Staple remover

Abstract

To provide a staple remover capable of holding a paper bundle without using a human hand or a motor's drive force.SOLUTION: A staple remover 1A comprises: a placement surface 20 on which a paper bundle can be placed; a removal part 5 that removes a staple from the paper bundle placed on the placement surface 20; a paper holding member 7 that holds the paper bundle placed on the placement surface 20; a paper thickness adjusting member 70 that operates the paper holding member 7 in a direction approaching the placement surface 20 and is displaced relative to the paper holding member according to a distance between the paper holding member 7 and the placement surface; a biasing member 71 that when the paper thickness adjusting member 70 is displaced relative to the paper holding member 7, biases the paper holding member 7 in the direction approaching the placement surface 20; and a regulation member 75 that regulates a position of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 displaced relative to the paper holding member 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a staple removing device that removes staples from a stack of paper. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been proposed staple removers that remove staples from a stack of paper. The staple remover is equipped with a mechanism that holds down the stack of paper placed on a placement platform so that the stack of paper does not move inadvertently while the staples are being removed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a staple removal device that has a press plate that rises and falls when driven by a motor, and when a stack of sheets is set in a predetermined position, the motor is driven to move the press plate downward and pressurize the stack of sheets to a removal set position.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 also describes a configuration in which, when the drive lever is manually pressed, a press plate presses the sheet stack to a removal and setting position via a pressing leaf spring. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7058441 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the staple removal device described in Patent Document 1, the press plate is raised and lowered by utilizing the driving force of a motor that drives a removal claw holder having a claw that removes staples from a sheet stack, so the motor is driven while the sheet stack is pressed to the removal set position.

[0007] Furthermore, in the case of a configuration in which the drive lever is manually pushed, it is necessary to keep pushing the drive lever during the operation of removing the staple from the sheet stack.

[0008] Therefore, there is provided a staple removing device that can hold down the paper stack without using a human hand or a driving force of a motor during the operation of removing the staple from the paper stack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a staple removal device that includes a mounting section having a mounting surface on which a stack of paper can be placed, a removal section that is inserted between the underside of the stack of paper placed on the mounting surface and the crown portion of the staple that binds the stack of paper, and that removes the staples from the stack of paper, a paper pressing member that presses the stack of paper placed on the mounting surface, a paper thickness adjustment member that operates the paper pressing member in a direction approaching the mounting surface and is displaceable relative to the paper pressing member in the direction opposite to the mounting surface after the paper pressing member comes into contact with the stack of paper, a biasing member that is arranged between the paper pressing member and the paper thickness adjustment member and that biases the paper pressing member in a direction approaching the mounting surface when the paper thickness adjustment member is displaced relative to the paper pressing member, and a regulating member that regulates the position of the paper thickness adjustment member displaced relative to the paper pressing member.

[0010] In the present invention, the paper thickness adjustment member operates the paper pressure member in a direction approaching the placement surface, and the paper stack placed on the placement surface is pressed by the paper pressure member. When the paper thickness adjustment member, which has been operated in a direction approaching the placement surface, is displaced relative to the paper pressure member, the paper pressure member is urged in a direction approaching the placement surface by the urging member. In addition, the position of the paper thickness adjustment member displaced relative to the paper pressure member is regulated by the regulating member. Effect of the Invention

[0011] In the present invention, the paper sheet pressing member can press the paper sheet stack placed on the placement surface by the biasing force of the biasing member, without continuously applying a force that moves the paper sheet pressing member in a direction approaching the placement surface. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1A]1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1C] 1 is a cutaway perspective view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1D] FIG. 2 is a top view showing an example of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 1E] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2A] 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover attached; [Figure 2B] 1 is a cutaway perspective view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover attached; [Figure 2C] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover attached. [Figure 2D] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of a staple removing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover attached. [Figure 3A] 1A to 1C are side views showing an example of a removal unit as viewed from four directions. [Figure 3B] 1A to 1C are side views showing an example of a removal unit as viewed from four directions. [Figure 3C] 1A to 1C are side views showing an example of a removal unit as viewed from four directions. [Figure 3D] 1A to 1C are side views showing an example of a removal unit as viewed from four directions. [Figure 3E] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a removal unit. [Figure 3F] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a removal unit. [Figure 3G] FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating an example of a removal unit. [Figure 3H] 11A and 11B are side views showing an example of the operation of the remover. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are perspective views showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5A]10A to 10C are side views showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5B] 10A to 10C are side views showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6A] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6B] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6C] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6D] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7A] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7B] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8B] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8C] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9A] 10A to 10C are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9B] 10A to 10C are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9C] 10A to 10C are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9D] 10A to 10C are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9E] 10A to 10C are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 10A]11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10B] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10C] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10D] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10E] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10F] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating an example of an operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11A] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11B] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11C] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11D] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11E] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11F] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the staple removal device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 13A] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment. [Figure 13B] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment. [Figure 13C] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment. [Figure 13D]FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an application example of the staple removal device of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a staple removing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] <Configuration Example of Staple Removal Device of the Present Embodiment> Fig. 1A is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 1B is a front cross-sectional view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 1C is a cutaway perspective view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 1D is a top view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 1E is a perspective view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment. Also, Fig. 2A is an external perspective view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment with a cover attached, Fig. 2B is a cutaway perspective view showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment with a cover attached, Fig. 2C and Fig. 2D are side cross-sectional views showing an example of the staple removing device of this embodiment with a cover attached.

[0015] The staple removing device 1A includes a mounting section 2 on which a stack of paper sheets is placed. The mounting section 2 has a mounting surface 20 on which the stack of paper sheets can be placed. The mounting surface 20 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 3, and the portion on which the stack of paper sheets is placed is configured as a flat surface.

[0016] The staple removing device 1A includes a rotating shaft 4 extending from below the mounting surface 20 toward the mounting surface 20. The rotating shaft 4 is rotatably supported by shaft support portions 30a, 30b provided on the housing 3. The axial direction of the rotating shaft 4, indicated by a two-dot chain line, is inclined at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction with respect to the direction indicated by a one-dot chain line perpendicular to the mounting surface 20, as viewed from the front of the staple removing device 1A.

[0017] The staple remover 1A includes a remover 5 that removes the staples that have bound a stack of paper sheets by a rotating action. The remover 5 is attached to a rotating shaft 4 and rotates along a plane that intersects with the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4.

[0018] Figures 3A to 3D are side views from four directions showing an example of the removal unit, Figures 3E to 3F are oblique views showing an example of the removal unit, Figure 3G is a top view showing an example of the removal unit, and Figure 3H is a side view showing an example of the operation of the removal unit.

[0019] The removal portion 5 comprises a tip portion 50, a punching portion 51 connected to the tip portion 50, and a base portion 52 connected to the punching portion 51, and the tip portion 50, the punching portion 51 and the base portion 52 rotate along a plane intersecting the axial direction of the rotation shaft 4.

[0020] The tip portion 50 is configured to have a tapered shape in which the thickness along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 becomes thicker from the tip toward the removal portion 51. The tip portion 50 is also configured so that the width along the radial direction of the rotation path of the removal portion 5 that rotates around the rotating shaft 4 is shorter than the length along the extension direction of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10. As a result, the tip portion 50 has a shape that can be inserted between the lower surface Pa of the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20 and the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 that has stapled the paper stack P.

[0021] The punching portion 51 has an action surface 53 that contacts the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 that has stapled the paper stack P. The action surface 53 is formed on the lower surface of the punching portion 51. The punching portion 51 is configured to have a tapered shape in which the thickness along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 becomes thicker from the tip portion 50 to the base portion 52. The punching portion 51 is also configured such that the width along the radial direction of the rotation trajectory of the removal portion 5 is shorter than the length along the extension direction of the crown portion 11. As a result, the punching portion 51 has a shape in which the action surface 53 is inclined in a direction in which the length between the action surface 53 and the placement surface 20 becomes longer from the tip portion 50 to the base portion 52.

[0022] The tip portion 50 has an outer peripheral side 50a formed in a convex arc along the circumferential direction of the rotational trajectory of the removal portion 5 which rotates about the rotation axis 4 as a fulcrum, and an inner peripheral side 50b formed in a concave arc.

[0023] Punched portion 51 has an outer peripheral side 51a along the circumferential direction of the rotation trajectory of removal portion 5, which is formed as a convex arc connecting to outer peripheral side 50a of tip portion 50, and an inner peripheral side 51b formed as a concave arc connecting to inner peripheral side 50b of tip portion 50. In addition, punched portion 51 has a distance from center line O1 of removal portion 5, which passes through the center along the radial direction of the rotation trajectory of removal portion 5, to outer peripheral side 51a, and a distance from center line O1 to inner peripheral side 51b.

[0024] The base 52 has an outer peripheral side 52a formed as a convex arc along the circumferential direction of the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5, and an inner peripheral side 52b formed as a concave arc. The base 52 has a portion that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral side 52b supported by the rotating shaft 4.

[0025] When the removal unit 5 rotates around the rotation axis 4, the tip portion 50, the punching portion 51, and the base portion 52 pass along concentric circles centered on the rotation axis 4. As a result, the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 is a circle centered on the rotation axis 4. In addition, since the rotation axis 4 is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 20, the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 is inclined with respect to the mounting surface 20. As a result, the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 has an apex on the side approaching the mounting surface 20.

[0026] The mounting unit 2 has an opening 20a that exposes the removal unit 5. The opening 20a is an arc-shaped opening that is opened in the mounting surface 20 along the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5. The opening 20a includes the apex of the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5, and opens in an arc-shaped manner over a predetermined range from the upstream side to the downstream side of the apex.

[0027] As a result, the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, and the tip portion 50, the pull-out portion 51, and the base portion 52 are successively exposed from the opening 20a to the mounting surface 20. Note that, in the staple removal device 1A, a state in which the removal unit 5 has moved to a position where the base portion 52 is exposed to the opening 20a is regarded as a standby position of the removal unit 5.

[0028] The punched portion 51 has a spiral shape extending upward along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 from the base portion 52 to the tip portion 50. As a result, the tip portion 50 protrudes upward along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 relative to an upper surface 52c of the base portion 52.

[0029] The removal unit 5 is configured such that, when rotated about the rotation axis 4, the upper surface 52c of the base 52 is located on the same plane as the placement surface 20 or below the same plane when the base 52 is exposed to the opening 20a.

[0030] When the removal portion 5 rotates about the rotation axis 4, the tip portion 50 protrudes upward from the placement surface 20 through the opening 20a at a position where the tip portion 50 is exposed in the opening 20a.

[0031] The upper surface 50c and lower surface 50d of the tip portion 50, the working surface 53 and upper surface 51c of the punching portion 51, and the upper surface 52c of the base portion 52 are oriented in the radial direction of the rotational trajectory of the removal portion 5 at a predetermined angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis 4, which angle corresponds to the angle at which the rotational axis 4 is inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 20.

[0032] As a result, when the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, the upper surface 50c and the lower surface 50d of the tip portion 50 become parallel to the placement surface 20 at a position where the tip portion 50 is exposed to the opening 20a. When the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, the working surface 53 and the upper surface 51c of the removal portion 51 become parallel to the placement surface 20 in a cross section in the extension direction of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 during removal. When the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, the upper surface 52c of the base portion 52 becomes parallel to the placement surface 20 at a position where the base portion 52 is exposed to the opening 20a.

[0033] The removal portion 5 has a narrow portion 54 between the pull-out portion 51 and the base portion 52. The narrow portion 54 is configured such that the width along the radial direction of the rotation trajectory of the removal portion 5 is equal to or smaller than the length of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 in the extension direction.

[0034] As the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, the narrow portion 54 faces a pair of legs of the staple 10 that are raised by the operation of removing the staple 10 from the paper stack P. When the pair of legs of the staple 10 face the narrow portion 54, the staple 10 is prevented from being held by both sides of the removal unit 5 in the width direction, and the staple 10 is encouraged to fall from the removal unit 5.

[0035] The removal unit 5 includes a tilting slope 55 on the base 52. The tilting slope 55 is configured by providing a slope that slopes downward from the upper surface 52c of the base 52 toward the rear end.

[0036] The staple removal device 1A includes a staple pressing member 6 that regulates the position of the crown portion 11. The staple pressing member 6 is located on the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 and is exposed to the opening 20a. As the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation shaft 4, the tip portion 50 of the removal unit 5 is inserted into the crown portion 11 and the underside of the paper stack P, and the staple pressing member 6 comes into contact with the crown portion 11 that is pushed by the tip portion 50, thereby regulating the position of the crown portion 11 from being moved by being pushed by the tip portion 50.

