Bar Connecting Apparatus

• US 20080115448A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dayton Superior Corporation (White Cap Supply Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kodi Klip Corporation
• Inventors: Kodi, Jon R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/719
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/167 Connection by means of clips or other resilient elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/122 Machines for joining reinforcing bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53783 Clip applier

Abstract

A bar connecting apparatus applies clips to connect transverse bars used in reinforced concrete. A clip string is fed into the bar connecting apparatus by a clip feed assembly, so several pairs of transverse bars can be connected in rapid succession. A hammer reciprocates in the barrel of the bar connecting apparatus, and drives a clip from the barrel into engagement with the bars. An alignment head aligns the bar connecting apparatus with the transverse bars so the clips properly engage the bars.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting bars comprising:

a clip string having a terminal clip, the clip string comprising a plurality of connected clips, wherein each clip has a seat for positioning one bar, a plurality of hooks for positioning a second bar wherein at least one of the hooks has an upper body, and at least one joining portion wherein the hooks are joined by the joining portion;

a barrel having a clip receiving cavity, the terminal clip being received in the clip receiving cavity; and

a hammer received in the barrel, the hammer reciprocating longitudinally within the barrel for contacting and expelling the terminal clip from the barrel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an alignment head, wherein the barrel has a distal end and the alignment head is defined at the barrel distal end, and wherein the alignment head has notches for engaging transverse bars.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive, wherein the drive is connected to the hammer for reciprocating the hammer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive further comprises a handle and a spring, the spring biasing the handle proximally, and wherein the handle is manually actuated to cycle the drive.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a trigger actuated automatic drive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a clip feed assembly, wherein the hammer engages the clip feed assembly such that cycling of the hammer urges the clip string into the clip receiving cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clip feed assembly further comprises:

a cam guide connected to the hammer;

a cam plate having a cam track, the cam plate pivotally connected to the bar connecting apparatus, wherein the cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam plate reciprocates as the hammer cycles; and

at least one finger connected to the cam plate such that the finger engages and advances the clip string into the clip receiving cavity as the cam plate reciprocates.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clip feed assembly further comprises a clip track extending through the clip receiving cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the hammer has an indentation and two legs such that the clip track is received in the indentation of the hammer as the hammer reciprocates.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clip feed further comprises a clip track having at least a first and a second portion, wherein the second portion is between the first portion and the barrel, and wherein the dimensions of the second portion are larger than the dimensions of the first portion such that the clip string is frictionally engaged by the second portion, but not by the first portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one resilient retainer mounted in the clip receiving cavity for releasably engaging a clip received in the clip receiving cavity, so the clip will not fall from the barrel until being expelled by the hammer.

12. An apparatus for connecting bars using clips, the clips having an upper body defining a cradle for positioning a bar, the bar connecting apparatus comprising:

a barrel having a clip receiving cavity adapted to receive the clips;

a hammer received in the barrel, the hammer having an indentation and at least one leg, wherein the hammer reciprocates longitudinally within the barrel; and

a clip feed assembly including a clip track, wherein the hammer engages the clip feed assembly such that a clip is urged into the clip receiving cavity as the hammer reciprocates, and wherein the clip track extends through the clip receiving cavity such that the clip track is received in the hammer indentation as the hammer reciprocates.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the clip track is adapted to engage the clips by the upper body so the clips are released distally from the clip track.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an alignment head, wherein the barrel has a distal end and the alignment head is defined at the barrel distal end, and wherein the alignment head has two pair of notches for engaging transverse bars.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a drive, wherein the drive is connected to the hammer for reciprocating the hammer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the drive further comprises a handle, and wherein the handle is manually actuated to cycle the drive.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a trigger actuated automatic drive.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the clip feed assembly further comprises:

a cam guide connected to the hammer;

a cam plate having a cam track, the cam plate pivotally connected to the bar connecting apparatus, wherein the cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam plate reciprocates as the hammer cycles; and

at least one finger connected to the cam plate such that the finger advances a clip into the clip receiving cavity as the cam plate reciprocates.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the clip track has at least a first and a second portion, with the second portion being between the first portion and the barrel, wherein the dimensions of the second portion are larger than the dimensions of the first portion such that the clips are frictionally held by the second portion but the clips are not frictionally held by the first portion.

20. A bar connecting apparatus comprising:

a barrel having a clip receiving cavity, the cavity adapted to receive a clip;

at least one resilient retainer mounted in the clip receiving cavity for releasably engaging clips in the clip receiving cavity; and

a hammer received in the barrel, the hammer reciprocating longitudinally within the barrel for contacting and expelling clips from the barrel.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an alignment head having two pair of notches, wherein the barrel has a distal end and the alignment head is defined at the barrel distal end, and wherein the notches are adapted to engage transverse bars.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a drive, wherein the drive is connected to the hammer for reciprocating the hammer.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the drive further comprises a handle, wherein the handle is manually actuated to cycle the drive.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a trigger for directing a power source to cycle the drive.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a clip feed assembly, wherein the hammer engages the clip feed assembly such that cycling of the hammer urges a clip into the clip receiving cavity.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the clip feed assembly further comprises;

a cam guide connected to the hammer;

a cam plate having a cam track, the cam plate pivotally connected to the bar connecting apparatus, wherein the cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam plate reciprocates as the hammer cycles; and

at least one finger connected to the cam plate such that the finger engages and advances clips into the clip receiving cavity as the cam plate reciprocates.

27. A clip string comprising:

a plurality of connected clips, wherein each clip comprises a seat for positioning of one bar, a plurality of hooks for the positioning of a second bar wherein at least one hook has an upper body, and a joining portion wherein the hooks are joined by the joining portion; and

at least one connection point defined on each clip, wherein the plurality of clips are connected at the connection point such that the clips are all consistently oriented.

28. The clip string of claim 27 wherein the upper bodies of the hooks define a cradle for a bar, and the cradles defined by the upper bodies are aligned.

29. The clip string of claim 27 wherein the clips are comprised of plastic.

30. A string of clips comprising:

a plurality of clips, wherein each clip is adapted to engage transverse bars;

at least one connection point defined on each clip; and

a feed rod, wherein each clip is connected to the feed rod at the connection point such that the clips are consistently oriented.

31. The clip string of claim 30 wherein the feed rod has teeth for advancing the clip string.

32. The clip string of claim 30 wherein the clips are comprised of plastic.

33. The clip string of claim 30 wherein each clip is not held in direct contact with another clip in the clip string.

34. The clip string of claim 30 wherein each clip comprises a seat for positioning one bar, a plurality of hooks for positioning a second bar wherein at least one hook has an upper body, and a joining portion wherein the hooks are joined by the joining portion

35. The clip string of claim 34 wherein the hook upper bodies of each clip define a cradle for a bar, and the cradles defined by the hook upper bodies are aligned.

36. A method of connecting bars comprising:

(a) providing an apparatus for applying clips to connect bars;

(b) engaging a clip string with a clip track;

(c) sliding the clip string along the clip track such that at least one clip is received in a clip receiving cavity;

(d) aligning the bar connecting apparatus on two transverse bars; and

(e) reciprocating a hammer in a barrel of the bar connecting apparatus such that the hammer contacts and expels the clip received in the clip receiving cavity to connect the bars with the clip.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein step (e) further comprises advancing the clip string into the clip receiving cavity for a subsequent clip application, the clip string advancing in a direction transverse to a direction of reciprocation of the hammer.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein step (d) further comprises positioning an alignment head having two pair of notches on the transverse bars to be connected such that each bar is engaged in one pair of notches.