US1928304A - Wire-stitching or stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

H. A. BICKFORD WIRE STITCHING OR STAPLING MACHINE Sept. 26, 1933.

Filed Jan. 6, 1932 815% rug I W' c: w 1 mm HEM n lg

Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITE-"STATES V 1,928,304 'wma-srr'rcnlno on STAPLING MACHINE Herbert A. Bickford, Warwick, R. I.,- assignor to Boston Wire Stitcher Company, Portland, .Maine, a corporation of Maine I Application January 6, 1932. Serial No. 585,039

12 Claims.

staples to other articles whatever theiruse. The

present invention is concerned particularly with means for mounting the stapling mechanism to adapt it for adjustment with respectto the clinching means whereby to provide for the proper cooperation of these mechanisms. 7

One object of the invention is to providean adjustable mounting for the movable member carrying the stapling mechanism wherebythe latter may be accurately positioned with respect to the clinching means on the baseof the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for the movable member or arm of the machine which, when it is adjusted for accurate alinement of the. stapling mechanism with the clinching means, may be locked in position to prevent accidental displacement thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotal mounting for the movable member or arm which is automatically self-adjusting to level the edge of the staple-driver in parallelism with the clinching means. .Another object of the invention is to render the stapling device more efiicient in use and proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describesla preferred "form of construction of-the device, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying'drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a stapling machine showing the stapling arm in normal, raised position to permit the work to be inserted therebeneath; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine illustrating the adjustable mounting between the arm and the base; 7 j

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of a por: tion of the base of the machine showing the means for connecting the adjustable mounting thereto; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the trun nion block for mounting the arm on-the base of the machine; and s V p Fig. 5 isa front view of a portion of the machine showing thebase in section and illustrating the clinching-anvil mounted therein.

i- .The stapling machine shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing is of a design andconstruction similar tothat describedand illustrated in the pending application of Arthur 'nism to adapt it to bend over the legs of the staple H. Maynard for Letters Patent, Serial No. 466,768, filed July 9, 1930. In general, the machine comprises a flat base 2, designed to rest upon a desk, table or other suitable support, an upper stapling member or arm 3 hinged to the rearward end of the base to adapt it to be pressed down against the work which is placed beneath its forward end, and clinching means mounted on the base beneath the stapling mechanism to adapt it to cooperate therewith.

7 In stapling'machines of the present and other types it is the practice in some instances to provide a hardened clincher-block or anvil on the base of the machine beneath the stapling mechato clinch them against the underside of the work. In othercases movable clincher-dogs are arranged beneath the stapling mechanism and connected to be operated therefrom'to bend over the legs ,of the staple to clinch them in place. It is therefore to be understood that the present inventionis applicable to use with any such clinchingmeans; 1

In the present embodiment of the invention the base 2 is preferably constructed from sheetmetalin the form of aflat strip, see'Figs. l, 2 and 3. The clincher-anvil 4 takes the form of a block constructed of hardened metal and provided with recesses or clincher-grooves in its up per face. The forward end of the base 2 is pro-, vided with an upstanding, circular boss 6 which serves a's aflat-suriaced table 7, upon which the work is placed during the stapling operation. The periphery of the boss on shaped in an ogee curve to merge with the planes of the table '7 and 'base 2, respectively; without sharp corners or projections. The curvature of'the boss 6 is thus designedto facilitate the positioning of the work on theanvil 4. The table '7 is formed with a transverse slot 8 extending diametrically of the boss 6 and recessed at 9 to provide seatsfor the clincher-anvil 4. The clincher-anvil 4 is undercut at its ends to provide abutments ll seated in the recesses '9. The upper surface of the anvil 4 is formed with clincher-grooves .12 for receiving the legs of the staples 3, see Fig. 5,- andjthe bottoms of the grooves 12are preferably of arcuate shape whereby they act to bend the legs of the staples inwardly to-, ward each other while forcing their points upwardly to set the wire to insure a firm clinch.

In the present construction the base'2 is cut away or punched out adjacent its rearward end to form a, substantially rectangular opening '13 withiptegral ears 14 projecting from its, sides. no

- stapling mechanism.

The ears 14 are bent upwardly at right-angles to the plane of the base to extend thereabove in parallel relationship, see Fig. 3. The ears 14 are recessed o1." slotted at 16 with the slots continued laterally into the base 2 for a purpose as later explained. The slots 16 constitute bearings for opposite pintles or trunnions 17 projecting from the sides of a mounting block 18, shown in Fig. 4, by means of which latter the arm 3 is adjustably connected to the base 2.

The stapling arm 3 is preferably constructed from a single strip of sheet-metal folded into channel shape, the sides thereof being extended upwardly at its forward end to form a stapling head or casing 19 for the stapling mechanism. Extending longitudinally within the hollow arm 3 and fixedly secured thereto is a staple-core 22 constructed of sheet-metal folded into channelor U-shape with its sides spaced away from the opposite sides of the arm. The staple-core 22 supports the staples'in straddled relation thereacross to adapt them to'slide within the arm 3 as they are fedto the-stapling mechanism at its forward end. A staple-pusher 23 is'slidable' on the c0re'22 tofeedthe staples forwardly therealong. A volute, coil spring 24, secured in the head19, is connected to the staple-pusher 23 to urge it toward the stapling mechanism.

Theforward edges of the sides of the head 19 are bent inwardly to provide vertical flanges 26.

The flanges 26 cooperate with flanges 27 on a pair of inner lining plates 28 to provide vertical grooves or guideways 29 which receive the lateral edges of a staple-driver 31 The staple-driver 31 is constructed of two overlying, flat plates 32 and 33, the rearward plate 33' being of less thickness than the forward one 32 and with its vertical edges projecting laterallytherebeyond to adapt them to slide in the grooves 29 at the opposite sides of the stapling, head. The forward plate" 32 slides in the space between the vertical fianges'26 on the opposite sides; ofthe head 19, being of less width than the rearwardfplate 33 and extending slightly below its lower edge as shown in Fig. 1. The forward plate-32 is thus adapted to bear against the top .of thework as the lower edge of the staple-driver proper, that is, the plate 33, impinges on the head i of the staple at the'completion of the driving operation. f

Thestaple-driver 31 is connected to and operatedby a reciprocable plunger 34-having sides afl straddling the sides of the stapling head 19 and carrying a hand-rest or knob 37 at its top.

Asshown in Fig. '1, the staple-driver 31.is riveted or otherwise suitably secured flat against the inher side of the front wall of the plunger 34. The plunger 34 is normally maintained in raised po sition, as illustratedin Fig.1, by means of a helical spring 38 pocketed in the head 19 of the arm 3.

It will benoted by reference to Fig. 1 that the staple-core 22- extends clear through the channel of the arm -3 with the forward edges of its sides forming a continuation of the grooves 29- in which the staple-driver 31 slides. The pressure of the staple-pusher 23 holds the foremost staple in position abutting the flanges 26 at the forwardend of thearm 3 with its legs in the grooves 29, thereby preventing the staple'from dropping down out of position until it is acted upon by the driver.

1n stapling machines of the present type, wherein the stapling mechanism is carried on a pivoted arm or otherwise movably mounted memher and the-clinching means mounted'on the base.

forming part of the of the machine, great accuracy of dimension and fit are required in the connection of the parts to insure proper cooperation between the stapling and clinching mechanisms. In fact, with ordinary methods of manufacture it is practically impossible to maintain such uniformity as will result in perfect alinement of the stapling mechanism with the clincher-grooves in the anvil or in the clincher-dogs and also exact parallelism of the edge of the staple-driver with the face of the anvil or other clinching means. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means whereby the stapling arm or other movable part of. the machine may be mounted on the base to permit the stapling mechanism to be accurately adjusted in relation to the clinching means, after which the mounting is permanently locked or secured in place to prevent misalinement of the partsduring continued use of the device. In addition to the adjustable mounting for the arm the present invention also contemplates a mounting which is self-adjusting to automatically aline the edge of the staple-driver in parallelism with the face of the clincher-anvil when the driver is operated to set the staple in the work.

The means for accomplishing the above objects are as next described. Referring to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing, the present improved mounting for the stapling arm 3 comprises the previously mentioned plate or block 18 having the trunnions 17 projecting laterally from its sides. The trunnions 17 are of semi-circular form in cross-section to provide convex upper surfaces adapted to seat in the rounded ends of the slots or openings 16 in the cars 14 on the base 2. Threaded holes 39 are provided in the block 18 for receiving the ends of a pair of screws 40 inserted through corresponding holes or openings 41 in the base of the staple-core 22 and the bottom of the arm 3-to fasten the block to the underside of the arm. The holes 41 are of larger diameter than the shanks of the screws 40 to provide for adjustment of the arm 3 longitudinally of the block to regulate the position of the stapling mechanism with respect to the clincher-anvil 4. The screws 40 have fillister heads, the under peripheral edges of whichare beveled off as shown in Fig. 2 and undercut or recessed around the shanks'of the screws. This construction provides a sharpened circular edge 42 on the underside of the head of each screw which is adapted to be indented into the metal of the base of the core 22to lock the arm 3 in its position of adjustment on the block 18. The indentation of the edges of the screw heads into the staple-core 22 causes a depression in the metal, indicated at 43 in Fig. 2, and effects a secure joinder of the parts to prevent movement of the arm 3 relatively of the mounting blook'l8. After the parts have been connected in this manner the arm is indexed with the block 18 so that if it becomes necessary to disassemble the parts they may be again put together'in proper relationship to effect the accurate positioning of the stapling mechanism with respect to the clincher-anvil on the base of the machine.

