JP2002001678A - Stapler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stapler capable of reducing the total weight by commonizing driving sources of a head unit and a clinch unit and performing reduction of cost. SOLUTION: This stapler is furnished with a head means 18 to drive a staple, a clinch means 20 to bend both ends of the staple driven in a sheet bundle arranged against this head means, first and second moving means to respectively move the head means 18 and the clinch means 20 in the cross direction of the sheet bundle and a single driving means 36 to drive these first and second moving means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stapler capable of binding a bundle of sheets stacked in a predetermined number in a batch by using a staple.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 (1993), a stapler is composed of a head unit and a clinch unit, and a predetermined number of stacked sheets are clamped between the head unit and the clinch unit. There is known a stapler that drives and staples both ends of a needle protruding from a sheet bundle by using a clinch unit to bend inward.

[0003]

However, in the conventional stapler, a driving mechanism for driving the needle is required in the head unit, as shown in the above-mentioned publication, while the clinch unit is also required in the stapler. A drive mechanism for bending the tip of the needle is required. For this reason, conventionally, a drive motor as a drive source is provided in each of the head unit and the clinch unit.

For this reason, in a conventional stapler,
A control mechanism for controlling the operation timing of both the head unit and the clinch unit is required, which may complicate the configuration and increase the cost, and improvements have been demanded. Also, since it is necessary to control the operation timing of both the head unit and the clinch unit, it is difficult to increase the speed of the operation.
It is difficult to achieve a reduction in operation time, and improvement is also demanded from this viewpoint. Furthermore, since the drive motors are mounted on both the head unit and the clinch unit, the weight of each unit is increased, and the movement drive motor for moving each unit must be increased in size. At the same time, the cost is increased, and further improvement is demanded from this viewpoint.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the overall weight by sharing a drive source for a head unit and a clinch unit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a stapler capable of achieving cost reduction.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stapler according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems and achieving the object. Clinch means for bending both ends of the needles which are arranged oppositely and are driven into the sheet bundle,
It comprises first and second moving means for moving the head means and clinch means in the width direction of the sheet bundle, respectively, and a single driving means for driving the first and second moving means. It is characterized by:

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stapler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of Overall Configuration as Finisher]
As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the stapler 10 of this embodiment is interposed between, for example, a printer 200 as an image forming apparatus and a paper discharge tray 202, and is provided with a discharge roller pair through a discharge port 204 of the printer 200. The printed sheet (hereinafter, simply referred to as a sheet S) discharged through 206A and 206B is configured to be stapled and stapled.

That is, the stapler 10 is connected to the printer 2
The device is selectively attached as an optional device while being connected to the discharge port 204 of the 00, and is a device positioned as a so-called finisher. In this embodiment, the finisher includes a stacking table 208 in which the sheets S discharged from the discharge port 204 are sequentially stacked and the leading end is inclined below the base end. A stopper that is provided at the tip of the stacking table 208 and stops the sheet S in a state where the ends of the sheets S that have fallen on the stacking table 208 by their own weight abut on the stacking table 208. A grip for gripping a member 210 and a bundle P of sheets S (hereinafter, simply referred to as a sheet bundle P) stacked on the stacking table 208 from above and below and integrally sending the bundle to the stapler 10. The transport mechanism 212 is roughly provided. That is,
The transport direction X of the sheet S is defined by the upper surface of the stacking table 208. In this embodiment, the transport direction X
Is set in an inclined state.

The stopper member 210 has a standby position in which the upper end thereof is pulled down below the stacking surface of the stacking table 208 via a driving mechanism (not shown), and a stopper projecting above the stacking surface. It is configured to be driven forward and backward (in this embodiment, rocking). Further, the gripping / transporting mechanism 212 includes a pair of upper and lower grip rollers 214A and 214B, and the upper grip roller 214A is attached to the lower grip roller 214B so as to be able to advance and retreat along a direction perpendicular to the stacking surface. The lower grip roller 214B is controlled based on the thickness of the sheet bundle P stacked on the stacking table 208 (that is, the number of stacked sheets) based on control by a control mechanism (not shown).
It is comprised so that it may be separated from. The grip rollers 214A and 214B are moved in opposite directions so that the sheet bundle P gripped (gripped) between them can be integrally conveyed toward the stapler 10 by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). It is configured to be rotated at a high speed.

Further, the sheet bundle P stapled by the staples by the stapler 10 is dropped by its own weight by the release of the gripping by the gripping rollers 214A and 214B in the gripping / conveying mechanism 212, and is dropped onto the paper discharge tray 202. It is configured to be discharged.

[Explanation of Schematic Configuration of Stapler 10] Next, the configuration of the stapler 10, which characterizes the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the stapler 10 has a flat bottom plate 12 attached in parallel to the transport direction X, and a pair of left and right side plates 14L, 14R erected on the substrate 12. And a flat ceiling plate 16 (shown only in FIGS. 2 and 3) which is attached so as to connect the upper ends of the side plates 14L and 14R to each other and is disposed in parallel with the bottom plate 12. And side plates 14L, 14R
The ceiling plate 16 and the ceiling plate 16 constitute a frame structure.
That is, these side plates 14L and 14R constitute a part of the frame that defines the outer surface of the stapler.

The stapler 10 includes a head unit 18 and a clinch unit 20 in a state where the stapler 10 is divided into two parts. Here, the head unit 18
Separates one staple needle from the staple needle band in which many staple needles are connected in a band shape,
The separated staples are formed into a gate shape (that is, a U-shape opened downward), and the staples are inserted between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 to form a sheet bundle P sandwiched therebetween. It is configured to be driven so as to penetrate in the thickness direction. On the other hand, the clinch unit 20 is configured to receive both staples of the staples stuck into the sheet bundle P, form the two to bend inward each other, and finally bind the sheet bundle P. .

Hereinafter, various components constituting the stapler 10 will be sequentially described in detail.

[Explanation of the Guide Mechanism] The head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 having the above-described structures are synchronized with each other via the head unit guide mechanism 22 and the clinch unit guide mechanism 24, and the sheets are synchronized. The bundle P is movably supported in a movement direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X. Further, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are integrally moved and driven along the moving direction Y by the movement drive mechanism 26 described later while the relative positional relationship between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 is kept constant. It is configured as follows.

