US2580444A - Fastener forming and driving device - Google Patents

Description

r J. c. LANG FASTEINER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE Jan. 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l File d Dec. 12, 1945 INVENTOR Joseph (LL any ATTO R N EYS Jan. 1, 1952 J. c. LANG FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.- 12, 1945v w. am a a mm mw VWMM I klll'lllkpl lll lulu:

\NVENTOR Joseph C jazzy 6M, M QM ATTORNEYS Jan. '1, 1952 J. c. LANG FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1945 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III I l lgil lu' INVENTOR Joseph GLang.

V ATTORNEYS I i l 1 14 1 Patented Jan. 1 1952 Joseph CQLangQ Pittsburgh, Pa.,assignor to Bocjl Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., ex corporation of Delaware App lica tionDeeember 12, 1945, seen No. 634537 '14 Claiins.

This intention relates to I the art of "fasteners :and is fora driver for driving a succession of fasteners one at a "time.

I have heretofore devised a tack type of fastener of tack-likeiform, this fastener having a cross bar forming the head, andhaving a shank which 21's turned down at one sidefof the cross bar intermediate the ends thereof. "An especial ad- "vantage of this Tetack, asidefro'm theface that it'providesa very effective tack fo'r upholdstering and other purposes becanse of the long head whichvi illnot pull through the fabric or other "material which'isfa'stened down, isthat a succession of tack blanksmaybebbonornically formed from a narrow ribbon'of rolled metal. This is done by slittin'gthe metal'diagonally from one edge'toward thecenter and thenexten'dirig the slit longitudinally, preferably along theeenter line, for the length of "the leg. A"sr'nall fraetion of an inch past the end of this slit the next similar slit is formed. Thus a succession of'leg portions are provided which are separated from the ribbon of metal'at the other side of the center line'throughout their length at one pointonly, the diagonal slit forming a pointbntheireeend of each leg portion. By turning the legs so 'formed from their original plane through an arc to a position perpendicular to'said plane, each legis then in pflsitibntobedriven. 'Ifhe continuous ribbon of metal atthe otherside of *the "center lineis servered at points intermediate the diagonal slits transversely of the long axis of the ribbon to form individual complete tacks. All of "this isdisclosedina copending application filed byme.

Theobject of the'present invention isto provide a convenient, compact and novel driver'for receivingfarolrofinetalso slittedand feeding it from the" hitting by the fingers. meiki'efit'a iy,

- also, it saves nicking and. rnarring furnitni e to which upholstering is being applied byavoi'ding thefrequent hitting of the finishedwoodwork by the upholsterers hamrner. "My invention inay-bejfnore fully understood by reference to "the accompanying drawings, "in

which: I

Fig. 1 'is a sideelevationpf afastenerdriving niachine' -ein'bodyingniy invention;

Fig. 2 isa frag'nie ta ry sectioninfthe planeof -line' 1 -1 of Fig. 1, the view being a transverse horizontal'sectiom I H v Fig. Eis aside elevation of t atpomqner the cover platevvhichextends alongthe'bottorn of a machine, and which is broken 'awaym Fig. '1; Fig. 4 -is-a view similar tWFigfl, shoyv in'g'the entire cover plate refnoved from thehiaehinep Fig. 5 is a 'horizontal sectionin substantially theplane of line of Fig. 1, lookingiipfthe viewbeing affraign entary view; p I p Fig. 5a isa transv'ei'se seetion in theplane line V -V of Fig. '7, looking down Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to a portionof Fig. 4, 'b 1t with thedriver element a depressed to a the run liinit of its movement;

-Fig. {7 "isa "transverse vertical'section in substantially the plane of line VII-VII of Fig.1;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view shovving the initial step in'beginn'ing the' bperation ofth'e driver With a new strip of fasteneis;

'Fig. 9 isasimilarvieW shoviingthe slicceeding step; and p r 'Fig. "10 is a View similar "to FigQB showingthe operation which follo safte'r thefirst 6ne.

In the operatio'nbf the"niachineas liereinbe ingiapplicati'on. The strip comprises a "continu ou's ribbon '01' 'narroW flat strip metal designated generally as This ribbcn has a'siieeessionof regnla'rly *space'cl notches fa along j one "marginal edge, theforvvard Wall of these notches *being perpendicular and the other wallfbeing sloped :so as to cooperate with correspondingly shaped jpawl or ratchet teeth tobe hereinafter described.

The oppoeite-edge-of the strip is slit diagonally from the edgetowa'rd the center, and thenthe slit extends in a longitudinal direction. With f'reference {to lthe direction in which the strip travels thro igh the driving machine, thelong'ithe longitudinal portion is designated a The slit a separates the leg forming portion a of the strip from the body of the strip, the diagonal slit :1 separating the leg at one end and forming the point of the fastener. The notches a along one edge of the strip are preferably staggered with reference to the slits a and also define the points along which the ribbon is separated in forming the individual fasteners.

As shown in Fig. 8, the front end portion of the strip has the leg-formin element cut away so that on the first operation with each strip, an

incomplete fastener is formed. This is for the purpose of enabling the strip to be properly handled in the machine, and indexing the strip for its initial operation.

In completing the fastener, the leg-forming portion a must be swung in an are about an axis transverse to the length of the strip downwardly to a perpendicular position and then the strip is severed and the blank which has been so formed is driven into the material into which it is to be entered.

In the present machine, with the first operation of the driver or plunger which serves to drive the staple, the blank head having no attached leg portion, which forms the leadin end of the strip, is removed. This is shown in Fig. 9 where the detached head portion is designated a and the succeeding head portions are designated :1 In severing the incomplete blank as shown in Fig. 9, the leg-forming portion a of the succeeding blank is bent down to the perpendicular position. With the further operation of the machine, the strip feeds forward the full length of one blank, i. e., the distance between successive notches a. On the succeeding operation this blank with the turned down leg is then driven as shown in Fig. and the leg-forming portion a of the next succeeding blank is simultaneously turned down. This sequence of operations follows thereafter during the continued operation of the machine until the length of the staple strips has been exhausted. Thus with each driving operation one blank with the. bent-down leg is separated from the strip and driven while the leg-forming portion of the next succeeding blank is bent down, and at the time that the driver raises above the fastener strip, the strip advances one notch, or the length of one blank, to bring the next succeeding blank, the leg of which has been turned down, into position under the driver.

With this general explanation of the operations which take place, the construction of the ma chine may now be easily understood.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame construction providing at its forward end a vertical slide-way in which a reciprocating plunger operates. This plunger, designated generally as 2 in Fig. 1, has a terminal 3 at its upper end which may be hit with a hammer in a portable machine, or which may be depressed by. any suitable impact mechanism when the unit is incorporated in a non-portable or portable power operated machine. At the opposite end of the frame the construction provides a circular chamber designated generally as 4 for receiving the fastener strip which is coiled up within it, the convolutions of the coil of the strip being designated generally as A. Intermediate this chamber or magazine portion and the forward portion which houses and provides a slide for the plunger, there is a connecting body having an opening 5 therethrough with a cross bar 6 above the opening, the under side of the cross bar being preferably scalloped to provide a convenient grip for the fingers of the operator, while the opening 5 provides clearance for the fingers.

The frame of the machine is formed by one main plate, designated generally as 1, and which is best shown in Fig. 4. The main plate 1 is preferably formed as a casting with the opening 5 formed therethrough, and with a part 6' forming part of the grip 6. At one end it is provided with an upstandingfiange 8 of generally circular contour. Within this circular flange 8 there is cast an upstanding hub (see Fig. 2) 9. This hub 9 serves to rotatably support a removable flanged spool or sleeve I D on which the convolutions of the fastener strip A are wound. Extending forwardly under the open portion 5 the main casting is provided with a flat panel or surface If on which a block !2 carrying the strip feeding mechanism is removably secured. At the forward or left-hand end of the casting, as viewed in Fig. 4, there is a vertical portion I 3 in which the plunger 2 is received.

The casting is provided with a number of screw holes which are threaded to receive screws l4 which hold a complementary cover plate IS in place. The cover plate I5 is of less extent than the main casting l and serves to cover only the front or left-hand portion of the main casting together with part ofthe feeding mechanism, and extends back only to the magazine-forming part of the machine. This cover plate does not normally have to be removed, being formed in the manner described only for convenience in assembly, and to provide access to the interior of the machine for purposes of replacement or repair of parts.

There is a second cover plate designated generally as [6 which is preferably stamped from sheet metal, and which is readily removable to give access to the magazine for the replacement of the staple strip and access to that portion of the feeder through which the strip moves for threading the strip into the machine. This cover part has a generally circular end portion Ilia which encloses the chamber A of the magazine, and it has a forwardly extending portion I6b that extends horizontally under the lower edge of the cover plate l5, covering the lower portion of the feeder to be hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 3, the extreme forward end of this extension lfib has a tongue I to thereon, which, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, extends under a part of the cover plate I5 to hold this narrow horizontal extension of the cover plate in place.

