Method and apparatus for dispensing fasteners

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
Apparatus for dispensing a fastener through a slotted hollow needle, form stock formed by a plurality of fasteners, each having a filament with an angularly disposed bar at one end, comprising means, including a trigger, for advancing the fastener to the rear of the needle and forcing the end bar through the bore of the needle with its associated filament projecting through the slot of the needle; said trigger being mounted so that the compression force required to operate the trigger decreases as the trigger is depressed, by being directly secured to a movable pivot of a support rod for a coiled compression spring; and said support rod being secured to a fixed pivot within said apparatus and being mounted in an opening of said movable pivot to be movable through said opening in accordance with the extent to which said trigger is depressed.
2.
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trigger is coupled to an actuating lever by a pin that is movable in a slot of said lever and said lever is connected to a plunger by which said end bar can be forced through the bore of said needle.
3.
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said lever is joined intermediate its end to a floating pivot which is secured to a member that is pivotally mounted in said apparatus.
4.
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a housing, and means associated with said housing for advancing each fastener to a position for being dispensed, which comprises a rotatable feed mechanism having projections aligned with the axis of rotation of said rotatable feed mechanism and a reciprocating cam for contacting said projections to rotate said wheel.
5.
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotatable feed mechanism comprises a feed wheel with a side surface and projections extending outwardly therefrom.
6.
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotatable feed mechanism comprises a notched feed wheel and said projections are pins having axes parallel to the bases of the notches