US 4,570,841 AGranted

Staple forming and driving machine

AssigneeSwingline Inc.

InventorPaul Olesen

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Abstract

A staple forming and driving tool (10) employing a vertical front portion of a staple head base (34), and sheath (40) to provide a space for the reciprocating former member (70) and a driver (80). A spring (50) urges base (34) and the sheath (40) together with spacer lugs (33) maintaining a defined distance between the base (34) and the sheath (40). A belt of staple blanks is fed through an opening (100) in the base (34) by a cartridge. The cartridge extends into the opening (100). A belt advancing means (104, 112) is provided which is held in an inoperative position by the forming tang (75) during a portion of the forming and driving stroke in order to prevent movement of a staple wire (200) during critical portions of the forming and driving stroke. The former (70) is moved during the forming and driving stroke through a path which permits former lugs (72) to guide the formed staple down to a point adjacent the workpiece.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A staple forming and driving tool including a cartridge from which staple wires are fed as a belt normally oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, formed into staples and driven as staples into workpieces having upper and lower surfaces comprising

(a) a base;
(b) a stationary staple head mounted above the base and spaced therefrom a distance to accommodate the workpiece;
said staple head including a stationary vertical head piece;
(c) a vertical sheath mounted adjacent to the vertical head piece and spaced therefrom by spacer lug means positioned to provide a passageway between said head piece and sheath;
(d) an opening in the vertical head piece for receiving staple wires;
(e) a second opening in the sheath;
(f) spring means engaging the vertical head piece and the sheath for urging the vertical head piece and the sheath against the spacer means;
(g) retractable forming block means positioned partially in the passageway and partially in the second opening, said block means being capable of retracting away from the vertical head piece against said spring means;
(h) reciprocal staple forming means positioned in said passageway for reciprocation from the upper surface of the workpiece to a position in the passageway;
and
(i) driving means for driving the forming means downward including
(i) positive drive means for driving the forming means a portion of its downward travel to form the staple from a staple wire
(ii) frictional non-positive drive means for driving the forming means during a later portion of its travel after formation of the staple until the forming means engages the upper surface of the workpiece;
(j) driver blade means for driving the formed staple into the workpiece;
and
(k) staple belt cartridge feed means for feeding one at a time the lead wire of the belt to the forming means which feed means includes guide means to guide the belt in its substantially horizontal movement to prevent vertical movement of that portion of the belt remaining after each staple wire is removed by the forming means.

13 more elements

(a) a base;
(b) a stationary staple head mounted above the base and spaced therefrom a distance to accommodate the workpiece;
said staple including a stationary vertical head piece;
(c) a vertical sheath mounted adjacent to the vertical head piece and spaced therefrom by spacer lug means positioned to provide a passageway between said head piece and sheath;
(d) an opening in the vertical head piece for receiving staple wires;
(e) a second opening in the sheath;
(f) spring means engaging the vertical head piece and the sheath for urging the vertical head piece and the sheath against the spacer means;
(g) retractable forming block means positioned partially in the passageway and partially in the second opening, said block means being capable of retracting away from the vertical head piece against said spring means;
(h) reciprocating staple forming means positioned in said passageway for reciprocation from the upper surface of the work piece to a position in the passageway;
and
(i) driving means for driving the forming means downward including
(i) positive drive means for driving the forming means a portion of its downward travel to form the staple from a staple wire;
(ii) frictional non-positive drive means for driving the forming means during a later portion of its travel after formation of the staple until the forming means engages the upper surface of the work piece;
(j) driver blade means for driving the formed staple into the workpiece;
and
(k) staple belt cartridge feed means for feeding one at a time the lead wire of the belt to the forming means which feed means includes guide means to guide the belt in its substantially horizontal movement to prevent vertical movement of that portion of the belt remaining after each staple wire is removed by the forming means.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.