CA1100701A - Staple magazine - Google Patents
Staple magazineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1100701A CA1100701A CA325,759A CA325759A CA1100701A CA 1100701 A CA1100701 A CA 1100701A CA 325759 A CA325759 A CA 325759A CA 1100701 A CA1100701 A CA 1100701A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- receiving channel
- staples
- housing
- channel
- spring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001370 Se alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N Selenium Chemical class [Se] BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001235 sensitizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N succinic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CCC(O)=O KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- B27F—DOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
- B27F7/00—Nailing or stapling; Nailed or stapled work
- B27F7/17—Stapling machines
- B27F7/38—Staple feeding devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
- Dovetailed Work, And Nailing Machines And Stapling Machines For Wood (AREA)
- Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
Abstract
A STAPLE MAGAZINE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A magazine in which a plurality of sticks of staples are stored. The magazine is associated with a stapler head for advancing automatically successive sticks of staples to the receiving channel of the stapler head.
The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it in-tended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A magazine in which a plurality of sticks of staples are stored. The magazine is associated with a stapler head for advancing automatically successive sticks of staples to the receiving channel of the stapler head.
The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it in-tended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Description
70~
This invention relates to an electrophotographic printing machine, and more particularly concerns an improved staple storage magazine for use in the stapling apparatus thereof.
In the process of electrophotographic printing~
a photoconductive member is charged to a substantially uni-form level thereby sensitizing the surface thereof. There-after, the charged photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced to discharge the charge selectively in the irradiated areas7 This records an electrostatic iatent image on the photocon-ductive surface corresponding to the informational areas of the original document. The latent image is developed by bringing a developer mix of carrier granules and toner particles into contact therewith. This results in a toner powder image being ~ormed on the photoconductive member corres-ponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. This toner powder image is transferred to a copy sheet and permanently a~fixed thereto. This general approach was originally disclosed by Carlson in U. S. Patent No. 2,297,691, and has been further amplified and described by many related patents in the art.
Frequently, it is desirable to reproduce a set of original documents as a plurality of sets of copies. This may be achieved by employing a recirculating document handling system in association with the electrophotographic printing machine. The recirculating document handling system is positioned on the exposure platen of the printing machine and advances successive original documents thereto. After 110~70~
D/78078 being copied, the original document is returned to the stack of original documents so that it may be re-imaged for the next successive copying cycle. In this manner, collated sets of copies or booklets are formed. Each set of copies corrès-ponds to the set of original documents. The copy sheets in each booklet are stapled to one another. In higher speed electrophotographic printing machines, it is highly desirable to utilize a stapling apparatus that possesses a storage compartment housing extra staples. This minimizes the fre-quency of staple loading and reduces the machine maintenance.
Heretofore, it was necessary to shut the machine down after the staples in the stapling apparatus were depleted. However, with the utilization of a magazine storing an extra supply of staples, the down time in the printing machine is signi-ficantly reduced. Moreover, it is desirable to automatically advance successive sticks of staples into the stapler head.
In this way, the stapling apparatus requires little or no maintenance and is no longer a major factor in machine down time.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve the stapling apparatus employed in an electrophotographic printing machine by utili~ing a magazine for having a supply of staples therein which automatically advances successive sticks of staples into the stapler head.
Prior Art Statement Various types of devices have hereinbefore been developed to improve stapling machines. The following prior art appears to be relevant:
Maynard 2,655,654 October 20, 1953 Colechia et al. 3,330,462 July 11, 1967 ~10070:1 .
The pertinent portions of the foregoing prior art may be briefly summarized as follows:
Maynard describes a rotary stitcher head 10 having slots 111 and flànges 110 and 116 on the rim of disc 106.
These slots are supplied with formed staples S. The reci-procation of driver 115 forces the staples ou~wardly toward the work piece.
Colechia et al. discloses a fastner driving appara-tus including a magazine 32 holding a helical coil of fast-ners. The fastners are advanced into a delivery passage 38 so that a pneumatically actuated drive mechanism drives successive lead fastners into the work piece.
It is believed that the scope of the present in-vention, as defined by the appended claims, is clearly paten-tably distinguishable over the foregoing prior art taken either singly or in combination with one another.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
Briefly stated, and in accordance with an aspect of this invention, there is provided a magazine for storing a plural-ity of sticks of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel in a stapler head.
Pursuant to the features of the invention, the maga2ine includes a housing having a plurality of channels with each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples.
Means are provided for indexing the housing to align succ~ss-ive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the head.
Means move a stick of staples from the housing channel aligned with the stapler head receiving channel into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a magazine for storing a plurality of sticks .~
~ - 4 -110070~
of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel of a stapler head, including:
a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head; and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler head into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for driving a staple through a stack of sheets, including:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
. means for indexing sald magazine to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housing; and - means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a reproducing machine for producing stapled - 4a -~' ~10~701 piles of copies from documents advanced from. a supply source to an exposure platen and returned to the supply source in repeated cycles with the copies being stapled in sets corres-ponding to the documents being copied, wherein the improved stapling apparatus includes:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channels being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channel thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housings; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
- 4b -, .
llV0701 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the present inven-tion will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of an electrophotographic printing incorporating the features of the present invention therein;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stapl-ing apparatus employed in the Figure 1 printing machine;
Figure 3 is an elevational view depicting the staple storage magazine used in the Figure 2 stapling apparatus;
and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a stapler head employed in the Figure 2 stapling apparatus.
While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the inven-tion as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to more fully understand the illustrative ~5 electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the features of the present invention therein, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. Figure 1 schematically illustrates the various components of an electro-photographic printing machine having a stapling apparatus -- 5 -- .
with the staple storage magazine of the present invention therein. Although the staple storage magazine is particularly well adapted for use in the stapling apparatus of an electro-photographic printing machine, it will be evident from the following discussion that it is equally well suited for use in a wide variety of staplers and is not necessarily limited in its application to the particular embodiment shown herein.
Inasmuch as the art of electrophotographic printing is well known, the various processing stations employed in the Figure l printing machine will be shown hereinafter schematically, and their operation described briefly with reference thereto.
Referring now to Figure l, the electrophotographic printing machine employs a belt lO having a photoconductive surface deposited on a conductive substrate. Preferably, the photoconductive surface is made from a selenium alloy with the conductive substrate being made from aluminum.
Belt lO moves in the direction of arrow 12 to advance through the various processing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof. Rollers 14, 16, and 18, support belt lO movably. A drive mechanism, i.e. a suitable motor, is coupled to roller 14 which advances belt lO in the direction of arrow 12.
The imaging cycle is initiated when a portion of the photoconductive surface of belt lO passing through charging station A is charged to a relatively high sub-stantially uniform level. Preferably, charging station A
includes a corona generating device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, for charging the photoconductive sur~ace of belt lO. A suitable corona generating device is ,. . .
07l:~1 described in U. S. Patent No. 2,836,725 issued to Vyverberg in 1958.
As belt 10 continues to advance, the charged por-tion of the photoconductive surface passes through exposure station B. At exposure station B, successive orginal docu-ments 22 are illuminated and the light rays reflected there-from transmitted onto the charged photoconductive surface.
In this manner, the charge is selectively dissipated to record an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface of belt 10. Preferably, a recirculating document handling system 24 presents successive original documents to exposure platen 26. As is shown in Figure 1, the recirculating docu-ment handling system 24 is positioned above exposure platen 26 and advances each original document thereto and returns the original document to the stack thereof after it has been exposed. A suitable recirculating document handling system is described in British Patent No. 1,492,466, the relevant portions thereof being hereby incorporated into the present appli¢ation. Original document 22 is positioned face down upon platen 26 and a lamp flashe light rays thereupon. The light rays reflected from original document 22 are trans-mitted through the optics of the exposure system forming a light image containing the informational areas of the original document therein. The optics, e.g. a suitable lens and mirrors, project the light image onto the charged portion of the photo-conductive surface. As previously indicated, the charged - portion of the photoconductive surface is discharged selectively by the light image of the original document to record an electrostatic latent image thereon. The electrostatic latent 3-o image corresponds to the informational areas contained within 1~00701 the original document being reproduced.
Thereafter, as belt 10 continues to advance, the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon moves through development station C~ At development station C, a developer unit having a plurality of magnetic brush developer units 30, 32, 34, and 36, advance the developer mix into contact with the electrostatic latent image. These developer rollers are disposed in housing 38. Each developer roller is a magnetic brush developer roller forming a chain-like array of developer mix extending in an outwardly direction. The developer mix on each developer roller contacts the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface of belt 10~
The electrostatic latent image attracts the toner particles from the carrier granules of the developer mix forming a toner I5 powder image on belt 10.
The toner powder image recorded on the photo-conductive surface, is advanced by belt 10 to transfer station D. Transfer station D is located at a tangency point on belt 10 as it moves arouna roller 14. A transfer zo roller 40 is disposed at transfer station D with a copy sheet being interposed between roller 40 and belt 10. Transfer roller 40 is electrically biased to a suitable magnitude and polarity so as ~o attract the toner powder image from belt 10 to the surface of the copy sheet in contact therewith.
After transferring the toner powder image to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E.
Prior to proceeding with the remaining processing stations disposed about the path of movement of belt 10, sheet feeding apparatus 46 will be briefly described. The 1:~701 sheet feeding apparatus advances successive copy sheets from stack 48, or, in lieu thereof, stack 50. The machine pro-gramming enables the operator to select the desired stack from which the copy sheet will be advanced. Thus, the selec-ted copy sheet is advanced to transfer station D where the toner powder image adhering to the photoconductive surface of belt 1~ is transferred thereto.
After the toner powder image has been transferred to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E. Fixing station E includes a fuser assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 52. Fuser assembly 52 comprises a heated fuser roller and a back-up roller. The copy sheet havin~ the toner powder image thereon, passes between the fuser roller and the back-up roller with the toner powder image contacting the fuser roller. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to the copy sheet. After fusing, conveyors 54 and 56 advance the copy sheet to finishing station F.
This invention relates to an electrophotographic printing machine, and more particularly concerns an improved staple storage magazine for use in the stapling apparatus thereof.
In the process of electrophotographic printing~
a photoconductive member is charged to a substantially uni-form level thereby sensitizing the surface thereof. There-after, the charged photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced to discharge the charge selectively in the irradiated areas7 This records an electrostatic iatent image on the photocon-ductive surface corresponding to the informational areas of the original document. The latent image is developed by bringing a developer mix of carrier granules and toner particles into contact therewith. This results in a toner powder image being ~ormed on the photoconductive member corres-ponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. This toner powder image is transferred to a copy sheet and permanently a~fixed thereto. This general approach was originally disclosed by Carlson in U. S. Patent No. 2,297,691, and has been further amplified and described by many related patents in the art.
