1
STAPLER
Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a stapler capable of stapling a workpiece using non-
5 metal staples.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, there has been proposed a stapler capable of stapling a workpiece
using staples made of a non-metal material which is a soft material, such as paper, instead of
10 metal staples.
[0003] A stapler using staples made of such a non-metal material includes insert blades for
forming holes in the workpiece, by which the workpiece is formed with holes by the insert
blades, and leg portions of the staples penetrate the holes.
[0004] In the stapler using the staple made of the non-metal soft material, a member
15 configuring a stapling table, on which the workpiece is placed, is provided with a bending
member for bending the leg portions of the staple. By movement of an operating member
causing the insert blades and the leg portions of the staple to penetrate the workpiece, the
stapling table is moved at a given timing, and the bending member is relatively moved by
operation of the stapling table, thereby bending the leg portions of the staple that has
20 penetrated the workpiece (see, e.g., JP 4967521 B2).
[0005] In the configuration which relatively moves the bending member by the operation
of the stapling table, on which the workpiece is placed, to bend the leg portions of the staple,
since the bending member is not directly moved by the movement of the operating member,
motion of the bending member is not stable. Further, in the process of stapling the
25 workpiece, the motion of the bending member becomes unstable also by the movement of
the stapling table. In addition, since the workpiece placed on the stapling table is also
moved according to the movement of the stapling table, the stapling motion becomes
unstable.
30 Summary of Invention
[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a stapler capable of
reliably performing stapling motion of a workpiece.
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a stapler is configured to bind a
2
# workpiece using a non-metal staple. The staple has a crown portion and a pair of leg
portions extending from respective ends of the crown portion. The stapler includes a
penetrating part, an operating member, and a bending part. The penetrating part includes a
pair of cutting blades spaced apart from each other. The penetrating part is configured to
5 form holes in the workpiece and to cause the leg portions to penetrate the workpiece by
inserting and withdrawing the cutting blades with respect to the workpiece. The operating
member is operable to cause the leg portions of the staple to penetrate the workpiece by the
penetrating part. The bending part is configured to bend the leg portions of the staple,
which has penetrated the workpiece, along the workpiece to bond the leg portions to each
10 other. The bending part includes a bending member configured to bend the leg portions of
the staple, and a driving force transmitting section configured to transmit an operation of the
operating member to the bending member.
[0008] The stapler performs the stapling operation by directly transmitting the movement
of the operating member to the bending member to operate the bending member and to bend
15 the pair of leg portions of the staple that has penetrated the workpiece.
[0009] That is, the bending member is not moved by the movement of a paper
placing base on which the workpiece is placed. Instead, the bending member is moved
directly by the movement of the operating member. Therefore, operation of each member
is stable, and it is possible to reliably perform the stapling operation. Further, in the process
20 of stapling the workpiece, the paper placing base is not moved. Thus, the operation of each
member is stable, and the stapling operation can be reliably performed. In addition, since
the workpiece placed on the paper placing base is not moved, the stapling operation is stable,
and the stapling operation can be reliably performed.
25 Brief Description of Drawings
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating one example of an internal configuration
of a stapler according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating one example of the internal configuration of the
stapler according to this embodiment;
30 FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating one example of the stapler according to this
I embodiment;
I FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the stapler according to one
embodiment when seen from a front;
I
3
$ FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the stapler according to this
embodiment when seen from a rear;
FIG. 6 is a forward sectional view illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a
penetrating mechanism of the stapler according to this embodiment;
5 FIG. 7 is a forward sectional view illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a
cuttinglforming mechanism of the stapler according to this embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating one example of a staple-materials-connecting-body;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a receiving state of the staplematerials-
connecting-body;
10 FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a formed staple;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one example of a state in which paper sheets are
stapled with the staple;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a staple cartridge;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the staple cartridge;
15 FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a
portion of the penetrating mechanism of the stapler according to this embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a front view illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism;
FIG, 16 is a rear view illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism;
20 FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a cutting blade guide;
FIG. 19 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism;
FIG. 20 -is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism;
25 FIG. 21 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism;
FIG. 22 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism;
FIG. 23 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
30 mechanism;
FIG. 24 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism;
FIG. 25 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
1 mechanism;
FIG. 26 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism according to a difference in the number of paper sheets;
FIG. 27 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
5 mechanism according to the difference in the number of paper sheets;
FIG. 28 is a front view illustrating one example of the cuttinglforming mechanism;
FIG. 29 is a rear view illustrating one example of the cutting/forming mechanism;
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the cuttinglforming mechanism when seen from a front;
FIG. 3 1 is a perspective view of the cuttinglforming mechanism when seen from a rear;
10 FIG. 32 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
mechanism;
FIG. 33 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
mechanism;
FIG. 34 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
15 mechanism;
FIG. 35 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
mechanism;
FIG. 36 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
mechanism;
20 FIGs. 37(a) to 37(c) illustrate an operation of cutting the staple-materials-connecting-body;
FIGs. 38(a) to 38(b) illustrate an example of a bending mechanism;
FIGs. 39(a) and 39(b) are perspective views illustrating anexample of the bending
mechanism;
FIG. 40 is a side view illustrating one example of a driving force transmission mechanism of
25 the bending mechanism;
FIGs. 4 1 (a) to 4 1 (c) illustrate an exemplary operation of the bending mechanism;
FIGs. 42(a) to 42(c) illustrate an exemplary operation of the bending mechanism;
FIGs. 43(a) to 43(c) illustrate an exemplary operation of the bending mechanism;
FIGs. 44(a) to 44(c) illustrate an exemplary operation of the bending mechanism;
30 FIGs. 45(a) to 45(e) illustrate an exemplary operation of the bending mechanism;
FIG. 46 is a side sectional view of the stapler illustrating one example of an
attachingldetaching mechanism;
FIGs. 47(a) to 47(c) illustrate an exemplary operation of conveying the staple-materials5
connecting-body by an operation of the attachingldetaching mechanism;
FIG. 48 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of an operating handle
portion;
FIG. 49 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the operating handle
portion;
FIG. 50 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the operating handle
portion;
FIG. 51 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the operating handle
portion;
FIG. 52 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 53 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 54 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 55 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 56 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 57 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 58 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 59 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 60 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 61 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 62 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 63 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the entire stapler;
FIG. 64 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and a bending mechanism;
FIG. 65 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 66 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 67 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 68 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 69 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
6 * FIG. 70 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 71 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
5 FIG. 72 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 73 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 74 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
10 mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 75 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the penetrating
mechanism and the bending mechanism;
FIG. 76 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
mechanism;
15 FIG. 77 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
mechanism;
FIG. 78 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttindfoming
mechanism;
FIG. 79 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
20 mechanism;
FIG. 80 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttindforming
mechanism;
FIG. 81 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttindforming
mechanism;
25 FIG. 82 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
mechanism;
FIG. 83 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
mechanism;
FIG. 84 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
30 mechanism;
FIG. 85 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forming
mechanism;
FIG. 86 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cutting/forrning
0 mechanism;
FIG. 87 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the cuttinglforming
mechanism;
I
I FIG. 88 is a perspective view illustrating an example of other configuration of the stapler
1 5 according to the embodiment; and
FIG. 89 is a perspective view illustrating an example of other configuration of the stapler
according to the embodiment.
Detailed Description
10 [0011] An exemplary embodiment of a stapler according to the present invention will be
described with reference the accompanying drawings.
[0012] Exemplary configuration of stapler of the embodiment
FIGS. 1 and 2 are side sectional views illustrating one example of the internal configuration
of the stapler according to the embodiment, in which FIG. 1 shows a mounting state of a
15 staple cartridge, and FIG. 2 shows a detached state of the staple cartridge. FIG. 3 is a side
view illustrating one example of the stapler according to the embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the stapler according to one
embodiment when seen from a front. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one example
of the stapler according to this embodiment when seen from a rear. FIG. 6 is a forward
20 sectional view illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a penetrating
mechanism of the stapler according to this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a forward sectional view
illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a cuttinglforming mechanism of the
stapler according to this embodiment;
[0014] First, explaining an outline of the stapler 1 according to this embodiment, the
25 stapler 1 binds the paper sheets P which are a workpiece, using a staple 10 made of a nonmetal
material which is a soft material. The staple 10 is supplied as a band-like staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a integrally configured, as will be described later, and the
staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is received in a staple cartridge 11, so that it is
mounted in the stapler 1.
30 [0015] The stapler 1 includes a penetrating mechanism 2 configured to make a hole in the
paper sheets P and to penetrate the staple 10 into the paper sheets P by an action of driving
the staple 10 which is cut from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a and formed.
[0016] Further, the stapler 1 includes a cuttinglforming mechanism 3 configured to cut a
8
C( staple material 10m from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a and form the cut staple
material 10m into a formed staple 10, in association with an operation of the penetrating
mechanism 2 which drives the staple 10 and penetrates the paper sheets P.
[0017] Further, the stapler 1 includes a paper holding mechanism 4 configured to hold the
5 paper sheets P to be penetrated by the penetrating mechanism 2, in association with the
operation of the penetrating mechanism 2 which drives the staple 10 and penetrates the paper
sheets P.
[0018] Further, the stapler 1 includes a bending mechanism 5 configured to bend the staple
10 penetrated the paper sheets P, in association with the operation of the penetrating
10 mechanism 2 which drives the staple 10 and penetrates the paper sheets P.
[0019] Further, the stapler 1 includes a conveying mechanism 6 configured to convey the
staples 10 cut from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a and formed to the penetrating
mechanism 2 which drives the staple 10, and convey the staple-materials-connecting-body
10a to the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 from which the next staple 10 is conveyed to the
15 penetrating mechanism 2.
[0020] Further, the stapler 1 includes an attachingldetaching mechanism 7A configured to
convey the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a received in the staple cartridge 11 to a
desired position, in association with the conveying mechanism 6, when the staple cartridge
1 1 is mounted in the stapler 1.
20 [0021] The stapler 1 includes a body section 8 provided with the penetrating mechanism 2,
the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, the paper holding mechanism 4, the bending mechanism 5,
the conveying mechanism 6, and the attachingldetaching mechanism 7A which are described
above. With the stapler 1, the respective above-described constituent elements is operated
by a desired driving force, and the respective constituent elements is operated in an
25 interlocking manner by operation of an operating handle 9 which is manipulated by a human
power.
[0022] The body section 8 includes a paper placing base 80 in which the paper sheets P are
placed, and a cartridge receiving portion 8 1 mounted with the staple cartridge 1 1. With the
stapler 1, the paper placing base 80 is installed at one side, that is, a front side, of the body
30 section 8, and the cartridge receiving portion 8 1 is installed at a rear side.
[0023] In the body section 8, the penetrating mechanism 2, the cuttinglforming mechanism
3, and the paper holding mechanism 4 are installed over the paper placing base 80. The
penetrating mechanism 2, the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, and the paper holding
9
() mechanism 4 are disposed in order of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, the penetrating
mechanism 2, and the paper holding mechanism 4 from a rear side in a conveyance direction
of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a.
[0024] The body section 8 is provided with guide grooves 82a for guiding movement of the
5 penetrating mechanism 2, guide grooves 82b for guiding movement of the cuttinglforming
mechanism 3, and guide grooves 82c for guiding movement of the paper holding mechanism
4. The guide grooves 82a to 82c respectively extend in a vertical direction with respect to
the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing base 80, and are provided parallel to each
other.
10 [0025] Further, in the body section 8, the conveying mechanism 6 is installed at the rear of
the penetrating mechanism 2, the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, and the paper holding
mechanism 4. The body section 8 is provided with a guide (not illustrated) for guiding
movement of the conveying mechanism 6. In addition, in the body section 8, the bending
mechanism 5 is installed under the paper placing base 80.
15 [0026] The operating handle 9 is rotatably supported by a coupling shaft portion 20b,
which will be described later and serves as a fulcrum, of the penetrating mechanism 2, when
a cam groove 91 is guided along the shaft 90 installed to the body 8. The operating handle
9 is installed in a vertically movable manner, with it being rotated around an imaginary
fulcrum defined by a track of the cam groove 91 guided by the shaft 90 and a track of the
20 coupling shaft portion 20b, and the rotation using the imaginary fulcrum as a fulcrum axis is
transmitted to the penetrating mechanism 2. Further, the operating handle 9 includes a link
92 for transmitting the operation of the operating handle rotating around the imaginary
fulcrum to the conveying mechanism 6 via the coupling shaft portion 20b.
[0027] Since a distance between a power point, to which the power is applied, and the
25 imaginary fulcrum, and a distance between a point of the penetrating mechanism 2, on which
the power acts, and the imaginary fulcrum are displaced by the shape of the cam groove 91,
the load applied to the operating handle 9 is varied.
[0028] The cam groove 91 is provided with a first guide groove portion 91a which is
guided by the shaft 90 at a timing at which the staple 10 starts to penetrate into the paper
30 sheets P by the operation of the penetrating mechanism 2, a second guide groove portion 91 b
which is guided by the shaft 90 at a timing at which the staple 10 penetrates into the paper
sheets P by the operation of the penetration mechanism 2, and a third guide groove portion
91c which is guided by the shaft 90 at a timing at which the staple 10 is bent by the
10
(0 operation of the bending mechanism 5.
[0029] In this embodiment, the shape of the cam groove is set so that an operating load of
the operating handle 9, an example of an operating member, becomes light at the timing at
which the staple 10 starts to penetrate into the paper sheets P by the operation of the
5 penetrating mechanism 2, an example of a penetrating part, and at the timing at which the
staple 10 is bent by the operation of the bending mechanism 5, an example of a bending part.
[0030] In the stapler 1, the operation of the operating handle 9 is transmitted to the
penetrating mechanism 2, the cutting/forming mechanism 3, and the paper holding
mechanism 4, so that the penetrating mechanism 2, the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, and
10 the paper holding mechanism 4 are guided by the guide grooves 82a to 82c to move in the
vertical direction with respect to the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing base 80.
[0031] Accordingly, the stapler 1 performs the operation of the paper holding mechanism 4
to hold the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing base 80, as the operating handle 9 is
operated. Also, in association with the operation of the paper holding mechanism 4 to hold
15 the paper sheets P, the stapler performs the operation of the penetrating mechanism 2 to
allow the staple 10 to penetrate the paper sheets P. Furthermore, in association with the
operation of the penetrating mechanism 2 to allow the staple 10 to penetrate the paper sheets
P, the stapler performs the operation of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 to cut and form the
next staple 10.
