Patent ID: 6726078
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B65C

Abstract:
A system for dispensing a plastic fastener from a reel of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects, said system comprising:(a) a frame, (b) a hollowed needle having a sharpened tip, said hollowed needle being held fixedly in place, (c) a feed mechanism for advancing the fastener stock into said hollowed needle, (d) a severing mechanism for severing the fastener to be dispensed through said hollowed needle from the fastener stock, (e) an ejection mechanism for ejecting the severed fastener through said hollowed needle, and (f) a needle guard assembly for protecting said hollowed needle, said needle guard assembly comprising, (i) a guide plate having a front surface, (ii) a bracket assembly for displacing said guide plate between a first position in which the tip of said needle is positioned behind the front surface of said guide plate and a second position in which the tip of said needle is positioned in front of the front surface of said guide plate, said bracket assembly resiliently displacing said guide plate to its first position in the absence of an outside force on said guide plate, said bracket assembly comprising, (A) a bracket fixedly mounted onto said frame, (B) a first arm slidably mounted onto said bracket, said first arm being coupled to said guide plate, (C) a second arm coupled to said first arm, and (D) a spring for resiliently displacing said guide plate to its first position in the absence of an outside force on said guide plate.