US4194666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Staple clinching mechanism
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1978-06-26
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Granted: 1980-03-25
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Expires: 1998-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus in which articles are stapled to one another. A staple is driven through the article so that a portion thereof protrudes therefrom. The staple legs protruding through the articles are bent into substantial contact therewith so as to clinch the staples. In the clinched position, the staple legs are closely adjacent to one another and may be overlapping. During the clinching operation, the staple legs are guided by a groove in the surface affecting bending. Initially, the stapled leg is received in the central region of the groove. The central region of the groove has a greater cross-sectional area than the end region thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Spehrley, Jr.
- 👤 Brian F. Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:36
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27F; B27F7/00; B27F7/17; B27F7/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for stapling articles, including: means for driving a staple through the articles so that a portion of the staple legs extends therethrough; and means for bending the portions of the staple legs protruding through the articles into substantial contact therewith so as to clinch the staple, said bending means comprising a pair of pivotably mounted clinching ears, each of said clinching ears having a surface with a groove therein for guiding each of the staple legs during the bending thereof with the central region of each of the grooves having a greater cross sectional area than the end regions thereof and the central regions of each of the grooves being located to receive each of the staple legs at the initiation of the clinching operation, and each of said clinching ears includes a a recessed portion opposed from the groove of the other of said clinching ears so as to provide for the portion of each of the staple legs extending beyond the groove therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for stapling articles, including: means for driving a staple through the articles so that a portion of the staple legs extends therethrough; and means for bending the portions of the staple legs protruding through the articles into substantial contact therewith so as to clinch the staple, said bending means comprising a pair of pivotably mounted clinching ears, each of said clinching ears having a surface with a groove therein for guiding each of the staple legs during the bending thereof with the central region of each of the grooves having a greater cross sectional area than the end regions thereof and the central regions of each of the grooves being located to receive each of the staple legs at the initiation of the clinching operation, and each of said clinching ears includes a a recessed portion opposed from the groove of the other of said clinching ears so as to provide for the portion of each of the staple legs extending beyond the groove therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bending means includes a clinching rod having an arcuate end portion in contact with the said clinching ears so that translation of said clinching rod pivots said clinching ears so as to bend the staple legs into substantial contact with the article, thereby clinching the staple.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the arcuate portion of said clinching rod is concave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said clinching ears include open ended slots with the arcuate portion of said clinching rod being interfit in the slot of each of said clinching ears so that movement of said clinching rod in one direction pivots said clinching ears from a position remote from the staple legs to a position wherein the central region of each groove receives a staple leg and said clinching ears bend the staple legs to clinch the staple, and movement of said clinching rod in the opposed direction pivots said clinching ears to the position remote from the staple legs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said bending means includes means for moving said clinching rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said moving means includes a solenoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
a reproducing machine of the type having a stapling apparatus for stapling a plurality of copies to each other, wherein the improved stapling apparatus includes: means for driving a staple through the plurality of copies so that a portion of the staple legs extends therethrough; and means for bending the portion of the staple legs protruding through the plurality of copies into substantial contact therewith so as to clinch the staple, said bending means comprising a pair of pivotably mounted clinching ears, each of said clinching ears having a surface with a groove therein for guiding each of the staple legs during the bending thereof with the central region of each of the grooves having a greater cross sectional area than the end regions thereof and the central regions of each of the grooves being located to receive each of the staple legs at the initiation of the clinching operation, and each of said clinching ears includes a recessed portion opposed from the groove of the other of said clinching ears so as to provide space for the portion of each of the staple legs extending beyond the groove therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
a reproducing machine of the type having a stapling apparatus for stapling a plurality of copies to each other, wherein the improved stapling apparatus includes: means for driving a staple through the plurality of copies so that a portion of the staple legs extends therethrough; and means for bending the portion of the staple legs protruding through the plurality of copies into substantial contact therewith so as to clinch the staple, said bending means comprising a pair of pivotably mounted clinching ears, each of said clinching ears having a surface with a groove therein for guiding each of the staple legs during the bending thereof with the central region of each of the grooves having a greater cross sectional area than the end regions thereof and the central regions of each of the grooves being located to receive each of the staple legs at the initiation of the clinching operation, and each of said clinching ears includes a recessed portion opposed from the groove of the other of said clinching ears so as to provide space for the portion of each of the staple legs extending beyond the groove therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A reproducing machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said bending means includes a clinching rod having an arcuate end portion in contact with said clinching ears so that translation of said clinching rod pivots said clinching ears so as to bend the staple legs into substantial contact with the plurality of copy sheets, thereby clinching the staple.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reproducing machine as recited in claim 8, wherein the arcuate portion of said clinching rod is concave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
A reproducing machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said clinching ears include open ended slots with the arcuate portion of said clinching rod being interfit in the slot of each of said clinching ears so that movement of said clinching rod in one direction pivots said clinching ears from a position remote from the staple legs to a position wherein the central region of each groove receives a staple leg and said clinching ears bend the staple legs to clinch the staples and movement of said clinching rod in the opposed direction pivots said clinching ears to the position remote from the staple legs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A reproducing machine as recited in claim 10, wherein said beinding means includes means for moving said clinching rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A reproducing machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said moving means includes a solenoid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-25 | 1983-09-24 | 1984-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-25 | 1987-09-24 | 1988-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-25 | 1991-09-24 | 1992-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |