Stapling for multiple bin output station
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorSteven M. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric stapler (11) is carried on a transport mechanism (27) for an output bin selector of a sheet media handling apparatus such as a printer having multiple output bins (17). The stapler (11) is established in alignment with an output bin associated with the diverter (29), so that a movement of the diverter (29) to one of the output bins (17) also effects a corresponding movement of the stapler (11) to the same output bin. This permits print jobs which are directed to specific output bins (17) to be selectively stapled.
Claims17
An output mechanism for sheet media handling equipment, comprising:
- a. a plurality of output bins;
- b. a diverter mechanism for accepting sheet media which have been processed by the sheet media handling equipment and directing the sheet media to a selected one of the output bins;
- c. a transport mechanism for shifting the diverter mechanism to said selected output bin;
- d. a stapler carried by the transport mechanism;
- and
- e. a mechanism for moving the stapler and the sheet media out of registration with one another, thereby permitting the transport mechanism to move the stapler to different ones of the output bins.
A method for stapling sheet media on sheet media handling equipment having a plurality of output bins, comprising:
- a. selecting one of said output bins;
- b. aligning a diverter mechanism to said output;
- c. using the diverter mechanism to direct sheet media which have been processed by the sheet media handling equipment to said output bin;
- d. moving a stapler to align with said output bin;
- e. performing a staple operation prior to aligning the diverter mechanism to another output bin;
- and
- f. moving the stapler and the sheet media out of registration with one another, thereby permitting movement of the stapler to different ones of the output bins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.