20 [0032] Further, the stapler 1 performs the operation of the bending mechanism 5 to bend
the staple 10 penetrating the paper sheets P, in association with the operation of the operating
handle 9.
(00331 - In the stapler 1, the operation of the operating handle 9 is transmitted to the
conveying mechanism 6 via the link 92, and thus the conveying mechanism 6 is moved in a
25 forward and backward direction along the conveyance direction of the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a. Accordingly, as the operating handle 9 is operated, the stapler 1
conveys the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a to the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 by
the conveying mechanism 6, and conveys the staple 10 located at the leading end, which is
cut and formed from the staple-materials-connecting-body, 10a to the penetrating
30 mechanism 2.
[0034] Exemplary configuration of staple and staple-materials-connecting-body
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating one example of the staple-materials-connecting-body
according to this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a
11
I) receiving state of the staple-materials-connecting-body according to this embodiment. FIG.
10 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the formed staple according to the
embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one example of a state in which
the paper sheets are stapled with the staple. Next, the configuration of the staple 10 and the
5 staple-materials-connecting-body 10a according to this embodiment will be described with
reference to each drawing.
[0035] The staple 10 is made of a non-metal material, which is a soft material, having a
predetermined thickness. A staple material 10m before being formed to the staple 10 has
an elongated straight shape, and both tip end portions lob in its longitudinal direction are
10 tapered toward its tip end. In this embodiment, the staple 10 and the staple material 1 Om is
made of the paper, but may be made of resin film or sheet, instead of the paper.
[0036] The staple-materials-connecting-body 1Oa has a plurality of staple materials 10m
arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, and each staple material 10m is
connected to each other by a pair of connecting portions 10c provided in the inside of the tip
15 end portions lob near both end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction. In the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a, a portion outer than each connecting portion 10c in the
longitudinal direction of each staple material is not provided with a portion connecting the
staple materials 10m arranged parallel to each other, due to the tapered shape of the tip end
portion lob.
20 [0037] The staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is provided with a hole 10d adjacent to
each connecting portion 10c at the inside of the one pair of the connecting portions 10c
connecting the staple materials 10m arranged parallel to each other. The hole 10d has a
predetermined length in the longitudinal direction and a short-side direction of the staple
material 10m, and, in this embodiment, the hole is formed by an aperture of a substantially
25 rectangular shape with rounded comers. Also, the hole 10d may be formed as a circular or
oval aperture. The staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is not provided with a cut portion
of the staples arranged parallel to each other between the connecting portion 10c and the
hole 1Od.
[0038] Further, the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is provided with a slit 10e for
30 separating the staple materials 10m arranged parallel to each other, between the respective
holes 10d. The slit portion 10e is consecutively formed from one hole 10d to the other hole
10d, and thus the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is not provided with a connecting
portion of the staple materials 10 arranged parallel to each other, between the one hole 10d
12
to the other hole 10d.
[0039] The staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is punched by pressing or stamping to
have a predetermined shape of the tip end portions lob, the connecting portions lOc, the
holes 1 Od, and the slit portions 1 Oe, which are described above.
5 [0040] The staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is provided with an adhesive portion 1 Of
on one surface, that is, a reverse surface, of the one tip end portion lob which is the end
portion of each staple material 10m in the longitudinal direction. The adhesive portion 10f
uses a property to obtain a desired adhesive force when the leg portion 10i of the staple 10 is
bonded, in accordance with the material type of the staple 10.
10 [0041] When the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is wound in a roll shape, as
illustrated in FIG. 9, the staple materials 10m are overlapped, and thus the adhesive portion
10f located on the reverse surface of the one tip end portion lob of the outer-peripheral
staple material 10 comes into contact with the obverse surface of the one tip end portion lob
of the inner-peripheral staple material 10.
15 [0042] When the staple-materials-connecting-body l0a is wound in the roll shape, the other
surface of the one tip end portion which at least comes into contact with the adhesive portion
10f is provided with a coated portion log made of silicon or the like, thereby preventing the
staples from sticking in the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a which is wound.
[0043] Since the staple material 10m is cut and formed from the staple-materials-
20 connecting-body 10a by the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, both
end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction are bent by a predetermined length to be
substantially parallel in a first direction, thereby the staple 10 in which a crown portion 1 Oh,
as illustrated in FIG. 10 and leg portions 10i at both end portions of the crown portion 10h
are formed.
25 [0044] According to the staple 10 cut and formed from the staple-materials-connectingbody
10a, the one pair of leg portions 10i penetrate the paper sheets P by the penetrating
mechanism 2, and the one pair of leg portions 10i penetrating the paper sheets P are bent in a
second direction along the paper sheets P by the bending mechanism 5.
[0045] Since the reverse surface of the one tip end portion lob of the staple I0 is provided
30 with the adhesive portion 10f, an adhesive force 10f is provided on the rear surface of one
leg portion 10i in the form of the crown portion 10h and the leg portion 10i which are
formed. In this embodiment, the staple 10 has a bending position inside than the hole 10d,
and a length of the leg portion 1Oi is equal to or more than a half of the length of the crown
* 13 portion 1 Oh. If the one pair of leg portions 10i are bent, the adhesive 1 Of is overlapped with
the leg portion 10i.
[0046] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 11, after the other leg portion 10i is bent in the
second direction along the paper sheets P, the one leg portion 10i is bent in the second
5 direction along the paper sheets P, and thus the one leg portion 10i is overlapped with the
other leg portion 1 Oi, so that the leg portion 10i are bonded at the adhesive portion 1 Of.
[0047] Exemplary configuration of staple cartridge
FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views illustrating one example of the staple cartridge. The
configuration of the staple cartridge 11 will now be described with reference to each drawing.
10 Herein, FIG. 12 shows the state in which the staple cartridge 1 1 is closed, while FIG. 13
shows the state in which the staple cartridge 11 is opened.
[0048] The staple cartridge 1 1 includes a cartridge body 12 and a cartridge cover 13 for
covering the cartridge body 12. In the staple cartridge 11, the cartridge body 12 is closed
by rotation of the cartridge body 13 around a shaft 13a provided at a rear end side thereof.
15 [0049] The cartridge body 12 has a staple receiving portion 12a for receiving the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a wound in the roll shape therein, and a staple conveying path
14, protruding forward from the staple receiving portion 12a, for conveying the staple 10a.
[0050] The staple conveying path 14 has a pair of guide convex portions 14a adjacent to a
tip end side thereof, the guide convex portions having a flat bottom portion along the surface
20 of the staple-materials-connecting-body 1 Oa drawn from the staple receiving portion 12a and
extending in a straight line to suppress the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a from lifting
upward. Further, the staple conveying path 14 has a groove portion 14b through which a
feed claw (will be described later) of the transport mechanism 6 protrudes into the staple
conveying path 14.
25 [0051] The staple conveying path 14 is provided with a receiving table 16 for supporting a
portion (corresponding to the crown portion 1Oh) of the staple 10 located at the leading end
of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a conveyed through the staple conveying path 14.
The receiving table 16 is formed continuously from the staple conveying path 14, and
protrudes forward from the tip end of the staple conveying path 14 by conforming to a width
30 corresponding to an inner width of the crown portion 1 Oh of the staple 10 and a length of one
1 staple 10 in the short side direction, thereby supporting the staple 10 to be cut and formed by
I
I
I the cuttinglforming mechanism 3.
[0052] The cartridge cover 13 is configured to cover the staple receiving portion 12a and
14
the staple conveying path 14 of the cartridge body 12.
[0053] Accordingly, the front end position of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a can
be determined by opening the cartridge cover 13, accommodating the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a wound in the roll shape into the staple receiving portion 12a of the
5 cartridge body 12, and placing the front end portion of the staple-materials-connecting-body
I Oa at a front end portion of the staple conveying path 14.
[0054] As the cartridge cover 13 is closed, the front end position of the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a is determined in such a way that the staple-materials-connecting-body
10a can be conveyed, and then the staple-materials-connecting-body is accommodated in the
10 staple cartridge 1 1.
[0055] The cartridge cover 13 is provided with a staple holding portion 17 at a position
opposite to the receiving table 16 when the cartridge body 12 is closed. The staple holding
portion 17 is made of a thin sheet-like metallic spring material in the example to push the
staple material 10m, located at the leading end which is conveyed to the receiving table 16,
15 in a direction of the receiving table 16, thereby suppressing displacement of the staple 10
when the staple 10 is cut and formed by the cuttinglforming mechanism 3. In the staple
cartridge 1 1, the cartridge cover 13 is provided a lock portion 13c for openably locking the
cartridge cover 13, and the cartridge body 12 is provided with a pawl portion 12b which is
engaged with the lock portion 13c.
20 [0056] If the staple cartridge 11 is mounted onto the cartridge receiving portion 81 of the
stapler 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the staple conveying path 14 functions as a conveying path
of the stapler 1. Also, the receiving table 16 protrudes toward the cuttinglforming
mechanism 3 to function as a receiving table of the staple 10 cut and formed by the .
cuttinglforming mechanism 3..
25 [0057] Exemplary configuration of penetrating mechanism
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the internal configuration in a
portion of the penetrating mechanism of the stapler according to this embodiment. FIG. 15
is a front view illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism. FIG. 16 is a rear
view illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism. FIG. 17 is a perspective view
30 illustrating one example of the penetrating mechanism. The configuration of the
penetrating mechanism will now be described with reference each drawing.
[0058] The penetrating mechanism 2 is one example of a penetrating part, and includes a
penetrating mechanism body 20 transmitted with the operation of the operating handle 9, two
15
sheets of cutting blades 21 for opening the holes in the paper sheets P by the operation of the
penetrating mechanism body 20 and allowing the staple 10 to penetrate the paper sheets P,
and a staple press-down portion 22 for driving the staple 10. The penetrating mechanism
body 20 is operationally connected to the operating handle 9 to form an example of a
5 connecting portion.
[0059] The penetrating mechanism body 20 has guide convex portions 20a for guiding the
movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, a coupling shaft portion 20b connected with the
operating handle 9, and a protruding pin 20c for transmitting the operation of the operating
handle 9 to the cutting/forming mechanism 3. Also, the penetrating mechanism body 20
10 has a guide convex portion 20d for guiding the movement of the penetrating mechanism 2
and the cutting/forming mechanism 3, and a guide convex portion 20e for guiding the
movement of the penetrating mechanism 2 and the paper holding mechanism 4.
[0060] The guide convex portions 20a protrude outwardly from both ends of the
penetrating mechanism body 20 in a widthwise direction, and are engaged with the guide
15 grooves 82a of the body section 8 which are provided in both sides of the body section 8 of
the stapler 1 in the widthwise direction and are opened along the moving direction of the
penetrating mechanism 2. The guide convex portions 20a are formed in an elliptical shape
which is formed by connecting two semicircles with a straight line, to restrict a posture of
the penetrating mechanism 2 in its rotating direction.
20 (00611 The coupling shaft portion 20b is inserted into a hole portion 20g provided in the
penetrating mechanism body 20, protrudes from both ends of the penetrating mechanism
body 20 in the widthwise direction to the outside of the guide convex portions 20a, and is
engaged with the operating handle 9.
[0062] The penetrating mechanism body 20 is provided with a transmitting portion 20h
25 formed by installing a convex portion, which protrudes from an inner surface of a hole 20g,
at a position directly above the cutting blade 21 adjacent to the center of the hole 20g in the
axial direction, and the transmitting portion is pressed by the coupling shaft portion 20b.
[0063] The transmitting portion 20h is configured to be brought into contact with the
coupling shaft portion 20b even in the case where the coupling shaft portion 20b is inclined
30 with respect to the penetrating mechanism body 20, and also is configured so that the force
of the operating handle 9 pressing the coupling shaft portion 20b acts on the cutting blade 21
from directly above the cutting blade 2 1.
[0064] Further, the penetrating mechanism body 20 is provided with shaft retracting
16
portions 20i at both sides of the transmitting portion 20h by widening the shape of the holes
20g adjacent to both sides of the transmitting portion 20h in the vertical direction relative to
a diameter of the coupling shaft portion 20b.
[0065] The shaft retracting portions 20i are formed by providing a space, in which the
5 coupling shaft portion 20b can move in the vertical direction, at both left and right sides of
the transmitting portion 20h to allow the coupling shaft portion 20b to be inclined with
respect to the penetrating mechanism body 20.
[0066] In addition, the penetrating mechanism body 20 is provided with a shaft holding
portion 20j by forming a convex portion, which protrudes from the inner surface of the hole
10 20g, at the position opposite to the transmitting portion 20h. To allow the coupling shaft
portion 20b to be inclined with respect to the penetrating mechanism body 20, the shafi
holding portion 20j is configured so that a protruding height around its center is higher than
that of both left and right sides.
[0067] The protruding pin 20c is configured to protrude from a rear surface, which is
15 opposite to the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, of the penetrating mechanism body 20 in a
projectinglretracting manner. The protruding pin 20c is provided integrally with the
penetrating mechanism body 20 made of a resin material via a support portion 20f in this
example.
[0068] The protruding pin 20c is supported by the support portion 20f in a cantilever form,
20 and is configured to be projected/retracted f'romlinto the surface opposite to the
cuttinglforming mechanism 3 mainly by the resilient deformation of the support portion 20f.
Accordingly, the protruding pin 20c which protrudes in a retractable manner can be
configured, without installing a separate component such as a spring.
[0069] The guide convex portions 20d are formed by installing bosses at a rear surface of
25 the penetrating mechanism body 20 opposite to the cuttinglforming mechanism 3. The
guide convex portions 20e are formed by installing bosses at a surface of the penetrating
mechanism body 20 opposite to the paper holding mechanism 4.
[0070] The penetrating mechanism 2 includes two cutting blades 21 attached at an interval
to a lower portion of the penetrating mechanism body 20. The two cutting blades 21 extend
30 downward from the penetrating mechanism body 20 in a direction parallel to each other, and
a tip end which is a lower end of each cutting blade 21 is formed with a blade portion 21a.
[0071] An interval of the two cutting blades 21 is narrow at the tip end provided with the
blade portion 21a, and each cutting blade 21 is provided with a stepped portion formed to
* 17 widen its outer width from the tip end to the rear end, that is, a base end, at an outer surface
of the one pair of cutting blades 2 1, and a stepped portion formed to widen an inner width
from the tip end to the base end.
[0072] That is, each cutting blade 21 is configured so that the interval of the two cutting
5 blades 21 is equal to or slightly less than the inner width of the one pair of leg portions 10i
which is the inner width of the crown portion 10h of the staple 10, in the range of the
predetermined length at the tip end provided with the blade portion 21a, thereby forming a
first penetrating portion 2 1 b.