For detachably holding the cover IS in position, a screw I1 passes through the hub portion 9 and through a central opening in the cover plate I6. Threaded onto this screw is a nut l8 having a radial extension IS. The cover plate l6 has a slot 29 therein extending outwardly from the opening through which the screw I! passes. To remove the cover plate l6 it is merely necessary to turn the nut from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position where the extension I9 is in line with the slot 20, at which time the nut will be inefiective to hold the cover plate in place, and it may beremoved by lifting it away from the machine. When it is lifted away so that the cover plate l6 entirely clears the nut l8 with its extension [9, the cover plate It may be slid rearwardly until the tongue I is clear of the part of the machine with which it is engaged. Thus the cover plate can be very quickly removed, and it .can be reapplied with equal facility by merely engagingthe tonguefin "its proper place, swinging the circular end of the cover back in position over the magazine, allowing the slotted openingto pass over the key nut, and then tightening the hut down on the screw. e

The foregoing description relates to the general Organization of the machine which {is the present preferred embodiment, but it will be "understood that this is merely illustrative or the machine. The mechanisms for driving-the fasteners and feeding the strip may now be described in detail. The plunger 2 has 'laterall'y extending flangesZa at each side of its forvvard edge, these fianges being guided in channels 2;: formed in the main casting, "and the forward "part of the fixedcover plate 15, -'as best shown in Fig. 5. Near the lower end "of the munger or driver is a rearwardly extending "cam 2|, the efiectivesurface of which is designated 22, and Twhichslopes upwardly and rearwardly as viewed in Fig. 4. Below this -cam the plunger is provided with'a terminal portion adapted to perform the-operations hereinbefore described. The terminal por- 'tion includes an ofisettongue 23 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10) for engaging the leg-forming portion of the fastener and bending it downwardly, this portion also being shown in Fig. 4. It is to the rearfandoffset from the main driving tongue 24 which has arib 25 on one surface thereof. 7 Itis adapted to apply pressure to the head of the fastener whiletherib '25 is adapted to be directly overthe leg and apply pressure likewise to the leg of the fastener. The tongue 24 projects downwardly a distance substantially below the tongue 23. It should also be mentioned that the rear corner designated 24a of the tongue 24 forms one element of a shear for cutting off the formed blank from the strip. s

The plunger is also provided intermediate its ends with notches 26 and 21 between which are serrations 28 (see Fig. 4) for cooperation with a spring-centered pivoted pawl 29. The purpose of this pawl is to prevent the plunger or driver from moving in either direction 'unless its full stroke in the opposite direction is completed. This is "a well-known mechanism in movements of this kind, and constitutes no part, per se, of 'theinvention. The plunger carries a headed bolt .30 on its rear face which forms an abutment to 'l iin'itt'he upward travel of the plunger, a'nda tension spring 3] (see Fig. "7) connected between a pin 32 on the plunger and a fixed anchorage 33 oir'the "cover plate [5 serves to return theplunger to the uppermost osition shown in Fig. 4 after the plunger has been driven downwardly.

As hereinbefore'mentioned, the part H of the "main plate carries a foundation plate l2 on which the strip feeding mechanism is mounted. The plate l 2 is of a thickness somewhat greater than the width of the fastener strip. It is provided with a groove -34 along its entire length, this groove being open on that face of the platei2 which is turned toward the removablecover 1B. The depth of the groove is equal to the full width of the fastener strip A, and the width of the groove is just slightly greater than the thickness of the strip A so that as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end of the strip may be entered in therein -or right-hand end of the groove :as viewed inFig. 4 and the strip pushed forward until the forward end of the strip is under the tongue 24 0f the thattheedgecdntaihingthnotches-Here outwardly, that is, toward the open edges: the groove 31.

