Mechanism for containing a nail package and feeding successive nails therefrom

Claim 2

In a fastener driving apparatus including a fastener driving element movable through a cycle of operation including a drive stroke and a return stroke, an improved mechanism for feeding successive fasteners from a fastener package into a position to be driven by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof, the fastener package being in the form of a strip of circular headed nails interconnected in series with their shanks in spaced parallel relation, said mechanism comprising a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving said fastener driving element therein during the operating cycle thereof and a nail feeding track communicating laterally with said drive track, an actuating member carried by said nose piece assembly for movement through an operating cycle including an operative stroke in a direction along the extent of said nail feeding track toward said drive track and a return stroke, nail feeding means operatively connected with said actuating member for movement through operative and return strokes therewith and mounted for movement relative to said actuating member for resiliently biased lateral movement into a nail feeding position extending across said nail feeding track, said nail feeding means having first surface means operable during successive operative strokes of said actuating member with said nail feeding means in said feeding position to engage successive nails of a fastener package along the trailing shank surfaces thereof and to successively move the leading nails of the package into said drive track, nail holding means pivotally mounted on said nose piece assembly for movement about an axis generally parallel with said drive track, spring means resiliently biasing said nail holding means into a nail holding position and permitting movement of said nail holding means out of said nail holding position, said nail holding means including first surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during the feeding movement thereof so as to move said nail holding means out of said nail holding position and permit said spring means to move said nail holding means back into said nail holding position at the end of each successive nail feeding movement, said nail holding means including second surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position for substantially laterally closing said drive track at the position of communication with said nail feeding track substantially throughout the longitudinal extent thereof so as to prevent successive nails in said drive track from being canted into said nail feeding track during the driving movements thereof by said fastener driving element, said nail holding means including third surface means spaced from said second surface means in a direction outwaRdly of said drive track a distance less than the spacing between the axis of adjacent nail shanks for engaging the trailing shank surfaces of successive nails in said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to prevent movement thereof in a direction away from said drive track, said nail feeding means including second surface means operable when said nail feeding means is disposed in said nail feeding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to move said nail feeding means out of said feeding position and permit the same to be biased back into said nail feeding position at the end of each successive return stroke of said actuating member.

Claim 3

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating member comprises a piston rod having a piston on one end thereof, a cylinder carried by said nose piece assembly slidably sealingly receiving said piston, a bearing block carried by said nose piece assembly in horizontally spaced relation to said cylinder for slidably supporting the opposite end of said piston rod, a coil spring surrounding said piston rod and having one end operatively engaged with said bearing block, said nail feeding means comprising a pawl member pivotally mounted on said piston rod between said piston and the opposite end of said coil spring, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said coil spring with said pawl member so as to simultaneously and independently resiliently bias said pawl member into said feeding position and said piston rod into a position corresponding to the end of said drive stroke.

Claim 4

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said nose piece assembly comprises a fixed part having surface means defining a laterally open portion of said drive track and said nail feeding track and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed part for movement about an axis parallel with and forwardly adjacent said drive track between a closed feeding position and an opened loading position, said movable part having surface means disposed in spaced relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said opened loading position so as to permit movement of the leading end portion of a fastener package into said open track portion and track defining cooperating relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said closed feeding position so as to support the leading portion of said fastener package for feeding movement along said nail feeding track in a direction toward said drive track.

Claim 5

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 including a container assembly for receiving and supporting a trailing portion of the fastener package disposed in a coil formation, said container assembly including a fixed part rigidly secured to the fixed part of said nose piece assembly and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed container part for movement between a closed fastener containing position and an opened loading position and a single latch means for releasably securing both of said movable parts in their closed positions.

Claim 6

A mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said fixed container part includes a generally frustoconical bottom wall having a spindle extending upwardly from the central portion thereof for engagement within a central core of the coil formation with the points of the nails of the coil supported on said bottom wall, and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion of said bottom wall, said fixed side wall having an end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into alignment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed nose piece part, said movable part including a generally frustoconical top wall and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion thereof, said movable side wall having an end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into aliGnment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said movable nose piece part when said movable parts are disposed in their closed positions, the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed and movable nose piece parts including vertically spaced upper and lower surfaces for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the heads of the nails during their movement through said nail feeding track, said upper and lower surfaces sloping downwardly and upwardly from the rearward ends thereof in forwardly converging relation, each of said side wall end portions having a ledge formed therein in alignment with the rearward end of the associated lower surface.

