Improvements in Wire Stapling Machines for Binding Books, Pamphlets, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by ANGUS GEORGE MACKAY, of 60, Duane Street, in
the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America,
Merchant.]
Improvements in Wire Stapling Machines for Binding Books,
Pamphlets, and the like.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to wire stitching machines whereby books, pamphlets or
blanks are bound by driving wire staples through the books, pamphlets or blanks
along the line of binding.
The objects of this invention are to improve the construction of the staple
forming and driving devices; to provide means for shifting the wire feed mechanism
quickly into an operative or inoperative position and to simplify the means for
operating and adjusting the feed mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wire stitching machine provided with my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the wire
feed mechanism.
Figure 4 is an edge view of the same.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section in line 5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section to an enlarged scale on the line 6-6
of Figure 1, showing the position of the parts when a staple has been driven into
the book.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the anvil
presents a wire blank to the staple former and driver.
Figure 8 is a sectional front view of the head of the machine with the face plate
and connecting parts removed, the section being taken substantially on line 8-8,
Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the wire feed mechanism.
Figure 10 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale on line 10-10, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the staple shoe or support.
Figure 12 is a horizontal section, to an enlarged scale, on line 12-12 Figure 1,
and
Figure 13 is a sectional top plan view, to an enlarged scale, of the head of the
machine and connecting parts.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
The frame of the machine consists essentially of a base A. a pedestal a rising
from the front portion of the base, an arm a rising from the rear portion of the

page_text: base and overhanging the pedestal and a hollow supporting head B arranged at
the front end of said arm. C represents the saddle or table which is mounted on
the pedestal and upon which the books or blanks to be stitched are placed.
D represents the horizontal driving shaft which is journalled in the upper portion
of the overhanging arm and which is provided at its front end within the
supporting head with a driving wheel d and at its rear end with a driving pulley d
for receiving a belt. D¹ represents the removable face plate which closes the front
side of the hollow supporting head.
E represents the vertically reciprocating staple former which is guided between
the supporting head and its face plate and which is operated by a cam groove e
arranged on the front side of the driving wheel and receiving a roller or projec-
tion e on the rear side of the former. The former is provided on the front side
of its lower end with two bending jaws e3e3 which are adapted to bend the legs
of the staple.
F represents the vertically reciprocating staple driver which is guided on the
staple former and which is operated by a link f connecting the upper end of the
driver with a crank pin on the driving wheel. The lower end of the driver is
provided with a hammer or head f¹ which slides between the jaws of the former.
G represents a wire cutter of any suitable construction which is arranged on
the front side of the face plate and which receives the wire and cuts the same
up into proper lengths for producing the staples.
H represents the anvil whereby the wire blanks are carried from the cutter
rearwardly underneath the former and driver and holds the blank during the
operation of bending the legs thereon and partly driving the same. This anvil
is provided with a rearwardly opening jaw h and is arranged on the lower end
of a hanger h¹ which is pivoted at its upper end to the face plate so that the anvil
can swing backwardly and forwardly. The wire blank is firmly held in the jaw
of the anvil while being carried from the cutter to the former and driver by a
sliding presser rod or bar i having a presser toe i¹. While the anvil is carrying
the wire blank from the cutter to the former and driver the presser toe is pressed
down on the wire blank by a spring arranged in a pocket in rear of the anvil
arm and bearing with its upper end against an adjusting screw while its lower end
bears against a shoulder on the presser rod. During the downward movement
of the former the presser rod is lifted from the wire blank by an elbow lever j
pivoted on the face plate and having one of its arms connected with the upper end
of the presser rod while its opposite end is engaged by a cam j¹ on the former,
as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. All of the foregoing mechanism may be of any
well known or usual construction.
The anvil is moved forwardly by the driver which latter in its downward move-
ment for driving the staple into the book engages with the inclined upper side of
the anvil and deflects the same forwardly so that the jaw of the anvil is in line
with the wire stock in the cutter. The backward movement of the anvil is pro-
duced by a rock lever K which is pivoted by a horizontal bolt k to the face plate
so as to swing lengthwise of the niachine. This lever is provided on its lower
arm with a pin which bears against the front side of the anvil arm and
its upper arm is provided with a pin which is adapted to be engaged by a
cam or incline 75 on the front side of the driver. During the last portion of the
upward movement of the driver its cam turns the rock lever in the direction of
the arrow and the latter moves the anvil backwardly, whereby the wire blank
which has been severed from the wire stock is carried from the cutter underneath
the driver and former. The driver is provided below the incline, with a straight
portion which engages with the projection of the rock lever and holds the
rock lever and anvil rigidly in position until the former in its subsequent down-
ward movement engages with the wire blank and bends the came into a staple.
This means of moving the anvil under the driver is positive and causes the anvil
to be held rigidly in place while the former is bending the wire blank into a
staple.

page_text: L represents a support or shee whereby the staple is supported and guided
while being driven into the book or blank and which is arranged to move back-
ward and forward across the path of the driver. This staple support is provided
on its front portion with an upper inclined side which rises from the front end
of the staple support, and a lower convex curved side which descends from the
front end of the staple support. The rear portion of the staple support is provided
with a longitudinal slot and a convex curved underside 7.
M represents a bifurcated hanger or bracket whereby the staple support is
supported. This hanger is secured with its upper end to the lower portion of the
supporting head and its arms are connected by a horizontal pin or roller m which
passes transversely through the slot of the staple support and a horizontal pin or
roller m which is arranged transversely below the rear curved underside of the
staple support. The staple support is normally moved forwardly and elevated with
its front end by a spring m² which is connected at one end to the lower portion of
the hanger while its other end is connected with a downwardly curved arm m³
on the rear end of the staple support. As the driver rises, after driving a staple
into the book, the anvil moves underneath the former and carries a wire blank
horizontally underneath the former and driver and the staple support is moved
forwardly and pressed with its upper inclined side against the underside of the
anvil, as represented in Figures 7 and 8. The former now descends and bends
the ends of the wire blank downwardly on opposite sides of the anvil and the front
portion of the staple support, as shown in dotted lines Figure 8. During the
first portion of the subsequent downward movement of the driver the latter in
deflecting the anvil forwardly strips the staple from the anvil and presses the
cross bar thereof against the inclined upper side of the staple support. During
the continued downward movement of the driver the latter strips the staple
from the inclined side of the support and forces the same through the book. Ag
the staple is stripped from the support the driver by its engagement with the
incline of the support first forces the support downwardly until the rounded
underside of the front portion of the support rests on the blank and the rounded
underside of the rear portion thereof rests on the pin or roller m' after which the
continued downward movement of the driver forces the support rearwardly out
of the path of the driver. As the support moves rearwardly it slides with its
slotted rear portion on the roller m of the hanger and with its curved rear under-
side on the roller m¹ and strains the spring m³. The position of the roller m¹ is
such that it arrests the descent of the support just as the latter reaches the book
to be bound. This prevents the support from being pressed excessively against
the book, thereby avoiding marring of the same or displacing the sheets of the
book as the support withdraws rearwardly.
The wire from which the staples are made is unwound from a spool N which is
supported on the upper end of the head and passes thence through a guide n on the
face plate, thence between a pair of feed rollers 001 which turn on horizontal
parallel pivots, thence through a curved guide on the face plate, thence between
the blades of the cutter and into the jaw of the anvil. The inner feed roller O
is mounted on a shaft (2 which is journalled in a fixed bearing o³ in the face plate
and the outer feed roller () is pivoted on the upper arm of a rock lever Q whereby
the outer feed roller may be moved toward and from the inner feed roller. The
outer feed roller is yieldingly held in engagement with the inner roller feed by a
spring which bears with one end against the bottom of a socket 1 in the face plate
and with its other end against an adjusting screw 2 which is arranged on the
lower arm of the rock lever. Upon turning the screw the pressure of the
feed rollers on the wire may be regulated.
S represents a trip or throw off lever whereby the action of the wire feed rollers
may be stopped. This lever is arranged on the outer side of the roller lever
and is pivoted on the face plate by a pivot s which passes through an opening s
in the lower arm q' of the rock lever. The upper arm of the throw off lever is
provided with a handle for turning the same and its lower arm is provided with

page_text: a pin or projection which engages with an incline or cam face on the adjacent
portion of the feed roller lever. When the throw off lever is in the position shown
in Figures 4 and 5, its lower arm stands opposite the base of the incline s of the
roller lever in which position of the parts the feed rollers are in operative engage-
ment. Upon turning the throw off lever in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4,
the lower arm thereof engages with the incline of the roller lever and turns the
latter so that the outer feed roller is moved away from the inner feed roller and
the feeding action of these rollers is arrested. This means of shifting one feed
roller toward or from the other roller permits of stopping and starting the
feeding action of these rollers quickly and without disturbing the adjustment of
the spring r, and it also permits of conveniently inserting the wire between the
feed rollers.
•
The feed rollers are rotated intermittently by a driving mechanism which is
capable of adjustment for varying the feed of the wire and which is constructed as
follows:-
TT represent two intermeshing gear wheels which are connected respectively
with the feed rollers 001 and whereby these rollers are caused to turn in unison.
t represents a ratchet wheel which is secured to the shaft 02 see Figure 12 in
rear of the face plate. t' is a ratchet lever turning loosely on the shaft 02 and
provided with a pawl which is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by
a spring 13.
U represents an outer rock lever pivoted on the rear side of the face plate and
provided in one of its arms with a longitudinal slot, u and on its other arm with
a gear segment u¹ which meshes with a gear pinion ² secured to the ratchet arm.
The gear pinion and ratchet arm are confined on the shaft 02 by a collar ³ on
the rear end of the shaft.
V represents an inner rock lever pivoted on the rear side of the face plate and
provided in one of its arms with a longitudinal slot and on its other arm with
a roller or projection which engages with a cam groove in the driving wheel d.
The slotted arm of the inner rock lever is arranged lengthwise of the slotted arm
of the outer rock lever and is coupled therewith by a coupling or clamping bolt W.
This bolt is arranged in the slotted arms of both rock levers and is provided
with a shoulder between the arms. One end of the coupling bolt is screw
threaded and is clamped to the arm through which it passes by a screw nut w²
engaging with the screw thread of the bolt and bearing against one side of the arm
and a washer arranged between the shoulder of the bolt and the other side
of the respective arm. The opposite end of the bolt is provided with a thumb
piece for turning the bolt and with a roller which is arranged in the slot
of the other rock arm. During each rotation of the main shaft the cam 2
oscillates the inner rock lever and this movement of the latter is transmitted by
the coupling bolt to the outer rock lever and from the latter by the segment,
pinion and ratchet mechanism to the feed rollers whereby the wire is fed forward
sufficiently for producing one staple. As the rock levers and V rock with
reference to each other the roller of the coupling bolt slides back and forth in its
respective slotted arm. Upon adjusting the coupling bolt lengthwise in the
slotted arms of the rock levers the relative throw of these levers may be varied
for changing the feed of the rollers in accordance with the length of staple which
is desired. For convenience in determining the correct position of the coupling
bolt for producing the desired feed of the wire a graduated scale is arranged on the
slotted arm of one of the levers and a pointer which traverses said scale is
mounted on some part connected with the bolt for instance on the clamping nut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the movable anvil, of a
rock lever which moves the anvil across the path of the driver and which is
operated by the driver, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the pivoted anvil provided
with an incline which is engaged by the driver for moving the anvil out of the path
of the driver, of a rock lever having one of its arms engaging with the anvil,
and an incline or cam arranged on the driver and adapted to engage with the
other arm of the rock lever for turning the latter and moving the anvil into the
path of the driver, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the anvil, of a movable
staple support adapted to engage with said anvil and driver, and a support on
which said staple support slides away from the anvil and driver, substantially
as set forth.
4. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the anvil, of a movable
staple support, a support in which said staple support slides away from the anvil
and driver and a spring whereby the staple support is pressed against the anvil
and the driver, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the anvil, of a staple
support adapted to bear against the anvil and driver and provided with a longi-
tudinal slot, a support or roller arranged in the slot of the staple support and a
spring whereby the staple support is yieldingly held in engagement with the
anvil and the driver, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with the reciprocating driver and the anvil, of a staple
support adapted to bear against the anvil and driver and provided with a longi-
tudinal slot, a support or roller arranged in the slot of the staple support, a support
or roller arranged below the staple support and a spring whereby the staple support
is yieldingly held in engagement with the anvil and the driver substantially as
set forth.
7. The combination with the wire stitching mechanism, of a pair of wire feed
rollers, a stationary bearing in which one of said rollers is journalled, a rock lever
upon which the other roller is journalled, a spring whereby the lever is turned for
engaging the feed rollers, and a trip lever whereby the rock lever is turned for
disengaging the feed rollers, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the wire stitching mechanism, of a pair of wire feed
rollers, a stationary bearing in which one of said rollers is journalled, a rock lever
upon which the other roller is journalled, a spring whereby the lever is turned
for engaging the feed rollers, and a trip lever which engages with an incline or
cam on the rock lever and whereby the latter is turned for disengaging the feed
rollers, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the wire stitching mechanism, of a pair of wire feed
rollers, a stationary bearing in which one of said rollers is journalled, a rock
lever upon which the other roller is journalled, an adjusting screw arranged on
the rock lever, a spring journalled with said adjusting screw for turning the
rock lever and engaging the feed rollers, and a trip lever provided with a pin
or projection which engages with an incline or cam on the rock lever and turns
the latter for disengaging the feed rollers, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with the driving shaft and the feed mechanism of two
slotted actuating rock levers which are interposed between the driving shaft and
the feed mechanism, and which project from their respective fulcra toward and
past each other, and an adjustable coupling belt passing through the slots of both
levers, whereby the effective length of one lever is shortened and that of the
other increased by adjusting the bolt in said slots substantially as set forth.
Dat the 17th day of Santambar 1808
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.