(19)
(11) EP 1 099 637 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
13.08.2003 Bulletin 2003/33

(21) Application number: 99901920.1

(22) Date of filing: 29.01.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B65C 7/00, B65B 13/18
(86) International application number:
PCT/JP9900/396
(87) International publication number:
WO 0004/4628 (03.08.2000 Gazette 2000/31)

(54)

FILAMENT-SHAPED CONNECTION BODY CONNECTION METHOD AND DEVICE

VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUM KUPPELN BANDFÖRMIGER VERBINDER

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE CONNEXION D'UN CORPS DE CONNEXION EN FORME DE FILAMENT


(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE ES FR GB IT LI

(43) Date of publication of application:
16.05.2001 Bulletin 2001/20

(73) Proprietor: Toska Co., Ltd.
Tokyo 101-0032 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • KUBOTA, Mikio Toska Co., Ltd.
    Tokyo 101-0032 (JP)
  • MASUYAMA, Kenji
    Kofu-shi, Yamanashi-ken 400-0861 (JP)

(74) Representative: Weber, Dieter, Dr. Dipl.-Chem. et al
Weber, Seiffert, Lieke, Postfach 61 45
65051 Wiesbaden
65051 Wiesbaden (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
JP-A- 8 310 520
JP-A- 11 049 125
JP-U- 7 015 515
US-A- 5 501 002
JP-A- 11 029 121
JP-A- 62 052 029
US-A- 4 536 933
US-A- 5 738 265
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Technical Field:



    [0001] The invention relates to a mount method and a mount device, in which filament-shaped connecting bodies made of a synthetic resin and comprising a filament, a head provided on one end of the filament and with a latch hole, and a joining part provided on the other end of the filament and adapted to be securedly fitted into the latch hole of the head are used, and the joining part is securedly fitted into the latch hole of the head to connect the filament in a ring-shaped manner to thereby mount an indication card such as a price tag or the like, to connect two or more articles together and further to connect connecting bodies themselves together, and to filament-shaped connecting bodies.

    Background of the Invention:



    [0002] As proposed by the applicant of this application in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 8473/1982, filament-shaped connecting bodies made of a synthetic resin are provided by integral molding of a filament part, which is provided at one end thereof with an annular-shaped head (female part) and at the other end thereof with a joining part (male part), from an industrial synthetic resin such as nylon, polypropylene or the like, and by stretching the filament part to increase strength thereof and to make a cross section thereof small to make the same pliable, and the product according to the invention of the Publication is widely commercially available as "Locks" (trade mark) in Japan and in the world to be used for various applications such as mounting of a price tag or the like.

    [0003] The head is annular or cylindrical in shape and is formed centrally therethrough with a latch hole, which is formed in a middle portion thereof with a diametrically extending, annular engagement step. Meanwhile, the joining part includes a neck dimensioned to pass through the engagement step, and latch pieces projecting on both sides of the neck in a vane-like configuration, the latch pieces being supported by and engaged with the engagement step.

    [0004] Such filament-shaped connecting body is such that in a state, in which the filament part is made to encircle a part of goods to be formed in a ring-shape, the joining part can be inserted from either side of the head to be fitted into the head, and thus the filament part can be formed in a ring-shape in one-touch operation by connection of the head and the joining part, so that it can be effectively used when various indication cards (tags) such as a price tag and so on are mounted to goods, such as handbags, bags, footwear, for example, sandals, and so on, having string-shaped portions, and holes such as button holes and a combination of connecting bodies in the form of chain is used to connect to a show shelf goods being shown.

    [0005] By the way, when such filament-shaped connecting body is to be used, there is the need of an operation of encircling the connecting body around a handle of, for example, a handbag or the like, fitting the joining part into the hole of the head for connection in a state which the joining part of one connecting body is throughout into the hole of the indication card. However, such connecting operation requires manipulation by both hands because it is necessary to hold goods and the head with one hand and to manipulate the joining part with the other hand, and so such manipulation is troublesome and inefficient, so that various mount devices have been investigated, which is capable of performing such operation.

    [0006] Mount devices have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 35489/1988 and 14704/1991. The mount device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 35489/1988 includes a grip part and a grip rod, which are connected at central portions thereof to each other to provide a construction like nippers as a whole. The head and the joining part are connected between a latch guiding arm being an extension of the grip part and a movable arm being an extension of the grip rod to present a state, in which goods is grasped.

    [0007] However, such device gets in a state, in which it interposes a portion of goods between the grip part and the grip rod, to push the goods to possibly damage the same, and moreover the filament part is disposed between the latch guiding arm and the movable arm to be arranged in a U-shaped configuration, so that there is produced no space, into which a portion of goods having mounted thereto an indication card is inserted, that is, "space", in which the mounting operation is performed. Also, there is involved a problem that the operation becomes quite troublesome since the filament part having been bent into a U-shape above the mount device will contact with goods when the device is to be manipulated.

    [0008] On the other hand, with the arrangement described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 14704/1991, a lower beak is provided in such a manner that manipulation of a lever causes the same to come toward and away from an upper beak provided forwardly of a body, and the both beaks are provided with guide grooves, respectively, whereby upon forward and rearward operations of a single pulley cause a belt-shaped article connected to the pulley to alternately enter into the guide grooves of the upper and lower beaks to thereby feed a head of a filament-shaped connecting body to a side of the upper beak and feed a joining part to a side of the lower beak, and to subsequently make the lower beak approach the upper beak to connect the head and the joining part to each other.

    [0009] Since such device uses the single pulley to alternately guide the head and the joining part of the filament-shaped connecting body into the upper and lower beaks, however, it is necessary to precisely and rapidly grasp the head or the joining part at a tip end of the flexible body, and further the opening and closing motions of the lower beak relative to the upper beak are added to require a considerably complex movement, so that there are involved failure in a motion for receiving the head or the joining part, failure in the connecting motion or the like, and further a problem in durability in terms of mechanisms.

    [0010] Also, a similar device has been proposed in Japanese patent application Kokai publication No. 310520/1996, which comprises a reception guide for guiding a L-shaped head in front of a body and an insertion guide so that a belt is used to insert the head into the reception guide and a pipe provided at a tip end of a piston supports the insertion part and is forced into the insertion guide together with an inserting part.

    [0011] With such device, however, the reception guide projects in front of the body at all times to be liable to interfere with the connecting operation, and the forcing-in operation is unstable since the head is forced into the reception guide by the belt. Further, because connecting bands arranged on both sides of the filament-shaped connecting body are inserted into guide holes, which are provided on both sides of a forward portion of the body in a longitudinal direction, and the lower connecting band is struck out, so that there is a problem that the filament-shaped portion bends over a top surface of the body to easily cause the filaments to get entangled, thus tending to causing a trouble.

    [0012] Document US-A-5,501,002 describes a method for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies and for loading into a mount device a collecting body. Using the reference numerals of the present description according to the invention, this collecting body consists of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies. These connecting bodies L are connected in parallel between two flexible members J, J through connecting parts c of reduced cross section, the filament-shaped bodies comprising a head h with latch hole b formed at one end and a joining part k formed at the other end and adapted to fit into the latch hole b to elastically engage fit into the latch hole b to elastically engage therewith, and for fitting the joining part k into the latch hole b for connection, the method comprising the steps of:

    loading heads h and joining parts k into a head groove 6b and a join groove 6a extended from a rear towards a front portion of the device 1 so that the filament parts f are bent in a U shaped manner and feeding the collecting body in a forward direction;

    receiving a head h in a head support part 4d of a head conveying arm 4 in a position in front of the body 2 of the device and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive an article subject to mounting, the head h being at a distance from the axis of a hollow needle 5 projecting from the body 2;

    moving the head conveying arm 4 to approach the axis of the needle 5; and

    causing a rod 10 provided on a piston 9 to force the joining part k into the hollow needle 5 and push it out of a discharge port and to fit it into the latch hole b of the head h.



    [0013] The conventional methods and mount devices involve various problems.

    [0014] A first requirement in developing such mount device for filament-shaped connecting bodies is the capability of simply loading a collecting body of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies into the device and separating individual filament-shaped connecting bodies from the collecting body to rapidly feed them to a part
    where the connection operation is performed.

    [0015] A second requirement is the capability of forming an adequate space (bosom portion or distance for receiving an article, to which a filament-shaped connecting body is mounted), which can receive an article, to which a filament-shaped connecting body go around, and inhibiting filament portions from getting entangled.

    [0016] A third requirement is to surely convey a collecting body of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies in front of the body and rapidly make them assume a striking posture.

    [0017] A mount method, a mount device and a collecting body of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to the invention are directed to providing a device that can solve the above-mentioned various problems of the prior art.

    Disclosure of the Invention:



    [0018] 

    1) To attain the above-mentioned object and again using the reference numerals of the present description according to the invention the method comprises the steps for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies and for loading into a mount device a collecting body of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connection bodies L connected in parallel between two flexible members J, J through connecting parts c of reduced cross section, the filament-shaped bodies comprising a head h with latch hole b formed at one end and a joining part k formed at the other end and adapted to fit into the latch hole b to elastically engage therewith, and for fitting the joining part k into the latch hole b for connection, the method comprising the steps of:

    loading heads h and joining parts k into a head groove 6b and a join groove 6a extended from a rear towards a front portion of the device 1 so that the filament parts f are bent in a U shaped manner and feeding the collecting body in a forward direction;

    receiving a head h in a head support part 4d of a head conveying arm 4 in a position in front of the body 2 of the device and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive an article subject to mounting, the head h being at a distance from the axis of a hollow needle 5 projecting from the body 2;

    moving the head conveying arm 4 to approach the axis of the needle (5); and

    causing a rod 10 provided on a piston 9 to force the joining part k into the hollow needle 5 and push it out of a discharge port and to fit it into the latch hole b of the head h, characterized by that

    the method comprises the step of feeding from rearwardly of the mount device 1 two flexible members J, J disposed on both sides of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies L arranged in parallel to cause them to go around a joining part feed gear 14a and a head feed gear 14b, which are disposed in a forward portion of the mount device 1, and move rearward and to be conveyed along a laterally directed path, and

    in the above step causing the head conveying arm 4 to grasp one of the heads h in a position where the flexible members J, J go around peripheral surfaces of the two gears 14a, 14b causing the rod 10 provided on a tip end of the piston 9 to force one of the joining parts k into the hollow needle 5 provided in forward portion of the mount device 1 to fit the joining part k into the latch hole b of the head h, which has stood by immediately before the discharge port of the hollow needle 5, to thereby connect the filament part f in a ring-shaped manner.

    2) A mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, comprising a lever 3 supported on a forward portion of a grip part 2c of the hollow body 2 to appear and disappear, an intermediate lever 3A driven by the lever 3, a piston 9, which is guided to move in a forward and backward direction of the body 2 and with which the intermediate lever 3A engages, a rod 10 extended forward from the piston 9 for pushing out a joining part k and a hollow needle 5 disposed axially of the rod 10 to be mounted in the body, is characterized by a gear feed lever 12 adapted to turn upon reciprocation of the piston 9, a joining part feed gear 14a and a head feed gear 14b, which are disposed in a forward end portion of the body 2, ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, respectively, provided adjacent the both gears 14a, 14b, feed pawls 12f, 12g incorporated into pawl support parts 12d, 12e provided at a tip end of the gear feed lever 12 and adapted to mesh with the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, respectively, a head groove 6b and a join groove 6a, which are formed to communicate to feed positions of the joining part k of the head h on peripheral surfaces of the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, and a head conveying art 4 driven by the piston 9 and supported by a swinging linkage including a parallel linkage,
       and wherein the head conveying arm 4 grasps a foremost head h in a position of the head feed gear 14b to which filament-shaped connecting bodies L are supplied, and moves the same along a predetermined path by means of a linkage supporting the head conveying arm 4 to make the same stand by immediately before a discharge port of the hollow needle 5, and in the mean time the rod 10 projecting at a tip end of the piston 9 causes a foremost joining part k in a position of the joining part feed gear 14a, to which filament-shaped connecting bodies L are supplied, to be inserted and latched into the latch hole b of the head h grasped by the head conveying arm 4.

    3) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), wherein heads h and joining parts k of filament-shaped connecting bodies L are intermittently pushed out to be connected to each other by the gripping operation of the lever 3, which is provided on a forward portion of a grip part 2c of the body 2 of the mount device 1 in a manner to be elastically pushed out;
       the gripping operation of the lever 3 causes the gear feed lever 12 to turn interlocking with advancement of the piston 9, and stores an elastic force in a spring 12h connected to the gear feed lever 12 upon turning of the gear feed lever 12, and the releasing operation of the lever 3 causes the gears 14a, 14b to rotate making use of the elastic force of the spring 12h;
       and the gear feed lever 12 stores an elastic force in the spring 12h in a former stage of the turning, and in a latter stage performs connection of the head h and the joining part k with each other in a state, in which the elastic force is preserved in the spring 12h, and releases the elastic force from the spring 12h upon the releasing operation of the lever 3 to thereby convey the filament-shaped connecting bodies L.

    4) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), wherein the gear feed lever 12 comprises a guide surface 12E for inclining the lever 12 interlocking with advancement of the piston 9 in a former stage of the gripping operation of the lever 3 to store an elastic force in a spring 12h, and the guide surface 12K contiguous to the guide surface 12E in a doglegged configuration for maintaining a posture of the lever 12 in a latter stage of the gripping operation during advancement of the piston 9, and a guide body 12L, which is turnably provided to cooperate with the guide surface 12E to assume a V-shaped and of which a tip end is contiguous to the guide surface 12K;
       an elastic force is stored in the spring 12h while an actuating part 11 adapted to move on the guide surface 12E together with the piston 9 moves, connection of a connecting body L is carried out while the actuating part 11 moves on the guide surface 12K, a posture of the lever 12 is maintained while the actuating part 11 moves on a guide surface of the guide body 12L, and when the actuating part 11 gets out of an end of the guide body 12L, the elastic force of the spring 12h causes the gear feed lever 12 to swing to move a filament-shaped connecting body L to a succeeding striking position.

    5) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), wherein the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b are provided in a forward portion of the body 2, and paths are formed in the body 2, along which flexible members J, J are caused to engage with halves of the peripheries of the both gears 14a, 14b and are discharged.

    6) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), comprises pawl support parts 12d, 12e respectively, formed on a tip end of the gear feed lever 12 in a bifurcate manner, and feed pawls 12f, 12g provided on and supported by the pawl support parts 12d, 12e to mesh with ratchet wheels 15a, 15b respectively, which are provided adjacent the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b and to project forward by elastic forces.

    7) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), comprises a first base plate 20 and a second base plate 22 arranged in parallel between a right hand body 2a and a left hand body 2b, which constitute the body 2, the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b being disposed on a forward portion of one surface of the first base plate 20, a head groove 6b and a join groove 6a provided in a longitudinal direction of the body 2 in a manner to communicate to feed surfaces of the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, the rod 10 being provided on the piston 9 in a manner to move transversely in a diametrical direction of the joining part feed gear 14a, the hollow needle 5 being disposed forwardly axially of the rod 10, the second base plate 22 being provided on one surface thereof with a guide groove 9A for guiding the piston 9, and with a first link 17, a second link 18, a third link 4b and fourth links 4a, 4a', which are driven by the piston 9, the head conveying arm 4 pivotally mounted to upper ends of the third link 4b and of the fourth links4a, 4a' defining a parallel linkage, and further comprising the gear feed lever 12, the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b driven by the gear feed lever 12, and the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, which are fixed to shafts of the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b.

    8) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 7), a stoppage mechanism for maintaining a position where parts constituting the parallel linkage inclines foremost.

    9) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 7), the stoppage mechanism is actuated upon contact of an end of at least one of the fourth links 4a, 4a' with a shaft of the head feed gear 14b.

    10) In the mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 7), comprises a stoppage member provided between the head conveying arm 4 and the body 2 to prevent vibration in a position where the head conveying arm 4 is returned.

    11) In the mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 7), the stoppage member comprises members for providing magnetic attraction and fixing between the head conveying arm 4 and the body 2.

    12) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 2), comprises a manual feed roller 19 arranged midway between the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b to drive them.

    13) The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 7), further comprises stoppers 24, 24A arranged on sides of the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, and a stopper release body 8A for releasing engagement between the stoppers 24, 24A and the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b.

    14) A collecting body of filament-shaped connecting bodies, is made by integral molding of a synthetic resin, and composed of filament-shaped connecting bodies L, which comprise a filament part f, a head h disposed on one end of the filament part and formed centrally thereof with extending through a latch hole b, and a joining part k disposed on the other end of the filament part, the head h and the joining .part k being disposed between two flexible members (, J with connecting parts c of reduced cross section therebetween, the latch hole b of the head h extending perpendicularly through a plane. in which the collecting body is disposed, and the joining part k is formed in a direction perpendicular to the plane, in which the collecting body is disposed.

    15) The collecting body of filament-shaped connecting bodies, described in 14), comprises latch pawls t provided on both sides of the outlet of the latch hole b extending through the head h and opposed to each other.


    Brief Description of the Drawings:



    [0019] 

    Fig. 1 is a front view showing a mount device for a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the mount device for a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the mount device for a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 4 is a righthand side view showing the mount device for a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 5 is a lefthand side view showing the mount device for a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal construction of a righthand body.

    Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a state of an interior of the mount device prior to connection of a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an inner mechanism of the mount device immediately after connection of a filament-shaped connecting body.

    Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing in an exploded state the inner mechanism of the mount device, which is formed in a layered manner.

    Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing parts associated with a piston, a head feed gear and a joining part feed gear.

    Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing in an exploded state a linkage extending from the lever to a head conveying arm.

    Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing in an exploded state a gear feed lever and parts associated therewith.

    Fig. 13 is a view showing a relationship between the gear feed lever and ratchet wheels.

    Fig. 14 is a view showing a relationship between the ratchet wheels and stoppers.

    Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and a first link.

    Fig. 16 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and the first link.

    Fig. 17 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and the first link.

    Fig. 18 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and the first link.

    Fig. 19 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and the first link.

    Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a relationship of movement between the piston and the first link.

    Fig. 21 is a view illustrating a head conveying arm and a linkage for driving the same.

    Fig. 22 is a view illustrating a state of movement of the head conveying arm and of the linkage for driving the same.

    Fig. 23 is a view illustrating a state of movement of the head conveying arm and of the linkage for driving the same.

    Fig. 24 is a view illustrating a state of movement of the head conveying arm and of the linkage for driving the same.

    Fig. 25 is a view illustrating a state of movement of the head conveying arm and of the linkage for driving the same.

    Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing a state, in which filament-shaped connecting bodies are conveyed by a joining part feed gear and a head feed gear.

    Fig. 27 is a front view showing a collecting body composed of filament-shaped connecting bodies.

    Fig. 28 is a side cross sectional view showing a collecting body composed of filament-shaped connecting bodies.

    Fig. 29 are side views illustrating an action of a gear feed lever, (a) showing a fundamental position of the gear feed lever, (b) showing a state immediately before the lever is inclined, and (c) showing a state, in which the lever is inclined to stretch and extend a spring.

    Fig. 30 are side views illustrating an action of the gear feed lever, (a) showing a position of the lever immediately before it is inclined at its maximum, (b) showing a position of the lever when it is inclined at its maximum, and (c) showing a position where the connecting operation of a connecting body is started.

    Fig. 31 are side views illustrating an action of the gear feed lever, (a) showing a position where the connecting operation terminates, and (b) and (c), respectively, showing a state, in which an actuating part moves on a guide surface while the gear feed lever is kept in a reference position.

    Fig. 32 are side views illustrating an action of the gear feed lever, (a) showing a state, in which the actuating part moves to a terminal end of the guide surface, (b) showing a state, in which the actuating part gets out of the guide surface, and (c) showing a state, in which the gear feed lever returns to its original position and a connecting body is fed to the next striking position.

    Fig. 33(a) is a side view showing an essential part of a head support part, (b) being an exploded view showing main parts of the head support part.

    Figs. 34(a), (b) and (c) are side cross sectional views showing an essential part and a state, in which the head support part holds a head h, (d) being a side view showing a stoppage mechanism for the head support part.

    Figs. 35(a), (b) and (c) are side cross sectional views showing a state, in which the head h and the joining part k are joined to each other.

    Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing another construction of the head support part.

    Fig. 37 is a perspective view showing a still further construction of the head support part.


    Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention:


    [WHOLE CONSTITUTION]



    [0020] An outward appearance of a mount device 1 for a filament-shaped connecting body is shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

    [0021] The mount device 1 charges thereinto and uses a sheet-shaped body formed as an aggregated body by integral molding and comprising two flexible members J, J (portions functioning as runner bars at the time of molding and as collecting members) disposed on both sides as shown in Figs. 27 and 28 in parallel, filament-shaped connecting bodies L disposed perpendicular to the flexible members J, J and in parallel to one another, and connecting parts c (portions functioning as gates at the time of molding) individually reduced in cross section, the aggregated body being disposed separably through the connecting parts.

    [0022] The filament-shaped connecting bodies L comprises a filament part f, a somewhat flat cylindrical-shaped head (female part) h provided on one end of the filament part, and a joining part k (male part) provided on the other end of the filament part and adapted to be fitted into a latch hole b of the head h, the latch hole b being formed therein with two elastically movable engaging pawls t facing each other, the joining part k being adapted to be fitted into the latch hole b in a direction shown by an arrow in Fig. 28 whereby the engaging pawls t are allowed to elastically engage with and grasp a mushroom-shaped neck a formed in the vicinity of a tip end of the joining part k to connect the filament part f in a ring-like manner.

    [0023] Specifically, the joining parts k and the heads h formed on the filament-shaped connecting bodies L are formed perpendicular to the filament parts f in order to facilitate connecting operation by means of the mount device of the invention. These filament-shaped connecting bodies L are used in mounting an indication tag, such as a label, to goods, such as bags, for example, handbags and so on, and sandals, in the form of string or band and having a portion sized to make winding of the filament part f easy, and to goods having a hole such as button holes.

    [0024] The mount device 1 has an outward appearance such that a righthand body 2a and a lefthand body 2b, which are moldings of a synthetic resin, are made to overlap together to form a substantially pistol-shaped body 2, and a lever 3 is provided in front of a grip part 2c to elastically appear outside and disappear inside as shown in Fig. 4.

    [0025] A portion of a manual feed roller 19 is exposed in front of the body 2 as shown in Fig. 5, and is turned with a finger tip to thereby enable manually feeding a collecting body of the filament-shaped connecting bodies L to load the same in the mount device 1, or a release knob 8 shown in Fig. 5 is operated downward to shut off engagement with a feed mechanism composed of feed gears described later to enable taking out a non-used collecting body.

    [0026] Heads h connected to the flexible members J, J on a collecting body of the filament-shaped connecting bodies L shown in Figs. 27 and 28 are inserted into a head groove 6b formed lengthwise of a side of the body 2 as shown in Fig. 4, and the joining parts k connected to the other flexible member J are inserted into a lower side join groove 6a, whereby the filament parts f are loaded in a state, in which they are bent in a horizontal U-shaped configuration as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

    [0027] The lever 3 is operatively grasped and released whereby the filament part f is connected in a ring-like manner in a state of connecting operation shown in Fig. 4. In addition, the character L designates a longer connecting body and the character Ls designates a shorter connecting body in Figs. 1 and 2.

    [0028] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal construction of the righthand body 2a, which is separately composed of a first righthand body 2a-1, a second righthand body 2a-2, a third righthand body 2a-3, and a lid 2a-4 for opening and closing a tip end of the righthand body. The reason for this is that it becomes to locally disassemble the righthand body 2a to open a necessary portion to simply and rapidly adjust and repair the same.

    [0029] The second righthand body 2a-2 is formed with a guide groove 9A for guiding a piston 9, described later, back and forth, and the first righthand body 2a-1 is formed integrally with a shaft 3c for an intermediate lever 3A (Fig. 7) and a shaft 3a for the lever 3.

    [SUMMARY OF INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION]



    [0030] The internal construction of the mount device 1 is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and Fig. 8 specifically shows a state, in which a head h of a filament-shaped connecting body L is received in a head support part of a tip end of a head conveying arm 4 and prior to striking, and Fig. 9 shows a state immediately after a state, in which striking is effected to attain connection of the head h and a joining part k.

    [0031] The lever 3 in front of the grip part 2c formed on a lower portion of the body 2 is pivotally supported by the shaft 3a to appear and disappear at an opening in a forward portion of the grip part 2c due to an elastic force of a spring 3d engaged by the intermediate lever 3A. Movements of the lever 3 enable guiding the piston 9, through the intermediate lever 3A, along the guide groove 9A shown in Fig. 6 to reciprocate the same back and forth. At the same time, a rod 10 for pushing out a joining part k of the filament-shaped connecting body L is caused to reciprocate together with the piston 9.

    [0032] Provided on an extension of the rod 10 and in a forward portion of the body 2 is a hollow needle 5 provided on a side thereof with a gently spiral-shaped groove 5a, which serves for passage of a filament part f, so that the joining part k is forced into an interior of the needle to project from a discharge port at a forward portion of the needle to engage with a head h having stood by immediately in front of the hollow needle 5.

    [0033] Provided above and below and laterally of a surface, on which the rod 10 moves, are a joining part feed gear 14a and a head feed gear 14b, which have grooves having a pitch equal to a pitch, at which filament-shaped connecting bodies L are aligned, whereby the grasping operation of the lever 3 causes intermittently advancing a single filament-shaped connecting body L. In addition, Fig. 26 shows a state, in which filament-shaped connecting bodies L connected perpendicularly to two connecting bands J, J are moved to a striking position by the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, striking is effected, and only the remaining connecting bands J, J are transferred rearward.

    [0034] As shown in Fig. 9, the body 2 includes a first base plate 20 and a second base plate 22, which are arranged in a laminate manner, and respective mechanisms assembled with the use of the base plates, a "A part" representing a pushing mechanism for the joining part k, a "B part" representing a drive mechanism for the head conveying arm, and a "C part" representing a feed mechanism for the filament-shaped connecting bodies L.

    [0035] Respective mechanisms constituting the mount device 1 of the invention are assembled as subassemblies by compartmenting an interior of the body 2 in a thicknesswise direction by the first base plate 20 and the second base plate 22, and making use of these first base plate 20 and second base plate 22, so that an operation of assembling a multiplicity of parts is easy and the mount device can be made durable.

    [FEED MECHANISM FOR PISTON AND CONNECTING BODY]



    [0036] Fig. 10 shows parts laminated on the righthand body 2a shown in Fig. 6, and a joining part support member 9b (a member for precisely maintaining a posture of a joining part k) is arranged in a manner to be guided by one side of the piston guide groove 9A formed on the righthand body 2a, a tip end of the joining part support member being fitted into a guide groove 9c to be guided, and being stopped by a stopper 9d at the last step of movement. In addition, the joining part support member 9b is moved back and forth due to frictional forces between it and a rubber plate 9e provided on a side of the piston 9.

    [0037] The first base plate 20 shown in Fig. 10 is overlapped on the righthand body 2a shown in Fig. 6 as if it were a lid, and a shaft 14g of the joining part feed gear 14a is fitted into a bearing hole 14e opened to the first base plate 20 to be supported thereby, a shaft 14h of the head feed gear 14b being fitted into a separate bearing hole 14f to be supported thereby. Also, guide plates 14c, 14d made of thin metallic sheet are arranged along the gears 14a, 14b, whereby root portions of the filament parts f are made to go around to be guided.

    [0038] In addition, although not shown in details, in a state shown in Fig. 10, the flexible members J, J are disposed on upper surfaces of the gears 14a, 14b as shown in Fig. 26, the connecting parts c engage with the gears 14a, 14b, the heads h or the joining parts k are disposed on undersides of the guide plates 14c, 14d shown in Fig. 10, and further the filament parts f are extended below the heads h and the joining parts k.

    [0039] A piston guide groove 9B is opened to a position in a lengthwise direction of the first base plate 20 to be opposed to the piston guide groove 9A shown in Fig. 6, the rod 10 is inserted into the piston guide groove 9B from above to be positioned on a back side of the first base plate 20, and a reduced portion of the piston 9 is fitted into the piston guide groove as shown in dotted lines to become capable of reciprocating.

    [0040] Further, a suitable number of spacers 20a for supporting the second base plate 22 described later are provided upright in suitable positions on an upper surface of the first base plate 20.

    [DRIVE MECHANISM FOR THE HEAD CONVEYING ARM]



    [0041] Fig. 11 shows, in an exploded view, parts constituting a mechanism disposed between the first base plate 20 and the second base plate 22 (Figs. 9 and 12) for permitting the piston 9 to move the head conveying arm 4 along a bundling path in the device.

    [0042] A lever actuating part 9g described later is formed at a tip end of the piston 9, and Fig. 11 shows a first L-shaped link 17, as shown in Fig. 21, disposed on the part in an overlapping manner. A projection 17a provided projectingly on a side of the first L-shaped link 17 contacts with an advancement cam face 9h to turn while being guided thereby, and slidingly contacts with a retreat cam face 9i at the time of returning motion of the piston 9 to be guided and driven, and finally is fitted into a groove portion 9k, thus terminating engagement with the retreat cam face 9i.

    [0043] An end of the first L-shaped link 17 is inserted into a bifurcated portion of a second link 18 to be connected thereto by a pin as shown in Figs. 8 and 21, a lower end of a third link 4b is fixed to a tip end of the second link 18 by a pin, and the shaft 14h of the head feed gear 14b (Fig. 10) is fitted into a hole 4c provided in the middle of the second link as shown in Figs. 21 and 11 to support the third link 4b in a manner to enable the same swinging back and forth.

    [0044] A horizontal portion of the head conveying arm 4 is fixed to a pair of fourth links 4a, 4a' arranged in parallel to the third link 4b and to an end of the third link 4b by pins. The third link 4b, the pair of fourth links 4a, 4a' and the head conveying arm 4 pivotally mounted to these links constitute "four rod parallel linkage". Further, movements of a series of linkages including the piston 9, the first link 17, the second link 18 and the parallel linkage cause the head conveying arm 4 to move along a predetermined connection path described later.

    [0045] Concretely, the shaft 14h of the head feed gear 14b (Fig. 10) is fitted into the hole 4c of the third link 4b as shown in Fig. 11, pins are inserted through holes 4p of the pair of fourth links 4a, 4a' to be made upright on the first base plate 20, and further upper ends of the third link 4b and of the fourth links 4a, 4a' are fitted into a groove of the head conveying arm 4 to be fixed thereto by pins to constitute the "four rod parallel linkage".

    [0046] Arcuate portions 4n are formed on lower halves of the fourth links 4a, 4a', and the arcuate portion 4n formed on the fourth link 4a is adapted to abut against the shaft 14h to latch the fourth links 4a, 4a'. As described later with reference to Figs. 21 to 25, when the linkage moves to change its posture, the fourth links 4a, 4a' turn as shown in Figs. 24 to 25 to make the fourth link 4a abut against the shaft 14h, thereby causing the hole b of the head h supported by the head conveying arm 4 to align with an axis of the hollow needle 5.

    [0047] Although being not shown, a buffer material composed of rubber is provided around the shaft 14h, against which the arcuate portion 4n of the fourth link 4a abuts, so as to cushion the fourth link 4a in such abutting state to stop movements of the head conveying arm 4. In addition, a similar effect can be provided in the case where a buffer material is provided on a side of the fourth link 4a.

    [0048] Further, a head support part 4d, details of which are shown in Figs. 33 and 34, is provided on a forward end of the head conveying arm 4, and has a head h fitted thereonto to elastically grasp the same by means of elastic forces of parts, which constitute the head support part 4d to convey the same to a forward portion of the hollow needle 5 as shown in Fig. 8.

    [FEED MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING BODIES]



    [0049] Fig. 12 shows a feed mechanism for filament-shaped connecting bodies L, the mechanism being formed between the second base plate 22, which is disposed above and overlapped on the drive mechanism for the head conveying arm 4 shown in Fig. 11, and the lefthand body 2b (Fig. 9). A shaft 12b provided projectingly on a surface of the second base plate 22 to serve as a spacer is fitted into a hole 12a of a gear feed lever 12 to support the same in a swingable manner.

    [0050] A projection 9-1 provided on a side of the piston 9 is fitted into a hole 9-3 of an actuating part support body 9-2 to be fixed thereto by a screw, and a cylindrical-shaped actuating part 11 provided projectingly on the actuating part support body 9-2 is made to abut against a guide surface, described later, of the gear feed lever 12 to swing the lever as shown in Fig. 13. In addition, in the case of the actuating part 11 being constituted by a roller, it can be made to act in the same manner as a cam roller.

    [0051] A tip end of the lever 12 is bifurcated to form pawl support parts 12d, 12e, and feed pawls 12f, 12g provided on the pawl support parts 12d, 12e are made to engage with ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, respectively. In addition, the feed pawls 12f, 12g are made by springs (not shown) to project to engage with the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, as shown in Fig. 13, and are made to interlock with stoppers 24, 24A, described later, to disengage from the wheels when the stoppers 24, 24A are released (Fig. 14).

    [0052] The ratchet wheels 15a, 15b are fitted onto a semilunar-shaped portion of a tip end of the shaft 14g of the joining part feed gear 14a and onto a semilunar-shaped portion of the shaft 14h of the head feed gear 14b, respectively, shown in Figs. 10, 12 and 13. Although being not shown, one side surfaces of the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b are formed with grooves of U-shaped cross section, into which rubber bands R (Fig. 12), respectively, are fitted and fixed, so that the wheels can be driven by frictional forces.

    [0053] The manual feed roller 19 is arranged midway between the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, as shown in Figs. 12 and 1, and a rubber disk 19a having a small diameter is provided on a back surface of the roller 19 to contact with the rubber bands R provided on the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b, so that rotating the roller 19 with a finger tip causes the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b to be rotated sequentially to enable advancing or retreating a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L.

    [0054] As described above, according to the invention, the lever 3 adapted to appear in front of and disappear from the grip part 2c due to elastic forces of the spring 3d is grasped to cause the piston 9 with the rod 10 to advance performing an action at a forward portion of the hollow needle 5, by which the joining part k is forced into the hole b of the head h of the connecting body L. In the first half step of the grasping operation of the lever 3, the gear feed lever 12 is turned in such a manner that a forward portion thereof is raised, and when the lever is returned to its original position, elastic energy (tensile force) is stored in a spring 12h, which performs a feeding action for conveying a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L.

    [0055] Further, in the second half step of the grasping operation of the lever 3, the head h is operatively connected to the joining part k. Then at the terminal end of the opening motion of the lever 3, the gear feed lever 12 is returned to its original position at a stretch by elastic energy stored in the spring 12h, whereby a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L is caused to advance by one pitch.

    [0056] More specifically, in the first half step of the grasping operation of the lever 3, the gear feed lever 12 is made oblique, and an elastic force is correspondingly stored in the spring 12h connected to the gear feed lever 12, and in the second half step of the grasping operation the rod 10 provided in the piston 9 pushes and advances the joining part k to connect the same with the head h, which has stood by immediately before the hollow needle 5.

    [0057] The invention has a feature in preserving the elastic force of the spring 12h as it is at the time of the connecting operation, and thereby using a grasping force of the gripping operation of the lever 3 only for connection, during which the gripping force is not increased, so that connection can be smoothly attained in a light operation.

    [0058] Fig. 29(a) shows that the gear feed lever 12 in a state, in which the lever 3 is not grasped, is located at "reference position". In this position, the piston 9, the actuating part support body 9-2 (Fig. 12) and the actuating part 11 provided on the body are returned to a predetermined retreat position. The actuating part 11 reciprocates linearly along a reference line 9K in parallel to a path, along which the piston 9 reciprocates.

    [0059] The gear feed lever 12 is formed with a cam surface having a "doglegged configuration", the cam surface being formed with a guide surface 12E, by which a rear portion of the gear feed lever 12 is pushed down to be turned downward so as to stretch the spring 12h to store elastic energy therein, and a guide surface 12K, which acts to force the joining part k into the hole b of the head h of the connecting body L in a state, in which the stored elastic energy is preserved as it is.

    [0060] A guide body 12L is turnably supported on an extension of the guide surface 12K by a shaft 12M, and a discharge piece 12N is formed on the gear feed lever 12 in the vicinity of the shaft 12M. The guide body 12L is caused by a spring 12j to have its tip end brought into pressing contact with a tip end of the guide surface 12E, and turns up and down as shown in an arrow.

    [0061] As shown in Fig. 29(a), the guide surface 12E and a guide surface 12P of the guide body 12L assume a V-shape, and the guide surface 12K is aligned linearly with a guide surface 12P of the guide body 12L, these three guide surfaces 12E, 12K and 12P assuming a substantially Y-shape.

    [0062] The actuating part support body 9-2 (Fig. 12 corresponds to Fig. 29) starts on the reference line 9K as shown by an arrow in Fig. 29(a) upon the grasping operation of the lever 3, is positioned at a starting point of the guide surface 12E in Fig. 29(b) (allowance is given to movements of parts including the lever 3 in an interval between positions in Fig. 29(a) and Fig. 29(b)), advances pressing the guide surface 12E in Fig. 29(c) to push down the rear portion of the gear feed lever 12 about the shaft 12b as shown by an arrow to lift forwardly extending pawl support parts 12d, 12e as shown by an arrow. Such inclination of the gear feed lever 12 constitutes a preparatory stage for feeding a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L by one, that is, one pitch, and in this stage the spring 12h is pulled to be gradually increased in an elastic force F generated.

    [0063] Figs. 30(a) to 30(b) show a state, in which the actuating part 11 moves around a terminal end of the guide surface 12E pushing up the guide body 12L while elastic energy F required to feed a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L is stored in the spring 12h.

    [0064] Fig. 30(c) shows a starting point of an interval, in which the connecting operation (fitting) of a filament-shaped connecting body L is performed, and the actuating part 11 is positioned at a starting point of the guide surface 12K. In this state, the guide surface 12K and the guide surface 12P of the guide body 12L make a straight line, and are in parallel to the reference line 9K.

    [0065] From the state in Fig. 30(c), the actuating part 11 moves on the guide surface 12K as shown by an arrow, and comes to a state shown in Fig. 31(a), at which the joining part k is fitted into the head h for termination of connection of the connecting body L and so the filament part f makes a ring-shape.

    [0066] When connecting action of a single connecting body L is terminated as described above, the grasping force on the lever 3 is released. Upon releasing of the lever 3, the actuating part 11 retreats on the guide surface 12P of the guide body 12L as shown by an arrow in Fig. 31(c) via a state shown in Figs. 31(a) to 31(b), and rides on the discharge piece 12N at a terminal end of the guide surface 12P of the guide body 12L as shown in Fig. 32(a), immediately after which the actuating part automatically disengages therefrom to instantaneously come to a state shown in Fig. 32(b). The elastic force F stored in the spring 12h is preserved as it is in an interval between -states shown in Figs. 31(a) to Fig. 32(a) inclusive, and in such interval the gear feed lever 12 is also kept in posture aligned with the reference line 9K.

    [0067] When it comes to Fig. 32(b) from Fig. 32(a), the actuating part 11 disengages from the discharge piece 12N to make the gear feed lever 12 free to thereby release the elastic force stored in the spring 12h. As shown in Figs. 32(a) to 32(c), in such state, in which the elastic force F is released, the gear feed lever 12 is made such that a rear portion thereof provided with the guide body 12L rises about the shaft 12b as shown by an arrow, and the pawl support parts 12d, 12e at the tip end thereof descend to rotate the feed pawls 12f, 12g provided on the pawl support parts 12d, 12e a predetermined angle as shown in Fig. 13, thus intermittently rotating the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, respectively, which are provided adjacent to the feed pawls 12f, 12g, one pitch (an angle, at which a single filament-shaped connecting body L is fed).

    [0068] Stated repetitively, the spring 12h is elongated to store the elastic force F in an interval between states shown in Figs. 29(a) to Fig. 30(c) inclusive, and in such interval an elastic force F, that is, energy for feeding of a filament-shaped connecting body L being subsequently connected is stored in the spring 12h while the lever 3 is operatively grasped to perform connection of the connecting body L.

    [0069] Figs. 30(c) to 31(a) show an interval for connecting operation of a connecting body L, in which interval the guide surface 12K and the reference line 9K are positioned in parallel to each other, and the gear feed lever 12 is held in posture as it is to cause no change in length of the spring 12h, so that the elastic force F stored in the spring 12h is preserved as it is.

    [0070] Accordingly, because a force to grasp the lever 3 is used exclusively for connecting operation of a connecting body L, the connecting operation can be smoothly performed.

    [0071] Figs. 31(a) to 32(a) show a state, in which a force to grasp the lever 3 is released to allow the piston 9 to return to its original position, and in which the actuating part 11 moves along the reference line 9K, so that the elastic force F stored in the spring 12h is preserved as it is.

    [0072] Figs. 32(b) to 32(c) show a state, in which a collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L is fed one unit, that is, the head h and the joining part k are fed to a location where a subsequent connecting operation is to be performed, and in which the elastic force F stored in the spring 12h is released as Fa to return the gear feed lever 12 to a position shown in Fig. 32(c) or Fig. 29(a).

    [MECHANISM FOR TAKING OUT A CONNECTING BODY L]



    [0073] Subsequently, a mechanism for taking out a collecting body composed of the filament-shaped connecting bodies L having been fed to the mount device 1 will be explained.

    [0074] As shown in Figs. 12 and 14, a stopper release body 8A provided the release knob 8 (Fig. 5) is supported with its central hole 8b fitted onto a portion of a shaft 12c, which is formed on an extension end of the shaft 12b pivotally supporting the gear feed lever 12.

    [0075] Projections 24b formed on sides of the stoppers 24, 24A are made to be inserted into engagement holes 8c opened in the stopper release body 8A, and the release knob 8 is operatively pulled down as shown by an arrow in Fig. 14 whereby the stoppers 24, 24A are caused by the projections 24b to retreat so that latch pawls 24c having meshed with the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b by the use of elastic forces of spring portions 24e are retreated to release engagement of the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b and the stoppers 24, 24A, thus enabling the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b to freely rotate.

    [0076] The stoppers 24, 24A are provided centrally thereof with projections 24d, which are fitted into bearings provided on the second base plate 22 (Figs. 9 and 12), portions, which are disposed on one sides of the projections 24d to constitute extensions of the spring portions 24e to contact with hatched, stationary parts (projecting from an inner surface of the lefthand body 2b) as shown in Fig. 14, and portions, which are formed on the other sides of the projections 24d to have the latch pawls 24c and the projections 24b for engagement with the stopper release body 8A.

    [0077] Also, Fig. 13 shows a state, in which the joining part k and the head h, which engage with the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, respectively, are sequentially fed to predetermined positions by the swinging operation of the gear feed lever 12 accompanied by reciprocation of the piston 9, that is, by rotating by one pitch the ratchet wheels 15a, 15b provided adjacent to and coaxially with the joining part feed gear 14a and the head feed gear 14b, as described with reference to Figs. 21 to 25 and Figs. 29 to 32. In addition, this state is easy to understand with reference to Fig. 26.

    [OPERATING STATE OF PISTON 9 AND FIRST LINK 17]



    [0078] As shown in Figs. 11, 15 and 21, the lever actuating part 9g is formed at a front of the piston 9, and is formed with an advancement cam surface 9h, a retreat cam surface 9i and a groove 9k, which is formed laterally middle of the retreat cam surface 9i, and into which the projection 17a provided on the first link 17 is fitted.

    [0079] Fig. 15 shows a state, in which the piston 9 is in a start position P0 before the lever 3 is grasped, and which corresponds to that in Fig. 7, the projection 17a of the first link 17 being fitted into the groove 9k.

    [0080] Fig. 16 shows a state, in which the lever 3 begins to be grasped, and the piston 9 advances to a position P1 as shown by an arrow immediately before the drive mechanism for the head conveying arm 4 starts action, in which position an engagement 17b on the first link 17 abuts against the advancement cam surface 9h formed on the piston 9.

    [0081] Further, Fig. 17 corresponds to Fig. 8, and shows a state, in which the piston 9 advances to a position P2 whereby the joining part k fits into the hole b of the head h of the connecting body L at a terminal end of advancement of the head conveying arm 4 to make the filament part f ring-shaped, and in which the engagement 17b on the first link 17 abuts against a non-actuating surface 9m of the piston 9.

    [0082] In addition, while the engagement 17b abuts against a non-actuating surface 9m of the piston 9, the head conveying arm 4 advances and mores, as shown in Fig. 8 (see Figs. 21 to 25), immediately in front of the hollow needle 5 to force into the hollow needle 5 a rod 10 mounted to the piston 9.

    [0083] And, Fig. 18 shows a state, in which grasping of the lever 3 is released, and the piston 9 retreats from the position shown in Fig. 17 to a position P3 immediately after the projection 17a of the first link 17 abuts against the retreat cam surface 9i on the lever actuating part 9g of the piston 9.

    [0084] A distance (P2 - P3) between the positions P2 and P3 in Figs. 17 and 18, respectively, defines a so-called "buffer zone" where even when grasping of the lever 3 is released to allow the piston 9 to retreat, the first link 17 does not begin turning and hence the linkage does not begin returning action. The presence of such buffer zone eliminates excessive forces on the linkage to thereby permit smooth retreating movement of the head conveying arm 4. In addition, it goes without saying that the rod 10 retreats simultaneously with retreat of the piston 9.

    [0085] Fig. 19 shows a state, in which the piston 9 retreats to a position P4 from the position P3 shown in Fig. 18 immediately before the projection 17a of the first link 17 slides down the retreat cam surface 9i to fit into the groove 9k formed laterally.

    [0086] Immediately after such state, the projection 17a fits into the groove 9k and the piston 9 returns to the initial position P0 as shown in Fig. 20, and the first link 17 is rendered horizontal shown in Fig. 15, and this state shifts to connecting operation of a connecting body L described with reference to Figs. 15 to 17.

    [ACTUATING CONDITION OF THE LINKAGE FOR CONVEYING THE HEAD CONVEYING ARM 4]


    (STATE BEFORE THE START OF CONNECTING OPERATION)



    [0087] Fig. 21 corresponds to a state of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15 or Figs. 20 and 7, in which the projection 17a of the first link 17 is positioned in the groove 9k in the lever actuating part 9g of the piston 9, the first link 17 is rendered horizontal and the third link 4b is positioned upright.

    [0088] The head conveying arm 4 pivotally mounted to upper ends of the third link 4b and of the pair of the fourth links 4a, 4a' is positioned in a location most retreated. In addition, the head h in such location fits into the head support part 4d shown in Fig. 11 to support the same.

    (INITIAL OPERATION)



    [0089] An operation of bringing the mount device 1 of the invention near goods, to which an indication card is to be mounted, may be performed when the space Q (space shown in Figs. and 8) between the head conveying arm 4 and the hollow needle 5 is adequately large. Also, by mounting an indication card to the hollow needle 5 prior to the connecting operation of a connecting body L, the mount device 1 can be operated with one hand.

    [0090] Fig. 22 corresponds to Fig. 16, and shows a state, in which the engagement 17b on the first link 17 abuts against the advancement cam surface 9h on the lever actuating part 9g, and the piston 9 advances to the position P1.

    [0091] Fig. 23 shows a state, in which the head conveying arm 4 has moved in front of the rod 10 extended from the tip end of the piston 9, and the piston 9 advances to a position P5 from the initial position P0.

    [0092] Fig. 24 shows a state, in which the head conveying arm 4 is made to gradually come in front of the rod 10, that is, in front of the hollow needle 5, and the piston 9 advances to a position P6.

    [0093] Fig. 25 corresponds to Figs. 17 and 8, and shows a state, in which the piston 9 is in a position P2, and the joining part k having been pushed by the rod 10 to be moved in the hollow needle 5 fits into the hole b of the head h supported in the head support part 4d at the tip end of the head conveying arm 4.

    [MECHANISM ON THE HEAD SUPPORT PART 4 FOR GRASPING THE HEAD h]



    [0094] A collecting body composed of the connecting bodies L is inserted into the head grooves 6b and the join grooves 6a, respectively, which are formed above and below on a side of the body 2 of the mount device 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to be fed forward, and connecting parts c of the connecting bodies L are fitted into peripheral grooves on the head feed gear 14b and on the joining part feed gear 14a as shown in Fig. 26 to go around, are grasped at a central position of a tip end of the gear, which is the foremost portion, by the head support part 4d and simultaneously or immediately thereafter are cut by a knife N shown in Fig. 9.

    [0095] As shown in Fig. 33(a) and 33(b) being a side view of an essential part and an exploded view of parts, the head support part 4d comprises a holding body 4f disposed inside of the most forward one of a plurality of successive heads h, which move going around the head feed gear 14b while being guided by the head grooves 6a, and a first elastic piece 4g and a second elastic piece 4h, which are disposed double-overlapping outside in opposition to the holding body 4f. The first elastic piece 4g is provided with a projection 4j, which is adapted to be fitted into the hole b of the head h, and the second elastic piece 4h is provided with a projection 4k, which functions to push a back surface of the first elastic piece 4g. Also, the holding body 4f is provided with a projection 4m, which functions to position the head h.

    [0096] An action of the head support part 4d will be described. As shown in Figs. 34(a) to 34(c) being side views, at the end of the lever 3 of the mount device 1 being grasped and released, the head support part 4d provided at the tip end (lower end) of the head conveying arm 4, which is caused by the linkage to perform a circular arc movement in front of the body 2, advances to a predetermined path and then returns to make the second elastic piece 4h contact with a stop 2t, as shown in Fig. 34(a), which protrudes laterally of the head groove 6b of the body 2.

    [0097] More specifically, when the head conveying arm 4 retreats to a storage position as shown by chain lines in Fig. 4, the second elastic piece 4h evacuates to make an elastic force of the first elastic piece 4g render weak. At the end of the returning motion of the head support part 4d, a head h (simultaneously, joining part k) being subsequently connected is fed into the head support part 4d from below as shown by an arrow in Figs. 34(a) and 34(b), and the projection 4j on the first elastic piece 4g is fitted into one side of the hole b of the head h, as shown in Fig. 34(b), so that the head h will be elastically interposed between the holding body 4f and the first elastic piece 4g.

    [0098] Subsequently, when the lever 3 is grasped accompanying the connecting operation, the head conveying arm 4 moves in front of the body 2 together with a series of motions of the linkage to come to a state shown in Fig. 34(c), and a lower end of the second elastic piece 4h separates from a stoppage portion 2t formed on the body 2 to permit the projection 4k of the second elastic piece 4h to push a back surface of the first elastic piece 4g to thereby surely hold the head h on the head conveying arm 4. And the head conveying arm moves to a position for connection of the head along a predetermined path of connecting operation.

    [0099] Fig. 34(d) shows a means for surely stopping the head conveying arm 4 in front of the body 2, and comprising a magnet type attracting device 4M provided on a back of the head conveying arm 4 and a front surface of the body 2. The magnet type attracting device 4M is composed of a magnet plate and a metallic plate so that a single head h can be fed to the head support part 4d by securing the head conveying arm 4 on a front of the body 2.

    [0100] Fig. 35 shows an operation of connecting a joining part k to a head h. In Figs. 26 and 35(a), when the lever 3 of the mount device 1 is grasped, the head conveying arm 4 moves in front of the hollow needle 5 along a circular arc path to stand by, although momentarily, with a center of a head h positioned on a center line of the hollow needle 5.

    [0101] Immediately after that, the rod 10 advances together with the piston 9 to make the joining part feed gear 14a push and advance a rear portion of a joining part k having been fed in front of the body 2 to thereby force and fit a tip end of the joining part k into the hole b of the head h, which has stood by at the forward end of the hollow needle 5.

    [0102] The joining part k is further advanced together with the rod 10 whereby the head h and the joining part k are completely joined as shown in Fig. 35(b). In this case, it is to be noted that an inclined surface 4j' on the underside of the projection 4j formed on a tip end of the first elastic piece 4g pushes a flame-shaped portion of the joining part k.

    [0103] With such arrangement, the head h pushed against and held on the holding body 4f by elastic forces of the double-overlapped elastic pieces is simply disengaged when a filament part f encircling a handle of goods, for example, a bag or the like is pulled upon movements of the goods, thus making it possible to efficiently mount an indication card to the goods or connect two or more goods together.

    [0104] Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing another type of head support part 4d comprising a first elastic piece 30 and a second elastic piece 31 constructed such that upon advancement of a connecting body L a leading single head h is forced between grasping portions 30a, 31a of the pieces having grooves m at tip ends thereof to be grasped elastically.

    [0105] Fig. 37 is a perspective view showing another type of head support part 4d comprising a first elastic piece 30, a second elastic piece 31 and a third elastic piece 32 provided between and laterally of the first and second elastic pieces, the third elastic piece 32 being provided at a tip end thereof with a projection 32a, which is adapted to fit into a hole b of a head h to position the head.

    [0106] The mount device I of filament-shaped connecting body L according to the invention can be subjected to connection operation through the movement shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Figs. 5 to 20, and further, Figs. 21 to 25.

    [0107] Heads h of and joining parts k of filament-shaped connecting bodies L together with connecting bands J, J are fed, as shown in Fig. 4a and 26, to the head grooves 6a and the join grooves 6b formed on the side of the body 2 of the mount device 1 to be successively conveyed, as shown in Fig. 13, by the head feed gear 14b and the joining part feed gear 14a and with operation of the respective members such as the feed lever 12 and so on. The following operation is performed at a tip portion of the body 2 around these gears 14b, 14a.

    [0108] At the last of a preceding connecting operation or of an operation of grasping and releasing the lever 3, the head h is held, as shown in Figs. 34(a) to 34(c), by the head support part 4d at the tip end of the head conveying arm 4, and connecting parts c shown in Fig. 27 are cut by the knife N shown in Fig. 9, the head then being conveyed in front of the discharge port of the hollow needle 5 and made stand by as shown in Fig. 4.

    [0109] Meanwhile, the joining part k is pushed by the rod 10 as shown in Figs. 9, 26 and 35(a) to 35(c), and forced into the hollow needle 5 after the connecting part c shown in Fig. 27 is cut by the knife N shown in Fig. 9, the joining part then being forced and fitted into the hole b of the head h, which has stood by at the discharge port end of the hollow needle 5, to connect the filament part f in a ring-shaped manner. At this time, the filament part f passes through a hole of an indication card mounted on the hollow needle 5 to mount such indication card to various goods. In a motion of the mount device 1 away from goods, the connecting operation of a filament-shaped connecting body L is completed as shown in Fig. 35(c).


    Claims

    1. Method for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies and for loading into a mount device a collecting body of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connection bodies (L) connected in parallel between two flexible members (J, J) through connecting parts (c) of reduced cross section, the filament-shaped bodies comprising a head (h) with latch hole (b) formed at one end and a joining part (k) formed at the other end and adapted to fit into the latch hole (b) to elastically engage therewith, and for fitting the joining part (k) into the latch hole (b) for connection, the method comprising the steps of:

    - loading heads (h) and joining parts (k) into a head groove (6b) and a join groove (6a) extended from a rear towards a front portion of the device (1) so that the filament parts (f) are bent in a U shaped manner and feeding the collecting body in a forward direction;

    - receiving a head (h) in a head support part (4d) of a head conveying arm (4) in a position in front of the body (2) of the device and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive an article subject to mounting, the head (h) being at a distance from the axis of a hollow needle (5) projecting from the body (2);

    - moving the head conveying arm (4) to approach the axis of the needle (5); and

    - causing a rod (10) provided on a piston (9) to force the joining part (k) into the hollow needle (5) and push it out of a discharge port and to fit it into the latch hole (b) of the head (h),

    characterized by that
    the method further comprising the step of feeding from rearwardly of the mount device (1) two flexible members (J, J) disposed on both sides of a multiplicity of filament-shaped connecting bodies (L) arranged in parallel to cause them to go around a joining part feed gear (14a) and a head feed gear (14b), which are disposed in a forward portion of the mount device (1), and move rearward and to be conveyed along a laterally directed path, and
    in the above step causing the head conveying arm (4) to grasp one of the heads (h) in a position where the flexible members (J, J) go around peripheral surfaces of the two gears (14a, 14b) causing the rod (10) provided on a tip end of the piston (9) to force one of the joining parts (k) into the hollow needle (5) provided in forward portion of the mount device (1) to fit the joining part (k) into the latch hole (b) of the head (h), which has stood by immediately before the discharge port of the hollow needle (5), to thereby connect the filament part (f) in a ring-shaped manner.
     
    2. A mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, comprising a lever (3) supported on a forward portion of a grip part (2c) of the hollow body (2) to appear and disappear, an intermediate lever (3A) driven by the lever (3), a piston (9), which is guided to move in a forward and backward direction of the body (2) and with which the intermediate lever (3A) engages, a rod (10) extended forward from the piston (9) for pushing out a joining part (k), a hollow needle (5) disposed axially of the rod (10) to be mounted in the body, characterized by a gear feed lever (12) adapted to turn upon reciprocation of the piston (9), a joining part feed gear (14a) and a head feed gear (14b), which are disposed in a forward end portion of the body (2), ratchet wheels (15a, 15b), respectively, provided adjacent the both gears (14a, 14b), feed pawls (12f, 12g) incorporated into pawl support parts (12d, 12e) provided at a tip end of the gear feed lever (12) and adapted to mesh with the ratchet wheels (15a, 15b), respectively, a head groove (6b) and a join groove (6a), which are formed to communicate to feed positions of the joining part (k) of the head (h) on peripheral surfaces of the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b), and a head conveying arm (4) driven by the piston (9) and supported by a swinging linkage including a parallel linkage,
    and wherein the head conveying arm (4) grasps a foremost head (h) in a position of the head feed gear (14b) to which filament-shaped connecting bodies (L) are supplied, and moves the same along a predetermined path by means of a linkage supporting the head conveying arm (4) to make the same stand by immediately before a discharge port of the hollow needle (5), and in the mean time the rod (10) projecting at a tip end of the piston (9) causes a foremost joining part (k) in a position of the joining part feed gear (14a), to which filament-shaped connecting bodies (L) are supplied, to be inserted and latched into the latch hole (b) of the head (h) grasped by the head conveying arm (4).
     
    3. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, wherein heads (h) and joining parts (k) of filament-shaped connecting bodies (L) are intermittently pushed out to be connected to each other by the gripping operation of the lever (3), which is provided on a forward portion of a grip part (2c) of the body (2) of the mount device (1) in a manner to be elastically pushed out;
    the gripping operation of the lever (3) causes the gear feed lever (12) to turn interlocking with advancement of the piston (9), and stores an elastic force in a spring (12h) connected to the gear feed lever (12) upon turning of the gear feed lever (12), and the releasing operation of the lever (3) causes the gears (14a, 14b) to rotate making use of the elastic force of the spring (h);
    and the gear feed lever (12) stores an elastic force in the spring (12h) in a former stage of the turning, and in a latter stage performs connection of the head (h) and the joining part (k) with each other in a state, in which the elastic force is preserved in the spring (12h), and releases the elastic force from the spring (12h) upon the releasing operation of the lever (3) to thereby convey the filament-shaped connecting bodies (L).
     
    4. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, wherein the gear feed lever (12) comprises a guide surface (12E) for inkling the lever (12) interlocking with advancement of the piston (9) in a former stage of the gripping operation of the lever (3) to store an elastic force in a spring (12h), and the guide surface (12K) contiguous to the guide surface (12E) in a doglegged configuration for maintaining a posture of the lever (12) in a latter stage of the gripping operation during advancement of the piston (9), and a guide body (12L), which is turnably provided to cooperate with the guide surface (12E) to assume a V-shaped and of which a tip end is contiguous to the guide surface (12K);
    an elastic force is stored in the spring (12h) while an actuating part (11) adapted to move on the guide surface (12E) together with the piston (9) moves, connection of a connecting body (L) is carried out while the actuating part (11) moves on the guide surface (12K), a posture of the lever (12) is maintained while the actuating part (11) moves on a guide surface of the guide body (12L), and when the actuating part (11) gets out of an end of the guide body (12L), the elastic force of the spring (12h) causes the gear feed lever (12) to swing to move a filament-shaped connecting body (L) to a succeeding striking position.
     
    5. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, wherein the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b) are provided in a forward portion of the body (2), and paths are formed in the body (2), along which flexible members (J, J) are caused to engage with halves of the peripheries of the both gears (14a, 14b) and are discharged.
     
    6. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, further comprising pawl support parts (12d, 12e), respectively, formed on a tip end of the gear feed lever (12) in a bifurcate manner, and feed pawls (12f, 12g) provided on and supported by the pawl support parts (12d, 12e) to mesh with ratchet wheels (15a, 15b), respectively, which are provided adjacent the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b) and to project forward by elastic forces.
     
    7. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, further comprising a first base plate (20) and a second base plate (22) arranged in parallel between a right hand body (2a) and a left hand body(2b), which constitute the body (2), the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b) being disposed on a forward portion of one surface of the first base plate (20), a head groove (6b) and a join groove (6a) provided in a longitudinal direction of the body (2) in a manner to communicate to feed surfaces of the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b),
    the rod (10) being provided on the piston (9) in a manner to move transversely in a diametrical direction of the joining part feed gear (14a), the hollow needle (5) being disposed forwardly axially of the rod (10), the second base plate (22) being provided on one surface thereof with a guide groove (9A) for guiding the piston (9), and with a first link (17), a second link (18), a third link (4b) and fourth links (4a, 4a'), which are driven by the piston (9),
    the head conveying arm (4) pivotally mounted to upper ends of the third link (4b) and of the fourth links (4a, 4a') defining a parallel linkage.
    and further comprising the gear feed lever (12), the ratchet wheels (15a, 15b) driven by the gear feed lever (12), and the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b), which are fixed to shafts of the ratchet wheels (15a, 15b).
     
    8. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 7, further comprising a stoppage mechanism for maintaining a position where parts constituting the parallel linkage inclines foremost.
     
    9. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 7, wherein the stoppage mechanism is actuated upon contact of an end of at least one of the fourth links (4a, 4a') with a shaft of the head feed gear (14b).
     
    10. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 7, further comprising a stoppage member provided between the head conveying arm (4) and the body (2) to prevent vibration in a position where the head conveying ar (4) is returned.
     
    11. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 7, wherein the stoppage member comprises members for providing magnetic attraction and fixing between the head conveying arm (4) and the body (2).
     
    12. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 2, further comprising a manual feed roller (19) arranged midway between the ratchet wheels (15a, 15b) to drive them.
     
    13. The mount device for connection of filament-shaped connecting bodies according to claim 7, further comprising stoppers (24, 24A) arranged on sides of the ratchet wheels (15a, 15b), and a stopper release body (8A) for releasing engagement between the stoppers (24, 24A) and the joining part feed gear (14a) and the head feed gear (14b).
     
    14. A collecting body of filament-shaped connecting bodies, made by integral molding of a synthetic resin, and composed of filament-shaped connecting bodies (L), which comprise a filament part (f), a head (h) disposed on one end of the filament part and formed centrally thereof with extending through a latch hole (b), and a joining part (k) disposed on the other end of the filament part, the head (h) and the joining part (k) being disposed between two flexible members (J, J) with connecting parts (c) of reduced cross section therebetween, the latch hole (b) of the head (h) extending perpendicularly through a plane, in which the collecting body is disposed, characterized by that the joining part (k) being formed in a direction perpendicular to the plane, in which the collecting body is disposed.
     
    15. The collecting body of filament-shaped connecting bodies, according to claim 14, further comprising latch pawls (t) provided on both sides of the outlet of the latch hole (b) extending through the head (h) and opposed to each other.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verfahren zum Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem und zum Einladen eines Sammelkörpers einer Vielzahl von fadenförmigen Verbindem (L) in einer Anbringvorrichtung,
    wobei die Verbinder (L) parallel zwischen zwei flexiblen Teilen (J, J) über Verbindungsteile (c) mit reduziertem Querschnitt verbunden sind, die fadenförmigen Verbinder einen Kopf (h) mit einem an einem Ende gebildeten Verriegelungsloch (b) und ein Kopplungsteil (k) aufweisen, welches an dem anderen Ende gebildet und geeignet derart ausgestaltet ist, daß es in das Verriegelungsloch (b) eingebracht wird, um elastisch mit diesem in Eingriff zu kommen, und für das Einbringen des Kopplungsteils (k) in das Verriegelungsloch (b) für die Verbindung, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte aufweist:

    - Einladen von Köpfen (h) und Kopplungsteilen (k) in eine Kopfnut (6b) und eine Kopplungsnut (6a), die sich von einem hinteren zu einem vorderen Abschnitt der Vorrichtung (1) hin erstreckt, so daß die Fadenteile (f) in Form eines U gebogen werden, und Zuführen des Sammelkörpers in eine Vorwärtsrichtung;

    - Aufnehmen eines Kopfes (h) in einem Kopfstützteil (4d) eines Kopfförderarmes (4) in einer Position vor dem Körper (2) der Vorrichtung und in einem Abstand von diesem, der ausreicht, um einen Gegenstand, der anzubringen ist, aufzunehmen, wobei sich der Kopf (h) in einem Abstand von der Achse einer Hohlnadel (5) befindet, die von dem Körper (2) herausragt;

    - Bewegen des Kopfförderarmes (4) zur Annäherung an die Achse der Nadel (5); und

    - Veranlassen einer auf einem Kolben (9) vorgesehenen Stange (10) zum Hineindrücken des Kopplungsteiles (k) in die Hohlnadel (5) und Herausstoßen desselben aus einer Entleerungsöffnung und Einbringen in das Verriegelungsloch (b) des Kopfes (h),

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Verfahren ferner den folgenden Schritt aufweist: Von hinter der Anbringvorrichtung (1) Zuführen zweier flexibler Teile (J, J), die auf beiden Seiten einer Vielzahl von fadenförmigen Verbindern (L) angeordnet sind, welche parallel angeordnet sind, um die Verbinder zu veranlassen, um eine Vorschubeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und eine Vorschubeinrichtung (14b) für Köpfe herumzulaufen, die in einem Förderabschnitt der Anbringvorrichtung (1) angeordnet sind, und sich rückwärts zu bewegen und längs eines seitlich gerichteten Pfades geführt zu werden,
    wobei
    bei dem vorstehenden Schritt der Kopfförderarm (4) veranlaßt wird, einen der Köpfe (h) in einer Position zu ergreifen, wo die flexiblen Teile (J, J) um die Umfangsflächen der zwei Einrichtungen (14a, 14b) herumlaufen, und die auf einem Kopfende des Kolbens (9) vorgesehene Stange (10) veranlaßt wird, eines der Kopplungsteile (k) in die Hohlnadel (5) zu zwingen, wobei die Nadel (5) im Vorderabschnitt der Anbringvorrichtung (1) vorgesehen ist, um das Kopplungsteil (k) in das Verriegelungsloch (b) des Kopfes (h), der unmittelbar vor der Entleerungsöffnung der Hohlnadel (5) in Bereitschaft stand, um dadurch den Fadenteil (f) in Ringform zu verbinden, einzubringen.
     
    2. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem, mit einem Hebel (3), der an einem Vorderabschnitt eines Greiferteiles (2c) des Hohlkörpers (2) zum Erscheinen und Verschwinden gehaltert ist, einem von dem Hebel (3) angetriebenen Zwischenhebel (3A), einem Kolben (9), der geführt ist, um sich in einer Vorwärts- und Rückwärtsrichtung des Körpers (2) zu bewegen, und mit welchem der Zwischenhebel (3A) in Eingriff tritt, einer Stange (10), die sich zum Herausstoßen eines Kopplungsteiles (k) von dem Kolben (9) nach vorn erstreckt, und einer Hohlnadel (5), die für die Anbringung in dem Körper axial zu der Stange (10) angeordnet ist, gekennzeichnet durch einen Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung, der geeignet ausgestaltet ist, um nach Oszillieren des Kolbens (9) umzukehren, eine Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für ein Kopplungsteil und eine Zuführeinrichtung (14b) für einen Kopf, die in einem vorderen Endabschnitt des Körpers (2) angeordnet sind, jeweils Ratschenräder (15a, 15b), die neben den beiden Einrichtungen (14a, 14b) vorgesehen sind, Zuführklinken (12f, 12g), welche in Klinkenstützteile (12d, 12e) eingeschlossen sind, die an einem Kopfende des Hebels (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung vorgesehen und geeignet ausgestaltet sind, um mit den betreffenden Ratschenrädern (15a, 15b) zu kämmen, eine Kopfnut (6b) und eine Kopplungsnut (6a), die so geformt sind, daß sie mit Zuführpositionen des Kopplungsteiles (k) des Kopfes (h) auf Umfangsflächen der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für ein Kopplungsteil und der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) in Verbindung kommen, und einen Kopfförderarm (4), der von dem Kolben (9) angetrieben und von einem Schwenkgelenkgetriebe einschließlich eines parallelen Gelenkgetriebes gehaltert ist,
    wobei der Kopfförderarm (4) einen vordersten Kopf (h) in einer Position der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) ergreift, welcher fadenförmige Verbinder (L) zugeführt werden, und dieselben mittels eines Gelenkgetriebes längs eines vorbestimmten Weges bewegt, wobei der Kopfförderarm (4) gehaltert wird, damit derselbe unmittelbar vor einer Entleerungsöffnung der Hohlnadel (5) in Bereitschaft gebracht wird, und wobei in der Zwischenzeit die an einem Kopfende des Kolbens (9) hervorstehende Stange (10) ein vorderstes Kopplungsteil (k) in einer Position der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für ein Kopplungsteil, welcher fadenförmige Verbinder (L) zugeführt werden, veranlaßt, in das Verriegelungsloch (b) des Kopfes (h), der von dem Kopfförderarm (4) ergriffen ist, eingeführt und verriegelt zu werden.
     
    3. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem nach Anspruch 2,
    wobei die Köpfe (h) und Kopplungsteile (k) fadenförmiger Verbinder (L) intermittierend herausgestoßen werden, um durch die Greiftätigkeit des Hebels (3) miteinander verbunden zu werden, der auf einem Vorderabschnitt eines Greiferteiles (2c) des Körpers (2) der Anbringvorrichtung (1) in einer solchen Weise vorgesehen ist, daß er elastisch herausgestoßen wird;
    die Greifertätigkeit des Hebels (3) den Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung veranlaßt, das Ineinandergreifen mit dem Vorgehen des Kolbens (9) zu drehen bzw. umzukehren, und eine elastische Kraft in einer Feder (12h) speichert, die mit dem Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung nach Umdrehen des Hebels (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung verbunden ist, und die Freigabe des Hebels (3) die Einrichtungen (14a, 14b) veranlaßt, unter Ausnutzung der elastischen Kraft der Feder (h) zu drehen;
    und wobei der Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung in der Feder (12h) eine elastische Kraft in einem vorhergehenden Umkehrschritt speichert und in einem letzteren Schritt das Verbinden des Kopfes (h) und des Kopplungsteiles (k) miteinander in einem Schritt durchführt, in welchem die elastische Kraft in der Feder (12h) beibehalten bzw. bewahrt ist, und die elastische Kraft aus der Feder (12h) nach dem Freigeben des Hebels (3) freigibt, um dadurch die fadenförmigen Verbinder (L) zu fördern.
     
    4. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 2,
    wobei der Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung eine Führungsfläche (12E) für das Neigen des Hebels (12) unter Ineinandergreifen beim Vorgehen des Kolbens (9) in einem vorhergehenden Schritt des Greifens des Hebels (3) aufweist, um in einer Feder (12h) eine elastische Kraft zu speichern, und benachbart zu der Führungsfläche (12E) die Führungsfläche (12K) aufweist in einem gekrümmten bzw. gedrehten Aufbau zum Bewahren einer Stellung des Hebels (12) in einem letzteren Schritt des Greifens während des Vorgehens des Kolbens (9), und einen Führungskörper (12L) aufweist, der drehbar vorgesehen ist, um mit der Führungsfläche (12E) zusammenzuarbeiten und eine V-Form anzunehmen, und dessen Kopfende der Führungsfläche (12K) benachbart ist;
    eine elastische Kraft in der Feder (12h) gespeichert wird, während sich ein Betätigungsteil (11) mit der Eignung, sich auf der Führungsfläche (12E) zu bewegen, zusammen mit dem Kolben (9) bewegt, ein Verbinden eines Verbinders (L) ausgeführt wird, während sich das Betätigungsteil (11) auf der Führungsfläche (12K) bewegt, eine Stellung des Hebels (12) beibehalten wird, während sich das Betätigungsteil (11) auf einer Führungsfläche des Führungskörpers (12L) bewegt, und wobei dann, wenn das Betätigungsteil (11) aus einem Ende des Führungskörpers (12L) herauskommt, die elastische Kraft der Feder (12h) den Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung zum Schwenken veranlaßt, um einen fadenförmigen Verbinder (L) zu einer erfolgreichen Aufschlagposition zu bewegen.
     
    5. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und die Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) in einem Vorderabschnitt des Körpers (2) vorgesehen sind und Wege in dem Körper (2) gebildet sind, entlang denen flexible Teile (J, J) veranlaßt werden, mit Hälften der Umfänge der beiden Einrichtungen (14a, 14b) in Eingriff zu kommen, und entleert werden.
     
    6. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem nach Anspruch 2, ferner mit entsprechenden Klinkenstützteilen (12d, 12e), die auf einem Kopfende des Hebels (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung gabelförmig gebildet sind, wobei Zuführklinken (12f, 12g) auf den Klinkenstützteilen (12d, 12e) vorgesehen und von diesen gehaltert sind, um mit jeweiligen Ratschenrädem (15a, 15b) zu kämmen, die neben der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und der Kopfzuführungseinrichtung (14b) vorgesehen sind, und um durch elastische Kräfte nach vorn vorzustehen.
     
    7. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 2, ferner mit einer ersten Basisplatte (20) und einer zweiten Basisplatte (22), die parallel zwischen einem rechten Körper (2a) und einem linken Körper (2b) angeordnet sind, welche den Körper (2) bilden, wobei die Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und die Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) auf einem Vorderabschnitt einer Fläche der ersten Basisplatte (20) angeordnet sind, eine Kopfnut (6b) und eine Kopplungsnut (6a) in einer Längsrichtung des Körpers (2) in einer Weise vorgesehen sind, um sich an Zuführflächen der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) anzuschließen,
    wobei die Stange (10) auf dem Kolben (9) in einer Weise vorgesehen ist, um sich quer in diametraler Richtung der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile zu bewegen, die Hohlnadel (5) axial vor der Stange (10) angeordnet ist, die zweite Basisplatte (22) auf ihrer einen Fläche mit einer Führungsnut (9A) für das Führen des Kolbens (9) versehen ist und mit einem ersten Verbindungsglied (17), einem zweiten Verbindungsglied (18), einem dritten Verbindungsglied (4b) und vierten Verbindungsgliedern (4a, 4a'), welche durch den Kolben (9) angetrieben werden, und
    wobei der Kopfförderarm (4) schwenkbar an oberen Enden des dritten Verbindungsgliedes (4b) und der vierten Verbindungsglieder (4a, 4a'), welche ein Parallelgelenkgetriebe bilden, angebracht ist,
    und ferner mit dem Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung, wobei die Ratschenräder (15a, 15b) durch den Hebel (12) für die Zuführeinrichtung angetrieben sind, und der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b), die an Wellen der Ratschenräder (15a, 15b) befestigt sind.
     
    8. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 7, ferner mit einem Anschlagmechanismus für die Beibehaltung einer Position, wo Teile, welche das parallele Gelenkgetriebe bilden, am weitesten nach vom geneigt sind.
     
    9. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem nach Anspruch 7, wobei der Anschlagmechanismus nach Kontakt eines Endes mindestens eines der vierten Verbindungsglieder (4a, 4a') mit einer Welle der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b) betätigt wird.
     
    10. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 7, ferner mit einem Anschlagteil, welches zwischen dem Kopfförderarm (4) und dem Körper (2) vorgesehen ist, um eine Vibration in einer Position zu verhindern, wo der Kopfförderarm (4) zurückgelaufen ist.
     
    11. Anbringvorrichtung für das Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 7, wobei das Anschlagteil Teile aufweist für das Schaffen einer magnetischen Anziehung und Befestigen zwischen dem Kopfförderarm (4) und dem Körper (2).
     
    12. Anbringvorrichtung zum Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindern nach Anspruch 2, ferner mit einer Handzuführrolle (19), die in der Mitte zwischen den Ratschenrädern (15a, 15b) angeordnet ist, um sie anzutreiben.
     
    13. Anbringvorrichtung zum Verbinden von fadenförmigen Verbindem nach Anspruch 7, ferner mit Anschlägen (24, 24A), die auf Seiten der Ratschenräder (15a, 15b) angeordnet sind, und einem Anschlagfreigabekörper (8A) zum Freigeben des Eingriffs zwischen den Anschlägen (24, 24A) und der Zuführeinrichtung (14a) für Kopplungsteile und der Kopfzuführeinrichtung (14b).
     
    14. Sammelkörper fadenförmiger Verbinder, welcher durch einstückiges Formen eines synthetischen Harzes hergestellt ist und aus fadenförmigen Verbindem (L) zusammengesetzt ist, die ein Fadenteil (f), einen Kopf (h), der an einem Ende des Fadenteils angeordnet und mittig desselben gebildet ist unter Erstreckung durch ein Verriegelungsloch (b), und ein Kopplungsteil (k) aufweist, welches an dem anderen Ende des Fadenteils angeordnet ist, wobei der Kopf (h) und das Kopplungsteil (k) zwischen zwei flexiblen Teilen (J, J) mit Verbindungsteilen (c) reduzierten Querschnittes dazwischen angeordnet sind, wobei das Verriegelungsloch (b) des Kopfes (h) sich senkrecht durch eine Ebene erstreckt, in welcher der Sammelkörper angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Kopplungsteil (k) in einer Richtung senkrecht zu derjenigen Ebene gebildet ist, in welcher der Sammelkörper angeordnet ist.
     
