BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

s [0001]
The present invention relates to a staple-refill, in which a plurality of sheet-type
connected staples are stacked and accommodated, capable of supplying the staples to
a stapling machine.
10
[0002]
Electric stapling machines are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2004-358977,
JP-B2-4042159, JP-A-11-235679 and JP-A-07-148674. Among the electric stapling
machines, there are known a type of stapling machines which are built in a paper
is processing device provided adjacent to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying
machine or a printing machine. The electric stapling machine includes a motor as a
driving source, and sequentially strikes the staples. For example, a staple-refill, in
which a plurality of sheet-type connected staples are stacked and accommodated, is
mounted in a cartridge detachably provided in a stapling-machine main-body. With
20 the electric stapling machine, if the cartridge incorporated with the staple-refill is
mounted in a magazine of the stapling-machine main-body, a lowermost sheet-type
connected staple is sequentially sent out to a striking section during a stapling
operation. The sent-out sheet-type connected staples are sequentially bent into
substantially U-shapes from a leading end staple among staples, and then are driven
25 out by a driver plate towards sheets of paper to be bound which are placed on a
clincher.
[0003]
It is required to sequentially transferring the sheet-type connected staples to a
striking section, at the time of striking the staple. The stapling-machine main-body or
30 the cartridge is'provided with a push lever for pushing and biasing the sheet-type
connected staples. The push lever pushes down the sheet-type connected staples
against a bottom surface of the casing. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably transfer
F71.1
the sheet-type connected staples positioned on the bottom surface by the transfer
mechanism.
[0004]
Also, when the sheet-type connected staples in the staple-refill are consumed,
5 a replacing operation of the staple-refill is performed. In the case of replacing the
staple-refill, it is necessary to first perform push-releasing operation of the push lever.
For example, the push lever is provided on a cover body for opening and closing the
refill accommodating portion of the cartridge. In this instance, by opening the cover
body, the push state of the push lever is released, and thus the staple-refill can be
10 replaced. If the sheet-type connected staples are consumed and thus the empty
staple-refill is replaced by a new staple-refill loaded with the sheet-type connected
staples, by closing the cover body, the push lever is in the state of again pushing down
the sheet-type connected staples.
[0005]
15 In order to improve the operability of staple-refill replacement, it is required to
further reduce the number of operating steps. Meanwhile, if there is not push lever,
the push releasing operation of the push lever can be omitted. In this instance,
however, since there is no push lever, accuracy in transfer of the sheet-type connected
staples is deteriorated.
20
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006]
One or more embodiments of the invention provide a staple-refill for improving a
workability of staple-refill replacement operations in the staple-refill for a system in
25 which -a push lever for pushing sheet-type connected staples is employed.
[0007]
According to an embodiment, a staple-refill 11 may include: a casing 12 in
which a plurality of sheet-type connected staples 10 are stacked and accommodated;
and a notch portion 18 which is formed on one side surface 12a of the casing 12. The
30 casing 12 may be attached to or detached from a main-body of a stapling-machine 1 or
a cartridge 61 which is to attached to or detached from the stapling-machine main-body,
in a transfer direction in which the sheet-type connected staples 10 in the casing is
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transferred to a striking section in the stapling machine 1. The notch portion 18 may
have a shape to enable a push lever 66 to pass , at least in a detaching operation of the
casing 12 from the stapling-machine main -body or the cartridge, wherein the push lever
66 pushes and biases the sheet-type connected staples 10 in the casing 12 in a
5 stacking direction in which the sheet -type connected staples 10 are stacked in the
casing 12.
[0008]
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
following description , the drawings and the claims.
10
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
FIG. I is a perspective view schematically illustrating an image forming
apparatus and a paper processing device.
15 FIG. 2 is a cross -sectional view of major parts of the paper processing device.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a saddle stitch unit is
drawn from the paper processing device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a staple unit.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge mounted with a staple-refill, when
20 seen from its front side.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounted with the staple-refill, when
seen from its rear side.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounted with the staple-refill, when
seen from its bottom side.
25 - FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a state before the staple-refill loaded with the
maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples is mounted in the cartridge, when
seen from its rear side.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state after the staple-refill with the sheet-type
connected staples completely consumed is detached from the cartridge, when seen
30 from its rear side.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the staple-refill, when seen from its front upper
side.
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FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the staple-refill, when seen from its rear upper
side.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the staple-refill, when seen from its front lower
side.
s FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the staple-refill.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a state after the empty staple-refill with the
sheet-type connected staples completely consumed is detached from the cartridge,
when seen from its front upper side.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a state after the empty staple-refill with the
10 sheet-type connected staples completely consumed is detached from the cartridge,
when seen from its front lower side.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a modification including one first positioning
projection for the staple-refill, when seen from its rear side.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another modification including one first
15 positioning projection for the staple-refill, when seen from its rear side.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a state when a staple-refill according to a
modification is mounted in a cartridge, in which a handle portion provided on a rear
surface of a casing is formed in a circular through-hole, when seen from its rear side.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the staple-refill according to a modification, in
20 which the handle portion is formed in the circular through-hole, when seen from its rear
side.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the empty staple-refill
with no sheet-type connected stapes is mounted in the cartridge, when seen from its
rear side.
25 .._ FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a staple-refill according to a modification, in
which a concave portion is formed in a top surface of the cover member, when seen
from its rear side.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a staple-refill according to a modification, in
which a handle portion is formed in a U-shaped notch portion, when seen from its rear
30 side.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a state in which the empty staple-refill with no
sheet-type connected stapes is mounted in the cartridge, when seen from its rear side.
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FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a staple-refill in which a guide boss formed on a
rear surface of the cover member is engaged to a horizontal guide groove formed in a
notch portion of the rear surface of the casing, when seen from its front upper side.
FIG. 25 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion A in FIG. 24.
5 FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a state before the staple-refill provided with a
concave portion serving as the handle portion at the time of drawing out a cartridge
body is mounted in the cartridge, when seen from its rear side.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a relationship between a detaching
manipulation concave portion of the cartridge and the concave portion of the casing, in
10 the state in which the staple-refill in FIG. 26 is mounted in the cartridge.
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in FIG. 26, when seen from its
rear side.
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the cartridge, when seen from its rear side.
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a push lever before the staple-refill is mounted
is in the cartridge.
FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.
FIG.s. 32(A) and 32(B) are diagrams illustrating a locking mechanism of the
staple-refill, in which FIG. 32(A) is a plan view of the cartridge, and FIG. 32(3) is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 32(A).
20 FIG. 33 is a side view illustrating a positional relationship between an engaging
portion of the cartridge and the guide boss of the cover member, when the staple-refill
is inserted in the cartridge.
FIG. 34 is a side view illustrating a positional relationship between an engaging
portion of the cartridge and the guide boss of the cover member, when the staple-refill
25 has been inserted in the cartridge.
FIG. 35 is a side view illustrating a positional relationship between an engaging
portion of the cartridge and the guide boss of the cover member, when the sheet-type
connected staple of the staple-refill is completely consumed.
FIG. 36 is a plan view of the cartridge received with the staple-refill.
30 FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 36.
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 36.
FIG. 39(A) is a bottom view illustrating a positioning mechanism of the
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staple-refill in the cartridge, before a positioning convex portion of a positioning plate is
engaged with a positioning concave portion of the staple -refill, and FIG. 39(B) is an
enlarged view.
FIG. 40(A) is a bottom view illustrating the positioning mechanism of the
s staple-refill in the cartridge , in a state in which the positioning convex portion of the
positioning plate is engaged with the positioning concave portion of the staple-refill, and
FIG. 40( B) is an enlarged view.
FIG. 41 is a horizontal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along
the line C-C in FIG . 38) illustrating a transfer mechanism of the cartridge mounted with
10 the staple-refill.
FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the push lever, when the
sheet-type connected staple of the staple-refill is completely consumed.
FIG. 43 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a modification in which
a pushed portion formed on a rear surface of the casing is configured to have the same
15 height.
FIG. 44 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a state in which the
staple-refill in FIG. 43 is mounted in a magazine.
FIG. 45 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a modification in which
a pushed portion formed on the rear surface of the casing is configured as a concave
20 portion.
FIG. 46 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a state in which the
staple-refill in FIG. 415 is mounted in the magazine.
FIG. 47(A) is a bottom view of major parts to illustrate a modification in which
the staple-refill is pushed down by the push member provided in the cartridge, and FIG.
25 47( B) is an enlarged view of its major ports.
FIG. 48(A) is a perspective view illustrating a staple-refill with no front wall
according to a modification, when seen from its rear side, and FIG . 48(B) is a
perspective view illustrating a staple-refill with no front wall according to a modification,
when seen from its front side.
30 FIG. 49(A) is a perspective view illustrating the staple-refill including a second
positioning projection functioning as the pushed portion, when seen from its rear side,
and FIG. 49(B) is a cross-sectional view of major parts to illustrate a state in which a
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mounting lever of the magazine is engaged with the second positioning projection
functioning as the pushed portion to push down the staple-refill in two directions of front
and bottom surfaces of the refill receiving portion.
FIG. 50(A) is a side view of major parts to illustrate a modification in which an
s upper cross section of the second positioning projection functioning as the pushed
portion is bent inward, FIG. 50(B) is a cross-sectional view of major parts to illustrate a
modification of the second positioning projection which protrudes in an arc-shape, and
FIG. 50(C) is a side view of major parts to illustrate a modification of the second
positioning projection which is configured by a stepped portion.
10 FIG. 51(A) is a perspective view illustrating the staple-refill in which the second
positioning projection functioning as the pushed portion is configured by a concave
portion, when seen from its rear side, and FIG. 51(B) is a cross-sectional view of major
parts to illustrate a state in which the mounting lever of the magazine is engaged with
the positioning concave portion.
1s FIG. 52 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the staple-refill which
is notched from the front side to a lateral side of the casing, when seen from its front
side, in a state in which the maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples are
loaded.
FIG. 53 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the staple-refill which
20 is notched from the front side to a lateral side of the casing, when seen from its front
side, in a state in which the sheet-type connected staples are empty.
FIG.s. 54(A) and 54(B) are diagrams illustrating the staple-refill including an
H-shaped cover member, in which FIG. 54(A) is a perspective view when seen from its
front side, and FIG. 54(B) is a plan view.
25 -- FIGs. 55(A) and 55(B) are diagrams illustrating the staple-refill including the
casing provided in the lateral surface with a guide hole which is formed as a groove
having a bottom, in which FIG. 55(A) is a perspective view when seen from its front
side, and FIG. 55(B) is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the cover
member is excluded, when seen from its rear view.
30 FIGs. 56(A) and 56(B) are diagrams illustrating the staple-refill in which a notch
portion is not formed in the front surface of the casing, but a notch portion is formed in
an opposite lateral surface, in which FIG. 56(A) is a perspective view when seen from
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its front side, and FIG. 56(B) is a side view.
FIG. 57 is an enlarged perspective view of major parts to illustrate the
staple-refill including the cover member provided with a check claw, in which an inner
surface of the staple-refill is provided with a check groove to be locked with the check
claw.
FIGs. 58(A) and 58(B) are diagrams illustrating the staple-refill including the
casing provided in the lateral surface with the guide hole, and the notch portion formed
in the rear surface, in which FIG. 58(A) is a perspective view when seen from its front
side, and FIG. 58(B) is a perspective view when seen from its rear view.
10 FIGs. 59(A) to 59(E) are a front or rear view illustrating a modification of the
notch portion which is formed in the front or rear surface of the casing.
FIG. 60 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill is
mounted in a mounting object, such as a package, by use of a guide boss protruding
from the lateral end face opposite to the cover member as the positioning projection,
15 and a projection protruding in a triangular shape from the rear surface of the casing as
the positioning projection.
FIGs. 61(A) and 61(8) are diagrams illustrating a state in which the staple-refill
is mounted in the mounting object, such as the package, in the example of FIG. 60, in
which FIG. 61(A) is a side view, and FIG. 61(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along
20 the like A-A in FIG. 61(A).
FIG. 62 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill is
mounted in the mounting object, such as the package, by use of the guide boss
protruding from the opposite lateral end face and the rear end face opposite of the
cover member as the positioning projection.
2s FIGs. 63(A) and 63(B) are diagrams illustrating a state in which the staple-refill
is mounted in the mounting object, such as the package, in the example of FIG. 62, in
which FIG. 63(A) is a side view, and FIG. 63(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along
the like A-A in FIG. 63(A).
FIG. 64 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill is
30 positioned and received in the mounting object by use of the projection formed on thf
front surface of the staple-refill and the projection formed on the rear surface.
FIG. 65 is a perspective lateral view of FIG. 64.
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FIG. 66 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill is
received in the mounting object in the modification of FIG. 64.
FIG. 67 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill has
been received in the mounting object in the example of FIG. 64.
5 FIG. 68 is a perspective lateral view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill
has been received in the mounting object in the example of FIG. 64.
FIG. 69 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which a taper portion is
formed on the push portion and the notch portion of the push lever, when seen from its
front side, except for the cartridge body.
ao FIG. 70 is a front view illustrating an example in which a taper portion is formed
on the push portion and the notch portion of the push lever, except for the cartridge
body.
FIG. 71 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which a taper portion is
formed on the push portion of the push lever , when seen from its front side, except for
is the staple-refill.
FIG. 72 is a perspective view of the staple-refill with no cover member.
FIG. 73 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill with
no cover member is mounted in the cartridge, with the maximum amount of sheet-type
connected staples being loaded.
20 FIG. 74 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill with
no cover member is mounted in the cartridge, with the sheet-type connected staples
being completely consumed.
FIG. 75 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in which the front wall below the
notch portion is formed at a position lower than that in the example of FIG. 72.
25 w_ FIG. 76 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in which a dotted portion on the
front surface of the casing is punched by the push portion of the push lever.
FIG. 77 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in which a thin hinge portion is
formed on the front surface of the casing, and the front surface is bent by the push
portion of the push lever.
30 FIG. 78(A) is a cross-sectional view of the staple-refill, and FIG. 78(B) is an
enlarged cross-sectional view of major parts in vicinity of the hinge portion.
FIG. 79 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a relationship between
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the push lever and the guide wall of the cover member of the staple-refill which is
loaded with the maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples.
FIG. 80 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a relationship between
the push lever and the guide wall of the cover member of the empty staple-refill in
5 which the sheet-type connected staples are completely consumed.
FIG. 81 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in which a lever guide hole is
formed in the center of the front and top surfaces of the casing in a width direction
thereof.
FIG. 82 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill loaded
10 with the maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples illustrated in FIG. 81 is
mounted in the cartridge, except for the cartridge body.
FIG. 83 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the empty staple-refill
with the sheet-type connected staples completely consumed illustrated in FIG. 81 is
mounted in the cartridge, except for the cartridge body.
1s FIG. 84 is a perspective view of the staple-refill including the cover member
provided with a guide rail.
FIG. 85 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill loaded
with the maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples illustrated in FIG. 84 is
mounted in the cartridge, except for the cartridge.
20 FIG. 86 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the empty staple-refill
with the sheet-type connected staples completely consumed illustrated in FIG. 84 is
mounted in the cartridge, except for the cartridge body.
FIG. 87 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill loaded
with the maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples is mounted in the cartridge
25 provided with a guide piece at the leading end portion of the push lever, except for the
cartridge body.
FIG. 88 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the empty staple-refill
with the sheet-type connected staples are completely consumed is mounted in the
cartridge provided with a guide piece at the leading end portion of the push lever,
30 except for the cartridge body.
FIGs. 89(A) and 89(B) are diagrams illustrating a state in which the push portion
of the push lever is engaged with the concave portion of the cover member, in which
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FIG. 89(A) is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 89(B) is an enlarged view thereof.
FIGs. 90(A) and 90(B) are diagrams illustrating a state in which the push portion
of the push lever is engaged with a stepped portion of the cover member, in which FIG.
90(A) is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 90(B) is an enlarged view thereof.
5 FIGs. 91(A) and 91(B) are diagrams illustrating a state in which the push portion
of the push lever is engaged with the projection of the cover member, in which FIG.
91(A) is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 91(B) is an enlarged view thereof.
FIG. 92 is a perspective view illustrating a first modification of the locking
mechanism of the staple-refill.
10 FIG. 93 is a lateral view illustrating the first modification of the locking
mechanism when the staple-refill is inserted into the cartridge.
FIG. 94 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first modification of the locking
mechanism when the staple-refill is inserted into the cartridge (cross-sectional view
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 93).
15 FIG. 95 is a lateral view illustrating the first modification of the locking
mechanism when the staple-refill has been inserted into the cartridge.
FIG. 96 is a lateral view illustrating the second modification of the locking
mechanism of the staple-refill.
FIGs. 97(A) and 97(B) are cross-sectional views illustrating the second
20 modification of the locking mechanism when the, staple-refill is inserted into the
cartridge, in which FIG. 97(A) is a lateral view, and FIG. 97(B) is a cross-sectional view
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 97(A).
FIGS. 98(A) and 98(B) are cross-sectional views illustrating the second
modification of the locking mechanism when the staple-refill has been inserted into the
25 cartridge, in which FIG. 97(A) is a lateral view, and FIG. 98(B) is a cross-sectional view
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 98(A).
FIG. 99 is a lateral view illustrating a second modification of the locking
mechanism in which the sheet-type connected staples in the staple-refill are completely
consumed.
30 FIG. 100, is a perspective view illustrating the cartridge including a positioning
boss of a height direction, except for the cartridge.
FIG. 101 is a front view of the staple-refill.
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FIG. 102 is a perspective view of major parts to illustrate a state in which the
positioning boss of the height direction is engaged with the staple-refill.
FIG. 103 is a lateral view of major parts to illustrate a state in which the
positioning boss of the height direction is engaged with the staple-refill.
5 FIG. 104 is a perspective view illustrating the staple-refill received with the
connected staples wound in a roll type, when seen from its front side.
FIG. 105 is a perspective view of the staple-refill in FIG. 104, when seen from
its rear side.
FIG. 106 is a cross-sectional view of the staple-refill in FIG. 104.
10 FIG. 107 is a bottom view of the staple-refill in FIG. 104.
FIG. 108 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the staple-refill in FIG.
104 is mounted in the cartridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMB ODIMENTS
15 [0010]
The description will be given hereinbelow on the basis of embodiments and
modifications with reference to the drawings. Further, the embodiments and the
modifications are not intended to limit the invention but to merely serve as examples
thereof, and all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments or the
20 modifications are not always essential to the invention.
[0011]
The description will be performed by the following order.
[0012]
1. Summary of image forming apparatus and paper processing device (FIGs. I
25 to4)-
2. Summary of electric stapling machine (FIGs. 5 to 10)
3. Description of fundamental configuration of staple-refill (FIGs. 10 to 15)
3-1. Description of casing
3-2. Description of cover member
30 4. Description of fundamental configuration of cartridge (FIGs. 5 to 9, FIGS. 29
to 38, and so forth)
4-1. Description of push lever
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4-2. Description of locking mechanism (engaging portion)
4-3. Description of staple guide section
4-4. Description of transfer mechanism
4-5. Description of positioning mechanism
5 5. Description of fundamental configuration of magazine (FIGs. 36 to 38, FIG.
41, and so forth)
6. Description of fundamental operation until staple-refill is mounted in cartridge
7. Description of modification of staple-refill (FIGs. 54 to 63)
7-1. Description of modification of notch portion of casing
10 7-2. Description of positioning when staple-refill is mounted in mounting object
such as package
8. Description of mounting object (FIGs. 64 to 68)
9. Description of modification of push lever (FIGs. 69 to 78)
9-1. First description of modification of push lever and notch portion
15 9-2. Second description of modification of push lever and notch portion
10. Description of modification of guide of push lever (FIGs. 79 and 91)
11. Description of modification of locking mechanism of staple-refill (FIGs. 92 to
99)
11-1. Description of first modification of locking mechanism
20 11-2. Description of second modification of locking mechanism
12. Description of positioning of staple-refill in height direction (FIGs. 100 to
103)
13. Other modifications
13-1. Description of first modification
25 - 13-2. Description of second modification (FIGs. 104 to 108)
[0013]
<1. Summary of image forming apparatus and paper processing device (FIGs. 1 to 4)>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electric stapling machine 1 using a staple-refill
according to an embodiment, in which a plurality of sheet-type connected staples are
30 stacked and accommodated, is used, for example, as an electric stapling machine for
saddle stitch. According to an embodiment, the electric stapling machine 1 is
incorporated` in a paper processing device 3 provided adjacent to an image forming
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apparatus 2, such as a copying machine or a printing machine. Specifically, the paper
processing device 3 is provided with a saddle stitch unit la for saddle-stitching sheets
of paper 4 to be bound. The saddle stitch unit la includes, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
guide rollers 5 and 5 for guiding the sheets of paper 4, a knife edge 6 for folding a
s paper center, and a pair of folding rollers 7 and 7 for the center folding, in addition to
the electric stapling machine 1. When the sheets of paper 4 printed by the image
forming apparatus 2 is saddle-stitched, for example, the sheets of paper 4 are guided
by the pair of guide rollers 5 and 5 from the image forming apparatus 2, and is fed from
a direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2, so that a predetermined number of sheets of paper
30 are stored. The predetermined number of sheets of paper 4 to be bound are
saddle-stitched by the electric stapling machine 1. After that, the sheets of paper 4
which are saddle-stitched are transferred to a position suitable for a knife edge 6, and
then the knife edge 6 is moved in a direction of the arrow B in FIG. 2 which is vertical to
the sheets of paper 4, and enters between the pair of folding rollers 7 and 7, so that the
is sheets of paper 4 which are folded at its center are discharged through a discharge
tray 8.
[00141
As illustrated in FIG. 3, when no staple is in the staple-refill and thus the
sheet-type connected staples are additionally provided, a saddle stitch unit 1a is pulled
20 out from the paper processing device 3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the staple unit 1bis
provided with two electric stapling machines 1 and 1 to bind the sheets of paper 4 at
plural positions, for example, two positions. Each of the electric stapling machines 1
can be pulled out from a frame 9a configuring an outer housing by holding a tap 9 with
a hand and pivoting it outward. In the pulled state, the empty staple-refill in which the
25 sheet-type connected staple is completely consumed can be replaced by a staple-refill
charged with the sheet-type connected staples. Specifically, exchanging operation of
the staple-refill is performed in the electric stapling machine 1 by mounting the
cartridge additionally provided with the sheet-type connected staples in a magazine
105 of the stapling-machine main-body. Meanwhile, FIG. 4 illustrates the state in
30 which the right electric stapling machine 1 is pulling out outwardly. After that, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, the electric stapling machine 1 is returned into the frame 9a, and
the saddle stitch unit la is returned into the paper processing device 3, thereby
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completing the exchanging operation of the staple-refill. Also, when carrying out jam
cleaning to remove and clean a staple clogged at the rear of a faceplate. In this way,
the paper processing device 3 can manipulate the electric stapling machine 1 to carry
out the exchanging operation of the staple-refill in the state in which the saddle stitch
5 unit 1a is pulled out.
[0015]
<2. Summary of electric stapling machine (FIGs. 5 to 10)>
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10, the electric stapling machine includes a
staple-refill in which sheet-type connected staples 10 with a plurality of straight-shaped
10 staples arranged in parallel with each other and connected to each other in a sheet
shape are stacked and accommodated, and a cartridge 61 in which the staple-refill 1 is
mounted in the magazine of the stapling-machine main-body of the electric stapling
machine 1. The cartridge 61 is provided with a striking section 65 for the sheet-type
connected staple 10. In the striking section 65, the sheet-type connected staples sent
is from the staple-refill 11 is formed one by one by the forming plate driven by a driving
mechanism at the side of the stapling-machine main-body, and the formed staples are
struck one by one in a direction of the arrow X in FIG. 5 by a driver plate driven by the
driving mechanism at the side of the stapling-machine main-body. The staple-refill 11
is detachable from the cartridge 61. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the staple-refill is
20 mounted in the cartridge 61 from a direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 8 in the state in
which the staple-refill is loaded with the maximum amount of the sheet-type connected
staples 10, while, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the sheet-type connected staple 10 is
completely consumed, the staple-refill is pulled out from the cartridge 61 in a direction
opposite to a direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 9, so that the staple-refill is replaced by a
25 newstaple-refill 11 loaded with the maximum amount of the sheet-type connected
staples 10.
[0016]
<3. Description of fundamental configuration of staple-refill (FIGs. 10 to 15)>
<3-1. Description of casing>
30 The casing 11 is formed from, for example, plastic by injection molding, and has
a rectangular parallelepiped casing 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 15. The casing 12
is provided a staple accommodating portion 13 in which the sheet-type connected
-15A
F711
staple.- 10 are stacked and accommodated therein. The casing 12 has a staple
inserting opening 14 opened in the whole top surface and extending to the staple
accommodating portion 13. The staple accommodating portion 13 is provided with a
cover member 15 for closing the staple inserting opening 14 in the state in which
s several sheets of sheet-type connected staples 10 are stacked and accommodated.
[0017]
The front surface of the casing 12 is provided with a staple discharging port 16
of a slit shape formed along a bottom surface thereof, and the staple discharging port
16 has a size set to be equal to, for example, one sheet to five sheets of the sheet-type
10 connected staples 10. The staple discharging port 16 serves as a staple discharging
portion for discharging the sheet-type connected staple 10. A front surface 12a of
casing 12 is provided with a staple fall-out preventing piece 17 immediately above the
staple discharging port 16. The fall-out preventing piece 17 protrudes more than the
front surface 12a, and is positioned in a concave portion 17a of the front surface 12a
1s which extends to the staple discharging port 16. The fall-out preventing piece 17 is
pivotally displaced along a plane parallel to the front surface 12a via a thin hinge 17b
protruding more than the front surface 12a, thereby opening and closing the staple
discharging port 16. Specifically, the fall-out preventing piece 17 is provided with the
hinge 17b at a substantially center portion thereof, and has at one end thereof a boss
20 portion 17c for preventing the sheet-type connected staples 10 being falling. At the
time of non-use of the staple-refill 11 or the like, the sheet-type connected staples 10 in
the staple accommodating portion 13 should not fall out from the staple discharging
port 16 by mistake. Therefore, at the time of non-use, the boss portion 17c is
positioned at a position overlapped with the staple discharging port 16, and when the
25 staple-refill 11 is used, the fall-out preventing piece 17 is pivotally displaced around the
hinge 17b to withdraw the boss portion 17c from the staple discharging port 16. In this
way, the sheet-type connected staples 10 can be discharged through the staple
discharging port 16. The projection 17d formed on the front surface of the casing 12
including the fall-out preventing piece 17 functions as a first positioning projection when
30 the staple-refill 11 is mounted in a mounting object such as a package. Meanwhile,
FIGs. 10 to 15 illustrate the state in which the boss portion 17c is overlapped with the
staple discharging portion 16, so that the sheet-type connected staples 10 do not fall
-16-
F711
out from the staple discharging port 16.
[0018]
As illustrated in FIGs. 10, 12 and 13, the front surface 12a of the casing 12 is
provided with a notch portion 18 of a concave shape which is continuous with the
5 staple inserting port '14, above the staple discharging port 16 or the fall -out preventing
piece 17. The notch portion 18 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is
notched extending from an edge of the staple inserting port 14 to an insertion direction
of the sheet-type connected staples 10 to have a depth equal to or higher than, for
example, a half of height dimension of the front surface 12a. (Further , the insertion
10 direction corresponds to a height direction of the staple refill 10 and also corresponds
to a stacking direction in which the sheet-type connected staples 10 are stacked in the
casing 12. ) The notch portion 18 is formed such that a pair of opposite lateral
surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12 are bent in a width enlarging direction to enlarge
the staple inserting port 14. In this way , since the casing 12 is provided with the notch
1s portion 18 , the pair of lateral surfaces 12b and 12c is flexibly displaced so that the
staple inserting port 14 is enlarged . As a result, it is possible to easily insert the
sheet-type connected staples 10 or attach the cover member 15 . Also, in order to
bend the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c, it is not necessary that the lateral surfaces 12b
and 12c are made thin in thickness . Therefore, it is possible to prevent formability of
20 the component being deteriorated . Also, when the staple-refill is detached from the
cartridge 61 , the notch portion 18 becomes a region through which the push lever 66 of
the cartridge 61 passes, and functions as a guide portion when the push lever 66
passes.
[0019]
25 '-The rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided with a pair of second
positioning projections 19 and 19, as illustrated in FIG. 11. The pair of second
positioning projections 19 and 19 protrudes in a triangular shape at positions at a
regular interval from a center line of the rear surface 12d in a width direction of the
casing 12. (Further, the width direction of the staple -refill is perpendicular to the
30 insertion direction.) When the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the mounting object, such
as a magazine of the stapling-machine main-body, the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the
state in which the staple-refill is positioned by one position of the projection 17d on the
-17-
F711
front san`ace of the casing 12 including the fall-out preventing piece 17 which is the first
positioning projection as described above, and two positions of the second positioning
projections 19 and 19 on the rear surface. When the casing 12 is mounted in the
magazine 101 of the stapling-machine main-body, there is a case where the projection
s 17d is not used for positioning of the casing 12. Also, the second positioning
projections 19 and 19 have an end face 19c which is inclined downward to face the
direction of the bottom surface 12e and the front surface 12a of the casing 12 at the
side of the top surface thereof. When the inclined portion is pressed, the casing 12 is
pressed toward the bottom surface and the front surface of the mounting object such
10 as the package. The number of the second positioning projections 19 and 19 is not
specifically limited, and three or more second positioning projections may be provided.
Also, when the projections 17d are provided in plural on the front surface 12a, one
second positioning projection 19 may be provided on the rear surface 12d.
[0020]
1s For example, in FIG, 16, the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided with
one second positioning projection 19a which protrudes consecutively in a width
direction. The second positioning projection 19a is formed over the guide hole 28,
and is provided with a recessed portion 27a at a portion intersecting with the guide hole
28, through which a guide boss 27 protruding from the rear-side end face 15b of the
20 cover member 15 is escaped. The second positi®n projection 19a has a triangular
cross section, and a surface of the casing 12 at the top surface thereof is inclined
downward to face the direction of the bottom surface 12e and the front surface 12a.
When the inclined portion is pressed, the casing 12 is pressed toward the bottom
surface and the front surface of the mounting object such as the package.
25 [0021}
In an example illustrated in FIG. 17, the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is
provided with one second positioning projection 19a which protrudes consecutively in a
width direction, but does not intersect with the guide hole 28. In this example, the
guide hole 28 is formed to be biased to one side of the rear surface 12d of the casing in
30 the width direction, and one second positioning projection 19b protrudes consecutively
from the rear surface adjacent the guide hole 28. The second positioning projection
19b is formed to have a length shorter than that of the second positioning projection
-18-
F711
19a of FIG. 16. The second position projection 19b also has a triangular cross section,
and a surface of the casing 12 at the side of the top surface thereof is inclined
downward to face the direction of the bottom surface 12e and the front surface 12a.
When the inclined portion is pressed, the casing 12 is pressed toward the bottom
5 surface and the front surface of the mounting object such as the package. Of course,
the guide hole 29 may be formed at the center of the rear surface 12d in the width
direction thereof, and the second positioning projection 19b may be provided at a
biased position.
[0022]
10 The rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided with handle portions 20 and
20 formed by projections protruding from the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c, and the
handle portion 20 has the same height as the rear surface 12d. The handle portions
20 and 20 function as portions by which a finger is caught when the staple-refill 11 is
detached from the cartridge 61. When the staple-refill is mounted in the cartridge 61,
is the handle portions 20 and 20 are positioned at an opening end of a staple-refill
insertion port 64 of the cartridge, more specifically, at an attaching/detaching operation
recessed portion 64a which will be described later. When the staple-refill 11 is pulled
out from the cartridge 61, the handle portions 20 and 20 exposed through the
attaching/detaching operation recessed portion 64a is caught by the finger or the like.
20 so that the staple-refill 11 is easily pulled out from the cartridge 61. Also, when the
staple-refill is mounted in the mounting object such as the package, the handle portions
20 and 20 function as a third positioning projection together with the projection on the
front surface of the casing 12 including the fall-out preventing piece 17 which is the first
positioning projection, or the second positioning projections 19 and 19 on the rear
25 surface.
[0023]
Also,,the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided with pushed portions 29
and 29 which protrude from corner portions of the bottom surface 12e to have the
same height. When the cartridge 61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11 is mounted
30 in the magazine 101 of the stapling-machine main-body, the pushed portions 29 and 29
are pressed against a mounting lever 104 which is a pressing portion of the magazine
101, or rear-surface positioning concave portions 114 and 134 which are pressing
-19-
F7:L1
portions of mounting objects 111 and 131, so that the cartridge is positioned in the
magazine 101 or the mounting objects 111 and 131. The pushed portions 29 and 29
are not limited to any position if their positions are on the rear surface 12d, but it is
preferable that the pushed portions are formed at a position near a region in which the
s bottom surface 12e with high strength intersects with the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c
and the rear surface 12d to improve its positioning accuracy. Also, the number of the
pushed portion 29 is preferably one, or three or more, but it is preferable that the
pushed portion is disposed to evenly apply a pushing force.
[0024]
10 The positioning of the sheet-type connected staples 10 of the staple-refill 11 in
a refill receiving section 63 in a transfer direction thereof is performed as follows.
(Further, the transfer direction is perpendicular to both the insertion direction and the
width direction.) As illustrated in FIGs. 6 to 9, the casing 12 of the staple-refill 11 is
provided with the pushed portions 29 and 29, which protrude at the same height, at
1s both corners of the bottom surface 12e of the rear surface 12d, that is, the portion with
high strength. When the cartridge 61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11 is mounted
in the magazine 101 of the stapling-machine main-body, the pushed portions 29 and 29
are pressed against pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine 101. As described
later, both lateral portions 16a and 16a of the staple discharging port 16 abut against
20 first abutting portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 75.
[0025]
The pair of lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12 are provided with
guide holes 21 and 21 (a first guide part 21 and a second guide part 21) for guiding the
cover member 15 when the cover member gradually moves down in accordance with
25 the decreased sheet-type connected staples 10 in the thickness direction. (Further,
the thickness direction corresponds to the stacking direction that is the insertion
direction.) The guide holes 21 and 21 functioning as the guide portion of the cover
member 15 are L-shaped through-holes, and are formed consecutively with vertical
guide portions 21a and 21a for guiding lift of the cover member 15, and horizontal
30 guide portions 21b and 21b at the side of the staple inserting port 14. Also, joint
portions 21c and 21c are formed between the horizontal guide portions 21b and 21b
and the staple inserting port 14. If the guide holes 21 and 21 have at least vertical
-20-
F711
guide portions 21a and 21 a, other configuration is not always required.
[0026]
<3-2. Description of cover member>
The casing 12 is provided with the cover member 15 to cover the uppermost
5 layer of the sheet-type connected staples 10 received in the staple accommodating
portion 13, as illustrated in FIGs. 10, 11 and 13. The cover member 15 is formed to
have a size substantially equal to the staple inserting port 14. The cover member 15
is provided with guide bosses 22 and 22 (a first boss 22 and a second boss 22) at
opposite lateral ends 15a and 15a. The guide bosses 22 and 22 are engaged with the
10 guide holes 21 and 21. The joint portions 21c and 21c of the guide holes 21 and 21 of
the casing 12 have tapered inner surfaces 21e of which the thickness is gradually
thickened from an opening end of the staple inserting port 14 to the lower portion,
thereby forming an insertion guide surface of the guide bosses 22 and 22, and a
vertical surface 21f is formed to be released from a boundary between the horizontal
is guide portions 21b and 21b. Also, the joint portions 21c and 21c slightly protrude
outward. If the stacked sheet-type connected staples 10 are received in the staple
accommodating portion 13, one guide boss 22 of the cover member 15 is inserted into
one horizontal guide portion 21b from the inside, and the other guide boss 22 is
inserted into the other horizontal guide portion 21 b, with sitting on the joint portion 21 c.
20 Then, the guide bosses 22 and 22 move the horizontal guide portions 21b and 21 Is in
the direction of the vertical guide portions 21a and 21 a, so that the cover member 15
closes the staple inserting port 14. The leading ends of the guide bos.s.es 22 and 22
protrude outward rather than the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12, when
being engaged with the guide holes 21 and 21. Although described in detail
25 hereinafter, when the staple-refill is mounted in the cartridge 61, the guide bosses 22
and 22 are engaged with an engaging portion 73 formed on the lateral surface of the
cartridge 61., Further, since the guide bosses 22 and 22 protrude outward rather than
the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12, the guide bosses function as a fourth
positioning projection when the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the mounting object such
30 as the package.'
[0027]
The rear-side end face 15b neighboring on the lateral end faces 15a and 15a of
-21-
F711
the coder member 15 is provided with a further guide boss 27. The guide boss 27 is
engaged with the guide hole 28 formed in the height direction in the rear surface 12d of
the casing 12 at a substantially middle position thereof in the width direction.
Accordingly, the cover member 15 is guided when moving down in the staple
s accommodating portion 13, as the guide boss 27 of the rear-side end face 15b is
engaged with the guide hole 28. The joint portion 28a of the guide hole 28 of the
casing 12 has a tapered inner surface 28b of which the thickness is gradually thickened
from an opening end of the staple inserting port 14 to the lower portion, thereby forming
an insertion guide surface of the guide boss 27. The joint portion 28a is formed to
10 slightly protrude outward.
[0028]
The cover member 15 is provided with boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23
protruding downward from each corner, as illustrated in FIG. 13. These boss portions
23, 23, 23 and 23 are contact portions which are brought into contact with the
is uppermost layer of the sheet-type connected staples 10 received in the staple
accommodating portion 13. When the sheet-type connected staples 10 are
completely consumed, these boss portions are engaged with escape portions 24, 24,
24 and 24 formed on four corners of the bottom surface 12e of the casing 12, as
illustrated in FIG. 15. The number of the boss portions 23 is not specifically limited.
20 [0029]
The bottom surface 12e of the casing 12 is provided with a notch recessed
portion 25 which is continuous with the staple discharging port 16, as illustrated in FIGs.
12 and 15. The notch recessed portion 25 of the bottom surface 12e is provided at a
substantially center thereof with a positioning concave portion 26 which is further
25 recessed toward the rear surface 12d. The positioning concave portion 26 is engaged
with a positioning convex portion formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge to
which the staple-refill 11 is mounted, which will be described later, The
above-described boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 of the cover member 15 are engaged
with the escape portions 24, 24, 24 and 24 of the respective corner portions of the
30 bottom surface 12e of the casing 12. The escape portions 24 and 24 at the side of the
staple inserting port 14 are formed on a portion of the corner portion of the notch
recessed portion 25, and the escape portions 24 and 24 at the side of the rear surface
-22-
F711
12d are formed by the through-hole of the corner portion atthe side of the rear surface
12d.
[0030]
When the cover member 15 is mounted to the cartridge 61, the cover member
s 15 is pressed by the push lever 66 of the cartridge 61. To this end, the top surface of
the cover member 15 is provided with a concave-shaped engaging portion 31 to which
a push portion 70 of the push lever 66 is engaged, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The
concave-shaped engaging portion 31 is formed in the width direction of the cover
member 15. After the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the cartridge 61 and the sheet-type
10 connected staples 10 are completely consumed, as will be described hereinafter, the
engaging portion 31 is engaged with the push portion 70 of the push lover 66 at the
side of the cartridge 61. When the staple-refill 11 is detached from the cartridge 61,
the push portion 70 of the push lever 66 is moved while coming into contact with the
top surface of the cover member 15. Thus, the top surface of the cover member 15 is
15 provided with guide walls 32 and 32 along a sliding direction of the push portion 70 of
the push lever 66 so that the push lever 66 can move linearly. The guide walls 32 and
32 are spaced apart from each other by the substantially width of the push portion 70.
As a result, when the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the cartridge 61, the push portion of
the push lever 66 enters the cover member 15 through the notch portion 18, and is
20 guided by the guide walls 32 and 32. When the number of the sheet-type connected
staples 10 is reduced, the push portion of the push lever 66 is engaged with the
concave-shaped engaging portion 31. When the staple-refill 11 is used while being
mounted in the cartridge 61, the push portion 70 of the push lever 66 is gradually
moved toward the engaging portion 31 between the guide walls 32 and 32.
25 [0034}
The casing 12 includes a bottom wall 12BT defining the bottom surface 12e.
As shown in FIG. 13, a dimension L1 of the cover member 15 in the insertion direction
is substantially the same with or larger than a length L2 between an upper face of the
bottom wall 12BT and a bottom end 18B of the notch portion 18 in the insertion
30 direction.
[0032]
In the state in which the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the cartridge 61, as
-23-
F711
illustrated in FIG. 7, the handle portions 20 and 20 formed at the rear surface 12d of
the casing 12 are positioned to protrude outward from the attaching/detaching
operation recessed portion 64a of the cartridge body 62. A user can easily replace
the staple-refill 11 by gripping the handle portions 20 and 20 with a finger, when the
s staple-refill 11 is replaced.
[0033]
As the configuration of the handle portion 20, as illustrated in FIGs. 18 to 20,
the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 may be provided with a through-hole 20a which
functions as a finger gripping portion (handle portion) on which the finger grips.
10 Although the circular through-hole 20a is illustrated, a through-hole may be formed in a
polygonal shape such as oval, triangle, quadrangle, or pentagon, or a plurality of
through-holes having a size to grip a finger may be formed. Also, it is preferable that
a position in which the through-hole 20a is formed is a height of the top surface of the
cover member 15 facing an outside through the through-hole 20a, when the sheet-type
1s connected staples 10 are completely consumed. In the case where the through-hole
20a is formed, the handle portion 20 formed by the protruding piece may not be
provided, and concave and convex portions may be reduced to simplify its shape.
Further, pulling the staple-refill 11 out from the cartridge 61 is when the sheet-type
connected staples 10 are completely consumed. When the sheet-type connected
20 staples 10 are completely consumed, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the cover member 15 is
positioned under the staple accommodating portion 13. Accordingly, the staple-refill
11 can be pulled out from the cartridge 61 by inserting the finger into the staple
accommodating portion 13 through the through-hole 20a and gripping a perimeter of
the through-hole 20a. Moreover, the guide boss 27 formed on the rear-side end face
25 15b of the cover member 15 is engaged with the through-hole 20a to function as a
fall-out preventing boss for preventing the cover member 15 from falling from the staple
accommodating portion 13.
[0034]
As illustrated in FIG. 21, when the through-hole 20a is formed, the top surface
30 of the cover member 15 in the staple accommodating portion 13 facing the outside
through the through-hole 20a may be provided with a recessed portion 20b. The
recessed portion 20b may be provided on the substantially overall top surface of the
-24-
F711
cover member 15, but it is preferably formed at least on the top surface of the cover
member 15, which comes into contact with the finger inserted through the through-hole
20a, adjacent to the rear surface. In this instance, the fingertip inserted in the staple
accommodating portion 13 through the through-hole 20a can grip the recessed portion
s 20b to more easily pull out the staple-refill 11 from the cartridge 61. Also, in this
example, since the, staple-refill 11 is sufficiently easily pulled out by use of the
through-hole 20a, the cartridge body 62 configuring the cartridge 61 may not be
provided with the staple fall-out preventing piece 64a.
[0035]
10 As the configuration of the handle portion 20, as illustrated in FIGs. 22 and 23,
the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 may be provided with a notch portion 20c which
functions as the finger gripping portion (handle portion) on which the finger grips. The
notch portion 20c is illustrated to have a U-shape, but it is not limited to the shape.
Also, the notch portion 20c is formed to have an about half depth from the top of the
2s rear surface 12d of the casing 12. When the staple-refill 11 is pulled out from the
cartridge 61, the staple-refill 11 can be pulled out from the cartridge 61 by inserting the
finger into the notch portion 20c and gripping a perimeter of the notch portion 20c.
[0036]
In this example illustrated in FIGs. 22 and 23, the notch portion 20c which is
20 continuous with the staple inserting port 14 is formed on the rear surface 12d of the
casing 12, the casing 12 is not provided with the portion, to which the guide boss 27 of
the cover member 15 is engaged. As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the rear surface
12d of the casing 12 may be provided with a guide groove 27b, to which the guide boss
27 is engaged, on one side of the notch portion 20c. That is, the rear-side end face
25 15b of the cover member 15 is provided with the guide boss 27 at a position which is
biased in the width direction. In correspondence to the position of the guide boss 27,
the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided on an inner surface thereof with the
guide groove 27b, to which the guide boss 27 is engaged, on one side of the notch
portion 20c in the height direction.
30 [0037]
The guide groove 27h may be a through-hole penetrating the rear surface 12d,
or may be a concave-shaped groove having a bottom. When the guide groove 27b is
-25-
F711
the through-hole, the guide boss 27 penetrates the through-hole, thereby preventing
the cover member 15 from falling from the casing.
[0038]
As the finger gripping portion (handle portion), to which the finger grips, when
s the empty staple-refill 11 with no sheet-type connected staple 10 is pulled out from the
cartridge body 61, as illustrated in FIGs. 26 to 28, the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of
the casing 12 adjacent to the rear surface '12d may be provided with one. Specifically,
the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12 adjacent to the rear surface 12d are
respectively provided with recessed portions 20d and 20d of a concave shape. The
10 recessed portions 20d and 20d are formed in a rectangular shape in a longitudinal
direction which is the height direction of the casing 12. Both lateral surfaces 62b and
62c of the cartridge body 62 are provided with notch recessed portions 64b and 64b for
operating attachment and detachment which are formed to be continuous with the refill
inserting port 64, when these recessed portions 20d and 20d are mounted in the refill
1s accommodating portion 63 of the cartridge body 62. The recessed portions 20d and
20d are exposed outward through the notch recessed portions 64b and 64b of the
cartridge body 62, when these recessed portions 20d and 20d are mounted in the refill
accommodating portion 63 of the cartridge body 62. In this way, the user can easily
pull out the empty staple-refill 11 with no sheet-type connected staple 10 from the refill.
20 accommodating portion 63 by gripping the recessed portions 20d and 20d, which face
the outside through the notch recessed portions 64b and 64b, with the finger.
[0039]
If the recessed portions 20d and 20d of the casing 12 have the shape suitable
for being gripped by the finger of the user, an oval or other shapes other than the
25 rectangular shape is preferable, and a hole having a bottom or a through-hole is
preferable. Also, the recessed portion 20d and 20d may be configured by a plurality
of concave and convex portions formed on a desired region, or an antiskid portion
attached with a rubber sheet or the like.
[0040]
30 <4. Description of fundamental configuration of cartridge (FIGs. 5 to 9, FIGS. 29 to 38,
and so forth)>
As described above, the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the cartridge 61 which is
-26-
F711
mounted in the magazine of the stapling-machine main-body of the electric stapling
machine 1, as illustrated in FIGs. 5 to 9. The cartridge 61 is one example of the
mounting object accommodating the casing 12 therein. The cartridge 61 is configured
by engaging a base plate member 74 with the cartridge body 62 which is provided with
s the refill accommodating portion 63 accommodated with the staple-refill 11 therein.
As one example, the base plate member 74 is formed integrally with the cartridge body
62 by engaging the pair of engaging pieces 74d and 74d with the engaging recessed
portion 74e formed on the bottom side of the cartridge body 62. Also, as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 to 9, the rear surface 62d of the cartridge body 62 is provided with the refill
10 inserting port 64 which is continuous with the refill accommodating portion 63. Both
lateral surfaces 62b and 62c of the cartridge body 62 are provided with the
attaching/detaching operation recessed portions 64a and 64a which are continuous
with the refill inserting port 64. When the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the refill
accommodating portion 63, the handle portions 20 and 20 of the staple-refill 11 are
1s positioned to protrude outward through the refill inserting portion 64. Since the
attaching/detaching operation recessed portions 64a and 64a are formed to be
continuous with the refill inserting port 64, the user can easily perform the attaching
and detaching operation of the staple-refill 11 by gripping the handle portions 20 and
20 with the finger. The shape of the attaching/detaching operation recessed portions.
20 64a and 64a is not specifically limited, if the handle portions 20 and 20 can protrude
outward in the state in which the staple-refill 11 is accommodated in the refill
accommodating portion 63.
[0041]
The front surface 62e of the cartridge 61 is provided with a striking section 65
25 which-is continuous with the bottom surface. The striking section 65 is provided with a
staple guide section 75 for guiding the lowermost layer of the sheet-type connected
staples 10 in the staple-refill 11 accommodated in the refill accommodating portion 63,
which will be described later. The striking section 65 functions as a portion for striking
the staple.
30 [0042]
Both lateral surfaces 62b and 62c of the cartridge body 62 are provided with
pivot bosses 61a and 61a. The pivot bosses 61a and 61a are engaged with pivot
-27-
F711
suppose portions 105 and 105 of the magazine 101 at the side of the stapling-machine
main-body, as illustrated in FIGs. 3 and 4, thereby guiding the cartridge 61 along a
pivot trace when the cartridge 61 is attached to or detached from the magazine 101.
In this way, when the staple-refill 11 is changed from the magazine 101 or the jam
s cleaning is carried out, the cartridge 61 is pivoted to be pulled out from the frame 9a
configuring the outer housing. The top surface of the cartridge body 62 is provided
with a tab 9 which is positioned above the refill inserting port 64. The pivot operation
of the cartridge 61 is carried out by use of the tab 9.
[0043]
10 <4-1. Description of push lever>
As illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, the refill accommodating portion 63 is
provided therein with the push lever 66 for pushing the sheet-type connected staples
10 stacked in the staple accommodating portion 13 via the cover member 15 of the
accommodated staple-refill 11. On the top surface 62a of the cartridge body 62, the
is push lever 66 is provided on a convex-shaped lever installing portion 67 extending from
the rear side formed with the refill inserting port 64 to the front surface formed with the
striking section 65. Specifically, the push lever 66 is provided on the lever installing
portion 67, in the state in which its base end faces the refill inserting port 64, while its
proximal end faces the inside of the refill accommodating portion 63. As illustrated in.
20 FIG. 31, the push lever 66 has pivot shafts 68 and 68 protruding from the distal end,
and the pivot shafts 68 and 68 are engaged with pivot holes 69 and 69 formed in the
lateral surface of the lever installing portion 67. In this way, the puF:h lever 66 is
pivotally supported in a direction of the arrow C in FIG. 30 and in a direction opposite to
the arrow C. The push lever 66 functions as the push portion 70 of which its leading
25 end portion comes into contact with the cover member 15 of the staple-refill 11
accommodated in the refill accommodating portion 63.
[0044]
The push lever 66 is provided therein with a coil spring 71 functioning as a
resilient biasing member, as illustrated in FIGs. 30 and 31. The coil spring 71 has one
30 end portion which is locked to a locking convex portion 71a formed in the lever
installing portion 67, and the other end portion which is locked to a locking concave
portion 71b at the rear side of the push portion 70 of the push lever 66. As a result,
-28-
F711
the push lever 66 is pivotally biased by the coil spring '71 in the direction of the arrow C
in FIG. 30 to always push the cover member 15 of the staple-refill 11. As illustrated in
FIG. 30, when the staple-refill 11 is inserted in the refill accommodating portion 63 via
the refill inserting port 64, it enters via the notch portion 18 of the front surface 12a of
s the casing 12 functioning as an insertion surface, and is sited on the cover member 15
while being guided by the guide walls 32 and 32. The push portion 70 coming into
contact with the cover member 15 is guided by the guide walls 32 and 32, when the
sheet-type connected staples 10 are decreased, and then is engaged with the
engaging portion 31 of the concave shape. In this way, the push lever 66 can reliably
10 push the sheet-type connected staples 10 stacked in the staple accommodating portion
13 via the cover member 15. When the staple-refill is pulled out from the refill
accommodating portion 63, the push portion 70 is guided by the guide walls 32 and 32,
and the push lever 66 is released from the staple-refill 11 via the notch portion 18.
Also, since the push portion 70 is engaged with the engaging portion of the concave
1s shape, the cover member 15 prevents the staple-refill 11 from falling down from the
refill accommodating portion 63 by mistake. Further, since the release of the push
lever 66 is automatically performed during pull-out operation of the staple-refill 11, the
releasing operation of the push lever 66 or the like is not necessary, thereby achieving
the improvement in operability.
20 [0045]
Although it is described the case where the push lever 66 is directly biased by
the coil spring 71, the configuration of the push lever 66 is not specifically limited. For
example, the push lever may push the sheet-type connected staples 10 stacked in the
staple-refill 11 via a link mechanism, while utilizing the resilient force of the spring or
25 the like.
[0046]
<4-2. Description of locking mechanism (engaging portion)>
As illustrated in FIG. 32, the cartridge 61 is provided with a locking mechanism
72 for preventing the staple-refill 11 from falling out from the refill accommodating
30 portion 63 in use. The locking mechanism 72 is provided with engaging portions 73
and 73 which are engaged with the guide bosses 22 and 22 protruding outward rather
than the guide holes 21 and 21 of the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c of the casing 12 on
-29-
I=711
the inner surface of the lateral surfaces 62b and 62c of the cartridge body 62. The
engaging portions 73 and 73 protrude from the refill accommodating portion 63, and
thus are engaged with the guide bosses 22 and 22 of the staple-refill 11.
[0047]
5 As illustrated in FIGs. 32(A) and 32(B), when the staple-refill loaded with the
maximum amount of sheet-type connected staples 10 is inserted, the engaging
portions 73 and 73 have pick-up portions 73a and 73a for picking up the guide bosses
22 and 22 of the staple-refill 11, separation restricting portions 73b and 73b formed in
parallel with the vertical guide portions 21a and 21a of the guide holes 21 and 21 of the
10 staple-refill 11 to restrict separation of the staple-refill 11, and disengaging portions 73c
and 73c for allowing the engaging portions from being separated from the refill
accommodating portion 63 when the sheet-type connected staples 10 in the staple-refill
11 are completely consumed. The pick-up portions 73a and 73a are formed at the
upper portion, while the disengaging portions 73c and 73c are formed at the lower
1s portion. The separation restricting portions 73b and 73b are vertically formed. The
pick-up portions 73a and 73a can reliably pick up the guide bosses 22 and 22 of the
staple-refill 11 loaded with the maximum amount of the sheet-type connected staples
10. Since the refill inserting port 64 is formed at a lower position, the pick-up portions
73 and 73a are formed to gradually rise as it goes inside. Also, the disengaging
20 portions 73c and 73c are formed to position upward' rather than the height position of
the guide bosses 22 and 22 when the sheet-type connected staples 10 of the
staple-refill 11 is completely consumed. That is, with the guide bosses 22 and 22 of
the cover member 15, the boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 formed on the rear surface
of the cover member 15 are engaged with the escape portions 24, 24, 24 and 24
25 formed at four corners of the bottom surface 12e of the casing 12. In this way, the
height position of the guide bosses 22 and 22 is placed below the disengaging portions
73c and 73c (see FIG. 15).
[0048]
As illustrated in FIG. 33, when the staple-refill 11 is accommodated in the refill
30 accommodating portion 63 through the refill inserting port 64 of the cartridge 61, the
guide bosses 22 and 22 of the cover member 15 are first engaged with the pick-up
portions 73a and 73a. As the staple-refill 11 is accommodated in the refill
-30-
F711.
accorr,.nodating portion 63, the guide bosses 22 and 22 of the cover member 15
pushed by the push lever 66 in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 33 are lifted against
the resilient biasing force of the coil spring 71 by the inclined surface of the pick-up
portions 73a and 73a. If the staple-refill 11 is completely accommodated in the refill
s accommodating portion 63, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the guide bosses 22 and 22 reach
the separation restricting portions 73b and 73b. In this instance, the cover member 15
is slightly moved down by the push lever 66 which is resiliently biased in the direction
of the arrow C in FIG. 34, and then is pushed against the uppermost layer of the
sheet-type connected staples 10 to generate click feeling, so that it can notify the user
10 of that the staple-refill 11 is reliably mounted in the cartridge 61.
[0049]
In use, the guide bosses 22 and 22 move gradually the separation restricting
portions 73b and 73b as the sheet-type connected staples 10 are decreased. If the
sheet-type connected staples 10 of the staple-refill 11 are completely consumed, the
is boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 formed on the rear surface of the cover member 15 are
engaged with the escape portions 24, 24, 24 and 24 formed at four corners of the
bottom surface 12e of the casing 12. The height position of the guide bosses 22 and
22 is placed below the disengaging portions 73c and 73c. Even though the sheet-type
connected staples 10 are completely consumed, since the push lever 66 continuously
20 pushes the cover member 15 in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 35, the boss
portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 formed on the rear surface of the cover member 15 can be
reliably engaged with the escape portions 24, 24, 24 and 24 of the bottom surface 12e
of the casing 12 (see FIG. 15).
[0050]
25 - If the boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 are reliably engaged with the escape
portions 24, 24, 24 and 24, the guide bosses 22 and 22 are moved down by the height
of the boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23, and thus are reliably positioned below the
disengaging portions 73c and 73c. That is, the guide bosses 22 and 22 are reliably
released from the engaging state with the separation restricting portions 73b and 73b.
30 In this way, when the staple-refill 11 is pulled out from the refill accommodating portion
63, the guide bosses 22 and 22 can reliably pass below the disengaging portions 73c
and 73c. The staple-refill 11 can be pulled out from the refill accommodating portion
-31-
F711
63.
[00511
The locking mechanism 72 prevents that the sheet-type connected staple 10 is
detached from the cartridge 61 and thus the sheet-type connected staple 10 already
5 sent to the striking section 65 is separated from the sheet-type connected staples 10 in
the staple-refill 11, while the staple-refill 11 is used, and also prevents that the
staple-refill 11 is again mounted in the cartridge 61 and thus is failure. Moreover,
when the staple-refill 11 is replaced, it is not necessary to carry out the operation such
as push release of the push lever 66, thereby improving the operability. Meanwhile,
10 as illustrated in FIG. 39(A), one example of the positioning concave portion 113 is
elements 74f and 74f enclosed by an inner wall surface 63a of the refill accommodating
portion 63, which accommodates the casing 12 of the cartridge 61, at the side of the
striking section, and the separation restricting portions 73b and 73b.
[0052]
1s <4-3. Description of staple guide section (striking section)>
The front surface of the cartridge body 62 is provided with the striking section
65 for guiding the lowermost layer of the sheet-type connected staples 10 in the
staple-refill 11 accommodated in the refill accommodating portion 63, and striking the
staple. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the cartridge body 62 is provided with the base plate.
20 member 74 configuring the bottom surface of the cartridge 61. The base plate
member 74 is provided with the staple guide section 75 at the front surface side thereof.
The staple guide 75 abuts against a staple guide cover 75a and a staple guide plate
75b to form therein a passage corresponding to a thickness and a width of the
lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 in the staple-refill 11. The passage guides
25 at least one side of the upper and lower surfaces (flat portion) of the lowermost
sheet-type connected staple 10, when the lowermost layer of the sheet-type connected
staples 10 of the staple accommodating portion 13 is sent from the staple discharging
port 16 to the striking section 65 by the transfer mechanism, and also guides both end
portions of the lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10.
30 [0053]
The staple guide cover 75a and the staple guide plate 75b configuring the
passage are a member for sending the sheet-type connected staples 10 to the striking
-32-
F711
section 65, and are formed by punching out a metal sheet of high strength or the like so
as to accurately position the sheet-type connected staples 10 with respect to the
forming plate 80a or the driver plate 80b at the side of the stapling-machine main-body.
A leading end portion of the passage for sending the sheet-type connected staples 10
5 becomes a position in which a straight staple placed at a leading end of the sent
sheet-type connected staple 10 is formed in a U-shape by the forming plate, and then
is struck toward the paper to be bound by the driver plate. The staple guide plate 75b
is provided with a protruding anvil 76 forming the U-shaped staple by the forming plate.
The staple guide cover 75a and the staple guide plate 75b are aligned with each
10 position to form positioning holes 74a and 74a, and positioning bosses 74b and 74b
protruding from the base plate member 74 and positioning bosses 74c and 74c at the
side of the cartridge 61 are engaged with the positioning holes 74a and 74a to achieve
the positioning thereof.
