Illinois Tool Works Inc.

John Binder

Henry A Sygnator

William L Gabriel

Lawrence S Shelton

Henry W Schniedermeier

Robert E Bellock

Robert W Wright

A method and apparatus for forming a head, having a controlled predetermined shape on an end of an elongate member, such as a wire, which is formed into a fastener, where an end portion of the wire is secured in a predetermined position and axially compressed so as to expand a predetermined amount of wire material radially outwardly and thereby form the head on the wire, and where material flow is directed during axial compression so as to provide the controlled predetermined shape of the head.

Method of forming a head on a fastener

A method and apparatus for forming a head, having a controlled predetermined shape, on an end of an elongate member, such as a wire, which is formed into a fastener, where an end portion of the wire is secured in a predetermined position and axially compressed so as to expand a predetermined amount of wire material radially outwardly and thereby form the head on the wire, and where material flow is directed during axial compression so as to provide the controlled predetermined shape of the head.

Method and apparatus for forming a head on a fastener and a fastener

Nails having radially offset, circular heads are manufactured from a malleable wire. The wire is clamped so that a leading portion extends axially from a clamping mechanism. The extending portion is bent at an acute angle relative to a clamping axis. The extending portion is cut so as to form a pointed end thereon and so as to leave a bent stub extending at such an angle. Such a nail head is formed from the stub, which is pressed by a punch into a cavity defined by the clamping mechanism, and which is deformed when pressed thereinto. The cavity has a fully circular, offset margin. The punch has a face covering the cavity. Once released, the wire is fed axially until a leading portion extends as before. These operations are repeated to form a similar nail in each repetition. A novel apparatus for carrying out these operations is disclosed.

Method and apparatus for making wire nails having radially offset, fully

A wire nail with a head having a circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and disposed in a radially offset relationship with respect to a shank. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum indicating where the shank is located. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum for orienting such nail and similar nails. In some embodiments, a tangent plane defined by means of a lower or underside portion of the head is oriented at an acute angle (75.degree. to 85.degree.) relative to the shank. In a strip of such (collated) nails, the flat surfaces defined upon the shanks define an open channel, which coacts with a rib integrally provided upon one wall of a nail-feeding mechanism. In a nail-making machine, two gripping members defining an annular recess and a punch are used to form such a nail from a wire of a malleable metal.

Apparatus for forming a wire nail

A wire nail with a head having a circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and disposed in a radially offset relationship with respect to a shank. A flat surface on defined upon the shank provides a datum indicating where the shank is located. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum for orienting such nail and similar nails. In some embodiments, a tangent plane defined by means of a lower or underside portion of the head is oriented at an acute angle (75.degree. to 85.degree.) relative to the shank. In a strip of such (collated) nails, the flat surfaces defined upon the shanks define an open channel, which coacts with a rib integrally provided upon one wall of a nail-feeding mechanism. In a nail-making machine, two gripping members defining an annular recess and a punch are used to form such a nail from a wire of a malleable metal.

Growing community of inventors

Morton Grove, IL, United States of America

John Binder