US2274211A - Stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1942. w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING MACHINE Original Filed July 1, 1940 wiiimi INVENTOR. W/X. Lmm G PA/v/raA/m/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 24, 1942 4 Original application July 1, 1940, Serial No. 343,380. Divided and this application April 5,

I I t 1941, Serial No. 387,004

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ments in stapling machines. v

This application is a, division of the copending application of William G; Pankonin, applicant herein, Serial No. 343,380, filed July 1, 1940, for Stapling machines.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro vide a stapling machine having a magazine and feeder mechanism for preformed staples wherein the feeder mechanism is retained in associated improverelationship with the magazine during the load-.

ing thereof, thereby preventing misplacement.

In order to retain the feeder mechanism. in associated relationship with the magazine during loading, the staple follower is made slidable on an endless follower rod. The follower rod has an upper leg slidably held in a retaining bracket positioned within the magazine. Slidably positioned on the follower rod between they retaining bracket and the forward end of the'follower are a series of pointed blocks which act to urge the follower rearwardly along the lower leg of the follower'rod as the rod is moved rearwardly. Thus the follower is removed from themagazine while the inner end of the rod still remains held by the retaining bracket.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a sectional view in side elevation showing a stapling machine embodying the present invention, the section line meandering from the centerplane to a plane just inside the side wall of the magazine arm and back to the center plane again for sake of clarity.

Referring now to the drawing, the stapling machine generally comprises an operating or presser arm I overlying and interrelated with a magazine arm 2 and a base arm 3, which latter is adapted to support the stapling machine. arms are all pivoted about the same axis.

The rigid follower mechanism comprises an endless follower rod 43 formed with upper and lower legs joined by curved ends. The follower rod has slidably positioned on its upper leg a retaining bracket 44. The bracket 44 is of inverted Ushape in cross section and has its op- These posite sides pierced to slidably receive the rod 55 43. The lower edges of the retaining bracket 44 are bent inwardly and are resiliently held in position. The retaining bracket is locked in place in the locks 39 and 40 by being forced down- Wardly over the locks until the lower edges-snap in place around the necked-out part thereof. A staple follower or pusher of conventional design, and having a lower portion adapted to ride on the core 23, is slidably positioned on the lower leg of the endless follower rod 43 by means of a small bracket having opposite sides pierced to slidably fit on the rod. Between the bracket 44 and the rear end (or the right side as viewed in the drawing) of the follower 45 is positioned a coiled compression spring 46 encircling the rod 43 and extending around its rearwardly curved end so as to extend along both upper and lower legs thereof. The spring 46 is splitat its upper run a short distance from the retaining bracket 44, and is spaced at this split by a sleeve 4'! which is slidably mounted on the rod 43, and isadapted to be engaged by a spring clip positioned on the under surface of the operating arm I. A seriesof force-transmission blocks 48 are slidably positioned on the follower rod 43, and

extend between the forward end of the retaining block 44 and the forward end of the follower 45. The force-transmission blocks 43are formed by bending fiat stock so that the blocks have a back and opposite sides extending parallel for a portion of their length and then sloping on the rod 43. The sloping surfaces ofthe blocks 48 permit the blocks to readily pass around the curved end of the rod 43 while transmitting compressive force one to the other. The rear end of the follower rod 43 is provided with a handle and latch 49. The handle 49 is made up of two symmetrically but oppositely designed parts, which, when placed together, loosely fit around the end of the rod 43 with the spring 46 assembled thereon. The end of the handle 49 has the same curvature as the end of the rod 43. Within the handle 49 is positioned a cylindrival spacer thimble 50 having a curvature approximately the same as the inside curvature of the spring as it passes around the curved endof the rod 43. The parts areheld in position by an alining spacer 50a and by the thimble 50. At the lower edge of the handle 49 there is a tooth 5| adapted to detachbracket 44.

ably interengage with a notch 52 cut in the upper surface of the rear end of the core 23. The spring 46 freely slides around the rear end of the rod 43 within the confines of the handle 49.

It is preferable to form the rod 43 of square stock and to pierce slightly larger square or rectangular holes in the retaining bracket 44, the bracket on the follower 45, and the blocks 48. This prevents the blocks 48 from twisting out of alinement and assures that their sloping sur faces will make proper contact as they slide around the curved end. However, it is permissible to form the rod of round stock. In such event, bead-like members may be substituted for the blocks 48.

The staple follower mechanism is held in place by the retaining bracket 44. However, it may be moved forwardly and rearwardly of the magazine arm. When the follower rod is grasped by the handle 49 and pulled outwardly of the magazine arm 2, the force-transmission blocks 48, normally on the upper leg of the rod 43, are forcibly moved around the inner curved end to the lower leg thereof. This action of the forcetransmission blocks positively moves the follower 45 rearwardly along the lower leg of the rod 43. As that rod itself is also being moved rearwardly, the distance moved by the follower 45 is substantially double that of the distance moved by the rod 43. clear of the rear ends of the guides 33 and 34 (not shown) when the follower rod has been moved the full limit permitted by .the engagement between its inner end and the retaining In this position the rear end of the follower rod 43 may be swung upwardly about the pivotal connection established between the rod and the retaining bracket 44, an amount sufiicient to raise the follower 45 out of the loading path of staples being inserted on the core 23. When moved in this position the sleeve 41 is forced into and is clasped by the spring clamp 51. The sleeve 41 is slid to position in alinement with the clamp 51 when the rod 43 is completely retracted by the balancing action of both parts of spring 46. In this position there is no variable compressive force reactingon the larger portion of this spring and substantially exact positioning of the sleeve 41 is always obtained. The follower 45 and the follower rod 43 are held in this raised position so that the operator may readily insert the staples on the core 23.

- When staples have been inserted on the core the rear end of the follower 43 is moved downwardly,

disengaging the connection between the sleeve 41 and the clamp 51, and the handle 49 is moved inwardly until the tooth 5| snaps into engagement with the notch 52. During'this action the follower 45 is prevented from forward movement Hence, the follower 45 is moved 4 by engagement with the rearmost of the clip staples inserted on the core 23. This compresses the follower spring 43 in both its upper and lower legs and it continually urges staples forwardly along the core 23 into position underneath the driving blade 59. When the rod 43 is in the fully inserted position, there is sufiicient space on the upper leg of the rod 43 and the curved forward portion to accommodate all of the force-transmission blocks 48, thereby permitting the spring 43 to urge the follower 44 forwardly to the forward end of the core 23, thereby assuring the positioning of the last staple beneath the driving blade 59.

Although there are shown and described certain specific embodiments of the invention, many modifications thereof are possible. The invention is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Force-transmission means comprising a curved guiding rod, and a rigid series of blocks slidable along said rod and adapted to communicate compressive force from one to the other thereof, said blocks having sloped portions to communicate the compressive force without binding said blocks as they slide around said curve.

2. Force-transmission means comprising a guiding rod having a 180 degree curve, and a rigid series of compressive force-transmission blocks slidably mounted on said rod, said blocks being pointed to permit them to move around said curve.

3. Force-transmission means comprising a rigid curved guiding rod, a series of force-transmission blocks, each force-transmission block being formed of fiat stock bent to provide a back and opposite sides extending parallel for a portion of their length and then sloping toward each other, there being alined holes in said opposite sides whereby said block may be slidably positioned on said guiding rod and may communicate compressiveforce while traversing curves on said rod.

4. Force-transmission means comprising a rigid curved rod of rectangular cross section, a-

series of force-transmission blocks, each block formed of flat stock bent to provide a back and opposite parallel extending sides and a toothlike front, elongated slots formed in said opposite sides and adapted to receive'said rod, the sides of said slot engaging saidrod to prevent the block from twisting, the top and bottom of said slots being sufficiently spaced with respect to said rod to permit the block to slide around the curve of said rod.

WILLIAM G. PANKONIN.

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