[0054]
1s The front surface of the striking section 65 is provided with a pusher 77, and the
pusher 77 is biased forward by biasing members 78 and 78 such as a coil spring. The
pusher 77 is formed in a U-shape, and leg portions 77a and 77a parallel to each are
engaged with guide recessed portion 77b and 77b of the base plate member 74, so
that the pusher is guided forward. Also, the front surface of the striking section 65 is
20 provided with a faceplate 79 at a further forward of the pusher 77.
[0055]
The cartridge 61 is made from, for example, plastic by injection molding, as
illustrated in FIG. 31, and the faceplate 79 is formed by bending, for example, metal of
strength higher than that. The faceplate 79 has a face portion 79a covering the
25 pusher 77, and arm portions 79b and 79b at both sides of the face portion 79a. The
arm portions 79b and 79b have support recessed portions 79c and 79c, and the
support recessed portions 79c and 79c are engaged with pivot support bosses 79d and
79d formed on both sides of the base plate member 74, so that the arm portions is
pivotally supported in a direction of the arrow D in FIG. 30 and in a direction opposite to
30 the arrow D. The face portion 79a closes the front surface of the pusher 77, as
illustrated in FIGs. 37 and 38. A gap is formed between the face portion 79a and the
staple guide plate 75b, and the forming plate 80a and the driver plate 80b which are
-33-
FJ11
driven by the drive mechanism of the stapling-machine main-body enter the gap. Also,
the forming plate 80a and the driver plate 80b are provided to move forward and
backward with respect to the gap. Some straight staples from the leading end of the
sheet-type connected staples 10 sent through the passage formed between the staple
s guide cover 75a and the staple guide plate 75b of the staple guide section 75 are
formed in the U-shape by the forming plate 80a entering the gap between the face
portion 79a and the staple guide plate 75b. When the straight staple is formed in the
U-shape, the staple bent by the forming plate 80a is bent by the anvil 76 and the
pusher 77. The bent staple is struck along the faceplate 79 by the driver plate 80b.
io Meanwhile, the faceplate 79 is pivoted in the direction opposite to the direction of the
arrow D in FIG. 30, and thus closes the front surface of the striking section 65. When
jam or the like occurs, the faceplate is pivoted in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 30,
and thus opens the front surface of the striking section 65 to remove the clogged
staple.
is [0056]
<44. Description of transfer mechanism>
The base plate member 74 is provided with a transfer mechanism 81 for
transferring the lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 from the staple-refill 11
mounted in the refill accommodating portion 63 of the cartridge 61 to the striking.
20 section 65. The transfer mechanism 81 includes, as illustrated in FIGs. 31 and 38, a
guide member 83 moving in the transfer direction of the sheet-type connected staple
10, a transfer plate 84 having an inclined portion 84a engaging with the driver plate 80b,
a transfer claw 85 engaging with the sheet-type connected staple 10 to be sent, a
torsion coil spring functioning as a biasing member for biasing the transfer claw 95 in a
25 direction to engage with the sheet-type connected staple 10, and a coil spring 87
functioning as a resilient biasing member for resiliently biasing the guide member 83 in
the transfer direction of the sheet-type connected staple 10, in the guide recessed
portion 82 provided at the widthwise center of the base plate member 74 in the
longitudinal direction thereof.
30 [0057]
The guide member 83 is provided with the transfer claw 85 pivotally supported
by a support shaft 85a which penetrates in a shaft hole 85b formed in opposite lateral
-34-
F711
sides of the guide member 83. The transfer claw 85 is pivotally biased in a direction
to expose outward through an opening portion 83a of the guide member 83 by the
torsion coil spring 86 having one end locked to the transfer claw 85 and the other end
locked to the guide member 83. The transfer claw 85 is engaged with the fine
5 concave portion formed between the straight staples adjacent to each other of the
lowermost sheet-type connected staples 10 in the staple-refill 11. Also, one end
portion of the guide member 83 at the side of the striking section 65 is attached by the
transfer plate 84 by engaging the concave portions 83b and 84b. The transfer plate
84 is provided with the inclined portion 84a at its leading end, and the inclined portion
10 84a is exposed between the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79 and the pusher 77.
The coil spring 87 is provided in the guided state by guide walls 82a and 82a in the
guide recessed portion 82 between the lateral surface of the guide recessed portion 82
at the side the refill inserting port 64 and the guide member 83. The coil spring 87
biases the guide member 83 in a direction of the striking section 65, that is, a direction
is of the arrow E in FIG. 38.
[0058]
With the transfer mechanism 81, if the inclined portion 84a of the transfer plate
84 is pushed by the driver plate Sob entering between the face portion '79a of the
faceplate 79 and the pusher 77 to strike the staple, the guide member 83 is moved in a
20 direction opposite to the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 38, with being against the
biasing force of the coil spring 87. In this way, the transfer claw 85 of the guide
member 83 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow D by one
straight staple of the lowermost sheet-type connected staples 10 in the staple-refill 11,
and then is engaged with a next fine concave portion from the fine concave portion
25 between the straight staples engaged until now. After that, the guide member 83 is
returned to its original position by the biasing force of the coil spring 87, that is, is
moved in the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 38. In this instance, the transfer claw 85
of the guide member 83 sends out one straight staple 1 toward the striking section 65.
[0059]
30 <4-5. Description of positioning mechanism>
As illustrated in FIGs. 31, 39 and 40, the staple guide plate 75b which overlaps
with the staple guide cover 75a to configure the staple guide section 75 is provided with
-35...
F711
a positioning convex portion 89 protruding toward the refill inserting port 64 when it is
attached to the base plate member 74. The positioning convex portion 89 functions
as the positioning portion, and, when the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the refill
accommodating portion 63, is fitted into the positioning concave portion 26 formed on
5 the bottom surface 12e of the casing 12 functioning as a positioned portion. That is,
the positioning convex portion 89 has faces 89a and 89a parallel to the insertion
direction of the staple-refill 11, and, when the staple-refill 11 is inserted in the refill
accommodating portion 63, is fitted into the positioning concave portion 26 formed on
the bottom surface 12e of the casing 12. In this instance, the faces 89a and 89a,
10 which are parallel to the insertion direction of the staple-refill 11, of the positioning
convex portion 89 are brought into contact with fitting surfaces 26a and 26a of the
positioning concave portion 26. The positioning mechanism 88 of the staple-refill 11
configured as described above performs the positioning of the sheet-type connected
staples 10 accommodated in the staple accommodated portion 13 of the casing 12 in
15 the width direction of the staple-refill which is an extension direction of the sheet-type
connected staple 10, that is, the positioning convex portion 89 performs the positioning
of the sheet-type connected staples 10 in a direction perpendicular to the transfer
direction. In this way, the lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 in the staple
accommodating portion 13 is transferred to the passage formed between the staple
20 guide cover 75a of the staple guide section 75 and the staple guide plate 75b through
the staple discharging port 16 of the staple-refill 11. Moreover, the positioning of the
sheet-type connected staples 10 in the transfer direction can be performed by abutting
the leading end of the positioning convex portion 89 against the end portion of the
positioning concave portion 26 opposite to the leading end.
25 [0060}
The positioning of the sheet-type connected staples 10 of the staple-refill 11 in
the transfer direction in the refill accommodating portion 63 is performed as follows.
As illustrated in FIGs. 6 to 9, the casing 12 of the staple-refill 11 is provided with the
pushed portions 29 and 29 which protrude from both corner portions of the bottom
30 surface 12e to have the same height. When the cartridge 61 incorporated with the
staple-refill 11 is mounted in the magazine 101 of the stapling-machine main-body, the
pushed portions 29 and 29 are pressed against the pushing portions 102 and 102 of
-36-,.
F711
the magazine 101.
[0061]
In the cartridge 61, as illustrated in FIGs. 24, 25 and 28, both lateral portions
16a and 16a of the staple discharging port 16 of the casing 12 abut against the first
s abutting portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 75, which is fixed to the
cartridge 61 and the base plate member 74, at both sides of the positioning convex
portion 89. Also, second abutting portions 92 and 92 are formed at the staple guide
section 75 at the side of the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79. When the cartridge
61 is mounted in the magazine 101, the second abutting portions 92 and 92 abut
10 against the inner surface of the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79. The outer
surface of the faceplate 79 which is opposite to the inner surface abutting against the
second abutting portions 92 and 92 abuts against mounting reference portions 103 and
103 of the magazine 101. Meanwhile, the first and second abutting portions 91, 91,
92 and 92 are formed on the staple guide plate 75b in this example, but may be formed
1s on the staple guide cover 75a.
[0062]
That is, when the cartridge 61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11 is mounted
in the magazine 101 of the stapling-machine main-body, the pushed portions 29 and 29
of the staple-refill 11 are pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine
20 101, and both laterals portions 16a and 16a of the staple discharging port 16 abut
against the first abutting portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 75 and are in
close contact with them. Also, the second abutting portions 92 and 92 of the staple
guide section 75 abut against the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79, and the face
portion 79a abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 of the
25 magazine 101. That is, the positioning of the staple-refill 11, which functions as the
supply source of the sheet-type connected staples 10, in the magazine 101 is
performed by abutment of the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 via the staple
guide section 75 and the faceplate 79.
[0063]
30 In this way, it is not necessary to provide the cartridge 61 with the portion to be
pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 102, thereby simplifying the configuration of
the cartridge 61 and downsizing the appearance of the cartridge 61. Moreover, the
-37-
F711
stapleefill 11 having the rear surface provided with the pushed portions 29 and 29 to
be pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 102 is a consumable supply which is
replaced by new one if the sheet-type connected staples 10 are completely consumed.
Accordingly, the pushed portions 29 and 29 to be pushed by the pushing portions 102
s and 102 are changed by the appearance of new one whenever the staple-refill 11 is
replaced, so that the staple-refill 11 can be positioned accurately.
[00641
In general, the staple-refill 11 is not accurately positioned in the cartridge 61,
and thus rattling occurs. For this reason, since the rattling of the sheet-type
io connected staples 10 in the cartridge 61 is increased, the slope of the inclined portion
84a of the transfer plate 84 is decreased to absorb the rattling, so that the inclined
surface is gently inclined. Therefore, operation stroke of the guide member 83 or the
transfer plate 84 of the transfer mechanism 81 is extended. In the example of FIGs.
37, 38 and 41, the staple-refill is pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 103 of the
is magazine 101, and then is pressed by the mounting reference portions 103 and 103
via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79, so that the staple-refill in the
magazine 101 can be accurately positioned. As a result, since the operation stroke of
the guide member 83 or the transfer plate 84 of the transfer mechanism 81 can be
shortened, the downsizing of the cartridge 61 can be achieved. Also, since the
20 staple-refill 11 abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 of the
magazine 101 via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79 which are made
from metal of high strength, more accurate positioning can be performed. Further,
since the casing 12 is brought into close contact with the staple guide section 75 to
make the staple guide section 75 in contact with the faceplate 79, the dimension of the
25 gap through which the staple passes can be reliably maintained.
[0065]
In the above example, although it has been described the case where the
pushed portions 29 and 29 protruding in the same height from the rear surface 12d of
the casing 12 are pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine 101
30 and thus the staple-refill 11 abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103
of the magazine 101 to perform the accurate positioning, but the configuration in FIGs.
43 to 46 may be provided. In the example in FIGs. 43 and 44, the rear surface 12d of
-38-
F711
the casing 12 is formed in the same height, and the pushed portions 29 and 29 are not
provided with a convex portion, but provided with planar portions 29a and 29a which
are identical to other region of the rear surface 12d. In this instance, as illustrated in
FIG. 44, the flat pushed portions 29 and 29 are pushed by the pushing portions 102
5 and 102 of the magazine 101. Since there is not recess and convex portion on the
pushed portions 29 and 29, the appearance of the staple-refill 11 can be simplified.
[0066]
The pushed portions 29 and 29 formed on the rear surface 12d of the casing 12
may be provided with concave portions 29b and 29b, as illustrated in FIGs. 45 and 46.
so In this instance, the pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine 101 pushing the
concave portions 29b and 29b are provided with convex portions 102a and 102a which
are engaged with the concave portions 29b and 29b to push the casing 12. Since the
convex portions 102a and 102a are engaged with the concave portions 29b and 29b,
the pushed portions 29 and 29 of the concave shape are accurately aligned with the
is pushing portions 102 and 102, and then are pushed by the pushing portions 102 and
102 of the convex shape of the magazine 101.
[0067]
As described above, the positioning of the staple-refill 11 in the magazine 101
requires that the staple-refill 11 is pushed against the mounting reference portions 103
20 and 103 via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79. In the example in FIGs.
47(A) and 47(B), the cartridge 61 is provided with a pushing member 106. The
pushing member 106 is a member replacing the pushing portions 102 and 102
provided on the magazine 101. The pushing member 106 is provided to be
continuous with the bottom surface of the refill accommodating portion 63 at the side of
25 the refill inserting port 64 of the cartridge body 62. The leading end portion of the
pushing member 106 is provided with pushing portions 106a and 106a pushing the
pushed portions 29 and 29 of the casing 12. In the example in FIGs. 47(A) and 47(B),
the staple-refill 11 may be pushed against the mounting reference portions 103 and
103 by the pushing portions 106a and 106a of the pushing member 106 of the cartridge
30 body 62 via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79 which are provided at the
front side of the cartridge body 62. However, in the example in FIGs. 47(A) and 47(B),
since the cartridge body 62 is provided with the pushing member 106, the cartridge
- 39 ...
F711
body C2 is increased in size by the pushing member 106. By contrast, the cartridge
61 illustrated in the example in FIGS. 37 and 38 can be downsized by the pushing
member 106, since the cartridge body 62 is not necessarily provided with the pushing
member 106.
5 [00681
With the staple-refill 11 accommodated in the refill accommodating portion 63 of
the cartridge 61, as illustrated in FIGs. 37, 38 and 41, the pushed portions 29 and 29
are pushed by the pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine 101, and both lateral
portions 16a and 16a of the staple discharging port 16 abut against the first abutting
10 portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 75 by the pushing force, and then are in
close contact with the first abutting portions. Also, the second abutting portions 92
and 92 of the staple guide section 75 abut against the face portion 79a of the faceplate
79, and the face portion 79a abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and
103 of the magazine 101. Accordingly, to achieve the function, as illustrated in FIGS.
1s 48(A) and 48(B), it is not necessary to provide the front surface 12a of the casing 12
with the front wall. In this instance, the pushed portions 29 and 29 are pushed by the
pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine 101, and corner portions 16e and 16e
formed by the bottom surface 12e and the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c at the front
surface 12a of the casing 12 abut against the first abutting portions 91 and 91 of the.
20 staple guide section 75 by the pushing force, thereby obtaining the same effect as the
case of the front wall.
[00691
<5. Description of fundamental configuration of magazine (FIGS. 36 to 38, FIG. 41, and
so forth)>
25 -As illustrated in FIGS. 37 and 38, the magazine 101 includes the mounting
reference portions 103 and 103, and is provided with the pushing portions 102 and 102
at the position opposite to the pushed portions 29 and 29 of the rear surface 12d of the
staple-refill 11 incorporated in the cartridge 61 so as to allow the face portion 79a of the
faceplate 79 abut against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103. Also, the
30 magazine 101 is provided with the mounting levers 104 and 104 holding the cartridge
61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11, and the mounting levers 104 and 104 push the
second positioning projections 19 and 19 protruding from the rear surface 12d of the
-40-
F7:1
staple :refill 11 in a triangular shape. The mounting levers 104 and 104 are resilient
pieces formed by bending, for example, a leaf spring, and have leading end portions
bent, for example, at a substantially right angle to form engaging pieces 104a and 104a
which are engaged with the upper-side end face 19c forming the inclined portion of the
5 second positioning projections 19 and 19. The bent angle of the leading end portion is
not limited to the substantially right angle, and other angle is preferable if the angle can
obtain the engaging force suitable for the shape of the second positioning projections
19 and 19. The engaging pieces 104a and 104a of the mounting levers 104 and 104
are engaged with the upper-side end face 19c of the second positioning projections 19
Zo and 19. The mounting levers 104 and 104 press the cartridge 61 towards the bottom
surface and the front surface of the magazine 101 via the staple-refill 11 to fix, that is,
lock, the magazine, by the fact in that the engaging pieces 104a and 104a are engaged
with the upper-side end face 19c of the second positioning projections 19 and 19 to
push the second positioning projections 19 and 19 from the upper portion. That is, the
is second positioning projections 19 and 19 function as an additional pushed portion
together with the pushed portions 29 and 29. The mounting levers 104 and 104 are a
locking member for locking the cartridge 61 in the state in which the cartridge 61 is
mounted in the magazine 101, and the second positioning projections 19 and '19
provided on the rear surface of the staple-refill 11 are a locked portion which is locked.
20 to the mounting levers 104 and 104.
[0070]
The magazine 101 is provided with the forming plate 80a and the driver plate
80b. As illustrated in FIGs. 37 and 38, the forming plate 80a enters between the
faceplate 79 and the staple guide plate 75b from the top surface of the striking section
25 65, and moves the straight staple 10a, which is positioned at the leading end portion of
the lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 in the staple accommodating portion 13
of the staple-refill 11, along the pusher 77, so that the staple is formed in the U-shape
by the anvil 76. The driver plate 80b is provided together with the forming plate 80a at
the side of the faceplate 79 rather than the forming plate 80a. The driver plate 80b
30 enters between the faceplate 79 and the pusher 77 from the top surface of the striking
section 65, and strikes the staple 10a bent in the U-shape in the direction of the arrow
X in FIG. 38.
-41-
F711
[0071]
As illustrated in FIGs. 6 to 9, 37, 38, or the like, the second positioning
projections 19 and 19 formed on the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 have the face
surface 19c, which is inclined downward toward the direction of the bottom surface 12e
5 and the front surface 12a, at the side of the top surface of the casing 12. When the
inclined portion is pushed down, the casing 12 is pressed against the bottom surface
and the front surface of the mounting object by the mounting levers 104 and 104.
That is, the mounting lever 104 performs a role corresponding to the pushing portion
102, while the second positioning projections 19 and 19 perform a role corresponding
10 to the pushed portions 29 and 29. Accordingly, when the staple-refill 11 mounted in
the cartridge 61 abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 of the
magazine 101, it is not positively necessary to provide the casing 12 with the pushed
portions 29 and 29„ and the magazine 101 with the pushing portions 102 and 102.
[0072]
15 That is, as illustrated in FIGs. 49(A), the staple-refill 11 used herein is not
provided with the pushed portions 29 and 29 at the corner portions of the rear surface
12d of the casing 12 at the side of the bottom surface 12e, but is provided with the
second positioning projections 19 and 19 protruding in the triangular shape. The
magazine 101, in which the cartridge 61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11 is
20 mounted, is not provided with the pushing portions 102 and 102 for pushing the pushed
portions 29 and 29, but is provided with the mounting levers 104 and 104 for pushing
the second positioning projections 19 and 19 to hold the cartridge 61 incorporated with
the staple-refill 11. the mounting levers 104 and 104 have the leading end portions
bent at a substantially right angle to form the engaging pieces 104a and 104a which
25 are engaged with the upper-side end face 19c of the second positioning projections 19
and 19. The mounting levers 104 and 104 function as the pushing portions 102 and
102 to press the staple-refill 11 towards the bottom surface and the front surface of the
refill accommodating portion 63 in the cartridge 61. In this way, the staple-refill 11 in
therefill accommodating portion 63 is locked in the accommodated state. Herewith,
30 the staple-refill 11 is positioned with respect to the magazine 101, as illustrated in FIG.
49(B), as both lateral portions 16a and 16a of the staple discharging port 16 abut
against the first abutting portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 7 by the
-42-,
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resiliently biasing force of the mounting levers 104 and 104 to be in close contact with
the first abutting portions, the second abutting portions 92 and 92 of the staple guide
section 75 abut against the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79, and the face portion
79a abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 of the magazine 101.
5 [0073]
The shape of the second positioning projections 19 and 19 functioning as the
pushed portion is limited to the triangular shape protruding from the rear surface 12d of
the casing 12. For example, the second positioning projections 19 and 19 functioning
as the pushed portion may be formed in a concave shape which is bent downward
to when the upper-side end face 19c is inclined downward in the direction of the bottom
surface 12e and the front surface 12a, as illustrated in FIG. 50(A). In this instance, as
the engaging portions 104a and 104a of the mounting levers 104 and 104 are engaged
with the upper-side end face 19c bent downward, the staple-refill 11 is pressed towards
the bottom surface and the front surface of the refill accommodating portion 63. At
is that time, in the case where the second positioning projections 19 and 19 come into
contact with the engaging portions 104a and 104a at one point of a first contact portion
19X, the pushing force as illustrated by the solid-line arrow in FIG. 50(A) acts. Also, in
the case where the second positioning projections 19 and 19 come into contact with
the engaging portions 104a and 104a at two points of the first contact portion 19X and.
20 a second contact portion 19Y, the pushing force as illustrated by the dotted-line arrow
in FIG. 50(A) further acts. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 50(B), the second
positioning projections 19 and 19 functioning as the pushed portion may protrude in an
arc shape from the rear surface 12d of the casing 12, and the upper-side end face 19c
facing the direction of the bottom surface 12e and the front surface 12a may be formed
25 in a convex surface of an arc shape. In this instance, as the engaging portions '104a
and 104a of the mounting levers 104 and 104 are engaged with the upper-side end
face 19c bent in an arc shape, the staple-refill 11 is pressed towards the bottom
surface and the front surface of the refill accommodating portion 63. Also, as
illustrated in FIG. 50(0), the second positioning projections 19 and 19 functioning as
30 the pushed portion may be formed of a stepped portion protruding from the rear
surface 12d of the casing 12. The stepped portion of this case consists of a surface
parallel to the front surface 12a of the casing 12 and a surface parallel to the bottom
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surface 12e. The bent portions of the engaging portions 104a and 104a of the
mounting levers 104 and 104 are engaged with the stepped portion, so that the
staple-refill 11 is pressed towards the bottom surface and the front surface of the refill
accommodating portion 63. In this instance, in the case where the second positioning
s projections 19 and 19 come into contact with the engaging portions 104a and 104a at
one point of the first contact portion 19X, the pushing force as illustrated by the
solid-line arrow in FIG. 50(C) acts. Also, in the case where the second positioning
projections 19 and 19 come into contact with the engaging portions 104a and 104a at
two points of the first contact portion 19X and a second contact portion 19Y, the
10 pushing force as illustrated by the dotted-line arrow in FIG. 50(C) further acts.
[0074]
In the above example, the rear surface 12d of the casing 12 is provided with the
second positioning projections 19 and 19 protruding therefrom, but the second
positioning projections 19 and 19 may be formed not in the projection, but in a concave
is portion. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGs. 51(A) and 51(B), the rear surface 12d of
the casing 12 is provided with a positioning concave portion 19d functioning as the
pushed portion. The positioning concave portion 19d is formed in the width direction
to cross the guide hole 28 of the rear surface 12d of the casing 12, and the leading end
portions of the mounting levers 104 and 104 are formed in a concave portion recessed
20 in a triangular shape corresponding to the engaging pieces 104a and 104a which are
bent at a substantially right angle. In this instance, as the engaging portions 104a and
104a of the mounting levers 104 and 104 are engaged with the positioning concave
portion 19d, the staple-refill 11 is pressed towards the bottom surface and the front
surface of the refill accommodating portion 63. Meanwhile, the concave shape of the
25 positioning concave portion 19d is not limited to the triangular shape, but an are shape
or a stepped shape is preferable. Moreover, the number of the positioning concave
portions 19d may be provided in plural, and, for example, the rear surface 12d may be
provided with two positioning concave portions (for example, at positions
corresponding to the positions of the second positioning projections 19 and 19), with
30 the guide hole 28 being interposed therebetween.
[0075]
<6. Description of fundamental operation until staple-refill is mounted in cartridge>
-44-
F71I
To accommodate the stacked sheet-type connected staples 10 in the
staple-refill 11, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the laminated sheet-type connected staples 10
are accommodated in the casing 12, in the state in which the casing is not attached by
the cover member 15. After that, in the casing 12, one guide boss 22 of the cover
s member 15 is inserted into one horizontal guide portion 21b from the inside, and the
other guide boss 22 is inserted into the other horizontal guide portion 21b, with sitting
on the joint portion 21 c. Also, by engaging the guide boss 27 to the guide hole 28, the
cover member 15 is provided on the stacked sheet-type connected staple 10
accommodated in the staple accommodating portion 13. In this instance, the front
10 surface 12a of the casing 12 is provided with the notch portion 18. Accordingly, in the
casing 12, the staple inserting port 14 of one pair of opposite lateral surfaces 12b and
12c is bent in a direction to enlarge the width thereof, thereby easily inserting the
sheet-type connected staples 10 or attaching the cover member 15.