[0073] Also, each cutting blade 21 is configured so that the interval of the two cutting
10 blades 21 is equal to or slightly more than the outer width of the one pair of leg portions 1Oi
which is the outer width of the crown portion 10h of the staple 10, at the penetrating
mechanism body 20, of which the upper portion rather than the first penetrating portion 21b
becomes the base end, thereby forming a second penetrating portion 2 1 c.
[0074] Each cutting blade 21 is bent in a substantial crank form at a predetermined
15 intermediate position which becomes a boundary between the first penetrating portion 2 1 b
and the second penetrating portion 2 1 c, and the first penetrating portion 2 1 b and the second
penetrating portion 2 1 c extend in a substantially straight shape along the moving direction of
the penetrating mechanism 2.
[0075] Accordingly, each cutting blade 21 is provided with a stepped portion, of which the
20 inner width of the first penetrating portion 21b is slightly narrow, at the inside of the
predetermined intermediate position which becomes the boundary between the first
penetrating portion 21 b and the second penetrating portion 21c, and a staple support portion
21d for supporting the leg portion 1Oi of the staple 10 is formed by the stepped portion
formed at the inside opposite to each cutting blade 2 1.
25 [0076] Also, each cutting blade 21 is provided with a stepped portion, of which the outer
width of the second penetrating portion 21c is wide, at the outside of the predetermined
intermediate position which becomes the boundary between the first penetrating portion 21 b
and the second penetrating portion 2 1 c, and a hole expansion portion 2 1 e is formed by the
stepped portion provided at the outside of each cutting blade 21 to outwardly expand the
30 hole penetrating the paper sheets P by the penetrating operation of the cutting blade 21 with
respect to the paper sheets P.
[0077] The staple support portion 21d has a gentle slope so that the inner surface shape of
the cutting blade 21 is gradually narrowed from the second penetrating portion 21c to the
18
first penetrating portion 21b. The staple support portion 21d is configured so that a
variation in interval of the cutting blade 21 at the staple support portion 2 1d does not cause
the cutting resistance to increase when the cutting blade 21 gets away from the paper sheets
P.
5 (00781 Further, the hole expansion portion 21e has a gentle slope so that the outer surface
shape of the cutting blade 21 is gradually widened from the first penetrating portion 21 b to
the second penetrating portion 21 c. The hole expansion portion 2 1e is configured so that a
variation in interval of the cutting blade 21 at the hole expansion portion 2 1 e does not cause
the penetrating resistance to increase when the cutting blade 21 penetrates the paper sheets P.
10 [0079] At the tip end of the first penetrating portion 21b rather than the staple support
portion 21d, the inner surfaces of the one pair of cutting blades 21 extend in a straight shape
in an insertionlwithdrawal direction of the cutting blade 21, so that the inner surface of the
cutting blade 21 is not provided with a stepped portion at the tip end rather than the staple
support portion 21d. Also, at the tip end of the first penetrating portion 21b rather than the
I5 hole expansion portion 2 1 e, the outer surfaces of the one pair of cutting blades 2 1 extend in a
straight shape in the insertionlwithdrawal direction of the cutting blade 21, so that the outer
surface of the cutting blade 21 is not provided with a stepped portion at the tip end rather
than the hole expansion portion 2 1 e.
[0080] At the tip end of the second penetrating portion 21c rather than the staple support
20 portion 2 Id, the inner surfaces of the one pair of cutting blades 21 extend in the straight
shape in the insertionlwithdrawal direction of the cutting blade 2 1, so that the inner surface
of the cutting blade 2 1 is not provided with a stepped portion at the base end rather than the
staple support portion 2 Id. Also, at the base end of the second penetrating portion 2 1c
rather than the hole expansion portion 21e, the outer surfaces of the one pair of cutting
25 blades 21 extend in the straight shape in the insertionlwithdrawal direction of the cutting
blade 21, so that the outer surface of the cutting blade 21 is not provided with a stepped
portion at the base end rather than the hole expansion portion 2 1 e.
(00811 Each cutting blade 21 is provided with ejecting holes 21f which penetrate front and
back surfaces of the second penetrating portion 21c, and an ejecting member (will be
30 described later) for bending the leg portions of the staple 10 penetrating the paper sheets P
protrudes from the ejecting holes.
[0082] The staple press-down portion 22 is installed between the two cutting blades 21
provided in the width of the crown portion 10h of the staple 10. The staple press-down
19
portion 22 is configured to move along the moving direction of the penetrating mechanism
body 20, and is supported by the penetrating mechanism body 20 in the state in which it is
urged downwardly by a spring 22a.
[0083] In the stapler 1, if the penetrating mechanism 2 moves down to a predetermined
5 position, the bending mechanism 5 is operated to start the bending of the leg portions 10i of
the staple 10 penetrating the paper sheets P. In order to bend the leg portions 10i of the
staple 10 at a constant timing irrespective of the difference in the number of paper sheets P
to be stapled, the difference in the number of the paper sheets P is absorbed by the
movement of the staple press-down portion 22, and the penetrating 2 is configured to move
lo down to the predetermined position.
[0084] Exemplary configuration of cutting blade guide
FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the cutting blade guide. The
configuration of the cutting blade guide will now be described with reference to the drawing.
As described above, the cutting blade 2 1 is formed so that the first penetrating portion 2 1 b of
15 the tip end is offset inwardly with respect to the second penetrating portion 2 1 c supported by
the penetrating mechanism body 20.
[0085] For this reason, in the process in which the blade portion 21a of the cutting blade 2 1
penetrates the paper sheets P by the lowering movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, the
force applied to the cutting blade 21 by the penetrating mechanism body 20 acts on the
20 second penetrating portion 21c, so that a force is applied to the cutting blade 21 to be
inclined inwardly.
[0086] The cutting blade guide 23 is projected or retracted between the one pair of cutting
blades 21:- As illustrated in FIG. 1 and so forth, the cutting blade guide 23 is provided
under the paper placing base 80, and is installed to be projected or retracted between the one
25 pair of cutting blades 21 penetrating the paper sheets P, while being urged by the spring 23a.
[0087] Although the mechanism for operating the cutting blade guide 23 will be described
later, in the process in which the cutting blade 21 of the penetrating mechanism 2 penetrates
the paper sheets P by the operation of the operating handle 9 and the leg portions 10i of the
staple 10 penetrate the paper sheets P, the butting blade guide is projected between the one
30 pair of cutting blades 2 1 to suppress the cutting blades 21 from being falling down. In the
process of stapling the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 by the bending mechanism 5, the
cutting blade guide is retracted between the one pair of cutting blades 2 1.
[0088] Exemplary operation of penetrating mechanism
20
1) FIGS. 19 to 25 are operation chart illustrating an example of the operation of the penetrating
mechanism. The insertinglwithdrawing process of the cutting blade 21 with respect to the
paper sheets P will be described with reference to each drawing.
[0089] In a standby state, as illustrated in FIG. 19, in the state in which the crown portion
5 10h of the staple 10 is pushed down by the staple press-down portion 22 between the one
pair of cutting blades 21, the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are supported by the staple
support portion 2 1 d.
[0090] If the operating handle 9 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the like is pushed, the coupling
shaft portion 20b engaged with the operating handle 9 is pushed. If the coupling shaft
10 portion 20b is pushed, the transmitting portion 20h of the penetrating mechanism body 20 is
pressed against the coupling shaft portion 20b, and thus the penetrating mechanism body 20
is moved downwardly.
[0091] Since the operating handle 9 is operated by a person, there is a case where a biased
force is applied. If the operating handle 9 is applied by the biased force, the operating
15 handle 9 is inclined, and thus, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the coupling shaft portion 20b
connected with the operating handle 9 is also inclined.
[0092] The penetrating mechanism body 20 is provided with the shaft retracting portions
20i by vertically widening the shape of the holes 20g, to which the coupling shaft portion
20b is inserted, relative to the diameter of the coupling shaft portion 20b, thereby inclining
20 the coupling shaft portion 20b to the penetrating mechanism body 20.
[0093] Further, the penetrating mechanism body 20 is provided with the transmitting
portion 20h at the position directly above the cutting blade 21, and thus the coupling shaft
portion 20b comes into contact with the transmitting portion 20h even in the case where the
transmitting portion is inclined with respect to the penetrating mechanism body 20. The
25 force of the operating handle 9 pressing the coupling shaft portion 20b is applied to the
cutting blade 2 1 from directly above the cutting blade 2 1.
(00941 Accordingly, in the case where the coupling shaft portion 20b is inclined by
application of the biased force to the operating handle 9, the penetrating mechanism body 20
provided with the cutting blades 21 is moved downwardly, without being inclined by the
30 guidance of the guide groove 82a of the body section 8. Further, the force pushing the
operating handle 9 is applied to the cutting blades 21 from directly above the cutting blades
21. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the hole 20g is provided with the convex
portion to form the transmitting portion 20h and the shaft retracting portions 20i, but the
2 1
convex portion may be formed integrally with or separately from the outer circumference of
the connecting shaft portion 20b to form the transmitting portion and the shaft retracting
portions.
[0095] When the penetrating mechanism 2 is moved down by the operation of the
5 operating handle 9 illustrated in FIG. 1 and so forth, and the blades portion 21a of the cutting
blades 21 reach the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing base 80, the cutting blades 21
start penetrating the paper sheets P, and as illustrated in FIG. 20, holes PI are opened in the
paper sheets P.
[0096] According to the cutting blades 21, the first penetrating portions 21b having the
10 narrow width of the one pair of cutting blades 21 first penetrate the paper sheets P. As
described above, in the process in which the blade portion 21a of the cutting blade 21
penetrates the paper sheets, the force applied to the cutting blade 21 by the penetrating
mechanism body 20 acts on the second penetrating portion 21c which is offset outwardly
with respect to the first penetrating portion 21 b, so that the cutting blade 21 is about to be
15 inclined inwardly.
[0097] In this way, since the cutting blade guide 23 protrudes between the one pair of
cutting blades 21 penetrating the paper sheets P, each cutting blade 21 is prevented from
being inclined inwardly by the penetrating operation of the cutting blades 21 to the paper
sheets P, so that the cutting blades 21 penetrates in a direction substantially perpendicular to
20 the paper sheets P.
[0098] If the penetrating mechanism 2 is further moved down, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the
hole expansion portion 21e of the cutting blade 21 reaches the paper sheets P. The hole
expansion portion 21e has the gentle slope so that the outer surface shape of the cutting blade
21 is gradually widened from the first penetrating portion 21b to the second penetrating
25 portion 21c. Therefore, when the hole expansion portion 21e of the cutting blade 21
penetrates the paper sheets P by the lowering movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, the
burr P2 is formed at the outside of the hole P1 of the paper sheets P to face downward, so
that the hole P1 is widened in an outward direction.
[0099] According to the penetrating mechanism 2, in the state in which the crown portion
30 10h of the staple 10 is pushed down by the staple press-down portion 22 between the one
pair of cutting blades 21, the leg portion 10i of the staple 10 are supported by the staple
support portion 2 1 d. The staple support portion 2 1 d is formed at the inner portion of the
hole expansion portion 21e in the respective cutting blades 21 by the shape of the cutting
22
blades 2 1 forming the hole expansion portion 2 1 e.
[0100] In this way, when the hole expansion portion 21e of the cutting blade 21 penetrates
the paper sheets P by the lowering movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, the leg
portions 10i of the staple 10 supported by the staple support portion 2 1 d penetrate the hole
5 PI of the paper sheets P.
[0101] If the penetrating mechanism 2 is further lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the
second penetrating portions 2 1 c of the cutting blades 2 1 penetrate the hole PI of the paper
sheets P, and the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 supported inside the second penetrating
portions 2 1 c penetrate the hole P1 of the paper sheets P.
10 [0102] In the process in which the second penetrating portions 21c penetrate the hole P1 of
the paper sheets P, the force acting on the cutting blade 21 by the penetrating mechanism
body 20 coincides with the second penetrating portion 21c, the force is not applied to the
cutting blade 21 to be inclined inwardly. Therefore, the cutting blade guide 23 is
configured to be retracted in the process in which the second penetrating portion 21c of the
15 cutting blade 2 1 penetrates the hole P 1 of the paper sheets P.
[0103] As described above, since the interval of the two cutting blades 21 is substantially
equal to the inner width of the one pair of leg portions 10i of the staple 10 which are formed
by the first penetrating portion 21b, the hole pl of the paper sheets P formed by the first
penetrating portion 2 1 b substantially coincides with the position of the leg portion 10i of the
20 staple 10.
[0104] The burr P2 is formed at the outside of the hole P1 of the paper sheets P to face
downward by the stepped portion of the hole expansion portion 21e outside each cutting
blade 21, so that the hole P1 is widened in the outward direction by the interval through
which the overlapped cutting blade 2 1 and leg portion 10i of the staple 10 can pass.
25 [0105] The hole expansion portion 21e has the gentle slope so that the outer surface shape
of the cutting blade 21 is gradually widened from the first penetrating portion 21b to the
second penetrating portion 21c. Therefore, in the process in which the cutting blade 21
penetrates the paper sheets P, the increase in resistance is suppressed when the hole
expansion portion 2 1 e of the cutting blade 2 1 passes the hole P 1 of the paper sheets P.
30 [0106] Accordingly, the force required to move the penetrating mechanism 2 down is small,
and thus an operating load to push the operating handle 9 down is decreased.
[0107] After the penetrating mechanism 2 is further lowered and the crown portion 10h of
the staple 10 arrives at the paper sheets P, the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are bent
23 9 inwardly by the operation of the bending mechanism 5 which will be described later, and as
illustrated in FIG. 23, the one pair of leg portions 10i are bonded.
[0108] Since the holes P1 formed in the paper sheets P by the cutting blades 21 are
widened outwardly by the hole expansion portions 21e so that the overlapped cutting blades
5 21 and the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 can pass the holes, the burr is not formed in the
hole P 1. Accordingly, when the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are bent inwardly, there is
no convex portion to deform the leg portion 10i, and thus the appearance of the staple 10
stapling the paper sheets can be improved.
[0109] After the paper sheets P are stapled by the staple 10, if the penetrating mechanism 2
10 is moved up by upward returning of the operation handle 9, and as illustrated in FIG. 24, the
staple support portion 21d of the cutting blade 21 arrives at the back surface of the paper
sheets P.
[0110] The staple support portion 21d has the gentle slope so that the inner surface shape
of the cutting blade 21 is gradually narrowed from the second penetrating portion 21c to the
15 first penetrating portion 21b. Also, the hole P1 through which the staple 10 stapling the
paper sheets P passes is widened outwardly.
[Olll] When the staple support portion 21d is withdrawn fiom the paper sheets P, the force
acts on the cutting blade 21 to widen the blade 21 outwardly. However, since the hole P1
formed by the cutting blade 21 is shaped to be widened outwardly, the resistance is
20 suppressed when the staple support portion 21d of the cutting blade 21 passes the hole P1 of
the paper sheets P in the process in which the cutting blade 21 is withdrawn from the paper
sheets P.
[0112] Accordingly, the force required to move the penetrating mechanism 2 up is small,
and thus an operating load to return the operating handle 9 is decreased.
25 [0113] FIGS. 26 and 27 are operation charts illustrating an exemplary operation of the
penetrating mechanism according to the difference in the number of the paper sheets. The
stapler 1 is configured to bind the paper sheets P from n=2 sheets, which is the minimum
number of sheets, to the predetermined maximum number of sheets N, for example, N=15
sheets.
30 [0114] After the penetrating mechanism 2 is lowered and the crown portion 10h of the
staple 10 arrives at the paper sheets P, the operation of the bending mechanism 5 starts, and
thus the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are bent. The lifting movement of the penetrating
mechanism 2 and the operation of the bending mechanism 5 are associated, so that the
24
@ position of the penetrating mechanism 2 to start the operation of the bending mechanism 5 is
referred to as a bending mechanism operating position M.
[0115] As illustrated in FIG. 26, in the state in which the paper sheets P having the
I minimum number of stapled sheets n is placed in the paper placing base 80, when the
I 1 5 penetrating mechanism 2 is lowered to the bending mechanism operating position M, the
I staple press-down portion 22 comes into contact with the crown portion 1 Oh of the staple 10
I
I at a predetermined lower end position, and thus the crown portion 10h presses the paper
sheets P.
I [0116] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 27, in the state in which the paper sheets P having
10 the maximum number of stapled sheets N are placed in the paper placing base 80, when the
penetrating mechanism 2 is lowered to the bending mechanism operating position M, the
staple press-down portion 22 compresses the spring 22a, and then the spring 22a is pushed
up to a predetermined upper end position. The staple press-down portion 22 comes into
contact with the crown portion 10h of the staple 10, and thus the crown portion 1 Oh presses
15 the paper sheets P.
[0117] In this way, in the penetrating mechanism 2 which pushes down the staple 10 to
penetrate the paper sheets P, the staple press-down portion 22 pushing down the crown
portion 10h of the staple 10 is able to move in the vertical direction in accordance with the
moving direction of the penetrating mechanism 2, and is urged downwardly by the spring
20 22a, thereby maintaining the bending mechanism operating position M at a constant height,
irrespective of the number of the paper sheets P.
[0118] In the case where the staple press-down portion 22 is stationary, the operating
position of the bending mechanism is set to the minimum number of paper sheets, and then
the maximum number of paper sheets is stapled, the penetrating mechanism is not lowered to
25 the bending mechanism operating position, so that the bending mechanism probably is not
operated. Also, in the case where the bending mechanism operating position is set to the
maximum number of sheets of paper sheets and then the minimum number of paper sheets is
stapled, the crown portion of the staple is not sufficiently pressed.
[0119] Whereas, since the staple press-down portion 22 is operated, the penetrating
30 mechanism is lowered to the bending mechanism operating position M, irrespective of the
number of paper sheets, and thus the crown portion 10h of the staple 10 is sufficiently
pressed to operate the bending mechanism 5.
[0120] Exemplary configuration of cuttinglforming mechanism
2 5
FIG. 28 is a front view illustrating one example of the cuttingiforming mechanism. FIG. 29
is a rear view illustrating one example of the cutting/forming mechanism. FIG. 30 is a
perspective view of the cuttingiforming mechanism when seen from a front. FIG 31 is a
perspective view of the cuttingiforming mechanism when seen from a rear. The
5 configuration of the cutting/forming mechanism 3 will now be described with reference to
each drawing.
[0121] The cuttinglforming mechanism 3 is one example of a cuttingiforming part, and
includes a cutter plate 30 for cutting the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a, and a
forming plate 31 for forming the staple material 10 cut by the cutter plate 30 to be the
10 formed staple 10.
[0122] The cutter plate 30 has two cutting blades 32, and first groove portions 30a, second
groove portions 30b and convex portions 30c which are transmitted with a driving force
fiom the penetrating mechanism 2. The cutter plate 30 is attached to the forming plate 31
in a vertically movable manner.
15 [0123] The cutting blade 32 is one example of a connecting portion cutting blade, and each
cutting blade 32 is provided with a blade portion 32a which is inclined to its tip end
becoming the tip end. Each cutting blade 32 is attached to the cutter plate 30 in a state in
which the inclined blade portions 32a are faced outwardly.
[0124] In each cutting blade 32, an interval between blade edges of the inclined blade
20 portions 32a conforms to an interval between the one pair of holes 10d of the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a. Further, a length of the blade portion 32a is set to be
longer than that of the connecting portion 10c of the staple-materials-connecting-body 1 Oa.
- [0125]- In the cutting/forming mechanism 3, the cutting blade 32 is positioned at the rear
side of the forming plate 31, and at the retracted position in which the cutter plate 30 is
25 raised with respect to the forming plate 3 1, the cutting blade 32 is retracted from the forming
plate 31, so that the cutting blade 32 is not exposed. At the cutting position in which the
cutter plate 30 is lowered with respect to the forming plate 3 1, the cutting blade 32 protrudes
from the forming plate 3 1.
[0126] The first groove portion 30a and the second groove portion 30b are installed at a
30 predetermined interval in a vertical direction along the moving direction of the penetrating
mechanism 2 and the cuttinglshaping mechanism 3. The convex portions 30c protrude
outwardly from both ends of the cutter plate 30 in the widthwise direction.
[0127] The first groove portion 30a and the second groove portion 30b are formed in a
26
() desired shape so that the protruding pin 20c provided on the penetrating mechanism 2 is
fitted into the groove portions. A lower end side of the first groove 30a is formed deeply as
compared to an upper end side thereof. In the state in which the protruding pin 20c is
positioned at the lower end side of the first groove portion 30a, substantially the entire
5 protruding pin 20c is fitted into the first groove portion 30a. Further, in the state in which
the protruding pin 20c is positioned at the upper end side of the first groove portion 30a, a
portion of the protruding pin 20c is fitted into the first groove portion 30a.
[0128] The second groove portion 30b is configured to have the same depth as that of the
lower end side of the first groove portion 30a, so that substantially the entire protruding pin
10 20c is fitted into the second groove portion 30b.
[0129] The forming plate 3 1 has a staple forming portion 33 for forming the staple 10, and
opening retaining members 34 for maintaining the shape of the staple 10 formed by the
staple forming portion 33. Also, the forming plate 3 1 has guide convex portions 3 la for
guiding the movement of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, and guide groove portions 3 1b
15 for guiding the movement of the penetrating mechanism 2 and the cuttinglshaping
mechanism 3.
[0130] The staple forming portion 33 is formed in such a way that a length of a depth
direction is substantially equal to a width of a short-side direction of the staple 10. The
staple forming portion 33 is provided with a convex opening formed by combining an
20 opening which is wider that the width of the staple of a substantially straight type in the
longitudinal direction, and an opening which is slightly wider than the outer width of the
crown portion 1 Oh of the staple 10. The receiving table 16 of the staple cartridge 1 1
illustrated in FIG. 12 or the like protrudes into the opening of the staple forming portion 33
when the staple cartridge 1 1 is mounted onto the stapler 1.
25 [0131] The forming plate 31 is provided with one pair of opening retaining members 34
opposite to each other below the staple forming portion 33. The opening retaining
members 34 are attached to the forming plate 3 1 in such a way that they are rotatable around
a shaft 34a. In association with the vertical movement of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3,
the opening retaining members 34 are rotated between a position which they are opposite to
30 each other at an interval substantially equal to the outer width of the one pair of leg portions
10i of the staple 10 formed by the staple forming portion 33, and a position in which they are
opposite to each other at an interval wider than the outerwidth of the one pair of leg portions
10i of the staple 10 formed by the staple forming portion 33.
0) 101321 The guide convex portions 31a protrude outwardly from both ends of the forming
plate 31 in the widthwise direction, and are engaged with the guide grooves 82b which are
provided at both sides of the body section 8 of the stapler 1 in the widthwise direction and
opened along the moving direction of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3. The guide convex
5 portions 3 la are formed in an elliptical shape which is formed by connecting two semicircles
with a straight line, to restrict a posture of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 from being
changed in its rotating direction.
[0133] The guide groove portions 31b are formed by installing grooves, along which the
guide convex portions 20d provided on the penetrating mechanism 2 are movable, on the
10 surface of the forming plate 3 1, which is opposite to the penetrating mechanism 2, along the
moving direction of the penetrating mechanism 2 and the cuttinglforming mechanism 3.
The convex portions 30c provided on the cutter plate 30 protrude into the guide groove
portions 31b. The guide convex portions 20d provided on the penetrating mechanism 2
abut against the convex portions 30c, and thus the cutter plate 30 is pushed up with respect to
15 the forming plate 3 1 by the lifting movement of the penetrating mechanism 2.
[0134] Exemplary operation of cuttinglforming mechanism
FIGS. 32 to 36 are operation charts illustrating the exemplary operation of the
cuttinglforming mechanism. The process of cutting the staple material 10m from the
staple-materials-connecting-body 10a and forming the staple 10 will now be described with
20 reference to each drawing.
[0135] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and so forth, as the staple cartridge 11 is mounted in the
cartridge receiving portion 81 of the stapler 1, the receiving table 16 protrudes the staple
forming portion 33 of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3.
[0136] In the standby state, as illustrated in FIG. 32, the cutter plate 30 is positioned at the
25 retracted position lifted with respect to the forming plate 31, and the cutting blade 32 is
retracted from the forming plate 3 1, so that the cutting blade 32 is not exposed to the staple
forming portion 3 3.
[0137] Further, the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is conveyed to the
cuttinglforming mechanism 3, and the non-cut staple material 10m located at the leading end
30 of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is supported on the receiving table 16 of the
staple cartridge 11 by the staple holding portion 17 in the held state.
[0138] In the standby state of the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, since the cutting blade 32
is not exposed to the staple forming portion 33, as illustrated in FIG. 6, even though the
2 8
() staple cartridge 11 is disengaged from the stapler 1, the cutting blade 32 is not exposed,
thereby securing the high safety.
[0139] In the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, the lowering movement of the penetrating
mechanism 2 which is moved down by the operation of the operating handle 9 illustrated in
5 FIG. 1 and so forth is transmitted to the cutter plate 30 by engagement of the protruding pin
20c provided on the penetrating mechanism 2 and the first groove portion 30a provided on
the cutter plate 30.
[0140] Accordingly, the cutter plate 30 is moved to the cutting position lowered with
respect to the forming plate 3 1, and as illustrated in FIG. 33, the cutting blade 32 protrudes
10 from the staple forming portion 33 of the forming plate 31. When the cutting blade 32
protrudes into the staple forming portion 33, the connecting portion 10c between the non-cut
staple material 10m located at the leading end and the next staple material 10m is cut by the
cutting blade 32 at the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a supported by the receiving table
16.
15 [0141] FIG. 37 is an operation chart illustrating the operation of cutting the staplematerials-
connecting-body, and shows the cutting of the staple-materials-connecting-body
10a by the cutting blade 32 in time series. As illustrated in FIGS. 37(a) to 37(c), as the one
pair of left and right cutting blades 32 are lowered with respect to the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 1 Oa, the blade portion 32a of the tip end of each cutting blade 32 is inserted
20 into the hole 1 Od, and thus each connecting portion 10c is cut in the hole 10d.
[0142] As the blade portions 32a each inclined outwardly are pushed to the one pair of left
and right connecting portions 1 Oc, the force is respectively applied the staple material 1 Om to
be cut and the next staple material 10m in an opposite direction from the inside to the outside
along the longitudinal direction, thereby cutting the connecting portion 10c. The inner
25 portion of the connecting portions 10c between the holes 10d is cut by the slit portion 10e in
advance, and it is not necessary to cut the center portion of the staple material 10m which
becomes a portion of the leg portion 10i and the crown portion 1 Oh.
[0143] Accordingly, it is not necessary to support the staple material 10m to be cut and the
next staple material 10m in the wide range, and it is possible to cut the staple material 10m
30 with high precision by the simple configuration of holding the staple with the staple holding
portion 1 7.
[0144] If the cutter plate 30 is moved to the cutting position, in association with the
lowering movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, the forming plate 31 is lowered
8 together with the cutter plate 30. If the forming plate 31 is lowered, the portion,
corresponding to the crown portion 1 Oh, of the cut staple material 10m located at the leading
end, is supported by the receiving table 16, and as illustrated in FIG. 34, the portions
corresponding to the leg portions 10i start bending in the first direction.
5 [0145] If the forming plate 31 is further lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 35, the staple
material 1Om located at the leading end is bent in the first direction so that the one pair of leg
portions 10i are substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming the crown portion 10h
and the leg portions 10i. Thus, the staple 10 having the crown portion 10h and bent leg
portions 10i is formed. Also, as the forming plate 3 1 is lowered, in association with the
10 bending operation of the leg portions 10i of the staple material 1 Om in the first direction, the
opening retaining members 34 are rotated around the shaft 34a to be opened.
[0146] After the forming of the staple 10 by the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 is completed,
the penetrating mechanism 2 is further lowered while the cutting/forming mechanism 3 is
stationary, and thus the protruding pin 20c provided on the penetrating mechanism 2 is away
15 from the first groove portion 30a provided on the cutter plate 30 and is engaged into the
second groove portion 30b.
I I [0147] In the cutting/forming mechanism 3, the movement of the penetrating mechanism 2
i
I
I
which is moved up by the upward returning movement of the operating handle 9 is
1 transmitted to the cutter plate 30 by the engagement of the protruding pin 20c provided on
I
20 the penetrating mechanism 2 and the second groove portion 30b provided on the cutter plate
30.
[0148] Accordingly, after the cutter plate 30 is moved to the retracted position lifted with
respect to the forming plate 3 1, the forming plate 3 1 is lifted together with the cutter plate 30.
If the forming plate 3 1 is lifted, the formed staple 10 is withdrawn fiom the staple forming
25 portion 33. Also, as the forming plate 31 is lifted, the opening retaining members 34 are
rotated around the shaft 34a to be closed.
I01491 As the forming plate 31 is lifted, the leg portions 10i may be deformed in the
opening direction by the resilience of the material of the staple 10 while the formed staple 10
is withdrawn from the staple forming portion 33. If the interval between the opening
30 retaining members 34 is constant, the opening retaining members collide with the leg
portions 10i deformed in the opening direction, as the forming plate 3 1 is lifted.
[OlSO] Since the opening retaining members 34 are able to be opened or closed by the
lifting movement of the forming plate 3 1, as illustrated in FIG. 36, when the forming plate
3 0
31 is lifted and the formed staple 10 is withdrawn from the staple forming portion 33, the
opening retaining members 34 are lifted in the open state to the outsides of the one pair of
leg portions 10i, and thus the opening retaining members 34 are closed, so that the leg
portions 10i are maintained in the state being bent in the first direction.
5 [0151] Accordingly, there is no operation failure due to that the opening retaining members
34 collide with the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 by the lifting movement of the forming
plate 31. The staple 10 formed in the desired shape by the cuttinglforming mechanism 3
can be conveyed to the penetrating mechanism 2.
[0152] Exemplary configuration of paper holding mechanism
10 The configuration of the paper holding mechanism 4 will now be described with reference to
each drawing. The paper holding mechanism 4 is one example of a paper holding part, and
includes a paper holding plate 40 for holding the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing
base 80 illustrated in FIG. 1 and so forth, and a spring 41 for biasing the paper holding plate
40. Also, the paper holding mechanism 4 includes guide convex portions 42a for guiding
15 the movement of the paper holding plate 40, and guide groove portions 42b for guiding the
movement of the penetrating mechanism 2 and the paper holding mechanism 4.
[0153] The guide convex portions 42a protrude outwardly from both ends of the paper
holding plate 40 in the widthwise direction, and are engaged with the guide grooves 82c
which are provided at both sides of the body section 8 of the stapler 1 in the widthwise
20 direction and opened along the moving direction of the paper holding mechanism 4. The
guide convex portions 42a are formed in an elliptical shape which is formed by connecting
two semicircles with a straight line, to restrict a posture of the paper holding mechanism 4
from being changed in its rotating direction. -
[0154] The guide groove portions 42b are formed by installing grooves, along which the
25 guide convex portions 20e provided on the penetrating mechanism 2 are movable, on the
rear surface of the paper holding plate 40, which is opposite to the penetrating mechanism 2,
along the moving direction of the penetrating mechanism 2 and the paper holding
mechanism 4.
[0155] In the paper holding mechanism 4, the guide convex portions 20e of the penetrating
30 mechanism 2 abut against the guide groove portions 42b to restrict the movement of the
paper holding plate 40, and in association with the lowering movement of the penetrating
mechanism 2, the paper holding plate 40 is urged downwardly by the spring 41, and thus
protrudes into the paper placing base 80 to hold the paper sheets P.
3 1
I01561 The guide convex portions 20e of the penetrating mechanism 2 abut against the
guide groove portions 42b by the lifting movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, and the
paper holding plate 40 is pushed up by the lifting movement of the penetrating mechanism 2,
and thus is retracted from the paper placing base 80.
5 [0157] Exemplary configuration of bending mechanism
FIG. 38 is a side view illustrating one example of the bending mechanism, and FIGS. 39(a)
and 39(b) are perspective views illustrating one example of the bending mechanism. The
configuration of the bending mechanism 5 for bending the leg portions 10i of the staple 10
penetrating the paper sheets P will now be described with reference to each drawing.
10 [0158] The bending mechanism 5 is one example of a bending part, and includes a bending
member for bending a pair of leg portions 10i of the staple 10 penetrating the paper sheets P,
I that is, a first bending member SOR for bending one leg portion 10i of the staple 10
I
I penetrating the paper sheets P, a second bending member 50L for bending the other leg
I
I
I portion 10i of the staple 10 penetrating the paper sheets P, and a bonding member 50s for
I
15 bonding the one leg portion 10i and the other leg portion 10i.
[0159] The first bending member 50R has one end portion along an extending direction
which is rotatably supported on the shaft 50a installed to the body. Further, the first
bending member 50R has a bending portion 50Rb, for bending the leg portion 10i of the
staple 10, at the other end portion along the extending direction. Therefore, as the first
20 bending member 50R is rotated around the shaft 50a as a fulcrum, the bending portion 50Rb
is moved vertically.
[0160] The second bending member 50L has one end portion along the extending direction
which is rotatably supported on the shaft 50a coaxially with the first bending member 50R.
Further, the second bending member 50L has a bending portion 50Lb, for bending the leg
25 portion 10i of the staple 10, at the other end portion along the extending direction.
Therefore, as the second bending member 50L is rotated around the shaft 50a as a fulcrum,
the bending portion 50Lb is moved vertically.
[0161] The bonding member 50s has one end portion along the extending direction which
is rotatably supported on the shaft 50a coaxially with the first bending member 50R and the
30 second bending member 50L. Further, the bonding member 50s has a bending portion
50Sb, for bonding one leg portion 10i and the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10, at the
other end portion along the extending direction. Therefore, as the bonding member 50s is
rotated around the shaft 50a as a fulcrum, the bonding portion 50Sb is moved vertically.
3 2
[0162] The bending mechanism 5 includes a push-up member 51 for pushing up the first
bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s.
The push-up member 51 is one example of a driving force transmitting section, and is
attached to the body section 8 in a state in which it is able to be slid in a fonvardlreanvard
direction. By the horizontal movement of the push-up member 51 with respect to the body
section 8, the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the bonding
member 50s are pushed up.
[0163] The first bending member 50R is provided with a cam groove 500R for receiving
the shaft 51a installed to the push-up member 51, and the cam groove 500R converts the
horizontal movement of the push-up member 51 into rotation of the first bending member
50R, as illustrated in FIG. 38(a).
[0164] As one example of a driving force transmitting portion, the cam groove 500R has a
rotation groove portion 501R for rotating the first bending member 50R by the movement of
the shaft 5 1 a caused by the horizontal movement of the push-up member 5 1, and a holding
groove portion 502R for holding the first bending member 50R in a desired direction against
the movement of the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1.
[0165] The rotation groove portion 501R is formed as a groove having a desired width,
through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes, and inclined in the extension
direction of the first bending member 50R. The holding groove portion 502R is formed as
a groove having a desired width, through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51
passes, and shaped along the extension direction of the first bending member 50R. A
retraction portion 503R is formed by widening the width of the holding portion 502R except
for both end portions thereof along the extension direction.
[0166] Specifically, the cam groove 500R is provided with the rotation groove portion
501R formed at one end side of the first bending member 50R, and the holding groove
portion 502R formed to be consecutive from the rotation groove portion 501R, so that the
cam groove extends from one end side of the first bending member 50R to the other end side
thereof.
[0167] The second bending member 50L is provided with a cam groove 500L for receiving
the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1, and the cam groove 500L converts the horizontal
movement of the push-up member 51 into rotation of the second bending member 50L, as
illustrated in FIG. 38(b).
[0168] As one example of the driving force transmitting portion, the cam groove 500L has
3 3
a standby groove portion 504L for retaining the second bending member 50L in a desired
direction against the movement of the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1, a rotation groove
portion 501L for rotating the second bending member 50L by the movement of the shaft 51a
of the push-up member 51, and a holding groove portion 502L for holding the second
5 bending member 50L in a desired direction against the movement of the shaft 5 1 a of the
push-up member 5 1.
[0169] The standby groove portion 504L is formed as a groove having a desired width,
through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes, and shaped along the
extension direction of the second bending member 50L. The rotation groove portion 501L
10 is formed as a groove having a desired width, through which the shaft 51a of the push-up
member 51 passes, and inclined in the extension direction of the second bending member
50L.
[0170] The holding groove portion 502L is formed as a groove having a desired width,
through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes, and shaped along the
15 extension direction of the second bending member 50L. A retraction portion 503L is
formed by widening the width of the holding portion 502L except for both end portions
thereof along the extension direction.
[0171] Specifically, the cam groove 500L is provided with the standby groove portion
504L formed at one end side of the second bending member 50L, and the rotation groove
20 portion 501L formed to be consecutive from the rotation groove portion 501L, so that the
cam groove extends from one end side of the second bending member 50L to the other end
side thereof.
[0172] The bonding member 50s is provided with a cam groove 500s for receiving the
shaft 51a of the push-up member 51, and the cam groove 500s converts the horizontal
25 movement of the push-up member 5 1 into rotation of the bonding member 50S, as illustrated
in FIG. 38(c).
[0173] As one example of the driving force transmitting portion, the cam groove 500s has
a standby groove portion 504s for retaining the bonding member 50s in a desired direction
against the movement of the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1, a rotation groove portion
30 501 S for rotating the bonding member 50s by the movement of the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up
member 51, and a holding groove portion 502s for holding the bonding member 50s in a
desired direction against the movement of the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1.
[0174] The standby groove portion 504s is formed as a groove having a desired width,
3 4
() through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes, and shaped along the
extension direction of the bonding member 50s. The rotation groove portion 501s is
formed as a groove having a desired width, through which the shaft 51a of the push-up
member 5 1 passes, and inclined in the extension direction of the bonding member 50s.
5 [0175] The holding groove portion 502s is formed as a groove having a desired width,
through which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes, and shaped along the
extension direction of the bonding member 50s. A retraction portion 503s is formed by
widening the width of the holding portion 502s except for both end portions thereof along
the extension direction.
10 [0176] Specifically, the cam groove 500s is provided with the standby groove portion
504s formed at one end side of the bonding member 50S, and the rotation groove portion
501s formed to be consecutive from the standby groove portion 504S, so that the cam
groove extends from one end side of the bonding member 50s to the other end side thereof.
[0177] According to the bending mechanism 5, when the stapler 1 is seen from the front,
15 the first bending member 50R is disposed at the right side of the bonding member 50S, and
the second bending member 50L is disposed at the left side. The first bending member 50R,
the second bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s are coaxially supported by
the shaft 50a.
[0178] Further, according to the bending mechanism 5, the cam groove 500R of the first
20 bending member 50R, the cam groove 500L of the second bending member 50L, and the
cam groove 500s of the bonding member 50s are overlapped with each other in an
arrangement direction of the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L,
and the bonding member 50S, and the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 51 comes in each
cam groove.
25 [0179] The bending mechanism 5 operates the first bending member 50R, the second
bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s at different timing according to the
movement of the push-up member 5 1.
[0180] In this embodiment, first, the bending mechanism 5 rotates the first bending
member 50R to bend one leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the first bending member 50R.
30 Next, the bending mechanism stops the rotation of the first bending member 50R, and
simultaneously increases a rotation amount of the second bending member 50L to bend the
other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the second bending member 50L.
[0181] Subsequent, the bending mechanism stops the rotation of the second bending
35
(I) member 50L, and simultaneously increases a rotation amount of the bonding member 50s to
bond the one leg portion 10i and the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the bonding
member 50s.
[0182] For this reason, the cam groove 500R of the first bending member 50R is not
5 provided with the standby groove portion. By contrast, the cam groove 500L of the second
bending member 50L is provided with the standby groove portion 504L, and the cam groove
500s of the bonding member 50s is provided with the standby groove portion 504s.
[0183] According to the bending mechanism 5, therefore, the shaft 51a of the push-up
member 5 1 passes through the standby groove 504L of the cam groove 500L of the second
10 bending member 50L at a timing at which the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes
through the rotation groove portion 501R of the cam groove 500R of the first bending
member 50R.
1 [0184] The rotation amount of the second bending member 50L is suppressed to be
I
decreased at the timing of starting the rotation of the first bending member 50R by making i 15 the rotation amounts of the first bending member 50R and the second bending member 50L
I different.
I
(01851 The standby groove portion 504s of the cam groove 500s of the bonding member
40s is formed to be longer than the standby groove portion 504L of the cam groove 500L of
the second bending member 50L.
20 [0186] Accordingly, at the timing at which the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 passes
through the rotation groove portion 501L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending
member 50L, the shaft 51a passes though the standby groove portion 504s of the cam
groove 500s in the bonding member 50s.
[0187] As the rotation amounts of the second member 50L and the bonding member 50s
25 are set to be different from each other, the rotation amount of the bonding member 50s is
suppressed to be decreased at the timing at which the rotation amount of the second bending
member 50L is increased.
[0188] Further, the holding groove portion 502R of the cam groove 500R of the first
bending member 50R is formed to be longer than the holding groove portion 502L of the
30 cam groove 500L of the second bending member 50L.
[0189] Accordingly, at the timing at which the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 passes
through the holding groove portion 502R of the cam groove 500R in the first bending
member 50R, the shaft 51a passes though the rotation groove portion 501L of the cam
36
@ groove 500L in the second bending member 50L.
[0190] The rotation amount of the second member 50L is increased at the timing at which
the rotation of the first bending member 50R is stopped.
[0191] Further, the holding groove portion 502L of the cam groove 500L of the second
5 bending member 50L is formed to be longer than the holding groove portion 502s of the
cam groove 500s of the bonding member 50s.
[0192] Accordingly, at the timing at which the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 passes
through the holding groove portion 502L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending
member 50L, the shaft 51a passes though the rotation groove portion 501s of the cam
10 groove 500s in the bonding member 50s.
[0193] The rotation amount of the bonding member 50s is increased at the timing at which
the rotation of the second bending member 50L is stopped.
[0194] The bending mechanism 5 transmits the movement of the operating handle 9 to the
push-up member 51 which operates the first bending member 50R, the second bending
15 member 50L and the bonding member 50s.
[0195] FIG. 40 is a side view illustrating one example of the driving force transmitting
mechanism of the bending mechanism. The bending mechanism 5 includes a clincher cam
57 for transmitting the movement of the operating handle 9 to the push-up member 5 1, and a
clincher lever 58.
20 [0196] The clincher cam 57 is one example of a driving force transmitting section, and has
a pressing portion 57a which is pressed against the coupling shaft portion 20b of the
penetrating mechanism body 20 connected with the operating handle 9, and a gear cam 57b
for rotating the clincher lever 58. The clincher cam 57 is attached to the body section 8 so
that it is rotatable around a shaft portion 57c as a fulcrum.
25 [0197] The clincher lever 58 is one example of the driving force transmitting section, and
has a gear 58a meshed with the gear cam 57b of the clincher cam 57, and an engaging
portion 58b locked to the push-up member 5 1. The clincher lever 58 is attached to the body
section 8 so that it is rotatable around a shaft portion 58c, which is coaxial with the gear 58a,
as a fulcrum.
30 [0198] With the clincher cam 57, if the penetrating mechanism body 20 is moved down to
a desired position by pushing down the operating handle 9, the pressing portion 57a is
pressed against the coupling shaft portion 20b. If the pressing portion 57a is pressed
against the coupling shaft portion 20b, the clincher cam 57 is rotated in a direction indicated
37 a by the arrow S1 around the shaft portion 57c as the fulcrum.
[0199] The gear 58a is rotated by displacement of the gear cam 57b which is caused by the
rotation of the clincher cam 57 around the shaft portion 57c as the fulcrum, and the clincher
lever 59 is rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow Q1 around the shaft portion 58c as
5 the fulcrum.
[0200] If the clincher lever 59 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow Q1 around
the shaft portion 58c as the fulcrum, the push-up member 5 1 is pressed against the engaging
portion 58b of the clincher lever 58, and is retracted in the direction of the arrow R1 while
compressing the spring 5 1b. As the push-up member 51 is retracted in the direction of the
10 arrow R1, the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the bonding
member 50s are operated at a desired timing.
[0201] If the operating handle 9 is pushed up, the push-up member 5 1 is moved forward in
the direction of the arrow R2 by pressurization of the spring 51b, and thus the first bending
member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s are returned to
15 the initial position. Further, the clincher lever 58 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 42
around the shaft portion 58c as the fulcrum.
[0202] If the clincher lever 58 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Q2 around the shaft
portion 58c as the fulcrum, the gear 58a is meshed with the gear cam 57b, and the clincher
cam 57 is rotated in the direction of the arrow S2 around the shaft portion 57c as the fulcrum.
20 [0203] The bending mechanism 5 is configured so that, in the process in which the first
bending member 50R and the second bending member 50L are pushed up, an interval
between the first bending member 50R and the second bending member 50L is widened
outwardly, and then is narrowed inwardly.
[0204] Also, the bending mechanism 5 includes ejecting members 52 performing the
25 operation of inwardly bending the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 penetrating the paper
sheets P, before the first bending member 50R and the second bending member 50L start the
operation of bending the leg portions 10i of the staple 10.
[0205] The ejecting members 52 are urged by a spring not shown in the drawings in
accordance with its rotating movement around the shaft 52a, and thus protrude inwardly
30 from the ejecting hole 21f provided in the cutting blade 21 to inwardly bend the leg portions
10i of the staple 10 supported by the cutting blades 2 1.
[0206] Also, the bending mechanism 5 includes an ejecting member operating mechanism
53 for operating the ejecting member 52, in association with the operation of the penetrating
3 8
@ mechanism 2 lifted by operation of the operating handle 9.
[0207] The ejecting member operating mechanism 53 has a slide member 54 transmitted
with the operation of the operating handle 9, and a spring 55a for urging the slide member 54.
[0208] The slide member 54 has a pin 54a engaged with the link 92 to which the operation
1 5 of the operating handle 9 is transmitted, a guide portion 54b for operating the ejecting
member 52, and an operating convex portion 54c for operating cutting blade guide 23, and is
attached to the body section 8 in a horizontally sliding manner. The slide member 54
constitutes a guide driving part for operating the cutting blade guide 23 in association with
the operation of the penetrating mechanism 2.
10 [0209] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the link 92 connected to the operating handle 9 is provided
with an elongated slot 92b to which the pin 54a of the slide member 54 is engaged. In the
displacement of the link 92 caused by the operating handle 9 which is pushed down and then
I is rotated, the driving force is not transmitted to the pin 54a due to the shape of the elongated
slot 92b, until the operating handle 9 is pushed down to the predetermined position. As a
15 result, the slide member 54 is not displaced.
[0210] If the operating handle 9 is pushed down to the predetermined position, the pin 54a
is pushed backward, and thus the slide member 54 is moved backward. Also, in the
displacement of the link 92 caused by the operating handle 9 which is pushed up and then is
rotated, the slide member 54 is urged by the spring 55a and thus is moved forward.
20 [0211] The guide portion 54b has a guide surface abutting against the ejecting member 52,
as illustrated in FIG. 18, to open or close the ejecting member 52 in accordance with the
sliding movement of the slide member 54. The operating convex portion 54c abuts against
the cutting blade guide 23, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and so forth, to move the cutting blade
guide 23 forward and backward in accordance with the sliding movement of the slide
25 member 54.
[0212] The operation of the operating handle 9 is transmitted to the ejecting member
operating mechanism 53 via the link 92, and the penetrating mechanism 2 penetrates the
paper sheets P by the operation of the operating handle 9. Simultaneously, the slide
member 54 is moved backward in accordance with the operation of the cuttinglforming
30 mechanism 3 cutting and forming the next staple material 1 Om.
[0213] As the slide member 54 is moved back, the ejecting member 52 is guided by the
guide surface of the guide portion 54b and thus is rotated in the closing direction. And, the
ejecting member 52 protrudes into the ejecting hole 21f of the cutting blade 21 lowered to
39
the predetermined position. Also, as the slide member 54 is moved back, the cutting blade
guide 23 is pushed down and moved backward by the operating convex portion 54c, and
thus is retracted between the cutting blades 21.
[0214] If the operating handle 9 is pushed up, the slide member 54 urged by the spring 55a
5 is moved forward. If the slide member 54 is moved forward, the ejecting member 52 is
guided by the guide surface of the guide portion 54b, and is rotated in the open direction to
move back outwardly from the ejecting hole 21f of the cutting blade 21. Also, as the slide
member 54 is moved forward, the cutting blade guide 23 is moved forward while being
urged by the spring 23a, so that the cutting blade guide protrudes between the cutting blades
10 21.
[0215] Exemplary operation of bending mechanism
FIGS. 41 (a) to 45(e) are operation charts illustrating the exemplary operation of the bending
mechanism, and the operation of the first bending member 50R, the second bending member
50L, and the bonding member 50s which bend the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 will now
15 be described with reference to each drawing.
[0216] In the state in which the first bending member 50R, the second bending member
50L, and the bonding member 50s are respectively at the initial position, the shaft 5 la of the
push-up member 51 is located in the rotation groove portion 501R in the first bending
member 50R.
20 [0217] Further, the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 is located at the standby groove
portion 504L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L. In addition, the
shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 is located at the standby groove portion 504s of the cam
groove 500s in the bonding member 50s.
[0218] If the push-up member 5 1 starts to retract in the direction of the arrow R1, the shaft
25 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 passes through the rotation groove portion 50 1 R of the cam
groove 500R in the first bending member 50R, as illustrated in FIG. 41 (a), and thus the first
bending member 50R starts to rotate around the shaft 50a as the fulcrum.
[0219] If the first bending member 50R starts to rotate, as illustrated in FIG. 45(a), the
bending portion 50Rb starts to move upward, and as described later, one leg portion 10i of
30 the staple 10 which is bent inwardly by the ejecting member 52 is bent by the first bending
member 50R.
[0220] Further, if the push-up member 5 1 starts to retract in the direction of the arrow Rl,
the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 passes through the standby groove portion 504L of
40
the cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L, as illustrated in FIG. 41(b), and
thus the second bending member 50L starts to rotate with the small rotation amount, as
compared with the first bending member 50R.
[0221] At the timing of starting the bending of the one leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by
the first bending member 50R, since the rotation amount of the second bending member 50L
is small, the operation of bending the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the second
bending member 50L is not performed.
[0222] Further, if the push-up member 5 1 starts to retract in the direction of the arrow Rl,
the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 passes through the standby groove portion 504s of
the cam groove 500s in the second bonding member 50S, as illustrated in FIG. 41(c), and
thus the bonding member 50s starts to rotate with the small rotation amount, as compared
with the first bending member 50R.
[0223] At the timing of starting the bending of the other leg portion l0i of the staple 10 by
the first bending member 50R, since the rotation amount of the bonding member 50s is
small, the operation of bonding the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 by the bonding member
50s is not performed.
[0224] The push-up member 51 is retracted in the direction of the arrow R1, and, as
illustrated in FIG. 42(a), the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 comes in the holding
groove portion 502R from the rotation groove portion 501R of the cam groove 500R in the
first bending member 50R, the first bending member 50R is positioned in the substantially
horizontal direction, and thus the rotation is stopped.
[0225] If the first bending member 50R is positioned in the substantially horizontal
direction and thus the rotation is stopped, as illustrated in FIG. 45(b), the one leg portion 10i
of the staple 10 is pressed by the bending portion 50Rb, so that the operation of bending the
one leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the first bending member 50R is completed.
102261 At the timing at which the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502R of the cam groove 500R in the first bending member 50R, as illustrated
in FIG. 42(b), the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the rotation groove portion
501R from the standby groove portion 504L of the cam groove 51a, and thus the rotation
amount of the second bending member 50L is increased.
[0227] If the rotation amount of the second bending amount 50L is increased, as illustrated
in FIG. 45(c), an amount of increase of the bending portion 50Lb is increased, and thus the
other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 which is bent inwardly by the ejecting member 52 is
4 1
bent by the second bending member SOL.
[0228] At the timing at which the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502R of the cam groove 500R in the first bending member 50R, as illustrated
in FIG. 42(c), the shaft 51a of the push-up member 5 1 passes through the standby groove
portion 504s of the cam groove 500S, and thus the rotation amount of the bonding member
50s is suppressed to be small.
102291 If the push-up member 5 1 is retracted in the direction of the arrow R1, and the shaft
5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the standby groove portion 502L from the rotation
groove portion 501L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending member SOL, as
illustrated in FIG. 43(b), the second bending member SOL is positioned in the substantially
horizontal direction, and thus the rotation is stopped.
[0230] If the second bending member SOL is positioned in the substantially horizontal
direction and thus the rotation is stopped, as illustrated in FIG. 45(d), the other leg portion
10i overlapped with the one leg portion 10i of the staple 10 is pressed by the bending portion
50Lb, so that the operation of bending the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 by the
second bending member SOL is completed.
[0231] At the timing at which the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L, as
illustrated in FIG. 43(a), the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 passes through the holding
groove portion 502R of the cam groove 500R in the first bending member 50R, and thus the
first bending member 50R is held in the state in which the rotation is stopped.
[0232] According to the cam groove 500R of the first bending member 50R, since the
holding groove portion 502R is formed with the retraction portion 503R, if the shaft 51a of -
the push-up member 51 passes through the retraction portion 503R, the first bending
member 50R can be vertically displaced with a desired amount.
102331 In the state in which the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are pressed by the first
bending member 50R, the reaction force applied from the leg portion 10i of the staple 10
becomes a sliding resistance between the shafi 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 and the cam
groove 500R of the first bending member 50R, which comes to a load with respect to the
force moving the push-up member 5 1. Since the push-up member 5 1 is retracted by the
force pushing down the operating handle 9, the increase of the load applied to the push-up
member 5 1 lead to the increase in operating load.
[0234] Accordingly, as the first bending member 50R is vertically displaced while the
42
bending state of the leg portions 10i of the staple is maintained, the first bending member
50R can be retracted so that the reaction force applied from the leg portions 10i of the staple
10 is released. The sliding resistance between the cam groove 500R of the first bending
member 50R and the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 is decreased, and thus the
5 operating load is lowered.
[0235] At the timing at which the shaft 5 la of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L, as
1 illustrated in FIG. 43(c), the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 comes in the rotation
1 groove portion 501s from the standby groove portion 504s of the cam groove 500S, and
I 10 thus the rotation amount of the bonding member 50s is increased.
I
I
I [0236] If the push-up member 5 1 is retracted in the direction of the arrow R1, and the shaft
I
I 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding groove portion 502s from the rotation
groove portion 501s of the cam groove 500s in the bonding member 50S, as illustrated in
I
FIG. 44(c), the bonding member 50s is positioned in the substantially horizontal direction,
15 and thus the rotation is stopped.
[0237] If the bonding member 50s is positioned in the substantially horizontal direction
and thus the rotation is stopped, as illustrated in FIG. 45(e), the one leg portion 10i and the
other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 which are bent by the first bending member 50R and
the second bending member 50L and are overlapped with each other are bonded to each
20 other by the bonding member 50S, and thus the operation of bending and bonding the leg
portions 10i of the staple 10 is completed.
[0238] At the timing at which the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502s of the cam groove 500s in the bonding member 50S, as illustrated in
FIG. 44(a), the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes through the holding groove
25 portion 502R of the cam groove 500 R in the first bending member 50R, and thus the first
bending member 50R is held in the state in which the rotation is stopped.
[0239] At the timing at which the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 comes in the holding
groove portion 502s of the cam groove 500s in the bonding member 50S, as illustrated in
FIG. 44(b), the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes through the holding groove
30 portion 502L of the cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L, and thus the
second bending member 50L is held in the state in which the rotation is stopped.
[0240] According to the cam groove 500L of the second bending member 50L, since the
holding groove portion 502L is formed with the retraction portion 503L, if the shaft 51a of
43 1 the push-up member 51 passes through the retraction portion 503L, the second bending
member 50L can be vertically displaced with a desired amount. Therefore, the load at the
I retracting operation of the push-up member 5 1 is decreased. 1 [0241] In addition, according to the cam groove 500s of the bonding member 50S, since
I I
5 the holding groove portion 502s is formed with the retraction portion 503S, if the operating
I
I handle 9 is pushed to the position where the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 passes
through the retraction portion 503S, the bonding member 50s can be vertically displaced
I I with a desired amount.
[0242] Therefore, the load applied to the operating handle 9 becomes light at the timing at
I 10 which the stapling of the paper sheets by the staple 10 is finished, and thus the operator can
recognize that the operation of stapling the paper sheets is completed.
[0243] If the number of paper sheets is few, the push-up member 51 is further retracted in
the direction of the arrow R1, and the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 gets out of the
retraction portion 503R of the cam groove 500R in the first bending member 50R, and then
15 reaches a termination of the holding groove portion 502R, so that the first bending member
50R is moved upward with a desired amount to press the one leg portion 10i of the staple 10.
[0244] Further, the push-up member 5 1 is further retracted in the direction of the arrow R1,
and the shaft 51a of the push-up member 51 gets out of the retraction portion 503L of the
cam groove 500L in the second bending member 50L, and then reaches a termination of the
20 holding groove portion 502L, so that the second bending member 50L is moved upward with
a desired amount to press the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10.