Mounted on the lower portion of the hlock 12 is a U-shaped piece 35 with tlie'legsof the U turnedupwardly and extendingfacross the slot 34. Ontop of the U shapdpiece 3'5 is-a -U-shap'ed 'flatspring 36 having arms 3 that overlie the upwardly-extending arms or the 'u-sha'p'e d piece 35. There are pins 38 on the arms =31 of the "spring, which pins slidably pass through the arms :of the piece 35, and as shown in Fig. '5, press into engagement with the 'no tchesfa in the fastener strip. These pins are in the shape "of pawls having'a square forward face anda rearwardlysloping face. 'Asis clearlyevident from "Fig. '5, these pins enable the strip to be pushed forwardly throughthe groove 34, but "theysprin'g:

into the notches and acting as *pawls to p'reventmovement of thestripin the oppositedirction. 'Once'the strip has been engaged with the spring'fpressed pins or pawl's 38, it cannot be pulled backwards. e s

Mounted on the plate 12 "abovefthe slot 34 1s, a slide plate :40 having a slot '4! through which passes a fixed guide pin -42. The slide plate '40 also has two other slots 43 through which pa'ss guide pins 44. Tension springs 45 are stretched between the fixed pins "44 and anchor pins 46 on the slide. The purpose of these springs 'is "to urge the slide plate 40 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4. This slide plate has *a cam engaging roller 4! at its upperforward corner which bears against the sloping cam surface 22 on the plunger and'which is urged into engagement "aigainstthis c'a'm surface by the springs "45 whichpullthe slide toward the left as viewed in Figs. '4 and 6.

When the plunger 2 is depressed, the cam 22 engaging the roller 41 forcesthe slide plate 40 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4. I When the plunger movesupwardly, the springs "45 serve to return the slide plate to the position shown in Fig. 4. This motion is clearly shown in Fig. "6, where-the plunger is in its lowermost position and theroller 4'! is at the end of the'cam 2 I,

Theslide plate 40 has twodownwar dly-extending arms 48 that also extend over the groove 34. There is an inverted U-shaped fiat spring-49 on the slide plate 40 having arms 50 thereon. These arms carry pawl-like pins 5| similar in all respects tothe pins 38 on'the fixed spring 36. When the slide 40 is cammed back, -thepinsi ll ride out 'of the notches, and along the edge of the strip, the resilience of the arms 50 permitting the pins to yield. When, however, the slide 40 comes forwardly, thepins 5i Willcatoh in the notches a on the strip'and feed the strip forwardly. I

Thus with'ea'ch operation of the .plunge'rdownwardly, the slide 40 moves back while thefixed pins 38 prevent the strip from moving back, and onthe return movement of the slide 40 whenthe plungerraises, the strip is advanced.

'As'shown in Figs. 5 and '5a,'the plate 12 extends forwardly to the front or thejho'using "and there is an o ening 53 lililhfi housing through which the stripfmaybe pulled, should it be defective. One surface of the plate |2 provides a shoulder 52 against which the downwardly-turned leg-of a fastener abuts, as the strip is fed forward, thus providing both an indexing stop and a guide for two surfaces that =is, one face andone edge of the legof 'the fastener. The leg, beingrthus'cone fined, sulppo it d along with. the a dditional up rt h r ne tend sg bed. aee n tabu lrlin z driver. The strip is inserted'ir the machine so 7 6 When' the strip Ais shoved into the machine, the

leading edge of the strip i under the tongue 24 of the driver. The first blank end is cut off, and on the next feeding of the strip, the leg portion of the succeeding blank engages shoulder 52 to limit the strip.

For'initially supporting the leg on its other two sides during the beginning of the driving operation, there is, in the lower part of the housing, a transversely movable guide block 55 (see Fig. 7) with a notched toe 56 that is beveled on its upper edge, this block having a hollow extension 51 that is slidably guided in a bushing 58 threaded into an opening in the lower part of the cover plate [5, and a spring 59 is operatively interposed between the bushing and the extension. The toe of the block is normally positioned in spaced relation to the rear of shoulder 52, so that the leg of the tack, when the tack is driven, is between the toe 56 and the shoulder and the edge of the lag between the block 55 and the face of the plate [2. The top of the guide block is beveled at a steep angle, so that when the lower end of the driver hits this surface, the block will be pushed back, i. e., toward the left as viewed in Fig. 7, to allow the driver to come down until its end is about flush with the bottom of the machine. However, at the time the guide block is pushed back, the fastener will have penetrated part Way into the substance into which it is driven, and the leg will be unsupported by the toe only in the finalstages of driving, at which time the short undriven length needs support no longer.

When the driver raises, the guide block springs back into position. It should be noted in Fig. '7 that the beveled surface of the guide block is below the point of the leg of the fastener next succeeding, so that the guide block offers no obstruction to the advancing of the strip of fasteners.

The supporting plate [2 has a hardened steel block 50 secured thereto with the top of this block forming an extension of the lower side of the groove 34. The upper forward corner 6! of this block just clears the shoulder or corner 24a of the driver, forming the other jaw of the shear for severing the fastener to be driven from the strip.

The lower end of the driver may, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, project down further at the edges than at the. center, so that when the fastener is being set at the end of the driving operation, the two ends of the cross bar forming the head of the fastener will be pressed down and eliminate any tendency for them to spring up. One of these projections, previously referred to, is marked 24a and the other is designated 24b in Fig. 4.

In operation, assuming a strip of fasteners to have been entered in the machine, the first head of the strip will have no leg-forming portion (see Fig. 8). The strip will be pushed through until this end i under the driving plunger. Then the plunger is operated. The incomplete blank is sheared oil? and driven down. As the driver moves past shearing position tongue 23 on the driver, offset as it is to engage only the leg-forming portion, bends the leg of the next succeeding blank down, as shown in Fig. 9. During the down travel of the plunger feeder plate 48 is cammed to the right a viewed in Fig. 4. Then the plunger raises. Springs 45 pull the feed plate to the left, advancing the fastener strip until the newly sheared end hits the shoulder 53 (see Fig. On the next operation of the plunger, the driver tongue 24 cuts ofi the second blank with its now depending leg, drives it, and the leg portion of the next blank is at the same time turned down.

' It will be observed in Fig. 6 that when the slide plate is cammed back and the fastener cut-off on the down stroke of the plunger, the end of the strip bears against the rear edge of the tongue 24, so that when the plunger starts to move up. the strip cannot feed forward. Hence the cam may move up and disengage the roller 41 on the slide plate. Then when the end of the plunger clears the strip, the springs 45 act to snap the strip forward, giving a positive feed and driving the leg. against shoulder 52 to make sure it is vertical and square against the guide shoulder. Thus the operation is repeated, a strip containing several hundred fastener blanks being accommodated in the machine.

The end of the driver guide may be shaped in various ways where desirable, to enable the driver to work in close to corners.

The strip feeding arrangement, cooperating with notches on the edge of the strip with the pawls working perpendicularly to the edge is of considerable importance in simplifying the feeding mechanism and making it compact and yet positive. If the feeding mechanism fails, the plate [2 with all of the feeder parts may be removed and replaced by a similar unit.

The machine provides a, relatively simple, cheap driver, positive in its action for feeding, bending the legs, cutting off and driving the successive fastener blanks accurately, speedily, and easily.

While I have shown and described one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein.

I claim:

1. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting the same successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machine comprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having a combined shear and driving portion, means for advancing the strip under the plunger whereby predetermined lengths of the strip are successively removed and driven, and means on the plunger in advance of the plunger, relatively to the travel of the strip, for engaging an edge portion of the strip less than the full width of the strip and turning said edge portion down about an axis transverse to the width of the strip to form. on each length to be subsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg.

2. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting the same successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machine comprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having a combined shear and driving portion, means for advancing the strip under the plunger whereby predetermined lengths of the strip are successively removed and driven, means on the plunger in advance 'of the plunger, relatively to the travel of the strip, for engaging an edge portion of the strip less than the full width of the strip and turning it down about an axis transverse to the width of the strip to form on each length to be subsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg whereby the resulting sheared blank is of T form, and means in the housing below the plunger for supporting the downwardly turned leg against deflection.

3. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting the same successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machine comprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having a combined shear and drivstrip' and converting the same successively into fasteners and drivingI the same, said machine comprising a housing; a plunger'in the housing the plunger having a combined shear and driving portion, means for advancing the strip'under the plunger whereby predeterminedleng-ths of the strip are successively removed and driven,,

means on the plunger in advance of the plunger relatively to the travel of the strip for engaging;

an edge portion 01' the-strip and turningit down about an axis transverse to-the width of the strip to form on each length to be subsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg, means in the housing below the plunger for supporting the downward ly turned leg against deflection, said last named means including a transversely movable guide member. the guide member having an inclined surface thereon to be enga ed by the driver portion of the plunger for removingit from thepath of the driver portion. and resilient means for returning the uide meniberto position;

5. A driving machine for converting fastener blanks from a prepared stripinto completed fasteners of T-sh pe and driving the same; the strip having an edge which is slitted at regular intervals inwardly toward, the center and then longitudinally to provide a succes ion of blanks each with a leg forming portion formed bv the edge soslitted, t e machine comprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, said plunger having a driver portion and a bendin tongue at the lo er end thereof, means for feeding and supporting the prepared strip to position the end of the strip under the plunger, meansin the housing-cooperating with the driver portion of theplunger to provide a shear to sever the end bl nk from the strip, said' fee ing means also positioningthe legform'ing' portion only of thenext succeeding blank under the bending ton fiie of the plunger whereby such lee' formin portion is turned dow'n to a perpendicular position.

6. A driving machine for conv rting fast ner blanksfrom a prepared s rip in o completed T5 fasteners of T'-shaoe and drivin the same; the strip having an edge whi h is slitted atrreg lar intervals inwardly towardfthel center and'then lon itu inallv to rovide a" s ccession of" blanks each with a leg formin portion formed by the ed e so slitted, the machine comprising a housing, a plun er in the housing, said plunger having a driver portion and bending tongue at the lower end thereof, means for feeding and su porting the prepared strip to position the end of the strip iii] under the plunger, means in the housing cooperating with the driver portion of the plunger to provide a shear to sever the end blank from the strip, said feeding means also positioning the leg formin portion only of the next succeeding blank under the bending tongue of the plunger whereby such leg forming portion is turned down to a perpendicular position, and means fixed in the housing forming a fixed guide for the leg on the blank which has been severed and is being driven.

1 0 7; Aldriving machine for converting: fastener blanks? from a prepared strip=intos completed: fasteners of T-shape andi driving the same; the strip having an edge which: isslitted at; regular intervals inwardly toward the center and then longi tudinall'y to provide a successionof blanks each with al'egl forming portion formedby the edge" so slitted the: machine" comprisinga' housing; a plungeri in: the housing; said: plunger having adriver pontioni and bending. tongue at the lower end thereof, means: for feeding and supporting the prepared stripto position the endof the striprunder the:plunger, means-in thehousing cooperating; with-the driver portion of theplunger to: provide awshear to sever the end blank from the strip; said feeding. means also positioning the 1eg'= forming: portiononlyi of: the next succeeding; blanks under the'bendi-ng tonguelof the plunger whereby" such'wleg forming portion is: turned down: to a: perpendicular postv ion, means fixed-in the housing formingfarfixed guide. for the leg on the: blank. whichhasrbeen severed and is being driven, and other plunger operated'movable guid'e means in'the housing in' cooperating relation to the fixed guide-means.

8. A driving machine for: converting fastener blanks frbm aiprepared "strip into completed fastenBrSE'Of T-shape and" drivingwthe; same, therstrip having. an edge which is slitted-i at regular intereva'lsinwardly; toward the center and then longitudinall-y" toprovidea succession of: blanks each with a leg' forming portion formed by'the edge= soslitted"; the machine comprising a' housing, a plunger im the, housing, said plunger having a" driver portion and a bending': tongue: at the lower" end thereof means for feedingand supporting the prepared stripto position thez end of the stripi under the plunger, meansli'nsthe housing coopera-ting with the driverportioniofi the plunger to provide a sh'e'ar to s'eve'r the-end blank fromthea strip, saidi feeding means also positioning; the leg;

formingi portion only of the next" succeeding.

blank under the bending t'o'nguei of the plungenf whereb'y such leg forining portion is turned down toa perpendicular position; the prepared strip: having indexing notches therein partly div-icing the strip where it is to-be severed; said-feeding means en a ing the indexing notchs in the) stripfol" advancin tnesame': I

9. A driving machine foi converting fastener blanks fronia prepared' s rip into ecmpieted ras tenersof 'T-sha-pe and driving the saiiie'j means having? an edge which is Swedes regular inter tudinally to provide a"succession{of blanksfeachf" with aleg forming" portion formed by the edgef so slitted, the machine comprisirigahousing, a

plunger in the housing; said plunger having-a driver portion ahda bending tongue at the lower end thereof, means for" feedirig and supporting the'preparedstrip topositiorrthe end of' the strip under the plunger, means in the housing cooperating with the driver portion of the plunger to provide a shear to sever the end blank from the strip, said feeding means also positioning the leg forming portion only of the next succeeding blank under the bending tongue of the plunger whereby such leg forming portion is turned down to a perpendicular position, the prepared strip having indexing notches therein partly dividing the strip where it is to be severed, said feeding means engaging the indexing notches in the strip for advancing the same, and other means engaging the indexing notches for holding the strip against backward travel.

10. A fastener driving machine of the class described comprising a housing having a plunger guide and plunger at its forward end, a coiled strip holding magazine at its rear end, a connecting portion with a strip feeder housed therein between the front and rear portions, the housing being comprised in part of a removable cover plate over the magazine and with a tangentially extending portion that extends along and is positioned on the strip feeder and removal of which affords access to the magazine and feeder for inserting and starting a new strip.

11. A fastener driving machine of the class described comprising a housing having a plunger guide and plunger at its forward end, a coiled strip holding magazine at its rear end, a connecting portion with a strip feeder housed therein between the front and rear portions, the housing being comprised in part of a removable cover plate enclosing the magazine and a portion of the strip feeder, the cover plate having a narrow portion extending along the feeder with a tongue removably hooked under the housing, the cover plate having an enlarged portion enclosing the magazine, and means for releasably holding the enlarged portion in place.

12. A machine of the class described having a channel for receiving a strip of fastener blanks in which one edge of the strip is provided with a succession of longitudinally extending leg forming elementsand the other edge is provided with ratchet-like notches, means for advancing the strip step by step, and a die block at one edge of said channel, a driving guide beyond the die block to which the blanks are progressively presented, and a driver movable transversely across the channel, the driver having a die for cooperating with the die block to turn down the leg forming element of each blank of the strip transversely to the length of the strip when a blank of the strip is positioned onto the die block, said driver having another portion for shearing the blank rearwardly of the one on which the leg is turned, and which is then positioned in said guide, the driver having also a part for engaging the top of the severed blank to drive it.

13. A machine of the class described for operating upon a preparedstrip having a continuous portion and having an edge which is regularly slitted to provide a succession of leg-forming elements that are parallel to the axis of the strip, the strip thus constituting a succession of fastener blanks each with a leg-forming element, said machine having a guide means therein for a driver, and a driver cooperating with the guide means for shearing off the endmost blank on the strip and driving the same, and means on the driver and cooperating means along which the strip moves for effecting in succession the bending of each leg-forming element perpendicularly to the strip and about an axis transverse to the 12 strip so that each' leg of each blank is bent to the perpendicular position in succession as the preceding blank is driven.

14. A machine of the class described for operating upon a prepared strip having one continuous edge portion and one portion which is regularly slitted to provide a succession of leg-forming elements that are parallel to the axis of the strip, the strip thus constituting a succession of connected fastener blanks each with a headforming part provided by the continuous edge of the strip and a leg-forming part provided by the slitted portion, said machine having means for guiding'and feeding the strip, said machine having a guide means therein for a driver, and a driver cooperating with the guide means for shearing off the endmost blank on the strip and driving the same, and forming means on the driver positioned to engage only the leg-forming element of the next succeeding blank together with anvil means for cooperating with said lastnamed means on the driver for efiecting in succession the bending of each leg-forming element perpendicularly to the strip and about an axis transverse to the strip so that each leg of each blank is bent in succession as the preceding blank is driven.

JOSEPH C. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 86,353 Blake Feb. 2, 1869 210,511 Felter Dec. 3, 1878 312,550 Brock Feb. 17, 188.8 626,755 Frechette June 13, 1899 689,410 Reibisch Dec. 24, 1901 712,331 Reed Oct. 28, 1902 778,600 Newton Dec. 27, 1904 971,130 Jessup 1 Sept. 27, 1910 11,067,541 Palgreen July 15, 1913 1,377,295 Wentworth May 10, 1921 1,479,680 Sibley Janll, 1924 1,481,867 Holbrook Jan. 29, 1924 1,603,690 Hart Oct. 19, 1926 1,663,242 Crofoot Mar. 20, 1928 1,705,819 Kruse Mar. 19, 1929 1,846,545 Crofoot Feb. 23,1932. 2,066,157 Pankonin Dec. 29, 1936 2,082,822 Bruhn June 8, 1937 2,083,227 Drypolcher June 8, 1937 2,174,708 Sears Oct. 3, 1939 2,265,423 Fass Feb. 9, 1941 2,274,559 'Nitkey Feb. 24, 1942 2,294,463 Krant Sept. 1, 1942 2,330,575 Grauding Sept. 28, 1943 Peterson July 3, 1945

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