U.S. patent number 3,904,032 [Application Number 05/355,660] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-09 for holder strip for feeding fastening elements into a setting device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hilti Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Elmar Maier.
United States Patent |
3,904,032 |
Maier |
September 9, 1975 |
Holder strip for feeding fastening elements into a setting
device
Abstract
A holder for inserting fastening elements with transversely
extending heads, such as nails and the like, into a setting device
from which the fastening elements are driven by an explosive force
transmitted by a piston, is provided by an elongated strip formed
of a particular material with a selected thickness so that the head
of the fastening element can punch out the material of the strip
when it is driven into the target material. Holes are provided in
the strip to receive and hold the shanks of the fastening elements
and the strip is partially perforated at positions spaced outwardly
from and on opposite sides of the holes so that a portion of the
strip spaced located inwardly from the perforations can separate
from the strip when the fastening element contacts the strip with
the punched out part forming a washer on the shank of the fastening
element. The edges of the strip are provided with spaced recesses
for feeding the strip through the setting device.
Inventors: |
Maier; Elmar (Feldkirch-Tisis,
OE) |
Assignee: |
Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
(Schaan, FL)
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Family
ID: |
5781000 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/355,660 |
Filed: |
April 30, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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174846 |
Aug 25, 1971 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 28, 1970 [DT] |
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2042768 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/347;
411/442 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25C
1/184 (20130101); F16B 27/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B25C
1/00 (20060101); B25C 1/18 (20060101); F16B
27/00 (20060101); B65d 083/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;85/17,1E
;206/343,338,346,347,344 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Allen; Edward C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Toren, McGeady and Stanger
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 174,846 filed Aug.
25, 1971, and now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A holder assembly for supplying fastening elements into the
barrel of a setting device so that the fastening elements can be
driven into a target material by means of a piston driven by an
explosive force developed within the setting device, the holder
assembly includes a flat elongated strip having a plurality of
holes therethrough spaced apart in the elongated direction of said
strip and a fastening element positioned within each hole, each
said fastening element includes an elongated shank having a first
end and a second end with the first end arranged to be inserted
first into the target material and a head extending transversely
laterally outwardly from the circumferential periphery of the shank
at the second end thereof, wherein the improvement comprises that
the shank of each said fastening element is secured within one of
the holes in said holder strip adjacent the first end thereof and
spaced for a considerable axial length of the shank from its second
end so that the head of the fastening element is spaced from said
holder strip, said holder strip having a width greater than the
diameter of the heads of said fastening elements so that the sides
of the strip extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral
periphery of the heads, said holder strip is perforated adjacent to
and on opposite sides of each hole so that the perforations are
spaced radially outwardly from the hole and inwardly from the sides
of the strip and in angularly spaced relation to one another about
the hole with which they are associated and said perforations for
each hole are separate from and spaced in the elongated direction
of said strip from the perforations for the adjacent holes with a
portion of said strip extending transversely of the elongated
direction thereof and located between the perforations about
adjacent holes, the radially inner edges of the perforations
relative to the hole with which they are associated are in general
alignment with the lateral periphery of the head of the fastening
element held in the hole and the radially inner edge has an arcuate
configuration generally conforming to the shape of the lateral
periphery of the head of the fastening element, and said holder
strip is formed of a selected material and thickness so that in
combination with the perforations formed about each hole a
washer-like portion of said strip laterally enclosing the shank of
the fastening element can be punched from the strip by the head of
the fastening element as it is driven into the target material by
the explosive force driven piston in the setting device with the
perforations assisting in the punching out of the washer-like
portion.
2. A holder assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holder
strip is formed of an aluminum alloy.
3. A holder assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
fastening elements have a shank diameter in the range of 2.5 to 5.5
mm and said strip has a width of about 14 mm and a thickness in the
range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
4. A holder assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip
has notches located in the longitudinally extending edges thereof
with the inner surfaces of said notches spaced laterally outwardly
from said perforations, and said notches arranged for engagement
with means for feeding the strip through the setting device.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a holder for feeding fastening
elements, such as nails and the like, into a setting device from
which the fastening elements are driven by a piston, and, more
particularly, it concerns an elongated strip-shaped holder in which
the shanks of the fastening elements are secured in longitudinally
spaced holes and in which the holder is formed of such material and
dimensions that the fastening element can punch through the holder
when it is driven into the target material.
