JP3489356B2 - Clamping mechanism of clamping device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device for sandwiching a bundle of sheet materials such as paper in a copying machine or a facsimile with a plate-like clip. Relates to a clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device in which the tip end portion of the sheet has an improved force of restraining a bundle of sheet materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pinching machine for pinching the ends of a plurality of sheet materials with clips has been known (Jitsuko Sho-47-
12089).

FIG. 7 shows this pinching machine. In this sandwiching machine, a handle 2 is rotatably provided at one end of a base 1, and a cover 3 is provided between the base 1 and the handle 2.
A guide groove 4 is formed on the upper surface of the base 1, and the guide groove 4
The connecting and sandwiching member 5 is housed between the cover 3 and the cover 3. The connecting and pinching member 5 is formed by connecting the pinching members 5N with an adhesive like a stapler, and each pinching member 5N is U.
It is bent in a letter shape.

The other end (rear end) of the connecting and pinching member 5 is in contact with a metal fitting 7 slidably provided on a push rod 6 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The metal fitting 7 is a push rod. The connecting and pinching member 5 is urged by a spring 9 provided in 6. Due to this biasing, one end side (tip end) of the connecting and pinching member 5 is in contact with the one end 4A of the groove 4.

A push plate 8 is provided on the lower surface of the handle 2. When the handle 2 is rotated from the solid line position to the chain line position in FIG. 5
N contact the bent base of N to connect the sandwiching member 5N to the connecting sandwiching member 5
Disconnect from. Then, the separated sandwiching member 5N
Only the sheet is further compressed and deformed by the pressing of the pressing plate 8, and the end portions of the plurality of sheets inserted in the arrow P direction are clamped by the sandwiching member 5.
It is sandwiched by N.

[0006]

However, in the case of such a pinching device, since the pinching operation is performed by the manual operation of the handle 2, it cannot be mounted on an office machine such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

On the other hand, in a facsimile installed in a corporate office, etc., when faxes are accumulated on the tray or desk of the transmitted fax, there is a fear that faxes to several names are mixed.

Some copiers are equipped with an electric stapler for bundling copy sheets sorted into a predetermined number. However, since the electric stapler performs stapling, the copy sheets are not mixed together. You can't just separate them.

Therefore, a sandwiching device which is mounted on a device for stacking a bundle of sheet materials such as a copying machine, a facsimile or an office printing machine and which can automatically separate a plurality of bundles of sheet materials so as not to be mixed with each other. Is being researched.

Such a pinching device has a pair of clamps whose tip ends on the side of gripping a clip are opposed to each other so as to be pinched, and each pivots about a fulcrum shaft. The jaws that lock the ends of the plate-like clips that sandwich the bundle of sheet materials are provided on the opposite surfaces of the parts, and the bases of the pair of jaws hold the clips, and near the gripped clips. By positioning the bundle of sheet materials and narrowing the pair of clamps, the clips are bent to sandwich the bundle of sheet materials.

However, in the case of such a pinching device, since the jaws for locking the clips project from the opposing surfaces of the pair of clamps to the other clamp side, the jaws are not closed when the clamps are closed. The sheets come into contact with each other via the bundle of sheet materials. For this reason, it was found that if the number of bundled sheet materials is small, the clip ends tend to open and a sufficient restraining force cannot be obtained, and the bundled sheet materials tend to come apart.

The present invention has been made on the basis of such knowledge, and improves the restraining force on the terminal side of a clip for bundling a bundle of sheet materials so that the sheet material bundled by the clips does not easily come loose. An object is to provide a clamp mechanism for a clamping device.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the clamp mechanism of the clamping device according to claim 1 of the present invention has a pair of clamps that are close to and away from each other, and the opposing surfaces of the clamps are By gripping a bendable clip, arranging a bundle of sheet materials near the surface of the clamped clip on the side of the clamp tip, and narrowing the pair of clamps to bend the clip to bundle the sheet material. It is a clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device for sandwiching, wherein the clamp is provided with a locking member that projects from a facing surface of its own clamp to a clamp side of a counterpart and locks an end portion of the clip, It is characterized in that when the clamps are open, they project toward each other, and when the clamps are closed, they retreat from each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the clamp mechanism of the second aspect of the present invention, wherein each of the pair of locking members is biased toward each other. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clamp mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention, in the clamp mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of locking members are vertically movably held by each of the clamps, and the clamp is opened. A stopper for pressing the pair of locking members in a direction approaching each other is provided at a position wider than the angle at which the locking member is opened.

[0016]

According to the clamp mechanism of the clamping device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the locking members of the pair of clamps project in the directions in which they approach each other when the clamps are open, the locking members and the clamps The clip can be locked in the recess formed by the facing surface of the. When the clamps are closed, the locking members retract in the direction away from each other, so that the ends of the clips are sufficiently crimped.

According to the clamp mechanism of the pinching device of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the clamp mechanism of the pinch device of the first aspect, the locking members are urged in directions toward each other. Therefore, when the clamp is open, the lower locking member surely protrudes upward to lock the clip.

Further, according to the clamp mechanism of the pinching device of the third aspect of the present invention, when the clamp is opened, the locking member moves from the opposite surface side of its own clamp to the opposite surface side of the other clamp. Since it protrudes to the right side, an angular gap is formed between the protruding portion of the locking member and the facing surface of the clamp itself.
As a result, the plate-shaped clip can be held between the pair of opposed angular gaps. The clip held between the locking members of the pair of clamps and the facing surface is
It is bent by closing a pair of clamps.

When the clip is bent and the clamps are completely closed with the opening angle between the clamps being minimized, the locking member retracts to its own clamp side and the opposing surface of the clamp presses the bent portion of the clip. Therefore, the end portion of the clip is sufficiently crimped to strongly restrain the bundle of sheet materials.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bundle of bundled sheet materials from coming apart.

Further, since the stopper causes the locking members to project in the directions in which they project from each other when the clamp is in the most opened standby state, the clip can be reliably locked.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of a clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sandwiching device of this embodiment is provided in a copy paper loading stacker of a facsimile. In this sandwiching device, reference numerals 10 and 11 are clamps formed in a substantially L shape.
11 rotates about the fulcrum shafts 12A and 12B, respectively. The clamps 10 and 11 have tip portions 10A and 11 on the side of sandwiching the object.
A is facing each other. On the facing surfaces 10B and 11B of the tip portions 10A and 11A of the clamps 10 and 11, the raised portions 1 projecting toward the facing surfaces 10B and 11B on the other side.
3 and 14 are formed, and the plate-shaped clip 1 for sandwiching the bundle of sheet materials 15 is provided on the tip end side of the raised portions 13 and 14.
6 is locked. In this embodiment, the sheet material 15 is copy paper of a copying machine or a facsimile.

The clamps 10 and 11 are housed between a pair of bearing plates 17 formed by connecting parallel plates to each other in a box-shaped cross section. The bearing plates 17 are the fulcrum shaft 1 of the lower clamp 10.
It is pivoted coaxially with 2. The pair of bearing plates 17 rotate together to rotate the clamps 10 and 11. An elongated hole 18 is opened in an L-shaped corner portion of the clamp 11, and a shaft 19 of a bearing plate 17 is slidably inserted into the elongated hole 18. Clamp 10 has shaft 1 with round hole
9 is held and is rotated integrally with the bearing plate 17. Bearing plate 1
A shaft 20 is attached to a corner portion of the No. 7 remote from the clamps 10 and 11, and a cam plate 21 is in contact with the shaft 20. The cam plate 21 is rotated by a motor via a gear mechanism (not shown).
When 1 rotates clockwise RD, the cam surface 2 of the cam plate 21
1A rotates the shaft 20 in the counterclockwise direction LD in FIG. 1, and the shaft 19 pushes the edge of the slot 18 to clamp the clamps 10 and 11.
Is supposed to close. The drive control of this motor is
Since the clip 16 made of a plate-shaped metal piece is set between the clamps 10 and 11, the bundle of sheet materials 15 is sandwiched by the clamps 10 and 11, and the clamps 10 and 11 are set at the initial home position. Until it returns. Here, the home position of the clamps 10 and 11 is the position where the clamps 10 and 11 are open. For example, after the copying machine has completed copying a predetermined number of copies and the presence of copy paper, which is a bundle of sheet materials, between the clamps 10 and 11 is detected by a transmissive photoelectric switch or an interrupter, The clip 16 is set on the clamps 10 and 11, and after confirming the setting of the clip 16, the clamping operation is started.

