US1420227A - Multiple stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

H. B. WALTER; MULTIPLE smum; MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG.26, I920- Patented June 20, 1922.

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B. WALTER. MULTIPLE STAPLING MACHlNE. APPLICATION FILED AUGZG. 1920.

Patented June 20, 1922.

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. APPLICATION FILED AUG-26, I920. 1,420,227.

Patented June 20, 1922.

WITNESS ATTORNEYS it star HARRISON, wanna, OFFPHILAIDELPHIA, rENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR, To FIBRE v CONTAINER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA."-

MULTIPLE STAFLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters fatent. Patented Jun 20, 1922 Application filed August 26,1920. Serial No. 406,135.

My invention relates to a stapling ma v chine of the multipletype, whereln any number of a plurality of staples may'be simultaneously driven through and clinched about parts to be secured together by'such staples. i The invention, however, relates more par.- ticularly to the staple feeding means in con.- nection with separating mechanism of which the latter is in the form of a reciprocating hSpper or pan. combined with a reciprocating separator and the former receives the staples from said separating means in a certain order, to feed, as required, a plurality of said staples simultaneously to the respective points where the driving and clinching operations are performed. The invention relates to and is an improvement upon the machine of the type shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 332,471, filed October 22, 1919.

As in said copending application, one of the objects of the inventionis to provide a machine that. is adapted tov use-previously made staples,-.with automatic-means toseparat and feed the same in multiple with the driving and clinching means.

Another object is to construct a machine with a common means forcontaining and controlling the position ofall of the staples and from which means-the staples of the several driving means may be separated and fed as required. i

Another object is to provide a machine of the type aforesaid, with means for; separating and properly positioning the separated staples in predetermined order to besuccessively operated upon by the feeding means. 7 1

Another. object is to provide each machine with a novel and useful means for feeding separated and positioned staples successively and positively to a clinching and driving means. 1

driving and clinching means upon A still further object is to. provide a novel and useful means of the type aforesaid,

whereby the movement of .the staples throughout themachine from the separating means to the driving and clinching means maybe open to view, as well as that the staples may; be accessible at any point of travel along the same. a

A still further object is to provide a-new and useful feeding means adaptedto positively successively pick off anddrop the staples successively into a gravity chute in timed relation with the driving and clinchmg means, whereby staples will befed to the latter without missing sta'p'les',ithe separating means operating'to position staples'at a greater rate than the demand made by the the feedmg. means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear'in the following specification.

As aforesaid, the present invention relates to a machine for driving made staples in multiple, rather than'for successively driving-staples made from a piece of wire or strip of indefinite lengthfrom which staple pieces must first; :be cut and then shaped into the form of' staples prior to thestap'ling function. The object of using made staples for purposes mentioned is clearlywset forth in my aforesaid copending application.

A practicalembodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying; drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of. the device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front viewof the same; 1

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts "shown inanother position of operation;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side views in elevation of the-device, showing more particularly'the means for operating the feeding means in timedrelation with the driving andclinchingmeans;

- *ig. 6 isa section on the line 6 6, Fig. 4: r

Fig. 3 5 Fig. 11 is a detail View of the ,strip- 1 per and block; Fig. 12 is a detail view of a head provided with clips; Fig. 13 is a section on the line 1313 of Fig. 3; Fig, 14 is 'a section on the line 14: 14:, Fig. 3; Fig. 15 isan end view of the head provided with clips; and Fig. 16 is a side view of the head provided with clips.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which similar reference characters are used to designate the corresponding parts in the several views,I have shown, in a multiple stapling machine of the type referred to above, a reciprocating hopper or pan for containing a mass or quantity of made staples, reciprocating separating means in the form of hooks operating in conjunction with said reciprocating hopper for receiving, transferring and guiding the separated staples or fastening elements from the hopper or pan into position to be operated upon by the feeding device, feeding devices receiving said staples from said separating and positioning means and for simultaneously feeding the staples in multiple to a plurality of race-ways or chutes, wherein the staples move by gravity to the respective driving and clinching means, which may be of any suitable type, as that referred to or disclosed in my copending application hereinbefore mentioned.

The stapling, storing and containing means comprises a hopper or pan 1 of preferably rectangular form to the bottom 2 of which may be suitably secured, as by rivets A, one or more hinged straps 3. These straps are provided with bearing sleeves or hubs 5 adapted to be adjustably fastened to a shaft 6 to angularly reciprocate therewith and be held from longitudinal movement relative thereto by means of set screws 8.

To the end of the shaft 6, which projects beyond one of the side walls 7 of the machine, preferably at the left hand side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawing, may be secured or keyed a crank arm 9, said crank arm 9 being provided near its free end with an elongated slot 10 in which may be adjustably attached a pivot stud 11 connected to the lower end of a link 12, the other end of the link being pivotally connected to the free end of a crank 13 by means of a pivot stud 14, the crank 13 being keyed to a rotating shaft 15, suitably mounted in bearings provided in the side walls 7 of the machine.

The separating means comprises a plurality of separating elements or hooks 16 mounted upon a transverse shaft 17 in predetermined adjusted spaced relation longitudinally of the shaft and adapted to angularly reciprocate or oscillate therewith, the shaft 17 extending transversely of the machine between the side walls 7 and suitably supported in bearings provided at said side walls. Said separating elements are preferably keyed to the shaft 17 and suitably se cured in adjusted relative position, as by means of set screws 18. Each separating element comprises a shank member 19 and a tapered spur member 20, pivotally connected together by a pivot and tongue connection 21, whereby the tapered spur 20 is adapted to have a certain amount of angular movement relative to the shank member 19 by means of the pivot connection 21. Shoulders 19 and 20 may be respectively provided on the shank and spur members so that under certain conditions, as when said shoulders are in contact with each other, the relatively movable members 19 and 20 act together as a single rigid member. This applies particularly at the time when the separating hooks are raised from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1. The spur 20 is curved and tapered and is provided with a curved surface 22 on the top thereof, which, if projected, forms with the curved surface 23 of the shank member, a continuous smooth path or surface over which staples may pass as will more fully appear hereinafter. It will be observed also that the spur members are further tapered at the sides thereof for facilitating the engagement of the fastening elements or staples therewith, as will also appear more fully hereinafter.

The shank member 19 may be provided with a circular hanger portion 24, at the pe riphery of which is located an end 25 of a bridge member 26, such end being cut in an arcuate form to closely fit against said periphery at all times during the angular reciprocation or oscillation of the shank member and the hanger portion about the axis of the shaft 17, whereby the surfaces 22 and 23 form a continuous smooth path with the surface 27 of the bridge member. The periphery of the circular hanger portion 24 may be also provided with a groove 28 in which may slide a tongue or guide member 29 provided at the end 25 of the bridge member. It will also be noted that the hanger portion 21, as well as the shank portion 19 and the bridge 26, are further provided with laterally extending or overhanging ridges or bead portions 29, which may be burnished or otherwise made smooth, whereby the passing of the staples over the surfaces 22, 23 and 27 is effected with minimum friction and irrespective of whether or not the legs of the staples are parallel to each other or bent to a certain extent, the lateral points of contact between the staples and the parts over which they move being merely upon said ridges or beads.

At the end of the shaft 17 preferably at the right side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 2, is provided a crank 30 (see Figs. 4 and 5), which may be keyed thereto to rotate therewith and held from longitudinal ing shaft and held from longitudinal movement thereof by set screw 36. The

lower end of the link 33 may be provided with an elongated slot 37 whereby a certain amount of relatively free or idle movement may be obtained between the link 33 of the pivot stud 32. Adjacent the crank arm 30, when in its lowermost position, may be suitably attached, as by screw 39, to one of the side walls 7 of the machine, an abutment or stop 38. The flange 40 of this abutment may be provided with an elongated slot-41 by which the abutment may be adjustably secured in any desired position relative to the crank arm 30. The abutment or stop may be so positioned that as the crank arm 30 is moved to its lowermost position, the same will contact with said stop and produce a jarring effect upon the separating elements in order to loosen, disentangle or cast off any fastening elements or staples which might remain attached thereto or jammed or improperly positioned thereon, the link 33 being adapted, by reason of the slot 37 provided therein, of moving idly relative to the pivot stud 32 upon further movement of the link; by the continuous rotation of the crank Each bridge member 26 may be suitably secured in an inclined position, greater than the angle of repose, to a transversely mounted supporting bar or bracket 42' by means of screws 43 and clamp plates 44, the supporting bars being suitably supported transversely of the machine by any appropriate means attached to the side walls 7. At the lower end of the bridge 26 may be positioned an abutment plate or stop member 45 suitably secured to the end of the bridge by screws 46, said abutment member being adapted to hold the leading staples of a line or file of staples on the bridge in proper position to be picked off by the picking-off means de scribed more fully hereinafter. To the under surface of the lower end of the bridge bar may be suitably secured, as by screws 4", a supporting bracket 17 ,with the lower end of the latter secured to a chute or a raceway 48 by means of rivets 49 or the like and adapted to support said chute in operative position. as will appear more fully hereinafter. Each of the separating elements, in-

cluding the spur 20 and the shank 19, as well as each of the bridge members 26, is of a width, at the top thereof," including the ridges 29, substantially equal or slightly less than the distance between the legs of a staple adjacent the heads thereof, whereby the staples are adapted to slide along the inclined surfaces thereof with a minimum amount of friction, the ridges provided at the upper edges of said bridge members being adapted to maintain the legs'of the staples spaced from the sides of the bridges.

Each separating element may be provided with a trap member or guard plate 50 substantially of the form of a rectangular frame and with its top and lateral portions spaced from the topv and side surfaces of the separator shank a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the heads and legs of the staples whereby the latter may freely pass in single succession through said guard over and along said shank. The guard plate may be rigidly secured to said shank by means of an angle piece 51 riveted to said guard plate and to a base plate 52 suitably secured to the lower side of the shank member by screws 53. Each guard plate is of utility for preventing the passage of im perfectly and improperly formed staples along the separating members. The guard plate is also of sufficient size or extent to further insure the holding back of superfluous or irregularly positioned staples which might otherwise find their way to the shanks 19.

From the above it is apparent that as the hopper is caused to incline in one direction or another, the staples placed therein may slide from one end of the hopper to the other, whereupon certain of said staples will engage with the spurs 20 of the separators located in said pan or hopper whereby the legs of'the staples depend on both sides of the separator members as the heads of the staples slide over the top surface of the spur and shank portions of the. separators. The end portions of the spurs are also tapered at the sidethereof whereby the same may act to laterally urge the staples, which may not be squarely presented to the ends of. the spurs, into the positions where the staples will properly engage with the separators. This provides for a very efficient means for insuring the separation of a large number of staples at each reciprocation of the hangers and hopper.

Transversely of the machine and between the side walls thereof, may be. suitably supported a feed shaft 54- suitably'supported to rotate or reciprocate angularly in the bearnected between the head 59 and the hub 57. The connecting rod 62 may be threaded at the ends thereof with right and left hand threads for the purpose of providing means for relatively adjusting the head 59 and the hub 57, lock nuts 63 and 64 being also provided on said threads whereby the former locks the rod 62 to the head 59 and the latter locks the rod 62 to the hub 57. It is therefore apparent that the position of the head '59 relative to the hub 57 may be adjusted by the loosening of said lock nuts and the turn ing of said rod to the extent desired.

At the forward end of the head 59 may be provided, between the clips 60 and suitably spaced from the head 59, a cross piece 65 between which and the head 59 may freely move a pendulous member 66. The latter comprises an enlargement or weight portion 67 at the lower end thereof and a hook portion 68 at the upper end thereof by which the pendulous member is adapted to be suspended pendulously in one position of operation. The weight portion 67 is adapted to act as a weight when resting upon the heads of the staples arranged in line upon the bridge 26 while the member 66- itself is adapted to act as a guard for guiding the staples, when dropped into the chute 48, in another position of operation, as will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The upper end of the chute 48 may be provided with upwardly extending portions 69 between which may be provided a stripper block 70 to which may be secured a stripper plate 71 provided with a pair of prongs or projections 72 extending toward and between the clips 60, when in raised position, as shown in Fig. 3. Beneath the stripper plate 72 may also be located a guard member 73, suitably secured, as by screws 74 to and with the members 71 and 70. The bottom wall of the chute 48 also curves upwardly to provide a wall 75 opposite and close to the stop member 45 and adapted to prevent staples from falling back against the member 45 after being once released or dropped from the clips 60, as will appear more clearly from the hereinafter described operation of the machine. 8

The lower end of the raceway 48 may be secured to the driving and clinching means in any suitable manner, as more fully disclosed in my copending application. The chute is hollow and preferably substantially channel-shaped in cross-section with the upper side thereof being open so that the interior of the chute may be visible and freely accessible to the operator of the machine in the event that it is desired to move or re move staples therein or therefrom.