It is well known that manually introducing fastening elements into
a setting device is a time-consuming operation. Accordingly, to
facilitate and speed the loading not only of the cartridges but of
the fastening elements into a setting device, it has been known to
incorporate both the cartridges and the fastening elements into a
holder device which feeds the cartridges and fastening elements
stepwise into the setting device.
In fastening element setting devices it has been known to provide a
holder device containing combined cartridge fastening element
units. Generally speaking, these units are arranged in drum-shape
or block-shaped members with means being arranged on the setting
device for feeding the units into the barrel of the device.
However, where the setting device uses a piston for driving the
fastening element into the target material, it is necessary to feed
the cartridges and the fastening elements separately into the
setting device, with the cartridge behind the piston and the
fastening element in front of it. Further, when a fastening element
is to be positioned within the barrel of the setting device, the
piston must be located in its starting or firing position so that
the fastening element can be inserted.
One solution for feeding the fastening elements into a setting
device using a piston has been to position the fastening elements
in a drum-shape or block-shaped member mounted rotatably or
displaceably on the front of the barrel of the setting device.
Unfortunately, the weight of the holder members makes the setting
device top-heavy and difficult to handle.
Another attempt at solving the problem of introducing fastening
elements into piston operated setting devices has involved the use
of belt-like strips of plastic which are fed into the setting
device by means of gear-shaped rotors or chains and which are held
during the driving operation. The arrangement of the rotors on the
setting device often make it difficult to use the device in
positions which are difficult to reach, and the use of a loose
chain as a feeding member provides additional problems. Further, it
is only possible to use long fastening elements in such belt-like
strips which, in effect, consist of continuous plastic sleeves. If
the fastening elements are too short, it is not possible to ensure
adequate guidance by means of the sleeves in such belt-like strips.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to
provide a holder strip for feeding fastening elements into a piston
operated setting device which avoids the problems experienced in
the past.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the fastening
element holder is provided as an elongated flat strip whose
material and thickness are selected so that the strip can be
punched out by the head of the fastening element as it is driven
from the setting device by the explosive force transmitted by a
piston. In such a belt-shaped strip, which can be produced by very
simple means, fastening elements of any length can be secured. As
the fastening element is driven through the holder strip, a portion
of the strip is punched out by the head of the fastening element
and the punched out part serves as a washer. By forming the head on
the fastening element with a diameter slightly greater than the
diameter of the piston it is possible to form the hole punched out
of the holder strip so that the piston can pass through it without
any interference in completing the driving of the fastening element
into the target material. Accordingly, as the piston drives the
fastening element into the target material and also as the piston
is retracted into its firing position, there is no problem of
frictional engagement between the piston and the material of the
holder strip.
Preferably, the holder strip is formed of an aluminum alloy to
insure light-weight and good machining properties.
Another advantageous feature of the invention is the partial
perforation of the band in a ring spaced outwardly from the hole
containing the fastening element and in alignment with the
periphery of the fastening element head so that a satisfactory
punching effect can be insured when the fastening element is driven
through the holder stip.
To effect the feeding action of the holder strip through the
setting device, the longitudinal edges of the strip are provided
with spaced recesses which facilitate the feeding action.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and
described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a view, partly in section, of a setting device for
driving fastening elements into a target material with a holder
strip, in accordance with the present invention, feeding the
fastening elements into position for the driving operation; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the forward end of the setting
device, shown partly in section, with the holder strip containing
the fastening elements aligned for insertion into the setting
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, a gun-like setting device is shown for driving fastening
elements 16, such as nails, studs and the like, into a target
material 11. The setting device has a pistol-grip type handle 2
containing a trigger 3 for actuating a firing pin 4, in a known
manner, so that the firing pin strikes a cartridge 6 mounted within
a cartridge chamber 5. At the forward end of the setting device, a
base plate 1a is provided which rests against the target material
11 when the fastening element is being inserted. A barrel 7 extends
through the base plate 1a and the barrel has a rearward part 7a
located behind a forward part 7b in the firing direction of the
device.
When a cartridge 6 is ignited within the chamber 5, the gases
generated provide an explosive force for driving a piston 9
forwardly in the axial direction through the rearward part 7a and
the forward part 7b of the barrel. Further, within the device
adjacent its handle, a piston guide 8 is provided for guiding or
directing the rear or head end 9a of the piston. When a fastening
element 16 has been driven by the piston into the target material,
the forward end of the piston shank 9c is located in the forward
part of the barrel within the base plate 1a. For returning the
piston to its starting or firing position, the piston guide is
moved forwardly, that is, toward the muzzle end of the device, by
means of a handle 12 against the action of a tension spring 14
which extends between the piston guide 8 and the base plate 1a.
Friction elements 13 are provided on the head end 9a of the piston
9 so that the piston guide engages the piston and by means of the
spring 14 returns the piston into its firing position. In FIG. 1, a
holder strip 17 with the fastening elements 16 held in a serially
spaced arrangement is inserted into a channel 15 which extends
through the base plate 1a of the device perpendicularly to the
barrel 7. From the inlet side of the channel 15 to the barrel, the
channel has an increased dimension in the axial direction of the
barrel so that it can accommodate the form and length of the
fastening elements to be introduced into the barrel. This feature
of the increased length of the channel 15 can be particularly noted
in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the holder strip 17 has perforated portions 17a
disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of and spaced outwardly
from the holes containing the fastening elements.
The perforations 17a are aligned below the peripheral edges of the
heads of the fastening elements. Further, spaced recesses or
notches 17b are provided in the longitudinally extending edges of
the holder strip 17 for engagement with means for feeding the strip
through the channel 15 in the setting device, however, since these
means for feeding the strip are known and do not form any part of
the invention, they are not illustrated. The perforations 17a are
spaced inwardly from the side edges of the holder strip 17. The
perforations 17a for each hole are spaced apart in the elongated
direction of the strip 17 from the perforations for adjacent holes
so that a transversely extending portion of the strip is located
between the perforations about adjacent holes.
When a fastening element 16 is to be driven into the target
material 11, the trigger is actuated and the ignition of the
cartridge causes the generation of gases which afford an explosive
force to the piston for driving it forwardly toward the muzzle end
of the device. As the piston is driven forwardly, a recess 9b in
the forward end of the piston shank 9c engages a projection 16b on
the head of the fastening element and in combination with the hole
in the holder strip guides the fastening element through the
forward part 7b of the barrel 7. As soon as the fastening element
begins to penetrate into the target material 11, the guidance
afforded by the holder strip becomes superfluous. As the fastening
element continues to be driven into the target material by the
piston, the portion of the holder strip surrounding the shank 16c
of the fastening element is punched out by the head 16a of the
fastening element and provides a washer on the fastening element
shank. After the washer is separated from the strip the
transversely extending portion remains between the longitudinally
extending strip edges. Since the diameter of the fastening element
head 16a is greater than the diameter of the piston shank 9c, the
piston shank can pass through the hole formed in the holder strip
without experiencing any resistance or interference. After the
completion of the driving operation, the shank 9c of the piston can
be easily retracted through the hole in the holder strip since
there is no frictional engagement to be overcome. The perforations
17a in the holder strip 17 assure that the strip is completely
punched out as the fastening element passes through the strip.
Perforations 17a are provided on both sides of the hole supporting
the fastening element shank 16c so that it is possible to use the
holder strip on both sides.
As exemplary of and not in any sense limiting the scope of the
invention, holder strips have been used with nails having shank
diameters in the range of 2.5 to 5.5 mm. The width and thickness of
the holder strips depends on various conditions, one example is a
holder strip with a width of 14 mm and a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5
mm. Though aluminum alloys have been indicated as materials for
forming the holder strips, it will be appreciated that other
materials, such as brass, steel and other metals, could be
used.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive
principles, it will be understood that the invention may be
embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
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