JP2003501281A - Staplers for forming staples of various sizes - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A staple former mechanism having at least a first and a second shape, wherein (a) a staple (136) is engageable with a crown portion, and a first shape of the first staple (136). Plate assembly (110) having a top bend surface having a surface width of at least a second surface width greater than the first surface width of the second shape; and (b) adjacent to the top bend surface. A first former width of a first shape and a second width greater than the first former width of the second shape, the first former width being engagable with the staple leg portion (138). At least two functionally working side portions (72) separated by a former space having a former width of two and the functionally working side portions (72) and the folding plate (110) are functionally separated. Combined and Moveable to the forming position, wherein the folding plate (110) is adapted to bend when the functionally acting side portion (72) bends the staple legs along the folding plate to a first or second configuration. A former mechanism arranged in a former space to generate a first or second crown width of a staple corresponding to a first or second width. In addition to the staple including the staple former mechanism described above, a stapler for stapling staples having different crown sizes is also included.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Standard size staples have been used to staple staple stacks of paper or other objects with a range of stack thicknesses. Generally, stapling thick stacks requires staples with longer legs than those that can be stapled with shorter staples. For example, standard staple sizes are formed to bind stacks in the range of, for example, 2 to 30 sheets, or 30 to 70 sheets.

US Pat. No. 4,318,555 teaches a stapler that cuts and forms staples from a continuously fed wire. The height of the stack to be stapled is detected and the length of wire is cut accordingly. Then, the cut blanks are formed into staples and then driven into sheets to be stapled. Since different wire lengths are selected, the staples are formed with legs of varying lengths and crown portions of constant length.

US Pat. No. 4,583,276, US Pat. No. 5,007,483 show a stapler using a cartridge containing a strip of a linear staple flat blank. The strip is fed to a stapler, which folds each blank into a single dimension. Then, the driving machine drives the formed staple toward the anvil provided with the clinch groove or the clinch wing, and folds the leg of the staple with respect to the stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a length of staple blank to selectively have a relatively small or large crown dimension, and preferably a corresponding relatively large or small leg length. The present invention relates to a stapler capable of forming a staple blank having a height. Thus, by varying the shape of the staples produced, a single staple blank source can be used to staple a wide range of stack sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a stapler 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention may be secured to a housing or mounted within another device, such as a copier. It has a base frame 12 which can be. The base frame 12 is a side part 1
No. 4, and may be constructed as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,076,483, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Axis 16 is side part 1
4 and is preferably retained by a round clinch washer located in the mounting recess of shaft 16. The base frame 12 also supports a rotatable folding member actuator 18. Bending actuator 18
Includes a kick plate 20 and an upright side piece 22 with a cam lobe 24 that engages an outer cam pin 26 supported by a cam 28, as will be described later, for actuating the folding member 18 of the actuator unit 18. Causes partial rotation of the upper and lower parts of the.

Further, the driving control unit 3 mounted so as to be rotatable around the shaft 16.
The 0 includes two side frame parts 32 and a top part 34. The preferred stapler 10 also has a staple head pivotably mounted about an axis 16 which covers the driving and forming mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 2, the head 36 has two spaced sides 38. The drive control unit 30 is preferably driven up and down by a dumbbell arm eccentric 40 which is rotated by a bull gear 42.

The top part 34 supports a motor 44, a spur gear 46, and a bull gear 42. The dumbbell unit 40 preferably rotates about a shaft 48 with a disk 50 and is integrally formed with a cross tube 52. One disc 50 is preferably interlocked with the bull gear 42 via a locking component 54. The cam 28 and the other disc 50 rotate together about the shaft 48. Arm 5
4 has an eyelet opening 56 surrounding the disc 50. U.S. Pat.No. 5,413,266
No. 6,058,037 discloses another actuating mechanism in which a staple mechanism is driven by a pin engaged in a follower slot, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other operating mechanisms include independent motors and other mechanisms as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge 56 is loaded into the stapler 10. The cartridge 56 preferably has a strip-shaped staple blank 58 in a rolled state. Other embodiments may use short stacked strips of staple blanks, as known in the art, or other feeding mechanisms that feed the staple blanks to the former / drive mechanism. To staple the stack, as shown in FIG. 5, when the trip switch 60 is pressed by a stack of paper or other material 62, the loader 44 turns the spur gear 46, the spur gear 46 turns the bull gear 42, The dumbbell unit 40 rotates around the shaft 48. When the dumbbell unit 40 rotates, the eccentric plastic disc 50
Rotates, and the driving control unit 40 swings downward around the shaft 16. Also, when the drive control unit 30 moves downward, the head 46 is rotated downward toward the stack 62, and the top part 34 pushes the drive actuator 64.

The stapler has a former assembly 65 and a drive assembly 66 that together form a former / drive assembly or mechanism. Referring to FIG. 6, the former assembly preferably includes at least a small former portion 58 and a large former portion 70. The large former portion 70 has two side portions 72 and a base 74 connecting the side portions 72. 6,
As shown in FIG. 7, the small former portion is located opposite the base 74 and between the side portions 72. As shown in FIG. 8, the connection plate 76 is disposed on the side portion 72 and the small former portion 68, and the connection plate 76 has the screw holes 7.
It is bolted to the side portion 72 through 8. The connecting plate 76 and the base 74 of the large former portion 70 connect the large and small former portions 70, 68 and move them together in a substantially vertical direction. However, the small former portion 58 is slidably associated with the large former portion 70 so that it can slide back and forth. In this specification, vertical, horizontal, front-back direction, etc. are referred to for convenience, and may be arranged at different positions in other embodiments.

The small former 68 extends vertically through and extends into the large former portion 7.
It has a long hole 80 extending to a circular hole 82 of the base 74 of 0. The slot 80 receives a shape selector shaft 84 extending therethrough and also extending through the bore 82 and the hole in the connecting plate 76 aligned therewith. At the upper end of this control shaft is a flattened surface 86 that engages in a gear 88, which is driven by a belt 90 which is driven by a stepper motor 92.

The small former portion 68 includes two small side portions 92 separated by a recess 96. Below the side portion 92 is a blank limiting notch 98 that prevents the strip-shaped staple blank 58 from moving past the forming and driving positions as it engages the former. . Similarly, the larger former portion 70 has a blank limiting notch 100 that appears below the side portion 72 to position the front of the staple blank 58 in the proper position for forming and driving. The guide shaft 102 extends through the bore 104, the large former portion 70, and the aligned bore of the connecting plate 76.
These shafts 102 are fixed at both their upper and lower ends to guide the vertical movement of the former assembly. The side portions 72 of the large former portion 70 are separated by a space 106 which is substantially equal to the width of the small former portion 68.

The former, driving assembly is shown in a shape that allows for the molding and driving of staples with large crown dimensions and short legs. In this shape,
The eccentric portion 108 of the shaft 84 positions the small former portion 68 posteriorly to expose the space 106 between the large side portions 72.

The folding plate assembly 110 is preferably constructed as a single piece, but may include other moving parts. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the folding plate 110 preferably includes a small folding portion 114 and a large folding portion 11.
And 6 which are longitudinally adjacent to each other. Folding plate 110
The leading edge of is elastically biased against the small front portion 68. The width 19 of the large plate 116 is smaller than the space 106 by a linear amount sufficient to provide a staple leg clearance space 120 between the lateral edges of the large folded portion 116 and the large side portion 72. In this configuration, the advancing staple blank 58 is stopped for forward movement at the blank limiting notch 100 of the large side portion 72. A forward supply spring and mechanism 122 and an anti-retraction member 124 are preferably provided, which function in a manner that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A suitable mechanism is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,583,276, which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, other advanced mechanisms are suitable, such as drive motors for driving the band directly or other members associated with the band.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 8 and 10, the drive assembly 126 preferably includes a small drive blade 128 and a large drive blade 130. A small hammer blade 128 is received within the small former section recess 96,
Also, they have substantially the same width 94. The large driving blade 130 preferably contacts the small driving blade 128 and is located opposite the front surface of the small former portion 68 facing the folding plate assembly 110. Thus, both driving blades preferably move longitudinally with the small former portion 68. Each driving blade 128, 130 has a driving surface 13
2,134. With a large crown shape, a large driving blade 130
Drive surface 134 is positioned above the functional top bending surface of folding plate 110, which is the top surface of large fold 116, when aligned over the advancing staple blank. Is. Also, in this configuration, the functionally acting former side portions are the side portions 72 of the large former portion 70, which are also aligned over the advancing staple blank 58. Thus, the functionally active side portions are laterally adjacent to and located on opposite sides of the functionally active top bending surface. Small side part 92
And the small folds 114 are located out of the plane that passes through the functionally acting surface and the advancing staple blank 58.

