JP4103710B2 - Electric stapler staple supply mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a method of loading connected staples formed into a sheet shape by connecting straight staple members into a magazine of an electric stapler, and sequentially supplying the connected staples to a discharge portion formed at the front end of the magazine, The present invention relates to a staple supply mechanism of an electric stapler in which staples supplied to the punching unit are formed in a U-shape, driven out toward binding sheets, and staple legs penetrating the binding sheets are bent along the back surface of the binding sheets.

  A large number of straight, unformed staple materials are arranged in parallel, and the adjacent staple materials are connected together by an adhesive or the like to form a long belt-like connected staple, and a discharge portion is formed at the leading end of the connected staple. The connected staples in the magazine are sequentially supplied to the punching unit, and the unformed staple material at the leading portion of the linked staple is formed into a U-shape by the forming plate immediately before the punching unit. Then, the staple formed in this manner is fed into a driving path in which the driver plate slides, and is driven out of the driving path by a driver plate that is slidably driven in the driving path, and the staple legs are arranged on the lower surface of the cartridge. 2. Description of the Related Art An electric stapler that performs stapling by passing paper is known.

In the above-described electric stapler, the connected staple wound in a coil shape is accommodated in the cartridge and the cartridge is mounted on the magazine of the stapler main body, and the connected staple pulled out from the cartridge is arranged between the cartridge and the ejection portion. A staple guide for guiding the staples toward the ejection unit is formed, and a staple supply mechanism for sequentially supplying the connected staples arranged along the staple guide to the ejection unit is formed along the staple guide. Yes. The staple supply mechanism includes a feed claw that engages with each staple material of the linked staples arranged along the staple supply guide. The staple claw is linked to the operation of the forming plate and the driver plate to serve as the staple guide. By reciprocating along, the connected staples in the cartridge are pulled out from the cartridge and sequentially supplied to the ejection portion formed at the front end portion of the magazine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-187680

  By the way, as a form of the connected staple, a connected staple formed in a sheet shape by adhering a predetermined number of staple materials in parallel is known. In an electric stapler using such a sheet-like connected staple, a sheet shape is used. A plurality of connected staples are stacked and loaded into a cartridge, and the cartridge is mounted on a magazine of the stapler body, or the stacked and bundled sheet-shaped connected staples are directly loaded into the staple storage unit of the magazine. used. In the staple supply mechanism of the electric stapler that uses such sheet-like connected staples, as shown in FIG. 9, the staple guide 51 is formed from the staple accommodating portion 50 to the ejection portion of the cartridge or magazine, and the above-described prior art is used. Similarly, the feeding claws 52 engaged with the respective staple materials of the sheet-like connected staples arranged on the staple guide 51 are supplied by reciprocating along the staple guide 51.

  As shown in the figure, the feeding claw 52 is biased by a spring 53 in the protruding direction so that the feeding claw 52 can be engaged with each staple material of the linked staple S when the feeding claw 52 operates in the staple supply direction. Furthermore, the rear end position of the sliding stroke of the feed claw 52 is arranged so that the sheet-like connected staple S accommodated in the staple accommodating portion 50 can be pulled out from the staple accommodating portion 50 onto the staple guide 51. The staple guide 51 is set at a position where it can be engaged with the connected staple S in the line 50, and the rear end of the connected staple S can be pushed forward from the position onto the staple guide 51 in the front of the staple storage unit 50. The sliding stroke is set so as to be able to reciprocate along.

  The connected staples S stacked and stored in the staple storage unit 50 are gradually pulled out from the staple storage unit 50 when the lowermost connected staple Sa is engaged with the feeding claw 52, and the connected staples Sa When the end portion is fed to the front from the rear end position of the sliding range of the feed claw 52, the feed claw 52 moves further to the rear from the rear end position of the connected staple Sa, and two layers above the lowermost connected staple. It may engage with the connected staple Sb of the eye. As for this phenomenon, the protruding dimension of the feeding claw 52 becomes large due to accumulation of dimensional errors, or the rear end portion of the second connected staple Sb from the lowermost layer hangs down in the staple guide portion 51 toward the staple guide 51. If the feeding claw 50 is thus engaged with the second-layer connected staple Sb in the housing portion 50, the supply operation to the connected staple Sa on the staple guide 51 is not performed and the staple supply is performed. There was a problem of causing a defect.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and before the lowermost connected staple is pulled out from the staple accommodating portion of the magazine, the feeding claw of the staple supply mechanism is engaged with the second layer connected staple in the staple accommodating portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a staple supply mechanism for an electric stapler that does not match.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a staple supply mechanism of an electric stapler according to the present invention includes a feed claw that can be engaged with a connected staple on a staple guide that guides the connected staple to a discharge portion, and the connected claw is laminated with the connected staple. And is configured to be able to reciprocate along the staple guide forward from a position engageable with the connected staple in the staple storage portion stored therein, and further, when the connected staple remains on the staple guide A restricting means for restricting the sliding stroke on the rear side of the staple supply mechanism is formed in combination with the staple supply mechanism so that the claw does not engage with the connected staple in the accommodating portion, and the restricting means is formed on the staple on the staple guide. So that the feed claw can be engaged with the connected staples in the receiving section when the Characterized in that so as to release the restriction of the sliding stroke of the pull supply mechanism.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the rear end position of the sliding stroke of the feeding claw of the staple supply mechanism is set so as to be engaged with the connected staples in the staple storage unit that stores and stores the connected staples. In addition, when the connected staple remains on the front staple guide from the staple storage portion by the restricting means, the sliding stroke on the rear side of the staple supply mechanism is restricted, and the feed claw is engaged with the connected staple in the staple storage portion. In the normal state, the sliding stroke on the rear side of the supply mechanism is regulated so that the feeding claw is not engaged with the second layer of connected staples in the accommodating portion, and the connection on the staple guide is not performed. It can be prevented that staples are not supplied. Further, since the lowermost connected staple is completely pulled out from the storage section and the connected staple is no longer present on the staple guide by the detection end, the restriction by the restricting means is released, and the feeding claw is engaged with the connected staple in the storage section. The next connected staples can be fed onto the staple guide.

  For the purpose of preventing the feeding claw of the staple supply mechanism from engaging with the second layer connected staple in the staple storage unit, when the lowermost connected staple remains in the staple storage unit, the feed claw is the connected staple in the storage unit. The stroke is regulated so that it does not engage with the stroke, and it is realized by detecting that the connected staple has been completely pulled out from the accommodating portion and releasing the regulation of the stroke.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electric stapler in which the staple supply mechanism of the present invention is implemented. The electric stapler 1 is arranged in a paper conveyance path inside a copying machine, a printing machine or the like, and is subjected to copying or printing processing. A staple driving unit 2 is disposed on one side of the sheet so as to bind the binding sheets, and staples are driven toward the binding sheet on one side, and a staple leg penetrating the sheet on the opposite side of the conveyance path is provided on the back surface of the binding sheet. A clincher portion 3 that bends along is disposed. The connected staple used in the electric stapler 1 is formed into a sheet by arranging a predetermined number of straight staple materials in parallel and connecting adjacent staple materials with an adhesive or the like, and a cartridge loaded with the connected staples. Are attached to the magazine and are sequentially supplied to the punching portion formed in the magazine, and the straight staple material at the leading portion of the linked staple is formed into a U-shaped staple, and the staple formed in the U-shape is bound to the binding paper. I am trying to launch towards

  The staple driving unit 2 supports a pair of support frames 4 formed on one side of the binding sheet conveyance path and is slidable toward the sheet disposed on the conveyance path between the pair of support frames 4. Magazine 5 and a cartridge 6 loaded with sheet-like connected staples mounted in the magazine 5. The front portion of the cartridge 6 is formed with an anvil for forming a straight staple material of connected staples into a U-shape, and an ejection path for ejecting and guiding the U-shaped staples toward binding sheets. The magazine 7 is formed with a staple supply mechanism for supplying the connected staples loaded in the cartridge 6 to the ejecting unit 7, and a straight staple material is formed into a U-shape and the U-shape. A forming / punching mechanism for punching out the staples formed in this way is formed to face the punching portion 7. A drive rotation member 8 formed in a gear shape having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface is rotatably supported on the outer side surfaces of the both support frames 4 and is disposed adjacent to the support frame 4. The drive rotary member 8 is rotated by a drive motor 9 to drive the magazine 5 and the molding / plunging mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the forming / plunging mechanism 10 is formed facing the forming plate 11 disposed facing the anvil of the launching portion 7 and the launching passage formed in the launching portion 7. The driving link 12 is formed by a forming link 13 disposed on the outer surface of each of the drive rotating members 8 and a driver link 14 disposed on the inner surface of each of the driving rotating members 8. Has been. Further, a cam follower 15 is formed on the outer surface of the magazine 5 so as to project toward the drive rotating member 8, and the cam follower 15 is engaged with a cam groove formed in the drive rotating member 8 in the drawing. As shown, the magazine 5 is actuated downward with respect to the support frame 4 so as to sandwich the binding paper with the clincher portion 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 6 and the magazine 5 are formed with a staple supply mechanism 16 that sequentially supplies the connected staples stacked and loaded on the cartridge 6 toward the ejection unit 7. The staple supply mechanism 16 is operated in association with the movement of sliding downward with respect to the support frame. As shown also in FIG. 4, the staple supply mechanism 16 extends along the lower surface of the staple guide 18 formed so as to guide and guide the linked staples from the staple storage portion 17 formed in the cartridge 6 toward the ejection portion 7. The supply member 19 is slidably provided, and the operation member 20 is formed on the magazine 5 side so that the supply member 19 is slidable. A claw holder 22 holding a feed claw 21 whose tip is formed in a blade shape is rotatably supported on the supply member 19, and the claw holder 22 rotates as the supply member 19 slides. Thus, the leading end of the feeding claw 21 protrudes from the opening 18 a formed in the staple guide 18 to the upper surface side of the staple guide 18 and engages with the connected staple disposed on the upper surface of the staple guide 18 to eject the connected staple 7. To supply to.

  The operation member 20 formed on the magazine 5 side is slidably supported so as to face the rear end surface of the supply member 19, and is slid in a direction in which the connected staple is supplied toward the ejection portion 7 by a spring 23. It is energized. When the actuating member 20 is actuated in the staple supply direction by the elastic force of the spring 23, the supply member 19 is slid in the staple supply direction to supply the connected staples. An operating shaft 24 having both ends extending to both side surfaces of the magazine 5 is inserted into the operating member 20, and both ends of the operating shaft 24 are slidable in the front-rear direction along both side surfaces of the magazine 5. The sliding piece 25 is connected to the sliding piece 25 and is operated in the front-rear direction by the vertical movement of the magazine 5 via the turning link 26 that is rotatably provided on the side surface of the magazine 5. Has been.

  When the electric stapler 1 is not operated, the magazine 5 is disposed above the support frame 4, and the rotation link 26 is engaged with the protrusion 4 a formed on the support frame 4, so that the rotation link 26 rotates. The sliding piece 25 engaged with the rotation link 26 is moved to the rear end position, and as a result, the sliding piece 25 and the operating shaft 24 are connected as shown in FIG. The actuating member 20 is disposed at the rear end position against the urging force of the spring 23, and the supply member 19 and the claw holder 22 held by the actuating member 20 are also disposed at the rear position by the feeding member. 21 is moved to the rear end position along the lower surface of the staple guide 18.

  When the electric stapler 1 is actuated, the magazine 5 is actuated downward with respect to the support frame 4 by the cam follower 15 engaged with the cam groove formed in the drive rotating member 8, and the rotation link 26 is moved to the support frame 4. It becomes possible to turn away from the protrusion, and the sliding piece 25 can move forward. When the sliding piece 25 becomes movable, as shown in FIG. 6, the operating member 20 is moved forward by the biasing force of the spring 23 to move the supply member 19 and the claw holder 22 forward, and the claw holder 22 is rotated. Then, the leading end of the feed claw 21 held by the claw holder 22 protrudes from the opening 18a of the staple guide 18 to the upper surface side, and engages with the connected staples arranged along the upper surface of the staple guide 18 to engage the staple storage portion. The connected staple of the lowest layer in 17 is supplied to the launching unit 7.

  When the operation of stapling is completed and the magazine 5 is returned to the upper initial position with respect to the support frame 4, the rotation link 26 is rotated by engaging with the projection of the support frame 4, and the sliding piece 25 is moved backward. The operating member 20 is moved rearward against the urging force of the spring 23 by the rearward movement of the sliding piece 25, and the elastically bent engaging piece 27 formed on the operating member 20. The engaging portion 28 formed on the supply member 19 is engaged, and the operation member 20 moves the supply member 19 and the claw holder 22 backward to return to the initial non-operation position.

  The position of the supply member 19 on the rear side of the sliding stroke is such that the feed claw 21 can draw the connected staples stacked and accommodated in the staple accommodating portion 17 of the cartridge 6 from the cartridge 6 onto the staple guide 18. The feeding claw 21 is set at a position where the feeding claw 21 can be engaged with the connected staple in the accommodating portion 17. The front end position of the sliding stroke remains on the staple guide 18 so that the connected staple remaining on the staple guide 18 and the connected staple loaded on the cartridge 6 do not overlap when the cartridge 6 is newly mounted. The connected staples are set so that the last of the connected staples can be pressed to the position where they are completely ejected from the cartridge 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the staple supply mechanism 16 is formed with a restricting means 30 for restricting the amount of movement of the supply member 19 toward the rear side of the sliding stroke. The restricting means 30 is constituted by a rotating arm 31 supported so as to be rotatable in the vicinity of the supply member 19, and advances on a sliding locus of the supply member 19 at one end side of the rotating arm 31. A stopper portion 32 is formed to limit the sliding stroke of the supply member 19 toward the rear side, and the other end side is formed on the staple guide 18 so as to protrude from the upper surface of the staple guide 18. A detection end 33 for turning the turning arm 31 by the connected staple is formed. The rotating arm 31 is biased in a direction in which the detection end 33 protrudes from the upper surface of the staple guide 18 by a spring (not shown) and the stopper portion 32 is retracted from the sliding locus of the supply member 189. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, when there is no connected staple on the staple guide 18 in front of the staple storage portion 17 of the cartridge 6, the detection end 33 protrudes from the upper surface of the staple guide 18 by the rotating arm 31 by the spring biasing force. In addition, since the stopper portion 32 is rotated to the position retracted from the sliding locus of the supply member 19, the supply member 19 can be operated to the rear end position of the sliding stroke. The feeding claw 21 engages with the lowermost connected staple Sa accommodated in the staple accommodating portion 17 of the cartridge 6, and the connected staple Sa is pulled out from the cartridge 6 along the upper surface of the staple guide 18. Can be supplied.

