Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~C~GI~OUN~ OF ~ INv~NlrIoN
l In recent years a larye and successful business has
1~ been developed which emL~loys flexible plastLc fa~tenerq of a type
¦I designed to be inserted through hollow slotted needles for
,I tagging or for jolning two objects together. Such fasteners,
toge-ther with apparatus for applying them, have been widely
employed for the attachment of buttons to garments, for price
tagging in retail establishments, for the pairin~ of items such
¦ as shoes, and in various industrial applications. Such fasten~ L-~
l¦ and apparatus are shown in numerous references, including amony
!1 o-thers, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,103,666; 3,399,432; 3,380,122;
3,444,597; 3,457,589; 3,470,834; 3,659,769; 3,733,657i 3,759,435;
~ 3,875,648; 3,893,612; 3,895,753; and 3,948,128.
I ll Most conveniently, plastic fasteners have been provided
11 in assemblies for feeding sequentially through the dispensing
apparatus. They have been supplied, as shown or example in
1, U.S. Patent No. 3,103,666, attached by means of severable necks
Il to a runner bar, or, as descri.bed for example in U.SO Patent
jj 3,875,648, as a stock of continuous side members cross-coupled
I by a plurality of filaments, from which individual fasteners
are severed. Fastener assemblies employing runner bars limit the
,1
number of fasteners which can be conveniently supplied in a sinyl~
assembly and waste material since the runner bar 1~ not put to
¦productive end use. While these Iimitations are partially
1l overcome by the fastener stock described in U.S. Patent 3,875,648,
a need has persisted for improvements in manufacture and in
~feeding and dispensing the fasteners, especially for applications
llsuch as price tagging where a single fastener end-bar is
~ldispensed by means of a hand powered tool.
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i SUMMARY OF TIIL~ DISCLOSUR~
Princlple objects of the present invention are to pro
vide improved methods and apparatus for feeding, severi~g and
Il dispensing fasteners furnished in long lengths, and to provide
1I fasteners of improved design suitable Eor economic manufacture
Il and for use in the improved method and apparatus.
1~ Fastener stock~ ~ disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,875,648,
'li comprises two continuous elongated plastic side members cross-
coupled by a plurality of filaments or cross-links, the stock
o !i being proportioned to be fed as a unit to a position where
jl individual fasteners ara separated -therefrom within a machine,
1l at least one of the side members being proportioned so that
I lleach separated fastener includes an end-bar formed from a portion
: ! of the side member and is configured for feeding through the
`~ 15 ll bore of a hollow needle having a longitudinal slot for passage
' l :
of the associated filament, and~in which each filament is foldable
toward the associated end-bar for feeding throu~h the hollow
needle. Preferably, and as shown, the filaments and end-bars
~, .
! are substantially circular in cross-section.
jl According to the present improvement, th~ cross-section-
are modified such that one side of each filament is a su~stan-
jtially flat surface corresponding to the parting line of the mold
lin which they are formed. The filament cross~section is
¦Isubstantially D-shaped and provides draft o`n surfaces extending
ll from the plane to facilitate removal from the mold. The side
members are reduced in cross-sectional area between individual
fasteners to provide severable connectors to facilitate separatior.
~The connectors join the end-bars of adjacent fasteners end-to-end
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at a portion of their periphery, pre~erably having DBR a flat
face at said plane and extending DBR from said plane on either the
same side as the filaments or the opposite sideof. Preferably they
extend from the same side and joined end-bars are substantially
D-shaped. Where the connectors extend from -the opposite side, the
section thereof is preferably continued across the joined end-bars
to provide a more rounded cross-section for feeding through
circular needle bores. The filaments may be stretched, if desired,
after forming to reduce their size and increase their strength as
previously disclosed. Filament stock so proportioned is adapted
for continuous molding in endless lengths and is well adapted for
feeding, severing and dispensing by the method and apparatus
hereinafter described.
According to a further aspect of the present invention,
the novel method of dispensing fasteners comprises advancing a
.
fastener from a first position remote from the needle to a second
position adjacent the rear position of the needle bore with the
end-bar transversely disposed thereto, aligning the end-bar with
said bore, severing said connector and forcing said end-bar
through said bore. Preferably the connector is restrained from
substantial movement, and the end end-bar is rotated about said
connector which acts as a hinge.
