Stapler

Abstract

This stapler (1) comprises: a drive passage (8) that is provided in a first protrusion (21) protruding in the direction from a staple driving part (2) toward a stitching part (3), and extends in a direction crossing a staple passage (23) and through which a driver plate (7) for driving a molded staple (10af) and the molded staple (10af) driven by the driver plate (7) pass through; and a pressing part (9) that presses, against the driver plate (7) that passes through the drive passage (8), a coupling staple (11) from which the molded staple (10af) to be driven by the driver plate (7) is separated.

Description

Stapler

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stapler that staples an object to be stapled with needles.

[0002] Conventionally, after forming each needle of a connecting needle in which a plurality of substantially straight needles are arranged side by side and connected in a sheet shape, a driving member called a driver plate that moves up and down is used to drive out the formed needles and staple the object to be stapled. Staplers are widely used.

[0003] As such a conventional stapler, a configuration has been proposed that includes a first feeding unit that feeds the connecting needle to a conveying path, and a second feeding unit that feeds the connecting needle fed by the first feeding unit to a punching unit by a punching member (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-69637

[0005] In a conventional stapler, when forming an unformed needle with a forming member called a forming plate, the needle legs of the formed needles connected to the connecting needle are pushed by a pressing member called a pusher, so the needles during forming do not move inadvertently and are stable.

[0006] On the other hand, when the object to be stapled is in a form called a blister pack in which, for example, a cover with a convex portion for storing an article is placed on a mount board, in order to form a concave portion into which this convex portion can be inserted, it has been proposed to adopt a form in which the path through which the punching member passes is extended.

[0007] However, in a configuration where the moving path length of the punching member becomes long, while the punching member passes through the extended path, the pressing member and the second feeding unit are in a state of being pushed by the punching member and retracted.

[0008] Therefore, during forming by the forming member, the connecting needle is not being pushed by the pressing member or the second feeding unit, and there is a possibility that the unformed needle may move inadvertently during forming, and there is a possibility of occurrence of forming defects.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and provides a stapler that can suppress inadvertent movement of needles during forming even in a form in which the path through which the driver plate passes becomes long.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the stapler comprises a staple ejection section for forming staples and ejecting the formed staples, and a stapling section for bending a pair of staple legs of the staple ejected by the staple ejection section, wherein the staple ejection section comprises an opposing section facing the stapling section, a protruding section projecting from the opposing section toward the stapling section, a staple feeding section for feeding a connected staple, in which a plurality of staples are linked together, along the direction in which the plurality of staples are linked, a staple passage through which the connected staple fed by the staple feeding section passes, a forming plate that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the connected staple and forms the unformed staples that extend linearly and are connected by the connected staples, a driver plate that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the connected staple and ejects the formed staples, a feed passage provided on the protruding section and extending in a direction intersecting the staple passage, through which the driver plate and the formed staples ejected by the driver plate pass, and a pressing section that presses the separated connected staples, which are formed by the driver plate, against the driver plate as they pass through the feed passage.

[0011] According to this disclosure, the staple-punching portion comprises an opposing portion that faces the binding portion and a convex portion that protrudes from the opposing portion toward the binding portion, and the opposing portion is concave, so that when the object to be bound is in the form of a blister pack, for example, in which a cover with a convex portion formed on which an article is stored is placed over a backing card, the object to be bound can be bound with staples by inserting the convex portion into the concave portion formed by the opposing portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the needle ejection section includes a pressing section that presses the connected needle, which is separated from the pre-formed needle ejected by the driver plate, against the driver plate as it passes through the ejection passage. As the driver plate and the pre-formed needle pass through the ejection passage extending to the convex portion, the connected needle is pressed against the driver plate by the pressing section.

[0013] According to this disclosure, the unformed needle is formed by the forming plate while the connected needle, which is separated from the pre-formed needle ejected by the driver plate, is pressed against the driver plate as it passes through the ejection passage. Therefore, unintentional movement of the connected needle is suppressed, and the occurrence of needle molding defects can be suppressed.

[0014] This is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a side cross-sectional view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment. This is a perspective view of the main part showing an example of the operation of the stapler of this embodiment.

[0015] Embodiments of the stapler of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] <Example of the configuration of the stapler of this embodiment> Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment, and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the main parts showing an example of the stapler of this embodiment.

