Improvements in Machines for Forming Wire Staples and for Inserting and Securing the same in Books, Pamphlets, or other Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Forming Wire Staples and for
Inserting and Securing the same in Books, Pamphlets, or other
Articles.
I, JOHN F. DAGGETT of the City of Chicago County of Cook and State of
Illinois, United States of America Gentleman 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 improvements in wire stapling machines, in which the wire
is successively cut and bent into staples, and the latter forced through and clinched
upon the book, pamphlet or other article to be stapled, and has for its object to provide
improved and simple arrangements for intermittently feeding forward the wire, for
actuating said feed, the anvil the former or bender and the driver, whereby said
operating parts are positively actuated in unison by effective and simple devices, both
certain and durable in their operation, and which reduce to a minimum the cost of
reduction and increases the compactness of this class of machines.
Further objects are an adjustment of the work supporting table, and clinching
devices, with means for actuating the same, to clinch the staple after its legs are
driven through the material being stapled.
These objects are attained by the devices and combination of devices hereinafter
described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wire stapling machine embodying
my invention.
Figure 2 represents on a larger scale the front end of said machine in elevation
with the legs for supporting the machine and the cap-plate for covering the staple
forming and driving mechanism omitted.
Figure 3 is a like view, showing however only a portion of the machine illustrated
in Figure 2 and representing in dotted lines the reciprocating former and plunger
in their lowest position.
Figure represents a vertical central section taken on the line, of Figure 3
with a portion of the bracket-neck and the driving shaft broken away, which latter is
shown in elevation.
Figure 5 is a top or plan view of the sliding former block with a portion of its
stem broken away.
Figure 6 represents a side edge view of the said sliding former-block.
Figure 7 is a detail mainly showing the lower end of the vibrating feed-lever
carrying a spring controlled pawl or dog, by which the wire is gripped when the
said end of the feed-lever is swung forward, said view also showing a part of the end
of said lever in section, so as to illustrate a passage for the wire.
Figure 8 is a transverse section through the upper front portion of the machine,
said section being taken on a horizontal plane indicated by dotted lines y, y
Figure 2.
Figure 9 represents in side elevation a block carrying the spring controlled
cutter, the same being on a scale slightly larger than in Figure 2.
Figure 10 is an end view of the same and illustrates more clearly the cutter
carried by the said block.
Figure 11 represents a side elevation of my improved machine with the legs
removed and a portion of the goose-neck support for the staple forming mechanism
broken away in order to expose the devices for operating the jaws by which the staple
is clinched.
Figure 12 is a plan view on a different scale, of the lower ends of the reciprocating
former and plunger, and is mainly made with a view to show the grooves in the lower

page_text: end of the reciprocating former.
This view also shows an arm connected with the
reciprocating former, and provided for actuating the cutter.
Figure 13 represents one side of the reciprocating former, and illustrates the incline
formed in the rear side of the same.
Figure 14 is a section taken transversely through the reciprocating former, on line =,=
Figure 13, and also through the plunger which is arranged to slide in a grooved way
formed longitudinally in the reciprocating former.
Figure 15 is a plan view of the underside of the staple clinching mechanism, located
under the table, and shows springs for the clinching jaws differing in construction
from the springs shown in Figure 2.
Figure 16 represents a section taken on line r. a Figure 15, and serving to
illustrate an end elevation of the sliding jaws for clinching the ends of the wire staple,
after the latter has been forced through a book or other like article.
Referring by letter to the several Figures of the annexe drawings, in which
like letters deuote like parts, A indicates a substantial bed, above which is arranged a
table B, for supporting a book or other article to be stapled. The table is susceptible
of a vertical adjustment, so as to accomodate it to books varying in thickness, and to
such end some suitable adjusting mechanism is provided for varying its height as for
example, an arrangement of set screws 1, 1, passing through the bed, and supporting
the table at one end, and a screw-threaded bolt or standard 2, extending downwardly
from the centre of the table through the bed, and provided with nuts 3 above and
below the bed, which said nuts can be adjusted upon the standard when the set
screws are operated to raise or lower the table.
Upon the bed is mounted a goose-neck support C, providing in its horizontal arm
or neck portion, suitable bearings for the driving shaft, and carrying at the end of
its said arm or neck a vertical bracket plate 4, upon which are supported the
mechanisms for forming the wire into staples, and for forcing the staples through the
article to be stapled.
The wire, which is drawn from any suitably located spool, is fed forward at regular
intervals, toward the stitching mechanism, by means of a vibratory feed lever D,
provided upon the bracket plate 4 and carrying at a point near its lower end a spring
controlled pawl or dog 5, arranged to bite the wire when the lower end of the lever is
swung forward toward the stitching mechanism, and to release its hold upon the wire
when the lower end of the lever is swung back.
To such end, the vibratory feed lever (see Figure 7) is provided at its lower end
with a lateral projection 6, upon which the wire is gripped and held by the spring
dog when the said lower end of the feed lever is swung forward toward the cutter.
This lateral projection extends upwardly at one end so as to provide a short vertical
extension through which a horizontal passage 8, is formed for guiding the wire forward,
and between the dog and the lateral projection.
When the feed lever, however is swung back, the spring dog releases the wire so
as to allow the lever to pass back along the latter, and hence prevent the wire from
being retracted.
As a means for holding the wire stationary when the lever is thus thrown back, so that
the resistance of the wire shall open or swing up the gripping end of the spring
controlled dog or pawl, I provide at one of the lower corners of bracket plate 4,
a spring jaw D¹ consisting of a block having an inclined upper side, and provided
with a spring stem attached to a bearing or block D² which is secured to the bracket-
plate 4.
This jaw carries at one side a cam or eccentrically pivoted disc 8° shown in dotted
lines Figure 2 provided with a handle 8d for operating the same.
The jaw D is arranged to open or close a short horizontal passage 8ª (also shown
in dotted lines) for the wire, which said passage is formed through one end of curved
block D² secured to the bracket-plate.
The inclined top face of the jaw is arranged paralled with a like inclined surface 8
at one end of block D2 said parts being so arranged that when the jaw is open, the
wire passing between the jaw and the block and entering passage 8 shall be slightly

page_text: bent so that while capable of being drawn freely forward yet will take a bite between
the jaw and the block at any attempt to push the wire back.
The jaw can be opened by operating the cam or eccentric 8°, so as to cause the
latter to act against the incline 8b and hence force the jaw D' away from the entrance
of passage S which commences at the said incline.
The next feature in order is the vibratory cutter E, by which the wire after having
been fed forward by the feed lever, is severed into the required length for a
staple.
This cutter is pivoted upon a block F, provided with a horizontal guide tube 10,
or other suitable guide passage through which the wire passes on its way to the
staple forming mechanism.
The cutter is arranged to sever the wire at a point where the latter emerges from
said tube 10, at one end of the block, and has its upper end normally maintained by
a spring 11 on the block, in the path of an arm 36, projecting from a vertically
moving former, which will be presently described.
This arm is arranged to strike and operate the cutter during the descent of the said
reciprocating former, whereby the wire shall be severed at the proper moment, and as
soon as the reciprocating former rises so as to allow its arm to release the cutter,
the cutting edge at the lower end of the latter will swing up out of the way of
the wire.
In order to admit of the wire being cut into different lengths for different sizes of
hooks, or other like articles, the cutting mechanism is rendered adjustable with
reference to the stitching or staple forming devices, and to such end, the block F
carrying the cutter is mounted so as to be susceptible of a horizontal adjustment, and
thereby allow the cutter to be moved toward or away from the stitching or staple
forming mechanism.
For this purpose the block which is arranged to slide along one of the sides of
bracket plate 4, carries at one of its ends a horizontal rod 12, having a screw-threaded
portion on which is arranged a nut or internally screw-threaded collar 13, turning in
à suitable bearing or block 14, on the bracket plate. By turning this nut or collar,
the block carrying the cutter can be readily adjusted, and in order to maintain the
said block in its adjustment on the bracket plate, I provide on the rear side of the
block a laterally projecting horizontal screw-threaded bolt 15, passing through
horizontal slot 16, in the bracket-plate, and carrying a thumb-nut 17, which when
tightened up against the bracket-plate serves to hold block F, securely in position.