Apparatus for practicing the method comprises a casing,
a dispensing hollow slotted needle mounted to the casing, means
for advancing a fastener to a position adjacent the rear of the
needle bore with its end-bar transversely disposed to the
longitudinal axis of the bore, means for aligning the end-bar
with the needle bore, and means for dispensing the end-bar
through the bor_ Preferably the apparatus comprises a feed
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wheel, an alicJning means comprising a reciprocating cam slide
which also actuates the feed wheel, a dispensing means com-
prising a plunger carried by a reciprocating support wh:ich also
actuates the cam slide, and means for reciprocating the support~
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
fastener stock of the type comprising two con-tlnuous and
; elongated plastic side members that are cross-coupled by a
~ plurality of filaments, the stock being proportioned to be fed as
- a unit to a position where individual fasteners are separated
therefrom within a machine, one of said side members being
proportioned so that each separated fastener includes an end-bar
formed from a portion of the said side member and is configured
for feeding through the bore of a hollow needle having a longi
tudinal slot for passage of the associated filament, and in
which each filament is Eoldable towards the associated end~bar
that is feedable through said hollow needle; the improvement
adapted for continuous molding and for feeding and dispensing
individual fasteners therefrom wherein each of sald filaments is
molded with a D-shaped cross-section having its maximum width
at a substanti.ally flat plane at one side thereof, said end-bars
~ being wider in cross-section at said plane than in other planes
parallel thereto, and wherein adjacent end-bars are connected end-
to-end at a portion of their peripheries adjacent to said plane
by means of a severable connector substantially smaller in cross-
sectional area than said end bars to expose a major portion of
the end of at least one of the connected end-bars.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
also provided an assemblage of connected fasteners comprising
a ~irst side member constituted by a longitudinally connected
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set of melllbers, a second side member cons~ituted by a
longitudinally connected set of encl bars, and a filamentary
cross link coupling each first side member to each end-bar, a
longitudinal portion of each cross link having a continuous
planar configuration. Preferred embodiments are ~ore fully
described hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF ~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of
fastener stock according to this invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the fastener stock of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the stock oE Figure l;
Figure 4 is an end view of the stock of Figure l;
Figure 4A is an enlarged view of one end of Figure 4;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the
fastener stock of Figure 1 illustrating one end bar and its
associated connectors;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the
other end of the fastener stock of Figure l;
Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of
fastener stock according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is a side view of the embodiment of
Figure 7;
Figure 8A is an enlarged view of one end of
Figure 8;
Figure 9 is a plan view of a third embodimen-t of
fastener stock;
Figure 10 is a schematic view of continuous molding
apparatus;
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Figure 11 i8 a section along the lines 11-11 of
Figure 10 illustrating molding apparatus to make the e~odiment
shown in Figure l;
Figure 12 is an alternate section along the lines 11-11
: of Figure 10 illustrating molding apparatus for making the embodi-
ment shown in Figure 7;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the preferred embodi-
ment of the dispensing apparatus of -this invention, illustrating
insertion of a fastener through woven material;
Figure 14 is another perspective view oE the apparatus
of Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 13
with portions of the casing broken away to show the operative
interior mechanism, broken lines illustrating par-tial compression
of the trigger to actuate the mechanism;
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the
trigger compressed;
Figure 17 is a view similar -to Figure 15 showing the
trigger return stroke;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown
in Figures 13-17 showing the operative internal mechanism;
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the cam slide of the
apparatus of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a side vlew of a portion of the needle,
feed wheel and aligning cam illustratiny the alignment of a fastener
end-bar.with the needle bore;
Figure 21 is a perspective view of a hollow slotted needle
useful with the present invention; and
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Figure 22 is a perspective view of a needle and needle
retaining pin.
Referring to Figures 1-6, one embodiment o:E the fastener
stock of the present invention is shown which comprises elongated,
continuous side members 50 and 51 cross-coupled by a plurality of
cross-links or filaments 52. ~ide member 50 comprises a plurality
of tab or paddle end members 53 joined together by severable
connectors 54, one face of the tabs 53 being op-tionally embossed at
55 for inclusion of identification or decorative matter. Side
member 51 comprises a plurality of end-bars 56 joined together by
severable connectors 57.
