Stapler

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-213884 filed on Oct. 31, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a stapler for binding a plurality of sheets of paper with a staple.

In electric staplers used in post-processing devices, a staple guide portion for guiding a staple to be struck out is provided on a staple cartridge, in which staples are received (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-209561). As staple guide portions, a staple cartridge has been proposed, in which a staple leg support member is provided to oppose a guide member provided on a front end of the staple cartridge and referred to as a face plate or the like, and staple legs of a staple struck out from the staple cartridge is pressed against the guide member by the staple leg guide member.

For staplers on which such a staple cartridge is attached, a technique has been proposed, in which a clamping portion for clamping sheets of paper is formed by a part of a case constituting the exterior of the staple cartridge (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-26860). The case of the staple cartridge is typically configured of a resin material. In such a conventional staple cartridge, the staple leg support member configured of a metal material is exposed on the clamping portion formed by the case configured of a resin material.

In the conventional staplers, the staple leg support portion is exposed on the clamping portion formed by the case of the staple cartridge. Since the case of the staple cartridge and the staple leg support member are separate components, a groove, a step and the like formed at a boundary between the clamping portion and the staple leg support member are exposed on the surface of the clamping portion.

Therefore, there is a possibility that during an operation of inserting sheets of paper into the paper clamping portion, the sheets of paper are caught on the groove, the step and the like and thus a poor insertion of the sheets of paper is occurred. Also, in a configuration in which the staple leg support member is not provided, the staple legs of the staple cannot be sufficiently supported during an operation of forcing the staple legs to penetrate the sheets of paper. Therefore, there is a possibility that buckling of the staple legs is occurred.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a stapler in which it is possible to inhibit occurrence of a poor insertion of sheets of paper and also to inhibit occurrence of buckling of staple legs.

In order to solve the above object, the present invention is a stapler, including a staple striking portion for striking a staple to penetrate sheets of paper; a staple receiving portion attached on the staple striking portion and configured to receive the staple before being struck out from the staple striking portion; a binding portion for binding the sheets of paper by bending staple legs of the staple penetrating the sheets of paper, and a paper clamping portion for clamping the sheets of paper between the staple striking portion and the binding portion; wherein the staple receiving portion includes a clamping portion exposed to the paper clamping portion and configured to clamp the sheets of paper, and a staple guide portion provided on an end portion of the clamping portion at a side thereof, on which the staple striking portion is located, and configured to guide the staple struck by the staple striking portion; wherein the clamping portion is configured of a resin material; wherein the staple guide portion includes a staple leg support member provided on a side of the clamping portion opposite to a side thereof, on which the sheets of paper are clamped, and configured to support the staple legs of the staple struck by the staple striking portion, and a guide member provided to oppose the staple leg support member; wherein the staple leg support member and the guide member are configured of a metal material.

Also, the present invention is a stapler suitable for a post-processing device having a stapler for binding sheets of paper with a staple and configured to perform a post-processing on sheets of paper with an image formed thereon, wherein the stapler includes a staple striking portion for striking a staple to penetrate sheets of paper; a staple receiving portion attached on the staple striking portion and configured to receive the staple before being struck out from the staple striking portion; a binding portion for binding the sheets of paper by bending staple legs of the staple penetrating the sheets of paper; and a paper clamping portion for clamping the sheets of paper between the staple striking portion and the binding portion; wherein the staple receiving portion includes a clamping portion exposed to the paper clamping portion and configured to clamp the sheets of paper, and a staple guide portion provided on an end portion of the clamping portion at a side thereof, on which the staple striking portion is located, and configured to guide the staple struck by the staple striking portion; wherein the clamping portion is configured of a resin material; wherein the staple guide portion includes a staple leg support member provided on a side of the clamping portion opposite to a side thereof, on which the sheets of paper are clamped, and configured to support the staple legs of the staple struck by the staple striking portion, and a guide member provided to oppose the staple leg support member; wherein the staple leg support member and the guide member are configured of a metal material.

Further, the present invention is a stapler suitable for an image formation system including an image formation device configured to form an image on a sheet of paper and then to output the sheet of paper, and the post-processing device as described above connected to the image formation device and configured to perform a post-processing on the sheets of paper.

According to the present invention, the staple legs of the staple struck out from the staple striking portion are guided by the staple leg support member and the guide member, which both are configured of a metal material. The staple leg support member is provided on a side of the clamping portion, which is configured to clamp sheets of paper at the paper clamping portion, opposite to a surface thereof, which comes in contact with the sheets of paper, and as a result, the staple leg support member is not exposed on the surface of the clamping portion.

According to the present invention, since the staple leg support member is not exposed on the surface of the clamping portion, it is possible to inhibit the sheets of paper to be caught during an operation of inserting the sheets of paper into the paper clamping portion, thereby inhibiting occurrence of a poor insertion of the sheets of paper.

Also, the staple legs of the staple passing by the end portion of the clamping portion configured of a resin material and struck out from the staple receiving portion are guided by the staple leg support member and the guide member, which both are configured of a metal material, on the side of the clamping portion opposite to the surface thereof, which comes in contact with the sheets of paper. Therefore, it is possible to inhibit occurrence of buckling of the staple legs.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one example of a stapler of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the example of the stapler of the present embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing one example of a staple cartridge of the present embodiment to be attached on the stapler.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory views showing one example of an operation of binding sheets of paper with a staple.

FIG. 5 is a configuration view showing an outline of an image formation system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration view showing one example of a post-processing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing one example of an operation of binding sheets of paper with the stapler of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a stapler according to the present invention, a post-processing device having the stapler and an image formation system having the post-processing device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Exemplary Configuration of Stapler of the Present Embodiment>

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one example of a stapler of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the example of the stapler of the present embodiment. Also, FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing one example of a staple cartridge of the present embodiment to be attached on the stapler, in which FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the entire staple cartridge of the present embodiment and FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the staple cartridge of the present embodiment. Further, FIGS. 4A to 4D are an explanatory view showing one example of an operation of binding sheets of paper with a staple.

First, an operation of binding sheets of paper P with a stapler 1 A will be described with reference to FIG. 4 . As shown in FIG. 4A , a staple 10 A has staple legs 12 A formed by bending both ends of a staple crown 11 A toward one direction. That is, the staple 10 A is shaped in a generally U-shape.

As shown in FIG. 4B , the staple 10 A is configured such that as the staple crown 11 A is pressed, the staple legs 12 A penetrate sheets of paper P and then the staple crown 11 A comes in contact with the sheets of paper P. In the staple 10 A of which the staple legs 12 A have penetrated the sheets of paper P, as shown in FIG. 4C , surplus parts of the staple legs 12 A which are to overlap with each other when the staple legs 12 A are bent are cut as cut staples 13 A.

In the staple 10 A of which the staple legs 12 A have been cut into a predetermined length, as shown in FIG. 4D , the staple legs 12 A penetrating the sheets of paper P are bent and thus the sheets of paper P are bound with the staple 10 A.

Next, a configuration of the stapler 1 A of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the figures. The stapler 1 A includes a staple striking unit 2 A for supplying and striking a staple 10 A, and a binding unit 3 A for binding sheets of paper P with the staple 10 A by cutting and bending staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A in cooperation with the staple striking unit 2 A. Also, the stapler 1 A has a paper clamping portion 4 A for clamping a bundle of sheets of paper P between the staple striking unit 2 A and the binding unit 3 A.

In the following description, a side on which the paper clamping portion 4 A is provided is referred to as a front side of the stapler 1 A, and a side opposite to the side on which the paper clamping portion 4 A is provided is referred to as a rear side thereof. Also, a side on which the binding unit 3 A is provided is referred to as an upper side of the stapler 1 A, and a side on which the staple striking unit 2 A is provided is referred to as a lower side of the stapler 1 A.

The staple striking unit 2 A is an example of a staple striking portion and is configured such that a staple cartridge 100 A, which is a staple receiving portion in which staples 10 A are received, is removably attached thereon. The staple striking unit 2 A has a feeding portion 21 A for feeding a staple 10 A from the staple cartridge 100 A and a striking portion 22 A for driving the staple 10 A into sheets of paper P.

In the present example, staples 10 A are provided as a staple sheet, in which a plurality of linear staples 10 A are integrated by adhesion, and a plurality of staple sheets are stacked and received in the staple cartridge 100 A. The striking portion 22 A is configured to strike one staple 10 A of the staple sheet, which is located at the most leading end in a conveying direction thereof, and at the same time to shape a second, and possibly a third, staple 10 A into a generally U-shape as shown in FIG. 4A and the like.

The binding unit 3 A is an example of a binding portion and has a cutting portion 30 A for cutting staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A, which have penetrated sheets of paper P, into a predetermined length, and a clincher portion 31 A for bending the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A, which have penetrated the sheets of paper P and have been cut into the predetermined length, toward the sheets of paper P.

The paper clamping portion 4 A has a shape, which is opened on front, right and left sides of the stapler 1 A, so that a binding location Pi on the sheets of paper P at which the sheets of paper P are bound with the staple 10 A can be positioned between the striking portion 22 A and the clincher portion 31 A.

The paper clamping portion 4 A has a first clamping portion 40 A provided on the staple striking unit 2 A and a second clamping portion 41 A provided on the binding unit 3 A to oppose the first clamping portion 40 A. The stapler 1 A is configured to clamp sheets of paper P between the fast clamping portion 40 A and the second clamping portion 41 A as the binding unit 3 A is moved in a direction approaching the staple striking unit 2 A by rotationally operating the binding unit 3 A about an axis 32 A.

The paper clamping portion 4 A has a paper position restriction portion 42 A for restricting a position of the sheets of paper Pin an insertion direction thereof as shown by an arrow a. The paper position restriction portion 42 A protrudes between the first clamping portion 40 A and the second clamping portion 41 A at an inner side of the paper clamping portion 4 A with respect to the insertion direction of the sheets of paper P as shown by the arrow a. Therefore, the sheets of paper P inserted into the paper clamping portion 4 A are restricted from being inserted more inward than the paper position restriction portion 42 A.

The staple cartridge 100 A is an example of a staple receiving portion and is configured such that a staple guide portion 101 A for guiding a staple 10 A struck by the striking portion 22 A shown in FIG. 1 is provided on a distal end side thereof in a conveying direction of the staple sheet (not shown) as shown in FIG. 3A . The staple cartridge 100 A is configured such that a guide member 102 A covering a front side of the staple guide portion 101 A is attached to a case 103 A to be openable and closable. In the staple cartridge 100 A, the case 103 A is configured of a resin material and the guide member 102 A is configured of a metal material. When the staple cartridge 100 A is attached to the staple striking unit 2 A, the staple guide portion 101 A, the guide member 102 A on the front side of the staple guide portion 101 A and the case 103 A on a rear side thereof are exposed to the paper clamping portion 4 A to oppose the second clamping portion 41 A.

The stapler 1 A is configured such that the first clamping portion 40 A is defined by a part of the case 103 A exposed to the paper clamping portion 4 A. The first clamping portion 40 A is an example of a clamping portion and is configured such that a predetermined-shaped surface thereof extending between the staple guide portion 101 A and the paper position restriction portion 42 A over a width direction of the staple cartridge 100 A is provided by the case 103 A of the staple cartridge 100 A. The staple guide portion 101 A is provided on a front end of the first clamping portion 40 A and is exposed to sheets of paper P.

As shown in FIG. 3B , the staple cartridge 100 A has a staple leg support member 104 A, pusher 105 A and a pressed portion 106 A. The staple leg support member 104 A is configured to support staple legs 12 A of a staple 10 A passing through the staple guide portion 101 A. The pusher 105 A is configured to press the staple 10 A against the guide member 102 A. The pressed portion 106 A is configured to operate a delivering claw (not shown) in conjunction with striking of the staple 10 A.

The staple leg support member 104 A is configured of a metal material and is provided on a lower side of the first clamping portion 40 A, which is configured by the case 103 A configured of a resin material, opposite to a side thereof on which sheets of paper P are clamped. The staple leg support member 104 A is configured to oppose the guide member 102 A and thus to be exposed to a path, through which the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A pass, at a front surface of the case 103 A. The staple leg support member 104 A is provided to be movable in directions narrowing and widening a distance between the staple leg support member 104 A and the guide member 102 A and is urged in a direction approaching the guide member 102 A by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). In a state where the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A are not positioned in the path through which the staple legs 12 A pass, the staple leg support member 104 A is configured such that a part thereof which does not support the staple legs 12 A abuts against the guide member 102 A. At this time, a gap defining the path through which the staple legs 12 A pass is formed between a part of the staple leg support portion 104 A, which supports the staple legs 12 A, and the guide member 102 A. As a result, the part of the staple leg support portion 104 A, which supports the staple legs 12 A does not abut against the guide member 102 A.

The pusher 105 A is configured of a resin material and is configured to oppose the guide member 102 A and thus to be exposed to a path, through which the staple 10 A passes, at the front surface of the case 103 A. The pusher 105 A is provided to be movable in directions narrowing and widening a distance between the pusher 105 A and the guide member 102 A and is urged in a direction approaching the guide member 102 A by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). In a state where the staple 10 A is not positioned in the path through which the staple 10 A passes, the pusher 105 A is configured such that a part of a front surface of the pusher 105 A abuts against the guide member 102 A.

The pressed portion 106 A is provided as a member for operation the delivering claw (not shown) configured to deliver the staple sheet and is configured to oppose the guide member 102 A and thus to be exposed to a path, through which the staple crown 11 A of the staple 10 A passes, at the front surface of the case 103 A. The pressed portion 106 A is urged in a direction approaching the guide member 102 A by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). In a state where the staple crown 11 A of the staple 10 A is not positioned in the path through which the staple crown 11 A passes, the pressed portion 106 A is configured such that a distal end of the pressed portion 106 A abuts against the guide member 102 A.

The stapler 1 A has a drive unit 5 A. The drive unit 5 A opens and closes the staple striking unit 2 A and the binding unit 3 A relative to each other. The drive unit 5 A drives the feeding portion 21 A and the striking portion 22 A of the staple striking unit 2 A and the cutting portion 30 A and the clincher portion 31 A of the binding unit 3 A.

The drive unit 5 A has a cam 51 A driven by a motor 50 A provided in the staple striking unit 2 A, linkages (not shown) for transferring an operation of the cam 51 A to each part, and the like.

According to the stapler 1 A, as an operation of the cam 51 A is transferred to the binding unit 3 A via linkages and the like, the staple striking unit 2 A and the binding unit 3 A are moved relative to each other in separating/contacting directions, in which they separate from and contact with each other. In the present example, the binding unit 3 A is moved relative to the staple striking unit 2 A in the separating/contacting directions by a rotating operation thereof about the axis 32 A.

According to the stapler 1 A, the binding unit 3 A is moved in a direction approaching the staple striking unit 2 A by an operation, in which the cam 51 A rotates in one direction, and thus the paper clamping portion 4 A clamps sheets of paper P at a predetermined timing. Also, according to the stapler 1 A, the binding unit 3 A is moved in a direction separating from the staple striking unit 2 A at a predetermined timing by an operation, in which the cam 51 A further rotates in one direction, and thus clamping of the sheets of paper P by the paper clamping portion 4 A is released.

Further, according to the stapler 1 A, an operation of the cam 51 A is transferred to the feeding portion 21 A and the striking portion 22 A via linkages and the like. Therefore, due to an operation in which the cam 51 A rotates in one direction, staples 10 A received in the staple cartridge 100 A are fed by the feeding portion 21 A, and then one of the fed staples 10 A, which is located at the most leading end thereof, is driven into sheets of paper P, which are clamped by the paper claiming portion 4 A, by the striking portion 22 A. As a result, staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A penetrate the sheets of paper P. Also, a second, and possibly a third, staple 10 A is shaped into a generally U-shape as shown in FIG. 4A and the like.

Further, according to the stapler 1 A, an operation of the cam 51 A is also transferred to the cutting portion 30 A and the clincher portion 31 A via linkages and the like. Therefore, due to an operation in which the cam 51 A rotates in one direction, the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A penetrating the sheets of paper P are cut into a predetermined length by the cutting portion 30 A, and then the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A, which have been cut into predetermined length, are bent by the clincher portion 31 A.

The stapler 1 A has a cut staple receiving portion 6 A for receiving cut staples 13 A cut by the cutting portion 30 A. The cut staple receiving portion 6 A is removably attached on the stapler 1 A on a rear side of the stapler 1 A opposite to a side thereof, on which the paper clamping portion 4 A is provided.

<Exemplary Configuration of Image Formation System and Post-processing Device>

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an image formation system of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing one example of a post-processing device of the present embodiment.

The image formation system 500 A of the present embodiment has an image formation device 501 A and a post-processing device 502 A capable of performing at least one kind of processing. The image formation device 501 A is configured to form an image on a sheet of paper P fed from a paper feeding portion (not shown), which is provided inside or outside the device, and then to output the sheet of paper P. In the present example, the image formation device 501 A is configured to form an image on the sheet of paper P by forming an electrostatic latent image by scanning exposure, developing the electrostatic latent image by a toner, and then transferring and fixing the toner onto the sheet of paper.

The post-processing device 502 A of the present embodiment has the stapler 1 A on a binding portion 503 A thereof. The binding portion 503 A has a stacking portion 504 A in which sheets of paper P outputted from the image formation device 501 A are stacked.

FIG. 6 is a view of the binding portion 503 A of the post-processing device 502 A as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 6 , the stapler 1 A is configured to be moved to a first position Pp 1 where the sheets of paper P stacked in the stacking portion 504 A are bound at one corner, a second position Pp 2 where the sheets of paper P are bound at any location along a side PL thereof, and a third position Pp 3 where the sheets of paper P are bound at another corner, by a moving unit (not shown). In the present example, the first position Pp 1 also serves as a reference position, which is a home position (HP). In the present example, attaching and detaching of the cut staple receiving portion 6 A is performed by moving the stapler 1 A to the first position Pp 1 and then opening a door 505 A.

<Exemplary Operation and Effects of Stapler of the Present Embodiment>

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing one example of an operation of binding sheets of paper with the stapler of the present embodiment, and hereinafter, the operation of the stapler of the present embodiment will be described with reference to each of the figures.

During an operation of binding sheets of paper P with the stapler 1 A, one staple 1 A is shaped, separated and then struck out from a staple sheet (not shown) by the striking portion 22 A of the staple striking unit 2 A as shown in FIG. 1 . In the staple guide portion 101 A, as staple legs 12 A of the one separated staple 1 A are struck in a direction of an arrow u 1 , the staple legs 12 A enter between the pusher 105 A and the guide member 102 A. Then, the pusher 105 A is pushed and retracted by the staple legs 12 A and thus a gap corresponding to a thickness of one staple 10 A is formed between the pusher 105 A and the guide member 102 A.

Therefore, the staple crown 11 A and the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A pass between the pusher 105 A and the guide member 102 A while being pressed against the guide member 102 A by the pusher 105 A urged in a direction of an arrow f 1 . Thus, the staple 10 A is prevented from being struck out from the staple cartridge 100 A while being inclined with respect to a surface of the sheets of paper P clamped by the paper clamping portion 4 A.

Also, in the staple guide portion 101 A, as the staple legs 12 A of the one separated staple 1 A are struck in the direction of the arrow u 1 , the staple legs 12 A enter a gap between the staple leg support member 104 A and the guide member 102 A, which is formed as a path through which the staple legs 12 A pass. Therefore, the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A pass between the staple leg support member 104 A and the guide member 102 A while being supported by the staple leg support portion 104 A and the guide member 102 A.

In the staple guide portion 101 A, the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A pass between the guide member 102 A configured of a metal material and the first clamping portion 40 A configured of a resin material at a part thereof close to the sheets of paper P. But, since the staple leg support member 104 A configured of a metal material is provided below the first clamping portion 40 A, the staple legs 12 A are supported by the staple leg support portion 104 A and the guide member 102 A.

Therefore, during an operation of forcing the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A to penetrate the sheets of paper P clamped by the paper clamping portion 4 A, it is possible to inhibit occurrence of a phenomenon referred to as buckling, in which the staple legs 12 A are bent by a penetration resistance when the staple legs 12 A penetrate the sheets of paper P and a driving force of driving the staple 10 A into the sheets of paper P.

Further, in the staple guide portion 101 A, as the staple crown 11 A of the one separated staple 1 A is struck in the direction of the arrow u 1 , the staple crown 11 A enters between the pressed portion 106 A and the guide member 102 A. Then, the pressed portion 106 A is pushed and retracted by the staple crown 11 A. After the staple crown 11 A passes by the pressed portion 106 A, the member provided on the staple striking unit 2 A for striking the staple 10 A is retracted and then the pressed portion 106 A is moved forward. Due to this operation of the pressed portion 106 A, the delivering claw (not shown) is reciprocatingly moved and thus a staple sheet received in the staple cartridge 100 A is delivered.

In conventional staplers, a staple leg support member is exposed on a clamping portion configured by a case of a staple cartridge. Since the case of the staple cartridge and the staple leg support member are separate components, a groove, a step and the like formed at a boundary between the clamping portion and the staple leg support member are exposed on a surface of the clamping portion. Therefore, there is a possibility that during an operation of inserting sheets of paper into the paper clamping portion, the sheets of paper are caught and thus a poor insertion of the sheets of paper is occurred.

In contrast, according to the staple 1 A of the present embodiment, the stapler leg support member 104 A is provided below the first clamping portion 40 A formed by the case 103 A of the staple cartridge 100 A, thereby preventing the staple leg support member 104 A from being exposed on the surface of the first clamping portion 40 A. Therefore, no groove and the like, which would otherwise cause the sheets of paper P to be caught therein, are formed on the first clamping portion 40 A. As a result, during an operation of inserting the sheets of paper P into the paper clamping portion 4 A, the sheets of paper P is prevented from being caught on the way, thereby inhibiting occurrence of a poor insertion of the sheets of paper P.

Herein, the case 103 A of the staple cartridge 100 A has a thickness of about 1 mm to 3 mm at a part thereof forming the first clamping portion 40 A. On the other hand, a length of the staple legs 12 A of the staple 10 A is about 10 mm to 15 mm, and thus the thickness of the first clamping portion 40 A is sufficiently thin relative to the length of the staple legs 12 A. Therefore, even if the first clamping portion 40 A which does not support the staple legs 12 A is present between the sheets of paper P, which are clamped by the first clamping portion 40 A, and the staple leg support member 104 A, occurrence of buckling of the staple legs 12 A can be sufficiently inhibited.

<Variants of Stapler of the Present Embodiment>

In the stapler 1 A of the present embodiment, the staple leg support member 104 A is configured to be movable and to be urged toward the guide member 102 A. However, the staple leg support member 104 A may be configured to be stationary in a state where a gap corresponding to a thickness of one staple 10 A and allowing one staple 10 A to pass therethrough is formed between the staple leg support member 104 A and the guide member 102 A.

1 A Stapler 10 A Staple 12 A Staple leg 2 A Staple striking unit 21 A Feeding portion 22 A Striking portion 3 A Binding unit 30 A Cutting portion 31 A Clincher portion 32 A Shaft 4 A Paper clamping portion 40 A First clamping portion 41 A Second clamping portion 42 A Paper position restriction portion 5 A Drive unit 6 A Cut staple receiving portion 100 A Staple cartridge 101 A Staple guide portion 102 A Guide member 103 A Case 104 A Staple leg support member 105 A Pusher 106 A Pressed member