ROOFING GUN ATTACHMENT FOR DISPENSING TIN TAGS

Abstract: A tin tag dispensing apparatus for a nailing gun (8) includes a support member (2) having a tin tag dispensing groove (20), a shuttle (6) slidably disposed within the support member, a tube receptacle (32) containing a plurality of stacked tin tags (12), a slide member (40) slidably mounted on the tube receptable, a linkage assembly (50, 56, 62) connecting the slide member with the shuttle, and a mounting plate (72) for connecting the apparatus to the nailing gun. When the gun is lifted, the slide member slides upward along the tube receptacle and causes the shuttle, through the linkage, to engage and displace a single tin tag resting in the tin tag dispensing groove to a nailing station (22) where it is retained until pierced by a fastener (86) discharged from the nail gun.

Description: ROOFING GUN ATTACHMENT FOR DISPENSING TIN TAGS SPECIFICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to dispensing attachments for tools and, in particular, to an attachment for a hand-held, pneumatically-operated nailing gun which individually dispenses tin tags which are fastened to a roof by a fastener discharged from the nailing gun. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The building code in certain jurisdictions reguires tin tags (also referred to as roofing washers, plates or disks) to be placed at specified distances on the roof to securely fasten an overlay of black paper or the like to a wooden roof structure. It is currently the custom to hand place the tin tags on the overlay and to nail the tin tag to the roof using a pneumatically-operated hand-held nailing gun such as the Hitachi Nailer, Model NV45AB. This method, however, has several disadvantages and drawbacks. Because the typical tin tag has a diameter of approximately 1.625 inches, it is difficult for the nailing gun operator to center the nail on the tin tag. If too far off center, the nail causes the edges of the tin tag to become raised and these raised edges can then puncture the overlay. Also, hand placement of the tin tags presents a serious safety hazard to the user of the gun. Since the tin tag is placed by hand, the operator's fingers are freguently near the barrel of the nailing gun and it is not uncommon for the nailing gun operator to inadvertently shoot a nail into his finger. Attachments to air powered tools for dispensing workpieces into a position where they can be pierced by a fastener driven by the tool are known in the patented prior art, as evidenced by the patents to Munn U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,377, and to Beach et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,142. The Munn patent discloses a part feeding attachment combined with a hand-held pneumatically- powered driving tool which advances one part at a time into position for piercing by a fastener delivered by the tool. This device uses the residual exhaust air pressure from the driving tool to actuate a pneumatically operated driver mechanism which is connected to a feeder which engages a single metal disk and positions it for piercing by the next succeeding fastener driven by the tool. The Beach et al patent discloses a stand-up screw gun which individually dispenses stacked roofing washers and drives a fastener therethrough. This machine, however, reguires a special ribbed washer designed to prevent the washers from adhering in order to operate without jamming. These devices have not achieved wide spread use in the roof construction industry because they reguire alteration or modification to the commercially available nailing guns currently used in the roofing industry, must be purchased as a preassembled integral unit with a new nailing gun, are prone to jamming, or cannot be used with commercially available tin tags. There remains a need, therefore, for a light weight dispensing attachment which can be easily connected and disconnected from the hand-held roofing guns currently being used in the roofing industry and which can operate using commercially available tin tags without jamming. The present invention was developed to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art devices . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved roofing gun attachment which can be easily retrofit to existing nailing guns and which is operable to dispense commercially available tin tags. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tin tag dispensing apparatus including a support member having a tin tag dispensing groove for receiving a single roofing washer and a slot for receiving a shuttle, a tube for containing a plurality of stacked roofing washers, a slide member connected with the nailing gun, and a linkage assembly, whereby when the nailing gun is lifted, the slide member slides upward along the tube and causes the shuttle, through the linkage assembly, to engage the lower most tin tag and move it to a nailing position where it is held until pierced by a nail discharged from the nailing gun. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial sectional side view of the apparatus of the present invention in the loading/nailing position; Fig. 2 is a top view of the support; member with a partial cutaway showing the invention in the loading/nailing position; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the present invention in the feeding position; Fig. 4 is a top view of the support member with a partial cutaway showing the invention in the feeding position; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the nailing operation of the invention; Fig. 9 is a top view of the support member; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the tin tag dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes tin tag support member 2 which includes a longitudinally extending slot 4 adapted to slidably receive a shuttle 6. At the end adjacent the nailing gun 8, the support member contains a through bore 10 adapted to receive and hold a planar circular tin tag 12. The tin tag is releasably held in the through bore by any suitable retaining means, such as flexible teeth 14 formed of an elastomeric material, a magnet 16, or coiled metallic springs (not shown). Slots 18 extend along each side of the support member in communication with the longitudinal slot 4. A shallow tin tag dispensing groove 20 adapted to receive a single tin tag extends from the through bore 10 to a tin tag loading station 22 as best shown in Fig. 9. Bolted to the top surface of the tin tag support member 2 is an adapter plate 26 having a raised portion 28 containing a through bore 30 as shown in Fig. 6 which allows the tin tags 12 to feed into the tin tag dispensing groove 20. The adapter plate 26 and tin tag support member 2 are formed by two separate members which are bolted together rather than as one piece so that the tin tag dispensing groove 20 can be machined to a tolerance sufficient to receive an individual tin tag without becoming jammed. For example, by using a standard tin tag having a thickness of 0.012 inches, a tin tag dispensing groove depth of 0.014 inches has been found to allow a single tin tag to be dispensed. It will be recognized that if the groove is too deep, more than one tin tag will be dispensed and if the groove is too shallow, the tin tags will tend to jam. It was found that a groove depth of 0.014 inches could be machined to the necessary tolerance only by first machining the groove into the support member and then fastening the adapter plate thereto. The raised portion 28 of the adapter plate is adapted to receive a cylindrical tube receptacle 32 which contains a plurality of stacked tin tags 12. A cap 34 is fastened to the top of the tube to prevent tin tags from spilling if the apparatus is tilted. The tin tags can be gravity fed if the apparatus is used only on a relatively horizontal surface, or can be spring-loaded by a spring 36 contained within the tube receptacle which at one end contacts the cap and at the other end includes a biasing member 38 which biases the stack of tin tags toward the tin tag dispensing groove 20. Slidably mounted around the tube 32 is a slide member 40 which includes a tubular sleeve 42 extending above and below the slide member adjacent the tube. The sleeve 42 fits around tube 32 with minimal play so as to prevent unwanted pivoting or rocking motion of slide member 40 yet still allow slide member 40 to slide freely along the tube. Additionally, the sleeve length is sufficient to further minimize any unwanted pivoting motion of slide ember 40 relative to the tube 32. To further facilitate sliding movement of slide member 40, the coefficient of friction between the sleeve inner surface and the tube outer surface is low. This allows the slide member to move relatively uninhibited by longitudinally along the tube. As shown in Fig. 10, tube 32, sleeve 42, and slide member 40 include a keyway slot 39 adapted to receive an adjustable key 41 which prevents spinning or twisting movement of the slide member relative to the tube. Alternatively, the sleeve 42 and tube 32 can also include longitudinally mating spline connections 43 to prevent spinning or twisting movement of the slide member relative to the tube. The portion extending below the slide member 40 includes a laterally extending flange portion 44, the lower surface 46 of which contacts a helical compression spring 48 arranged concentrically the tube. The recoil spring 48 acts to bias the slide member 40 away from the adapter plate 26; that is, it provides a recoil action between the slide member and adapter plate/support member assembly. Pivotally mounted on the slide member is a first angled linkage member 50 which has a first end 52 connected with a first end 54 of a second linkage member 56, and a second end 58 connected with a first end 60 of a third linkage member 62. A second end 64 of the second linkage member 56 is pivotally connected with the raised portion 28 of the adapter plate. A second end 66 of the third linkage member 62 is connected with an axle 68 which extends through slots 18 and connects with the shuttle 6. The linkage assembly 50, 56, and 62, is constructed so that when the apparatus is in the feeding position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the shuttle adjacent the through bore 10, the third linkage member 62 forms an angle β with the support member 2 of less than 45 degrees. At such an angle, it will be recognized that as slide member 40 moves downward along the tube 32, linkage member 62 will impart a horizontal force on shuttle 6 greater than the vertical force, thereby facilitating sliding action of the shuttle within the transverse slot 4 in the direction away from the through bore 10. To achieve an angle β less than 45 degrees and to achieve the necessary travel distance for the shuttle between the loading station 22 and nailing station 70 for the available stroke distance of the slide member 40 along the tube 32, the first linkage member 50 is formed having an angle α of approximately 135 degrees. Tf the apparatus .i constructed using a heavy material such as aluminum or stainless steel, tlie weight of the adapter plate/support; ineiiiber/tube assembly will cause the slide member to slide upwardly on the tube as the nailing gun is lifted. If, however, the apparatus is constructed using a light-weight material such as a high strength synthetic plastic, ceramic or composite material, supplemental biasing means (such as helical spring 48 or torsion springs, not shown) placed in the joints between the first and second linkage members, first and third linkage members, or second linkage member and the adapter plate must be employed. Connected with the slide member 40 is a mounting plate 72. As best shown in Fig. 10, the mounting plate 72 includes a semi-circular portion 73 adapted to receive the tubular sleeve 42, and an opening 74 through which the nailing gun barrel 75 is placed. The nailing gun is bolted to the mounting plate via bolts 76 and to the slide member via bol s 78 such that the nailing axis 80 of the gun is always aligned with the through bore 10. In this manner, the apparatus can be guickly disconnected from the nailing gun by simply 5 loosening bolts 78. Only tlie mount i ng plate 72 remains (jl.t ached t o I lit: t j uii. Wit h t in: <i|>|> I nn d i soomied ed , tlie n i I i nij ( j iin CiJil l>e uutjtl to I I i I ϋhintjl π oi I oi other tasks not requiring the tin tag dispensing apparatus. In addition, the same tin tag dispensing in apparatus can be attached to any μiieumπLi ca11y operated hand-held nailing guns provided the nailing gun includes the proper mounting plate. OPERATION When the roofing gun is placed against a fixed 5 surface, it will assume the loading/nailing position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. While in this position, cap 34 is removed from the tube receptacle 34 which is manually loaded with tin tags 12. Alternatively, the tin tags can be packaged in a cartridge (not shown) 0 adapted to fit within the tube. Once loaded, the lowermost tin tag will be fed by gravity to tin tag dispensing groove 20. The cap is then reattached and the loading spring 36 biases the tin tags toward groove 20. 5 When the gun is lifted, the slide member 40 slides upward along the tube 32 away from the adapter plate 26. As the slide member travels upward, the shuttle 6, via the linkage assembly, travels from the nailing/loading position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the 0 feeding position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As the shuttle travels along the transverse slot 4, it engages the lowermost tin tag resting at the loading station 22 and pushes it along groove 20 to the nailing station 70. When the tin tag reaches the nailing station, it is engaged and held by retaining member 14. The apparatus is then placed on a fixed workpiece 82, shown in Fig. 8, and the nailing gun is lowered to the loading/nailing position again shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the trigger 84 of the nailing gun is manually actuated by the operator, a nail 86 from the nail cartridge 88 is fed through chute 90 to the nailing gun barrel 75 where it is discharged, by high pressure air, from the nailing gun barrel and through the tin tag being held at the nailing station. The nail pierces the tin tag, passes through the black paper overlay 92 and into the fixed workpiece, thereby fastening the tin tag and overlay to the fixed workpiece 82. It will be recognized that because the nailing axis is aligned with the center of the tin tag, the nail will always pierce the center of the tin tag. While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred form and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concept set forth above.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. Apparatus for positioning a generally planar tin tag relative to a roofer's nailing gun having a given nail driving axis for driving a nail through the tin tag and into a fixed workpiece, comprising: (a) a tin tag support member; (b) means for temporarily retaining a tin tag at a nailing station relative to said support member; and (c) means for connecting said tin tag support member with the nailing gun to cause said nailing station to be in-line with the gun nail driving axis, and a tin tag retained at said railing station at an orientation normal to said axis. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including: (d) supply means for successively supplying a plurality of tin tags from a loading station relative to said support member to said nailing station. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said connecting means includes: (1) a mounting plate adapted for removable connection with the gun; and (2) means connecting said support member for displacement between extended and retracted positions relative to said mounting plate; and further wherein said supply means includes: (1) a tag-displacing shuttle member connected with said support member for displacement between said loading and nailing stations; and (2) means responsive to the displacement of said support member between said extended and retracted positions for shifting said shuttle member between said loading and nailing stations, respectively. 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including means biasing said support member toward said extended position relative to said mounting plate. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said tin tag supply means further comprises: (3) a tubular receptacle having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding with that of the tin tags, said receptacle being arranged with its longitudinal axis extending normal to said support member opposite said loading station for receiving a stack of said tin tags, said shuttle member being operable to transport the lowermost tin tag of the stack from said loading station to said nailing station. 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said connecting means further includes a tubular sleeve slidably mounted concentrically about said tubular receptacle, said mounting plate containing an opening in which said sleeve is secured. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said support member contains a through bore defining said nailing station. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said tin tag retaining means comprises resilient means. 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said support member contains a transverse through slot that extends between said loading and nailing stations and extends normal to axis of said through bore, said shuttle member being slidably movable in said slot. 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said connecting means includes linkage means connecting said shuttle for movement in said slot upon corresponding movement of said support member relative to said mounting plate. 11. A nailing gun attachment for successively dispensing tin tags for fastening to a fixed workpiece by a fastener discharged from the nailing gun, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular support member containing a longitudinal slot; (b) a shuttle slidably disposed within said slot; (c) a tube receptacle mounted on said support member for receiving a plurality of stacked tin tags; (d) mounting means slidably mounted on said tube receptacle for connecting the attachment to the nailing gun; and (e) linkage means connecting said mounting means with said shuttle for moving said shuttle, whereby reciprocating movement of the nailing gun causes said shuttle, via said mounting means and said linkage means, to engage and displace the lowermost tin tag and position the tin tag for fastening when the nailing gun is placed in contact with the fixed workpiece. 12. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, wherein said support member further includes a tin tag receiving groove, at least one longitudinally extending side slot, and a through bore. 13. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, and further comprising stabilizing means for preventing twisting and pivoting movement of said mounting means relative to said tube receptacle. 14. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, and further comprising means located within said through bore for releasably retaining a tin tag in said through bore. 15. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, wherein said tin tag receiving groove has a depth of .014 inches. 16. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, wherein said linkage means comprises at least one linkage assembly each said assembly comprising a first member having a first end slidably disposed within said at least one side slot, a second member having a first end rotatably connected with the second end of said first member pivotally mounted on said mounting means, and a third member having a first end rotatably connected with the second end of said second member and a second end pivotally mounted on said support member. 17. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 16, wherein second linkage member is formed to a 135 degree angle. 18. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 16, wherein when said mounting means is in its upward most position, said first linkage member forms an angle with said support member of less than 45 degrees. 19. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claim 11, and further comprising cartridge means adapted to fit within said tube receptacle for containing a plurality of stacked tin tags. 20. A nailing gun attachment as defined in claiin 11, wherein said mounting means comprises a slide member and a mounting plate for connecting the attachment to the nailing gun.

Inventors: MCGUINNESS JAMES M, MCGUINNESS THOMAS J, SCHNELLER JOHN R, MCGUINNESS, JAMES, M., MCGUINNESS, THOMAS, J., SCHNELLER, JOHN, R.
Applicants: 3J DESIGN INC, 3J DESIGN, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B25C7
IPC codes: B25C1, E04D15