The present invention relates to a stapling device, and more particularly to a stapling device for use with a printing device.
A paper stapler is a widely-used stapling device. When the handle of the paper stapler is manually pressed down by the user, a staple within the paper stapler is launched through plural paper sheets. Due to the pressing action, the ends of the staple are further folded, so that the plural paper sheets are jointed together. However, the process of manually operating the conventional stapling device is labor-intensive and time-consuming.
In some occasions, the plural paper sheets are manually jointed together by the stapling device after the plural paper sheets are printed and outputted from a printing device. Since the plural paper sheets are no longer disorderly spread everywhere, the joined paper sheets may be easily stored, managed or read. Generally, the printing device comprises a copier, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral which integrate a copier, a printer and a scanner. The printer is one of the most common printing devices. The duplex operation of a printing device will be illustrated as follows. For performing the duplex printing operation, a first page of a document file in a computer is firstly printed on a first side of a blank paper sheet. After the first page of the document file has been printed, the paper sheet with the printed image of the first page of the document file is turned over and then placed on a sheet input tray of the printing device. Then, a second page of the document is printed on a second side of the paper sheet. However, the process of repeatedly and manually turning over the paper sheet is troublesome. If the document contains a great number of pages, this drawback becomes more serious. Recently, a duplex printing device has been developed for automatically performing a duplex printing operation. The duplex printing device is widely used by many persons and companies.
Regardless of whether a single-side printing device or a duplex printing device is used, after the printing operation is completed, the printed paper sheet is ejected to a sheet ejecting tray of the printing device. Then, the plural paper sheets are removed from the sheet ejecting tray and stapled by a stapling device (e.g. a paper stapler). After the stapling operation is done, the plural paper sheets are joined together without being disorderly spread everywhere, and can be easily managed. However, since the printing process of the printing device should be performed before the plural paper sheets are manually stapled, the manual stapling process is more time-consuming. For solving these drawbacks, a stapling device for a printing device has been disclosed.
The stapling device casing 10 is disposed on the top surface 201 of the printing device casing 20. In addition, the second exit 25 is sheltered by the stapling device casing 10. The first conveying channel 13 is in contact with the second exit 25, so that the first conveying channel 13 is in communication with the second conveying channel 23. The plural first conveying roller assemblies 14 are disposed in the first conveying channel 13. By the plural first conveying roller assemblies 14, the plural paper sheets P from the second conveying channel 23 may be transmitted to the sheet handling tray 16. The sheet handling tray 16 is used for supporting the plural paper sheets P. In addition, the stapling module 12 is located beside the sheet handling tray 16 for stapling the plural paper sheets P which are placed on the sheet handling tray 16. From the above discussions, after the plural paper sheets P are printed by the printing module 22 of the printing device 2, the plural paper sheets P are stapled by the printing device 1. In comparison with the manual stapling process, the use of the printing device 1 is time-saving because it is not necessary to wait for the completion of the printing operations on the plural paper sheets P and the automatic stapling process is faster.
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Moreover, the printing device casing 20 has a rear surface 202. In a case that the printing device 2 has a failure (e.g. a paper jam event), the rear surface 202 may be opened, so that the user may easily repair the inner part of the printing device 2. However, if the plural paper sheets P are transmitted to the stapling device 1 and the paper jam event occurs within the stapling device 1 (see
Generally, the stapling device casing 10 is not detachably connected to the printing device casing 20. For solving the paper jam event, a specified tool is required to detach the stapling device casing 10. As known, the use of an additional tool to detach the stapling device casing 10 is troublesome.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved stapling device for use with a printing device.
The present invention provides a stapling device for use with a printing device. The stapling device has a stapling device casing. The stapling device casing can be easily detached without the need of using an additional tool.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stapling device for use with a printing device. The stapling device is disposed on the printing device for stapling plural paper sheets from the printing device. The stapling device includes a stapling device casing, an entrance, a first exit, a first conveying channel, and a channel base plate. The entrance is formed in the stapling device casing and located near the printing device. The plural paper sheets outputted from the printing device are introduced into the stapling device through the entrance. The first exit is formed in the stapling device casing, wherein the plural paper sheets are exited out of the stapling device through the first exit. The first conveying channel is arranged between the entrance and the first exit for allowing the plural paper sheets to go through. The channel base plate is located at a bottom side of the first conveying channel. The channel base plate has a movable contact plate to be contacted with the plural paper sheets within the first conveying channel. By poking the movable contact plate, the movable contact plate is moved relative to the channel base plate, so that the plural paper sheets are correspondingly moved to a position near the first exit to be removed from the first exit.
In an embodiment, when the movable contact plate is moved from a sheet-feeding position to a jam-releasing position near the first exit, the plural paper sheets are removable from the movable contact plate through the first exit. When the movable contact plate is pushed to be moved from the jam-releasing position to the sheet-feeding position, the paper sheets are permitted to be transmitted along the first conveying channel.
In an embodiment, the movable contact plate has a pushing slice for contacting the plural paper sheets within the first conveying channel. When the movable contact plate is poked and moved relative to the movable contact plate, the plural paper sheets are pushed by the pushing slice to the position near the first exit, so that the plural paper sheets are removable through the first exit.
In an embodiment, the stapling device further includes a stapling module, a feed roller assembly, and a first conveying roller assembly. The stapling module is disposed within the stapling device casing and located over the first exit for stapling the plural paper sheets. The feed roller assembly is disposed in the first conveying channel and located near the entrance for transporting the plural paper sheets into the first conveying channel. The first conveying roller assembly is disposed on the channel base plate and located near the first conveying channel for transmitting plural paper sheets along the first conveying channel.
In an embodiment, the stapling device further includes at least one supporting structure. The at least one supporting structure is located near the first exit and located beside the first exit. After the plural paper sheets are departed from the channel base plate, the plural paper sheets are supported on the at least one supporting structure.
In an embodiment, when the movable contact plate is moved to a jam-releasing position near the first exit, the at least one supporting structure is located at a side of the movable contact plate.
In an embodiment, the stapling device further includes a connecting member. The connecting member is disposed on the stapling device casing and located near a printing device casing of the printing device to be connected with the printing device casing. The stapling device casing and the printing device casing of the printing device are combined together through the connecting member.
In an embodiment, the printing device casing includes at least one positioning hole and at least one fixing recess. The at least one positioning hole is exposed to a surface of the printing device casing. The at least one fixing recess is exposed to the surface of the printing device casing and located beside the at least one positioning hole. The connecting member includes at least one fixing hook and at least one positioning post. The at least one fixing hook is aligned with the at least one fixing recess, located at a side of the connecting member, swingable relative to the connecting member, inserted into the at least one fixing recess and engaged with the at least one fixing recess, so that the connecting member is fixed on the printing device casing, and the stapling device casing and the printing device casing are connected with each other through the connecting member. The at least one positioning post is aligned with the at least one positioning hole, located beside the at least one fixing hook, and inserted into the at least one positioning hole, so that the surface of the printing device casing is not in contact with the stapling device casing.
In an embodiment, the printing device further includes a connecting piece. The connecting piece is disposed on a surface of the printing device casing, and includes at least one positioning hole and at least one fixing recess. The at least one positioning hole is exposed to the surface of the printing device casing. The at least one fixing recess is located beside the at least one positioning hole. The connecting member includes at least one fixing hook and at least one positioning post. The at least one fixing hook is aligned with the at least one fixing recess, located at a side of the connecting member, swingable relative to the connecting member, inserted into the at least one fixing recess and engaged with the at least one fixing recess, so that the connecting member is fixed on the printing device casing. The stapling device casing and the printing device casing are connected with each other through the connecting member. The at least one positioning post is aligned with the at least one positioning hole, located beside the at least one fixing hook, and inserted into the at least one positioning hole, so that the surface of the printing device casing is not in contact with the stapling device casing.
In an embodiment, the printing device includes a printing device casing, a sheet input tray, a second exit, a second conveying channel, plural second conveying roller assemblies, and a printing module. The sheet input tray is located at a bottom of the printing device casing for placing the plural paper sheets thereon. The second exit is formed in the printing device casing, wherein the plural paper sheets are exited out of the printing device casing through the second exit. The second conveying channel is arranged between the sheet input tray and second first exit for allowing the plural paper sheets to go through. The plural second conveying roller assemblies are disposed in the second conveying channel for moving the plural paper sheets along the second conveying channel. The printing module is disposed in the second conveying channel for printing the plural paper sheets.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
For eliminating the drawbacks encountered from the prior art, the present invention provides a stapling device for use with a printing device. The stapling device has a stapling device casing. The stapling device casing can be easily detached without the need of using an additional tool.
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In addition to the stapling device casing 31 and the connecting member 30, the stapling device 3 further comprises an entrance 32 and a first exit 33 (see
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The feed roller assembly 36 is disposed in the first conveying channel 34 and located near the entrance 32 for transporting the plural paper sheets P* into the first conveying channel 34. The first conveying roller assembly 37 is disposed on the channel base plate 35 and located near the first conveying channel 34. By the first conveying roller assembly 37, the plural paper sheets P* are moved along the first conveying channel 34. The stapling module 38 is disposed within the stapling device casing 31 and located over the first exit 33 for stapling the plural paper sheets P*. The at least one supporting structure 39 is located near the first exit 33, and located beside the first exit 33. After the plural paper sheets P* are departed from the channel base plate 35, the plural paper sheets P* are supported on the at least one supporting structure 39. Next, the plural paper sheets P* may be stapled by the stapling module 38.
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After the plural paper sheets P* are exited out of the printing device casing 41, plural paper sheets P* are introduced into the stapling device 3 through the entrance 32, which is formed in the stapling device casing 31. Then, the plural paper sheets P* are transported by the feed roller assembly 36 to be fed into the first conveying channel 34, and the plural paper sheets P* are moved along the first conveying channel 34. Next, the plural paper sheets P* are contacted with the first conveying roller assembly 37 and the movable contact plate 351, which are disposed on the channel base plate 35. Consequently, the plural paper sheets P* are transported toward the first exit 33 by the first conveying roller assembly 37. Moreover, after the plural paper sheets P* are departed from the channel base plate 35, the plural paper sheets P* are contacted with and supported on the at least one supporting structure 39, which is located beside the first exit 33. Next, the plural paper sheets P* on the supporting structure 39 are stapled by the stapling module 38. After the plural paper sheets P* are stapled, the user's finger may be inserted into the first exit 33 to remove the plural paper sheets P* from the supporting structure 39. The process of smoothly transmitting the plural paper sheets P* through the printing device 4 and the stapling device 3 has been described as above.
Hereinafter, a way of eliminating the paper jam event of the plural paper sheets P* will be illustrated with reference to
After paper jam event is eliminated, the user may push the movable contact plate 351 to have the movable contact plate 351 move relative to the channel base plate 35. When the movable contact plate 351 is moved from the jam-releasing position P2 to the sheet-feeding position P1, the paper sheets P* can be smoothly transmitted along the first conveying channel 34 (see
However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, the connecting mechanism between the stapling device and the printing device may be altered according to the practical requirements.
In this embodiment, the printing device 6 further comprises the connecting piece 60, and the connecting piece 60 comprises the positioning hole 601 and the fixing recess 602. That is, the printing device casing has no positioning hole and no fixing recess to be connected with the connecting member. By attaching the connecting piece 60 on the surface 613 of the printing device casing 61, the user may easily combine the connecting member 50 with the printing device 6 without the need of punching holes in the printing device casing 61. Moreover, in some other embodiments, the connecting member is not necessarily a frame structure. For example, the connecting member may be a screwing means, and the printing device casing and the stapling device casing may be combined together by the screwing means.
From the above description, the present invention provides a stapling device for use with a printing device. A channel base plate is located at a bottom side of the conveying channel of the stapling device. The channel base plate has a movable contact plate. By poking the movable contact plate, the movable contact plate may be moved relative to the channel base plate. Even if a paper jam event occurs within the stapling device, the movable contact plate may be moved to a jam-releasing position which is touchable by the user's finger. Consequently, the user can easily remove the jammed paper sheet the without the need of using an additional tool. Moreover, since the stapling device casing is an L-shaped casing, only a part of the rear surface and a part of the top surface of the printing device casing are the overlapping region between the stapling device casing and the printing device casing. That is, since the stapling device casing is not just disposed over the printing device casing, the overall height of the stapling device and the printing device can be reduced.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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101108095 | Mar 2012 | TW | national |