Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
This is a divisional application of parent Application
Serial No. 306,780 filed July 5th, 1978 and relates to an
apparatus and method for providing continuously connected
fastener stock and more particularly to fastener stock in which
individual fasteners are separated from the continuously connected
stock within a machine and dispensed from the machine through a
; slotted hollow needle.
In the fastener stock disclosed in U.S. Patents
3,103,666 which issued on September 17, 1963; 3,4~,597 which
10 issued on May 20, 1969; and 3,470,83~ which issued on October
7, 1969,(all to ~rnold R. Bone),individual fasteners, each formed
by a head member cross coupled to a cross bar, are joined
together at the cross bars by an orthogonally disposed runner
bar. In addition in U.S. Patent 3,733,657 which issued on May
22, 1973 to Gordon B. Lonkton the faces of adjoining head pieces
of the fasteners are also joined together.
;~ In all of the foregoing situations the stoc]c form is a
clip of finite length containing a limited number of fasteners.
If the clip is too long it can create mechanical difficulties
such as jamming in the dispensing of the individual fasteners. In
addition, each time a clip is completely used the dispenser must
~; be reloaded. When the comparatively short clips required for
proper machine operation are used, there is resulting operator
fatigue from frequent reloadings of clips.
The principal objection to the prior art fasteners,
however, is that in production line operations it is important to
dispense individual fasteners at a relatively uniform and
continuous rate. Where fastener stock is provided in the form of
-- 1 --
~\ ~
clips, the reload and jam times can cause a significant
curtailment in the rate of production.
In addition the runner bar is used only in joining the
fasteners and represents waste material stock.
Accordingly, it is an object of -the invention to provide
Eas-tener stock in which the loading and jamming times are
significantly curtai]ed. A related object i5 to produce s-tock
with many more fasteners than can be presently produced in clip
form and presently accommodated by the associated dispensing
device.
Another object of the invention is to reduce the
occurrence o:E jams in the feeding and dispensing of individual
fasteners from fastener stock. A related object of the invention
is to provide stock without projecting cross bars that can cause
jamming or projecting head portions that can also cause jamming.
Another object is to produce stock which can be easily
stored and for which the problem of attachment entanglement is
significantly reduced if not completely overcome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accomplishing the foregoing and rela-ted objects, the
invention provides fastener attachment stock formed by two
elongated plastic side members that have cross coupling links.
The stock is proportioned to be fed as an entity to a position
where individual fasteners are separated from the stock within a
machine.
One of said side members is proportioned 50 that each
separated fastener includes a bar formed from a portion of the
side member and is configured for feeding through the bore of a
slotted hollow needle.
The other side member is proportioned so that each
separated fastener includes a head member formed from a portion
of the side member. Each cross link is foldable towards the
associated end bar that is feedable through the hollow needle.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the
cross lin]cs are uniformly spaced between the side members, which
are of different construction.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention the
slde memhers have a circular cross section, which is less than
that of either slde member.
In accordance wi.th a further aspect of the invention
the cross section of the cross links can be ~reater than that of
either or both side members. The cross links advantageously have
their molecules reoriented by stretching to strengthen them with
respect to at least one of the side members.
According to yet another aspect of the invention the
fastener attachment is formed by molding. The head members are
desirably joined by a connecting filament which is narrower than
the head members and the cross bars are also joined by a
connecting filament which is narrower than that of cross bars.
Individual fasteners can be provided from fastener
stock by feeding the stock formed by two elongated and cross
coupled plastic side members to a sever position and separating
an individual fastener from the stock to provide a cross link
with an end bar formed from a portion of one of the side members
and an opposite end member formed from a portion of the other
side member. The fastener thus formed has its end bar fed through
the bore of a hollow needle having a longitudinal slok for the
passage of the associated cross link.
According to one broad aspect, therefore, the present
invention provides apparatus for dispensing fasteners comprising
means for feeding a set of connected fas-teners, each comprising two
end members and a filament connected therebetween; means for severing
the two end members to form an individual fastener comprising a
filament which interconnects the two end memhers; and means for
feeding one of said end members through a slotted hollow needle.
According to another broad aspect, the present invention
provides apparatus for dispensing fasteners comprising means for
feeding a set of connected fasteners, each comprising two end members
and a filament connected therebetween along a first path; means for
severing the two end members to form an individual fastener comprising
a filament coupled between the two end members; and means for feeding
one of said end members along a second path through a slotted hollow
needle, while permitting the other of said end members to move with-
out confine~ent, said second path being a continuation of said first
path that is laterally displaced therefrom.
According to another broad aspect, the present invention
provides apparatus Eor dispensing ~asteners which comprises a housing;
an opening in saidhousing for receiving a slotted hollow needle, a
plunger mounted in saidhousing for reciprocating motion relative to said
opening; means forreciprocating said plunger with respect to said opening;
means for storingin said housing a set of connected fasteners having two
sets of connected end members and a plurality of Eilaments extending
therebetween; means foradvancing said connectedfasteners to a sever position;
means for severing op~osed end members from the set thereof, wit~ a filament ex~ending
~ 4 --
therebetween; and means for positioning one of the severed end
members into the path of said plunger and the other of the severed
end members away from the path of said plunger; whereby the reci-
procating motion o~ said plunger is able to force the end member
positioned in said path into and through said hollow slotted needle.
According to another broad aspect, the present invention
provides apparatus for dispensing fasteners comprising means for
feeding a set of connec-ted fasteners, each comprising two end
members and a filament connected therebetween, along a first path;
means for severing the two end members to form an individual fastener
comprising a filament coupled between the two end members; and
means for feeding one of said end members along a second path through
a slotted hollow needle, said second path being a conkinuation of
said first path that is laterally displaced therefrom; the severing
means comprising a slide which is laterally displaceable with respect
to said path, said slide containing a channel for receiving fasteners
therein and the received fastener is severed from the connected
fasteners by the la-teral displacement of said slide.
According to another broad aspect, the present invention
provides apparatus for dispensing fasteners comprising means for
feeding.a set of connected fasteners, each comprising two end
members and a filament connector therebetween, along a first path;.
means for severing the two end members to form an individual fastener
comprising a fi].ament coupled between the two end members;. and means
for feeding one of said end members along a second path through a
slotted hollow needle, said second path being a continuation of said
first path that is laterally displaced therefrom; the severing means
- ~A -
~ ,~
6~
comprising a slide that is pushable with respect to said first path
for receiving therein a fastener that is connected to a set of
fasteners and i5 laterally displaceable with respect to said first
path for severing the fastener in said slide from the remainder of the
set of fasteners, and the means for feeding the severed fasteners
comprising a channel for receiving each severed fastener and guiding
it to a dispensing position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a length of continuous fastener
lB stock in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 iS a front view of an individual fastener formed
from the stock of FIG. l;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the fastener of FIG. 2
taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate length of continuous
fastener device stock formed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 is a front view of an individual fasténer formed
from the stock of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views of the fastener of
FIG. 6 taken along lines 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9;
FIG. 10 iS a side view showing stock in accordance with the :.
invention confined between two parallel planes;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating alternate ways of
storing continuous attachment stock in a canister;
FIG. 13 is a top view of a device for forming and dispersing
the individual fasteners of FIGS. 2-4 and 6-9 fromthe stock of FIGS.
1, 5 and 10;
- ~B -
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the device o~ FIG~ 13 along
the lines 14-14;
FIG. 14A, shown on -the same sheet as FIG. 1, is a partial
sectional view of the device of FIG. 14 along the lines of 14A-14A;
- 4C -
FIG. 14B, shown on the same sheet as FIG. 1, is a
diagram illustrating another stock container for the device of
FIG. 14;
FIG, 15, shown on the same sheet as FIG. 1, is a
sectional view taken along lines 15-15 in F:[G. 13;
FIG. 16, shown on the fourth sheet of drawings, is a
sectional view taken along lines 16-16 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17, shown on the fourt.h sheet of drawings, is a
sectional showing a plunger and needle for inserting one end bar
of a fastener through layers of material;
FIG. 18, shown on the four~h sheet of drawings,
illustrates the fastener of FIG, 17 popping from the needle in
FIG. 17;
FIG. 1~, shown on the fourth sheet of drawings, illustrates
the ~astener of FIGS. 17 and 18 holding two layers of
material together;
; FIG. 20A, shown on the third sheet of drawings, is a
diagram of a powered system for controlling apparatus in accordance
with the invention;
FIG. 20B, shown on the fourth sheet of drawings, is a
block diagram of circuitry for operating the apparatus of FIG. 20A;
FIG. 21, shown on the second sheet of drawings, is a
side view of a hand operable device for forming fasteners from
stock and dispensing the individual fasteners;
FIG. 22, shown on the second sheet of drawings, is a
sectional view taken along lines 22-22 of FIG. 21;
' FIG, 23, shown on the second sheet of drawings, is a
sectional view taken along lines 23-23 of FIG. 22;
5-
~, ...
FIG. 24, shown on the third sheet of drawings, .is a
sectional view taken along lines 24-24 of FIG. 23;
FIG. 25, shown on the third sheet of drawi,ngs, is a
view similar to that of FIG. 24 after a fastener has been formed
from the stock;
, FIG, 26, shown on the third sheet of drawings, is a
diagrammatic view showing parts for dividing the stock into
individual fasteners;
FIG, 27, shown on the second sheet o~ drawings, is a
side view of a feed wheel for the hand operated apparatus of FIGS,
22 and 23;
FIG. 28, shown on the third sheet o~ drawings, is a
sectional view of a mofification of the apparatus of FIGS. 21
through 23 for powered operation;
FIG. 28A, shown on the second sheet of drawings, is a
detail view of a portion of FIGu 22;
FIGS. 29 and 30, shown on the third sheet of drawings,
illustrate a method of forming stock according to the invention;
- FIG. 31-33, shown on the second sheet of drawings, illu-
strate another method of forming stock according to the invention
and then stretching it to strengthen its cross links; and
FIG, 34, shown on the second sheet of drawings, illustrates
joinder of short lengths of stock to form overall lengths.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning to the drawings, one -type of fastener stock in
accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The
stock 59 is formed by two elongated and continuously connected
side members 60A and 6~B, which are cross-coupled by plastic links
" ~ -6-
60C. The side membe.r 60A is in the ~orm o~ successively
connected cross bars which are joined to one another at
/ -
-6a-
'rj
-
approximately the central axis of the continuous side member 60A.
The desired connec-tion between adjoined cross bars can be formed
by opposite incisions on the member 60~ to produce in effect a
thin filamentary extension between the adjoined cross bars. A
similar filamentary ex-tension between adjacent head pieces is
included in the continuous side member 60B~
The stock 59 is preferably of a plastic material. Most
preferably the plastic material is flexible at least in part and
is also sufficiently s-tiff 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.
Additionall~, in certain applications involvlng the
coupling of bu-ttons, it is hiyhly 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 that it
separates upon being fed into a dispensing apparatus and thus
causes jammîng 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 recogni~e as useful for the purpose
disclosed herein.
Materials which may be used herein are conventional
plastics such as nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene,
ployvinyl chloride, etc. Other plas-tics suitable for this purpose
8~
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Reference may also
be made to the abovementioned U.S. Patent 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.
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 se~uence necessary for the regular timed operation of most
machines.
As shown in Fig. l the side members also preferably
extend beyond the first cross llnk 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 in-tended 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
apertures 60D in an extruded sheet of plastic as will be seen
later wlth reference to Figs. 29 and 30.
In Figs. 2-4 there is disclosed an individual fastener
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 a in FIG. l.
The resulting fastener attachment device comprises two
end bars 61A and 61B preferably of the same length coupled
toge-ther 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
oE 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.
A further embodiment of the fastener stock is shown in
FIGS. 5-3. By contrast with the con-tinuously connected 60A of
FIG. 1, the corresponding side member in FIG. 5 has a circular
cross sect.i.on, as indicated in FIG. 7 except at the ends of each
cross bar where there is a thin filamentary connec-tion near the
base of the si~de member as further illustrated in FIG. 6 at
position b-l oE FIG. 5. The filamentary connection in the
:- position b-2 for the adjoining head pieces of the upper side
member, corresponding to the side member 60B of FIG. 1 is at
position b-2.
In FIG. 5 the stock is preferably made by molding, for
20 example as shown in FIG. 31, in relatively small sections and
then both welded together as shown in FIG. 33. In particular, the
stock also (shown as 59) in FIG. 5 comprises side members 63A and
63B and cross links 63C separated from each other by thin
filamentary extensions 63D. The stock is formed by welding
together side members of molded sections at points 63D. In this
manner the continuous, undivided, elongated si.de members 63A and
63B are formed. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a fastener attachment
device separated from the stock of FIG. 5 by seve:ring the side
g _
members at points bl and b2.
The construction of the stock of FIG. 5 is such that the
end bars 64A and 6~B are round in cross section as is the
filamen-t 6~.
More particularly, it is preferred that the cross link
63 be molded with a smaller diameter or thickness T2 than the
di.ameter or thickness Tl of the side members 63A and 63B to insure
that the resulting attachment device 6~ will be securely retained
within the needle of the fastener attachment apparatus as will be
described.
It should also be understood that i:~ desired the
thickness o:E the filament 6~C may be greater than or equal to the
thickness of the end bars 64A or 64B depending upon the aplication,
although for dispensing through a needle as dlsclosed herein so
: as to insure reliable dlspensing the thlckness of the cross links
should be less than the thickness of the side members so that the
:' :
: side members will securely ride in the central wider portion of
the needle slot with the cross link positioned in the narrow
portion of the needle slot.
It should also be understood that the side m~ers 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.
~eference should briefly be made 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
- 10 -
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 as oval, triangular, octagonal, ete.,
and in addition it should be understood that side members may be
of different dimensions from each other to provide a tab sueh as
shown in the abovementioned U.S. Patent 3,444,597.
In some cases to facilitate maehine separation oE
deviees from the stock if tough to separate materials are used,
the side members may be formed with wealcened areas.
In. FIGS. 11 and 12 there is shown a eontainer, can or
eanister in two convenient shapes for storing the fastener
attaehment stock of this diselosure. FIG. 11 illustrates at 65 a
round eanister for storing fastener attaehment stoc}c 59 in a roll
as shown.
For use, the stock may first be rolled up and plaeed in
the eanister 65 by removing the press fit cover 66A from the
eanister body 66~ and insèrting the roll with a portion of the
stock being passed through a feed opening 66C.
The stoek 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 stoe}c folded back and
forth over itself as shown may be stored. The eontainer 67
eomprises a removable eover 68A whieh is coupled to the main
storage portion 68B thereof. The eover 68A is removed for
loading of the stoek after the stoek is folded e.g., by removing
serews (not shown) holding it in plaee, 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 disclosed
in FIG. 13-34 various new and improved fastener attachment
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. 13-16 there is illustrated an apparatus for
separating -the stock into individual fasteners and inserting an
end bar o~ each ~astener into a slotted hollow needle to be
dispensed. For convenience the ~asteners are indicated generally
by the reference numeral 61.
The needle dispensing apparatus 70 includes a base 71
which supports an upright member 72 by bolts 71A (F~G. 15). The
upright 72 is partially hollow and includes a motion limit slot
72~.
The top portion of the upright 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 motion
limit screw 73A positioned within the slot 72~. The members 73
are in turn coupled to a main body 78 by bolts 73C which support
the needles and the other operating parts of the apparatus.
Within the member 72 there is provided a resilien-t biasing means
such as a spring 73B 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 o~ the spring rests on a shelf
- 12 -
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 limi-ts the downward movement of the body 78
against the spring 73B when the body is manually forced downward.
The body 78 includes a feed slot 7g to permit the flow
of stock 59 from the container 65 coupled by a screw member 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 oE raised portions 82A
which fit into -the apertures 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 rota-tion therewith. The shaft 81 is
supported for 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 comblnation with member 90 to separate devices 61
from the stock 59 after the stock 59 is urged and positioned
against the bottom of the slot 78C.
The` means 8i also positions the separated devices 61
(see FIG. 14) at a location to be dispensed via needles 91. The
member or carrier 87 includes a guide and retaining slot portion
- 13 -
into which the stock 59 is initially fed. The member 87 is
manually urged to the left of FIG. 1~ to separate the s-tock 59 at
points al - a2 or at other points along the side mel~ers 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 i~
desired.
All of the above is intended to be included in the
definitlon of means for separatlng or dividing the stock 59 into a
plurality of devices 61.
The movement of the member 87 is limlted 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 provided an end bar pusher mechanism comprising a top member
101 supporting a member 103 having a slot 102A for supporting two
needle plungers 103.
The member 102 is slidable in a guide slot 78s formed in
~ the body 78 and is held in place within the slot by a plate 93
- 20 coupled to the body 78 as shown in FIG. 18.
The plate 93 has a limit slot 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 suppor-ted by a rod 105 slidably
mounted in a member 104 having a bore (shown 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
- 14 -
through which the needles may extend. Briefly, the operation of
the apparatus shown in FIG. 14 is as follows:
1) stock 59 is fed into the body 78 from the container
or canister 65 con-taining 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 whee]. 82 as shown 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 :Eastener attachmen-t device e.g., ~I shaped
by forcing the side members 60A and 60B of the stock 59 against
an edge surface of member 90. This in effect results in a
severing, rupturing or cutting of the side members 60A and 60s to
form a fastener attachment device 6]. depending upon the edge
configuration and sharpness;
4) thereafter the carrier member 87 now holding the
device 61 is moved to the lef-t 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. 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 91s 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.
~n this manner the fastener attachment device encl bars 61A and
61s are securely held within the needles when the end bars
- 15 -
68~
travel therethrough;
5) assuming now that two pieces of material 115A and
115B are positioned one on top of the o-ther on the platform 110,
the body 78 is then forced downwardly to drive the needle tips
91C through the material and into the bores 111 and 70A;
6) at this time the member 101 is urged downwardly to
force the plungers 103 to push the device 61 end bars 61A and 61B
respectively through (preferably simultaneously) the needl,e slots
91A with the filament 61C extending between the needles 91;
7) when the plungers 103 extend downwardly as
shown to the point shown in FIG. 19, the end bars 61A and 61B 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. 19. The plastic material used for the device 61
preferably has enough return in it to cause it to assume the
proper shape.
It should be understood that -the sequence of operations
described herein may be modified wi-thout departing from the
invention. For example, the body 78 may Eirst be forced
downwardly to pierce the material with the needles, the carrier
2Q 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.
In FIGS. 20A and 20B 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
- ]6 -
dispensing through the needles 91, 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 61B 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 ls controlled by solenoid control valves 133, 141
and 14 4.
Valve 133 iS shown in block and may be a four way two
solenoid valve (the solenoids are shown in 133A and 133B) such as
shown in U.S. Patent 3,306,144 which issued on February 28, 1967
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 the
said U.S. Patent 3,306,144.
' In order to control the solenoids 133A, 133B, 141A and
144A of the valves shown in FIG. 20A, 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 having a plurality of shaped
timing cams 129A ~ 129D supported thereon for rotation therewith.
The cams are used to operate cam followers (shown dotted)
to control the opening and closing of switches 131, 142, 145 and
ganged switches 134 and 135.
By actuation of the motor 127, the aforementioned
- 17 -
.~
a~
switches coupled to solenoids 133A, l33s~ 141A and 144A of valves
133, 141 and 144 are se~uentially controlled to control machine
opera-tion as heretofore described. In addition, switch 131 will
provide a signal to step the stepping motor 130 to feed the
fastener attachment stock.
Reference should now be had to FIGS. 21-28 which
illustrate a hand operatable fastener attachment apparatus 178
using the principles oE -the apparatus shown in FIG~. 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 pivotly 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 pivotly coupled to the llnk at 185 and to the body
at 184A.
The gear segment is urged to the right of FIG. 23 by a
spring 194 positioned in a body cavity 193 which forces a pin like
member 191 pivotly coupled at 192 to the gear segment ]84. The
gear segment 184 drives a plunger 186 by gear teeth positioned in
cutouts.
For a further description of this type of drive system
reference may be had to Canadian Patent No. 969,399 which issued
on June 17, 1975 to Dennison Manufacturing Company.
The stock 59 is stored in a container 196 in a rolled
up configuration about a pin 196A, the 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.
- 18 -
The feed wheel 199 comprises ridges l99A between
cavities l99B to support the stock 59. The ridges fit within the
aperture 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 clu-tch mechanism so that it will rotate to 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 ~oller 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 199C coupled
thereto (See FIG. 26) which .is in turn driven by gear teeth 186C
of member 186. The feed wheel is mounted on shaft members l9~E
supported by bores:formed in the body and accessible by removlng
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
20 FIGS. 24 and 25 by springs 217 and 218, the spring 217 being
supported at its rear against plug 219.
The stock is divided or separated into fastener
attachment devices by the engagement of -the side members of the
stock against member 220 as shown in FIGS. 22 and 28 as the
carrier member moves under spring pressure from the position
shown in FIG. 24 to the position shown in FIG. 25. FIGS. 25 and
: 28 illustrate the carrier member holding one fastener attachment
device 61 in position for it -to be pushed through the slot 190A
_ -l9 _
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 pivotly supported by pin 213 ~see FIGS.
23 and 26).
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
10 pressure of springs 217 and 218 the member 216 moves to the right
of FIG. 23 to the position shown in FIGS. 22 and 2~ and thus
rotates member 211 about pln 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. 22) and return the carrier member 216 to the position
shown in FIG. 23 where it can now receive the stock 59.:
: In this device the stock 59 is fed in-to the carrier
member 216 on the return stroke as member 186 begins to compress
20 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. 21-27 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 61 from the stock and the positioning of the
device to be pushed through the needle 190;
- 20 -
(c) the member ]86 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 stroke 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 i-ts next
use.
Reference should now be had to FIG. 28 which illustrates
a powered (e.g., fluid or electric powered) version of the
apparatus of FICS. 21-27. All elements are the same except that
the member 186 is driven by a modified version Eluid operated
system as shown in U.S. Patent 3,659,769 which issued on May 2,
1972 to Dennison Manufacturing Company.
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 pivotly mounted at 232 to the body and
is positioned in a finger hole 230. Pulling the finger 231 back-
wards against return spring 233 causes the slidable rod 234 pivotally
coupled at 230 to the trigger 231 to move to the right of FIG. 28.
Finger 234A of the rod 234 thus rotates the valve member 273
havin~ solid portions 237A posltioned for rotation in a cavity
formed within the body and a passageway 237 ex-tending through a
portion thereof as in FIG. 11 of said U.S. Patent 3f659,769.
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 left of FIG. 28.
In this manner the piston 242 compresses the return
- 21 -
spring 243 to drive the member 186 to the leEt of FIG. 2~. Upon
release of the trigger 231, the member 234 moves left rotating the
valve member 237 to the position shown in FIG. 28 to exhaust the
gas from cylinder -through port 2~0. The re-turn spring 243 then
returns the pis-ton 242 and the member lg6 coupled thereto~to
provide the functions previously described with reference to FIGS.
21-27.
At this time reference should be had to FIGS. 29-34
which illustrate various methods for fabricating the stock 59.
FIGS. 29 and 30 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 ex-truder in the configuration shown in FIG. 30 and
then punching out or forming apertures by applying a force to a
punching member 255 to move it up and down to form the apertures
(leaving the side members and cross links) as the strip moves in
a direction to the right of FIG. 29 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. 31 there is shown a method of molding the stock
in a mold 260 by forcing into the mold plastic under pressure
into channels 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.
- 22 -
Smal]er 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. 34 to
butt weld the side members 63A and 63B of each section together,
said side members supporting the cross links 63C.
In FIGS. 32 and 33 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 heen efficiently attained and since
certain changes may be madè in carrying out the methods and in
the constructions set forth, it is intended that all matter
contained in the following descrpition or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpre-ted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
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.
