substantially parallel tc the center line of the housing. Spring means are provided for urging the slide toward the home position.
The trigger means comprises a gripping surface. The gripping surface includes a protrusion.
The slide includes an extending portion to which the filst arm of the linkage is pivotally connected. The first linkage arm i~ bifurcated and includes first and second spaced parts. The second ends of the parts of the first linkage arm are pivotally connected to the second linkage arm. The other end of the second linkage ar~. is pivotably connected to the housing.
Tn accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, ~n apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments mounted in a clip ~etween spaced connector bars. The attachments are of the type having first and second "T" bar ends connected by 2 f i 1 a-ment. Th~ apparatus includes a housing ~ith first and second spaced hollow needles through which the "T" ~ar ends of successive a,tachment~ are dispensed. Means are proviaed for pushing the "T"
bar ends Gf the attachments through the needles. Trigger means actuate the pushing means. Means are provided for severing the respective "T" bar ends of the attachmen~s from their associated C: ~ S~ 20 .i~
2~2sla ~ nnector bars st different times during the actuation of the push means by said trigger means, to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachment from the connector bars.
ln one preferred embodiment, one of the needles is offset with respect to the other, along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, to accomplish the non-simultaneous severing operations. In particular, first and second means are provided for severing the "T" bar ends of the attachments from the associated connector bar. The severing means are asso-ciated with the first and second needles, respectively. Because the needles are longitudinal~y offset, the severing means asso-ciated with one of the needles severs the "T" bar end being dispensed through that needle from its connector bar before the severing means associated with the other needle severs the "T" bar end ~eing dispensed through that needle from its connector bar.
In another preferred embodiment, the pushing means comprises a slide and first and second ejector rods. Means are provided for mounting the ejector rods to the slide a~
longitudinally offset location5.
In another preferred embodiment, one of the ejector rods is slightly longer than the other. This results in the severing operations taking place at slightly different times.
c~ zo.~ 12 28~0 ~ In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing attachments mounted in a clip between ~paced connector bars. The attachments are of the type having first and second "T" bar ends connected by a filament. The apparatus includes a housing having a longitudinal axis. First and second spaced hollow needles ~re supported in the housing for relative movement. The "T" bar ends of successive attachments are dispensed through the needles. Means are provided for pushing the "T" bar ends of the attachments through the needles. Trigger means actuates the pushing means. The pushing means comprises a slide moveable w-ithin the housing in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis of the housing. First and second eiector rods are associated with the first and second needlesf respectively.
Means are provided for individually moveably mounting the ejector rods on the slide, such that each ejector rod main~ains alignment with the associated needle, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The slide includes a laterally extending member. The ejec~or rsd mounting means comprises ~irs and second bearings independen.ly mounted for movement along the laterally extendins member.
The needle support means each include ejector rod guide means. The ejector rod guide means are attached to and move with C~51~ Y\~-2C~ 13 '~1628~
~le needle support means to maintain the e~ector rods in alignment with the needles.
~ n accordance with the above and to such other objects which may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an improved double needle button attacher, as set forth in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, an in which:
Fig. 1 is a side plan vie~ of a first preferred embodiment the attacher of the present invention;
Fig. 2A is a bottom vieh~ of the attacher of Fig. l, showing the trigger linkage;
Fig. 2B is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the attacher of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3A and 3B are top cross-sectional views of the attacher taken alone line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with the needles in the remote and in the proxi~ate positions, respectively;
Fig. is a side cross sectional view of the attacher showing the trigger and triangular linkage in the rest and eject positions;
c:\~sl~Ros~\~un~l~n\~B-20 ~ 14 216281~
~ Fig. 5 is an enlarged frasmentary top cross-sectional view of the front portion of the attacher of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the front portion of a second preferred embodiment of the attacher;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the attacher, taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a top cross-section view of the ~ront portion of the attacher, taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of the needle holders, taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the needle hol~ers, taken along line 10-lO of Fig. 4;
Fig. ll is an enlarged fragmenta~ section of a needle mounting member; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 4.
C\~51~T\ ~ ~ .r~K\~-20~ 15 2~0 ~ At best seen in Fig. 1, the attacher of the present invention consists of a housing, generally designated A, co~rising two mirror ~mage, injection molded, substantially rigid plastic housing halves 10, 12 joined together by conventional mean-, such as screws, to permit access to the interior for repair or by ~dhesive for a more permanent bond. Extending outwardly from the interior of the housing, through an opening in the front of the attacher, and beyond the front sur~ace of the housing, are a pair of hollow steel needles, 14, 16, each of which is formed in tube-like fashion defining a channel with a slot.
