US 5,890,276 AGranted

Apparatus and method for insertion of picture hangers

AssigneeMoore Push-Pin Company

InventorEugene M. Lorincz

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Picture hangers having prongs become automatically inserted into a picture backing material. An insertion apparatus feeds a strip of preformed blanks to an anvil which severs the blanks and presses them into the backing material. At the same time that the apparatus severs the first blank of the strip, a prong forming tool, attached to the anvil, bends the prongs of the next blank. A feed rod advances the strip of blanks through the apparatus, one blank at a time. A pair of paws, attached to the anvil, carry the severed hanger to the picture backing, and releases the hanger as the hanger becomes inserted into the backing. The apparatus includes a resilient structure which enables the device to operate efficiently with picture backings having varying thicknesses. One can also use the invention to insert hangers into picture frames, mirrors, plaques, signs, or the like.

Claims5

Dependent claims

Apparatus for inserting picture hangers into picture backings, each picture hanger having a body with a plurality of prongs extending from the body, the picture hangers being provided in the form of a unitary strip of generally flat blanks, the strip having a first blank and a next blank, the first blank being located at an end of the strip, the strip having a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising means for advancing the strip, and anvil means, movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the strip, for severing the first blank from the strip and inserting the first blank into the backing, and prong forming means, attached to the anvil means, for bending the prongs of the next blank after the first blank is severed, wherein the prong forming means is displaced in its entirety relative to the anvil means, along the longitudinal axis of the strip, the prong forming means being positioned away from the first blank and towards the next blank,

wherein the anvil means includes paw means for holding the blank nearest the forward end after said blank nearest the forward end has been severed, and until said blank is inserted into the picture backing material, the paw means having longitudinal axes,
wherein the anvil means has a direction of movement, wherein the paw means have distal ends extending towards the picture backing material, wherein the distal ends of the paw means have end surfaces which are disposed non-perpendicular to the direction of movement of the anvil means, wherein the paw means each have a inner and outer end, wherein the outer end extends farther outward in the direction of movement of the anvil means than the inner end, and
wherein the end surfaces of the paw means are oblique relative to the respective longitudinal axes of the paw means.

Apparatus for inserting picture hangers into picture backing materials, the picture hangers being provided in the form of a strip of pre-formed picture hanger blanks, the strip including a plurality of said blanks, the blanks being initially connected together, each of said blanks having a body and at least one prong integrally formed with the body, said at least one prong and the body initially lying in generally the same plane, the body defining at least one opening which is entirely surrounded by the body, the opening having a contour, the insertion apparatus comprising:

a) means for advancing the strip, wherein the strip includes a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein there is a blank nearest the forward end and a blank adjacent to the blank nearest the forward end,
b) anvil means, the anvil means being vertically movable, the anvil means comprising means for severing the blank nearest the forward from the strip and for pressing the blank nearest the forward end into the picture backing material, and
c) prong forming means, the prong forming means including a holder portion and at least one projection extending from the holder portion, the holder portion being mounted on the anvil means, the projection being shaped to correspond substantially with the contour of said opening in said blank, the projection comprising means for bending said at least one prong on the blank adjacent to the blank nearest the forward end after the anvil means has severed and pressed the blank nearest the forward end, wherein the prong forming means is displaced in its entirety from the anvil means, the prong forming means being positioned towards the rearward end of the strip,
wherein the anvil means includes paw means for holding the blank nearest the forward end after said blank nearest the forward end has been severed, and until said blank is inserted into the picture backing material, the paw means having longitudinal axes,
wherein the anvil means has a direction of movement, wherein the paw means have distal ends extending towards the picture backing material, wherein the distal ends of the paw means have end surfaces which are disposed non-perpendicular to the direction of movement of the anvil means, wherein the paw means each have a inner and outer end, wherein the outer end extends farther outward in the direction of movement of the anvil means than the inner end, and
wherein the end surfaces of the paw means are oblique relative to the respective longitudinal axes of the paw means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/389,684Filed 16 Feb 1995 · continuation
Priority: 7 Apr 1992
Granted: 6 Apr 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B23P 19/00
Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or
B21D 53/36
Making other particular articles: clips, clamps, or like fastening or attaching devices, e.g. for electric installation
B27F 7/28
Without provision for bending the ends of the staples on to the work: with means for forming the staples in the machine
Y10T 29/5142
Including assembling or disassembling station: and means to sever work from supply