Automatically repositioning stapler

Abstract

A device for automatically offsetting pronged fasteners, or staples, in successively fastened sets of sheet material is provided. The assembly may be disposed within any manual or power driven stapler. It may comprise a manually or electrically rotatable drive gear which, when rotated, pushes a means for setting the depth at which such fasteners may be delivered into such sheet material respective to an edge thereof. In use, stacked sheets of material, such as paper, may be placed within a stapler. Then, when the stapler is activated to fasten the set, the drive gear may automatically rotate to push the means for setting the depth forward so that a subsequently delivered fastener may be delivered into a following set of sheet material at a different depth from the edge of the prior set.

Claims

1. A repositioning assembly for a stapler, comprising: means for setting the depth at which a fastener can be delivered into a set of sheet material relative to an edge of the sheet material; means for incrementally adjusting the means for setting the depth, wherein the means for incrementally adjusting the means for setting the depth comprises an axially rotatable drive gear operative to rotate by a predetermined amount each time the stapler is activated; wherein the repositioning assembly is disposed within a stapler; wherein each incremental adjustment of the means for setting the depth automatically causes successively delivered fasteners to be offset from one another when sets of fastened sheet material are stacked, wherein the front portion of the means for setting the depth defines a depth at which the fasteners are offset; at least one repositioning gear axially and rotatably coupled to the drive gear; a gear pin having a flat portion and a hook extending therefrom to grab a tooth of the drive gear; a gear lock to prevent the drive gear from rotating independent of activation of the stapler; wherein the at least one repositioning gear is positioned so that a bottom most tooth of the at least one repositioning gear presses against the resiliently biased rear end of the sheet stop; and wherein, when the stapler is activated to deliver a fastener into sheet material, the gear pin is pressed to grab a successive tooth in the drive gear so that as the stapler returns to its resting position, the gear pin pulls the drive gear, causing the drive gear and the at least one repositioning gear to rotate, the at least one repositioning gear pushing the means for setting the depth forward by an incremental amount defined by the space between each tooth in the drive gear.

2. The repositioning assembly of claim 1, wherein activation of the stapler may occur manually or electrically.

3. The repositioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for setting the depth comprises: a sheet stop having a front stopper portion, a rear portion slideably mateable with a foot for supporting the assembly along a base of the stapler, and a middle portion for rigidly spacing the front and rear portions.

4. The repositioning assembly of claim 3, wherein the sheet stop is resiliently biased in the direction of the rear portion so that the sheet stop automatically retracts to a first position after a predetermined number of incremental adjustments have been performed.

5. The repositioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for setting the depth comprises: a plunger for pushing fasteners into the set of sheet material, the plunger having a rear plunger portion, wherein the rear plunger portion is slideably mateable with a foot for supporting the assembly, wherein the plunger is resiliently biased in the direction of the rear plunger portion so that the plunger retracts to a first position when a predetermined number of incremental adjustments have been performed.

6. The repositioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is disposed within a power driven stapler.

7. The repositioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the power driven stapler is further disposed within and communicative with a machine that automatically fastens printed and collated documents.

8. The repositioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is configured to optionally retrofit an existing stapler.

9. A repositioning assembly for a stapler, comprising: means for setting the depth at which a fastener can be delivered into a set of sheet material relative to an edge of the sheet material, wherein the means for setting the depth comprises a sheet stop having a front stopper portion, a rear portion slideably mateable with a foot for supporting the assembly along a base of the stapler, and a middle portion for rigidly spacing the front and rear portions; and means for incrementally adjusting the means for setting the depth comprising an axially rotatable drive gear; wherein the repositioning assembly is disposed within a stapler; and wherein each incremental adjustment of the means for setting the depth automatically causes successively delivered fasteners to be offset from one another when sets of fastened sheet material are stacked.

10. The repositioning assembly of claim 9, wherein the sheet stop is resiliently biased in the direction of the rear portion so that the sheet stop automatically retracts to a first position after a predetermined number of incremental adjustments have been performed.

