Stapling system feed mechanism
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRobert H. Shea, Steven M. Russel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stapling system for stapling a set of copy sheets in a copier or printer includes a precise, but non-metering continuous wire feed mechanism. The feed mechanism has a full-feed wire sensor, and a control circuit including the wire being fed, for sensing and controlling the feeding of precise lengths of continuous staple wire to the stapler head of the system.
Claims10
A finishing apparatus for receiving and binding a plurality of sheets from an electrostatographic copier or printer, the finishing apparatus including:
- a frame;
- means for moving such sheets seriatim along a path;
- means for compiling a plurality of such sheets into a set;
- and
- a stapling system for binding such a set of sheets together using staples, said stapling system comprising:
- (a) a stapling mechanism including (i) drive means,
- (ii) means for shearing a predetermined length of continuous staple material from a supply thereof, (iii) means for forming from said predetermined length a staple having a crown portion and leg portions, (iv) means for driving said leg portions of said staple through such a set of sheets, and (v) means for clinching such driven leg portions against the set of sheets;
- (b) a non-metering feed mechanism for feeding said predetermined length of staple material to said stapling mechanism, said feed mechanism including (i) means for holding a continuousa supply of the staple material;
- (ii) means including a flexible conduit cable and an elecrical motor for advancing said staple material towards said stapling mechanism;
- (iii) electrical control circuit means connected to said advancing means for initiating and for stopping said advancing means, said control circuit means including the staple material being advanced, circuit powering means including a low electrical potential source of about 5 volts, a first staple material sensor mounted in said stapling mechanism for sensing when said predetermined length of continuous staple material has been fed into said stapling mechanism by said advancing means, and means for responsively then stopping said advancing means;
- and
- (c) means based on staple material feeding time for detecting staple material feed-failure.
A stapling system in an eletrostatographic copier or printer for binding a set of copy sheets together using staples, the stapling system comprising:
- (a) a stapling mechanism including (i) means for shearing a predetermined length of continuous staple mmaterial from a supply thereof, (ii) means for forming from said predetermined length a staple having a crown portion and leg portions, (iii) means for driving said leg portions of said staple through such a set of sheets, and (iv) means for clinching such driven leg portions against the set of sheets;
- (b) a non-metering feed mechanism for feeding said predetermined length of staple material to said stapling mechanism, said feed mechanism including (i) means for holding a continuous supply of the staple material (ii) means including a flexible conduit cable for guiding the staple material and an electrical motor for advancing said staple material towards said stapling mechanism;
- (iii) electrical control circuit means connected to said advancing means for initiating and for stopping said advancing means, said control circuit means including the staple material being advanced, a first sensor mounted in said stapling mechanism for determining when said predetermined length of staple material has been fed by said advancing means, and means for responsively then stopping said advancing means;
- and
- (c) logic and control unit controlled means based on staple material feed time for detecting staple material feed-failure.
In a staple material feeding mechanism having staple material advancing means, electrical control circuit means for controlling the feeding of staple material, the control circuit means including:
- (a) circuit powering means including a low electrical potential source of about 5 volts;
- (b) a contact sensor mounted within a jaw of a stapler head;
- (c) a circuit closing member consisting of staple material being energized by said low electrical potential source, and being advanced by the advancing means, said staple material being advanced operating to stop the advancing means when advanced into a circuit closing contact with said sensor;
- (d) logic and control unit controlled means based on staple material feed time for detecting staple material feed-failure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.