As shown for example in Figure 5, the filaments 52 a.re
approximately D-shaped in cross-section with the maximum width at
a substantially flat plane 58 at one side thereof. The remainder
of their cross-section decreases in width from the plane 58 to the
other side thereof and may be of any suitable shape, including
converging curves, lines or combinations thereof. Preferably the end-
bar 56, as shown for example in Figure 4A, is larger in cross-section
than the filament 52 and also has its widest parallel cross-section
dimension 60 in the plane 58. As shown in Figure 6, tab ends 53
are also flat and have their greatest cross-sectional dimension at
the plane 58.
In the embodiment of Figures 1-6, tab connectors 54 and
end-bar connectors 57 have one face at the plane 58, are
substantially thinner than either filament 58, cross-bar 56,
or tab 53, and extend away from the plane 58 on the side thereof
opposite to the body of filament 52, They also extend contin-
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uously not only between adjacent tabs 53 and adjacent end-bars
56, but alsQ extend across end-bars 56 and tabs 53 respectively.
Such extension provides a more rounded end-bar 56 (see Figure
Il 4A) and can be molded as continuous runners as herelnafter
'¦ described.
,¦ As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7, the filaments 52 ~
be molded somewhat wider and of greater circumferential dimension
'¦ adjacent tabs 53 than at end-bars 56 to facilitate stretching
I¦ adjacent the end-bars where the filaments are folded during
o ~ I! dispensing throuyh a hollow needle.
jl A second embodiment of fastener stock of the ~resent
il invention is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 8A which is identical-
¦ to the fastener stock shown in Figures 1-6 except that severable
,¦ connectors 54A and 57a extend ~rom the plane 58 in -the same
1S i! direction as the body of filament 52 and do not extend visibly
!1 across either end-bars 56a or tabs 53a. T~liS embodiment is most
preferred.
¦l A third embodiment of fastener stock is shown in
11
Figure 9 in which two side members 51a are employed to provlde
~ end-bars at both ends of the filament 52a. In this embodiment,
the filament 52a is molded somewhat wider at its mid-portion
and is somewhat narrower or smaller in circumferential dimension
Il adjacent each end-bar to facilitate stretching and strengthening
¦l of the filament 52 at those portions which are folded during
1¦ di~pensing. In all other respects, the embodiment of Fi~ure 9
Il is identical to the embodiment of Figure 7.
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~acll oE the foreyoirlcJ embodlrnents of f~stener stock
~ are especially adaL)ted for continuous molding and for feedLng
¦l and dispensing as hereillafter described. Continuous moLding
Il of plastic parts is known and is disclosed for example in
1l U.S. Patent Nos. 3,Q85,292; 3,196,196; 3,515,778i and~numerous
¦l others; and is schematically illustratecl in Figures 10~12.
I Heated plastic is extruded from extruder 70 through orifices
!1 in platen 71 into cavities in the periphery of rotating molding
l! wheel 72. After cooling, the continuously molded parts are
lQ l¦ removed from molding wheel 72 by take-off roLler 73 and
I feed rolls 74, 75, stretched if desired at 76 by any suitable
apparatus, and the stock 77 wound onto take-up roll 78. Stretch-
ing can be omitted or separately performed if desired~
' As shown in Figure 11, cavities 52', 56' and 53' are
jl provided in the periphery of molding wheel 72 for the filaments
52, end-bars 56, and tabs 53, respectively. Connectors 54 and
57 are provided as continuous runner cavities 54 and S7 in
the platen 71. Tabs 53 may be of the sallle or difEerent thickness
,I from the thickness of the filaments 52 as desired. As shown in
¦I Figure 12, connec-tors 54a and 57a may be provided by grooves
54a' and57a'~ in the periphery of molding wheel 72a between
Il fastener cavities.
!¦ By comparing Figures 10-12 with Fiyures 1-9, it will
~ be seen that the plane 58 is defined by the meeting surface
¦ of the platen 71 and the wheel 72. It should be understood
that the dimensions previously described refer to the fast,ener
¦ assemblie as they are molded. If the filaments are thereafter
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str~tclled, ~IS L~rc~rred and as described in the foregoiny
lll patents, the edc~es of the flat pLane 58 rnay be rounded somewhat
!~ in stretching but the filaments will maintain their ~eneral
¦I cross-sectional shape. End-bars 56 and tabs 53 are generally not
5: 1¦ stretched. Some distortion from shrinkage and cooling may also
¦l be noted.
j The preferred apparatus employing the method of the
i present invention is, a hand-actuated dispensing gun as shown in
~ ~igures 13-22. The gun 100 comprises a hollow casiny 10~
L0 I preferably of mol,ded plastic i~ two halves joined together in
¦ any suitable manner. Affixed to the casing lQ2 is vertical
extension 104 to which is affixed a projecting rod 106 about
which a spirally wound assembly of fasteners may be secured.
The fastener stock may be re-tained on the rod 106 by means Oe
! sprLng loaded detents 108 and 110 which may be folded towards
¦ each other for insertion of the fastener stock and moved to a
¦¦ vertical disposition for retention. The free en~ of the fastener
-1¦ assembly stock, with the ~lane 58 faciny upwardly as hereinafter
described, is then fed over the periphery of feed wheel 112 which
¦ is journaled for rotation within the casiny 102. Wheel 112 has
¦ means such as notches 114 about its periphery for receiving
fasteller filaments 52 and advancing them in an arcuate E~ath
about the wheel to,a position adjacent the rear end of forwardly
l projecting needle 116. Wheel 112 is spaced from the inner wall
i of casing 102 to define a passageway for receiving and guiding
fastener end-bars 56 as the wheel rotates. Casiny 102 has a
p~oje_tion L15 over hanglnq wheel 112 to aid in restra1ning the
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end-bars for travel within the provided passageway. Detent
pin 118 is mounted to caslng 102 and is biased to restrain
i backward movement of wheel 112 by means of s~ring 120. ~otches
¦ 114 are spaced about the periphery of the wheel 112 equal to the
I . .
S I spacing between successive fastener filaments 5~.
As shown for example in Figures 17 and 20, the end-most
fastener end-bar 56e is indexed about the feed wheel 112 to a
~¦ positlon transverse to the rear end of the bore 122 of the needle
j lL6. A severing ed~e 124 may be secured to the needle or to the
casing opposite the connector 57 connecting end-bar 56e with the
¦ end-bar of the next following fastener. As shown for example
in Figure 20, reciprocating cam means 126 is then advanced to
rotate the end-most end-bar 56e about its connec-tor as a hlnge
¦¦ into alignment with the bore of the needle. A projecting tab 128
¦¦ is provided in the casing in the vertical plane of wheel 112
¦ forming an extension of the passageway about the wheel for the
¦1 end-bars to guide the same during rotation. Tab 128 has a curved
¦¦ u~per surface configured to guide the filament projecting from th~
¦~ wheel as the end-bar 56e is rotated into allgnment.
I 2-0 ;¦ After the end-bar is aligned with the needle bore 122,
a plunger 130 is brought forward to contact the free rear end
of aligned end-bar 56e to push i-t through the hollow needle bore,
¦ simultaneously breaking or cutting connector 57 at severing means
l 124. As illustrated in Figure 13, the plunger drives the end-bar
through the hollow needle which, if lnserted through one or more
layers of material 132 will secure them together or will secure
¦ a tag ther~to. As the needle is w1thdrawn from the materlal 132,
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end-bar 56e will resiliently resume its -transverse position with
respect to the filament to prevent withdrawal of -the filament
from the material. Motion of the tool as it is removed from the
material 132 will break the connector 54 joining -tab 53 to the
next following tab in the manner illustrated for example in
U.S. Patent 3,733,657. For this purpose, connector 54 should be
relatively weak. Any other suitable means for severing may also
be provided.
A knob or knurled wheel 134 is provided on the exterior
of the casin~ 102 to turn the feed wheel 112 for feeding fastener
stock into and out of the apparatus.
