JP2018069637A - Cartridge and stapler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent conveying failure of a sheet-like connection needle for use while trying miniaturizing the device.SOLUTION: A stapler 1 comprises a needle cartridge 100. The needle cartridge 100 includes a needle storage part 260, a first feed mechanism 200, a second feed mechanism 210, and a driving member 230. The first feed mechanism 200 installed at the bottom side of the needle storage part 260 moves reciprocatingly along a conveying route R by rotation action of a lever 220 and feeds a needle sheet 101 of the needle storage part 260 toward the conveying route R. The second feed mechanism 210 is space provided more anterior to the front side than the needle storage part 260 inside the needle cartridge 100, and also is positioned at the opposite side to the side where the first feed mechanism 200 is positioned across the conveying route R. The second feed mechanism 210 feeds the needle sheet 101 conveyed by the first feed mechanism 200 to a hit-out part 22 by moving reciprocatingly along the conveying route R in response to the vertical movement of a driver 270.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge and a stapler.

  Conventionally, a needle called a staple that is bent by a driver member that moves up and down after bending each needle of a connecting needle, which is formed by arranging a plurality of substantially straight needles in parallel and connected in a sheet shape, into a substantially U shape. A stapler is widely used that creates a booklet by binding the sheet bundle by punching the sheet bundle into the sheet bundle and bending the leg portion of the needle penetrating the sheet bundle along the plane of the sheet bundle.

  In recent staplers, there is an increasing demand for downsizing of the apparatus. In order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the storage portion for storing the needle is generally disposed on the rear side of the stapler body due to the space for arranging the motor and the like. In this case, since the storage portion and the launch portion are connected via the conveyance path, there is a possibility that a conveyance failure of the connecting needle may occur. Therefore, in the above-described stapler, a feeding mechanism for transporting the connecting needle from the storage portion to the launching portion is used.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a staple feeding claw is provided below a linked staple delivery port of a magazine portion, and the lowest linked staple among a plurality of linked staples stored in a stacked manner in the magazine portion. A stapler that feeds the staple toward the staple feeding path is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a stapler that includes a cartridge having a conveyance path for feeding sheet staples to a launching unit, and a feed mechanism for feeding the sheet staples to the launching unit via the conveyance path.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-117073 JP 2004-358777 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned stapler, a stapler having a longer conveying path distance has been developed due to demands for attaching / detaching a cartridge and further reducing the outer shape. For example, there is a stapler in which the entire length of the transport path is equal to or longer than the length in the connecting direction of the connecting needle. In such a case, at the switching timing of the first connecting needle and the next connecting needle following the first connecting needle, the feeding mechanism catches on the next connecting needle before completely feeding the first connecting needle from the storage portion. As a result, there is a problem that the leading connecting needle cannot be sent.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge and a stapler capable of preventing a conveyance failure of a sheet-like connecting needle to be used while reducing the size of the apparatus. There is to do.

  The cartridge according to the present invention is a cartridge that is detachably attached to a stapler body having a striking portion for ejecting a needle, and stores a plurality of substantially straight needles arranged in parallel and connected in a sheet shape. A storage section that transports the connection needle fed from the storage section to the launching section, and a connection needle that is provided below the storage section and is stored in the storage section. A first feed unit that feeds, and a second feed unit that is provided in the transport path and feeds the connecting needle fed by the first feed unit to the launching unit, the first feed unit And the second feeding section are configured to be independently operable.

  In the cartridge, the transport path can be configured to be longer than the length of the connecting needle in the connecting direction.

  In the cartridge, the storage portion can store a plurality of the connecting needles in a stacked manner.

  In the cartridge, the second feeding unit can be provided at a position opposite to the first feeding unit across the transport path.

  The stapler according to the present invention includes a storage portion that stores a connection needle in which a plurality of substantially straight needles are juxtaposed and connected in a sheet shape, and a launching portion that drives out the needle of the connection needle that is fed from the storage portion A transport path for transporting the connecting needle sent from the storage section to the launching section, and a first path for transmitting the connection needle provided below the storage section and stored in the storage section to the transport path. And a second feed unit that is provided in the transport path and feeds the connecting needle fed by the first feed unit to the launching unit, and includes the first feed unit and the first feed unit. The two feeding units are configured to be independently operable.

  In the stapler, the transport path can be configured to be longer than the length of the connecting needle in the connecting direction.

  In the stapler, the storage portion can store a plurality of the connecting needles in a stacked manner.

  In the stapler, the second feeding part can be provided at a position opposite to the first feeding part across the transport path.

  According to the present invention, since the second feeding part is provided in the transport path, the connecting needle fed to the transport path by the first feeding part can be transported to the launching part by the second feeding part. Thereby, the conveyance failure of a connection needle | hook can be prevented and a high quality stapler can be provided.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the post-processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation | movement which binds a paper with a needle | hook. It is a side view which shows an example of the stapler of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the stapler of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of a cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of a 1st feed mechanism and a 2nd feed mechanism (the 1). It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of operation | movement of a 1st feed mechanism and a 2nd feed mechanism (the 2).

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Configuration Example of Image Forming System 500]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an image forming system 500 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 500 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 501 and a post-processing apparatus 502 capable of at least one type of processing.

  The image forming apparatus 501 forms and outputs an image on a sheet P fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) inside or outside the apparatus. In this example, the image forming apparatus 501 forms an image on the paper P by forming an electrostatic latent image by scanning exposure, developing the electrostatic latent image by toner, transferring the toner to the paper, and fixing.

  The post-processing device 502 according to the present embodiment includes any one of the staplers 1 according to the respective embodiments described later in the binding unit 503. The binding unit 503 includes a stacking unit 504 that stacks the sheets P output from the image forming apparatus 501.

[Configuration Example of Post-Processing Device 502]
FIG. 2 is a view of the binding unit 503 of the post-processing device 502 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2, the stapler 1 includes a position Pp1 for binding one corner of the paper P stacked on the stacking unit 504, a position Pp2 for binding an arbitrary position along the side PL of the paper P, and the other of the paper P Is moved by a moving unit (not shown) to a position Pp3 where the corners of the sheet are bound. In this example, the position Pp1 also serves as a reference position that is a home position (HP).

[Operation example of binding the paper P with the needle 10]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation of binding sheets with a needle. As shown in FIG. 3A, the needle 10 referred to as a staple is formed by bending both ends of a needle crown 11 in one direction to form a needle foot 12.

  When the needle crown 11 is pressed, the needle 10 has the needle foot 12 penetrating the paper P and the needle crown 11 is in contact with the paper P as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3C, the needle 10 having the needle foot 12 penetrating the paper P is cut as a cut needle 13 by surplus portions of the needle foot 12 that overlap each other when the needle foot 12 is bent.

  As shown in FIG. 3D, the needle 10 having the needle foot 12 cut to a predetermined length is bent so that the needle foot 12 penetrating the paper P is along the plane of the paper P. It is bound by the needle 10.

[Configuration example of stapler 1]
FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the stapler 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the stapler 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The stapler 1 of the present embodiment is configured to cut and cut the needle foot 12 of the needle 10 shown in FIG. 3C in cooperation with the needle launching unit 2 that supplies and drives the needle 10 and the needle launching unit 2. A binding unit 3 for bending the needle foot 12 shown in FIG. 3D and binding the paper P with the needle 10 is provided.

  The needle punching unit 2 is an example of a needle punching unit, and includes a stapler body 20 to which a needle cartridge 100 in which the needle 10 is housed is detachably attached, and a punching unit 22 for driving the needle 10 fed from the needle cartridge 100 into the paper P. .

  In this example, the needle 10 is provided as a needle sheet 101 which is an example of a connecting needle in which a plurality of linear needles 10 are integrated by bonding, and the plurality of needle sheets 101 are stacked and stored in the needle cartridge 100. Is done. As shown in FIG. 3 (A) and the like, the punching unit 22 is substantially co-operated with the operation of driving the most advanced needle 10 in the conveying direction of the needle sheet 101. Molded into a letter shape. Note that the needle cartridge 100 may be supplied in a form in which the needle sheet 101 is stored in a refill detachable from the needle cartridge 100.

  The binding unit 3 is an example of a binding portion, and a cutting portion 30 that cuts the needle foot 12 of the needle 10 that has penetrated the paper P by a predetermined length, and a needle that has penetrated the paper P and has been cut to a predetermined length. A clincher portion 31 that bends the ten needle feet 12 in the direction of the paper P is provided. The clincher portion 31 is provided at a position facing the launching portion 22 of the needle 10, and the cut portion 30 is disposed at a position close to the clincher portion 31.

  The stapler 1 includes a paper clamping unit 4 that clamps the paper P between the staple driving unit 2 and the binding unit 3. The sheet clamping unit 4 is provided on one side of the stapler 1 where the punching unit 22 of the needle punching unit 2 and the clincher unit 31 of the binding unit 3 are provided.

  In the post-processing device 502, as shown in FIG. 1, since the sheets P are aligned and stacked using the inclination in the stacking unit 504, the stapler 1 has an opening side on which the sheet P is inserted and removed in the sheet holding unit 4. Inclined in the upper direction or mounted horizontally.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the stapler 1 moves in the post-processing device 502 by switching the binding position or the like, so that the orientation is not constant. Therefore, the side on which the sheet clamping unit 4 is provided is the front side of the stapler 1, and the side opposite to the side on which the sheet clamping unit 4 is provided is the rear side. The side on which the binding unit 3 is provided is the upper surface side of the stapler 1, and the side on which the needle punching unit 2 is provided is the lower surface side of the stapler 1.

  The sheet holding unit 4 is open in three directions: the front side of the stapler 1 and the left and right side surfaces so that the binding position of the sheet P by the needle 10 can be positioned between the punching unit 22 and the clincher unit 31. Shape.

  The stapler 1 accommodates the needle ejection unit 2 and the needle sheet 101, and cuts the needle cartridge 100 provided with the first feeding mechanism 200 and the second feeding mechanism 210, the ejection portion 22, the binding unit 3, and the binding unit 3. The drive part 5 which drives the part 30 and the clincher part 31 is provided.

  The drive unit 5 includes a cam 51 that is driven by a motor 50 provided in the needle launching unit 2 and a link unit 52 that transmits the operation of the cam 51 to each unit.

  The stapler 1 is relatively moved in a direction in which the staple driving unit 2 and the binding unit 3 are separated from each other by transmitting the operation of the cam 51 to the binding unit 3 via the link portion 52 and the like. In this example, the binding unit 3 moves in a direction to be separated from and contacted with the needle punching unit 2 by a rotation operation with the shaft 32 as a fulcrum.

  The stapler 1 moves in a direction in which the binding unit 3 approaches the needle ejection unit 2 by the operation of the cam 51 rotating in one direction, and clamps the paper P by the paper clamping unit 4 at a predetermined timing. In addition, the stapler 1 moves the cam 51 further in one direction, moves the binding unit 3 away from the needle punching unit 2 at a predetermined timing, and releases the pinching of the paper P in the paper pinching unit 4. To do.

  Further, the stapler 1 is housed in the staple cartridge 100 by the operation of the cam 51 being transmitted to the first feeding mechanism 200 and the launching portion 22 via the link portion 52 and the cam 51 rotating in one direction. The needle 10 is fed out by the first feeding mechanism 200, and the most advanced one of the fed needles 10 is driven into the paper P sandwiched by the paper clamping unit 4 by the punching unit 22, and the needle foot 12 of the needle 10 is moved. The sheet P is penetrated. In addition, the second or third needle 10 is formed in a substantially U shape as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the stapler 1, the operation of the cam 51 is transmitted to the cut unit 30 and the clincher unit 31 via the link unit 52 and the cam 51 rotates in one direction. 12 is cut to a predetermined length by the cut portion 30, and the needle foot 12 of the needle 10 cut to the predetermined length is bent by the clincher portion 31.

  The stapler 1 includes a cut needle storage portion 6 that stores the cut needle 13 cut by the cut portion 30. The cut needle storage unit 6 is detachably attached to the stapler 1 on the back side of the stapler 1 opposite to the side on which the sheet clamping unit 4 is provided.

  The cut needle storage unit 6 includes two collection paths 60L and 60R. When the cut needle storage section 6 is attached to the stapler 1, the two collection paths are arranged so as not to block the attachment / detachment path of the needle cartridge 100 that is attached to and detached from the stapler body 20. 60L and 60R are arranged on both sides of the stapler body 20.

  The cut needle storage unit 6 has a size that can store all the cut needles 13 even when the needle feet 12 of the number of needles 10 that can be stored in the needle cartridge 100 are cut to the maximum length.

  In the cut needle storage unit 6, the main body portion of the cut needle storage unit 6 is positioned below one or both of the recovery path 60L and the recovery path 60R regardless of the position of the stapler 1 in the post-processing device 502. Configured as follows.

  The stapler 1 is provided with a discharge path 33 that guides the cut needle 13 cut by the cut portion 30 to the cut needle storage portion 6 in the binding unit 3. In this example, the discharge path 33 includes two discharge paths 33L and 33R so as not to block the attachment / detachment path of the needle cartridge 100 that is attached to and detached from the stapler body 20. Divided into left and right sides of the stapler body 20.

  In the stapler 1, the discharge port 34L of one discharge path 33L communicates with the recovery port 61L of one recovery path 60L of the cut needle storage unit 6, and the discharge port 34R of the other discharge path 33R and the cut needle storage unit 6 The recovery port 61R of the other recovery path 60R communicates.

  As a result, the cut needle 13 passing from the cut part 30 through the one discharge path 33L is stored in the cut needle storage part 6 from the recovery port 61L through the recovery path 60L. Further, the cut needle 13 passing through the other discharge path 33R from the cut part 30 is stored in the cut needle storage part 6 from the recovery port 61R through the recovery path 60R.

  The discharge path 33 is configured such that at least one of the discharge path 33L and the discharge path 33R is lower in the discharge ports 34L and 34R than the cut portion 30 regardless of the position of the stapler 1 in the post-processing device 502.

  The discharge path 33 (33L, 33R) is provided in the binding unit 3 and moves by the rotation operation of the binding unit 3 with the shaft 32 as a fulcrum. On the other hand, the cut needle storage unit 6 is attached to the needle launching unit 2 so as not to move with respect to the binding unit 3.

  Therefore, the discharge port 34L of the binding unit 3 with the shaft 32 as a fulcrum is disposed by disposing the discharge port 34L of the one discharge channel 33L and the discharge port 34R of the other discharge channel 33R in the vicinity of the shaft 32, The amount of movement of 34R is kept small.

  In addition, the discharge port 34L of the one discharge path 33L enters the one recovery port 61L of the cut needle storage unit 6, and the discharge port 34L can move within the opening range of the recovery port 61L. Similarly, the discharge port 34R of the other discharge path 33R enters the other recovery port 61R of the cut needle storage unit 6 and the discharge port 34R can move within the opening range of the recovery port 61R. .

[Configuration Example of Needle Cartridge 100]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the needle cartridge 100, and FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the first feed mechanism 200 and the second feed mechanism 210. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the needle cartridge 100 feeds the stored needle 10 to the ejection portion 22 and is detachably attached to the stapler body 20.

  The needle cartridge 100 moves the case 250, the needle storage portion 260, the first feeding mechanism 200, the second feeding mechanism 210, and the second feeding mechanism 210 along the conveyance direction of the needle sheet 101. And a drive member 230. The needle storage unit 260 corresponds to an example of a storage unit, the first feed mechanism 200 corresponds to an example of a first feed unit, and the second feed mechanism 210 corresponds to an example of a second feed unit. .

  The case 250 has a substantially cubic shape corresponding to the outer shape of the needle storage portion 260 on the rear side, and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape on the front side. The width direction of the case 250 is selected to be shorter than the length of the stapler body 20 in the width direction, and the length direction of the case 250 is selected to be substantially the same as the length of the stapler body 20 in the length direction.

  The needle storage portion 260 is disposed on the rear side in the case 250. The reason for this is as follows. Since the front side of the needle launching unit 2 contains components such as driving, needle feed, and sensors, there is no space for placement. The rear side of the needle punching unit 2 has no change in weight due to the binding operation, and a motor or the like, which is a relatively heavy part, is built in. Therefore, like the front side of the needle punching unit 2, there is no arrangement space. Generally, a needle foot cutting mechanism or the like is mounted on the front side of the binding unit 3 and there is no arrangement space. Further, on the front side of the stapler 1, it is necessary to avoid the narrowing of the paper sandwiching portion 4 that becomes an opening when the paper P is clamped. Further, since the binding unit 3 performs a clamping process on the needle ejection unit 2 on the front side of the needle cartridge 100, although there is an arrangement space, it is not preferable. In addition, it is necessary to consider the efficiency of the attaching / detaching operation of the needle cartridge 100 and the like. Furthermore, it is necessary to meet the demand for reducing the height of the stapler 1. For these reasons, the needle storage unit 260 is preferably mounted on the rear side of the needle cartridge 100.

  A guide plate 240 is provided on the lower side of the needle storage portion 260 so as to extend from below the needle storage portion 260 to the launching portion 22. A plurality of needle sheets 101 are stacked and placed on the guide plate 240 at a position corresponding to the needle storage portion 260. A guide plate 242 extending between the front surface portion of the needle storage portion 260 and the punching portion 22 is disposed at an upper position facing the guide plate 240. The pair of guide plates 240 and 242 form a conveyance path R for conveying the needle sheet 101 from the needle storage unit 260 to the launching unit 22. In the present embodiment, the conveyance path R is longer than the length of the needle sheet 101 in the connecting direction because the needle storage unit 260 is disposed on the rear side of the staple cartridge 100 (stapler body 20) for the reasons described above. It is configured. That is, the length is such that at least one needle sheet 101 fits within the transport path R.

  The first feeding mechanism 200 is disposed below the needle storage unit 260 (guide plate 240), and feeds the needle sheet 101 disposed at the lowest stage of the needle storage unit 260 toward the transport path R. The first feed mechanism 200 includes a main body 202, a feed claw portion 204, a torsion spring 206, and a coil spring 208.

  The feed claw portion 204 has a pair of claw with a sharp tip, and the claw at the tip can be brought into contact with the lower surface side of the needle sheet 101 on the upper side from the opening 241 formed in the guide plate 240. Is provided. The feed claw portion 204 is attached to one end portion of the torsion spring 206 while being tilted forward, and is urged clockwise by the torsion spring 206 (on the side of the needle sheet 101) in the illustrated state. The torsion spring 206 is attached to the main body 202 via a shaft 207. As a result, as the first feeding mechanism 200 advances and retreats, the feeding claw portion 204 can enter the joint between the n (natural number) needle 10 and the (n + 1) th needle 10 of the needle sheet 101. It has become.

  The coil spring 208 is constituted by a compression spring, and is disposed between the rear portion of the main body 202 and the support member 234 provided in the needle cartridge 100, and urges the main body 202 toward the front side of the needle cartridge 100.

  On the lower side of the first feeding mechanism 200, a lever 220 for reciprocating the first feeding mechanism 200 along the conveyance direction of the needle sheet 101 is provided. The lever 220 is composed of a rod-shaped member having a hook portion at the tip, and is provided so as to be engageable with a mounting portion (not shown) provided on the main body 202 of the first feed mechanism 200. The base end part of the lever 220 is connected to the drive part 5 comprised by the gear, motor, etc. which were mentioned above. Accordingly, the lever 220 tilts (rotates) within a certain movable range with the base end side as a fulcrum based on the drive of the drive unit 5, and moves the first feeding mechanism 200 along the conveyance direction of the needle sheet 101. Move back and forth.

  The second feeding mechanism 210 is a space provided in front of the needle storage unit 260 in the needle cartridge 100 (case 250) in the conveyance direction of the needle sheet 101, and the second feeding mechanism 210 has a conveyance path R therebetween. 1 is arranged on the opposite side to the side where the feeding mechanism 200 is arranged. The second feeding mechanism 210 is a mechanism that feeds the needle sheet 101 conveyed by the first feeding mechanism 200 to the punching unit 22. The second feed mechanism 210 includes a main body 212, a feed claw portion 214, a torsion spring 216, and a coil spring 218.

  The feed claw 214 has a pair of claws with pointed tips, and the claw at the tip is conveyed downward from an opening 213 formed in the main body 212 and an opening 243 formed in the guide plate 242. It is provided so as to protrude in the path R. The feed claw 214 is attached to one end of the torsion spring 216 while being tilted forward, and is biased counterclockwise by the torsion spring 216 in the illustrated state. The torsion spring 216 is attached to the main body 212 via the shaft 217. As a result, as the second feed mechanism 210 advances and retreats, the feed claw 214 can enter the joint between the nth needle 10 and the n + 1th needle 10 of the needle sheet 101. .

  The coil spring 218 is constituted by a compression spring and is disposed between the rear portion of the main body 212 and the support member 236 provided on the needle cartridge 100, and urges the main body 212 toward the front side of the needle cartridge 100.

  The drive member 230 is configured by a rod-shaped member having an inclined portion 231 on the front end side, and is disposed on the front side of the second feed mechanism 210 in the case 250. Therefore, the second feed mechanism 210 is disposed between the drive member 230 and the needle storage unit 260. Further, the drive member 230 has a rear end surface in contact with a front end surface of the main body 212 of the second feed mechanism 210, and is biased forward by a coil spring 218 via the main body 212. As a result, the drive member 230 retreats against the biasing force of the coil spring 218 as the driver 270 is raised, so that the inclined portion 231 is retracted from the launching portion 22, and the coil spring 218 is lowered as the driver 270 is lowered. The inclined portion 231 protrudes into the launching portion 22 by advancing by the urging force. As the driving member 230 advances and retracts, the second feeding mechanism 210 reciprocates along the conveyance direction of the needle sheet 101.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the first feed mechanism 200 and the second feed mechanism 210 are individually driven and operate independently. That is, the first feed mechanism 200 is operated by the rotation operation of the lever 220, and the second feed mechanism 210 is operated by the operation of the driver 270. In addition, although the 1st feed mechanism 200 and the 2nd feed mechanism 210 operate | move independently, they may operate | move synchronously in the result of operating independently.

  The needle cartridge 100 includes a check claw 280 as shown in FIG. The check claw 280 is, for example, a peripheral portion of the second feeding mechanism 210 and is disposed so that a claw at a tip portion thereof protrudes into the conveyance path R. As a result, when the second feed mechanism 210 is retracted (reversely conveyed), the leading end of the check claw 280 of the second feed mechanism 210 is inserted into the joint between the needles of the needle sheet 101, so that the second feed The movement of the needle sheet 101 that is going to move backward in conjunction with the movement of the mechanism 210 can be stopped by the check claw 280. Therefore, only the second feed mechanism 210 can be moved backward.

[Operation Example of First Feed Mechanism 200 and Second Feed Mechanism 210]
FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are diagrams for explaining an example of operations of the first feed mechanism 200 and the second feed mechanism 210. 8A and 8B, only the needle cartridge 100 portion is extracted and shown for convenience of explanation.

  When the lowermost needle sheet 101 is placed on the guide plate 240, the feed claw portion 204 of the first feed mechanism 200 is in a state of sinking against the urging force of the torsion spring 206. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8 (A), the needle sheet 101 is sequentially conveyed from the needle storage portion 260 by moving the first feeding mechanism 200 forward from the rotation operation based on the driving of the lever 220. It is sent out to the path R, and the leading needle sheet 101 is delivered to the second feeding mechanism 210.

  Subsequently, when the driver 270 rises, the driver 270 contacts the inclined portion 231 of the driving member 230. When the driver 270 is further raised, the drive member 230 and the second feed mechanism 210 are retracted against the urging force of the coil spring 218 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the needle sheet 101 is locked by the check claw, the needle sheet 101 stops at a predetermined position without moving backward. Further, the distal end portion of the feed claw portion 214 of the second feed mechanism 210 enters the joint between the needles of the needle sheet 101 at the retracted position.

  On the other hand, when the lever 220 rotates rearward, the first feed mechanism 200 moves backward to the position shown in FIG. 8B against the urging force of the coil spring 208. At this time, the leading end portion of the feeding claw portion 204 of the first feeding mechanism 200 enters the joint between the needles of the needle sheet 101 at the retracted position.

