Patent Publication Number: US-6659326-B2

Title: Washer supply device on a power nailer

Description:
This is a Continuation-In-Part application of the applicant&#39;s former U.S. Pat. No. 09/765,565, filed Jan. 22, 2001 now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Background of the Invention 
     A conventional washer supply device for a power nailer  12  is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and generally includes a retaining tube  13  connected to a side of the power nailer  12  and a pushing rod  150  extends through the retaining tube  13 . A spring  15  is connected to the pushing rod  150  and a engaging head  151  is connected to a lower end of the pushing rod  150 . A washer transferring member  14  connected to a nose  120  of the nailer  12  and a tubular casing  11  is engaged between the retaining tube  13  and the washer transferring member  14 . A plurality of washers  10  are piled in the tubular casing  11  and the washers  10  can be transferred to the nose  120  so as to be work with the nails ejected from the nose  120 . The washers  10  are pressed downward by the engaging head  151  and the tubular casing  11  is made of stiff material so that when some of the washers  10  are jammed in the tubular casing  11 , the tubular casing  11  has to be discarded. The tubular casing  11  cannot be reused again so that it is a huge waste and the cost for the tubular casings  11  are expensive. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,580 to Beach et al. discloses a roofing washer-dispensing and fastener-driving machine which uses a rigid rod  38  with a head (not numbered) to push the stack of the washers downward. It is to be noted that, the size of the head connected to the rigid rod  38  is limited when compared with the size of the washers so that it has to be positioned in the center of the washers or the washers could be pushed off the central axial direction and cannot be provided as expected. This is important when the size of the washers is smaller than the interior of the magazine. 
     The present invention intends to provide a washer supply device wherein the pushing rod has an engaging head which is accurately engaged with a groove in a surface of each washer so that the washers are exerted an axial force and are ensured to be pushed along a desired path. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washer supply device and comprises a hollow tubular member connected to a side of a power nailer and an opening is defined longitudinally through the tubular member. A washer transferring member is connected to the power nailer and a lower end of the tubular member is rested on the washer transferring member. A hole is defined through the washer transferring member and communicates with an interior of the tubular member. A cap is connected to a top end of the tubular member and a pushing rod extends through the cap and an engaging head is connected to a lower end of the pushing rod so as to engage with a groove defined in a surface of each washer. A spring is mounted to the pushing rod and located between the cap and the engaging head. A flexible wire frictionally extends through the central holes of the stack of the washers. The washers are received in the tubular member via the opening and the wire is pulled out from the washers via the hole in the washer transferring member. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a washer supply device wherein the washers are correctly pushed along the axial direction toward the washer transferring member. 
    
    
     These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show a conventional washer supply device for power nailers; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the conventional washer supply device; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show a washer supply device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A shows the profile of the engaging head connected to the pushing rod and the groove of each of the washers; 
     FIG. 3B shows the engaging head is matched with a washer; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show the washer supply device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show the washer supply device of the present invention, and 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the wire extending through washers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , the washer supply device for power nailers of the present invention comprises a hollow tubular member  21  which is connected to a side of a power nailer  20  and an elongated opening  213  is defined longitudinally through the tubular member  21 . A washer transferring member  22  is connected to a nose portion of the power nailer  20  and a lower end of the tubular member  21  is rested on the washer transferring member  22 . A hole  221  is defined through the washer transferring member  22  and communicates with an interior of the tubular member  21 . A cap  210  is threadedly connected to a top end of the tubular member  21  and a pushing rod  211  extends through the cap  210 . Further referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an engaging head  212  is connected to a lower end of the pushing rod  211  and a spring  23  mounted to the pushing rod  211  is located between the cap  210  and the engaging head  212 . 
     A pile of washers  32  each have a central hole  321  and a flexible wire  31  frictionally extends through the central holes  321  so that the washers  32  are collected as a pile by the friction of the wire  31 . An annular groove  320  is defined in a surface thereof. A peripheral flange  321  extends radially from an outer periphery of each washer  32 . The pile of washers  32  is then received in the tubular member  21  via the opening  213 , and the wire  31  is pulled out from the washers  32  via the hole  221  in the washer transferring member  22 . The pile of washers  32  is pressed by the engaging head  212  and the lowest washer  32  will be sent in the washer transferring member  22 . The engaging head  212  includes an outer portion  2120  which has a skirt portion extending downward so as to press on the peripheral flange  321  of each of the washer  32 , and an inner portion  2121  which extends from an underside of the engaging head  212  and is designed to engage with an annular groove  321  defined in a surface of each washer  32 . By this way, each washer  32  is double-secured by the engaging head  212  and is ensured to be pushed along the axial direction of the tubular member  21 . 
     FIG. 6 shows that the top end  33  of the wire  31  can be made to be a large head which applies a force to the pile of the washers  31  so that the pile washers  32  are conveniently collected together and carried. 
     Accordingly, even if the interior of the tubular member  21  is larger than the diameter of the washers  32 , the washers  32  are pushed firmly along the axial direction and no washer  32  is pushed aside or inclined during feeding. This ensures that the washers  32  are provided constantly. 
     While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.