Stapler

Abstract

To provide a stapler capable of restraining floating of the tip of a needle leg binding sheets from the sheet.SOLUTION: A stapler is configured such that when a clincher guide 32 has moved to a standby position and a guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 relative to a pinching part 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the standby position is located at a lower end position furthest separated along arrow A1 direction, a length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the pinching part 32a of the clincher guide 32 is 1.2 mm-2.4 mm when the length L1 of a needle leg 11 is 4.8 mm, and is 1.6 mm-3.7 mm when the length L1 of the needle leg 11 is 6.0 mm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4B

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a stapler that staples papers together. [Background technology]

[0002] A stapler that staples papers by penetrating the paper with the foot of a staple shaped like a U and bending it on the back side of the paper is configured to comprise a magazine that stores staples, a handle section equipped with a driver that shoots the staples stored in the magazine toward the paper, and a clincher section equipped with a clincher that bends the foot of the staple that is shot out of the magazine and penetrates the paper, all of which are supported rotatably at their rear ends.

[0003] There is known a stapler that staples paper in a form called flat clinch, in which the staple feet are bent so as to be in close contact with the back surface of the paper after the staple feet penetrate the paper. A stapler that staples paper in a flat clinch form includes a clincher guide that supports the paper in an upper position relative to the clincher until the staple feet penetrate the paper, and a slide member that switches the operation of the clincher guide on and off, and a stapler that applies a force to bend the pair of staple feet that penetrate the paper inward by the relative movement of the clincher guide and the clincher, so that the staple feet can be bent from the base of the staple feet that penetrate the paper (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] In such a conventional stapler called a flat clinch, a transmission member such as a link extends from the handle portion to the clincher portion between the position where the clincher is provided and the rear end portion where the handle portion and the clincher portion are connected. For this reason, it is not possible to insert paper beyond the link toward the rear end portion, making it unsuitable for application to a stapler of a type called a saddle stitching.

[0005] In response to this, a stapler has been proposed that rotates around an axis as a fulcrum and pushes an L-shaped main body, which functions as a slider, through the paper (see, for example, Patent Document 2). With such a stapler, it is possible to achieve flat clinching in the form of saddle stitching. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-230482 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5065411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the case of staples for binding paper, the pin clinch is a form in which the needle foot of the staple bends from the base where it penetrates the paper, and the tip curves toward the paper. When paper is stapled in the pin clinch form, the needle foot that penetrates the paper protrudes higher from the paper, so that stacking paper bundles bound with staples results in a higher stack height. In addition, staplers that realize saddle stitching have been proposed that bind paper in this pin clinch form. In the saddle stitch form, the fold portion is stapled with a staple, but when the fold portion is stapled in the pin clinch form, the needle foot that penetrates the paper protrudes higher from the paper, so the appearance of the booklet is degraded.

[0008] In contrast, when the sheets are stapled in the flat clinch form, the height at which the staples protrude from the sheets is kept low, so that the stack height can be prevented from becoming too high even when stacks of stapled sheets are stacked. However, the tips of the staples tend to float off the sheets. For this reason, if the tips of the staples float when the folds are stapled in the flat clinch form, the appearance of the booklet is degraded.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a stapler that can prevent the tips of the staple legs that staple papers together from lifting off the papers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a clincher guide that includes a clincher having a guide surface for bending the needle feet, a clamping section for clamping paper between the clincher guide and the needle launching section, and a clincher guide that has an opening for exposing the guide surface to the clamping section, is supported so as to be movable in a first direction along the direction in which the needle launching section and the needle foot bending section come into contact with each other, and is configured such that the distance between the guide surface and the clamping section changes when the clincher guide moves in the first direction. The guide surface has an inwardly inclined portion at a portion where the tip of the needle foot comes into contact, The clincher is a needle punch. Chi The staple driven out by the drive unit penetrates the paper held by the clamping unit, and with the tip of the staple foot after penetration in contact with the guide surface, the guide surface is located at the lowest end position furthest from the clamping unit along the first direction, and the lowest end position is the position where the tip of the staple foot is in contact with the guide surface and a gap is formed between the top surface of the paper held by the clamping unit and the needle shoulder of the staple. The clincher guide moves the clamping unit in a direction approaching the guide surface as the staple is driven out further, bending the pair of staple feet of the staple inward, and the needle shoulder abuts against the paper and is pushed in the first direction together with the paper. When the guide surface is at the lower end position relative to the clamping portion and the length of the staple foot is 4.8 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.2 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less, the staple foot that penetrates the paper is bent from the base portion where the staple foot penetrates the paper, and a bent portion is formed between the base portion and the tip, the staple foot that penetrates the paper is in a form that follows the paper from the base portion to the bent portion, and the tip side of the bent portion faces the paper, and the paper is bound. It's a stapler. The present invention also provides a clincher guide that includes a clincher having a guide surface for bending the needle foot, a clamping section for clamping paper between the clincher guide and the needle foot bending section, and a clincher guide that has an opening for exposing the guide surface to the clamping section and is supported movably in a first direction along the direction in which the needle launching section and the needle foot bending section move toward and away from each other, and is configured such that the clincher guide moves in the first direction such that the distance between the guide surface and the clamping section changes, and the guide surface has an inwardly sloping portion at a portion where the tip of the needle foot comes into contact with the clincher guide surface. The clincher guides a clincher guide that moves in a state in which the needle launched by the needle launching section penetrates the paper clamped by the clamping section and the tip of the needle foot after penetration comes into contact with the guide surface. the guide surface is located at the lowest position farthest from the clamping portion in the first direction, the lowest position being the position where the tip of the staple foot comes into contact with the guide surface and where a gap is formed between the top surface of the paper clamped by the clamping portion and the needle shoulder of the staple; the clincher guide is further configured such that the staple is driven out and the pair of staple feet of the staple are bent inward, the needle shoulder comes into contact with the paper and is pushed in the first direction together with the paper, thereby moving the clamping portion in a direction approaching the guide surface; when the guide surface is at the lowest position from the clamping portion and the length of the staple foot is 6.0 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.6 mm or more and 3.7 mm or less; the staple foot that has penetrated the paper is bent from the base portion where the staple foot penetrated the paper, and a bent portion is formed between the base portion and the tip portion, and the staple foot that has penetrated the paper is configured to follow the paper from the base portion to the bent portion and to face the paper from the tip side.

[0011] In the present invention, when the clincher guide moves in a first direction, the staple legs of the staple that have penetrated the paper are pressed against the guide surface of the clincher, and a force is applied to bend the tip sides of the pair of staple legs inward toward each other.

[0012] When the needle foot is inserted into the paper up to the position where the needle shoulder of the needle touches the top surface of the paper, the bent part that was bent earlier is exposed between the root part of the needle foot protruding from the bottom surface of the paper and the tip. Also, the pair of needle feet pressed against the guide surface of the clincher are bent inward toward each other with the root part protruding from the bottom surface of the paper as a fulcrum, and the curved part of the needle foot is crushed. As a result, the needle foot that penetrates the paper is in a shape that is in close contact with the back surface of the paper from the root part protruding from the bottom surface of the paper to the bent part, and the paper is stapled in a shape where the tip side of the bent part faces the bottom surface of the paper. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the staple foot that penetrates the paper is stapled in a form in which the tip side from the bent part faces the underside of the paper, so that the tip of the staple foot is prevented from floating up from the paper compared to the flat clinch form. Also, the staple foot that penetrates the paper is in a form in which the base part protruding from the underside of the paper to the bent part is in close contact with the back surface of the paper, so that the protruding height of the staple foot that penetrates the paper from the paper can be kept low compared to the spectacle clinch form. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1A] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] 1 is an overall cross-sectional side view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1C] 1 is an overall side view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1D] 1 is an overall top view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1E] FIG. 2 is an overall bottom view showing an example of a stapler according to the present embodiment. [Figure 1F] 1 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a staple used in the stapler of the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3A]10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. [Figure 3B] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. [Figure 3C] 10A to 10C are side cross-sectional views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. [Figure 4A] 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4B] 10A to 10C are front views of essential parts illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4C] 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4D] 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4E] 11 is a front view of a main portion illustrating an example of an operation of the stapler according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5A] 13 is a front view of a main portion of a stapler showing a modified example of a clincher. FIG. [Figure 5B] 13 is a front view of a main portion of a stapler showing a modified example of a clincher. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a stapler according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] <Example of the configuration of the stapler according to the present embodiment> Fig. 1A is a side cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a stapler of this embodiment, and Fig. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of the entire stapler of this embodiment. Fig. 1C is a side view of the entire stapler of this embodiment, Fig. 1D is a top view of the entire stapler of this embodiment, Fig. 1E is a bottom view of the entire stapler of this embodiment, and Fig. 1F is a perspective view of the entire stapler of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of a needle used in the stapler of this embodiment.

[0017] A needle 10 called a staple as shown in FIG. 2 is known to have a length L1 (outer dimension) of the needle foot 11 of 4.8 mm, a length L2 (outer dimension) of the needle shoulder 12 of 9.48 mm or less, and a thickness L3 of the needle foot 11 and needle shoulder 12 of 0.30 mm or more. A needle 10 with such dimensions corresponds to a needle called No. 10 as specified by JIS. Also, a needle 10 is known to have a length L1 (outer dimension) of the needle foot 11 of 6.0 mm, a length L2 (outer dimension) of the needle shoulder 12 of 12.97 mm or less, and a thickness L3 of the needle foot 11 and needle shoulder 12 of 0.45 mm or more. A needle 10 with such dimensions corresponds to a needle called No. 3 as specified by JIS. Furthermore, needles 10 are known in which the length L1 (outer dimension) of the needle foot 11 is 6.0 mm, the length L2 (outer dimension) of the needle shoulder 12 is 11.49 mm or less, and the thickness L3 of the needle foot 11 and needle shoulder 12 is 0.30 mm or more.

[0018] The stapler 1 includes a needle launching section 2 that launches such a needle 10, a needle foot bending section 3 that bends a pair of needle feet 11 of the needle 10 launched by the needle launching section 2, and a connecting section 4 that connects the needle launching section 2 and the needle foot bending section 3 so that they can move relatively toward and away from each other.

[0019] In stapler 1, the direction in which staple driving unit 2 and staple foot bending unit 3 move toward each other relative to each other is referred to as a first direction, and the direction intersecting with the first direction is referred to as a second direction.

[0020] The needle firing unit 2 includes a magazine 20 that stores the needles 10, a driver 21 that fires the needles 10 stored in the magazine 20, and a handle unit 22 that operates the driver 21. In the needle firing unit 2, the magazine 20 and the handle unit 22 are connected to be rotatable about a shaft 23 as a fulcrum.

[0021] The magazine 20 is configured to be capable of storing a needle assembly (not shown) to which a predetermined number of needles 10 are connected, and is provided with a needle ejection port 20a through which the needles 10 separated from the needle assembly pass, at the front end opposite to the side where the shaft 23 is provided. The magazine 20 also has a spring 20c that presses the needle assembly against the magazine front wall 20b via a pusher 20d.

[0022] The driver 21 is attached to a handle portion 22, and as the handle portion 22 rotates about an axis 23, the driver 21 moves along the magazine front wall 20b, separating one needle 10 from the needle connector and ejecting it from the needle ejection port 20a.

[0023] The staple foot bending unit 3 includes a clincher 31 having a guide surface 31a for bending the staple foot 11. The staple foot bending unit 3 also includes a clamping portion 32a for clamping paper between the clincher 31 and the magazine 20 of the staple driving unit 2, and a clincher guide 32 having an opening 32b for exposing the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 to the clamping portion 32a. The staple foot bending unit 3 also includes a slider 33 that is movable between a first position for restricting the movement of the clincher guide 32 in the first direction and a second position for releasing the restriction on the movement of the clincher guide in the first direction, and a clincher switch 34 for moving the slider 33 to the second position.

[0024] The clincher 31 is attached to the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3 with a guide surface 31a having a groove shaped to guide the pair of needle feet 11 of the needle 10 in a direction to bend them inward, facing upward, which is the direction opposite the needle firing section 2.

[0025] The clincher guide 32 has a clamping portion 32a disposed opposite the magazine 20 of the staple shooting unit 2, and an opening 32b disposed in the clamping portion 32a opposite the staple shooting opening 20a of the magazine 20.

[0026] The clincher guide 32 is supported so as to be movable by rotational or linear motion in the direction of arrow A1, which is a first direction, and in the direction of arrow A2, which is the opposite direction to arrow A1, relative to the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3, and is configured so that by moving in the first direction, the distance between the clamping section 32a and the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 is displaced.

[0027] The slider 33 is an example of a clincher guide operating member, and is supported so as to be movable linearly relative to the base 30 of the needle foot bending section 3 in the direction of arrow B1, which is a second direction intersecting the first direction, and in the direction of arrow B2, which is opposite to arrow B1.

[0028] The clincher switch 34 is provided on the opposite side of the connecting portion 4 across the clincher 31, and is supported so as to be movable linearly relative to the base 30 of the needle foot bending portion 3 in the direction of arrow A1 (first direction) and the direction of arrow A2.

[0029] The clincher switch 34 protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 in the direction of the staple driving portion 2, and includes a pressed portion 34a that is pressed through the paper, and an action portion 34b that presses the slider 33 in the direction of the arrow B1 (second direction) when the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1. The action portion 34b is configured as a slope inclined in a direction such that the upper side indicated by the arrow A2 is close to the slider 33 and the lower side indicated by the arrow A1 is away from the slider 33, with respect to the movement direction of the clincher switch 34 indicated by the arrows A1 and A2.

[0030] The slider 33 includes an acted portion 33a that is pressed by an acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34, and a locking portion 33b that moves along the directions of the arrows B1 and B2 as the slider 33 moves in the directions of the arrows B1 and B2.

[0031] The slider 33 is provided at one end along the movement direction indicated by the arrows B1 and B2 with the acted upon portion 33a facing the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34. The slider 33 is also provided on the surface facing the clincher guide 32 with a locking portion 33b shaped so that the clincher protrudes in the direction of the arrow A2 toward the guide 32.

[0032] The clincher guide 32 includes an engaged portion 32c that engages with the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33, and a retracted portion 32d into which the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33 fits.

[0033] The clincher guide 32 is provided on its surface facing the slider 33 with a locked portion 32c that protrudes in the direction of arrow A1 toward the slider 33. The clincher guide 32 is also provided on its surface facing the slider 33 with a retracted portion 32d that is recessed in the direction of arrow A2 opposite to the direction of arrow A1 in which the locked portion 32c protrudes, adjacent to the locked portion 32c along the direction of arrow B1.

[0034] The clincher guide 32 is biased by a spring 32e in the direction of arrow A2 in which the clamping portion 32a approaches the needle firing portion 2. The slider 33 is biased by a spring 33c in the direction of arrow B2 in which the acted upon portion 33a approaches the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34. The clincher switch 34 is biased by a spring 34c in the direction of arrow A2 in which the pressed portion 34a protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 in the direction of the needle firing portion 2.

[0035] The clincher guide 32 is biased by the spring 32e in the direction of the arrow A2 in which the clamping portion 32a approaches the needle driving portion 2, and the state in which the locked portion 32c is locked to the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 is called the standby position of the clincher guide 32. When the clincher 31 is configured to be fixed at a predetermined position, when the clincher guide 32 is in the standby position, the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 is in a position retreated in the direction of the arrow A1 relative to the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32. The predetermined position at which the clincher 31 is fixed is called the lower end position. Also, when the clincher 31 is configured to move, the clincher 31 is biased in the direction of the arrow A2 by a spring not shown, and when the clincher guide 32 is in the standby position, the guide surface 31a is exposed to approximately the same plane as the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, and is configured to be pushed by the needle foot 11 of the needle 10 and move in the direction of the arrow A1. When the clincher 31 is configured to move, the clincher 31 is configured to be movable in the direction of the arrow A1 to a lower end position.

[0036] The slider 33 is biased by spring 33c in the direction of arrow B2 in which the acted portion 33a approaches the acting portion 34b of the clincher switch 34, and the engaging portion 33b moves to a position opposite the engaged portion 32c of the clincher guide 32 so that the engaging portion 33b engages with the engaged portion 32c.The first position in which the movement of the clincher guide 32 in the first direction is restricted is called the standby position of the slider 33.

[0037] The clincher switch 34 is biased by spring 34c in the direction of arrow A2 in which the pressed portion 34a protrudes from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 toward the needle firing portion 2, and the acting portion 34b is not pressing the acted upon portion 33a of the slider 33, in this example, the state in which the acting portion 34b is separated from the acted upon portion 33a, is referred to as the standby position of the clincher switch 34.

[0038] The staple driving unit 2 includes a pressing unit 24 that activates a clincher switch 34. The pressing unit 24 is shaped to protrude in the direction of the staple foot bending unit 3, and is provided on the handle unit 22 opposite a pressed portion 34a of the clincher switch 34.

[0039] In the stapler 1, the staple launching section 2 and the connecting section 4 are connected by a connecting member 25, and the staple foot bending section 3 and the connecting section 4 are connected by a connecting member 35. In the present example, the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 move relatively toward and away from each other as the connecting member 25 flexes. In the stapler 1, the distance L between the clincher 31, which is the binding position of the paper, and the connecting section 4 is set so that the clincher 31 faces the center between one end and the other end of the paper placed between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3, so that the stapler 1 can bind the paper in a so-called saddle stitch form. In addition, in the stapler 1, no member is provided between the clincher 31 and the connecting section 4 that passes between the staple launching section 2 and the staple foot bending section 3 to transmit the movement.

[0040] The stapler 1 includes an insertion position regulating unit 5 that regulates the insertion position of the paper. The insertion position regulating unit 5 is supported movably along a connecting member 35 in a direction approaching and moving away from the position (stapling position) of the clincher 31 shown in Figures 1A and 1B. By inserting the paper to a position where it abuts against the insertion position regulating unit 5, it is possible to regulate the distance from the edge of the paper to the stapling position.

[0041] The insertion position regulating part 5 includes a dial 50 that fixes its position relative to the connecting member 35. The dial 50 is provided coaxially with a screw (not shown), connects the left and right sides of the insertion position regulating part 5 on the underside of the connecting member 35, and an action member 51 that acts on one side and the other side of the connecting member 35 is moved by fastening the screw, thereby sandwiching the connecting member 35 from both the left and right sides of the insertion position regulating part 5. As a result, the insertion position regulating part 5 can be fixed to or released from the connecting member 35 by operating the single dial 50.

[0042] The stapler 1 is provided with an alignment mark 6a indicating a target staple position in the staple driving unit 2, and an alignment mark 6b in the staple foot bending unit 3. The alignment mark 6a is configured by providing a three-dimensional mark with projections and recesses, a two-dimensional mark by printing, or the like on the upper surface of the handle unit 22 in accordance with the position of the clincher 31 shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The alignment marks 6b are configured by providing a three-dimensional mark with projections and recesses, a two-dimensional mark by printing, or the like on the upper surface of the base 30 on both the left and right sides of the clincher guide 32 in accordance with the position of the clincher 31 shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0043] <Example of operation of the stapler according to the present embodiment> 3A to 3C are side cross-sectional views of the essential part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4A to 4E are front views of the essential part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of the present embodiment.

[0044] In the stapler 1, when a paper sheet P is placed in the clamping portion 32a and the handle portion 22 is pushed in the direction of the arrow A1, the stapler 2 moves in a direction approaching the staple foot bending portion 3, and the magazine 20 comes into contact with the paper sheet P. When the handle portion 22 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow A1 with the magazine 20 in contact with the paper sheet P, the handle portion 22 rotates with respect to the magazine 20 about the shaft 23 as a fulcrum, and the staples 10 stored in the magazine 20 are driven out of the staple driving opening 20a by the driver 21. When the staples 10 are driven out of the staple driving opening 20a with the magazine 20 in contact with the paper sheet P, the staple feet 11 penetrate the paper sheet P. Then, the staple feet 11 that penetrate the paper sheet P enter the opening 32b of the clincher guide 32.

