JP4078976B2 - Staple leg guide mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  In the present invention, linear unformed staples loaded in a cartridge are sequentially supplied to a punching unit to be formed into a U-shape, and the staples formed in a U-shape are supplied into a discharge passage and supplied into the discharge passage. Staples that are bound to the binding sheets by a driver plate that slides in the punching path, and the staple legs penetrating the binding sheets are bent along the back surface of the binding sheets by a clincher mechanism. The present invention relates to a leg guide mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  A cartridge containing a large number of linear unformed staples is mounted on the magazine portion of the electric stapler, and the unmolded staples in the cartridge are sequentially supplied to the ejection portion formed at the tip of the cartridge. The staple is formed into a U-shape by the forming plate immediately before the launching portion, and the formed staple is supplied into the launching path where the driver plate slides, and the driver plate is slidably driven by the electric motor. 2. Description of the Related Art A stapler is known in which staple binding is performed by driving a formed staple from a discharge passage and opening a binding sheet in which a staple leg is disposed on a lower surface of a cartridge.
[0003]
  The leading end of the cartridge containing a large number of staples is formed with a striking path for striking one of the leading staples toward the bound paper, and the striking path is formed between the front end surface of the cartridge and the cartridge. It is formed between the face plate attached to the front end. A driver plate reciprocally driven by a motor provided on the main body side of the electric stapler enters a ejection passage formed at the front end portion of the cartridge, and ejects staples disposed in the ejection passage, and the lower surface of the cartridge The front end of the staple leg penetrating the binding paper disposed on the side is bent by a clincher mechanism.
[0004]
  In a conventional electric stapler, unformed staples are formed into a U shape by an anvil and a forming plate disposed on the lower surface of the unformed staple immediately before the launch path, and the staples formed in the U shape are disposed below the anvil. The pusher is fed into the launch passage. The pusher is retracted when the unformed staple is formed into a U-shape by the forming plate, and engages with the rear surface side of the U-shaped staple and presses the formed staple forward by a spring biasing force. It is fed into the groove of the face plate forming the punching passage. The pusher guides the inside of the staple leg portion that enters the staple leg portion and is ejected when the staple in the launch path is driven out by the driver plate.
[0005]
  The pusher starts forming unformed staples by the forming plate, the staple legs in the middle of forming are retracted by engaging with the pushers, and the staples are ejected by engaging with the rear surface side of the staple formed into a U-shape. It is made to press in the direction of a passage. When the pusher is retracted, there is a case where the guide of the staple to be ejected is not sufficiently performed because the guide is not performed from the inside of the staple leg disposed in the ejection path. When the length of the staple leg formed in a U-shape is long, the tip of the staple leg that strikes and strikes the crown portion by the driver plate lands on the surface of the binding paper, and then the tip of the staple leg penetrates the binding paper. In the meantime, a large penetration resistance occurs, and the distance between the driver plate and the staple leg tip is large, and therefore, the staple leg jam easily occurs when the supporting force from the rear side by the pusher is lost. This tendency is particularly significant in a stapler in which the dimension between the formed staple leg tip and the binding paper is set large.
[0006]
  In order to address the problems in the prior art described above, staple support plates that guide the staples by entering inside the leg portions of the staples to be driven are provided on both sides of the pushers, and the staple support plates and the pushers can be slid independently. A staple leg guide mechanism has already been proposed in which the staple support plate can guide the inside of the staple leg driven out by the driver plate even after the pusher is retracted by the staple formed by the forming plate. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
          JP-A-10-180710 (paragraph numbers 0025 to 0028)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  In the above prior art, a pusher is disposed between the staple support plates, and when the pusher is retracted by the staple formed by the forming plate, the staple legs continue to be guided by the staple support plate. Since the pusher that supported the crown part is retracted, the support of the crown part of the staple driven out by the driver plate is lost, and a new problem that the phenomenon that the crown part of the staple is bent easily occurs. A point arises. Further, since the front end of the staple support plate is merely brought into contact with the inner surface of the face plate forming the punching passage, the guide property of the inner surface of the staple leg is insufficient and the staple leg is greatly buckled. When the load is applied, the staple support plate may be retracted and buckling of the staple legs may not be prevented.