    15. Sammelkörper fadenförmiger Verbinder nach Anspruch 14, ferner mit Verriegelungsklinken (t), die auf beiden Seiten des Auslasses des Verriegelungsloches (b) vorgesehen sind, sich durch den Kopf (h) erstrecken und einander gegenüberliegen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Méthode de connexion de corps de connexion en forme de filaments et de chargement dans un dispositif de montage d'un corps d'assemblage d'une multiplicité de corps de connexion en forme de filaments (L) connectés en parallèle entre deux éléments flexibles (J,J) à travers des parties connectables (c) de section réduite, les corps de connexion en forme de filaments comprenant une tête (h) avec un trou de verrouillage (b) formé à une extrémité et une partie de jonction (k) formée à l'autre extrémité et adaptée pour s'ajuster dans le trou de verrouillage (b) de manière de s'y engager de façon élastique, et d'ajustement de la partie de jonction (k) dans le trou de verrouillage (b) pour la connexion, la méthode comprenant les étapes de

    - placer les têtes (h) et les parties de jonction (k) dans une gorge de la tête (6b) et une gorge de jonction (6a) s'étendant de l'arrière à une portion avant du dispositif (1) de sorte que les parties de filament (f) sont courbées en forme de U et disposer le corps d'assemblage dans un sens avant,

    - recevoir une tête (h) dans une partie de support de la tête (4d) d'un bras de convoyage de la tête (4) dans une position en avant du corps (2) du dispositif et espacée de ce dernier d'une distance suffisante pour recevoir un article devant être monté, la tête (h) étant à une certaine distance de l'axe d'une aiguille creuse (5) sortant du corps (2),

    - déplacer le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) pour s'approcher de l'axe de l'aiguille (5), et

    - contraindre une tige (10) disposée sur un piston (9) à forcer la partie de jonction (k) dans l'aiguille creuse (5) et à la pousser en dehors d'un port de déchargement et à l'ajuster dans le trou de verrouillage (b) de la tête (h) ;

       caractérisée en ce que :

    - la méthode comprend en outre, l'étape de fournir à partir de l'arrière du dispositif de montage (1) deux éléments flexibles (J, J) disposés des deux côtés d'une multiplicité de corps de connexion en forme de filaments (L) disposés en parallèle pour les obliger à passer autour d'un engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et un engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b) qui sont disposés dans une portion avant du dispositif de montage (1), et à se déplacer vers l'avant et être convoyés le long d'un chemin latéral, et

    - dans l'étape ci-dessus contraindre le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) à agripper une des têtes (h) dans une position où les éléments flexibles (J, J) passent autour des surfaces périphériques des deux engrenages (14a), 14b) obligeant la tige (10) disposée sur une extrémité du piston 9 à forcer une des parties de jonction (k) dans l'aiguille creuse (5) disposée dans la portion avant du dispositif de montage (1) pour ajuster à la partie de jonction (k) dans le trou de verrouillage (b) de la tête (h) qui se trouvait immédiatement devant le port de déchargement de l'aiguille creuse (5), de manière à connecter la partie de filaments (f) dune manière annulaire.


     
    2. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments comprenant un levier (3) supporté par une portion avant d'une partie de serrage (2c) d'un corps creux (2) pour apparaître et disparaître, un levier intermédiaire (3A) entraîné par le levier (3), un piston (9) qui est guidé pour se déplacer en sens avant et en sens arrière du corps (2) et avec lequel s'engage le levier intermédiaire (3A), une tige (10) qui s'étend en avant à partir du piston (9) pour pousser une partie de jonction (k), une aiguille creuse (5) disposée axialement par rapport à la tige (10) à monter dans le corps,
       Caractérisé par un levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) adapté pour se mouvoir avec le mouvement de va et vient du piston (9), un engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et un engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b) qui sont disposés dans une portion de l'extrémité avant du corps (2), des roues à rochet (15a, 15b) respectivement, disposées de façon adjacente aux deux engrenages (14a, 14b), des cliquets d'entraînement (12f, 12g) incorporés dans des parties de support de cliquets (12d, 12e) disposés à l'extrémité du levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) et adaptés pour engrener avec les roues à rochet (15a, 15b), respectivement, une gorge de la tête (6b) et une gorge de jonction (6a) qui servent pour communiquer avec les positions d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (k) de la tête (h) sur les surfaces périphériques de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b), et un bras de convoyage de la tête (4) entraîné par un piston (9) et supporté par une tringlerie oscillante comportant une tringlerie parallèle,

    - et dans lequel le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) agrippe une tête principale (h) dans une position de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b) à laquelle sont fournis les corps connectables en forme de filaments (L) et la déplace le long d'un chemin prédéterminé au moyen d'une tringlerie supportant le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) pour la placer juste devant un port de déchargement de l'aiguille creuse (5), et dans le même temps la tige (10) sortant à l'extrémité du piston (9) oblige une partie de jonction principale (k) dans une position de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a), à laquelle les corps connectables en forme de filaments (L) sont fournis, à être insérée et verrouillée dans le trou de verrouillage (b) de la tête (h) agrippée par le bras de convoyage de la tête (4).


     
    3. Dispositif de montage pour connecter des corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, dans lequel des têtes (h) et des parties de jonction (k) de corps connectables en forme de filaments (L) sont poussés par intermittence pour être connectés entre eux par l'opération d'agrippage du levier (3), qui est fourni sur une portion avant de la partie d'agrippage (2c) du corps (2) du dispositif de montage (1) de manière à être poussée de façon élastique ;

    - l'opération d'agrippage de levier (3) oblige le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) à tourner en étant solidaire de l'avancement du piston (9), et emmagasine une force élastique dans un ressort (12h) connecté au levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) suite à la rotation du levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12), et l'opération de relâchement du levier (3) provoque la rotation des engrenages (14a, 14b) en se servant de la fore élastique du ressort (h);

    - et le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) emmagasine une force élastique dans le ressort (12h) à une étape antérieure de la rotation, et à une étape ultérieure effectue la connexion de la tête (h) et de la partie de jonction (k) dans un état dans lequel la force élastique est préservée dans le ressort (12h), et libère la force élastique du ressort (12h) lors de l'opération de relâchement du levier (3) de façon à convoyer les corps connectables en forme de filaments (L).


     
    4. Dispositif de montage pour connecter des corps en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) comprend une surface guide (12E) pour relier le levier (12) solidaire de l'avancement du piston (9) à une étape antérieure de l'opération d'agrippage du levier (3) pour emmagasiner une force élastique dans un ressort (12h), et la surface guide (12k) contiguë à la surface guide (12E) dans une disposition en patte de chien maintenant une position du levier (12) à une étape ultérieure de l'opération d'agrippage durant l'avancement du piston (9), et un corps guide (12L) qui est disposé pour coopérer avec la surface guide (12E) pour assurer une forme en V et duquel une extrémité est contiguë à la surface guide (12K) ;

    - une force élastique est emmagasinée dans le ressort (12h) tandis qu'une partie d'entraînement (11) adaptée pour se déplacer sur la surface guide (12E) avec le mouvement du piston (9), la connexion d'un corps connectable (L) est effectuée alors que la partie d'entraînement (11) se déplace sur la surface guide (12K), une position du levier (12) est maintenue alors que la partie d'entraînement (11) se déplace sur la surface guide du corps guide (12L), et lorsque la partie d'entraînement (11) quitte l'extrémité du corps guide (12L), la force élastique du ressort (12h) oblige le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) à osciller pour déplacer le corps connectable en forme de filaments (L) vers une position suivante.


     
    5. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b) sont disposés dans une portion avant du corps (2), et des chemins sont formés dans le corps (2) le long desquels des éléments flexibles (J, J) s'engagent avec les moitiés des périphéries des deux engrenages (14a, 14b) et sont déchargés.
     
    6. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre, des parties de support de cliquets (12d, 12e), respectivement, formées à l'extrémité du levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) d'une manière bifurquée, et des cliquets d'entraînement (12f, 12g) disposés et supportés par les parties de support de cliquets (12d, 12e) pour engrener avec les roues à rochet (15a, 15b), respectivement, qui sont disposées de façon adjacente à l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a), et à l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b) et se projeter en avant grâce aux forces élastiques.
     
    7. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre, une première plaque de base (20) et une seconde plaque de base (22) disposées en parallèle entre un corps à droite (2a) et un corps à gauche (2b) qui constituent le corps (2), l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage de l'entraînement de la tête (14b) étant disposés sur une portion avant d'une surface de la première plaque de base (20), une gorge de la tête (6b) et une gorge de jonction (6a) disposées dans une direction longitudinale du corps (2) de façon à communiquer avec les surfaces d'entraînement de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b),

    - la tige (10) étant disposée sur le piston (9) de façon à se déplacer transversalement dans une direction diamétrale de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a), l'aiguille creuse (5) étant disposée axialement en avant de la tige (10), la seconde plaque de base (22) étant disposée sur une surface, une gorge guide (9A) pour guider le piston (9) et une première liaison (17), une seconde liaison (18), une troisième liaison (4b) et des quatrièmes liaisons (4a, 4a',) qui sont entraînées par le piston (9),

    - le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) monté pivotant aux extrémités supérieures de la troisième liaison (4b) et des quatrièmes liaisons (4a, 4a') définissant une tringlerie parallèle,

    - et comprenant en outre, le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) les roues à rochet (15a, 15b) entraînées par le levier d'entraînement d'engrenage (12) et l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage de la partie de la tête (14b), qui sont fixés aux arbres des roues à rochet (15a, 15b).


     
    8. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre un mécanisme d'arrêt pour maintenir une position où les parties constituant la tringlerie parallèle s'incline vers l'avant.
     
    9. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication7, dans lequel le mécanisme d'arrêt est entraîné au contact d'une extrémité d'au moins une des quatrièmes liaisons (4a, 4a') avec un arbre de l'engrenage d'entraînement de la tête (14b).
     
    10. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre un élément d'arrêt disposé entre le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) et le corps (2) pour empêcher la vibration dans une position où le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) est retourné.
     
    11. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 7, dans lequel l'élément d'arrêt comprend des éléments pour fournir une attraction magnétique et se fixer entre le bras de convoyage de la tête (4) et le corps (2).
     
    12. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre un galet d'entraînement manuel (19) disposé à mi chemin entre les roues à rochet (15a, 15b) pour les entraîner.
     
    13. Dispositif de montage pour la connexion de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre des bouchons (24, 24A) disposés sur les côtés des roues à rochet (15a, 15b), et un corps de libération de bouchons (8A) pour libérer l'engagement entre les bouchons (24, 24A) et l'engrenage d'entraînement de la partie de jonction (14a) et l'engrenage de la partie de la tête (14b).
     
    14. Corps d'assemblage de corps connectables en forme de filaments, réalisé par moulage intégral d'une résine synthétique, et composé de corps connectables en forme de filaments (L), qui comprend un filament (f), une tête (h) disposée à une extrémité du filament et formée en son centre avec une extension à travers un trou de verrouillage (b), et une partie de jonction (k) disposées à l'autre extrémité du filament, la tête (h) et la partie de jonction (k) étant disposées entre 2 éléments flexibles (J, J) avec, entre eux, des parties connectables de section réduite (c), le trou de verrouillage (b) de la tête (h) s'étendant perpendiculairement à travers un plan, dans lequel le corps d'assemblage est disposé, caractérisé en ce que la partie de jonction (k) est disposée dans une direction perpendiculaire au plan dans lequel dans lequel le corps d'assemblage est disposé.
     
    15. Corps d'assemblage de corps connectables en forme de filaments selon la revendication 14, comprenant en outre des cliquets de verrouillage (t) disposés des deux côtés extérieurs du trou de verrouillage (b) s'étendant à travers la tête (h) et opposés l'un à l'autre.
     




    Drawing