A flat spring 45is secured to the underside of the mounting block 18 with its forward portion extending at an angle thereto and curved at its endto adapt it to slide along the top of the base 2. As a convenient means for fastening the spring 45 to the block 18 one of the screws 40 may be of sufficient length'to extend through a hole in the spring to receive a nut 46 which binds the spring to the bottom of the block. The spring is i 45 has'two functions first, through its bearing onthe base 2 it acts to normally hold'the forward end of the arm 3 in raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, while permitting 'the'stapl inghead' on the arm to be pressed down against the work; and

secondly, it serves as a resilient, autorr 1at'ically operating means for leveling the bottom edge of the staple-driver in-parallelism with the upper face of the clincher-anvil 4 in the manner as later explained.

The arm 3 of the machine is "assembled withthe 'base 2by passing the mounting block: 18 through the rectangular opening-13 in the base to insert its trunnions 1''! in the slots .16 in the ears 14. The arm 3 with the core 22 permanently fastened in position therein is then positioned against the upper face of the block 13 and the screws 40 inserted through "'the'holes 41 and screwed into the openings 39in the block. The spring 45 is then applied to the forward screw 40and the nut 46 tightened thereagainst. The free end of thespring 45 bears against the top of the base 2 to cause the forward end of the arm to be swung'upwardly with the trunnions 1'7 bearing against the upper ends of the slots 16. Before the screws 40 are tightened in theblock 18 the arm 3 is carefully adjusted longitudinally with respect to the base 2 to bring the staple'- driver 31 into exact alinement with the clinchergrooves 12 in the anvil 4. Upon completion of this adjustment the screws are tightened to set their heads against the bottom of the core 22 in the arm3 whereby to indent the beveled edges 42 on the underside of their heads into the metal thereof to lockthe parts in place; 7

', Inthe 1 operation of the stapling machine the work is placed across the top of the table? and the upper face of the clincher-anvil 4 topositio n it to receive a staple at any desired location. The

operator then presses on the knob 3'7 to carry the arm 3 downwardly until the forward. end

thereof bears against the work. The sheets of stapling head .19 to drivethe'legs of the staple down through the work. As the legs of the staple are projected through the work their ends 'enter the grooves 12 in the clincher-anvil '4 and are bent inwardly'as indicated in Fig. 5,.of. the draw' ing. The continued. descent of the staple-driver e 31 causes the legs of the staples s to be finally bent upwardly and clinched against the under, side of the, work in the usual manner as well known to those skilled inthe art.

After the staplehas'been applied to t e work,

in the manner as above explained the knob 37 is released and the spring 38 returns the plunger 34' to its uppermost position on the stapling head 19 to permit another staple to be fedinto place beneath the staple-driver 31. As the stapledriver 31 is retracted with the plunger 34 the spring 45 acts to rock the arm 3 upwardly into its raised position as illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the machine is prepared for another operation- It has been stated that the adjustable mountlng of the stapling arm 3 on the base 2 of the machine provides for setting the stapling mechanism to accurately aline the staple-driver 31 with .the clincher-grooves 12 in the anvil 4. As previously explained, the block 18 is first placed in position withits trunnions 17 engaging the openings' 16 in the ears 14 on' the base- 2 and thereafter the screws 40 are'inserted through the holes 41 in the arm and screwed into the openings 39 in the block. Usually, only a slight movement of the arm 3 longitudinally on the block 18 is required and after the correct adjustment has been arrived at the screws 40 are tightenedin place to'cause the beveled edges of their heads to bite into the metal of the bottom ofthe core 22 to thereafter prevent displacement of the arm with i'espectto the block 18.

