Stapler with feed system for elements to be stapled to a workpiece

Abstract

A stapler with a tab magazine includes a staple magazine parallel to a workpiece surface, a staple driving head and an electric drive for effecting a forwarding movement of the staple driver head. The driver head is controlled by a trigger and electric drive circuit. A tab magazine is provided along side the tab driver head for receiving a plurality of substantially planar separate tabs in a stack of the tabs arranged each on top of the next. A drive lever pivots in a plane parallel to the surface to move a tab at the forwardmost position to the stapling position such that the staple passes through the tab at the stapling position to fasten the tab to the workpiece. The lever is driven by an electric driver controlled by a timing circuit at a timed relation relative to the driving action of the previous tab. In another arrangement, the tab magazine is replaced by a roll of fiber reinforced tape so that a complete strip of tape underlies the staples and they all can be removed in a single pulling action. The strip or tabs act to locate a bag or wrapping on an article such as a stack of lumber.

1 . A stapler comprising: 
 a staple gun having: 
 a staple magazine;  
 a staple driving head;  
 a drive assembly for effecting a forwarding movement of the staple driver head in a direction substantially at right angles to a workpiece surface to a stapling position on the workpiece surface such that a staple from the magazine is driven into the workpiece, the drive assembly including a first electric driver and a trigger for controlling actuation of the first electric driver such that each operation of the trigger effects one forwarding movement of the staple driver head;  
 a supply magazine for supplying a plurality of substantially planar flat elements one at a time to the stapling position such that the staple passes through the flat element at the stapling position to fasten the flat element to the workpiece;  
 and a reciprocating drive actuator for effecting movement of the flat elements to the stapling position, the drive actuator including a second electric driver;  
   and a timing circuit for controlling actuation of the second electric driver relative to actuation of the first electric driver such that the flat element is located at the stapling position when the staple driver head is actuated.    
     
     
         2 . The stapler according to  claim 1  wherein the supply magazine comprises a sleeve member for receiving a plurality of substantially planar, separate tabs in a stack of the tabs arranged each on top of the next, the magazine being arranged to support the stack in a direction generally parallel to the movement of the driver head and at a position to one side of the driver head, a spring feeding the tabs forwardly of the magazine to a forwardmost position, a drive member for moving a tab at the forwardmost position to the stapling position such that the staple passes through the tab at the stapling position to fasten the tab to the workpiece and a reciprocating drive actuator for effecting movement of the drive member in a moving action from the forwardmost position to the stapling position and back to the forwardmost position for moving another tab, the drive actuator including the second electric driver.  
     
     
         3 . The stapler according to  claim 2  wherein the staple magazine is at right angles to the head so as to lie along the workpiece surface.  
     
     
         4 . The stapler according to  claim 2  wherein there is provided a tab guide for guiding the tab from the forwardmost position to the stapling position and for holding the tab in the stapling position.  
     
     
         5 . The stapler according to  claim 4  wherein the tab guide includes a pair of inwardly facing slots each for receiving a side edge portion of the tab, the tab being pulled from the slots by the staple which passes through a center portion of the tab between the slots.  
     
     
         6 . The stapler according to  claim 4  wherein the drive actuator is arranged such that the tab is moved to the stapling position in the tab guide subsequent to driving of a previous staple and prior to driving of the respective staple and is held in place awaiting the respective staple.  
     
     
         7 . The stapler according to  claim 2  wherein the drive actuator includes a lever pivotally mounted for movement in a plane parallel to the workpiece surface and driven by the second driver.  
     
     
         8 . A stapler comprising: 
 a staple gun having: 
 a staple magazine;  
 a staple driving head;  
 a drive assembly, including a manually operable trigger, for effecting a forwarding movement of the staple driver head in a direction substantially at right angles to a workpiece surface to a stapling position on the workpiece surface such that a staple from the magazine is driven into the workpiece;  
 a strip material for attachment with the staples to the workpiece;  
 a supply assembly of the strip material arranged including a supply container such that the strip material can be pulled from the supply container, the supply assembly being mounted on the stapler and including a supply guide arranged such that, as the material is pulled from the supply container, the strip material passes across the stapling position and such that, as the staple is driven into the workpiece, both legs of the staple pass through the strip material;  
 the strip material having a strength such that, when the strip material is pulled from the workpiece, the staple is pulled from the workpiece with the strip.  
   
     
     
         9 . The stapler according to  claim 8  wherein the strip material is reinforced by fibers.  
     
     
         10 . The stapler according to  claim 9  wherein the fibers extend diagonally.  
     
     
         11 . The stapler according to  claim 8  wherein the strip material is supplied in a roll which is driven solely by pulling on the strip material.  
     
     
         12 . The stapler according to  claim 8  wherein the strip material is supplied in a roll and wherein there is provided a tensioner for resisting pulling of the strip material such that the strip material is laid across the surface under tension as the staple gun is pulled across the surface.  
     
     
         13 . A method of wrapping an article comprising: 
 providing a supply of an elongate strip material;    providing a staple gun having a staple magazine, a staple driving head, a drive assembly, including a manually operable trigger, for effecting a forwarding movement of the staple driver head in a direction substantially at right angles to a surface of the article to a stapling position on the surface such that a staple from the magazine is driven into the article;    mounting the supply of the strip material in a supply container of a supply assembly attached to the staple gun;    arranging the supply assembly of the strip material such that the strip material can be pulled from the supply container;    providing a guide on the supply assembly and causing the guide to effect guiding of the strip material from such that, as the material is pulled from the supply container, the strip material passes across the stapling position and such that, as the staple is driven into the workpiece, both legs of the staple pass through the strip material;    applying a staple to the article to attach the strip material to the article at a selected location thereon;    pulling the staple gun across the article so as to pull the strip material across the article, periodically operating the trigger to apply staples through the wrapping strip material at spaced positions along the length of the strip material to effect wrapping of the article with a length of the strip material, and cutting the strip material after the wrapping with the length of strip material is completed;    and, after the wrapping is completed and when it is required to un-wrap the article, pulling the strip material from the article;    and arranging the strip material to have a strength such that, when the strip material is pulled from the article, the spaced staples are pulled from the article with the strip.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the strip material is reinforced by fibers.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the fibers extend diagonally.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the strip material is supplied in a roll which is driven solely by pulling on the strip material.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the strip material is supplied in a roll and wherein there is provided a tensioner for resisting pulling of the strip material such that the strip material is laid across the article under tension as the staple gun is pulled across the surface.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the strip material is applied over a sheet wrapping material to effect closure of the wrapping material around the article.