US3883063A

US3883063A - Punching and stapling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3883063A
Application number: US438689A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arnold Fassman; Robert E Mersereau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-01
Filing date: 1974-02-01
Publication date: 1975-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-13

Abstract

Apparatus of the type for automatically performing punching and stapling operations upon successive stacks of sheets of material, typically stacks of collated paper. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement which performs the two separate operations of punching and stapling on the same edge portion of a stack in a single straight-line pass of the material through the apparatus, using a compact structure with a single control arrangement. In the apparatus, the stacked sheets are fed to a punching station, arrested by retractable stops, and punched along the leading edge region. A pivoting roller engagement, actuated during the punching operation, pressure-grips the stacked sheets to hold them in registry. The stops retract and, after punching has been completed, the stack-gripping roller is rotated through a predetermined angle to advance the stack of sheets a predetermined distance to position the previously punched leading edge region at a stapling station. The stacked sheets are thereupon stapled in that edge region, immediately adjacent the line of punched holes, and then ejected.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Fassman et al.

BEST AVAILABLE COPY [1 1] 51 May 13, 1975 1 1 PUNCHING AND STAPLINC APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Arnold Fassman, Westport; Robert E. Mersereau, Stamford, both of Calif.

22 Filed: Feb. 1, I974 211 Appl. No.: 438,689

[52] US. Cl. 227/21; 227/69; 227/76;

227/100 [51] Int. Cl B27f 7/08 [58] Field of Search 227/2, 3,5, 6, 7, 20,

Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William D. So1t0w, Jr.; Albert W. Scribner; Martin D. Wittstein [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus of the type for automatically performing punching and stapling operations upon successive stacks of sheets of material, typically stacks of collated paper. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement which performs the two separate operations of punching and stapling on the same edge portion of a stack in a single straight-line pass of the material through the apparatus, using a compact structure with a single control arrangement. in the apparatus, the stacked sheets are fed to a punching station, arrested by retractable stops, and punched along the leading edge region. A pivoting roller engagement, actuated during the punching operation, pressure-grips the stacked sheets to hold them in registry. The stops retract and, after punching has been completed, the stack-gripping roller is rotated through a predetermined angle to advance the stack of sheets a predetermined distance to position the previously punched leading edge region at a stapling station. The stacked sheets are thereupon stapled in that edge region, immediately adjacent the line of punched holes, and then ejected.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BEST AVAILABLE COPY PAIENTEURAmms 3.883.063

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BEST AVAILABLE C 3 ,8 8 3 ,0 6 3 OPY l PUNCHING AND STAPLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for punching and stapling successive stacks of sheets of material. such as collated stacks of paper from a copying or printing machine.

It is often desired to punch holes in printed paper stacks to prepare them for placement in loose-leaf binders. In many cases, it is desirable to staple the punched stacks to keep the component sheets together for use and handling before binding takes place. Preferably, the staples should be inserted in the same edge portion of the stack in which the punched holes appear. both to permit the printed sheets to be fully opened for reading prior to binding, and to eliminate the need to remove thestaples after binding. The present invention is directed toward achieving this objective in a superior fashion.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various arrangements have been provided in the past for performing punching and stapling operations on stacks of paper. One example of apparatus for automatically punching holes in stacks of paper is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,592,092 to'BIowsky. Many well known types of apparatus have been used for stapling separate sheets of paper together.

In one prior art arrangement, punching and stapling are performed simultaneously by separate punching and stapling devices. However. in that type of apparatus the staple cannot be placed near the punched edge of the sheet, and in fact is placed near the center of the stacked sheets where it prevents opening of the stack.

Such prior art apparatus of the general type referred to above thus has not been fully satisfactory in providing both punching and stapling operations on stacked sheets of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention to provide improved apparatus of the type for performing punching and stapling operations upon successive stacks of sheets of material such as paper. It is a specific object of the invention to provide such an apparatus which enables two separate dissimilar operations such as punching and stapling to be performed on the same portion of the stacked sheets. Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described which is compact, capable of rapid, reliable operation, adapted for manufacture at reasonable cost, and generally suitable for commercial use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention to be described hereinbelow in detail, the apparatus performs the operations of punching and stapling upon successive stacks of sheets of material by an arrangement performing the two separate dissimilar operations on the same portion of the stacked sheets of material in a single pass of the material through the apparatus. In the apparatus. means feed the stacked sheets to a first operating station where a punching operation is performed to form a line of holes through the papers in the region thereof adjacent the leading edge of the stack. Further means. preferably a cam-controlled pivoting roller arrangement, is provided for pressure-gripping the stacked sheets to hold them firmly in stacked registry while at the first operating station, and for advancing the pressure-gripped stack a preset short distance to present the leading edge portion of the sheets to a second operating station. A stapling device at this second station staples the sheets together while still held in registry. and with the staple being placed closely adjacent the line of punched holes. Following completion of the stapling operation. means eject the stack from the apparatus into a receiving station. This arrangement affords two-operation service in a single machine. while providing desired close relative placement of punching and stapling. The arrangement further is-advantageous in that it can employ a single onerevolution camshaft to control and sequence all steps for compact and efficient automatic operation.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in, or apparent from, the detailed description hereinbelow, considered together with the following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a punching and stapling apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of FIG. I, looking parallel to the path followed by a stack of sheets passing through the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, with portions broken away and in section to aid clarity of presentation;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sections on lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, respectively, of FIG. 2, showing the camming arrangements for various parts of the apparatus; and

FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating the sequence of operations in the apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a combination punching and stapling apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention to perform punching and stapling operations on stacks S of sheets of material such as paper. The stacks are fed by conventional advancing means (not shown) operative along a supporting surface or deck 12 to move the stacks in the direction of arrow 14 from, e.g., a collating machine or the like. The apparatus 10 comprises a frame generally indicated at 11 carrying a drive shaft 13 connected by means of a belt 16 to a conventional motor (not shown) to drive the various mechanisms. described in greater detail below, which operate on the stacks of paper.

In general, the stacks S move on an essentially straight-line path first to a punching station P, then to a stapling station T, and then are ejected from the apparatus into a receptacle at a receiving station. At punching station P, holes are formed simultaneously through all of the sheets of each stack by conventional punches carried by a support bar 18. This bar is positively reciprocated up and down by a pair of arms 20 fitted in the usual fashion on each end of bar 18 and pivotally joined at their lower ends 22 to cam follower plates 24. The plates 24 are oscillated about pivots 26 by the action of punch inserting and retracting earns 27: and 27r, mounted in pairs on each end of a onerevolution camshaft 28 (see also FIG. 2), and separately acting upon followers 30 and 32 on follower plates 24 to drive the punches both up and down.

The camshaft 28 can be arranged in various ways to provide a single revolution of rotation for each stack of paper to be processed. In the preferred embodiment, the camshaft is driven by a conventional drive clutch 160 (FIG. 3) the input side of which is coupled in the usual way to the continuously rotating drive shaft 13. As the paper stack S reaches the punching station P. the drive clutch is activated in known fashion (as by physically tripping a sensitive switch to apply electric power to a magnetic-type drive clutch). This clutch remains engaged for a single rotation of camshaft 28, and then automatically disengages.

At stapling station T. staples 33 (FIG. 4) are inserted in the stacks s by a conventional stapler 34 having a stapling head 36 brought into cooperation with a stapling anvil 38 by means of a stapling cam 39 (FIG. I) mounted on a shaft 40. As shown in FIG. 1, shaft 40 is driven in synchronism with one-revolution camshaft 28 by means of a chain 42 trained over a take-up sprocket 44 and over camshaft sprockets 46 and 48.

Stack feed to the punching station P may be accomplished in conventional fashion along inclined support surface 12 as shown in FIG. 1, preferably assisted by known paper feed means (not shown). Rotating feed rolls 50 on an upper shaft 52 may be provided to lightly engage the top sheet of stack S to aid the feeding of sheets under a punch stripper plate 54 (FIG. 4) and into engagement with retractable stops 56. These stops extend upwardly through supporting surface 12 to stripper plate 54 and locate the leading edge of a stack S in punching station P while simultaneously assuring registry of the papers in proper stacked condition.

The stops 56 are arranged to be retracted downwardly to below surface 12 so that, after punching, a stack S can be advanced from the punching station P to the stapling station T without interference. Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, the stops 56 are formed integrally with a stop plate 58 which is fixed to two brackets 60 each pivotally connected at a point 62 to an adjustment bracket 64. One pivoting bracket 60 carries a follower 66 in engagement with an upper camming surface 67 of a cam follower link 68. Cam follower link 68 pivots about point 70 and has a roller follower 72 in springloaded engagement with a stop cam 74 on the onerevolution camshaft 28.

At a specified time in the apparatus cycle (see FIG. 7), the stop cam 74 permits link 68 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 4), pivoting the bracket 60 and retracting the stops 56 to a position below supporting surface 12 so stack S can be advanced.

By adjusting the position of stops 56 nearer to or farther from the punches, the location of the punched holes in the stack S can be variably controlled. To provide such adjustability, the adjustment brackets 64 carrying the pivoting brackets 60 are secured to respective rods 76 slidably mounted in support bars 78 and 80. The remote ends of the rods carry pins 82 positioned in elongate holes in respective links 84 which pivot about a shaft 86. By turning shaft 86, preferably with manually operable knob attached thereto (not shown), the links 84 will pivot and move rods 76 longitudinally to correspondingly move the adjusting brackets 64 horizontally. The pivoting brackets 60, and stops 56, move over the same horizontal distance as brackets 64 to alter the stop position. The upper camming surface 67 oflink 68 thus will contact follower 66 in different posi- BEST AVAILABLE CORY tions. Although the stops 56 will retract different amounts in such different positions. the stops always will retract a sufficient distance to move beneath the supporting surface 12.

While the punching operation is being carried out, means are actuated to pressure-grip the stack S so as to firmly hold the sheets and maintain them in registry after the punch has been retracted and during the subsequent advancing movement to the stapling station T. Referring again to FIG. 2, 3, and 6, this holding means comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a pair of upper idler rolls 88, fixed for rotation together on a collar 89 freely mounted for rotation on shaft 52, and a corresponding pair of drive rolls 90 directly beneath the idler rolls. The drive rolls are rotatably mounted upon the legs 91 of a U-shaped yoke assembly 92. This yoke assembly is arranged to pivot about a shaft 94 to raise the drive rolls 90 to engage the stack S and press it up against the idler rolls to effect a pressure grip of the entire stack of papers.

Pivotally mounted about shaft 94 are a set of cam follower links 96 engaged through a cam follower 98 with a lifting cam 100 on the one-revolution camshaft 28. The follower 98 is biased into engagement with the lifting cam by means of a spring 102 connecting one follower link 96 to a fixed frame member 104. The cam follower links 96 are coupled to yoke 92 by means of a spring 106 urging the links against eccentric adjustment stops 107 rotatable about the axis of rods 108 mounted on yoke 92. Spring 106 provides a resilient coupling between drive rollers 90 and cam 100, thereby enabling variable thicknesses of stacks S to be effectively gripped with desired pressure between drive rolls 90 and idler rolls 88 with a fixed cam rise provided on the lifting cam 100. Eccentric adjustment stops 107 permit the position of drive rolls 90 to be adjusted in height.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the drive rolls 90 are initially positioned beneath the support surface 12 to permit the stack S to be fed into the punching station P without interference. Thereafter. at an appropriate time in the cycle of operation (see FIG. 7), cam 100 rotates cam link 96 counterclockwise (as seen in FIG. 6) to cause spring 106 to rotate yoke 92, thereby to raise drive rolls 90 into firm engagement with the stack S to confine the stack between idler rolls 88 and drive rolls 90 to hold the sheets in stack S in registry.

