Patent ID: 6848606
Filing Date: 2005-02-01
Classification: B65C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispensing individual plastic fasteners from fastener stock, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transversely disposed cross-bar at one end, cross-bars of adjacent fasteners being joined end-to-end by severable connectors, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a needle mounted onto said housing, said needle comprising a front end, a rear end and a longitudinal bore, (c) an indexing wheel rotatably disposed within said housing, said indexing wheel rotatably advancing a fastener from the fastener stock to a first position at the rear end of said needle in which the cross-bar of the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the bore, (d) a rocker disposed within said housing for moving the cross-bar of the fastener from the first position to a second position at the rear end of said needle in which the cross-bar of the fastener is disposed in parallel with the bore, (e) an ejector rod disposed within said housing for pushing the cross-bar of the fastener from the second position, through the bore and out the front end of said needle, and (f) an indexing slide disposed within said housing for rotatably advancing said indexing wheel, said indexing slide being separate from said rocker.