Frequently, it is desirable to reproduce a set of original documents as a plurality of sets of copies. This may be achieved by employing a recirculating document handling system in association with the electrophotographic printing machine. The recirculating document handling system is positioned on the exposure platen of the printing machine and advances successive original documents thereto. After 110~70~
D/78078 being copied, the original document is returned to the stack of original documents so that it may be re-imaged for the next successive copying cycle. In this manner, collated sets of copies or booklets are formed. Each set of copies corrès-ponds to the set of original documents. The copy sheets in each booklet are stapled to one another. In higher speed electrophotographic printing machines, it is highly desirable to utilize a stapling apparatus that possesses a storage compartment housing extra staples. This minimizes the fre-quency of staple loading and reduces the machine maintenance.
Heretofore, it was necessary to shut the machine down after the staples in the stapling apparatus were depleted. However, with the utilization of a magazine storing an extra supply of staples, the down time in the printing machine is signi-ficantly reduced. Moreover, it is desirable to automatically advance successive sticks of staples into the stapler head.
In this way, the stapling apparatus requires little or no maintenance and is no longer a major factor in machine down time.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve the stapling apparatus employed in an electrophotographic printing machine by utili~ing a magazine for having a supply of staples therein which automatically advances successive sticks of staples into the stapler head.
Prior Art Statement Various types of devices have hereinbefore been developed to improve stapling machines. The following prior art appears to be relevant:
Maynard 2,655,654 October 20, 1953 Colechia et al. 3,330,462 July 11, 1967 ~10070:1 .
The pertinent portions of the foregoing prior art may be briefly summarized as follows:
Maynard describes a rotary stitcher head 10 having slots 111 and flànges 110 and 116 on the rim of disc 106.
These slots are supplied with formed staples S. The reci-procation of driver 115 forces the staples ou~wardly toward the work piece.
Colechia et al. discloses a fastner driving appara-tus including a magazine 32 holding a helical coil of fast-ners. The fastners are advanced into a delivery passage 38 so that a pneumatically actuated drive mechanism drives successive lead fastners into the work piece.
It is believed that the scope of the present in-vention, as defined by the appended claims, is clearly paten-tably distinguishable over the foregoing prior art taken either singly or in combination with one another.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
Briefly stated, and in accordance with an aspect of this invention, there is provided a magazine for storing a plural-ity of sticks of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel in a stapler head.
Pursuant to the features of the invention, the maga2ine includes a housing having a plurality of channels with each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples.
Means are provided for indexing the housing to align succ~ss-ive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the head.
Means move a stick of staples from the housing channel aligned with the stapler head receiving channel into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a magazine for storing a plurality of sticks .~
~ - 4 -110070~
of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel of a stapler head, including:
a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head; and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler head into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for driving a staple through a stack of sheets, including:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
. means for indexing sald magazine to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housing; and - means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a reproducing machine for producing stapled - 4a -~' ~10~701 piles of copies from documents advanced from. a supply source to an exposure platen and returned to the supply source in repeated cycles with the copies being stapled in sets corres-ponding to the documents being copied, wherein the improved stapling apparatus includes:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channels being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channel thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housings; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
- 4b -, .
llV0701 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the present inven-tion will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of an electrophotographic printing incorporating the features of the present invention therein;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stapl-ing apparatus employed in the Figure 1 printing machine;
Figure 3 is an elevational view depicting the staple storage magazine used in the Figure 2 stapling apparatus;
and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a stapler head employed in the Figure 2 stapling apparatus.
While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the inven-tion as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to more fully understand the illustrative ~5 electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the features of the present invention therein, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. Figure 1 schematically illustrates the various components of an electro-photographic printing machine having a stapling apparatus -- 5 -- .
with the staple storage magazine of the present invention therein. Although the staple storage magazine is particularly well adapted for use in the stapling apparatus of an electro-photographic printing machine, it will be evident from the following discussion that it is equally well suited for use in a wide variety of staplers and is not necessarily limited in its application to the particular embodiment shown herein.
Inasmuch as the art of electrophotographic printing is well known, the various processing stations employed in the Figure l printing machine will be shown hereinafter schematically, and their operation described briefly with reference thereto.
Referring now to Figure l, the electrophotographic printing machine employs a belt lO having a photoconductive surface deposited on a conductive substrate. Preferably, the photoconductive surface is made from a selenium alloy with the conductive substrate being made from aluminum.
Belt lO moves in the direction of arrow 12 to advance through the various processing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof. Rollers 14, 16, and 18, support belt lO movably. A drive mechanism, i.e. a suitable motor, is coupled to roller 14 which advances belt lO in the direction of arrow 12.
The imaging cycle is initiated when a portion of the photoconductive surface of belt lO passing through charging station A is charged to a relatively high sub-stantially uniform level. Preferably, charging station A
includes a corona generating device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, for charging the photoconductive sur~ace of belt lO. A suitable corona generating device is ,. . .
07l:~1 described in U. S. Patent No. 2,836,725 issued to Vyverberg in 1958.
As belt 10 continues to advance, the charged por-tion of the photoconductive surface passes through exposure station B. At exposure station B, successive orginal docu-ments 22 are illuminated and the light rays reflected there-from transmitted onto the charged photoconductive surface.
In this manner, the charge is selectively dissipated to record an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface of belt 10. Preferably, a recirculating document handling system 24 presents successive original documents to exposure platen 26. As is shown in Figure 1, the recirculating docu-ment handling system 24 is positioned above exposure platen 26 and advances each original document thereto and returns the original document to the stack thereof after it has been exposed. A suitable recirculating document handling system is described in British Patent No. 1,492,466, the relevant portions thereof being hereby incorporated into the present appli¢ation. Original document 22 is positioned face down upon platen 26 and a lamp flashe light rays thereupon. The light rays reflected from original document 22 are trans-mitted through the optics of the exposure system forming a light image containing the informational areas of the original document therein. The optics, e.g. a suitable lens and mirrors, project the light image onto the charged portion of the photo-conductive surface. As previously indicated, the charged - portion of the photoconductive surface is discharged selectively by the light image of the original document to record an electrostatic latent image thereon. The electrostatic latent 3-o image corresponds to the informational areas contained within 1~00701 the original document being reproduced.
Thereafter, as belt 10 continues to advance, the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon moves through development station C~ At development station C, a developer unit having a plurality of magnetic brush developer units 30, 32, 34, and 36, advance the developer mix into contact with the electrostatic latent image. These developer rollers are disposed in housing 38. Each developer roller is a magnetic brush developer roller forming a chain-like array of developer mix extending in an outwardly direction. The developer mix on each developer roller contacts the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface of belt 10~
The electrostatic latent image attracts the toner particles from the carrier granules of the developer mix forming a toner I5 powder image on belt 10.
The toner powder image recorded on the photo-conductive surface, is advanced by belt 10 to transfer station D. Transfer station D is located at a tangency point on belt 10 as it moves arouna roller 14. A transfer zo roller 40 is disposed at transfer station D with a copy sheet being interposed between roller 40 and belt 10. Transfer roller 40 is electrically biased to a suitable magnitude and polarity so as ~o attract the toner powder image from belt 10 to the surface of the copy sheet in contact therewith.
After transferring the toner powder image to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E.
Prior to proceeding with the remaining processing stations disposed about the path of movement of belt 10, sheet feeding apparatus 46 will be briefly described. The 1:~701 sheet feeding apparatus advances successive copy sheets from stack 48, or, in lieu thereof, stack 50. The machine pro-gramming enables the operator to select the desired stack from which the copy sheet will be advanced. Thus, the selec-ted copy sheet is advanced to transfer station D where the toner powder image adhering to the photoconductive surface of belt 1~ is transferred thereto.
After the toner powder image has been transferred to the copy sheet, conveyor 42 advances the copy sheet in the direction of arrow 44 to fixing station E. Fixing station E includes a fuser assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 52. Fuser assembly 52 comprises a heated fuser roller and a back-up roller. The copy sheet havin~ the toner powder image thereon, passes between the fuser roller and the back-up roller with the toner powder image contacting the fuser roller. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to the copy sheet. After fusing, conveyors 54 and 56 advance the copy sheet to finishing station F.
2- Finishing station F includes an output tray 58 and a stapling apparatus 60. The stapling apparatus comprises one or two staplers each of which is manually adjustable to discrete positions corresponding to the paper sizes which may be employed in the printing machine. Either stapler or both staplers may be selected for stapling. Inasmuch as both staplers are identical to one another, only one stapler will be described hereinafter. The detailed structure of the stapling apparatus and the magazine associated therewith for storing a plurality of sticks of staples will be des-cribed hereinafter with reference to Figures 2 through 4, 1~00701 inclusive. It should be noted that finishing staton F is merely depicted schematically and may be deemed to be exemplary of a finishing station comprising a plurality of trays rather than a single tray as depicted herein. After all of the original documents have been reproduced, the stack of copy sheets in tray 58 are stapled to one another by stapling apparatus 60. Thereafter, the machine operator removes the finished booklet of copy sheets.
It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for purposes of the present application to illustrate the general operation of an electrophotographic printing machine having the features of the present invention therein. Turning now to the specific subject matter of the present invention, Figure 2 depicts the stapling apparatus, in detail, employed in the Figure 1 printing machine.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the de-tailed structure of stapling apparatus 60. As shown therein, stapling apparatus 60 includes a stapler head 62. Preferably, stapler head 62 is a modified stapler head which corresponds to Model No. 62E manufactured by the Bostich Corporation.
Stapler head 62 includes a housing ~4 having a receiving channel 66 for receiving a stick of staples 68 from magazine 70.
During operation, a clamper 72 moves in the direction of arrow 74 to secure the set of copy sheets being stapled to one another.
After the stack of copy sheets has been clamped between clamper 72 and housing 64, ram 76 of stapler 62 is actuated to drive a staple through the stack of copy sheets. Both clamper 72 and ram 76 are actuated by a pneumatic system. Preferably, the pneumatic system comprises a cylinder 78 having a plunger ~3~ associated with clamper 72. Pressuri2ed air flows into cylinder 78 causing the plunger to extend and move clamper 72 into contact with the set of copy sheets. Thereafter, pressurized air flows into cylinder 80 causing the plunger associated therewith to aetuate ram 76 driving a staple through the elamped set of eopy sheets. Clamper 72 may have a clinching recess in the surfaee thereof opposed ~rom the staple legs. Thus, the portion of the staple legs extending through the staek of eopy sheets are folded baek into eontaet with the set of eopy sheets as the staple is driven therethrough. This re~ults in the formation of a booklet of copy sheets eorresponding to the set of original doeuments being reprodueed.
Magazine 70 is mounted fixedly on stapler head 62.
Maga~ine 70 includes a cylindrieal member 82 mounted rotata-bly therein. Cylindrieal member 82 eomprises a plurality of U-shaped ehannels 8~. Preferably, there are fifteen ehannels disposed about the eireumferential surface of cylindrical member 82. Eaeh channel is eapable of support-ing slidably a stapled stick having 2,355 staples therein.
A pusher 86, mounted slidably in ehannel 84, is resiliently urged into engagement with the stick of staples 68 so as to move them from channel 84 in magazine 70 to receiving ehannel 66 of stapler head 62. One end portion of a torsion spring is connected to pusher 86. The other end portion of the tor-sion spring is eonnected to a gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 winds the torsion spring to move pusher 86 toward stapler head 62 so as to move the stiek of staples 68 into receiving ehannel 66. After the stick of staples 68 has been moved into receiving channel 66, pusher 86 is retracted. Retraction of pusher 86 is achieved by reversing the direction of rota-~0 tion of gear motor 88.
As shown in Figure 2, magazine 70 comprises a cylinder 82 having a plurality of channels disposed there-about and arranged in a turret-like configuration. Each channel 84 supports a stick of staples 68 therein. After one stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 o~ housing 64, motor 90 indexes cylinder 82 so that the next successive channel having a stick of staples therein is aligned with recelving channel 66 of housing 64. ~n this manner, the next successive stic~ of staples is positioned to be advanced into receiving channel 60 of housing 64 when the quantity of staples in the prior stick is beneath a pre-determined level. Motor 90 is coupled via linkage 92 to cylinder 82 so as to periodically rotate c~linder 82 an angular distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent channels therein. A detent (not shown) is employed as a vernier alignment gage to insure that the channel in the magazine and receiving channel are aligned with one another.
Turning now to Figure 3, there is shown an alter-nate arrangement for actuating pusher 86 to advance the stick of staples from channel 84 in cylindrical member 82 to receiv-ing channel 66 of housing 64. As depicted thereat, indexing motor 80 rotates cam 94 and pawl 96. Rotation of pawl 96 causes cylinder 80 to advance a distance corresponding to ~5 the distance between adjacent channels 84 so that the next successive stick of staples in channel 84 is in alignment with receiving channel 66 of stapler head 62. As cam 94 rotates, arm 98 causes retracting lever 100 to move pusher 86 in a rearwardly direction away from receiving channel 66.
In operation, after pusher a6 has advanced the stick o~ staples 110()7(~
68 into receiving channel 66, it moves, at least partially, into receiving channel 66 so that the stick of staples has cleared the interface between receiving channel 66 and channel 84. Thus, prior to indexing cylindrical member 80, it is necessary to retract the pusher from receiving channel 66.
This is achieved by pivoting lever lO0 which, in turn, is connected to pusher 86, so as to move pusher 86 rearwardly away from receiving channel 66. In order to load each channel 84 with a stick of staples 68, the machine operator moves the pusher rearwardly. This provides sufficient space within the channel to place the stick of staples therein. A spring (not shown) is compressed by the rearward movement of pusher 86. When the operator has moved pusher 86 sufficiently far, a pivotable detent moves upwardly through a slot in channel 84 to prevent the forward movement of pusher 86. At this time, the pusher assembly is live and, upon retraction of the detent, will advance the stick of staples from the respective channel to the receiving channel in the stapler head housing.
As indexing motor gO rotates cam 94 and pawl 96, pawl 96 moves cylindrical member 80 to align the next successive channel therein with receiving channel 66 of stapler housing 64.
After the respective channel 84 is aligned with receiving channel 66, pawl 96 retracts the detent in the slot in channel 84 permitting the spring to drive the pusher forward advancing the stick of staples into receiving channel 66.
An alternate embodiment for urging each stick o~
staples 68 from its respective channel 84 comprises an endless belt entrained about a pair of spaced rollers.
Pusher 86 is secured to the endless belt. As the belt moves, the pusher moves in a recirculating path. In one directioo, 11~;)0701 the pusher advances the staple stick to the receiving channel in the stapler head. As the belt continues to move, the pusher returns to its initial posi~ion so as to advance the next successive stick of staples into the stapler head receiving channel. A motor is provided for rotating the drive roller which advances the endless belt. Thus, movement of the pusher in a recirculating path on a belt advances success-ive sticks of staples into the receiving channel of the stapler head~
Indexing motor 90 is actuated by a staple sensing mechanism located in stapler head 62. The detailed operation of stapler head 62 and the sen-sing mechanism associated there-with for determining the quantity of staples remaining in receiving channel 66 will be described hereinafter with re-ference to Figure 4.
Turning now to Figure 4, a stick of staples 68 is positioned in receiving channel 66 of housing 64. Ram 76 shears a staple from stick 68 and drives it through a set of copy sheets. After the quantity of staples in stick 68 has been depleted to a pre-determined number, the next successive stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 ~rom magazine 70. ~ staple detecting system determines the quantity of staples remaining within receiving channel 66. The staple detecting system 102 comprises a light source 104 directing light rays through aperture 106 in housing 64.
The light rays are transmitted in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of receiving channel 66 so as to be sensed by photodiode 108. When a stick of staples 68 blocks aperture 106, the output from the photodiode 108 is beneath a pre-determined level. Contrawise, when the staples have been depleted sufficiently so as to advance stick 68 beyond aperture 106, photodiode 108 develops an electrical signal above the pre aetermined level. The electrical output signal from photodiode 108 is processed by logic circuitry 110. Preferably, logic circuitry 110 includes a suitable discriminator circuit for comparing a reference with the elec-trical output signal from photodiode 108. The discriminator circuit may utilize a silicon control switch which turns on and effectively locks in after an electrical output signal having a magnitude greater than the reference level is obtained.
The signal from the discriminator circuit transmits a control signal to indexing motor 90 and to gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 is activated to rotate a torsion spring causing the pusher to advance the next stick of staples from the channel within the magazine to receiving channel 66. After the stick of staples has been advanced into receiving channel 66, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member 88 to align the next successive channel having staples therein with receiving channel 66.
By way of example, light source lQ4 is, preferably, a tungsten filiment lamp operating from a five volt source.
Photodiode 108 is a commercially available silicon photo-transistor such as is produced by the General Electric Company, Model No. L14D.
It should be noted that after motor 90 indexes the next successive stick of staples into alignment with channel 66 of housing 64, a reset signal is generated resetting the silicon control switch of the discriminator circuit of logic circuitry 110. This permits a new electrical output signal ~100~0~
to be generated when the number of staples remaining in channel 66 of housing 64 is beneath a pre-determined level. As pre-viously indicated, this signal actuates gear motor 88 for advancing the next successive stick of staples into receiving channel 66. Thereafter, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member so that the next stick of staples is aligned with receiving channel 66. Thus, successive sticks of staple may be advanced into the stapler head. This decreases the down time for the stapling apparatus and increases the time between operator calls.
In recapitulation, it is apparent that the electro-photographic printing machine aescribed herein employs a finishing station having a stapling apparatus which includes a magazine storing a plurality of staple sticks therein.
The maga~ine automatically advances successive staple sticks into the stapler head when the supply of staples therein is depleted beneath a pre-determined level.
It is, therefore, evident that there has been pro-vided, in accordance with the present invention, a magazine for furnishing a supply of sticks of staples to a stapler head that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages hereinbefore set forth. While this invention has been des-cribed in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims~
It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for purposes of the present application to illustrate the general operation of an electrophotographic printing machine having the features of the present invention therein. Turning now to the specific subject matter of the present invention, Figure 2 depicts the stapling apparatus, in detail, employed in the Figure 1 printing machine.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the de-tailed structure of stapling apparatus 60. As shown therein, stapling apparatus 60 includes a stapler head 62. Preferably, stapler head 62 is a modified stapler head which corresponds to Model No. 62E manufactured by the Bostich Corporation.
Stapler head 62 includes a housing ~4 having a receiving channel 66 for receiving a stick of staples 68 from magazine 70.
During operation, a clamper 72 moves in the direction of arrow 74 to secure the set of copy sheets being stapled to one another.
After the stack of copy sheets has been clamped between clamper 72 and housing 64, ram 76 of stapler 62 is actuated to drive a staple through the stack of copy sheets. Both clamper 72 and ram 76 are actuated by a pneumatic system. Preferably, the pneumatic system comprises a cylinder 78 having a plunger ~3~ associated with clamper 72. Pressuri2ed air flows into cylinder 78 causing the plunger to extend and move clamper 72 into contact with the set of copy sheets. Thereafter, pressurized air flows into cylinder 80 causing the plunger associated therewith to aetuate ram 76 driving a staple through the elamped set of eopy sheets. Clamper 72 may have a clinching recess in the surfaee thereof opposed ~rom the staple legs. Thus, the portion of the staple legs extending through the staek of eopy sheets are folded baek into eontaet with the set of eopy sheets as the staple is driven therethrough. This re~ults in the formation of a booklet of copy sheets eorresponding to the set of original doeuments being reprodueed.
Magazine 70 is mounted fixedly on stapler head 62.
Maga~ine 70 includes a cylindrieal member 82 mounted rotata-bly therein. Cylindrieal member 82 eomprises a plurality of U-shaped ehannels 8~. Preferably, there are fifteen ehannels disposed about the eireumferential surface of cylindrical member 82. Eaeh channel is eapable of support-ing slidably a stapled stick having 2,355 staples therein.
A pusher 86, mounted slidably in ehannel 84, is resiliently urged into engagement with the stick of staples 68 so as to move them from channel 84 in magazine 70 to receiving ehannel 66 of stapler head 62. One end portion of a torsion spring is connected to pusher 86. The other end portion of the tor-sion spring is eonnected to a gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 winds the torsion spring to move pusher 86 toward stapler head 62 so as to move the stiek of staples 68 into receiving ehannel 66. After the stick of staples 68 has been moved into receiving channel 66, pusher 86 is retracted. Retraction of pusher 86 is achieved by reversing the direction of rota-~0 tion of gear motor 88.
As shown in Figure 2, magazine 70 comprises a cylinder 82 having a plurality of channels disposed there-about and arranged in a turret-like configuration. Each channel 84 supports a stick of staples 68 therein. After one stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 o~ housing 64, motor 90 indexes cylinder 82 so that the next successive channel having a stick of staples therein is aligned with recelving channel 66 of housing 64. ~n this manner, the next successive stic~ of staples is positioned to be advanced into receiving channel 60 of housing 64 when the quantity of staples in the prior stick is beneath a pre-determined level. Motor 90 is coupled via linkage 92 to cylinder 82 so as to periodically rotate c~linder 82 an angular distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent channels therein. A detent (not shown) is employed as a vernier alignment gage to insure that the channel in the magazine and receiving channel are aligned with one another.
Turning now to Figure 3, there is shown an alter-nate arrangement for actuating pusher 86 to advance the stick of staples from channel 84 in cylindrical member 82 to receiv-ing channel 66 of housing 64. As depicted thereat, indexing motor 80 rotates cam 94 and pawl 96. Rotation of pawl 96 causes cylinder 80 to advance a distance corresponding to ~5 the distance between adjacent channels 84 so that the next successive stick of staples in channel 84 is in alignment with receiving channel 66 of stapler head 62. As cam 94 rotates, arm 98 causes retracting lever 100 to move pusher 86 in a rearwardly direction away from receiving channel 66.
In operation, after pusher a6 has advanced the stick o~ staples 110()7(~
68 into receiving channel 66, it moves, at least partially, into receiving channel 66 so that the stick of staples has cleared the interface between receiving channel 66 and channel 84. Thus, prior to indexing cylindrical member 80, it is necessary to retract the pusher from receiving channel 66.
This is achieved by pivoting lever lO0 which, in turn, is connected to pusher 86, so as to move pusher 86 rearwardly away from receiving channel 66. In order to load each channel 84 with a stick of staples 68, the machine operator moves the pusher rearwardly. This provides sufficient space within the channel to place the stick of staples therein. A spring (not shown) is compressed by the rearward movement of pusher 86. When the operator has moved pusher 86 sufficiently far, a pivotable detent moves upwardly through a slot in channel 84 to prevent the forward movement of pusher 86. At this time, the pusher assembly is live and, upon retraction of the detent, will advance the stick of staples from the respective channel to the receiving channel in the stapler head housing.
As indexing motor gO rotates cam 94 and pawl 96, pawl 96 moves cylindrical member 80 to align the next successive channel therein with receiving channel 66 of stapler housing 64.
After the respective channel 84 is aligned with receiving channel 66, pawl 96 retracts the detent in the slot in channel 84 permitting the spring to drive the pusher forward advancing the stick of staples into receiving channel 66.
An alternate embodiment for urging each stick o~
staples 68 from its respective channel 84 comprises an endless belt entrained about a pair of spaced rollers.
Pusher 86 is secured to the endless belt. As the belt moves, the pusher moves in a recirculating path. In one directioo, 11~;)0701 the pusher advances the staple stick to the receiving channel in the stapler head. As the belt continues to move, the pusher returns to its initial posi~ion so as to advance the next successive stick of staples into the stapler head receiving channel. A motor is provided for rotating the drive roller which advances the endless belt. Thus, movement of the pusher in a recirculating path on a belt advances success-ive sticks of staples into the receiving channel of the stapler head~
Indexing motor 90 is actuated by a staple sensing mechanism located in stapler head 62. The detailed operation of stapler head 62 and the sen-sing mechanism associated there-with for determining the quantity of staples remaining in receiving channel 66 will be described hereinafter with re-ference to Figure 4.
Turning now to Figure 4, a stick of staples 68 is positioned in receiving channel 66 of housing 64. Ram 76 shears a staple from stick 68 and drives it through a set of copy sheets. After the quantity of staples in stick 68 has been depleted to a pre-determined number, the next successive stick of staples is advanced into receiving channel 66 ~rom magazine 70. ~ staple detecting system determines the quantity of staples remaining within receiving channel 66. The staple detecting system 102 comprises a light source 104 directing light rays through aperture 106 in housing 64.
The light rays are transmitted in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of receiving channel 66 so as to be sensed by photodiode 108. When a stick of staples 68 blocks aperture 106, the output from the photodiode 108 is beneath a pre-determined level. Contrawise, when the staples have been depleted sufficiently so as to advance stick 68 beyond aperture 106, photodiode 108 develops an electrical signal above the pre aetermined level. The electrical output signal from photodiode 108 is processed by logic circuitry 110. Preferably, logic circuitry 110 includes a suitable discriminator circuit for comparing a reference with the elec-trical output signal from photodiode 108. The discriminator circuit may utilize a silicon control switch which turns on and effectively locks in after an electrical output signal having a magnitude greater than the reference level is obtained.
The signal from the discriminator circuit transmits a control signal to indexing motor 90 and to gear motor 88. Gear motor 88 is activated to rotate a torsion spring causing the pusher to advance the next stick of staples from the channel within the magazine to receiving channel 66. After the stick of staples has been advanced into receiving channel 66, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member 88 to align the next successive channel having staples therein with receiving channel 66.
By way of example, light source lQ4 is, preferably, a tungsten filiment lamp operating from a five volt source.
Photodiode 108 is a commercially available silicon photo-transistor such as is produced by the General Electric Company, Model No. L14D.
It should be noted that after motor 90 indexes the next successive stick of staples into alignment with channel 66 of housing 64, a reset signal is generated resetting the silicon control switch of the discriminator circuit of logic circuitry 110. This permits a new electrical output signal ~100~0~
to be generated when the number of staples remaining in channel 66 of housing 64 is beneath a pre-determined level. As pre-viously indicated, this signal actuates gear motor 88 for advancing the next successive stick of staples into receiving channel 66. Thereafter, indexing motor 90 rotates the cylindrical member so that the next stick of staples is aligned with receiving channel 66. Thus, successive sticks of staple may be advanced into the stapler head. This decreases the down time for the stapling apparatus and increases the time between operator calls.
In recapitulation, it is apparent that the electro-photographic printing machine aescribed herein employs a finishing station having a stapling apparatus which includes a magazine storing a plurality of staple sticks therein.
The maga~ine automatically advances successive staple sticks into the stapler head when the supply of staples therein is depleted beneath a pre-determined level.
It is, therefore, evident that there has been pro-vided, in accordance with the present invention, a magazine for furnishing a supply of sticks of staples to a stapler head that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages hereinbefore set forth. While this invention has been des-cribed in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims~
Claims (21)
1. A magazine for storing a plurality of sticks of staples and advancing successive sticks of staples to a receiving channel of a stapler head, including:
a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head; and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler head into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
a housing having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said housing to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of the stapler head; and means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said housing aligned with the receiving channel of the stapler head into the receiving channel of the stapler head.
2. A magazine as recited in Claim 1, wherein said housing includes:
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rota-tably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said stapler head.
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rota-tably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said stapler head.
3. A magazine as recited in Claim 2, wherein said indexing means includes a motor coupled to said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member an angular dis-tance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent channels in said cylindrical member.
