US2055257A - Staple-applying implement - Google Patents

Description

P 1936- A. H. MAYNARD ET AL 2,055,257

STAPLE APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 30, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1936- A. H. MAYNARD ET AL 2,055,257

STAPLE APPLYING IMPLEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1934 Sept. 22, 1936.

A. H. MAYNARD ET AL STAPLE APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 30, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept- 22, 1936- A. H. MAYNARD ET AL STAPLE APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 30, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 yard Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLE-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Maine Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,252

21 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling or fastenerapplying implements for use in connecting sections of wire fencing, netting and other reticulated wire fabrics and also for binding together wires, ropes and other like materials.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel implement of the type indicated in the form of pliers having opposed jaws for gathering and an enclosed staple magazine may be conveniently loaded or charged with staples without dismantling its parts or opening the closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable implement of the type indicated which is compact and simple in construction, positive and efficient in operation and capable of extended use without repair or adjustment.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention only has been described, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved implement illustrating the manner of applying it to use for connecting the ends of wire fence sections orthe like;

Fig. 2 is a partial front view of the jaws of the implement showing them opened to receive the wires to be fastened together;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the relationship of the parts during the gathering of the fencewires and the driving of a staple;

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the relationship of the parts at the completion of the stapling operation;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the implement with a portion of its magazine casing broken away to show the staple-feeding means;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the rearward end of the magazine similar-to Fig. 5 illustrating the method of loading it with staples;

Fig. '7 is a rearward end view of the implement;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational'view of the fore part of the implement taken on line 88 of Fig. 3 and showing the relationship of the parts of its mechanism during the staple-driving operation;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the implement shown in Fig. 1 with the ends of the operating handles broken away;

Fig. 10 is a part sectional plan view of the fore part of the device taken on line ill-I0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the staple-magazine taken on line lI--H of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view of the clinchin jaws taken on line I2l2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the staplepusher;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a series of staples as used in-the device;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a number of parallel wires are bound together by means of a staple applied by the present device; and a Fig. 16 is a similar view illustrating the method of binding crossed wires.

In general, the present stapling device comprises a magazine for holding a supply of staples, means for successively feeding the staples from the magazine, and means for operating upon the individual staples as they are delivered from the magazine to drive them into place to be clinched around the work. In addition thereto means are also provided in the form of opposed jaws for drawing a plurality of strands or parts of the work together and clinching the staples in position as they are driven. Further, the invention includes means for simultaneously operating the staple-driver and clinching means in the form of handles so connected as to form a toggle arrangement to facilitate the operation of the implement.

Referring now to the drawings where the present fastener appliance is illustrated as comprised. of a frame in the form of an enclosed magazine casing 2 for holding a supply of staples, and a stapling head 3 at its forward end in which the stapling mechanism is incorporated. As shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 11 of the drawings, the casing 2 is of rectangular form in cross-section having a bottom 4 and side walls 5 bent upwardly therefrom. The side walls 5 are then folded inwardly at the top with their edges spaced slightly apart to provide a longitudinal slot 6 extending substantially the entire length of the casing.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 7 where the rearward end of the magazine is shown as closed by flanges 8 bent inwardly from the side walls 5. The bottom 4 and side walls 5 are cut away at this end to provide an opening 9 through which the staples s may be inserted in filling or charging the magazine as will later appear. At the forward end of the magazine the side walls 5 are extended upwardly to form spaced wing portions I for embracing and holding a block I 2 by means of screws which, in turn, support the head 3 including the operative mechanism for driving and clinching the staples. The rearward end of the device is supported on a pair of legs or skids i3 formed as the opposite looped sides of a wire l4 welded to the sides and rearward 'end of the casing 2.

A staple-core i5 for slidably supporting the staples to adapt them to be fed individually to the driving mechanism is secured within the casing 2 and to the bottom 4 by means of screws IS. The staple-core |5 extends to the forward face of the block l2 at one end but terminates short of the end of the casing at its opposite end with a portion projecting into the opening 9 to facilitate insertion of the staples. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the staples used are of a novel and unusual shape in that each staple s has a flat top or crossbar and depending legs which are bent to form an obtuse angle with the crossbar and so that they slope diagonally outward. The lower ends of the legs are then bent inwardly'so that the legs of the resulting staple are of a generally rounded contour with the ends spaced to form an opening of greater width than the width of the crossbar. The staples may be separately placed on the core but preferably the individual staples are cemented together with a suitable material at their edges to form a bar or stick of a plurality of staples. As shown in Fig. 11 the core i5 is similarly shaped to receive this form of staple being provided with an enlarged longitudinally extending body or top portion l1 and a reduced shank portion |8 adjacent the bottom 4 of the casing; The enlarged body portion is so constructed as to provide laterally extending ribs I9 that are beveled to form angular bearing surfaces against which the sloping portions of the legs of the staples s engage. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 11 that the lower converging ends of the legs of the staples engage the under side of the ribs l9 and are thus prevented from moving upwardly from the core. With this form of staple and core the staples cannot overlap each other or become twisted on the core which substantially eliminates improper operation of the implement.

The staples s are urged forwardly along thecore to deliver them to the driving mechanism by means of a staple-pusher indicated generally by the reference character 20. As shown in Fig. 11, the staple-pusher comprises a U-shaped sheetmetal member or carriage 2| with spaced pins 22 extending through the sides to form bearing spindles for rollers 24 on which the carriage is mounted for longitudinal movement in the magazine casing. To this end channel-shaped tracks or guideways 25 for the rollers are provided within the casing onthe opposite side walls, that ex-' tend substantially the entire length of the casing so that the carriage may be moved to the extreme end of the magazine and beyond the end of the staple-core. The carriage 2| is also provided with an upwardly reaching arm 26 which passes through the slot or opening 6 of the magazine and has a knob 21 attached to the outer end top of the staples.

that serves as a finger-grip for manually sliding the pusher 2|) rearwardly.

Rlveted or otherwise secured to the under side of the carriage 2| is a sheet-metal member 30 shown in detail in Fig. 13. The member 30 is of inverted trough shape with its inclined sides adapted to overlie the sloping sides of the staplecore i5. Riveted to the inclined sides of the member 30 are resilient pusher-fingers 32 which extend forwardly therefrom with their ends bent inwardly at a slight angle for contacting the rearmost staple s of the series mounted on the core I5 as shown in Figs. 5, and 11. The corners of the bent portions of the fingers 32 are folded upwardly as indicated at 33 to provide abutments for engaging against the staple and to prevent the edges of the fingers 32 from wedging in under the strip of staples. The pusher carriage 2| is also provided with a pin 34 to which is hooked one end of a helical spring 35 that extends forwardly around a roller 36 rotatably mounted on a stud 38 between the sides of the casing 2, and then reaches rearwardly with its end anchored to a pin 37 rigidly secured in one of the side walls 5 as shown in Fig. 11. The pusher 2 0 is manually drawn rearwardly to engage its fingers 32 with the end of the strip of staples s and to prevent the staples from being ejected from the magazine during this movement a latch-detent 4|] is provided. As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the latch 40 is fitted within a slot 4| in the end of the core l5 and pivoted on a transverse pin 42 driven through the end of the core and extending across the slot. The latch 40 is formed with a pointed toe 43 which is normally projected above the top of the core under the action of a spring-pressed plunger 45 slidably arranged in a hole 46 at the bottom of the slot 4|. The upward swinging movement of the latch under the action of the plunger 45 is limited by the engagement of a projection 48 of the latch with the end of the slot 4 I The head construction fixed to the block I2, as shown in Fig. 8, comprises a guide-plate 5| abutting the forward end of the block I2 and is provided in its front face with a vertical slot or guideway 52 in which a reciprocable staple-driver 50 is adapted to slide. In the rearward face of the plate 5| is a shallow transverse groove 53 which cooperates with a deeper slot 54in the front side of the block I 2 in forming a rectangular aperture for receiving a back pivot-plate 55. the ends of which project beyond the sides of the casing 2 fora purpose as later explained. The guideand pivot-plates 5| and 55 are secured in place against the block I 2 by means of rivets 58, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 8, the bottom of the block I2 is spaced from the top of the core l5, and the plate 5| is provided near its lower end with a rectangular aperture 59 forming a throat 49 surrounding the core and through which the staples s pass into the guideway 52 beneath the staple-driver 50. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower edge of the plate 5| forming the opening 59 is fitted'into a recess 6| in the forward bottom edge of the staple-core IS.

The staple-driver 50 consists of a fiat strip or blade of hardened metal having its lower end narrowed'slightly and formed with a groove 62 at the bottom conforming to'the contour of the The driver 50 is slidably held in the guideway 52 of the plate 5| by means of a face-plate 60 of the same general outline as the plate 5|.

The front of the face-plate 60 is formed with a transverse groove 64 for receiving a forward pivot-plate 85 to which it is fastened by rivets 68, see Figs. 2, and 10. Welded or otherwise secured to the front of the face-plate 80 below the pivotplate 65 is a combined work-guide and support 68. In the bottom of the support is a groove 59 the sides of which slope outwardly to guide the work into place in the bottom of the slot when the implement is applied to use in the manner as later explained.

Referring to Fig. 10, the front pivot-plate 85 together with its attached face-plate 60 is secured to the back pivot-plate 55 by means of bolts passing through alined holes in the ends of the two plates. the plates 65 and 55 are bushings H which serve to maintain the plates in spaced relationship and provide pivots for the clinching levers 80 to be presently described. Nuts 12 screwed onto the projecting threaded ends of the bolts 10 hold the several parts together.

Secured within a vertical groove 14 in the rearward face of the plate 58 by means of a screw 16 is a staple-supporter 15, as shown in Fig. 8.

' The supporter i5 is constructed'from relatively thin spring metal and has its lower free end bent rearwardly to bear against the forward end of the staple-core I5 beneath the driver 50 and between the legs of the foremost staple s on the core. When the leading staple s is severed from the strip by the driver 58 and driven downwardly in the guideway or slot 52 the supporter acts to hold it firmly against the bottom of the driver and preventing it from dropping out of the device. Should the stapling operation be interrupted after the staple is partially driven the supporter i5 holds the staple suspended in the guideway 52 to prevent the feeding of another staple s into the guideway before the first staple has been completely driven.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 10 where the clinching levers 88 are shown as comprising upper and lower arms 8| and 82, respectively, extending in opposite directions from a central hub portion. The hub portions are provided with bearing apertures by means of which the levers are pivotally mounted on the bushings H between the front and back pivot- plates 65 and 55. The arms 82 are narrowed toward their bottom end, and have inwardly directed jaws 83 with curved recesses on their inner faces to form an open pocket therebetween. The recessed faces of the jaws 83 are scored with substantially arcuate clinching grooves 85 for receiving the legs of the staples s as they are driven and bending them about the work.

Referring now to Fig. 12 where the clinching grooves 85 are shown as offset with respect to each other with the groove in one of the jaws inclining forwardly and the groove in the other jaw inclining rearwardly with respect to a medial plane through the two jaws parallel to their faces and with each jaw being provided with a continuation of the offset groove in the opposite jaw..

With this construction and arrangement of the grooves the legs of the staples s are caused to pass by each other as they are bent around the work to an offset and overlapping position.

The staple-driver 50 and clinching levers- 80 are operated manually by a pair of hand levers 88 connected therebetween. As shown in Fig.1, the levers 88 are of an inverted T-shape configuration in outline, being formed with laterally ex;- tending links 89 at their bottoms. The inner end of the link 89 of one of the levers 88 is bifurcated as at 90 to receive a tongue 9| formed at the end Positioned on the bolts 10 between.

of the opposite link 89, the tongue of the latter link being slit at 92 to receive the upper end of the staple-driver 58. A bolt 93 passes through alined bearing apertures in the three elements and is held in place ,by a nut 94 to pivotally connect the elements together.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, it will be observed that the outer end of each link 89 is bifurcated to receive a bushing 95 which is mounted on a bolt 96 passing through bearing apertures in the link. The outer end of each of the levers 80 is provided with a bearing aperture for receiving the bushing 95 on the bolt 96 to form a pivotal connection with its respective link, and the bolt is held in place by means of a nut 91 screwed onto its threaded end. The implement having now been described in detail its method of operation will next be explained.