  When the connected staple Sa remains on the staple guide 18, the detection end 33 of the rotation arm 31 engages with the connection staple on the staple guide 18 as shown in FIG. It is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure against the force, and the stopper portion 32 formed on one end side of the rotating arm 31 is advanced on the sliding locus on the rear side of the supply member 19. Thereby, the sliding range to the rear side of the supply member 19 is restricted, and the engagement piece 27 and the supply member which are formed on the operation member 20 and can be flexibly bent when the operation member operates backward. The engaging portion 28 is separated and the supply member 19 is stopped. At this stop position, the feeding claw 21 engages with the connected staple Sa disposed on the staple guide 18 at a position in front of the staple accommodating portion 17 of the cartridge 6 to supply the connected staple Sa toward the ejection portion 7. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the feeding claw 21 from engaging with the connected staple Sb in the staple accommodating portion 17 before the lowermost connected staple Sa is completely fed out from the staple accommodating portion 17 of the cartridge 6.

  The staple supply mechanism of the electric stapler according to the present invention is an electric stapler arranged along the conveyance path of the paper in the copying machine or fax machine described in the above-described embodiments and configured to bind the paper conveyed along the conveyance path. In addition, it is built into a post-processing device that sorts paper discharged from devices such as copiers and fax machines, and it is not built into these devices. It can also be applied to the type of electric stapler used on the table.

The perspective view which shows the staple supply mechanism of the electric stapler of FIG. The perspective view which shows the electric stapler which concerns on the Example of this invention. The perspective view which shows the staple drive part of the electric stapler of FIG. Exploded perspective view of members constituting the staple supply mechanism Longitudinal side view of the staple supply mechanism in the activated state with the feeding claw in the rear end position Longitudinal side view of the staple supply mechanism in a state where the feed claw is actuated to the front end position A longitudinal side view of the staple supply mechanism in an activated state in which a part of the lowermost connected staples remains in the staple accommodating portion. Longitudinal side view of the staple supply mechanism showing an operating state in which the connected staples are completely pulled out from the storage portion. A longitudinal side view showing an operating state of a staple supply mechanism in a conventional electric stapler

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric stapler 5 Magazine 7 Launch part 16 Staple supply mechanism 17 Staple storage part 18 Staple guide 21 Feeding claw 30 Control means 31 Rotating arm 32 Stopper part 33 Detection end

Claims (1)

The connected staples formed into a sheet shape by arranging a predetermined number of straight staples are accommodated in the magazine, and the connected staples accommodated in the magazine are supplied to the ejection portion formed at the front end portion of the magazine by the staple supply mechanism, and ejected. A staple forming / punching mechanism for forming the staple material supplied to the punching unit by the molding / punching mechanism formed in the unit into a U-shape and driving the staple material toward the paper disposed on the lower side of the magazine, and punching of the magazine In the electric stapler provided with a clincher mechanism that is arranged opposite to the section and folds the leg of the staple that penetrates the binding sheet along the back surface of the binding sheet, the staple supply mechanism is configured to guide the connected staple to the ejection unit. A feed claw that can be engaged with the connected staples on the guide is provided. It is configured to be able to reciprocate along the staple guide from a position engageable with a connected staple in a staple storage portion in which staples are stacked and stored, and the connected staple remains on the staple guide. And a restricting means for restricting a sliding stroke on the rear side of the staple supply mechanism so that the feeding claw does not engage with the connected staples in the accommodating portion when the staple is provided, and the restricting means is formed on the staple guide. A staple supply mechanism for an electric stapler, wherein the restriction of the sliding stroke of the staple supply mechanism is released so that the feed claw can be engaged with the connected staple in the accommodating portion when the connected staple is lost.

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