GB2024084A - Large capacity stapler magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

A magazine 70 in which a plurality of sticks of staples 68 are stored. The magazine is associated with a stapler head 62 for advancing automatically successive sticks of staples to the receiving channel 66 of the stapler head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in staplers This invention relates to a magazine for storing sticks of staples for advancing same to a stapler. The invention also relates to stapling apparatus incorporating such magazines and reproducing machines incorporating such stapling apparatus.

Frequently, it is desirable to reproduce a set of original documents as a plurality of sets of copies. This may be achieved by employing a recirculating document handling system in association with the electrophotographic printing machine. The recirculating document handling system is positioned on the exposure platen of the printing machine and advances successive original documents thereto. After being copied, the original document is returned to the stack of original documents so that it may be reimaged for the next successive copying cycle. In this manner, collated sets of copies or booklets are formed. Each set of copies corresponds to the set of original documents. The copy sheets in each booklet are stapled to one another.In higher speed electrophotographic printing machines, it is highly desirable to utilize a stapling apparatus that possesses a storage compartment housing extra staples.

This minimizes the frequency of staple loading and reduces the machine maintenance. Heretofore, it was necessary to shut the machine down after the staples in the stapling apparatus were depleted. However, with the utilization of a magazine storing an extra supply of staples, the down time in the printing machine is significantly reduced. Moreover, it is desirable to automatically advance successive sticks of staples into the stapler head. In this way, the stapling apparatus requires little or no maintenance and is no longer a major factor in machine down time.

It has been proposed in U.S. Patent 3,330,462 to provide in a fastener driving apparatus, a magazine 32 holding a helical coil of fasteners. The fasteners are advanced into a delivery passage 38 so that a pneumatically actuated drive mechanism drives successive lead fasteners into the work piece.

According to the present invention, there is provided a magazine for storing a plurality of sticks of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel of a stapler, including a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples, means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head, and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler into the receiving channel of the stapler.

The invention also provides in combination with such a magazine, apparatus for driving a staple through a stack of sheets including a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel through stacks of sheets.

Further, the invention provides a reproducing machine for producing stapled piles of copies from documents advanced from a supply source to an exposure platen and returned to the supply source in repeated cycles with the copies being stapled in sets corresponding to the documents being copied by the stapling apparatus described above.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of an electrophotographic printing machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stapling apparatus employed in the Fig. 1 printing machine; Figure 3 is an elevational view depicting the staple storage magazine used in the Fig. 2 stapling apparatus; and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a stapler head employed in the Fig. 2 stapling apparatus.

In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the various components of an electrophotographic printing machine having a stapling apparatus with the staple storage magazine of the present invention therein. Although the staple storage magazine is particularly well adapted for use in the stapling apparatus of an electrophotographic printing machine, it will be evident from the following discussion that it is equally well suited for use in a wide variety of staplers and is not necessarily limited in its application to the particular embodiment shown herein.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the electrophotographic printing machine employs a belt 10 having a photoconductive surface deposited on a conductive substrate. Preferably, the photoconductive surface is made from a selenium alloy with the conductive substrate being made from aluminium. Belt 10 moves in the direction of arrow 1 2 to advance through the various processing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof. Rollers 14, 16, and 18, support belt 10 movably. A drive mechanism, i.e. a suitable motor, is coupled to roller 14 which advances belt 10 in the direction of arrow 1 2.

The imaging cycle is initiated when a portion of the photoconductive surface of belt 10 passing through charging station A is charged to a relatively high substantially uniform level.

Preferably, charging station A includes a corona generating device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, for charging the photoconductive surface of belt 1 0. A suitable corona generating device is described in U.S.

Patent No. 2,836,725.

As belt 10 continues to advance, the charged portion of the photoconductive surface passes through exposure station B. At exposure station B, successive original documents 22 are illuminated and the light rays reflected therefrom transmitted onto the charged photoconductive surface. In this manner, the charge is selectively dissipated to record an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface of belt 10. Preferably, a recirculating document handling system 24 presents successive original documents to exposure platen 26. As is shown in Fig. 1, the recirculating document handling system 24 is positioned above exposure platen 26 and advances each original document thereto and returns the original document to the stack thereof after it has been exposed. A suitable recirculating document handling system is described in British Patent No. 1,492,466.

