Machine for inserting fasteners

Claim 2

A machine for dispensing fastener attachment members to hold together layers of material or the like, said machine comprising first means for supporting: a. a pair of clamping means adapted to relatively move together to hold material therebetween; b. a needle having at one end a slot along one side thereof an a bore opening into the slot, said needle having a tip at the other end and adapted to relatively move with respect to said clamping means in order to extend through material to be held by said clamping means; c. a plunger movable to force a head portion of a fastener attachment member through the bore of said needle; and d. second means operable to cause said clamping means to close, force said needle to relatively move with respect to said clamping means and cause said plunger to move into the needle bore.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1 in which said first means comprises a housing and a cylinder supported thereby, said housing supporting said clamping means and said cylinder housing said second means, said second means including a telescoping member movable in said cylinder, said telescoping member supporting said needle and said plunger and a piston coupled to said telescoping member.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2 in which third means for feeding fastener attachment members is provided in said telescoping member.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 3 in which fourth means suported by said telescoping member is provided for forcing said clamping means together and causing said plunger to move into said needle.

Claim 6

A machine according to claim 4 in which said fourth means includes a gear and rack.

Claim 7

A fastener dispensing machine comprising a mechanism for supporting a first jaw and a cylinder, a telescoping member positioned within said cylinder and movable toward and away from said first jaw, a needle carried by said telescoping member and having a slot and bore forMed therein for the passage of fastener attachment members therethrough, a guide slot in said telescoping member for positioning head portions of successive fastener attachment members one at a time at the needle slot and bore prior to passage therethrough, a plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member and adapted to engage said head portions and force them through said needle, a second jaw slidably supported by said telescoping member, a first rack means positioned within said cylinder and coupled to said second jaw, a second rack means coupled to said plunger and slidable therewith, and gear means carried by said telescoping member and interconnecting said first and second rack means.

Claim 8

A fastener dispensing machine comprising a mechanism for supporting a first jaw and a cylinder, a telescoping member positioned within said cylinder and movable toward and away from said first jaw, a needle carried by said telescoping member and having a slot and bore forMed therein for the passage of fastener attachment members therethrough, a guide slot in said telescoping member for positioning head portions of successive fastener attachment members one at a time at the needle slot and bore prior to passage therethrough, a plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member and adapted to engage said head portions and force them through said needle, a second jaw slidably supported by said telescoping member, a first rack means positioned within said cylinder and coupled to said second jaw, a second rack means coupled to said plunger and slidable therewith, and gear means carried by said telescoping member and interconnecting said first and second rack means.

Claim 9

A machine according to claim 6 in which said telescoping member is coupled to a piston.

Claim 10

A machine according to claim 7 in which said gear means is coupled to and movable with said telescoping member.

Claim 11

A machine according to claim 8 in which said first rack is coupled to said second jaw.

Claim 12

A machine according to claim 9 in which said first jaw slidably supports said second jaw.

Claim 13

In a fastener attachment insertion device which includes a housing, a needle, the needle having a slot and bore therethrough for the passage of a portion of a fastener attachment member, a plunger positioned to move into and out of the bore in the needle to force a fastener attachment member portion positioned at the rear of the needle and in front of the bore and slot through the needle bore and slot and first means for positioning fastener attachment members into the device at the rear of the needle, the improvement comprising a first rack coupled to the plunger, a second rack coupled to the housing, first gear means and second gear means mounted on a common shaft for simultaneous rotation, a second means for supporting said racks and said gears so that one gear engages one rack and the other gear engages the other rack, and third means for causing said gears to rotate to drive the plunger into and out of said needle.

Claim 14

In a fastener attachment insertion device which includes a housing, a needle, the needle having a slot and bore therethrough for the passage of a portion of a fastener attachment member, a plunger positioned to move into and out of the bore in the needle to force a fastener attachment member portion positioned at the rear of the needle and in front of the bore and slot through the needle bore and slot and first means for positioning fastener attachment members into the device at the rear of the needle, the improvement comprising a first rack coupled to the plunger, a second rack coupled to the housing, first gear means and second gear means mounted on a common shaft for simultaneous rotation, a second means for supporting said racks and said gears so that one gear engages one rack and the other gear engages the other rack, and third means for causing said gears to rotate to drive the plunger into and out of said needle.

Claim 15

In a device according to claim 11 in which said first means comprises a first handle coupled to the second rack and when said handle is rotated is adapted to move said second rack.

Claim 16

In a device according to claim 11 in which clamping means are positioned on the device forward of said needle for holding material in place and wherein means are provided to relatively move said needle and said clamping means to cause said needle to penetrate material if held by said clamping means.

Claim 17

In a device according to claim 13 in which one gear is of a larger diameter than the other so that the plunger motion is timed to push a fastener attachment member through said needle after the needle has passed through the material.

Claim 18

In a device according to claim 14 in which there is provided clamping means positioned in front of the tip of the needle and adapted to engage material, and wherein telescoping means is provided to relatively move said needle and said clamping means with respect to said housing to cause said needle to penetrate material engaged by said clamping means.

Claim 19

In a device according to claim 15 in which one gear is of a larger diameter than the other so that the plunger motion is timed to enter the needle after the needle has penetrated material held by said clamping means.

Claim 20

A machine for dispensing fastener attachment members, said machine comprising a body, a cylinder supported by said body, a piston and telescoping member positioned within said cylinder for movement therein, said telescoping member having a front portion extending beyond one end of the cylinder, the front portion of the telescoping member supporting a needle for movement therewith, said needle having a bore and slot extending from a rear end to a pointed end thereof, said bore and and slot constructed to permit a portion of a fastener attachment member to pass from said rear end to said pointed end, means supported by said telescoping member constructed to Feed fastener attachment member portions one at a time in front of the rear end of the needle, a first rack and plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member, said plunger adapted to move in and out of said needle bore to force fastener attachment member portions through said needle slot, a first jaw supported in a fixed position by said body in front of the normal at rest position of said needle tip, a first member slidably supported by said body and having a portion extending into said cylinder, said first member having a second jaw at one end thereof normally positioned between said needle tip and said first jaw, a second rack attached to said first member and positioned within the telescoping member, first and second gear means secured to a common shaft for simultaneous rotation, said shaft supported by said telescoping member and movable with said telescoping member, the first gear means coupled to said first rack and the second gear means coupled to said second rack, resilient biasing means positioned between said piston and said first member, and means to admit pressure fluid into said cylinder behind said piston to move said jaws towards each other, move the telescoping member forward toward said jaws, and then fully move the plunger through said needle bore after the jaws have stopped movement.

Claim 21

A machine for dispensing fastener attachment members, said machine comprising a body, a cylinder supported by said body, a piston and telescoping member positioned within said cylinder for movement therein, said telescoping member having a front portion extending beyond one end of the cylinder, the front portion of the telescoping member supporting a needle for movement therewith, said needle having a bore and slot extending from a rear end to a pointed end thereof, said bore and and slot constructed to permit a portion of a fastener attachment member to pass from said rear end to said pointed end, means supported by said telescoping member constructed to Feed fastener attachment member portions one at a time in front of the rear end of the needle, a first rack and plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member, said plunger adapted to move in and out of said needle bore to force fastener attachment member portions through said needle slot, a first jaw supported in a fixed position by said body in front of the normal at rest position of said needle tip, a first member slidably supported by said body and having a portion extending into said cylinder, said first member having a second jaw at one end thereof normally positioned between said needle tip and said first jaw, a second rack attached to said first member and positioned within the telescoping member, first and second gear means secured to a common shaft for simultaneous rotation, said shaft supported by said telescoping member and movable with said telescoping member, the first gear means coupled to said first rack and the second gear means coupled to said second rack, resilient biasing means positioned between said piston and said first member, and means to admit pressure fluid into said cylinder behind said piston to move said jaws towards each other, move the telescoping member forward toward said jaws, and then fully move the plunger through said needle bore after the jaws have stopped movement.

Claim 22

A machine according to claim 17 wherein means are provided between said first member and said first jaw to resilently urge said first member towards said piston.

Claim 23

A machine according to claim 18 including guide means formed in said first jaw and means coupled to said first member and supported in said guide means for slidable movement therein.

Claim 24

A machine according to claim 19 in which stop means are provided to limit the forward movement of said second rack.

