Eastman-kodak Company

Arno Ebner

Helmut Ettischer

Franz Allmendinger

Rolf Munz

Jurgen Ries

Manfred Feesenmayr

Raimund Pollak

Timo Straub

Juregen Ries

In an apparatus (1) for stapling sheets (10) deposited in stacks, stapling devices (6 and 7) are attached to a pivotable support (3) which is movable from a locked operating position (position I) into an easily accessible service position (position II). The stapling devices (6 and 7) are attached in easily detachable fashion to holders (4 and 5) which are guided displaceably on the shaft (8) and can be set to different stapling positions by a follower mechanism. Attached releasably to each of the holders (4 and 5) is a mounting plate (44 and 45) on which the stapling devices (6 and 7), and all the components necessary for operation thereof, are releasably attached. The support (3) is movable into a position (position II) in which access is possible to the stapling devices (6 and 7) and the mounting plates (44 and 45) via a sheet stack depositing area (13) of the apparatus (1) which is accessible from outside the apparatus.

Sheet-stapling apparatus

A stapling apparatus (1) has a stationary stapling head (9) and a counterbearing(13), fastened to a slider(4) and equipped with a clinching apparatus (14), that is fastened to slider (4). The slider (4) has parallel clamping surfaces (4d, 4e), associated with which are a clamping element (19), mounted in stationary pivotable fashion and having clamping jaws (19c, 19d) and edges (19e, 19f), that can be positioned by a torsion spring (21), pivotably about a bearing (19a), against the clamping surfaces (4d, 4e) of the slider (4). The clamping element (19) is spring-loaded opposite to a movement direction 'B' of the slider (4). The pivot bearing (19a) of the clamping element (19) is arranged at a distance (r) from the slider (4) that is related by a ratio l/r&lt;2 .mu., which effects self-locking, to the length (l) of the clamping jaws (19c, 19d). When a force which attempts to move the slider (4) opposite to the direction of arrow 'B' acts, as a result of the stapling operation, on the counterbearing (13), jamming of the clamping element (19) occurs by self-locking, thus causing immediate blocking of the slider (4). After completion of the stapling operation, an actuator (5) of the clinching apparatus (14) releases the blocling of the slider (4) by positive pivoting of the clamping element (19).

Stapling apparatus

Pre-folding rollers and pinch rollers (1, 2 3, and 4) of identical diameter are arranged one behind the other in the folding direction (A) and rotatably mounted between two plates (5). A second pre-folding roller (2) and a second pinch roller (4) are stationarily and rotatably mounted on the plate (5). The first pre-folding roller (1) is rotatably mounted at both its ends with its bearings (1a) on lever arms (6) pivotably arranged on the plates (5). Connecting arms (7) are linked to the bearings (1a), on which arms the second pinch roller (3) is rotatably mounted on bearings (3a). The connecting arms (7) are loaded by springs (13) transverse to a folding direction and are in contact with fixed stops (8a and 10 respectively). The stops (8a and 10) are so positioned that the pre-folding and pinch rollers (1, 2 3, and 4) do not touch, so that the bearings (1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a respectively) are not subjected to load while no folding is in progress. The folded product emerging the pre-folding rollers (1 and 2) lifts the connecting arms (7) from the stops (10) and sets by this pivoting movement a gap s' dependent on the product thickness at the pinch rollers (3 and 4), which facilitates gripping of the product.

Device for folding sheets

A device for stapling sheets comprises a collecting tray (1) which is downwardly inclined to the direction of entrance 'A' of sheets and has a support surface (2) and a pivotable abutment (3) associated with the front portion of the sheets. Between abutment (3) and support surface (2), a free space (6) is provided in which a stapling unit (10, 15) is movable for setting to a number of different stapling positions. The free space (6) is covered by a cover (9) in an area where no staples are to be applied. A tongue (7a) of a hold-down element (7) rests on the cover (9). Tongue (7a) and cover (9) extend into a recess (3a) of the abutment (3), with an upper limiter (3b) of recess (3a) being arranged above tongue (7a) and serving as an abutment for a limited pivotal movement of hold-down element (7, 7a). A second support of the sheets in the stapling area is provided by a pivotably mounted, spring-biased cover element (20) which overlaps the free space (6) and extends into the path of movement of the stapling unit (10, 15) such that it can be deflected aside by said unit.

Device for stapling sheets individually supplied and deposited on a stack

A cam unit (3) with cams (3a, 3b and 3c) is mounted by journals (3d) directly on plastic housing portions (1 and 2). A bracket (5) which is actuated by cam (3a) is slidably arranged on one housing portion (2) together with a back-up (26) and a clincher unit (9, 10). A slider (8) shiftably mounted on bracket (5) actuates the clincher unit (9, 10) via a cam (3c). Another cam (3b) engages a sliding block (6) which operates a stapler (15 to 17). The entire stapling device is slidable along a driven profiled shaft (4) positively coupled with cam unit (3). The cams (3a, 3b, 3c) are designed such that, in relation to the journals (3d), two diametrically opposed force-transmitting cam sections of different cams (3a and 3b and 3c, respectively) each become effective at a time. Thus, a force of action in one direction, which is caused by one cam (3b and 3c, respectively), is counteracted by a force of reaction of equal strength in the other direction, which is caused by the other cam (3a and 3b, respectively). As a result, the bearing load on the journals (3d) is kept low throughout the stapling operation.

Sheet-stapling device

A housing (1) includes an upper tray (7) for receiving sheets which are not to be stapled, a lower tray (8) for receiving sheet stacks (35) which are stapled and an inclined tray (29) arranged in between and adapted for collecting and stapling sheets. The collecting tray (29) is arranged in a relatively steeply inclined position with respect to a stapling station (39) located at its lower end so that sheets entering the collecting tray (29) slide under the sole action of gravity automatically down to a movable blocking member (33) which limits the collecting tray (29). The collecting tray (29) is part of an assembly unit (13) which comprises all transport and guiding elements for feeding the sheets which enter an entrance area (5) either to the upper tray (7) or the collecting tray (29). Moreover, the assembly unit (13) supports all means required for producing sheet stacks and feeding out the finished sheet stacks. The assembly unit (13) is mounted on the housing (1) by means of lower stationary housing pins (59) and is fixed precisely in position by locking means (63, 64).

Sheet-handling device

In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning. Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened. The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine. The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.

Growing community of inventors

Ammerbuch, Germany

Arno Ebner