US2469984A - Stapling device - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1949.

Filed April 30, 1945 w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HTTOENZQ May 10, 1949. w G. PANKONiN ISTAPLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1945 INVENTOR. WILL/19M G. Pfi/VAON/A/ Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLING DEVICE William G. Pankonin, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,009

15 Claims.

This invention rel-ates to improvements in stapling devices and particularly to staplers of the pliers type.

It is one object of the invention to provide a pliers type of stapler in which individual functions are allocated to different parts, Which parts are interconnected during normal use but are readily disconnected for removal of clogged staples and replacement of worn parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapler in which the staple driver blade is so held by the staple driver that undue wear therebetween is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapler in which the staple-feeding mechanism is movable into position for ready loading of the magazine but remains attached to the stapler during such loading operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stapler of the hand-operated type in which the anvil-carrying member may be locked into an inoperative position so that defective staples may be driven from the stapler.

The foregoing objects are obtained: by utilizing between the upper handle and the staple driver a latch which releasably connects these elements to transmit force therebetween, disengagement of the latch permitting the upper handle to be swung out of the way and the staple driver also pivoted upwardly to withdraw the driver blade from the ejection chute providing access to clogged staples in the chute or magazin and facilitating the exchange of driver blades; by engaging the driver blade for its full width with the staple driver thus increasing the area of driving surface contact therebetween to its maximum; by providing a retainer with which the staple follower engages as it is withdrawn from the magazine which holds the follower while allowing it to be swung out of the path to the mouth of the magazine; and by employing a latch spring biased to either of latched or unlatchecl position to positively lock the anvil carrier to lower handle in the retracted position of both.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a stapling device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane with the several latches in engaged position;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation with a portion broken away to show the coaction of the parts when staples are to be 1oaded into the stapler; and

Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the various stapler parts in exploded. relation.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the stapler generally comprises a body .portion 5 which, in cooperation with the staplecarrying portion 6, forms both a magazine and an ejection chute for the staples. The staples are fed through the body by a follower, generally designated 1. The follower'when withdrawn is held in engaged relationship with the body portion 5 by a retainer, generally designated 8. The staples are driven through the material to be stapled by a driver blade 53 carried by a staple driver 9 connected with the body portion 5 for oscillation therein. The blade 53 coacts with an anvil 81 on an anvil carrier ll, pivoted on the body 5, to clinch the staples. An upper handle I, pivoted to the body member 5, is operatively associated with the driver 9 to effect its oscillation. A lower handle 12, pivotally interconnected with both the body 5 and the anvil carrier ll, controls the cooperative action of the anvil 8|. The parts are preferably made of sheet metal for economy in weight and in manufacturing cost although the parts may be otherwise constructed. It is, however, essential that the parts beso made so that the entire stapler is of a size and weight to be conveniently operated in one hand.

In the following description the left hand ends of the various parts, as viewed in the drawing, are termed the front or forward ends, and vice versa, and the parts toward the top of the drawings are considered as the upper parts, and vice versa. The body member or portion 5 is substantially channel-shaped with a bottom wall l4, side walls l5, and a front wall IS, the front wall being formed at right angles to the bottom for a material portion of its height. The side walls are severally corrugated or pressed. inwardly to form ribs or ridges [1,, which serve as guides overlying the staples as they pass through the body. Alined pairs of holes [8, I9, 20 and 21 are formed in the side walls for the purpose of mounting on the body portion some of the other portions above generally designated. An opening 22 (see Fig. 2) is formed in the bottom M for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Ears 23 formed preferably from the material constituting the bottom l4 and extending at right angles to the bottom and in spaced relation to each other, are provided with alined holes 24 for the purpose of mounting, on the body, other portions of the structure above generally designated.

The staple carrier or magazine member 6 is formed substantially as a channel of such size as to fit into the body 5 in spaced relation with the side walls I5 thereof to allow free movement of the usual U-shaped staples straddling the carrier with the legs of the staples extending into the spaces between the side walls of the body and the sides of the staple carrier. The sides 21 of the carrier are of such height that the staples may slide freely between the ribs H and the tops of the edges of such sides. The body 5 and the carrier 6 hence define a magazine for receiving a supply of staples and from which the staples are fed into a chute defined by the vertical portion of the front wall l6 of the body 5 and a front Wall 28 of the carrier 6, it being understood that such two front walls are spaced from each other a sufficient distance only to allow free passage therethrough of one staple. The forward end of the carrier 6 is shaped to extend downwardly through the opening 22 in the body bottom l4 to bring such forward end of the carrier 6 substantially flush withthe bottom of the body front wall l6. The rear ends ofthe carrier sides 21 are curved, as is usual, to aid in placingthe staples on the carrier, and'the rear bottom end of the carrier 6 is formed with a slot 29 (see Fig. 2) for the purpose of holding the follower I in operative position, as will be apparent from the following description,

The follower l, which feeds the staples through the magazine and presses them into the ejection chute, comprises a head 33 which is substantially U-shaped and of a size substantially like that of the staples so as to move freely through the staple magazine. The head is formed with lugs 34 defining a space of predetermined size and shape and extending upwardly from the magazine space for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The follower head is so connected with a rod 35 that the head may move away or toward the forward end of the rod against or under the action of a compression spring 36 placed around the rod. One end of the spring bears against a handle 31 fixed on the rear end'of the rod and having a projection 38 engageable in the slot 29 of the staple carrier 6. It will be understood that the follower head 33 bears on the staples in the magazine when the projection 38 engages in the slot 39, the spring 36 being compressed to different degrees dependent on thequantity of staples in the magazine, and that the parts are so proportioned as to allow filling of the magazine to a substantial degree while the staples are pressed forward with sufficient force to deliver the last of the staples into the ejection chute.

The follower retainer 8 comprises a guide 4| pivotally mounted on a pin .42 passing through the holes in the stapler body 5 and is formed with arms 43 and 44 extending therefrom to fit in freely sliding relation into the body 5 and to keep the retainer guide 4| in a substantially central position on its pivot. A bar 45 is mounted on and extends both forwardly and rearwardly from the guide 4|, the bar being somewhat smaller in size than, and of a sectional shape such that it may be engaged and held by, the follower head lugs 34 so that the follower head, during a portion of its rearward movement, is restrained by the action of a spring- 46 about the bar and is held against disengagement from the bar by a suitable head on the end of the bar. A saddle 41 is set into the body 5 to rest on the ribs I'I therein and is fixed in position by a pin 48 passing through the body holes 2|, the pin having a spring 43 mounted thereon under the saddle and bearing on the guide 4| to urge such head in a clockwise direction about its pivot.

It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the follower head 33 is disengaged from the retainer bar when the follower head is pressed forwardly beyond the end of the bar as staples are fed through the machine, and that the retainer spring 43 tends to hold the retainer head and bar in a horizontal position. However, when the follower handle projection 38 is released from the carrier slot 23 and the follower head is being withdrawn from the stapler body 5, the lugs 34 on the follower head 33 engage with and slide along the retainer bar 45. When the follower is fully withdrawn from the stapler body, the spring 46 is compressed and the head 33 is clear of the magazine. The guide 4| then pivots to the position shown in Figure 3, and the spring 36 presses the head 33 against the sloping edges of the saddle 41 to hold the follower in the out-of-the-way position to permit the staples to be loaded into the magazine. After the magazine has been filled, the operator exerts outward pressure on the handle 31 and swings the follower downwardly into alignment with the magazine permitting its entry therein. The retainer 8 functions not only to keep the follower always attached to the body 5 but also to hold the follower in loading position and to guide the head 33 into the magazine opening after loading.

Staples are fed through the magazine into the ejection chute from which they are driven by the staple driver 9 which includes an arm 50 of substantially channel-shape placed in inverted position to straddle the saddle 4'! for pivotal mounting on the pin 48, with the arm side walls 5| extending into spaces between the saddle and in contact both with the legs thereof and with the sides of the stapler body, but with the top wall 52 extending above the edges of the stapler body sides I5. The under surface of the top wall 52 is formed with a groove 52' to removably receive and hold a driver blade 53 in operative relation on the arm 56. The driver blade is provided with notches 53' receiving tongues or keys 54' on the forward ends of the side walls 5| when the end of the blade seats in groove 52 in the top wall. Hence such side wall ends provide surfaces both for lifting the blade and for backing the blade in its movements while driving force is applied by the arm over the entire width of the blade by the top wall 52. This is important because the blade is preferably made of hardened steel, while the arm is of non-hardened steel, and wear can readily take place if there is an inadequate contacting surface. The blade is accordingly replaceably mounted and so mounted as to be capable of both reciprocatory movement in the ejection chute, and such oscillatory movement as is required by the pivotal mounting of the arm 50. A spring 54 is fixed on a boss 55 extending from the upper surface of the top wall 52 and seats on a boss 56 on the upper handle H], the spring urging the arm and the handle to swing about their respective pivots when the arm and the handle are interconnected, as will be described. An abutment mom'- ber 51 with a rounded end is fixed on the top wall of the driver arm to be engageable with the handle l tostop upward movement of handle in and the driving arm as will appear hereinafter. A slot 58 is out through the top wall 52 to receive a latch, and a portion of the top wall at one end of the slot is shaped to provide a curved surfaced projection 59 on the under surface of the wall 52 to function as a latch keeper.

The upper handle it! is also substantially-channel-shaped but is modified to conform to the hand of a user and as an inclosing. guard for some of the relatively moving parts of. the device to prevent injury to the hand which is likewise the reason for providing a hand guard 52 which prevents such inadvertent positioning of the hand as would allow pinching between unguarded and relatively movable parts of the device. The forward end of the handle is pivoted on the stapler body by a pin 63 extending through. the body holes 18, and a pin-locking spring 64 is fixed on the handle to engage a groove in such pin and prevent movement thereof from. its desired position. A bracket 65 is fixed on the handle and a slot is formed: through both the handle and the bracket to receive a latch 65 pivoted on the bracket by a pin 6-1. The latch is so positioned that it may pass through the driver arm slot 59 and the nose of the latch is biased by a spring 98 toward engaged position with the keeper surface 59 on the driver arm. The latch provides readily releasable means interconnecting the dri ing arm and the handle to transmit force therebetween during both the driving action and the restoration action as will be explained in detail hereinafter. Thus pressure applied to the handle istransmitted to the driving blade to force staples through the ejection chute and the material to be stapled, and to clinch the staples under the material. By merely unlatching the latch 55 the handle I0 and arm 9 may be swung upwardly out of the body 5 to permit access to jammed staples in the chute or magazine and to permit the exchange of the driving blade 53.

The staples driven through the ejection chute and the material are bent or clinched by a structure now to be described, which includes an anvilcarrying arm ll of substantially channel shape pivotally mounted on a pin ll extending through holes in the side walls of the arm and through the holes 24 in the. ears 23 on the stapler body bottom [4. A spring I2 is fixed on a boss in the arm I? and extends toward the stapler body where it seats on a boss 13. The side walls of the arm I I are provided intermediate the ends thereof with alined holes 14 for pivotal mounting thereon of the lower handle [-2 by means of a pin T5 which moves in slots in ears l6- fixed on the stapler body, which ears serve as a guide to the movement of the carrier arm to keep such movement in a predetermined path. The forward end of the carrier arm H is enlarged as indicated at 'l"! to provide a substantially rectangular seat with a portion of the upper edges of the side walls notched to form another seat. The seat in the side walls of the portion 11 receives an anvil support T3 see Fig. 2) of which a portion rests on and is fixed to the carrying arm II' by a screw T9 or other suitable means while the other portion of the arm is spaced from the bottom of the-carrying arm to provide space for a pivot pin 89' fixed to an anvil 8t and held against the support by a spring 32 acting between a surface of the support and a head on the pivot. The anvil may therefore be lifted out of its seat notches in. the carrier arm portion ll against the action of the spring 82- and. may be rotated before reseating. to bring either a cavity 83 or cavities M into operative position for the stapling action of the device. To aid in turning the anvil 8| there is provided a button 81 which holds the anvil lit up during the turning movement. The carrier arm ll is formed with a slot 85 therethrough and a cylindrical surfaced portion 86 adjacent the end of the slot to form a keeper for a latch on. the lower handle 12.

The lower handle I2 is also formed in substantially channel shape, modified to provide surfaces suitable. for gripping by the hand and with the side walls thereof i-lared outwardly to move over the upper arm in. the fully contracted position and to serve as guards to prevent injury to the hand- The handle I2 is pivotally mounted on the pin 1:5 extending through holes 9| in the side walls of the handle and through holes 14' in the anvil-carrying arm I I. The forward ends of the handle side walls are formed as projecting tabs 92' on which links 93 are severally pivoted. These links form a pivotal connection with thestapler body 5 by way of a pin 94 extending through the body holes IS, the tabs 92 acting to retain the pin 94' in place. A slot 98 is formed in the lower surface of the handle 12 to receive a latch 95 pivoted on a pin 96'. The latch 95' is biased by a spring 9'! to either hooked or un=- hooked engagement with the keeper surface 86 of the anvil carrier arm ll. Due to the bowed shape of spring 91 the force asserted by its latch engaging end is. generally directed toward the pin 99 from. the handle [2 engaging end. Hence when the latch 95 is manually moved from. one to the. other of its extreme positions, the force of spring 91, as the latch moves through its center position, changes from urging the latch to one direction to the opposite direction.

To operate the device, it is held in the hand of the operator with the fingers encircling the lower handle I2 and the thumb and palm encircling the upper handle ID. Gripping pressure of the hand willurge each of these handles toward each other and toward the body member 5. However, the springs 54 and 12 are so proportioned that the lower handle l2 will move first and cause the anvil-carrying arm H to swing upwardly about its pivot H and compress material to be stapled between the anvil 8| and the ejection chute in the body 5. It will be understood that this movement is accomplished by the pivoting of the lower handle l2 about its pivotal connection 94 (Fig. 3) with the stapler body 5 through the links 93, which pivoting will react on the pivot 15 and through it transmit force to the anvil carrying arm ll. Continued pressure causes. upper handle I0 to pivot. about pin 53 and transmit force to arm 9 through abuttment member 51 until the rounded portion of latch 66 strikes arm 9. From this point on the driving force is transmitted through the latch structure. It is to be noted that spring 54 is compressed as the handle Ill and driving arm 9 approach a parallel relationship.

When the pressure of the hand is released, the spring 54 expands to raise the upper handle ll about its pivot 63. This upward movement raises the driving arm 5 latched thereto'about its pivot 48 and retracts the driving blade 53 to the position at which the follower I may feed. a staple into the ejection chute. This action is identical with that shown and described in the patent to William G; Pankonin, No. 2,286,155,. issued June 9, 1942 The degree to which the driving blade 53 is raised is determined by the engagement oi abutment members 51 between 7 the forward end of the staple driver 9 and the inner surface of the upper handle ID. The height of abutment 51 provides a convenient way of controlling the upward movement of arm 9 but abutment may be eliminated so that engagement between the driving end of arm 9 and the underside of handle [0 will limit upward movement. Likewise, the spring 12 causes the lower arm H and anvil carrier I2 to again assume the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When it is desired to eject staples from the chute without performance of the staple turning or clinching action, it is merely necessary to latch the lower handle I2 to the anvil carrier II which then holds such parts in fixed position with the anvil 8| at its widest spacing from the end of the ejection chute. This is accomplished by manually moving the latch 95 back to the latched position shown in Fig. 2. This facilitates the ejection of deformed or clogged staples from the stapler. Releasing of the latch 95 again allows movement of the lower handle l2 and the anvilcarrying arm 10 relative to each other and relative to the stapler body 5 so that complete stapling operations can again be performed.

The staple-feeding mechanism and associated structure disclosed herein are described and claimed in my divisional application Serial No. 738,782, filed April 2, 1947, for stapling device.

While constructions in which this invention may be embodied have been shown and described,

driver pivoted to said body member and having a driving blade operable in said ejection chute, said driver being swingable to withdraw said blade from said chute and to provide access to said magazine, an upper handle also pivoted to said body portion and overlying said driver, a latch releasably connecting said upper handle and said driver to transmit force therebetween, and an anvil carrier operable in connection with said upper handle.

2. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and. an ejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion, an upper handle pivoted to said body portion, a thrust member and latch connection for releasably associating said upper handle and said driver, and an anvil carrier operable in connection with said upper handle. I

3. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handle associated with said body portion, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body member, a lower handle pivotally mounted on said anvil carrier and having connecting portions positioned on opposite sides of said body portion, and links pivotally interccnnecting said connecting portions to said body portion.

4. Ina stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handle associated with said body portion, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body member, a lower handle pivotally mounted on said anvil carrier and having forward projections positioned on opposite sides of said portion, links pivotally interconnecting said forward projections to said body portion whereby pivoting of said lower handle causes movement of said anvil carrier relative to said body portion, and tabs formed on said projections to aid in holding said links in operative position.

5. In a stapling device, a. body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handle associated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, a lower handle having an intermediate point pivoted to said anvil carrier, said lower handle being connected to opposite sides of said body portion by means permitting limited sliding movement therebetween, and a spring between said body portion and said anvil carrier to urge said carrier and said handle downwardly.

6. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handle associated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, a lower handle having an intermediate point pivoted to said anvil carrier, said lower handle being connected to said body portion by means permitting limited sliding movement therebetween, said handle having a portion adapted to abut against said anvil carrier when said handle pivots with respect thereto to limit the downward movement of said anvil carrier, and a spring between said body portion and said carrier to urge said carrier and said handle downwardly.

7. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion, an upper handle overlying said staple driver and also pivoted to said body portion, a thrust member and latch connection between said handle and staple driver, spring means acting between said handle and said driver to urge both upwardly, engagement between means adjacent and end of said driver and a portion of said handle acting to limit the upward motion of said driver, and means associated with said body portion and cooperable with said handle to clinch the legs of staples driven from said ejection chute.

8. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, a driving blade reciprocal in said ejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion and detachably carrying said blade, an upper handle pivoted to said body portion, a thrust member and latch interconnection between said handle and said staple driver, resilient means acting between said handle and said driver to urge said blade upwardly, engagement between means adjacent an end of said driver and a portion of said handle acting to limit the upward movement of said blade, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body member and having an anvil in registry with said ejection chute, a lower handle pivoted to said carrier, said lower handle having a forward portion underlying said carrier and projections on opposite sides of said body portion, links connecting said projections to said body portion, and spring means acting between said body portion and said anvil carrier to move said carrier downwardly, the engagement between said forward portion and said anvil carrier acting to limit the downward movement of said carrier relative to said body portion.

9. In a stapling device, a body portion com-- prising a magazine and an ejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said portion, an upper handle pivoted to said body portion, an unlatchable force transmission connection between said arm and said driver, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, a lower handle pivoted to said carrier and operatively connected to said body portion, said handles being movable relative to each other and to said body portion to drive and clinch staples, and a latch biased by spring means to either latched or unlatched position, said latch when moved to latching position acting to engage said lower handle and said anvil carrier to restrain relative movement therebetween while permitting relative movement between said upper handle and said body portion.

10. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and an ejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handle associated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, a lower handle pivotally mounted on said carrier and operatively interconnected with said body portion whereby relative movement between said handle and said carrier effects relative movement between said carrier and said body portion, a, latch carried by one and engageable with the other of said lower handle and anvil carrier, said latch being movable from unlatched to latched position to prevent relative movement therebetween, and a spring acting to urge said latch into either latched or unlatched position.

11. In a stapling device, a housing containing a magazine for staples, an ejection chute at the forward end of said housing, a staple driving tool operable to drive the staples from the magazine nd through said chute, a movable arm positioned above said housing and co-operating with said driving tool to drive the staples, said arm being substantially parallel with the top of said housing and the pivot point of said arm being positioned forward of said ejection chute and said driving tool.

12. A stapling device, including a magazine. for staples in strip form and an ejection chute through which the staples are discharged, a series of movable arms, two of which are mounted at the rear end of said housing, one carrying staple driving means and the other an anvil for bending the legs of the staples, one overlying said magazine and the other lying underneath said magazine, another pair of arms pivotally connected to said housing at its forward end and overlying the said first two mentioned arms, said second two mentioned arms forming handles for said device and co-operating with the first two mentioned arms to drive and bend staple legs.

13. A stapling machine having an upper portion including a magazine for staples, an ejection chute for the staples, and means for driving the staples from said magazine through said chute, a lower movable section having two arms, one having an anvil for clinching the legs of staples and the other forming a handle for operating said section, and a latch carried by one of said arms and engageable with the other of said arms to prevent movement of said section.

14. A stapling device having means for receiving a supply of preformed staples, a housing, an arm pivoted to one end of said housing carrying staple driving means, and a second arm pivoted to the other end of said housing and cooperating with said first arm to drive the staples from the magazine, and a thrust member and latch for detachably connecting said arms intermediate their pivot points.

15. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and n ejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion and having a swingable end in substantial alinement with said ejection chute when in operative position, said swingable end having a groove extending across the width of said driver, a driving blade reciprocal in said ejection chute, the top of said blade being of substantially the same width as said groove and received therein whereby driving force is applied by said driver over the entire width of the blade, and tongue and groove means carried by said driver and blade and interengageable upon pivoting said blade in said groove whereby said means holds said blade within said groove.

WILLIAM G. PANKONIN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,149,839 Cavanagh Mar. 7, 1939 2,165,572 Pankonin July 11, 1939 2,251,917 Crosby Aug. 12, 1941 2,267,990 Obstfeld Dec. 30, 1941 2,268,102 Attula Dec. 30, 1941 2,286,155 Pankonin June 9, 1942 2,310,530 Krantz Feb. 9, 1943 2,311,412 Pankonin Feb. 16, 1943 2,328,839 Obstfeld Sept. 7, 1943 2,331,252 Van Tuyl Oct. 5, 1943 2,343,203 Pankonin Feb. 29, 1944 2,354,760 Lindstrom Aug. 1, 1944 2,381,192 Vancura Aug. 7, 1945

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