[0037] The staple pressing member 6 is supported so as to be displaceable in a direction toward and away from the placement surface 20 by rotating about a shaft 60 .

[0038] The action surface 53 of the removal unit 5 is provided with a guide portion 53a that guides the rising and lowering of the staple presser member 6. The guide portion 53a is a groove into which the staple presser member 6 is inserted, and extends along the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5. The removal unit 5 is provided with a pressing down slope 56 on the base 52. The pressing down slope 56 is configured by providing a slope on the rear end of the base 52 that is inclined in a downward direction toward the guide portion 53a.

[0039] The staple removal device 1A includes a paper pressing member 7 that presses the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, a paper thickness adjustment member 70 that presses the paper pressing member 7 in the direction of pressing the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, a biasing member 71 that biases the paper pressing member 7 toward the paper stack P, an operating member 72 that moves the paper pressing member 7 in the direction of pressing the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, and a connecting shaft 73 in the paper thickness adjustment member 70 that transmits the movement of the operating member 72 to the paper thickness adjustment member 70.

[0040] The operating member 72 is supported by a first rotating shaft 74a and rotates about the first rotating shaft 74a as a fulcrum when it receives a force from an operator. The operating member 72 is formed with a receiving portion 72a on one side of the first rotating shaft 74a for receiving the force from the operator.

[0041] The staple remover 1A includes a biasing member 72e that biases the operating member 72. The biasing member 72e is connected between an engaging portion 72f formed on the other side of the operating member 72 with respect to the first rotating shaft 74a and an engaging portion 32 formed on the housing 3, and biases the operating member 72 in a direction in which the receiving portion 72a moves away from the mounting surface 20.

[0042] The paper pressing member 7 and the paper thickness adjusting member 70 are supported by a second rotating shaft 74b different from the first rotating shaft 74a, and each rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b.

[0043] The paper sheet pressing member 7 has a contact portion 7a formed on one side of the second rotating shaft 74b. The paper sheet pressing member 7 has an acted portion 7b that receives the force of the biasing member 71 formed on the other side of the second rotating shaft 74b. The paper sheet pressing member 7 rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b, causing the contact portion 7a to move toward and away from the loading surface 20.

[0044] The paper thickness adjusting member 70 has an action portion 70a that exerts a force on the biasing member 71 formed on the other side of the second rotating shaft 74b.

[0045] The biasing member 71 is formed of, for example, a coil spring, and is placed in a compressed state between the acting portion 70a and the acted portion 70b.

[0046] The paper thickness adjusting member 70 has a hole 70b into which the connecting shaft 73 is inserted. The operating member 72 has a hole 72b into which the connecting shaft 73 is inserted. The paper pressing member 7 has a hole 7d into which the connecting shaft 73 is inserted.

[0047] The hole 70b is formed by providing a round hole with a diameter approximately equal to that of the connecting shaft 73 on the other side of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 between the action portion 70a and the second rotating shaft 74b. The hole 7d is formed by an elongated hole extending along the trajectory of the paper pressing member 7 rotating with the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum.

[0048] The hole portion 72b is formed by providing a rectangular corner hole including a lower surface 72c longer than the diameter of the connecting shaft 73 and a side surface 72d longer than the diameter of the connecting shaft 73 on the other side of the operating member 72 opposite the side on which the receiving portion 72a is provided across the first rotating shaft 74a.

[0049] The connecting shaft 73 is inserted into the hole 70b of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 and the hole 72b of the operating member 72, and comes into contact with the lower surface 72c of the hole 72b.

[0050] As a result, the connecting shaft 73 transmits the movement caused by the rotation of the operating member 72 about the first rotation shaft 74a as a fulcrum to the paper thickness adjusting member 70 via the hole 72b of the operating member 72 and the hole 70b of the paper thickness adjusting member 70.

[0051] Furthermore, the paper thickness adjustment member 70 displaces the paper pressing member 7 when the movement of the operating member 72 is transmitted. After the abutting portion 7a of the paper pressing member 7 comes into contact with the paper stack P, the paper pressing member 7 cannot move any further in the direction of the paper stack P. By further operating the operating member, the connecting shaft 73 moves along the hole portion 7d, so that the paper thickness adjustment member 70 can be displaced relative to the paper pressing member 7 which cannot move in the direction of the paper stack P. Furthermore, when the paper thickness adjustment member 70 is displaced relative to the paper pressing member 7, the biasing member 71 biases the paper pressing member 7 in the direction in which the abutting portion 7a approaches the placement surface 20.

[0052] In addition, the distance from the connecting shaft 73 inserted into the hole 70b of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 to the second rotating shaft 74b is longer than the distance from the portion where the bottom surface 72c of the hole 72b and the connecting shaft 73 contact each other to the first rotating shaft 74a. This amplifies the force with which the contact portion 7a of the paper pressing member 7 presses the paper stack P relative to the force with which the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 is pressed.

[0053] The staple removing device 1A includes a regulating member 75 that regulates the position of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 displaced relative to the paper pressing member 7, and a biasing member 76 that biases the regulating member 75.

[0054] As the paper thickness adjustment member 70 rotates around the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum, the connecting shaft 73 moves in a first direction indicated by the arrow A1, which is the upward direction of the staple removing device 1A, and in a second direction indicated by the arrow A2, which is the downward direction of the staple removing device 1A and opposite to the first direction.

[0055] The regulating member 75 is supported movably in a third direction indicated by an arrow B1, which is a direction in which a gap for inserting a paper stack P into the staple removing device 1A intersects with the first and second directions, and a fourth direction indicated by an arrow B2, which is opposite to the third direction. The biasing member 76 is an example of a second biasing member, and is formed of a coil spring or the like, and biases the regulating member 75 in the third direction. The regulating member 75 has a regulating surface 75a against which the connecting shaft 73 abuts. The regulating surface 75a is inclined toward the first direction along the third direction.

[0056] As the connecting shaft 73 moves in the first direction, which is the upward direction, within the hole portion 7d, the connecting shaft 73 moves out of the movement path of the regulating member 75 along which the paper thickness adjustment member 70 moves in the third direction, and the regulating member 75 becomes movable in the third direction.

[0057] When the restricting member 75 becomes movable in the third direction, the restricting member 75 is biased by the biasing member 76 to move in the third direction to a position where the restricting surface 75a abuts against the connecting shaft 73. When the connecting shaft 73 abuts against the restricting surface 75a, the movement of the connecting shaft 73 in the second direction is restricted.

[0058] This restricts the paper thickness adjusting member 70 from rotating about the second rotating shaft 74b in the direction in which the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction, which is the downward direction.

[0059] When the regulating member 75 moves in the fourth direction from a state in which the connecting shaft 73 abuts against the regulating surface 75a, the regulating member 75 moves out of the movement path of the connecting shaft 73 moving in the second direction, and the connecting shaft 73 becomes movable in the second direction.

[0060] When the connecting shaft 73 becomes movable in the second direction, the paper thickness adjustment member 70 rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum, and the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction. When the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction, the paper pressing member 7 rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum in a direction in which the contact portion 7a moves away from the placement surface 20.

[0061] The staple removal device 1A includes a drive unit 8 that drives the removal unit 5 and the regulating member 75. The drive unit 8 includes a motor 80, a gear group 81 that transmits the rotation of the motor 80 to the rotating shaft 4, and a gear 82 that is attached to the rotating shaft 4 and meshes with the final gear of the gear group 81. The drive unit 8 also includes a transmission member 83 that transmits the rotation of the motor 80 to the regulating member 75. The transmission member 83 includes a cam 83a that is attached to the rotating shaft 4, and a link 83b that transmits the displacement of the cam 83a to the regulating member 75.

[0062] The cam 83a has a cam surface whose distance from the center of the rotation shaft 4 changes. One side of the link 83b contacts the cam 83a, and the other side is engaged with the regulating member 75. The link 83b is displaced following the cam 83a, and rotates about the shaft 83c as a fulcrum, thereby actuating the regulating member 75.

[0063] When the removal unit 5 has moved to a standby position where the base 52 is exposed to the opening 20a and the drive unit 8 is stopped, the cam 83a and the link 83b of the transmission member 83 hold the regulating member 75, and regulate the regulating member 75 from moving in the third direction due to the urging of the urging member 76.

[0064] In addition, as the rotating shaft 4 rotates once, the transmission member 83 moves the regulating member 75, which is biased by the biasing member 76, in the third direction by the link 83b following the cam 83a, and moves the regulating member 75 in the fourth direction at a predetermined timing during one rotation of the rotating shaft 4.

[0065] The staple removal device 1A includes a cover 90 that covers a part of the mounting surface 20. The cover 90 covers an upper part of the mounting surface 20 including the opening 20a. The cover 90 is made of a transparent material that allows the opening 20a to be seen. A gap is formed between the lower surface of the cover 90 and the mounting surface 20, into which the paper stack P can be inserted.

[0066] The staple removing device 1A includes a light source 91 that irradiates light onto the base portion 52 exposed on the mounting surface 20, and a light guiding portion 91a that guides the light irradiated from the light source 91.

[0067] The light source 91 is provided at a position facing the opening 20a of the placement surface 20. The paper pressing member 7 is provided between the light source 91 and the opening 20a. The paper pressing member 7 has a window portion 7c in the optical path of the light emitted from the light source 91.

[0068] The light guide portion 91a guides the light emitted from the light source 91 toward the opening 20a through the window portion 7c, and forms a linear image imitating the staple 10 that has bound the stack of paper P.

[0069] When the stack of paper sheets P is placed on the placement surface 20, the staple 10 that has bound the stack of paper sheets P needs to be aligned with a predetermined position of the opening 20a.

[0070] Therefore, in a state where the remover 5 has moved to a standby position where the base 52 is exposed to the opening 20 a of the mounting surface 20 , the light source 91 irradiates the base 52 exposed on the mounting surface 20 with light.

[0071] As a result, when the stack of paper P is not placed on the placement surface 20, the light irradiated from the light source 91 forms a linear image imitating the staple 10 that binds the stack of paper P on the base 52 exposed at the opening 20a, and this light image serves as a guide for the position of the staple 10 when the stack of paper P is placed on the placement surface 20.

[0072] Furthermore, when the paper stack P is placed on the placement surface 20, a linear image resembling the staple 10 binding the paper stack P is formed on the paper stack P by the light irradiated from the light source 91. By aligning the position of this light image with the staple 10 binding the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, the staple 10 binding the paper stack P is aligned with a predetermined position in the opening 20a.

[0073] The staple removal device 1A includes an operation detection unit 100 that detects the position of the operating member 72. The operation detection unit 100 is configured with an optical sensor having a pair of light receiving and emitting elements, and is provided at a position where it can detect the operating member 72 that has rotated a predetermined amount around the first rotation shaft 74a as a fulcrum in a direction in which the receiving portion 72a approaches the placement surface 20.

[0074] The staple removal device 1A includes a rotational position detection unit 101 that detects the position of the rotating shaft 4 in the rotational direction. The rotational position detection unit 101 is composed of an optical sensor having a pair of light receiving and emitting elements. The rotating shaft 4 includes a detectable portion 40 that is detected by the rotational position detection unit 101. The detectable portion 40 is composed of a convex portion that protrudes in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 4. The rotational position detection unit 101 is provided at a position where it can detect the detectable portion 40 when the removal unit 5 moves to a predetermined standby position.

[0075] The staple removal device 1A includes a control unit 102 that controls the motor 80 based on the outputs of an operation detection unit 100 and a rotational position detection unit 101. When the operation detection unit 100 detects that the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 has been pushed to a predetermined position, the control unit 102 rotates the motor 80 in a predetermined direction. Also, when the rotational position detection unit 101 detects that the removal unit 5 has rotated a predetermined amount, the control unit 102 stops the rotation of the motor 80.

[0076] The staple removal device 1A includes a collection section 31 that collects the staples 10 removed from the paper stack P. The collection section 31 is provided below the opening 20a along the rotation trajectory of the removal section 5, and stores the staples 10 that have been removed from the paper stack P and dropped. The collection section 31 is configured to be retractable from the housing 3, and the stored staples 10 can be discharged.

[0077] <Example of Operation of the Staple Removal Device of the Present Embodiment> Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B are side views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 6A to Fig. 6D and Fig. 7A to Fig. 7B are side sectional views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 8A to Fig. 8C are partially cutaway perspective views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 9A to Fig. 9E are plan views showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 10A to Fig. 10F are rear sectional views of the main part showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment, Fig. 11A to Fig. 11F are side sectional views of the main part showing an example of the operation of the staple removing device of this embodiment.

[0078] 4, a user of staple removal device 1A places paper stack P bound with staples 10 on placement surface 20. When placing paper stack P on placement surface 20, the staple 10 is aligned with a predetermined position in opening 20a by aligning a light image formed on paper stack P by light irradiated from light source 91 with the position of staple 10 that has bound paper stack P.

[0079] When a user of the staple removing device 1A places a stack of paper-sheets P on the placement surface 20, the user presses the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 downward toward the placement surface 20 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 5A.

[0080] In the staple removing device 1A, when the receiving portion 72a is pressed downward, the operating member 72 rotates about the first rotating shaft 74a as a fulcrum, and the hole portion 72b moves upward. As a result, the connecting shaft 73 inserted into the hole portion 72b is pressed upward by the lower surface 72c as shown in Fig. 5B, and moves in the first direction indicated by the arrow A1. In addition, in the staple removing device 1A, when the receiving portion 72a is pressed downward, the biasing member 72e constituted by, for example, a coil spring is stretched.

[0081] When the connecting shaft 73 inserted into the hole portion 70b moves in the first direction, which is the upward direction, the paper thickness adjustment member 70 rotates around the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum, and the action portion 70a moves in the first direction, which is the upward direction, as shown in Figure 6B.

[0082] When the acting portion 70a of the paper thickness adjusting member 70 moves in the first direction, the urging member 71 receives a force from the acting portion 70a pressing the urging member 71 in the first direction, which is the upward direction. When the urging member 71 receives a force pressing the urging member 71 in the first direction, the urging member 71 presses the acted portion 7b of the paper pressing member 7 in the first direction, which is the upward direction.

[0083] When there is a gap between the stack of paper P placed on the loading surface 20 and the contact portion 7a of the paper pressing member 7, when the acted upon portion 7b is pushed in a first direction by the biasing member 71, the paper pressing member 7 rotates about the second rotation shaft 74b as a fulcrum, and the contact portion 7a moves in a direction approaching the loading surface 20.

[0084] When the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 is pressed further downward in a state in which the contact portion 7a is in contact with the stack of paper-sheets P placed on the placement surface 20 and the contact portion 7a cannot move in a direction toward the placement surface 20, the paper thickness adjusting member 70 rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum, and the acting portion 70a moves further in the first direction, which is the upward direction. As shown in Figures 6C and 8B, when the paper thickness adjusting member 70 rotates about the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum and the acting portion 70a moves further in the first direction in a state in which the rotation of the paper pressing member 7 is restricted by the contact portion 7a being in contact with the stack of paper-sheets P, the biasing member 71, which is formed of, for example, a coil spring, is pressed by the acting portion 70a and compressed.

[0085] As a result, the biasing member 71 biases the paper pressing member 7 in a direction in which the contact portion 7a approaches the placement surface 20.

[0086] Furthermore, when the connecting shaft 73 moves in the first direction, which is the upward direction, the connecting shaft 73 moves out of the movement path of the regulating member 75 moving in the third direction, and the regulating member 75 becomes movable in the third direction indicated by the arrow B1.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 7B, in the staple removal device 1A, when the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 is pushed to a predetermined position and the operating member 72 rotates a predetermined amount around the first rotation shaft 74a in a direction in which the receiving portion 72a approaches the mounting surface 20, the operation detection unit 100 detects the operating member 72.

[0088] When the operation detection unit 100 detects that the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 has been pushed to a predetermined position, the control unit 102 rotates the motor 80 in a predetermined direction, causing the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 to rotate in the direction of arrow C1 as shown in Figure 9A.

[0089] When the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 rotate in the direction of arrow C1 from the standby position, the transmission member 83 causes the link 83b to follow the cam 83a, and moves the regulating member 75, biased by the biasing member 76, in the third direction indicated by arrow B1, as shown in Figures 6D and 8C.

[0090] Because the connecting shaft 73 is retracted from the movement path of the restricting member 75, the restricting member 75 is biased by the biasing member 76 to move in the third direction to a position where the restricting surface 75a abuts against the connecting shaft 73. When the connecting shaft 73 abuts against the restricting surface 75a, the movement of the connecting shaft 73 in the second direction is restricted.

[0091] This restricts the paper thickness adjusting member 70 from rotating about the second rotating shaft 74b in the direction in which the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction, which is the downward direction.

[0092] Then, the biasing member 71 biases the paper pressing member 7 in the direction in which the abutment portion 7a approaches the placement surface 20, whereby the paper stack P is held with the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 positioned on the rotation trajectory of the removal portion 5.

[0093] When the removal unit 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow C1 from the standby position, the tip 50 is exposed to the opening 20a as shown in Figures 9B, 10A and 11A. When the removal unit 5 is in a position where the tip 50 is exposed to the opening 20a, the tip 50 protrudes from the opening 20a upward from the placement surface 20. When the removal unit 5 is in a position where the tip 50 is exposed to the opening 20a, the staple pressing member 6 is positioned on the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 opposite the tip 50 and is exposed to the opening 20a.

[0094] When the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 further rotate in the direction of the arrow C1 with the tip portion 50 of the removal unit 5 protruding upward from the opening 20a above the loading surface 20, the tip portion 50 moves along the underside Pa of the paper stack P placed on the loading surface 20 in a direction approaching the crown portion 11 and comes into contact with the crown portion 11.

[0095] The staple pressing member 6 comes into contact with the crown portion 11 that is pressed by the tip portion 50 of the removal portion 5, and restricts the position of the crown portion 11 from moving due to being pressed by the tip portion 50. As a result, when the rotating shaft 4 and the removal portion 5 further rotate in the direction of the arrow C1, as shown in Figures 10B and 11B, the tip portion 50 of the removal portion 5 is inserted between the lower surface Pa of the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20 and the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 that has bound the paper stack P.

[0096] When the rotating shaft 4 and the removing unit 5 further rotate in the direction of the arrow C1 in a state where the tip portion 50 of the paper-sheet stack P is inserted between the lower surface Pa of the paper-sheet stack P placed on the placing surface 20 and the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 that has stapled the paper-sheet stack P, a force in a direction to remove the staple 10 from the paper-sheet stack P is applied to the crown portion 11 due to the inclination of the action surface 53 of the removing unit 51. As a result, the staple 10 is gradually removed from the paper-sheet stack P while the legs of the staple 10 are raised, as shown in Figs. 10C, 11C, 10D, 11D, 10E, and 11E. When the removing unit 5 rotates about the rotating shaft 4 and the tip portion 50 is exposed to the opening 20a, the upper surface 50c and the lower surface 50d of the tip portion 50 become parallel to the placing surface 20 in a cross section in the extension direction of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 being removed. In addition, in the position where the removal unit 5 is exposed to the opening 20a, the working surface 53 and the upper surface 51c of the removal unit 51 are parallel to the placement surface 20 in a cross section in the extending direction of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10 being removed. This allows the pair of legs of the staple 10 to be removed from the paper stack P approximately evenly.

[0097] 9D, 10F, and 11F, when the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 rotate in the direction of the arrow C1 to a position where the staple 10 faces the narrow portion 54, the legs of the staple 10 come out of the paper stack P. When the pair of legs of the staple 10 faces the narrow portion 54, the staple 10 is prevented from being held by both sides of the removal unit 5 in the width direction, and the staple 10 is encouraged to fall from the removal unit 5.

[0098] When the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 further rotate in the direction of arrow C1, the link 83b of the transmission member 83 follows the cam 83a, and moves the regulating member 75 in the fourth direction indicated by arrow B2. When the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 rotate once in the direction of arrow C1 and the rotational position detection unit 101 detects the detected portion 40, the control unit 102 stops the rotation of the motor 80.

[0099] When the regulating member 75 moves in the fourth direction from a state in which the connecting shaft 73 abuts against the regulating surface 75a, the regulating member 75 moves out of the movement path of the connecting shaft 73 moving in the second direction, and the connecting shaft 73 becomes able to move in the second direction, which is downward, and the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction.

[0100] When the connecting shaft 73 moves in the second direction, the paper thickness adjusting member 70 and the paper pressing member 7 rotate about the second rotating shaft 74b as a fulcrum, and the abutting portion 7a moves in a direction away from the mounting surface 20. This makes it possible to remove the paper stack P from which the staples 10 have been removed from between the mounting surface 20 and the abutting portion 7a. When the operating member 72 is biased by the biasing member 72e and the force pressing the receiving portion 72a is released, the operating member 72 rotates about the first rotating shaft 74a as a fulcrum in the upward direction in which the receiving portion 72a moves away from the mounting surface 20.

[0101] In addition, in the case where the load when removing the staple 10 from the paper stack P is high and the staple 10 does not completely come out of the paper stack P, the control unit 102 rotates the motor 80 in a predetermined direction to rotate the rotating shaft 4 and the removal unit 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C1. In this case, if the staple 10 is only partially removed, the removal unit 5 cannot return to the standby state. Therefore, the removal unit 5 has a tilting slope 55 on the base 52, and the staple 10 that is about to come out of the paper stack P is pushed down by the tilting slope 55 by rotating the removal unit 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C1.

[0102] In addition, the removal unit 5 has a downward inclined surface 56 on the base 52, and the staple presser member 6 moving upward is pressed down along the downward inclined surface 56 by rotating the removal unit 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C1.

[0103] In this embodiment, by manually pushing the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 downward, the paper thickness adjustment member 70 operates the paper sheet pressing member 7 in a direction approaching the placement surface 20, and the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20 is pressed by the paper sheet pressing member 7. When the paper thickness adjustment member 70, which has been operated in a direction approaching the placement surface 20, is displaced relative to the paper sheet pressing member 7, the pressing member 71 presses the paper sheet pressing member 7 in a direction approaching the placement surface 20. In addition, the position of the paper thickness adjustment member 70 displaced relative to the paper sheet pressing member 7 is regulated by the regulating member 75.

[0104] This allows the paper stack P placed on the loading surface 20 to be pressed by the paper pressing member 7 through the force of the pressing member 71, without having to continue to manually press the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72, and without having to continue to maintain the position of the paper thickness adjustment member 70 through the force of the motor 80.

[0105] Note that the regulating member 75 does not move in the third direction until the motor 80 is driven, even if the connecting shaft 73 is retracted from the movement path of the regulating member 75. As a result, if the force pressing the receiving portion 72a of the operating member 72 is released while the receiving portion 72a is being manually pressed, the operating member 72 returns to the standby position, and the paper thickness adjustment member 70 and the paper pressing member 7 rotate, so that the contact portion 7a moves in a direction away from the placement surface 20, and the paper stack P can be removed.

[0106] In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral side 51a of the punched portion 51 of the removed portion 5 is formed as a convex arc connected to the outer peripheral side 50a of the tip portion 50, and the inner peripheral side 51b is formed as a concave arc connected to the inner peripheral side 50b of the tip portion 50. In the punched portion 51, the distance from the center line O1 of the removed portion 5 to the outer peripheral side 51a is equal to the distance from the center line O1 to the inner peripheral side 51b.

[0107] The center line O1 passes through the center of the extension direction of the crown portion 11 of the staple 10. Therefore, the removal portion 51 does not move in the extension direction of the crown portion 11 according to the rotation of the removal portion 5.

[0108] Therefore, the force for removing the staple 10 from the paper stack is applied evenly along the extending direction of the crown portion 11, so that the staple 10 can be removed reliably.

[0109] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tip 50 of the removal unit 5 protrudes upward along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 4 from the upper surface 52c of the base 52. This eliminates the need to provide a gap between the paper stack P and the staple 10 by, for example, raising a part of the placement surface 20 so that the tip of the paper stack P faces upward, and allows the removal of the staple 10 to be stably performed regardless of the paper quality.

[0110] In addition, in this embodiment, the rotation axis 4 is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 20, so that the rotation trajectory of the removal unit 5 is inclined with respect to the mounting surface 20. As a result, the tip portion 50, the punched portion 51, and the base portion 52 of the removal unit 5 are exposed to the mounting surface 20 from the opening 20a in this order as the removal unit 5 rotates about the rotation axis 4.