It has been mentioned that the spring 45 has a further function besides acting to raise the stapling arm 3 after the stapling operation has been completed. Normally, the spring 45 acts to bodily lift the mounting block 18 to maintain its trunnions 17 bearing against the upper ends of the slots'or openings 16 in the ears 14 on the base 2. When, however, the stapling head is pressed down against the work positioned across the top of the anvil 4 the resilience of the spring 45 permits the bottom edge of the staple-driver to' aline itself in" parallelism with the upper face of the anvil. Stated another way, the resilient mounting of the trunnions or pivots 17 in the slots 16 allows a slight canting or lateral rocking movement of the arm 3 on its pivot bearing so that the bottom edge of the staple-driver 31 will conform itself to the plane of the upper face of the clincheranvil 4. This self-alining or self-adjusting action of the stapling arm, and: the staple-driver carried therein,- insures that each staple applied to the work will have its legs driven completely therethrough and clinched evenly on the underside'thereof. That is to say, the bottom edge of the driver will be carried down in parallelism with the upper face of the anvil so that both legs ofthe staple are subjected to a uniform pressure and thus will be evenly clinched.

Heretofore', in machines of the present type, inaccuracies of manufacture and wear on the pivot joint of the stapling arm have resulted in misalinement of the stapling mechanism with respect to the clinching means on the base of the machine and therefore such machines have not been efiicient for effectingthe proper setting and clinching of the staples in the work. Misalinement of thestaple-driver with respect to the clincher-grooves in'some cases causes the staple to be r'ockedor tilted during the clinching operation, thereby tearing or otherwise mutilating the work and also preventing a firm clinch.

As another fault or defect in previously used means for adjusting the mounting of the stapling arm on the base of the machine whereby the staple-driver may be accurately set in alinement with the clincher-grooves, in the anvil; and secondly by the provision fof the self-adjusting mounting whereby the staple-driver automatically assumes a position with its bottom edge in exactparallelism'wth the face of It is further to be observed that the present improved mounting for the stapling arm is extremely simple inconstruction while providing for accurate adjustment and the locking of the parts in position to prevent maladjustmentafter they have once been set.

While the present invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a movable member, stapling mechanism carried by said member, clinching means comprising pockets for receiving the legs of a staple located beneath the stapling mechanism, and means for permitting adjustment of the movable member to aline the stapling mechanism with the clinching means to insure proper cooperation therebetween.

2. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base, amember mounted on the base to adapt it tobe moved toward and away therefrom, clinching means comprising pockets on the base, stapling mechanism carried by the movable member, and means for permitting adjustment of the movable member longitudinally the clincherof the base to locate the stapling mechanism in alinement with the pockets of the clinching means to insure proper cooperation therebetween.

3. In a device, of the type specified, the combination ofa base, a member supported from the base to adapt it to be moved toward and away therefrom, clinching means comprising pockets -on the base, stapling mechanism carried by the movable member, and a manually adjustable mounting for the movable member to provide for setting the stapling mechanism in accurate alinement with the clinching means to insure the proper cooperation therebetween.

4. In a device of the type specified, the come bination of a fixed support, a member hinged to said support, stapling mechanism carried by said member, clinching means comprising pockets on the support,'and means for permitting adjustment of the connection between the movable member and the support toposition the stapling mechanism in accurate alinement with the pockets of theclinching means.

5. In a device of the type specified, the .com-

'bination of asupport, an arm, stapling mecha- -for permanently adjusting the stapling mechanism in alinement with the clinching means.

8, In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base, clinching'means on said base, an arm pivoted to the base, stapling mechanism carried by the arm, means for permitting adjustment of the arm relatively of the base to aline the stapling mechanism with the clinching means, and means for positively locking the arm in its adjusted position to prevent misalinement of the parts.

9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a support, clinching means on. said support, a member movable with respect to the support, stapling mechanism carried by said movable member, means for mounting the movable member on the support to adapt it to be adjusted to aline the stapling mechanism with the clinching means, and means for securing the movable memberon its mounting to prevent its displacement with respect thereto after it has once been adjusted in position. I o

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base, clinching means on the base, a mounting block pivoted to the base, an arm supported from the mounting block, means for securing the arm to the mounting block to permit longitudinal adjustment of the arm with respect to the base, and stapling mechanism carried by the arm for cooperation with the clinching means on the base.

11. In a device of the type specified, the com bination of a base, clinching means on the base, a mounting pivoted to the base, an arm hingedly supported from the mounting, stapling mechanism carried by the arm, and a screw connecting the arm with the mounting to adapt the arm to beadjusted longitudinally of the base, said screw formed with means for indenting the metal of the arm to lock the latter in its adjusted position. V

12. Ina device of the type specified, the combination of a base having ears with slotted openings therein, a bearing block provided with opposite trunnions projecting through the openings in the'ears, an arm seated on the bearing block,

. stapling mechanism carried by said arm, screws passing, through the arm and block to secure the parts together, and a spring secured to the bearing member by one of said screws and extending forwardly therefrom with its end bearing against the top of the base to normally maintain the arm in elevated position.

HERBERT A. BICKFORD.

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