[0045] The clincher 31 is positioned at the lower end position where the needle foot 11 of the needle 10 driven out by the needle driving unit 2 penetrates the paper P held by the clamping unit 32a of the clincher guide 32, and the tip of the needle foot 11 after penetration is in contact with the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31, and the guide surface 31a is located at the lower end position where the distance is the greatest from the clamping unit 32a in the direction of the arrow A1. This lower end position is a position where the tip of the needle foot 11 is in contact with the guide surface 31a, and a gap L12 is formed between the upper surface of the paper P held by the clamping unit 32a and the needle shoulder 12 of the needle 10. The clincher guide 32 is further driven out, and the pair of needle feet 11 of the needle 10 are bent inward, and the needle shoulder 12 abuts against the paper P and is pushed in the direction of the arrow A1 together with the paper P, so that the clamping surface 32a moves in the direction approaching the guide surface 31a.

[0046] The above operation will be described in detail below. The slider 33 is in the standby position, and the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 is locked to the locked portion 32c of the clincher guide 32. The position where the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 is farthest from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, which is in the standby position and whose movement is restricted by the slider 33, in the direction of the arrow A1 is called the lower end position of the clincher 31.

[0047] In the case where the clincher 31 is fixed at the lower end position, when the length between the driver 21 and the guide surface 31a becomes equal to the length L1 of the needle foot 11, the tip of the needle foot 11 comes into contact with the guide surface 31a as shown in Fig. 4A. The guide surface 31a is formed with an inwardly inclined portion 31b at the portion where the tip of the needle foot 11 comes into contact, and the tips of the pair of needle feet 11 are guided inwardly to each other.

[0048] When the clincher 31 is configured to be pushed by the needle foot 11 of the needle 10 to move in the direction of arrow A1, with the tip of the needle foot 11 in contact with the guide surface 31a, the clincher 31 moves to the lower end position as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0049] When the clincher 31 is at the lower end position and the tips of the needle feet 11 are in contact with the guide surface 31a, and the needle driving unit 2 moves further in the direction approaching the needle foot bending unit 3, the length between the driver 21 and the guide surface 31a becomes shorter than the length of the needle feet 11. When the length between the driver 21 and the guide surface 31a becomes shorter than the length of the needle feet 11, the tips of the needle feet 11 are pressed against the guide surface 31a, and a force is applied that bends the pair of needle feet 11 inward.

[0050] When the clincher guide 32 is in a standby position and before starting to move in the direction of arrow A1, at the time when the needle feet 11 start to bend their tips when a force is applied to bend the pair of needle feet 11 inward, the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 is less than the length of the needle feet 11.

[0051] It is preferable that the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 29% or more and 62% or less of the length L1 of the needle foot 11.

[0052] Specifically, when the length of the needle foot 11 is 4.8 mm, the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is preferably 1.2 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less, and more preferably 1.4 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less. Also, when the length of the needle foot 11 is 6.0 mm, the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is preferably 1.6 mm or more and 3.7 mm or less, and more preferably 1.8 mm or more and 3.7 mm or less.

[0053] In addition, in a configuration in which the clincher 31 is fixed at the lower end position, the clincher guide 32 and the slider 33 are in the standby position, and when the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33 is engaged with the engaged portion 32c of the clincher guide 32, the position of the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 is at the farthest position in the direction of arrow A1 from the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, and the length L10 between the inclined portion 31b that crushes the needle of the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 satisfies the above value.

[0054] In a configuration in which the clincher 31 is fixed at the lower end position, when the tip of the staple foot 11 that has penetrated the paper P reaches the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31, a gap L12 is formed between the upper surface of the paper P clamped by the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 and the needle shoulder portion 12 of the needle 10, even when the maximum allowable number of sheets of paper P are being stapled.

[0055] Furthermore, when the clincher 31 is configured to be pushed by the needle foot 11 of the needle 10 and move in the direction of arrow A1, when the clincher guide 32 and the slider 33 are in the standby position and the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33 is engaged with the engaged portion 32c of the clincher guide 32, when the clincher 31 is pushed in the direction of arrow A1 by the needle foot 11 of the needle 10 and moves to the lower end position, the position of the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 is at the farthest position in the direction of arrow A1 relative to the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32, and the length L10 between the inclined portion 31b that crushes the needle of the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 satisfies the above value. Furthermore, at the above timing, a gap L12 is formed between the upper surface of the paper P clamped by the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 and the needle shoulder portion 12 of the staple 10, even when the maximum allowable number of sheets of paper P are stapled.

[0056] When the handle portion 22 is further pressed in the direction of the arrow A1 and the staple driving portion 2 moves in a direction approaching the staple foot bending portion 3, the staple feet 11 are pressed against the guide surface 31a and the pair of staple feet 11 are bent inward as shown in Figures 4B to 4C. During the tip bending process for bending the staple feet 11, the clincher guide 32 is in the standby position with its movement restricted by the slider 33, so that the gap L12 formed between the top surface of the paper P clamped by the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 and the needle shoulder portion 12 of the staple 10 decreases.

[0057] In addition, when the handle portion 22 of the stapler 1 is pressed further in the direction of the arrow A1 while the magazine 20 is in contact with the paper P, the pressing portion 24 comes into contact with the paper P and presses the pressed portion 34a of the clincher switch 34 in the direction of the arrow A1 via the paper P.

[0058] The clincher switch 34 is pressed by the pressing portion 24 through the paper P, and moves in the direction of the arrow A1 while compressing the spring 34c. When the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1, the action portion 34b comes into contact with the acted portion 33a of the slider 33. Since the action portion 34b is formed of a slope inclined in a predetermined direction, when the clincher switch 34 moves in the direction of the arrow A1 with the action portion 34b in contact with the acted portion 33a of the slider 33, a force is generated that presses the acted portion 33a in the direction of the arrow B1, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the slider 33 moves in the direction of the arrow B1 while compressing the spring 33c.

[0059] When the slider 33 moves in the direction of the arrow B1, the locking portion 33b moves from a position facing the locked portion 32c of the clincher guide 32 to a position facing the retreating portion 32d. When the locking portion 33b of the slider 33 moves to a position facing the retreating portion 32d of the clincher guide 32, the clincher guide 32 becomes movable in the direction of the arrow A1. The movement of the slider 33 is linked to the movement of the needle driving portion 2 in the direction approaching the needle foot bending portion 3. As the needle launching section 2 moves in the direction approaching the needle foot bending section 3, until the top surface of the paper P clamped by the clamping section 32a comes into contact with the needle shoulder portion 12 of the needle 11, in this example, as shown in Figure 4D, when the top surface of the paper P clamped by the clamping section 32a comes into contact with the needle shoulder portion 12 of the needle 11, the engaging portion 33b of the slider 33 moves to a position opposite the retraction portion 32d of the clincher guide 32.

[0060] As a result, when the handle portion 22 of the stapler 1 is pushed further in the direction of the arrow A1 with the magazine 20 in contact with the paper P, as shown in Figure 3C, the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 is pushed through the paper P, and the clincher guide 32 moves in the direction of the arrow A1 while compressing the spring 32e.

[0061] When the clincher guide 32 moves in the direction of the arrow A1, the paper P and the staples 10 with their staple legs 11 penetrating the paper P move in the direction of the arrow A1 together with the clincher guide 32. As a result, the staple legs 11 that have penetrated the paper P and have their tip ends bent inwardly as described above are pressed against the guide surface 32a of the clincher guide 32 and are crushed, and are bent inwardly with their base parts protruding from the bottom surface of the paper P as a fulcrum.

[0062] As a result, as shown in FIG. 4E, the staple foot 11 that penetrates the paper P is configured to follow the back surface of the paper P from the base portion protruding from the underside of the paper P to the bent portion 11a, and the paper P is stapled in a form in which the tip side of the bent portion 11a faces the underside of the paper P.

[0063] The relationship between staple length and binding style is shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0064] [Table 1]

[0065] [Table 2]

[0066] When the length of the staple foot 11 is 4.8 mm, as shown in Table 1, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.4 mm, the sheets P are stapled in a form called a pre-bent clinch for the number of sheets to be stapled ranging from 2 to 22. When the length L10 is 2.2 mm, the sheets P are stapled in a form called a pre-bent clinch for the number of sheets to be stapled ranging from 2 to 14. The sheets P are PPC paper 64 g / m 2 (55kg).

[0067] The tip bend clinch is a form in which the needle foot 11 is bent from the base portion where it penetrates the paper P, and there is a substantially linear section where the needle foot 11 follows the paper P, and a substantially linear section where the needle foot 11 faces the paper P. Specifically, in the needle foot 11 that penetrates the paper P, a bent portion 11a is formed between the base portion protruding from the underside of the paper P to the tip, and the needle foot 11 that penetrates the paper P is in close contact with the back surface of the paper P from the base portion protruding from the underside of the paper P to the bent portion 11a, and the paper P is stapled with the tip side of the bent portion 11a facing the underside of the paper P.

[0068] As a result, when the length of the staple foot 11 is 4.8 mm, assuming that the maximum number of sheets of paper P that can be stapled is approximately 14 sheets, if the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.4 mm or more and 2.2 mm or less, the sheets of paper P are stapled in the form of a bent-tip clinch.

[0069] On the other hand, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.2 mm, if the number of sheets P to be bound is large within the range of the maximum number of sheets allowed, the sheets P are bound in the form of the above-mentioned tip bent clinch. On the other hand, when the number of sheets P to be bound is small, the sheets P tend to be bound in a form called a "spectacle clinch", and in this example, when the number of sheets P to be bound is four or less, the sheets P are bound in the form of a "spectacle clinch". The "spectacle clinch" is a form in which the staple foot 11 is bent from the base portion where it penetrates the sheets P, and the tip is curved toward the sheets P.

[0070] In addition, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is less than 1.2 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of a pair of clinches even if the number of stapled sheets is within the range of the maximum number of sheets allowed. Furthermore, when the number of stapled sheets P is four or less, a defect occurs in which the tip of the staple foot 11 bent on the lower surface side of the sheets P penetrates the upper surface side of the sheets P.

[0071] From the above, it has been found that when the length of the staple foot 11 is 4.8 mm, in order to be able to staple the paper P in the form of a bent tip clinch from the minimum number of sheets to be stapled (2 sheets), it is preferable that the lower limit value of the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.2 mm, and it is more preferable that the lower limit value of the length L10 is 1.4 mm.

[0072] On the other hand, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing exceeds 2.2 mm, the number of sheets P stapled in the form of the bent clinch tends to decrease, and when the length L10 is 2.4 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of the bent clinch when the number of sheets is from 2 to 12, and when the number of sheets exceeds 12, the sheets P are stapled in a form called a flat clinch. The flat clinch is a form in which the staple foot 11 is bent from the base portion where it penetrates the sheets P and becomes a straight line along the sheets P toward the tip. Note that when the length L10 is 3.4 mm, if the number of sheets is 2, the sheets P are stapled in the form of the bent clinch, but when the number of sheets exceeds 2, the sheets P are stapled in the form called a flat clinch.

[0073] From the above, when the length of the staple foot 11 is 4.8 mm, in order to be able to staple the paper P in the form of a bent-tip clinch, if the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled is 12, it is preferable that the upper limit value of the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 2.4 mm. Also, if the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled is 14, the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 2.2 mm, and it is more preferable that the upper limit value of the length L10 is 2.2 mm in order to increase the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled.

[0074] When the length of the staple foot 11 is 6.0 mm, as shown in Table 2, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.8 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of a bent clinch when the number of sheets to be stapled is 2 to 29. When the length L10 is 2.7 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of a bent clinch when the number of sheets to be stapled is 2 to 20.

[0075] As a result, when the length of the staple foot 11 is 6.0 mm, assuming that the maximum number of sheets of paper P that can be stapled is approximately 20 sheets, if the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.8 mm or more and 2.7 mm or less, the sheets of paper P are stapled in the form of a bent tip clinch.

[0076] On the other hand, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.6 mm, if the number of sheets P to be bound is large within the range of the maximum number of sheets allowed, the sheets P are bound in the form of the above-mentioned tip bend clinch. On the other hand, if the number of sheets P to be bound is small, the sheets P tend to be bound in the form of the double clinch, and in this example, when the number of sheets P to be bound is four or less, the sheets P are bound in the form of the double clinch.

[0077] In addition, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is less than 1.6 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of a pair of clinches even if the number of stapled sheets is within the range of the maximum number of sheets allowed. Furthermore, when the number of stapled sheets P is four or less, a defect occurs in which the tip of the staple foot 11 bent on the lower surface side of the sheets P penetrates the upper surface side of the sheets P.

[0078] From the above, it has been found that when the length of the staple foot 11 is 6.0 mm, in order to be able to staple the paper P in the form of a bent tip clinch from the minimum number of sheets to be stapled (2 sheets), it is preferable that the lower limit value of the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 1.6 mm, and it is more preferable that the lower limit value of the length L10 is 1.8 mm.

[0079] On the other hand, when the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing exceeds 2.7 mm, the number of sheets P stapled in the form of the pre-bent clinch tends to decrease, and when the length L10 is 3.0 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of the pre-bent clinch when the number of stapled sheets is 2 to 17, and when the number of stapled sheets exceeds 17, the sheets P are stapled in the form called the flat clinch. Also, when the length L10 is 3.7 mm, the sheets P are stapled in the form of the pre-bent clinch when the number of stapled sheets is 2 to 9, and when the number of stapled sheets exceeds 9, the sheets P are stapled in the form called the flat clinch. When the length L10 was 4.4 mm, if the number of sheets to be bound was two, the sheets P were bound in a form of a bent clinch, but if the number of sheets to be bound exceeded two, the sheets P were bound in a form called a flat clinch.

[0080] From the above, when the length of the staple foot 11 is 6.0 mm, in order to be able to staple the paper P in the form of a bent-tip clinch, if the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled is 9, it is preferable that the upper limit value of the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 3.7 mm. Also, if the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled is 17, the length L10 between the guide surface 31a of the clincher 31 and the clamping portion 32a of the clincher guide 32 at the above timing is 3.0 mm, and if the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled is 20, the length L10 is 2.7 mm. Considering the increase in the maximum number of sheets allowed to be stapled, it is more preferable that the upper limit value of the length L10 is 2.7 mm.

[0081] In addition, there is no member between the clincher 31 and the connecting portion 4 that passes between the staple launching portion 2 and the staple foot bending portion 3 to transmit the movement. This allows the distance L between the clincher 31, which is the binding position of the paper, and the connecting portion 4 to be set so that the clincher 31 faces near the center between one end and the other end of the paper placed between the staple launching portion 2 and the staple foot bending portion 3. Therefore, the paper P can be bound by the tip bending clinching in a so-called saddle stitching form.

[0082] 5A and 5B are front views of the main part of the stapler showing modified examples of the clincher. As shown in Fig. 5A, the clincher 31 may have a recess 31c recessed in a direction away from the staple-pushing part 2 shown in Fig. 1A, etc., near the center of the guide surface 31a along the direction in which the staple foot 11a is guided, or may have a protrusion 31d protruding toward the staple-pushing part 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 stapler, 2 staple firing section, 20 magazine, 20a staple firing port, 20b magazine front wall, 20c spring, 21 driver, 22 handle section, 23 shaft, 24 pressing section, 3 staple foot bending section, 30 base, 31 clincher, 31a guide surface, 32 clincher guide, 32a clamping section, 32 b opening, 32c engaged portion, 32d retreat portion, 32e spring, 33 slider (clincher guide operating member), 33a acted portion, 33b engaged portion, 33c spring, 34 clincher switch, 34a pressed portion, 34b acting portion, 34c spring, 4 connecting portion, 10 needle, 11 needle foot, 11a bent portion

Claims

1. a needle launching unit that launches a needle having a pair of needle legs and a needle shoulder portion that connects the ends of the pair of needle legs; a needle foot bending unit that bends the needle foot of the needle driven out by the needle driving unit; a connecting portion that connects the needle driving portion and the needle foot bending portion so as to be movable in a direction in which the needle drives the needle and the needle foot bending portion approach each other and move away from each other; The needle foot bending portion is A clincher having a guide surface for bending the needle foot; a clamping section that clamps a paper sheet between the staple driving section and the clamping section; and a clincher guide that has an opening that exposes the guide surface to the clamping section, is supported so as to be movable in a first direction along a direction in which the staple driving section and the staple foot bending section move toward and away from each other, and is configured such that the distance between the guide surface and the clamping section changes as the clincher guide moves in the first direction, The guide surface has an inwardly inclined portion at a portion where the tip of the needle foot comes into contact, The clincher is configured such that the guide surface is located at a lower end position farthest from the clamping unit along the first direction when the staple driven by the staple driving unit penetrates the paper clamped by the clamping unit and the tip of the staple foot after penetration is in contact with the guide surface, the lower end position is a position where the tip of the staple foot contacts the guide surface and a gap is formed between the top surface of the paper clamped by the clamping section and the needle shoulder of the staple, The clincher guide further moves the clamping portion in a direction approaching the guide surface as the staple is driven out, the pair of staple legs of the staple are bent inward, and the staple shoulder portion comes into contact with the paper and is pushed in the first direction together with the paper. When the guide surface is at the lower end position with respect to the clamping portion and the length of the needle foot is 4.8 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.2 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less, The staple foot that penetrates the paper is bent from the root part where it penetrates the paper, and a bent part is formed between the root part and the tip. The staple foot that penetrates the paper is in a form that follows the paper from the root part to the bent part, and the tip side of the bent part is in a form that faces the paper, and the paper is bound. Stapler.

2. a needle launching unit that launches a needle having a pair of needle legs and a needle shoulder portion that connects the ends of the pair of needle legs; a needle foot bending unit that bends the needle foot of the needle driven out by the needle driving unit; a connecting portion that connects the needle driving portion and the needle foot bending portion so as to be movable in a direction in which the needle drives the needle and the needle foot bending portion approach each other and move away from each other; The needle foot bending portion is A clincher having a guide surface for bending the needle foot; a clamping section that clamps a paper sheet between the staple driving section and the clamping section; and a clincher guide that has an opening that exposes the guide surface to the clamping section, is supported so as to be movable in a first direction along a direction in which the staple driving section and the staple foot bending section move toward and away from each other, and is configured such that the distance between the guide surface and the clamping section changes as the clincher guide moves in the first direction, The guide surface has an inwardly inclined portion at a portion where the tip of the needle foot comes into contact, The clincher is configured such that the guide surface is located at a lower end position farthest from the clamping unit along the first direction when the staple driven by the staple driving unit penetrates the paper clamped by the clamping unit and the tip of the staple foot after penetration is in contact with the guide surface, the lower end position is a position where the tip of the staple foot contacts the guide surface and a gap is formed between the top surface of the paper clamped by the clamping section and the needle shoulder of the staple, The clincher guide further moves the clamping portion in a direction approaching the guide surface as the staple is driven out, the pair of staple legs of the staple are bent inward, and the staple shoulder portion comes into contact with the paper and is pushed in the first direction together with the paper. When the guide surface is at the lower end position with respect to the clamping portion and the length of the needle foot is 6.0 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.6 mm or more and 3.7 mm or less, The staple foot that penetrates the paper is bent from the root part where it penetrates the paper, and a bent part is formed between the root part and the tip. The staple foot that penetrates the paper is in a form that follows the paper from the root part to the bent part, and the tip side of the bent part is in a form that faces the paper, and the paper is bound. Stapler.

3. When the guide surface is at the lower end position relative to the clamping portion and the length of the needle foot is 4.8 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.4 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less.

2. The stapler of claim 1.

4. When the guide surface is at the lower end position relative to the clamping portion and the length of the needle foot is 6.0 mm, the distance between the guide surface and the clamping portion is 1.8 mm or more and 3.7 mm or less.

3. The stapler of claim 2.

5. The clincher is fixed to the needle foot bending portion at the lower end position. The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The clincher is supported by the needle foot bending portion so as to be movable along the first direction to the lower end position. The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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