摘要 |
An apparatus for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from continuously connected ladder stock including an elongated side member having a plurality of T-bars interconnected by severable connectors. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a hollow, gun-shaped casing having a barrel portion and a handle portion. The front end of the barrel portion has an opening into which a hollow slotted needle is removably mounted. A triggering mechanism, which includes a pivotally-mounted trigger, is connected to the handle portion of the casing. A slider assembly, which is actuated by squeezing the trigger, includes a slider adapted to travel along longitudinally extending rails formed along the inside of the barrel portion of the casing. Movement of the slider is coupled to a feeding/severing/ejecting assembly, which collectively functions to feed a T-bar disposed at one end of the elongated side member into the hollow slotted needle, to break the severable connector connecting the inserted T-bar to the remainder of the elongated side member, and to eject the inserted T-bar from the hollow, slotted needle. In a preferred embodiment, the severable connector is broken by pivoting the rear portion of the connector away from the front portion of the connector. |