[0017] The stapler 1 of this embodiment includes a staple ejection unit 2 that forms and ejects staples 10, a stapling unit 3 that bends a pair of staple legs 10re of the staples 10 ejected by the staple ejection unit 2, and a drive unit 4 that performs the stapling operation of the object to be stapled with the staples 10.

[0018] The stapler 1 has a staple-dispensing section 2 and a staple-binding section 3 that are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other with a connecting shaft 110 as the pivot point. The staple-dispensing section 2 and the staple-binding section 3 open and close in directions toward and toward relative to each other, on the side opposite to the side connected by the connecting shaft 110.

[0019] In stapler 1, the side where the staple-issuing section 2 and the stapling section 3 open and close is referred to as the front side, and the side where the staple-issuing section 2 and the stapling section 3 are connected by a connecting shaft 110 is referred to as the rear side. Also, in stapler 1, the side where the staple-issuing section 2 is provided is referred to as the upper side, and the side where the stapling section 3 is provided is referred to as the lower side.

[0020] Before molding, the staple 10 is in a linearly elongated form. The unmolded staple 10 is also called an unmolded staple 10bf. After molding, the staple 10 has a form in which a pair of staple legs 10re extend from both sides of the staple crown 10cr in substantially parallel directions. The molded staple 10 is also called a molded staple 10af. Multiple unmolded staples 10bf are detachably connected along a direction intersecting their extension direction. This forms a connected staple 11. The stapler 1 is detachably fitted with a cartridge 12 in which multiple connected staples 11 are stacked.

[0021] The staple-punching section 2 includes a first opposing section 20 as an example of an opposing section that faces the binding section 3, and a first protrusion 21 as an example of a protrusion that projects from the first opposing section 20 toward the binding section 3. The staple-punching section 2 has the first protrusion 21 on its front end side, and the first opposing section 20, which is concave, is formed on the rear side of the first protrusion 21.

[0022] The binding section 3 includes a second opposing section 30 that faces the staple-punching section 2, and a second protrusion 31 that projects from the second opposing section 30 toward the staple-punching section 2. The binding section 3 has the second protrusion 31 on its front end side, and a concave second opposing section 30 is formed on the rear side of the second protrusion 31.

[0023] The stapler 1 has an insertion section 120 formed between the staple dispensing section 2 and the stapling section 3. The insertion section 120 connects from between the first protrusion 21 of the staple dispensing section 2 and the second protrusion 31 of the stapling section 3 to between the first opposing section 20 of the staple dispensing section 2 and the second opposing section 30 of the stapling section 3. When the staple dispensing section 2 and the stapling section 3 are moved in a direction that separates them relatively, the space between the first protrusion 21 and the second protrusion 31 of the insertion section 120 is configured as a gap into which the object to be stapled can be inserted.

[0024] The insertion section 120 is provided with a wall section 130 on the side where the staple-punching section 2 and the binding section 3 are connected by a connecting shaft 110. The wall section 130 closes the space between the staple-punching section 2 and the binding section 3 without hindering the relative movement of the staple-punching section 2 and the binding section 3 with the connecting shaft 110 as a pivot point, thereby restricting the insertion position of the object to be bound.

[0025] The needle ejection unit 2 includes a needle feeding unit 5 that feeds the connected needle 11, a forming plate 6 that forms the unformed needle 10bf, and a driver plate 7 that ejects the formed needle 10af formed by the forming plate 6.

[0026] Furthermore, the needle ejection unit 2 includes a ejection passage 8 through which the pre-formed needle 10af ejected by the driver plate 7 and the driver plate 7 that ejects the pre-formed needle 10af pass, and a pressing unit 9 that presses the connected needle 11, which is the separated pre-formed needle 10af ejected by the driver plate 7, against the driver plate 7 as it passes through the ejection passage 8. In addition, the needle ejection unit 2 includes a pusher 13 that pushes the needle leg portion 10re of the pre-formed needle 10af forward.

[0027] The binding section 3 includes a clincher 32 that bends a pair of needle legs 10re of the pre-formed staple 10af that is ejected by the driver plate 7. The clincher 32 is provided on the second protrusion 31 of the binding section 3.