To prepare the stapling implement for operation the magazine is first loaded by passing staples .9, preferably in the form of a strip or stick, through the opening 9 and onto the core I5, the end of which terminates adjacent the opening to facilitate the loading of the magazine. When the magazine is empty the staple-pusher 20 is at rest against the block l2 and after the strip of staples has been positioned on the core the pusher is manually moved to the rear of the magazine by means of the hand knob 21 so that the springfingers 32 may engage the end of the stick. As the staple-pusher is withdrawn its resilient fingers 32 press against the strip of staples to carry the latter rearwardly until its end encounters the toe 43 of the detent 48. At this time the .strip is restrained from further movement and continued rearward movement of the pusher causes the fingers 32 to yield and ride over the individual staples s and finally snap into place at the rear of the staple strip in the manner as indicated by dash lines in Fig. 6. The staplepusher is then released and by the action of the coil-spring 35 is drawn forwardly to feed the staples to the driving mechanism. The stapling implement is then ready for operation.

Assuming that it is desired to connect two sections of wire-fencing or other reticulated wire fabrics such as those indicated at F in Fig. 1, the end wires w of the sections are first laid in closely parallel relationship upon a flat surface; In forming earth-retaining strips for use in constructing waterway embankments and similar engineering projects the end wires w of the sections F are usually reinforced by a larger wire or cable W to which they are secured. The reinforcing wire W is set between the end wires w and the stapling implement placed thereover with the three wires entered between the open jaws 83 of the levers 80. When the implement is placed in position in this manner its forward end is supported by the lower ends of the jaws 83 while its rearward end is held elevated by the skids l3.

To operate the implement to drive and clinch a staple in binding engagement around the wires 11) and W, the operator grasps the ends of the handle-levers 88 and draws them together. As the levers 88 are brought together the links 89 at their ends operate in the manner of a toggle to simultaneously actuate the jaws 83 and staple-driver 50. Outward swinging movement of the links 89 causes pivotal movement of the levers 80 on the fulcrums 10 to carry the lower jaw ends 83 inwardly. As the jaws 83 moveinwardly the wires w and W are gathered together in the pocket formed by the recessed portion of the jaws 83 and the groove 69 of the support plate 68. The

wires are thus-held firmly on three sides in position to receive a staple s which is driven into engagement with the wires by the staple-driver.

Concurrent with the work-gathering operation the driver 58 is forced downwardly in the guideway 52 under the swinging action of the handlelevers 88. As the driver 50 descends its bottom edge severs the foremost staple s from the strip or stick and drives it downwardly in the guideway 52. During the driving 01. the staple the supporter l5 yieldably presses against the head or crossbar thereof to prevent it from falling out of the stapling head.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the lower edge of the staple-driver 50 is initially held at a considerable distance above the top of the core l5 so that the jaws 83 will have completely gathered the wires together before the driver 50 has reached its lowermost position. When the driver 58 has engaged and driven the staple s to such an extent that its legs project below the bottom of the guide-plate 5| the jaws 83 will have swung into position to receive the legs in the clinching grooves 85, see Fig. 3. As the legs of the staple s enter the grooves -85 they straddle the wires w and'W held between the jaws 83 and further movement of the handle-levers 88 causes the jaws 83 to meet in abutting relationship and the driver 50 to drive the crossbar of the staple s against the wires 10 and W. During the downward movement of the staple s to its final position its legs are guided around the wires by the clinchergrooves 85 as illustrated in Fig. 4 to firmly clinch and bind the wires securely together. Further, due to the offset relationship of the grooves 85, the legs of the staple s are caused to pass by each other to an offset overlapping position as shown in Fig. 15 and the wires or other work are effectively clamped together to withstand considerable strain.

After the wires w and W have been secured together in the manner as above outlined, the handle-levers 88 are manually drawn outwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to reset the device for another stapling operation. As the jaws 83 are opened the driver 50 ascends to a position above the staple-core I 5 as shown in Fig. 2 and the staple-pusher 20 is urged forwardly by the coil-spring 35 to feed another staple s into the guideway 52 beneath the driver 50 to be subsequently applied to the work. When wire fence-sections are being joined together, the end wires w thereof are stapled at spaced intervals therealong and after each stapling operation the various operating parts of the implement are reset for the next operation.

In Figs. 1 to 15, inclusive, the device is shown as applied to use in stapling wires together but it is to be understood that it is equally efllcient in fastening rods, bars, ropes, strands of any kind or other work together. When crossing wires or the like are to be fastened together the implement is placed thereover with its jaws 83 arranged diagonally across the wires and a staple s applied thereto inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 16.

It will now be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention provides a particularly simple and efiicient implement for connecting strands such as'sections of wire, fencing, netting and other reticulated wire fabrics and also for binding together wires, ropes and other objects; and also an implement that is portable and easily transported to operative positions.