[0111] Therefore, the opening 20a can be realized by a part of a circular arc along the rotation trajectory of the remover 5, and the area of ​​the remover 5 exposed on the mounting surface 20 can be reduced.

[0112] Alternatively, the rotating shaft 4 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 20, and the tip 50 of the removal part 5 may be caused to protrude upward from the mounting surface 20 by moving the rotating shaft 4 in the vertical direction.

[0113] In contrast, in the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 4 is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface 20, so that when the tip 50 is exposed to the opening 20a, the tip 50 can be protruded upward from the supporting surface 20 without moving the rotating shaft 4 upward.

[0114] <Another Configuration Example of the Staple Removal Device of the Present Embodiment> FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 13A to 13D are side sectional views showing the other example of the staple removing device of the present embodiment.

[0115] The staple removal device 1B includes a paper pressing member 7E that presses the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, a paper thickness adjustment member 70E that presses the paper pressing member 7E in the direction of pressing the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20, a biasing member 71 that biases the paper pressing member 7E, and a regulating shaft 77 that regulates the position of the paper thickness adjustment member 70E.

[0116] The paper thickness adjusting member 70E is supported by a rotating shaft 78, and rotates around the rotating shaft 78 as a fulcrum when it receives a force from an operator. The paper thickness adjusting member 70E has a receiving portion 70f formed on one side of the rotating shaft 78 for receiving the force from the operator.

[0117] The paper sheet pressing member 7E is supported by a rotating shaft 78 and rotates about the rotating shaft 78 as a fulcrum. The paper sheet pressing member 7E has a contact portion 7a formed on one side of the rotating shaft 78. The paper sheet pressing member 7E has an acted portion 7b formed on the other side of the rotating shaft 78 that receives the force of the biasing member 71. The paper sheet pressing member 7E rotates about the rotating shaft 78, causing the contact portion 7a to move toward and away from the loading surface 20.

[0118] The paper thickness adjusting member 70E has an action portion 70a that exerts a force on the biasing member 71 on the other side of the rotation shaft 78.

[0119] The biasing member 71 is formed of, for example, a coil spring, and is placed in a compressed state between the acting portion 70a and the acted portion 70b.

[0120] The paper thickness adjusting member 70E has a hole 70b into which the regulating shaft 77 is inserted. The paper pressing member 7E also has a hole 7d into which the regulating shaft 77 is inserted.

[0121] The hole 70b is formed by providing a round hole with a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the regulating shaft 78 on the other side of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E between the action portion 70a and the rotating shaft 78. The hole 7d is formed by an elongated hole extending along the trajectory of the paper pressing member 7E rotating around the rotating shaft 78 as a fulcrum.

[0122] When the receiving portion 70f of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E receives a force pressing downward, the receiving portion 70f rotates about the rotation shaft 78 as a fulcrum, and the action portion 70a moves in the first direction indicated by the arrow A1, which is the upward direction, as shown in FIG. 13B.

[0123] When the acting portion 70a of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E moves in the first direction, the urging member 71 receives a force from the acting portion 70a to push it in the first direction, which is the upward direction. When the urging member 71 receives a force to push it in the first direction, it pushes the acted portion 7b of the paper pressing member 7E in the first direction, which is the upward direction.

[0124] When there is a gap between the stack of paper P placed on the loading surface 20 and the abutment portion 7a of the paper pressing member 7E, when the acted upon portion 7b is pushed in a first direction by the biasing member 71, the paper pressing member 7E rotates about the rotation shaft 78 as a fulcrum, and the abutment portion 7a moves in a direction approaching the loading surface 20.

[0125] When the contact portion 7a comes into contact with the paper stack P placed on the placement surface 20 and cannot move in a direction toward the placement surface 20, and the receiving portion 70f of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E is pressed further downward, the paper thickness adjusting member 70E rotates about the rotation shaft 78 as a fulcrum, and the acting portion 70a moves further in the first direction, which is the upward direction, as shown in Fig. 13C. The biasing member 71 is compressed by being pressed by the acting portion 70a.

[0126] As a result, the paper thickness adjusting member 70E operates the paper sheet pressing member 7E and is displaced relative to the paper sheet pressing member 7E in accordance with the distance between the contact portion 7a of the paper sheet pressing member 7E and the placement surface 20. In addition, when the paper thickness adjusting member 70E is displaced relative to the paper sheet pressing member 7E, the biasing member 71 biases the paper sheet pressing member 7E in a direction in which the contact portion 7a approaches the placement surface 20.

[0127] The staple removing device 1B includes a regulating member 75 that regulates the position of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E displaced relative to the paper pressing member 70E, and a biasing member 76 that biases the regulating member 75.

[0128] By rotating the paper thickness adjustment member 70E with the rotation axis 78 as a fulcrum, the regulating shaft 77 moves in a first direction indicated by the arrow A1, which is the upward direction of the staple removing device 1B, and in a second direction indicated by the arrow A2, which is opposite to the first direction, which is the downward direction of the staple removing device 1B.

[0129] The regulating member 75 is supported movably in a third direction indicated by an arrow B1, which is a direction in which a gap for inserting a paper stack P into the staple removing device 1B intersects with the first and second directions, and a fourth direction indicated by an arrow B2, which is opposite to the third direction. The biasing member 76 is formed of a coil spring or the like, and biases the regulating member 75 in the third direction. The regulating member 75 has a regulating surface 75a against which the regulating shaft 77 abuts. The regulating surface 75a is inclined toward the first direction along the third direction.

[0130] When the paper thickness adjustment member 70E moves the paper pressing member 7E in a direction in which the abutment portion 7a approaches the loading surface 20, the regulating shaft 77 moves in the first direction, which is the upward direction, within the hole portion 7d, and the regulating shaft 77 retreats from the movement path of the regulating member 75 moving in the third direction, thereby enabling the regulating member 75 to move in the third direction.

[0131] When the regulating member 75 becomes movable in the third direction, it is urged by the urging member 76 to move in the third direction to a position where the regulating surface 75a abuts against the regulating shaft 77. The operation of the regulating member 75 may be linked to the motor 80, and when the receiving portion 70f of the paper thickness adjusting member 70E is pressed to a predetermined position, the motor 80 is rotated in a predetermined direction to rotate the rotating shaft 4 and the removing unit 5.

[0132] When the remover 5 rotates from the standby position, as shown in Fig. 8C, the transmission member 83 has the link 83b following the cam 83a, and as shown in Fig. 13D, the regulating member 75 biased by the biasing member 76 is moved in the third direction indicated by the arrow B1. When the regulating shaft 77 abuts against the regulating surface 75a, the movement of the regulating shaft 77 in the second direction is restricted.

[0133] As a result, the paper thickness adjusting member 70E is restricted from rotating about the rotation shaft 78 in the direction in which the regulation shaft 77 moves in the second direction, which is the downward direction.

[0134] When the regulating member 75 moves in the fourth direction from a state in which the regulating shaft 77 abuts against the regulating surface 75a, the regulating member 75 retreats from the movement path of the regulating shaft 77 moving in the second direction, and the regulating shaft 77 becomes movable in the second direction.

[0135] When the regulating shaft 77 becomes movable in the second direction, the paper thickness adjusting member 70E rotates about the rotating shaft 78 as a fulcrum in the direction in which the receiving portion 70f moves upward. Also, the paper pressing member 7E rotates about the rotating shaft 78 as a fulcrum in the direction in which the contact portion 7a moves away from the placement surface 20.

[0136] In this way, even if the configuration does not include a mechanism for amplifying the force with which the abutment portion 7a of the paper pressing member 7E presses the paper stack P in response to the force pressing the receiving portion 70f of the paper thickness adjustment member 70E, the paper stack P placed on the loading surface 20 can be pressed by the paper pressing member 7E by the force of the biasing member 71, without continuously applying a manual force to the paper pressing member 7E in a direction approaching the loading surface 20, or a force from the motor 80, to the paper thickness adjustment member 70E.

[0137] <Application Examples of the Staple Removal Device of the Present Embodiment> 14 is a perspective view showing an application example of the staple removing device of this embodiment. In the staple removing device 1A, the removal unit 5 (5E, 5F) rotates about the rotation shaft 4 as a fulcrum, so that the space required for the movement of the removal unit 5 can be made narrower than the configuration in which the removal unit reciprocates linearly as in Patent Document 1.

[0138] As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, it is possible to install the staple removing device 1A, for example, on an operation console 202 adjacent to an operation panel 201 of an image forming apparatus 200, either integrally with the operation console 202 or separately. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] 1A, 1B... staple removal device, 2... placement portion, 20... placement surface, 20a... opening, 3... housing, 30a, 30b... shaft support portion, 4... rotating shaft, 5, 5E... removal portion, 50, 50E, 50F... tip portion, 50a, 50b, 50g, 50h, 50m, 50n... sides, 50c... upper surface, 50d, 50f... lower surface, 51E... removal portion , 51a, 51b, 51g, 51h... sides, 51c... upper surface, 52, 52E... base, 52a, 52b... sides, 52c... upper surface, 53, 53E... action surface, 53a, 53f... guide portion, 54... narrow portion, 55... tilting slope, 56... pressing down slope, 6... staple pressing member, 60... shaft, 7, 7E... paper pressing member, 7a... contact portion, 7b Acting portion, 7c window portion, 7d hole portion, 70, 70E paper thickness adjusting member, 70a acting portion, 70b hole portion, 71 biasing member, 72 operating member, 72a receiving portion, 72b hole portion, 72c lower surface, 72d side surface, 72e biasing member, 73 connecting shaft, 74a first rotating shaft, 74b second rotating shaft, 75 Regulating member, 75a regulating surface, 76 urging member, 77 regulating shaft, 78 rotating shaft, 8 driving section, 80 motor, 81 gear group, 82 gear, 83 transmission member, 83a cam, 83b link, 90 cover, 91 light source, 91a light guiding section, 100 operation detection section, 101 rotational position detection section, 102 control section

Claims

1. a placement section having a placement surface on which a stack of paper can be placed; a removal section that is inserted between a bottom surface of the paper stack placed on the placement surface and a crown portion of a staple that has bound the paper stack, and removes the staple from the paper stack; a paper pressing member for pressing the paper stack placed on the placement surface; a paper thickness adjusting member that moves the paper pressing member in a direction approaching the sheet placement surface and is displaceable in a direction opposite to the sheet placement surface with respect to the paper pressing member after the paper pressing member comes into contact with the stack of paper; a biasing member disposed between the paper pressing member and the paper thickness adjusting member, the biasing member biasing the paper pressing member in a direction approaching the placement surface when the paper thickness adjusting member is displaced relative to the paper pressing member; a regulating member that regulates a position of the paper thickness adjusting member displaced relative to the paper pressing member; A staple removing device comprising:

2. an operating member supported by a first rotation shaft and adapted to rotate about the first rotation shaft when subjected to a force from an operator; a connecting shaft that transmits the movement caused by the rotation of the operating member to the paper thickness adjusting member, The paper pressing member and the paper thickness adjusting member are supported by a second rotating shaft, The distance from the second rotating shaft to the connecting shaft is longer than the distance from the first rotating shaft to the connecting shaft. The staple removal device of claim 1.

3. The regulating member regulates the position of the paper thickness adjusting member via the connecting shaft. The staple removal device of claim 2.

4. the connecting shaft moves in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction by rotation of the paper thickness adjusting member about the second rotation shaft; the regulating member is supported so as to be movable in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction and in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, When the connecting shaft moves in the first direction, the paper thickness adjustment member moves the paper pressing member in a direction in which the paper pressing member approaches the placement surface, and the regulating member becomes movable in the third direction, and when the regulating member moves in the third direction, the regulating member abuts against the connecting shaft, and the movement of the connecting shaft in the second direction is regulated, When the regulating member moves in the fourth direction, the connecting shaft becomes movable in the second direction, and when the connecting shaft moves in the second direction, the paper thickness adjusting member moves the paper pressing member in a direction in which the paper pressing member moves away from the placement surface. The staple removal device of claim 3.

5. the regulating member has a regulating surface against which the connecting shaft abuts, The restriction surface is inclined toward the first direction along the third direction. The staple removal device of claim 4.

6. A drive unit that drives the removal unit, The drive unit includes a transmission member that moves the regulating member in the fourth direction. The staple removal device of claim 4.

7. a second biasing member for biasing the regulating member in the third direction; The staple removal device of claim 5.

8. The transmission member restricts the movement of the restriction member in the third direction by the second biasing member until the drive unit is actuated. The staple removal device of claim 7.

Images