A PARTS SUPPLYING APPARATUS

Abstract: A parts supplying apparatus (10) is discolsed for supplying a series of staple-like stops (5) one at a time to a working station. The apparatus (10) includes an elongated chute (11) having a track (12) accommodating the staple-like stops (S) and a transferring means (15) rotatable alternately into and out of the track (12) so as to transfer one staple-like stop at a time.

Description: A PARTS SUPPLYING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for supplying a series of staple-like stops for application to a clothing and the like. Parts supplying apparatus known in the art employ various means for transferring staple-like objects one at a time, but most of them are not all together satisfactory in that the staples are impaired or otherwise deformed under stress applied by such means. According to the invention, there is provided a parts supplying apparatus comprising an elongated chute having a track in and along which a series of staple-like stops are guidedly supplied, and means for transferring said stops one at a time from said chute to a working bed, characterized in that a bracket member is secured to one end of said chute, that said transferring means is pivotally connected to said bracket member and in that there is provided an actuating means for rotating said transferring means in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said track alternately into and out of said track. The present invention seeks to provide a parts supplying apparatus which is simple in construction and reliable in operation for supplying a series of staplelike stops one at a time precisely in timed relation to an associated apparatus for applying the stops to clothings and other materials. The invention further seeks to provide an apparatus having a means capable of transferring staple-like stops one at a time efficiently and smoothly without undue stress to the stops. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of example. Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines III - III of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective, exploded view of a portion of the apparatus utilized to explain the operation characteristic of the invention. Referring now to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular, there is shown a parts supplying apparatus 10 provided in accordance with the invention. The apparatus 10 comprises an elongated chute 11 secured to a frame not shown and having a guide track 12 in the form of a generally U-shaped groove for receiving a series of staple-like stops or hooks S. The staples S each have a pair of prongs Sa,Sb designed to fit into a female part (not shown) of what is generally known as a "hook-and-eye" assembly. The staples S are disposed in substantially vertical alignment in and along the track 12 with their prong portions Sa,Sb protruding partly beyond the track 12 as better shown in Figure 2. The term staples -as used herein is not limited to the precise form illustrated but may include other suitable forms. Designated at 13 is a generally L-shaped bracket member having a first plate portion 13a and a second plate portion 13b and secured for example by bolts 14 extending through the first plate portion 13a to the frame of thechute 11 at the lower end thereof. There is provided a disc-like member 15 for transferring staples S one at a time from the chute 11 to a working bed not shown. This member 15 has a center pin 16. that extends through a bore 17 in one end portion of a lever member 18 and pivotally through a bore 19 in the second plate portion 13b of the bracket member 13, the relative positions of disc-like member 15, lever member 18 and bracket member 13 being better shown in Figure 4. The disc-like member 15 and the lever member 18 are- coupled together by bolts 20 extending through bores 21--- and 22 in the respective members 15 and 18. The lever member 18 interposed between the disc-like member 15 and the bracket member 13 is provided at the other end with a bore 23. through which is extended a pivotal pin 24 to connect the lever member 13 pivotally to a link 25 which is in turn connected to a piston rod 26 in a pneumatically operated cylinder 27 secured as at 28 to the frame of the chute 11. With this construction , the forward stroke, or downward movement as viewed in Figure 1, of the piston rod 26 causes the lever member 18, hence the disc-like member 15 to rotate counter-clockwise, and the backward stroke or upward movement as viewed in Figure 1, of the piston rod 26 causes the members 18 and 15 to rotate clockwise for purposes to be hereafter described. Turning back to the disc-like member 15, this has a semicircular peripheral flange 29 with its opposite end portions 29a and 29b disposed for rotation alternately into and out of the track 12 of the chute 11 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the track 12 upon actuation of the piston rod 26 so as to feed staples S one at a time successively to the working bed in a manner more specifically described below. For purposes of illustration, the cycle of operation begins with the apparatus 10 held in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the piston rod 26 is retracted to locate the one or lower end portion 29a of the flange 29 transversely across the track 12 of the chute 11 to allow the latter to receive the first prong Sa of a leading one S1 of the staples S. Now, as the piston rod 26 is actuated to make a forward or downward stroke for a predetermined distance to the position indicated by chain-dot line in Figure 1, this causes the disc-like member 15 to rotate counterclockwise, whereupon the lower end portion 29a of the flange 29 is retracted away from the track 12 of the chute 11, releasing the first or lower prong Sa of the leading staple S1 to be received onto the working bed. By the time this happens, the other or upper end portion 29b of the flange 29 of the disc-like member 15 has reached across the track 12 of the chute 11, in which position the portion 29b underlies and catches the second or upper prong Sb of an ensuing or second one S2 of the staples S. As the piston rod 26 is now actuated to make a backward or upward stroke to the original position shown in Figure 1, the disc-like member 15 rotates clockwise to retract the upper end portion 29b of the flange 29 away from the track 12 of the chute 11, releasing the upper prong Sb of the second staple S2. By the time this happens, the lower end portion 29a of the flange 29 has reached the track 12 ready to receive the lower prong Sa of the second staple S2 that has been released from the upper end portion 29b of the flange 29. The foregoing cycle of operation of the apparatus 10 is repeated to transfer or feed a series of staple-like stops S precisely one at a time to the working bed where the staples S are assembled as desired. Advantageously, arcuate movement of the disc-like member 15 precludes undue stress upon the staples S during transfer and hence permits such transfer smoothly without deformation of the staples S. The cycle of this transfer operation may be timed with that of an associated apparatus or tool employed to apply the staples S to a desired article in an automated manner. Various minor modifications may be effected within the scope of the appended claims. As for an example, the pneumatic cylinder 27 may be substituted by other suitable mechanical drive means. As for another, the lever member 18 and the disc-like member 15 may be an integral unit.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A parts supplying apparatus (10) comprising an elongated chute (11.) having a track (12) in and along which a series of staple-like stops (S) are guidedly supplied, and means (15) for transferring said stops (S) one at a time from said chute (11) to a working bed, characterized in that a bracket member (13) is secured to one end of said chute, that said transferring means is pivotally connected to said bracket member (13) and in that there is provided an actuating means (26,27) for rotating said transferring means (15) in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said track (12) alternately into and out of said track (12). 2. parts supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transferring means is a disc-like member (15) having a semicircular peripheral flange (29) with opposite ends (29a,29b) thereof rotatable alternately into and out of said track (12). 3. A parts supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a pneumatically operated cylinder (27) having its piston rod (26) operatively connected to said transferring means (15).

Inventors: SEKI, FUMIO
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B27F7
IPC codes: B65G59, B25C5, A41H37