  When the driving of the needle 10 by the driver 270 is completed and the driver 270 is lowered to the initial position, the second feed mechanism 210 and the driving member 230 are moved forward by the biasing force of the coil spring 218 as shown in FIG. Move to the side. At this time, the second feed mechanism 210 moves forward by the width of one needle 10. Along with this, the needle sheet 101 on which the feed claw portion 214 of the second feed mechanism 210 is hooked is also conveyed forward by the width of one needle 10, and the leading needle 10 of the needle sheet 101 is ejected 22. Sent out.

  On the other hand, when the lever 220 is rotated forward, the first feeding mechanism 200 moves forward, and the needle sheet 101 hooked on the feeding claw portion 214 of the first feeding mechanism 200 is also moved forward. To the transport path R. In the present embodiment, such a feeding operation of the needle sheet 101 is repeatedly executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the second feeding mechanism 210 is provided in the transport path R in addition to the first feeding mechanism 200, the plurality of needle sheets 101 are removed from the needle storage portion 260. Each needle sheet 101 can be conveyed by each of the first feeding mechanism 200 and the second feeding mechanism 210 even when arranged across the conveyance path R. Thereby, the conveyance failure of the needle sheet 101 can be prevented, and the needle sheet 101 can be reliably conveyed to the punching unit 22.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the second side is disposed in the dead space on the front side of the needle cartridge 100 and on the side opposite to the side on which the driving unit 5 and the first feeding mechanism 200 are disposed on the transport path R. Since the feeding mechanism 210 is disposed, it is possible to prevent the staple sheet 101 from being poorly conveyed while reducing the area and height of the stapler 1.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the first feeding mechanism 200 and the second feeding mechanism 210 can be operated independently, the conveyance path R longer than the length of the needle sheet 101 is provided. Even the stapler can carry the needle sheet 101.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the sheet-like needle sheet 101 is used instead of the roll-like connecting needle, the space occupied by the consumables can be saved, and the cost of the consumables themselves can be reduced. Can also be achieved.

  Although the present invention has been described using the embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention is extremely suitable when applied to a cartridge, a stapler, a post-processing device including the stapler, and an image forming system including the post-processing device provided in the post-processing device of the image forming apparatus.

1 Stapler 22 Launching portion 101 Needle sheet (connecting needle)
200 First feed mechanism (first feed unit)
210 Second feed mechanism (second feed unit)
230 Drive member 260 Needle storage part (storage part)
500 Image forming system 501 Image forming apparatus 502 Post-processing apparatus R Transport path

Claims (8)

A cartridge that is detachably attached to a stapler body having a striking portion for firing a needle,
A storage section for storing connection needles in which a plurality of substantially straight needles are juxtaposed and connected in a sheet shape;
A transport path for transporting the connecting needle fed from the storage unit to the launch unit;
A first feed unit that is provided on the lower side of the storage unit and sends the connection needle stored in the storage unit to the transport path;
A second feed unit that is provided in the transport path and sends the connection needle sent by the first feed unit to the launch unit;
The first feed unit and the second feed unit are configured to be independently operable. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the transport path is configured to be longer than a length of the connecting needle in the connecting direction. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of the connecting needles in a stacked manner. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second feeding unit is provided at a position opposite to the first feeding unit across the conveyance path. A storage section for storing connection needles in which a plurality of substantially straight needles are juxtaposed and connected in a sheet shape;
A striking part for striking out the needle of the connecting needle sent out from the storage part;
A transport path for transporting the connecting needle fed from the storage unit to the launch unit;
A first feed unit that is provided on the lower side of the storage unit and sends the connection needle stored in the storage unit to the transport path;
A second feed unit that is provided in the transport path and sends the connection needle sent by the first feed unit to the launch unit;
The stapler, wherein the first feeding unit and the second feeding unit are configured to be independently operable. The stapler according to claim 5, wherein the transport path is configured to be longer than a length of the connecting needle in the connecting direction. The stapler according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of the connecting needles in a stacked manner. The stapler according to claim 5, wherein the second feeding unit is provided at a position opposite to the first feeding unit across the transport path.

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