IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL- DRIVING APPARATUS OR MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I-WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIL-
DRIVING APPARATUS OR MACHINES
This invention belongs to that class of nail-driving devices which are provided
with a driver-head having a passage in it to receive and guide a reciprocating
plunger by which the nails are driven, and in which the nails are fed to the
passage of said driver-head beneath the plunger by means of a channelled nail-
holder or magazine, which is removably attached to the head, and adapted to
deliver the nails through a side opening in the head; the said head being provided
with devices constructed to successively separate each nail from the line of nails
held in the magazine, and to bring and hold said nails into position to be driven
by the forward motion of the plunger.
In a device embodying my invention the nails are preferably fed forward, or
carried along in the channels of the nail magazines by gravity, but as far as the
operation of the parts constituting the present invention is concerned, the nails
may be moved in the channels by sliding hooks, springs, or other devices.
One important feature of construction in a device embodying my invention,
consists of a nail-holder or magazine which is provided with two or more nail-
holding channels, and is sustained upon the head in position for delivery of nails
to the driving devices thereon by means of a shifting support, and locking devices
therefor, constructed to hold said magazine with either of its channels in alignment
with the nail-apertures of the head.
As a preferable construction in the devices above referred to, the shifting
support is attached to and constructed to slide upon the driving head, and the end
of the magazine remote from the head is sustained by means of a support or arm,
which is rigidly attached to the head, and is adapted to receive the outer end of
the magazine, and hold it immovable with relation to the head. By this con-
struction the magazine is made movable for the purpose of bringing either of the
nail-channels in position for delivery of the nails, at its inner end only, or at that

page_text: end engaged with the shifting support. The said rigid support or arm is desirably
made of "U" shape in cross-section so as to receive the magazine within it, and
constructed to form a handle by which the driver may be conveniently grasped in
manipulating it.
To enable the nail magazines to be readily removed or separated from the
driving head, for the purpose of conveniently refilling them when empty, the
shifting support above mentioned is preferably provided with projections or arms
adapted to engage notches in the end of the magazine adjacent to it, and the
magazine is sustained at its outer end upon the fixed support by means of a spring
attached to the support and engaging the end of the magazine; said spring and
magazine being provided with interlocking notches and projections whereby the
end of the magazine engaged with the spring is held from vertical displacement.
The magazine is preferably held from side movement by means of laterally
arranged springs placed at each side of the magazine. The spring support for the
outer end of the magazine allows the latter to be readily removed from the driver,
by first disengaging said outer end of the magazine from the spring and then
freeing its inner end, the latter being held in engagement with the arms or pro-
jections upon the said shifting support by the action of the said spring which
tends to thrust the magazine longitudinally toward the head. The said spring
also allows the slight movement of the outer end of the magazine occurring when
in its inner end is shifted laterally. As a simple and desirable construction in the
parts, the shifting support is movably sustained upon the head by means of a
dovetailed projection, sliding in a transverse dovetailed slot in the head, and said
support is provided with a spring-detent engaging notches in the head, to form the
locking device for holding the nail channels in alignment with the lateral nail-
passage of the head.
The reciprocating plunger by which the nails are driven after being fed to the
driver-head from the magazine as before described, will usually consist of a
cylindric rod fitted to slide in the passage of the head, and held at the upper limit
of its movement by a spring suitably applied for the purpose ;-a pin in the head
engaging a longitudinal slot in the plunger being desirably provided for holding
the plunger from rotation, and to limit its upward movement. The plunger is
preferably made of the same length as the head, so that when the plunger is
depressed by a blow from a hammer or mallet in driving the nail, the driving-
implement will be arrested by contact with the head when the plunger reaches the
lower limit of its movement. As an improved construction in devices for separating
the foremost nail from the line of nails fed from the magazine, for moving the
separated nail into the passage beneath the plunger, and for holding the nail in
position for driving until the descent of the plunger, means are provided as
follows;
Within the driver-head opposite the lateral aperture thereof through which the
nails enter, is located an oscillating hook or jaw, which is pivoted in a suitable
recess in the head, with its axis of rotation parallel with the longitudinal axis of
the plunger. The said jaw is adapted to swing when moved across or over the
passage beneath the plunger, and also across the lateral aperture by which the
nails enter said passage. Said jaw is provided upon its advance side with a
concave or inwardly curved face terminating at a point at the outer end of the jaw
and also with a surface at its outer or free end curved concentrically with the pivotal
face of the jaw, and adapted to close the nail aperture when the jaw is thrown
forward across it. The jaw is held with its free end over the nail aperture by a
spring suitably applied for this purpose, and said jaw is provided upon its upper
surface with a projecting part having an inclined face adapted for engagement
with the plunger, in such manner that the jaw will be thrown backwardly out of
the path of the plunger in the descent of the latter. The surface of the passage in
the driver-head is made continuous longitudinally at its side opposite the concave
face of the hook, and the parts are so arranged that when the hook is thrown
forward by the action of the spring, a nail advanced into the passage of the head

page_text: when the hook is retracted, will be separated from the nails behind it and carried
or pressed inwardly by the action of the curved face of the hook and the opposing
curved wall of the recess in the head, until it reaches a point beneath the plunger
where it is held between the jaw and the wall of the passage until the plunger in
descending to drive the nail, thrusts back the jaw, so as to release the nail, and at
the same time carries it downwardly and out of the head.
To prevent more than one nail at a time entering the passage of the head
through the lateral nail-aperture when the jaw is retracted, an oscillating, hook-
shaped detent is provided, which is preferably pivoted concentrically with the jaw
above mentioned, and is provided with an inner concave face arranged opposite the
concave face of the jaw, the said detent being connected with the jaw so as to
move with the latter when it is oscillated. The outer end or point of the detent is
arranged near the point of the jaw, and somewhat nearer the pivotal axis of the
jaw than the point of the latter, the space between them being somewhat greater
than the thickness of a nail. These parts are so arranged, that when the jaw
is retracted to admit a nail through the nail aperture, the outer surface of the
detent will come opposite the said aperture in position to arrest the forward
movement of the line of nails when one nail has entered the passage, so that when
the jaw is advanced, the forward nail will pass between the points of the hook
and detent, and will be carried inwardly by the curved surface of the hook, in the
manner before described.
In order to prevent the detent from becoming injured or broken by striking the
surface of a crooked or badly formed nail, when advanced by the forcible down-
ward movement of the plunger acting through the oscillating jaw, as described,
said detent is attached to the jaw by a spring connection adapted to permit the
point of the detent to yield backwardly. As a preferable construction in these
parts, the jaw and detent will be mounted upon the same pivot, and one of said
parts will be provided with a projection located between two stops upon the other
parts, whereby a limited relative movement of the detent and jaw will be permitted,
a spring being applied between the parts adapted to hold the detent yieldingly in
operative position, for the purpose above stated.
For the purpose of holding and guiding the lower ends or shanks of the nails in
the downward movement of the latter, a laterally movable guide may be located
in the lower part of the longitudinal passage of the head, said guide being arranged
to extend into the said passage to sustain and guide the nails, and to yield
outwardly, upon contact of the plunger therewith, in its downward movement
through the passage. Said guide preferably consists of a block pivoted at its
upper end in the head, and having a spring applied to throw its lower or free end
into the passage. When a single guide is used, it will operate in connection with
the opposite side of the passage to hold the nail; but instead of one guide, two
similar opposing guides may be employed operating together to hold the nail
centrally in the passage.
In the use of a nail driver of the character above described for nailing laths, or
similar work, it often becomes desirable to move or shift the unfastened end of a
lath or strip to bring it into a desired position for nailing. To enable this to be
conveniently done, the driver may be provided with one or more projecting teeth
or spurs adapted to engage one or both edges of a lath to move it laterally as
above described said spurs are desirably mounted to slide longitudinally in the
head, and held outwardly by springs, so that they may yield backwardly to allow
the driver to come in contact with the surface of the wood, when they are not
employed for the purpose above stated.
The feeding devices for the nails, are as before stated, preferably adapted to
operate by gravity, and for this purpose, the removable nail-magazines will be
suitably constructed to enable the nails to slide freely in the channels thereof and
the magazine support upon the driving head will be held, when the driver is in
operation, in such position that the nails will gravitate from the channels of the
magazine to the said driver-head. This may be accomplished when the magazine

page_text: is supported upon the head at right angles with the axis of the plunger, by holding
the driver with the head thereof downward in operating upon a vertical or side
wall; and in operating upon a horizontal surface, (as a floor or ceiling), by moving
the hand which holds the driver in such manner as to cause the nails to gravitate
toward the head after each nail is driven. Special forms of the device may
however be employed for use in driving nails vertically downward or upward, in
which the magazine holder is adapted to sustain the magazine in an inclined
position relatively to the axis of the plunger.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Nan Driving Apparatus or machines.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents
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 par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to that class of nail-driving devices which are provided
with a driver-head having a passage in it to receive and guide a reciprocating
plunger by which the nails are driven, and in which the nails are fed to the
passage of said driver-head beneath the plunger by means of a channelled nail-
holder or magazine; the said head being provided with devices constructed to
successively separate each nail from the line of nails held in the magazine, and
to bring and hold said nails into position to be driven by the forward motion
of the plunger. In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a nail-driver.
embodying my invention;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the nail-driver with the nail-magazine
removed.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section through the handle or magazine-support with
the magazine removed, taken upon the line x-x of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the driver-head and
adjacent parts.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the nail-driver on an enlarged scale."
Figure 6 is a vertical, axial section of the driver head, taken upon line x-x of
Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the plunger removed from the machine.
Figure 8 is a cross-section of said plunger, taken upon line x-x of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a detail elevation showing the lower surface of the head of the
driver.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the rear end of the magazine-
holder, showing the devices by which the rear end of the nail-magazine is secured
in position.
Figure 11 is a detail bottom view of the pivoted hook or jaw of the driver-head
removed from the machine.
Figure 12 is a similar view of the detent.
Figure 13 is a detail sectional view of the hook or jaw, taken upon line x-x
of Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section of the same taken on the line y-y of Figure 6,
showing the position of the parts when the nail is held beneath the plunger ready
for driving.
Figure 15 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the plunger
has been depressed.
Figure 16 is a detail perspective view of the hook or detent shown in Figure 14
and 15.
Figure 17 is a bottom view of the same.
Figure 18 is a cross-section of the magazine.

page_text: Figure 19 is a vertical, axial section of the driver-head, showing devices for
centering the point of the nail.
Figure 20 is a face view in detail of one of the nail guides shown in Figure 19.
Figure 21 is a central, longitudinal section of a modified form of the nail-driver
more particularly adapted to drive nails vertically downward.
Figure 22 is a similar view of a form of the driver for use upon ceilings and in
similar situations.
A is a nail driver, which consists, principally of a head A¹ provided with a
central, vertical passage a constructed to receive and guide a reciprocating driver
or plunger B, and a hollow, open-topped handle A' attached to the said head; said
bandle, as herein shown, being formed of sheet-metal bent in U-shape, and having
outwardly extending flanges at the top edge of its sides in the middle portion
thereof, to enable it to be conveniently grasped and held by the operator. C is
a removable nail-magazine, which is supported within the hollow handle A' and
is adapted to supply nails to the recess a within the head A¹ in a manner herein-
after described.
The head A¹ is provided with a vertical slot or aperture a¹ through which nails
are admitted to the passage a of the head beneath the plunger from the channel
of the magazine placed in alignment with said slot, the latter being provided with
an enlarged or transverse portion a at its upper end for the heads of the nails.
Means are provided within the head A¹ for separating the foremost nail from the
line of nails fed to the driving head from the magazine, for moving the separated
nail into the passage a beneath the plunger, and for holding the nail in position
for being driven until the descent of the plunger, as will be hereinafter described.
The plunger B is held at the upper limit of its movement by a spiral spring b
placed around the plunger between the head 61 upon the upper end thereof and
the top of the head A¹ and is, in the operation of the device forced downwardly to
drive the nails by blows from a hammer or mallet. The said plunger, as herein
shown, is of cylindric form, and the recess a is of corresponding shape; The
head 6 being also cylindric and operating both as a shoulder for the spring and
to prevent the body of the plunger from being crushed by repeated blows of the
hammer. The spring 6 is preferably made of flat wire, with its flat side per-
pendicular to its axis, and is seated in a recess a³ (Figures 2 and 6) formed around
the plunger in the upper part of the head A. The said head A¹ also is preferably
made of approximately the same length or heighth as the plunger and is provided
in its upper end, above the recess a³ with a recess at adapted to receive the head b¹
of the plunger when the latter is depressed, whereby the upper end of the head A¹
operates as a stop to the downward movement of the hammer so as to relieve the
plunger when the latter is struck with unnecessary force and to thereby enable
the latter to be made lighter than would otherwise be practicable. The plunger
is provided with a longitudinal slot 6ª which is engaged by a stationary stud or
projection 63 upon the head A which operates to hold the said plunger from rotation
and also to limit its upward movement by engaging the lower end of the slot. As
herein shown, the stud b³ is formed upon a plate B₁ which is secured to the exterior
of the head by a screw b' the said stud being constructed to project inwardly
through an aperture 6³ in the head as clearly shown in Figure 2.
The devices for carrying the nails from the slot a¹ into the passage a and holding
them in position for driving are, as herein shown, constructed as follows: Within
the head A, opposite the upper end of the passage a¹ is located an oscillating hook
or jaw D which is pivoted in a suitable recess in said head with its axis of rotation
parallel with the axis of the passage a by means of a pivot-pin D¹; and a second
hook-shaped oscillating or vibrating jaw or detent D is pivoted in the said recess
concentrically with the jaw D and with its inner concave face opposed to the
corresponding face of the said jaw, as clearly shown in Figures 14 and 15. The
jaw D is adapted to swing across or over the passage a when rotated, and is pro-
vided at its outer or free end with a curved surface d concentric with the pivotal
point of the jaw and adapted to close the slot a¹ when the said jaw is thrown

page_text: forward across the passage a as clearly shown in Figure 14. The outer end of
the detent D is arranged approximately in a radial line with the outer end of the
point of the jaw B and somewhat nearer the pivotal axis of the said jaw than
the point of the latter, and the said detent D³ is connected with the jaw so as to
move the latter when it is rotated about its pivotal axis. The jaw is held with its
free end over the passage a by means of a spiral spring & herein shown (Figure 2)
as placed around the pivot-pin D¹ which is rotatably mounted in the head A¹ and
is rigidly attached to the jaw D, said spring being connected with the said head
and the pin so as to rotate the latter in the direction to carry the jaw D toward
the passage a. Said jaw D, also, is provided upon its upper surface with a pro-
jection d having an inner inclined face d³ adapted for engagement with the
plunger B, as clearly shown in Figures 6, 14, 15 and 16 whereby the said jaw D
will be thrust aside by the lower end of the said plunger in the descent of the
latter through the passage a. The outer end or point of the jaw D is so arranged
that when the said jaw is thrown laterally by the plunger and held with its inner
curved face in alignment with the passage a by the engagement of said plunger
therewith, as shown in Figure 15, the slot will be open to permit the entrance of
nails to the passage a.
The location of the detent D is such that a nail passing
inwardly from the slot a¹ when the jaw D is moved backwardly, will come in
contact with the outer surface of said detent D³ near the point thereof. The radial
distance between the outer surface of the detent and the end of the jaw D is
approximately equal to the thickness of the shank of a nail so that when the fore-
most nail of a line of nails is in contact with the said detent the point of the
jaw D will be opposite the space between the said foremost nail and the nail next
to it. By this construction, it is obvious that the said detent will arrest and hold
the foremost nail of the line of nails in such position that in the advance movement
of the said jaw D the point thereof will enter between the said foremost nail and
the next one of the line, whereby the said foremost nail will be separated from the
remainder of the nails in the magazine. The form of the curved inner face of the
jaw D is such that in the inward movement of the said jaw after its point has
separated or seized a nail in the manner described, the nail will be carried or
pressed inwardly to a point beneath the plunger by the action of the said curved
face of the hook and the opposing curved wall of the passage a toward which it
moves. · The wall of the passage a is as shown entirely removed to permit the
passage of the hood D across it, excepting at a point opposite the central portion of
said hook; at which point a connecting part A³ is provided for uniting the parts
of the head A¹ above and below the recess for the jaw D and detent D' whereby
the wall of the passage is made continuous vertically and a support is afforded for
the head of the nail; between which support and the said jaw the nail is held in
position for driving, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 14. By this construction,
also, a smooth, vertical face is formed upon which the nail-head may slide freely
downward in the descent of the plunger thereon when the nail is driven. The
detent D' is located at the side of the head adjacent to the connecting part A³, and
in order to enable the end of the detent to come properly over the passage a when
advanced to stop the forward movement of the nails from the magazine, said detent
is made in hook form or curved at its central portion so as to pass around the said
part A³ when the point of the detent is advanced, as clearly shown in Figures 14
and 15.
The spring d¹ is adapted to hold the jaw normally with its point advanced across
the slot a¹ and with its outer curved surface d in position to close the slot a¹; the
detent D³ at such time being swung laterally away from the said slot, as clearly
shown in Figure 14. When the device is suitably supplied with nails and is in
operation, a nail N previously separated and brought inwardly by the jaw D will
be held between the said jaw and the side wall of the passage a whenever the
hook is in the position mentioned, as clearly shown in Figure 14, said nail being
obviously held beneath the plunger in position for driving. When the plunger is
depressed to drive the nail into the wood, its lower end upon striking the incline d

page_text: will thrust aside the jaw D so as to release the nail and to carry the point of said
jaw away from the slot a¹; the detent D being at the same time moved so as to
bring its point across the slot a¹ whereby the forward movement of the nails
through the said slot is arrested. When the plunger returns to its normal position
and the jaw D is released, the latter, together with the detent D' will be carried
laterally by the spring the point of the detent in this movement obviously being
withdrawn from contact with the foremost nail of the line of nails at the same
moment that the point of the jaw D becomes engaged therewith so that the said
foremost nail is free to be carried inwardly by the curved inner face of the hook D,
in the manner before described.
As herein shown, the lower end of the plunger is bevelled or inclined to corre-
spond with the inclined face d³ of the jaw D at the point at which it comes in
contact with said jaws, as shown at 65 in Figure 6, in order to lessen the wear of
the operative surfaces.
In order to prevent the detent D³ from becoming injured or broken by striking
the surface of a crooked or badly formed nail when advanced by the forcible down-
ward movement of the plunger, the said detent is attached to the jaw or hook D
by a yielding or spring connection adapted to permit the point of the said detent
to yield backwardly a distance equal to or somewhat more than the thickness of a
nail. Any well known or desired device may be used for this purpose, but as
herein shown the parts mentioned are constructed as follows: The detent D² is
mounted to turn freely on the pivot-pin D¹ of the jaw D and is connected with
said jaw D by means of a projection d' upon the jaw adapted to engage projections
or stops d formed in or attached to the hub, or part of the detent surrounding the
pin, the distance between the stops being slightly greater than the width of the
projection so as to permit a relative movement of the detent with reference to
the jaw for the purpose above stated. The arm and detent are held normally in
proper relative position by means of a spiral spring de seated in the recess in the
cylindric part or hub of the hook D around the pin D1 (Figures 11 12 and 13).
The spring d is engaged at its inner end with the said hook and the wire of
which it is composed is extended downwardly at its end adjacent to the said
detent and engaged with an aperture d' formed in the latter. The said spring is
arranged, in connection with one of the stops d³ to hold the points of the detent
and hook in proper relative position; the said spring obviously allowing the detent
to yield backwardly as far as permitted by the distance between the stop d³ for
the purpose above stated.
The important feature of the construction in the hook or jaw and the detent
above described is that whereby the parts mentioned may together be moved by
the action of the plunger so as to carry the nails successively forward and into the
passage of the head. For this purpose it is obviously not essential that the said
hook and detent should be pivotally supported, as herein shown, since in carrying
out this part of my invention the parts mentioned might be arranged to slide in
suitable guides with the general advantages above described. The pivotal con-
struction herein shown is preferred, however, on account of its greater simplicity
and ease of operation, and by reason of the comparatively small area of surfaces in
frictional contact thereby obtained.
In the particular construction berein shown, the parts are so arranged that the
surface of the plunger adjacent to the slot a¹ is approximately at the same distance
from the said slot as the thickness of a nail, the said plunger being as shown in
the drawings longitudinally grooved or cut away as indicated at 6 (Figures 7, 8
and 15) to prevent contact of the surface of the plunger with the end of the
detent D' when the latter is in its advanced position. It is obviously practicable,
when the parts are arranged in this manner to dispense entirely with the said
detent and to permit the plunger to act in place of said detent in arresting the
inward movement of the nails when the hook or jaw is thrown backwardly, the
plunger obviously being in proper position for this purpose at the time mentioned.
Inasmuch, however, as the plunger is liable to become worn or grooved by the

page_text: contact of the nails therewith, the form of the construction herein shown in which
the detent is present is usually preferred.
For the purpose of holding and guiding the lower end or shank of the nails in
the downward movement of the latter, a laterally movable guide E is arranged
upon the head A¹ below the jaw D, said guide being provided with an inwardly
and downwardly inclined surface e arranged to extend into the said passage with
its lower end in position to hold the nails vertical when the upper ends are held
by the said jaw with their heads in contact with the side wall of the passage a in
the manner before described. The said guide is preferably held in its inward
position by a suitably arranged spring e¹ and the inclined surface e of said guide is
made concave or hollowed transversely to correspond with the curved form of the
inner wall of the said passage, and is constructed in such manner that the said guide
will be forced laterally outward by the contact of the lower end of the plunger there-
with in the downward movement of the latter, the parts being so arranged that the
said inclined surface will come flush with the inner curved surface of the said passage
so as to permit the said plunger and the head of the nail to pass freely over the
said guide in their downward movement. The guide may obviously be held in
place by any suitable means adapted to permit the desired lateral movement
thereof, but as herein shown said guide is pivotally supported upon the head at its
upper end by means of a pivot-pin e the spring e' being attached to said guide
and arranged to press at its free end against the stationary part of the head so as
to throw the lower free end of the guide inwardly.
The feeding-devices herein shown are intended to operate by gravity, and for
this purpose the nail-magazines C are so constructed as to permit the nails to slide
freely through them, and the handle or magazine support A2 in which the said
magazine is held, is, when the driver is in operation, held in such position that the
nails will gravitate from the channels of the magazine to the said driver-head.
This may be accomplished when the handle is located at right angles with the axis
of the driving-head, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings,
by holding the driver with the head A¹ thereof downward, in operating upon a
vertical or side wall; and in operating upon a horizontal surface, as a floor or
ceiling by moving the hand which holds the driver in such manner as to cause the
nails to gravitate into the head after each nail is driven. No particular incon-
venience or decrease in the speed in which the nails are driven will be caused by
this means of feeding the nails when operating upon horizontal surfaces, but if
preferred special forms of the device may be used upon side walls or in driving
nails vertically downward into a horizontal surface, in which the handle or magazine-
support A is inclined relatively to the axis of the head A¹ so as to cause the nails
to continually gravitate toward said head when the latter is in operative position.
The construction last mentioned is illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 of the drawings
and will be hereinafter more particularly described.
In the particular construction of the nail-magazines C herein shown, said magazines
are provided with two parallel nail channels and also with two laterally movable
tops or covers C¹ attached to the magazines by spring connections whereby said
covers may be moved laterally in filling the magazines. The said magazines are
adapted for insertion in a case or tray by which they may be expeditiously filled,
and the devices for connecting the covers C¹ with the magazines, as herein shown,
are adapted for use in a special form of charging or filling device which is shown
and claimed in another application for letters patent filed by me simultaneously
herewith.
The covers C¹ are adapted to permit the nails to slide freely in the channels of
the magazines, so that the nails may move freely by gravity in the said channels
for the purpose herein before mentioned. . The said magazines, as herein shown
(Figures 2 and 18) are constructed principally of sheet-metal bent to form two
parallel nail-channels c separated sufficiently to prevent contact of the nail-heads
in the adjacent rows held in the channels, the connecting metal between the channels
being bent to form a flat surface or ledge c¹ upon which the heads of the nails rest.

