Paper clip automatic attaching device and a document set producing machine having same

An electrostatographic reproduction machine for producing toner images on copy sheets, the electrostatographic reproduction machine comprising:

• (a) a moveable image bearing member having an image bearing surface;
• (b) means for forming a toner image on said image bearing surface;
• (c) a copy sheet supply and feeding assembly for feeding a copy sheet to a transfer station to receive said toner image from said image bearing surface;
• (d) a fusing apparatus for fusing said toner image onto said copy sheet:
• (e) a finishing unit for collecting said copy sheet and forming a set of said copy sheets;
• (f) a paper clip automatic attaching device for automatically attaching, to a set of sheets, a paper clip having a crown portion and a pair of deflectable side by side legs, the automatic paper clip attaching device comprising;
• (i) support assembly including a set compiler tray defining (x) a set plane for supporting a set of sheets, (y) an open space below said set plane, and (z) an open space above said set plane;
• (ii) a paper clip travel path assembly defining a paper clip travel path adjoining said set plane for guiding a paper clip towards said set plane to be automatically attached to an edge of the set of sheets, said paper clip travel path assembly including (k) a first support member having a first guide surface for guiding a first leg of the pair of deflectable side by side legs into a first position within said space below said set plane, and (in) a second support member space from said first support member and having a second guide surface for deflecting a second leg of the pair of deflectable side by side legs into a second position within said open space above said set plane;
• (iii) holding means for holding a stack of the paper clip in position for feeding a lead paper clip in the stack into said paper clip travel path;
• and
• (iv) powered means for contacting the common crown portions of the of the lead paper clip in the stack, and automatically pushing such lead paper clip, legs first, into an attached relationship with the set of sheets on said set plane;
• (g) a set height sensor for sensing a height of the set of sheets on said set plane;
• and
• (h) a controller connected to said set height sensor for adjusting a height of said second guide surface relative to said first guide surface thereby deflecting the second leg of the pair of deflectable side by side legs responsively and proportionally to a sensed height of the set of sheets or said set plane.