At the time drive rolls 90 are brought into engagement with the stack S, the drive rolls 90 are not rotating, and serve to hold the papers in position while the punching operation is continuing, preparatory to the advancing movement. After the punching operation is completed and the punches are retracted from stack S, the drive rolls 90 are rotated, with a positive drive producing a predetermined amount of rotation. This rotary movement causes the confined stack S to be advanced a corresponding predetermined horizontal distance to align the punched edge region of the stack S with the stapling head 36 at the stapling station T. The entire stack is positively held in registry during this movement, and as the stack arrives at the stapling station T.

The drive rolls 90 are rotated to advance the stack S by means shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, one of the drive rolls 90 is on a shaft 114 rotatably mounted to one leg 91 of yoke 92. Shaft 114 is rotatably coupled by means of a sprocket chain 116 to a hub 118 freely rotatable about shaft 94 and carrying a gear 120. Meshing with gear 120 is a segment gear link 122 pivoted about point 124 and carrying a cam follower 126 in engagement with a stack advancing cam 130 mounted on the one-revolution camshaft 28.

The follower 126 on segment gear link 122 is biased by a spring 132 into engagement with cam 130 to the extent permitted by eccentric stop 134 which limits the return of segment gear link 122 and, depending upon its position, may hold follower 126 away from the low I portions of cam 130.

At the appropriate time in the cycle of operation (see FIG. 7), cam 130 rotates segment gear link 122 through a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 5), thereby rotating gear 120, shaft 114, and drive roll 90 through the previously described linkage. As the drive roll 90 is rotated through a predetermined angle, the joined idler rolls 88 and the other drive roll 90 also rotate, and the stack S is advanced a predetermined distance to present the leading edge portion of the stack to the stapling station T. The stapling head is automatically shifted down to fasten a staple through the stack of papers, in a position closely adajcent the line of holes formed by the punches previously described. In the preferred embodiment, only one stapling head is provided, and positioned to place a staple between two of the holes, offset laterally a small amount from the center-line of the holes. Additional stapling heads can readily be provided if desired, and operated by the same cam system described previously. After the stapling operation has taken place, and after the drive rollers are withdrawn out of contact with stack S, the segment gear link 122 is returned to its beginning position against stop 134 by cam 130 and spring 132.

The amount of rotation of the drive rolls 90 will be determined by the starting position of segment gear link 122, as determined by the position of adjustable stop 134. As shown in FIG. 5, rotation of eccentric stop 134 about point 135 will vary the starting position of segment gear link 122 and thereby vary the distance the stack S is advanced to the stapling station T, thereby varying the location of the staple in the stack S for placement of the staple in any desired relation to the punched holes.

After the stapling operation is complete, the stack S is ejected from the stapling station by means of an ejector roller 140 (FIGS. 2 and 3). This roller is mounted for rotation on a shaft 142 which is pivoted about shaft 94 by means of links 144 carrying shaft 142 and pinned to shaft 94. The ejector roll 140 is coupled by a sprocket chain 146 to a drive hub 148 rotatable about shaft 94 and joined by another sprocket chain 150 to drive shaft 13. At the appropriate point in the cycle of operation (FIG. 7), a cam (not shown) on onerevolution shaft 28 rotates shaft 94 to pivot ejector roll 140 upwardly toward an idler roll 150 fixedly carried on the collar 89 freely rotating on shaft 52. The ejector roll 140 is constantly rotated by drive shaft 13 and thus the pressure engagement of stack S between the ejector roll 140 and the idler roll 150 will eject the stack S from apparatus to a suitable receptacle.

The foregoing operations of apparatus 10 are all controlled in the timed sequence shown in FIG. 7 by the one-revolution camshaft 28 driven by drive shaft 13 through a coupling including the one-revolution clutch 160. The one-revolution clutch is actuated to start a cycle of operation by a signal provided either manually BEST AVAILABLE COPY or in response to the arrival of a stack S in punching station P. Thereafter, the apparatus proceeds through the complete operation cycle automatically, and then stops to await arrival of the next stack of sheets.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that this is for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and should not be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of the invention, since it is apparent that many changes can be made to the disclosed structures by those skilled in the art to suit particular applications.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for punching holes in stacks of paper and for stapling the stacks together in the region of the sheets where the holes are punched, comprising:

means providing for movement of the stacks of paper into operating position;

first and second operating stations located a preset distance apart along the line of movement of the stacks of paper; means for arresting the movement of each stack as it reaches said first operating station with the sheets thereof in assembled registry to accommodate a punching operation through all of the sheets of the stack; means at said first operating station for punching holes through all of the sheets of the assembled stack, said punching means being operative to form said holes in said region of said paper a short distance from one edge of the sheets; means to engage the sheets of said stack to hold said sheets in aligned registry after the punching means has been retracted from the stack of sheets;

means operative with said holding means for advancing said stack of paper forward a predetermined distance along said line of movement, said predetermined distance being at least substantially equal to said preset distance so that said region of said papers stops at said second operating station, said holding means serving to maintain said sheets of said stack in registry during the advancing movement into said second operating station; and

means at said second operating station for stapling together all of said sheets in said region thereof and closely adjacent said holes previously formed by said punching means;

said holding and advancing means comprising drive roll means arranged to move into pressure-gripping engagement with the stacked sheets and to rotate through a predetermined angle to advance the stacked sheets so held said predetermined distance to position said sheet region where the holes are punched at the second operating station.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising pivoted support means mounting the drive roll means to move the drive roll means into and out of confining engagement with the stacked sheets; and

cam means arranged to actuate said support means and, after the drive rolls are in driving engagement with the stacked sheets, to rotate the drive rolls to advance the stacked sheets to the second operating station.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising resilient means coupling said support means and said cam means to provide for different stack thicknesses.

BEST AVAlLABLE COPY 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support means is pivoted about a shaft;

a gear on said shaft, said gear being coupled to said drive roll means for rotation therewith;

a lever having teeth in meshing engagement with said gear;

said cam means comprising a first cam and follower arranged to rotate said support means about its axis;

said cam means further comprising a second cam and follower arranged to pivot said lever to effect rotation of said gear and thereby rotate said drive roll means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second cams are carried by a common camshaft; and

a one-revolution clutch coupling said camshaft to a source of motive power.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holding and advancing means comprises means for controllably varying the distance the held stack is advanced, thereby to vary the location upon the stacked sheets at which the second operation takes place.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holding and advancing means comprises segment gear means arranged to rotate through an angle corresponding to the advancement of the held stacked sheets;

cam means for rotating the segment gear;

means for biasing the segment gear toward contact with the cam means;

said varying means comprising an adjustable stop for engaging the segment gear means and for preventing the biasing means from maintaining contact between the cam means and segment gear means, thereby controlling the angle through which the segment gear is rotated by said cam means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operations are performed on the leading edge ofthe stacked sheets of material;

said holding and advancing means comprising fixed idler roll means positioned above the stacked sheets of material located in the first operating station; and

movable drive roll means positioned below the idler roll means and arranged to be moved upwardly to grip the stacked sheets therebetween for confinement thereof, the drive roll means being rotated through a predetermined angle to advance the confined stack a predetermined distance to position it at the second operating station.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising cam means for 1. cyclically moving the drive rolls upwardly into engagement with the stacked sheets,

2. rotating the drive rolls to advance the stacked sheets.

3. moving the drive rolls downwardly out of engagement with the stacked sheets, and

4. rotating the drive rolls to return them to a predetermined starting position.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising ejection means for shifting a stapled stack from said second operating station to a receptacle; and

cam means for controlling the punching means, the

holding and advancing means, the stapling means, and the ejecting means; said cam means producing a cyclical sequence in which:

1. while the punching operation is being performed, the stacked sheets are positively held in aligned registry;

2. following the completion of the punching operation, the stacked sheets are advanced, while being maintained in registry, to the second operating statron;

3. while the stacked sheets are held at the second operating station, the stapling operation is performed; and

4. following completion of the stapling operation. the

stacked sheets are ejected from the second operating station.

ll. A punching and stapling apparatus for repetitively punching and stapling successive stacks of sheets of paper, characterized by an arrangement performing both punching and stapling operations on the same edge portion of the stack in a single straight-line pass through the apparatus, comprising:

means for feeding a stack along a supporting surface to a punching station,

stop means at the punching station for limiting advancement of the stack along the supporting surface,

punching means at the punching station for punching holes in the edge portion of the stack,

roll means above and below the stack and movable together for confining the stack during the punching operation,

means for retracting the stop means,

means for rotating the roll means through a predetermined angle to advance the confined punched stack along the supporting surface to a stapling station spaced from the punching station,

stapling means at the stapling station for stapling the stack in the punched edge portion thereof, and

roll means for ejecting the punched and stapled stacks from the stapling station.

12. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises stops extending upwardly through the supporting surface and being carried by a pivotable bracket, and wherein the means for retracting the stop means comprises cam means coupled to the pivotable bracket for pivoting the bracket and retracting the stops through the support surface.

13. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the pivotable bracket has a cam follower means and is carried upon a frame linearly movable in the direction of feed of the stacks of paper. thereby to adjustably position the leading edge of the stack in relation to the punching means to vary the position of the punched holes, and wherein the cam means coupled to the pivotable bracket includes a cam link having a surface engageable with the bracket cam follower throughout the extent of its linear movement.

14. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the roll means for confining the stack comprises a lower drive roll means carried by pivoted support means, and cam means coupled to the support means for pivoting the support means to move the drive rolls upwardly into confining engagement with the stack.

15. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cam means is coupled to the support means through a resilient linkage yielding when the drive roll means is in confining engagement with EST AVAILABLE COPY 3,883,063

the stack, thereby permitting different stack thicknesses to be accommodated,

16. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim wherein resilient linkage comprises a link pivotally connected to the drive roll support means and joined to the support means by a spring biasing the link into engagement with the cam means.

17. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the drive roll support means is pivoted about a shaft, and wherein the means for rotating the roll means comprises gear means rotatable about the shaft and rotatably coupled to the drive roll means, a segment gear coupled to thegear means, and cam means coupled to the segment gear for rotating the segment gear through a predetermined angle, thereby to rotate the drive roll means through a predetermined angle.

18. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the segment gear engages the cam means between its center of rotation and its meshing portion, resilient means bias the segment gear toward engagement with the cam means, and stop means limit the rotation of the segment gear toward the cam means. thereby determining the angle of rotation of the drive roll means.

19. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the stop means is adjustable to control the position of the segment gear and the angle of rotation of the drive roll means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,883,063

DATED I May 13, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Arnold Fassman and Robert E. Mersereau It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 1, under the heading of Inventors, change "Calif." to

Conn..

Signed and Scaled this twenty-fifth Day of November 1975 [SEAL] Allest.

RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN A! ffl'ffi (nmmissiuner ofPatents and Trademarks

Claims

1. Apparatus for punching holes in stacks of paper and for stapling the stacks together in the region of the sheets where the holes are punched, comprising: means providing for movement of the stacks of paper into operating position; first and second operating stations located a preset distance apart along the line of movement of the stacks of paper; means for arresting the movEment of each stack as it reaches said first operating station with the sheets thereof in assembled registry to accommodate a punching operation through all of the sheets of the stack; means at said first operating station for punching holes through all of the sheets of the assembled stack, said punching means being operative to form said holes in said region of said paper a short distance from one edge of the sheets; means to engage the sheets of said stack to hold said sheets in aligned registry after the punching means has been retracted from the stack of sheets; means operative with said holding means for advancing said stack of paper forward a predetermined distance along said line of movement, said predetermined distance being at least substantially equal to said preset distance so that said region of said papers stops at said second operating station, said holding means serving to maintain said sheets of said stack in registry during the advancing movement into said second operating station; and means at said second operating station for stapling together all of said sheets in said region thereof and closely adjacent said holes previously formed by said punching means; said holding and advancing means comprising drive roll means arranged to move into pressure-gripping engagement with the stacked sheets and to rotate through a predetermined angle to advance the stacked sheets so held said predetermined distance to position said sheet region where the holes are punched at the second operating station.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising pivoted support means mounting the drive roll means to move the drive roll means into and out of confining engagement with the stacked sheets; and cam means arranged to actuate said support means and, after the drive rolls are in driving engagement with the stacked sheets, to rotate the drive rolls to advance the stacked sheets to the second operating station.

2. rotating the drive rolls to advance the stacked sheets,

2. following the completion of the punching operation, the stacked sheets are advanced, while being maintained in registry, to the second operating station;

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support means is pivoted about a shaft; a gear on said shaft, said gear being coupled to said drive roll means for rotation therewith; a lever having teeth in meshing engagement with said gear; said cam means comprising a first cam and follower arranged to rotate said support means about its axis; said cam means further comprising a second cam and follower arranged to pivot said lever to effect rotation of said gear and thereby rotate said drive roll means.

4. following completion of the stapling operation, the stacked sheets are ejected from the second operating station.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second cams are carried by a common camshaft; and a one-revolution clutch coupling said camshaft to a source of motive power.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holding and advancing means comprises segment gear means arranged to rotate through an angle corresponding to the advancement of the held stacked sheets; cam means for rotating the segment gear; means for biasing the segment gear toward contact with the cam means; said varying means comprising an adjustable stop for engaging the segment gear means and for preventing the biasing means from maintaining contact between the cam means and segment gear means, thereby controlling the angle through which the segment gear is rotated by said cam means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operations are performed on the leading edge of the stacked sheets of material; said holding and advancing means comprising fixed idler roll means positioned above the stacked sheets of material located in the first operating statiOn; and movable drive roll means positioned below the idler roll means and arranged to be moved upwardly to grip the stacked sheets therebetween for confinement thereof, the drive roll means being rotated through a predetermined angle to advance the confined stack a predetermined distance to position it at the second operating station.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising cam means for

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising ejection means for shifting a stapled stack from said second operating station to a receptacle; and cam means for controlling the punching means, the holding and advancing means, the stapling means, and the ejecting means; said cam means producing a cyclical sequence in which:

11. A punching and stapling apparatus for repetitively punching and stapling successive stacks of sheets of paper, characterized by an arrangement performing both punching and stapling operations on the same edge portion of the stack in a single straight-line pass through the apparatus, comprising: means for feeding a stack along a supporting surface to a punching station, stop means at the punching station for limiting advancement of the stack along the supporting surface, punching means at the punching station for punching holes in the edge portion of the stack, roll means above and below the stack and movable together for confining the stack during the punching operation, means for retracting the stop means, means for rotating the roll means through a predetermined angle to advance the confined punched stack along the supporting surface to a stapling station spaced from the punching station, stapling means at the stapling station for stapling the stack in the punched edge portion thereof, and roll means for ejecting the punched and stapled stacks from the stapling station.

13. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the pivotable bracket has a cam follower means and is carried upon a frame linearly movable in the direction of feed of the stacks of paper, thereby to adjustably position the leading edge of the stack in relation to the punching means to vary the position of the punched holes, and wherein the cam means coupled to the pivotable bracket includes a cam link having a surface engageable with the bracket cam follower throughout the extent of its linear movement.

15. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cam means is coupled to the support means through a resilient linkage yielding when the drive roll means is in confining engagement with the stack, thereby permitting different stack thicknesses to be accommodated.

16. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein resilient linkage comprises a link pivotally connected to the drive roll support means and joined to the support means by a spring biasing the link into engagement with the cam means.

17. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the drive roll support means is pivoted about a shaft, and wherein the means for rotating the roll means comprises gear means rotatable about the shaft and rotatably coupled to the drive roll means, a segment gear coupled to the gear means, and cam means coupled to the segment gear for rotating the segment gear through a predetermined angle, thereby to rotate the drive roll means through a predetermined angle.

18. A punching and stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the segment gear engages the cam means between its center of rotation and its meshing portion, resilient means bias the segment gear toward engagement with the cam means, and stop means limit the rotation of the segment gear toward the cam means, thereby determining the angle of rotation of the drive roll means.