Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
STAPLE ADVANCE DEVICE FOR STAPLER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a staple advance or feeding
device or mechanism, and more particularly to a staple advance or
feeding device including an improved structure or configuration for
effectively advancing or feeding or driving collated staples or
screws or nails or fasteners which are joined together in a strip or
the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical staple advance or feeding or driving
devices for power driving tools or mechanisms, such as staplers,
comprise an advancing or feeding or driving mechanism for
engaging with and for driving or feeding or advancing collated
fasteners, such as screws or nails or staples and for allowing the
fasteners to be driven or hammered with a power driving tool or
mechanism.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,231,900 to Den, U.S. Patent
No. 5,337,635 to Habermehl, U.S. Patent No. 5,469,767 to
Habermehl, U.S. Patent No. 5,568,753 to Habermehl et al., U.S.
Patent No. 5,699,704 to Habermehl, U.S. Patent No. 5,826,468 to
Daubinger et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,870,933 to Habermehl, U.S.
Patent No. 6,123,244 to Huang, U.S. Patent No. 6,186,385 to Huang,
and U.S. Patent No. 6,227,429 to Huang disclose several of the
typical staple feeding or driving devices for power driving tools or
mechanisms, each comprising an advancing or feeding or driving
mechanism for engaging with and for driving or feeding or
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advancing collated fasteners, such as screws or nails or staples and
for allowing the fasteners to be driven or hammered with a power
driving tool or mechanism.
However, the typical staple feeding or driving devices
normally should be held and actuated or operated with both hands of
the user and may not be easily and readily actuated or operated by
the user.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
afore-described disadvantages of the conventional staple advance
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a staple
advance device including an improved structure or configuration for
effectively advancing or feeding or driving collated staples or
screws or nails or fasteners which are joined together in a strip or
the like.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a staple advance device for driving with a power driver a
screwstrip comprising threaded fasteners, such as screws or the like,
which are joined together in a strip comprising a receptacle
including a chamber formed in the receptacle, and including a guide
pathway formed in the receptacle and defined by a low level surface,
a high level surface, a tilted surface located between the low and the
high level surfaces, and an inclined surface formed and located
beside the low level surface and communicating with the low level
surface, a barrel slidably engaged in the chamber of the receptacle
and engageable into and out of the chamber of the receptacle, the
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barrel including a longitudinal bore formed in the barrel for slidably
receiving and engaging with the fastener, a mandrel engaged in the
chamber of the receptacle and engageable into the bore of the barrel
for engaging with the fastener and for driving the fastener to move
out of the bore of the barrel selectively, a spring biasing member
engaged in the chamber of the receptacle and engaged with the
barrel for biasing and forcing the barrel out of the chamber of the
receptacle selectively, and for allowing the barrel to be forced to
engage into the chamber of the receptacle selectively, a guide plate
attached to the barrel for supporting the strip and the fasteners and
for guiding and limiting the fasteners to move into the bore of the
barrel in series, an actuating lever pivotally attached to the barrel
with a pivot axle for allowing the actuating lever to be rotated
relative to the barrel, and including a guide pin attached to the
actuating lever and slidably engaged in the guide pathway of the
receptacle, and including a guide rod attached to the actuating lever
for moving and feeding the fastener into the bore of the barrel
selectively, a guide device including a gate pivotally attached to the
receptacle, and a spring biasing element engaged with the gate for
biasing and moving the gate to contact and engage with the tilted
surface selectively, and to form a guide passage above the gate and
communicating with the high level surface when the gate is biased
and forced to engage with the tilted surface of the receptacle, and
for forming an endless shaped structure for the guide pathway of the
receptacle selectively.
The guide plate includes a pusher slidably attached to the guide
plate and removable relative to the guide plate, the pusher includes
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a guide groove formed in the pusher for slidably receiving and
engaging with the guide rod.
The guide device includes a board attached to the receptacle, a
seat attached to the board and located in the guide pathway of the
receptacle, and the spring biasing element is attached to the seat and
engaged with the gate for biasing and forcing the gate to contact and
engage with the tilted surface of the guide pathway of the
receptacle.
The barrel includes an inlet formed in the barrel and
communicating with the bore of the barrel, and arranged for
allowing the fastener to be engaged into the bore of the barrel, The
barrel includes an outlet formed in the barrel and located in a front
portion of the barrel for guiding the fastener to move out of the bore
of the barrel.
