Feed and severing apparatus

In a machine for dispensing fasteners severed from fastener attachment stock having a pair of side members and a plurality of cross members coupling the side members together, guide means for guiding the stock to a sever position and thereafter guiding fasteners severed from the stock to a position for being dispensed, means for severing the side members of the stock to form the fasteners comprising a cross member and portions of both of said side members which form end members thereof and means for advancing the stock and severed fasteners along said guide means, the improvement comprises said means for advancing the stock and fasteners comprising screw means for engaging cross members positioned between the threads thereof to advance said stock and said fasteners.

In a machine for dispensing fasteners comprising a housing, a screw supported by the housing for rotation, a pair of guide channels adjacent the screw, said guide channels following the contour of the screw and said screw having a first diameter and a tapered increasing diameter, said screw supporting a knife for rotation, said channels having cutouts for passage of said knife upon rotation of said screw and said screw having threads of two different pitches and at different spacings, said machine accepting fastener attachment stock comprising two side members coupled together by a plurality of cross members, said guide channels causing said cross members to loop so as to be driveable by said screw threads as it rotates and said knife severing the side members to form fasteners, said screw and said guide channels cooperating to space the fasteners apart after severing and thereafter raise them for dispensing.