[0076]
is As illustrated in FIGs. 10 and 12, the staple-refill 11 is configured to prevent the
lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 from falling off via the staple discharging
port 16 at the position in which the boss portion 17c of the fall-out preventing piece 17
is overlapped with the staple discharging port 16. When the staple-refill 11 is mounted
in the cartridge 61, the fall-out preventing piece 17 is pivoted around the hinge 17b, so.
20 that the boss portion 17c is retracted through the staple discharging port 16. In this
way, the sheet-type connected staple 10 can be discharged through the staple
discharging port 16.
[0077]
As described above, the staple-refill 11 loaded with the maximum amount of the
25 sheet-type connected staples 10 is inserted into the refill accommodating portion 63
through the refill inserting port 64 of the cartridge 61, as illustrated in FIGs. 8 and 9, in
the state in which the front surface 12a functions as the insertion surface. Then, as
illustrated in FIGs. 29 and 30, the push lever 66 pivotally biased in the direction of the
arrow C in FIG. 30 enters through the notch portion 18 of the front surface 12a of the
30 casing 12, of which the pushing portion 70 of the leading end portion is the insertion
surface, and sits on the cover member 15. The pushing portion 70 of the push lever
66 which comes into contact with the cover member 15 is guided by the guide walls 32
-.45-
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and 32, and, if the sheet-type connected stapleslO are decreased, as illustrated in FIG.
42, is engaged with the engaging portion 31 of the concave shape. In this way, the
push lever 66 reliably pushes the sheet-type connected stapleslO stacked in the staple
accommodating portion 13 via the cover member 15. Further, the staple-refill 11 is
5 prevented from falling off from the refill accommodating portion 63 by engagement of
the pushing portion; which comes into contact with the cover member 15, with the
engaging portion 31 of the concave shape.
[0078]
When the staple-refill 11 is accommodated in the refill accommodating portion
10 63 of the cartridge 61, as illustrated in FIGs. 33 to 35, the guide bosses 22 and 22 of
the cover member 15 are engaged with the pick-up portions 73a and 73a. As the
staple-refill 11 is accommodated in the refill accommodating portion 63, the guide
bosses 22 and 22 of the cover member 15 pushed by the push lever 66 in the direction
of the arrow C in FIG. 33 are lifted by the inclined surface of the pick-up portions 73a
is and 73a. If the staple-refill 11 is completely accommodated in the refill
accommodating portion 63, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the guide bosses 22 and 22 reach
the separation restricting portions 73b and 73b. In this instance, the cover member 15
is slightly moved down by the push lever 66 which is resiliently biased in the direction
of the arrow C in FIG. 34, and then is pushed against the uppermost layer of the
20 sheet-type connected staples 10 to generate the click feeling, so that it can notify the
user of that the staple-refill 11 is reliably mounted in the cartridge 61.
[0079]
In use, the guide bosses 22 and 22 move gradually the separation restricting
portions 73b and 73b as the sheet-type connected staples 10 are decreased. If the
25 sheePtype connected staples 10 of the staple-refill 11 are completely consumed, the
boss portions 23, 23, 23 and 23 formed on the rear surface of the cover member 15 are
engaged with the escape portions 24, 24, 24 and 24 formed at four corners of the
bottom surface 12e of the casing 12. The height position of the guide bosses 22 and
22 is placed below the disengaging portions 73c and 73c. In this way, the guide
30 bosses 22 and 22 pass below the disengaging portions 73c and 73c, so that the
staple-refill 11 can be separated from the refill accommodating portion 63.
[0080]
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F711
When the staple-refill is pulled out from the refill accommodating portion 63, the
push portion 70 which is in contact with the cover member 15 is guided by the guide
walls 32 and 32, and the push lever 66 is released from the staple-refill 11 via the notch
portion 18. Also, the staple-refill 11 can be easily pulled out from the cartridge 61 by
s gripping the handle portions 20 and 20 with the finger or the like. Since the release of
the push lever 66 is automatically performed during pull-out operation of the staple-refill
11, the releasing operation of the push lever 66 or the like is not necessary, thereby
achieving the improvement in operability.
[00811
10 When the staple-refill 11 is mounted in the cartridge 61, as illustrated in FIGs.
39 and 40, the positioning convex portion 89 of the staple guide plate 75h is fitted into
the positioning concave portion 26 formed on the bottom surface 12e of the casing 12.
The positioning mechanism 88 of the staple-refill 11 configured as described above
performs the positioning of the sheet-type connected staples 10 in the width direction of
is the staple-refill, that is, the positioning convex portion 89 performs the positioning of the
sheet-type connected staples 10 in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction.
[0082]
As described above, the cartridge 61 incorporated with the staple-refill 11 is
inserted and mounted in the magazine 101 at the side of the stapling-machine
20 main-body, in which the front surface 62e formed with the striking section 65 functions
as the insertion surface. As illustrated in FIGs. 36 to 38 and 41, the mounting levers
104 and 104 of the magazine 101 push down the second positioning projections 19
and 19 of the triangular shape from the upper side to press the cartridge 61 towards
the bottom surface and the front surface of the magazine 101 via the staple-refill 11.
25 Also, -the staple-refill 11 mounted in the cartridge 61 is pushed by the pushed portions
29 and 29 of the rear surface 12d of the staple-refill which faces outward from the rear
surface 62d of the cartridge 61 by the pushing portions 102 and 102 of the magazine
101.
[0083]
30 And then, as illustrated in FIGs. 37, 38 and 41, both lateral portions 16a and
16a of the staple discharging port 16 of the casing 12 abut against both first abutting
portions 91 and 91 of the staple guide section 75 which is fixed to the cartridge body 62
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and the base plate member 74, and then are in close contact with the first abutting
portions. Also, the second abutting portions 92 and 92 of the face portion 79a of the
faceplate 79 of the staple guide section 75 abut against the inner surface of the face
portion 79a of the faceplate 79, and the outer surface of the face portion 79a which is
s opposite to the inner surface abutting against the second abutting portions 92 and 92
abuts against the mounting reference portions 103 and 103 of the magazine 101.
Accordingly, in the magazine 101, the staple-refill 11 abuts against the mounting
reference portions 103 and 103 via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79, so
that the staple-refill is accurately positioned. Also, since the casing 12 is in close
10 contact with the staple guide section 75, so that the staple guide section 75 is brought
into contact with the faceplate 79 to stably maintain the dimension of the gap through
which the staple passes.
[0084]
As illustrated in FIGs. 37 and 38, the sheet-type connected staple 10 is sent to
is the passage corresponding to the thickness and the width of the sheet-type connected
staple 10 between the staple guide cover 75a and the staple guide plate 75b which
configure the striking section 65, through the staple discharge port 16. In order to
staple the paper to be bound, the forming plate 80a first enters between the faceplate
79 and the staple guide plate 75b from the upper side of the striking section 65, and
20 then forms the straight staple, which is positioned at the leading end portion of the
lowermost sheet-type connected staples 10 in the staple accommodating portion 13 of
the staple-refill 11, in the U-shape by the anvil 76. And then, the driver plate 80b
enters between faceplate 79 and the staple guide plate 75b from the upper side of the
striking section 65 to strike the staple 10a bent in the U-shape in the direction of the
25 arrow`X in FIG. 38.
[0085]
If the,staple is struck, only one lowermost sheet-type connected staple 10 in the
staple-refill 11 is sent. Specifically, in the transfer mechanism 81, the inclined portion
84a of the transfer plate 84 is pressed by the driver plate 80b entering the gap between
30 the face portion 79a of the faceplate 79 and the pusher 77. Then, the guide member
83 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 38, with
being against the biasing force of the coil spring 87. In this way, the transfer claw 85
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of theguide member 83 moves one straight staple of the lowermost sheet-type
connected staple 10 in the staple-refill 11 in the direction opposite to the direction of the
arrow E, and then is engaged with a next fine concave portion from the fine concave
portion between the straight staples engaged until now. After that, the guide member
s 83 is returned to its original position by the biasing force of the coil spring 87, that is, is
moved in the direction of the arrow to in FIG. 38. In this instance, the transfer claw 85
of the guide member 83 sends out one straight staple 1 toward the striking section 65.
[00861
In the magazine 101, the staple-refill 11 abuts against the mounting reference
10 portions 103 and 103 via the staple guide section 75 and the faceplate 79 to perform
the positioning thereof. In this way, the positioning of the staple -refill 11 to the
mounting reference portions 103 and 103 can improve the accuracy in transfer of the
sheet-type connected staple 10 to the striking section 65 by the fact that the members
effecting to the function of transferring the sheet-type connected staple 10 to the
is striking section 65 are the minimum necessary members, such as the staple -refill 11,
the staple guide section 75, the faceplate 79 and the mounting reference portions 103
and 103. As a result, it is possible to shorten the stroke of the guide member 83 or
the transfer plate 84 of the transfer mechanism 81, thereby achieving the
miniaturization of the cartridge 61.
20 [00871
<7. Description of modification of staple-refill ( FIGs. 54 to 63)>
<7-1. Description of modification of notch portion of casing>
The above-described staple-refill 11 may be configured as follows, like FIG. 54.
In the example in FIG. 54, the cover member 15 is not formed in the substantially
25 rectangular shape, but is formed is a substantially H-shape when seen from its front
side. The cover member 15 has a vertical portion 34a extending in the longitudinal
direction at the substantially center of the staple inserting port 12 in the width direction
thereof, and horizontal portions 34b and 34b extending in the width direction of the
staple inserting port 12, as illustrated in FIGs. 54(A) and 54(B). The horizontal portion
30 34b positioned at the side of the front surface 12a of the casing 12 is provided at its
both ends with the guide bosses 22 and 22 which are engaged with the guide holes 21
and 21 of the lateral surfaces 12b and 12c. Also , the horizontal portion 34b positioned

What is claimed is:
1. A staple-refill (11) comprising:
a casing (12) in which a plurality of sheet-type connected staples (10) are
stacked and accommodated; and
5 a notch portion (18) which is formed on one side surface (12a) of the casing
(12),
wherein the casing (12) is attached to or detached from a main-body of a
stapling-machine (1) or a cartridge (61) which is to attached to or detached from the
stapling-machine main-body, in a transfer direction in which the sheet-type connected
10 staples (10) in the casing is transferred to a striking section in the stapling machine (1),
and
wherein the notch portion (18) has a shape to enable a push lever (66) to pass,
at least in a detaching operation of the casing (12) from the stapling-machine
main-body or the cartridge, wherein the push lever (66) pushes and biases the
1s sheet-type connected staples (10) in the casing (12) in a stacking direction in which the
sheet-type connected staples (10) are stacked in the casing (12).
2. The staple-refill (11) according to claim 1, wherein the notch portion (18) is
formed to enable the push lever (66) to pass in a state in which the push lever (66) is
20 pushing and biasing the sheet-type connected staples (10) in the stacking direction,
3. The staple-refill (11) according to claim 1, wherein the side surface of the
casing (12) on which the notch portion (18) is formed is an insertion surface (12a) from
which the staple-refill (11) is inserted to the stapling-machine main-body or the
25 cartridge, and
wherein the notch portion (18) is formed by opening the insertion surface (12a)
at a side of a staple inserting port (14) through which the sheet-type connected staples
(10) are inserted in the casing (12).
30 4. The staple-refill according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprises a cover
member (15) which covers the sheet-type connected staples (10) in the casing (12)
and is movable in the stacking direction,
_85-
F711
wherein the cover member (15) pushes and biases the sheet-type connected
staples (10) by being pushed and biased by the push lever (66).
5. The staple-refill according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the casing ('12) is
provided with a handle portion (20) on a surface (12d) opposite to the insertion surface
(12a).
6. The staple-refill according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the notch portion
(18) is provided with a tapered portion (I 8c) of which a side for receiving the push lever
10 (66) is wide.