[0245] In addition, the push-up member 5 1 is further retracted in the direction of the arrow
R1, and the shaft 5 1 a of the push-up member 5 1 gets out of the retraction portion 503 S of the
cam groove 500s in the bonding member 50S, and then reaches a termination of the holding
25 groove portion 502S, so that the bending member 50s is moved upward with a desired
amount to press the one leg portion 1Oi and the other leg portion 10i of the staple 10 which
are overlapped with each other. Accordingly, it is possible to extend the time pressing the
leg portions 10i of the staple 10 by the bonding member 50S, irrespective of the number of
paper sheets P, thereby reliably bonding the leg portions 10i.
30 [0246] The stapler using the stapler made of the metal material displaces the stapling table
by use of the configuration in which the force pushing down the operating handle is directly
applied to the staple, or the force pushing down the operating handle, to bend the leg
portions of the staple. In the configuration in which the stapling table is displaced by the
44
raisingflowering movement, as the number of paper sheets P is increased, the stapling
movement tends to become unstable.
[0247] Since the stapler 1 of this embodiment uses the staple 10 made of the soft material,
such as paper, the force required to bend the leg portions 1Oi is weak, as compared with the
5 metal staple. For this reason, since the force of the operating handle 9 is transmitted to the
bending mechanism 5 using the driving force transmitting section of the cam mechanism,
such as the clincher cam 57 and the clincher lever 58, the first bending member 50R, the
second bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s can be operated, without
increasing the operating load of the operating handle 9.
10 [0248] Since each of the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and
the bonding member 50s can be independently operated by the force of the operating handle
9, the movement of each member becomes stable, thereby reliably performing the stapling
movement. Further, since the operating load can be varied by the shape of the cam, it is
possible to prevent the increase in operating load, and the operator can recognize the stapling
15 completion of the paper sheets using the change of the operating load, thereby improving the
user's usability.
[0249] Exemplary configuration of conveying mechanism
The conveying mechanism 6 for conveying the staple-materials-connecting-body and the
staple 10 cut and formed from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a will now be
20 described with reference to each drawing.
[0250] The conveying mechanism 6 is one example of a conveying part, and includes a
pusher 60 for conveying the staple-materials-connecting-body and the staple 10 cut and
formed from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a, and a spring 60a for urging the
pusher 60 forward.
25 [0251] The pusher 60 has a feed claw 61 which is engaged with the hole 10d of the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a to convey the staple-materials-connecting-body 1 Oa, a staple
pushing portion 62 for extruding the staple 10 cut and formed from the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a, and a pin 63 engaging with the link 92 to which the operation of the
operating handle 9 is transmitted.
30 [0252] The link 92 connected with the operating handle 9 is provided with an elongated
slot 92a to which the pin 63 of the pusher 60 is engaged. In the displacement of the link 92
caused by the operating handle 9 which is pushed down and then is rotated, the pin 63 is
pushed backward, and thus the pusher 60 is moved backward. Also, in the displacement of
45
the link 92 caused by the operating handle 9 which is pushed up and then is rotated, the
pusher 60 is urged by the spring 60a and thus is moved forward.
[0253] The pusher 60 is made of a resin material in this example, and is formed integrally
with the feed claw 61 and the staple pushing portion 62. The feed claw 61 is provided on
5 the upper surface of the pusher 60, and is installed at two left and right positions
corresponding to the one pair of holes 10d of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 1, if the staple cartridge 11 is mounted in the
cartridge receiving portion 81 of the stapler 1, the feed claw 61 protrudes from the groove
portion 14b formed on the bottom surface of the staple conveying path 14.
10 [0254] In the feed claw 61, a front surface along the conveying direction of the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a is substantially vertically formed as an engaging surface 61a,
and a rear surface is formed in an inclined surface as a non-engaging surface 61 b. The feed
claw 61 is formed integrally with the pusher 60 by a support portion 61c extending backward
from the rear surface thereof.
15 [0255] Since the pusher 60 is made of the resin material, the support portion 61c of the
feed claw 61 can be resiliently deformed, and the shape of the feed claw 61 forms an
evacuation part for appearing and disappearing the feed claw 61 through the hole 10d of the
staple-materials-connecting-body 1 Oa by the horizontal movement of the pusher 60.
[0256] That is, as the pusher 60 is moved forward, the engaging surface 61a of the feed
20 claw 61 is engaged with the hole 10d of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a to convey
the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a forward. As the pusher 60 is moved backward,
the shape of the inclined surface of the non-engaging surface 61b of the feed claw 61
generates the force to push the feed claw 61 down, and thus the feed claw 61 is moved
backward from the hole 10d of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a by the resilient
25 deformation of the support portion 61c, so that the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is
maintained in the stationary state.
[0257] The staple pushing portion 62 is provided on the front surface of the pusher 60, and
as illustrated in FIG. 10, is configured to push the so-called U-shaped formed staple 10 of
which the leg portions 10i are formed at both ends of the crown portion 1Oh.
30 [0258] The staple pushing portion 62 protrudes into the cuttinglforming mechanism 3 by
the forward movement of the pusher 60 to convey the formed staple 10 to the penetrating
mechanism 2. Since the feed claw 61 and the staple pushing portion 62 are formed
integrally with the pusher 60, in accordance with the forward movement of the pusher 60,
46
@ the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is conveyed to the cuttinglforming mechanism 3,
and simultaneously, the staple 10 located at the leading end which is cut and formed from
the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is conveyed to the penetrating mechanism 2.
[0259] Exemplary configuration of attachingldetaching mechanism
5 FIG. 46 is a side sectional view of the stapler illustrating one example of the
attachingldetaching mechanism. It will now be described the configuration of the
attachingldetaching mechanism 7A for conveying the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a
received in the staple cartridge 11 to the predetermined position in association with the
conveying mechanism 6 when the staple cartridge 11 is mounted.
10 [0260] The attachingldetaching mechanism 7A is one example of an attachingldetaching
part, and includes an operating lever 70 and a link 71 for transmitting the operation of the
operating lever 70 to the conveying mechanism 6. The operating lever 70 is provided at a
rear side of the cartridge receiving portion 81 of the body section 8, and is rotated around a
shaft 70a.
15 [0261] The link 71 is one example of an operating force transmitting part, and has a tip end
side provided with an elongated slot 71a engaged with the pin 63 of the pusher 60, and a rear
end side attached to the operating lever 70 in such a manner that it can rotate around a shaft
71 b. The elongated slot 71a provided in the link 71 extends along the moving direction of
the pusher 60 in accordance with the operation of the operating handle 71, so that the
20 engagement of the pusher 60 and the link 71 does not interfere in the movement of the
pusher 60 by the operation of the operating handle 9.
[0262] Meanwhile, if the operating lever 70 is rotated rearward using the shaft 70a as the
- - fulcrum, since the link 71 connected to the shaft 71b is moved rearward, the pin 63 of the
pusher 60 is pushed rearward, and thus the pusher 60 is moved rearward. At the retracting
25 operation of the pusher 60, the feed claw 61 is retracted from the hole 10d of the staplematerials-
connecting-body 10a, and the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is maintained
in the stop state. Further, if the operating lever 70 is rotated forward using the shaft 70a as
the fulcrum, the pusher 60 is biased by the spring 60a, and thus is moved forward. When
the pusher 60 is moved forward, the engaging surface 61 a of the feed claw 61 is engaged to
30 the hole 10d of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a, so that the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a is fed forward.
[0263] FIG. 47 is an operation chart illustrating an exemplary operation of conveying the
staple-materials-connecting-body by the operation of the attachingldetaching mechanism.
47
Since the feed claw 61 of the pusher 60 is engaged with the hole 10d of the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a, if the pusher 60 is moved forward, as illustrated in FIGS. 47(a) and
47(b), the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is moved forward.
[0264] As illustrated in FIG. 46, if the operating lever 70 is rotated to the mounting
5 position, as illustrated in FIG. 47(c), the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is moved
forward to the predetermined standby position. In this example, the position in which the
tip end of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a abuts against the cutting blade 21 of the
penetrating mechanism 2 is referred to as the standby position.
[0265] The staple cartridge 11 is mounted in the stapler 1, and the staple-materials-
10 connecting-body 10a is moved forward to the determined standby position by the operation
of the attachingldetaching mechanism 7A. Therefore, when the staple cartridge 11 is
attached or detached, the position of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a can be
reliably set to the determined standby position by the operation of the operating lever 70.
[0266] Further, when the staple cartridge 11 is removed, the operating lever 70 is rotated
15 backward from the state illustrated in FIG. 46. If the pusher 60 is moved backward by
rotating the operating lever 70 rotating backward, the feed claw 61 is moved backward from
the hole 10d of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a due to the shape of the feed claw
6 1, so that the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is maintained in the stationary state.
[0267] If the operating lever 70 is rotated to the attachingldetaching position, the staple
20 cartridge 11 is lifted up in the state in which the operating lever 70 is held at the
attachingldetaching position. Therefore, it is possible to easily detach the staple cartridge
11.
[0268] When the staple cartridge 11 is detached in the state in which the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a is remained due to jamming or the like, if the staple cartridge 11 is
25 detached in the state in which the pusher 60 is moved forward, the staple cartridge 11 is
detached in the state in which the lead staple of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is
engaged with the feed claw 61 of the pusher 60, so that the staple-materials-connecting-body
10a is drawn out.
[0269] However, the embodiment is configured so that the detachment of the staple
30 cartridge 11 is not possible, without operation of the operating lever 70. Since the pusher
60 is retracted by operation of the operating lever 70, the feed claw 61 is retracted, and thus
the engaging state between the lead staple of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a and
the feed claw 61 is released, thereby detaching the staple cartridge 11 and thus preventing
4 8
the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a from being drawn.
[0270] Exemplary overall operation of stapler
FIGs. 48 to 51 are operation charts illustrating the exemplary operation of the operating
handle. FIGs. 52 to 63 are operation charts illustrating the exemplary operation of the
5 entire stapler. FIGs. 64 to 75 are operation charts illustrating the exemplary operation of
the penetrating mechanism and the bending mechanism. FIGs. 76 to 87are operation charts
illustrating the exemplary operation of the cutting/forming mechanism. The exemplary
overall operation of the entire stapler 1 according to this embodiment will now be described
with reference to each drawing.
10 [0271] Standby state
In the standby state illustrated in FIGs. 48, 52, 64, 76, and so forth, the staple 10 located at
the leading end which is cut and formed from the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is
positioned in the penetrating mechanism 2. Also, the next staple 10 (staple material 10m)
of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is positioned in the cuttinglforming mechanism
I5 3.
[0272] The staple-materials-connecting-body 1Oa conveyed to the cutting/forming
mechanism 3 is conveyed to the determined standby position in which it abuts against the
cutting blade 21 of the penetrating mechanism 2 by the operation of the above-described
attachingldetaching mechanism 7A. Also, in the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, the cutter
20 plate 30 is positioned at the retracted position raised with respect to the forming plate 3 1, and
the cutting blade 32 is not exposed.
102731 Operation start of cutting blade
If the operating handle 9 is pushed in a downward direction indicated by the arrow A fiom
the standby state illustrated in FIG. 48, the link 92 connected with the operating handle 9 at
25 the coupling shaft portion 20b of the penetrating mechanism 2 is rotated around the coupling
shaft portion 20b in a direction indicated by the arrow B. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG.
53, the pusher 60 starts moving backward. As the pusher 60 is moved backward, as
described above, the feed claw 6 1 is spaced apart from the staple-materials-connecting-body
10a, and thus the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is maintained in the stationary state.
30 [0274] Further, as the operating handle 9 pushes the connecting shaft portion 20b down,
the penetrating mechanism 2 starts lowering, and the paper holding plate 40 of the paper
holding mechanism 4 is urged by the spring 41, in association with the operation of the
penetrating mechanism 2, so that the paper sheets P placed in the paper placing base 80 are
49
held. In the penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 65, the blade portion 21a of the
cutting blade 21 pierces the paper sheets P. In the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, as
illustrated in FIG. 77, the cutting blade 32 protrudes from the staple forming portion 33 of
the forming plate 3 1.
5 [0275] The operating handle 9 is rotated around the imaginary fulcrum defined by the track
of the cam groove 91 guided by the shaft 90 and the track of the coupling shaft portion 20b,
to lower the penetrating mechanism 2, so that the operating load becomes light at the timing
at which the staple 10 starts to penetrate the paper sheets P.
[0276] Forming and slide member operation start
10 If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 54, the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 is continuously performed. In the penetrating mechanism 2, as
illustrated in FIG. 66, the first penetrating portion 2 1 b of the cutting blade 2 1 penetrates the
paper sheets P. The one pair of cutting blades 21 prevents the tip end side of the cutting
blade 21 from being inclined inwardly, while the cutting blade guide 23 protrudes inside the
15 first penetrating portion 2 1 b penetrating the paper sheets P.
[0277] In the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, as illustrated in FIG. 78, the cutter plate 30 and
the forming plate 31 are lowered as one body, and as illustrated in FIG. 37, the staple
material 1Om located at the leading end of the staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is cut by
the cutting blade 32. In addition, the staple forming portion 33 of the forming plate 31
20 abuts against the cut staple 10 to start the forming of the staple 10, and the leg portions 10i
of the staple 10 are gradually bent by the staple forming portion 33.
[0278] If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 54, as
illustrated in FIG. 49, the elongated slot 92b of the link 92 abuts against the pin 54a of the
slide member 54, and thus, the retreat of the slide member 54 starts.
25 [0279] Expansion start of hole
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 55, the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed. In the
penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 67, the hole expansion portion 21e of
the cutting blade 21 arrives at the paper sheets P, and the hole P1 opened in the paper sheets
30 P is winded in the outward direction. The forming of the staple by the cuttinglforming
mechanism 3 is continuously performed, as illustrated in Fig. 79.
[0280] Operation start of opening retaining member
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 56, the retreating
5 0
@ operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed. In the
penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 68, the hole expansion portion 21e of the
cutting blade 21 penetrates the paper sheets P. In the cutting/forming mechanism 3, as
illustrated in FIG. 80, as the cutter plate 30 and the forming plate 31 are lowered, the
5 opening retaining members 34 abut against open cam surfaces 84a formed on the body
section 8, and thus starts opening outwardly.
[0281] Operation end of cutting blade guide
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 57, the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed, and the
10 operating convex portion 54c of the slide member 54 abuts against the cutting blade guide 23.
The spring 23a is compressed, and the cutting blade guide 23 starts retreating.
[0282] In the penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 69, the second penetrating
portion 2 1 c of the cutting blade 2 1 penetrates the paper sheets P, and thus the staple 10 held
inside the cutting blades 21 penetrates the paper sheets P. The front end of each cutting
15 blade 21 is guided by the first bending member 50R and the second bending member 50L.
As a result, even though the cutting blade guide 23 is retreated, the displacement in the
inclining direction is suppressed.
[0283] In the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, as illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 81, as the cutter
plate 30 and the forming plate 31 are lowered, the staple 10 is bent in the first direction so
20 that the one pair of leg portions 10i are substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming
the crown portion 10h and the leg portions 10i. As a result, the forming is terminated.
Also, opening retaining members 34 are opened, and then the operation is terminated.
[0284] Operation end of opening retaining members
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 58, the retreating
25 operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed
In the penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 70, the second penetrating portion 21c
of the cutting blade 2 1 penetrates the paper sheets P, and the staple 10 held inside the cutting
blades 21 starts penetrating the paper sheets P. The cutting/forming mechanism 3 is
lowered to a lower end position shown in Fig. 82, and thus is not operated.
30 [0285] Operation start of ejecting member
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG.59 , the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed, and is guided
by the guide surface of the guide portion 54b of the slide member 54. As a result, as
5 1
@ illustrated in FIG. 71, the ejecting members 52 start closing in the inward direction. In the
penetrating mechanism 2, the second penetrating portion 21c of the cutting blade 21
penetrates the paper sheets P, and thus the staple 10 held inside the cutting blades 21
penetrate the paper sheets P. The cutting/forming mechanism 3 is lowered to a lower end
5 position shown in Fig. 83, and thus is not operated.
[0286] Start of staple bending
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 60, the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed, and is guided
by the guide surface of the guide portion 54b of the slide member 54. As a result, the
10 ejecting members 52 are closed in the inward direction, and protrude into the ejecting hole
21f of the cutting blade 21 lowered at the predetermined position. The cutting/forming
mechanism 3 is lowered to a lower end position shown in Fig. 84, and thus is not operated.
[0287] In the penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 72, the second penetrating
portion 21c of the cutting blade 21 penetrates the paper sheets P. In association with the
15 penetrating operation of the staple 10 held inside the cutting blades 2 1 into the paper sheets P,
the one pair of leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are bent in the inward direction by the
ejecting member 52 protruding into the ejecting hole 21f.
[0288] Landing of staple press-down portion
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIGs. 50 and 61, the
20 retreating operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed.
In the penetrating mechanism 2, as illustrated in FIG. 73: the staple press-down portion 22 I
I lands on the paper sheets P.
I
I [0289] In the penetrating mechanism 2, when the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the
I
I position illustrated in FIGS. 50 and 61, the is lowered to the bending mechanism operating
I 25 position M, as illustrated in FIGs. 26, 27, and 73, and the crown portion 10h of the staple 10
is stapled by the staple press-down portion 22 to press the paper sheets P. The
cutting/forming mechanism 3 is lowered to a lower end position shown in Fig. 85, and thus
is not operated.
[0290] Clinch start
30 If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIG. 62, the retreating
operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed. In the
bending mechanism 5, as illustrated in FIGs. 41 to 44, the push-up member 51 is- moved
rearward in a direction indicated by an arrow R1 by the pushing force of the operating
52
handle 9. As the push-up member 51 is moved rearward, the first bending member 50R,
the second bending member 50L, and the bonding member 50s start pushing up by the pushup
member 5 1, and the clinch operation, i.e., bending the pair of the leg portions 10i of the
staple 10 that have been inwardly bent by the ejecting member 52 is started. The
5 cutting/forming mechanism 3 is lowered to a lower end position shown in Fig. 86, and thus
is not operated.
[0291] When the operating handle 9 is rotated around the imaginary fulcrum defined by the
track of the cam groove 91 guided by the shaft 90 and the track of the coupling shaft portion
20b, the push-up of the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the
10 bonding member 50s by the push-up member 51 starts, so that the operating load becomes
light at the timing at which the leg portions 10i of the staple 10 are bent.
(02921 Clinch of right leg portion
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down, the retreating operation of the pusher 60 and the
slide member 54 is continuously performed. In the bending mechanism 5, as illustrated in
15 FIGs. 41(a), 42(a), 54(a) and 45(b), the push-up member 51 is moved rearward in the
direction indicated by the arrow R1 by the pushing force of the operating handle 9. The
first bending member 50R is pushed up by the push-up member 5 1, so that the right leg 1 Oi
of the staple 10 is bent.
[0293] The leg portion 10i of the staple 10 is bent inwardly at a desired amount by the
20 ejecting member 52. As the first bending member 50R is rotated upwardly, since the first
bending member 50R is pushed up while being displaced in an external direction, the first
bending member reliably enters the outside of the right leg portion 10i of the staple 10, so
that the leg portion 10i is bent.
[0294] Clinch of left leg portion
25 If the operating handle 9 is pushed down, the retreating operation of the pusher 60 and the
slide member 54 is continuously performed. In the bending mechanism 5, as illustrated in
FIGs. 42(b), 43(b), 45(c) and 45(d), the push-up member 51 is moved rearward in the
direction indicated by the arrow Rl by the pushing force of the operating handle 9. The
second bending member 50L is pushed up by the push-up member 5 1, so that the left leg 10i
30 of the staple 10 is bent.
[0295] As the second bending member 50L is rotated upwardly, since the second bending
member 50L is pushed up while being displaced in the external direction, the second
bending member reliably enters the outside of the left leg portion 10i of the staple 10, so
that the leg portion 10i is bent.
[0296] Clinch end
If the operating handle 9 is pushed down at the position illustrated in FIGs. 51 and 63, the
retreating operation of the pusher 60 and the slide member 54 is continuously performed.
5 In the bending mechanism 5, as illustrated in FIGs. 430, 440, 45(e) and 75, the push-up
member 51 is moved rearward in the direction indicated by the arrow Rl by the pushing
force of the operating handle 9. The bonding member 50s is pushed up by the push-up
member 51, so that the one pair of overlapped leg portions 10i of the staple are pressed
adjacent to the center portion thereof. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the one pair of
10 leg portions 10i are bonded at the bonding portion 10f, and the clinch is terminated. The
cuttinglforming mechanism 3 is lowered to a lower end position shown in Fig. 87, and thus
is not operated.
102971 Return operation start
If the operating handle 9 is pushed up after the clinch is terminated, in association with the
15 advance of the slide member 54, the cutting blade guide 23 is moved forward between the
cutting blades while being urged by the spring 23a, and simultaneously, the ejecting member
52 is moved backward outwardly from the cutting blade 21. In addition, the pusher 60 is
moved forward. As described above, the feed claw 61 is engaged with the staple-materialsconnecting-
body 10a to start conveyance of the staple-materials-connecting-body 1Oa
20 forward, by the advancing movement of the pusher 60.
(02981 In the penetrating mechanism 2, the cutting blades 21 are moved up in a direction to
be withdrawn from the paper sheets P. In the cuttinglforming mechanism 3, in association
with the operation of the penetrating mechanism 2, after the cutter plate 30 is moved to the
retreat position lifted with respect to the forming plate 3 1, the forming plate 3 1 is moved up
25 together with the cutter plate 30. If the forming plate 3 1 is moved up, the formed staple 10
starts withdrawing from the staple forming portion 33. In the bending mechanism 5, in
association with the upward movement of the penetrating mechanism 2, the push up member
51 is moved forward, and the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L,
and the bonding member 50s are moved down.
30 [0299] Further, as the cutter plate 30 and the forming plate 31 are moved up, the opening
retaining members 34 abut against a close cam surface 84b formed on the body section 8 to
start closing in the inward direction.
[0300] Return operation
54
If the operating handle 9 is pushed up, the advancing operation of the pusher 60 is
continuously performed. The advance of slide member 54 is stopped, since the pin 54a is
separated from the elongated slot 92b of the link 92.
[0301] In the penetrating mechanism 2, the cutting blades 21 are moved up in the direction
5 to be withdrawn from the paper sheets P. In the cutting/forming mechanism 3, in
association with the operation of the penetrating mechanism 2, the cutter plate 30 and the
forming plate 31 are moved up, and thus the opening retaining members 34 are closed,
thereby preventing the leg portions 10i of the formed staple 10 from being opened by
holding them from the outside.
10 [0302] If the operating handle 9 is returned to the standby position, as illustrated in FIG. 52,
in the penetrating mechanism 2, the cutting blade 21 is withdrawn from the paper sheets P,
so that the stapled paper sheets P can be ejected. Also, as the pusher 60 is moved forward,
the next staple cut and formed by the cutting/forming mechanism 3 is conveyed to the
penetrating mechanism 2, and is supported between the one pair of cutting blades 21.
15 Simultaneously, the next staple-materials-connecting-body 10a is conveyed to the
cuttinglforming mechanism 3.
[0303] Other exemplary configuration of stapler according to this embodiment
I FIGS. 88 and 89 are perspective views illustrating other exemplary configuration of the I
I stapler according to this embodiment. The stapler 1 includes a cover 85 at the bottom of
I ~ 20 the body section 8. The cover 85 is provided to open or close the body section 8 by
I rotation using a shaft (not illustrated) as a fulcrum.
I
I [0304] The stapler 1 is configured so that the interior of the body section 8 is exposed by
I operating the cover 85. The stapler 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the force of
I the operating handle 9 is transmitted to the bending mechanism 5 using the driving force
25 transmitting section of the cam mechanism, such as the clincher cam 57 and the clincher
lever 58 to operate the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, and the
bonding member 50s.
[0305] For this reason, the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, the
bonding member 50S, and the push-up member 51 which are provided at the lower side of
30 the paper placing base 80 can be engaged with or disengaged from the clincher cam 57 and
the clincher lever 58.
[0306] In the example, the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, the
bonding member 50S, and the push-up member 5 1 in the bending mechanism 5 are attached
5 5
to the cover 85. The clincher lever 58 for transmitting the driving force to the push-up
member 5 1 and the clincher cam 57 illustrated in FIG. 49 are attached to the body section 8.
[0307] The push-up member 5 1 and the clincher lever 58 are detachably engaged with each
other by openinglclosing operation of the cover 85. If the cover 85 is closed, the engaging
5 portion 58b of the clincher lever 58 is engaged with the push-up member 51, or if the cover
85 is opened, the engagement is released. Accordingly, the push-up member 51 and the
clincher lever 58 are engaged with or disengaged from each other by openinglclosing
operation of the cover 85.
[0308] In the stapler 1, since the first bending member 50R, the second bending member
10 50L, the bonding member 50S, and the push-up member 51 are exposed by opening the
cover 85, the jammed staple 10 can be easily removed. Further, since the staple 10 is
provided with the bonding portion 10f for bonding the leg portions 10i, an adhesive
component may be adhered to the member configuring the bending mechanism 5.
However, since the first bending member 50R, the second bending member 50L, the bonding
15 member 50S, and the bonding member 50s are exposed by opening the cover 85, the
adhered adhesive component can be easily removed. Further, paper dust formed by
penetration of the cutting blades 21 into the paper sheets P can be easily removed from the
interior of the body section 8 by opening the cover 85.
[0309] In addition, the stapler 1 includes a container 86 at the bottom of the body section 8.
20 The container 86 is formed by providing a space opened and closed by the cover 85, and
houses a pair of tweezers, for example. Therefore, the jammed staple 10 can be removed
by use of the tweezers.
.[0310] The present invention may be applied to a stapler manipulated by a human power or
an electric motor to staple a workpiece with the staple made of a non-metal material which is
25 a soft material, such as paper.

CLAIMS ORIGIPJAL 1 1 DEC 2013
1. A stapler (1) configured to bind a workpiece (P) using a non-metal staple (lo), the
staple (10) having a crown portion (10h) and a pair of leg portions (10i) extending from
5 respective ends of the crown portion (lOh), the crown portion (10h) extending in a second
direction perpendicular to the fist direction, the stapler (1) comprising:
a penetrating part (2) including a pair of cutting blades (21) spaced apart from each
other, wherein the penetrating part (2) is configured to form holes in the workpiece (P) and
to cause the leg portions (10i) to penetrate the workpiece (P) by inserting and withdrawing
10 the cutting blades (21) with respect to the workpiece (P);
an operating member (9) operable to cause the leg portions (1 0i) of the staple (1 0)
to penetrate the workpiece (P) by the penetrating part (2); and
a bending part (5) configured to bend the leg portions (1 0i) of the staple (1 O), which
has penetrated the workpiece (P), along the workpiece to bond the leg portions (10i) to each
15 other,
wherein the bending part (5) includes a bending member (50R, 50L, 50s)
configured to bend the leg portions (10i) of the staple (lo), and a driving force transmitting
section (51, 57, 58) configured to transmit an operation of the operating member (9) to the
bending member (50R, 50L, 50s).
20
2. The stapler (1) according to claim 1, wherein the driving force transmitting section
(51, 57, 58) includes a driving force transmitting portion (500R, 500L, 500s) configured to
move the bending member (50R, 50L, 50s) in accordance with a movement of the operating -
member (9) such that the bending member (50R, 50L, 50s) is moved in a direction toward
25 the leg portions (1 Oi) of the staple (lo), which has penetrated the workpiece (P), to bend
the leg portions (lOi), the bending member (50R, 50L, 50S), which has bent the leg portions
(loi), is retracted in a direction away from the leg portions (lOi), and the bending member in
moved again in the direction toward the leg portions (10i) after being retracted.
30 3. The stapler (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bending member (50R, 50L,
50s) includes a first bending member (50R) configured to bend one of the leg portions (1 0i)
of the staple (lo), a second bending member (50L) configured to bend the other of the leg
portions (lOi), and a bonding member (50s) configured to bond the one of the leg portions
5 7 ORIGINAL I I OEC 2013
(10i) bent by the first bending member (50R) and the other of the leg portions (10i) bent by
the second bending member (50L), and
the driving forck transmitting section (5 1,57, 5 8) is configured to transmit a driving
force of the operating member (9) to the first bending member (50R), the second bending
5 member (50L), and the bonding member (50s).
4. The stapler (1) according to claim 3, wherein the driving force transmitting section
(5 1,57,58) includes a push-up member (5 1) to which the operation of the operating member
(9) is transmitted, and
10 the driving force transmitting portion (500R, 500L, 500s) includes cam grooves
configured to displace each of the first bending member (50R), the second bending member
(50L), and the bonding member (50s) by a movement of the push-up member (5 1).
5. The stapler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating member
15 (9) is configured such that a distance between a force receiving portion and a fulcrum axis of
rotation and a distance between a force acting portion (20b) and the fulcrum axis changes by
shifting the fulcrum axis in accordance with the operation of the operating member (9), so
as to change a reduction rate of a load applied to the operating member (9).
Dated this 11/12/2013
NEHA SRIVASTAVA
OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT