Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
8744
sACKGRO~ND
.
The invention relates to flexible fastener attachments,
;lethods of forming and employing the attachments, and apparatus
for dispensing the attachments.
Types of flexible fastener attachments are illustrated
by the disclosures in U.S. Patents 3,444,597
and 3,999,432
. A method of forming attachments is disclosed
in U.S. patent 3,380,122,
and apparatus for dispensing such attachments is illustrated
by U.S. patents 3,103,666
and 3,470,834
The attachments and the apparatus by which they
are dispensed are used in the coupling of items, such as tags
to merchandise; layers of material, for example buttons and
clothing; and pairs of items such as shoes and gloves.
The foregoing attachments and their associated
apparatus are eminently suitable where only a few attachments
are to be dispensed. They are not as suitable in situations,
such as that presented by a production line, where attachments
are dispensed in large volume at a high rate. ~n that kind
of situation it is important for the attachments to be dis-
pensed with a high degree of reliability without appreciable
down time for reloading and the correction of equipment
failures, including jamming.
In the case of U.S. patent 3,103,666, for example,
a stock of fastener attachments is provided by coupling a
plurality of individual attachments to a carrier rod. The stock
is fed into dispensing apparatus by a manually operated
- indexing wheel. As a practical matter there is a limit to the
length of the carrier, and hence of the stock. This means that
' . - 1 - ~
:, .
1~48744
a new stock has to be inserted periodically into the dispenser.
In addition the carrier and the elements by which the attach-
ments are joined constitute waste material, which presents a
disposal problem.
It is also important to facilitate the feed and
handling of the stock. For the stock of U.S. patent 3,103,666
the individual attachments have loose ends and projections
that can become entangled and be a potential source of jamming
during feed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides ~asteless fastener attachment
stock that is particularly suitable for use in apparatus for
dispensing fasteners.
The stock is constituted by elongated side members
that are joined by cross links. The side members desirably
are continuous and of flexible material. They are advantageously
parallel to one another and may be round or rectangular in cross
section. The cross links are desirably equidistantly spaced and
parallel to one another. The resulting stock is easily rolled
or folded back and forth over itself. It is advantageously
employed in fastener attachment apparatus containing a mechanism
for severing individual attachments and having one or a
plurality of needles through which the fasteners are dispensed.
The stock is easily storable in a suitable container which can
be mounted in or upon the attachment apparatus.
The resulting stock is an integral unit with no
loose ends or portions. It is under positive control as it is
carried and fed in the dispenser. There are no projecting
parts of stock to cause interference. Fastener attachments can
be formed from the stock in the dispenser with end bars of equal
length on opposed ends of a cross link. This facilitates the
. .
1~48744
dispensing of the attachments and their use in the coupling of
items and materials. In particular, the bars of each fastener
attachment may be fed simultaneously through one or more
needles to couple a button to material, to join two or more
pieces of material, or to provide a coupling in which the bars
do not show either above or below a surface into which an
attachment has been driven.
The stock can be formed by molding, including
stretching, or by providing apertures in a sheet of flexible
material. Sections of stock can be joined together to form an
extended length of stock.
sRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top view of a length of fastener attach-
ment device stock according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the attachment
devices formed from the stock shown in Fig. l;
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines
3-3 and 4-4 in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a top view of a length of fastener attach-
ment device stock formed in a different configuration than thatof Fig. l;
Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the attachment
devices formed from the stock shown in Fig. 5;
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken along
lines 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9 in Fig. 6;
Fig. 10 is a front view showing stock of the disclosure
to provide the fastener attachment device of Figs. 6-9 confined
between two parallel planes;
Figs. ll and 12 illustrate two ways of storing the
stock in a container such as a round canister or a rectangular
canister from which it may be dispensed;
1~4874~
Fig. 13 is a top of a dual needle apparatus for forming
fastener attachment devices shown in Figs. 2-4, or 6-9 from the
stock shown in Figs. 1, 5 or 10 and then dispensing the device
through the needles and into the material;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14
in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14A is a partial sectional view taken along
line 14A-14A ln Fig. 14; and Fig. 14B illustrates another stock
container which may be substituted for the container in Fig. 14;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15
in Fig. 14 with the means for dividing the fastener attachment
stock in a first position to receive the fastener attachment
stock;
Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 but with the
means for dividing the fastener attachment stock in a forward
position after forming one fastener attachment device from the
fastener attachment stock;
Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17
in Fig. 16 illustrating a pair of plungers about to push the
fastener attachment device end bars through a pair of needles;
Fiq. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but with the
plungers within the needles while pushing the fastener attachment
device therethrough and after the needles have penetrated through
the material;
Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 showing the
plungers pushing the fastener attachment device end bars out
of the needles to fasten two layers of material together;
Fig. 20 illustrates the attachment device holding
the ~yers of material together;
~ Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21-21 in
5 ~ 30 Fig. 14;
Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22
in Fig. 21;
_ 4 _
lV4~744
Fig. 23 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 18
showing one plunger and one needle for inserting one end bar
of a fastener attachment device through layers of material;
Fig. 24 illustrates the fastener attachment device
of Fig. 6 popping out of the needle in Fig. 23;
Fig. 25 illustrates the fastener attachment device
inserted as shown in Figs. 23 and 24 holding two layers of
material together;
Fig. 26A i~lustrates a powered system for controlling
the operation of the apparatus of Figs. 13-24;
Fig. 26B represents in block form a circuit for
operating the apparatus of Fig. 26,
Fig. 27 represents in a front view a modification of
Figs. 13-22 to permit the aligning of the needles with respect
to holes of different size buttons shown in Fig. 32;
Figs. 28 and 29 are sectional views taken along
lines 28-28 and 29-29 in Fig. 27;
Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken along line 30-30
in Fig. 27 showing in phantom rotation of the needles;
Fig. 31 is a top view looking down from line 31-31
in Fig. 27;
Fig. 32 illustrates three different size buttons
which may be attached to material as shown in Figs. 37-39
herein;
Figs. 33-36 illustrates in sectional view similar to
Fig. 28 the steps for forming or dividing an attachment device
from said stock, forcing it ir,to the needles and then positioning
the needles as shown in phantom in Fig. 30;
Figs. 37-39 illustrate respectively in a top view a
button, the button attached by fastener devices to material and
in a sectional view showing the button coupled to material;
Fig. 40 illustrates in a side view a hand operable
~4t~744
apparatus for forming fastener attachment devices from the
fastener attachment stock and then dispensing the devices;
Fig. 41 is a sectional view taken along line 41-41
of Fig. 40;
Fig. 42 is a sectional view taken along line 42-42
of Fig. 41;
Fig. 43 is a sectional view taken along line 43-43
of Fig. 42;
Fig. 44 is a view similar to Fig. 43 after the fastener
attachment device has been formed from the stock; and
Fig. 45 is a diagrammatical view showing the parts
for dividing the stock into fastener attachment devices.
Fig. 46 illustrates in a side view the feed wheel
of Figs. 41 and 42.
Fig. 47 illustrates in a top view the position of
the means for dividing the stock after providing a fastener
attachment device therefrom and positioning it for dispensing
through a needle;
Fig. 48 illustrates the device of Fig. 40-47
modified to be operated by power means;
Figs. 49 and 50 illustrate one method of forming the
stock according to this disclosure;
Figs. 51-53 illustrate another method of forming the
stock according to this disclosure and then stretching it to
strengthen the cross links thereof;
Fig. 54 illustrates a method of joining short lengths
of stock together to form lengths of stock;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference should now be had to Figs. 1-3 for a
description of fastener attachment stock according to the
disclosure. The stock is shown at 59 and includes two elongated,
continuous and undivided plastic side members 60A and 60s and
a plurality of plastic cross links 60C coupled to and between
the side members 60A and 60B such that an aperature, space or
hole 60D is left between the cross links and side members.
The stock 59 is preferably of a plastic material.
Most preferably the plastic material is flexible at least in
part and is also sufficiently stiff in at least a portion
thereof so that a portion thereof may easily be pushed through
a needle slot as will be shown later in this disclosure.
Additionally, in certain applications involving the
coupling of buttons, it is highly desirable that the stock
also be resilient. The plastic material forming the side
members is also preferably of the type so that it may easily
be separated or divided by rupturing, severing, cutting or etc.,
as shown herein to provide a plurality of fastener attachment
devices, but not so easily separable into a plurality of
attachment devices that it separates upon being fed into a
dispensing apparatus and thus causes jamming of the apparatus.
As used herein and for convenience it is intended
that the term plastic be given its broadest meaning as defining
any flexible plastic or flexible polymer such as elastomeric
materials, thermoplastics and flexible thermosetting resins
which those skilled in the art will recognize as useful for the
purpose disclosed herein.
Materials which may be used herein are conventional
plastics such as nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, poly-
propylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. Other plastics suitable
for this purpose will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Reference may also be had to U.S. Patents Nos. 3,444,597,
3,103,666 and 3,470,834 among others for a further teaching of
plastic materials which may be useful herein. It should be
understood that combinations of plastic materials may be used
as the stock.
-- 7 --
1~48744
In its preferred construction the two side members
are preferably parallel to each other and the cross links are
also preferably parallel to each other. In addition, each of
the cross links are preferably spaced an equidistance "d" apart
so they may easily be fed into a fastener attaching apparatus
in a preset sequence necessary for the regular timed operation
of most machines.
As shown in Fig. 1 the side members also preferably
extend beyond the first cross link at 60 so that the first
separation of a fastener attachment device shown in Figs. 2-
4 will from the beginning be useful for its intended purpose.
The cross links or the side members of the stock
may also be stretched as disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,444,597
and U.S. Patent 3,470,834 to strengthen plastic materials such
as nylon.
The stock 59 may be fabricated by punching or forming
aperatures 60D in an extruded sheet of plastic as will be seen
later with reference to Figs. 49 and 50.
In Figs. 2-4 there is disclosed a fastener attachment
device resulting from the separation of one device from the
stock e.g., by cutting the side members 60A and 60B between
the first and second cross links at al and a2 in Fig. 1.
The resulting fastener attachment device comprises
two end bars 61A and 61B preferably of the same length coupled
together by a filament member 61C. In this configuration the
cross section of the end bar is rectangular as is the cross
section of the filament member 61C.
Preferably the filament member (as well as the cross
link) has a thickness Tl which is smaller than the thickness
T2 of the end bar (side member) when viewed in the cross sectional
view (see Fig. 3) to insure secure travel through a needle as
will be described herein.
7~
Reference should now be had to Fig. 5 as well as
Figs. 6-8 which show a slightly different configuratior. of
the fastener attachment stock and a resultant fastener attach-
ment device after separation from the stock at points bl and
b (see Fig. 5) .
In Fig. 5 the stock is preferably made by molding,
as for example as shown in Fig. 51, in relatively small sections
and then both welded together as shown in Fig. 53. In particu-
lar, the stock also (shown as 59) in Fig. 5 comprises side members
lO 63A and 63B and cross links 63C separated from each other by
aperatures 63D. The stock is formed by welding together side
members of molded sections at points 63D. In this manner the
continuous, undivided, elongated side members 63A and 63B are
formed. Figs. 7-9 illustrate a fastener attachment device
separated from the stock of Fig. 5 by severing the side members
at points bl and b2.
The construction of the stock of Fig. 5 is such that
the end bars 64A and 64B are round in cross section as is the
filament 64.
More particularly, it is preferred that the cross
link 63 be molded with a smaller diameter or thickness T2 than
the diameter or thickness Tl of the side members 63A and 63B
to insure that the resulting attachment device 64 will be
securely retained within the needle of the fastener attachment
apparatus as will be described.
It should also be understood that if desired the
thickness of the filament 64C may be greater than or equal to
the thickness of the end bars 64A or 64B depending upon the
application although for dispensing through a needle as disclosed
herein so as to insure reliable dispensing the thickness of the
cross links should be less than the thickness of the side
members so that the side member will securely ride in the central
wider portion of the needle slot with the cross link positioned
_ 9 _
,
,
1~48744
in the narrow portion of the needle slot. (See Fig. 15 which
from a top view shows the slot belng wider for passage of the
side member with a narrower portion for holding the cross link).
It should also be understood that the side members
and the cross links as well as the resulting end bar and filament
may take many shapes, as for example the filament may be round
and the end bars rectangular or vice versa.
Reference should briefly be had to Fig. 10 which
illustrates the fastener stock 59 having round side members 69A
and 69B and rectangular cross links 69C. Fig. 10 illustrates
in a front view, stock 59 to illustrate that the stock is
planar in construction and that in most preferred construction
the stock is entirely positionable between two parallel planes
Pl and P2 defined by the top and bottom of the side members
69A and 69B. It should be understood that the side members
or cross links may take various other shapes su-ch as oval,
triangular, octagonal, etc., and in addition it should be
understood that side members may be of different dimensions
from such each other to provide a tab such as shown in U.S.
Patent 3,444,597.
In some cases to facilitate machine separation of
devices from the stock if tough to separate materials are used,
the side members may be formed with weakened areas.
In Figs. 11 and 12 there is shown a container, can or
canister in two convenient shapes for storing the fastener
attachment stock of this disclosure. Fig. 11 illustrates at
65 a round canister for storing fastener attachment stock 59
in a roll as shown.
For use, the stock may first be rolled up and placed
in the canister 65 by removing the press fit cover 66A from
the canister body 66B and inserting the roll with a portion of
the stock being pass~d through a feed opening 66C.
-- 10 --
1~48744
The stock 59 will travel as shown by the arrow when
pulled from the canister. In Fig. 12 there is shown a box like
container 67 in which fastener attachment stock folded back
and forth over itself as shown may be stored. The container
67 comprises a removable cover 68A which is coupled to the
main storage portion 68B thereof. The cover 68A is removed
for loading of the stock after the stock is folded e.g., by
removing screws (not shown) holding it in place, and is then
replaced to hold the fan folded stock in place. The stock is
withdrawn from the container 67 via a slot or opening 68C and is
pulled in the direction as shown by the arrow to feed a fastener
attachment apparatus.
In order to show the manner in which the new and
improved fastener attachment stock may be used, there is dis-
closed in Figs. 13-48 various new and improved fastener attach-
ment apparatus constructions as well as some of the uses to
which the fastener attachment devices provided from the stock
59 may be applied.
In Figs. 13-22 there is illustrated a dual needle
fastener attachment apparatus for separating the stock into
fastener attachment devices and then simultaneously inserting
both end bars thereof via the two needles through material to
accomplish the results shown in Fig. 20 and Fig. 39.
For convenience of explanation henceforth all
fastener attachment devices will be indicated by the number 61.
The dual needle apparatus is shown at 70 and comprises
a base 71 which supports an upright member 72 by bolts 71A
(see Fig. 21). The upright member 72 is partially hollow and
includes a motion limit slot 72A.
The top portion of the upright member 72 is slidable
within housing walls or members 73 (3 in number) capped with a
top member 74. Supported by one of the three members 73 is a
1~487~4
motion limit screw positioned within the slot 72A. The members
73 are in turn coupled to the main body 78 of the apparatus by
bolts 73C which supports the needles and the other operating
parts of the apparatus. Within the member 72 there is provided
a resilient biasing means such as a spring 73s which extends
into the area between the housing walls 73. The top of the
spring is positioned against the top member 74 and the lower
part of the spring rests on a shelf 72B in the interior of the
member 72. The spring 73B acts to maintain the body 78 in a
raised position as shown in Figs. 14 and 21 while the pin 73A
limits the downward movement of the body 78 against the spring
73B when the body is manually forced downward. (See Fig. 18).
The body 78 includes a feed slot 79 to permit the
flow of stock 59 from the container 65 coupled by a 65D to
the body as shown. The stock 59 upon entering the body is
positioned on means such as a wheel 82 for feeding the stock
into the apparatus in order to separate the stock 59 into the
devices 61.
The wheel 82 has a plurality of raised portions
82A which fit into the aperatures 60D of the stock 59 and carries
the cross links in open ended grooves 82B (see Figs. 14 and 14A)
with the side members on either side of the projection 82A.
The wheel 82 is mounted on a shaft 81 and is keyed
thereto by a key 81A for rotation therewith. The shaft 81 is
supported ~or rotation by the side wall 78A of the body in a
conventional manner (see Fig. 14A) and coupled to a knob 80
for advancing it. Wheel 82 motion is retarded by a spring
detent 83.
The stock is forced by the feed means 82A through
a guide slot 78B into a horizontal slot 78C ~open in parts)
formed in the body 78. Positioned within the slot 78C is a
member 87 which acts in combination with member 90 to separate
- 12 -
1~48744
devices 61 from the stock 59 after the stock 59 is urged and
positioned against the bottom of the slot 78C.
The means 87 also positions the separated devices
61 (see Fig. 14) at a location to be dispensed via needles 91.
The member or carrier 87 is more clearly shown in Figs. 15 and
16 and includes a guide and retaining slot portion 87A into
which the stock 59 is initially fed. The member 87 is manually
urged to the left of Fig. 14 to separate the stock 59 at
points al - a2 or at other points along the side members 60A
and 60B to provide the fastener attachment device 61.
The member 87 or the member 90 or both may also
carry knives to effect separation of the stock 59 into devices.
Also a separate moving knife apart from member 87 may also be
used if desired.
All of the above is intended to be included in the
definition of means for separating or dividing the stock 59
into a plurality of devices 61.
The movement of the member 87 is limited by a bolt 89
positioned in a cutout 88 formed in the body 78. In order to
drive the end bars of the device 61 through the needles 91
there is provlded an end bar pusher mechanism comprising a top
member 101 supporting a member 103 having a slot 102A for
supporting two needle plungers 103 (see Fig. 17).
The member 102 is slidable in a guide slot 78B
formed in the body 78 and is held in place within the slot by
a plate 93 coupled to the body 78 by screws as shown in
Fig. 17.
The plate 93 has a limit shot 93A formed therein in
which there is positioned a limit pin 102B supported by member
102. The members 101, 102 and the pushers 103 (coupled to
member 102) are urged upwardly by a spring 106 supported by a
rod 105 slidably mounted in a member 104 having a bore (shown
1~34874~
dotted). In this manner the pushers or plungers 103 are
retained above the mouth of the needles.
At 110 there is a raised platform having a bore 111
through which the needles may extend. Briefly, the operation
of the apparatus shown in Figs. 14-22 is as follows:
1) stock 59 is fed into the body 78 from the container
or canister 65 containing a roll or coil of the stock or from
the canister 67 (see Fig. 14B) containing the stock in a fan
fold configuration and is positioned on the wheel 82 as ~hown
in Fig. 14A for processing in the apparatus;
2) the knob 80 is rotated to bring the stock side
member ends 60E (see Fig. 1) against the bottom of slot 78C
and through the guide slot 87A in the member 87;
3) the member 87 is then pushed to the left of
Fig. 14 to divide or separate a fastener attachment device
e.g., H shaped, by forcing the side members 60A and 60B of
the stock 59 against an edge surface of member 90 (see Fig. 15).
This in effect results in a severing, rupturing or cutting of
the side members 60A and 60B to form a fastener attachment device
61 depending upon the edge configuration and sharpness;
4) thereafter the carrier member 87 now holding the
device 61 is moved to the left of Fig. 14 to the point where
the device end bars 61A and 61B are positioned above the slots
90A of the two needles 91 (see Fig. 15 and 16). The device 61
is preferably somewhat wedged or tightly fits into the slot
86A so that it moves easily with the carrier member 86. The
needles as shown are held in place by locking means 91B and
each having a slot 91A to accommodate the end bar thickness
and a narrower portion 91C to permit the narrower thickness
filament portion 61C to extend therethrough. In this manner
the fastener attachment device end bars 61A and 61B is securely
1~48744
held within the needles when the end bars travel therethrough;
5) assuming now that two pieces of material 115A
and 115B are positioned as in Figs. 18 and 19 one on top of
the other on the platform 110, the body 78 is then forced
downwardly to drive the needle tips 91C through the material
as shown in Figs. 18 and 19 and into the bores 111 and 70A;
6) at this time the member 101 is urged downwardly
(see Fig. 18) to force the plungers 103 to push the device 61
end bars 61A and 61s respectively through (preferably simul-
taneously) the needle slots 91A with the filament 61C extendingbetween the needles 91;
7) when the plungers 103 extend downwardly as shown
to the point shown in ~ig. 19, the end bars 61A and 61s are
urged or pop out of needle wide cutaway portion 91E thereby
providing for a coupling of the layers of material together as
shown in Fig. 20. The plastic material used for the device 61
preferably has enough return in it to cause it to assume the
shape shown in Fig. 20.
It should be understood that the sequence of operations
described herein may be modified without departing from the
invention. For example, the body 78 may first be forced down-
wardly to pierce the material with the needles, the carrier
member 87 may then be moved to divide the stock 59 and position
the device 61 and thereafter the pushers 103 may be forced
downwardly.
Reference should now be had to Figs. 23-25 for a
description of a modification of the apparatus of Figs. 14-22.
In this embodiment, one needle 91 is used instead
of two so that only one end bar 61A is driven through the
needle and the cloth 115A and 115. By merely removing the
needle which would normally be on the left of Fig. 23, the
end bar 61B will move freely downwardly as the plunger 103
1g34874~
pushes the end bar 61A through the needle 91 to the point
where it springs outwardly from the needle as shown in Fig. 24.
Fig. 25 represents the device 61 shown coupling the two layers
115A and 115B together.
In Figs. 26A and 26s there is schematically shown,
an automated implementation for the apparatus shown in Fig. 14.
In order to operate the various parts of the machine, that is
to feed the stock by rotating the wheel 82 the carrier moves
member 87 to separate the device 61 from the stock and position
them for dispensing through the needles 91, to move the machine
body 78 to do that the needles 91 pierce the material, and drive
the plungers 103 (via member 101) through the needles to force
the device end bars 61A and 61s therethrough, there are provided
a plurality of fixed in place fluid operated cylinders 132,
140, and 143 having piston rods 132A, 140A and 148A and a
stepping motor 130 mounted to the apparatus 70.
In order to provide fluid e.g., compressed air or
gas (oil, or hydraulic fluid may also be used) there is provided
a compressor pump 129. The passage of fluid back and forth
into the cylinders is controlled by solenoid control valves 133,
141 and 144.
Valve 133 is shown in block and may be a four way
two solenoid valve (the solenoids are as shown in 133A and
133B) such as shown in U.S. Patent 3,306,144 and the valves
141 and 144 are also shown in block may be the three way valve
one solenoid and spring return also shown in U.S. Patent 3,306,144.
In order to control the solenoids 133A, 133B, 141A
and 144A of the valves shown in Fig. 26A, there is diagrammatically
shown at 125 a foot pedal as may be used in the garment industry
having a spring return 126.
The motor drives a shaft 128 having a plurality of
shaped timing cams 129A-129B supported thereon for rotation
therewith.
- 16 -
1~487~4
The cams are used to operate cam followers (shown
dotted) to control the opening and closing of switches 131,
142 and 145 and ganged switches 134 and 135.
- By actuation of the motor 127, the aforementioned
switches coupled to solenoids 133A, 133B, 141A and 144A of valves
133, 141 and 144 are sequentially controlled to control machine
operation as heretofore described. In addition, switch 131 will
provide a signal to step the stepping motor 130 to feed the
fastener attachment stock.
In Figs. 27-36, there is disclosed a further feature
of the apparatus of the disclosure which permits it to couple
various sized buttons 162A-C (see Fig. 32) having a variety of
spacings in button holes to be attached to material such as
fabric (e.g., to a coat).
In all major details the apparatus disclosed in
these figures are identical with the apparatus of Fig. 14
except that the needles and plungers therefore are mounted to
permit buttons having different hole spacings to be coupled
to fabric without the requirement of a new machine for each new
dimensioned button.
In Figs. 27-29 there are shown two pivotal members
140A and 140B positioned on a rod 141 having a narrower portion
141A. The members 140A, 140B and 141 are supported by a body
78 extension member 142. The wider portion of the rod rests
on top of pivotal member 140B and thus is prevented from moving
downwardly. The members 140A and 140B support for slidable
motion a plunger member comprising a top portion 148 slidable
with respect to a top pusher member and movable in an arc about
the bottom surface of member 146.
The top portion 148 is urged against member 146 by
a spring 149 positioned about a central portion 147 resting
on the members 140A and 140B. The lower end of the pusher
- 17 -
1~34~744
member includes a narrow rod 150 adapted to fit within the
slot 91A of the needles 91 to push a fastener attachment
device 61 into and through the needle.
The extent of pusher motion is limited by a pin 141A
coupled to the rod 141 and which is positionable in a slot 145A
formed in the wall of a cylinder member 145. The cylinder member
145 is coupled at its top to member 146 as shown.
The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 27-29 is
briefly described as follows: ~
ta) a button 170 and fabric 171 are positioned on
the member 160 having an arc like channel 160 (see Fig. 31)
through which the needles may extend to deposit end bars of
a fastener attachment device 61 below the fabric 171 (see
Figs. 37-39);
(b) a device 61 positioned within the carrier 87
slot 87A is moved over the needles after being separated from
the stock 59 as heretofore explained;
(c) thereafter, the member 146 is urged downwardly
to cause member 150 to push the end bars of the member 61 into
the top portion of the needle 91 as shown in Fig. 34;
(d) the members 87 and the rods 150 are withdrawn
as in Fig. 35;
(e) at this point the pivotal members 140A and 140B
are rotated (see Fig. 30) to locate them over two adjacent
button holes of the buttons shown in Figs. 37-39;
(f) the body 78 is then forced downwardly as heretofore
described to extend the needles 91 through the button holes,
the fabric therebelow and into the channel 160 (like in Fig. 18);
and
(g) now the rods 150 are reinserted into the needle
slots 91A as shown in Fig. 36 to drive the end bars of the
device 61 through needles 91 which already extend through the
- 18 -
7~4
button holes and the fabric to deposit the end bars as shown
in Fig. 39.
Reference should now be had to Figs. 40-47 which
illustrate a hand operable fastener attachment apparatus 178
using the principles of the apparatus shown in Figs. 13-24
to dispense a fastener attachment device 61 separated from
the stock 59.
The apparatus 178 comprises a body 179 to which
there is pivotally attached a handle 180 at point 181. The
handle drives a link 183 coupled thereto at 182 to rock back
and forth a gear segment 184 pivotally coupled to the link
at 185 and to the body at 184A.
The gear segment is urged to the right of Fig. 42
by a spring 194 positioned in a body cavity 193 which forces
a pin like member 191 pivotally coupled at 192 to the gear
segment 184. The gear segment 184 drives a plunger 186 by
gear teeth positioned in cutouts 186A.
For a further description of this type of drive
system reference may be had to United States Patent No.
3,759,435 which issued on 18 September, 1973.
The stock 59 is stored in a container 196 in a rolled
up configuration about a pin 196A container being detachable
from the body 174 via screw 197. The stock 59 is passed
through a container opening 196B and then threaded through slot
198 over feed wheel 199 of the type as previously disclosed.
The feed wheel 199 comprises ridges l99A between
cavities l99B to support the stock 59. The ridges fit within
the aperature 60D with the links 60C and side members 60A and
60B positioned thereabout as previously disclosed with reference
to Fig. 13.
The wheel portions are supported by a conventional
one way roller or clutch mechanism so that it will rotate to
-- 19 --
8744
feed stock in one direction. A one way roller mechanism may
be purchased from the Torrington Company of Connecticut
under the designation Torrington's "Drawn Cup Overrunning
Roller Clutch" and modified as shown herein, and another
type of one way roller is also disclosed in U.S. Patent
No. 3,652,001
The one way roller is driven via gear l99C
coupled thereto (see Fig. 46) which is in turn driven by
gear teeth 186C of member 186. The feed wheel is mounted
on shaft members l99E supported by bores formed in the
body and assessible by removing the top of the body.
The stock 59 is fed into a carrier member 216
(of the type 87 previously disclosed) which is urged to
the right of Figs. 43 and 44 by springs 217 and 218, the
spring 217 being supported at its rear against plug 219.
The stock is divided or separated 61 into fastener
attachment devices by the engagement of the side members of
the stock against member 220 as shown in Figs. 41 and 47, as
the carrier member moves under spring pressure from the
position shown in Fig. 43 to the position shown in Eig. 44.
Figs. 44 and 47 illustrate the carrier member holding one
fastener attachment device 61 in position for it to be pushed
through the slot 190A of needle 190 by the plunger member 186.
In order to return the carrier member after the
dispensing of a fastener attachment device 61, there is provided
a pivotal member 211 which extends through a cutout 212 in
the slidable member 210 and is pivotally supported by pin 213
(see Figs. 42 and 45).
On the advance stroke of member 186, the member 210
is free to move forward therewith after a spring 186E supported
by member cutouts 186D and 186F fully expands. Thus under the
- 20 -
1(~48744
pressure of springs 217 and 218 the member 216 moves to the
right of Fig. 43 to the position shown in Figs. 44 ~ 47 and
thus rotates the member 211 about pin 213 which at this time
is free to rotate due to the advance of member 186.
Upon the opening of handle 180, the member 210 is
driven rearwardly by member 186 to rotate member 211 clockwise
(see Fig. 41) and return the carrier member 216 to the position
shown in Fig. 43 where it can now receive the stock 59.
In this device the stock 59 is fed into the carrier
member 216 on the return stroke as member 186 begins to compress
spring 186E and the gear teeth 186C engage the gear teeth of
gear l99C.
In summary, the operation of the hand actuable
fastener attachment apparatus of Figs. 40-47 is as follows:
(a) stock is fed into the carrier member 216;
(b) the handle 180 is compressed causing the member
186 to move forward thus permitting the separating of one
fastener attachment device to be pushed through the needle
190;
(c) the member 186 then continues to move forward
to engage an end bar of the fastener attachment device 61 and
push it through the needle;
(d) on the return stoke and under the pressure of
spring 194 the member 186 is withdrawn from the needle causing
the return of the carrier member 216 and then the feeding of
the stock 59 into carrier member 216 to ready the apparatus
for its next use.
Reference should now be had to Fig. 48 which illustrates
a powered (e.g., fluid or electric powered) version of the
apparatus of Figs. 40-47. All elements are the same except
that the member 186 is driven by a modified version fluid
operated system as shown in my U.S. Patent 3,659,769
- 21 -
1~48~744
In this Fig. fluid such as compressed air or gas
is controllably fed into a cylinder 241 by a trigger 231
operating a valve 237. The trigger is pivotally mounted at
232 to the body and is positioned in a finger hole 230. Pulling
the finger 231 backwards against return spring 233 causes the
slidable rod 234 pivotally coupled at 230 to the trigger 231
to move to the right of Fig. 48. Finger 234A of the rod 234
thus rotates the valve member 273 having solid portions 237A
positioned for rotation in a cavity formed within the body
and a passageway 237 extending through a portion thereof as
in Fig. 11 of U.S. Patent 3,659,769.
In its rotated position gas shown by the arrow
travels through a bore 239A of a plug 239 thence through the
passageways 237B and 241A to move the piston 242 to the ~eft of
Fig. 48.
In this manner the piston 242 compresses the return
spring 243 to drive the member 186 to the left of Fig. 48.
Upon release of the trigger 231, the member 234 moves left
rotating the valve member 237 to the position shown in Fig. 48
to exhaust the gas from cylinder through port 240. The return
spring 243 then returns the piston 242 and the member 186
coupled thereto to provide the functions previously described
with reference to Figs. 49-47.
At this time reference should be had to Figs. 49-54
which illustrate various methods for fabricating the stock 59.
Figs. 49 and 50 disclose an inexpensive and convenient manner
for fabricating the stock according to the disclosure. The
stock 59 is formed by providing an extruded continuous strip
of plastic 252 from an extruder in the configuration shown in
Fig. 50 and then punching out or forming aperatures
by applying a force to a punching member 255 to move it up and
down to form the aperatures (leaving the side members and cross
-
- 22 -
.. . .
~04~74~
links) as the strip moves in a direction to the right of Fig. 49
while the strip 252 passes over the table 251. The punched
out portions of the strip pass through an opening 253 in the
table. Stock such as shown in Fig. 1 is conveniently formed
in this manner although obviously various other shaped stock
may also be formed.
In Fig. 51 there is shown a method of molding the
stock in a mold 260 by forcing into the mold plastic under
pressure into channels 264A formed in the mold top 262 and
bottom 264 and then cooling or curing depending upon the
plastic used. Stock 59 having side members 60A and 60B with
cross links 60C is thus formable.
Smaller sections formed in this manner may be joined
together by applying heat e.g., from a laser, ultrasonic-means
and other conventional heating devices as shown in Fig. 54 to butt
weld the side members 63A and 63s of each section together,
said side members supporting the cross links 63C.
In Figs. 52 and 53 there is illustrated the stretching
of the cross links 63C of the stock by puller members 265 and
266 having slots 265A and 265B to hold the side members and cross
links during the stretching operation to strengthen as well
as elongate stock made from materials such as nylon exhibiting
a crystalline structure and which will be strengthened by
stretching. Conveniently such crystalline structure materials
may be heated during stretching to facilitate stretching.
It will thus be seen that the purposes set forth
above for this invention have been efficiently attained and
since certain changes may be made in carrying out the methods
and in the constructions set forth, it is intended that all
m~tter contained in the following description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative
and not in a limiting sense.
- 23 -
1~4874'~
It is also to be understood that the following
claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific
features of the invention herein described and all statements
of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language,
might be said to fall therebetween.