Here, the head unit guide mechanism 22 for guiding the head unit 18 is similarly shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of left and right guide blocks 28L and 28R integrally connected to the left and right of the lower portion thereof and formed with a pair of guide holes (not shown) in the front and rear, respectively, and both ends of the left and right side plates. 14L, fixed to the lower part of 14R,
A pair of front and rear guide shafts 30F, 30 which are slidably penetrated in front and rear guide holes of a pair of left and right guide blocks 28L, 28R, respectively, and extend along the movement direction Y, respectively.
R. Since the head unit guide mechanism 22 is configured as described above, the head unit 18 is guided to move only in the moving direction Y.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a clinch unit guide mechanism 24 for guiding the clinch unit 20 is integrally connected to the left and right upper portions thereof, and each of the guide holes is not shown. Are fixed to the upper portions of the left and right side plates 14L and 14R, respectively, and slide in the front and rear guide holes of the pair of left and right guide blocks 32L and 32R, respectively. It is configured to include a pair of front and rear guide shafts 34F and 34R that are freely penetrated and extend in the movement direction Y, respectively. Since the clinch unit guide mechanism 24 is configured as described above, the clinch unit 20 is guided so as to move only in the movement direction Y in a state parallel to the head unit 18.

[Description of Movement Drive Mechanism 26] As described above, the movement drive mechanism for integrally moving the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 along the movement direction Y in synchronization with each other. Reference numeral 26 denotes a moving drive motor 3 as a drive source as shown in FIGS.
6 is provided inside the left side plate 14L.

A head unit screw rod 38 for moving and driving the head unit 18 in the moving direction Y by the driving force of the moving drive motor 36.
Is disposed immediately after the rear guide shaft 30R. This head unit screw rod 38 is
Both ends are rotatably supported by the left and right side plates 14L and 14R, and the left end protrudes outward through the left side plate 14L.

A ball screw groove 40 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head unit screw rod 38. Also, in the central portion on the rear side of the head unit 18,
An engaging pin 44 screwed into the ball screw groove 40 of the head unit screw rod 38 via the mounting stay 42
Is protruding. Thus, the head unit screw rod 38 rotates around its own central axis, whereby the head unit 18 is driven to move in the moving direction Y.

On the other hand, a clinch unit screw rod 46 for moving and driving the clinch unit 20 in the movement direction Y by the driving force of the above-described movement drive motor 36 is disposed immediately behind the rear guide shaft 34R. Have been. The clinch unit screw rod 46 is formed so as to have the same diameter as the head unit screw rod 38, and has both ends thereof on the left and right side plates 14.
L and 14R are rotatably supported, and the left end protrudes outward through the left side plate 14L.

Further, a ball screw groove 48 formed with the same pitch (lead) and the same spiral direction as the above-described ball screw groove 40 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the clinch knit screw rod 46 by screwing. I have. An engagement pin 52 is screwed into the ball screw groove 48 of the screw rod 46 for the clinch unit via a mounting stay 50 at the rear central portion of the clinch unit 20.
In this way, the clinch unit screw rod 46 rotates around its own central axis, whereby the clinch unit 20 is driven to move in the moving direction Y.

[Description of Moving Driving Force Transmission Mechanism 54] Here, the driving force of the above-described moving driving motor 36 is transmitted via the moving driving force transmitting mechanism 54 to the screw rod 38 for the head unit and the clinch unit. It is simultaneously transmitted to the screw rod 46 at the same speed, and both are rotated in the same direction at the same rotation speed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the drive power transmitting mechanism 54 includes a drive gear 56 coaxially fixed to the motor shaft of the drive motor 36 and a protruding end of the lower screw rod 38 for the head unit. A driven gear 58 coaxially fixed to the driving gear 56, a large-diameter gear portion 60A meshed with the driving gear 56, and a small-diameter gear portion 60B meshed with the driven gear 58. And a reduction gear 60 integrally provided coaxially. In this manner, the head unit screw rod 38 is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction with the driving of the movement drive motor 36.

On the other hand, a driving pulley pulley 62 is further coaxially fixed to the projecting end of the head unit screw rod 38, and a driven pulley 64 is attached to the projecting end of the clinch unit screw rod 46 above. It is coaxially fixed, and an endless timing belt 66 is stretched between the driving pulley 62 and the driven pulley 64. Note that a tension roller 68 is elastically in contact with the timing belt 66 so that the tension of the tension roller 68 is constant. Here, the driven pulley 64
Are formed with the same diameter so that they rotate at the same speed as the drive pulley 62. In this way, the head unit screw rod 38 and the clinch unit screw rod 46 are
As a result, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 rotate at the same speed and in the same direction.

That is, in this embodiment, a staple position setting mechanism for setting an arbitrary position of the sheet bundle P as a staple position is constituted by the gripping / conveying mechanism 212 and the moving drive mechanism 26 described above. Will be.

[Description of Head Unit 18] Next, the structure of the head unit 18 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The head unit 18 has a head unit housing 70 in which the pair of left and right guide blocks 28L and 28R and the mounting stay 42 are integrally mounted at a lower portion.
Is provided with a head 74 pivotally supported around a support shaft 72 located on the downstream side in the transport direction X of the sheet bundle P. A staple needle band cartridge 76 is detachably mounted on the head 74. The staple needle band (not shown) included in the staple needle band cartridge 76 is used for one staple. At the same time, the both ends of the staple are bent, and the bent staples are driven toward the sheet bundle P sandwiched between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, and both ends of the staple project into the clinch unit 20. It is configured to be. Since the configuration of such a head unit 18 is well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The upper surface of the head 74 functions as a lower guide surface for guiding the lower surface of the sheet bundle P carried between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20.

As described above, the head 74 of the lower guide surface is biased such that the upstream end of the lower guide surface in the transport direction of the sheet bundle P is lower than the downstream end as shown in FIG. Between the head standby position set so as to be in the inclined state and the staple driving position in which the lower guide surface is set to be substantially horizontal by the head driving mechanism 78 described later. It is configured to be.

[Description of Head Driving Mechanism 78] As shown in FIG. 8, the head driving mechanism 78 includes a head driving shaft 80 disposed so as to penetrate the head unit housing 70 along the moving direction Y. Have. The head drive shaft 80 is formed in a rectangular cross section. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, both ends of the head drive shaft 80 are rotatably supported by the left and right side plates 14L and 14R, and the right end thereof. The portion penetrates the right side plate 14R and protrudes outward.

A pair of left and right head drive gears 82L and 82R are attached to the head drive shaft 80 so as to rotate integrally with the head drive shaft 80 in a state adjacent to the left and right outer sides of the head unit housing 70, respectively. That is, the pair of left and right head drive gears 82L and 82R are fitted to the outer periphery of the head drive shaft 80 so as to complementarily fit in a non-rotatable manner, and are provided so as to penetrate the head unit housing 70. The left and right ends of the sleeve 84 are integrally fixed respectively. These head drive gears 82L,
A pair of left and right head driven gears 88L and 88R rotatably supported on the left and right outer surfaces of the head unit housing 70 via a pair of left and right intermediate gears 86L and 86R respectively mesh with the 82R. .

Head drive pins 90L and 90R are implanted on the outer peripheral surfaces of the driven gears 88L and 88R, respectively. On the other hand, a pair of right and left head drive arms 92L and 94R swing around the support shafts 94L and 94R provided substantially at the center of the driven gears 88L and 88R, respectively, in a partially overlapped state. It is supported in a free state. These head drive arms 92L, 92R
The above-mentioned head drive pin 9 is formed at one end portion formed in a “<” shape and overlapping with the driven gears 88L, 88R.
0L and 90R respectively fit the head drive cam grooves 96L,
96R are respectively formed, and these one ends are supported by a support shaft 94L,
Elongated grooves 100L, 100R into which head driven pins 98L, 98R respectively implanted on the left and right outer surfaces of the head 74 are fitted at the other end located on the opposite side with the 94R therebetween.
Are formed respectively.

Since the head driving mechanism 78 is configured as described above, the staple driving force transmitting mechanism 10 described later is used.
2, the head drive shaft 80 is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing based on the driving force of the staple operation drive motor 104, so that a predetermined time has elapsed after starting (that is, after rotating by a predetermined angle). , The head 74 is a support shaft 72
After being swung clockwise in the drawing from the head standby position to the staple driving position and held at the staple driving position for a predetermined time, the staple is moved from the staple driving position to the head standby position in the drawing. It will be swung counterclockwise. Further, in a state where the head 74 is brought to the staple driving position, the details are not shown, but the staple needle (not shown) housed in the cartridge 76 with the rotation of the head drive shaft 80 described above. Separate one staple from the band,
A staple driving operation is performed in which both ends of the staple are bent, and the staples having both ends bent are driven into the sheet bundle P held between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20.

[Description of Clinch Unit 20] Next, the structure of the above-mentioned clinch unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The clinch unit 20 has a clinch unit housing 106 on which the above-mentioned pair of left and right guide blocks 32L, 32R and the mounting stay 50 are integrally mounted. The clinch unit housing 106 includes a sheet bundle P. An anvil 110 pivotally supported around a support shaft 108 located on the downstream side in the transport direction X is disposed. An anvil plate 112 for holding down the upper surface of the gripped sheet bundle P is attached to a bottom portion of the anvil 110. Inside the anvil plate 112, the anvil plate 112 is also slidably movable around the support shaft 108 described above. The clinch frame 114 is pivotally supported.

A clinch lever 116 is fixed to the lower surface of the tip of the clinch frame 114. still,
This clinch frame 114 has, as shown in FIG.
A support shaft 118 is attached so as to penetrate it along the movement direction Y, and a clinch frame 114 is provided between the support shaft 118 and the clinch unit housing 106, that is, a support shaft. A coil spring 120 for urging the clockwise rotation around 108 is stretched.

Here, the support shaft 118 is provided with recesses 122 formed on upper edges of both sides of the anvil 110, respectively.
L, 122R and these recesses 122
L and 122R are set so as to engage with the upstream edge in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P of L and 122R. As a result, in a state where no external force acts on the anvil 110 and the clinch frame 114, the anvil 110 is supported by the urging force of the coil spring 120, similarly to the clinch frame 114, by the contact of the support shaft 118 with the anvil 110. The rotation is urged clockwise around the axis 108.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a pair of left and right wings 124L, 124R with which the tips at both ends of the staple needle driven from the head 74 abut, respectively, at the tip of the anvil 110 described above. Are nested with each other, and are pivotally supported around support shafts 126L and 126R. Here, the left and right wings 124L, 124
R has a clinch lever 116 extending from each upper end.
Hold levers 128L and 128R that bend so as to embrace the left and right ends thereof are integrally attached. As a result, the left and right wings 124L, 124R
In accordance with the vertical movement of the clinch lever 116, each lower surface (clinch surface) is at a predetermined angle (for example,
The swinging drive is performed between a clinch standby position inclined by about 35 degrees) and a clinch operation position in which the respective lower surfaces (clinch surfaces) are in a horizontal state.

That is, both wings 124L, 124R are
In the clinch standby position, each hold arm 12
With the 8L and 128R locked on the upper surface of the clinch lever 116, the respective angular positions are maintained.
In this state, a predetermined gap is formed between the upper portions of the wings 124L and 124R and the lower surface of the clinch lever 116.

The lower surface of the anvil plate 112 functions as an upper guide surface for guiding the upper surface of the sheet bundle P carried between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20.

On the other hand, as described above, the anvil 110
As shown in FIG. 8, an anvil standby position of the upper guide surface, which is set such that an upstream end in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P is inclined upward from a downstream end, The upper guide surface is swingably driven by a clinch drive mechanism 130 to be described later between an anvil stop position where the upper guide surface is set to be substantially horizontal.
The clinch drive mechanism 130 also drives the above-described clinch lever 116 up and down, so that the left and right wings 124L and 124R are swingably driven between the clinch standby position and the clinch operation position. It is configured.

[Description of Clinch Driving Mechanism 130] As shown in FIG. 8, the clinch driving mechanism 130 includes a clinch driving shaft 132 disposed so as to penetrate the clinch unit housing 106 along the moving direction Y. Have. The clinch drive shaft 132 is formed in a rectangular cross section. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, both ends of the clinch drive shaft 132 have left and right side plates 14L, 14L.
While being rotatably supported by R, the right end thereof protrudes outward through the right side plate 14R.

A pair of right and left clinch drive gears 134L, 134L are provided on the clinch drive shaft 132 so as to be adjacent to the left and right outer sides of the clinch unit housing 106, respectively.
134R is attached so as to rotate integrally. That is, the pair of left and right clinch drive gears 134L, 134L
4R are integrally and non-rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the clinch drive shaft 132 so as to be fitted non-rotatably, and are integrally formed on the left and right ends of a connection sleeve 136 disposed so as to penetrate the clinch unit housing 106. Fixed. These clinch drive gears 134L and 134R include:
Through a pair of left and right intermediate gears 138L and 138R, respectively.
A pair of left and right clinch driven gears 138L, 138R disposed outside the left and right sides of the clinch unit housing 106
Are engaged with each other. These left and right clinch driven gears 1
40L and 140R are clinch unit housings 10
6 is coaxially fixed to both ends of a support shaft 142 which is rotatably supported while penetrating through along the movement direction Y.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of left and right anvil cams 144L and 144R are fixed to both ends of the support shaft 142. A pair of left and right anvil followers 146L, 146R are rotatably supported on the inner surface of the anvil 110, respectively, in a state capable of engaging with the respective outer peripheral surfaces (cam surfaces) respectively corresponding to the both anvil cams 144L, 144R. . Each anvil cam 144L,
The cam shape of the cam surface of 144R is such that the anvil 110 to which the anvil followers 146L and 146R respectively engaged are held at the anvil standby position for a predetermined angle from the start of rotation of the anvil follower.
20 is rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft 108 against the biasing force of 20 to bring it to the staple-stapling position, held here, and after the staple-stapling operation and the clinching operation are completed, return to the anvil standby position. It is specified to return. In addition, with the rotation of the anvil 110 from the anvil standby position to the staple driving position, the support shaft 11 is rotated.
The clinch frame 114 connected via the pin 8 is once rotated from the clinch standby position to the intermediate standby position.

The above-mentioned support shaft 142 has
A clinch cam 148 is fixed at the center.
The clinch follower 150 is rotatably supported by the clinch frame 114 so as to be opposed to the clinch cam 148 and engageable with the outer peripheral surface (cam surface) thereof.
The cam shape of the cam surface of the clinch cam 148 is such that the clinch frame 114, to which the clinch follower 150 engaging with the clinch cam 148 is attached, is moved from the start of rotation to immediately after the stapling operation is started or the clinch standby position or It is held at the intermediate standby position, and thereafter, is turned counterclockwise around the support shaft 108 against the urging force of the coil spring 120J to bring it to the clinch operation position, where it is held, and the stapling operation for stapling is performed. It is defined to return to the clinch standby position with the end.

FIG. 15 shows the correlation between the above-described clinching operation, anvil operation, and stapling operation, which will be described later in detail as a stapling operation.

[Staple driving force transmission mechanism 102] Next, the head driving mechanism 78 and the clinch mechanism mechanism 130
At the same time, the staple driving force transmission mechanism 10 for transmitting the driving force of the staple operation driving motor 104
2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Here, the staple operation drive motor 10
Reference numeral 4 is attached to the inner side surface of the right side plate 14R, and the motor shaft of the motor 4 extends through the right side plate 14R and is taken out to the right outside.

On the other hand, this staple driving force transmission mechanism 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a drive gear 152 coaxially fixed to the motor shaft of the staple operation drive motor 104, and a large-diameter intermediate gear rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the right side plate 14R and meshing with the drive gear 152. 154, a head transmission gear 156 detachably mounted coaxially on a protruding end of the head drive shaft 80 protruding outward from the right side plate 14R, and meshing with a lower portion of the intermediate gear 154; The shaft 132 has a clinch transmission gear 158 that is coaxially fixed to a protruding end protruding outward from the right side plate 14R and meshes with an upper portion of the intermediate gear 154.

Here, the head transmission gear 156 is connected to the head drive shaft 8 in order to accurately synchronize the operations of the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, as will be described later.
0, and is fixed to the head drive shaft 80 via a fixture (not shown) such as a snap ring in an operating state. Also,
Head drive shaft 80 and clinch drive shaft 13
In order to complete the staple driving operation in the head unit 18 and the clinching unit 20 in one accurate rotation of each of
6 and the clinch transmission gear 158 are configured to have the same pitch circle and the same number of teeth, that is, to have the same module.

As described above, the staple driving force transmission mechanism 1
02, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 can be simultaneously driven by using a single staple operation drive motor 104. As a result, the staple driving for stapling can be performed by one drive motor 104. The operation can be executed in a state where the clinch operation and the clinch operation are accurately synchronized with each other. In this way, both cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the driving force is transmitted to the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 outside the right side plate 14R.
As a result, there is nobody obstructing the conveyance of the sheet bundle P in the conveyance path of the sheet bundle P defined inside the both eyes 14L, 14R. By moving the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 to any position along the moving direction Y, the staples can be driven at any position of the sheet bundle P. In other words, the sheet can be stuck at any binding position. The bundle P can be bound, and the usability is greatly improved.

In this embodiment, the head unit 1 and the clinch unit are provided with drive motors, respectively.
8 and the clinch unit 20 are configured so that no drive source is attached. As a result, when moving the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, the moving load is reduced, and when using the same moving motor as before, the moving speed can be set faster, thereby shortening the operation time. Therefore, the workability can be improved.

[Description of stapling operation] The stapling operation of the stapler 10 configured as described above by driving the staples into the sheet bundle P, that is, the stapling operation, will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 14E. I do.

Description of the control unit 160 The stapling operation of the stapler 10 is configured to be executed based on the control operation of the control unit 160 disposed on the bottom plate 12 described above. Although not shown in detail, a CPU for overall control and an R in which a control program is set and stored in advance.
OM and RAM in which threshold values, variable control values, etc. are stored in advance.
And various sensors. In this embodiment, the actuator to be controlled by the control unit 160 is a moving drive motor 36.
And two drive motors for the staple operation drive motor 104 and a drive source for rotationally driving the grip roller pairs 214A and 214B.

Although not shown, a rotary encoder is attached to the motor shaft of the drive motor 36. Based on a detection output from the rotary encoder, the control unit 160 controls the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20. The current position along the moving direction Y can be recognized. Although not shown in detail, the control unit 160 includes a pair of grip rollers 214A and 214
The current position of the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 along the transport direction X can be recognized based on the information indicating the rotation amount from the reference position (not shown) of B. As a result, the control unit 160 appropriately defines the movement drive amount of the grip roller pair 214A, 214B and the movement drive amount of the movement drive motor 36,
A portion corresponding to a desired binding position in the sheet bundle P can be moved and stopped at a position exactly corresponding to the staple driving position defined between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20. Will be.

Here, the above-mentioned reference position may be the stop position of the sheet bundle P defined by the above-described stopper member 210, or an arbitrary position along the transport direction X between this stop position and the staple driving position. , A passage detection sensor (not shown) may be provided, and the leading end of the sheet bundle P may be at the position when the passage detection sensor is operated.

Description of the Standby State FIG. 11A shows the standby state in the stapling operation.
12A, 13A, and 14A, the head 74 of the head unit 18 is held at the standby position, the anvil 110 of the clinch unit 20 is held at the anvil standby position, and the clinch frame 114 is moved to the clinch standby position. And is set as prescribed.

--Description of Positioning Operation of Sheet Bundle P-- In a state where the stapler 10 is in such a standby state, the control unit 160 determines that a predetermined number of sheets S have been stacked on the stacking table 208. The amount of rotation of the pair of rollers 214A and 214B and the amount of rotation of the drive motor 36 are controlled so that the desired binding position of the sheet bundle P is brought to a position exactly facing the stapling position. The movement of the sheet bundle P is controlled. When the control unit 160 determines that the desired binding position of the sheet bundle P has been brought to a position exactly facing the stapling position for stapling, the control unit 160 drives the grip roller pairs 214A and 214B and the drive motor 36 for movement. It stops and holds the sheet bundle P at its stop position.

After that, the control unit 160 activates the staple operation drive motor 104 to operate the left and right head driven gears 88.
The L and 88 furnace pre-support shafts 142 are both driven to rotate exactly one rotation (ie, 360 degrees). Such a head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 13
With one rotation of 2, the stapling operation is performed as shown in FIG.

That is, first, in the head unit 18, the head 74 is rotated with the rotation of the head drive shaft 80.
Is gradually rotated clockwise around the support shaft 72 from the head standby position to the staple driving position. Here, the head 74 is set so as to be brought to the staple stapling position when the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88R are rotated by about 190 degrees from the angular position defining the standby position.