Referring to FIG. 11, the blank limiting notches 98, 100 preferably extend further in the vertical direction than the diameter of the staple blank 58, and more preferably in the vertical direction beyond the blank 58. It should extend between half and the diameter. Generally, the cross section of a staple blank is an ellipse with a major axis of 0.022 inches and a minor axis of 0.018 inches. The most preferred additional vertical space for the blank confinement is 0.01 to 0.015 inches. The large bent portion 116 is
The blank 58 is shown in engagement with the crown portion 136, and the functionally acting side portion is shown in engagement with the as yet unbent leg portion 138 of the blank 58. When the former assembly is moved down with respect to the folding plate 110, the functionally acting side portions bend the legs downward around the sides of the functionally acting large end portion 116. The small fold plate is preferably out of the plane of the staple blank 58 and does not bend the bracket 58. The front crown width is less than or equal to the space 106 and greater than or equal to the width 118. The shaped legs of staple 58 are located within the clearance or space 120.

The large former portion 70 is aligned with the ramp 13 of the cam portion 141 so that it can be moved along a path that engages the cam portion 143 of the folding plate 110.
Preferably 9 is included. Once the former assembly has passed the vertical point during its movement, the legs of the staple blank 58 have been formed, and the cam portion 141 of the former assembly has displaced the folding plate 110 out of the drive path of the drive assembly. The formed staples are then driven into the stack 68. Alternatively, the cam portion may be located on another element that moves with the former / striking assembly, or the folding plate may simply be independent, for example by another motor, solenoid or other means. May be moved.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the small driving blade is attached to the connecting plate 76.
A leg 140 drivingly engaged to the apex of the. Driving actuator 6
4, has a flat plunger portion 42, which is preferably fixed to the top of a small driving blade, as seen in FIG.
In the large crown shape, the plunger 142 is also aligned with the large driving blade 130. Thus, the drive control unit 30 is moved downwards with respect to the drive actuator 64 and the plunger 142 urges both drive blades 128, 130 downward. The legs 140 bias the former assembly downwards, causing the former assembly to bend the staple legs 58, as described. The drive actuator 64, blades 128, 130, and former assembly move the small blades in the direction toward the blank cartridge 56 by the ramp 142 when moved vertically into position with sufficient height to already form the legs of the staples. The 128 legs 140 are cammed back. Lamp 142
Is preferably secured to the housing beyond the former assembly, releasing the former assembly and allowing the drive assembly to continue to separate and move downward from the former assembly, as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 5, the shaped staple 58 separates from the ends of the staple and is driven through the stack 62. When the bull gear 42 continues to rotate and the driving actuator 64 is raised,
Fixed to the driving assembly, preferably the connecting plate 76, the small blade 12
A button 44 received in the eight slot 146 contacts the edge of the slot 146 and raises the former assembly back to the starting position.

A second staple binding configuration, corresponding to a small crown size and large staple legs, is selectable by operating a stepper motor to rotate the control shaft 84, preferably about 180 degrees. As shown in FIG. 16, the eccentric portion 108 displaces the small former portion 68 toward the fold plate 110, displacing the fold plate 110. The front ends of both former portions 68, 70 are preferably flush. The blank restraining notches 98, 100 are aligned so that the leading staple blank 58 is located within the notch and opposite both the large and small former portions 68, 70. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the functionally operating top surface of the folding plate 110 is a small folding portion 114, and the functionally operating side portion is a small side portion 92. As the former moves down with respect to the fold plate 110, the small side portion 92 engages and bends the leg portion 138 of the staple blank 58 between the fold plate 110 and the side portion 92. As can be seen from the drawing, when the staple has this shape, the crown width is small and the leg length is long. This shape is
The stapler is more suitable for stapling tall stacks 68 as compared to the stacks most suitable for large crown configurations.

With reference to FIG. 19, the large driving blade located above the second leading staple blank 58 is no longer aligned with the plunger 42. Thus,
When the plunger 42 biases the small striking blade 128 toward the staple blank 58, the plunger 142 bypasses the large striking blade 130 and preferably remains stationary during the stapler forming and drive strokes.
FIG. 19 also shows the spring 146, which may be used to raise the forming assembly to a starting position relative to the stopper 148 in 136 after the forming stroke is over.