Original document 22 is positioned face down upon platen 26 and a lamp flashes light rays thereupon. The light rays reflected from original document 22 are transmitted through the optics of the exposure system forming a light image containing the informational areas of the original document therein. The optics, e.g. a suitable lens and mirrors, project the light image onto the charged portion of the photoconductive surface. As previously indicated, the charged portion of the photoconductive surface is discharged selectively by the light image of the original document to record an electrostatic latent image thereon.

The electrostatic latent image corresponds to the informational areas contained within the original document being reproduced.

Thereafter, as belt 10 continues to advance, the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon moves through development station C. At development station C, a developer unit having a plurality of magnetic brush developer units 30, 32, 34, and 36, advance the developer mix into contact with the electrostatic latent image. These developer rollers are disposed in housing 38. Each developer roller is a magnetic brush developer roller forming a chain-like array of developer mix extending in an outwardly direction. The developer mix on each developer roller contacts the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface of belt 1 0. The electrostatic latent image attracts the toner particles from the carrier granules of the developer mix forming a toner powder image on belt 10.

The toner powder image recorded on the photoconductive surface, is advanced by belt 10 to transfer station D. Transfer station D is located at a tangency point on belt 10 as it moves around roller 14. A transfer roller 40 is disposed at transfer station D with a copy sheet being interposed between roller 40 and belt 1 0. Transfer roller 40 is electrically biased to a suitable magnitude and polarity so as to attract the toner powder image from belt 10 to the surface of the copy sheet in contact therewith. After transferring the toner powder image to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E.

Prior to proceeding with the remaining processing stations disposed about the path of movement of belt 10, sheet feeding apparatus 46 will be briefly described. The sheet feeding apparatus advances successive copy sheets from stack 48, or, in lieu thereof, stack 50.

The machine programming enables the operator to select the desired stack from which the copy sheet will be advanced. Thus, the selected copy sheet is advanced to transfer station D where the toner powder image adhering to the photoconductive surface of belt 10 is transferred thereto.

After the toner powder image has been transferred to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E. Fixing station E includes a fuser assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 52. Fuser assembly 52 comprises a heated fuser roller and a backup roller. The copy sheet having the toner powder image thereon, passes between the fuser roller and the back-up roller with the toner powder image contacting the fuser roller. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to the copy sheet. After fusing, conveyors 54 and 56 advance the copy sheet to finishing station F.

Finishing station F includes an output tray 58 and a stapling apparatus 60. The stapling apparatus comprises one or two staplers each of which is manually adjustable to discrete positions corresponding to the paper sizes which may be employed in the printing machine. Either stapler or both staplers may be selected for stapling. Inasmuch as.both staplers are identical to one another, only one stapler will be described hereinafter. The detailed structure of the stapling apparatus and the magazine associated therewith for storing a plurality of sticks of staples will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 2 through 4, inclusive. It should be noted that finishing staton F is merely depicted schematically and may be deemed to be exemplary of a finishing station comprising a plurality of trays rather than a single tray as depicted herein. After all of the original documents have been reproduced, the stack of copy sheets in tray 58 are stapled to one another by stapling apparatus 60. Thereafter, the machine operator removes the finished booklet of copy sheets.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown the detailed structure of stapling apparatus 60. As shown therein, stapling apparatus 60 includes a stapler head 62. Preferably, stapler head 62 is a modified stapler head which corresponds to Model No. 62E manufactured by the Bostich Corporation. Stapler head 62 includes a housing 64 having a receiving channel 66 for receiving a stick of staples 68 from magazine 70. During operation, a damper 72 moves in the direction of arrow 74 to secure the set of copy sheets being stapled to one another.

After the stack of copy sheets has been clamped between damper 72 and housing 64, ram 76 of stapler 62 is actuated to drive a staple through the stack of copy sheets.

Both damper 72 and ram 76 are actuated by a pneumatic system. Preferably, the pneumatic system comprises a cylinder 78 having a plunger associated with damper 72. Pressurized air flows into cylinder 78 causing the plunger to extend and move damper 72 into contact with the set of copy sheets. Thereafter, pressurized air flows into cylinder 80 causing the plunger associated therewith to actuate ram 76 driving a staple through the clamped set of copy sheets. Clamper 72 may have a clinching recess in the surface thereof opposed from the staple legs. Thus, the portion of the staple legs extending through the stack of copy sheets are folded back into contact with the set of copy sheets as the staple is driven therethrough.This results in the formation of a booklet of copy sheets corresponding to the set of original documents being reproduced.