On the other hand, in the clinch unit 20,
With the rotation of the clinch drive shaft 132, the support shaft 142 is moved from the angular position defining the standby position to the first about 4 degrees.
Only at 0 degrees, anvil 110 and clinch frame 11
4 are held at the anvil standby position and the clinch standby position, respectively, and the anvil cams 144L and 144R move the anvil followers 146 as the support shaft 142 rotates from the angular position of about 40 degrees to the angular position of about 55 degrees.
L and 146R, respectively, and the anvil 110
From the anvil standby position to the stapling position for staples, it is rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft 108. Further, in response to the rotation of the anvil 110, the clinch frame 114 is rotated from the clinch standby position to the intermediate standby position.

As a result, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12B, and FIG.
B, the anvil plate 112 is brought to a substantially horizontal anvil stop state, and this state is maintained until the stapling operation is completed.

Here, as is clear from the above description,
For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the upper guide surface of the head 74 and the lower guide surface of the anvil 110 are higher and lower in the transport direction of the sheet bundle P than the downstream portion in the transport direction X. The standby posture is set in a so-called wedge shape that is widely opened. As a result, even if the leading end of the sheet bundle P is in the “separated” state due to the different curl directions, the head 74 and the anvil 1
10 could be inserted. As described above, in this embodiment, the “separation” occurs at the leading end of the sheet bundle P.
Even if there is, the tip is effectively prevented from jamming between the head 74 and the anvil 110, and the reliability of the stapling operation is improved.

When the sheet bundle P is moved to a predetermined stapling position, the upper surface of the sheet bundle P is regulated by the anvil plate 112 to the stapling position. In other words, the sheet bundle P
Is brought to the predetermined stapling position, the lower surface of the sheet bundle P is not yet supported by the upper surface of the head 74, and is thus not regulated to the stapling position. Becomes

Thereafter, from the anvil stop state shown in FIGS. 11B, 12B, and 13B, the left and right head driven gears 88L, 88B and the support shaft 142 move from the angular position of about 55 degrees to the angular position of about 190 degrees. In response to the further rotation, the anvil 110 is held at the staple stapling position, the clinch frame 114 is held at the intermediate standby position, and the head 74 is gradually rotated toward the staple stapling position. Will be done.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11C, FIG. 12C, and FIG. 13C, the staple stapling state is achieved by rotating the head 74 to the horizontal state and bringing it to the staple stapling position. become. That is, in this stapling state, the sheet bundle P is firmly held between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, and is brought into a non-displaceable clamp state.

From this stapling state, the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88B and the support shaft 14
2 is rotationally driven from the angular position of about 190 degrees to the angular position of about 215 degrees, so that the head unit 18 starts the stapling operation by the head 74 held at the stapling position. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, in the clinch unit 20, the clinch cam 148 contacts the clinch follower 150, and the clinch frame 114 is rotated from the intermediate standby position to the clinch operation position. Thereby, the clinch state is achieved as shown in FIGS. 11D, 12D, and 13D.

Detailed description of the staple stapling operation and clinch operation-Here, the staple stapling operation and clinch operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14E.

First, in a state where the clinch frame 114 is in the clinch standby position or the intermediate standby position, that is, in a state where the clinch lever 116 attached to the clinch frame 114 is in the standby position, as shown in FIG. The pair of wings 124L, 124R are connected to the hold levers 128L, 128R, respectively, which are lifted upward by the upper surface of the clinch lever 116 at the standby position, and as shown in FIG.
The lower surface defined as the 4R clinch surface is made to stand by at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, in this embodiment, at an angle of about 35 degrees. In this standby state, the upper ends of the wings 124L and 124R are separated from the lower surface of the clinch lever 116 by a predetermined distance.

As described above, from the standby state shown in FIG. 14A,
As described above, when the staple driving operation is started, the staple formed into a substantially U-shape from the head unit 18 located below is moved to the head unit 18.
And the clinch unit 20 is driven from below toward the sheet bundle P clamped. Both ends (both upper ends) of the staple needle driven in this way
Escapes upward from the sheet bundle P and comes into contact with the respective clinch surfaces of the pair of left and right wings 124L and 124R from below.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, both wings 124L and 124R are pushed upward by the staples and pivot upward (open), and their upper ends contact the lower surface of the clinch lever 116. As a result, the turning operation of both wings 124L, 124R is prohibited, in other words, the opening operation of both wings 124L, 124R is stopped. Thereby, the staple needle driven further upwards, as shown in FIG.
When the staple driving state is completed, both ends are bent along the inclined clinch surfaces of the corresponding wings 124L and 124R.

When the staple driving operation (ie, the staple driving operation) is completed, the clinch operation is started. In this clinch operation, as described above, the clinch drive shaft 132
With the rotation of, the clinch lever 116 starts descending from the standby position. With the lowering of the clinch lever 116, as shown in FIG.
The 4R rotates so as to be pushed down, in other words, is closed. Both wings 124L, 124R
Of the staples protruding from the sheet bundle P in response to the pushing of the wings 124L, 124
It will be bent further inward by the clinch surface of R.

As a result, in a state where the clinch lever 116 is lowered from the standby position to the clinch operation position, FIG.
, The respective clinch surfaces of both wings 124L, 124R are brought to a substantially horizontal state, whereby
The tips of the staples protruding from the sheet bundle P are bent so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the sheet bundle P, and the clinch operation is completed.

The sheet bundle P firmly clamped between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 in this manner is integrally bound by the staples, and
It becomes a clinch state. In addition, such a clinch state,
In order to stably hold even after the end of the clinch operation, the clinch state is set to the support shaft 1
42 is maintained until it is rotationally driven from the angular position of about 215 degrees to the angular position of about 255 degrees.

Description of the discharging operation The sheet bundle P integrally bound by the stapling needles as described above is such that the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88B and the support shaft 142 are moved from the angular position of about 255 degrees by about 2 degrees.
The clamped state is released by being rotationally driven to the angle position of 80 degrees. Specifically, when the rotation of the support shaft 142 is further started from the angular position of about 255 degrees, first, in the head unit 18, the head 74 is returned from the stapling position to the standby position, and the clinch unit. At 20, the clinch lever 116 starts to be raised from the clinch operation position toward the clinch standby position.

As a result, the sheet bundle P integrally bound by the staples begins to be released from the clamped state by the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, and the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88B and the support shaft 142 When is rotated to an angle position of about 300 degrees, the clamped state is completely released, and the apparatus is brought into a dischargeable state. Note that the anvil 110 is slightly delayed from when the clinch lever 116 starts the return operation from the clinch operation position toward the clinch standby position, and the support shaft 142 is moved from the angular position of about 280 degrees to the angular position of about 300 degrees. In response to the movement, the staple is driven to return from the stapling position to the anvil standby position.