Needles 14, 16 are carried on individual needle suppcrt members, collectively generally designated B, which are freely moveably received within a cavity formed inside the forw-ard portion of the rigid housing. The needle support me~bers B are m_~eable relative to each other to cause needles 14, 16 to change p-sition and orientation relative to each other, to a limited extent (compare Figs. 3A and 3B). In this manner, the attacher can be used ~ith buttons of various sizes having different spacing ~etween the thread holes.
The attacher is designed to receive a clip of attachments of the double "T" bar end type through an opening 18 in the top surface 20 of the forwar~ portion 22 of housing A. Each cl~p consists of a plurality of substantially parallel attachment~, each consisting of spaced "T" bar ends 24, 26 joined by a thin plastic C:~WP51~ 20.A}3S 16 '~162~10 ilament 28. The clips are commonly injection molded with 25, 50 or 100 attachments each. The attachments are mounted at equally spaced intervals between connector (sometimes known as runner) bars 30, 32.
Support members ~ define an internal, substantially "H"
shaped channel through which the clip of attachments may move vertically through the attacher. Many attachers include mechanisms for automatically advancing the clip along the channel. However, the illustrated embodiments are adapted for manual advancement of the clip through the attacher. The clip is advanced a distance equal to the spacing between attachments, to bring the next attachment into line with the plane of needles, each time the attacner is actuated.
After each attachment is moved into the plane of needles 14, 16, the attacher is actuated such that the "T'l bar ends 24, 26 of the attachments are pushed through the needle channels and out of the needles. The needles have slots which face each other. The slots pe~mit the filament 28 to move with the "T~' bar ends, as the "T" bars travel down the needles.
The "T" bars are pushed through the needles by a pair of ejector ~ods 34, 36. Rods 34, 36 are moved by a linkage mechanism, generally designated C, which is driven by movement of a trigger.
The trigger is pivotally mounted to the front of housing A so as to c~s1\Ros~c~ K\~zO~ 17 '~16281~
e mo~eable relative to housing A between an extended position (Fig. 1 and solid in Fig. 4) remote from housing A and a retracted position ~phanton in Fig. 4~ proximate housing A. The trigger is spring loaded toward the extended position. Squeezing the trigger toward the retracted position causes rods 34, 36 to move forward, engage the "T" bar ends of the aligned attachment and push the "T"
bar ends through needles 14, 16. At the beginning of forward movement, the "T" bar ends are severed from their respective connector ~ars by knife ~lades 14b, i6b, which form the rear portions of the needles.
As the ejector rods approach the end of the forward motion, increased force is required. This is in part due to the fact that since buttons are made of relatively rigid plastic, in order to eject the "T" bars from the needle and properly situate them on the far side of the fabric from the button, filament 28 connecting the "T" bar ends 24, 28 must stretch to some extent.
This stretching of the filament occurs near the end of the attaching operation, SG that is where much of the force is required.
Certain impro~ements in the structure of the attacher compens~te for the increased force requirements at the beginning and toward the end of the stroke. These include altering the effective length of the ejector rods such that the "T" bar ends of each attachment are severed from the respective connector bars at C:\WI'51~5E~D~ 20.AB~ 18 2~281~
lightly different points during the stroke, instead of at the same point, such that the force required to sever the attachment is spread out and does not peak sharply at the beginning of the stroke. This can be achieved by using different length rods, offset mounting of the rods or offset mounting of the needles.
The increased force requirement during the final portion of the stroke is compensated for by the trigger linkage which has a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate as the stroke progresses. Toward the end of the stroke, as the angle formed by the arms of the linkage approaches a straight angle, the mechanical advantage of the linkage is signiricantly enhanced.
As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, each needle 14, 15 has a sharp tip at the end of a tubular body 14a, 16a, defining a channel with a slot. Each needle includes a rear portion which forms a flat blade 14b, 16b with a sharp edge. The edge of blade 14b, 16b forms the knife blade which acts to sever the ~'T" bar fror,i the adjacent connector bar, as the attachments are dispensed.
