DEVICE FOR STAPLING PRINTED PRODUCTS AND STAPLING HEAD

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for stapling printed products, preferably automatically, comprising a stapling head for driving a staple through a printed-product back and a bender for bending the open ends of the staple. Said device is characterized in that the stapling head has a modular design, wherein the stapling head comprises a driving tool (1) and a driving-tool holder (2) for equipping with the driving tool, and wherein the driving tool can be fastened to the driving-tool holder in an exchangeable manner, e.g., by means of locking bolts (3) fastened to a crossmember (4) or by means of a groove (5)/feather-key connection. The invention further relates to a corresponding stapling head.

Claims

1. A device for, preferably automatically, stapling printed products, having a stapling head for driving a staple through a printed product back, and having an anvil for bending the free ends of the staples, characterized in that the stapling head has a modular design, wherein the stapling head comprises a driving tool (1, 8, 14) and a driving tool (2) that is to be equipped with the driving tool (1, 8, 14), and wherein the driving tool (1, 8, 14) can be secured on the driving tool retainer (2) such that it can be exchanged.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving tool (1, 8, 14) has a substantially plate-shaped design.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driving tool (1, 8, 14) can be place/inserted, preferably vertically, into the stapling head, or into the driving tool retainer (2) of the stapling head, respectively, via a tongue-and-groove system.

4. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driving tool (1, 8, 14) has at least one hole, or recess (13) for attachment to the driving tool retainer (2).

5. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the driving tool (1, 8, 14) is retained on the driving tool retainer (2) with a mount, preferably extending over the width of the driving tool (1, 8, 14), and at least one bolt.

6. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mount and/or the driving tool (1, 8, 14) can be locked in place, preferably directly, on the driving tool retainer (2) by an interlocking means.

7. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the interlocking means is designed as a releasable connecting means, in particular as a screw connection, wing screw, spring interlocking, snap-in interlocking, quick-release clamp, etc.

8. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the interlocking means has a motorized design.

9. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the interlocking means can be controlled by software.

10. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the driving tool (1, 8, 14) has a recess, or a hole, in the region of the interlocking means, wherein the hole, or the recess, is designed such that the interlocking means does not come in contact with the driving tool (1, 8, 14).

11. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the driving tool retainer (2) can be equipped with different driver modules serving as driving tools (1, 8, 14), wherein the different driver modules are each provided for striking or driving differently designed staples.

12. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a driver module is provided as a driving tool for striking or driving a, preferably pre-shaped, staple having a straight back part, and/or that a driver module is provide as a driving tool (1, 8, 14) for striking a, preferably pre-shaped, staple having an eyelet.

13. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, depending on the desired typed of staple, the appropriate driver module serving as a driving tool can be placed in the driving tool retainer (2) in a modular manner.

14. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a detection device is provided for identifying the driving tool (1, 8, 14).

15. A stapling head, in particular for a device for stapling printed products according to one of the claims 1 to 14, comprising a driving tool (1, 8, 14) and a driving tool retainer (2) that is to be equipped with the driving tool (1, 8, 14), wherein the driving tool (1, 8, 14) is secured on the driving tool retainer (2) such that it can be exchanged in a modular manner.

Description

[0030] There are thus various possibilities for embodying and further developing the teachings of the present invention in advantageous ways. In addition, reference is made on one hand to the Claims subordinate to claim 1, and on the hand, to the following explanation of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, based on the drawings. In conjunction with the explanations of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention based on the drawings, preferred designs and further developments of the teachings shall also be explained. In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic view, partially, an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein with respect to FIG. 1, the driving tool has been exchanged,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows, in a schematic side view, an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows, in a schematic top view, an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows, in a perspective view, another exemplary embodiment of a driving tool, and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows, in a perspective view, and exemplary embodiment of a stapling head having a driving tool retainer, in which the driving tool from FIG. 5 is inserted.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. The device for automatic stapling of printed products comprises a stapling head for driving staples through printed product backs and having an anvil for bending the free ends of the staple. The stapling head has a modular design, wherein the stapling head—in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1—comprises a driving tool 1 and a driving tool retainer 2, wherein the driving tool retainer 2 is equipped with the driving tool 1. The driving tool 1 is secured on the driving tool retainer 2 in an exchangeable manner. For this, locking bolts 3 are attached to a crosspiece 4 serving as a mount, and serve with the crosspiece 4 to attach the driving tool 1 to the driving tool retainer 2. Furthermore, a groove/feather key connection is provided on the driving tool 1 and on the driving tool retainer 2, by means of which the driving tool 1 is placed or inserted in the driving tool retainer 2. The driving tool 1 has in each case a groove 5 on the side, in which the feather key formed on the tool retainer engages for guidance. In order to secure it in the vertical direction, a spring lock is provided, which can be activated or deactivated via the button 6.

[0038] After releasing the spring lock via the button 6, the driving tool 1 can be removed from the driving tool retainer 2 via the groove/feather key connection, and if desired, replaced by another driving tool. The driving tool 1 according to FIG. 1 serves to strike a pre-shaped, conventional staple having a straight staple back with its striking edge 7 in order to drive it into a printed product back.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein in differing from the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, a driving tool 8 for striking an eye-staple is placed in the driving tool retainer 2. The driving tool 8 has a recess 9 in the striking edge, which is adapted to an eyelet of an eye-staple.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. The partially illustrated device comprises a stapling head having a driving tool retainer 2 in which a driving tool 1 is placed, wherein a modular coupling via groove/feather key connection is obtained. For this, the driving tool 1 according to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3 has a groove 5. The driving tool 1 is secured horizontally in the driving tool retainer 2. A spring lock having a spring 10 is provided in order to lock it in place vertically, which is actuated via a button 6. The crosspiece 4 having the locking bolts 3 can be moved thereby via a guide bolt 11. By sliding the crosspiece 3 into the hollow space 12, the locking bolts can be removed from the recesses of the driving tool 1, and the interlocking of the driving tool 1 in the driving tool retainer 2 is thus released.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows in a schematic top view, an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein a driving tool 1 is placed in a driving tool retainer 2. The driving tool 1 is secured vertically on the tool retainer 2 via a crosspiece 4 and locking bolts 3. The interlocking occurs via a spring lock comprising a spring 10, wherein the spring lock can be actuated by a button 6. By actuating the button 6, the crosspiece 4 and thus the locking bolts 3 can be moved via the guide bolt 11. By sliding the crosspiece 4 into the hollow space 12, the locking bolts 3 can be removed from the recesses 13 in the driving tool 1, and thus release the interlocking of the driving tool 1 in the driving tool retainer 2, such that the driving tool 1 can be removed from the driving tool retainer 2. The driving tool 1 comprises a groove in each of two opposing sides, which interacts with the feather keys of the driving tool retainer 2 for guidance.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a driving tool 14. The driving tool 14 comprises recesses 13 for locking in place, or securing via corresponding locking bolts of the driving tool retainer that accommodates the driving tool. The driving tool 14 be designed as a driver module for driving a conventional staple into a printed product back, or as a driver module for driving an eye-staple into a printed product back. The driving tool 14 has—on each side—a projection in the form of a feather key 15. The feather keys 15 serve to engage in a corresponding groove in the driving tool retainer. By means of an upper stop, the height can be regulated when it is placed in the driving tool retainer.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows, in a perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a stapling head according to the invention, having a driving tool retainer 2, in which the driving tool 14 according to FIG. 5 is installed. The driving tool retainer 2 according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 has a groove for guiding the feather key 15 of the driving tool 14. The driving tool retainer of the stapling head applies a force from above, via a mechanical or electrical drive, to the driving tool 14, for driving the staples out, or for driving the staples into the printed product backs. It is conceivable thereby that the driving tool 14 has a driver having a striking edge 7, which potentially can be extended from the driving tool 14, or having a striking edge that is provided with recesses adapted to an eye-staple.

[0044] The supplying of a staple wire can be obtained selectively via a wire coil or via a magazine containing pre-stamped wire. It is conceivable thereby that bending means are provided in the driving tool for shaping the wire, which pre-shape the staple that is to be driven, e.g. in the form of conventional staples or eye-staples. It is furthermore conceivable that pre-shaped staples, conventional or having eyelets, are already provided in a magazine.

[0045] In accordance with FIG. 6, the driving tool 14 is locked in place vertically via bolts, which extend into the recesses 13. Furthermore, the driving tool 14 can be secured in the driving tool retainer 2 via electrical or further mechanical components. The driving tool 14 has a striking edge or a striking edge having recesses, depending on the type of staple that is to be driven. Furthermore, it is possible to lock it in place via the feather key 15 on the driving tool retainer 2.

[0046] With regard to other advantageous designs of the device according to the invention, reference is made to the general description portion and the attached claims, in order to avoid repetition.

[0047] Lastly, it is expressly stated that the exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention described above serve merely to explain the claimed teachings, but these teachings are not limited to the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0048] 1 driving tool [0049] 2 driving tool retainer [0050] 3 locking bolt [0051] 4 crosspiece [0052] 5 groove [0053] 6 button [0054] 7 striking edge [0055] 8 driving tool [0056] 9 recess [0057] 10 spring [0058] 11 guide bolt [0059] 12 hollow space [0060] 13 recess [0061] 14 driving tool [0062] 15 feather key