Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
:
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.. Background of the Invention
J Field of the Invention ~.
This invention relates to the art of tag attaching
"~ apparatus.
~ 10 Brief Description of the Prior Art
.
U.S. patent No. 3,103,666 to A. R. Bone dated
~ September 17, 1963 discloses a tag attac.hing apparatus having
~. a slotted needle, a push rod or plunger for driving a bar :~
of a fastener through the needle, a toothed wheel for advancing
lS a fastener assembly, a pivotally mounted knife for severing an
. ;~ .
;; attachment which is in register with the needle from the
i.~ remainder of the fastener assembly, and a hand lever includin~
means for operating the toothed wheel, the knife and the push
rod in sequence. Japanese Utility Model Registration No.
. 20 949,012 to T. Kameya et al dated December 13, 1971 discloses
.,.
~-- a tag attaching apparatus including a needle, an index wheel,
. . a push rod, a slide, a knife, and a hand lever for actuating
the slide. The siide carries the push rod and actuates the .;
..
.~s pawl that cooperates with the index wheel. ~U.S. patent No.
:. 25 3,650,452 to E. W. Finke dated March 21, 1972 discloses a tag
attaching apparatus having a needle, a feed wheel coupled to
a ratchet wheel, a push rod, a slide and a hand lever for
driving the push rod and the slide, the slide having spaced
.
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.: , - . : . . . .
.~::, : . . .
Docket M-320
5Q2
apart abutments for driving a pawl by means of a pin rcceived
in a slot in the slide. When the hand lever i8 actuat~, the
push rod and slide are operated. W~en the pin contacts one r
end of the slot the tooth of the pawl is driven over a tooth
of a ratchet wheel. When the hand lever is released, a
return spring causes the pin to engage the other end of the
slot, thereby driving the pawl to cause the ratchet and feed
wheels to advance the fastener assembly. U.S. patent No.
3,652,004 to ~. Lozio dated March 28, 1972, includes a needle,
a push rod, a kinematic mechanism, and a hand lever for
driving the push rod and the kinematic mechanism. The
kinematic mechanism includes a pivotally mounted pawl r
; cooperable with a ratchet wheel to feed a fastener assembly
to the needle and the push rod. U.S. patent No. 3,759,435
15 to A. R. Bone dated September 18, 1973 discloses a tag
attaching apparatus including a slotted needle, a push rod,
a toothed wheel, a toothed member cooperable with the toothed
wheel, a slide for driving the push rod and the pawl, gear
means for driving the slide, and a hand lever for driving
the gear means. When the hand lever is actuated, the push
rod drives a bar section of a fastener through the needle.
When the hand lever is released, spring means returns the push
rod and causes the toothed member to drive the toothed wheel.
A release control is provided to pull the pawl away from the
teeth of the toothed wheel to permit the fastener assembly to
be pulled out of the apparatus.
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~ 0~ 5~
Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to a tag attaching apparatus
in which a pawl and a push rod are operated by cooperating
gears and in which one of the gears has a cutout or groove
5 which controls the actuation of the pawl. The pawl is
movable from a first position to a second position, and the
pawl drives a toothed wheel during movemeilt of the pawl from
the second position back to the first position. ~ link is
movably connected to the pawl and carries a projection received
10 in the groove. The groove has spaced-apart opposed abutment
faces. A manually operable actuator drives the gears. When
the gear with the groove is driven in one direction, *he pro- i
jection contacts the one abutment face near the end of gear
; travel in the one direction to move the pawl from the first r
15 position to the second positio~ and when the gear with the
groove i driven in the other direction, the projection contacts
the other abutment face near the end of gear travel in the other
direction to move the pawl from the second position to the
first position to in turn drive the toothed wheel. When the
20 tooth is driven the fastener assembly is indexed so that a
leading bar section is brought into alignment with a hollow
needle. The ends of the groove are so spaced and oriented
~, .
relative to the proiection so that the pawl travels the proper
distance and so that the push rod does not interfere with the
25 proper advance of the leading bar section into alignment with
-~ the bore.
