Double clipper, single piston operated device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
An improved clip attachment device comprising, in combination: a mounting frame; drive means mounted on the mounting frame, said drive means having a unitary drive shaft translatable between a projected position and a retracted position; a punch for driving a clip, said punch attached to said drive shaft and translatable thereby between a retracted position and a projected clip fastening position; clip ejection means for positioning a clip in the path of the punch means intermediate the retracted position and clip fastening position; first and second gates pivotally attached to the mounting frame in opposed relation on opposite sides of the path of travel of the punch, one of said gates including a die for cooperation with said punch, said gates being pivotal between a closed position for clip attachment and an open position for release of clip material; and first and second parallel linkage arms, each arm being attached to said drive shaft for movement parallel with the punch on opposite sides thereof, said first arm including cam drive means cooperative with the first gate to pivotally drive said gate from the open position to the closed position, the second arm including cam drive means cooperative with the second gate to pivotally drive said second gate from the open position to the closed position, said die being cooperative with the punch when the gates are both in the closed position to form a clip about material positioned and gathered by action of closing said gates.
2.
The improved device of claim 1 wherein said gates each include a separate camway cooperative with followers attached to the associated linkage member, said camway and linkage member cooperative to initially pivot the gate members from the open to the closed position upon downward travel of the linkage arms to effect closing of the gate members pivot to travel of the punch and clip toward complete engagement with the die, said camway including a section parallel with the direction of travel of the linkage arm when the gates are in the closed position to thereby effect retention of the gate members in a non-rotatable position upon the closing of the gate members by the partial travel of said linkage arms from the retracted toward the projected position