The needles 14, 16 are mounted in an oppositely oriented position in a needle support B which is formed of two me~bers, generally designated 38 and 40. In particular, as best seen in ~igs 9, 10 and 11, each needle 14, 16, snap fits into the forward portion of the associated member 38, 40. Needle support members 38, 40 include first and second upstanding bearing walls 42, 44, C:~WP51~R~ 20.ABS 19 216~810 .
espectively. The bearing walls 42, 44 have arcuate exterior surfaces ~hich move along the arcuate walls of the interior of the housing cavity. Needle support members B are freely moveably received and independently moveable within z substantially oval housing cavity about axes defined by the centers of the cavity walls. Each needle support member 38, 40 has a forward extending portion 38a, 40a on which the body 14a, i6a of each needle is supported By moving support members 38, 40 relstive to each other, a~out vertical axes defined by the centers of the arcuzte walls of the housing cavity, the spacing and orientat~Qn of the needles can be altered.
A seen in Figs. 1-6, the forward portions 3~a, 40a of the needle support members 38, 40 are each provided with an outwardly extending stem 45, 47 which extends through an opening in the housing. Fnlarged heads 51, 53 are mounted on stems 47, 49 respectively. The needle support members 38, 40 each has a rea~wardl~ extending poriion 38b, 40b to which a stem 46, 48 is affixed. Stems 46, 48 protrud~ through oPenings in housing A and carry enlarged heads 50, 52 respectively.
~ n this embodiment, two sets of stems are pro~ided, a forward se~ 45, 47 and a rear set 46, 48. Pushing the rear set toward each other moves the needles apart (Fig. 3A). Pushing ~he forward set toward each other brings the needles toward each other ~Fig. ~).
c~C , ~
C:~P51\RO~ 20.ABS 20 '~S2810 ~ As best seen in Figs. 6 and 8, in the second preferred embodiment, the forward set of stems 45, 47 may be deleted and a pair of compression springs 54 situated in a cylindrical cavity formed in needle support members 42, 44. Springs 54 normally urge the rear portions of the members sway from each other. The manual exertion of inwardly directed forces on heads 50, 52 will cause the rear portions of members 42, 44 to move toward each other, against the action of the springs 54, such that the tips of needles 14, 16 will move outwardly away from each other, from a proximate position in which the needles are relatively close to each other, toward a remote position to the degree required by the particular button being aitacned. In the extreme spread position, the needles are substantially parallel.
In both embodiments, needle support members 38, 40 are each pro~ided with a slightly reduced forward surface so as to provide clearance at space 55 (Fig. 5). This pe~mits limited rotation of the members relati~e to each other.
Fig. 2B illustrates the different positions of thP T bar ends 24, 26 o~ an attachment as the needle support members 38, 40 change rel2tive position. When the needles are substantially parallel r the T-bar ends are also substantially parallel, as shown in solid. When the needles are moved to a position proximate each other, the T-bar ends are slightly skewed with respect to each otherr as shown in phantom in this figure.
c\~sl~~~ K\~-zc.~ 21 ~ The structure of both preferred embodiments also includes first and second ejector rod guides 56, 58 which are part of the rear portions 38b, 40b of members 38, 40, respectively, and serve to guide ejector rods 34, 36 to maintain alignment between the needles and the associated ejector rods, as the needle support members move. The rear ends of the ejector rods are mounted for lateral mo~ement so as to accomodate this movement. In this way, the individual ejector rods move with the associated needles and are always colinear with the associated needle, regardless of the relative position of the needles.
The rear portions of the ejector rods 34, 36, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 12, each have 2 downwardly bent portion 60, 62.
Portions 60, 62 are received in bearings 64, 66 which are freely slideably received on separate halves of a laterally extending members 68, 69 which form a portion of slide 70. Slide 70 is connected to the trigger linkage C and moves from a home position (solid in Fig. 4~ to an e]ect position (phanton in Fig. 4) to move ejection rods 34, 36. Slide 70 is spring loaded toward the rear of the housing by spr~ngs 72.
It will now be appreciated that bearings 64 and 66 and guides 56, ~8, cooperate to maintain each ejector rod colinear with the aligned needle, throughout the stroke, regardless of the relative positions of the needles. This is essential to avoid bending of the rods and the maintenance of a smooth action.
C\~,~X~\~ Y~E-20.~ 22 21~28~0 ~ As best seen in Fig. 3A, one of the bearings 66 may be mounted at a position forward of the other bearing 64 on slide 70.
This may be achieved by having element 68 rea~wardly offset as compared to element 69. This will cause the forward tip of ejector rod 36 to be positioned slightly ahead of the forward tip of ejector rod 34, as the ejector rods are simultaneously moved by slide 70. In this way, rod 36 pushes "T" bar end 26 aligned with it through needle 16 slightly ahead of the "T" bar end 28 ~-hich is pushed by rod 34. Thus, the "T" bar end 26 aligned with rod 36 will be severed by blade 16~ from connector bar 32 slightl~ before the "T" bar end 26 aligned with rod 34 is se~ered ~y blade l~b from connector bar 30. The effect of severing the "T" bar ends at slightly di ferent positions along the stroke is to spread QUt the force required at the beginning of the stroke and significant~y reduce, actually cut in half, the peak force required to se--er the attachment from the connector bars.
There are two other ways to achieve a similar resul~.
One simple way is to make one ejector rod slightly shorter than the other. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, where rod 36 is sho~. to ~e slightly shorter than rod 34. The second way is to mount one needle slightly forward of the other needle. This is illustrated in Fig. 3B, where elements 6~ and 6g of slide ~0 are shown as colinear ~ut needle 14 is mounted in member 38 slightly outwardly the point where needle 16 is mounted in member 40. Any of these C: \WPS ~\}~ I. KKU'.'~ 20 ,A~35 23 ~2~ ~
tions will result in the "T" bar ends being severed at slightly different positions along the stroke.
As best seen in Figs. 4 and 12, a trigger 74 is pivotally mounted to housing A by internal shaft 76 such that the attacher has a scissor-like squeeze action. Trigger 74 is connected to slide 70 by a mechanical linkage which consists two linkage arms 78, 80 wh~ch are pivotally joined together at one end by a pin 82.
The sur~ace of the joint fonmed by linkage arms 78, 80 at pin 82 bears against a track 85 which is situated within trigger 74.
Linkage arm 78 is formed of two parts 78a and 78b. The forward ends of parts 78a and 78b are pivotally mounted to a pin 84 on slide 70. Linkage arm 80 consists of a single part which is pivotally connected to a pin 86 which is mounted in the rear of housing A between halves 10, 12 and behind the path of travel of slide 70.
Squeezing trigger 74 so as to move the trigger toward housing A causes the linkage arms to move from the position shown in solid in Fig. 4 to the position shown in phantom in that figure.
As this occurs, the bottom surfaces 88 of the arm joint travel along inclined section 85a of track 85 and linkage arms 78, 80 spread apart such that slide 70 is moved forward against the action of springs 72. As the arms 78, 80 move apart, the angle formed between the arms (as seen from the side) changes from an acute C:\WPSl\ROBERT;~CS~ K~ 20.A3~ 24 '~1628~ 0 gle to a straight angle. As this angle becomes larger, the mechanical advantage of the linkage changes trigonometrically, in accordance with a cotangent function, thereby increasing the force transmitted from the trigger to the slide, as the stroke progress-es. Specifically, the mechanical advantage of the linkage increases at an increasing rate throughout the stroke. In this way, a greater portion of the force is transmitted near the end of the stroke, during the time when the filament is being stretched.
It will now be appreciated that the present invention is an attacher with a rigid housing forming a caviiy into which needle support me~bers are freely mcveably received to permit easy and guick adjust~ent of needle spacing and orientation to accomodate different size buttons. The force normally required to be applied on the trigger at the beginning of the stroke to sever both "T/' bar ends is reduced by having the respective severing operations occur at different times~ elther by mounting one needle or one ejector rod forward of the other or by altering the length of one of the ejector rods. The force normally required to be applied to the trigger toward the end of the stroke is reduced by providing a linkage associated with the trigger wnich has a mechanical ad~-antage which increases dramatically near the end of the stroke.
Ejector rod alignment is maintained by a floating ejector rod mounting structure.
C:\WP51~RO~ DOC5~ur~s~rr~ -20.AB5 25 ~ While only a limited number of preferred embodiments have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be apparent that many variations and modifications could be made thereto. It is intend to cover all of these variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims:
WP51\P~0~ r. r~ 2C_ABS 26
Claims (31)
1. Apparatus for dispensing attachments of the type having two "T" bar ends connected by a filament, the apparatus comprising a rigid hollow housing defining a cavity, means freely moveably received within said cavity for supporting first and second hollow needles, first and second ejector rods aligned with said first and second needles, respectively, means for driving said ejector rods to push the "T" bar ends of an attachment through said needles, said needle support means being moveable within said housing cavity to permit movement of said needles relative to each other between proximate and remote positions, and means, accessible from the exterior of said housing, for moving said needle support means.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 where said housing cavity comprises interior walls and where said needle support means comprises first and second needle support members situated and independently moveable within said housing cavity along a path defined by said interior cavity walls.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for biasing said needle support means to move said needles toward said proximate position.
4. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said interior cavity walls are arcuate.
5. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein each of said members comprises a bearing member with an arcuate wall.
6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said means for moving said needle support means comprises protrusion means accessible from the exterior of said housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protrusion means comprises a first set of protrusions each located on a different side of said housing.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protrusion means comprises first and second sets of protrusions, one protrusion in each of said sets being located on a different side of said housing.
9. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising means for individually moveably mounting said ejector rods to said ejector rod drive means.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising means for snap fiting said needles into said needle mounting means.
11. Apparatus for dispensing attachments of the type having a "T" bar end, the apparatus comprising a housing having a hollow needle, an ejector rod, means for driving said ejector rod push the "T" bar end of the attachment through said needle, means for actuating said ejector rod driving means, said actuating means comprising trigger means one end of which is pivotally mounted to said housing to permit said trigger means to move relative to said housing between first and second positions, mechanical linkage means operably connecting said trigger means with said ejector rod driving means, said trigger means and said linkage means cooperating to provide a mechanical advantage which increases as said trigger means moves relative to said housing from said first to said second position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said trigger means and said linkage means cooperate to provide a mechanical advantage with increases at an increasing rate as to trigger means moves.
13. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein said linkage means comprises first and second linkage arms each having first and second ends, said first end of said first arm being pivotally connected to said ejector rod driving means, said second end of said second arm being pivotally connected to said housing and said second end of said first arm being pivotally connected to said first end of said second arm to form a moveable joint.
14. The apparatus of Claim 13 where said arms form an angle proximate said joint and wherein the mechanical advantage of said linkage is dependent upon said angle.
15. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the mechanical advantage of said linkage increases dramatically as said angle approaches a straight angle.
16. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein said ejector rod driving means comprises a slide and further comprising means for guiding said slide for movement within said housing between eject and home positions in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the needles.
17. The apparatus of Claim 16 further comprising spring means for urging said slide toward said home position.
18. The apparatus Claim 11 wherein said trigger means comprises a protrusion.
19. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein said slide comprises an extended portion to which said linkage privotally connected.
20. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein said first linkage arm comrpises first and second spaced portions.
21. The apparatus of Claim 20 wherein second end of said second linkage arm is pivotally connected between said first and second portions of said first linkage arm.
22. An apparatus for dispensing attachments provided on a clip between spaced connector bars, the attachments being of the type having first and second "T" bar ends connected by a filament, said apparatus comprising a housing and first and second spaced hollow needles through which the "T" bar ends of successive attachments are dispensed, means for pushing the "T" bar ends of the attachments through the needles, trigger means for actuating said pushing means, and means for severing the respective "T" bar ends from their associated connector bars at different times during the actuation of the pushing means by said trigger means.
23. The apparatus of Claim 22 wherein one of said needles is offset with respect to the other of said needles, along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing.
24. The apparatus of Claim 22 further comprising first and second means for severing "T" bar ends of the attachments from the adjacent connector bar, said first and second severing means being associated with said first and second needles, respectively, said severing means associated with one of said needles severing the "T" bar end being dispensed through that needle from its connector bar before said severing means associated with the other of said needles severs the "T" bar end being dispensed through said other needle from its connector bar.
25. The apparatus of Claim 22 wherein one of said ejector rods is longer than the other of said ejector rods.
26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said ejector rods are operably connected to said push means at longitudinally offset locations.
27. The apparatus of Claim 26 further comprising first and second means for connecting said first and second ejector rods to said push means and wherein each of said connecting means comprises a channel in said push means extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and wherein each of said ejector rods has a portion adapted to be received within a different one of said channels.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising bearing means associated with each of said ejector rod portions.
29. An apparatus for dispensing attachments mounted in a clip between spaced connector bars, the attachments being of the type comprising first and second "T" bar ends, the apparatus comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis, first and second spaced hollow needles mounted in said housing for relative movement, the "T" bar ends of the attachments being adapted to be dispensed through said needles, means for pushing the "T" bar ends through the needles, trigger means for actuating said push means, ~id push means comprising a slide moveable within said housing in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, first and second ejector rods associated with the first and second needles, respectively and means for individually moveably mounting said ejector rods on said slide.
30. The apparatus of Claim 29 wherein said slide comprises a laterally extending member and wherein said ejector rod mounting means comprises first and second bearings independently mounted for movement along said member.
31. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising needle support means, said needle support means comprising first and second relatively moveable needle support members, each of said needle support members comprising ejector rod guide means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US416,462 | 1995-04-04 | ||
| US08/416,462 US5579976A (en) | 1995-04-04 | 1995-04-04 | Double needle button attacher |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2162810A1 true CA2162810A1 (en) | 1996-10-05 |
Family
ID=23650074
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002162810A Abandoned CA2162810A1 (en) | 1995-04-04 | 1995-11-14 | Double needle button attacher |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5579976A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2162810A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5810238A (en) * | 1994-09-28 | 1998-09-22 | Kunreuther; Steven | Attachments for double needle attacher |
| US6796479B2 (en) * | 2002-07-04 | 2004-09-28 | M.I.T. International Co., Ltd. | Loop-pin attaching device |
| US20080190956A1 (en) * | 2006-11-06 | 2008-08-14 | John Earley | Device for dispensing plastic fasteners |
| US8657172B2 (en) | 2006-11-06 | 2014-02-25 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Device for dispensing plastic fasteners |
| TR201802885T4 (en) | 2010-12-23 | 2018-03-21 | Avery Dennison Corp | Wide fastening tool for filament. |
| US9199756B2 (en) * | 2011-11-28 | 2015-12-01 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener stock and device for use in dispensing plastic fasteners therefrom |
| US9789991B2 (en) | 2013-08-28 | 2017-10-17 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Reactor plate assembly and brush anvil for use in conjunction therewith |
| CN106963014A (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2017-07-21 | 岳西县海创饰品有限公司 | A kind of button aperture alignment means for automatic button-sewing machine |
| USD923446S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Cap for a nose of a fastening apparatus |
| USD923445S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastening apparatus |
| EP3952685B1 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2024-02-21 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Apparatus and methods for fastening an element to a support structure |
| USD923444S1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-06-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastening apparatus |
| USD936467S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-23 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener set |
| USD935875S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-16 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener |
| CN111705439B (en) * | 2020-06-10 | 2021-11-16 | 陵川县金丰科技股份有限公司 | Sewing machine for spinning |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2605943A (en) * | 1947-01-11 | 1952-08-05 | Armand O Hoefle | Button sewing aid |
| US2707783A (en) * | 1950-09-20 | 1955-05-10 | Norman M Sullivan | Applicator for inserting preformed metallic sutures |
| US3470834A (en) * | 1968-03-08 | 1969-10-07 | Dennison Mfg Co | Fastener attaching device |
| US4039078A (en) * | 1973-04-04 | 1977-08-02 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Fastener attachment stock |
| US4111347A (en) * | 1976-09-07 | 1978-09-05 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Fastener attachment apparatus |
| US4316562A (en) * | 1980-05-02 | 1982-02-23 | The Singer Company | Button attaching tool |
| US4296698A (en) * | 1980-07-14 | 1981-10-27 | The Singer Company | Button attaching hand tool with button storage compartment |
| US4281782A (en) * | 1980-09-29 | 1981-08-04 | The Singer Company | Button sewing device |
| US4361101A (en) * | 1981-06-22 | 1982-11-30 | The Singer Company | Pocket button attaching device |
| US4533076A (en) * | 1981-11-25 | 1985-08-06 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Dispensing of attachments |
| KR930001554Y1 (en) * | 1988-10-18 | 1993-04-03 | 김춘선 | Tag attaching apparatus |
| US5205458A (en) * | 1992-03-27 | 1993-04-27 | Steven Kunreuther | Button attacher with variable needle spacing |
| US5518162A (en) * | 1992-12-11 | 1996-05-21 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Fastener attaching tool |
-
1995
- 1995-04-04 US US08/416,462 patent/US5579976A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-11-14 CA CA002162810A patent/CA2162810A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1996
- 1996-04-15 US US08/632,672 patent/US5678747A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5579976A (en) | 1996-12-03 |
| US5678747A (en) | 1997-10-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |