US2931038A - Stapling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aplil 5, 1960 o. A. wANDEL 2,931,038

STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 195s sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNEYS April 5, 1960 o. A. wANDEL STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fA/*VENTOR Use/AR A. WNDEL ATTORNEQ;

April 5, 1960 o. A. WANDEL 2,931,038

STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR l050,412.4. WNDEL STAPLING APPARATUS Oscar A. Wandel, Mundelein, lll, assignor to Fastener Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,354

11 Claims. (Cl. 1-44.'4)

This invention relates to a fastening device and, more particularly, to a stapling apparatus including staple feeding mechanisms.

With the advent of pneumatically operated Staplers or tackers for use in assembly line production of various types, the existing problem of affording adequate staple or other fastener supplies for driving or setting operations without requiring an interruption for the purpose of permitting the insertion of additional fasteners became considerably aggravated due to the increased rate of use inherent in the pneumatically operated mechanisms. Even prior to the use of the pneumatically operated tools, a number of magazine feed expedients had been proposed in order to reduce the loss of time inherent in replacing the dissipated supply of fasteners. These expedients generally involved either the provision of an increased magazine capacity, which often resulted in a hand tool which Was so large as to be awkward and unwieldly in use as well as being fatiguing to the operator, or the provision of a hand tool or machine in which dies were provided for forming the fastener from blank wire stock during the setting or driving operation. These latter devices, althrough increasing the periods during which the apparatus could be used without stopping to replace the fastener supply, are more expensive to fabricate and require wire forming and severing means together with fairly precise control components for insuring a proper timed operating sequence. Further, these devices are also likely to be rather heavy and diflicult to manipulate, especially when the fasteners are to be manually applied in relatively inaccessible locations.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fastening apparatus.

Another object is to provide new and improved magazine means for supplying staples or similar fasteners to a driving or setting means therefor.

Another object is to provide a stapler including a magazine utilizing nested strips of staples to increase the magazine capacity without substantially increasing the size thereof.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved stapling device using staples having divergent legs which are fed to driving means therefor from successive vertically stacked and nested strips thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening apparatus having a magazine adapted for use lwith disposable cartridges, each of which contains a plurality of strips of fasteners.

A still further object is the provision of a fastener cartridge for use with fastening apparatus in which the cartridge, which may be removably disposed on the fastening apparatus, includes means for successive feeding 2,931,038 iiatented Apr. 5, 1960 cooperating with the guide surfaces on the staples during a staple feeding operation.

In accordance with the above and many other objects, an embodiment of the invention comprises a pneumatically operated fastening or stapling apparatus including staple driving means having a drive track. A staple magazine disposed adjacent the drive track is adapted'to receive a plurality of nested strips of staples, each of the staple strips being formed of individual staples vhaving divergent legs joined by depressed or concave crown portions. A biasing means provided within the magazine urges the nested stack of staple 'strips toward a feeding position in which a staple follower movably mounted on the magazine engages and moves the outermost strip toward the staple `driving means so that individual staples are successively advanced into the drive track. The follower is provided with a flexible guide or spacing means which is interposed between a wall of the magazine and the guide 'surface formed in the strip next adjacent to the strip being fed, thereby to maintain a suitable spacing lbetween the magazine and the next adjacentstrip.

In one embodiment of the invention, the staple follower is biased toward the drive track by resilient means Vforming a portion of the magazine, and, in another embodiment the staple follower is biased in a staple feeding direction by pneumatic means operatively associated with the ilexibleiguiding and spacing member. Further, the staple feeding magazine of the present invention is adapted for use in feeding nested strips of staples which are freely disposed within the magazine or, alternatively, is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a disposable staple cartridge containing a plurality of nested strips of staples which is removably received within the magazine. The housing of the cartridge is suitably apertured to receive the staple follower movably mounted on the magazine structure.

The invention, both as to'its construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a pneumatically operated stapler or tacker provided with a staple feeding magazine forming one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1 showing a top plan view of the staple magazine forming a portion of the stapler shown in Fig. l;V

Fig. 3 is a cross section al view taken along lin'e 3*-3 in Fig. 2 to which is added a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the staple driving means included in the stapler shown inFig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken along line 4 4 in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 in Fig. l showing a staple to be driven and illustrating, in dot and .dash outline, the mannerjin which the staple is formed prior to driving.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, in partial section, showing the construction of the nose portion of the staple driving means in conjunction with the end structure of the staple j magazine disposed adjacent thereto;

fFig; 7 is a perspective view of a staple follower in-l `Fig. 9 is a top planview, in partial section, of a `sfe'cond embodiment of a staple magazine embodyingthe present invention which vis adapted to be' utilized rin a pneumatically operated stapler or tacker of the type shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. is a cross sectional View of the magazine shown in Fig. 9 disclosing a portion of the staple driving means embodied in the pneumatically operated stapler shown in 'construction of the staple discharging end of the cartridge illustrated in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of a nested stack of staple strips suitable for use in the cartridge illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 or in the magazine illustrated in either of Figs.

l and 9 of the drawings.

Referring now to Pig. l of the drawings, the present invention comprises a pneumatically operated stapler, in-

` dicated generally as 16, for driving staples or other similar fasteners which may be of the type disclosed in the copending application of Oscar A. Wandel, Serial No. 527,697, led August ll, 1955, which copending application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application. As disclosed therein, the pneumatically operated stapler may comprise a housing including a handle portion 18 defining an air reservoir which is supplied with air under pressure from a suitable source through an air hose 20, the hose 2t) being connected to the handle portion 18 of the housing by a threaded nipple 22. Upon operation of a trigger actuated valve, indicated generally as 24, air from the reservoir in the handle 18 is admitted into a cylinder 26 to advance a piston actuated staple driving blade 28 (Figs. 2, 3, and 5) through a drive track formed in a nosepiece 30 so that the end of the blade 28 engages and drives a staple. Staples are suppliedto the drive track from nested strips 32 thereof by either a magazine construction 34 (Figs. 1 8) having pneumatic operating means or a magazine 36 (Figs.

. 9-11) having resilient operating means.

To increase the staple carrying capacities of the magaing magazines, but the staple supplying or storing capacities of these magazines are obviously greatly increased. The nested stack of staple strips are adapted to be directly l,disposed within the housings delined by the magazine lconstructions 34 and 36 or may bedisposed within a cartridge 38 (Fig. 12) which is adapted to be removably p received. within either the magazine 34 or the magazine 36. lIn this manner, it is possible to supply the pneumatically operated stapler 16 with a large number of individual staples by the mere expedient of positioning the removable cartridge 38 in either of the magazines 34 or 36, thereby obviating any additional manual manipulation which may be inherent in inserting the nested arrangement of staple strips shown in Fig. 14 directly intoA these magazines.

Referring now more specifically to the configuration of the strips 32 of staples which are so formed as to permit the nesting thereof to reduce the physical space occupied thereby, each of the strips 32 comprises a plu- ,rality of individual 'staples 40 (Fig. 14) which are detachably joined together in the manner well known in the art to provide integralstrips. Each of the staples 4t) includes a pair` of divergent legs 40a joined together by an integral crown portion 40h which is depressed in- 'wardly between the legs 48a so that, when the plurality zines 34 or '36, the strips 32 of staples are formed in a of individual staples are considered jointly as one of the strips 32, a depression or guide surface 42 is provided in the upper surface of these strips. The divergent arrangement of the legs 40a permits the nesting of the strips 32 as shown in Fig. 14 so that the crown portions 4011 of the individual staples forming a plurality of the strips 32 are disposed between the divergent legs of the outermost of the strips 32. As illustrated in Figs. 4, 11, and 14 of the drawings, it is apparent that the nested arrangement of the strips 32 afforded by the present invention providesa plurality of staple strips in a physical space only slightly greater than that required for a single strip of staples in magazines of a conventional construction.

Referring now more specifically to the pneumatically operated staple feeding magazine 34 (Figs. 1 8), the magazine 34 is adapted to receive a plurality of nested strips 32 which are placed either directly within the magazine 34 or within the cartridge 38 which is inserted into the magazine 34. The strips 32 of staples areadvanced by a follower 44 which is actuated by a pneumatic arrangement including a ilexible tube 46 in communication with the reservoir defined by the handle 18, a ball 43 disposed within the flexible tube 46 and a flexible coiled spring 56 which interconnects the ball 48 with the staple follower 44. The air under pressure in the reservoir defined by the handle 18 urges the ball 48 outwardly through the tube 46 so that the follower 44 is urged to the left as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings to feed the staples forming the outermost or uppermost strip 32 into a drive track 52 defined in the nosepiece 30, thereby to permit the individual staples 40 to be successively driven.

To supply a lower portion of a housing for the magazine 34, there is provided a substantially U-shaped baseplate 54 hav-ing a pair of upwardly extending portions 54a of the side wallsA thereof secured to the side walls of the nosepiece 30 either permanently, as by welding, or detachably, as by the use of screws (not shown). The other end of the baseplate 54 of the magazine '34 is secured to a depending portion 18a of the handle by a U-shaped member 56, the bight portion of which is secured to the portion 18a and the end portions 56a of which are secured to upwardlyV extending tabs 54b formed in the baseplate 54.

A cover or upper portion of the housing for the magazine 34 is provided by a downwardly directed U-shaped cover plate 5S having outwardly flanged lower edges 58a (Fig. 4) which are slidably received within complementary grooves 54e formed in the baseplate 54, thereby to permit the cover 58 and the follower 44, which is mounted thereon, to be removed from the stapling device 16. The interlocking engagement of the outwardly flanged ends 58a also prevents displacement of the cover S8 from its assembled relationship with the baseplate 54.

To provide a means for locking the cover 58 in a closed position in which an inner end surface 58b thereof abuts the nosepiece 30, a resilient latch member 60 is provided. The latch member 60 includes an end portion 60a which is secured to an upper wall 53e of the cover 58 and a flexible end portion 68b having a shoulder 60C formed adjacent the bight portion of the latch 60. The shoulder 68C is adapted to engage of flange or detent member 5611 depending from the member S 6.

In order to supply a vertically extending stack of nested strips 32 of staples to the magazine 34, the flexible arm 69b of the latch 6i) is depressed so that the Vshoulder 60C clears the detent 565, thereby permitting the cover 58 to 'be moved to the right, as shown in Figs. 1-3, and the nested strips of staples are disposed between the upwardly extending side walls of the baseplate 54. The cover 58 is then moved to the left until the end surface 58b thereof abuts the rear wall of the nosepiece 30 and the shoulder 60e of the latch is received behind the detent 56b, thereby to secure the cover in its closed position. In this position, the lower surface of the upper wall 58e of the cover 58 overlies the crown portion of the outermost strip 32 (Fig. 3) to provide a smooth surface for guiding the staples 40 into the drive track 52.

As shown in Fig. 3, the staples 40 are supplied to the drive track 52 4from the outermost or uppermost of the strips 32 which is positioned adjacent the upper wall 58e of the cover 53. To provide a means for successively raising the nested strips 32 to a position contiguous to the wall 58C, a flat spring 62 is supplied having a free end portion 62a adapted to engage the lowermost or innermost of the strips 32 and having the other end 62h thereof secured to a lower wall 54d of the baseplate 54. When a nested stack of strips 32 (Fig. 14) are positioned in the magazine 34, the lowermost of the strip 32 engages the free end portion 62a of the flat spring 62, thereby Vdeflecting this spring to provide an upwardly directed biasing force. This force urges the superimposed strips 32 of staples upwardly so that, when the cover 58 is closed, the crown portion of the outermost strip 32 engages the lower surface of the upper wall 58e, which provides a stop structure. If desired, a suitably formed plate adapted to engage the lowermost strip 32 can be secured to the free end portion 62a of the spring to aid in distributing the biasing force.

The follower 44 (Figs. 7 and 8) is provided for feeding individual staples 40 into the drive track 52 by advancing the uppermost strip 32 toward the nosepiece 30. To this end, the follower 44 includes a pair of elongated and angularly formed legs 44a having a cross sectional congurat-ion closely approximating the depressed or concave conguration of the crown portions 40h of the individual staples 40 forming the composite stapleV strips 32. These legs are joined to the substantially U-shaped body of the follower 44 by a pair of horizontally extending webs 44b integrally joined with a pair of side walls 44C of the follower which closely embrace the side walls of the cover 5S, thereby to accurately locate the follower 44 on the cover 58. The webs 44b guide movement of the follower 44 relative to the cover 58 by extending through and cooperating with a pair of opposed slots 66 (Figs. l and 4) formed in the side walls of the cover 58. In addition to guiding movement of the follower 44, the cooperating webs 44h and slots 66 serve to vertically locate the legs 44a of the follower 44 Within the cavity of the magazine 34 defined by the baseplate 54 and the cover 58 so that the front end or edge surface thereof is aligned with the rear end surface of the outermost or uppermost staple strip 32. To slidably support the follower 44 on the cover 58, the upper portion of the body of the follower 44 includes a pair of substantially horizontally extending portions `44d which slidably engage the upper wall 58e and which are joined by an offset web 44e. The web 44e also includes an upwardly extending flange 44j to permit manual engagement and movement of the follower 44 relative to the cover 58. A lug 58d struck out of the upper wall 53C engages a front edge of the offset web 44e to limit maximum movement of the follower l44 toward the nosepiece 39 of the stapler 16.

To provide a means for actuating the follower 44 to advance the outermost staple strip 32 toward the drive track 52 formed in the nosepiece 30, pneumatic actuating means are provided in the embodiment of the invention shown in lFig. 1 of the drawings. As indicated above, this pneumatic actuating or operating means includes a flexible tube 46 which is in communication with the reservoir of air under pressure formed in the handle 18. The ball `or other similar spherical member 48 is slidably disposed cured to an annular projection 58e formed integral with the rear edge of the cover 58. The other end of the ilexible spring 50 is secured to the trailing edge of the follower 44 (Figs. Band 8) so that the ball 48 which acts Cil as a piston member and the spring 50, under the influence of the compressed air in the reservoir, bias the follower 44 against the rear end surface of the outermost strip 32 and, accordingly, force the staples 40 into the drive track 52. As the staples 4i) from the engaged uppermost staple strip 32 are driven, the follower 44 moves toward theleft (Fig. 3) until the last staple 40 is dispensed and thefront edge of the web 44e engages the stop 58d.

To initiate the feeding of the next strip 32, the flange or lug 44 is grasped, and the follower 44 is manually returned to the right (Fig. 3) by moving the ball 48 against the pressure of the air in the reservoir. This return movement is continued until such time as the end surface of the legs 44a clear the rearwardly disposed end of the next adjacent staple strip, at which time the flat spring 62 biases this next strip 32 into engagement with the lower surface of the upper wall 58e. Releasing the follower 44 permits the air pressure in the reservoir to advance the legs 44a into engagement with the rearwardly disposed edge of the uppermost strip 32, thereby to condition the magazine 34 for feeding this strip 32 of staples into the drive track 52.

In order to provide means for adequately spacing the strip 32 of staples next adjacent the outermost strip during a f feeding operation, the flexible spring 50 is utilized. This spring, which is connected to the trailing edge of the follower 44, has a diameter such that the upper surface thereof slidably engages the lower surface of the upper wall 58e and its lower surface is slidably received within the depression 42 formed in the crown portion of the next to the outermost strip 32. Accordingly, when the follower 44 is advanced to the left, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower surface of the legs 44a and the interposed llexible spring 5d maintain a proper spacing between the upper wall 58C ofthe cover 5S and the upper surface of the strip of staples 32 disposed immediately below the |strip 32 of staples being fed to the staple driving mechanism.

Since the individual staples 40 are provided with divergent legs 43a which are not capable of being easily driven into a workpiece, the stapler 16 includes means for restoring the legs 49a of each staple 40 to a parallel relationship during a driving operation, thereby to permit these staples to be driven into a workpiece in the conventional manner. To this end, the drive track 52 to which the staples 40 are supplied by the magazine 34 is formed by a groove 68 (Fig. 6) in the inner wall o-f the nosepiece 30 having an inwardly and upwardly tapered portion 68a for -receiving the individual staples 40 and a downwardly and inwardly tapered portion 68b for camming the divergent legs 40a of the staples 4t) into an approximately parallel relationship when the blade 28 moves an engaged staple 40 downwardly along the groove 68. A lower por. tion 68C of the groove 63 holds the legs 40a in this parallel relationship during that portion of the working stroke of the driver blade 28 in which the staple is driven into engagement with the workpiece. The groove 68, accordingly, defines one side surface and two end or edge surfaces of the drive track 52.

The remaining side surface of the drive track 52 is defined by a plate 70 (Fig. 6) which may either be formed integral with the baseplate 54 or may comprise a separate plate which is secured to the nosepiece A30 by a plurality of screws (not shown). The plate 70 closes substantially all of the portions 68h and 68C of the groove 68 to prevent lateral displacement of the staple 40 during movement of the blade 28 and an engaged staple 40` therethrough. An

upwardly and inwardly tapered portion 70a of the plate '70 cooperates with the end portion of the upper wall 58C and with the tapered portion 68a of the groove 68 to de- .tine an entrance opening for receiving the individual staples V40 of the strips 32. The plate 70 further serves to prevent the strips 32 other than the outermost thereof from being .advanced toward the drive track 52.

In operation, the magazine 34 advances the outermost of the strips 32 of staples toward the nosepiece 30 Vso that the end staple`40 of this strip is advanced over the up- Vwardly extending portion 70a of the plate 70 into the tapered portion 68u of the groove `68. Operation of the trigger controlled valve mechanism 24 admits air into the cylinder 26 so that the' driving blade 28 is moveddo'wn-- wardly, as shown in Fig. 5, to engagethe two edges of v the depressed crown portion 40d of theY staple 40 in a driving position. Continuing downward movement of the blade 28 moves the staple 40 into the inwardly and downwardly tapered portion 68h of the groove so that the divergent legs 40a thereof are moved into approximately a parallel relationship by the time that the staple 40 and the blade 28 attain the position indicated in dot and dash outline. Thereafter, the driving blade 28 forces the free ends of the legs 40a of the staple 40 into the material to be secured. Following the release of the trigger actuated valve mechanism 2A, the compressed air is exhausted from the cylinder 26 and a return spring '72 moves the piston (not shown) connected to the driving blade 28 to its normal position in which the lower free end of the driving blade 28 is removed from the groove 68, thereby permitting the magazine 34 to advance the outermost strip 32 so that the end staple 40 thereof is positioned within the drive track 52 in a staple driving position.

Although many different means may be utilized for securing the nosepiece 30 and the attached magazine 34 to the remainder of the pneumatically operated stapler 16, such as those shown and described in the above identified copending Wandel application, the nosepiece 30 is shown as including a peripherally extending flange 30a which is engaged by a retaining ring or collar 76 threadedly secured to a lower portion of the cylinder 26. A lower surface 76a of the retaining ring 76 is preferably tapered to facilitate the insertion of the cover S8.

Although the magazine 34 is shown and described in conjunction with the use of a nested array of strips `32 of staples which are manually placed Within the magazine 34, this magazine can also be adapted to be utilized with separate disposable cartridges, such as the cartridge 38 illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings by suitably proportioning the magazine 34 and the follower 44 and also the staple strips 32 to compensate for the dimensions of the car-tridge 38. By using a disposable cartridge 38 rather than placing a stack of nested strips in the magazine 34, the vertically disposed strips 32 are held in a proper stacked relationship when they are disposed within the housing of the magazine 34, and the amount of time required to insert a new supply of staples into the magazine 34 is somewhat decreased.

Referring now more specifically to Figs. l2 and i3, the cartridge 38 shown therein comprises a generally rectangular housing 78 having an open end 79 to provide a staple discharging opening and having the other end thereof closed by a rear wall 78a. A plurality ofnested staple strips 32 areV disposed within the housing 78 (Figs. and 1l) with the depressions 42 therein positioned adjacent an upper wall 78h. A flat spring 80 disposed between the end Wall 78a and a notched protuberance 78e engages the lower surface of the innermost of the nested strips 32 to urge the staple array into engagement with the lower surface of the upper wall 78h, thereby to position the outermost strip 32 in a feeding position.

Since the cartridge 38 is to be placed in the magazine 34 with the open end 79 adjacent the track 52, the open end of the housing 78 will abut the plate 70. if the open .end 79 is made of a uniplanar construction, a space would be provided between the upper wall 78b and the inner wall of the nosepiece 30 into which staples 40 could be displaced, thereby jamming the supply of staples 40 from the magazine 34 and the cartridge 38. To prevent this, the open end of the housing is provided with a projecting portion 78d which extends over the upper end of the plate 70 contiguous to the cover 58, thereby to provide a continuous smooth guiding surface in engagement with thecrown portion of the outermost staple strip 32.

To permit'the follower 44 to selectively 'advance the outermost of the strips 32, the rear wall 78a and the side walls of 'the housing 78 `are provided with a slot 84 for receiving the webs 4412 of the follower '44, and the rear wall 78a is further cut away, as indicated at 86, to receive the angularly formed legs 44a of the follower. 'A handle or tab 78e is provided on the housing 78'to facilitate the manipulation thereof.

When the cartridge 38 is to be used in the magazine 34, the latch 60 is disengaged from the detent portion 56h, and the cover 58 is moved to the right (Fig. 1). The follower 44 is also displaced to the right either by manually moving the follower or by moving the cover 58 so that the follower 44 and stop 58d become Aengaged and move together. The cartridge 38 is then manually disposed between the side walls of the U-shaped baseplate 54 with the open end 79 of the housing 78 in engagement with the plate 70 and with the portion 78d spaced above the end thereof to define a staple discharging opening. Thereafter, the cover 58 is moved to its closed position (Fig. l) during which the legs 44a and the connecting web portions 44b move into the interior of the housing '78 through the opening 86 and the slots 84. The magazinek 34 is now in a condition to operate, as described above,` to sequentially supply individual staples 40 to the drive track 52.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention shown 'in Figs. 9, l0, and ll of the drawings, the magazine construction 36 shown therein is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a stapling apparatus similar to the device 16 shown inrFig. 1. of the drawings and is further adapted to advance staple strips 32 which are either positioned directly within the magazine 36 or are provided in the disposable cartridge 38. With the exception of the spring driving means for advancing the follower, the construction of the magazine 36 is identical to the pneumatically operated magazine 34 described above.

More specifically, the magazine 36 comprises a U- shaped baseplate forming a lower magazine housing member which is secured at one end to the nosepiece 30 and which is supported at its other end by the bracket 56. A U-shaped cover 102 forming an upper magazine housing member is detachably and slidably mounted on the baseplate 100 by means of a pair of outwardly turned 'or flanged end portions 102a which are received-within grooves 100a formed in the baseplate 100. The cover 102 includes opposed slots 103 (Fig. 1l) formed in the side walls for guiding a staple follower 108 yand is further provided with a latch 104 for securing the cover 102 in a closed position in which one end of this cover abuts the nosepiece 30 in the manner in which the latch 60 secures the cover 58 of the magazine 34 in a closed position.

To provide means for engaging `and moving staple vstrips provided in the magazine 36, the follower 108, which is substantially identical to the follower 44, is provided. The follower 108 includes a pair of angularly formed legs 108:1 which are adapted to engage the rearwardly disposed edge `of the uppermost strip 32 of staples disposedwithin the magazine 36, and these arms `are connected to the body of the follower 108 in the manner shown and described above in conjunction with the follower 44. An offset portion 108b of the follower 108, in addition to including an upstanding lug 108e which permits the follower 108 to be manually apprehended and moved, also includes a second upstanding ange 108d for interconnecting the follower 108 with driving means therefor.

The driving means for the follower 108 comprise two tension springs 110 which are secured at one end to a pair of lugs 102b struck out of the top wall of the cover 102. The other vends of the tension springs 110 are secured to the upstanding portion 108d so that `an intermediate portion of both of these springs passes around a pair of sheaves 112 rotatably mounted on the top wall of the cover 102 by a pair of stub shafts or pins 114.

The magazine 36 also includes means simil-ar to those provided in the magazine 34 for providing proper spacing between the upper wall 7813 of the cartridge 38 or the upper wall of the cover 102 and the strips 32 in providing a flexible spring 120 which is secured to the trailing edge of the follower 10S. As described above, the spring 120 is of such a diameter that the upper edge thereof slidably engages the upper wall 78h of the cartridge 38 (Fig. 10), and the lower edge thereof is slidably received within the depression 42 formed in the crown portion of the staple strip 32 located next adjacent the outermost strip which is being advanced by the follower 10S. Since the magazine 36 is actuated by spring means, as opposed to the pneumatic operator provided for the magazine 34, the rearwardly extending portion of the spring 120 may be freely disposed Within a exible tube 22 which is secured to the handle 18 of the stapler 16 but which is not in communication with the reservoir defined thereby.

The other end of the tube 122 is secured to a bsos 102d formed in the cover 102.

When the magazine 36 is used with the cartridge 3S (Figs. 9-11), the latch 104 is released to permit the cover 102 to be displaced rearwardly relative to the nosepiece 30. The follower 108 may either be manually moved to the right (Fig. 10) to provide adequate clearance for the insertion of the cartridge 38 or a sutiicient displacement of the cover 102 will move the follower 10S by engagement of the follower with a stop 102C struck out f the top wall of the cover 102. The cartridge 3S is then inserted in the opening defined by the U-shaped baseplate 100 so that the open end 79 abuts the plate 70 with the overhanging portion 78d extending over the top edge of the lplate 70 to define a staple discharging opening interconnecting the drive track 52 with the interior of the cartridge 38 andthe magazine 36.

The cover 102 is returned to its closed position in which the upper wall thereof is interposed between the upper wall 78b of the cartridge and the tapered lower surface 76a of the nosepiece 30. In moving toward its closed position, the cover 102 carries the follower 103 toward the left (Fig. l0) so that the legs 108a enter the cartridge 38 through the opening 86 and the slots 84. As soon as the leading edge of the legs Sa engage the rear edge surface o'f the outermost Vof the staple strips 32 provided within the cartridge 3S, the follower 10S is held against further movement, and the continuing movement of the cover 102 increases the tensional forces applied to the follower 103 by elongating the springs 110.

When the trigger controlled valve 24 is actuated to reciprocate 4the driving blade 28, the individual staples 40 forming the outermost strip l32 in the cartridge 33 are driven until such time as this strip is exhausted. The follower 108 is then returned by grasping and moving the lug 108C to the `right (Fig. l0) to permit the iiat spring 80 to advmce the Ynext adjacent staple strip 32 into a position aligned with the opening extending to the drive track 52. When the ends -of the legs 103:1 clear the rear edge of this next adjacent strip, this strip is moved into engagement withthe upper wall of the cartridge 38, and the follower 108 may then be released to apply driving forces to the strip to advance the first staple 40 therein into the drive track 52. During the feeding of the strips within the cartridge 38, the follower spring 120 engages the depression 42 in the strip 32 next adjacent the strip being advanced to insure a proper spacing between the lower surface of the upper wall 78h and this adjacent strip. When the staples become exhausted from the cartridge 38, the cover 102 is displaced, as described above, to permit the exhausted cartridge 38 to be removed and an additional cartridge to be inserted in the magazine 36.

Although the second embodiment of the invention is shown and described in conjunction with the use of a disposable cartridge 38, it is obvious that a ilat spring similar to the spring 62 could be provided in the magazine 36 to permit stacks of nested staple strips 32 of a suitable dimension to be placed directly within the housing of the magazine 36 rather than the removable cartridges 3S. Further, although the magazine 36 is shown as being actuated solely by the pair of tension springs 110, the flexible spring could be secured to a member slidably disposed within the flexible tube 122, and this tube could be placed in communication with the reservoir defined by the handle 18 to provide an additional pneumatic operating means similar to the type shown in Fig. l for actuating the magazine 34.

In View of the detailed description above, the operation of the stapler 16 and magazines 34 and 36 of the present invention will readily be understood by those skilled in the art. This tacker or stapler is capable of operation for extended periods of time without requiring the replacement of the fasteners driven thereby, and, accordingly, it increases the speed and efficiency of assembling and fabricating operations. The magazine constiuctions are easily fabricated and require a minimum number of parts, in addition to being simple in operation and easy to maintain.

While the principles of the present invention have been illustrated and described by reference to several particular embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other changes and modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes Vand modifications which will fall within the true sprit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastening apparatus for use with strips of fasteners comprising fastener 4driving means having a drive track, a fastener magazine in communication with said drive track for supplying fasteners there-to, a follower member carried on and movable relative to said magazine for advancing strips of fasteners to said drive track, and an 'enclosed fastener cartridge removably disposed in said magazine and having a wall and an opening adjacent said wall for receiving said follower, said cartridge being adapted to enclose a plurality of stacked strips of fasteners and including resilient means for biasing said stacked strips against said wall to permit each of said strips to be serially advanced to said drive track by said follower member.

` 2. AV stapling device for use with strips of staples having divergent legs comprising staple driving means having a drive track, a magazine housing having a staple discharging opening in communication with said drive track, means in said housing for supporting a lowerm'ost strip of a plurality of strips of staples nested so that a plurality Vof crown portions of said staple strips are located between the divergent legs of a top strip which is aligned with said discharging opening, and staple feeding means movable relative to said housing to advance only the aligned one of said nested strips toward said staple discharging opening in sliding contact with the adjacent strip to supply staples to said drive track.

3. A fastening device for use with a strip of fasteners having guide means formed therein comprising fastener driving means including a fastener drive track, a magazine housing in communication Iwith said drive track, said housing being adapted to receive a stack of said strips, a follower movable relative to said housing and adapted to engage one of said strips to advance fasteners to'said drive track, and pneumatically operated means for moving said follower, said pneumatically operated means including means connected to said follower and disposed in said guide means. 4. A stapling device for use with strips of staples having divergent legs and an offset crown portion comprising staple driving means having a tapered drive trackadapted to straighten the divergent legs of a staple, a housing having a staple discharging opening in communication with said track, said housing being adapted to receive a nested stack of said strips of staples, biasing means engaging at least one of said strips for urging said nested strips to a position in which the uppermost one of said strips is aligned with said opening, a follower movable relative to said housing for advancing the uppermost strip to feed staples to said drive track, and guide means movable with said follower and engaging the offset crown portion of the nested strip adjacent the uppermost strip to permit only a single strip to be moved into alignment with said discharge opening.

5. A fastening apparatus for use with strips of staples comprising staple driving means having a drive track, a staple magazine having an opening in communication with said drive track and having a follower guide track, a follower slidably mounted in said guide track and movable over a predetermined path relative to said magazine for feeding strips of staples into said drive track, and a staple cartridge having a single staple discharging opening and a single follower receiving opening formed in opposite ends thereof removably disposed in said magazine, said cartridge being adapted to receive a plurality of said strips, said cartridge being disposed in said magazine with said staple discharging opening in communication with said opening in said magazine and with said follower receving opening positioned in said predetermined path of movement of said follower.

6. The fastening apparatus set forth in claim in which said staple discharging opening and said follower receiving opening are in substantial alignment and in which said cartridge includes means for sequentially advancing said strips into substantial alignment with said aligned openings in said cartridge. Y Y

7. The fastening apparatus set forth in claim 5 in which said strips of staples are formed with divergent legs and are adapted to be nested within said cartridge so that the crown portions of a group of said strips are disposed between the divergent legs of the outermost of said strips and in which the follower is provided with angularly formed legs for engaging said strips.

8. The fastening device set forth in claim5 in which the staples include divergent legs, in which the drive track includes structure defining an enlarged space in communication with said magazine for receiving the staples supplied thereto and in which the drive track includes structure defining a tapered passageway for displacing the divergent legs of said staples to a substantially parallel relationship during movement of a staple through said drive track.

9. An assembly for feeding strips of staples having crown portions connecting divergent legs comprising a housing having a staple discharging opening, structure on said housing defining longitudinally extending retaining means disposed adjacent said opening, means supporting a plurality of strips of staples within said housing nested so that the crown portions of a plurality of strips are disposed between the divergent legs of the outermost of said nested strips and engaging said strips for biasing the 'nested strips so that the crown portion of the outermost strip bears against said retaining means, follower means movable relative to said housing for engaging and moving the outermost of said nested strips toward said discharge opening, and follower guiding structures engaging said follower means for directing movement of said follower means toward said opening Ato advance said outermost strip along a path between said retaining means and the crown portion of the strip of staples positioned next adjacent said outermost strip.

10. A magazine for use with strips of staples having divergent legs comprising a housing having a staple discharging opening and an upper wall, said housing being adapted to receive a plurality of staple strips having the crown portions thereof disposed between the divergent legs of the outermost of said strips, a spring disposed in said housing to engage the lowermost of said nested strips to urge the outermost of said nested strips against said upper wall, said housing also having la pair of opposed slots formed in the side walls thereof, a follower movable along said slots and having a pair of angularly formed legs corresponding to the divergent legs of said strips, said follower being adapted to engage the end surface of said outermost strip and move said engaged strip toward said staple discharging opening, and a flexible member secured to the end of said follower spaced away from said staple discharging opening and interposed between the crown portion of the strip located next adjacent said outermost strip and said upper wall.

11. A staple cartridge for use with strips of staples having divergent legs comprising a cartridge housing having a staple discharging opening in a front wall of said housing, said housing being adapted to receive a plurality of nested strips of staples having the crown portions thereof disposed between the divergent legs of the outermost of said Vnested strips, biasing means for urging the nested strips upwardly toward a top wall of said housing, and structure in said housing defining a follower receiving opening in said housing spaced from said staple discharging opening, said follower receiving opening comprising a rst portion formed in a rear wall of said housing in alignment with said staple discharging opening and a pair of slots formed in Ithe side walls of said housing in communication with said first portion.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,093 Maynard Dec. 1, 1914 1,828,067 Pitcher Oct. 20, 1931 1,910,688 Goodstein May 23, 1933 1,939,632 Randall Dec. 12, 1933 2,103,176 Randall Dec. 21, 1937 2,237,589 Dole Apr. 8, 1941 2,277,931 Moe Mar. 31, 1942 2,279,624 La Place Apr. 14, 1942 2,328,983 La Place Sept. 7, 1 943 2,355,807 La Place Aug. 15, 1944 2,368,552 La Place Ian. 30, 1945 2,589,491 Goodstein Mar. 18, 1952 2,632,889 Beecroft Mar. 31, 1953 2,707,277 Aldrich May 3, 1955 2,718,963 Austin Sept. 27, 1955 21,775,765 Klopstock Jan. l, 1957

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