Stapler apparatus that removes only jammed staples

Details Stapler apparatus that removes only jammed staples Stapler apparatus that removes only jammed staples

2001-06-05

2003-09-09

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

Reexamination Certificate

active

06616027

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a stapler for applying staples to sheets of paper discharged to the sorter or finisher inside an image forming device such as a photocopier or printer.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1
shows a cartridge used in a stapler of the prior art. The staples
1
used to staple documents are stored in a continuous sheet of staples (a). In other words, the staples
1
are fused together in a consecutive sheet of staples (a). The staples
1
are driven one by one into documents, where they are bent into an angular C-shape and severed from the sheet of staples (a). The sheet of staples (a) is wound in a roll and housed inside a cartridge
100
. The cartridge
100
is equipped with a housing unit
101
for housing the rolled sheet of staples (a) and a guide unit
102
for guiding the end of the rolled sheet of staples (a) out from the cartridge
100
. The housing unit
101
has an outer diameter that conforms to the rolled sheet of staples (a) and a round inner periphery.
Also, the guide
102
for guiding the sheet of staples (a) is equipped with a pair of walls
102
a
,
102
a
held apart at a given interval, and a protrusion
102
b
moving horizontally between the walls
102
a
,
102
a.
The protrusion
102
b
has a reverse motion stopping tab
12
. The reverse motion stopping tab
12
has a tip that makes contact with the sheet of staples (a) drawn out from the guide unit
102
. This accommodates the sheet of staples (a) moving in the direction of the arrow in
FIG. 1
, but prevents the sheet of staples (a) from moving in reverse.
Guide tabs
102
c
are located in the inner surface of the walls
102
a
,
102
a
, and these guide tabs
102
c
prevent the sheet of staples (a) from rising off the base
102
h
of the guide unit
102
.
The walls
102
a
,
102
a
are also equipped with tip contacting units
103
,
103
for making contact with the main body of the device when the cartridge
100
is in the main body of the device. A catch
102
g
is situated on the base
102
h
of the guide unit
102
for keeping the cartridge
100
in a certain position inside the main body of the device.
In the stapler with a cartridge
100
installed, a staple
1
is driven through a stack of paper cleanly and the staple
1
is bent after the staple
1
has been applied to the stack of paper. If the stapling process does not proceed smoothly, the staple becomes jammed.
When a staple
1
becomes jammed, the staple
1
remains inside the main body of the device. If the jammed staple
1
remains inside the device, the stapling operation cannot be performed until the jammed staple is removed.
When a staple becomes jammed, the cartridge is detached from the stapler and the jammed staple
1
is removed. When the jammed staple
1
is removed, a finger is inserted under the jammed staple
1
to remove the jammed staple
1
from the sheet of staples (a).
If the jammed staple cannot be pulled away, the sheet of staples (a) has to be pulled out to an unjammed section. However, it is difficult to return the extended sheet of staples (a) to its original position. If the cartridge has a reverse motion stopping tab, then it is impossible to return the extended sheet of staples (a) to its original position.
Because the extended sheet of staples (a) cannot be returned to its original position, the extended portion has to be cut off. This results in a waste of staples.
When a jammed staple is removed from the sheet of staples (a), the unjammed staples are bent. Even slightly bent staples cannot be applied smoothly to stacks of paper. The result is even more jammed staples.
When a jammed staple is removed from the sheet of staples (a), the unjammed staples also become slightly separated. As a result of this slight separation, a blank may be fired during the stapling process.
Therefore, there remains a need for a stapler in which only jammed staples are consistently removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the present invention relates to a stapler having a housing unit for housing a sheet of staples, a cartridge forming a guide unit for supporting the sheet of staples drawn from the housing unit, and a main body for accommodating the cartridge. The main body of the device is equipped with a driver mechanism for detaching a staple from the sheet of staples and driving the detached staple through a stack of paper and a sheath bracket for guiding the driver mechanism in the direction of the driving motion. A stopper restricts the position of the end of the sheet of staples, and release holes are situated in a position corresponding to the end of the sheet of staples restricted by the stopper so the staple driven by the driver mechanism passes through in the driving direction.
In another embodiment, the stopper is situated on the tip of the guide unit for the cartridge, and the cartridge can be detached from the main body of the device.
In yet another embodiment, the stopper is situated on the sheath bracket of the main body of the device, an opening is formed in the sheath bracket, and the release holes are exposed by the opening.
In another embodiment, the stopper is situated on the driver mechanism of the main body of the device, an opening is formed in the sheath bracket used to guide the driver mechanism, a cover is formed to cover the opening, and the release holes are exposed when the cover is opened and closed.
In another embodiment the release holes are at least the size of a width of a single staple.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4570841 (1986-02-01), Olesen
patent: 4770334 (1988-09-01), Hoshi et al.
patent: 4913332 (1990-04-01), Olesen
patent: 4978045 (1990-12-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5076483 (1991-12-01), Olesen
patent: 5121868 (1992-06-01), Jairam
patent: 5230457 (1993-07-01), Hiroi et al.
patent: 5460314 (1995-10-01), Udagawa
patent: 5474222 (1995-12-01), Kanai et al.
patent: 5660314 (1997-08-01), Magnusson et al.
patent: 5791548 (1998-08-01), Udagawa et al.
patent: 6135337 (2000-10-01), Harris et al.
patent: 10-000578 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 2000-167782 (2000-06-01), None

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