US4558391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacitive discharge drive for electric stapler
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-14
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Granted: 1985-12-10
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Expires: 2003-02-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrically operated stapling apparatus is disclosed having a circuit utilizing a capacitor for driving the solenoid actuator for the apparatus. The circuit includes a fullwave rectifier for charging the capacitor with closely spaced dc pulses and includes circuitry for producing a plurality of charging levels for the capacitor depending upon the number of sheet material to be stapled. A reference circuit is also provided to insure the voltage level of charging is such that the operation of the apparatus is immune to line source voltage fluctuations.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph W. Ward
- 👤 Raymond A. Povio
- 👤 Russell G. Schroeder
- 👤 Patrick S. Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:24
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25C; B25C5/00; B25C5/10; B25C5/15; B25C5/02; B25C5/0221; B25C5/0228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said energy storage means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said energy storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is dc referenced and the drive circuit includes isolator devices between said ac referenced circuit and said dc circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive circuit is connected to a source of ac voltage and includes a fullwave rectifier between the source and capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including switch means interposed in a loop including said rectifier and said capacitor and being operatively connected to said dc circuit to be activated thereby for controlling energization of said capacitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a control element interposed in a loop including said capacitor and the electromechanical actuator for selectively controlling voltage to said actuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a control element interposed in a loop including said capacitor and the electromechanical actuator for relatively controlling the application of or removal of capacitor voltage from the actuator at some predetermined time.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for imparting an impulse force or motion to a driving element including an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving element, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, a capacitor in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said capacitor being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for imparting an impulse force or motion to a driving element including an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving element, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, a capacitor in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said capacitor being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including a conditioning circuit interposed between said ac referenced circuit and said capacitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including a network within said discharge path comprising resistive, inductive, capacitive and/or switching components, for adjustably controlling the discharge of energy through the electromechanical actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including a network within the discharge path of said capacitor having resistive, inductive and capacitive components for adjustably controlling the discharge of energy through the electromechanical actuator thereby the impulse force or motion derived therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including an analog-to-digital conversion means operatively associated with said control circuit for aiding the latter in controlling the discharge.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for imparting an impulse force upon a work piece having an electromechanical actuator which when energized actuates a mechanism to accomplish motion to the workpiece, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit includes a primary power circuit between a primary power source and the actuator, and a control circuit, a capacitor in said primary power circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said capacitor being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for imparting an impulse force upon a work piece having an electromechanical actuator which when energized actuates a mechanism to accomplish motion to the workpiece, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit includes a primary power circuit between a primary power source and the actuator, and a control circuit, a capacitor in said primary power circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said capacitor being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for modifying the level of the discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12 including an isolation means arranged between said primary power circuit and said capacitor, said control circuit being arranged to couple said isolation means into transforming an analog control reference to regulate the energy level in said capacitor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, means in said control circuit for controlling the discharge of said energy storage means; and a discharge path and control element other than said control circuit which encompasses the electromechanical actuation for selectively discharging the energy stored in said capacitor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, means in said control circuit for controlling the discharge of said energy storage means; and a discharge path and control element other than said control circuit which encompasses the electromechanical actuation for selectively discharging the energy stored in said capacitor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for inducing a multiplicity of levels of charge voltage upon said energy storage means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for driving fasteners into a plurality of sheet material to bind the same having a fastener driving means including a driver element, an electromechanical actuator, which when energized, actuates the driving means for moving the driver element against fastener to drive the same into the sheet material to be bound, and a drive circuit for selectively energizing the actuator, the improvement wherein; the drive circuit comprises an ac referenced circuit connected to the actuator and a control circuit, an energy storage means in the ac circuit to be charged thereby in response to a control input to said control circuit, said energy storage means being operatively connected to the actuator for energizing the same upon discharge thereof, and means in said control circuit for inducing a multiplicity of levels of charge voltage upon said energy storage means.
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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) | 1988-12-09 | 1989-06-10 | 1989-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-09 | 1993-06-10 | 1993-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-09 | 1997-06-10 | 1997-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |