JP7615858B2 - Stapler - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stapler that staples paper.

A stapler that staples paper by penetrating the paper with the foot of a U-shaped staple, called a staple, and bending it on the back side of the paper, is made up of a magazine that stores staples, a handle section equipped with a driver that shoots the staples stored in the magazine toward the paper, and a clincher section equipped with a clincher that bends the foot of the staple that is shot out of the magazine and penetrates the paper, all of which are supported rotatably at their rear ends.

In a stapler called a flat clinch, in which the staple foot is bent so that it fits closely to the back surface of the paper after the staple foot penetrates the paper, the clincher section has a paper placement member for supporting the paper in an upper position relative to the clincher until the staple foot penetrates the paper and the staple crown comes into contact with the paper, and a slider for holding the paper placement member in an upper position, and these parts are assembled to the clincher arm (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In a stapler known as a flat clinch, a link that moves the slider in a linear motion is provided on the handle. The link extends from the handle to the clincher between the position where the clincher is provided and the rear end where the handle and clincher are connected, and transmits the movement of the handle to the slider, thereby operating the slider.

A configuration has also been proposed in which a regulating piece (corresponding to a slider) that moves in a linear motion and a driving piece (corresponding to a link) that is activated when pressed by an upper operation frame (corresponding to a handle portion) are connected via a shaft (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

In such conventional staplers, a transmission member such as a link extends from the handle to the clincher between the position where the clincher is provided and the rear end where the handle and clincher are connected. Because of this, paper cannot be inserted beyond the link toward the rear end, making it unsuitable for use in staplers with a form of saddle stitching that staples near the center of paper.

Therefore, a stapler has been proposed that can be used for saddle stitching by rotating on an axis as a fulcrum and pushing an L-shaped main body, which functions as a slider, through the paper (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2003-311647 A Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-23270 Patent No. 5065411

In Patent Document 3, the L-shaped main body is integrally formed with a part that is pressed by the paper and a part that functions as a slider that switches the operation of the upper bottom member on and off, and rotates around an axis. However, the L-shaped main body is prone to wear on the axis and the part that receives the axis due to repeated rotation, and when the axis and the part that receives the axis wear out, the amount of movement of the part that functions as a slider deviates from the specified range, which can cause a malfunction in which the timing at which the upper bottom member operates is shifted. For this reason, if the L-shaped main body is made of resin, the durability of the stapler decreases, and if it is made of metal, the stapler becomes expensive.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to provide a stapler with improved durability.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a needle launching unit that launches needles, a needle foot bending unit that bends the foot of the needle launched by the needle launching unit, and a connecting unit that connects the needle launching unit and the needle foot bending unit so that they can move relatively toward and away from each other, and the needle foot bending unit includes a clincher having a guide surface that bends the needle foot, a clamping unit that clamps paper between the needle launching unit and the clincher, and an opening that exposes the guide surface to the clamping unit. The clincher guide is supported so as to be movable in a first direction in which the needle launching unit approaches the needle foot bending unit, a slider is supported so as to be movable along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and is movable between a first position that restricts the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction and a second position that releases the restriction on the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction, and a slider that is supported so as to be movable along the first direction. and a clincher switch that is movably supported by the clincher and moves the slider to a second position by moving in a first direction. The stapler has a pressing portion that presses the clincher switch in the first direction. The clincher switch is located on the opposite side of the connecting portion across the clincher, protrudes toward the stapler, and has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing portion through the paper, and an acting portion that presses the slider in the second direction by moving in the first direction. The slider has an acted portion that is pressed by the acting portion and an engaging portion that moves along the second direction. The clincher guide has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion, and a retreat portion that is provided adjacent to the engaged portion along the second direction and into which the engaging portion enters. When the engaging portion enters the retreat portion, the stapler moves in the opposite direction to the stapler.

In the present invention, when a sheet of paper is placed in the clamping section and the needle launching section and the needle foot bending section move in a direction that brings them closer together, the pressing section of the needle launching section comes into contact with the sheet of paper, and the pressed section of the clincher switch is pressed in the first direction via the sheet of paper.

When the clincher switch moves in the first direction, the acting portion presses the acted portion of the slider, and the slider is pushed in the second direction. When the slider moves in the second direction, the locking portion of the slider moves from a position facing the locked portion of the clincher guide to a position facing the retracted portion, and the clincher guide becomes movable in the first direction.