As described above, the clinch lever 116 and the anvil 110 are returned to their respective standby positions when the support shaft 142 is rotated to the angle position of about 300 degrees. Reference numeral 74 is set so that when the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88R are rotated to an angular position of about 360 degrees, they return to their standby positions.

It should be noted that the control unit 160 is configured so that the left and right head driven gears 88L and 88B and the support shaft 142
At the time when the angle exceeds the 00-degree angle position, it is determined that the clamped state of the sheet bundle P integrally bound by the staples has been substantially released, and the grip roller 21
4A and 214B to drive the sheet bundle P in the conveying direction X.
Is further conveyed along the paper discharge tray 202 and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 202.

Thus, the control unit 160
By controlling the drive of the stapling operation drive motor 104, the head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 132 are controlled.
With the left and right head driven gears 88 synchronized with each other.
By rotating the L, 88B and the support shaft 142 exactly one rotation from the 0-degree angle position to the 360-degree angle position, a series of stapling operations can be reliably performed.

[Description of Adjustment Operation] As described in detail above,
In this embodiment, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are used to perform the stapling operation.
Drive motor 1 for stapling operation for driving
04 is provided. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately synchronize the operations of the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20. In other words, the phases of the operation timings shown in FIG. 15 must be accurately defined.

For this reason, in this embodiment, as described above, the head transmission gear 156 is detachably attached to the head drive shaft 80.
In the operating state, it is set so as to be non-rotatably attached to the head drive shaft 80 via a fixture such as a snap ring. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, with the head transmission gear 156 detached from the head drive shaft 80, the mechanical connection between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 is released, and the head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 132 are rotatable independently of each other.

On the other hand, on both sides of the head unit housing 70 of the head unit 18, head positioning holes 162L and 162R for defining an initial position are formed.
In the head driven gears 88L and 88R, head through holes 164 and 164R are formed at portions where the head 74 is accurately positioned at the standby position and communicates with the head positioning holes 162L and 162R, respectively. . A head positioning rod 166 is provided so that the head positioning holes 162L and 162R and the head communication holes 164L and 164R can communicate with each other and collectively penetrate them.

On the other hand, clinch positioning holes 168L and 168R for defining the initial position are formed on both sides of the clinch unit housing 106 of the clinch unit 20, and the anvil 110 and the clinch lever are formed in the clinch driven gears 140L and 140R. When both of the clinch positioning holes 1 are correctly positioned at the standby position,
Clinch through-holes 170L and 170R are formed in portions that face and communicate with 68L and 168R, respectively. A clinch positioning rod 172 is provided so that the clinch positioning holes 168L and 168R and the clinch communication holes 170L and 170R can communicate with each other in a collective manner.

Since the adjusting mechanism is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 16, with the head transmission gear 156 pulled out from the head drive shaft 80, the head positioning rod 166 is moved to the head positioning hole 162L, 1
By adjusting the rotational position of the head drive shaft 80 so that the head drive shaft 80 passes through the head communication shaft 62R and the head communication holes 164L and 164R collectively, the 0 degree angular position of the head drive shaft 80 It will be accurately defined in a state independent of the angular position. Also, the clinch positioning rod 172 is provided with the clinch positioning holes 168L and 168R and the clinch through-hole 17.
By adjusting the rotational position of the clinch drive shaft 132 so that the OCL and 170R are collectively penetrated,
The 0-degree angular position of the clinch drive shaft 132 is
It is accurately defined in a state independent of the angular position of the head drive shaft 80.

As described above, the initial position of the head unit 18, that is, the standby position of the head 74 when the head drive shaft 80 is at the 0-degree angle position is
The initial position in the clinch unit 20, which is fixedly maintained by the above-described head positioning rod 166, that is, the standby position of the anvil 110 and the clinch lever 116 when the clinch drive shaft 132 is at the 0-degree angle position, is as described above. The clinch positioning rods 172 are fixedly terminated. As a result, even when the following head transmission gear 156 is assembled, the head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 132 are stably held at the angular position without any rotation from the 0 degree angular position. Become.

On the other hand, as described above, the head unit 18
When the operation of defining the initial position in the clinch unit 20 is completed, the head transmission gear 156 is attached to the head drive shaft 80 while the head positioning rod 166 and the clinch positioning rod 172 are left in a penetrating state, and fixed with a fixture. Thus, the driving force of the staple driving motor 104 is simultaneously transmitted to the head transmission gear 156 and the clinch transmission gear 158, and these can be rotated in a synchronized state.

Here, the head positioning rod 166 and the clinch positioning rod 172 are
Needless to say, after 6 is fixed to the head drive shaft 80, it is extracted from the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, respectively.

In the above description, the head transmission gear 156 has been described as being detached from the head drive shaft 80 in order to release the mechanical connection between the head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 132. However, without being limited to such a configuration, for example, the clinch transmission gear 158 may be connected to the clinch drive shaft 1.
32, or the intermediate gear 1
54 may be detached from the staple driving force transmission mechanism 102, or the drive gear 152 may be detached from the motor shaft of the staple operation drive motor 104. Further, a clutch is provided in any one of the gears constituting the staple driving section transmission mechanism 102, and the driving force transmission state of the clutch is intermittently connected.
Alternatively, the mechanical connection with the P.32 may be interrupted.

[Explanation of Modifications] It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the staples driven from the head unit 18 are described so that both ends thereof are bent through the movable wings 124L and 124R provided in the clinch unit 20. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and although not shown, the anvil plate 1
Alternatively, both ends of the staple may be bent through bending grooves formed in the lower surface of the staple 12.

In the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the head unit 18 is moved downward and the clinch unit 2 is moved downward.
However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and is applicable to a configuration in which the head unit 18 is disposed above and the clinch unit 20 is disposed below. It goes without saying that you can do it.

Various modifications of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the stapling operation drive motor 104 is described as being attached to the left side plate 14L constituting the stapler 10 housing. The attachment position may be anywhere within the stapler 10. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 as a first modification, the staple operation drive motor 104 is housed in the head unit housing 70 of the head unit 18. You may comprise.

In this case, the stapler drive motor 104
The driving gear 152 fixed to the motor shaft of the first motor directly meshes with the head driving gear 82R to directly transmit the driving force thereto, and the driving force of the motor 104 is controlled by the head driving shaft 80 (the first driving shaft 82). In a modified example, it functions as a driving force transmission shaft), a head transmission gear 156, an intermediate gear 154, a clinch transmission gear 158,
The data is sequentially transmitted to the clinch unit 20 via the clinch drive shaft 132.

By configuring the first modification in this way, the outer size of the stapler 10 can be set smaller than that of the above-described embodiment.

As shown as a second modified example in FIGS. 19 and 20, the stapling drive motor 104 is connected to the clinch unit housing 1 of the clinch unit 20.
06 may be accommodated. In this case, the drive gear 152 fixed to the motor shaft of the stapler drive motor 104 directly meshes with the clinch drive gear 134R, and directly transmits the drive force to the clinch drive gear 134R. A head unit is sequentially provided via a drive shaft 132 (which functions as a drive force transmission shaft in this second modification), a clinch transmission gear 158, an intermediate gear 154, a head transmission gear 156, and a head drive shaft 80. 18 will be transmitted.

By configuring the second modification in this manner, the outer size of the stapler 10 can be set smaller than that of the above-described embodiment, as in the first modification. become.

In the above-described embodiment, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are moved in the moving direction Y.
Drive mechanism 2 for integrally moving and driving along
6 has been described as including the head unit screw rod 38 and the clinch unit screw rod 46, and the engaging pins 44 and 52 fitted into the respective ball screw grooves 40 and 48. Without being limited to such a configuration, a wire type may be used as shown in FIG. 21 as a third modification.

Specifically, in the third modification,
As shown in FIG. 21, a take-up pulley 174 is coaxially fixed to the end of the motor shaft of the movement drive motor 36, and an endless wire 178 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the take-up pulley 174. Along with, for a few turns,
It is wound. This endless wire 178
It is wound around a total of seven idle pulleys 176A to 176G. That is, the first idle pulley 176
A is disposed immediately above the take-up pulley 174, and the second
Idle pulley 176B is the first idle pulley 1
The right side plate 14R is located on the upper right side of the upper end of the right side plate 14R. Also, the third idle pulley 1
76C is disposed below the first idle pulley 176A and immediately to the left of the upper end of the left side plate 14L.

Further, the fourth idle pulley 176D is
The fifth idle pulley 176E is located below the third idle pulley 176C and below the lower end of the left side plate 14L and below the second idle pulley 176B. It is disposed on the right side of the idle pulley 176E. The sixth idle pulley 186F
Is directly above the fifth idle pulley 176E,
The seventh idle pulley 176G is disposed on the lower right side of the lower end of the right side plate 14R.
It is disposed to the left of F and directly below the take-up pulley 174.

Here, the head unit 18 is connected to the endless wire 17 through the head unit connecting member 180.
8 is fixedly connected. The clinch unit 20 is similarly fixedly connected to the endless wire 178 via a clinch unit connector 182.

Since the third modified example is configured as described above, the driving motor 36 for movement moves in one direction,
The head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 both move to the left in the figure, and both move to the right in the figure in response to driving in the opposite direction. As a result, according to the third modification, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, the screw rod 38 for the head unit and the screw rod 46 for the clinch unit, and the respective ball screw grooves 40,
48 without having the engagement pins 44 and 52 to be fitted to
Take-up pulley 174 and idle pulleys 176A-1
A similar effect can be achieved with a relatively simple configuration using the 76G and the endless wire 178.

In the embodiment described above, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are moved in the moving direction Y.
Drive mechanism 2 for integrally moving and driving along
6 has been described as including a drive motor 36 for movement as a common drive source. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may drive independently.

Specifically, in the fourth modification,
As shown in FIG. 22, the head unit 18 is moved in the movement direction Y
A driving motor 36a for moving the head unit is provided as a driving source for moving and driving along the
The drive force of the drive motor 36a includes a drive gear 56a attached to the motor shaft of the drive motor 36a, a large-diameter gear portion 60aA meshing with the drive gear 56a
And a reduction gear 60a having a small-diameter gear portion 60aB meshing with a drive pulley 62a fixed to the left end of the head unit.

On the other hand, in the fourth modification, the clinch unit moving drive motor 3 serves as a driving source for moving and driving the clinch unit 20 in the moving direction Y.
6b. The driving force of the driving motor 36b is controlled by a driving gear 5 attached to the motor shaft of the driving motor 36b.
6b and a reduction gear 60b having a small-diameter gear portion 60bB engaged with a driving pulley 62b fixed to the left end of the clinch unit screw rod 46 and a large-diameter gear portion 60bA meshed with the large-diameter gear portion 60bA. It is configured to be transmitted to the rod 46. Although not shown, the head unit moving drive motor 36a and the clinch unit moving drive motor 36b are both connected to the control unit 160, so that the drive control is performed so that they move in the same direction in a state synchronized with each other. It is set to be.

In the fourth modification, the sheet bundle P can be closed at an arbitrary position and the head unit 1 can be closed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.
8 and the effect that the drive source of the clinch unit 20 can be shared.

In the above-described embodiment, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are moved in the moving direction Y.
Drive mechanism 2 for integrally moving and driving along
6 and the drive source for binding (stapling) the sheet bundle P have been described as being provided separately from each other. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 as a fifth modified example, both may be configured to have a common drive motor.

Specifically, in the fifth modification,
As shown in FIG. 23, a driving source for moving the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 and a head unit 18
A drive motor 184 is provided as a common drive source as a staple drive source in the clinch unit 20. The drive motor 184 is configured such that the motor shafts 190 protrude from both ends, respectively.
A first portion which can transmit the driving force of the driving motor 184 to the head unit screw rod 38 and the clinch unit screw rod 46 intermittently at the left portion of the motor shaft 190 relative to the driving motor 184 in the drawing. A clutch 186 is provided.

On the other hand, the driving motor 1 of the motor shaft 190
84, the second clutch 1 capable of intermittently transmitting the driving force of the driving motor 184 to the head driving shaft 80 and the clinch driving shaft 132.
88 are interposed. The drive gear 56 described above is coaxially fixed to the left end of the motor shaft 190 in the figure, and the drive gear 152 is coaxially fixed to the right end of the motor shaft 190 in the figure.

In the fifth modification configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 24, when the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are driven to move along the moving direction Y, the first clutch 186 Is connected, and the second
The clutch 188 is set to be in a non-coupled state. As a result, the driving force of the drive motor 184 is transmitted only to the head unit screw rod 38 and the clinch unit screw rod 46, and is not transmitted to the head drive shaft 80 and the clinch drive shaft 132. As a result, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 can be moved to any position along the movement direction Y by the driving force of the driving motor 184.

When the stapling operation is performed by the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20,
The first clutch 186 is set to a non-connected state, and the second clutch 188 is set to a connected state. Thus, the driving force of the driving motor 184 is transmitted only to the head driving shaft 80 and the clinch driving shaft 132, and is not transmitted to the head unit screw rod 38 and the clinch unit screw rod 46. As a result, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 can execute a predetermined stapling operation by the driving force of the driving motor 184.

As described in detail above, since the fifth modification is configured, the stapler 10 as a whole is
It is only necessary to provide the drive motor 184 as one drive source, so that the configuration can be further simplified and the cost can be reduced by minimizing the number of motors to be provided. It becomes possible.

In the fifth modification, the stapling operation cannot be performed during the moving operation of the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20, but the stapling operation cannot be performed during the moving operation. Since it is not performed, there is no substantial problem in sharing the drive source.

In the above-described embodiment, the head 74 provided in the head unit 18 is supported so as to be movable (that is, freely rotatable), and the anvil 110 provided in the clinch unit 20 is movable (that is, the anvil 110 is provided). , The head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 are moved (rotated) so that the distance between the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 is changed (changed). Although not limited to such a configuration, although not shown, the head unit 18 and the clinch unit 20 may be configured to move as a whole and relatively to change the interval therebetween. good. In this case, the head unit 18 may be moved relative to the clinch unit 20 along the stacking direction of the sheet bundle, or the clinch unit 20 may be moved relative to the head unit 18 along the stacking direction of the sheet bundle. Good, or both may be moved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a stapler according to the present invention in a state where the stapler is incorporated in a discharge system of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of an embodiment of the stapler shown in FIG. 1 together with a movement guide system of a head unit and a clinch unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of an embodiment of the stapler shown in FIG. 1 together with a moving drive system of a head unit and a clinch unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a planar shape of the configuration of the stapler shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view specifically showing a front shape of the configuration of the stapler shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view specifically showing the configuration of one embodiment of the stapler shown in FIG. 1 together with its moving drive system.

FIG. 7 is a side view specifically showing the configuration of one embodiment of the stapler shown in FIG. 1 together with its movement guide system.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of a head unit and a clinch unit of the stapler shown in FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the configuration of the clinch unit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a configuration of a head unit and a clinch unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11A is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of a head unit and a clinch unit in a standby state.

FIG. 11B is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in an anvil stopped state.

FIG. 11C is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in a staple stapling state.

FIG. 11D is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in a clinch state;

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of a head unit and a clinch unit in a standby state.

FIG. 12B is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in an anvil stop state.

FIG. 12C is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in a stapling state for staples.

FIG. 12D is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of the head unit and the clinch unit in a clinch state.

FIG. 13A is a front view showing a configuration of a head unit and a clinch unit together with a drive system in a standby state.

FIG. 13B is a front view showing the configuration of the head unit and the clinch unit together with the drive system in an anvil stopped state.

FIG. 13C is a front view showing the configuration of the head unit and the clinch unit together with a drive system in a stapling state for stapling.

FIG. 13D is a front view showing the configuration of the head unit and the clinch unit together with the drive system in a clinch state.

FIG. 14A is a side view showing a standby state in a stapling operation.

FIG. 14B is a side view showing a staple stapling start state in a staple operation.

FIG. 14C is a side view showing a staple-stapling end state in the stapling operation.

FIG. 14D is a side view showing a clinch start state in the stapling operation.

FIG. 14E is a side view showing the clinch end state in the stapling operation.

15 is a diagram for explaining each state in a clinch operation, an anvil operation, and a stapling operation for stapling in relation to rotation angles of left and right head driven gears 88L and 88B and a support shaft 142. FIG.

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating a configuration for setting the operation timing of the stapling operation in the head unit and the clinch unit.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a configuration of a first modified example of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a movement guide system.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a configuration of a first modified example of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a moving drive system.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing a configuration of a second modified example of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a movement guide system.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing a configuration of a second modified example of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a moving drive system.

FIG. 21 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a third modified example of the stapler according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing a configuration of a fourth modification of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a moving drive system.

FIG. 23 is a side view showing a configuration of a fifth modified example of the stapler according to the present invention, together with a moving drive system.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a disconnected state of first and second clutches in the stapler of the fifth modified example shown in FIG. 23;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 stapler 12 bottom plate 14L; 14R left and right side plates 16 ceiling plate 18 head unit 20 clinch unit 22 head unit guide mechanism 24 clinch unit guide mechanism 26 moving drive mechanism 28L; 28R left and right guide blocks 30F; 30R front and rear guide shafts 32L; 32R Left and right guide blocks 34F; 34R Front and rear guide shafts 36 Movement drive motor 38 Screw rod for head unit 40 Ball screw groove 42 Mounting stay 44 Engagement pin 46 Screw rod for clinch unit 48 Ball screw groove 50 Mounting stay 52 Engage Pin 54 Moving drive force transmission mechanism 56 Drive gear 58 Driven gear 60 Reduction gear 60A Large diameter gear part 60B Small diameter gear part 62 Drive pulley 64 Driven pulley 66 Timing belt 6 Tension roller 70 Head unit housing 72 Support shaft 74 Head 76 Cartridge 78 Head drive mechanism 80 Head drive shaft 82L; 82R Left and right head drive gear 84 Connection sleeve 86L; 86R Left and right intermediate gear 88L; 88R Left and right head driven gear 90L; 90R Left and right head drive pins 92L; 92R Left and right head drive arms 94L; 94R Left and right support shafts 96L; 96R Left and right head drive cam grooves 98L; 98R Head follower pins 100L; 100R Left and right long grooves 102 Staple driving force transmission mechanism 104 Staple Operation drive motor 106 Clinch unit housing 108 Support shaft 110 Anvil 112 Anvil plate 114 Clinch frame 116 Clinch lever 118 Support shaft 120 Coil Pulling 122L; 122R Recess 124L; 124R Left and right wings 126L; 126R Left and right support shafts 128L; 128R Left and right hold levers 130 Clinch drive mechanism 132 Clinch drive shaft 134L; 134R Left and right clinch drive gears 136 Connection sleeves 138L; 138R Intermediate gear 140L; 140R Left and right clinch driven gear 142 Support shaft 144L; 144R Anvil cam 146L; 146R Anvil follower 148 Clinch cam 150 Clinch follower 152 Drive gear 154 Intermediate gear 156 Head transmission gear 158 Clinch transmission gear 160 L 164L; 164R Head through hole 166 Head positioning rod 168L; 168R Clinch Positioning hole 170L; 170R Clinch through hole 172 Clinch positioning rod 174 Take-up pulley 176A to 176G Idle pulley 178 Endless wire 180 Head unit connector 182 Clinch unit connector 184 Drive motor 186 First clutch 186 Second clutch 190 motor shaft

Claims (3)

[Claims] A head means for driving a needle; a clinch means disposed opposite to the head means for bending both ends of the needle driven into the sheet bundle; and A stapler, comprising: first and second moving means for moving in the width direction of the above; and a single driving means for driving the first and second moving means. 2. The stapler according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a driving motor provided on a side plate frame supporting the bed means and the clinch means. 3. A first screw rod extending along the direction of movement and disposed adjacent to the head means and driven to rotate, wherein the first moving means includes: a first screw rod; A first engaging member that is attached and engages with the first screw rod, and drives the head means to move along the moving direction with the rotation of the first screw rod; The second moving means extends along the moving direction, is disposed adjacent to the clinch means, is rotatably driven, and is attached to the clinch means. A second engagement member that engages with the second screw rod and drives the clinch means to move along the direction of movement as the second screw rod rotates. The motion means, stapler according to claim 1, characterized in that moving the first and second both integrally co-rotating drive to the head means and clinch means screw rod.