PINNING MACHINE

MACHINE A EPINGLER

English Abstract

PINNING MACHINE
Abstract of the Disclosure
There is disclosed a pinning machine having an
improved plunger and an improved knife assembly. The
plunger has relatively movable sections threadably connected
together to enable the length of the plunger to be changed
so that tags can Be pinned to different thicknesses of
merchandise by changing the plunger length. The knife
assembly includes a pair of fixed knives separated by a
gap and a movable knife guided by guide means in the gap.
The movable knife is floatingly or loosely mounted so that
the guide means is the sole means for guiding the movable
knife relative to the fixed knives.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows-

1. A pinning machine, comprising: an anvil,
a plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to the
anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone, means
for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise,
means for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having
cooperable first and second parts, the first part having a
first threaded portion and the second part having a second
threaded portion adjustably coupled to the first threaded
portion to vary the effective length of the plunger, and
means for operating the tag feeding means, the pin driving
means and the plunger reciprocating means in sequence, wherein
the plunger reciprocating means includes a cam, lever means
driven by the cam for raising and lowering the plunger, the
lever means including a bifurcated portion, the plunger
having a connecting pin received by the bifurcated portion,
the plunger extending to a location outside the plunger
mounting means to enable the first part of the plunger to
rotate relative to the second part, the connecting pin being
connected to the second part.

2. A pinning machine, comprising. an anvil, a
plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to
the anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone,
means for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise,
means for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having
first, second and third relatively movable plunger parts,
the first part having a guide groove to guide the pin
while the pin is being driven by the pin driving means,





the second and third plunger parts being connected to each
other, a spring acting on the second plunger part for
enabling the second and third parts to continue movement
relative to the first part when the first part cooperates
with the anvil, and means for varying the position of the
second and third parts relative to each other to vary the
effective length of the plunger and thus to vary the
position to which the plunger moves relative to the anvil,
and means for operating the tag feeding means, the pin
driving means and the plunger reciprocating means in
sequence.
3. A pinning machine, comprising: an anvil, a
plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and merchandise
in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means mounting the
plunger for reciprocal movement relative to the anvil, means
for feeding a tag to the pinning zone, means for driving a pin
through the tag and the merchandise, means for reciprocating
the plunger, the plunger having first, second and third
relatively movable plunger parts, the first part having a
guide groove to guide the pin while the pin is being driven
by the pin driving means, the second and third plunger
parts being connected to each other, a spring acting on
the second plunger part for enabling the second and third
parts to continue movement relative to the first part when
the first part cooperates with the anvil, and means for
varying the position of the second and third parts relative
to each other to vary the effective-length of the plunger
and thus to vary the position to which the plunger moves
relative to the anvil, means for operating the tag feeding
means, the pin driving means and the plunger reciprocating


11

means in sequence, and the plunger having means for releasably
holding the first part to retain the guide groove in alignment
with the pin driving means.
4. A pinning machine, comprising: an
anvil, a plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to the
anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone, means
for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise, means
for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having first,
second and third relatively movable plunger parts, the first
part having a guide groove to guide the pin while the pin is
being driven by the pin driving means, the second and third

plunger parts being connected to each other, a spring acting
on the second plunger part for enabling the second and third
parts to continue movement relative to the first part when
the firs part cooperates with the anvil, and means for
varying the position of the second and third parts relative
to each other to vary the affective length of the plunger
and thus to vary the position to which the plunger moves
relative to the anvil, and means for operating the tag
feeding means, the pin driving means and the plunger
reciprocating means in sequence, wherein the first part
includes a tube, and the second part is in slidable contact
with the inside surface of the tube.

12

5. A pinning machine, comprising: an anvil,
a plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to
the anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone, means
for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise, means
for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having first,
second and third relatively movable plunger parts, the first
part having a guide groove to guide the pin while the pin is
being driven by the pin driving means, the second and third
plunger parts being connected to each other, a spring acting
on the second plunger part for enabling the second and third
parts to continue movement relative to the first part when
the first part cooperates with the anvil, and means including
threaded portions on the second and third parts for varying
the position of the second and third parts relative to each
other to vary the effective length of the plunger and thus
to vary the position to which the plunger moves relative to
the anvil, and means for operating the tag feeding means,
the pin driving means and the plunger reciprocating means
in sequence.


13


6. A pinning machine, comprising: an
anvil, a plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pining zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to
the anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone,
means for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having first,
second and third relatively movable plunger parts, the first
part having a guide groove to guide the pin while the pin
is being driven by the pin driving means, the second and
third plunger parts being connected to each other, a spring
acting on the second plunger part for enabling the second and
third parts to continue movement relative to the first part
when the first part cooperates with the anvil, and means for
varying the position of the second and third parts relative to
each other to vary the effective length of the plunger and thus
to vary the position to which the plunger moves relative to
the anvil, and means for operating the tag feeding means,
the pin driving means and the plunger reciprocating means
in sequence, wherein the first part includes a tube and a
plunger member, the guide groove being provided in a plunger
member, the second part being in slidable contact with the
inside surface of the tube, the spring exerting opposite forces
on the plunger member and on the second part.

14

7. A pinning machine, comprising: an anvil, a
plunger cooperable with the anvil to hold a tag and
merchandise in a bent orientation at a pinning zone, means
mounting the plunger for reciprocal movement relative to the
anvil, means for feeding a tag to the pinning zone, means
for driving a pin through the tag and the merchandise, means
for reciprocating the plunger, the plunger having first,
second and third relatively movable plunger parts, the first
part having a guide groove to guide the pin while the pin is
being driven by the pin driving means, the second and third
plunger parts being connected to each other, a spring
acting on the second plunger part for enabling the second
and third parts to continue movement relative to the first
part when the first part cooperates with the anvil, and
means including threaded portions on the second and third
parts for varying the position of the second and third parts
relative to each other to vary the effective length of the
plunger and thus to vary the position to which the plunger
moves relative to the anvil, and means for operating the tag
feeding means, the pin driving means and the plunger recipro-
cating means in sequence, wherein the first part includes a
tube and a plunger member, the guide groove being provided
in the plunger member, the second part being in slidable
contact with the inside surface of the tube, the spring
exerting opposite forces on the plunger member and on the
second part.

Description

from the perpendicular with respect to the post means under
~he control of the guide means. It is preferred to resiliently
hold the ~nife in the holde~ so that knife clatter is
obviated. The movable ~nife is removably mounted to th~
holder so that a worn knife can be readily shaxpened or
raplaced.
It is another feature of the invention to pro~ide
a pinning machine of the type having an anvil and a cooperable
plunger with an arrangement by which an operator can quickly
o change over the machine to pin tags to various thicknesses
of merchandise. This is accomplished by changing the length
of the plunger so that whsn the plunger is actuated the
amoun of clearance between th~ plunger and the anvil (when
the plunger and the anvil are in comple,te cooperation) can
be varied. In the preferred arrangement the operator simply
rotates one part of the plunger through 360 degrees to either
lengthen or shorten the plunger. If for example the length ~.
of the plunger is set to pin tags to thin merchandise such as
delicate lingerie and it is now desirecl to pin tags to thick
merchandise such as heavy denim jeans, then the plunger length
should be ~hortened by rotating one of the parts of the plunger
relative to another of the plunger parts, and vice versa. It
is preferred that the plunger parts be threadably adjustably
secured to each other so that rotation of the parts relative to
each other results in lengthening or shortening of the plunger~
It is also a feature that the plunger be lengthened or shortened
in stages. As an operator becomes familiar with the adjustment




--2--

from the perpendicular with respect ~o the post mea~s under
the control of the guide means7 It is preferr~d to resiliently
hold the knife in the holde~ so that knife clatter is
obviated. The movable knife is removably mounted to the
holder 50 that a worn knife can b~ readily sharpened or
replaced~
It is another feature of the invention to pro~ide
a pinning machine of the type having an anvil and a cooperable
plunger with an arrangement by which an operator can quic~ly
lo change over the machine to pin tags ~o various thioknesses
of mexchandise. This is accomplished by changing the length
of the plunger so that when the plung~r is actuated the
amount of clearance between the plunger and the anvil (when
the plunger and the anvil are in complete cooperation) can
be varied. In the preferred arrangement the operator simply
rotates one part of the plunger through 360 desrees to either
- lengthen or shorten the plu~ger~ If or example the length
; of the plunger is set to pin tags l:o thin merchandise such as
delicate lingerie and it is now dec;ired to pin tags to ~hick
merchandise such as heavy denim jeans, then the plunger length
should be shortened by rotatiny one of the parts of t~e plunger
relative to another of the plunger parts, and ViC2 versa. It
is preferred that the p~unger par~s be threadably adjustably
secuxed to each other so that rotation of the parts relative to
each other results in lenqthening or shortening of the plunger.
It is also a feature that the plunger be leng~hened or shortened
in stages. As an operator becomes familiar with the adjustment


- j ~
2~

range of the plunger the oper~to~ will kno~r ~ow to aclju~t the
plunger quickly by determini~g from experience the num~er of
complet~ revolutions of the plunger that are required to
adjust from one thickness of merchandise to another. Th~
plunger parks axe preferably rotated relative to each other
through 360 degrees 50 that a pin guide groove in the
; upper end of the plunger is always correctly oriented relative
to a pin driver. It is prefexred to use a spring-urged detent
cooperable with a groove so that when the operator senses
lo that the pl~ger has been brought to an initial or home position
the operator will know that the pin guide groove of the plunger
is correctly ori~nted. The plunger is guided for reciprocal
movement in a guide or barrel. It is preferable that the
upper part of the plunger i5 the rotatable part so that
the operator can ad~ust the ~lunger by manually grasping
and rot ting that portion of the upper part of the plunger
which projects above ~he barrel~
Brief Descri tion of the Drawings
FIGURE l is an exploded perspective diagran~atic view
of major csmponents of a pinning machine incorporatin~ the
invention;
FIGURE ~ is an explod~d perspective view of a knife
assemhly of the machine:
FIGURæ 3 is a side eleva~ional view of the knife
; assembly ~howing the movable knife in the non-cutting position;
FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4
o~ FIGURE 3t
FIGURE 5 i~ a sid~ elevational view similar to
FIGURE 3 but sh~wing the movable ~nife in the cutting
position;


~3

FXGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing
components of ~he knife assembly movi~g relative to each
other upon the movable knife encountering excessiYe resistance;
~nd
FIGU~E 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 -7 of
FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 8 i~ a fron~ elevational view of a plunger
and barrel for the pinnin~ machine;
FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the plunger and
barrel shown in ~IGU~E 8;
~IGURE 10 is an enlarged sectiona~ view taken
along line la--lo of FIGU~E 9;
FIGURE 11 îs a ri~ht side elevational view of the
: plunger shown in FIGURE 10; and
FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken
: along line 12~-12 of FIGURE 11.
Detailed Des~ri ~ion of the Preferred Emhod~ment
With reference to FIGURE 1 in which there is shown :~
an exploded fragmentaxy view of a pinning machine generally
indicated at 2~, ~he machin~ 20 has an electric mo~or 21 for
driving a cam shaft 22 through a single revolution clutch 23.
The clutch 23 is tripped or cycLed once by a ma~ually operable
actuator or paddle 24 which is shown to be coupled to the
clutch 23 as indica ed b~ phantom lines 25. Cams 26, 27
and 28 are fixed to th~ shaft 22 and rotate through a
single revolution ~ach time the clutch 23 is operated to drive
components of the machine 20 through a ma hi~e cycle~ The
cam 26 drives a roller fol.lower 2g carried by a pivotally
mounted lev~r generally indicated at 30. The lever 30




.. .. .. . . ..

