Hole puncher

Abstract

A hole punch has a punching unit with a rotatable punch for punching a hole through a paper sheet, a die which is rotatable in synchronism with the punch and a paper transporting device for transporting the paper sheet from an upstream side to a downstream side generally in a specified direction of paper transportation. The transporting device includes a paper supplying device and a paper discharging device respectively on the upstream and downstream side of the punching unit for supplying and discharging the paper sheet towards and away from the punching unit. The paper supplying device has a clamping device for clamping the paper sheet at a distance x1 away from the punching position where a hole is punched by the punch. The paper discharging device has another clamping device at a distance x2 away from the punching position. At least one of the distances x1 and x2 is made smaller than the distance of the first hole punched through the paper sheet by the punching unit from the front edge of the paper sheet. There is a guide member for a side edge of the paper sheet to slide along as the paper sheet is transported. Oblique clamping devices on the upstream side of the punching unit serve to apply an oblique force on the paper sheet with respect to the direction of paper transportation and to press the paper sheet onto the guide member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.