AL
The wire which is fed forward by the feed mechanism and which passes under the
cutter, also passes across and rests upon a ledge 9 at one end of a former block G
Figures 5 and 6 upon which said end of the cutter, a length of wire suitable for
forming a staple will be supported at its middle portion, while the unsupported
end portions of the said wire will extend beyond opposite sides of the former block.
This former block consists of a horizontal slide arranged to work in a suitable way
or mortise formed through the bracket-plate, which at this point, is provided with a
block or enlargement 18, adapted to afford suitable guides for the reciprocating
former H, by which latter the ends of the wire extending out at the sides of the former-
block are turned down along side of the latter so as to form a staple.
The former block is normally projected by spring pressure out from the bracket,
and under the reciprocating former during such time as the latter is raised above the
foriner-block, and also until the ends of the wire have been turned down to form a
staple. To such end, the former block is provided at its rear end with a stem 19
extending into a case 20, which projects from the rear side of the bracket-plate, and
within this case, is located a spring 21, arranged to act on said rod for the purpose of
throwing the former block forward.
The former-block is pushed back against this resistance at the proper moment by the
reciprocating former E, so as to allow the staple to be forced downwardly into and
through the book by means of a reciprocating plunger I, which commences its down
stroke as soon as the staple has been completed.
The reciprocating former H, is forked or recessed at its lower end, as shown in

page_text: Figure 4 so as to allow it during its descent to straddle the former-block, and thereby
turn down the ends of the wire along the vertical sides of the former-block as in
dotted lines Figures 2 and 3.
As a means for pushing back the former-block from under the staple, after the
latter has been formed on said block by the descending former, I provide at one end
of the former-block a level or incline 22 Figures 5 and 6 and upon the rear side of
the reciprocating former is provided a similar level or incline 24, Figure 13 arranged
at such height above the lower end of the reciprocating former, that it will at the
proper moment during the down stroke of the reciprocating former strike the incline
in the former block, and thereby push back the former block and hence leave the
staples free to be forced into the book.
This incline on the reciprocating former can be conveniently made by recessing the
reciprocating former in its rear side, as at 25, and forming the top end or wall of the
recess so as to provide the incline 24.
The reciprocating former is conveniently made in the shape of a bar, provided
in its front side with a longitudinal channel 26, in which the plunger I, for driving the
staple is arranged to slide.
The reciprocating former is reciprocated at the proper moments from the driving
shaft 27, by means of a cam grooved disc 28, secured on the said shaft as in
Figure 4 This disc is provided in one of its sides with a cam groove 29, in
which latter a wrist pin carrying a roller 30, and projecting from the rear side of the
reciprocating former is received.
The plunger or driver I is guided in the channel in the reciprocating former
by means of vertical ribs 31, (see Figure 14,) formed along opposite edges of the
plunger, and working in vertical grooves 32, which are formed in the opposing
side walls of the way or channel in the plunger, as in Figure 12, and also shown
in dotted lines Figures 2 and 3.
These grooves in the reciprocating former, while serving as guides for the plunger,
also constitute guides for the wire staple after the latter has been formed, and while
it is being forced down by the plunger.
Thus when the ends of the wire are turned down by the descending former, said
turned down ends are received in the grooves in the reciprocating former, as shown in
dotted lines in Figures 2, and 3, and hence when the former-block is pushed back
by the descending former, the staple is retained at its sides in the groɔves, until
pushed down by the plunger below, the lower end of the former. The plunger is
reciprocated at the proper moments from the drive shaft by a cam grooved disc 33, on
the latter.
This disc is fixed on the driving shaft, and provided in its rear side with a cam
groove 34, shown in Figure 4 and also indicated in dotted lines Figure 2, in which
said groove, a wrist pin carrying a roller 35, on the upper end of the plunger is
received.
The reciprocating former carries at one side an arm 36, which at the beginning of
the down stroke of said reciprocating former, strikes the top end of the cutter and
thereby operates the latter so as to cause it to sever the wire.
The vertical guide block or enlargement of the bracket-plates has a suitable
vertical way 8, for the reciprocating former, and at its lower end terminates at a
point above the table so as to allow a book to be placed on the latter in position for
Stitching.
Said block or enlargement is also appropriately slotted or recessed to allow the
wrist pin on one rear side of the reciprocating former to engage the cam groove in
disc 28, and also to allow said disc to turn with the driving shaft, as in Figure 4.
The vibratory feed lever is operated from the periphery of the disc 29, on the
drive shaft, for which purpose the disc having a cam groove in one side for
operating the reciprocating former is eccentrically mounted on the driving shaft,
and adapted at the proper moment during its revolution to act as a cam against a
small roller 37, carried by a stud on a slide bar 38, arranged to work horizontally
in a way 38 formed in the vertical bracket-plate.

page_text: This slide carries a pin 39, engaging the upper end of the vibratory feed-lever, and
hence when the slide is shifted in one direction by the cam, the feed-lever will be
operated so as to feed forward the wire.
The feed-lever is swung back after being released by the cam, by means of a
suitable spring 40, connecting the feed-lever with a stud upon the vertical
bracket-plate.
As a means for limiting the back swing of the feed-lever I provide an adjustable
stop 41, consisting of a screw-rod arranged to turn in bearing 14, on the bracket-plate,
and having one end lying in the path of the feed-lever.
As a means for clinching the ends of the wire staple upon the book, after the staple
has been forced through the latter by the plunger, I provide under the table, a pair
of pivoted levers K, provided at their forward ends with clinching jaws which are held
open until the staple has been forced through the book or other article to be stitched,
after which the jaws are closed so as to force the ends of the staples projecting
below the book, toward each other, and bend or clinch said ends upon the book or
other article.
These levers K, are pivoted together under the table by means of the pin or
standard 2. The two clinching jaws K', (see Figure 16) are arranged to slide in a
slot 42, formed transversely through the middle portion of the table B, at a point
below the plunger, and are supported on the outer ends of the pivoted levers K,
so that as the said ends of the levers are opened or closed, the sliding jaws shall
be moved apart or brought toward each other."
The clinching jaws have a sliding connection with the lover K, so that when the
latter move in the arc of a circle the jaws shall slide in a right line, and to such end,
each jaw has on its underside a stud or pin 43, received in a short slot K² formed in the
lever on which the jaw is supported.
The jaws are guided by the walls of slot 42, in which the jaws slide, and the
forward ends of the lever K, work over the horizontal portion of an angle plate 42",
which is secured to the underside of the table, which said plate prevents the levers
from sagging at their said forward ends.
The ends of the wire staple projecting below the book into which the staple has
been driven by the plunger, enter slot 42, and stand between the two clinching
jaws in position to be bent by the latter inwardly, and against the book lying on
the table, as the jaws move toward each other.
The jaws are normally held open by means of springs 44, 44, respectively,
connecting the levers with bolts depending from the table or some other stationary
part of the machine, as in Figure 2, or the springs can be made and applied as
illustrated in Figure 15.
The handle or shank ends 44", of these spring controlled levers, extend back
into the vertical portion of the goose neck support on the table, which said support
is made hollow in order to conveniently contain a mechanism for operating the
levers so as to close the jaws at the proper moment. This jaw operating mechanism
is actuated at intervals from the driving shaft, and consists of a vertically arranged
rock-shaft 45, Figure 11, arranged to oscillate in a suitable bearing 46, and pro-
vided at its lower end with a flattened or blade shaped portion 45, which, when
the jaws are open, stands with its sides parallel or substantially parallel with the
levers or handles between which it is arranged, it being understood that when the
jaws are open, the ends 44", of the levers or handles will be closed against the sides of
said blade shaped end of the rock shaft.
The rock-shaft is provided at its upper end with an arm or analogous projection 47,
which at the proper moment is engaged by a cam 48, on the driving shaft, whereby
the rock-shaft during the engagement of said cam with the arm or projection 47,
on the upper end of the rock-shaft 45, will turn the latter so as to cause the
blade 45, in making a part revolution, to spread apart the rear ends 44°, cf the
levers which carry the jaws at their forward end, and hence cause the jaws to close
and clinch the wire staple.
As soon as the rock-shaft is released, however, the force of the spring connected

page_text: with the levers K, will operate the latter so as to close their ends 44*, thus turning
the rock-shaft back to its first position and opening the jaws.
The horizontal block D2, is concaved on its upper side to allow the feed-lever to
swing freely, and also to bring the passages 8 and 50 for the wire, in or on the block
at the ends of its concavity to lie somewhat above the feed end of the vibrating feed-
lever, whereby the grip of the spring dog on the wire during the forward swing of
the feed lever shall be ensured. The staple forming and driving mechanism is
preferably covered by a cap 4*, attached to the vertical bracket-plate, and if necessary
a plate covered by such cap can be placed over the lower front part of the reciprocating
former.
The driving shaft is conveniently provided with a belt-wheel L, and with some
suitable clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the wheel with the shaft,
which said clutch can be operated from a treadle, so that the workman can at any time
stop the machine as for example, after each book has been stitched.
The reciprocating former is provided in its lower end with transverse notches 37°, in
which the ends of the wire are received at a time when the reciprocating former
during its descent first strikes the ends of the wire at the sides of the former-
block.
As a brief summary of the operation of the machine, the book or other article
to be stitched is placed in position upon the table, and under the reciprocating former.
Power is applied and the book shifted or fed forward by hand or by any suitable
mechanical means after each staple has been formed, driven through and clinched
upon the book.
The feed-lever feeds the wire through the guide passages and causes it to advance
into position across the former block.
The reciprocating former then commences its down stroke, at which juncture the
arm on the said reciprocating former acts upon the arm of the cutter so as to cause
the cutter to sever the wire, thus leaving on the former block a length suitable for a
stitch or staple.
The descending former bends the end of the wire downwardly, and along opposite
sides of the former-block, so as to form a staple, after which the shoulder or incline
on the descending former engages the incline on the former-block, so as to force back
the former block and thereby leave the staple free to be forced down by the plunger
which now descends driving the ends of the staple into and through the book.
After the staple has been thus forced into the book, the jaws operate to clinch the
ends of the staple against the book, during which clinching operation, the plunger
holds the book down upon the table. The reciprocating former and plunger then rise
so as to come into position for forming and driving the next staple, and the former
block which has been kept back by the reciprocating former, so long as the incline on
the reciprocating former was below the front end of the former-block, will be thrown
out by its spring as soon as the incline on the reciprocating former has reached a point
above the former-block.
The jaws after clinching the wire are automatically opened by the springs already
described.
In this way means are provided for automatically performing a succession of steps
necessary to the forming, driving, and clinching of wire staples made from a con-
tinuous wire automatically fed forward at desired intervals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. In a wire stapling machine, the combination of a revolving shaft, a
reciprocating former and driver, cams on said shaft in direct engagement with
the former and driver, and a work-supporting table below said former and driver,
substantially as described.
Second. In a wire stapling machine, the combination of a revolving shaft, a'
reciprocating former and driver, cams on said shaft in direct engagement with

page_text: said former and driver, and an adjustable work supporting table below said former
and driver, substantially as described.
Third. In a wire stapling machine the combination of a revolving shaft, cams on
said shaft, a former and driver respectively actuated by said cams, and a wire feed
actuated by one of said cams, substantially as described.
Fourth. The actuating cams and shaft thereof, in combination with a former and
driver projecting between and engaging said cams, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the cutter, a support therefor, and a pivoted con-
nection between said cutter and support, of an adjustable screw-rod for bodily moving
the cutter back and forth to adapt it for cutting wires of different lengths, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The clinching jaws, the levers pivoted together and supporting the jaws,
in combination with a pivoted connection between said jaws and lever, substantially as
described.
Seventh. The table, the clinching jaws, levers pivoted thereto and to each other, in
combination with means substantially as described, for adjusting said jaws and table,
substantially as described.
Eighth. The levers K, and the clinching jaws thereof, in combination with the
rock-shaft, and a blade on said shaft projecting between said levers, and means
substantially as described for rocking said shaft, and oscillating the plate, substantially
as described.
נז
J
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.