WO1992008580A1

WO1992008580A1 - A component for a stapling machine

Info

Publication number: WO1992008580A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/002046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Mark Harris; Anthony White
Original assignee: Ofrex Group Holdings Plc
Priority date: 1990-11-19
Filing date: 1991-11-19
Publication date: 1992-05-29
Also published as: GB9025132D0

Abstract

A magazine (1) for holding staples in a stapling machine consists of an integrally moulded plastics material body. The body defines an area (2) to retain a strip of staples and guide the staples in an axial movement. The body also defines a staple ejection slot (13) located at the end of the path of movement.

Description

"A COMPONENT FOR A STAPLING MACHINE"

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a component for a stapling machine.

A conventional stapling machine is formed primarily of metal components, one component comprising a staple magazine. The staple magazine conventionally includes means defining a staple ejection slot.

A typical staple magazine, as in present use, comprises a first metallic U-shaped channel member which forms the outer part of the magazine, with the arms of the channel extending upwardly. The two arms form the outer side walls of the magazine and extend forwardly beyond the end of the base of the channel and are then directed inwardly towards one another, thus closing the forward end of the channel. A further channel member, of smaller dimensions, is mounted within the first channel member, with the base of the further channel member resting on the base of the first channel member, the arms of the further channel member again being directed upwardly, parallel with the arms of the first channel member. A strip of staples may rest upon this further channel member and may be biassed along the channel member by means of a staple pusher. This channel member terminates immediately in front of the inwardly directed terminal portions of the side walls of the first channel member, thus defining a staple ejection slot. A reinforcing strap is usually provided mounted on the end part of the first channel, over-lying the inwardly directed terminal portion of this side walls of the first channel.

This component of the stapling machine is manufactured, therefore, from three separate metal parts. The metal parts have to be fabricated separately and then assembled. This is a relatively expensive operation.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved magazine for a stapling machine.

According to this invention there is provided a magazine comprising an integrally moulded plastics material body defining means to retain a strip of staples and guide the staples in an axial movement, and means defining a staple ejection slot located at the end of said path of movement.

Preferably the means defining the path of movement comprise an elongate body defining two opposed surfaces adjacent which the depending legs of a strip of staples may lie.

Conveniently said elongate element comprises a channel-form body.

Advantageously the channel-form body has a base and upstanding side walls, the strip of staples being adapted to rest across the top of the side walls with the legs of staples depending adjacent the exterior surfaces of the side walls.

Preferably the elongate element supports a head, at one end, which defines said staple ejection slot adjacent said one end of the elongate element.

Conveniently laterally extending webs located at said one end of the elongate element support upstanding side walls which in turn support a transversely extending wall, the transversely extending wall defining, together with the end of the elongate element, said staple ejection slot.

Preferably said the end of the elongate element comprises a transversely extending end wall.

Preferably part of the staple ejection slot adapted to receive a staple ejector blade is tapered.

This invention also relates to a stapling machine incorporating a staple magazine as described above.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a staple magazine for a stapling machine in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the magazine of Figure i;

FIGURE 3 is an underneath view of the magazine of Figures 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the centre line of the magazine of Figures 1 to 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line W- of Figure 1 ;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the staple magazine of Figures 1 to 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X of Figure 3;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line Y-Y of Figure 1; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line Y-Y of Figure 1.

A staple magazine 1 in accordance with the invention, as shown in the accompaying drawings, is an integrally molded plastics component, made from a suitable substantially rigid plastics material.

The staple magazine 1 comprises a first elongate body portion 2 in the form of an open-topped channel member. The channel has a base 3 and two longitudinally extending upstanding side walls 4, which define the outer part of the magazine and an end wall 5 substantially closing the rear end of the channel. The upstanding side walls 4, are spaced apart by a distance such that a strip of staples may rest on the channel, with the depending legs of the staples lying immediately adjacent the outer surfaces of the side walls 4. The underneath part of the base of the channel 3 may be provided with downwardly extending oval protrusions 6, 7 for locating purposes and, at the rear end of the channel, substantially in alignment with the end wall 5, a downwardly extending projection or "tail" 8 which may be utlilised to mount the magazine in position.

An aperture 9 is provided in the end wall 5 on the axis of the described magazine to receive an axially extending guide rod which will, when the magazine is fully assembled, be surrounded by a spring pushing along the magazine a staple pusher, as is conventional. The other

^<■ 5 end of the guide rod is adapted to be received within a recess 10 provided for that purpose in a transverse wall 11

* adjacent the other end of the channel and forming part of a head assembly 12 which defines an ejection slot 13 for staples present in the magazine.

10

As can be seen, the side walls 4 of the channel extend beyond the transverse wall 11 by a short distance, and the channel is finally closed by an end wall 14. A web 15 extends laterally from each side of the channel,

15 adjacent the base of the channel, in the region where the channel extends into the head 12, the webs 15 extending to and supporting upstanding side walls 16 extending parallel with the walls 4 of the channel, but defining respective gaps 17 between the walls 4 and the walls 16. This can be 0 seen as clearly in Figure 8.

The walls 16 carry a transverse wall 18, which is parallel with, but spaced from the end wall 14 that closes the end of the channel. 5

The transverse wall 18 has a central recess 19 formed centrally in its upper edge, to receive a staple steady. The transverse end wall 18 has a transversely extending face 20 thereof which is spaced from and which 0 faces the end wall 14 which serves to close the channel member. The ejection slot 13 is defined between the face 20 and the end wall 14. As can be seen most clearly from Figures 1 and 3, the ejection slot 13 extends substantially transversely of the magazine and has an enlarged central 5 region 21 and two narrow end regions 22. Staples being urged along the magazine by a staple pusher engage the end regions 22 of the wall 18. These end regions 22 engage the ends of the central portion of each staple, and also each of the two legs of the staple, thus retaining the stape in the desired condition. The slot 13 has rearwardly extending portions 23 which extend rearwardly from the said regions 22. These portions are provided simply to ensure that the moulding pin used to mould the slot has sufficient strength. Thus these rearwardly extending projections 23 do not serve any purpose in the finished product, but are merely provided to facilitate the moulding process.

As can be seen most clearly from Figure 9 the staple ejection slot 13 tapers 23 in its uppermost part, to guide the staple ejector cleanly into the staple ejection slot.

The staple magazine as described may be used to replace the conventional staple magazine in a stapling machine. It is believed that the staple magazine of the invention may be manufactured more cheaply than the typical prior art staple magazine, and yet will function in an adequate manner.

In use of the staple magazine as described strip of staples will be located over the channel member 2, with the legs of the staples embracing the outer surfaces of the side walls 4 of the channel. The staples will be biassed, by a staple pusher, towards the ejection slot 13. The end staple of the strip of staples will thus engage the end regions 22 of the wall 18 defining the ejection slot 13. The end staple will then be located completely above the ejection slot and will have been moved completely beyond the end wall 14 of the channel. The staple ejector blade may then be brought down into contact with the staple, driving the staple through the ejection slot. As the staple ejector blade is brought towards the staple ejection slot it is guided by the tapering portion 23 of the staple ejection slot as shown most clearly in Figure 9 so that the staple ejector blade firmly and accurately engages the staple that is to be ejected. The staple that is adjacent the staple located above the ejection slot is located on top of the end wall 14 of the channel and thus when the staple ejector blade moves downwardly it snaps the staple aligned with the ejection slot off from the rest of the strip of staples (which are retained in position by a staple steady, as is conventional) . The staple is then driven out of the stape ejection slot. When the staple ejection blade is withdrawn from the ejection slot, the staples advance, bringing the next staple into contact with the portions 22 defining the ejection slot 13.

Claims

1. A magazine comprising an integrally moulded plastics material body defining means to retain a strip of staples and guide the staples in an axial movement, and means defining a staple ejection slot located at the end of said path of movement.

2. A magazine according to claim 1 wherein the means defining the path of movement comprise an elongate body defining two opposed surfaces adjacent which the depending legs of a strip of staples may lie.

3. A magazine according to claim 2 wherein said elongate element comprises a channel-form body.

4. A magazine according to claim 4 wherein the channel-form body has a base and upstanding side walls, the strip of staples being adapted to rest across the top of the side walls with the legs of staples depending adjacent the exterior surfaces of the side walls.

5. A magazine according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the elongate element supports a head, at one end, which defines said staple ejection slot adjacent said one end of the elongate element.

6. A magazine according to claim 5 wherein laterally extending webs located at said one end of the elongate element support upstanding side walls which in turn support a transversely extending wall, the transversely extending wall defining, together with the end of the elongate element, said staple ejection slot.

7. A magazine according to claim 6 wherein the said end of the elongate element comprises a transversely extending end wall.

8. A magazine according to any one of the preceding claims where part of the staple ejection slot adapted to receive a staple ejector blade is tapered.

9. A staple magazine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A stapling machine incorporating a staple magazine according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Any novel feature of combination of features disclosed herein.