DRIVER FOR FRAMER'S AND GLAZIER'S POINTS

Abstract: A machine for driving glazier's and framer's points utilizes a push plate (66) which is effective to drive the points at both of two levels. A ramp element (142) is incorporated, which serves to deflect the points from an upper to a lower level as they are being driven forardly from a magazine (14) into the workpiece, and edge features of the points employed impart a rotation or turning action thereto which deflects the tail portions downwardly to bear rightly upon the glass plate or other piece that is being mounted. Features of the points cooperate with elements (138) of the magazine (14) to ensure proper orientation, and the machine is effective and comfort­ able to use.

Description: This invention relates to apparatus for driving framer's and glazier's points. US-A-4432484 discloses such an apparatus comprising: a body including guide means defining a channel; a hammer assemly supported by said guide means for reciprocal movement within said channel and including a push plate, said push plate having a contact element movable along a path between first and second positions during reciprocation of said hammer assemly, the said path lying substantially in a plane with respect to the body, and said second position being displaced in a rearward direction from said first position means on said body for supporting a stack of fasteners disposed to intercept said push plate at a location intermediate said positions of said contact element, for initial driving contact by said element at a third position intermediate said first and second positions; means defining a discharge path which extends in the said plane forwardly from and as a continuation of said first mentioned path; and a workpiece-contacting surface portion disposed in a second plane that is perpendicular to said first mentioned plane; and means for reciprocating said hammer assemly to move said push plate element between said first and second positions thereof. Other apparatus for driving points and like fasteners, of the kind used by framers and glaziers, are well known in the art, and in some instances they employ magazine inserts to accommodate points of various sizes and shapes. For example, United States Patent No. 3,347,439 discloses a fastening tool which employs interchangeable magazines and driving blades; U.S. No. 4,189,082 employs replaceable barrel-like magazines; and U.S. Nos. 4,342,414 and 4,369,909 provide inserts that are capable of different orientations for that purpose. Whereas points used for framing are desirably relatively long, to provide adequate overlap of the backing material, glazier's points are desirably quite short, to ensure that they will be hidden by the putty applied to the window frame. In both cases, the points should be relatively wide to afford good holding power, and they should be fairly thin but yet thick enough to provide adequate strength and resistance to bending or jamming in the driver. In the ideal case, the fasteners will be driven so as to bear tightly upon the underlying glass or backing piece, which is best accomplished by inserting them from positions of surface contact thereupon. Not only should the driving machine afford that advantage, but manual machines should of course also be comfortable and nonfatiguing in use, relatively lightweight and designed for optimal hand gripping angles, durable, reliable, attractive and economical to manufacture. Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide apparatus for driving framer's and glazier's points, and like fasteners, which is highly effective and reliable in use. The present invention is apparatus for driving framer's and glazier's points, and like fasteners, comprising: a body including guide means defining a channel; a hammer assembly supported by said guide means for reciprocal movement within said channel and including a push plate, said push plate having two, upper and lower contact elements movable along a path between first and second positions during reciprocation of said hammer assembly the said path lying substantially in a plane with respect to the body, and said second position being displaced in a rearward direction from said first position; means on said body for supporting a stack of fasteners disposed to intercept said push plate at a location intermediate said positions of said contact elements, for initial driving contact by said upper element at a third position intermediate said first and second positions; means defining a discharge path which extends in the said plane forwardly from and as a continuation of said first mentioned path; and a workpiece-contacting surface portion disposed in a second plane that is perpendicular to said first-mentioned plane; and means for reciprocating said hammer assembly to move said push plate elements between said first and second positions thereof; whereby each of said push plate contact elements is capable of driving contact with a fastener at a respective one of two levels, disposed one above the other with respect to said first-mentioned plane; said guide means is adapted to provide underlying support for the lowermost fastener of the stack at one of said levels and at said intermediate location, and to release the fastener from underlying support to permit it to move in its entirety to the other of said levels at a point forwardly of said third position; said discharge path-defining means has a first stationary surface portion disposed forwardly of said second position of said push plate element and overlying said discharge path for contacting a forwardly driven fastener in an orientation parallel to said first-mentioned plane and for deflecting it from that orientation and from said one level toward said other level, and has a second overlying surface portion disposed forwardly of said first surface portion along said discharge path and adapted for the reorientation of the fastener toward said given orientation; and in that said second plane is spaced forwardly of said first surfaced portion and from said point of release sufficiently to permit the fastener to substantially attain said given orientation before reaching said second plane; whereby, with said contact elements of said push plate in said first position, the stacked fasteners will be supported upon said plate, whereby actuation of said reciprocating means to move said elements therefrom to said second position will permit the lowermost fastener to move to a position supported upon said guide means at said first level, and whereby actuation of said reciprocating means to return said elements to said first position will cause said element to drive the fastener against said first surface portion, to said other level and thereafter at least partially through said second plane. In the preferred embodiments, the contact elements will comprise a surface at one end of the push plate, and the guide means will have an opening through it at the forward location to permit such release of the lowermost fastener. The push plate will advantageously be a generally planar strip having a rib extending longitudinally from its one end and providing one of the contact elements which acts at the second of the two levels, another portion of the strip providing the other of said contact elements to act at the first level, the guide means having a groove therein communicating with its opening to accommodate the rib for sliding movement therein. The reciprocating means will generally include biasing means acting to urge the hammer assembly in the forward direction, and a manually operated trigger for moving the hammer assembly forwardly against the force of the biasing means, which will normally be a main spring. In most instances the trigger will be pivotably mounted upon the body, and will have a contact portion that moves through an arcuate path adjacent the hammer assembly. The latter will desirably include a pawl that is pivotably mounted thereupon, with an element disposed to move into and out of the arcuate path of the trigger contact portion, and it will have secondary biasing means for urging the pawl toward the arcuate path. The contact portion and the pawl element will be adapted to interengage during an initial phase of movement of the contact portion through its arcuate path, to permit the trigger to move the hammer assembly rearwardly against the force of the main biasing means, and to thereafter effect release thereof and to permit the contact portion to displace the pawl against the force of the secondary biasing means during return of the trigger. The machine will desirably additionally comprise a follower assembly, including a follower piece mounted upon the body, and means for urging the follower piece into the supporting means provided, for exerting a force upon a stack of fasteners contained therewithin to urge them toward the hammer assembly guide means. The machine body will have means thereon defining a follower channel for guiding movement of the follower piece between positions withdrawn from the supporting means and a position therewithin. The follower piece will have a nose portion for contacting the fasteners in the supporting means, a head portion slidably mounted within the follower channel of the body, and spaced elements on the head portion engaged within the follower channel for constraining the follower piece against pivotal movement therewithin. In such a case, the follower channel-defining means will have a recessed section into which one of the spaced elements can be inserted when the follower piece is in a withdrawn position, and allowing pivotable movement of the piece. This will permit the follower piece to be pivoted to effect engagement of the one element within the recessed section, to retain it in its withdrawn position. Most desirably, the fastener supporting means of the machine will comprise a magazine that is independent of the machine body, and it and the body will have cooperating means for securing them in assembly with one another. The deflecting means will generally comprise a ramp element on an end portion of the magazine, and will provide a surface that is oblique to the first-mentioned path and disposed across the push path. Preferably, the magazine will be elongated, and will have a channel extending through it dimensioned and configured for passage of the fasteners while constraining them to a predetermined orientation. In particularly preferred embodiments, the cooperating means provided on the machine body and the magazine will permit assembly of the magazine with either end of its channel disposed adjacent the push plate, and one end portion of the magazine will have an end surface of greater dimension than the other, in the direction of reciprocal movement of the push plate, to thereby adapt the one end portion to support fasteners for movement along the end surface thereof which are longer than those for which the other end portion is adapted. Each of the end portions will have a deflecting ramp element on it to provide an inclined surface adjacent its end surface. Other objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a stack of substantially identical, registered, and disengageably joined asymmetric fasteners adapted for use with a driving machine. Each of the fasteners is comprised of a generally planar, elongate body having a tip portion at one end, for penetration into a workpiece, and a contact portion at the opposite end adapted for contact by drive means of a driving machine. The peripheral lower edge of the body is smooth, relative to the coextending peripheral upper edge thereof, at least along the tip portion, and serves to generate a frictional differential therebetween which tends to induce a directional change in the fastener upon being driven into a workpiece. The body also has structural means for constraining the fastener to the orientation in which the lower edge thereof is disposed toward the driving means, when the stack is inserted into the machine magazine. In preferred embodiments, the constraining means will comprise a notch formed into one side edge of the body of each fastener, the fasteners being registered to cooperatively form a continuous groove along one side of the stack. Most desirably, the stack will additionally include a strip of adhesive material running along the fasteners and deposited within the groove that they provide to join the fasteners in assembly. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine or apparatus for driving framer's and glazier's points embodying the present invention, showing the magazine for the stack of points partially broken away, and showing the follower assembly in fully inserted (full line) and fully withdrawn (phantom line) positions; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine of Figure 1, showing the magazine partially removed from the handle and in a position inverted from that of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stack of framer's points suitable for use in accordance with the invention, all but the end-most point being shown in phantom line; Figure 4 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view, in partial section and drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the hammer assembly and guide channel of the machine, and also showing a stack of points positioned for driving by the push plate; Figure 5 is an end view of the forward portion of the machine; Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the forward end portion of the machine and drawn to a scale enlarged from that of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom view of the forward portion of the machine, drawn to the scale of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the forward portion of the machine in use for framing, with the hammer assembly in position at the commencement of the driving stroke, portions of a frame and the glass to be secured thereto also being illustrated; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, drawn to a scale enlarged therefrom and showing the push plate of the hammer assembly at an intermediate point of the drive stroke; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, showing the completion of the drive stroke with the point partially embedded in the material of the frame; Figures 11 and 12 are plan and side elevational views of a framer's point suitable for use in the machine of the invention; Figures 13 and 14 are similar views of a glazier's point suitable for use therein; and Figure 15 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention, with the magazine loaded with a stack of points and in condition for operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Turning now in detail to the drawings, therein illustrated is a machine embodying the present invention consisting of a frame-like handle, generally designated by the numeral 10, a trigger generally designated by the numeral 12 pivotably mounted upon the handle, and a magazine generally designated by the numeral 14 slidably engaged within the forward portion thereof. The handle consists of a right-hand section 16 and a left-hand section 18, which are secured to one another by screws 20. A U-shaped elongated metal channel, generally designated by the numeral 22, is mounted between the handle sections 16, 18 at the bottom of the machine, and is in part held in place by a transverse stop bar 24, which is received within square openings 26 formed through the sidewall elements 28, 30 of the channel; the stop bar 24 is in turn secured between the handle halves by screws 20, and carries a transverse bumper 32 made of a tough and durable resilient material, such as polyurethane. The opposite end of the channel 22 is secured by bosses (not shown) which project from the inside surfaces of the handle sections into the square openings 87. A hammer assembly is slidably mounted within the channel 22, and consists of an elongated box-like tubular housing, generally designated by the numeral 34, having inwardly folded flange elements 36 substantially closing one end and being open at the opposite end thereof. The sidewall elements 38 of the housing 34 are formed with square openings 40, within which is seated a transversely extending stop plate 42. The main drive coil spring 44 bears upon the stop plate 42, and is received within the passage of the housing with its rearward end portion extending outwardly thereof. A pawl, generally designated by the numeral 46, is pivotably mounted upon a transverse pin 48 which extends through a bore formed in its inner end portion 50 and upon which is mounted a double torsion spring 52, the ends of the pin 48 being engaged in apertures 49 of the housing sidewalls 38. The spring 52 acts upon the bottom wall 60, and bears upon the outer portion of the pawl to urge its nose element 54 through the rectangular opening 56 formed in the top wall 58 of the housing 34. The bottom wall 60 of the housing is formed with generally rectangular and generally circular, downwardly extending protuberances 62, 64, respectively, which cooperatively engage the elongated strip-like push plate, generally designated by the numeral 66. The latter has, at its rearward end, a straight edge portion 68 which abuts against the rectangular protuberance 62, and it has a circular opening 70 formed therethrough within which is engaged the circular protuberance 64. In this manner, the push plate 66 is affixed for reciprocal sliding movement with the housing 34. The forward end portion of the push plate 66 has a downwardly formed rib element 72 extending from the forward edge thereof, which edge is, as a result, comprised of a depending semi-circular component 74 and side components 76, which extend laterally therefrom at a level thereabove. The bottom wall 78 of the channel 22 is formed to accommodate the push plate 66 and has, for that purpose, a narrow groove 80 which is of substantially the same width as the plate 66. The forward end of the bottom wall 78 has an outer slot section 82 therethrough which extends across the full width of the groove 80, and a narrower inner section 84 which extends therefrom partway along the length of the groove, and is bordered by narrow wall elements 85; as will be appreciated, the inner slot section 84 is dimensioned and configured to slidably receive the rib 74 of the push plate 66. Central sections of the sidewalls 30 of the channel 22 are slightly higher than the remainder thereof, and are formed with transversely aligned apertures 86 for mounting guide pins 88; as best seen in Figure 1, the pins 88 serve to retain the housing 34 of the hammer assembly for sliding reciprocal movement within the channel 22. Elements 90 of the sidewalls 30 at the rear end of the channel are bent inwardly to lie behind a square nut 92, which is seated within the channel and in turn threadably engages the shaft 94 of an adjustment knob, generally designated by the numeral 96; the handle sections 16, 18 are relieved at 102 as well to permit passage of the shaft 94. The tip 98 of the knob is of reduced diameter, and seats a washer 100 against which the outer end of the main spring 44 bears. By turning the adjustment knob 96, compression of the spring 44 can be varied to thereby control the level of force that is exerted by the hammer assembly. The trigger 12 is of open, frame-like form, and is pivotably mounted by engagement of laterally extending circular bosses 104 within reinforced openings 106 in the two body sections. The gripping part 105 and the upper section 107 of the handle are disposed at what are believed to be optimal angles, (e.g., of about 30° and 8°, respectively, relative to the bottom surface) for comfortable and nonfatiguing use. A recess 108 extends into the upper side of the trigger and seats one end of a coil spring 110, the opposite end of which is seated within a recess 112, cooperatively formed by the handle sections 16, 18, to exert a downward bias upon the trigger. A wear plate 114, desirably formed of case-hardened steel, is mounted upon the lower forward end portion of the trigger 12 and protrudes downwardly in front of the nose element 54 of the hammer assembly pawl 46. The components are so configured that, when the trigger is squeezed to elevate it from the position shown in Figure 1, the protruding portion of the wear plate 114 will contact the nose element 54 and push the hammer assembly rearwardly against the force of the main spring 44. At the point that the wear plate (which of course moves through an arcuate path) clears the nose portion of the pawl, the hammer assembly will be disengaged, and driven forwardly. Release of force upon the trigger will permit the spring 110 to return it to its original position, with the pawl 46 yielding and being forced downwardly into the housing 34 through contact with the opposite side of the trigger elements. Such operation is quite conventional in machines of this sort, with the exception of the arrangement by which the pawl 46 is maintained in elevated position in the arcuate path of movement of the wear plate 114. In some instances the main spring 44 has been employed to impart upward bias to such a pawl, thereby creating excessive resistance to return of the trigger, due to the strength of the main spring, and consequently causing undue wear upon the contact surfaces. The forward portions of the handle sections 16, 18, are spaced from one another to define a large rectangular recess 116 therebetween, within which the guide block or magazine 14 is seated, the latter desirably being fabricated from two sintered metal sections 118, 120, secured to one another by suitable means, such as rivets 122. As best seen in Figure 5, a slot 124 extends along each side of the magazine at a level halfway between its opposite end portions 126, 128 and serves to slidably engage a corresponding rail element 130, one of which extends inwardly from each handle section 16, 18; an alternative construction, in which two slots and rails extend along each side, is shown in Figure 15. In this manner, the magazine 14 is slidably engaged upon the handle 10, and is seated within the recess 116 upon the forward portion of the underlying metal channel 22; as will be appreciated, by virtue of this construction the magazine can readily be removed and reinserted in inverted orientation. Each end portion, 126, 128 of the magazine is provided with a transverse aperture 132, within which may be received a locking pin which may take either the L-shaped form shown in Figures 5 and 7 and numbered 134, or the round-headed form 134' illustrated in Figure 15; transversely aligned apertures 89 (only one of which is seen in Figure 4) are provided in the forward end of the channel 22 to receive the pin 134, 134' and thereby secure the magazine in place. A channel or passageway 136 extends longitudinally entirely through the magazine 14. As best seen in Figure 6, it has a substantially rectangular cross sectional configuration with a tapered forward end portion; the symmetry of the configuration of the channel 136 is interrupted by a pair of internal ribs 138, which extend longitudinally within the passageway. It will be noted that the end portion 128 of the magazine has a nose element or extension 140 which projects beyond the forward edge thereof, and that both end portions 126, 128 have ramp elements thereon. The ramp elements provide inclined surfaces 142 adjacent the opposite ends of the channel 136 and between the flat surfaces 171, 172, the function of which will be described in detail hereinbelow. It will also be noted that the magazine 14 has a longitudinal gap 144 extending along its innermost portion and communicating with the passageway 136 extending therethrough. The gap 144 permits entry of the nose portion 146 of a follower piece, generally designated by the numeral 148, mounted upon the handle and extending through the slot 149 along the forward portion thereof. The head portion 150 of the follower piece 146 has a pair of laterally extending circular lugs 152, 154 at spaced locations thereon and on each side thereof (only one side being visible, however) adapted to slidably engage within a follower channel 156, which extends along the forward and upper parts of the handle and provides a track to guide the piece 148 therealong. A long coil spring 158 is seated within the channel 156, and a cap element 160 is engaged within the forward end thereof to bear upon the top of the follower piece, thereby exerting a bias urging it downwardly into the magazine passageway 136. At a position intermediate its ends, the follower channel 156 is formed with notched or recessed sections 162, which are dimensioned and configured to receive the circular lugs 152 on both sides of the follower piece. Consequently, when the follower piece is elevated sufficiently, rotation thereof will pivot the lugs 152 into the recessed sections 162, thereby retaining the follower piece in that withdrawn position to facilitate loading of the magazine; otherwise, the follower piece is constrained against pivotable movement within the follower channel 156 due to the engagement of the lugs 152, 154 along the surfaces defining it. To permit facile elevation of the follower piece, and pivoting thereof to bring the lugs 152 into retaining engagement, a shaft 164 having knurled knobs 166 on its opposite ends extends transversely through the head portion 156. Operation of the machine is best described with reference to Figures 8-10. The stack of assembled points, generally designated by the numeral 168, is contained within the passageway 136 of the magazine 14, and is urged downwardly by the follower piece 148 (to rest upon the upper surface of the push plate 66 when the machine is in its normal, at rest condition). Moving the hammer assembly to the position shown in Figure 8, by operation of the trigger 12 as hereinabove described, will slide the push plate 66 from under the lowermost of the points in the stack 168, permitting it to drop into the portion of the groove 80 that lies over the inner slot section 84, to rest upon the lateral bottom wall elements 85 of the channel 22; as will be appreciated, the groove 80 is of substantially the same width as the points 170, to permit them to be slidably seated therewithin. When the wear plate 114 of the trigger 12 clears the end of the nose portion 54 of the pawl 46, the main spring 44 will act upon the stop plate 42 in the housing 34 to propel the hammer assembly forwardly. The side components 76 at the forward end of the push plate 66 will contact the trailing edge of the point 170, driving it forwardly within the channel 80 along the surfaces of the channel elements 85 and the confronting surface 172 of the magazine, and thereafter against the inclined surface 142; the surface 142 will deflect the leading end of the point downwardly into the outer section 82 of the channel slot, to achieve the transitory position illustrated in Figure 9. When the trailing edge of the point clears the ends of the elements 85, the point will drop through the outer slot section 82 upon the glass 174. Further forward movement of the push plate 66 will drive the point from that position into the wood of the frame 176, as shown in Figure 10. As will be appreciated, at the end of the drive stroke the flange elements 36 of the housing 34 will impact upon the resilient bumper 32, which will serve to cushion the force. It is important to note that, in the relationships depicted in Figures 8 and 9, the upper side edge components 76 of the push plate 66 bear upon the point and serve to drive it forwardly, as described. In the condition shown in Figure 10, however, in which the point has dropped through the outer slot section 82 to the lower level (i.e., upon the surface of the glass), the curved edge component 74 contacts the point and completes the driving operation. Thus, since the point is driven at two levels, the drive element is configured to exert force thereupon at both of them. The preferred form of the points is best appreciated with additional reference to Figures 11-14. As can be seen, they have relatively rectangular body portions 180, 180' with a pointed tip portion 182 at the head or forward end. The side of the body portion is formed with a notch 182, 182', and the lower peripheral edge 184 is radiused to provide a degree of smoothness, as, compared to the relatively sharp upper edge 186. It will be appreciated that the essential difference between the forms of points shown in Figures 11 and 12, on the one hand, and those shown in Figures 13 and 14, on the other, resides in the lengths of the body portions 178, 178' and of the notches 182, 182', respectively, the longer points 170 being suited for framing applications and the shorter ones 170' being best adapted for glazing. The relative degrees of resistance provided by the smooth and sharp edge elements 184, 186 produces deflection upon entry of the point into the workpiece material, which tends to divert the tip in the direction of the relatively sharp upper edge (i.e., upwardly, if the sharper edge is upwardly oriented). Thus, in the relationship to the workpiece assembly shown in Figures 8-10, this feature will cause the tail portion of the point to rotate downwardly to bear tightly against the surface of the glass 174. To ensure that such action occurs, the notch 182 is correlated to the edge condition for correct orientation. It is also necessary that the magazine be constructed to prevent loading of the stack of points in the wrong orientation and, in the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinally extending ribs 138 serve that purpose by cooperation with the point notches. This, of course, presupposes that the magazine has itself been properly oriented in the handle of the machine to receive the size of points to be driven, and a graphic representation, such as that shown at 188 in Figure 2, may be provided to facilitate doing so; a similar depiction of the longer form of the points will generally be embossed or otherwise applied to the opposite end portion 126, as well. The nose element 142 on the end portion 128 serves as an extension to provide the extra length necessary to adequately support the longer of the two versions of points. It will be appreciated that the end element on which the surfaces 171 are present affords the spacing above the work surface necessary to accommodate the points being driven, and that the element is slotted at 192 to permit them to pass therethrough. Turning finally to Figure 3, therein illustrated is a preferred technique for securing the points 170 in assembly. In accordance with it, a strip of adhesive material 190 extends along the length of the stack 168, lying within the channel cooperatively formed by the notches 182. This helps to avoid any interference that might otherwise be presented as a result of contact of the adhesive upon surfaces defining the passageway through the magazine, and is an added benefit of providing indentations in fasteners that are intended for use by driving them from a stacked assembly. Although the foregoing description has stressed glazing and framing operations, it will be understood that the concepts hereof have broader applicability, and may be utilized in connection with fasteners other than points. Also, while preferred forms of points, magazines and driving machines have been shown and described, variations are encompassed, as will be evident to those skilled in the art. For example, although the edge character of the points may desirably be uniform about the entire periphery, to facilitate manufacture, the sharpness differential need be present only at the tip to cause the point to divert and perform as described. Thus, it can be seen that the machine for driving framer's and glazier's points, and like fasteners according to the present invention, is highly effective and reliable in use. The machine is capable of driving either of two sizes of points, and it employs a unique invertible guide block or magazine which is quickly and easily removed and reinserted. In addition, the machine is so constructed as to drive the fasteners from positions in which they are in surface contact with the glass or backing piece being secured, thereby ensuring tightness, and it may be constructed to afford optimal angles for the operating trigger and handle frame, for comfort and nonfatiguing use, as well as being attractive, durable, reliable, and economical to manufacture. The machine can receive a stacked assembly of framer's and glazier's points, which are fabricated with an asymmetric edge character so as to cause path diversion upon entry into the workpiece, thereby tending to produce downward deflection of the tail portion and, in turn, even tighter contact of the point upon the underlying glass pane or backing member.

Claims: Apparatus for driving framer's and glazier's points, and like fasteners, comprising: a body (10) including guide means (16, 18) defining a channel (22); a hammer assembly supported by said guide means for reciprocal movement within said channel (22) and including a push plate (66), said push plate having two, upper and lower contiguous contact elements (74, 76) movable along a path between first and second positions during reciprocation of said hammer assembly the said path lying substantially in a plane with respect to the body, and said second position being displaced in a rearward direction from said first position; means (14) on said body for supporting a stack (168) of fasteners (170, 170') disposed to intercept said push plate at a location intermediate said positions of said contact elements, for initial driving contact by said upper element at a third position intermediate said first and second positions; means (126, 128) defining a discharge path which extends in the said plane forwardly from and as a continuation of said first-mentioned path; a workpiece-contacting surface portions disposed in a second plane that is perpendicular to said first-mentioned plane; and means (12) for reciprocating said hammer assembly to move said push plate elements between said first and second positions thereof; whereby each of said push plate contact elements (74, 76) is capable of driving contact with a fastener at a respective one of two levels, disposed one above the other with respect to said first-mentioned plane; said guide means is adapted to provide underlying support for the lowermost fastener of the stack at one of said levels and at said intermediate location, and to release the fastener from underlying support to permit it to move in its entirety to the other of said levels at a point forwardly of said third position; said discharge path-defining means has a first stationary surface portion (142) disposed forwardly of said second position of said push plate element and overlying said discharge path for contacting a forwardly driven fastener in an orientation parallel to said first-mentioned plane and for deflecting it from that orientation and from said one level toward said other level, and has a second overlying surface portion (171) disposed forwardly of said first surface portion along said discharge path and adapted for the reorientation of the fastener toward said given orientation; and in that said second plane is spaced forwardly of said first surface portion and from said point of release sufficiently to permit the fastener to substantially attain said given orientation before reaching said second plane; whereby, with said contact elements of said push plate in said first position, the stacked fasteners will be supported upon said plate, whereby actuation of said reciprocating means to move said elements therefrom to said second position will permit the lowermost fastener to move to a position supported upon said guide means at said first level, and whereby actuation of said reciprocating means to return said elements to said first position will cause said element to drive the fastener against said first surface portion (142), to said other level and thereafter at least partially through said second plane. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said contact elements (74, 76) comprise a surface at one end of said push plate (66), and wherein said guide means (22) has an opening (82) therethrough at said forward location to permit such release of the lowermost fastener. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said push plate (66) is a generally planar strip aligned on said path, said strip having a rib (72) extending longitudinally from said one end and providing one of said contact elements (74) which acts at one of said two levels, with another portion of said strip providing the other of said contact elements (76) to act at the other of said levels, and wherein said guide means (22) has a groove (84) therein communicating with said opening (82) to accommodate said rib for sliding movement therein. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said reciprocating means (12) comprises main biasing means (44) acting to urge said hammer assembly in the forward direction, and a manually operated trigger (12) for moving said hammer assembly rearwardly against the force of said biasing means. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said trigger (12) is pivotably mounted upon said body (10) and has a contact portion (114) that moves through an arcuate path adjacent said hammer assembly, and wherein said hammer assembly includes a pawl (46) that is pivotably mounted thereon with an element (54) disposed to move into and out of a position on said arcuate path, and has secondary biasing means (52) for urging said pawl element toward said arcuate path, said contact portion and pawl element being adapted to interengage during an initial phase of movement of said trigger portion through said arcuate path, to cause said trigger to move said hammer assembly rearwardly against the force of said main biasing means, and to thereafter effect release thereof, and to permit said contact portion to displace said pawl against the force of said secondary biasing means during return of said trigger. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, additionally characterised by a follower assembly including a follower piece (148) upon said body (10), and means (158) for urging said follower piece into said supporting means for exerting force upon a stack (168) of fasteners (170, 170') contained therewithin to urge them toward said guide means (22), said body having means thereon defining a follower channel (156) for guiding movement of said follower piece between positions withdrawn from said supporting means and positions therewithin, said follower piece having a nose portion (146) for contacting the fasteners in said supporting means, a head portion (150) slidably mounted within said follower channel of said body, and spaced elements (152, 154) on said head portion engaged within said follower channel for constraining said follower piece against pivotal movement therewithin, said follower channel-defining means having a recessed section (162) into which one of said spaced elements can be inserted when said follower piece is in a withdrawn position and permitting pivotable movement of said piece, whereby said follower piece can be pivoted to effect engagement of said one element within said recessed section to retain said follower piece in said withdrawn position. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said supporting means comprises a magazine (14) that is independent of said machine body (10), and wherein said magazine and body have cooperating means (124, 130 and 89, 132, 134) for securing them in assembly with one another. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said deflecting means comprises a ramp element on an end portion (126, 128) of said magazine (14) and provides a surface that is oblique to the first-mentioned path and is disposed across said push plate (66) path. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said magazine (14) is elongated and has a channel (136) extending through it dimensioned and configured for passage of the fasteners (170) while constraining them to a predetermined orientation. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said cooperating means (124, 130) permits assembly of said magazine (14) with either end of said channel (136) thereof disposed adjacent said push plate (66), and wherein one end portion (128) of said magazine has an end surface of greater dimension than the other (126), taken in the direction of reciprocal movement of said push plate, to thereby adapt said one end portion to guide fasteners (170) for movement along said end surface thereof which are longer than those (170') for which said other end portion is adapted, each of said end portions (126, 128) having one of said deflecting ramp elements (142) thereon to provide an inclined surface adjacent said end surface. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said supporting means comprising an elongated magazine (14) having a channel extending through it dimensioned and configured for passage of the supported fasteners, said magazine and body having cooperating means thereon for permitting secure assembly with either end of said channel of said magazine disposed adjacent said hammer assembly element, one end portion of said magazine having an end surface of greater dimension than the other end portion thereof, taken in the direction of reciprocal movement of said hammer assembly, to thereby adapt said one end portion to guide fasteners for movement along said end surface thereon which are longer than those for which said other end portion is adapted.

Inventors: KOZYRSKI, VINCENT T., PETERS, ALAN R., SHAW, RALPH B.
Applicants: THE FLETCHER-TERRY COMPANY
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B25C1
IPC codes: B25C1