At the lower end of the machine and at the forward portion thereof may be provided any suitable number of driving and clinching means of the type disclosed in my aforesaid cop'ending application and connected for operation in any convenient manner to a thrust shaft 76 transversely disposed in the machine and operable by'means of thrust rods 77 suitably connected to said shaft at one end and at the other end thereand the stripping means in timed relation with the driving and clinching means actuating means are provided connected between the thrust rods 77 and the feed shaft 54, said means comprising an arm 78 secured to the end 79 of the shaft 54, extending beyond one of the side frames 7, by means of a hub 80 fastened to the end of said shaft, as by set screw 81, the arm 78 being secured to the hub 80 by screw threads and a lock nut 82. To the free end of the arm 78 is connected a swivel means 83 with one member 84 thereof slidably mounted upon the arm 78 and the other relatively movable member 85 thereof being pivotally connected to a link 86 rigidly secured to the thrust rod 77 by means of screws 87. The member 85 is constructed to extend through an elongated slot 88, provided in the link member 87 near the free end thereof and adjustably secured to said link at any point of adjustment of said slot. On the other hand, the member 84 is adapted to freely move along the arm 78 as the latter angularly reciprocates.

The machine may also be provided with power means driven by a motor suitably supported upon the machine frame in any appropriate position and operatively connected to the parts above described in the manner hereinbefore also fully disclosed in my above-mentioned copending application.

In operating the device, made staples of the size chosen are placed withinthe hopper 1 and the latter is caused to reciprocate angularly about the axis of the shaft 6 from the continued rotation of the shaft 15 and the consequent movement of the partsleading therefrom to the hopper so as toincline the bottom of the hopper at opposite angles in such a manner that the staples may be caused to move backwardly and forwardly over said surface as the hopper is reciprocated. This causes a conglomerate mass or quantity of staples to periodically move toward the angularly reciprocated separating hooks, which are also continually operating, by which staples may be separated and carried from the hopper to a position where the staples may be transferred to, moved over, and gathered upon the bridge members. During the movement of the hopper, a certain number of staples will engage with the spurs of the separating hooks which are reposing freely upon the bottom of the pan or hopper in such a way that the heads of the staples will ride over the surfaces 22 and 23 and the ridges 29 of the hooks, with the legs of the staples depending on each side of the hooks, in spaced relation to the lateral faces thereof. The trap or guard members, secured to the separating hooks, permit the staples to slide therethrough in single succession over each separator but prevent any entangled, misplaced, imperfect, or deformed staples from passing therethrough.

The continued rotation of. the shaft 15 will, by virtue of the connecting crank 35, link 33 and arm .80, impart an angular re.- ciprocation to the separating hooks in time relation with the reciprocation of the hopper so that as the hopper is inclined to its up permost position, the separating hooks will be moved downwardly into thepan or hopper. The spurs of the-hooks will'contact with the bottom of the pan and rest thereupon, irrespective of further movement of the shanks thereof, relative movement between the shanks and spaces being permitted by the pivotal connection 21 whereby injury to the hopper is prevented from the contact of the hook spurs therewith or by reason of any jamming tendencies thereof against any loose staples that might be left upon the bottom of the hopper in the path of said spurs. Moreover, the spurs assume a p0sition upon the bottom of the pan so as to more effectually receive the staples as the same are caused to slide downwardly in the pan or hopper.

It will be apparent also that as the crank 30 reaches its lowermost position, it will be brought suddenly into contact with the stop member 38, thereby imparting to the hooks a jarring effect to loosen or cast therefrom any staples that might be entangled or jammed thereupon or irregularly positioned, which might interfere with the proper subsequent operation of said hooks. Upon further rotation of the shaft and the connected parts leading to the separating hooks, the latter are caused to move upwardly while the pan is moving downwardly, and the separating hooks are brought into an elevated position such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, wherein, any staples raised therewith will be adapted to first slide downwardlly over the surfaces and ridges 22, 28 and 29 of the hooks and hangers, then upon and along the ridges 29 of the bridge members 26 toward the lower end of the latter with the leading staple of each line of staples abutting against the stop member 45. The inclination of the separating members when in the uppermost position and the bridge members are such that with the lines of staples arranged thereon, the weight of the latter is sufiicient to force or tend to force the leading staples from the separating members over the bridge members-tothe lower end of the latter. and to maintain theleading staples in each line in abutment with the stop member 45.

At the time when it is desired to drive staples or to feed staples to the driving and clinching mechanism, any suitable means, such as'is disclosed in mycopending application, may be controlled by the operator to operate the thrust shafts androds 7 6-and 7 7 As the latter are caused to reciprocate, substantially vertically, the driving chuck of the driving means and'the clinching block of the clinching means, both connected to the thrust shaft, will be brought into proper position for both driving and" clinching a multiple staple, through the material to be clinched in the manner heretofore mentioned. Upon the downward movement of the thrust rods 77, which carry the links 86, the swivel member 83, being connectedvv thereto, will receive a like movement and impart the same to the arm 78, which is secured to the shaft 54. This will cause the shaft 54 to angularly reciprocate from the position in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, whereby the feed head 59 is lowered with the clips 60 into position whereby the clips 60 pass over and engage with the lower-' .95:- ing upon the bridge bar 26. At the same' most or leading staple 89 of the staples resttime, the pendulous member 66 is brought into a position whereby the lower enlarged portion thereof or weight 67, rests upon a ment, the clips 60 clasp the staple 89 with suflicient pressure and friction to extract the same from its position on the brldge member 26 and to carry the same upwardly toward the stripper plate 71 until the head of the staple contacts with the projections 72 of said stripper plate, further movement of the clips 60 causing a disengagement of the latter from the staple, the staple being held in stationary position by the projections 72. At the instant of the disengagement of the clips 60 from the staple, the latter falls by gravity into the upper end of the chute 7 8, the points of the staple being lowermost so that the staple will slide, by gravity, in the chute with the points of the staple foremost, which. is the proper position for the presentation of the staple in the throat of the driving head. At the instant of the release of the staple, the mem ber 66 hangs pendulously', by the hook por- 1 68 upon the cross member 65, in con tact with the ends of the projections 72, the surface of the member 66 adjacent said ends being slightly curved to properly guide and direct the downward movement of the staple into the chute 48. In order to further aid in properly directing the movement of the staple into the chute 48, the member 73 is provided which acts as a sort of guard or baffle for the staple as it is being stripped. This guard and pen dulous member 66 therefore provide a narrow space therebetween whereby the staple must drop vertically downwardly so that the point thereof will always be foremost as the same engages with and slides downwardly in the chute 48. It will be observed that the feeding means and the driving and clinching means are connected to the same actuating means, namely, the thrust shaft and rods, for operation together so that there will not be a superfluous number of staples in the chute 48 leading to the driving and clinching means, but that these staples will be fed in exact timed relation with the operation of the driving and clinching means. It will be observed, however, that the separating means operate more rapidly than the feeding means inasmuch as upon each operation of the separating means there is usually separated at least one and very frequently a large number of staples which will be guided to the bridge members and be deposited or positioned in line thereon. It frequently occurs that the bridge bar will be completely filled with staples and further operation of the hooks is not essential, yet whatever staples are being separated at that time will be cast back into the hopper. It will be observed, however, that this merely lasts for a short period until a sufficient number of staples are fed from the bridge to the chutes in order to provide room at the upper end of the bridge bars for the further transfer of staples thereto.

It will be apparent from the above that I have provided a machine of the character described with simple and efficient means for feeding staples from their position, after be ing separated and transferred from the hopper, to their position for driving and clinching said staples, the driving and clinching means being adapted to operate thereon to complete the stapling operation upon an article, such asa paper or cardboard carton 90 or the like.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood, however, that such invention is not limited to the particular details and arrangement of parts herein described or shown upon the drawings, but that the same comprehends other forms and arrangements of parts adapted to carry out the results herein dis- =.closed without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Pattent of the United States is:

1. In a stapling machine provided with staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means connected between said first and second mentioned means over which sep arated staples are adapted to move gravitationally, means on said inclined means for maintaining a line of said staples in position on said inclined means, means for successively removing the leading staple of said line of staples, means for stripping said removed staple from said removing means whereby said stripped staple drops into and gravitationally moves along the remaining portion of said inclined means to said driving and clinching means.

2. In a stapling machine provided with staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means connected between said first and second mentioned means over which separated staples are adapted to move gravitationally, means on said inclined means for maintaining a line of said staples in position on said inclined means, reciprocable means operative in time relation with said driving and clinching means for successively removing the leading staple of said line of staples, means for stripping said removed staple from said reciprocable means whereby said stripped staple drops into and gravi'ta tionally moves along the remaining portion of said inclined means to said driving and clinching means. 1

3. In a stapling machine, comprising staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of means for receiving separated staples in alined po sition, inclined means for gravitationally guiding staples to said driving and clinching means, reciprocable means for successively moving said staples into stripping position, means for stripping said staples from said reciprocable means, means on said reciprocable means for guiding said staples from said stripping means to said inclined means.

4. In a stapling machine comprising staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means for receiving and holding separated staples in file, means for gravitationally guiding fed staples from said inclined means to said driving and clinching means, feeding means operative between said inclined and guiding means for successively feeding staples from'said inclined means to said guiding means, said feeding means comprising reciprocable means adapted to carry the leading staple of said staple file to a stripping position, and means for. stripping said staple from said reciprocable means whereby said staple gravitates to and along said guiding means 5. In a stapling machine comprising staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means for receiving and holding separated staples in file, means for gravitationally guiding fed staples from saidinclined means to'said driving and clinching means, feeding means operative between said inclined and guiding means for successively feeding staples from said inclined means to said guiding means, said feeding means comprising reciprocable means, operative in time relation with said driving and clinching means, means on said reciprocable means for clasping the leading staple of a staple file and for carrying said staple to stripping position, and stripping means located above the said guiding means and operative to strip said staple from said clasping means, whereby said staple gravitates to and along said guiding means to said driving and clinching means.

6. In a stapling machine comprising staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means for receiving and holding separated staples, in file, means for gravitationally guiding fed staples from said inclined means to said driving and clinching means, feeding means operative between said inclined and guiding means for successively feeding staples from said inclined means to said guiding means, said feeding means comprising reciprocable means operative in time relation with said driving and clinching means, means on said reciprocable means for clasping the leading staple of astaple file and for carrying said staple to stripping position, stripping means located above the said guiding means and operative to strip said staple from said clasping means, whereby said staple gravitates to and along said guiding means to said driving and clinching means, and means on said reciprocating means for guiding the movement of said staple from said stripping means to said guiding means.

7. In a stapling machine comprising staple separating means and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined means for receiving said separated staples in depending and gathered disposition, a second inc-lined means adapted to receive fed staples and to gravitationally guide said staples to said driving and clinching means, means on said first mentioned inclined means for maintaining the gathered staples in position for feeding operation, said feeding means provided with means for successively engaging said gathered staples and for moving said staples to stripping position, stripping means located in the path of said feeding means and above said secondinclined means, and adapted-to strip said staples from said engaging means 8f In a stapling machine comprising staple separating means andstaple driving and clinching means, the combination of inclined "means for recelvlng said. separated staples in depending and gathered disposition, a second inclined means adapted to' receive fed staples and "to gravitationally guide said staples to said driving and clinching means, means on said first mentioned inclined means for maintaining the gathered staples in position for feeding operation, said feeding means provided with means for successively engaging said gathered staples and for moving said staples to stripping position, stripping means located in the path of said feeding means and above said second inclined means, and adapted to strip said staples from said engaging means whereby said staples gravitate into and along said second inclined means to said driving and clinching means, and pendulous means carried by said feeding means adapted in one position thereof to maintain said gatheredstaples in position during the engagement of said engaging means with said staples and in another position to guide the movement of said staples from said stripping means to said second mentioned inclined means.

9. Inastapling machine comprising a reciprocable staple holding hopper, reciprocable staple separating hooks and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of a bridge, adapted to receive separated staples from said hooks and to maintain said staples in file, a raceway for guiding fed staples to said driving and clinching means, feeding means above said bridge and raceway, clips on said feeding means adapted to clasp the leading staple of said file of staples and for carrying said staple above said raceway and means for stripping said staple from said clips whereby said staple gravitates to and along said raceway to said driving and clinching means.

10. In a stapling machine comprising a reciprocable staple holding hopper, reeiprocable staple separating hooks and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of a bridge adapted to receive separated staples from said hooks and to maintain said staples in file, a raceway for guiding fed staples to said driving and clinching means, feeding means above said bridge and raceway, clips on said feeding means adapted to clasp the leading staple of said file of staples and for carrying said staple above said raceway, means for stripping said staple from I said clips whereby said staple gravitates to and along said raceway to said driving and clinching means, and a guide member carried by said feeding means and adapted to guide said staple into said race-way.

11. In a stapling machine comprising a re ciprocable staple holding hopper, reciprocable staple separating hooks and staple driving and clinching means, the combination of a bridge adapted to receive separated staples from said hooks and to maintain said staples in file, a raceway for guiding fed staples to. said driving and clinching means, feeding means above said bridge and raceway, clips on said feeding means adapted to clasp the leading staple of said file of staples and for carrying said staple above said raceway, and means for stripping said staple from said clips whereby said staple gravitates to and along said raceway to said driving and clinching means, said stripping means and said feeding means each provided with guide members adapted to guide the movement of said staple from said stripping means to said raceway.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of August, 1920.

HARRISON B. WALTER,

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