Patent Publication Number: US-6655571-B2

Title: Fastening element attaching device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fastening element attaching device, which is capable of binding up the clothes and socks or the like and attaching tags such as a brand label, a price tag, material explanation and direction for use or the like to the commodities by inserting the fastening elements into the commodities. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, in order to bind up the clothes, the daily fancy goods, the slippers and the shoes or the like and effectively attach a brand label and a price tag or the like to the above commodities, various fastening element attaching devices have been conventionally used. 
     For example, according to the conventional fastening element attaching device, for example, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application (KOKAI) No. 5-51715, having a hollow needle, which is attached to a front edge of a main body, a push rod, which goes in and out from the foregoing hollow needle, a guide groove, which is disposed on an entrance of the foregoing hollow needle, a fastening element feeding ratchet, which is disposed on the entrance side of the foregoing hollow needle with facing to the foregoing guide groove and a stopper, which is disposed laterally right beside of the foregoing feeding ratchet, a plurality of fastening elements, which are tentatively and lengthwisely connected by a connection bar to form into one body, is disposed from above on the front part of the main body of the device, and in which the entrance of the foregoing guide groove is provided at a portion apart with some distance from the foregoing hollow needle and the length of the foregoing guide groove formed between the foregoing hollow needle entrance to an entrance of the foregoing guide groove, or to an exit of the guide groove is set as long as possible. Further, the fastening elements is inserted into the groove and the lowest fastening element is always and successively pushed out by the lever operation from the fastening element group. Additionally, the connection bar, which remains inside the device after at least some of the fastening elements had been pushed out, is discharged from a front lower part of the main body of the device. 
     However, if the length of the fastening element group is longer, the above described conventional fastening element attaching device involves a problem such that when the fastening element is used for the commodities, for example, the clothes or the like, the connecting bar after the fastening element had been removed therefrom, tears down the commodities after pushing out the fastening elements or it hurts a finger of the operator. 
     Especially, the connection bar after pushing out the fastening elements is very danger, since a trace formed after when the fastening elements had been taken out, is sharp. Alternatively, there is a case that the connection bar itself, which extends longer in the upper direction or the lower direction in the front part of a main body the device, becomes an obstacle against the operation. 
     However, considering a manufacturing cost, the fastening element group is capable of being provided at a low price when the total length of the fastening element is made longer. This is because the fastening element group is made by utilizing one metal mold. 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fastening element attaching device, which is capable of selecting discharging positions depending on each usage by selectively discharging an end of the connecting bar from a lower part or a rear part of a fastening element attaching device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problem into consideration, an object of which is to provide a constitution basically described below. That is to say, the present invention provides a fastening element attaching device for sequentially detaching respective fastening elements from a connection bar by an operational lever from a fastening element group, in which a plurality of fastening elements are formed integrally by the connection bar, comprising a switching mechanism for selectively discharging the foregoing connection bar, which remains inside the device after respective fastening elements had been detached from the foregoing connection bar, from a plurality of places of a main portion of the device. 
     In order to solve the above described problems in the conventional art, a fastening element attaching device according to the present invention for sequentially pushing out the lowest fastening element among the fastening elements group in which a plurality of fastening elements are formed integrally by the connection bar, at every time when the above described conventional lever is operated, comprises a switching mechanism for selectively discharging the foregoing connection bar, which remains inside the device after respective fastening elements had been detached from the foregoing connection bar, from a plurality of places of a main portion of the device. 
     Therefore, in the case that the connection bar disturbs the operation, it is possible to discharge the connection bar from a rear part of the main portion of the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view for illustrating an interior construction of a fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view for illustrating other embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in which substantial parts are enlarged, for illustrating an interior construction of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in which substantial parts are enlarged, for illustrating an operational state of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating a lever member, which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view for illustrating a second embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view for illustrating a third embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view for illustrating a third embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation view for illustrating a fourth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view for illustrating a fourth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for illustrating a switching lever part of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an explanatory view for illustrating an operational procedure of a switching lever, which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for illustrating an operational procedure of a switching lever, which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view for illustrating a fifth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevation view for illustrating a fifth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevation view for illustrating a switching lever  31 , which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevation view for illustrating a switching lever  31 , which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view for illustrating an example of the fastening element group, which is used in the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is a plane view showing another embodiment of a fastening element group different from the above mentioned. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view for illustrating another embodiment of a fastening element attaching device to which the present invention can be applied. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side elevation view for illustrating an interior construction of a fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a fastening element attaching device  10  according to the present invention sequentially pushes out the lowest fastening element by operating an operational lever  13  from an interior of a fastening element group  12 ′, in which a plurality of fastening elements  12  are formed integrally by a connection bar  11 . Alternatively, the foregoing fastening element attaching device  10  according to the present invention is capable of selectively discharging the foregoing connection bar  11 , which remains inside the device after respective fastening elements in the fastening element group  12 ′ had been pushed out from the foregoing connection bar  11 , by a switching mechanism  14  from two places of the main portion of the device, i.e., from substantially directly under part A of a detaching operation performing part and from a rear part B of the main portion of the device. In other words, when the length of the fastening element group  12 ′ is short, the connection bar  11  is discharged from a portion on the device which is close to the hollow needles, to an exterior of the present device, and when it is long, the connection bar  11  is discharged to a rear edge of the device through an interior of the main portion of the device. Alternatively, it is possible to dispose a guide member  30  in the main portion of the device to guide the connection bar  11  which remains inside the device after the fastening elements had been detached. 
     Further, FIG. 2 is a side elevation view for illustrating other embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. According to the embodiment, it is possible that the connection bar  11  which remains inside the device after the fastening elements had been detached is guided inside the operational lever  13  to be discharged from a lower edge C of the present operational lever  13 . 
     A hollow needle  15  is attached to a front end of the main portion of the device. A pushed out pin  16  to be inserted in this hollow needle  15  is shifted by the operation of the operational lever  13 . When the pushed out pin  16  is inserted in the hollow needle  15 , for example, the lowest fastening element, which is disposed in a groove R of the main portion of the device, is sequentially detached from the connection bar  11  to be pushed out. Additionally, a feeding ratchet  17  sequentially pushes down the fastening elements one by one. Additionally, after the fastening elements are detached from the connection bar  11  and are pushed out, the connection bar  11  is discharged to an exterior of the main portion of the device. In this time, the switching mechanism  14  is employed to select a discharging route of the connection bar. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to  4 , the switching mechanism  14  is replaced with a detachable switching member  14 - 1 . The switching member  14 - 1  is detachably configured on a discharging orifice A, which is defined on the front lower side of the main portion of the device. When the switching member  14 - 1  is not used, the connection bar  11  is discharged from a first passage  22  and when the switching member  14 - 1  is used, a curved part  14   a  alters a course of discharging route of the connection bar  11 , which is discharged from the backward through a second passage  18 . 
     The curved part  14   a  guides a front edge of the connection bar  11 , which is descending, into the second passage  18 , which is defined in the main portion of the device, when the curved part  14   a  is inserted in the discharging orifice A. 
     The second passage  18  is defined in an interior of the lower edge of the main portion of the device and has a discharging orifice B at the rear edge thereof. Additionally, the second passage  18  has a support plate  19  at the side surface thereof. FIG. 3 shows a case that the switching member  14 - 1  is removed from the main portion of the device and thereby the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice A. 
     In the case that the length of the fastening element group  12 ′ is short, the transit resistance becomes small when the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice A. FIG. 4 shows a case in that the switching member  14 - 1  is mounted to the discharging orifice A. In this case, the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice B of a rear part of the main portion of the device. 
     In the case that the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice B of the rear part of the main portion of the device, the operation is not disturbed and the operability is improved. Alternatively, the commodities are not hurt. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view showing an operational lever  13 , which is used to press the fastening elements, when the fastening elements are pushed out, according to the fastening element device of the present invention. Here, in the upper vicinity of the operational lever  13 , a passage orifice  20  is defined such that the connection bar  11  passes through. Owing to this passage orifice  20 , the operational lever  13  is not disturbed even when the connection bar  11  passes through the second passage  18 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view for illustrating a second embodiment such that the above switching member  14 - 1  is disposed to the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. According to the embodiment, the connection bar  11  is guided by a tube member  29  after the fastening element is pushed out. According to the embodiment, under the condition that the tube member  29  guides the connection bar  11  toward the second passage  18 , it is possible to smoothly shift the connection bar  11 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevation views for illustrating a third embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. According to the embodiment, the switching mechanism is configures by a switching member  14 - 2 , which is rotated by the switching lever (not illustrated here). The switching member  14 - 2  is shaped in a lune, which rotates around a shaft  21 . If the switching member  14 - 2  is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 7, the second passage  18  is closed and the connection bar  11  is guided to the first passage  22  to be discharged from the discharging orifice A. Alternatively, if the switching member  14 - 2  is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8, the first passage  22  is closed and the connection bar  11  is guided to the second passage  18 . Accordingly, the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice B of the rear part of the main portion of the device. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevation views for illustrating a fourth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. According to the present invention, the switching mechanism is configured by a rotary switching member  14 - 3  and the switching mechanism is capable of altering a course of the connection bar by a switching lever  23  shown in FIG. 11. A section of the switching member  14 - 3  has a substantially circular form and two passages  24  and  25  are established. Additionally, it is possible to rotate the switching member  14 - 3  by the switching lever  23 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a case that the switching member  14 - 3  is rotated clockwise in the drawing and the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  24 . When the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  24 , the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice A of a lower edge of a front part of the main portion of the device. Additionally, FIG. 10 shows a case that the switching member  14 - 3  is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing and the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  25 . If the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  25 , the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice B of the rear part of the main portion of the device through the second passage  18  of the main portion of the device. According to the embodiment, it is possible to switch the discharging position through one touch operation by the switching lever  23 . 
     FIGS. 11 to  13  are explanatory views for illustrating an operating procedure of the switching lever  23 . FIG. 11 is a view of the switching lever  23  from one side face of the fastening element attaching device. The switching member  14 - 3  is capable of being switched by rotating the switching lever  23  in the directions represented by arrows. FIG. 12 shows a case that the switching lever  23  is pushed into in a direction represented by an arrow X and is fixed so that the switching lever  23  is not rotated and the switching member is not moved in the operation. Alternatively, FIG. 13 shows an example such that the switching lever  23  is pushed out to a direction represented in an arrow Y so that the switching lever  23  is capable of being rotated. Under this condition, it becomes possible to switch the switching member for the first time. FIGS. 14 and 15 are side elevation views for illustrating a fifth embodiment of the fastening element attaching device according to the present invention. According to the present invention, the switching member is configured by a slide switching member  14 - 4  and it is inserted in a groove  28 , which is defined in the main portion of the device, slidably. Operating this switching member  14 - 4  is capable of changing a course of the connection bar  11 . The switching member  14 - 4  is configured in a tabular shape and two passages  26  and  27  are defined. Additionally, a switching lever  31  shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is capable of sliding the switching member  14 - 4 . FIG. 14 shows a case that the switching member  14 - 4  is slid in a right direction in the drawing and the connection bar  11  is set so as to be guided to the passage  26 . This corresponds to FIG.  16 . When the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  26 , the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice A at a lower edge of a front part of the main portion of the device. Alternatively, FIG. 15 shows a case that the switching member  14 - 4  is slid in right and left directions in the drawing and the connection bar  11  is set so as to be guided to the passage  27 . This corresponds to FIG.  17 . When the connection bar  11  is guided to the passage  27 , the connection bar  11  is discharged from the discharging orifice B through the second passage  18  of the main portion of the device. According to the embodiment, it is possible to switch the discharging position through one touch operation by the switching lever  31 . 
     Alternatively, according to the above described embodiments, an example such that the discharging position is switched through one touch operation by the switching mechanism is described. However, after the fastening elements are detached from the connection bar  11 , this remaining connection bar  11  may be discharged only from the discharging orifice B at a rear part of the main portion of the device through the second passage  18  of the main portion of the device without disposing the discharging orifice A on the switching mechanism and the main portion of the device. Also, the connection bar  11  may be discharged only from the low part of the discharging orifice C of the operational lever  13  through the second passage  18  of the main portion of the device and the operational lever  13 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described examples but it is possible to provide various designs on the basis of a technical concept of the present invention. 
     For example, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the present invention can also be applied to a fastening element attaching device in that a separate fastening element group in which a plurality of fastening elements being supported by two connecting bars is used. 
     In these drawings, a fastening element group  40  is shown and it comprises a plurality of fastening elements  41  each having a flexible filament part  42 , an insertion head  43  having an appropriate engaging part, and provided on one end of the filament part  42 , and a socket part  45  having an insertion hole  44  for irreversible passing of the insertion head part  43 , and provided on the other end of the filament part  42  are arranged so that the filament parts  42  thereof are mutually adjacent and parallel, with each of the plurality of insertion head parts  43  or a portion proximity thereto and socket parts  45  or a portion proximity thereto, being caused to be connected to separately provided connection bar  46  and  46 ′. 
     FIG. 20, shows a separate fastening element attaching device  10  from the fastening element attaching device as explained above, and it has formed in it a vertical grooves  50  and  51  into which each one of the connection bars  46  and  46 ′ are inserted, respectively. 
     For example, the connection bar  46 ′ linked to a socket part  45  of the fastening element sealing implement  41  is inserted into the vertical groove  50 , and the connection bar  46  linked to the insertion head part  43  is inserted into the vertical groove  51 . 
     A shooting pin (not shown in the drawing) is arranged in a sideways direction of the vertical groove  51 , this pin being driven by the lever  52  of the fastening element attaching device  10 , the insertion head part  43  being separated from the connection bar  46 , and pushed out and frontward, along a cylindrically shaped guide pin  15 . 
     The socket  45  supported by the connection bar  46 ′ is inserted into the vertical groove  50  is separated by a push-out belt (not shown in the drawing) from the connection bar  46 ′, and is pushed out and frontward one by one, along a curved socket part guide  53 . 
     Since the present invention employs various constitutions as described above, it is possible to discharge the connection bar from a rear edge of the main portion of the device even when a long fastening element group (pin) is used. Accordingly, even when the long fastening element group is used, the operability is capable of being improved. Alternatively, there is no possibility to damage the commodities and to hurt fingers and hands of the operator by the connection bar. Additionally, in the case that a short fastening element group is used, it is possible to discharge it from a front part of the main portion of the device.