Magazine 70 is mounted fixedly on stapler head 62. Magazine 70 includes a cylindrical member 82 mounted rotatably therein. Cylindrical member 82 comprises a plurality of Ushaped channels 84. Preferably, there are fifteen channels disposed about the circumferential surface of cylindrical member 82. Each channel is capable of supporting slidably a stapled stick having 2,355 staples therein. A pusher 86, mounted slidably in channel 84, is resiliently urged into engagement with the stick of staples 68 so as to move them from channel 84 in magazine 70 to receiving channel 66 of stapler head 62. One end portion of a torsion spring is connected to pusher 86.

The other end portion of the torsion spring is connected to a gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 winds the torsion spring to move pusher 86 toward stapler head 62 so as to move the stick of staples 68 into receiving channel 66.

After the stick of staples 68 has been moved into receiving channel 66, pusher 86 is retracted. Retraction of pusher 86 is achieved by reversing the direction of rotation of gear motor 88.

As shown in Fig. 2, magazine 70 comprises a cylinder 82 having a plurality of channels disposed thereabout and arranged in a turretlike configuration. Each channel 84 supports a stick of staples 68 therein. After one stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 of housing 64, motor 90 indexes cylinder 82 so that the next successive channel having a stick of staples therein is aligned with receiving channel 66 of housing 64. In this manner, the next successive stick of staples is positioned to be advanced into receiving channel 60 of housing 64 when the quantity of staples in the prior stick is beneath a predetermined level. Motor 90 is coupled via linkage 92 to cylinder 82 so as to periodically rotate cylinder 82 an angular distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent channels therein.A detent (not shown) is employed as a vernier alignment gage to insure that the channel in the magazine and receiving channel are aligned with one another.

Turning now to Fig. 3, there is shown an alternate arrangement for actuating pusher 86 to advance the stick of staples from channel 84 in cylindrical member 82 to receiving channel 66 of housing 64. As depicted thereat, indexing motor 80 rotates cam 94 and pawl 96. Rotation of pawl 96 causes cylinder 80 to advance a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent channels 84 so that the next successive stick of staples in channel 84 is in alignment with receiving channel 66 of stapler head 62. As cam 94 rotates, arm 98 causes retracting lever 100 to move pusher 86 in a rearwardly direction away from receiving channel 66. In operation, after pusher 86 has advanced the stick of staples 68 into receiving channel 66, it moves, at least partially, into receiving channel 66 so that the stick of staples has cleared the interface between receiving channel 66 and channel 84.Thus, prior to indexing cylindrical member 80, it is necessary to retract the pusher from receiving channel 66. This is achieved by pivoting lever 100 which, in turn, is connected to pusher 86, so as to move pusher 86 rearwardly away from receiving channel 66. In order to load each channel 84 with a stick of staples 68, the machine operator moves the pusher rearwardly. This provides sufficient space within the channel to place the stick of staples therein. A spring (not shown) is compressed by the rearward movement of pusher 86. When the operator has moved pusher 86 sufficiently far, a pivotable detent moves upwardly through a slot in channel 84 to prevent the forward movement of pusher 86. At this time, the pusher assembly is live and, upon retraction of the detent, will advance the stick of staples from the respective channel to the receiving channel in the stapler head housing.As indexing motor 90 rotates cam 94 and pawl 96, pawl 96 moves cylindrical member 80 to align the next successive channel therein with receiving channel 66 of stapler housing 64. After the respective channel 84 is aligned with receiving channel 66, pawl 96 retracts the detent in the slot in channel 84 permitting the spring to drive the pusher forward advancing the stick of staples into receiving channel 66.

An alternative embodiment for urging each stick of staples 68 from its respective channel 84 comprises an endless belt entrained about a pair of spaced rollers. Pusher 86 is secured to the endless belt. As the belt moves, the pusher moves in a recirculating path. In one direction, the pusher advances the staple stick to the receiving channel in the stapler head.

As the belt continues to move, the pusher returns to its initial position so as to advance the next successive stick of staples into the stapler head receiving channel. A motor is provided for rotating the drive roller which advances the endless belt. Thus, movement of the pusher in a recirculating path on a belt advances successive sticks of staples into the receiving channel of the stapler head.

Indexing motor 90 is actuated by a staple sensing mechanism located in stapler head 62. The detailed operation of stapler head 62 and the sensing mechanism associated therewith for determining the quantity of staples remaining in receiving channel 66 will be described hereinafter with reference to Fig.

4.

Turning now to Fig. 4, a stick of staples 68 is positioned in receiving channel 66 of housing 64. cam 76 shears a staple from stick 68 and drives it through a set of copy sheets.

After the quantity of staples in stick 68 has been depleted to a pre-determined number, the next successive stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 from magazine 70. A staple detecting system determines the quantity of staples remaining within receiving channel 66. The staple detecting system 102 comprises a light source 104 directing light rays through aperture 106 in housing 64. The light rays are transmitted in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of receiving channel 66 so as to be sensed by photodiode 108. When a stick of staples 68 blocks aperture 106, the output from the photodiode 108 is beneath a predetermined level. Contrawise, when the staples have been depleted sufficiently so as to advance stick 68 beyond aperture 106, photodiode 108 develops an electrical signal above the pre-determined level.The electrical output signal from photodiode 108 is processed by logic circuitry 11 0. Preferably, logic circuitry 110 includes a suitable discriminator circuit for comparing a reference with the electrical output signal from photodiode 108.

The discriminator circuit may utilize a silicon control switch which turns on and effectively locks in after an electrical output signal having a magnitude greater than the reference level is obtained. The signal from the discriminator circuit transmits a control signal to indexing motor 90 and to gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 is activated to rotate a torsion spring causing the pusher to advance the next stick of staples from the channel within the magazine to receiving channel 66. After the stick of staples has been advanced into receiving channel 66, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member 88 to align the next successive channel having staples therein with receiving channel 66.

By way of example, light source 104 is, preferably, a tungsten filiment lamp operating from a five volt source. Photodiode 108 is a commercially available silicon phototransistor such as is produced by the General Electric Company, Model No. L14D.

It should be noted that after motor 90 indexes the next successive stick of staples into alignment with channel 66 of housing 64, a reset signal is generated resetting the silicon control switch of the discriminator circuit of logic circuitry 110. This permits a new electrical output signal to be generated when the number of staples remaining in channel 66 of housing 64 is beneath a pre-determined level. As previously indicated, this signal actuates gear motor 88 for advancing the next successive stick of staples into receiving channel 66. Thereafter, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member so that the next stick of staples is aligned with receiving channel 66. Thus, successive sticks of staple may be advanced into the stapler head. This decreases the down time for the stapling apparatus and increases the time between operator calls.

In recapitulation, it is apparent that the electrophotographic printing machine described herein employs a finishing station having a stapling apparatus which includes a magazine storing a plurality of staple sticks therein. The magazine automatically advances successive staple sticks into the stapler head when the supply of staples therein is depleted beneath a pre-determined level.

Claims (10)

1. A magazine for storing a plurality of sticks of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel of a stapler, including a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples, means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head, and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler into the receiving channel of the stapler.

2. A magazine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said housing includes a frame, and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rotatably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving chan nel of said stapler head.

3. A magazine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said indexing means includes a motor coupled to said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member an angular distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent channels in said cylindrical member.

4. A magazine as claimed in Claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said moving means includes a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member, and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said stapler head.

5 A magazine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member, and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of the stapler head and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted position.

6. A magazine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes an endless belt having said member secured thereto, and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in the stapler head.

7. A magazine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member, and means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in the stapler head so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in the stapler head.

8. An apparatus for driving a staple through a stack of sheets, including a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples, and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel through stacks of sheets, in combination with a magazine according to any preceding claim.

9. Stapling apparatus constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A reproducing machine for producing stapled piles of copies from documents advanced from a supply source to an exposure platen and returned to the supply source in repeated cycles with the copies being stapled in sets corresponding to the documents being copied by stapling apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9.