As a result, the clamping portion of the clincher guide is pressed through the paper, and the clincher guide moves in the first direction. As the clincher guide moves in the first direction, the staple legs of the staple that have penetrated the paper are pressed against the guide surface of the clincher, and the pair of staple legs are bent inward toward each other to staple the paper.

According to the present invention, the clincher switch pressed by the paper and the slider that activates the clincher guide are constructed as separate parts, allowing them to move in a linear motion. Compared to a configuration in which they move in a rotational motion, wear on each part during continuous use is suppressed, improving the durability of the stapler.

In addition, according to the present invention, the paper can be stapled in a saddle stitch manner, with the staple piercing the paper near the center between one end and the other, and the paper can be stapled by folding the paper in such a way that the staple pierces the paper and fits closely to the back surface of the paper.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall cross-sectional side view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an overall side view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an overall top view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an overall bottom view showing an example of a stapler according to the present embodiment. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a staple used in the stapler of the present embodiment. FIG. 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG.

The following describes an embodiment of the stapler of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

<Example of the configuration of the stapler according to the present embodiment>
Fig. 1A is a side cross-sectional view of a main part of an example of a stapler according to the present embodiment, Fig. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of an entire example of the stapler according to the present embodiment, Fig. 1C is a side view of an entire example of the stapler according to the present embodiment, Fig. 1D is a top view of an entire example of the stapler according to the present embodiment, Fig. 1E is a bottom view of an entire example of the stapler according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 1F is a perspective view of an entire example of the stapler according to the present embodiment. Furthermore, Fig. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of a needle used in the stapler according to the present embodiment.

The stapler 1 includes a needle firing section 2 that fires out needles 10, called staples, as shown in FIG. 2, a needle foot bending section 3 that bends a pair of needle feet 11 of the needles 10 fired out by the needle firing section 2, and a connecting section 4 that connects the needle firing section 2 and the needle foot bending section 3 so that they can move toward and away from each other.

In the stapler 1, the direction in which the staple firing section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 move closer to each other is called the first direction, and the direction that intersects with the first direction is called the second direction.

The needle firing unit 2 includes a magazine 20 that stores the needles 10, a driver 21 that fires the needles 10 stored in the magazine 20, and a handle unit 22 that operates the driver 21. The needle firing unit 2 is rotatably connected to the magazine 20 and the handle unit 22 with the shaft 23 as a fulcrum.

The magazine 20 is configured to be able to store a needle assembly (not shown) to which a predetermined number of needles 10 are connected, and is provided with a needle ejection port 20a through which the needles 10 separated from the needle assembly pass at the front end opposite the side where the shaft 23 is provided. The magazine 20 also has a spring 20c that presses the needle assembly against the magazine front wall 20b via a pusher 20d.

The driver 21 is attached to a handle portion 22, which rotates about an axis 23 to move along the magazine front wall 20b, separating one needle 10 from the needle connector and ejecting it from the needle ejection port 20a.

The staple foot bending unit 3 includes a clincher 31 having a guide surface 31a for bending the staple foot 11. The staple foot bending unit 3 also includes a clamping portion 32a for clamping paper between the magazine 20 of the staple firing unit 2 and a clincher guide 32 having an opening 32b for exposing the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 to the clamping portion 32a. The staple foot bending unit 3 also includes a slider 33 that can move between a first position that restricts the movement of the clincher guide 32 in the first direction and a second position that releases the restriction on the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction, and a clincher switch 34 that moves the slider 33 to the second position.

The clincher 31 is attached to the base 30 of the needle foot bending unit 3 with a guide surface 31a having a groove shaped to guide the pair of needle feet 11 of the needle 10 in a direction to bend them inward, facing upward, which is the direction facing the needle firing unit 2.

The clincher guide 32 has a clamping section 32a facing the magazine 20 of the needle firing section 2, and an opening 32b is provided in the clamping section 32a facing the needle firing opening 20a of the magazine 20.

The clincher guide 32 is supported on the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3 so that it can move in a rotational or linear motion in the first direction, the direction of arrow A1, and in the direction of arrow A2 opposite to arrow A1.

The slider 33 is an example of a clincher guide operating member, and is supported on the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3 so that it can move linearly in the direction of arrow B1, which is a second direction intersecting the first direction, and in the direction of arrow B2, which is opposite to arrow B1.