~h3~2~8

includes a pair of arms 31 and 32 fixedly secured to a
sleeve 33. The arm 32 has a bifurcated portion 32'. The
sleeve 33 is pivotally mountPd on a pivot 34. A barrel or
guide 35 mounts a plunger i6 for reciprocal movement. The
plunger 36 is coupled to the bifurcated portion 32' of the
arm 32. The plunger 36 is cooperab~e with the anvil 37 at a
pinning zone Z at which a tag T and merchandise (not shown) are
held in a bent orientatiorl.
The cam 27 has a cam groove 38 which receives a
o roller follower 390 The roller follower 3g is carried by a
pivotally mounted arm 40 mo~lnted on a pivot 41. The arm 40
has a bifurcated portion 42 which receives a pin 43 carried
by a slide 44. The slide 44 is guided for reciprocal move-

; ment on a ~uide ~S. ~rhe slide 44 carries a feed finger 46
which is used to advance the tag T to the pi~ning zone Z.
The slide 44 carries an actuator 47 wh:ich contacts an actuated
member 48 to advance a feed claw 49. The feed claw 49
advances during each cycle of the cam machine to advance the
pin strip PS. The pin strip PS carries a plurality of pins PO
'~ 20 As the pin strip PS is advanced th leading pin P isbrought into a pin driving position relative to a pin driver 50.
The oam 28 drives a knife asselslbly or cutting
mechanism generally indicated at 51. The knife assembly is
shown to include a lever 52 pivotally mounted on a shaft 53
and carries a follower roller 53 ' dxiven by the cam 28 . The
knife assembly 51 is also shown to include a knife holder or
lever ~4 pivotally mounted on the shaft 53. The holder 54 has
a ~hreaded bore 55~ The laver 52 contains a hole 56. Head
57 of a bolt 58 bears against the lever 52 and the bolt 58
30 passes through the hole 56 and is threadably received in the

threaded bore 55. A compression spring 59 is received about
the bolt 5~ and bears at one end against the lever 52 and at
the other end against lever 54~ With ref~rence to FIGURE 2
the holder S4 is shown to have a pair of parallel posts or
studs 60. The posts 60 pass khrough enlarged or ovexsize
holes 61 in a movable knife 62. The knife 62 has a blade
portion 63, an extension or tang 64 and a shank por~ion 65
which contains the holes 61. Pairs of 0-rings 66 receiv~d
on the posts 60 straddle the shank portion 65 adjacent the
holPs 61. The posts 60 also extend through hol~s 67 in arm
68 of an angle~shaped bracket generally indicated at 69.
The bracket 69 also has an arm 70 with a pair of holes 71
which receive threaded fasteners 72 threadably received in
~ threaded holes 77 in hody 78 of the holder 54. The holes 67
; are axially aligned with ~he posts 60. There i5 a relatively
close fit between the posts 60 and the holes 67 SQ that
when the bracket 69 is in place both end portions
of the posts 60 are secured. The holes 61 are also axially
aligned with the posts 60 but are suffi.ciently large in
dimension to enable the knife 62 to skew relative to the posts
60 as shown exaggeratedly in FIGURE 4. The knife 62 is shown
: to be received in a gap 79 betwe~n a spaced-apart pair of
knives 80 and 81. The tang or extension 64 is in guided
relationship with the end faces of the knife so that the
knife 62 is always guidad by the tang 64 in alig~ment with
the gap 79. ~he 0-ri~gs 66 resiliently yield to allow the
guide 64 to control the position of the knife 62~ As also
shown in FIGURE 4 the l~g portion 68 is parallel to wall
; ~2 of the holder 54, and the pcsts 60 axe shown to be perpen-
dicular to the leg portion 68. The 0-xings 66 are shown to
be under different states of compression in FIGURE 4~ It
is readily apparent that the knife 62 can ca~t with respect

--6--


~o the perpendicular relative to the posts 60, in that the
knife 62 is loosely or floatingly mounted on the posts 60.,
The holes 61 in the shank por~ion 65 of the knife 62 can be
of any desired shape for example they can be elongated
slots/ so long a~ the knife 62 is permitted to function in
~he manner in~ica~ed above. By an alternative construction
: (not shown) the knife 62 can be provided wi~h integrally
formed posts or studs which can be floatingly or loosely

received in the holder to accomplish the same purpose
or the knife 62 can be mounted in the holder in any suitable

manner to accomplish the foregoing coaction. As is preferred
the knife 62 is a blanking knife which means ~hat the knife
ha~ opposed edges 62a and 62b which cooperate respectfully
with edges 80a and 81a of the respective knivP~ 80 and 81,
although the invention is not limited to the use of a blanking
knife. The web W of tags T is provided with lands L disposed
between the ends of laterally aligned 910ts S. The cooperating
knives 62, 80 and 81 sever lands L between la~eral aligned

slots S to provide recta~gularly-shaped blanks or chad so
that the severed tag is rectangular and can be readily ~ed by

the feed finger 46. In the event the knife 62 encounters
undue resistance the spring 59 will yield as indicated in
FIGURE 6 to prevent damage to the machine 20.
With reference to FIGURE 8 the barrel 35 is shown
to have a barrel portion 120 cast integrally with a mounting
flange portion 121~ The mou~ting flange portion 121 is secured
to the frame (not shown) of the machine 20 as by screws (not
shown)J The plunger 36 is shown to include relatively
movable parts ox co~ponents generally indicated at 122 and 123.

The part 122 is shown ko include a tub~ 124, a plunger member
125 which extends into the tube 124 and is secured to the tube




--7--

124 by a pin 126, a connector 127 having an internally threaded
bore 128, and a pin 12~ secured to the connector 127 and having
ends 130 and 131 which extend ~hrough opposed elongated slots
132 and 133 in the tube 124~ The connector 127 is slidably
xeceived by the in~ide surfaces of the tuhe 124. The part 122
also includes compression spring 134 which beaxs at one
end of the plunger member 125 and at the other end against
the connector 127. Th~ spring 134 is adapted to yield when

khe plunger 36 encounters undue resistance at the pinning
lo ~one Z. ~he tube 124, ~he plunger member 125, ~he pin 126,
the connector 127, the pin 129 and the spring 134 can be
considered to be one part or suhassembly in that the part
122 is rotatable as unit relative to the part 123. The
paxt 123 is shown to include a connector 135 having a
clevis or clevis portion 136, a threaded portion 137 threadably
received in the threaded bore 128, and a detent 138 threadably
received by the connector 135. The dPtent 138 is shown in
detail in FIGURE 12. The detent 138 i!3 threadably recei~ed

in a through hole 139 and is held in place by a plastic
~, 20 locking member 140. The detent 138 includes a cavity
or recess 141 for receiving a compression spring 142, a
dish-shaped washer 143 and a ball 14~. The ball 144 is shown
tv cooperate with a longitudinally extending groove 145 in the
connector 127. The detent 138 and the groove 145 are so
positioned that guide groove 146 in the plunger member 125 is
correctly ori~nted with respect to pin driver 50 when ball 144
cooperates with the groove 145. In the event the operator
desir~s to change the ~ength of the plunger 36 for pinning
a ta~ T to a different thickness of merchandise, the operator
.



--8--


gxasps the portion of the plunger 36 which extends above
th~ barrel portion 120 and rotates it ~hrough 360 degrees or
through a multiple of 360 degrees in either one di~ection or in
the opposite direc tion to either len~then or shorten the plunger
36. ~hen as for example a tag T i5 to be pinned to thick
merchandise the plunger 36 is rotated in the direction which will
shorten the pl~nger 36. In so doing the entire part 122
rotates relative to the part 123. The shortened plunger 36 :~

will ~ow rise to a final but lowex level relative to the
lo anvil 37~
Othex embodiments and modifications of this inven-
tion will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and
all such of the~e as come within the spirit of this inv~ntion
are included within its scope as best dlefined by the appended

.
:~. - claims.




_g _