[0009]
  According to the present invention, when a staple formed in a U-shape is driven out from a drive-out passage by a driver plate, the inside and the crown portion of the staple leg can be effectively guided without causing a staple jam or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a staple leg guide mechanism for an electric stapler.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the staple leg guide mechanism of the present invention has a U-shape into a discharge passage formed between the front end surface of the staple supply passage and the back surface of the face plate arranged in front of the staple supply passage. In a staple leg guide mechanism that supplies formed staples and drives the staples from a discharge path toward a binding sheet by a driver plate, a pressing portion that presses the U-shaped staples into the discharge path. A pusher provided is provided on the front end face side of the staple supply passage, and is disposed between the support piece and a leg support formed with a pair of support pieces arranged on the inner surface of the staple leg below the pusher. And engage with the staple crowndo itUnderside of crownAnd is narrower than the width of the lower surface.A crown support having an inclined surface formed at the front end thereof is provided so as to be independently slidable and urged forward, and an inclined edge is formed at the front end of the support piece of the leg support, and the inclined edge crosses the launch passage. Is placed in a slit hole formed in the face plate, and the front end of the crown support is placed in contact with the front wall of the launch passage formed by the face plate,Further, it guides the inner surface of the staple leg of the staple that has been punched through the punching passage below the leg support and the crown support, and is engaged with the crown portion of the punched staple by the inclined surface on the upper side of the front end thereof. A staple leg guide having a protruding portion formed on the front surface is slidable in a staple supply direction between the lower end of the leg support and the upper surface of the binding paper, and is urged so that the protruding portion enters the ejection path. ProvidedIt is characterized by that.
[0011]
  The invention according to claim 2 is a cartridge in which a large number of unformed staples are accommodated and can be detachably attached to the stapler body, and the staple supply passage for guiding the unformed staples to the cartridge and the front end of the staple supply passage The staple leg guide mechanism is formed on the front end surface of the staple supply passage of the cartridge.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of an electric stapler according to the present invention. The electric stapler of this embodiment is incorporated in an apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine or a fax machine, and a predetermined number of copies, prints or faxes are received. This is a built-in type electric stapler that automatically binds the paper of the paper, and forms the straight staple material contained in the cartridge into a U-shape just before punching and then into the U-shape. Is directed toward the binding paper.
[0013]
  The electric stapler accommodates a sheet staple S2 formed in a flat shape by arranging and adhering a large number of straight unshaped staples S1, and a cartridge 1 having a punching portion 2 formed at the tip thereof, and the cartridge 1 are mounted. A supply mechanism 4 that supplies the sheet staple S2 in the cartridge 1 to the punching unit 2, a forming plate 5 that forms the leading unformed staple S1 of the sheet staple S2 supplied to the punching unit 2 into a U-shape, and a U-shape. A driving unit 3 provided with a driver plate 6 for driving the staple S from the driving unit 2, and a staple leg S3 disposed below the driving unit 3 and driven out by the driver plate 6 and penetrating the binding paper. Accommodates a clincher mechanism 8 that bends along the lower surface of the binding paper. Is composed of the clincher unit 7 are.
[0014]
  As shown in FIG. 2, in the cartridge 1, a storage portion 9 that stores and stores a large number of sheet staples S <b> 2 and a lowermost sheet staple S <b> 2 stored in the storage portion 9 are formed at the front end portion of the cartridge 1. The staple supply passage 10 is guided and guided to the discharge portion 2, and the staple discharge passage 11 forms the discharge portion 2 at the front end of the staple supply passage 10. The sheet staple S2 accommodated in the cartridge 1 is brought into contact with a supply mechanism 4 disposed below the cartridge 1 through an opening formed in the lower surface of the accommodating portion, and the lowermost sheet staple is provided by the supply mechanism 4. S2 is sent out from the accommodating portion 9 via the opening 12 formed in the lower end wall of the accommodating portion 9, and is sequentially supplied to the launching portion 2.
[0015]
  As shown in FIG. 2, the face plate 13 is disposed at a distance from the front end surface of the staple supply passage 10, and the ejection passage 11 is formed between the front end surface of the staple supply passage 10 and the face plate 13. Yes. An anvil 14 is formed at the front end of the staple supply passage 10 to form a straight unshaped staple S1 in a U shape in cooperation with the forming fret 6 and is disposed on the anvil 14. The straight unshaped staple S <b> 1 is formed into a U-shaped staple S by the operation of the forming plate 6.
[0016]
  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pusher 15 is attached to the front end of the staple supply passage 10 facing the ejection passage 11 formed between the front end surface of the staple supply passage 10 and the back surface of the face plate 13. The pusher 15 is slidably disposed along the supply direction of the formed staple S and is urged by a spring in a direction toward the ejection passage 11. On the front surface of the pusher 15 is formed a pressing portion 16 that engages with the rear surface of the staple leg S3 of the staple S formed in a U-shape and presses the staple S forward, and the pressing portion 16 forms the forming plate 6. Is engaged with the rear side surface of the staple leg S3 formed into a U-shape, and the staple S is pushed forward by a spring disposed behind the pusher 15 into the ejection passage 11 formed in the face plate 13. Operates to supply. An inclined surface 16a for engaging the staple leg S3 being formed by the forming plate 6 and moving the pusher 15 to the rear of the staple S is formed on the outer upper edge of the pressing portion 16 of the pusher 15.
[0017]
  Further, a guide piece 17 is integrally formed at the center of the pusher 15 so as to be able to enter between both staple legs S3 of the staple S which is formed to protrude further forward than the pressing portion 16 and is formed. An inclined surface 18 is formed on the upper portion of 17. The inclined surface 18 acts to retract the pusher 15 backward by engaging with the crown portion S4 of the staple S driven out by the driver plate 6.
[0018]
  The pressing portion 16 of the pusher 15 extends in the staple launching direction along the staple leg, and a leg that guides the inside of the staple leg S3 of the staple to be ejected below the guide piece 17 between the pressing portions 16. A support 19 is slidably disposed. The leg support 19 is formed in a U shape by a plate material such as a metal plate, and a pair of support pieces 20 are formed which can enter inside the staple legs S3 of both staples driven out at the end of the U shape. An inclined edge 21 is formed at the front end edge of the support piece 20 so as to engage with the crown portion S4 of the staple S to be driven out and to retract the leg support 19. As shown in FIG. 5, the leg support 19 is housed in a slit hole 23 formed in the face plate 13 at the tip of the support piece 20 across the launching passage 11 by a spring 22 disposed rearward. So as to be pressed and biased.
[0019]
  Further, inside the pair of support pieces 20 formed on the leg support 19, the crown support 24 that supports the crown portion S4 of the staple S that is driven out by engaging with the crown portion S4 of the staple S that is driven out slides. Arranged freely. An inclined surface 25 is formed on the front end surface of the crown support 24 to engage with the crown portion S4 of the staple S driven out from the punching passage 11 and support the crown portion S4 from the lower surface side. 11 is urged by a spring 26 toward the face plate 13 so as to be advanced into the interior 11. The inclined surface 25 of the crown support 24 engages with the crown portion S4 of the staple S until the leading end of the staple leg S3 passes through the binding sheet disposed on the lower surface side of the punching passage 11, thereby lowering the crown portion S4 to the lower surface. Support from the side to prevent buckling.
