Device for dispensing plastic fasteners

Abstract

A device for dispensing individual plastic fasteners from a continuous supply of 0.1875 inch pitch ladder stock includes a head assembly that is designed to receive the supply of ladder stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply ladder stock and eject the individual fastener during a single stroke of its actuation cycle. The device also includes a stepper motor for driving the head assembly through its actuation cycle, a DC power switching supply for regulating the power supplied to the stepper motor from an AC input power source, and a controller for collecting historical data relating to usage of the device and for regulating operation of the stepper motor. The device further includes a switch for regulating the operation of the device between a single stroke or continuous stroke actuation cycle. The device additionally includes a switch for regulating the output speed of the stepper motor during its actuation cycle.

1 . A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock, the fastener stock being shaped to include a pair of continuous side rails to which are coupled a plurality of equidistantly spaced cross links, the individual fastener comprising a pair of shortened cross-bars that are interconnected by a flexible filament, the device comprising:
 (a) a head assembly adapted to receive the supply of fastener stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply fastener stock and eject the individual fastener during a single stroke of its actuation cycle,   (b) a stepper motor for driving the head assembly through its actuation cycle, and   (c) a controller for regulating the operation of the stepper motor.   
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller regulates the application of power to the stepper motor. 
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the controller collects historical data relating to usage of the device. 
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising a serial connector data port in electrical connection with the controller. 
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the head assembly is calibrated to dispense individual plastic fasteners from a supply of ladder stock that has a pitch of 0.1875 inches. 
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a cycle regulation switch for regulating the actuation cycle for the head assembly, the cycle regulation switch being in electrical connection with the stepper motor. 
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the cycle regulation switch enables the head assembly to dispense plastic fasteners from fastener stock using either a single stroke or continuous stroke actuation cycle. 
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a stroke speed switch for regulating the output speed of the stepper motor during its actuation cycle, the stroke speed switch being in electrical connection with the stepper motor. 
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the stroke speed switch enables each stroke of the head assembly during its actuation cycle to be adjusted between 0.25 seconds per stroke and 0.50 seconds per stroke. 
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is adapted to receive alternating current (AC) power from an input power source. 
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising a DC power switching supply for regulating the power supplied to the stepper motor from the input power source, the DC power switching supply being electrically connected to the controller. 
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the DC power switch supply converts the AC power received from the input power source to a designated direct current (DC) power level. 
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the DC power switch supply is adapted to receive AC power from the input power source that falls within the range of approximately 90 volts and 250 volts. 
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the head assembly comprises,
 (a) a head slidably coupled to a fixed mount,   (b) a pair of hollowed needles fixedly coupled to the head, each of the pair of hollowed needles being shaped to define a longitudinal bore,   (c) a feed mechanism for advancing each side rail of the supply of fastener stock into direct axial alignment behind the longitudinal bore of a corresponding hollowed needle,   (d) a severing mechanism for separating an individual fastener from the supply of ladder stock, and   (e) an ejection mechanism for ejecting each cross-bar of the individual fastener axially through the longitudinal bore of a corresponding hollowed needle.   
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the head is adapted for vertical displacement relative to the fixed mount. 
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the head is vertically driven by the stepper motor. 
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the ejection mechanism is driven by the stepper motor. 
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the spacing between the pair of hollowed needles can be adjusted between a range of 0.1875 and 0.25 inches.