The barrel includes a guide block pivotally attached to the
barrel at the front portion of the barrel, and a spring biasing element
engaged onto the guide block for biasing and forcing the guide
block to engage with the fastener and for guiding the fastener to
move out of the bore of the barrel. The guide block includes a guide
depression for engaging with the fastener and for guiding and
directing the fastener relative to the barrel.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description
provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side plan schematic view of a staple advance device
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in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front and upper perspective view of the staple
advance device;
FIG. 3 is a partial front and upper perspective view of the
staple advance device;
FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the staple advance device;
FIG. 5 is a partial rear perspective view of the staple advance
device;
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a housing or
receptacle of the staple advance device;
FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the receptacle of the staple
advance device;
FIG. 8 is a partial side plan schematic view illustrating the
operation of the staple advance device;
FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are partial side plan
schematic views similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the operation of the
staple advance device;
FIGS. 18, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 are partial side plan
schematic views as seen from another direction opposite to that
shown in FIGS. 8-17, illustrating the operation of the staple advance
device;
FIG. 28 is a partial cross sectional view of the staple advance
device, taken along lines 28-28 of FIG. 3, illustrating the operation
of the staple advance device; and
FIGS. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, and 37 are partial cross
sectional views similar to FIG. 28, illustrating the operation of the
staple advance device.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-8, a staple
advance device in accordance with the present invention comprises
a housing or receptacle 10 for engaging with and for connecting or
coupling to a power driving tool or mechanism 9 (FIG. 1), such as a
stapler or the like, and for advancing or feeding or supplying the
collated staples or screws or nails or fasteners 91 which are joined
together in a strip 90 or the like to the power driving tool or
mechanism 9, and for allowing the fasteners 91 to be driven or
hammered with the power driving tool or mechanism 9. The housing
or receptacle 10 includes a compartment or chamber 11 formed
therein (FIGS. 6, 7), and includes a groove or guiding channel 12
formed therein and communicating with the chamber 11 of the
receptacle 10.
A casing or barrel 20 is slidably received or engaged in the
chamber 11 of the receptacle 10 (FIGS. 28-37) and removable or
engageable into and out of the chamber 11 of the receptacle 10, and
includes an elongated or longitudinal hole or bore 21 formed therein
for slidably receiving or engaging with the fasteners 91, as also
shown in FIGS. 28-37. A nail driver or metal mandrel 13 is disposed
or engaged in the chamber 11 of the receptacle 10, and extendible or
engageable into the bore 21 of the barrel 20 (FIGS. 28-37) for
selectively engaging with the fastener 91 and for selectively driving
or actuating the fastener 91 to move out of the bore 21 of the barrel
20. A spring biasing member 14 is also disposed or engaged in the
chamber 11 of the receptacle 10, and contacted or engaged with the
barrel 20 for selectively biasing and forcing or moving the barrel 20
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out of the chamber 11 of the receptacle 10, and also for allowing the
barrel 20 to be forced to move or engage into the chamber 11 of the
receptacle 10 selectively.
The barrel 20 includes an opening or inlet 210 formed therein
(FIG. 4) and communicating with the bore 21 of the barrel 20, and
arranged for allowing the fasteners 91 to be moved or engaged into
the bore 21 of the barrel 20, and includes an outlet 22 formed
therein, such as formed and located in the outer or front portion 24
thereof for guiding the fasteners 91 to move out of the bore 21 of
the barrel 20. A guide panel or plate 30 is attached or mounted or
secured to the barrel 20 for supporting the strip 90 and the fastener
91 and for guiding and limiting the fasteners 91 to move into the
bore 21 of the barrel 20 one by one or in series. A cover 31 is
pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the barrel
20 and pivotal or rotatable relative to the barrel 20 between an
outwardly pivoted open position (FIGS. 3-5) and an inwardly
pivoted folded position (FIGS. 1-2 and 8-17), and includes a tongue
or cap 32 extended therefrom for selectively covering and shielding
and protecting the fasteners 91 from being disengaged or separated
from the barrel 20 inadvertently.
One or more (such as two) pawls or guide blocks 25, 26 are
pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the barrel
20 and arranged or located above and below the outlet 22 at the
outer or front portion 24 of the barrel 20, and a spring biasing
element 27 is attached or mounted or engaged onto the respective
guide block 25, 26 (FIGS. 28-37) for biasing and forcing or moving
the guide blocks 25, 26 to contact or engage with the respective
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fastener 91 and for stably guiding the respective fastener 91 to move
out of the bore 21 of the ban-e120. It is preferable that the guide
blocks 25, 26 each include a guide depression 28 formed therein for
slidably receiving or engaging with the fasteners 91 and for stably
guiding and erecting or directing the fasteners 91 relative to the
barrel 20. The guide plate 30 further includes a guide channel or
groove 36 formed therein, such as formed in a pusher 35 of the
guide plate 30, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 18-27, in which the
pusher 35 is slidably attached or mounted or secured to the guide
plate 30 and removable up and down relative to the guide plate 30.
As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-17, the receptacle 10 further
includes a guide pathway 15 formed therein, such as formed in one
of its side portions thereof, and formed or defined by a low level
surface 16, a high level surface 17, an inclined or tilted surface 18
formed and arranged or located between the low and the high level
surfaces 16, 17, and another tilted or inclined surface 19 formed and
arranged or located beside the low level surface 16 and
communicating with or connecting or coupling to the low level
surface 16. A guide device 5 includes a panel or carrier or board 50
attached or mounted or secured to the receptacle 10, a fixed seat 51
attached or mounted or secured to the receptacle 10 and/or to the
board 50 and arranged or located or extended into the guide pathway
15 of the receptacle 10, and a guide lever or gate 52 pivotally or
rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the receptacle 10 and/or
to the board 50 and also arranged or located in the guide pathway 15
of the receptacle 10.
Another spring biasing member or element 53 is attached or
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mounted or engaged onto the board 50 and/or the seat 51 and
contacted or engaged with the gate 52 for biasing and forcing or
moving the gate 52 to contact or engage with the tilted surface 18
and to partially enclose the guide pathway 15 of the receptacle 10,
and to form a guide passage 150 above the gate 52 (FIGS. 6, 8) and
communicating with the high level surface 17 when the gate 52 is
biased and forced to contact or engage with the tilted surface 18 of
the receptacle 10, and thus for forming or defining a substantially
oval or elliptical or endless shaped structure or configuration for the
guide pathway 15 of the receptacle 10 selectively. The spring
biasing member or element 53 is arranged to allow the gate 52 to be
opened from the tilted surface 18 toward the high level surface 17
(FIGS. 9-12).
A guide or actuating lever 40 is rotatably attached or mounted
or secured to the barrel 20, for example, the actuating lever 40
includes a middle or intermediate portion pivotally or rotatably
attached or mounted or secured to the barrel 20 with a pivot axle 41
(FIGS. 5, 18-19 and 25-27) for allowing the actuating lever 40 to be
pivoted or rotated relative to the barrel 20, and includes a guide pin
42 attached or mounted or secured to one of the end portions of the
actuating lever 40 and slidably received or engaged in the guide
pathway 15 of the receptacle 10 selectively (FIGS. 1-3 and 8-17),
and includes a guide stud or rod 43 attached or mounted or secured
to the other end portion of the actuating lever 40 and slidably
received or engaged in the guide groove 36 of the pusher 35 (FIGS.
5, 18-27), in which the pusher 35 is contacted or engaged with the
fastener 91 for moving and feeding the fastener 91 into the bore 21
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of the barrel 20 selectively (FIGS. 36-37).
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 8-13, the barrel 20 may be
forced to contact or engage with a work piece (not illustrated) and
may then be forced to move or engage into the receptacle 10, for
allowing the fastener 91 to be driven with the mandrel 13 and to be
moved out of the barrel 20 (FIGS. 12-17) and to be engaged into the
work piece. At this moment, when the barrel 20 is moved and
engaged into the receptacle 10, the guide pin 42 of the actuating
lever 40 will be moved from the low level surface 16 (FIGS. 8, 9) to
the tilted surface 18 (FIGS. 10, 11) and then to the high level
surface 17 (FIGS. 12, 13) of the receptacle 10 by opening the gate
52 that is biased by the spring biasing element 53; i.e., the spring
biased gate 52 is arranged to allow the guide pin 42 of the actuating
lever 40 to move over the gate 52 (FIGS. 11, 12) from the tilted
surface 18 toward the high level surface 17, and when the guide pin
42 is moved over the gate 52, the spring biasing element 53 may
bias and force the gate 52 to contact or engage with the tilted
surface 18 and to partially enclose the guide pathway 15 of the
receptacle 10, and to form the guide passage 150 above the gate 52
(FIGS. 6, 8), and to form as a check valve and to prevent the guide
pin 42 from moving backward into the tilted surface 18 again, and
to guide and limit the guide pin 42 to move into the guide passage
150 that is formed and located above the gate 52 (FIGS. 13-15), and
then to contact or engage with the inclined surface 19 (FIGS. 16, 17)
of the receptacle 10.
The guide pin 42 of the actuating lever 40 may be moved
forwardly into the guide passage 150 that is formed and located
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above the gate 52 when the barrel 20 is moved forwardly relative to
the receptacle 10 with or by the spring biasing member 14. When
the guide pin 42 of the actuating lever 40 is moved through the
guide pathway 15 of the receptacle 10, from the low level surface 16
(FIGS. 8, 9) to the tilted surface 18 (FIGS. 10, 11) and then to the
high level surface 17 (FIGS. 12, 13) of the receptacle 10, the guide
rod 43 of the actuating lever 40 may move the pusher 35 from the
upper position (FIGS. 18-19) to the lower position (FIGS. 20, 21),
and may maintain the pusher 35 at the lower position (FIGS. 22-26)
when the guide pin 42 is moved into the guide passage 150 that is
formed and located above the gate 52, and may move the pusher 35
to the upper position again (FIG. 27) when the guide pin 42 is
moved and contacted or engaged with the inclined surface 19 of the
receptacle 10, in order to move and feed the fastener 91 into the
bore 21 of the barrel 20 selectively (FIGS. 36-37).
Accordingly, the staple advance device in accordance with the
present invention includes an improved structure or configuration
for effectively advancing or feeding or driving collated staples or
screws or nails or fasteners which are joined together in a strip or
the like.
Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that
numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination
and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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