Claim 7

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said fixed and movable parts include vertically extending wall portions each having spaced complementary pivot lugs formed integrally on an end thereof adjacent said drive track and a pivot pin extending through said pivot lugs.

Claim 8

A mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said movable part wall portion is provided with a central recess and wherein said nail holding means comprises a plate member disposed within said recess.

Claim 9

In a fastener driving apparatus including a fastener driving element movable through a cycle of operation including a drive stroke and a return stroke, an improved mechanism for feeding successive fasteners from a fastener package into a position to be driven by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof, the fastener package being in the form of a strip of circular headed nails interconnected in series with their shanks in spaced parallel relation, said mechanism comprising a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving said fastener driving element therein during the operating cycle thereof and a nail feeding track communicating laterally with said drive track, an actuating member carried by said nose piece assembly for movement through an operating cycle including an operative stroke in a direction along the extent of said nail feeding track toward said drive track and a return stroke, nail feeding means operatively connected with said actuating member for movement through operative and return strokes therewith and mounted for movement relative to said actuating member for lateral movement into a nail feeding position extending across said nail feeding track, said nail feeding means having first surface means operable during successive operative strokes of said actuating member with said nail feeding means in said feeding position to engage successive nails of a fastener package along the trailing shank surfaces thereof and to successively move the leading nails of the package into said drive track, nail holding means pivotally mounted on said nose piece assembly for movement about an axis generally parallel with said drive track, spring means resiliently biasing said nail holding means into a nail holding position and permitting movement of said nail holding means out of said nail holding position, said nail holding means including first surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during the feeding movement thereof so as to move said nail holding means out of said nail holding position and permit said spring means to move said nail holding means back into said nail holding position at the end of each successive nail feeding movement, said nail holding means including second surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position for engaging the trailing shank surfaces of successive nails in said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to prevent movement thereof in a direction away from said drive track, said nail feeding means including second surface means operable when said nail feeding means is disposed in said nail feeding Position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to move said nail feeding means out of said feeding position and permit the same to be biased back into said nail feeding position at the end of each successive return stroke of said actuating member, said actuating member comprising a piston rod having a piston on one end thereof, a cylinder carried by said nose piece assembly slidably sealingly receiving said piston, a bearing block carried by said nose piece assembly in horizontally spaced relation to said cylinder for slidably supporting the opposite end of said piston rod, a coil spring surrounding said piston rod and having one end operatively engaged with said bearing block, said nail feeding means comprising a pawl member pivotally mounted on said piston rod between said piston and the opposite end of said coil spring, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said coil spring with said pawl member so as to simultaneously and independently resiliently bias said pawl member into said feeding position and said piston rod into a position corresponding to the end of said drive stroke.

Claim 10

In a fastener driving apparatus including a fastener driving element movable through a cycle of operation including a drive stroke and a return stroke, an improved mechanism for feeding successive fasteners from a fastener package into a position to be driven by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof, the fastener package being in the form of a strip of circular headed nails interconnected in series with their shanks in spaced parallel relation, said mechanism comprising a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving said fastener driving element therein during the operating cycle thereof and a nail feeding track communicating laterally with said drive track, an actuating member carried by said nose piece assembly for movement through an operating cycle including an operative stroke in a direction along the extent of said nail feeding track toward said drive track and a return stroke, nail feeding means operatively connected with said actuating member for movement through operative and return strokes therewith and mounted for movement relative to said actuating member for lateral movement into a nail feeding position extending across said nail feeding track, said nail feeding means having first surface means operable during successive operative strokes of said actuating member with said nail feeding means in said feeding position to engage successive nails of a fastener package along the trailing shank surfaces thereof and to successively move the leading nails of the package into said drive track, nail holding means pivotally mounted on said nose piece assembly for movement about an axis generally parallel with said drive track, spring means resiliently biasing said nail holding means into a nail holding position and permitting movement of said nail holding means out of said nail holding position, said nail holding means including first surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during the feeding movement thereof so as to move said nail holding means out of said nail holding position and permit said spring means to move said nail holding means back into said nail holding position at the end of each successive nail feeding movement, said nail holding means including second surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position for engaging the trailing shank surfaces of successive nails in said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to prevent movement thereof in a direction away from said drive track, said nail feeding means including second surface means operable when said nail feeding means is disposed in said nail feeding Position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to move said nail feeding means out of said feeding position and permit the same to be biased back into said nail feeding position at the end of each successive return stroke of said actuating member, said actuating member comprising a piston rod having a piston on one end thereof, a cylinder carried by said nose piece assembly slidably sealingly receiving said piston, a bearing block carried by said nose piece assembly in horizontally spaced relation to said cylinder for slidably supporting the opposite end of said piston rod, a coil spring surrounding said piston rod and having one end operatively engaged with said bearing block, said nail feeding means comprising a pawl member pivotally mounted on said piston rod between said piston and the opposite end of said coil spring, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said coil spring with said pawl member so as to simultaneously and independently resiliently bias said pawl member into said feeding position and said piston rod into a position corresponding to the end of said drive stroke.

Claim 11

A mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a sleeve slidably mounted on said piston rod within said coil spring, said sleeve having a radially outwardly extending annular flange on the forward end thereof, the rearward surface of said flange engaging the opposite end of said coil spring, the forward surface of said flange engaging said pawl member.

Claim 12

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said pawl member is of U-shaped configuration pivotally mounted on said piston rod with the bight portion thereof extending longitudinally along the periphery of said rod and the legs thereof embracing said piston rod.

Claim 13

In a fastener driving device including a fastener driving element movable through a cycle of operation including a drive stroke and a return stroke, an improved mechanism for containing a fastener package in the form of a strip of circular headed nails interconnected in series with their shanks in spaced parallel relation and disposed in a coil formation and for feeding successive nails from the package into a position to be driven by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof, said mechanism including a magazine assembly for receiving and supporting the fastener package disposed in said coil formation, a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving said fastener driving element therein during the operating cycle thereof and a nail feeding track communicating laterally with said drive track for receiving and supporting a leading portion of the fastener package in the form of a strip extending from the coil formation and supported within said magazine assembly, said nose piece assembly including a fixed part having surface means defining an open portion of said drive track and said nail feeding track and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed part for movement between a closed feeding position and an opened loading position, said movable part having surface means disposed in spaced relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said opened loading position so as to permit movement of the leading end portion of a fastener package into said open track portion and in track defining cooperating relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said closed feeding position so as to support the leading portion of said fastener package for feeding movement along said nail feeding track in a direction toward said drive track, said magazine assembly including a fixed part rigidly secured to the fixed part of said nose piece assembly and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed container part for movement between a closed fastener containing position and aN opened loading position, latch means for releasably securing both of said movable parts in their closed positions, said fixed magazine part including a generally frusto-conical bottom wall having a spindle extending upwardly from the central portion thereof for engagement within a central core of the coil formation with the points of the nails of the coil supported on said bottom wall, and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion of said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said fixed side wall having end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into alignment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed nose piece part, said movable magazine part including a generally frustoconical top wall and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion thereof, said movable side wall having an end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into alignment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said movable nose piece part when said movable parts are disposed in their closed positions, the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed and movable nose piece parts including vertically spaced upper and lower surfaces for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the heads of the nails during their movement through said nail feeding track, said upper and lower surfaces sloping downwardly and upwardly from the rearward ends thereof in forwardly converging relation, each of said side wall end portions having a ledge formed therein in alignment with the rearward end of the associated lower surface, and means adjacent said nail feeding track for feeding successive nails into said drive track to be driven outwardly thereof by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof.

Claim 14

In a fastener driving device including a fastener driving element movable through a cycle of operation including a drive stroke and a return stroke, an improved mechanism for containing a fastener package in the form of a strip of circular headed nails interconnected in series with their shanks in spaced parallel relation and disposed in a coil formation and for feeding successive nails from the package into a position to be driven by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof, said mechanism including a magazine assembly for receiving and supporting the fastener package disposed in said coil formation, a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving said fastener driving element therein during the operating cycle thereof and a nail feeding track communicating laterally with said drive track for receiving and supporting a leading portion of the fastener package in the form of a strip extending from the coil formation and supported within said magazine assembly, said nose piece assembly including a fixed part having surface means defining an open portion of said drive track and said nail feeding track and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed part for movement between a closed feeding position and an opened loading position, said movable part having surface means disposed in spaced relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said opened loading position so as to permit movement of the leading end portion of a fastener package into said open track portion and in track defining cooperating relation with said fixed part surface means when said movable part is disposed in said closed feeding position so as to support the leading portion of said fastener package for feeding movement along said nail feeding track in a direction toward said drive track, said magazine assembly including a fixed part rigidly secured to the fixed part of said nose piece assembly and a movable part pivotally connected to said fixed container part for movement between a closed fastener containing position and aN opened loading position, latch means for releasably securing both of said movable parts in their closed positions, said fixed magazine part including a generally frusto-conical bottom wall having a spindle extending upwardly from the central portion thereof for engagement within a central core of the coil formation with the points of the nails of the coil supported on said bottom wall, and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion of said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said fixed side wall having end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into alignment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed nose piece part, said movable magazine part including a generally frustoconical top wall and an arcuate side wall fixed to a peripheral portion thereof, said movable side wall having an end portion extending outwardly of the arcuate extent thereof into alignment with the nail feeding track defining surface means of said movable nose piece part when said movable parts are disposed in their closed positions, the nail feeding track defining surface means of said fixed and movable nose piece parts including vertically spaced upper and lower surfaces for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the heads of the nails during their movement through said nail feeding track, said upper and lower surfaces sloping downwardly and upwardly from the rearward ends thereof in forwardly converging relation, each of said side wall end portions having a ledge formed therein in alignment with the rearward end of the associated lower surface, and means adjacent said nail feeding track for feeding successive nails into said drive track to be driven outwardly thereof by said fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof.

Claim 15

A mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein nail feeding means comprises an actuating member carried by said nose piece assembly for movement through an operating cycle including an operative stroke in a direction along the extent of said nail feeding track toward said drive track and a return stroke, nail feeding means operatively connected with said actuating member for movement through operative and return strokes therewith and mounted for movement relative to said actuating member for resiliently biased lateral movement into a nail feeding position extending across said nail feeding track, said nail feeding means having first surface means operable during successive operative strokes of said actuating member with said nail feeding means in said feeding position to engage successive second nails of a fastener package along the trailing shank surface thereof and to successively move the leading nails of the package into said drive track, nail holding means mounted on said nose piece assembly for resiliently biased movement toward a nail holding position, said nail holding means including first surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during the feeding movement thereof so as to move said nail holding means out of said nail holding position and permit said nail holding means to be resiliently biased back into said nail holding position at the end of each successive nail feeding movement, said nail holding means including second surface means operable when said nail holding means is disposed in said nail holding position for substantially laterally closing said drive track at the position of communication with said nail feeding track so as to prevent successive nails in said drive track from being canted into said nail feeding track during the driving movements thereof by said fastener driving element, said nail holding means including third surface means spaced from said second surface means in a direction outwardly of said drive track a distance less than the spacing between the axes of adjAcent nail shanks for engaging the trailing shank surfaces of successive nails in said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to prevent movement thereof in a direction away from said drive track, said nail feeding means including second surface means operable when said nail feeding means is disposed in said nail feeding position to be engaged by the shanks of successive nails within said nail feeding track during successive return strokes of said actuating member so as to move said nail feeding means out of said feeding position and permit the same to be resiliently biased back into said nail feeding position at the end of each successive return stroke of said actuating member.

Claim 16

A mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein said actuating member comprises a piston rod having a piston on one end thereof, a cylinder carried by said nose piece assembly slidably sealingly receiving said piston, a bearing block carried by said nose piece assembly in horizontally spaced relation to said cylinder for slidably supporting the opposite end of said piston rod, a coil spring surrounding said piston rod and having one end operatively engaged with said bearing block, said nail feeding means comprising a pawl member pivotally mounted on said piston rod between said piston and the opposite end of said coil spring, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said coil spring with said pawl member so as to simultaneously and independently resiliently bias said pawl member into said feeding position and said piston rod into a position corresponding to the end of said drive stroke.

Claim 17

A mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a sleeve slidably mounted on said piston rod within said coil spring, said sleeve having a radially outwardly extending annular flange on the forward end thereof, the rearward surface of said flange engaging the opposite end of said coil spring, the forward surface of said flange engaging said pawl member.