Patent GB-810933-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for securing hooked belt-fasteners
Inventor: POTTER JOHN JAMES
IPC: F16G3/00
Filed: 1956-04-30
Abstract: 810,933. Belt-fastening appliances. HAYDEN NILOS Ltd. March 12, 1957 [April 30, 1956; July 17, 1956; July 19, 1956], Nos. 13216/56, 22025/56 and 22340/56. Class 80 (1). A portable machine for pressing fastening hooks 39, Fig. 20, into a belt 41 of any width by means of pivoted jaws 1, 2 comprises only a bar 26 slotted to receive a " comb " of paper-mounted hooks, and a jaw unit slidable thereon. A ratchet strip 54, Fig. 15, on the bar 26 is engaged by a pawl 86 operated automatically each time the jaws are fully opened to step the jaw unit along the comb bar 26 so that the jaws 1, 2 may engage a fresh hook or group of hooks. The belt is manually held against the comb bar 26 until the first hook has been clinched, whereafter this hook cooperates with a small clamp, Figs. 6-10 (not shown), carried by the comb bar to hold the belt in position, as described in Specification 810,935. The jaws 1, 2 are pivoted together at 3 between plates 4, 5 provided with notches in which the comb bar 26 slides. A pivoted stop 108 prevents accidental removal of the bar 26, which has a tapered extension 53 facilitating its insertion into the notches of the plates 4, 5. Each jaw 1, 2 is provided with a detachable cheek 11 whose face is partly serrated to engage an open hook and partly relieved, Fig. 5 (not shown), to engage the previously-pressed hook. Each cheek 11 has a part-cylindrical necked projection 13 which is a sliding fit in a recess in the jaw and is held from sliding by a retractable spring- urged plunger 17. The head of each plunger 17 has a transverse bar 21 extending beyond the width of the jaw so that it may be grasped to retract the plunger and allow removal or insertion of the cheek 11. When the cheek is in position the plunger 17 engages a notch in the projection 13 and the bar 21 lies in a slot in the jaw. The plunger may be held retracted by rotating the bar 21 out of line with its slot. The comb bar 26 is of hollow T-section, the hollow being formed by a lengthwise slot closed at the back by the ratchet strip 54. The hollow leaves thin " bridges " between the transverse hook-receiving slots and these " bridges " are engaged by a flat face on a tapered hook-securing rod 31. The lengthwise slot may be provided with a spring-loaded pivoted catch, Fig. 26 (not shown), engaging a notch in the securing rod to prevent its complete withdrawal. Casings 8, 9 on the plates 4, 5 enclose the jaw-actuating mechanism and carry a skid 10 which slides across the ground while the machine is in use. When not in use the comb bar 26 may be slid through one of the casings 8, 9 to assist portability of the machine. As shown, the jaws 1, 2 are connected by toggle linkages to operating handles 7, which may be detachable, the common pivot 6 of the handles being mounted on a slider 79 which is adjusted by a screw 75 to vary the jaw spacing to suit belts of different thicknesses. The toggle linkages comprise links 70, 72 pivoted to the rear ends of the jaws 1, 2 and having a common pivot 69 on a slider 66 movable along slots in the plates 4, 5, and links 63 pivoted to the ends of the handles 7 and having a common pivot 64 also on the slider 66, the pivot 64 being at right angles to the pivot 69. As the jaws open fully the projecting bevelled end of the pivot 69 actuates a spring-loaded lever 81 shaped as shown and carrying the pivoted pawl 86, which thus steps the jaw unit along the ratchet strip 54. The plate 5 is provided with an angle bracket, Figs. 11-14 (not shown),. coacting with the comb bar 26 to form a stop preventing any open hook from being moved past the plate 5 but allowing closed hooks to pass. If there is no comb bar 26 in the jaw unit the pawl 86 is held in line with the lever 81 by a leaf-spring 88. In a modification avoiding the use of the ratchet strip 54 the pawl engages the loops of the unpressed hooks in the comb bar, the hooks thus acting as a ratchet strip as described in Specification 810,937. In a modified pawl mechanism teeth on the comb bar 26, Fig. 24, are engaged by a spring-loaded hollow pawl 98 slidable on a lever 99 which is pivoted at 100 and is linked to one of the toggle links 63 in such a way that the jaw unit is stepped along the bar 26 as the jaws reach the fully-open position shown. The toggle mechanism may be  modified so that the handles 7 move in a vertical, rather than horizontal direction. Alternatively the jaws may be actuated by a screw or cam device. According to the Provisional Specification the jaws may be power-operated. Specifications 810,934 and 810,936 also are referred to.