[0028] The drive unit 4 includes a first link 40 that drives the forming plate 6 and the driver plate 7, a second link 41 that drives the needle feed unit 5, and a motor 43 that drives the first link 40 and the second link 41, as well as a transmission mechanism such as a cam (not shown), to move the needle ejection unit 2 and the binding unit 3 in directions toward and toward relative to each other.

[0029] The needle feed unit 5 includes a first locking part 50 that locks onto the connecting needle 11. The first locking part 50 is rotatably attached to the needle feed unit 5 with respect to the first support shaft 51. The first locking part 50 moves in a direction toward the connecting needle 11 and in a direction toward away from the connecting needle 11 as it passes through the needle passage 23 by rotating with respect to the first support shaft 51.

[0030] Furthermore, the needle feeding unit 5 includes a first locking biasing unit 52 that biases the first locking unit 50. The first locking biasing unit 52 biases the first locking unit 50 in a direction that approaches the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23.

[0031] The needle feed unit 5 is located below the needle passage 23 through which the connecting needle 11 passes, and is supported so as to be movable along the needle passage 23. The needle feed unit 5 is also biased by the first feed biasing unit 53 in the direction of the feed of the connecting needle 11. The needle feed unit 5 is driven by the drive unit 4 via the first link 40 and the second link 41, and moves in the direction opposite to the feed direction of the connecting needle 11, while also being biased by the first feed biasing unit 53 to move in the direction of the feed of the connecting needle 11.

[0032] The first locking portion 50 is supported by the first support shaft 51 on its rear side along the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, and extends diagonally upward toward the front side along the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0033] As a result, when the needle feed unit 5 moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, a force is generated that causes the first locking part 50, which is biased by the first locking biasing part 52, to rotate further around the first support shaft 51 as a pivot point, in a direction that brings it closer to the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23. Therefore, when the needle feed unit 5 moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the first locking part 50 is locked to the connecting needle 11, and the connecting needle 11 is fed.

[0034] Furthermore, when the needle feed unit 5 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, a force is generated that rotates the first locking part 50 around the first support shaft 51 as a pivot point, moving it away from the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23. Therefore, when the needle feed unit 5 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the locking of the first locking part 50 is released, the connecting needle 11 is not fed, and the needle feed unit 5 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0035] The forming plate 6 is supported so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the direction in which the needle passage 23 extends. The direction of movement of the forming plate 6 is intersecting the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf extends and the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf is connected in the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23.

[0036] The forming plate 6 includes a pair of needle leg forming sections 60 for forming the needle leg portion 10re. The needle leg forming sections 60 are provided on one side and the other side along the width direction of the needle passage 23. That is, the forming plate 6 has a pair of needle leg forming sections 60 provided on one side and the other side along the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf in the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23 extends, with a predetermined distance corresponding to the length of the needle crown portion 10cr.

[0037] The needle leg forming section 60 protrudes in a direction intersecting the direction in which the needle passage 23 extends. The direction in which the needle leg forming section 60 protrudes is in the direction along the direction of movement of the forming plate 6, and it protrudes in the direction along the direction of movement of the forming plate 6. The direction in which the needle leg forming section 60 protrudes is in the direction intersecting the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf extends and the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf is connected.

[0038] The forming plate 6 is provided with a first drive hole 61 into which a drive shaft 42, driven by the drive unit 4 via a first link 40, fits. The forming plate 6 is driven by the drive unit 4 via the first link 40 and the drive shaft 42, and moves in a direction intersecting the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf extends and the direction in which the unformed needle 10bf is connected. The first drive hole 61 is elongated in shape and extends along the direction of movement of the forming plate 6, and depending on the position of the drive shaft 42 driven by the drive unit 4 via the first link 40, the forming plate 6 can be switched between a state in which the forming plate 6 moves in conjunction with the drive shaft 42 and a state in which the forming plate 6 does not move in conjunction with the drive shaft 42.

[0039] The driver plate 7 is supported so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the direction in which the needle passage 23 extends. The direction of movement of the driver plate 7 is along the direction in which the needle leg portion 10re extends in the molded needle 10af, and is parallel to the direction of movement of the forming plate 6. The driver plate 7 is positioned with a gap of one needle width between it and the forming plate 6.

[0040] The driver plate 7 includes an extrusion part 70 that presses the needle crown part 10cr of the formed needle 10af, and an acting part 71 that operates the pressing part 9. The extrusion part 70 is composed of a surface in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the driver plate 7. The extrusion part 70 has a length in the longitudinal direction equal to the longitudinal length of the needle crown part 10cr of the formed needle 10af, and a length in the short direction equal to the short direction of the needle crown part 10cr.

[0041] The acting part 71 includes a contact part 71a and a non-contact part 71b. The contact part 71a is composed of a surface along the moving direction of the driver plate 7, and the non-contact part 71b is composed of an opening provided on the opposite side of the extrusion part 70 along the moving direction of the driver plate 7 with respect to the contact part 71a.

[0042] The driver plate 7 includes a second drive hole part 72 into which the drive shaft 42 enters. The driver plate 7 is driven by the drive part 4 via the first link 40 and the drive shaft 42, and moves along the direction in which the needle leg part 10re extends in the formed needle 10af. The length of the second drive hole part 72 along the moving direction of the driver plate 7 is approximately equal to the diameter of the drive shaft 42, and the driver plate 7 moves in conjunction with the drive shaft 42 driven by the drive part 4 via the first link 40.

[0043] The ejection passage 8 is provided in the first convex part 21 and extends in a direction intersecting the needle passage 23.

[0044] The pressing part 9 includes a second locking part 90 that is locked to the connecting needle 11. The second locking part 90 is an example of a locking part, and is attached to the pressing part 9 so as to be rotatable with the second support shaft 91 as a fulcrum. The second locking part 90 moves in a direction approaching the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23 and in a direction away from the connecting needle 11 by rotating with the second support shaft 91 as a fulcrum.

[0045] Further, the pressing part 9 includes a second locking biasing part 92 that biases the second locking part 90. The second locking biasing part 92 biases the second locking part 90 in a direction approaching the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23.

[0046] The pressing portion 9 is provided below the needle passage 23 on the front end side of the needle punching portion 2 with respect to the needle feeding portion 5, and is supported so as to be movable along the needle passage 23. Further, the pressing portion 9 is biased by a second biasing portion 93 which is a biasing portion along the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0047] The pressing portion 9 includes a driven portion 94 that receives the movement of the driver plate 7 from the acting portion 71. The driven portion 94 is provided in the movement path of the acting portion 71 due to the movement of the driver plate 7, and protrudes into the movement path of the driver plate 7 when the pressing portion 9 is biased by the second biasing portion 93. The contact portion 71a is where the driven portion 94 contacts along the movement direction of the driver plate 7, and the non-contact portion 71b is where the driven portion 94 does not contact.

[0048] The driven portion 94 includes a guide portion 94a that is pushed by the contact portion 71a to guide the movement of the pressing portion 9. The guide portion 94a is composed of an inclined surface along the movement direction of the driver plate 7, and when the driver plate 7 moves to a position where the opening forming the non-contact portion 71b and the guide portion 94a face each other, the guide portion 94a is arranged so as to be able to protrude into the punching passage 8. Further, when the contact portion 71a contacts the driven portion 94 as the driver plate 7 moves, a force to retreat the pressing portion 9 is generated by the inclined surface of the guide portion 94a.

[0049] When the contact portion 71a of the driver plate 7 faces the driven portion 94, the pressing portion 9 moves in the direction opposite to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11 by being pressed by the contact of the driven portion 94 with the contact portion 71a.

[0050] Also, when the non-contact portion 71b of the driver plate 7 faces the driven portion 94, the pressing portion 9 is biased by the second biasing portion 93, and as the driven portion 94 enters the opening forming the non-contact portion 71b, the pressing portion 9 moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0051] The second locking portion 90 has a shape in which the rear side along the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11 is supported by the second support shaft 91 and extends obliquely upward toward the front side along the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0052] As a result, when the pressing part 9 moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, a force is generated that causes the second locking part 90, which is biased by the second locking biasing part 92, to rotate further around the second support shaft 91 as a pivot point, in a direction that brings it closer to the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23. Therefore, when the pressing part 9 moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the second locking part 90 is locked to the connecting needle 11, and the connecting needle 11 is fed.

[0053] Furthermore, when the pressing part 9 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, a force is generated that rotates the second locking part 90 around the second support shaft 91 as a pivot point, moving it away from the connecting needle 11 passing through the needle passage 23. Therefore, when the pressing part 9 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the locking of the second locking part 90 is released, the connecting needle 11 is not fed, and the pressing part 9 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0054] The pusher 13 is located at the front end of the needle ejection section 2, below the needle passage 23, and is supported to be movable along the needle passage 23. The pusher 13 is configured such that its needle contact surface contacts the needle crown portion 10cr and the pair of needle leg portions 10re of the molded needle 10af, and is biased by the biasing member 13a to protrude into the ejection passage 8.

[0055] <Example of operation of the stapler of this embodiment> Figures 5 to 10 are side cross-sectional views of the main part showing an example of operation of the stapler of this embodiment, and Figures 11 to 16 are perspective views of the main part showing an example of operation of the stapler of this embodiment.

[0056] The stapler 1 is in a standby state when the first and second staples of the connecting staples are formed, the first formed staple 10af reaches the ejection position by the driver plate 7, and the third unformed staple 10bf of the connecting staples 11 reaches the forming position by the forming plate 6.

[0057] In the operation of closing the object to be stapled, the motor 43 of the drive unit 4 is driven, causing the staple-dispensing unit 2 to move toward the staple-binding unit 3, and the object to be stapled is held between the first protrusion 21 and the second protrusion 31. Also, when the motor 43 of the drive unit 4 is driven, the drive shaft 42 is driven via the first link 40, and the driver plate 7 and the forming plate 6 are driven.

[0058] The driver plate 7 moves in conjunction with the drive shaft 42, which is driven by the drive unit 4 via the first link 40, due to the shape of the second drive hole portion 72.

[0059] When the first molded needle 10af reaches the ejection position by the driver plate 7, and the driver plate 7 moves downward as indicated by arrow D, the extrusion portion 70 of the driver plate 7 comes into contact with the needle crown portion 10cr of the first molded needle 10af, as shown in Figures 5 and 11. If the driver plate 7 moves further downward from this state, the needle crown portion 10cr of the first molded needle 10af is pushed by the extrusion portion 70, as shown in Figures 6 and 12. As a result, the first molded needle 10af is separated from the connecting needle 11.

[0060] Due to the shape of the first drive hole 61, the forming plate 6 does not move in conjunction with the drive shaft 42 until the driver plate 7 moves to a predetermined position. Once the driver plate 7 moves to the predetermined position, the forming plate 6 moves downward in conjunction with the drive shaft 42.

[0061] The first pre-molded needle 10af, separated from the connecting needle 11, is ejected through the ejection passage 8 as the driver plate 7 moves further downward. The driver plate 7 that ejects the pre-molded needle 10af also passes through the ejection passage 8.

[0062] As the driver plate 7 that ejects the molded needle 10af passes through the ejection passage 8, as shown in Figures 7 and 13, the pressing part 9 has its actuated part 94 facing the contact part 71a of the driver plate 7. At the position where the actuated part 94 faces the contact part 71a of the driver plate 7, the actuated part 94 is pressed by the contact part 71a. As a result, the pressing part 9 moves backward, as indicated by arrow R, which is in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0063] When the pressing part 9 moves backward, as indicated by the arrow R opposite to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the locking of the second locking part 90 is released, the connecting needle 11 is not fed, and the pressing part 9 moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0064] As the driver plate 7 moves further downward in the action of ejecting the molded needle 10af as it passes through the ejection passage 8, the pressing portion 9 moves such that, as shown in Figures 8 and 14, the contact portion 71a of the driver plate 7 passes over the actuated portion 94, and as shown in Figures 9 and 15, the actuated portion 94 faces the non-contact portion 71b of the driver plate 7.

[0065] When the actuated portion 94 faces the non-contact portion 71b of the driver plate 7, it is biased by the second feed biasing portion 93, causing the actuated portion 94 to enter the opening that forms the non-contact portion 71b. As a result, the pressing portion 9 moves forward, as indicated by arrow F, which is the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11.

[0066] When the pressing part 9 moves forward, as indicated by arrow F which is the feeding direction of the connecting needle 11, the second locking part 90 is locked to the connecting needle 11, and a force is applied to feed the connecting needle 11.

[0067] As a result, the connected needle 11, which is separated from the molded needle 10af that is ejected by the driver plate 7, is pressed against the driver plate 7 by the pressing part 9 as it passes through the ejection passage 8.

[0068] As the driver plate 7 moves downward, the forming plate 6 moves downward until the non-contact portion 71b of the driver plate 7 faces the actuated portion 94 of the pressing portion 9, and then until the needle leg forming portion 60 contacts the unformed needle 10bf.

[0069] As shown in Figures 10 and 16, as the driver plate 7 and forming plate 6 move further downward, the formed staple 10af passes through the ejection passage 8, and the clincher 32 bends the staple leg portion 10re to staple the object to be stapled. Also, one side and the other side of the unformed staple 10bf along the direction of extension are pressed by the staple leg forming section 60, and the staple leg portion 10re is formed. The pressing section 9 operates at least twice by reciprocating as described above while the formed staple 10af passes through the ejection passage 8 by the driver plate 7.

[0070] When the forming plate 6 moves to the forming completion position, the motor 43 of the drive unit 4 is driven, which drives the drive shaft 42 via the first link 40, causing the forming plate 6 to move upward to the standby position, and the driver plate 7 to move upward to the standby position. Also, when the motor 43 of the drive unit 4 is driven, the staple ejection unit 2 moves away from the stapling unit 3, and the clamping of the object to be stapled between the first protrusion 21 and the second protrusion 31 is relieved.

[0071] Furthermore, when the motor 43 of the drive unit 4 is driven, the second link 41 is driven via the first link 40, causing the needle feed unit 5 to move in the opposite direction to the feed direction of the connected needle 11, and at the same time, it is biased by the first feed biasing unit 53 to move in the feed direction of the connected needle 11.

[0072] As the stapler 1 moves the staple feeding unit 5 in the feeding direction of the connecting staples 11, the first formed staple 10af of the connecting staples 11 reaches the ejection position by the driver plate 7, and the third unformed staple 10bf of the connecting staples 11 is fed until it reaches the forming position by the forming plate 6.

[0073] <Example of the operation and effect of the stapler of this embodiment> The stapler 1 has a first opposing portion 20 facing the binding portion 3 and a first protrusion 21 protruding from the first opposing portion 20 toward the binding portion 3 in the staple dispensing portion 2, thereby forming a concave first opposing portion 20 on the rear side of the first protrusion 21.

[0074] Furthermore, the stapler 1 has a second opposing portion 30 in the stapling portion 3 that faces the staple dispensing portion 2, and a second protrusion 31 that protrudes from the second opposing portion 30 toward the staple dispensing portion 2, thereby forming a concave second opposing portion 30 on the rear side of the second protrusion 31.

[0075] As a result, when the object to be stapled is in the form of a blister pack, for example, a paper backing covered with a resin cover having a convex portion formed thereon for storing the item, the stapler 1 can staple the object with staples 10 by inserting the convex portion into the recess formed by the first opposing portion 20 or the recess formed by the second opposing portion 30.

[0076] The staple ejection section 2 is configured such that the first protrusion 21 is equipped with an ejection passage 8 through which the pre-formed staple 10af ejected by the driver plate 7 and the driver plate 7 that ejects the pre-formed staple 10af pass. Compared to conventional staplers that do not have such a first protrusion 21, the travel path length of the driver plate 7 is increased.

[0077] In conventional staplers, when forming the unformed staples using the forming plate, the staple legs of the pre-formed staples connected to the connecting staples are pushed forward by a pusher, so the staples do not move unintentionally during formation and remain stable.

[0078] In contrast, in a configuration where the driver plate 7 has a first protrusion 21, which increases the length of the driver plate 7's movement path, after the first pre-formed needle 10af launched by the driver plate 7 is separated from the connecting needle 11, the pusher 13 is pushed by the driver plate 7 and retracts backward from the launching passage 8 while the driver plate 7 and the pre-formed needle 10af pass through the launching passage 8 extending to the first protrusion 21.

[0079] Therefore, when the unformed needle 10bf is formed by the forming plate 6, the needle leg portion 10re of the next formed needle 10af, which is connected to the connecting needle, is not pressed by the pusher 13.

[0080] This could cause the unmolded needle 10bf to move unintentionally during molding, leading to instability during molding and potentially resulting in molding defects.

[0081] In contrast, stapler 1 is equipped with a pressing part 9 that presses the connected staples 11, which are separated from the pre-formed staples 10af that are ejected by the driver plate 7, against the driver plate 7 as it passes through the ejection passage 8. The contact part 71a and non-contact part 71b provided on the driver plate 7 allow the connected staples 11 to be pressed against the driver plate 7 by the pressing part 9 while the driver plate 7 and the pre-formed staples 10af pass through the ejection passage 8 which extends to the first protrusion 21.

[0082] As a result, the unformed needle 10bf is formed by the forming plate 6 while the connecting needle 11, separated from the pre-formed needle 10af ejected by the driver plate 7, is pressed against the driver plate 7 as it passes through the ejection passage 8. Therefore, unintentional movement of the connecting needle 11 is suppressed, and the occurrence of molding defects in the needle leg portion 10re is suppressed.

[0083] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined in any way without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0084] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-192222 filed on October 31, 2024, and its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0085] 1... Stapler 2... Staple ejection section 20... First opposing section (opposing section) 21... First protrusion (protrusion) 23... Staple passage 3... Binding section 30... Second opposing section 31... Second protrusion 32... Clincher 4... Drive section 40... First link 41... Second link 42... Drive shaft 43... Motor 5... Staple feeding section 50... First locking section 51... First support shaft 52... First locking biasing section 53... First feeding biasing section 6... Forming plate 60... Staple leg forming section 61... First drive hole section 7... Driver plate 70... Extrusion section 71... Acting section 71a... Contact section 71b... Non-contact section 72... Second drive hole section 8... Ejection passage 9... Pressing section 90... Second locking section (locking section) 91...Second support shaft 92...Second locking biasing part 93...Second feed biasing part (feed biasing part) 94...Actuated part 94a...Guide part 13...Pusher 13a...Biasing member 120...Insertion part 130...Wall part

Claims

1. The machine comprises a needle ejection section for forming a needle and ejecting the formed needle, and a binding section for bending a pair of needle legs of the needle ejected by the needle ejection section, wherein the needle ejection section comprises: an opposing section facing the binding section, a protruding section projecting from the opposing section toward the binding section, a needle feeding section for feeding a connected needle, in which multiple needles are linked together, along the direction in which the multiple needles are linked, a needle passage through which the connected needle fed by the needle feeding section passes, a forming plate that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the connected needle and forms the unformed needles that extend in a linear shape connected by the connected needles, a driver plate that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the connected needle and ejects the formed needles, and an ejection passage provided on the protruding section, extending in a direction intersecting the needle passage, through which the driver plate and the formed needles ejected by the driver plate pass, A stapler comprising a driver plate and a pressing section that presses the pre-formed, separated connected staples, which are ejected by the driver plate, against the driver plate as they pass through the ejection passage.

2. The stapler according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is equipped with a locking portion that engages with the connecting needle and releases the locking.

3. The stapler according to claim 2, further comprising a feed biasing portion that biases the pressing portion along the feeding direction of the connecting needle, wherein the locking portion locks onto the connecting needle when the pressing portion moves in the feeding direction of the connecting needle, and releases the locking from the connecting needle when the pressing portion moves in the opposite direction to the feeding direction of the connecting needle.

4. The stapler according to claim 3, wherein the driver plate comprises an actuating part for operating the pressing part, and the pressing part comprises an actuated part that receives the movement of the driver plate from the actuating part.

5. The stapler according to claim 4, wherein the working portion comprises a contact portion in which the worked portion abuts along the direction of movement of the driver plate, and a non-contact portion in which the worked portion does not abut.

6. The stapler according to claim 5, wherein the contact portion is formed by the surface of the driver plate, and the non-contact portion is formed by an opening provided in the driver plate.

7. The stapler according to claim 6, wherein the actuated portion is provided with a guide portion that is pressed by the contact portion and guides the movement of the pressing portion.

8. The stapler according to claim 7, wherein the guide portion is composed of a slope along the direction of movement of the driver plate.

9. The stapler according to claim 8, wherein the guide portion is positioned to protrude into the ejection passage when the driver plate moves to a position where the non-contact portion and the guide portion face each other.

10. The stapler according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the pressing portion is operated at least twice by the driver plate before the molded staple passes through the ejection passage.

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