Claim 25

A machine according to claim 17 in which the jaws each have cutouts therein to permit the needle tip to extend past through the jaws.

Claim 26

A machine according to claim 1 in which said clamping means comprises two jaws and wherein said first means includes a housing for supporting a cylinder and a telescoping member positioned within the cylinder which is adapted to carry the needle, and wherein said first jaw is movable with respect to said housing and wherein said second jaw is supported by first means at a distance away from said housing but close enough to permit said first jaw to move towards said second jaw and clamp material therebetween.

Claim 27

A machine according to claim 22 in which said housing includes guide means for supporting said first jaw and wherein said first jaw is movable within said cylinder.

Claim 28

A machine according to claim 7 in which there is provided means for admitting fluid pressure between said piston and the cylinder behind said piston to cause said second jaw and said needle to move towards said first jaw and also cause said gear means to rotate between said racks to force said plunger through said needle.

Claim 29

A machine for dispensing fastener attachment members, said machine comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore therein, a telescoping member slidably positioned within the bore with the front thereof extending outwardly from the bore, a needle carried by the front of said telescoping member and having a slot and bore formed therein for the passage of fastener attachment members therethrough, means supported by the telescoping member for positioning head portions of successive fastener attachment members one at a time at the needle slot and bore prior to passage therethrough, and a plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member and positioned to engage said head portions and force them through the needle.

Claim 30

A machine for dispensing fastener attachment members, said machine comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore therein, a telescoping member slidably positioned within the bore with the front thereof extending outwardly from the bore, a needle carried by the front of said telescoping member and having a slot and bore formed therein for the passage of fastener attachment members therethrough, means supported by the telescoping member for positioning head portions of successive fastener attachment members one at a time at the needle slot and bore prior to passage therethrough, and a plunger slidably supported by said telescoping member and positioned to engage said head portions and force them through the needle.

Claim 31

A machine according to claim 25 in which the plunger is provided with a first rack, in which a second rack is coupled to the housing and in which gear means are carried by said telescoping member and interconnects said first and second racks to drive said plunger.

Claim 32

A machine according to claim 25 in which there is prOvided means to admit pressure fluid into the bore behind said telescoping member to move the telescoping member.

Claim 33

A machine according to claim 26 in which there is provided means to admit pressure fluid into the bore behind said telescoping member to move the telescoping member and cause the gear means to rotate to move the plunger.

Claim 34

A machine according to claim 11 in which said third means comprises means to admit pressure fluid and apply the pressure fluid against said second means.

Claim 35

In a fastener attachment insertion device which includes a housing, a needle supported by the housing and having a bore and a slot therethrough for the passage of a portion of a fastener attachment member, a plunger positioned to move into and out of the bore in the needle to force a fastener attachment member portion through the needle bore and slot, a first rack coupled to the plunger, a gear means coupled to said first rack and rotatable back or forth about a point to drive the rack, first means for rotating the gear means to cause the plunger to move into and out of the needle, and second means for positioning a head portion of a fastener attachment member with respect to the needle bore so that it may be pushed through the needle bore.

Claim 36

In a fastener attachment insertion device which includes a housing, a needle supported by the housing and having a bore and a slot therethrough for the passage of a portion of a fastener attachment member, a plunger positioned to move into and out of the bore in the needle to force a fastener attachment member portion through the needle bore and slot, a first rack coupled to the plunger, a gear means coupled to said first rack and rotatable back or forth about a point to drive the rack, first means for rotating the gear means to cause the plunger to move into and out of the needle, and second means for positioning a head portion of a fastener attachment member with respect to the needle bore so that it may be pushed through the needle bore.

Claim 37

In a fastener attachment device according to claim 30 in which said first means comprises handle means coupled to a member for rotating the gear means.

Claim 38

In a fastener attachment insertion device according to claim 31 in which said first means comprises means to admit pressure fluid and apply the pressure fluid to drive a member coupled to the gear means.

Claim 39

In a fastener attachment insertion device according to claim 30 in which the gear means and the plunger are supported by the housing.

Claim 40

In a fastener attachment insertion device according to claim 31 in which the gear means and the plunger are supported by the housing.