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~0~145~)Z
~ief Description of the Drawings
: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view with certain
parts broken away for clarity, showing operative components
. of a tag attaching apparatus in their initial positions;
::
;; 5FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along
line 2--2 of FIGURE li
; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken
~ along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2:
.~ , .
FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of a fastener
10 assembly; !
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view
:`. of the fastener assembly shown in FIGURE 4;
?'. FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing ~ :
the operative components in a different position than in
FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along
: line 7--7 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a toothed
`., member shown in FIGURES 1 and 6;
20FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of
operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly for
:;~ driving a fastener, but showing the structure in a different ~ :
., ~ .
~- position from the po~itions shown in FIGURES 1 and 6;
FIGURE lO is a fragmentary side elevational view of
.~ .
operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly and for
driving a fastener, in accordance with a different embodiment;
. ~ FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line
11 of FIGURE 10;
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FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sidc elevational view
of operating structure for advancing the fa~tener as~embly and
for driving a fastener, in accordance with another embodiment;
FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken along line
13--13 of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 14 iS a fragmentary side elevational view r
of operating structure for advancing the fastener assembly
and for driving a fastener, in accordance,with another
embodiment;
FIGURE 15 is a sectional view taken along line
; 15--15 of FIGURE 14;
FIGURES 16 and 17 are fragmentary side elevational
~: views of different embodiments of operating structures for
, advancing the fastener assembly and for driving a fastener;
$~ 15 FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view of another r
~ embodiment of tag attaching apparatus;
.` FIGURE 19 is an enlarged side elevational view of
- a fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 18,
showing the operating structure in the same relative position
as in FIGURE 18;
: FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 19, but showing
~ the operating structure in a different relative position;
; ` FIGURE 21 iS a sectional view taken generally along
line 21--21 of FIGURE 20; r
FIGURE 22 iS an enlarged side elevational, partly
sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention;
and
FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken along line
~ 23--23 of FIGURE 22.
:
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Descri~tion of the Preferred Embodiments
, .
: Referring to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through
9, there is disclosed a tag attaching apparatus generally
indicated at 27. The apparatus 27 has a body 28 with two
body sections 29 and 30. The body 28 has a nose portion 31
; having a guideway 32 adapted to receive a fastener assembly33 of the type shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The fastener r
as~embly 33 includes a plurality of fasteners 34. Each
fastener 34 includes a head or bar section 35 and a head or
button section 36 joined by a filament section 37. The
fasteners 34 are connected to a common carrier member or runner r
::; 38 by respective coupling members 39. The guideway 32 is
adapted to receive the common carrier member 38, the coupling
members 39, and the bar section 35 and the filament sections
37 extend out of the side of the apparatus 27.
: The nose portion 31 mounts a hollow needle 40 having
an elongated slot 41. The bar section 35 is able to pass
through the bore or passage 42 which extends through the
. ~
needle 40 while its filament section 37 extends or projects
through the slot 41. The needle 40 has a rear cutting edge
.
43 for cutting the bar sections 35 from their respective
coupling members 39. The needle 40 has a slot 44 through
. which the bar sections 35 can descent into the needle 40.
An actuator generally indicated at 45 is shown to comprise a
hand lever 46 adapted to be engaged by the user's fingers.
; The hand lever 46 is pivotally mounted to the body 28 by a
; pin or shaft 45'. The lever 46 is drivingly connected to gear
~ means generally indicated at 47 by a link or connecting member
'.
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48. ~he connecting member 48 i8 pivotally connected to
the hand lever 46 by a pin 48' and to the gear means 47 ~ -
by a pin 49. The gear means 47 is shown to comprise a
pair of gear segments 50 and 51 having respective teeth
52 and 53. The gear segments 50 and 51 are in turn pivotally
mounted to the body 28 by means of aligned posts 54 and 55
formed integrally with respective body sections 29 and 30.
A slide generally indicated at 56 is guided for sliding
movement in guideways or slots 57 and 58 in the respective
f lo body sections 29 and 30. The slide 56 has a plurality of
sets of holes 59 to receive the teeth 52 and 53. Thus, the r
slide 56 includes a gear section or specifically a rack with
which the gear segments 50 and 51 cooperate. An ejector or
:: push rod 60 is securely held to the slide 56 so that the
slide 56 and the push rod 60 move as a unit upon manual
actuation of hand lever 46. The push rod 60 is guided by
means of a guide member 60~ so that the push rod 60 moves in
'~ allgnment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. When the user
~ ' squeeze~ the hand lever 46 while the body 28 is against the
: 20 palm of the user's hand, the hand lever 46 pivots counter-
clockwise (FIGURE 1) about pin 45' and thus the gear means
47 pivots counterclockwise and the slide 56 and the push rod
60 are driven to the left. As the push rod 60 moves to the
left it drives the bar section 35 of the fastener 34 through
: 25 the needle 40 and in so doing causes the bar section 35 to be
severed from its respective coupling member 39. A return
spring mechanism generally indicated at 61 comprises a cavity ;
62 formed in the body 28 to allow movement of a telescoping
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--7--
lO~S~)Z
member 63 receive~ in the cavity 62. The telcscopin-J member
6~ is pivotally connccted to the g~ar s~ymont~ 50 and 51 by
pin structure indicated at 64. One end of a compression
spring 61' bears against the body 28 in the cavity 62 and
its other end bears against member 63. When the hand lever
46 is released from the squeezing action exerted by the user,
the return spring mechanism 61 will cause the hand lever 46,
the member 48, the gear means 47, the slide S6 and the push
rod 60 to return to their respective initial positions shown
in FIGURE 1.
The apparatus 27 includes a fastener assembly feeding
mechanism generally indicated at 65 for feeding the fastener
assembly 34 to position one bar section 35 at a time into
alignment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. The feeding : -
.: .
mechanism 65 is shown to include a toothed wheel 66 secured
. to a shaft 67 rotatably mounted in a hole 68 in the body
section 50. The toothed wheel 66 is positioned in a space
between a member 69, shown broken away in PIGURE 1 but shown
. more fully in U.S. patent No. 3,759,435, and body portion 30.
The gear 66 has a plurality of teeth 70 disposed on the
: periphery for engaging the coupling members 39. The wheel
.. 66 is rotated counterclockwise (FIGURES 1, 6 and 9) by action
of a cooperable pawl generally indicated at 71. The pawl 71
:`
- is mounted for generally reciprocable movement and is con-
:~ 25 structed using two basic parts, namely a toothed member 72
;,
having a tooth 73 an~ a link or link member 74. A pin 75
^ pivotally connects the members 72 and 74. The member 72 is
-~x, provided with a slot generally indicated at 76 through which
`~ the shaft 67 extends. The member 72 is adapted to rock back
and forth over the shaft 67 as the result of movement of link
. member 74. The tooth 73 is hook-like and engages one tooth 70
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lO'~i~S~Z
at a time of the toothed wheel 66 to rotate it. The slot 76
has parallel upper and lowex walls 77 and 78 which are angularly
disposed with respect to tooth 73 so that when the member 72 is
rocked in one direction, the tooth 73 is cammed out of engage-
5 ment with the wheel 66 and when rocked in the opposite
direction the tooth 73 is cammed into engagement with the
wheel 66. There exists an acute angle A between the parallel
walls 77 and 78 and tooth 73 to effect the camming movement.
When the member 72 is moved sufficiently by the link member
74 the one end of the slotted hole 76 contacts the shaft 67.
Because the walls 77 and 78 are angled with respect to the
tooth 73, movement in one direction causes tooth 73 to cam
out of engagement between the two adjacent teeth 70 and move-
ment in the other direction causes tooth 73 to cam into
engagement with wheel 66. Further movement of the member 72
: in the direction which causes engagement will then cause
, s
rotation of the whee} 66. In order to prevent wheel 66 from
rotating as the member 72 is rocked back and forth relative
to the wheel 66 there is provided on member 69 a resilient
member 79 having a projection or detent 80. The detent 80 is
adapted to be positioned in the space between two adjacent
teeth 70 to prevent the wheel 66 from rotating except when
actuated by the member 72 or when the fastener assembly 34 is
pulled upwardly out of the guideway 32. The link member 74
is supported at its rearward end by a member 81 slidably
~-'. movable in a cavity 82 in the body section 30. The member
, .
,
104~S~)~
81 is urged upwardly against pawl member 75 by a sprin~ U4
toward a projection or pin 83. The structure described
above under this headin~ is the same as in U.S. patent No.
3,759,435 to which further reference may be made for further
constructional details.
Referring now to the present improvement, FIGURE
1 shows the link member 74 as having a single abutment or
projection 85 depending in the downward d'irection. The
abutment 85 has an abutment or ~top face 86 with which a pin
or projection 87 connected to the gear segment 51 can
cooperate. In the position shown in FIGURE 1, the projection
87 bears against the abutment face 86 in counteraction to a
compression spring 88. One end of the spring 88 bears against
the rearward end of the link member 74 and the other end of
lS the spring 88 bears against body section 30. In the position
shown in FIGURE 1, the member 72 is in its initial position
in the se~uence of operation which is the same as its final
position in the sequence. When the actuator 45 is squeezed,
the gear means 47 and hence the projection 87 move counter-
~- 20 clockwise and during such counterclockwise movement the link
member 74 moves to the left (FIGUR~ 1) under the biasing action
of the spring 88. As the link member 74 moves to the left
` from the position c~hown in FIGURE 1 through the position shown
;~ in FIGURE 9 toward the position shown in FIGURE 6 the pro-
jection 87 loses contact with the stop face 86 when the left-
hand movement of the link member 74 is arrested due to the
. ~ .
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fact that the shaft 67 is now in contact with one end 89 of
the slot 76. When the user discontinues ~queezin~ the actuator
45, th~ return 9pring mechanism 61 causes the gear means 47
to rotate clockwise and when the projection 87 moves into
contact with the abutment face 86, the projection 87 begins
driving the link member 74 to the right against the action
of the spring 88. When the gear means 47 neaxs the end of
; its ciockwise movement, the link member 74 drives the member
72 to a position in which end 90 of the 810t 76 contacts
the shaft 67 and pivots the member 72 counterclockwise from
the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 1.
As the link member 74 continues to be driven to the right by
clockwise rotation of the gear means 47 and projection 87,
the toothed member 72 drives the wheel 66 counterclockwise.
The counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 66 brings the
next successive bar section 35 into alignment with the needle
bore 42 and the end 60' of the push rod 60. Thus, the wheel
66 rotates through such an angle as to advance the fastener
; assembly 33 through a distance equal to the distance from the
20 centerline of one bar section 35 to the centerline of the next
adjacent bar section 35. The springs 61' and 88 are shown to
, be in force opposition. It is noted that the spring 88 is
relatively light and the spring 61 is relatively heavy so that
release of the hand lever 46 by the user overcomes the force
of the spring 88.
-; Briefly stated the sequence of operation of the
apparatus 27 is as follows, assuming the apparatus has been
~ .
loaded with a fastener assembly 33. The user squeezes the
. ~
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45i~)2
actuator 45, whicll cause3 the ~ear mearl~ 47 to pivo~counterclockwise (FIGURE 1) to drive the slide 56 and the
push rod 60 to the left (F~GUI~ 1). Wh~n the end 60' of
the push rod 60 acts on one end of the bar section 35, the
knife 43 severs the coupling member 39 and the bar section
`` 35 continues to move through the needle 40 as the push rod
: 60 continues to move. While the gear means 47 is pivoting
counterclockwise, the link member 74 moves to the left
under the action of the spring 88, thereb~ moving the member
72 from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown
in FIGURE 6. When the user releases the squeeze on the
actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61 drive the gear
means 47 clockwise (FIGURE 6) to withdraw the push rod 60 from
the needle 40 and move end 60' clear of the next bar section
- 35 to enable its descent into the needle through the slot 44.
Continued clockwise movement causes the projection 87 to
contact abutment face 86 to drive link member 74 to the right
to thus move the member 72 to a position between adjacent
20 teeth 70 of the wheel 66 and to drive the wheel 66 to in turn
; advance the fastener assembly 33.
: With reference to the embodiment of FIGURFS 10
- and 11 of the drawings, the tag attaching apparatus 27A is the
. same as the tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in
- ~ 25 the drawings and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment
~. of FIGURES 10 and ll are shown with like reference characters
, - ~ ., .
as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member
74a differs from the linklmember 74 in that the link member 74a
~- has an abutment or stop 95 with abutment or stop faces 96 and 97.
-
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1044502
~he ~ear mean~ 47 has a pair of radially ~paced apart pro-
jections or pins 98 and 99. When the gear mean~ 47 is in
the position shown in FIGUR~S 10 and ll, the link member 74a
is in the position of the link member 74 in FIGURE 1, and
5 associated parts such as the push rod 60 and the toothed
wheel 66 and the toothed member 72 are in their respective r
positions shown in FIGURE 1. When the user squeezes the
actuator 45, the gear means 47 is pivoted'counterclockwise
(FIGURE 10) and when the projection 99 starts contacting
10 the abutment face 97 of the abut~ent 95, the link member
74a is driven to the left, thereby driving the member 72
to the position of FIGURE 6. In the meantime the push rod
60 has pushed a bar section 35 through bore 42 of the needle
40. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the
, 15 return spring mechanism 61 drives the gear means 47 clock- '
wise, and when the projection 98 starting contacting the
abutment face 96 of the abutment 95, the }ink member 74a
;- is driven to the right until the gear means 47 has reached
the initial position shown in FIGURE 10, thereby driving the
.; 20 toothed wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
~: With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 12
::
' and 13, the tag attaching apparatus 27B is the same as the
tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings
~ and indicated below., Like parts in the embodiment of
;,~, 25 FIGURES 12 and 13 are shown with like reference characters
- ' as in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member
74b differs from the link member 74 in that it mounts a pair
of abutment members 100 and 101 which are mounted on and
.. ~ . .
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Doc~et M-320
10445~)Z
independently movable relative to the link member 74b by
respective pivots 102 and 103. The abutment members 100
and 101 are urged to respective positions parallel to link
member 74b by respective leaf springs 104 and 104'. The
abutment me~bers 100 and 101 have respective abutmen~ or
stop faces 105 and 106. The gear means 47 has a pair of
; radially spaced apart projections or pins 107 and 108.
~ When the gear means 47 is in the position shown in FIGURES
; 12 and 13 the link member 74b is in the position of the link
member 74 in FIGURE 1, and associated parts such as the
: push rod 60 and the toothed wheel 66 and the member 72 are
in their respective positions shown in FIGURE 1, When the
: user squeezes the actuator 45, the gear means 47 is pivoted
. cou~terclockwise (FIGURE 12) and the projection 107 moves
.. . . .
out of contact with the abutment face 105. As the gear
means 47 and the projection 107 move counterclockwise the
., spring 104' urges the abutment member 101 clockwise to a
:. position parallel to the link member 74b. When the projection
, 108 contacts the lower surface of the abutment member 100,
the projection 108 pivots the abutment member 100 clockwise
: against the urging of the spring 104 and near the end of
travel of the projecti~n 108, the projection 108 contacts the
abutment face 106 of the abutment member 101 and thereby drives
the link member 74b to the left. This causes member 72 to
move from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown
in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases squeezing the actuator 45,
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Docket M-320
1~4~ 32
the gear means 47 is driven clockwise by the return spring
mechanism 61, the abutment member 101 is pivoted counter-
clockwise by the projection 107, and when the gear means 47
nears the initial position, the projection 107 contacts
S the abutment face 105 and drives the link member 74b to the
right, thereby causing the toothed member 72 to advance the
toothed wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 14
and 15, the tag attaching apparatus 27C is the same as the
tag attaching apparatus 27 e~cept as shown in the drawings
and indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURES
14 and 15 are shown with like reference characters as in the
embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74c differs
: from the link member 74 in that it carries a pivot 109 and the
gear segment 51 carries a pivot 110. A link 111 is pivotally
connected to the pivot 109, and the gear segment 51 carries
a pivot 110. Links 111 and 112 are pivotally connected to
each other by means of a pivot 113. The link 112 has an
integrally formed turned out tab which provides a stop 114.
The stop 114 is disposed in the plane of the link 111 so
: that when the links 111 and 112 buckle to the phantom line
positions shown in FIGURE 14 the stop 114 limits the relative
pivotal movement of the links 111 and 112. Thus, when the
actuator 45 is squeezed, the gear means 47 begins to pivot
counterclockwise ~FIGURE 14) and the links 111 and 112 pivot
without imparting any motion to the link member 74c. However,
when the abutment 114 contacts the link 111 and upon continued
~:`
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Dock~t M-320 1~ 5~
counterclockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link
member 74c is driven to the left (FIGURE 14), thereby
moving the member 72 from the position shown in FIGURE 1
to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases
squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism 61
pivots the gear means 47 clockwise and the links 111 and
112 move to the ~olid line position shown in FIGURE 14 in
which the link 111 contacts stop pin or projection 114'
carried by the link member 74c. Upon continued clockwise
rotation of the gear means 4i, the link 111 exerts a pulling
force on the link member 74c to drive the link member 74c
to the right (FIGURE 14), thereby driving member 72 to drive
the wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 16,
; the tag attaching apparatus 27D is the ~ame as the tag
attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and
indicated below. Like parts in the embodiment of FIGURE 16
are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment
of FIGURES 1 through 9. The link member 74d is like the
link member 74 except it carries a projection 115. A link
116 has an elongated slot or cutout generally indicated at
117 in which the projection 115 is received. The link 116
is pivotally connected to the gear means 47 by a pin 118
secured to the gear means 47. When the actuator 45 is
squeezed, the gear means 47 pivots counterclockwise and the
link 116 i~ driven to the left from the position shown. When
abutment end 119 of the slot 117 contacts the projection 115,
the pawl member 74d is driven to the left, thereby causing
the member 72 to be dri~en from the position shown in FIGURE 1
3~ to ~he position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user ceases
-16-
:
Docket M~320 1~4~50~
squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism
61 rotates the gear means 47 clockwise and the link 116
is driven to the right. When other abutment end 12~ of
the ~lot 117 contacts the projection 115 and upon con-
tinued clockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link116 exerts a pulling force on the link member 74d to
drive the link member 74d to the right, thereby driving
the member 72 to drive the wheel 66 to advance the
fastener assembly 33.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 17,
the tag attaching apparatus 27E is the same as the tag
attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings and
indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURE 17
are shown with like reference characters as in the embodiment
of FIGU~ES 1 through 9. The link member 74e is like the link
member 74 except that it has an elongated slot or cutout
generally indicated at 121. A link 122 carries a projection
or pin 123. The gear means 47 carries a pin 124 to which the
link 122 is pivotally connected. When the actuator 45 is
squeezed, the gear means 47 pivots counterclockwise and the
link 122 is driven to the left from the position shown.
When the projection 123 contacts end or abutment 125 of the
cutout 121, the pawl 74e is driven ~o the left, thereby
causing the member 72 to be driven from the position shown
in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. When the user
- ceases squeezing the actuator 45, the return spring mechanism
61 rotates the gear means 47 clockwise and the link 122 i9
driven to the right. When the projection 123 contact the other
end or abutment 126 of the cutout 121 and upon continued
clockwise rotation of the gear means 47, the link 122 exerts
a pulling force on the link member 74e to drive the link
-17-
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.:
Docket M-320
10~5¢~'~
member 74e to the right, thereby driving member 72 to drive
the wheel 66 to advance the fastener assembly 33.
The tag attaching apparatu 27F is the same as
the tag attaching apparatu~ 27 except as shown in the drawings
and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURES
18 through 21 are shown with like reference characters as in
the embodiment of FIGU~ES 1 through 9. In the embodiment of
FIGURES 18 through 21, the only function of the gear means
47 is to drive the slide 56. A plate 127 is secured to the
hand lever 46 by fasteners 128. The plate 127 is generally
flat and is constructed of metal. The plate 127 can be
considered to be an extension of the hand lever 46. The
plate 127 carries a post 129 which pivotally mounts a pawl
130. The pawl 130 is shown to be of onepiece construction
unlike the pawl 71 used in the embodiments of FIGURES 1
through 17. The pawl generally indicated at 130 has a tooth
131 which is cooperable with a toothed wheel in the form of
a ratchet wheel 132. The ratchet wheel 132 has a plurality
of teeth 133 disposed at its periphery. The ratchet wheel
132 is secured to the shaft 67 to which the toothed wheel
66 is also secured. A tension spring 134 is connected to
one end 135 of the pawl 130. The other end of spring 134 is
connected to a tang secured to the plate 127. The post 129
is disposed between the end 135 and the tooth 131. The pawl
130 has a manually engageable extension 136 which extends
beyond the tooth and which is disposed at an end of the pawl
130 opposite the end 135. The pawl 130 cooperates with the
ratchet wheel 132 to advance the fastener assembly 33 through
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Docket M-320 ~ 5~
a distance equal to the distance from the centerline of
one bar section 35 and the centerline of the next adjacent
bar section 35 upon each full actuation of the hand lever 46,
that is~ squeezing the hand lever 46 drives the pawl 130
from the initial positions shown in FIGURES 18 and 19 to the
position shown in PIGURE 20, and release of the hand le~er
allows mechanism 61 to return the pawl 130 to its initial
position and in so doing the pawl 130 drives the ratchet
wheel 132.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 22
and 23, the tag attaching apparatus 27H is the same as the
tag attaching apparatus 27 except as shown in the drawings
and indicated below. Like parts of the embodiment of FIGURES
22 and 23 are shown with like reference characters as in the
embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 9. The gear segment 51 of the
gear 47 is provided with a groove or cutout 200 which is shown
to be arcuate and to be concentric with the shaft 54. A member
or link 201 is preferably movably connected to link membex 74h
of the pawl 71 by a pin or pivot 202. The link 201 is shown
to carry a projection or pin 203 received in the groove 200.
The groove 200 has spaced apart ends or abutment faces 204 and
Z05. When the actuator 45 is operated, the gear 47 pivots
: clockwise (FI~URE 22) and the push rod 60 is moved to the
right to sever a bar section 35 from the respective connector
39 by means of cutting edge 43 and to move the bar section 35
through the needle 40 while the filament section 37 extends
. through the slot 41. ~ear the end of clockwise travel of the
gear 47, the abutment face 204 contacts the projection 203 and
therehy dr~ves the link member to the right and pivots the
toothed member 72. When the clockwise rotation of the gear 47
` - 1 9 -
,
Docket M-320
10'~L5~
is completed and the actuator 45 is released, the return
~pring mechanism 61 drive3 the actuator 45, the link 48, the
gear 47 and the slide 56 to their initial positions and near
the end of the counterclockwise movement of the gear 47, the
projection abuts the abutment face 205 to move the link
member 74h to the left, thereby pivoting the toothed member
clockwise to drive the toothed wheel 66 to bring the next
successive bar section 35 of the respective fastener 34
into alignment with the bore 42 of the needle 40. The spacing
and location of the abutment faces 204 and 205 is such that
the push rod 60 is moved clear of the path of movement of the
: leading bar section 35 before ~he leading bar section 35 is
- advanced into alignment with the bore 42, thus preventing the
leading bar section 35 from bumping into the retreating push
rod 60.
Other embodiments and modifications of this invention
will sugge~t themselves to those skilled in the art, and all
such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are
included within its scope as best defined by the appended
claims.
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