11. The A repositioning assembly for a stapler, comprising: means for setting the depth at which a fastener can be delivered into a set of sheet material relative to an edge of the sheet material comprising a plunger for pushing fasteners into the set of sheet material, the plunger having a rear plunger portion, wherein the rear plunger portion is slideably mateable with a foot for supporting the assembly; and means for incrementally adjusting the means for setting the depth comprising an axially rotatable drive gear operative to rotate by a predetermined amount each time the stapler is activated; wherein the repositioning assembly is disposed within a stapler; wherein each incremental adjustment of the means for setting the depth automatically causes successively delivered fasteners to be offset from one another when sets of fastened sheet material are stacked; and wherein activation of the stapler may occur manually or electrically.

12. The repositioning assembly of claim 11, wherein the plunger is resiliently biased in the direction of the rear plunger portion so that the plunger retracts to a first position when a predetermined number of incremental adjustments have been performed.

13. A repositioning assembly for a stapler, comprising: means for setting the depth at which a fastener can be delivered into a set of sheet material relative to an edge of the sheet material; and means for incrementally adjusting the means for setting the depth comprising an axially rotatable drive gear; wherein the repositioning assembly is disposed within a manual stapler, and wherein each incremental adjustment of the means for setting the depth automatically causes successively delivered fasteners to be offset from one another when sets of fastened sheet material are stacked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a gear and repositioning assembly effecting automatic repositioning of a stapler.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an aerial view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

(5) FIGS. 5-8 illustrate an embodiment of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 disposed within a stapler in use.

(6) FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate close up views of staple positioning shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

(7) The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the apparatus claimed. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

(9) With reference to FIG. 1 an embodiment of the repositioning assembly 10 may comprise a foot 12, or base, means for setting the depth at which fasteners can be delivered into sheet material, and a gear assembly 30. Here, the means for setting the depth is illustrated as a sheet stop 20, however, one skilled in the art will recognize that alternative means may be substituted without departing from the invention. Indeed, such means may include, but are not limited to, other types of sheet or paper stops, plunger and anvil assemblies, and any other equivalents such as those found in electric desktop staplers or staplers disposed within copy machines. As such, the sheet stop 20, is only one example of a means for setting the depth at which fasteners can be delivered into the sheet material, and has been provided only for the sake of illustrating, rather than limiting, an embodiment of such means.

(10) The sheet stop 20 may have a front portion 22 formed as a stopper having vertical thickness to block a set of sheet material, such as paper, to be fastened together. A rear portion 24 of the sheet stop 20 is further provided to slideably mate with the foot 12. In an embodiment, the rear portion 24 may be formed as forked prongs which surround the gear assembly 30. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that such a forked configuration is not necessary to practice the invention but provided instead illustrate a possible embodiment. Indeed, the rear portion 24 may be formed as a unified piece or even comprise additional forked members. Moreover, the method of slideably mating the rear portion 24 with the foot 12 may vary. In one embodiment, for example, the foot 12 may be formed to define a first and second track 13a, 13b for receiving flanges formed on the bottom of the rear portion.

(11) Next, a middle portion 26 of the sheet stop 20 may be provided to permanently and rigidly space the front and rear portions 22, 24, and ensure alignment of the sheet stop in motion.

(12) Means for incrementally adjusting the position of the sheet stop may be provided as the gear assembly 30 configured to automatically rotate in response to activation of the stapler. In one embodiment the means may include a drive gear 32, one or more repositioning gears 34, a gear pin 36, and a gear lock 38. Although the drive gear 32 and repositioning gears 34 are illustrated as separate elements, it is contemplated that a single rotatable gear may be provided instead.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 2 an exploded view of an embodiment of the repositioning assembly 10 is provided to more clearly illustrate the separate parts that may comprise the assembly. For example, it may be seen that the drive gear 32 and repositioning gears 34 may be axially aligned with each other and further secured above the foot 12 through holes 15 tabs 17a and 17b extending upward from the foot 12. Of course, the foregoing is offered by way of example only. One skilled in the art will recognize that various means for and methods of securing the drive gear 32 and repositioning gears 34 above the foot 12 so that they may rotate together may be available.

(14) The repositioning assembly may further comprise means for rotating the gears. In one embodiment, means for rotating the gears may be a gear pin 36 configured to successively mesh with each tooth in the drive gear 32. As may be seen with reference to later figures, which will be more fully described below, rotation may occur when the gear pin 36 is moved to mesh with a lower tooth in the drive gear 32. When the gear pin 36 returns to its original upward position, it pulls the drive gear 32 by the lower tooth so that it may rotate by a distance defined by the space between teeth.

(15) Referring now to FIG. 3, an overhead view taken along line 4 illustrates that in one embodiment, the sheet stop 20 may further comprise an anchor 40 for securing the sheet stop 20, or other means for setting the depth at which a fastener can be delivered into a sheet, to the stapler in which it is disposed. The exemplary sheet stop 20 may further be resiliently biased in the direction of the rear portion 24 of the sheet stop 20, toward the anchor 40. Thus, for example, one or more springs 42 may connect the rear portion 24 of the sheet stop 20 to a portion of the stapler. As another example, one or more springs may connect the rear portion of the sheet stop 20 directly the stapler itself, independent of a need for a separate anchor. Of course, it may be recognized that alternative ways of resiliently biasing the sheet stop 20 are available without departing from the invention. The foregoing has been offered for the sake of illustrating one such way and enabling the device.

(16) Moreover, although the means for incrementally adjusting the sheet stop is depicted as a mechanically operable gear assembly, one skilled in the art will recognize that the same may be coupled to a motor electrically configured to rotate the drive gear each time the stapler is activated. More particularly, in some embodiments, one or more switches may be provided to trigger a circuit board defining operation of the motor. When a switch is triggered, the motor may spin, causing the drive gear to rotate and press the sheet stop forward by a predetermined amount. When a final switch is triggered, the motor may cause the sheet stop to return to a first position. Of course, it will be recognized that optional motorized or mechanical adjustment is possible for or other embodiments of the means for setting the depth at which fasteners can be delivered into a set of sheet material as well. For example, where the means for setting the depth is a plunger, a motor may be provided to automatically incrementally adjust the plunger, rather than the sheet stop, to deliver successive fasteners into sets of sheet material at different depths relative to an edge of such sheets.

(17) With reference to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view clearly demonstrates an embodiment of the gear pin 36 shown hooked into a downward facing tooth in the drive gear 32. More particularly, it may be seen that the gear pin 36 may have an upper flat portion and lower hooked portion extending downward therefrom to mesh with a teeth comprising the drive gear 32 which the gear lock 38 extends upward from the foot 12 to prevent the gear from rotating while the stapler remains unactivated. As may be seen with reference to FIG. 5 the flat upper portion of the gear pin 36 may be pressed downward when the stapler is activated to dispense fasteners. In one embodiment, a shaft 37 may be disposed on a portion of the stapler to aid pressing the gear pin 36, however other configurations and means for dislodging the gear pin 36 from its meshed position are also contemplated. In any event, because the drive gear 32 and repositioning gears 34 may be mounted along a single axis, it is contemplated that rotating the drive gear 32 in this manner by an increment defined by the space between each tooth in the drive gear 32 may cause any repositioning gears 34 to rotate in the same direction and by the same amount.

(18) In an embodiment, a bottom most tooth in any repositioning gears 34 may be in physical contact with the rear portion 24 of the sheet stop 20. As such, such repositioning gears 34 may press the sheet stop 20, by way of the rear portion 24 in the opposite direction of any resilient bias created by the anchor 40 and springs 42. As such, when the repositioning gears 34 are caused to rotate by an increment defined by the space between each tooth in the drive gear 32, the sheet stop 20 may be pressed forward, toward the front stopper portion 22, by the same amount.

(19) An embodiment of the repositioning assembly is shown disposed within an exemplary manual stapler in FIGS. 5-8 in order to more clearly illustrate the effect of the rotation described above.

(20) In one embodiment, a repositioning assembly may be disposed within any stapler known in the art for use in the home, office, schools, and the like. Such staplers may have, for example, a body having a cartridge 52 for dispensing fasteners such as staples 54, a cap for covering the cartridge 52, and a means for delivering the staples through the cartridge such as a plunger 58 disposed on an underside of the cap. A base 60 may be provided on which an anvil may be disposed directly beneath the plunger 58 of the cartridge 52 for bending staple legs around a backside of any fastened sheets 62. The base 60 may moreover have a front end and a rear end, the base 60 further having an anvil disposed on the front end of the base 60, wherein the cartridge 52 is pivotally connected to the base 60 and is further resiliently biased toward a resting upper position.

(21) Although the repositioning assembly is here shown disposed along the base 60 of a stapler, it is also contemplated that the repositioning assembly may be disposed along an underside of the cap to automatically incrementally adjust the plunger rather than the paper stop. In such an embodiment, the plunger may be adjusted to press fasteners into sets of sheet material at different depths while any sheet stop may remain stationary to define an unmoving barrier for each successive set of sheet material. Of course, other orientations suitable for disposing the repositioning assembly in various types of staplers, such as electric, spring-loaded, or even those for use in copy machines, are contemplated. The orientation illustrated is thus offered by way of example only and not of limitation.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 5, an embodiment may further comprise a gear lock 38 positioned so as to prevent counter rotation of the drive gear 32. In such an embodiment, the gear pin 36 may prevent undesirable interference with rotation of the gears while the stapler is pivotally activated to deliver fasteners into any sheets.

(23) Of course, other staplers are contemplated. For example, the repositioning assembly may be disposed within a manual, electrically driven, or even copy machine stapler. In other embodiments, any such staplers already available in the market may be retrofit with a repositioning assembly to become automatically adjusting staplers.

(24) Thus, configured according to any of the aforementioned embodiments, sheets 62 of material may be placed between the cartridge 52 and anvil of the stapler until an edge of the stack rests flush against the front stopper portion 22 of the sheet stop. Then, the stapler may be activated to deliver a fastener, such as a staple 58, through the sheets 62 by pressing the cartridge toward the anvil. In some embodiments, activation may be manual. For example, a manual office stapler may be activated when a user presses down on the cap 56. In other embodiments, activation may be automatic. Activation may be automatic, for example, in power driven stapler, such as typical electric desktop staplers or even those staplers disposed within copy machines to staple collated photocopies.

(25) Upon activating the stapler to press the cartridge toward the anvil, rotation of the drive gear may begin. For example, it may be seen in FIG. 7 that a tooth in the drive gear 32 is pulled upward by the gear pin 36 when the resilient bias of the stapler cartridge returns the cartridge 52 to a resting upward position. This causes any repositioning gears 34 to push the rear portion 24 and consequently front stopper portion 22 of the sheet stop 20 forward. As such, an automatic rotation upon activation of the stapler will effect repositioning of the sheet stop 20, which in turn will automatically offset any staples placed in successive sets of sheets from one another as the depth defined by the front portion 22 of the sheet stop 20 changes. Thus, as may be seen in FIG. 8, a next set of sheets may receive a fastener at a different depth than the prior set. This is because the sheet stop 20 has been automatically adjusted.

(26) Zoomed in views of successive fastener positions taken at circles 9 and 10, respectively, are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As the stapler is released toward its resting, upward position, the drive gear may turn and move the sheet stop 20 component of the repositioning assembly forward by a predetermined increment, which may be set, for example, by the distance between each tooth in the drive gear. Thus in FIGS. 9 and 10, successive staples 70 and 72 are shown spaced apart from each other.

(27) More particularly, in some embodiments, the gear drive, and thus sheet stop 20, may be configured to offset successive fasteners at inch increments from one another. If the start position causes the barrier of the sheet stop 20 to set a depth of inch (or 4/8 inch) from an edge of the sheets provided, then the following would happen if the stapler was used to fasten six sets of sheets: A fastener would be delivered into successive sets of sheets at 4/8, , 6/8, , 8/8 inches, and then repeating such successively spaced fastening at 4/8 inches from an edge of the sheets. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that the particular number of positions achieved, as well as the size of each increment, may be selected or adjusted. Moreover, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that such successive fastening may be achieved with other means for setting the depth that fasteners can be delivered into the sets of sheet material. For instance, although a sheet stop is particularly discussed, a plunger may be incrementally adjusted to deliver fasteners into successive sets at depths of 4/8, , 6/8, , 8/8 inches from an edge of the sheets. Thus, the foregoing is simply provided by way of example and of illustration and is not meant to limit the invention. As such, it is contemplated that this may avoid causing any fasteners provided on stacked sets of sheets to abut, undesirably creating space-inefficient bulging on and around the area occupied by abutting fasteners.

(28) It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

(29) Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or potentially are equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

(30) While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the type of fastener delivered by a stapler according to the claims may vary depending on a user's needs. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).

(31) The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems and apparatuses, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

(32) Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the automatically repositioning stapler with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the automatically repositioning stapler to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the automatically repositioning stapler is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

(33) While specific embodiments of, and examples for the apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

(34) While certain aspects of the apparatus disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the apparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the automatically repositioning stapler.