page_text: The metal at the exterior margins of the channels is bent outwardly to form a
surface c³ for the heads of the nails, and is also preferably bent upwardly at right
angles with said surface so as to form upturned flanges c³ to stiffen the upper edge
of the magazine. The tops C are preferably constructed of sheet metal and are
provided with flanges e extending downwardly outside of the flanges c³ of the
magazine and attached to the upper ends of springs C by which the covers are
secured to the magazines and which are adapted to permit the said tops to be
moved laterally for the purpose above mentioned, said covers preferably being
connected with said springs by means of plates C³ provided with outwardly
projecting curved prongs c which operate in a manner and for a purpose fully set
forth in the application above referred to. The channels of the magazines are
closed at their outer ends by means of an end plate C provided with a transverse,
.projecting lug c whereby the outer end of the magazine is engaged with the
holding-devices of the handle A₁ as hereinafter described, and the magazine is
provided at its inner end with a U-shaped re-inforcing piece C³ provided with
notches c adapted for engagement with a suitable holding-device upon the head.
For the purpose of supporting the magazine within the handle A in such manner
that the inner end of the latter may be shifted to bring the channels thereof
successively in alignment with the apertures a¹ of the head so that when one of
said channels has been emptied the other may be brought into position for the
passage of the nails therefrom, holding devices are provided as follows: The
magazine is held in the handle A² at its outer end by means of a spring c³ secured
to the end wall of the handle and provided with notches c adapted for engagement
with the projection ce upon the outer end of the magazine, said spring operating
by its engagement with the projection to hold the magazine from vertical movement
and at the same time tending to press the magazine longitudinally toward or
against the head A¹. Upon the side walls of the handle A3 upon either side of the
spring care placed two springs c10 adapted to press inwardly upon the sides of the
inagazine and to thereby hold the end thereof from lateral movement. Upon
the lateral face of the head A¹ adjacent to the slot or aperture a¹ is placed a
transversely-sliding holder or shifting-plate F adapted to engage the adjacent end
of the magazine and to hold it in position with either of the channels thereof as
desired in alignment with the said aperture a. As herein shown, the said plate F
is connected with the driver-head by means of a dove-tailed rib f upon the plate
engaged with a transverse dove-tailed slot f¹ in the driver-head and provided with
an upwardly projecting arm F¹ adapted to engage a second slot ƒ³ in the driver-
head so as to assist in maintaining the plate accurately in position. The said plate
is provided with a spring detent F adapted to engage either one of two notches f³
in the driver-head in suitable position to hold the said plate with either of the
channels therein in alignment with the slot n' as clearly shown in Figure 3; said
detent, as herein shown, consisting of a short arm pivoted centrally in a vertical
slot in the arm F¹ and held in position for engagement with the notches f³ by.
means of a spiral spring f* placed between the upper end of the detent and the
arm. The plate F is provided with two downwardly-projecting arms f³ having
upon their lower ends two inwardly-projecting lugs f6 adapted for engagement with
the notches c formed in the piece C at the end of the said magazine as before
mentioned, the covers C¹ of the magazine, as shown in Figure 2, terminating a
short distance from the end of the magazine which engages the plate F, so that
said covers may be opened when the magazine is in the handle for the extraction
of a crooked or mal-formed nail, or other purpose. The magazine is inserted in
the handle A2 by first engaging its inner end with the shifting-plate F and then
pressing its outer end downwardly upon the spring c³ so as to cause the engagement
of the projection co thereon with the notch or depression cº of the spring. The
said spring and the shifting holder F are arranged to support the magazine free
from contact with the handle A* so that the magazine may be moved freely when
shifted. The magazine is shifted by first pressing upon the upper end of the spring
detent F so as to release it from the notch with which it is engaged, and then

page_text: moving the plate laterally with the end of the magazine until the detent becomes
engaged with the second notch in an obvious manner.
In the particular form of the device herein shown, the sheet-metal handle or
magazine-support A is attached to the head A¹ by having its side walls extended
over the adjacent sides of the head and provided with inwardly-turned flanges a³
which enter vertical slots as in the head, and is secured in place by screws a
which, as shown, are held from jarring loose by washers as bent upward at one side
against hexagonal heads upon the screws, and having inwardly-bent projections
engaged with suitable apertures in the metal of the handle to keep them from
turning. The slot al of the head, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 9, is extended
downwardly through the metal of the handle so as to form an exit for particles of
dirt or detached fragments of iron which may enter the said slot from the channels
of the magazines. A stud or post a is shown in the drawings as connecting the,
parts of the driver-head above and below the recess formed therein for the jaw D
and the detent D¹ so as to give the requisite stiffness in the head, the said stud
preferably being screw-threaded for attachment in the head.
The hook A shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is to enable the driver to be
suspended upon a belt worn by the operator or otherwise during intervals of time
when it is not being used.
A modified form of the devices for holding the points of the nails in position for
driving, and for guiding said nails while being driven is illustrated in Figures 19.
and 20, in which two oppositely-arranged guides E¹ E¹ are used instead of the
single guide E herein before described. The said guides are pivoted upon the
head A¹ by means of pivot-pins e³ and are held at the inward limit of their move-
ment by springs in the same manner as the said guide E. The operative or:
opposing faces of the guides are transversely concaved, and their lower portions
between which the point of the nail is held are parallel with each other and.
are adapted to hold the nail parallel and in alignment with the axis of the.
passage a. In the descent of the plunger in driving a nail, the latter, after being
released from the hook D, is grasped and held vertically in the center of the
passage a by the said guides so that it will be driven perpendicularly into the wood
and in exact alignment with the axis of the plunger. The conically-hollowed,
inner faces of the guide E¹ are made in their upper part to correspond in cross-
sectional contour with the form of the lower end of the plunger and are set at such.
an angle with the axis of the driver-head that the latter may engage them at an
acute angle and thereby start them outward with the least possible shock. The.
guides for the lower end of the nail, either when a single guide is used as first
described or when two oppositely-acting guides are employed, may be formed in an
obvious manner by springs suitably shaped upon their lower ends and attached at
their upper ends to the head A' instead of by spring-actuated, pivoted blocks, as.
herein shown.
.
G, G are spurs having shanks which are received in sockets g in the under side
of the head. The spurs or teeth are caused to normally project below the bottom of
the head by means of springs g' applied to their shanks and confined within the
sockets, each spur having a suitable stop g³ on its shank to prevent the spring from
forcing the latter out of the socket. The spurs are respectively arranged near
opposite sides of the head and are in the shape preferably of curved teeth, which
are bent or curved toward one another so that one or the other of the teeth can be
engaged with the edge of a lath, nailed, for example at one point, and the lath
thereby drawn into place.
Referring to the modified forms of the nail-driver shown in Figures 21 and 22
in which the magazines are placed at an angle with the axis of the plunger, the
form of the driver shown in Figure 21 is one adapted for. use in driving nails
vertically downward. In this case, the handle A2 is attached to the head A¹ in
such manner that when said head is placed vertically with the exit-opening of the
passage a downward the said handle will stand at an upward inclination. The
said handle as shown in said figure, is attached to the head in the same manner as
:

page_text: before described, the portion of the body of the head in which the slot a¹ is formed
being extended outwardly in order to bring the outer face thereof, against which
the end of the magazine is placed, at right angles to the handle.
In Figure 23, a driver is shown for use in overhead work, the handle A* being
in this case, when the device is in an operative position inclined upwardly from its
point of attachment to the head A¹, and the latter being extended upwardly so as
to bring its working face horizontally in line with or above the upper or outer end
of the handle. This construction of course necessitates the use of a plunger of
considerable length and one which has a considerable vertical movement. The
stroke of the plunger usually, however, need not be more than six inches, so that
this feature of operation will not be practically disadvantageous. In other par-
ticulars than those above mentioned, the devices shown in Figures 22 and 23 are
constructed generally as before described.
In Figure 22, the driver is shown as provided with guides E, similar to those
shown in Figures 2 and 6. In the form shown in Figure 23, however, the double
guides E¹ are preferably used, for the reason that a guide-device of this form will
operate more effectually to accurately guide the nail when making its exit from the
extended passage a after having been carried upwardly in said passage by the
plunger, than the single guide herein before referred to.
While the particular magazine or nail-holder above described is particularly
adapted for use in connection with the nail-driver herein shown, the driving-devices
herein set forth will obviously operate advantageously in connection with any other
device adapted to properly feed the nails thereto, and this invention is not there-
fore, limited in its scope to a nail-driving mechanism in which the magazine forms
a part, except in the claims in which said magazine is specifically referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. In a machine for driving nails the combination, with driving devices, of a
magazine provided with two or more nail-channels, means for sustaining the said
magazine in position for the delivery of nails from the said channels to the driving
devices, comprising a shifting support, substantially as described, constructed to
hold said magazine with either of its channels in position for delivering nails to
the said driving devices, and locking devices for said shifting support, substantially
as described.
2. In a machine for driving nails, the combination, with a driving head
provided with driving devices and having a side aperture to admit the nails, of a
magazine having two or more nail-channels, and means for sustaining the magazine
in position for the delivery of nails to the said driving devices, comprising a shifting
support, substantially as described upon the head, constructed to hold said magazine
with either of the channels thereof in alignment with the aperture of the head
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
.
3. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a driving-head provided
with driving devices, substantially as described, and having a side aperture to
admit the nails of a magazine provided with two or more nail-channels, a fixed
support attached to eaid head and constructed to receive and hold the outer end of
said magazine immovable with relation to said head, a shifting support attached to
said head, constructed for engagement with the inner end of said magazine and
adapted to bring either of the channels thereof in line with said side apertures of
the said head, and means, substantially as described for holding said magazine in
position with either of channels in line with said aperture, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. In a machine for driving nails, the combination, with a plunger, a head
having a passage to receive and guide the plunger, and a side aperture to admit
the nails into said passage, of. a pivoted hook or jaw for separating the foremost
nail from a line of nails, means substantially as described for actuating the said

page_text: jaw, the said head being provided with an opposing stationary part or surface
operating in connection with the hook or jaw to engage the separated nail and
to move the latter bodily forward and into the said passage, substantially as
described.
5. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plunger, a head having
a passage to receive and guide the plunger, and an aperture to admit the nails
into said passage, and a single pivoted hook or jaw for separating the foremost
nail from a line of nails, means substantially as described for actuating the said
jaw, said head being provided with an opposing stationary part or surface operating
in connection with the jaw to feed forward the separated nail, and also with a part
or surface opposed to the jaw and continuous with the inner wall of the passage,
and forming in connection with the said jaw a means for holding or supporting the
nail in position to be driven, substantially as described.
6. In a macbine for driving nails, the combination of a plunger, a head having
a passage to receive and guide the plunger, and a side aperture to admit the nails
to said passage, and a single laterally movable spring-actuated hook or jaw provided
with an inclined. surface adapted for engagement with the plunger and operating
to separate the foremost nail from a line of nails, the said head being provided
with stationary parts or surfaces opposed to the jaw and forming, in connection
with the latter, a means for moving forward into the passage a separated nail and
holding said nail in position to be driven, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plunger, a head having
a passage to receive and guide the plunger, and a side aperture to admit nails to
the passage, a laterally reciprocating hook or jaw, means, substantially as described
for actuating said jaw, a vibrating stop or detent for arresting the forward move-
ment of the nails when the jaw is removed from the line of feed, and means
substantially as described for actuating said detent, the said head being provided
with a stationary part or surface opposed to the jaw, and operating in connection
with the latter, to separate and feed forward the foremost nail from a line of nails
fed to the driving device, substantially as described.
8. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a plunger, a head
having a passage through it adapted to receive and guide said plunger, and a side
aperture to admit nails to the passage, a spring-actuated laterally reciprocating
jaw or hook constructed to separate the foremost nail from the line of nails fed to
the driving device and to temporarily close the said aperture so as to stop the
nails, and means substantially as described for actuating said hook, of a detent
adapted to arrest the forward movement of the nails when the said jaw is forced
aside by the plunger, and suitable operative connections between the jaw and
detent whereby the latter is actuated from the former, substantially as described.
9. In a machine for driving nails, the combination, with a plunger, a head
having a passage through it to receive and guide said plunger, and a side aperture
to admit nails, a spring actuated laterally-reciprocating hook or jaw constructed to
separate the foremost nail from the line of nails fed to the driver and to temporarily
close said aperture, so as to stop the advance of said nails, and provided with an
inclined surface adapted to be engaged by said plunger, of a detent actuated by
said jaw and adapted to close said side opening when said jaw is forced aside, and
a yielding or spring connection between the jaw and the detent whereby the latter
is actuated by the former, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a machine for driving nails, the combination, with a plunger, of a head
provided with a passage through it to receive and guide said plunger of sufficient
length to admit the whole length of said plunger within said head, whereby the
outer end of said head acts as a stop to the movement of the hammer, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with the bead provided
with suitable driving devices, of a spur or spurs mounted in apertures in said head
and adapted to project therefrom, said spurs being adapted to engage the piece into
which the nails are to be driven, of springs applied to force said spurs outwardly and

page_text: constructed to yield and permit them to be forced into said head, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a driver-head
provided with suitable driving devices, of a magazine provided with a suitable
projection or lug c and a magazine-support or handle attached to said head, of
means substantially as described, for supporting the inner end of said magazine,
guide-plates co adapted to hold the outer end of said magazine, laterally immovable
in said handle, and a spring c8 adapted to engage said lug co, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
13. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a driver-head provided
with means, substantially as described for driving nails, and with a side aperture
to receive the nails, a magazine provided with two or more nail-channels, and a
magazine-support or handle provided with supports to receive and hold the outer
end of said magazine, of a shifting support for the inner end of the magazine
attached to said head and constructed to slide thereon so as to bring either of said
nail channels in line with said side aperture, and a spring-actuated detent, F",
upon the said shifting support, the said head being provided with notches f³
adapted for engagement with the said detent, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
14. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a driver-head provided
with means substantially as described for driving nails, and with a side aperture to
admit the nails, a magazine provided with two or more nail channels, and with
notches c at its inner end, of a shifting support for the inner end of said magazine
having sliding connection with the head, and provided with projections fⓇ adapted
to engage the notches c7 and a handle or support for holding the outer end of the
magazine provided with a spring c adapted to hold the inner end of the said
magazine in engagement with the said shifting support, substantially as described.
15. The combination, with a plunger and a driver head having a passage to
receive and guide said driver and a side aperture to admit the nails, of a hook or
jaw D pivoted to said head and actuated by the plunger, a spring applied to
throw the jaw toward the opposing face of the passage, a detent D' pivotally
supported upon the head' concentric with the said jaw D stops d³ upon the detent
adapted to engage a projection upon the jaw for limiting the relative movement of
said jaw and detent, and a spring d adapted to hold the detent in position for
operation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.