Improvements in or relating to belt-fastening machines

811,886. Belt-fastening appliances. HAYDEN-NILOS Ltd. Sept. 6, 1957 [Nov. 16, 1956], No. 35051/56. Class 80 (1). In a belt-fastening machine wherein a jaw unit is traversed along a comb of hooks positioned adjacent the end of a belt to clinch successive hooks or groups of hooks into the belt, the jaw unit comprises a pair of jaw levers 1, 4 pivoted together at 3, and corresponding jaw cheeks 2, 11 at least one of which is movably mounted relatively to its lever under the influence of a spring 13 whereby the jaw unit may be employed for belts of different thicknesses. As shown, the jaw lever 4 comprises a pair of side members interconnected by a bridge 12, a cross-pin 14 and a stop-bar 15. The check 11 is carried by a lever 5 which is pivoted at 7 to the lever 4 and which is held against the bar 15 by leaf springs 13 resting on the pin 14. The spring pressure is adjusted by a screw 16. The jaw levers 1, 4 are actuated through toggle links 8, 9 by hand- or poweroperated screw, crank or lever mechanism, the springs 13 yielding to allow the mechanism to be fully actuated, and thus full clinching pressure to be applied, over a range of different belt thicknesses. The cheeks 2, 11 shown are detachable. In a modification having identical. upper and lower jaw levers, one or each jaw cheek is formed with a stem mounted for sliding movement in its jaw lever normal to the cheek face, the end of the stem being acted upon by adjustable leaf springs carried in a stirrup on the jaw lever.