Stapler operating device with a sheet discharging mechanism for a copy machine

A stapler operating device with a sheet-discharging mechanism in a copy machine comprising:

• a sheet discharging mechanism for discharging a sheet to each tray;
• a stapler operating mechanism which operates a stapler to move in a horizontal plane into a stapling position and return the stapler back to its original position after stapling;
• and a drive part for operating the sheet discharging mechanism and the stapler operating mechanism, wherein:
• the drive part includes a drive means which produces the torque selectively in both positive and negative directions;
• drive torque transmitting means for transmitting the torque to the sheet discharging mechanism and the stapler operating mechanism;
• and torque clutching means for clutching and disclutching the torque transmitting means to the stapler operating mechanism when the torque direction is negative and positive, whereby the torque flows to the stapler operating mechanism when the torque direction is negative;
• the sheet discharging mechanism includes a sheet discharging roller, a shaft on which the sheet discharging roller is mounted;
• a plurality of trays for accommodating the discharged sheet disposed in a vertical stack with space in between and adjacent to the discharging roller, each tray having a guide slot for admitting the stapler into it;
• and a discharging torque receiving means connected with the drive torque transmitting means;
• and
• the stapler operating mechanism includes a stapler operating torque receiving means connected with the drive torque transmitting means;
• a sector gear, on which the stapler is mounted, arranged in a horizontal plane and connected with the torque receiving means, whereby the stapler enters the guide slot for stapling as the sector gear rotates to the tray side when the drive means produces a negative direction torque;
• a fixing means;
• and a resilient means placed between the sector gear and the fixing means thereby producing a restoring force when the stapler is rotated away from the original position so that the stapler is returned back to its original position when the drive means in the drive part produces the positive direction torque and the torque clutching means disengages.