Stapling machine particularly adapted for use in limited clearance applications

Claim 2

A machine for repetitively deforming a piece of stock, after it has been moved along a predetermined path into a deformation position, and driving deformed stock into work engaging position, comprising means for deforming pieces of stock, means for driving said deformed stock into work engaging position, means for guiding movement of said deforming means and said driving means along paths intersecting the path of said stock, first support means movable between an extended position in which it is disposed in the path of said deforming means and cooperates therewith in the deformation of stock and retracted position in which it is withdrawn from said path and permits deformed stock to move freely in the direction of the work, and additional support means located in a position between said first support means and a portion of the work to receive said deformed stock, in such position said additional support means furnishes support for said deformed stock in conjunction with said first support means as said stock is moved toward work engaging position and constitutes sole support for said stock after said first support means has been moved toward its retracted position and said stock is in contact with said work, said first support means and said additional support means both being arranged within said machine so that they are on the same side of said deformed stock thereby enabling said machine to be disposed in close relationship to the work during the entire stock deformation procedure.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for moving said additional support means between its position in engagement with the deformed stock and a retracted position, said additional support means being moved into its retracted position after the deformed stock has been driven into engagement with the work.

Claim 4

A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for deforming pieces of stock also severs a length of stock into individual lengths forming such pieces.

Claim 5

A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said deforming means is comprised of a spaced pair of elements connected for simultaneous movement and defining between them an elongated slot in which the length of stock is deformed.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said first support means in its extended position in operative relation to said deforming means moves in said slot and between the elements of said deforming means so that a length of stock is disposed between said first support means and said elements.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in claim 5, in which said driving means is mounted for reciprocation in said slot in a stroke direction toward said work to contact a deformed length of stock in the slot and move it past said first support means in the direction of the work, and in a return direction prior to another stroke.

Claim 8

A machine for repetitively deforming stock moving along a predetermined path and driving such deformed stock into a position in which it contacts work at a location thereof to be stapled, where an upstanding portion of said work is generally parallel to the path of movement of said stock and spaced in close proximity thereto, such machine including a head containing means for cutting and deforming lengths of stock into staples, means for driving said staples individually into work at a work stapling location, means for guiding movement of said deforming means and said driving means along paths intercepting the paths of said stock, first support means movable between an extended position in which it is disposed in the path of said deforming means and cooperates therewith to deform stock, and a retracted position in which it has moved in a direction away from said upstanding work portion and permits a staple to move past it in the direction of the work stapling location, additional support means located in at least one position thereof between said first support means and said stapling location of said work to furnish support for said staple in conjunction with said first support means and as said staple is moved toward the work and sole support after said first support means has moved toward its retracted position, and means for moving said additional support means between an extended position in which it supports said staple and a retracted position out of the path of movement of said staple, said moving means being located on that side of said head away from said upstanding work portion, said first and said additional support means in fully extended supporting positions being located within the plane of that side of said head toward said upstanding work portion so that said head can be disposed in close relationship to said upstanding work portion during all parts of the stapling procedure.

Claim 9

A machine for repetitively deforming stock moving along a predetermined path and driving such deformed stock into a position in which it contacts work at a location thereof to be stapled, where an upstanding portion of said work is generally parallel to the path of movement of said stock and spaced in close proximity thereto, such machine including a head containing means for cutting and deforming lengths of stock into staples, means for driving said staples individually into work at a work stapling location, means for guiding movement of said deforming means and said driving means along paths intercepting the paths of said stock, first support means movable between an extended position in which it is disposed in the path of said deforming means and cooperates therewith to deform stock, and a retracted position in which it has moved in a direction away from said upstanding work portion and permits a staple to move past it in the direction of the work stapling location, additional support means located in at least one position thereof between said first support means and said stapling location of said work to furnish support for said staple in conjunction with said first support means and as said staple is moved toward the work and sole support after said first support means has moved toward its retracted position, and means for moving said additional support means between an extended position in which it supports said staple and a retracted position out of the path of movement of said staple, said moving means being located on that side of said head away from said upstanding work portion, said first and said additional support means in fully extended supporting positions being located within the plane of that side of said head toward said upstanding work portion so that said head can be disposed in close relationship to said upstanding work portion during all parts of the stapling procedure.

Claim 10

A machine as claimed in claim 7, in which said means for moving said additional support means between extended and retracted positions includes a pivotable lever arm engaging said additional support means and normally biased to urge said means outward away from said upstanding work portion out of staple supporting position, and a detent controlled by movement on said driving means for forcing said lever arm away from its biased position and said additional support means into staple supporting position when said driving means has forced a staple into a position adjacent to said additional support means.

Claim 11

A machine for repetitively deforming a piece of stock, after it has been moved along a predetermined path into a deformation position, and driving said deformed stock into work engaging position, comprising means for deforming said piece of stock, means for driving said deformed stock into work engaging position, means for guiding movement of said deforming means and said driving means along paths intersecting the path of said stock, first support means movable between an extended position in which it is disposed in the path of said deforming means and cooperates therewith in the deformation of stock and retracted position in which it is withdrawn from said path and permits deformed stock to move freely in the direction of the work, and additional support means located in a position between said first support means and a portion of the work to receive said deformed stock, in such position said additional support furnishes support for said deformed stock in conjunction with said first support means as said stock is moved toward work engaging position and constitutes sole support for said stock after said first support means has been moved toward its retracted position and said stock is in contact with said work, said additional support means being stationary with respect to the frame of the machine so that the only relative movement between the deforming means and the driving means, on the one hand, and the additional support means is caused by the movement of said driving means and said deforming means.

Claim 12

A machine for repetitively deforming a piece of stock, after it has been moved along a predetermined path into a deformation position, and driving said deformed stock into work engaging position, comprising means for deforming said piece of stock, means for driving said deformed stock into work engaging position, means for guiding movement of said deforming means and said driving means along paths intersecting the path of said stock, first support means movable between an extended position in which it is disposed in the path of said deforming means and cooperates therewith in the deformation of stock and retracted position in which it is withdrawn from said path and permits deformed stock to move freely in the direction of the work, and additional support means located in a position between said first support means and a portion of the work to receive said deformed stock, in such position said additional support furnishes support for said deformed stock in conjunction with said first support means as said stock is moved toward work engaging position and constitutes sole support for said stock after said first support means has been moved toward its retracted position and said stock is in contact with said work, said additional support means being stationary with respect to the frame of the machine so that the only relative movement between the deforming means and the driving means, on the one hand, and the additional support means is caused by the movement of said driving means and said deforming means.