Plunger 13V is fixed at its rearward end to a rear
slide or plunger support 136 which slides back and forth within
slide grooves in the casing to recipxocate the plunger in and out
of the needle bore 122. ~lide 136 is pivotally joined to the
upper end 138 of lever member 140 which extends downwardly into
the hollow handle portion 141 of the casing 102. The lower end
:
of lever member 140 is secured by means of slot 142 to a pin 144
carried by hollow trigger 146 which is pivotally joined at 148
to~casing 102 for movement back and forth within hollow handle
141. Pin 144 acts as a cam and the wall of slot 142 as a cam
follower to impart motion to the lever member 140. Member 140
is joined intermediate its ends to a floa-ting pivot 150 which is
secured to one end of member 153, the opposite end of which is
pivotally secured at 155 to the handle 141. Trigger 146 is
biased in the open position by means of compression spring 156
described more fully hereinafter. Lever member 140 is biased by
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the spring 156 to retain the plunger support 136 in its rearward
position. Upon sclueezing the handle 141 and trigger 146 7 men~er
Il 140 pivots about floating pivot point 150 to actuate support 136,
¦I causing it to slide from its rearward to its forward position,
¦I pushing the plunger through the needle bore 122 and ejecting
I a fastener end-bar throuyh the needle. Plunger 130 is withdrawn
Il from the needle bore by the energy stored in spring 156 when
pressure on the trigger is released.
A forward slide 152 is mounted in the forward end
of casing 102 and slides back and for-th in slide grooves 154a
and 154b in the casing. Slide 152 has a recess 159 which,
together with the interior wall of the casing~ houses a compressi~
¦spring 158 which constitutes means for biasing the slide 152 in
l¦its forward position. Slide 152 has a rearwardly extending
¦¦ flexible arm 160 which has at its rearward end a detent surface
~,¦162 and an inclined cam surface 164~ Plunger support 136 carries
¦la coopera-ting cam surface 166 and detent surface 168 which
actuates slide 152 as follows. When the trigger 146 is s~ueezed,
I and lever member 140 is actuated to advance plunger support 13~;
1I cam surface 166 rides up and over cam surface 16~, deflecting
flexible arm 160. On the return stroke of plunger support 136,
~ detent surfaces 162 and 168 engage as shown for example in
!I Figure 17 and the plunger support 136 then moves slide 152
llrearwardly, compressing biasing spring 158.
1¦ As the plunger support 136 approaches its rearward
position, a fixed cam 170 mounted to the casing engages a
rearward extension of cam surface 164 which deflects arm 160
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downwardl~ until the detent surfaces 162 and 168 are disengaged.
Upon such disen~agement, compressed blassing spring 158 causes
slide 152 to re-turn -to its Eorward position. Cam 126 is carried
by the slide 152 and on its forward stroke ro-tates end-bar 56e
into alignment with the needle bore 122.
Slide 152 has a second forwardly extending resilient
arm 171 which has a rearwardly facing detent surface 172 and a
forward cam surface 174. Feed wheel 112 is provided with cooper-
ating index pins 176, one for each indexing position, each of which
has a cam surface 178. As the slide 152 is drawn rearwardly by
plunger support 136, cam surface 172 engages a pin 176 to rotate
feed wheel 112 and feed the next fastener into position with its
end-bar transverse to the longitudinal axis of -the needle bore.
On the return forward stroke of slide 152, Cam surface 17~ rides up
and over cam surface 178 of the lower pin 176 to deflect arm 171 and
allow its passage into its forward position ready for the next
indexing stroke.
The needle 116 can be a hollow slotted needle of any
known type suitable for feeding flexible fasteners, the fastener
end-bar belny dispensed through the hollow bore of the needle and
the filament extending through and sliding within the communicat-
ing slot 180. Needle 116 is preferably removably secured to the
forward end of the casing 102 by means of a pin 182 which engages
a corresponding cut-out slot 186 which provides a passageway for
insertion and removal of the needle. Pin 182 is bi~sed in its
locking position by means of spring 188 mounted in the casing.
When the pin is pushed toward spring 188 to compress it, slot
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186 aligns with the needle to free it for removal. Preferably
the portion of the pin 182 engaging needle cut-out 184 in locking
position is rectangular or square in cross~section.
In a hand-actuated dispensing gun of the type described,
it is desirable that the actuating force to operate the ~evice
be as small as possible to avoid operator fatigue. The movable
linkage disclosed in U.S~ Patent 3,893,612 is preferably employed
for mechanical advantage as described. In addition, it is
desirable that the compression force required decrease as the
trigger is depressed. Such decreasing force is provided by the
spring arrangement shown. The rear end of spriny 156 is secured
to a fixed pivot 157 in the handle 141. The forward end oE the
spring however is fixed to a movable pivot 190 which is secured
to trigger 146 and moves therewith as the trigger is depressed.
Movable pivot 190 is so located that in its normal extended
position, an extension of the centerline or longitudinal axis
of the spring 156 is located a substantial distance from the
fixed pivot 148. As the trigger is depressed, this centerline
moves with pivot 190 into a position closer to pivot pin 148
thereby decreasing the moment arm, the compressive force xequired,
and the extent of compressive motion of the spring, all in
a smooth and continuous manner.
It should be noted that the apparatus described is
readily assembled from molded or other easily fabricated parts,
requires modest actuating force for hand operation, is positive
in action, and is adapted to feed long lengths of fastener stock.
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it should be further noted, for example by reference to Figure 20,
that the coiled fastener stock has the connectors S7 or 57a
faciny outwardly a-t the free end for feediny over the periphery
of the feed wheel. This places -the connec-tor during rotation
of the end-bar 56e into aliynment with the needle bore in
position to ac-t as a hinye, to enyaye the severiny edge 124, and
to expose the majority of the end-bar end-section to the plunger
as the plunger i5 actuated to dispense the end-bar through the
needle.
The operation of the apparatus described comprises
the following sequence:
(1) A coil of fastener stock is placed over pin 106,
or an alternative holder of fan-folded stock as shown in Figure
12 of U.S. Patent 3,875,648, connectors 57 and plane 58 at the
free end facing upwardl~. The free end is fed over feed wheel
112 and knob 134 is rotated until the end fastener 56e rests
against the upper surface of cam 126.
(2) Trigger 146 is squeezed against handle 141 to
rotate lever member 140 about pivot 150, thereby compressiny
return spring 156 and sliding plunyer support 136 forward,
cam surface 166 sllding over and deflecting cam surface 164.
(3) Trigger 146 is released, spring 156 causing
support 136 to return to its rearward position. As support 136
returns, slide 152 is moved to its rear position and spring 158
is compressed until cooperating detents 162 and 168 are disengaged
by deflection of arm 160 by cam surfaces 170 and 164. On the
rearward stroke of slide 152, detent 172 on arm 171 engages pin
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', 176 o ~eed wheel 112 to index the wheel and feed end-bar 56e
to the position shown in Fi~ure 17. As slide 152 returns to its
j orward position, cam surfaces 174 and 178 en~aye to deflect arm
I¦ 170, and cam L26 rotates end-bar 56e about connector 57 into
li alignment with needle bore 122 as shown in Figure~20.
(4) Trigger 196 is again squeezed to move plunger
support 136 and ~lun~er 130 forwardly to en~a~e t~e exposed end
ll of end-bar S6e and dispense it through the bore 122, edge 124
¦~ sev~rinc3 the conrl~ctor 57.
;1 (5) .~s trig~er 146 is again released, the se4uence
Il described in (3) above is repeated to prepare the next end-bar
¦I for dispensing.
,¦ While the apparatus described is well adapted or
¦ hand operation, the operations may be powered by any suitable
~il means, for example, by means o~ electrical devices or fluid
pressure. Such means are described for example in the afore-
1 .
i' mentioned U.S. Patent 3j875,648. And while the novel fastener
stock herein described is well adapted for use ln the method an~
apparatus described, other suitable fastener stock can be
;l
1l employed. The novel fastener stock may also be dispensed by mean-
of other suitable apparatus, for example as disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,875,648.
It should b~ further understood that the L~resent
1 inven-tion includes all modifications and equivalents within the
¦¦ scope of the appended claims.
¦i What is claimed is:
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