4. A magazine as recited in Claim 2, wherein said moving means includes:
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member; and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said stapler head.
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member; and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said stapler head.
5. A magazine as recited in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes:
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of the stapler head and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted position.
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of the stapler head and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted position.
6. A magazine as recited in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes:
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in the stapler head.
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in the stapler head.
7. A magazine as recited in Claim 4, wherein said urging means includes:
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in the stapler head so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in the stapler head.
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in the stapler head so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in the stapler head.
8. An apparatus for driving a staple through a stack of sheets, including:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housing; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channel being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housing; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
9. An apparatus as recited in Claim 8, wherein said magazine includes:
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rota-tably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing.
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rota-tably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing.
10. An apparatus as recited in Claim g, wherein said indexing means includes a motor coupled to said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member an angular distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent channels in said cylindrical member.
11. An apparatus as recited in Claim 9, wherein said moving means includes:
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member; and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said housing.
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member; and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said housing.
12. An apparatus as recited in Claim 11, wherein said urging means includes:
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of the housing and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted posi-tion.
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of the housing and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted posi-tion.
13. An apparatus as recited in Claim 11, wherein said urging means includes:
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in said housing.
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in said housing.
14. An apparatus as recited in Claim 11, wherein said urging means includes:
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member;
means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in said housing so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in said housing.
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member;
means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in said housing so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in said housing.
15. A reproducing machine for producing stapled piles of copies from documents advanced from a supply source to an exposure platen and returned to the supply source in repeated cycles with the copies being stapled in sets corres-ponding to the documents being copied, wherein the improved stapling apparatus includes:
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channels being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channel thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housings; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
a housing having a receiving channel for supporting a stick of staples;
a magazine having a plurality of channels, each channels being arranged to support a stick of staples;
means for indexing said magazine to align successive channel thereof with the receiving channel of said housing;
means for moving a stick of staples from the channel of said magazine aligned with the receiving channel of said housing into the receiving channel of said housings; and means for driving successive staples from the stick of staples in the receiving channel of said housing through the stack of sheets.
16. A reproducing machine as recited in claim 15, wherein said magazine includes:
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rotatably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing.
a frame; and a substantially cylindrical member mounted rotatably in said frame and having each channel thereof closely adjacent to one another and at substantially equal radial distances closely adjacent to the circumferential surface thereof, said indexing means being arranged to periodically rotate said cylindrical member to align the channels thereof with the receiving channel of said housing.
17. A reproducing machine as recited in Claim 16, wherein said indexing means includes a motor coupled to said cylindrical member for rotating said cylindrical member an angular distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent channels of said cylindrical member.
18. A reproducing machine as recited in Claim 16, wherein said moving means includes:
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member: and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said housing.
a member arranged to move in each of the channels of said cylindrical member: and means for urging said member into engagement with the stick of staples in the channel of said cylindrical member to advance the stick of staples into the receiving channel of said housing.
19. A reproducing machine as recited in Claim 18, wherein said urging means includes:
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of said housing and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted position.
a spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and a motor coupled to the other end portion of said spring, said motor rotating in one direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to move from a retracted position toward the receiving channel of said housing and rotating in the opposed direction to cause said spring to resiliently urge said member to return to the retracted position.
20. A reproducing machine as recited in Claim 18, wherein said urging means includes:
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in said housing.
an endless belt having said member secured thereto;
and means for driving said belt to move said member in a recirculating path toward and away from the receiving channel in said housing.
21. A reproducing machine as recited in Claim 18, wherein said urging means includes:
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in said housing so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in said housing.
an operator compressible spring having one end portion thereof coupled to said member; and means for releasably securing said spring in a retracted position, said indexing means being coupled to said securing means to release said spring when the channel in said cylindrical member is aligned with the receiving channel in said housing so that said spring resiliently urges said member toward the receiving channel in said housing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US92154378A | 1978-07-03 | 1978-07-03 | |
| US921,543 | 1978-07-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1100701A true CA1100701A (en) | 1981-05-12 |
Family
ID=25445591
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA325,759A Expired CA1100701A (en) | 1978-07-03 | 1979-04-17 | Staple magazine |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS559898A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1100701A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2915913A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2024084B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4490904A (en) * | 1982-05-03 | 1985-01-01 | Burndy Corporation | Apparatus and method for installing electrical connectors on flat conductor cable |
| US4552297A (en) * | 1983-07-22 | 1985-11-12 | Belanger, Inc. | Rotatable reloading apparatus for a stapler |
| US5791543A (en) * | 1995-12-11 | 1998-08-11 | Max Co., Ltd. | Electric stapler |
| WO2001081055A1 (en) | 2000-04-20 | 2001-11-01 | Masonite Corporation | Reverse molded panel |
| CN113427924A (en) * | 2021-08-03 | 2021-09-24 | 浙江一丁点工艺品有限公司 | Full-automatic industrial stapler with continuous staple feeding function |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3526944A (en) * | 1967-06-21 | 1970-09-08 | Michael A Cherup | Clip supplying and clinching tool |
| US3938697A (en) * | 1974-09-27 | 1976-02-17 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Magazine feeder for circular elements |
-
1979
- 1979-04-17 CA CA325,759A patent/CA1100701A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-04-19 DE DE19792915913 patent/DE2915913A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-06-25 JP JP8006979A patent/JPS559898A/en active Pending
- 1979-06-26 GB GB7922256A patent/GB2024084B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2024084B (en) | 1982-07-28 |
| GB2024084A (en) | 1980-01-09 |
| JPS559898A (en) | 1980-01-24 |
| DE2915913A1 (en) | 1980-01-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |