GB2353559A

GB2353559A - Fastener for clamping together paper sheets

Info

Publication number: GB2353559A
Application number: GB0010350A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cornelius Omahoney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-07
Filing date: 2000-05-02
Publication date: 2001-02-28
Also published as: GB0010350D0

Abstract

A stack of paper sheets 1 is held together by a tag type of fastener comprising two members 5, 6 connected together by an elastic flexible element, the elastic element passing through a hole punched in the stacked of sheets and biassing the members 5 and 6 against opposite surfaces of the stack 1. The fastener is described together with device which punches a hole in the sheets 1, a pinion 3 driving a plunger 2 down through the sheets, this then picking up a fastener from a magazine 42 and, as it returns upwards, pulling the member 5 through the hole. A projection 30 is provided in the plunger 2 to eject the punched paper pieces.

Description

2353559

Background of Invention

This invention relates to a device for clamping and insertion of clamps for restraining two or more pieces of paper. Many such clamping devices exist, such as the paper clip, staple and various forms of clamping usually of a metallic form. The currently available paperclip consists of a piece of spring wire, which is double bent to form an outer loop and an inner loop. The spring effect of the torsion caused by separating the inner and outer loop grips the papers. The spring clip is only effective for holding a small range of sheets, is not secure as papers can become detached and the clip looses its effectiveness after repeated use. The staple presently in common use which is punched through the paper with a stapler is only effective for a limited range of sheets with one staple size. When it is required to remove staples this can prove difficult and may require a special extractor. When larger thicknesses of paper are required to be joined large heavy stapled are required which are extremely difficult to remove. After removal of the heavier staple the sheets tend to adhere to one another due to the piercing action of the staple leg. This causes a problem when automatic feeding to a copying machine of papers that have been pierced by a large staple. The metallic clamp, which clamps sheets from the outer edge, is large and cumbersome requires different clamps for different thicknesses. The production cost of the metallic clamp is also relatively high. Objects and Advantages. It is the objective of the invention to provide an improved paper clamping device to be used manually or by use of a device for insetting the improved paper clamping device, and another objective of the said invention is to provide an improved device for clamping sheets varying in quantity from two to any thickness encountered in normal office use. Another objective is to provide an improved device that enables the previously clamped papers to be easily opened and subsequently closed manually. It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved paper clamping and insertion device. Other and further objects of the subject invention will become apparent from reading the following description taken in conjunction with the claims. Drawings. Fig 1 sheet 1 shows a side view of the sUbi ect invention. Fig2 sheet 2 is a side section of FigI showing insertion device and clamping device as the punch engages on the clamping device. Fig 3 sheet 2shows an end section view of Fig l taken on centre of punch as it engages on the clamping device. Fig 4 sheet 3 shows side section view of insertion device after it has withdrawn clamping device through the punch hole and has raised the punched paper. Fig 5.sheet 4 shows side section of the upper clamping device leg after it has been released by the punch. Fig 6.sheet5 shows the paper clamped by upper and lower legs of clamping device. Fig 7. sheet 6 shows a front and section of the paper clamping device Fig 8 sheet 6 shows a view of the paper-clarnping device with elastic member extended. Fig 9 sheet 7 shows a section of clamping device magazine as the punch grasps one leg of the clamping device and separates this leg from adjacent clamping device. Fig 10 sheet 8 shows an enlarged view of the ejector device, which is housed in the punch of the insertion device.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

With reference to the drawings the detail of construction of the insertion device and clamping device will be noted. With reference to Fig 1. The insertion device is shown in side elevation. The device consists of an upper 19 support attached to a lower support 20 forming a U shaped gap into which the papers 1 to be joined are placed. The punch 2 is lowered by means of the handle 17, which slides in the shaft 20. Rotation of the shaft 20 results in the punch 2 descending vertically by means of the rack 9 and pinion 3 detailed in Sheet 2, Fig 2. The exterior as shown in Fig 1 also shows a housing 4 which houses the punch 2 and lockout control 18 which are explained subsequently. Referring to Fig 2 Sheet 2: which shows a side section of the insertion device: The plunger 2 punches the papers 1.The bore 21 of the punch houses an ejector spring device (enlarged view shown on fig 10 sheet 8) this ejects the punched pieces of paper 39and thus prevents these 39 papers blocking the subsequent entry of the leg 5 of the clamping device into the lower opening of the punch2. The ejector spring device 23 is housed in the bore of punch 2. Referring to Fig 10 Sheet 8 the ejector device consists of a shaft 26 which has a collar 27 which slides on the shaft 26 but is attached to the bore of the punch 2. A spring located at 24 and 25 abuts against collar 27 and pins 29 The projection 30 is attached to the shaft 26 which extends beyond the end of the punch 2Nhen the paper is punched the projection 30 is compressed and punch 2 passes through the paper 1. When the punch 2 passes through the paper 1 the spring 25 extends and ejects the punched paper pieces 39. Referring to Sheet 2 Fig 2:The punch now descends on leg 5 of the clamping device and projection 30 is compressed and friction caused by a slight taper on inside of punch 2 holds the leg 5 in position. The punch 2 is now extracted from the punched hole as it holds the leg 5. The paper 1 is now lifted by the punch 2 which is slightly tapered to increase diameter at an area 40 (fig 10 sheet 8) located above where punch enters the hole. At the same time the leg 6 is drawn through the punch hole 31 as the leg 6 is attached to leg 5 through the elastic member 14. Passage of the leg 5 is facilitated by the smooth surface of the conical entrance 7 to the punch hole 31. On reaching the upper support 19 the paper comes in contact with face 32 which is at a small angle to the horizontal as seen in rig 5 Sheet 4. Further upward movement of leg 5 causes elastic member 14 to extend. Further movement again causes the ejector pin 4 to contact the surface 33 of the ejector device 23 this in turn compresses spring 24 causing projection 30 to eject the leg 5 of clamping device. The upper leg 5 now rotates in the area 34 and assumes a horizontal position and clamps the paper 1 as shown in Fig 6 Sheet 5. The clamping device is shown in Fig 7 and Fig 8 Sheet 6.This consists of an upper leg 6 and lower leg 5 which has one end of each leg with a pointed end 35. The elastic portion is securely attached to upper end 37ofthelegs5and6. An elastic member 14 who is housedjoins the legs 5 and 6 in a cutaway portion 36. This cut away portion allows the elastic member 14 to expand to join a thicker bunch of papers. The clamping device can also be used manually where legs 5 or 6 are inserted into standard punched holes. In magazine form as shown in Fig 9 Sheet 7 the leg 5 is lightly glued to its ad acent leg 5 of the next j clamping device. As the punch 2 descends it breaks the glue 36 which attaches the clamping device to its adjacent member. When loaded in the insertion device the magazine 42 is loaded by a spring 8, which positions the next clamping device under the punch 2 for the next clamping operation. If a greater thickness of paper is required to be clamped the blade like member 38 Fig 3 Sheet 2is released by removing stop 38 and pressing knob 1 9 to separate the last clamping device from its adjacent glued member This prevents spring 8 from loading next clamping device under the punch 2. This allows an increased in the thickness of the paper to be punched. When the required thickness is reached the knob 19 is withdrawn and held in place by pivoting stopper 38. The magazine 42 is positioned for the next clamping device insertion 2 Claims

1.1 claim an improved paper clamping device and insertion device for retaining at least two individual sheets of paper comprising in combination a device for insertion of a clamping device consisting of an upper leg and a lower leg joined by a flexible elastic member and the insertion device which punches a hole and then grasps one leg of the clamping device and subsequently draws the grasped leg through the paper sheets while positioning the lower leg parallel to the lower sheet surface and then releasing the upper leg to hold the said sheets between the two legs which due to contraction of the elastic flexible member holds the sheets securely together. 2.A clamping device as claimed in claim I which has one leg of size that together with elastic member will fit through the hole punched by insertion device as claimed in claim 1. 3. A clamping device as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 where each leg of the retaining device has cut away portion of the leg to allow for extra extension of the flexible connecting member. 4.An insertion device as claimed in claim I that consists of a U shaped structure consisting of an upper and lower support that has on the upper support a punch operated by a lever which also has a slight increase in diameter. on the said punch upper portion which will hold the sheets and lift them after the punch has penetrated the paper to the required depth. 5.A punch operated by lever as claimed in claim 4 that has a hollow bore which fits on to one of the retaining device legs and also houses an ejector pin and ejector mechanism which releases the retaining device leg when punch reaches upper end of its travel. 6 A ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 5 housed in the punch at the penetrating end which by means of compressing a projection allows the paper to be punched and subsequently eject the punched waste and also allowing the clamping device leg to be gripped by the punch and subsequently be ejected in order to then clamp the paper between upper and lower legs. 7 An upper support of insertion device as claimed in claim I which houses a punch as claimed in claim 4or claim 5 which has a recessed portion which allows the upper leg of the clamping device to move in a horizontal direction after ejection. 8An upper support of insertion device as claimed in claim 6 which has its lower surface at an angle to the horizontal to ensure that upper leg of clamping device does not renter the punched paper hole. 9 A lower anvil support of insertion device as claimed in claim I which houses the punch hole has at its lower entry point a smooth conical surface to facilitate the passage of the clamping device lower leg.

4 1 I.A lower support area of insertion device as claimed in claim 1 which houses clamping devices aligned in sequential order and which are positioned by a springloaded member. 12 A lower support area of the insertion device as claimed in claim 1 or claimed in claim 9 which has a plunger that prevents the movement of the clarnping devices to ensure that clamping devices are not grasped by punch and to allow the inserting device to be used as a normal paper punch.

97 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

Claims

Claims

1.1 claim an improved paper clamp insertion device for retaining at least two individual sheets of paper that consists of a U shaped structure consisting of an upper and lower support hat has on the upper support a punch operated by a lever which also has a slight increase in diameter on the said punch upper portion which will hold the sheets and lift them after the punch has penetrated the paper to the required depth. The punch operated by lever has a hollow bore which fits on to one of the paper clairnp legs. Such paper clamps are held in a magazine fashion to facilitate automatic clamping. The punch also houses an ejector pinand ejector mechanism which releases the paper clamp leg when punch reaches upper end of its travel. I An upper support of insertion device as claimed in claim I which houses a punch which has a recessed portion which allows the upper leg of the paper clamp to move in a horizontal direction after emerging from the punch hole. 2An upper support of insertion device as claimed in claim I which has its lower surface at an angle to the horizontal to ensure that upper leg of paper clamp does not reenter the punched hole.

3 A lower anvil support of insertion device as claimed in claim I which houses the punch hole and has at its lower entry point a smooth conical surface to facilitate the exit of the paper clamp lower leg from the lower anvil.

4 A ejector mechanism as claimed in claim I housed in the punch at the penetrating end which by means of compressing a projection allows the paper to be punched and subsequently eject the punched waste and also allowing the paper clamp leg to be gripped by the punch and subsequently be ejected in order to then clamp the paper between upper and lower legs. 5 An ejector mechanism as claimed in claim I or claim 4 which releases the upper paper clamp leg when the paper clamp leg is ejected by an fixed rod contained within the punch 6.An area supporting the lower anvil as claimed in claim I which houses paper clamps aligned in sequential order and which are positioned under punch by a springloaded member.

7A lower support area of the insertion device as claimed in claim I which has a plunger that prevents the movement of the paper clamp magazine devices to ensure that paper clamps are not grasped by punch and to allow the inserting device to be used as a normal paper punch.

0/