It will also be apparent that the present invention provides an implement for easily connecting or binding a plurality of articles with a strong and durable material by a simple manual operation, due to the toggle arrangement, the clinchers, and the preformed staple; and which will positively clamp and bind the work with a minimum effort. It will also be apparent that an implement has been provided which may be easily and quickly loaded with staples without dismantling any of its parts.

While we have herein shown the device as embodied in a preferred form of construction only, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting ourselves in this respect, we claim:

1. In a stapling machine, the combination of a head, a staple-driver in said head for driving staples into engagement with the work, clincherjaws mounted on said head independently of the staple-driver, and means directly connected to the staple-driver and clincher-jaws and operative to simultaneously actuate the same to drive a staple and clinch the ends of its legs in binding engagement with the work.

2. In a stapling machine, the combination of a head, a staple-driver mounted for reciprocation in said head, clincher-jaws mounted on fixed pivots at opposite sides of the head and independently of the staple driver, said clincher-jaws being adapted to swing to a closed position below the staple-driver, means for feeding staples to said reciprocating staple-driver, and hand-levers directly connected to the staple-driver and clincherjaws for simultaneously actuating the same.

3. In a stapling machine for connecting or binding a plurality of strands, the combination of a staple-driver for driving staples into engagement with the strands, pivoted jaws mounted far swinging movement to a position below the stapledriver, means cooperating with the jaws for gathering and holding the pluraliz'y of strands, and a common means directly connected to both the staple-driver and pivoted jaws and operative to simultaneously actuate the same to gather the strands and clinch a staple in binding engagement with the strands.

4. In a stapling machine for connecting or binding a plurality of strands, the combination of a head, a staple-driver mounted for reciprocating movement in the head, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on ,opposite sides of the head and adapted for swinging movement to a position below the staple-driver, the bottom of said head cooperating with the jaws to formapocket in which the strands are gathered, and a pair of hand-operated levers directly connected to both the staple-driver and the jaws to form a toggle for simultaneously actuating the staple-driver and jaws to gather the strands, drive a staple and clinch the legs of the staple in binding engagement with the strands.

5. In a stapling machine, the combination of a staple-driver for driving staples into engagement with the work to be stapled, pivoted jaws mounted on opposite sides of the staple-driver for swinging movement into cooperative relation with the staple-driver, and a pair of cooperating lever handles having links directly connected with the staple-driver and pivoted jaws, said lever handles being adapted to simultaneously actuate the staple-driver and pivoted jaws to drive and clinch a staple into binding engagement with the work.

6. In a stapling machine, the combination of a head, a staple-driver mounted for reciprocation in said head, clincher-levers pivotally mounted. on the sides of said head and having jaws at one end for" engaging and clinching the ends of a staple, toggle-levers pivotally connected to each other and to the staple-driver at one of their ends and to the clincher-levers at their other ends, and means for simultaneously actuating both the staple-driver and the clincher-jaws.

'7. In a stapling machine, the combination of a head, a staple-driver in said head, clincher-jaws mounted on said head and cooperating with said staple-driver to clinch the ends of a staple, guideways in said jaws for directing the ends of the staple to an offset overlapping relationship, means for supplying staples to the staple-driver, and toggle levers pivotally connected to each other and to the staple-driver at one of their ends and to the clincher-jaws at their opposite ends for simultaneously operating the staple-driver and the clincher-jaws to drive a staple into engagement with the material to be stapled and clinch the ends of the staple in an offset overlapping engagement.

8. In a stapling machine, a head, a staple-driver mounted for reciprocation in said head, jaws pivotally mounted on said head and on opposite sides of the staple-driver for swinging movement to a position below said head, guideways in said jaws for directing the ends of a staple into binding engagement with the work in an offset overlapping relationship, means for successively feeding staples to the staple-driver, and manually operable handles having links pivotally connected to each other and to the staple-driver at one of their ends and to the jaws at their opposite ends for simultaneously actuating the staple-driver and the pivoted jaws to drive a staple and clinch its ends in an offset overlapping position.

9. In a stapling machine, mechanism for clinching the ends of a staple in binding engagement with the work in an oifset and overlapping position comprising a pair of jaws mounted for swinging movement from an open spaced-apart position to a closed abutting position with recesses in each of the jaws extending from a medial plane parallel to the faces ofthe two jaws to opposite sides of the plane in a direction toward the ends of the jaws, said recesses directing a staple into engagement with the work in an offset overlapping position.

10. In a stapling machine, the combination of a frame, a core in said frame for holding a plurality of staples, a head on said frame surrounding the core and spaced therefrom to allow staples to be moved into the head from the core, a slot in said head adjacent the end of the core for receiving a staple, a staple-driver in said slot, clincher-jaws pivotally mounted on said head for swinging movement to a position below'said staple-driver, and a common means for actuating both the staple-driver and clincher-jaws.

11. In a stapling machine, mechanism for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising a frame, a magazine in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, and means bodily mov able forwardly and rearwardly in the magazine and so constructed and arranged as to engage the staples and move the whole group forward during its forward movement while adapted to ride over the staples during its rearward movement.

12. In a stapling machine, mechanism for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising a frame, a magazine in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, and a staple-pusher bodily movable forwardly and rearwardly in the magazine, said staple-pusher having resilient fingers adapted to engage the staples and move the whole group forwardly during its forward movement while yielding to slide over the staples during the rearward movement of the staple-pusher.

13. In a stapling machine, mechanism for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising a frame, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, a staple-pusher mounted in the frame for longitudinal movement, means for resiliently moving the staple-pusher forwardly, a handle for manually moving the staple-pusher rearwardly, and spring-fingers on the staple-pusher for engaging the staples during its forward movement but adapted to yield and slide over the staples during its rearward movement.

14. In a stapling machine, means for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising a frame, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, guides in the frame on opposite sides of the core, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement in the frame-guides, a spring for automatically moving the carriage forward, a handle for moving the carriage rearwardly, resilient spring-fingers extending forwardly and at an angle to the carriage and adapted to engage and resiliently urge the staples forwardly but to yield and slide over the staples upon manual retraction of the carriage.

15. In a stapling machine, mechanism for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising a frame, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, and a staple-pusher mounted in the frame for longitudinal movement and having means for engaging the staples during its forward movement but adapted to ride over the staples during its rearward movement, and a detent in the frame for engaging the staples during the rearward movement of the staple-pusher.

16. In a stapling machine, mechanism for successively feeding staples to a driver comprising an enclosing frame having a head at one end and an aperture adjacent its opposite end, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, and a staple-pusher in the frame for moving staples into the head and adapted for rearward movement to engage staples at the end of the core, whereby staples may be placed on the core by insertion through the aperture in the frame without removing the staple-pusher from the frame.

17. In a stapling machine, an enclosing frame having a head and operating mechanism for driving staples at one end, and an aperture at the rear and'bottom at the other end, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples extending into the aperture, a staple-pusher mounted for movement in the frame and adapted to engage the staples during its forward movement but to slide over the staples during its rearward movement, and a detent at the end of the core for holding the staples during the rearward movement of the follower.

18. A portable hand-tool for gathering and binding a plurality of strands comprising a frame having a pair of handles at one end and supporting skids at the opposite end, a staple-driver and clincher-means mounted on the frame, means for successively feeding staples to the stapledriver, and means connected with the handles for simultaneously actuating the staple-driver and the clincher-means.

19. In a stapling machine, the combination of a staple-driver for driving staples into engagement with the work to be stapled, clincher-means cooperating with the staple-driver for clinching the ends of the staple, and a pair of cooperating lever handles operatively connected with the staple-driver and the clincher-means, said lever handles being adapted to simultaneously actuate the staple-driver and clincher-means to drive and clinch a staple into binding engagement with the work. i

20. In a stapling machine, the combination of a frame having a head at one end, a core in the frame for holding a plurality of staples, a slot in the head for successively receiving staples, a staple-driver in the slot, resilient means for urging the staples along the core and into the slot in the head, and a resilient finger in the slot for yieldingly holding a staple in any position in the slot.

21. In a stapling machine, the combination of a head, a slot in the head, a staple-driver mounted for reciprocation in the slot, means for successively feeding staples to the slot, a resilient finger in the slot for yieldingly holding a staple in any position in the slot, and clincher-jaws pivotally mounted on fixed pivots in the head for swinging movement to a position below said staple-driver to clinch the ends of the staples, said fixed pivots being spaced apart on opposite sides of the stapledriver and independently thereof.

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