The slider 22 for setting the clip 16 on the clamps 10 and 11 is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 2, and slides from the lateral direction of the clamps 10 and 11 in the open state to allow the tip of the cartridge C of the clip 16 to move. The clip 16 is locked from the opening, and the tip portions of the raised portions 13 and 14 of the clamps 10 and 11 and the swing plate 2 as a locking member.
The clip 16 is set in the angular space between 3 and 3.
The setting of the clip 16 on the clamps 10 and 11 is detected by irradiating the clip 16 with light and reflecting light from the clip 16 by using a photo sensor (not shown), for example. Upon detection of the clip 16, the motor continues to rotate to rotate the cam plate 21 and close the clamps 10 and 11. After closing the clamps 10 and 11, the cam plate 21 returns to the home position. At this time, the cam plate 21 makes one rotation.

A swinging plate 23 that follows the bent shape of the clip 16 is provided near the ridges 13 and 14 at the tip of the clamps 10 and 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the swing plate 23 has a U-shaped cross section when viewed from above and below.
Also, the respective tip portions of the clamp 11 are attached so as to straddle the left and right side wall portions, respectively. The rocking plate 23 is provided with a long hole-shaped mounting hole 26,
The shaft 24 is held in the mounting hole 26 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

A stopper 25 for projecting the rocking plates 23 toward the opposite surfaces of each other is provided in an area outside the turning area of the home positions of the clamps 10 and 11. This stopper 25 is a clamp 10,
11 is opened to the home position, and the slider 22
When the clip 16 is inserted into the clamps 10 and 11, the upper and lower ends of the clip 16 are securely engaged with the swing plate 23 and the facing surface 10A or 11A. On the other hand, since the mounting hole 26 of the rocking plate 23 is formed as a long hole and the shaft 24 is movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the mounting hole 26, when the clamps 10 and 11 are closed, rocking is performed. The plates 23 are in contact with each other and are substantially in contact with each other 10B or 11
Retreat to the same height as B.

In this embodiment, the swing plate 23
Although the edge of the mounting hole 26 is held by the shaft 24 in a free state, the pair of rocking plates 2 is provided between the rocking plate 23 and the tip 10A, 11A of the clamp 10 or 11.
A means for elastically urging the three members toward each other (for example, a sheet of elastic rubber or elastomer,
A spiral spring, a leaf spring, etc.) may be provided. In this way, by urging the pair of swing plates 23 toward each other, when the clamps 10 and 11 are separated from each other,
Since the oscillating plates 23, 23 project in a direction in which they approach each other, the clip 16 can be locked and the stopper 25 need not be provided. In addition, when the clip 16 is bent, the recess of the base of the raised portion 14 may be formed as an obtuse or circular recess so that the end of the clip 16 is disengaged from the recess of the swing plate 23 and the raised portion 14. good.

According to the clamp mechanism of the sandwiching device of this embodiment, since the swing plate 23 is provided at the tip of the clamps 10 and 11, the clamps 10 and 11 are provided.
The upper and lower rocking plates 23, 23
The clip 16 can be locked in between. When the clamps 10 and 11 are closed, the clip 16 is bent and the end portion of the sheet material 15 is closed. Clamp 10,
When 11 is completely closed, a pair of rocker plates 2
Since the clamps 3 and 23 come into contact with each other and retreat, the clamp 1
Opposing surfaces 10B and 11B of 0 and 11 crimp the clip 16. The bundle of the sheet materials 15 is strongly restrained, and the bundle of the bundled sheet materials 15 is prevented from being scattered.

The clamping mechanism of the sandwiching device is applied to a stacker or tray in which copying, printing, or printing of sheet materials of a copying machine, a facsimile, or a small printing machine for office work is stacked. Part, sorter,
Etc. can be given. Alternatively, the sandwiching device itself may be an independent device, and by setting a plurality of sheet materials aligned in this clamping mechanism, a dedicated sandwiching device may be used to automatically bundle the sheet materials. The sheet material to be sandwiched is not only paper but also a plastic film,
Sheets, cloths, etc. can also be mentioned.

In this embodiment, the rocking plate 23 is provided, but since the rocking plate 23 has a function of locking the end portion of the clip 16, it has a U-shaped cross section. The tips of the clamps 10 and 11 may be rotatably supported like a finger joint, and the tips may be urged toward each other. Further, an elastomer layer made of synthetic rubber, elastic soft plastic, or the like is formed on the opposing surfaces of the tips of the clamps 10 and 11, and the clip is held by the elastomer layer. When combined with an articulating tip, the tips of the clamps 10 and 11 retract when they indirectly press each other, so that sufficient crimping force acts on the ends of the clip 16.

[0031]

According to the clamp mechanism of the pinching device of the first aspect of the present invention, the locking members at the tips of the pair of clamps project in the directions in which they approach each other when the clamps are open. The clip can be locked in the recess formed by the locking member and the opposing surface of the clamp. When the clamps are closed,
Since the locking members retreat in the direction away from each other, the ends of the clip are sufficiently crimped.

According to the clamp mechanism of the clamping device of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the clamp mechanism of the clamping device of the first aspect, the locking members are urged toward each other. Therefore, when the clamp is open, the lower locking member surely protrudes upward to lock the clip.

According to the clamp mechanism of the pinching device of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the clamp mechanism of the pinching device of the first aspect, the stopper acts as the locking member in the standby state when the clamp is most opened. Since they are projected in the directions in which they project from each other,
The clip can be securely locked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of a clamp mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between clamps, sliders of clips, and cartridges in the clamping device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the clamp of FIG. 1 in a closed state.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the state in which the clamp of FIG. 1 is opened and the swing plate is projected by the stopper.

5 is a diagram showing a main part of the clamp mechanism in a state in which the clamp of FIG. 1 is closed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional sandwiching device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional clamping device viewed from another angle.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a push rod of a conventional clamping device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 clamps 11 clamps 15 sheet materials 16 clips 23 Swing plate (locking member) 25 stopper

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B42B 5/00 B42B 5/06 B65H 37/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of clamps that are close to and away from each other, a bendable clip is held by the opposing surfaces of the clamps, and a bundle of sheet materials is positioned at a position of the clamped clip on the tip side of the clamp. A clamp mechanism of a sandwiching device that clamps a bundle of sheet materials by bending a pair of clamps by narrowing a pair of clamps. The clamp mechanism projects from the facing surface of its own clamp to the other clamp side. With a locking member that locks the end of the clip,
The clamping mechanism of the sandwiching device, wherein the locking members project toward each other when the clamps are open, and retreat from each other when the pair of clamps are closed. 2. The clamp mechanism for a sandwiching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of locking members is biased toward each other. 3. The clamp mechanism of the sandwiching device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of locking members are held by each of the clamps so as to be movable up and down, and at a position wider than an angle when the clamps are opened. A clamping mechanism for a clamping device, characterized in that a stopper is provided for pressing the pair of locking members in directions toward each other.