Clinch staple mechanism

A clinch staple mechanism including a pivoting base configured to be pivotally connected to a pneumatic stapling tool. The pneumatic stapling tool is configured to dispense staples each staple having a crown and a pair of staple legs, wherein the crown is disposed in a crown direction. The clinch staple mechanism further includes a clinch arm pivotally connected to the pivoting base at a proximal end of the clinch arm; and a clinch block disposed on a distal end of the clinch arm, wherein the clinch block is configured to bend the staple legs in a direction perpendicular to the crown direction.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to clinch staple mechanisms. Clinch staples are typically used to fasten two wood pieces together. For example, a pallet may be formed from wood pieces such as deck boards and stringer boards fastened together by clinch staples where the deck boards and stringer boards intersect. Typical clinch staple mechanisms in the industry only clinch in a direction parallel to the crown of the staple, or they are clinched in an uncontrolled manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1-6, a clinch staple mechanism10according to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is a piece of equipment for attaching to pneumatic stapling tools11. Clinch staple mechanism10includes a pivoting base12for the pneumatic stapling tool11to attach to, a clinch arm14that holds a clinch block18on a distal end31of clinch arm14. Pneumatic stapling tool11is pivotally connected to pivoting base12at pivoting base pivot point21. Clinch arm14is pivotally connected at a proximal end33thereof to pivoting base12at clinch arm pivot point13. Clinch block18may be supported on clinch arm14by a clinch block base16. Clinch block18has a pair of staple leg tracks20in the form of parallel grooves for the guiding of staples in a particular direction relevant to the orientation of the wood grain of the wood being clinched. Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure allow for the clinching of two pieces of wood such as a top deck board32and a stringer board34whose wood grain orientations are opposite or perpendicular to one another. As shown by example inFIG.6, a pallet30may include top deck boards32and stringer boards34. Top deck boards32may have a wood grain direction A which is perpendicular or opposite to a wood grain direction B of stringer boards34.

The clinch staple mechanism10is used by attaching a pneumatic stapling tool11to pivoting base12and to an air supply attachment22configured for receiving air from the pneumatic stapling tool11(FIGS.2A and2B). Once the pneumatic stapling tool11is attached to pivoting base12, it is usable, for example, for clinching together wooden deck boards32and stringer boards34(FIG.6). The user inserts clinch arm14so that clinch block18is positioned beneath a top deck board32and touching near the underside of a stringer board34of a pallet30and pneumatic tool11is positioned above the top deck board32. Then the user presses downward on pneumatic stapling tool11and pulls the trigger15on the pneumatic stapling tool11. This sends air to air supply attachment22, which then activates a pivot actuating air cylinder24, which causes clinch arm14to clinch upwards, thereby pressing top deck board32together with stringer board34at the same time a staple26having a crown29and a pair of staple legs28is dispensed or fired down from the pneumatic stapling tool and through top deck board32and stringer board34. As the staple26goes through top deck board32and stringer board34, staple legs28of staple26pass through top deck board32and stringer board34and enter staple leg tracks20(FIG.4) on clinch block18. Clinch block18has a curved substantially U-shaped profile19configured to face the underside of the wood pieces being clinched such as the underside of stringer board34. Staple leg tracks20follow curved profile19so that each staple leg track20has a bottom portion23, a forward curved portion25and a rearward curved portion27. After passing through top deck board32and stringer board34, staple legs28will reach the bottom portion23of staple leg tracks20. After the staple legs28reach bottom portion23, they are diverted and bent in the direction of staple leg tracks20following either forward curved portion25or rearward curved portion27of staple tracks20. For example, as staple legs28bend, they bend either forward (away from proximal end33of clinch arm14) or backward (towards proximal end33of clinch arm14) following forward curved portion25or rearward curved portion27of staple tracks20until they curve upwardly and re-enter stringer boards34and top deck boards32from underneath such that staple legs28are not parallel with crown29. This forward or backward clinching direction adds far greater clinching strength to the deck boards, as it clinches in the direction of wood grain of the wood on both the top deck board and the stringer board underneath. Releasing trigger15of pneumatic stapling tool11allows for clinch arm14to release the wood so the next clinch can be shot on.

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein allow for the consistent control of the clinch direction, thereby allowing for stronger pullout tension and longer product life of pallet30than typical clinch staple mechanisms. According to exemplary embodiments and referring toFIGS.5and6, crown29of staple26is disposed in crown direction C and perpendicularly traverses the direction A of the wood grain of top deck board32and extends in the direction of B of the wood grain of stringer board34underneath, and also staple legs28are bent in direction D perpendicular to crown direction C and perpendicularly traverse direction B of the wood grain of stringer board34underneath and are bent in the direction A of the wood grain of top deck board32. This clinching format of staple26creates a clinch that does not pull back through the wood grain of the wood, but instead it captures both opposing directions of the wood grain in each board32,34.

Features of the disclosed embodiments may be combined, rearranged, omitted, etc., within the scope of the invention to produce additional embodiments. Furthermore, certain features may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Many alternatives, modifications, and variations are enabled by the present disclosure. While specific embodiments have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. Accordingly, Applicants intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments.