stapler

Abstract

Provided is a stapler that prevents a staple cartridge from inadvertently popping out of a main body and causing staples to scatter around. An electric stapler (10) includes: a main body (12); a staple cartridge (40) configured to have a left side wall, a right side wall, and a top end wall (40c) and to be movable between a first position in which the staple cartridge is inserted into the main body (12) and a second position in which the staple cartridge protrudes from the main body (12), and in which, when in the second position, a staple placed in the staple cartridge can be taken out from an opening formed above the left side wall, the right side wall, and the top end wall; a driver (60) that drives the staple into a paper stack; a bender (30) that bends a leg of the staple that has penetrated the paper stack by the driving action of the driver (60); and a cover (20) that is installed on the main body (12) in such a manner that the cover is displaceable between a third position in which the cover is located on a movement path of the staple cartridge (40) and a fourth position in which the cover is entirely separated from the movement path, and the cover (20) is configured to cover the left side wall, the right side wall, the top end wall (40c), and the opening of the staple cartridge (40) that protrudes from the main body (12) when the cover (20) is in the third position and the staple cartridge (40) is in the second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a stapler that uses staples to bind stacks of paper. Background Technology

[0002] Traditionally, staplers have been used to bind stacks of paper by inserting staples into them. In particular, electric staplers, which can automatically insert staples into stacks of paper, are widely used for binding large quantities of paper because they require no force and offer excellent workability. The electric stapler described in Reference 1 has a staple cartridge for storing staples. The staple cartridge has a structure surrounded by side walls and a top wall and open at the top. When loading staples into the staple cartridge, the opening of the staple cartridge is exposed from the main body (pops forward), and staples are loaded through the opening.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-241171 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] However, there are problems such as: if the staples are tilted, turned upside down, or fall off when the staple cartridge is exposed from the main body, the staples will fly out from the opening of the staple cartridge.

[0008] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a stapler that makes it difficult for staples to be ejected from the staple magazine and scattered around even when the staple magazine is exposed from the main body, for example, when the staples are tilted.

[0009] Technical solutions for solving the problem

[0010] According to this disclosure, a stapler is provided, comprising: a main body; a staple cartridge configured to have a pair of side walls and a top wall and movable between a first position inserted into the main body and a second position protruding from the main body, wherein in the second position, staples can be removed and inserted through an opening formed above the pair of side walls and the top wall; a drive configured to be located above the staple cartridge when the staple cartridge is in the first position and movable toward the staples in the staple cartridge, thereby staples the staples into a stack of paper disposed below the staple cartridge by moving toward the staples; and a bending device, wherein the staples are... When the staple cartridge is in the first position, it is located below the staple cartridge and opposite the driver, receiving and bending the legs of the staples that penetrate the stack of paper by the insertion action of the driver; and a cover is mounted on the body in a manner that allows it to be displaced between a third position in which at least a portion is located on the movement path of the staple cartridge and a fourth position in which the portion is disengaged from the movement path, the cover being configured to cover the pair of sidewalls, the top wall and the opening of the staple cartridge protruding from the body when the cover is in the third position and the staple cartridge is in the second position.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to this disclosure, even when the staple cartridge is in the second position protruding from the main body, by setting the cover in the third position, the area around the staple cartridge protruding from the main body (the pair of side walls, the top wall, and the opening) is covered by the cover. Therefore, even when the staple cartridge is protruding (exposed) from the main body, the staples inside the staple cartridge are unlikely to scatter around, even if the stapler is tilted. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the electric stapler with the lid closed according to this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2A This is a perspective view of the electric stapler with the lid open according to this embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2B This is a perspective view of an electric stapler with the staple cartridge protruding from the main body in the open state of this embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3A This is a three-dimensional view of the staple cartridge in this embodiment.

[0017] Figure 3B This is a three-dimensional view of the staple cartridge in this embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the electric stapler according to this embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5A This is a side sectional view of the electric stapler of this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5B This is a side sectional view of the electric stapler of this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a side sectional view of the electric stapler of this embodiment.

[0022] Figure 7A This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the locking release mechanism in this embodiment.

[0023] Figure 7B This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the locking release mechanism in this embodiment.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a top view of the binding position adjustment section in this embodiment.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a side view of the electric stapler according to this embodiment.

[0026] Figure 10A This diagram illustrates the operation of the cover opening / closing detection unit in this embodiment.

[0027] Figure 10B This diagram illustrates the operation of the cover opening / closing detection unit in this embodiment.

[0028] Figure 11 This diagram shows the state of the electric stapler when the staple cartridge of this embodiment is not locked.

[0029] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating the functional structure of the electric stapler according to this embodiment.

[0030] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the electric stapler of this embodiment when performing the binding process.

[0031] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of an electric stapler with the lid open, as shown in the modified example.

[0032] Figure 15 This is a side sectional view of a modified electric stapler. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the electric stapler 10 in the closed state according to this embodiment. Figure 2A and Figure 2BThis is a 3D view of the electric stapler 10 with its lid 20 open. Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a perspective view of the staple cartridge 40 in this embodiment. Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the electric stapler 10. Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 6 This is a side sectional view of the electric stapler 10. Figure 7A and Figure 7B This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the locking release mechanism 70 in this embodiment. Figure 8 This is a top view of the binding position adjustment unit 100 in this embodiment. Figure 9 This is a side view of the drive unit of the electric stapler 10 according to this embodiment. Figure 10A and Figure 10B This diagram illustrates the operation of the cover opening / closing detection unit 90 in this embodiment. Figure 11 This diagram shows the state of the electric stapler when the staple cartridge of this embodiment is not locked.

[0035] In addition, Figure 1 In the electric stapler 10 of this embodiment shown, the side with the insertion port 12c for inserting the paper stack into the binding position is designated as the front side of the electric stapler 10, and the opposite side is designated as the rear side of the electric stapler 10. Furthermore, the side with the release button 72 for pulling the staple cartridge 40 forward from the main body 12 is designated as the upper side of the electric stapler 10, and the opposite side is designated as the lower side of the electric stapler 10.

[0036] <Example of the configuration of electric stapler 10>

[0037] like Figure 1 or Figure 2A As shown, the electric stapler 10 of this embodiment includes a main body 12 and a cover 20 that covers a portion of the main body 12.

[0038] like Figure 2A As shown, the main body 12 is composed of a cuboid box including a front surface 12w, an upper surface 12v, a left side surface 12x, and a right side surface (not shown). Below the front surface 12w of the main body 12, there is an insertion port 12c for inserting a stack of paper into the binding position. The lower part (lower surface) of the insertion port 12c bulges forward more than the insertion port 12c to facilitate the placement (setting) of the stack of paper when it is inserted into the insertion port 12c.

[0039] A pull-out outlet 12d is formed on the front surface 12w of the main body 12 above the insertion port 12c. Inside the outlet 12d, there is a staple cartridge 40 for storing staples and a driver 60 for dispensing the staples stored in the staple cartridge 40. In addition, below the staple cartridge 40, across the insertion port 12c, there is a bender 30 that receives the legs of staples that have passed through the stack of paper provided in the insertion port 12c by the insertion action of the driver 60 and bends the legs.

[0040] A release button 72 for pulling the staple cartridge 40 out of the body 12 (pull-outlet 12d) is provided on the upper surface 12v of the main body 12. Figure 2B As shown, the staple cartridge 40 protrudes from the main body 12 by pressing the release button 72. A staple position adjustment section 100 for adjusting the staple position in the front-to-back direction is provided below the left side 12x of the main body 12. In this embodiment, the staple position adjustment sections 100 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the main body 12. A storage section 12f is provided on the upper surface 12v of the main body 12, capable of storing connecting staples formed by multiple staples or a bag containing multiple connecting staples.

[0041] Furthermore, in this specification, there are the following situations: [The following text appears to be a list of characters and symbols and cannot be translated: ] Figure 2A The staple cartridge 40 is set to the first position when it is located on the main body 12 and can be driven by the driver 60 to insert the staples S. Figure 2B The position of the staple cartridge 40 protruding from the main body 12 (pull-outlet 12d) will be described as the second position. Furthermore, for the second position, any position where the staple cartridge 40 protrudes from the main body 12 is acceptable, regardless of the amount of protrusion. That is, it means not only as shown... Figure 2B The staple cartridge 40 shown is mostly protruding, and also includes slightly protruding cases.

[0042] The cover 20 is rotatably mounted to the body 12 via a hinge 21 located at the rear end and a mounting portion 13 located behind the upper surface 12v of the body 12. Figure 2A As shown, by rotating the cover 20 upwards, the front surface 12w and the upper surface 12v of the main body 12 are exposed; by closing the cover 20, the front surface 12w and the upper surface 12v of the main body 12 are covered by the cover 20 (see reference). Figure 1 Furthermore, after the cover 20 is closed, by sliding the cover 20 backward, the protrusions 26a and 26b provided on the cover 20 engage with the mounting holes 12i provided on the main body 12 (only one mounting hole is shown in the figure), and the cover 20 is locked to the main body 12.

[0043] like Figure 3AAs shown, the staple cartridge 40 has a bottom wall 40d, a pair of side walls 40a and 40b (left side wall 40a and right side wall 40b) erected and facing each other from the bottom wall 40d, and a top wall 40c connecting the top edges of the left side wall 40a and right side wall 40b to each other. The staple cartridge 40 is an elongated box with an opening at the top (having an opening 40e). At the lower part of the top of the staple cartridge 40, a staple outlet 41 is formed across the boundary edge between the top wall 40c and the bottom wall 40d. When the staples S inside the staple cartridge 40 are driven in by the driver 60, they are driven out downward toward the stack of paper through the staple outlet 41.

[0044] A pair of first grooves 41a and second grooves 41b are formed on the left side wall 40a and right side wall 40b of the staple cartridge 40, extending from the base end towards the top end. A master pin 50, located on the main body 12, engages with the first grooves 41a and second grooves 41b. The staple cartridge 40 moves in the front-back direction relative to the master pin 50 via the first grooves 41a and second grooves 41b. Figure 3B As shown, when the main pin 50 is located at the top of the first groove 41a and the second groove 41b, the staple cartridge 40 is in the first position. Furthermore, the staple cartridge 40 rotates vertically about the main pin 50. Inside the staple cartridge 40, there is a push rod 42 for pressing the staples towards the staple outlet 41. Additionally, when the staple cartridge 40 is in the first position, the opening 40e is covered by the staple cartridge cover 43.

[0045] like Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, a staple cartridge retainer 46 is provided on the outside of the staple cartridge 40 to support the staple cartridge 40 in a pluggable manner. A kingpin 50 is inserted into approximately the middle part of the staple cartridge retainer 46 in the front-rear direction, and the staple cartridge retainer 46 rotates together with the staple cartridge 40 around the kingpin 50 as a fulcrum. Inside the staple cartridge 40, a compression spring 44 is provided to apply force to the push rod 42 towards the staple outlet 41.

[0046] A compression spring 48 is provided between the rear end of the staple cartridge retainer 46 and the rear end of the staple cartridge 40 to apply force to the staple cartridge 40 in the forward direction. When the staple cartridge 40 is released from locking, the staple cartridge 40 is pushed forward, causing the staple cartridge 40 to protrude forward from the main body 12.

[0047] like Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 5BAs shown, the actuator 60 is positioned above the staple cartridge 40 when the staple cartridge 40 is in the first position. It is configured to move toward the staples within the staple cartridge 40, thus inserting the staples into the paper stack located below the staple cartridge 40. The actuator 60 is mounted on the top end of an actuator arm 62 extending along the front-rear direction of the staple cartridge 40, and is composed of a flat plate extending downward from the top end of the actuator arm 62. The actuator 60 is mounted on the actuator arm 62 in a manner that intersects (e.g., orthogonally) with the surface of the paper stack when the staples are inserted. When the staples are inserted, the top end of the actuator 60 presses against the crown of the staple, thus disengaging the staple. The actuator 60 is configured to move in a direction approaching and away from the staple cartridge 40 as the actuator arm 62 rotates.

[0048] like Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, a handle arm 64, formed of a U-shaped flat plate, is provided above the actuator arm 62. The handle arm 64 overlaps the actuator arm 62 and is positioned at a certain distance from it. The rear end of the handle arm 64 is rotatably supported on the kingpin 50.

[0049] A compression spring 66 is provided on the front end side and above the handle arm 64 to absorb changes in the amount of movement of the drive arm 62 caused by the thickness of the paper stack.

[0050] A helical spring 61 is disposed between the front end of the actuator arm 62 (actuator 60) and the front end of the staple cartridge 40. The helical spring 61 is configured to have a stronger elastic force than the helical spring 38, and applies an upward force to the actuator 60 and the actuator arm 62 relative to the staple cartridge 40 so that the actuator 60 can standby above the staple outlet 41 of the staple cartridge 40.

[0051] like Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, when the staple cartridge 40 is in the first position, the bender 30 is located below the staple cartridge 40 and opposite the driver 60, receiving the legs of the staples that have penetrated the stack of paper by the insertion action of the driver 60 and bending those legs. A groove is formed on the upper surface of the bender 30, functioning as a guide to bend the two legs of the staple inwards along the back of the stack of paper. The bender 30 is housed in an opening 32a formed at the front end of the bender guide 32 in a manner that allows it to swing in the vertical direction.

[0052] A bender arm 34 is provided below the staple cartridge 40 and outside the bender guide 32. The rear end of the bender arm 34 is supported by a kingpin 50 and is rotatable.

[0053] A helical spring 38 is disposed between the rear end of the bending arm 34 and the rear end of the staple cartridge 40. The helical spring 38 exerts a force on the staple cartridge 40 upward relative to the bending arm 34. As a result, a predetermined space, namely the insertion port 12c, is formed between the bending arm 30 and the staple outlet 41 of the staple cartridge 40 for inserting a stack of paper.

[0054] The cover 20 is configured to be located in a third position (see reference) on the movement path of the staple cartridge 40, with at least a portion of the cover 20 in that position. Figure 1 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B (etc.) and the fourth position where the entire cap 20 is disengaged from the movement path of the staple cartridge 40 (refer to) Figure 2A and Figure 2B The displacement between (etc.). Here, the so-called "movement path of the staple cartridge 40" means the trajectory traversed by the staple cartridge 40 when it moves between the first position inserted into the body 12 and the second position protruding from the body 12. The so-called "at least a part of the cover 20 is located on the movement path of the staple cartridge 40" means that at least a part of the cover 20 cuts off (blocks) the movement path of the staple cartridge 40, preventing the staple cartridge 40 from moving further forward. Therefore, the "third position" only requires the cover 20 to block the movement path of the staple cartridge 40; the cover 20 does not necessarily have to be completely closed. Similarly, the "fourth position" only requires the cover 20 not to be on the movement path of the staple cartridge 40; in other words, it only requires the staple cartridge 40 to be in a state where it is not blocked by the cover 20 and can move to its maximum protruding position, and it does not necessarily have to be. Figure 2A As shown, cover 20 is fully opened.

[0055] In this embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2AAs shown, the side shape of the cover 20 (in side view) is approximately L-shaped, and the cross-sectional shape is approximately U-shaped. By designing it in this way, when the cover 20 is closed, more precisely, when the cover 20 is in the third position, the bent top portion of the cover 20 can cover a portion of the upper surface 12v, front surface 12w, and right and left sides 12x of the main body 12. By covering a portion of the upper surface 12v, front surface 12w, and right and left sides 12x of the main body, even if the staple cartridge 40 protrudes from the main body, the cover 20 can cover the left side wall 40a, right side wall 40b, top wall 40c, and opening 40e of the staple cartridge 40, that is, it can cover the staple cartridge 40 substantially entirely. Therefore, even if the staple cartridge 40 protrudes from the main body 12 when the cover 20 is in the third position, the staples inside the staple cartridge 40 will not scatter. Furthermore, a pressing part 22 for opening the cover 20 (described later) is provided at the hinge portion 21 for opening and closing the cover 20. According to this embodiment, since the cover 20 is opened and closed only using the hinge portion 21 as a fulcrum, the cover 20 can be moved to the third and fourth positions with a simple structure. That is, the structure is simplified, and the number of parts is reduced accordingly. In addition, since the cover 20 is opened and closed only in the vertical direction, movement between the third and fourth positions can be achieved with simple operation.

[0056] In this embodiment, when the cover 20 is in the third position, such as Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the distance L between the front wall 20w of the cover 20 opposite to the top wall 40c of the staple cartridge 40 and the binding position of the stapled paper stack by means of the driver 60 and the bending device 30 in the moving direction of the staple cartridge 40 is set to 13mm.

[0057] In conventional electric staplers, the distance between the end face of the insertion slot and the stapler is set as short as possible (e.g., 5mm) to quickly staple sheets and to keep the overall size of the device (especially in the front-to-back direction). However, if this distance is too short, the device will be detected and stapled even when an object (not limited to paper) is inserted only slightly through the insertion slot. Therefore, there is a possibility that the device will be detected and unintentionally stapled if a foreign object other than paper is mistakenly inserted. To solve this problem, the distance from the end face of the insertion slot to the stapler can be increased. However, this would result in the problem, as mentioned above, either an inability to perform staples quickly or an increase in the overall size of the device. Therefore, in order to eliminate these trade-offs, namely, to suppress unintentional binding of foreign objects without compromising the speed of binding process, and thus to minimize the increase in the size of the device, repeated and intensive studies were conducted on the distance. It was found that, regarding this distance, when binding approximately 20 to 50 sheets of paper, it is preferably 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less; when binding 30 to 50 sheets of paper, it is preferably 13 mm or more and 20 mm or less; and when binding 40 to 50 sheets of paper, it is preferably 15 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

[0058] In this embodiment, a cover 20 is provided to cover the insertion port 12c, such that the distance L from the front wall 20w of the cover 20 to the binding part is 13mm.

[0059] In this way, by keeping the distance L between 10mm and 20mm based on the number of sheets of paper that can be bound, unintentional binding of foreign objects can be suppressed, the speed of binding can be preserved, and the size of the device can be kept as small as possible. In this embodiment, since the cover 20 is located in front of the inlet of the insertion port 12c when it is in the third position, the distance L from the inlet of the insertion port 12c to the binding position can be extended by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the cover 20.

[0060] like Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the electric stapler 10 includes a locking mechanism 80 for locking the staple cartridge 40 in a first position within the main body 12, and a locking release mechanism 70 for releasing the locking mechanism 80 from locking the staple cartridge 40.

[0061] like Figure 5A As shown, the locking mechanism 80 is located behind the staple cartridge 40 and has a locking part 82 that locks the staple cartridge 40 in a first position and a compression spring 84 that applies force to the locking part 82 at the position where the staple cartridge 40 is locked.

[0062] The locking part 82 has a roughly U-shaped side profile that is open at the front. It has a hook 82a at the lower end, a locking part 82b at the upper end, and a connecting part 82c that connects the hook 82a and the locking part 82b. An elongated hole 82d extending in a generally front-rear direction is formed on the lower side of the connecting part 82c. A master pin 50 is inserted into the elongated hole 82d, allowing the locking part 82 to rotate about the master pin 50. A compression spring 84 is positioned above the elongated hole 82d of the connecting part 82c. It extends and retracts according to the state of the locking part 82 tilted by pressing the release button 72, and applies a force to the connecting part 82c rearward.

[0063] The hook 82a is configured to engage with the opening 40h formed on the bottom surface of the staple cartridge 40, thereby locking the staple cartridge 40 in a first position and maintaining the staple cartridge 40 within the main body 12. The engaging portion 82b extends from the connecting portion 82c toward the engaging portion 74, and its top end abuts against the lower surface of the engaging portion 74.

