The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 1997
Filed:
May. 03, 1996
Clark L Grendol, Sturbridge, MA (US);
Avery Dennison Corporation, Pasadena, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing plastic fasteners from a clip of fastener stock, each fastener having a cross bar coupled to a common runner bar by a stub. The apparatus includes a gun shaped casing made of plastic. A hollow needle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening is mounted on the front of the casing. A guide groove is formed in the casing for receiving the fastener stock, the guide groove being in communication with the inlet opening of the hollow needle. The guide groove includes a stub receiving portion bounded by a front wall. The apparatus also includes a feed member mounted on the casing behind the guide groove. The feed member includes a tooth having a lower surface which engages the stub of an individual fastener to advance the fastener stock so that the cross bar of the fastener to be dispensed is advanced into alignment with the inlet opening of the hollow needle. The guide groove includes a protrusion on the front wall of the stub receiving portion which positions the stub of the individual fastener in engagement with the tooth of the feed member directly underneath the lower surface of the tooth so that the fastener will not become wedged between the tooth and front wall of the guide groove. The cross bar of the fastener to be dispensed is pushed out through the outlet opening of the needle by an ejector rod.