Pushpin installer

Abstract

A pushpin installer having a housing and a pushpin receiver having a track adapted to receive a plurality of aligned pushpins. An escapement is secured to the receiver adjacent one end of the track and this escapement is movable between a retracted position in which the escapement is laterally displaced from the track and an extended position in which the escapement extends across the track and separates two pushpins. A plunger is aligned with one pushpin after separation by the escapement so that, upon actuation, the plunger drives a pushpin from the track in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of the track and into a workpiece.

1 . A pushpin installer comprising: 
 a pushpin receiver having a track adapted to receive a plurality of aligned pushpins,    an escapement secured to said receiver adjacent one end of the track, said escapement being movable between a retracted position in which said escapement is laterally displaced from said track and an extended position in which said escapement extends across said track and separates two pushpins,    a plunger which, upon actuation, drives a pushpin at said one end of said track from said track in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of said track.    
   
   
       2 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein said escapement comprises a separation blade having a rounded nose, said nose being aligned between two adjacent pushpins in said track immediately prior to movement of said escapement from said retracted position and to said extended position.  
   
   
       3 . The invention as defined in  claim 2  wherein said escapement comprises a stop blade having a surface which abuts against one pushpin in said track when said escapement is in said retracted position.  
   
   
       4 . The invention as defined in  claim 3  wherein said separation blade includes a surface which positions one pushpin in position for installation as said escapement is moved from said extended position to said retracted position.  
   
   
       5 . The invention as defined in  claim 4  wherein said one pushpin is entrapped between said separator blade and said stop blade as said escapement is moved from said retracted and to said extended position.  
   
   
       6 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  and comprising a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to said housing and movable between a closed and an open position, wherein in said closed position said jaws support a single pushpin in alignment with said plunger and wherein said plunger, upon actuation, moves said jaws to said open position thereby releasing said single pushpin.  
   
   
       7 . The invention as defined in  claim 6  and comprising a spring which biases said jaw toward said closed position.  
   
   
       8 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  and comprising a hopper which, upon activation, loads pushpins into an inclined chute, and an actuator which pivots said housing between a loading position in which said track is aligned with said chute, and an operational position in which said track is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       9 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  and comprising means for moving the pushpins along said track.  
   
   
       10 . The invention as defined in  claim 9  wherein said moving means comprises an air jet mounted to said housing and directed along said track.  
   
   
       11 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  and comprising a frame, a slide horizontally movably mounted to said frame and said receiver being mounted to said slide.  
   
   
       12 . The invention as defined in  claim 11  wherein said receiver is pivotally mounted to said slide between an inclined loading position and a substantially horizontal operational position.  
   
   
       13 . The invention as defined in  claim 1  and comprising a pneumatic actuator for moving said escapement between said retracted position and said extended position.