The clincher switch 34 is provided on the opposite side of the clincher 31 from the connecting section 4, and is supported so as to be movable in a linear motion in the direction of arrow A1 (first direction) and the direction of arrow A2 relative to the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3.

The clincher switch 34 protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 in the direction of the staple firing portion 2 and includes a pressed portion 34a that is pressed through the paper, and an action portion 34b that presses the slider 33 in the direction of the arrow B1 (second direction) when the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1. The action portion 34b is configured as a slope inclined in the direction away from the slider 33 with the upper side indicated by the arrow A2 being closer to the slider 33 and the lower side indicated by the arrow A1 being inclined with respect to the movement direction of the clincher switch 34 indicated by the arrows A1 and A2.

The slider 33 has an acted upon portion 33a that is pressed by the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34, and an engaging portion 33b that moves in the directions of the arrows B1 and B2 when the slider 33 moves in the directions of the arrows B1 and B2.

The slider 33 is provided at one end along the movement direction indicated by the arrows B1 and B2 with the actuated portion 33a facing the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34. The slider 33 is also provided on the surface facing the clincher guide 32 with a locking portion 33b shaped so that the clincher protrudes in the direction of the arrow A2 toward the guide 32.

The clincher guide 32 has an engaged portion 32c that engages with the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33, and a retreat portion 32d into which the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33 fits.

The clincher guide 32 has an engaged portion 32c that protrudes in the direction of arrow A1 toward the slider 33 on the surface facing the slider 33. In addition, the clincher guide 32 has a recessed portion 32d that is recessed in the direction of arrow A2, which is opposite to the direction of arrow A1 in which the engaged portion 32c protrudes, on the surface facing the slider 33, and is provided adjacent to the engaged portion 32c along the direction of arrow B1.

The clincher guide 32 is biased by a spring 32e in the direction of arrow A2, in which the clamping portion 32a approaches the needle firing portion 2. The slider 33 is biased by a spring 33c in the direction of arrow B2, in which the acted portion 33a approaches the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34. The clincher switch 34 is biased by a spring 34c in the direction of arrow A2, in which the pressed portion 34a protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 in the direction of the needle firing portion 2.

The clincher guide 32 is biased by a spring 32e in the direction of arrow A2 in which the clamping portion 32a approaches the needle firing portion 2, and the state in which the locked portion 32c is locked to the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 is called the standby position of the clincher guide 32.

The slider 33 is biased by a spring 33c in the direction of arrow B2, in which the acted portion 33a approaches the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34, and the engaging portion 33b moves to a position facing the engaged portion 32c of the clincher guide 32. The engaging portion 33b engages with the engaged portion 32c, and the first position restricting the movement of the clincher guide 32 in the first direction is called the standby position of the slider 33.

The clincher switch 34 is biased by a spring 34c in the direction of arrow A2, in which the pressed portion 34a protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 toward the needle firing portion 2, and the acting portion 34b is not pressing the acted portion 33a of the slider 33, in this example, the state in which the acting portion 34b is separated from the acted portion 33a, is referred to as the standby position of the clincher switch 34.

The needle firing unit 2 has a pressing part 24 that activates the clincher switch 34. The pressing part 24 protrudes in the direction of the needle foot bending part 3 and is provided on the handle part 22 opposite the pressed part 34a of the clincher switch 34.

In the stapler 1, the staple launching section 2 and the connecting section 4 are connected by a connecting member 25, and the staple foot bending section 3 and the connecting section 4 are connected by a connecting member 35. In this example, the stapler 1 moves the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 in a direction relatively closer to each other and in a direction relatively farther away as the connecting member 25 flexes. In order to staple the papers in a so-called saddle stitch form, the distance L between the clincher 31, which is the binding position of the papers, and the connecting section 4 is set so that the clincher 31 faces the center between one end and the other end of the papers placed between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3. In addition, the stapler 1 does not have a member between the clincher 31 and the connecting section 4 that passes between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 to transmit the movement.

The stapler 1 includes an insertion position regulating section 5 that regulates the insertion position of the paper. The insertion position regulating section 5 is supported so as to be movable along a connecting member 35 in a direction approaching and moving away from the position of the clincher 31 (stapling position) shown in Figures 1A and 1B. By inserting the paper to a position where it abuts against the insertion position regulating section 5, it is possible to regulate the distance from the edge of the paper to the stapling position.

The insertion position regulating part 5 is equipped with a dial 50 that fixes its position relative to the connecting member 35. The dial 50 is provided coaxially with a screw (not shown) and connects the left and right sides of the insertion position regulating part 5 on the underside of the connecting member 35. An action member 51 that acts on one side and the other side of the connecting member 35 is moved by fastening the screw, and the connecting member 35 is sandwiched from both the left and right sides of the insertion position regulating part 5. As a result, the insertion position regulating part 5 can be fixed or released from the connecting member 35 by operating one dial 50.

The stapler 1 is provided with an alignment mark 6a in the staple firing section 2, which indicates the target stapling position, and an alignment mark 6b in the staple foot bending section 3. The alignment mark 6a is provided on the upper surface of the handle section 22, and is configured by providing a three-dimensional marking with projections and recesses, a two-dimensional marking by printing, etc., in accordance with the position of the clincher 31 shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The alignment marks 6b are provided on the upper surface of the base 30 on both the left and right sides of the clincher guide 32, and are configured by providing a three-dimensional marking with projections and recesses, a two-dimensional marking by printing, etc., in accordance with the position of the clincher 31 shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

<Example of operation of the stapler according to the present embodiment>
3A and 3B are side cross-sectional views of the essential parts showing an example of the operation of the stapler of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of the essential parts showing an example of the operation of the stapler of the present embodiment.

When the stapler 1 has paper P placed on the clamping section 32a and the handle section 22 pushed in the direction of the arrow A1 to move the staple firing section 2 toward the staple foot bending section 3, the magazine 20 comes into contact with the paper P. When the handle section 22 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow A1 while the magazine 20 is in contact with the paper P, the handle section 22 rotates relative to the magazine 20 on the axis 23 as a fulcrum, and the staples 10 stored in the magazine 20 are fired from the staple firing opening 20a by the driver 21. When the magazine 20 is in contact with the paper P and the staples 10 are fired from the staple firing opening 20a, the staple feet 11 penetrate the paper P. The staple feet 11 that penetrate the paper P then enter the opening 32b of the clincher guide 32.

When the handle portion 22 of the stapler 1 is pressed further in the direction of the arrow A1 while the magazine 20 is in contact with the paper P, the pressing portion 24 comes into contact with the paper P and presses the pressed portion 34a of the clincher switch 34 in the direction of the arrow A1 via the paper P.

When the clincher switch 34 is pressed by the pressing portion 24 through the paper P, it moves in the direction of the arrow A1 while compressing the spring 34c. When the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1, the acting portion 34b comes into contact with the acted portion 33a of the slider 33. Since the acting portion 34b is configured as a slope inclined in a predetermined direction, when the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1 with the acting portion 34b in contact with the acted portion 33a of the slider 33, a force is generated that presses the acted portion 33a in the direction of the arrow B1, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the slider 33 moves in the direction of the arrow B1 while compressing the spring 33c.

When the slider 33 moves in the direction of arrow B1 from the standby position (first position) to the second position, the locking portion 33b moves from a position facing the locked portion 32c of the clincher guide 32 to a position facing the retreating portion 32d. When the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 moves to a position facing the retreating portion 32d of the clincher guide 32, the clincher guide 32 becomes movable in the direction of arrow A1.

As a result, when the handle portion 22 of the stapler 1 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow A1 while the magazine 20 is in contact with the paper P, as shown in FIG. 3B, the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 is pushed through the paper P, and the spring 32e is compressed as the clincher guide 32 moves in the direction of the arrow A1.

When the clincher guide 32 moves in the direction of arrow A1, as shown in FIG. 4A, the staple feet 11 of the staples 10 that have pierced the paper P are pressed against the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31, and the shape of the guide surface 31a applies a force that bends the pair of staple feet 11 toward each other inward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the staple feet 11 that have pierced the paper P are bent so as to be in close contact with the back surface of the paper P, and the paper P is stapled.

In the stapler 1, the clincher switch 34 that is pressed by the paper and the slider 33 that activates the clincher guide 32 are separate parts, allowing them to move in a linear motion. This reduces wear on each part during continuous use and improves durability, compared to a configuration in which the part corresponding to the clincher switch and the part corresponding to the slider are integrally formed and this part moves in a rotational motion.

In addition, by configuring the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34 as a slope and configuring the acted portion 33a of the slider 33 to move along the slope, the contact surface can be made wider, reducing wear on the parts during continuous use and improving durability. Furthermore, since the contact pressure can be reduced, the pressing portion 24 of the handle portion 22, the clincher switch 34, the slider 33 and the clincher guide 32 can be made of plastic without compromising durability, resulting in an inexpensive and lightweight structure. The acted portion 33a of the slider 33 may also be configured as a slope.

When the slider 33 moves to a standby position where the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 locks with the locked portion 32c of the clincher guide 32, and the clincher switch 34 moves to a standby position where the pressed portion 34a of the clincher switch 34 protrudes toward the staple firing portion 2 from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34 moves away from the acted portion 33a of the slider 33. This makes it possible to prevent the slider 33 from being inadvertently operated in the early stage when the clincher switch 34 is pressed through the paper P, and reduces the possibility of a malfunction that causes the timing of the clincher guide 32 to be shifted.

Furthermore, there is no member between the clincher 31 and the connecting section 4 that passes between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 to transmit the movement. This allows the distance L between the clincher 31, which is the binding position of the paper, and the connecting section 4 to be set so that the clincher 31 faces the center between one end and the other end of the paper placed between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3. Therefore, in a so-called saddle stitch form, the staple foot 11 that penetrates the paper P is folded so as to be in close contact with the back surface of the paper P, and the paper P can be bound. The distance L can be set to a distance that can bind the center of, for example, 257 mm, which is the vertical length of B5 size paper, to 594 mm, which is the vertical length of A2 size paper, depending on the paper size.

The stapler 1 described above has a configuration in which the clincher 31 is fixed at a predetermined position, but in the standby position, it may be configured to be biased by a spring in the direction of arrow A2, so that the guide surface 31a is exposed on approximately the same plane as the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, and is pushed by the staple foot 11 of the staple 10 to move in the direction of arrow A1.

1: stapler, 2: staple firing section, 20: magazine, 20a: staple firing port, 20b: magazine front wall, 20c: spring, 21: driver, 22: handle section, 23: shaft, 24: pressing section, 3: staple foot bending section, 30: base, 31: clincher, 31a: guide surface, 32: clincher guide, 32a: clamping section, 32b: opening, 32c: latched section, 32d: retracted section, 32e: spring, 33: slider (clincher guide operating member), 33a: acted section, 33b: latching section, 33c: spring, 34: clincher switch, 34a: pressed section, 34b: acting section, 34c: spring, 4: connecting section, 10: needle, 11: staple foot

Claims (3)

A needle firing unit that fires needles;
a needle foot bending unit that bends the needle foot of the needle driven out by the needle driving unit;
a connecting portion that connects the needle driving portion and the needle foot bending portion so as to be movable in a direction in which the needle drives the needle and the needle foot bending portion approach each other and move away from each other;
The needle foot bending portion is
A clincher having a guide surface for bending the needle foot;
a clamping section that clamps the paper between the staple driving section and the clincher guide, the clincher guide including an opening that exposes the guide surface to the clamping section, and the clincher guide being supported so as to be movable in a first direction in which the staple driving section approaches the staple foot bending section;
a slider supported movably along a second direction intersecting the first direction and movable between a first position that restricts the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction and a second position that releases the restriction on the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction;
a clincher switch that is supported movably along the first direction and moves the slider to the second position by moving in the first direction;
the staple driving unit has a pressing unit that presses the clincher switch in the first direction,
The clincher switch is located on the opposite side of the clincher from the connecting portion, protrudes toward the staple driving portion, and has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing portion through the paper, and an acting portion that presses the slider in the second direction by moving in the first direction,
the slider has an acted portion that is pressed by the acting portion and a locking portion that moves along the second direction,
The clincher guide has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion, and a retracted portion that is provided adjacent to the engaged portion along the second direction and into which the engaging portion enters, and when the engaging portion enters the retracted portion, the stapler moves in the opposite direction to the staple firing portion along the first direction. The stapler according to claim 1 , wherein one of the acting portion of the clincher switch and the acted portion of the slider is configured with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the first direction. The stapler of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the slider moves to a first position, the engaging portion of the slider is in a position where it engages with the engaged portion of the clincher guide, and when the clincher switch is in a standby position where the pressed portion of the clincher switch protrudes from the clamping portion of the clincher guide toward the staple firing portion, the acting portion of the clincher switch moves away from the acted portion of the slider.

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