[0064] like Figure 7A As shown, in the state before the user presses the release button 72 and with the staple cartridge 40 in the first position retracted into the main body 12, the upper part of the connecting part 82c is forced backward by the compression spring 84, and the hook 82a is forced towards the staple cartridge 40 with the main pin 50 as the fulcrum. Thus, the engagement state between the hook 82a and the opening 40h of the staple cartridge 40 is maintained, and the staple cartridge 40 is locked in the first position by the hook 82a. The first position is the position where the staple cartridge 40 is locked by the locking part 82.

[0065] In contrast, when the staple cartridge 40 is pulled out from the main body 12, such as Figure 7B As shown, after the user moves the cover 20 from the third position to the fourth position, the release button 72 is pressed. Simultaneously, the engaging portion 74, integrally formed with the release button 72, moves downward, pressing down the engaging portion 82b of the locking portion 82. The locking portion 82 rotates counterclockwise around the main pin 50, compressing the compression spring 84. The hook 82a moves downward away from the staple cartridge 40, disengaging from the opening 40h of the staple cartridge 40, thereby releasing the locking mechanism 80 from locking the staple cartridge 40. As a result, the staple cartridge 40 is pushed forward of the body 12 by the force of the compression spring 48. The staple cartridge 40 moves from the first position to the second position, where the top of the staple cartridge 40 protrudes from the front wall of the body 12. The second position is the position where the staple cartridge 40 is not locked by the locking portion 82.

[0066] like Figure 2A and Figure 5AAs shown, the locking release mechanism 70 is, for example, a mechanism for pulling the staple cartridge 40 forward toward the body 12 when staples are loaded into the staple cartridge 40. The locking release mechanism 70 has a release button 72, a connecting portion 73 mounted on the lower surface of the release button 72 and extending in the vertical direction, and an engaging portion 74 mounted on the lower end of the connecting portion 73 and engaging with the engaging portion 82b of the locking mechanism 80. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the release button 72, the connecting portion 73, and the engaging portion 74 are integrally formed, but this is not a limitation.

[0067] The release button 72 is located on the upper surface of the main body 12 and rearward of the storage portion 12f. When the cover 20 is in the third position, the release button 72 is located inside the cover 20. Therefore, the user can press the release button 72 only when the cover 20 is in the open fourth position. A long hole 73a extending vertically is formed in the lower part of the connecting portion 73. The shaft 75 is inserted into the long hole 73a, and the connecting portion 73 is configured to move along the long hole 73a with the shaft 75 as a fulcrum. Thus, when the user presses the release button 72, the release button 72 is pressed down relative to the upper surface of the main body 12.

[0068] like Figure 4 and Figure 5A As shown, a motor 112 is located at the rear of the main body 12 and above the staple cartridge 40. The motor 112 is the drive source of the electric stapler 10, and is, for example, a DC brushless motor. Various wiring of the motor 112 is connected to the control unit 110. The control unit 110, for example, carries electronic components described later, and includes a board on which control circuitry is formed, and is located on the rear side of the motor 112 within the main body 12.

[0069] like Figure 9 As shown, a gear 14 is connected to the rotating shaft 112a of the motor 112, a gear 16 is connected to the gear 14, and a cam 18 is connected to the rotating shaft of the gear 16. Thus, the rotational force of the motor 112 is transmitted to the cam 18 via the gears 14 and 16. The cam 18 is positioned approximately above the handle arm 64 and abuts against the upper surface of the handle arm 64 depending on the rotation angle of the cam 18, thereby pressing the drive arm 62 and the handle arm 64 downward toward the bending device 30.

[0070] In addition, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5A As shown, the electric stapler 10 includes a cover opening / closing detection unit 90 that detects the state when the cover 20 is in a fourth position relative to the main body 12 and the state when the cover 20 is in a third position relative to the main body 12. The cover opening / closing detection unit 90, which is an example of a detection unit, is mounted on the substrate of the control unit 110 and is positioned opposite the pressing part 22 when the cover 20 is in the third position (see reference). Figure 10A ).

[0071] The cover opening / closing detection unit 90 includes a first switch pressing part 91, a second switch pressing part 92, and a switch 93. The first switch pressing part 91, for example, is formed by a leaf spring and is disposed overlapping in front of the second switch pressing part 92. The second switch pressing part 92, for example, is formed by a spring and is disposed in front of the switch 93. Figure 10A As shown, when the cover 20 rotates from the fourth position to the third position and slides further backward to move to the locked position, as... Figure 10B As shown, the first switch pressing part 91 and the second switch pressing part 92 are pressed by the pressing part 22 of the cover 20. As a result, the second switch pressing part 92 tilts backward, and the switch 93 is turned on. In addition, it is not limited to this, the switch 93 can also be turned on and off by opening and closing the cover 20.

[0072] Switch 93, for example, is a microswitch. When activated by the second switch pressing part 92, it generates a closing signal indicating that the cover 20 is closed and outputs it to the control unit 110. When the control unit 110 receives the closing signal from switch 93, it switches the electric stapler 10 from a state where it cannot perform the staplering operation to a state where it can perform the staplering operation. Thus, in this embodiment, the cover opening / closing detection unit 90 functions as a so-called interlock, configured such that if the cover 20 is not moved to the third position and locked, the staplering process of the electric stapler 10 cannot be performed.

[0073] In addition, such as Figure 11 As shown, when the staple cartridge 40 is not locked by the locking part 82, the staple cartridge 40 is compressed by the spring 48 (see reference). Figure 5A A forward force is applied, causing the staple cartridge 40 to move from the first position to the second position and protrude forward from the main body 12. In this state, when it is desired to move the cover 20 from the fourth position to the third position, the lower end of the cover 20 abuts against the upper surface of the staple cartridge 40 protruding from the main body 12, thus interfering with the movement and preventing the cover 20 from moving to the third position. Consequently, the cover 20 cannot be moved to the locked position, and therefore, the cover opening / closing detection unit 90, which acts as an interlock, cannot be opened. As a result, since the electric stapler 10 cannot be switched to the start-up state, it is possible to prevent the stapler from operating when the staple cartridge 40 is not properly locked, thus preventing the staples from deforming and causing jamming.

[0074] The binding position adjustment unit 100 includes pressing portions 102a and 102b located on the left and right sides of the main body 12, support portions 104a and 104b that elastically support the pressing portions 102a and 102b, and two paper guides 108a and 108b for supporting the top of the paper stack. Furthermore, the left and right structures of the binding position adjustment unit 100 are common and operate in conjunction with each other; therefore, for convenience, the structure of one side (the left side) will be described.

[0075] The pressing part 102a consists of a button that the user can press and move back and forth when adjusting the binding position of the paper stack, and is formed from the opening 12g (see reference) on the left side 12x of the main body 12. Figure 1 (Highlighted)

[0076] The support portion 104a is constructed from a leaf spring formed by bending a flat plate into a roughly U-shape, with its outer end 104a1 abutting against the left side 12x of the main body 12 when force is applied. A pressing portion 102a is mounted on the outer surface of the support portion 104a, which elastically deforms according to the pressing operation of the pressing portion 102a. In addition, a protrusion 106a is formed on the outer surface of the support portion 104a, which can engage with a plurality of recesses 12h formed on the inner side of the left side 12x of the main body 12.

[0077] A paper guide 108a is located in front of the support portion 104a, and the top of the paper stack inserted from the insertion port 12c abuts against the paper guide 108a. Behind the paper guide 108a, a paper stack detection unit 109 is provided, which initiates the binding process in conjunction with the movement of the paper guide 108a. When the top of the paper stack abuts against the paper guide 108a, the paper stack detection unit 109 activates and generates an activation signal, which is then output to the control unit 110.

[0078] When the user adjusts the binding position, pressing the left and right pressing parts 102a and 102b disengages the protrusions 106a and 106b from the recesses 12h. In this state, after moving the paper guides 108a and 108b to the desired binding position, the pressing parts 102a and 102b are released. Thus, by re-engaging the protrusions 106a and 106b with the recesses 12h, the paper guides 108a and 108b can be positioned at the desired binding position.

[0079] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating the functional structure of the electric stapler 10. (Example) Figure 12As shown, the electric stapler 10 includes a control unit 110. The control unit 110 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read-Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory) with calculation and control functions. A lid opening / closing detection unit 90, a paper stack detection unit 109, and a motor 112 are connected to the control unit 110. The control unit 110 controls the rotation of the motor 112 based on a closing signal supplied from the lid opening / closing detection unit 90 and a setting completion signal supplied from the paper stack detection unit 109.

[0080] <Example of the operation of electric stapler 10>

[0081] Next, an example of the binding operation of the electric stapler 10 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation when the electric stapler 10 performs its binding process. Furthermore, it is assumed that the power supply to the electric stapler 10 is turned on, and the cover 20 is in the fourth position relative to the main body 12, i.e., the cover 20 is in the open state.

[0082] When the user moves the cover 20 from the fourth position to the third position, the cover 20 is closed relative to the body 12. In this state, when the cover 20 is slid to the locked position, the protrusions 26a and 26b of the cover 20 fit into the mounting holes 12i formed in the body 12. Thus, the cover 20 is locked relative to the body 12.

[0083] In this embodiment, when the cover 20 is moved to the locked position, the first switch pressing part 91 and the second switch pressing part 92 constituting the cover opening / closing detection unit 90 are pressed backward by the pressing part 22 of the cover 20. As a result, the switch 93 is turned on, supplying a closing signal to the control unit 110. When the control unit 110 receives the closing signal from the switch 93 and determines that the cover opening / closing detection unit 90 is turned on, it switches the electric stapler 10 from a state where it cannot perform the staplering operation to a state where it can perform the staplering operation. Figure 13 Step S10).

[0084] Next, when the user inserts the paper stack into the insertion port 12c of the main body 12, the top surface of the paper stack touches the paper guides 108a and 108b. As a result, the paper guides 108a and 108b move backward, the paper stack detection unit 109 is activated, and a setting completion signal indicating that the paper stack has been set to the binding position is supplied to the control unit 110.

[0085] When the control unit 110 receives a setting completion signal, it determines that the paper stack detection unit 109 has been activated, controls the drive circuit, etc., and generates a drive signal for driving the motor 112. Figure 13 Step S20). The motor 112 is driven to rotate based on control performed by the control unit 110, etc. Figure 13 (Step S30). The cam 18 rotates counter-clockwise, for example, via the rotation of the motor 112 and gears 14 and 16. In this embodiment, one binding operation is performed during one revolution of the cam 18.

[0086] Specifically, when cam 18 rotates counterclockwise, handle arm 64 is pressed downward by cam 18, thereby moving drive arm 62 and drive 60 downward. Simultaneously, staple cartridge 40 moves downward, and staples loaded in staple cartridge 40 are dismounted by drive 60 and inserted into the paper stack placed on the mounting table 12e. The staples inserted into the paper stack penetrate the paper stack in the thickness direction, and the legs of the penetrating staples are bent inwards from each other along the back of the paper stack by bender 30. Thus, the paper stack is bound using staples.

[0087] As the cam 18 rotates further, the pressing force on the handle arm 64 gradually decreases according to the rotation angle of the cam 18. When the cam 18 leaves the upper surface of the handle arm 64, the handle arm 64, the driver arm 62, and the driver 60 move upward and return to their original initial positions.

[0088] The cover 20 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the rotation direction of the cover 20 can be set to the left and right direction instead of the up and down direction (for example, the rotation fulcrum of the cover 20 can be set at the left or right end, and the cover 20 can be moved between the third position and the fourth position by rotating the cover 20 in the left and right direction). The cover 20 can also be opened and closed by sliding in the front-back or left-right directions instead of rotating. In addition, the cover 20 can be configured to be detached from the main body 12. In addition, multiple covers 20 can be provided instead of one. In addition, the mounting position of the cover 20, more specifically the rotation fulcrum, can be set at the front end of the upper surface 12v, etc., instead of the rear end of the upper surface 12v of the main body 12. In this way, it can be provided at a position that allows the cover 20 to be moved between the third position on the movement path of the staple cartridge 40 and the fourth position away from the movement path. That is, as long as the cover 20 is configured to be able to be moved between the third position on the movement path of the staple cartridge 40 and the fourth position away from the movement path of the staple cartridge 40, the mounting structure and mounting position of the cover 20 are not limited to a specific shape or structure.

[0089] As explained above, according to this embodiment, the cover 20 is positioned at a third position in the direction in which the staple cartridge 40 protrudes forward from the main body 12. Therefore, the cover 20 can cover the pair of left side walls 40a, right side walls 40b, and top wall 40c of the staple cartridge 40 as it moves towards the second position. Thus, even if the locking of the staple cartridge 40 is accidentally released due to the electric stapler 10 being tilted or dropped, the staple cartridge 40 can be prevented from ejecting forward from the main body 12. Consequently, the staples loaded in the staple cartridge 40 can be prevented from scattering.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the release button 72 is disposed inside the cover 20, so a structure is adopted in which the release button 72 cannot be operated unless the cover 20 is opened in the fourth position. Therefore, the release button 72 is not exposed as in the past, thus preventing accidental operation of the release button 72, for example, when moving the electric stapler 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent the staple cartridge 40 from unintentionally ejecting forward of the main body 12.

[0091] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the staple cartridge 40 is configured such that when it is not locked in the first position, it pops out towards the front of the main body 12. Therefore, for example, even if the staple cartridge 40 is forgotten to be stored back into the main body 12 after being filled with staples, when the cover 20 is closed, the cover 20 contacts the popped-out staple cartridge 40 and cannot move to the third position. Thus, the user can easily confirm whether the staple cartridge 40 is locked in the main body 12 by observation during the binding process. In addition, since there is no need for a sensor to detect whether the staple cartridge 40 is locked in the main body 12, the electric stapler 10 can be made cost-effective.

[0092] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the staple cartridge 40 can be positioned by pressing it against the main pin 50. Therefore, the staple cartridge 40 can be positioned, for example, using the dimensions of the first groove 41a and the second groove 41b. Thus, in conventional electric staplers, for example, the dimensions of the staple cartridge 40 need to be managed in two parts, but in this embodiment, only the dimensions of the staple cartridge 40 need to be managed. Therefore, the dimensional tolerance relative to a single part can be increased. As a result, management costs and the cost of the electric stapler 10 itself can be reduced.

[0093] <Modification of Electric Stapler 10>

[0094] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of the electric stapler 10 with its lid 20 open, as shown in the modified example. Figure 15 This is a side sectional view of a modified electric stapler 10. Furthermore, for components having substantially the same functional structure as the electric stapler 10 of the above-described embodiment, repeated descriptions are omitted by using the same reference numerals.

[0095] like Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, a staple cartridge restriction portion 24, capable of abutting against the top wall 40c of the staple cartridge 40, which moves between the first and second positions, may also be provided on the inner surface of the front wall 20w of the cover 20. The staple cartridge restriction portion 24, as an example of a restriction portion, is formed by a protrusion extending from the inner surface of the front wall 20w of the cover 20 toward the staple cartridge 40. The opposing surface to the staple cartridge 40 is provided with a small gap G between it and the top wall 40c of the staple cartridge 40 in the first position. This gap G is set such that even when a force is applied to the staple cartridge 40 to release it, the staple cartridge restriction portion 24 can limit the forward extension of the staple cartridge 40 by abutting against the top wall 40c of the forward-moving staple cartridge 40, allowing the staple cartridge 40 to remain in the locked position, i.e., the first position. Furthermore, the extension amount of the staple cartridge restriction portion 24 can be specified such that the opposing surface of the staple cartridge restriction portion 24 abuts against the top wall 40c of the staple cartridge 40 in the first position. Furthermore, when the cover 20 is equipped with a staple cartridge restriction part 24, if the cover 20 is closed, the staple cartridge 40 will not pop out towards the front of the main body 12 even if the release button 72 is pressed. With this structure, the release button 72 can be positioned on the outside of the cover 20 instead of the inside.

[0096] According to this modified example, since a staple cartridge limiting part 24 is provided on the inner surface of the front wall 20w of the cover 20, by positioning the cover 20 in the third position, the staple cartridge 40 will not pop out towards the front of the main body 12 and can be kept in the first position. That is, the staple cartridge limiting part 24 can limit the amount of the staple cartridge 40 protruding forward from the main body 12, so the hook 82a of the locking mechanism 80 can always hook onto the opening 40h of the staple cartridge 40. Thus, even if the hook 82a of the locking mechanism 80 momentarily disengages from the opening 40h, the staple cartridge 40 can be locked again by the hook 82a. In addition, it can prevent binding defects, staple deformation, and damage to the driver 60 caused by misalignment of the standby position of the staple cartridge 40, thereby improving the reliability of the binding process.

[0097] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the scope of the technology disclosed herein is not limited to these examples. Various modifications or alterations that can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept described in the patent claims are all within the scope of this disclosure.

[0098] In the above embodiments, an electric stapler 10 that automatically staples into the paper stack has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the structure of the cover 20 described in the above embodiments and variations can also be applied to a stapler that manually staples into the paper stack and has a staple cartridge that pops out from the front of the main body.

[0099] Label Explanation

[0100] 10 Electric Stapler 12 Main Body 20 Cover 24 Staple Magazine Restriction Unit (Restriction Unit) 30 Bending Device 40 Staple Magazine 40a Left Side Wall 40b Right Side Wall 40c Top Wall 40e Opening 48 Compression Spring (Elastic Member) 60 Driver 70 Lock Release Mechanism (Lock Release Unit) 72 Release Button 80 Locking Mechanism 82 Locking Unit 90 Cover Opening / Closing Detection Unit (Detection Unit) 110 Control Unit

Claims

1. A stapler comprising: a main body; a staple cartridge configured to have a pair of side walls and a top end wall and to be movable between a first position in which the staple cartridge is inserted into the main body and a second position in which the staple cartridge protrudes from the main body, and in which a staple is able to be taken out from an opening formed above the pair of side walls and the top end wall; a driver configured to be located above the staple cartridge when the staple cartridge is in the first position and to be movable toward the staple in the staple cartridge, and to staple the staple into a paper stack provided below the staple cartridge by moving toward the staple; a bender located below the staple cartridge and opposite the driver when the staple cartridge is in the first position, and to receive a leg of the staple that has penetrated the paper stack by the stapling action of the driver and to bend the leg; and a cover installed to the main body in such a manner that the cover is displaceable between a third position in which at least a portion of the cover is located on a movement path of the staple cartridge and a fourth position in which the cover is entirely separated from the movement path, the cover being configured to cover the pair of side walls, the top end wall, and the opening of the staple cartridge that protrude from the main body when the cover is in the third position and the staple cartridge is in the second position, the stapler comprising: a locking portion that locks the staple cartridge in the first position; and a locking release portion that releases the locking, the locking release portion being a release button provided on an upper surface of the main body, the release button being located inside the cover when the cover is in the third position, and the release button being operable to be pressed after the cover is displaced from the third position to the fourth position by a user.

2. The stapler according to claim 1, wherein the cover is rotatably installed to the main body, and the cover is displaced between the third position and the fourth position by rotation.

3. The stapler according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the cover is located above when the cover is in the fourth position than when the cover is in the third position.

4. The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a distance between an end surface of the cover that opposes the top end wall of the staple cartridge when the cover is in the third position and a stapling position at which the paper stack is stapled with the staple by the driver and the bender is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less in a movement direction of the staple cartridge.

5. The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a detection portion that detects that the cover is in the third position; and a control portion that enables a stapling action based on the driver to be performed when it is detected by the detection portion that the cover is in the third position.

6. The stapler according to claim 1, comprising an elastic member that applies a force to the staple cartridge toward the second position, the staple cartridge being moved toward the second position by the force of the elastic member in a state in which the cover is in the fourth position and is not locked to the main body by the locking portion. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 7. The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover has a restricting portion that restricts the cartridge to the first position when in the third position.

8. The stapler according to claim 7, wherein the restricting portion is provided to an inner wall of the cover.

9. The stapler according to claim 8, wherein the restricting portion is provided to a position that opposes the top end wall of the cartridge.

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