GB2327664A - Stapling plural sheet stacks - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for stapling a plurality of stacks of sheets comprises a housing (10) including a plurality of bins (20, 22) in a vertical stack arrangement, each bin (20, 22) supporting a sheet stack, and including a stapler (40), which is movable to each of said bins (20, 22) to enable stapling of each sheet stack. The apparatus is suitable for attachment to a printing or copying machine for successive stapling of plural stacks of copied or printed sheets.

Description

APPARATUS FOR STAPLING PLURAL SHEET STACKS The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in the stapling of a plurality of stacks of sheets. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a plurality of vertically stacked bins for receipt of plural sheet stacks and a stapler movable from bin to bin to allow for stapling of each individual sheet stack.

It is often desirable to staple together selected printed or copied sheets obtained from a printing or copying process. Such stapling can be done manually using a separate stapling device.

However, for convenience many printing or copying machines include machine powered staplers.

These are typically operated by moving an appropriately ordered stack of sheets into a stapling position, thereby activating automatic operation of the stapler.

Often printing or copying machines are provided with a sheet output sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically stacked output bins for receipt of plural stacks of printed or copied sheets. Where stapling of each of these sheet stacks is required a problem arises as to how to move each sheet stack into the appropriate individual contact with the stapler.

One solution to this problem relies on the use of a bin housing which is movable vertically with respect to the stapler. In use, the housing moves vertically upwards in stepped fashion thereby successively bringing the sheet stacks of each bin in turn, into contact with the stapler for stapling thereof. A problem associated with this approach is that when the lower of the bins in the stack is being addressed the bin housing protrudes undesirably in the vertical direction from the copying or printing machine. In a limited space office environment, particularly where there exist height constraints, this protrusion is particularly undesirable.

The Applicants have now found an alternative solution to the problem of moving each sheet stack individually into appropriate contact with the stapler which employs a stapler stapler movable to each of the vertically stacked bins to allow for stapling of each individual sheet stack.

US-A-5,022,637 describes an apparatus for stapling a stack of sheets in which the stapler is mounted 'upside down' such that the stack of sheets is stapled from the bottom thereof.

EP-A-611,063 describes a compiling a stapling apparatus comprising a housing including a compiler shelf for support of a stack of sheets and a stapler movably mounted on the housing and being reciprocable longitudinally of said shelf.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for stapling a plurality of stacks of sheets comprising a housing including a plurality of bins in a vertical stack arrangement, each bin capable of supporting a sheet stack; and a stapler movable to each of said bins to enable stapling of each sheet stack.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of said apparatus for successive stapling of a plurality of sheet stacks.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a printing or copying machine comprising the stapling apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1. is a side view of a multi-bin sorterlstapler apparatus in accord with the presenr invention.

Figure 2. is a plan view from above of one bin of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention The apparatus herein is suitable for use in the stapling of a plurality of sheet stacks. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use as an additional feature in a copying or printing machine.

The apparatus comprises a housing including a plurality of bins in a vertical stack arrangement and a stapler. Each bin is capable of supporting a sheet stack. The stapler is movable to plural stapling positions for stapling of the sheet stack supported by each bin. Preferably, the stapler is inverted with respect to normal positioning, such that stapling of the sheet stack is from the bottom sheet thereof. Put another way, the stapler is preferably mounted 'upside down'.

In a preferred aspect, the housing additionally comprises a vertical rail for mounting of the stapler thereon. Preferably, the rail includes a rack and pinion arrangement which is appropriately geared to enable movement into the stapling positions for each bin.

In another preferred aspect at least one, preferably all of said bins is provided with a shifting means for reversably shifting a sheet stack from a rest or home position to a stapling position. More preferably said shifting means acts such as to move the sheet stack in an upwards vertical direction.

In a further preferred aspect, at least one, preferably all of said bins is provided with a tamping mechanism for tamping a sheet stack prior to the stapling thereof.

Referring to Figure 1. there is shown a sorter/stapler apparatus designed for use with a printer or copier machine. The apparatus comprises a housing frame 10 having a base 12 mounted on castors 14, 15. The housing frame 10 supports a plurality of bins 20, 22 arranged as a vertical stack. Each bin 20, 22 is capable of receipt of a sheet stack (not shown) as output from the printer or copier machine. A top tray 30 sits at the top of the housing. An upside-down mounted stapler 40, shrouded for safety in a plastic housing (shown schematically), is provided. The stapler 40 is movable along a vertically mounted rail (shown schematically) to stapling positions corresponding to each individual bin 20, 22 for stapling of sheet stacks held in each bin. Also provided to the sorter/stapler apparatus of Figure 1. is a tamping mechanism comprising a tamper 50 and a registration stop 52, and a paper shifting mechanism comprising a shifter 60. The tamper 50 and the shifter 60 are movable along a vertical axis, through cut outs in the bins, to positions corresponding to each individual bin 20, 22. The registration stop 52 is a continuous, vertically mounted bar passing through cut outs in the bins. The tamper 50 and the registration stop 52 are also movable along a horizontal axis to positions required by the tamping operation. Movement of the stapler 40, tamper 50, registration stop 52 and shifter 60 is achieved by suitable machine drive means (not shown).

Referring to Figure 2., which shows a single bin 20 of the sorter/stapler apparatus, and also to Figure 1., the tamping and stapling operations will now be described. The bin 20 receives, as ouput from a printer or copier machine (not shown), a stack of printed or copied sheets of a given paper size e.g. A4 or A3. During the receipt of the sheet stacks, the registration stop 52 is in the 'compile position' and the shifter 60 is at a position below the plane defined by the bottom sheet of the stack.

In the tamping operation, the tamper 50 is moved along the vertical axis to the 'home position' alongside the bin 20, and then along a horizontal axis to the 'start position'. The tamper 50 then tamps the sheet stack up against the registration stop 52. In the stapling operation, the stapler 40 is moved along the vertical axis to a position alongside the bin 20 and tamped sheet stack. Both the tamper 50 and the registration edge 52 are then moved towards the stapler 40 to respective 'set shift' and 'set reg' positions, thereby moving a corner of the sheet stack into the mouth 42 of the stapler. The shifter 50 is then elevated, thereby causing the top sheet of the stack to contact the stapler which initiates automatic stapling of the sheet stack. The shifter 50 is then moved down, and the tamper 50 and the registration stop 52 returned to the 'start' and 'compile' positions respectively, thereby moving the stapled sheet stack out of the mouth of the stapler 40. The tamper 50 and shifter 60 can then move down to the next bin 22 in the stack to enable tamping of sheets stacked therein.

Subsequently, the stapler 40 is moved down to the next bin 22 to allow for stapling of the now tamped sheets. The tamping and stapling operations are repeated for each bin in the stack, as required.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for stapling a plurality of stacks of sheets comprising a housing (10) including a plurality of bins (20, 22) in a vertical stack arrangement, each bin (20, 22) capable of supporting a sheet stack; and a stapler (40) movable to each of said bins (20, 22) to enable stapling of each sheet stack.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said housing (10) additionally comprises a vertical rail for mounting of the stapler (40) thereon.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said rail includes a rack and pinion arrangement.

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one of said bins (20, 22) is provided with a shifting means (60) for reversably shifting a sheet stack from a rest position to a stapling position.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said shifting means (60) is movable along a vertical axis.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein at least one of said bins (20, 22) is provided with a tamping mechanism (50, 52) for tamping a sheet stack prior to the stapling thereof.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said stapler (40) is inverted with respect to normal positioning, such that stapling of the sheet stack is from the bottom sheet thereof.

8. Use of an apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 7 for stapling of a plurality of individual sheet stacks.

9. A printing or copying machine comprising an apparatus in accord with any of Claims 1 to 7.