Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6685077
-
Patent Number
6,685,077
-
Date Filed
Monday, September 10, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 3, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Rada; Rinaldi I.
- Tran; Louis
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 227 67
- 227 71
- 227 101
- 227 103
- 227 136
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A device for dispensing a plastic staple from fastener stock includes a housing, an ejection mechanism for dispensing the staple, a severing mechanism for separating the staple from the fastener stock and an indexing mechanism for advancing the fastener stock into the housing. The ejection mechanism includes a pair of needles, a pair of movable slides, a pair of ejector rods and an actuator pin extending perpendicularly between the slides. The severing mechanism includes a pivotally mounted cam having a non-linear slot which receives the actuator pin and a knife blade coupled to the cam. The indexing mechanism includes a feed slide and a rotatable feed dog for displacing the feed slide. The feed slide includes a pair of inwardly compressible spring arms which sequentially engage the fastener stock. During the ejection process, the actuator pin travels horizontally within the housing and selectively pivots the cam and the feed dog.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to plastic fasteners and more particularly to devices used in the dispensing of plastic fasteners.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,078 to A. R. Bone, which is incorporated herein by reference, there are disclosed several different types of plastic fasteners, or attachments, which are fabricated as part of continuously connected ladder stock. In each instance, the fastener has an H-shape, and the ladder stock is formed from two elongated and continuous plastic side members coupled together by a plurality of plastic cross links, the cross links preferably being equidistantly spaced. The stock may be produced from flexible plastics material including nylon, polypropylene and other similar materials by molding or by stamping.
Either manually or with the aid of specifically designed devices, individual fasteners may be dispensed from the ladder stock to couple buttons to fabric, merchandising tags to articles of commerce, or, in general, any two desired articles. In those instances where the individual fasteners are dispensed from a device having two needles, the attachments severed from the remainder of the ladder stock can be used like staples to secure multiple items together. As a result, attachments severed from the remainder of the ladder stock which are dispensed from a device having dual needles are commonly referred to simply as plastic staples in the art.
In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,816 to C. L. Deschenes et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosed an apparatus for dispensing attachments from continuously connected ladder stock of the type comprising a pair of plastic side members coupled together by a plurality of plastic cross links. The apparatus includes a mount, a support movably mounted on the mount, and a pair of carrier blocks mounted on the support. A needle block is mounted on each carrier block and a hollow, slotted needle is mounted on each needle block. A feed mechanism including a pair of feed wheels, is mounted on the support for advancing the ladder stock into the hollow slotted needles and a pair feed tracks, one for each hollow slotted needle, are provided through which the ladder stock passes from the feed wheels into the pair of hollow slotted needles. A pair of knives are provided for severing an attachment from the ladder stock, and a pair of ejector rods are provided for ejecting the severed attachment through the hollow slotted needles. The carrier blocks are disposed parallel to each other and movable sideways relative to each other so that the spacing between the hollow slotted needles can be changed for different applications. The feed wheels are disposed parallel to each other and are capable of being moved sideways relative to each other so that their spacing can be changed to accommodate different widths of ladder stock. In order to provide a path for the ladder stock form the feed wheels to the hollow slotted needles for different feed wheel spacings and/or needle spacings, each feed track assembly includes a pivotally mounted section.
The apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,816 to C. L. Deschenes et al. is well known and is commonly referred to in the art simply as a variable needle system (VNS). Variable needle systems of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,816 are commonly used in the art to secure a product for sale, such as a toy, hardware item or houseware item, onto a display card using one or more staples.
Although well known and widely used in the art for dispensing plastic staples, most conventional dual needle, plastic staple dispensing devices suffer from a notable drawback. Specifically, it has been found that most conventional dual needle, plastic staple dispensing devices are considerably large in size and complex in construction. As a result, most conventional dual needle, plastic staple dispensing devices are fixedly mounted on a flat work surface, such as a bench.
As can be appreciated, there is a distinct need in the art for a dual needle, plastic staple dispensing device which can be hand-held by the operator during use.
Accordingly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,076 to D. L. Bourque, there is disclosed a hand-held apparatus for dispensing attachments. During use of the hand-held apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,076, the attachments are fed from a continuous roll of stock into position where an individual attachment is separated from the stock. Thereafter, the stock and the separated attachment are advanced so that the attachment enters a movable slide and the stock occupies the prior position of the severed attachment. The slide is then moved with respect to one or more output needles so that a plunger may force the attachment from the slide through the needles and dispense it into the material with which the attachment is being used.
The hand-held apparatus for dispensing plastic staples disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,076 suffers from a couple notable drawbacks. Specifically, the hand-held apparatus for dispensing plastic staples disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,076 is considerably complex in construction and unreliable in performance, which is highly undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for dispensing a plastic fastener from a reel of fastener stock to couple together two or more items.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device as described above which includes at a pair of hollowed needles, each needle having a sharpened tip, wherein the pair of hollowed needles enable the plastic staple to pass through the items to be coupled together.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device as described above which can be handheld by the operator.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a device as described above which is reliable.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a device as described above which has a limited number of parts, which is easy to use and which is inexpensive to manufacture.
Accordingly, as one feature of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising a housing, an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and an indexing mechanism for advancing the supply of fastener stock into said housing, said indexing mechanism comprising, a feed slide adapted to engage and advance the supply of fastener stock, and a pivotally mounted feed dog for selectively contacting and urging said feed slide.
As another feature of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising a housing, an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and an indexing mechanism for advancing the supply of fastener stock into said housing, said indexing mechanism comprising, a feed slide slidably disposed within said housing, said feed slide comprising a spring arm which is adapted to selectively engage and advance the supply of fastener stock, and a pivotally mounted feed dog for displacing said feed slide.
As another feature of the present invention, there is provided device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising a housing, said housing being shaped to define a ejector rod slide guide channel, an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, said ejection mechanism comprising, a hollow needle having a sharpened tip and an elongated bore, an ejector rod slide adapted for lateral displacement within the ejector rod slide guide channel in said housing, an ejector rod mounted onto said ejector rod slide, said ejector rod being adapted to selectively protrude into the elongated bore of said hollow needle to eject the cross-bar of the individual plastic fastener out through said hollow needle, and an actuator pin fixedly mounted onto said ejector rod slide, a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and an indexing mechanism for advancing the cross-bar of the individual plastic fastener into alignment with the elongated bore of the hollow needle.
Various other features and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, a specific embodiment for practicing the invention. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:
FIG. 1
is a right side perspective view of a device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for dispensing plastic staples from a supply of continuously connected ladder stock;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in
FIG. 1
, the device being shown with selected components of the trigger assembly and the actuator pin removed therefrom;
FIG. 3
is a front plan view of a product for sale secured onto a display card using a plastic staple dispensed from the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a length of continuously connected ladder stock which may be used with the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 5
is an exploded perspective view of the housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is a right side perspective view of the left and right side pieces of the housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 7
is a front perspective view of the left and right side pieces of the housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
is a left side perspective view of the right side piece of the housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 9
is a right side perspective view of the left side piece of the housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 10
is a rear, exploded perspective view of needle housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 11
is a front,.exploded perspective view of the needle housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 12
is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of the trigger assembly for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 13
is a perspective view of the ejection mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 14
is an exploded perspective view of the ejection mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 15
is a perspective view of the severing mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 16
is an exploded perspective view of the severing mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 17
is an exploded perspective view of the severing mechanism and the needle housing for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 18
is a perspective view of the indexing mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 19
is an exploded perspective view of the indexing mechanism for the device shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIGS.
20
(
a
)-(
c
) are right side plan views of the device shown in
FIG. 1
at various stages during the process for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock, the device being shown with the right side piece of the housing and selected components of the trigger assembly removed; and
FIGS. 21
(
a
)-(
c
) are right side perspective views of the device shown in
FIG. 1
at various stages during the process for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock, the device being shown with the housing and selected components of the trigger assembly removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to
FIGS. 1-2
, there is shown a device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the device being identified generally by reference numeral
11
. As will be described further in detail below, device
11
is designed for use in dispensing individual plastic staples
13
from a supply of continuously connected ladder stock
15
to secure two or more items together. Specifically, device
11
may be used, for example, to secure a product P for sale, such as a toy, hardware item or houseware item, onto to a cardboard display card C using one or more plastic fasteners, as shown in FIG.
3
.
Continuous Supply of Ladder Stock
15
Supply of continuously connected ladder stock
15
represents any well known continuous supply of plastic fastener stock which includes a pair of side members interconnected by a plurality of cross-links. For example, ladder stock
15
may be of the type described in U.S Pat. No. 4,039,078 to A. R. Bone.
FIG. 4
shows a perspective view of a prior art length of continuously connected ladder stock
15
with which the system of this invention may be used. Ladder stock
15
is preferably made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene or nylon, and comprises a pair of side members
17
and
19
which are interconnected by a plurality of cross-links
21
. An individual plastic staple, or fastener,
13
which is obtained from ladder stock
15
is similarly shown in FIG.
4
. Plastic staple
13
comprises a pair of cross-bars
23
and
25
which are interconnected by a filament
27
, cross-bars
23
and
25
comprising sections of side members
17
and
19
, respectively, and filament
27
comprising a cross-link
21
.
It should be noted that, for simplicity purposes only, device
11
will be described for use with ladder stock
15
. However, it is to be understood that device
11
could be described for use with alternative types of ladder stock without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Device
11
for Dispensing Plastic Staples
13
Device
11
comprises a housing
29
, a trigger assembly
31
for actuating device
11
, an ejection mechanism
33
for dispensing a desired plastic staple
13
from device
11
to secure together two or more items, a severing mechanism
35
for separating the desired plastic staple
13
to be dispensed by ejection mechanism
33
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
, and an indexing mechanism
37
for feeding the desired plastic staple
13
into proper alignment within housing
29
prior to the severing and ejection processes. It should be noted that portions of device
11
not pertinent to this invention are neither shown nor described in detail herein.
Housing
29
for Device
11
Referring now to
FIGS. 5-7
, housing
29
is in the shape of a hollow gun and includes a front end
39
, a rear end
41
, a handle
43
, a top surface
45
, an inner surface
47
and an outer surface
49
. Housing
29
is preferably constructed of a rigid and durable material such as polycarbonate.
Housing
29
includes a left side piece
51
and a right side piece
53
which are affixed together by a plurality of screws (not shown). It should be noted that left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
are not limited to being affixed together by screws. Rather, it is to be understood that left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
may be joined together by alternative means, such as through a snap-fit, sonic welding, gluing, riveting or the like, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Affixed together, left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
are shaped to define an elongated slot
55
in top surface
45
of housing
29
a rectangular opening
57
in front end
39
of housing
29
,
Housing also includes a cannister for holding a roll of ladder stock
15
.
The cannister comprises a left cannister piece
61
which is affixed onto outer surface
49
of left side piece
51
by an extension arm
63
. Specifically, left cannister piece
61
is an integral piece which includes a flat annular member
65
having a central bore
67
, a sidewall
69
which is formed onto and extends perpendicularly in from the outer periphery of annular member
65
and a cylindrical boss
71
which is formed onto and extends perpendicularly out from annular member
65
around central bore
67
. Extension arm
63
is a flat member which includes a first end
73
which is adapted to be secured onto outer surface
49
of left side piece
51
by screws (not shown) and a second end
75
which is shaped to define a central opening
77
which is sized and shaped to fittingly receive cylindrical boss
71
.
The cannister also comprises a right cannister piece
79
which is affixed onto outer surface
49
of right side piece
53
by an extension arm
81
. Specifically, right cannister piece
79
is an integral piece which includes a flat annular member
83
having a central bore
85
, a sidewall
87
which is formed onto and extends perpendicularly in from the outer periphery of annular member
83
and a cylindrical boss
89
which is formed onto and extends perpendicularly out from annular member
83
around central bore
85
. Extension arm
81
is a flat member which includes a first end
91
which is adapted to be secured onto outer surface
49
of right side piece
53
by screws (not shown) and a second end
93
which is shaped to define a central opening
95
which is sized and shaped to fittingly receive cylindrical boss
89
.
As can be appreciated, the cannister is constructed to hold a supply of spirally wound ladder stock
15
between left cannister piece
61
and right cannister piece
79
. Left cannister piece
61
and right cannister piece
79
are each shaped to define a narrow slot
97
through which the supply of spirally wound ladder stock
15
can exit.
It should be noted that a narrow fastener passageway is preferably formed into each of left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
of housing
29
. Accordingly, with left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
affixed together, the narrow fastener passageways together define a fastener track which is sized and shaped to receive the supply of ladder stock
15
exiting the cannister and to guide the supply of ladder stock
15
into position within housing
29
for the subsequent severing and ejection processes, which will be described further in detail below.
Housing
29
further includes a needle housing assembly
103
removably mounted onto left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
by a pair of screws (not shown), needle housing assembly
103
being mounted onto left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
so as to enclose rectangular opening
57
in front end
39
of housing
29
.
As seen most clearly in
FIGS. 10-11
, needle housing assembly
103
comprises a needle housing
105
and a support plate
107
.
Needle housing
105
includes a front surface
109
and a rear surface
111
. Front surface
109
of needle housing
105
is shaped to define a pair of spaced apart needle receptacles
113
-
1
and
113
-
2
. A pair of tapered guide channels
115
-
1
and
115
-
2
extend in from rear surface
111
and into communication with needle receptacles
113
-
1
and
113
-
2
, respectively. As such, each cross-bar of an individual plastic staple
13
is capable of traveling longitudinally through an associated tapered guide channels
115
and into an associated needle disposed within needle receptacle
113
.
Rear surface
111
of needle housing
105
is slightly recessed so as to form a shallow channel
117
into which a knife blade is capable of being slidably disposed, as will be described further below. Rear surface
111
further includes a pair of spaced apart grooves
121
-
1
and
121
-
2
.
Support plate
107
is a substantially flat member which includes a flat front surface
123
and a rear surface
125
. A pair of spaced apart, vertically disposed, slots
129
-
1
and
129
-
2
, respectively, are formed in support plate
107
. As such, a pair of prongs can extend through slots
129
in support plate
107
, through corresponding slots formed in a knife blade, and into spaced apart grooves
121
in needle housing
105
. In this manner, the pair of fingers can be vertically displaced within needle housing assembly
103
to slide the knife blade up and down, as will be described further in detail below in conjunction with severing mechanism
35
.
Support plate
107
further includes a pair spaced apart, rearwardly displaced tabs
131
-
1
and
131
-
2
which define a pair of tapered guide channels
133
-
1
and
133
-
2
. With support plate
107
mounted onto needle housing
105
, tapered guide channels
133
-
1
and
133
-
2
are disposed in communication with tapered guide channels
115
-
1
and
115
-
2
, respectively, in needle housing
105
. It should be noted that each of tabs
131
is shaped to include a inwardly beveled sidewall
135
and a stop
137
. As can be appreciated, during operation of device
11
, stops
137
are sequentially positioned behind an individual cross-link
21
of ladder stock
15
to preclude the inadvertent rearward advancement of ladder stock
15
through device
11
.
It should be noted that needle housing
105
is removably mounted onto left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
by a pair of screws in such a manner so as to releasably couple needle housing
105
and support plate
107
together.
Trigger Assembly
31
for Device
11
Trigger assembly
31
serves to activate ejection mechanism
33
which, in turn, activates severing mechanism
35
and indexing mechanism
37
, as will be described further in detail below.
Referring now to
FIGS. 2 and 12
, trigger assembly
31
comprises a trigger
139
, a drive link
141
, a pair of rollers
143
, an idler link
145
, a spring retainer
147
, a compression spring
149
and a spring pivot
151
. Trigger assembly
31
differs principally in construction from the conventional trigger assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,123 to Russell in the construction of drive link
141
, as will be described further in detail below.
Trigger
139
includes an integrally formed post
153
, an elongated ergonomically-shaped, finger actuation surface
155
and a foot
157
. Post
153
is sized and shaped to be fittingly disposed within a trigger post receptacle
159
which is integrally formed in each of left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
. Actuation surface
155
is elongated and ergonomically-shaped to conform with the shape of the fingers of the user. Trigger
139
is hollowed so as to define a trigger cavity
161
therewithin.
As seen most clearly in
FIG. 2
, drive link
141
includes a bifurcated first end
163
, a second end
165
and an elongated slot
167
formed at second end
165
. The construction of first end
163
of drive link
141
is the principal difference between trigger assembly
31
and the trigger assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,123 to Russell. Specifically, first end
163
is bifurcated to include a first prong
169
-
1
and a second prong
169
-
2
, prongs
169
being spaced apart and pivotally connected to ejection mechanism
33
.
As seen most clearly in
FIG. 12
, pair of rollers
143
are fixedly mounted onto trigger
139
within trigger cavity
161
about a dowel pin
171
and are disposed to project within slot
167
formed in drive link
141
. Positioned as such, rollers
143
are capable of rotatably traveling within slot
167
in drive link
141
.
Idler link
145
is a substantially straight member which includes a first end
173
and a second end
175
. First end
173
of idler link
145
is fixedly mounted onto the approximate midpoint of drive link
141
about a dowel pin
177
. In addition, a dowel pin
179
is fixedly mounted onto second end
175
of idler link
145
and is sized and shaped to be fittingly disposed within idler link receptacles
181
formed into housing
29
, thereby enabling drive link
141
to pivot about dowel pin
179
.
Spring retainer
147
is an elongated member which is generally circular in lateral cross-section and includes a first end
183
which is adapted to snap engage onto dowel pin
179
and a second end
185
. Compression spring
149
is sized and shaped to be slidably mounted onto spring retainer
147
and includes a first end
187
and a second end
189
. Spring pivot
151
is pivotally mounted onto trigger
139
and is disposed within trigger cavity
161
. As such, spring retainer
147
is disposed such that first end
183
is snap mounted onto dowel pin
179
and second end
185
is disposed through a circular opening
191
formed in spring pivot
151
. With spring retainer
147
positioned in this manner, first end
187
of compression spring
149
contacts first end
183
of spring retainer
147
and second end
189
of compression spring
149
contacts spring pivot
191
, thereby causing compression spring
149
to resiliently urge trigger
139
outward until foot
157
on trigger
139
abuts against a trigger stop
193
integrally formed into housing
29
.
In use, trigger assembly
31
functions in the following manner. Specifically, trigger
139
is resiliently urged by trigger compression spring
149
outward until foot
157
on trigger
139
abuts against trigger stop
193
formed in housing
29
. Upon the application of an inward force onto actuation surface
155
, trigger
139
pivots about post
153
which, in turn, causes rollers
143
to apply an inward force onto drive link
141
as rollers
143
slide upward within slot
167
. The inward force applied to second end
165
of drive link
141
causes drive link
141
to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about dowel pin
179
. Upon release of the inward force, trigger compression spring
149
resiliently urges trigger
139
outward until foot
157
on trigger
139
abuts against trigger stop
193
, thereby returning trigger assembly
31
to its original position.
Ejection Mechanism
33
for System
11
Referring now to
FIGS. 13-14
, ejection assembly
33
serves to dispense an individual plastic staple
13
from device
11
to secure together two or more items. Ejection assembly
33
comprises a pair of hollowed needles
195
-
1
and
195
-
2
removably disposed within needle receptacles
113
-
1
and
113
-
2
, respectively, in needle housing
103
, a pair of ejector rod slides
197
-
1
and
197
-
2
which are capable of lateral displacement within housing
29
, a pair of ejector rods
199
-
1
and
199
-
2
fixedly mounted onto ejector rod slides
197
-
1
and
197
-
2
, respectively, for urging the cross-bars of an individual plastic staple through hollowed needles
195
-
1
and
195
-
2
, respectively, and an actuator pin
201
fixedly mounted onto and extending laterally between pair of ejector rod slides
197
.
Hollow slotted needles
195
are of the type which are used in conventional fastener dispensing devices. Specifically, each needle
195
comprises a rear end
203
which is covered by a needle casing
205
and a forward end
207
in the form of a sharpened tip. Each needle
195
also includes an elongated bore
209
which is sized and shaped to receive an associated cross-bar for plastic staple
13
. Each needle
195
further includes a slot
211
in communication with bore
209
, slot
211
being sized and shaped to enable a portion of staple filament
27
to slide therethrough. It should be noted that needles
195
are spaced apart in such a manner so that, with cross-bars
23
and
25
of an individual plastic staple
13
positioned therewithin, staple filament
27
extends between needles
195
in an outwardly bowed configuration.
Ejector rod slides
197
are spaced apart and are capable of lateral displacement within housing
29
between front end
39
and rear end
41
.
Left ejector rod slide
197
-
1
includes an elongated block
213
-
1
which is generally rectangular in lateral cross-section and which includes a first end
215
-
1
which is pivotally mounted onto prong
169
-
1
of drive link
141
about a pivot pin and a second end
219
-
1
. It should be noted that elongated block
213
-
1
includes a guide projection
220
-
1
which is sized and shaped to partially extend into a guide :channel
221
-
1
formed in left side piece
51
, guide channel
221
-
1
thereby limiting ejector rod slide
197
-
1
to lateral displacement within housing
29
. A tab
223
-
1
extends up vertically from elongated block
213
-
1
and serves to support ejector rod
199
-
1
, as will be described further in detail below.
Similarly, right ejector rod slide
197
-
2
includes an elongated block
213
-
2
which is generally rectangular in lateral cross-section and which includes a first end
215
-
2
which is pivotally mounted onto prong
169
-
2
of drive link
141
about a pivot pin and a second end
219
-
2
. It should be noted that elongated block
213
-
2
is sized and shaped to partially extend into a guide channel
221
-
2
formed in right side piece
53
, guide channel
221
-
2
thereby limiting ejector rod slide
197
-
2
to lateral displacement within housing
29
. A tab
223
-
2
extends up vertically from elongated block
213
-
2
and serves to support ejector rod
199
-
2
, as will be described further in detail below.
Ejector rod
199
-
1
is an elongated cylindrical member which comprises a first end
225
-
1
and a second end
227
-
1
. Ejector rod
199
-
1
is sized and shaped so that first end
225
-
1
can be removably disposed into a hole
228
-
1
formed into tab
223
-
1
of left ejector rod slide
197
-
1
. Ejector rod
199
-
1
is configured such that, with first end
225
-
1
fittingly disposed within hole
228
-
1
formed in tab
223
-
1
, second end
227
-
1
extends horizontally through device
11
towards front end
39
of housing
29
. As can be appreciated, as left ejector rod slide
197
-
1
advances laterally forward towards front end
39
of housing
29
, ejector rod
199
-
1
eventually protrudes into bore
209
of hollowed needle
195
-
1
so as to urge cross-bar
23
of an individual plastic staple
13
out through sharpened tip of needle
195
-
1
.
Similarly, ejector rod
199
-
2
is an elongated cylindrical member which comprises a first end
225
-
2
and a second end
227
-
2
. Ejector rod
199
-
2
is sized and shaped so that first end
225
-
2
can be removably disposed into a hole
228
-
2
formed into tab
223
-
2
of right ejector rod slide
197
-
2
. Ejector rod
199
-
2
is configured such that, with first end
225
-
2
fittingly disposed within hole
228
-
2
formed in tab
223
-
2
, second end
227
-
2
extends horizontally through device
11
towards front end
39
of housing
29
. As can be appreciated, as right ejector rod slide
197
-
2
advances laterally forward towards front end
39
of housing
29
, ejector rod
199
-
2
eventually protrudes into bore
209
of hollowed needle
195
-
2
so as to urge cross-bar
23
of an individual plastic staple
13
out through sharpened tip of needle
195
-
2
.
Actuator pin
201
serves to actuate severing mechanism
35
and indexing mechanism
37
as ejector rod slides
197
advance laterally forward, as will be described further in detail below. Actuator pin
201
is in the form of a cylindrical post having a first end
229
and a second end
231
. First end
229
of actuator pin
201
is sized and shaped to fittingly protrude through a circular hole
233
-
1
formed in second end
219
-
1
of left ejector rod slide
197
-
1
. Similarly, second end
231
of actuator pin
201
is sized and shaped to fittingly protrude through a circular hole
233
-
2
formed in second end
219
-
2
of right ejector rod slide
197
-
2
. As such, actuator pin
201
extends perpendicularly between ejector rod slides
197
.
In use, ejection mechanism
33
functions in the following manner to dispense an individual plastic staple
13
from device
11
. With indexing mechanism
37
having positioned cross-bars
23
and
25
of an individual plastic staple
13
into alignment within elongated bores
209
of needles
195
and with severing mechanism
35
separating the individual plastic staple
13
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
, actuation of trigger assembly
31
commences the ejection process. Specifically, the actuation of trigger assembly
31
drives ejector rod slides
197
forward which, in turn, advances ejector rods
199
into bores
209
of hollowed needles
195
. As ejector rods
199
project into bores
209
of needles
195
, ejector rods
199
contact and advance cross-bars
23
and
25
of plastic staple
13
out through needles
195
, thereby dispensing staple
13
into the desired objects.
Severing Mechanism
35
for Device
11
Referring now to
FIGS. 15-16
, severing mechanism
35
for device
11
serves to separate a desired plastic staple
13
from the remainder of the supply of ladder stock
15
prior to the ejection of said plastic staple by ejection mechanism
33
. Severing mechanism
35
comprises an elongated cam, or lever,
235
which is pivotally disposed within housing
29
, a knife lifter
237
, or support, mounted onto cam
235
, and a knife blade
239
which is mounted onto knife lifter
237
.
Elongated cam
235
is disposed between the pair of spaced apart ejector slides
197
and includes a first end
241
and a second end
243
. First end
241
of elongated cam
235
is shaped to include an integrally formed pivot post
245
which is sized and shaped to be fittingly disposed within a post receptacle
246
which is formed in each of left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
. As such, elongated cam
235
is capable of pivotal movement about pivot post
245
, the pivoting of elongated cam
235
serving to displace second end
243
along a substantially vertical plane, as will be discussed further below.
Elongated cam
235
is shaped to define an elongated slot
247
along its length. Slot
247
is sized and shaped to enable actuator pin
201
to extend laterally therethough, the width of slot
247
being slightly larger than the width of actuator pin
201
. As such, lateral translation of ejection mechanism
33
causes actuator pin
201
to travel laterally within slot
247
.
Slot
247
is non-linear in shape. Specifically, slot
247
is shaped to include a substantially horizontal rear portion
249
, an angled middle portion
251
and a substantially horizontal forward portion
253
. As can be appreciated, due to the non-linear shape of slot
247
, as actuator pin
201
travels laterally forward within slot
247
from rear portion
249
to forward portion
253
, actuator pin
201
urges against cam
235
in such as manner so as to pivot cam
235
in a clockwise direction, thereby drawing second end
243
of cam
235
down along a substantially vertical plane. Similarly, as actuator pin
201
travels laterally backward within slot
247
from forward portion
253
to rear portion
249
, actuator pin
201
urges against cam
235
in such a manner so as to pivot cam
235
in a counterclockwise direction, thereby drawing second end
243
of cam
235
up along a substantially vertical plane.
Second end
243
of cam
235
is shaped to include a pair of grooves
255
which are formed into opposite sides of cam
235
. As will be described further below, grooves
255
enable knife lifter
237
to be removably mounted onto second end
243
of cam
235
.
Knife lifter
237
is constructed of a rigid and durable material and has a unitary, generally Z-shaped configuration in longitudinal cross-section. Knife lifter
237
includes a first end
257
and a second end
259
. First end
257
is bifurcated and is sized and shaped to fittingly slide into grooves
255
, the tight fit of first end
257
into grooves
255
serving to secure knife lifter
237
onto second end
259
of cam
235
. Second end
259
of cam lifter
237
is shaped to include a pair of spaced apart prongs
261
which serve to support knife blade
239
. It should be noted that second end
259
of cam lifter
237
extends horizontally along a plane disposed above the horizontal plane defined by first end
257
.
Knife blade
239
is a conventional knife blade which includes a sharpened top edge
263
which is adapted to sever the desired plastic staple
13
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
. Knife blade
239
is shaped to include a pair of spaced apart slots
265
-
1
and
265
-
2
which are sized and shaped to receive prongs
261
-
1
and
261
-
2
, respectively, thereby enabling knife blade
239
to be removably mounted onto knife lifter
237
.
It should be noted that knife blade
239
is preferably disposed between needle housing
105
and support plate
107
, as shown in FIG.
17
. Specifically, knife blade
239
is preferably disposed within shallow channel
117
and is capable of vertical displacement therewithin. It should be noted that, since knife blade
239
is sandwiched between needle housing
105
and support plate
107
, prongs
261
-
1
and
261
-
2
of cam lifter
237
are sized and shaped to project through slots
129
-
1
and
129
-
2
, respectively, in support plate
107
, through slots
265
-
1
and
265
-
2
, respectively, in knife blade
239
and into grooves
121
-
1
and
121
-
2
, respectively, formed in needle housing
105
. Disposed in this manner, knife blade
239
can be replaced as desired by the operator by removing the screws which secure needle housing assembly
103
onto device
11
and separating needle housing
105
from support plate
107
.
In use, severing mechanism
35
functions in the following manner. Specifically, with actuator pin
201
of ejection mechanism
33
disposed in is rearmost position, sharpened top edge
263
of knife blade
239
is disposed in its upwardmost position so as to sever the desired plastic staple
13
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
prior to ejection by ejection mechanism
33
. Upon activation of trigger assembly
31
by the operator, actuator pin
201
advances laterally forward within slot
247
formed in cam
235
. Due to the non-linear nature of slot
247
, forward lateral advancement of actuator pin
201
pivots cam
235
in the clockwise direction which, in turn, downwardly displaces knife blade
239
along a substantially vertical plane. With knife blade
239
disposed in its downward position beneath the desired plastic staple
13
, ejection mechanism
33
is able to perform the ejection process. Upon completion of the ejection process, trigger assembly
31
is released which, in turn, causes actuator pin
201
to travel laterally in the rearward direction within slot
247
of cam
235
. As can be appreciated, due to the non-linear nature of slot
247
, rearward lateral displacement of actuator pin
201
pivots cam
235
in the counterclockwise direction which, in turn, upwardly displaces knife blade
239
along a substantially vertical plane in such a manner that sharpened top edge
263
of knife blade
239
severs the next plastic staple
13
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
.
Indexing Mechanism
37
for Device
11
Referring now to
FIGS. 18-19
, indexing mechanism
37
for device
11
serves to index a desired plastic staple
13
from ladder stock
15
in such a manner that cross-bars
23
and
25
of said staple
13
are in proper alignment with elongated bores
209
of hollowed needles
195
. Indexing mechanism
37
comprises a feed slide
267
for indexing the desired plastic staple
13
into alignment for the subsequent severing and ejection processes and a feed dog
269
for controlling feed slide
267
.
Feed slide
267
is slidably disposed within elongated slot
55
in top surface
45
of housing
29
and comprises a base
271
, a feed member
273
disposed on base
271
and a cover
275
snap mounted onto base
271
so as to sandwich feed member
273
between base
271
and cover
275
, as shown most clearly in FIG.
19
.
Base
271
is an elongated unitary member which includes a top surface
277
, a bottom surface
279
and a pair of sidewalls
281
. Each sidewall
281
is shaped to include an outwardly extending guide projection
283
. As can be appreciated, with feed slide
267
properly mounted onto housing
29
, guide projections
283
are sized and shaped to fittingly project into associated guide channels
285
formed into left side piece
51
and right side piece
53
to limit the movement of feed slide
267
to within elongated slot
55
in top surface
45
of housing
29
.
Top surface
277
of base is shaped to include a first pair of outwardly biased retention spring fingers
287
and a second pair of outwardly biased retention spring fingers
289
which together serve to retain cover
275
onto base
271
. Base
271
is also shaped to define a substantially rectangular opening
291
. Top surface
277
is further shaped to define a pair of spaced apart holes
293
into which feed member
273
is removably mounted, as will be described below.
Feed member
273
is one-piece and includes a pair of downwardly projecting posts
295
which are sized and shaped to project into holes
293
to retain feed member
273
in a mounted position on top surface
277
of base
271
. Feed member
273
includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, inwardly compressible spring arms
297
which serve to selectively engage ladder stock
15
during the indexing process. Each spring arm
297
includes a finger
299
at its free end. Each finger
299
is shaped to include a tapered sidewall
301
and a flat engagement surface
303
.
Cover
275
is a unitary member is shaped to define a pair of apertures
305
and
307
through which first and second outwardly biased retention spring fingers
287
and
289
, respectively, can be disposed so as to releasably snap-mount cover
275
onto base
271
. Cover
275
is also shaped to define a substantially rectangular opening
309
which is in alignment with opening
291
in base
271
when cover
275
is mounted onto base
271
.
Feed dog
269
is pivotally mounted onto a vertically extending tab
313
formed onto cam
235
about a pivot pin and is disposed to selectively displace feed slide
267
. As shown in
FIG. 18
, feed dog
269
is a unitary member which includes a first finger
315
, a second finger
317
and a third finger
319
. As can be appreciated, first finger
315
is sized and shaped to project through openings
291
and
309
in feed slide
267
. In this manner, pivotal movement of feed dog
269
, in turn, causes first finger
315
to selectively abut against and urge feed slide
267
in either the forward or rearward direction within elongated slot
55
in housing
29
.
In use, indexing mechanism
37
functions in the following manner. Specifically, with actuator pin
201
of ejection mechanism
33
disposed in its rearmost position, first finger
315
of feed dog
269
is disposed so as urge feed slide
267
in its most forward position. With feed slide
267
disposed in its most forward position, fingers
299
of feed slide
267
are disposed behind filament
27
of the desired plastic staple
13
, thereby urging staple
13
into proper alignment within needles
195
for the subsequent severing and ejection processes.
Upon activation of trigger assembly
31
by the operator, actuator pin
201
advances laterally forward within slot
247
formed in cam. As actuator pin
201
advances laterally forward, actuator pin
201
eventually contacts the rear surface of second finger
317
. Continued forward advancement of actuator pin
201
causes actuator pin
201
to pivot feed dog
269
in the counterclockwise direction which, in turn, causes first finger
315
to rearwardly displace feed slide
267
. As feed slide
267
is rearwardly displaced, tapered sidewalls
301
of fingers
299
abut against the next filament
27
in ladder stock
15
. As feed slide
267
continues in the rearward direction, the force of the next filament
27
onto tapered sidewalls
301
of fingers
299
causes spring arms
297
to inwardly compress until flat engagement surface
303
of each finger
299
is disposed behind the next filament
27
, at which time, spring arms
297
resiliently outwardly expand back to their original position. Feed slide
267
remains in this position during the completion of the ejection process.
Upon completion of the ejection process, trigger assembly
31
is released which, in turn, causes actuator pin
201
to travel laterally in the rearward direction within slot
247
of cam
235
. Actuator pin
201
travels laterally rearward until actuator pin
201
contacts the front surface of third finger
319
. Continued rearward displacement of actuator pin
201
causes actuator pin
201
to pivot feed dog
269
in the clockwise direction which, in turn, causes first finger
315
to displace feed slide
267
forward. As feed slide
267
is displaced forward, flat engagement surface
303
of each finger
299
of feed slide
267
abuts against next filament
27
in ladder stock
15
and advances ladder stock
15
forward until next plastic staple
13
is disposed into proper alignment with needles
195
for the next round of the severing and ejection processes.
Operation of System
10
In use, device
11
can be used to dispense a plastic staple
13
from a supply of ladder stock
11
to affix together two or more products in the following manner. With the products positioned as desired and with supply of ladder stock
15
properly loaded into device
11
, the operator grasps handle and manipulates device
11
in such a manner so that needles
195
penetrate through the products.
Referring now FIGS.
20
(
a
)-(
c
) and FIGS.
21
(
a
)-(
c
), the forward stroke of device
11
commences upon the activation of trigger
139
. Specifically, trigger
139
is inwardly compressed which, in turn, laterally advances actuator pin
201
in the forward direction within slot
247
formed in cam
235
. As actuator pin
201
advances from rear portion
249
of slot
247
and into middle portion
251
, actuator pivot begins to pivot second end
243
of cam
235
in the clockwise direction which, in turn, downwardly displaces knife blade
239
along a substantially vertical plane.
Continued forward advancement of actuator pin
201
into front portion
253
of slot
247
serves to pivot second end
243
of cam
235
in the clockwise direction until knife blade
239
is disposed to its lowermost position, as shown in FIG.
20
(
b
) and FIG.
21
(
b
). Disposed in its lowermost position, knife blade
239
is positioned beneath ejector rods
195
so that ejection mechanism
33
can dispense the desired plastic staple
13
.
Continued forward advancement of actuator pin
201
within front portion
253
of slot
247
serves to activate indexing mechanism
37
. Specifically, actuator pin
201
rotates feed dog
269
in the clockwise direction which, in turn, rearwardly displaces fingers
299
of feed slide
267
behind the next filament
27
in ladder stock
15
.
Completion of the forward advancement of actuator pin
201
along the front horizontal portion
253
of slot
247
, as shown in FIG.
20
(
c
) and
FIG. 21
(
c
), serves to complete the ejection process. Specifically, ejector rods
199
advance cross-bars
23
and
25
of the desired plastic staple
13
out through needles
195
, thereby dispensing the staple
13
through the desired objects to be coupled together.
Upon completion of the ejection process, trigger assembly
31
is released which, in turn, causes actuator pin
201
to travel laterally in the rearward direction within slot
247
of cam
235
. As actuator pin
201
begins to travel laterally in the rearward direction, ejector rods
195
withdraw, or retract, from within needles
195
.
As actuator pin
201
continues to travel laterally in the rearward direction, actuator pin
201
eventually contacts third finger
319
of feed dog
269
. Actuator pin
201
continues rearward and rotates feed dog
269
in the clockwise direction which, in turn, drives feed slide
267
forward. The forward displacement of feed slide
267
indexes the next plastic staple
13
in ladder stock
15
into position behind pair of needles
195
.
As actuator pin
201
continues to travel laterally in the rearward direction, actuator pin
201
eventually travels into angled middle portion
251
of slot
247
. Due to the non-linear nature of slot
247
, actuator pin
201
pivots cam
235
about post
245
in the counterclockwise direction which, in turn, upwardly displaces knife blade
239
along a substantially vertical plane. The upward displacement of knife blade
239
draws sharpened top edge
263
of knife blade
239
against side rails
19
and
21
in such a manner so as to sever the next plastic staple
13
from the remainder of ladder stock
15
.
Upon full release of trigger
139
, actuator pin
201
returns to its initial position, as shown in FIG.
20
(
a
) and FIG.
21
(
a
). The process for dispensing an individual plastic staple
13
from supply of ladder stock
15
can be repeated as desired.
The embodiment shown in the present invention is intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to make numerous variations and modifications to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising:(a) a housing, (b) an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, (c) a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and (d) an indexing mechanism for advancing the supply of fastener stock into said housing, said indexing mechanism comprising, (i) a feed slide slidably disposed within said housing, said feed slide comprising a base slidably disposed within said housing and a feed member mounted on said base, said feed member comprising an inwardly pivotable spring arm, said spring arm including a finger which is sized and shaped to engage and advance the supply of fastener stock, said finger extending laterally outward, and (ii) a pivotally mounted feed dog for displacing said feed slide.
- 2. A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising:(a) a housing, (b) an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, (c) a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and (d) an indexing mechanism for advancing the supply of fastener stock into said housing, said indexing mechanism comprising, (i) a feed slide slidably disposed within said housing, said feed slide comprising a feed member, said feed member comprising an inwardly pivotable spring arm and a post about which said spring arm is capable of pivoting said spring arm including a finger which is sized and shaped to engage and advance the supply of fastener stock, said finger extending laterally outward, and (ii) a pivotally mounted feed dog for displacing said feed slide.
- 3. A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, the individual plastic fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, said device comprising:(a) a housing, (b) an ejection mechanism for dispensing the individual plastic fastener, (c) a severing mechanism for separating the individual plastic fastener from the remainder of the supply of fastener stock, and (d) an indexing mechanism for advancing the supply of fastener stock into said housing, said indexing mechanism comprising, (i) a feed slide slidably disposed within said housing, said feed slide comprising an inwardly pivotable spring arm, said spring arm including a finger which is sized and shaped to engage and advance the supply of fastener stock, said finger extending laterally outward and including a tapered sidewall and a flat engagement surface, and (ii) a pivotally mounted feed dog for displacing said feed slide.
- 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said feed slide further comprises a cover mounted onto said base, said feed member being disposed between said cover and said base.
- 5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing is shaped to define a feed slide guide channel.
- 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base of said feed slide includes a projection which is sized and shaped to partially project into the feed slide guide channel in said housing.
- 7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said feed slide is limited to linear displacement within the feed guide channel.
US Referenced Citations (13)