[0020]
As described above, the pusher 15 and the crown support 24 are urged toward the punching passage 11 so that they can slide independently, so that the forming plate 5 forms the unformed staple S1 into a U-shape. In this case, the crown portion S4 of the staple S is supported by the crown support 24 even after the pusher 15 is retracted, so that buckling of the crown portion S4 can be prevented. Further, the leg support 19 is spring-biased so as to be slidable independently of the pusher 15, and the front end edges of the pair of support pieces 20 formed in the leg support 19 cross the launch passage 11 and the entire wall of the face plate 13. Since the inner side of the staple leg S3 is guided by the support piece 20 from immediately after driving to immediately before driving is completed, stable driving is performed.
[0021]
  The operation according to the above embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, before the start of the driving of the staple S, the first staple S that has already been formed is arranged in the ejection passage 11 formed in the face plate 13. The second staple S following the first staple S is also supplied into the groove that is formed during the previous stapling operation and forms the ejection passage 11. The pressing portion 16 of the pusher 15 engages with the rear side surface of the staple leg S3 of the second staple S and pushes the leading staple S through the second staple S in the ejection path 11 by a pressing action by a spring (not shown). Is pressed. A guide piece 17 of the pusher 15 enters between the staple legs S3 of the leading staple S and guides the staple legs S3 from the inner surface. Further, the support piece 20 of the leg support 19 enters the inside of both staple legs S3 of the leading staple S to guide the lower part of the inner side surface of the staple leg S3.
[0022]
  The driver plate 6 is driven to enter the punching path 11 and engage with the leading staple S disposed in the punching path 11 to disengage the leading staple S from the second staple S. The punching path 11 is driven toward the binding paper. In the initial stage of staple driving by the driver plate 6, the pressing portion 16 of the pusher 15 presses the second staple leg S3 forward, and the leading staple leg S3 is pressed forward by the second staple leg S3. This guides the rear surface of the staple leg S3 of the staple S to be driven out. Further, the guide piece 17 formed on the pusher 15 enters between both legs 2b of the staple S to be driven out, and guides the staple leg S3 from the inside. Further, the pair of support pieces 20 of the leg support 19 enter the inside of the staple leg S3, and therefore the staple leg S3 is guided and driven by the face plate 13, the guide piece 17, the leg support and the second staple leg S3. It is.
[0023]
  As shown in FIG. 7, when the crown S <b> 4 of the staple S driven out by the driver plate 6 is driven out to a position beyond the guide piece 17 of the pusher 15, forming is performed at the same time as the operation of the driver plate 6. The forming of the unformed staple S1 is started by the plate 5, the pusher 15 is retracted by the formed staple, and the guide S does not guide the staple S. However, the crown portion S4 of the staple S that has been ejected is removed. Since the crown portion S4 is supported from the lower surface side by engaging with the inclined surface 25 of the crown support 24, the crown portion S4 is continuously supported. The support piece 20 of the leg support 19 is located on the inner side surface of both staple legs S3 of the staple S and is guided from the inner side surface of both legs S3. Therefore, due to the penetration resistance when the staple leg S3 to be punched penetrates the binding sheet. A jam that occurs in the staple leg and the crown portion 4 of the staple S is reliably prevented.
[0024]
  As the firing of the staple S progresses, the crown portion S4 of the staple S presses the inclined surface 25 of the crown support 24, whereby the crown support 24 is retracted against the urging force of the spring 26, and the crown portion S4 is By pressing the inclined edge 21 of the leg support 19, the leg support 19 is retracted against the pressing force of the spring 22. Since the inclined surface 25 and the inclined edge 21 are formed close to the lower end portions of the support pieces 20 of the crown support 24 and the leg support 19, respectively, the crown portion S4 of the staple S until the staple leg S3 completely penetrates the binding sheet. And the staple leg S3 are guided. After the driving of the staple S by the driver plate 6 is completed, when the driver plate 6 is lifted and returned, the crown support 24 and the leg support 19 are moved forward by the springs 26 and 22 acting on each of them to return to the initial position.
[0025]
  Next, another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 will be described. In the above-described embodiment, a gap is formed between the leg support 19 and the upper surface of the binding paper, and the staple leg S3 penetrating the binding paper is not guided in this portion, and buckling may occur. There is. In this embodiment, the leg support 19 that guides the inner surface of the staple leg S3 of the staple S that is driven out by the driver plate 6 in the driving passage 11 as in the previous embodiment, and the lower surface of the crown portion S4 of the staple S. A crown support 24 for indicating the side is provided. In the present embodiment, below the leg support 19 and the crown support 24, a staple leg guide 30 for guiding the staple leg S3 near the upper surface of the binding paper on which the staple leg S3 of the staple S driven out from the driving path 11 is driven is provided. Is formed.
[0026]
  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the staple leg guide 30 is disposed below the leg support 19 and the crown support 24 at the lower end portion of the ejection passage 11, and guide pieces 31 formed on both sides of the staple leg guide 30. Therefore, the spring 32 is slidably supported on the main body of the cartridge 1 and is arranged behind the guide piece 31 and is urged toward the ejection passage 11. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the front end surface of the staple leg guide 30 is formed with a projecting portion 33 that enters the ejection passage 11, and shoulder portions 34 formed on both sides of the projecting portion 33. The staple leg S3 is guided by engaging with the inner surface of the staple leg S3 driven out in the punching passage 11. An inclined surface 35 is formed on the upper side of the front end of the protruding portion 33, and the inclined surface 35 engages with the crown portion S 4 of the staple S driven out in the driving path 11, whereby the protruding portion of the staple leg guide 30. 33 is retracted from the launch passage 11.
[0027]
  As shown in FIG. 11, when the crown portion S <b> 4 of the staple S driven out by the driver plate 6 from the driving passage 11 passes through the inclined edge 21 formed on the support piece 20 of the leg support 19, Although the guide of the staple leg S3 is not performed, the protruding portion 33 of the staple leg guide 30 formed below the leg support 19 at a position close to the upper surface of the binding sheet enters the inside of the staple leg S3, and the staple S Since the staple leg S3 is guided by the shoulder portion 34 of the protruding portion 33 until the crown portion S4 comes into close contact with the binding sheet, the occurrence of buckling can be reliably prevented. The staple portion guide 30 receives the biasing force of the spring 32 by engaging the crown portion S4 of the staple S driven out in the discharge passage 11 by the driver plate 6 with the inclined surface 35 formed on the upper side of the front end of the protruding portion 33. The sheet is driven back until the crown S4 of the staple S comes into close contact with the binding sheet.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the staple leg guide mechanism of the present invention, the pair of support pieces disposed on the inner surface of the staple leg is formed below the pusher that presses the U-shaped staple into the ejection path. A leg support and a crown support disposed between the support pieces and formed with an inclined surface engageable with the crown portion of the staple at the front end are independently slidable and urged forward. Therefore, even after the forming of the unformed staple by the forming plate is started and the pusher is retracted and the staple is not guided by the guide piece of the pusher, the crown portion of the staple which is driven out by the inclined surface of the crown support is removed. Since it is supported from the bottom side, the crown is supported by the support piece of the leg support. Inner surfaces of the staple legs of the staple have guides, thus jamming occurring in the staple legs and the crown portion of the staple by the penetration resistance when the staple legs penetrate the binding sheets to be punched can be reliably prevented.
[0029]
  In addition, an inclined edge is formed at the front end of the support piece of the leg support, and the inclined edge is accommodated in a slit hole formed in the face plate across the punching passage, so that the staple leg to be punched is greatly buckled. Even when the action occurs, the support piece is not retracted, and the inside of the staple leg can be surely guided until just before the staple driving is completed, and jamming of the staple leg can be reliably prevented. .
[0030]
  Further, a staple leg guide having a projection formed on the front surface for guiding the inner surface of the staple leg of the staple driven out in the punching path below the leg support is provided between the lower end of the leg support and the upper surface of the binding sheet. The staple leg of the staple driven out by the driver plate is guided by the support piece of the leg support. Even after the staples disappear, the staple legs are guided by the protrusions of the staple leg guides at positions close to the upper surface of the binding sheets until the staple crown comes into close contact with the binding sheets. Can do.
[0031]
  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge in which a large number of unformed staples are accommodated and which can be detachably attached to the stapler body, and the staple supply passage for guiding the unformed staples to the cartridge and the staples. In addition, in rare cases, the staple leg guide mechanism is formed on the front end surface of the staple supply passage of the cartridge, and the staple passage guide mechanism is formed on the front end surface of the cartridge. Even when a jam or the like occurs, the jammed staple can be easily removed by removing the cartridge from the stapler body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of an electric stapler in which a staple leg guide mechanism of the present invention is implemented.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a driving portion in which a staple leg guide mechanism of the electric stapler of FIG. 1 is formed.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the staple leg guide mechanism same as FIG. 2 with the face plate removed.
4 is a perspective view showing main members constituting the staple leg guide mechanism of FIG. 2. FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the same staple leg guide mechanism as FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view showing a staple leg guide mechanism before starting staple driving.
FIG. 7 is a vertical side view of the same staple leg guide mechanism as FIG. 5 showing a state in which staple driving is in progress.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a state before the staple driving of the staple leg guide mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention is started.
9 is a perspective view showing a part of the staple leg guide mechanism of FIG. 8. FIG.
10 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
11 is a vertical side view of the same staple leg guide mechanism as in FIG. 8 showing a state in which staple driving is in progress.
[Explanation of symbols]
  S Staple (Forming)
  11 Launch passage
  13 Face plate
  15 Pusher
  16 Pressing part
    16a inclined surface
  17 Guide piece
  18 Inclined surface
  19 Leg support
  20 Support pieces
  21 Inclined edge
  23 Slit hole
  24 Crown Support
  25 Inclined surface
  30 Staple Leg Guide
  33 Protrusion
  34 Shoulder
  35 Inclined surface

Claims (2)

A staple formed in a U-shape is supplied into a discharge passage formed between a front end surface of the staple supply passage and a back surface of a face plate disposed in front of the staple supply passage, and the staple is driven out by a driver plate. In the staple leg guide mechanism which is driven out from the passage toward the binding paper,
A pair of supports provided on the front end face side of the staple supply passage is provided on the front end face side of the staple supply passage, and is disposed on the inner side face of the staple leg below the pusher. forming a leg support piece is formed, the narrow inclined surfaces than the width of the lower surface of the support and the lower surface of the crown portion of the staple engage to the crown portion while being disposed between said support piece to the front end The crown support is independently slidable and biased forward, and an inclined edge is formed at the front end of the support piece of the leg support, and the inclined edge is formed on the face plate across the launch passage. is housed in the slit, the front end of the crown support and placed in contact with the front wall of the launch passageway formed by the face plate, further, the leg support And a protrusion that guides the inner surface of the staple leg of the staple that has been punched through the punching path below the crown support and that engages with the crown of the punched staple at the inclined surface on the upper side of the front end thereof. The staple leg guide formed in the above is slidable in the staple supply direction between the lower end of the leg support and the upper surface of the binding sheet, and is provided so as to be urged so that the protrusion enters the ejection path. A staple leg guide mechanism.   A cartridge that accommodates a large number of unformed staples and can be detachably attached to the stapler body, and is formed in a U-shape on the front end surface of the staple supply passage and the staple supply passage for guiding the unformed staples to the cartridge. 2. The staple leg guide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the staple leg guide mechanism is formed on a front end surface of the staple supply path of the cartridge.

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