Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – With cutting – breaking – tearing – or abrading – And with bending
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-07-24
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
With cutting, breaking, tearing, or abrading
And with bending
C493S231000, C493S340000, C493S397000, C493S405000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264594
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for handling documents, and in particular to such a device suitable for use in an office.
Devices are known for performing various functions on documents. Devices such as shredders or paper folding machines are usually bulky and are commonly provided as discrete devices located centrally in an office for use by a number of office staff. Simpler devices such as hole-punchers and staplers are also usually discrete devices, but would normally be provided at each desk for those staff requiring them.
GB 2234690A discloses a paper shredding machine which comprises a letter opener.
WO 86/01449 relates to a combined device for fastening and punching holes in sheets of paper.
It is commonly necessary to perform a number of different functions on a set of documents, or on a set of copies of a single document, when carrying out a particular job. For example, when sending a letter it may be necessary to fasten the letter to an enclosure, fold it for insertion into an envelope, perforate a copy for insertion into a file, and shred a draft copy. Such a job presently involves locating the correct device for each function and marrying it with the correct document or copy, which may involve travelling to a number of different locations in the office, and can therefore be time consuming and complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device for handling documents comprising a housing being arranged to present at least three document receiving stations, each station communicating with a different one of either means for shredding a document, or means for folding a document, or means for punching at least one hole in a document, or means for fastening documents together, or means for opening an envelope.
The device preferably includes all of the folding means, shredding means and hole-punching means, and optionally also the fastening means, for example in the form of a stapler, and envelope opening means, for example a rotating blade of small diameter for removing a thin strip from one or more edges of the envelope. The device is conveniently of a size which can be placed on a desk, such that it may be provided to each member of staff requiring those functions.
The document receiving stations corresponding to the shredding and folding means conveniently comprise apertures in the housing, and the stations corresponding to the hole-punching means and envelope opening means may each be a slot for receiving an edge of a document or an envelope respectively. The hole-punching means may for example be a four-hole or three-hole punch, and which may have means for indicating where the perforations will be made.
The station corresponding to the folding means conveniently has a document receiving surface arranged to be substantially horizontal in use, which surface may include guide means for guiding the document into the aperture, the guide means for example being in the form of a plurality of parallel ridges formed on the surface. The folding means preferably may fold the document once or twice, and may include means for the operator to select the number of folds, for example depending upon the size of the envelope into which the document is to be placed.
The housing conveniently comprises a cover member and a base member. The cover member is preferably removable, for example by pivoting away from the base member, to facilitate access to the shredder, folder, hole-puncher, envelope opener, or fastening means, for example for repair or to release a jammed document, or to empty waste material from the shredder, opener or hole-puncher. In this case, the cover member may comprise at least one side of the device which side is preferably arranged to be substantially vertical in use.
The stations corresponding to the shredding means, the folding means and the envelope opening means may be adjacent, such that they may be driven by a common drive motor. This has the advantage of allowing the device to be compact.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 306249 (1990-02-01), Tamada et al.
patent: 2386329 (1945-10-01), McDaniel
patent: 4479641 (1984-10-01), Bean et al.
patent: 4741105 (1988-05-01), Wong
patent: 4988030 (1991-01-01), Muramatu et al.
patent: 5709376 (1998-01-01), Ushirogata
patent: 2 195 295 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 2 234 690 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 2234690A (1999-02-01), None
WIPO Publication No. WO 86/01449, International publication date Mar. 13, 1986.
WIPO Publication No. WO 94/05510, International Publication date Mar. 17, 1994.
Desai Hemant M.
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
Lazarus Ira S.
Printed Forms Equipment Ltd.
LandOfFree
Device for handling documents does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for handling documents, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for handling documents will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2547395