US 5,323,531 AGranted

Self-punching tee-nut insertion machine

OwnerWalter H. Leistner, Keith G. Bromleyinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus for inserting Tee-nuts in a solid wooden workpiece, the Tee-nuts having flanges and threaded sleeves of predetermined length, the workpiece having a thickness greater than the sleeve length. The apparatus has an anvil, an anvil die supported on the anvil, a through bore in the anvil die extending along an axis normal to the anvil, and a circular cutting edge. A power operated device is mounted so as to be reciprocable towards and away from the anvil. A moveable die is mounted on the reciprocable device in registration with the anvil die. The movable die includes a stub portion which can be slidingly received in the threaded sleeve of a Tee-nut, and which registers co-axially with the through bore in the anvil die. The anvil die is generally frusto-conical and has two outer surface portions meeting at an obtuse angle.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Apparatus for inserting Tee-nuts into a solid wooden workpiece, each said Tee-nut having a flange portion and a threaded sleeve portion, said sleeve portion defining a predetermined length and interior diameter, and wherein said workpiece defines a thickness greater than said predetermined length, said apparatus comprising;

an anvil portion;
an anvil die supported on said anvil portion, and defining a base portion, adapted to lie on said anvil portion, and an upstanding generally frusto-conical portion defining a central axis normal to said plane;
a cutting edge formed at the apex of said frusto-conical portion;
and
said frusto-conical portion defining an outer surface, wherein
a first profile of said outer surface adjacent said cutting edge defines a first angle;
a second profile of said outer surface extending from said first profile in said base defines a second angle, and,
said first and second profiles meeting one another at an obtuse angle;
a through bore defined by said anvil die, extending from said cutting edge along a die axis normal to said anvil portion;
power operated reciprocating means mounted in spaced relation to said anvil portion, and reciprocable towards and away therefrom along an axis normal thereto, and,
a moveable die on said reciprocable means, said moveable die being mounted in registration with said anvil die, and being moveable towards and away therefrom along said die axis, said moveable die including a stub portion having a diameter adapted to make a snug sliding fit in said threaded sleeve of a said Tee-nut, and adapted to register co-axially with said through bore in said anvil die.

8 more elements

Apparatus for inserting Tee-nuts into a solid wooden workpiece, each said Tee-nut having a flange portion and a threaded sleeve portion, said sleeve portion defining a predetermined length, and wherein said workpiece defines a thickness greater than said predetermined length, said apparatus comprising;

an anvil portion;
an anvil die supported on said anvil portion, and terminating in a circular cutting edge;
a through bore defined by said anvil die, extending from said cutting edge along a die axis normal to said anvil portion;
power operated reciprocating means mounted in spaced relation to said anvil portion, and reciprocable towards and away therefrom along an axis normal thereto,
said power operated means comprising a pneumatic cylinder, and a piston operable within said cylinder, and a piston rod extending from said piston through one end of said cylinder, and said moveable die being mounted on the free end of said piston rod, and wherein said piston defines a diameter D and a length L, wherein L is equal to or greater than D, and said piston being formed of solid metallic material, and, buffer means mounted at one end of said cylinder, and opening means formed through said buffer means to permit said piston rod to pass therethrough, said buffer means being operable to stop said piston at a predetermined point, to determine the end of the stroke thereof, and,
a moveable die on said reciprocable means, said moveable die being mounted in registration with said anvil die, and being moveable towards and away therefrom along said die axis, said moveable die including a stub portion adapted to be slidingly received in said threaded sleeve of a said Tee-nut, and adapted to register co-axially with said through bore in said anvil die.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.