Preferably, the stapler includes a thickness sensor located near the staple binding zone 150 to determine stack height, as is known in the art. For example, if it detects that the stack height is below a predetermined height, eg, below 50 pages, then an electronic or electrical circuit preferably operates a stepper motor to rotate the control shaft to form a large crown-shaped stapler. . If the sensor detects more than a predetermined stack height, the stepper motor preferably positions the control shaft to form small crown-shaped staples. U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,672 shows an example of stack height in an electronic control unit. In other embodiments, the shaft 84 with or without electronics is used.
May be rotatable manually or pre chonically, may be positionable to select stack height, and other mechanisms for changing the stapler may be used. For example, the former and the hammer may be moved together or independently by a solenoid or another motor, or by other actuating mechanisms for properly forming the stapler, including manual adjustments made by an operator. May be. Additionally, two former portions may be used to form the staple into two or more predetermined shapes. Similarly, in other embodiments, the plunger 142 is associated with another cam of the control shaft 84 to amplify its longitudinal movement.

Another embodiment of the former / driving mechanism is shown in FIG. Also, this embodiment is designed to form staples in one of two crown dimensions. The stapler includes central and side blades 152, 154 and an outer blade 15
Including 6.

The folding plate assembly includes a small width, preferably fixed portion 158, and a large width portion 160. Preferably, the large portion 160 is longitudinally slidable with respect to the small portion 158, but the small portion 158 and the large portion 160 are fixed together, similar to the folding plate 110 in the first preferred embodiment. May be.

The arrangement of the plates 152, 154, 156 in a small crown shape, as well as the position of the plates 158, 160, is shown in solid lines. In this configuration, the former assembly includes plates 156, 154 that move forward with respect to the functionally acting portion of the folding plate, and a small portion 158 where staple blanks (not shown) are present. Staple legs with blade 154 and small folds 152
A bent blank is formed between the blade 152 and the blade 152, which acts as a driver, on the formed staple as the folding plate moves longitudinally out of the path of the driver 152. Acts to drive the staples and penetrate the stack. In this configuration, the drive assembly has blades 152.

The preferred starting position of the blade in the large crown configuration is shown in dashed lines in FIG.
This large down bend 160 is located below the blade in this configuration, and the drive assembly has blades 152, 154 that begin to lift with respect to the outer blade 156. The former assembly in this configuration only has a blade 156 which descends laterally adjacent the large fold 160,
The leg is bent at another location along the folding plate to form a finished staple with large crown dimensions. The individual blades may be moved separately by, for example, solenoids, linkages, motors with meet screws, or other suitable mechanism, the same is true for the end plate assembly. Also, the illustrated blades may be made in other shapes, not necessarily flat, and the additional blades of a pair of blades to form additional crown sized staples. May be included. With reference to FIG. 21, a preferred folding mechanism includes a folding member 152 with a folding surface 164. The fold surface 164 is preferably arranged at an angle to the vertical and faces the staple binding zone. The fold member 162 is preferably movable along a fold path that intersects with the location where the staple legs 138 pass through the stack to be stapled together, regardless of the crown size. Folding surfaces 164 are laterally spaced apart by at least the maximum crown width of the staples used by this stapler.

The folding member is preferably mounted within a housing 166 that includes a passageway configured to orient the folding member 162 along the folding passageway. Most preferably, the folding member 162 includes a guided portion 168 guided by the housing 166 and received therein. The preferred folding path is linear as shown in Figure 21, although other paths can be used. Preferably, the fold passage is such that fold surface 164 initially contacts the leg at substantially the same contact angle, regardless of one or the separation of the legs of the staple, or any crown dimension that the stapler can use with that stapler. , Which are selected to contact at a preferred range of angles.

In this embodiment, the folding member 162 is activated when the cam pin 26 cam-engages and moves the cam lobe 24, which in turn moves the pickup plate 20 downward. As the plate 20 engages the table link 170, which preferably interlocks with the frame 12, the link 170 will fold over the folding members 162.
Rotated with respect to each other to move the folding member 162 along the folding path to fold the bottom portion of the stapler leg that projects into the anvil region 172 below the stack. Any other means of activating the folding member, such as a solenoid, or any component of the stapler can be activated by the control electronics or electrical circuitry.
In addition, the folding member may be connected to the link 170, and the link 70 pulls back the link 170 when the kick plate 20 returns upward, and further the folding member 1
Pull 62 back to its starting point to accept the next leg of the staple to be stapled. In this embodiment, the fold member 162 is rotatable in the fold direction along the fold path toward the staple leg, or the leg is bent in a generally right fold direction.

In the embodiment of the folding mechanism shown in FIGS. 22-24, the folding member includes a folding ring 172 activated by the kick plate 20. The folding wings are preferably attached to a portion of the stapler, for example, a pivot 174 slidably inserted in a slot 176 in the frame 12.

In the figure, the folding wings 172 are positioned such that the pivots 174 and corresponding pivot points extend axially therethrough and are spaced apart by a wide spacing 178. Thus, a staple leg having a large crown 136 can contact the fold wing at the most effective initial contact angle selected as the fold wing pivots relative to the leg 138. In FIG. 23, the pivots 174 are moved toward each other so as to be separated from each other by a distance 180 smaller than the distance 178, and are substantially the same as those in FIG. Initial contact with longer and narrower legs 138 of crown-sized staples.

With reference to FIG. 24, a pivot control member 182 is preferably provided, which is vertically moveable to position the pivot 174 within the slot 176. In this embodiment, the fold path is generally arcuate with respect to the stapling area and the expected staple leg 138, so the path is moveable by moving the pivot point.

Many variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. All of these variations are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a stapler constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[Fig. 2]   It is a partial top view of the same Example.

[Figure 3]   FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a part of the operation mechanism of the stapler.

[Figure 4]   FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a stapler former / drive assembly.

[Figure 5]   FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a stapler former / drive assembly.

[Figure 6]   It is an exploded view of each part of the stapler former.

[Figure 7]   It is a perspective sectional view of a former and a bending assembly.

[Figure 8]   FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the former / driving assembly.

[Figure 9]   FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the former and bending assembly.

[Figure 10]   FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional top view of a part of the former and bending assembly having a different shape from FIG. 9.

FIG. 11   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the forming process when the crown portion has a large shape.

[Fig. 12]   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the forming process when the crown portion has a large shape.

[Fig. 13]   FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of a stapler former / drive assembly.

FIG. 14   It is an elevation view of the same part.

FIG. 15   It is a side view after a formation process is completed.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the former and bending assembly when the crown portion has a small shape.

FIG. 17   FIG. 6 is a sub-sectional view of the forming process when the crown portion has a small shape.

FIG. 18   FIG. 9 is a sub-sectional view of the forming process when the crown portion has a small shape.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the former / driving assembly with a small crown portion shape.

FIG. 20   FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a former / driving assembly.

FIG. 21 is a front sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a clinch mechanism for a stapler constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a partial front view of another example of the clinch mechanism when the crown portion has a large shape.

FIG. 23 is a partial front view of another example of the clinch mechanism when the crown portion has a small shape.

FIG. 24   It is a partial front view of a rotation positioning mechanism.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── [Continued summary] The former mechanism. The staple former described above With staples containing features, different crown size staples Includes stapler for stapling staples Be done.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A staple former mechanism having at least first and second shapes, comprising: (a) engageable with a crown portion of a staple; and (i) a first shape of the first shape. A folding plate assembly having a top bending surface having a surface width and (ii) a second surface width greater than the first surface width of the second shape; and (b) beside the top bending surface. Adjacent to each other on both sides and engageable with the leg portion of the staple; (i) a first former width of the first shape; and (ii) the first shape of the second shape. At least two functionally active side portions spaced apart in the former space having a second former width that is greater than the former width, and the functionally active side portion and the folding plate cooperate. Working and ,
Movable to a forming position, the fold plate is configured such that the functionally acting side portion bends the leg of the staple along the fold plate,
Alternatively, the former mechanism is arranged in the former space so as to generate a first or second crown width of the staple corresponding to the first or second width of the second shape. 2. The former assembly includes: (a) a first former portion including at least one first side portion; and (b) a second former portion including at least one second side portion. Wherein said first and second former portions are selectively abutted laterally of a bending surface opposite said one of said functionally acting side portions in said first and second shapes, respectively. The former mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it is possible to define the other of said functionally acting side parts by locating said side part. 3. (a) two first side portions wherein the at least one side portion defines the functionally acting side portions of the first shape spaced apart by the first former width. (B) the at least one second side portion includes two side portions spaced apart by the second former width and defining the functionally acting side portion of the second shape. The former mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The former mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first side portion is laterally disposed between the second side portions. 5. The former mechanism of claim 4, wherein, in the first shape, the first and second side portions are arranged in alignment with the top bending surface. 6. The former mechanism of claim 4, wherein the first and second former portions are coupled for movement together in a substantially vertical direction. 7. (a) The former mechanism according to claim 3, and (b) the stacks on which the first and second crown-sized staples of the first and second shapes are placed, respectively. A driving tool having first and second driving tool parts respectively having driving surfaces having first and second driving tool widths for driving, wherein the first former part has a first molding side. A recess is defined between the first
A stapler portion of the stapler is disposed in the recess, the stapler interlocking with at least one of the former portions between the first shape and the second shape. 8. A cam that rotates in conjunction with at least one of the former portions, wherein at least one of the former portions has a position corresponding to the first shape and another portion corresponding to the second shape. 3. The former mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the former can be cam-driven by the cam between the position and the position. 9. (a) the folded plate assembly includes (i) a first plate portion having a first width and (ii) a second plate portion having a second width, and (b) ) The folding plate assembly is selectively positionable in adjacent bending positions between the functionally acting side portions of the first and second shapes of the first and second plate portions. The former mechanism of claim 1, wherein the former and second plate portions positioned in the bend position cooperate with the former / assembly to form a top surface. 10. (a) said former assembly (i) a first former portion including at least one first side portion and (ii) a second former portion including at least one second side portion. And wherein said first and second former portions are selectively laterally adjacent to a bending surface opposite said one of said functionally acting side portions in said first and second shapes, respectively. It is possible to position and define the other of the functionally acting side portions, and (b) the folding plate assembly is such that its movement between the first and second shapes is the folding plate assembly. 10. The former mechanism of claim 9, wherein the former mechanism is resiliently biased against one of the folding plates so as to accompany its movement therebetween. 11. (a) two first braided portions, wherein said at least one side portion is separated by said first former width to form said functionally acting side portion of said first shape; And the first former portion includes each of the first
(B) in the folding plate, the first plate portion is received in the recess and the second plate portion is in contact with each of the side portions. 11. The former mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the former mechanism is elastically biased. 12. The former mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the first and second plate portions are integrally formed. 13. A stapler having at least first and second shapes, comprising: (a) receiving and feeding staples having crown portions of at least first and second crown dimensions to a staple closed position. A staple feeder, and (b) a driving direction facing at least one of the staples for driving the at least one of the staples into a stack placed therebelow, the driving surface facing the staple closed position. A driving device, wherein the driving surface comprises: (i) a first shape of the first shape for driving staples of the first crown size into a stack located below the staples. The driving width, and (ii) driving the staple having the second crown size into a stack placed below the staple. Of Mutame, stapler and having a first first drive wide second drive than the width of the shape. 14. The driving tool comprises: (a) a first driving blade having the first driving tool width and forming the driving surface having the first shape; and (b) the second driving tool. The stapler according to claim 13, further comprising a second driving blade having a machine width and forming the driving surface having the second shape. 15. One of the shapes is in a driving relationship with the first and second driving blades for interlocking in the driving direction, and is moved in the driving direction by Soda's purchaser. 14. The stapler of claim 13, further comprising a driver actuator in drive relationship with only one of the driver blades for drive. 16. A stapler for stapling staples of at least first and second crown sizes, the stapler comprising: (a) a frame; and (b) a stack in combination with the frame in a stapling area. A drive configured to drive staples, (b) attached to the frame, (i) positioned with respect to the leg of one staple in the staple,
Regardless of whether the staple has the first crown dimension or the second crown dimension, a fold surface movable along a fold path to meet the customer at substantially the same contact angle. And a folding assembly having at least one folding member having a stapler. 17. The at least one interloom raising member is attached to the frame at least about the pivot point so that the folding passage is generally arcuate with respect to the stapling cool air so as to be roadable. 17. The stapler according to claim 16, including a fold wing, wherein the passage is moveable with respect to the stapling area between a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to a crown dimension of the staple. 18. (a) said frame defining at least one slot; (b) said at least one folding wing including a pivot axis pivotally coupled to said frame; (c) The pivot axis of at least one folding wing is pivotally mounted within the at least one slot so as to be slidable between the plurality of predetermined positions. Stapler. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein: (a) the bending surface is movable toward the leg after the bending method in order to bend the leg in a bending direction generally at right angles. The described stapler. 20. The at least one folding member is slidably associated with the frame in a generally linearly movable manner along the folding direction. Stapler.