Stapler apparatus that does not waste staples

Details Stapler apparatus that does not waste staples Stapler apparatus that does not waste staples

2001-06-05

2003-05-27

Smith, Scott A. (Department: 3721)

Elongated-member-driving apparatus

With means to move or guide member into driving position

Including supply magazine for constantly urged members

C227S119000, C227S136000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06568579

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a stapler used to staple a stack of paper discharged from an image forming device such as a photocopier or a printer.
BACKGROUND
The following is an explanation of the stapling operation of a prior art stapler with reference to FIG.
1
and FIG.
2
. The sheet of staples S shown in
FIG. 1
consists of a series of single staples. The sheet of staples S is rolled up and housed in the housing unit
50
a
of the cartridge
50
. Here, the sheet of staples S extends from the extraction opening
50
b
in the housing unit
50
a
. The cartridge
50
mounted in the housing unit
50
a
has a pair of walls
50
c
,
50
c
separated at a specific interval as an extension of the extraction opening
50
b
. The interval between the walls
50
c
,
50
c
is roughly equal to the width of the sheet of staples S. Therefore, the sheet of staples S extending from the extraction opening
50
b
passes between the walls
50
c
,
50
c
in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
1
.
Guides
51
,
51
are placed on the cartridge
50
to prevent the sheet of staples S from riding up from the extraction opening
50
b
. In other words, the sheet of staples S is restrained widthwise by wall
100
c
and prevented from riding up by the guides
51
,
51
so as to travel in the direction of the arrow. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a plate
52
is extended between the side walls
50
c
,
50
c
, and a reverse motion stopping tab
52
a
is formed on both ends of the plate
52
. The reverse motion stopping tab
52
a
makes contact with the sheet of staples S to prevent the sheet of staples S from moving in the direction opposite to the arrow back into the housing unit
50
a
. In other words, the sheet of staples S moves in the direction of the arrow shown in
FIG. 1
, and is not allowed to return to the housing unit
50
a.
The cartridge
50
is mounted in the main body of the device
70
shown in
FIG. 2
, and the pressure unit
53
formed in the cartridge
50
is brought to bear when the cartridge is mounted on the spring plate
55
on the advancing unit
54
of the main body of the device
70
. The pressure from the spring plate
55
keeps the advancing unit
54
in the position shown in FIG.
2
. When the driver
56
applying the staples is lowered from the position shown in
FIG. 2
, the protrusion
56
a
on the driver
56
is brought to bear on the protruding plate
54
a
formed on the advancing unit
54
. Therefore, the lowering force of the driver
56
is communicated to the advancing unit
54
via the protrusion
56
a
and the protruding plate
54
a
, and the advancing unit
54
resists the spring action of the spring plate
55
and is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing. When the advancing unit
54
has traveled a full stroke, the protrusion
56
a
passes the position of the protruding plate
54
a
. When the protrusion
56
a
passes the position of the protruding plate
54
a
, the advancing unit
54
becomes free, and the advancing unit
54
subjected to the force of the spring
55
returns to its original position as shown in the figure.
An advancing tab
57
is located on the advancing unit
54
. This advancing tab
57
makes elastic contact with the sheet of staples S extending from the cartridge
50
. Therefore, the rotation of the advancing unit
54
causes the advancing tab
57
to advance the sheet of staples S in the direction of the driver
56
. When the advancing unit
54
rotates counterclockwise, the advancing tab
57
makes and maintains elastic contact with the sheet of staples S. When the advancing unit
54
rotates counterclockwise, force is applied to return the sheet of staples S. However, the reverse motion stopping tab
52
a
prevents the sheet of staples from returning.
Often several cartridges are provided containing rolled sheets of staples of varying lengths. These cartridges can be replaced to provide the desired type of staples.
When a cartridge
50
is replaced in a stapler, the cartridge
50
is removed with the advancing tab
57
bearing down on the sheet of staples S. When a cartridge
50
is removed with the advancing tab
57
bearing down on the sheet of staples S, the sheet of staples S is pulled out from the cartridge
50
. Because the revere movement stopping tab
52
bears down on the pulled out sheet of staples S, the staples do not return to their original position. As a result, some of the staples in the sheet of staples S are wasted.
Sometimes the cartridge
50
is divided in two and only the sheet of staples in the housing unit is replaced. However, even though the cartridge
50
is divided in two, the reverse motion stopping tab
52
a
continues to function and the section of the sheet of staples S drawn out by the reverse motion stopping tab
52
a
does not return to its original position. As a result, the section of the sheet of staples is wasted.
Therefore, there remains a need for a stapler that does not waste any staples when a staple cartridge or sheet of staples is replaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention relates to a stapler having a sheet of staples, a detachable cartridge for housing the sheet of staples and a driver mechanism for driving a staple withdrawn from the cartridge into a stack of paper. The main body of the device has a reverse motion stopping mechanism to prevent the sheet of staples from moving back into the cartridge, and the reverse motion stopping mechanism makes contact with the sheet of staples and the reverse motion stopping mechanism releases contact with the sheet of staples when the operating unit is operated.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a stapler including a detachable cartridge for housing the sheet of staples and a driver mechanism for driving a staple withdrawn from the cartridge into a stack of paper. The mounting unit has a reverse motion stopping mechanism to prevent the sheet of staples from moving back into the cartridge, and the reverse motion stopping mechanism makes contact with the sheet of staples when the mounting unit is installed and the reverse motion stopping mechanism releases contact with the sheet of staples when the mounting unit is removed.
In yet another embodiment, the reverse motion stopping mechanism is a rotating unit such as a tab, a roller or an endless belt.
Another embodiment relates to a stapler including, a detachable cartridge for housing a sheet of staples and a driver mechanism for driving a staple withdrawn from the cartridge into a stack of paper. The mounting unit has an advancing mechanism for advancing the sheet of staples in the direction of the driver mechanism and a reverse motion stopping mechanism to prevent the sheet of staples from moving back into the cartridge. The advancing mechanism and the reverse motion stopping mechanism make contact with the sheet of staples when the mounting unit is installed and the advancing mechanism and the reverse motion stopping mechanism release contact with the sheet of staples when the mounting unit is removed.
The present invention is also directed to a stapler, where the mounting unit is equipped with an advancing mechanism casing constituting the advancing mechanism and a housing space for housing the advancing mechanism casing. The advancing mechanism casing is configured to move up and down inside the housing space. Spring action is applied to the advancing mechanism casing and the spring action normally extends upward from the housing space. The advancing mechanism and the reverse motion stopping mechanism are released from the sheet of staples in the extended state, and the advancing mechanism and the reverse motion stopping mechanism make contact with the sheet of staples when the advancing mechanism and the reverse motion stopping mechanism resist the spring action.
Another embodiment relates to a stapler, where the advancing mechanism is equipped with a shaft, a rotating unit rotating around the shaft, an moving plate engaged with the rotating unit and reciprocating as the rotating unit rotates, and an advancing tab mounted on the moving plate. The

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