Patent Publication Number: US-2021180632-A1

Title: Strip of fastening elements

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The application relates to a strip of fastening elements. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Driving devices usually have a setting channel for fastening elements, said setting channel extending in a fastening direction, and a magazine for transport of the fastening elements in a transport direction to the setting channel. The fastening elements are usually made available in the form of strips of fastening elements, wherein such a strip of fastening elements comprises receptacles for the fastening elements. The receptacles of a strip are arranged in a row and connected to one another by means of connecting webs. The strips of fastening elements are introduced one after another into a transport channel of the magazine. 
     Magazines and strips of fastening elements are known in which the fastening direction and the transport direction enclose an acute angle. This means that the fastening elements are offset relative to one another in the fastening direction such that a frontmost fastening element in the transport direction is also the frontmost fastening element in the fastening direction. If a plurality of strips of fastening elements are arranged behind one another in the transport channel, this has the effect that a strip of fastening elements succeeding in the transport direction exerts a force on a strip of fastening elements preceding in the transport direction, said force having a force component counter to the fastening direction. This results in increased friction during the transport of the strips of fastening elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to make available a strip of fastening elements that is easily transportable in a magazine. 
     The object is achieved by a strip of fastening elements having receiving elements and fastening elements received in the receiving elements, said fastening elements each defining a fastening direction that is the same for all fastening elements, wherein the receiving elements are arranged in at least one row, which defines a transport direction, a frontmost receiving element and a rearmost receiving element, wherein the fastening direction and the transport direction enclose an acute angle, wherein the strip of fastening elements has a support element for supporting the frontmost receiving element counter to the fastening direction and/or a counter-support element for supporting the rearmost receiving element in the fastening direction. Through the support of the frontmost and rearmost receiving element, a force component exerted on the receiving element in the fastening direction or counter to the fastening direction is taken up, such that frictional forces during the transport of the strip of fastening elements in a transport channel of a magazine are reduced. 
     An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the frontmost receiving element has the support element and/or the rearmost receiving element has the counter-support element. 
     An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the support element is suitable for supporting the frontmost receiving element on a counter-support element of a preceding strip of fastening elements that is arranged in front of the strip of fastening elements in the transport direction, and/or the counter-support element is suitable for supporting the rearmost receiving element on a support element of a succeeding strip of fastening elements that is arranged behind the strip of fastening elements in the transport direction. 
     An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the support element comprises a projection, which protrudes in the transport direction from the frontmost receiving element, and/or the counter-support element comprises a counter-support projection, which protrudes from the rearmost receiving element counter to the transport direction. 
     An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the receiving elements each comprise a sleeve, in which one of the fastening elements is received. 
     An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the strip of fastening elements is suitable for being transported in a transport direction in a transport channel of a magazine of a driving device. The fastening elements are preferably configured as nails, pins, bolts, screws, dowels, anchors or similar. 
     The object is likewise achieved by a fastening device having a magazine, a first strip of fastening elements and a second strip of fastening elements, wherein the magazine has a transport channel for transport of the first and second strips of fastening elements in a transport direction, wherein the first and second strips of fastening elements are configured according to one of the embodiments described above. Preferably, the support element of the strip of fastening elements succeeding in the transport direction and the counter-support element of the strip of fastening elements preceding in the transport direction are in engagement with each other and support each other. 
    
    
     
       EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       Embodiments of a device for driving a fastening element into a base are explained in more detail below on the basis of examples and with reference to the drawings, in which: 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows two strips of fastening elements in a partial side view, 
       FIG. 2  shows one strip of fastening elements in a partial side view, and 
       FIG. 3  shows two strips of fastening elements in a partial side view. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first strip  10  of fastening elements and a second strip  20  of fastening elements in a partial side view. The first strip  10  of fastening elements comprises a multiplicity of first receiving elements  11 , configured as sleeves, and first fastening elements  12  which are received in the first receiving elements  11  and each define a fastening direction  30 , which is the same for all first fastening elements  12 . The first receiving elements  11  are arranged in two rows along a transport direction  40 . The second strip  20  of fastening elements comprises a multiplicity of second receiving elements  21 , configured as sleeves, and second fastening elements  22  which are received in the second receiving elements  21  and are each oriented in the fastening direction  30 . The second receiving elements  21  are arranged in two rows along the transport direction  40 . In the transport direction  40 , the first strip  10  of fastening elements forms a succeeding strip of fastening elements, and the second strip  20  of fastening elements forms a preceding strip of fastening elements. 
     The fastening direction  30  and the transport direction  40  enclose an angle of 70°. A rearmost receiving element  23  of the second strip  20  of fastening elements has a counter-support element  25 , which supports the rearmost receiving element  23  on a frontmost receiving element  13  of the first strip  10  of receiving elements in the fastening direction  30 . The counter-support element  25  is for this purpose configured as a counter-support projection, which protrudes from the rearmost receiving element  23  counter to the transport direction  40  and bears from below on the frontmost receiving element  13  of the first strip  10  of fastening elements. The first and second strips  10 ,  20  of fastening elements thus engage in each other in a form-fit manner with respect to the fastening direction  30 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a strip  110  of fastening elements in a partial side view. The strip  110  of fastening elements comprises a multiplicity of receiving elements  111 , configured as sleeves, and fastening elements  112  which are received in the receiving elements  111  and each define a fastening direction  130 , which is the same for all fastening elements  112 . The first receiving elements  111  are arranged in one row along a transport direction  140 . 
     The fastening direction  130  and the transport direction  140  enclose an angle of 70°. A rearmost receiving element  123  of the strip  110  of fastening elements in the transport direction  140  has a counter-support element  125 , which supports the rearmost receiving element  123  in the fastening direction  130 . The counter-support element  125  is for this purpose configured as a counter-support projection, which protrudes from the rearmost receiving element  123  counter to the transport direction  140 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a strip  210  of fastening elements in a partial side view. The strip  210  of fastening elements comprises a multiplicity of receiving elements  211  configured as sleeves and fastening elements  212  which are received in the receiving elements  211  and each define a fastening direction  230 , which is the same for all fastening elements  212 . The first receiving elements  211  are arranged in a row along a transport direction  240 . The fastening direction  230  and the transport direction  240  enclose an angle of 70°. 
     For simplified production, all the receiving elements  211  have the same contour. Each receiving element  211  of the strip  210  of fastening elements has a support element  215 , configured as a support projection, and a counter-support element  225 , configured as a counter-support projection, which protrude from the respective receiving element  211  in the transport direction  240  and counter to the transport direction  240 , respectively. The support element of a frontmost receiving element (not shown) of the strip  210  of fastening elements supports the frontmost receiving element, on the counter-support element of a rearmost receiving element (likewise not shown) of a strip of fastening elements preceding in transport direction  240 , counter to the fastening direction. The counter-support element of a rearmost receiving element (not shown) of the strip  210  of fastening elements supports the rearmost receiving element, on the support element of a frontmost receiving element (likewise not shown) of a strip of fastening elements succeeding in transport direction  240 , in the fastening direction. 
     The invention has been described using a series of exemplary embodiments. The individual features of the various exemplary embodiments can be used individually or in any desired combination with one another, provided that they are not contradictory. It should be noted that the strip of fastening elements according to the invention can also be used for other applications.