Variable pitch advance of fasteners

Claim 1

Apparatus for installing fasteners of the type comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed on a connecting bar with a plurality of spaced coplanar stubs, with one end of each stub connected to the connecting bar, a cross bar angularly disposed about the other end of each stub, and a filament extending from each cross bar, the fasteners so disposed on the connecting bar comprising a clip, said apparatus comprising: a housing; means mounted on said housing for storing a clip of fasteners; means mounted on said housing for feeding fasteners in a clip from said storing means to a driving station within said housing where an individual fastener is separated from the connecting bar and expelled from the housing, said feeding means further comprising a feed wheel pivotally mounted within said housing; means for engaging said feed wheel for rotation to feed the fasteners; wherein the improvement comprises said feed wheel having a plurality of circumferential, involute shaped teeth for engaging the fasteners.