stapler

Abstract

To provide a stapler capable of binding without interference of a needle ejection part even when a projection part is provided on the needle ejection part side of the stapler in an object bound by the stapler needle.SOLUTION: A stapler 1A includes: a needle ejection part 2A which ejects a needle and puts it through an object; a binding part 3A which bends a needle leg of the needle through the object; and a drive part 4A which moves the needle ejection part 2A in the direction approaching the binding part 3A and in the direction away from the same along a first direction shown by an arrow A1. The needle ejection part 2A has: an ejection surface 20 where the needle is ejected; and a base surface 21 positioned between the ejection surface 20 and the drive part 4A. The binding part 3A has a bending surface 30 which faces the ejection surface 20 and bends the needle leg. The ejection surface 20 projects in the direction of the bending surface 30 along the first direction with respect to the base surface 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] It relates to a stapler for sewing an object with a needle.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a stapler sandwiches an object between a needle ejection part having a magazine for storing needles and a binding part having a part for receiving the needle, penetrates the needle legs of the needle through the object, and bends the needle legs penetrating the object at the part for receiving the needle to bind the object.

[0003] In such a stapler, by rotating the base end sides of the needle ejection part and the binding part about an axis as a fulcrum, the tip sides of the needle ejection part and the binding part are moved in directions approaching and separating relatively, and the object is bound at the tip sides of the needle ejection part and the binding part. However, in a stapler having such a configuration, for example, when binding a booklet with a flat surface or the like, there is no problem, but when trying to bind an object having a convex part on the surface, the convex part may interfere with the needle ejection part or the binding part and may not be bound well (the convex part inhibits the needle ejection part and the binding part from approaching).

[0004] On the other hand, a technique has been proposed in which the part for receiving the needle has a height from the base serving as the base of the stapler (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, with a stapler that has a raised staple receiving section, the higher staple receiving section allows the stapler to avoid (strafe) the protrusions on the staple-receiving side when stapling objects that have protrusions on the staple-dispensing side. However, when stapling objects that have protrusions on the staple-dispensing side, the staple-dispensing section interferes with the protrusions, making stapling impossible.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a stapler that can staple objects that have a protrusion on the staple-dispensing side without interference from the staple-dispensing part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the stapler comprises a staple-extracting section that shoots out staples to penetrate an object, a stapling section that bends the legs of the staples that have penetrated the object, and a drive section that moves the staple-extracting section and the stapling section in directions toward and toward relative to each other along a first direction, the drive section being driven by a motor, the staple-extracting section having an ejection surface from which the staples are ejected and a base surface located between the ejection surface and the drive section, the stapling section having a bending surface opposite the ejection surface and bending the legs of the staples, the ejection surface protruding from the base surface in the direction of the bending surface along the first direction, This is the direction from the hammered surface towards the base surface. Along the second direction From the drive unit The tip end of the protruding needle-punching portion, The base member, located between the bending surface forming part having a bent surface and the drive part, is positioned in a direction that protrudes from the drive part. Along the third direction From the drive unit The leading edge of the protruding binding portion moves in a direction that brings the staple ejection portion and the binding portion closer together. The needle-punching section and the binding section move relative to each other to a binding position that sandwiches the binding position of the object between the punching surface and the bending surface, and the second direction and the third direction become approximately parallel. Therefore, they are located on the same plane.

[0009] In a stapler, as the staple-dispensing and stapling sections move in a direction that brings them relatively closer together, and an object is clamped between the dispensing surface and the bending surface, the base surface maintains a recess in the direction that increases the distance from the stapling section between the dispensing surface and the drive section. As a result, if the object has a protrusion, this protrusion will fit into the recess of the base surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the stapler described above, even if the object has a protrusion on the surface facing the base surface between the punching surface and the drive unit, the stapled position of the object can be held between the punching surface and the bending surface, and the object can be stapled with a staple. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing an example of a stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing an example of a stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional side view showing an example of a stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 4A] This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the stapler in this embodiment. [Figure 4B] This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the stapler in this embodiment. [Figure 4C] This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the stapler in this embodiment. [Figure 5A] This is a side view showing a modified example of the stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 5B] This is a side view showing a modified example of the stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 5C] This is a side view showing a modified example of the stapler according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing another modification of the stapler of this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing an example of a curved surface. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the stapler of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <Example of the configuration of the stapler according to this embodiment> FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of the stapler of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the stapler of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part broken section showing an example of the stapler of the present embodiment.

[0014] The stapler 1A of the present embodiment includes a needle punching part 2A that punches out a needle (not shown) and penetrates an object, a binding part 3A that bends the legs of the needle that has penetrated the object, and a drive part 4A that moves the needle punching part 2A and the binding part 3A in directions approaching and separating from each other along a first direction indicated by an arrow A1.

[0015] In the stapler 1A, in this example, the needle punching part 2A moves in a direction approaching and separating from the binding part 3A by a rotational operation with the drive shaft 42 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the moving direction along the first direction indicated by the arrow A1 includes not only a direction along a straight line but also a direction along a curve such as an arc. Further, due to the movement of the needle punching part 2A by the rotational operation, the angle of the needle punching part 2A with respect to the binding part 3A changes. Thus, the first direction indicated by the arrow A1 changes in angle due to the movement of the needle punching part 2A by the rotational operation. In FIG. 1, the needle punching part 2A moves in a direction away from the binding part 3A, and shows the first direction at a standby position where the object is not held.

[0016] The needle punching part 2A includes a punching surface 20 from which the needle is punched out and a base surface 21 located between the punching surface 20 and the drive part 4A. Further, the binding part 3A includes a bending surface forming part 31 having a bending surface 30 for bending the legs of the needle and a base member 32 located between the bending surface forming part 31 and the drive part 4A.

[0017] The needle punching part 2A protrudes from the drive part 4A along a second direction indicated by an arrow B1. Note that the second direction indicated by the arrow B1 includes not only a direction orthogonal to the first direction indicated by the arrow A1 but also a direction intersecting at a predetermined angle other than parallel.

[0018] The staple ejection section 2A has a staple ejection passage forming section 22 that protrudes in the direction of the binding section 3A in the first direction at the end side that protrudes in the second direction from the drive section 4A. The staple ejection section 2A also has an ejection surface 20 on the surface facing the bent surface 30 of the staple ejection passage forming section 22. Furthermore, the staple ejection section 2A has a base surface 21 between the staple ejection passage forming section 22 and the drive section 4A, facing the binding section 3A. The base surface 21 is recessed in the direction away from the binding section 3A relative to the ejection surface 20 between the ejection surface 20 and the drive section 4A, forming a recess 24 between the ejection surface 20 and the drive section 4A. In the staple ejection section 2A, the end side that protrudes in the second direction from the drive section 4A is referred to as the front side.

[0019] The needle ejection passage forming section 22 has a driver 23 for ejecting needles and a passage 22a through which the needles ejected by the driver 23 pass. The needle ejection passage forming section 22 is also provided with a pressing member 25 that restricts the direction of the needles passing through the passage 22a. The ejection surface 20 is provided with an opening that communicates with the passage 22a and through which the needles pass.

[0020] The binding section 3A is configured such that the base member 32 protrudes from the drive section 4A along the third direction indicated by arrow B2. When the staple ejection section 2A moves away from the binding section 3A and is in a standby position where it is not clamping an object, the second and third directions differ by a predetermined angle. On the other hand, when the staple ejection section 2A moves towards the binding section 3A and is clamping an object in the binding position, the second and third directions become approximately parallel.

[0021] The binding section 3A has a bent surface forming section 31 that protrudes toward the staple ejection section 2A in the fourth direction indicated by arrow A2, on the end side of the base member 32 that protrudes toward the third direction from the drive unit 4A. The binding section 3A also has a bent surface 30 on the surface of the bent surface forming section 31 that faces the ejection surface 20. The bent surface 30 has a groove of a predetermined shape that bends the staple legs. The base member 32 is recessed in the direction that increases in distance from the staple ejection section 2A between the bent surface forming section 31 and the drive unit 4A, and a recess 33 is formed between the bent surface forming section 31 and the drive unit 4A.

[0022] Note that the fourth direction indicated by arrow A2 includes not only the direction perpendicular to the third direction indicated by arrow B2, but also the direction intersecting at a predetermined angle other than parallel. Furthermore, in the standby position where the staple dispensing unit 2A moves away from the binding unit 3A and does not hold an object, the fourth direction and the first direction differ by a predetermined angle. On the other hand, in the binding position where the staple dispensing unit 2A moves towards the binding unit 3A and holds an object, the fourth direction and the first direction are approximately parallel. Moreover, in the binding unit 3A, the end side that protrudes from the drive unit 4A along the third direction is referred to as the front side.

[0023] The drive unit 4A is driven by the motor 40 and moves the staple ejection unit 2A toward and toward the binding unit 3A along a first direction. The drive unit 4A also includes a link 41 that converts the rotation of the motor 40 into the movement of the driver 23, and in conjunction with the movement of the staple ejection unit 2A toward the binding unit 3A, the link 41 operates the driver 23 and ejects the staples.

[0024] The stapler 1A has a protrusion amount L1 of the punched surface 20 along a first direction relative to the base surface 21 of 1.5 mm or more. The amount of protrusion of the blister part (protrusion) of a blister pack varies depending on the contents it contains, but after investigating various blister packs on the market, the smallest protrusion amount that could be confirmed was found to be in a blister pack containing replacement blades for a utility knife, with a protrusion amount of approximately 1.5 mm. For this reason, it is preferable that the protrusion amount L1 of the punched surface 20 of the stapler 1A is at least 1.5 mm. In this example, the base surface 21 is approximately flat, but if the base surface 21 has an uneven shape, for example, the surface of the base surface 21 that protrudes the most toward the stapling part 3A is used as the reference, and the distance from this most protruding surface to the punched surface 20 is defined as the protrusion amount L1 (the same applies hereinafter in this specification).

[0025] The protrusion amount L1 of the punched surface 20 is at least 1.5 mm, as described above, but it is preferable to be 3 mm or more, and more preferable to be 6 mm or more, in order to staple a wider variety of blister packs. On the other hand, the upper limit of the protrusion amount L1 is preferably 100 mm or less in order to suppress an increase in the dimensions along the first direction of the stapler 1A. With a stapler like the one described above, the object to be stapled is not limited to blister packs, but can also staple other objects where a protrusion is expected, such as clips, buttons, etc., where the surface is exposed.

[0026] The stapler 1A has a length L2 along the second direction of the output surface 20 that is between 3 mm and 20 mm. If the length L2 along the second direction of the output surface 20 is less than 3 mm, the pressing force that regulates the direction of the staple will be insufficient, which may result in poor staple insertion. Also, if the length L2 along the second direction of the output surface 20 is 20 mm or more, it will interfere with the protrusions of the object being stapled, limiting the types of objects that can be stapled.

[0027] The stapler 1A has a length L3 of 5 mm or more along the second direction of the base surface 21. The length L3 of the base surface 21 along the second direction is the length of the recess 24 along the second direction. Preferably, the stapler 1A has a length L3 of 15 mm or more along the second direction of the base surface 21, and more preferably, a length L3 of 30 mm or more. Furthermore, the upper limit of the length L3 of the base surface 21 along the second direction of the stapler 1A is preferably 100 mm or less in order to suppress an increase in the dimensions of the stapler 1A along the second direction.

[0028] As described above, in this example, the length L3 along the second direction of the base surface 21 was set to 5 mm or more for the following reasons. Specifically, the inventors investigated various objects (blister packs) having protrusions and found that there were almost no objects with a protrusion width (depth) of less than 5 mm, and the smallest one they could confirm was about 4 mm to 5 mm (for example, when fastening the end of a roller blind, it is necessary to fasten the fabric part of the blind over a stopper fastener, and the dimensions of the fastener were about 4 mm to 5 mm). Furthermore, if the length L3 is 15 mm or more, many relatively small blister packs can be fastened, and if the length L3 is 30 mm or more, almost all small blister packs can be fastened. Moreover, if the length L3 is 30 mm or more, objects having multiple protrusions on their surface (for example, packages for small diameter drills) can be fastened continuously without changing their orientation, as shown in Figure 4B.

[0029] <Example of operation of the stapler according to this embodiment> Figures 4, 4B, and 4C are side views showing an example of the operation of the stapler in this embodiment.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the stapler 1A is in a standby position with the staple ejection section 2A moved away from the stapling section 3A, and the object to be stapled 10 is placed between the bent surface 30 and the ejection surface 20.

[0031] When the motor 40 of the drive unit 4A of the stapler 1A is driven by a predetermined operation, the staple ejection unit 2A moves toward the stapling unit 3A, and as shown in Figure 4A, the object 10 is clamped between the ejection surface 20 and the bending surface 30. In conjunction with the movement of the staple ejection unit 2A toward the stapling unit 3A, the driver 23 is activated and staples are ejected from the ejection surface 20.

[0032] The needle legs of the needles, ejected from the ejection surface 20, penetrate the object, are bent into a predetermined shape at the bending surface 30, and the object is fastened with the needles.

[0033] If the object 10 has a protrusion 10a on the surface facing the base surface 21 between the punching surface 20 and the drive unit 4A, the needle punching unit 2A moves toward the binding unit 3A, and when it moves to the binding position, the protrusion 10a enters the recess 24. As a result, even if the object 10 has a protrusion 10a, the binding position of the object 10 can be held between the punching surface 20 and the bending surface 30, and the object 10 can be bound with a needle.

[0034] When stapling the target part 10 with stapler 1A, the staple crown is exposed on the output surface 20 side of the target object 10. Therefore, if the target object 10 to be stapled with stapler 1A has a protrusion 10a on the surface facing the base surface 21 between the output surface 20 and the drive unit 4A, the target object 10 can be stapled in a manner in which the staple crown is exposed on the surface where this protrusion 10a is located. Generally, in packages using transparent blister packs, the product 10a is displayed so that the protrusion is visible, so it is desirable that the staple crown side of the stapled product faces the product 10a.

[0035] Furthermore, if the object 10 has a protrusion on the surface facing the base member 32 between the bending surface 30 and the drive unit 4A, the needle dispensing unit 2A moves toward the binding unit 3A, and when it moves to the binding position, this protrusion enters the recess 33. As a result, even if there are protrusions on both the front and back surfaces of the object 10, the binding position of the object 10 can be held between the dispensing surface 20 and the bending surface 30, and the object 10 can be bound with a needle.

[0036] Furthermore, when the staple-punching section 2A moves to the binding position, the tip end E1 of the staple-punching section 2A is positioned on the same plane as the tip end E2 of the binding section 3A. As a result, even if the protrusion 10a on the object 10 is located outside the tip end E1 of the staple-punching section 2A, or even if it is located outside the tip end E2 of the binding section 3A, as shown in Figure 4C, contact between the staple-punching section 2A and the binding section 3A is suppressed, and the object 10 can be bound with staples.

[0037] Furthermore, if the object 10 is provided with multiple protrusions 10a and stapling positions are set on both sides of the protrusions 10a, then, as shown in Figure 4B, if the length L3 of the base surface 21 along the second direction is greater than or equal to the value specified in this invention, the stapler 1A can staple multiple points on the object 10 with staples without rotating the object 10 or the stapler 1A by moving the staple dispensing part 2A toward and away from the stapling part 3A, and by moving the object 10 in the direction of arrow F.

[0038] <Modified form of the stapler according to the embodiment> Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are side views showing modified examples of the stapler of this embodiment. In the modified stapler 1B, the stapling section 3A, as described in Figure 1, is configured to be detachable from the drive section 4A. As shown in Figure 5A, by removing the stapling section 3A, it can be used to staple objects without bending the staple legs. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5B, it is possible to attach stapling sections 3A with different mounting positions of the base member 31 in the fourth direction indicated by arrow A2, and different configurations of the bent surface 30 and the bent surface forming section 31, so that, for example, cylindrical objects 10 can be stapled.

[0039] Furthermore, the portion of the binding section 3A that protrudes from the base member 32, including the bent surface 30, may be configured to be detachable from other parts of the binding section 3A. Also, as shown in Figure 5C, the bent surface 30 may be configured to be detachable from the bent surface forming section 31, and may be replaceable with a bent surface 30B having a platform on which an object can be placed, or may be replaceable with other bent surfaces with different shapes for bending the staple legs. In addition, the amount of protrusion of the output surface 20 from the base surface 21 in the staple output section 2A may be adjustable. Furthermore, the portion of the staple output section 2A that protrudes from the base surface 21, including the output surface 20, may be configured to be detachable from other parts of the staple output section 2A.

[0040] Figure 6 is a side view showing another modified example of the stapler of this embodiment. The stapler 1C of this other modified example is equipped with a hand-operable handle 43 on a drive shaft 42 driven by the motor 40, allowing the drive unit 4A to be operated even when the motor 40 is not running. 、 It is also acceptable to have a configuration that does not include a motor 40 and can only be operated manually.

[0041] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a bent surface. The bent surface 30 has an opening 30a at its front end facing the tip of the binding portion 3A, so that the needle legs of the needle bent by the bent surface 30 can be pulled out from the opening 30a toward the tip of the binding portion 3A. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1A, 1B, 1C... Stapler, 2A... Staple ejection section, 20... Ejection surface, 21... Base surface, 22... Staple ejection passage forming section, 22a... Passage, 23... Driver, 24... Recess, 25... Pressing member, 3A... Binding section, 30... Bending surface, 30a... Opening, 31... Bending surface forming section, 32... Base section, 33... Recess, 4A... Drive section, 40... Motor, 41... Link, 42... Drive shaft, 43... Handle

Claims

1. A needle-extracting unit that shoots out a needle to penetrate the target object, The binding part bends the needle leg that has penetrated the object, The device comprises a drive unit that moves the needle dispensing unit and the binding unit in a direction toward and toward relative to each other along the first direction, The aforementioned drive unit is operated by a motor, The needle ejection unit has an ejection surface from which the needle is ejected, and a base surface located between the ejection surface and the drive unit. The binding portion has a bending surface that faces the punching surface and bends the staple legs, The extruded surface protrudes from the base surface in the direction of the bending surface along the first direction, The tip end of the needle-punching portion that protrudes from the drive unit along the second direction, which is the direction from the punching surface toward the base surface, and the tip end of the binding portion that protrudes from the drive unit along the third direction, which is the direction in which the base member located between the bent surface forming portion having the bent surface and the drive unit protrudes from the drive unit, move in a direction in which the needle-punching portion and the binding portion move relatively closer together, and the needle-punching portion and the binding portion move relatively to a binding position that sandwiches the binding position of the object between the punching surface and the bent surface, and when the second direction and the third direction become substantially parallel, they are located on the same plane. Stapler.

2. The amount of the protrusion of the punched surface along the first direction relative to the base surface is 1.5 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned protrusion amount is 3 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned protrusion amount is 6 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned protrusion amount is 100 mm or less. The stapler according to claim 4.

6. The length of the punched surface along the second direction is 3 mm or more and 20 mm or less. A stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The length of the base surface along the second direction is 5 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 6.

8. The length of the base surface along the second direction is 15 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 7.

9. The length of the base surface along the second direction is 30 mm or more. The stapler according to claim 8.

10. The length of the base surface along the second direction is 100 mm or less. A stapler according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. The amount of protrusion of the punched surface relative to the base surface is adjustable. The stapler according to claim 2.

12. The bent surface protrudes from the base member in the direction of the punched surface. A stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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