Single piston operated clip device

Abstract

An improved clip attachment apparatus includes a main drive cylinder operative to drive a punch against a clip. A mechanical linkage also connects the drive cylinder with a gate. Operation of the main drive cylinder simultaneously closes the gate to form the punch channel and drives the punch. The mechanical linkage includes a lost motion feature to insure that the gate will be closed prior to attachment of the clip around material gathered at the lower end of the punch channel. An improved knife for cutting the clipped material and an improved pneumatic circuit for sequentially controlling the drive cylinder and the knife cylinder are disclosed. Finally, an adjustable trigger mechanism for initiating operation of the clipper is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved clipper mechanism comprising in combination: a. a bracket assembly including fixed punch guide means defining a portion of a punch and clip guide channel, clip feed means for feeding a clip into the channel, and die means at one end of said channel for forming a clip cooperatively with punch means;   b. reciprocal punch means mounted in the fixed punch guide means for travel in the channel between a retracted position and an extended, clip attachment position;   c. drive means for driving said punch means reciprocally between the retracted and extended positions, said drive means mounted on the bracket assembly;   d. gate means attached to the assembly for cooperation with the punch guide means to form a complete closed channel to guide a clip into cooperation with the die means, .[.and.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.gate means being removable from cooperation with the punch guide means forming the channel to define a throat opening for positioning material to be clipped over the die means; and   e. mechanical linkage means connecting the gate means with the drive means for retracting the gate means from cooperation with the punch guide means to expose the throat opening when the punch means are in the retracted position and for closing the gate means to form a continuous, closed channel for said clip and punch means upon operation of the drive means to transport the punch means toward the extended position, said gate means being closed prior to travel of the punch means to the extended position.[...]..Iadd., said mechanical linkage means including (i) a fixed cam plate attached to the bracket assembly, said cam plate including a cam slot;   (ii) an actuator member attached to the drive means and movable reciprocally therewith, said actuator including cam track overlying portions of the cam slot; and   (iii) a link pivotally attached to the gate means at one end and including a follower at the opposite end, said follower simultaneously cooperating with the cam slot and cam track. .Iaddend.     
     
     
       2. The improved clipper of claim 1 wherein said gate means comprise a gate pivotally attached to the bracket assembly for pivotal motion about an axis intermediate the ends of the channel. .[.3. The improved clipper of claim 1 wherein said mechanical linkage means includes a cam and follower mechanism driven by the drive means, and providing a rotational movement to close said gate means upon the corresponding movement of the punch 
     
     
        means toward the extended position..]. 4.  The improved clipper of claim 1 
     
     
        wherein said drive means comprise fluid actuated drive means. 5.  The improved clipper of claim 1 including knife means attached to said bracket 
     
     
        assembly for cutting material extending through the throat opening. 6. The improved clipper of claim 5 wherein said knife means comprises a knife member pivotally attached to the bracket assembly adjacent the throat opening and means for actuating the knife member by driving said knife member about its pivot axis to intersect material projecting through the 
     
     
        throat opening. 7.  The improved clipper of claim 5 wherein said knife means comprises a knife holder and a knife blade removably inserted in 
     
     
        said holder. 8.  The improved clipper of claim 6 wherein said means for 
     
     
        actuating said knife includes a fluid drive means. 9.  The improved clipper of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprise a main fluid cylinder for directly driving the punch means and for operating the gate means. 
     
     
             The improved clipper of claim 1 including control means for said 
     
     
        drive means. 11.  The improved clipper of claim 10 wherein said control means comprise a lever actuated valve, said lever being responsive to placement of material in the throat opening to open said valve and direct 
     
     
        fluid to the drive means. 12.  The improved clipper of claim 1 including knife means attached to the bracket assembly; fluid actuated knife operating means for actuating said knife to cut material projecting from the throat opening; and   
     
     
       wherein said drive means is fluid actuated. 13.  The improved clipper of claim 12 including control means for sequentially operating said fluid 
     
     
        actuated knife operating means and said fluid actuated drive means. 14. The improved clipper of claim 13 including a single fluid pressure input 
     
     
        for actuating the drive means and the knife means. 15.  The improved clipper of claim 14 including time delay means for said single fluid 
     
     
        pressure input for the knife means. 16.  The improved clipper of claim 10 
     
     
        wherein said control means is adjustable. 17.  The improved clipper of claim 1 wherein the gate means includes a gate member for forming the channel and at least one side plate member for gathering and maintaining 
     
     
        material in the channel. 18.  An improved clipper mechanism comprising, in combination: a. a bracket assembly including a fixed punch guide defining a portion of a punch and clip guide channel, clip feed means for feeding a clip into the channel, and a die at one end of the channel for forming a clip cooperatively with a punch;   b. a punch mounted in the punch guide for travel in the channel between a retraced position and an extended clip attachment position;   c. fluid drive means mounted on the bracket assembly and attached to the punch for driving the punch reciprocally between retracted and extended positions;   d. a channel gate pivotally attached to the bracket assembly and forming, at least in part, the end of the channel adjacent the die when pivoted to a closed position, said channel gate being pivotal away from the channel to provide a throat opening for material to be clipped; and   e. a mechanical linkage connecting the fluid drive means with the gate for pivotally moving the gate to the closed position prior to movement of the punch to the fully extended position.[...]..Iadd., said mechanical linkage means including: (i) a fixed cam plate attached to the bracket assembly said cam plate including a cam slot,   (ii) an actuator member attached to the drive means and movable reciprocally therewith, said actuator including a cam track overlying portions of the cam slot; and   (iii) a link pivotally attached to the gate means at one end and including a follower at the opposite end, said follower simultaneously cooperating     
     
     
        with the cam slot and cam track. .Iaddend. 19.  The clipper of claim 18 wherein the linkage includes a movable platen attached to the drive rod, said platen being attached to the gate by the linkage and to the punch. 
     
     
             The clipper of claim 18 wherein the linkage and the punch have equal strokes imparted by the drive means, and wherein said linkage includes means for lost motion at the end of said stroke whereby said gate is rotated into closed position and maintained in closed position by a partial stroke and said punch is moved to the extended position by a full 
     
     
        stroke. 21.  The clipper of claim 20 wherein said means for lost motion includes a link connecting the gate and the linkage, said link being pivotally connected to the linkage and the gate, said link having a pivot pin at the end connected to the linkage and mounted in a slot in the linkage, said slot including a run transverse to the direction of stroke and a second run parallel to the direction of stroke, and means for placing the pin in the second run to provide lost motion.