Copy paper processing apparatus

Claim 2

A copy paper processing apparatus for processing copy papers, comprising: a stacker tray for receiving copy papers, said stacker tray including side plates for engaging opposing sides of the copy papers when the copy papers are received on the stacker tray; blower means for blowing air through said stacker tray to reduce static friction between said stacker tray and said copy papers; stopper means movable between a first position for engaging one edge of the copy papers and holding the copy papers in a desired position relative to the stacker tray when the copy papers are disposed on said stacker tray and a second position for permitting the copy papers to slide freely along the stacker tray; punching means for punching holes in the copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position; and stapling means for stapling together a plurality of copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position.

Claim 3

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including conveying rollers for conveying copy papers from a reproducing apparatus to said stacker tray.

Claim 4

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a final storage tray for receiving the copy papers processed by said processing unit, said final storage tray including lift means for lifting the copy papers to a desired level and conveying rollers for conveying the processed copy papers to said final storage tray.

Claim 5

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including holding means for holding the copy papers onto said stacker tray in said desired position prior to the punching operation and drive means for driving a paper holding bar into and out of engagement with the copy papers.

Claim 6

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stacker tray includes a plurality of openings and said stopper means includes a plate having one or more ribs extending therefrom and one or more upright portions extending from one or more of said ribs, said plate being moveable between a first position wherein said upright portions extend through said plurality of openings in said stacker tray and a second position wherein said upright portions do not extend through said plurality of openings.

Claim 7

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including stacker tray support means to hold said stacker tray in an inclined position so that copy papers disposed on said stacker tray are urged to slide along said stacker tray by the force of gravity.

Claim 8

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including first motor means to drive said side plates into cyclical engagement with the copy papers when the copy papers are disposed on the stacker tray.

Claim 9

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said punching means includes: punch pins; punch drive means for driving said punch pins in a desired direction; pin guides for receiving and guiding said punch pins along said desired direction; and punch dies, corresponding to said punch pins, disposed along said desired direction for stopping the movement of said punch pins as said punch drive means drives said punch pins along said desired direction.

Claim 10

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said punch drive means includes: motor means for reciprocatively rotating a shaft; a worm gear driven by said reciprocatively rotating shaft; a driven gear driven by said worm gear; at least one eccentric block fixed to one end of said driven gear; and rocking members having a first end and a second end, said rocking members being rockingly coupled at said first end to said eccentric block and operatively connected to said punch pins at said second end.

Claim 11

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said eccentric blocks are driven at different phases by said worm gear.

Claim 12

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stapling means includes one or more staplers, said one or more staplers including: a cartridge for holding a plurality of stapes; plunger means operatively connected to a motor, such that when said motor is energized said plunger means is driven into contact with one of the plurality of staples held in said cartridge and forced into the copy papers.

Claim 13

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including moving means for moving said punching means into a desired position relative to the copy papers when the copy papers are in said desired position.

Claim 14

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further including moving means for moving said one or more staplers into a desired position relative to the copy papers when the copy papers are in said desired position.

Claim 15

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a processing unit, said processing unit including: (a) punching means, including: (i) punch pins; (ii) punch drive means for driving said punch pins in a desired direction; (iii) pin guides for receiving and guiding said punch pins along said desired direction; and (iv) punch dies, corresponding to said punch pins, disposed along said desired direction for stopping the movement of said punch pins as said punch drive means drives said punch pins along said desired direction; and (b) stapling means including one or more staplers; said one or more staplers including: (i) a cartridge for holding a plurality of staples; and (ii) plunger means operatively connected to a motor, such that when said motors is energized said plunger means is driven into contact with one of the plurality of staples held in said cartridge and forced into the copy papers.

Claim 16

A copy paper processing apparatus for processing copy papers, comprising: (A) a stacker tray for receiving copy papers, said stacker tray including side plates for engaging opposing sides of the copy papers when the copy papers are received on the stacker tray; (B) stopper means movable between a first position for engaging one edge of the copy papers and holding the copy papers in a desired position relative to the stacker tray when the copy papers are disposed on said stacker tray and a second position for permitting the copy papers to slide freely along the stacker tray; (C) punching means for punching holes in the copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position, said punching means including: punch pins; punch drive means for driving said punch pins in a desired direction including motor means for reciprocatively rotating a shaft; a worm gear driven by said rotating shaft; a driven gear driven by said worm gear; at least one eccentric block fixed to one end of said driven gear; rocking members having a first end and a second end, said rocking members being rockingly coupled at said first end to said eccentric block and operatively connected to said punch pins at said second end; pin guides for receiving and guiding said punch pins along said desired direction; and punch dies, corresponding to said punch pins, disposed along said desired direction for stopping the movement of said punch pins as said punch drive means drives said punch pins along said desired direction; and (D) stapling means for stapling together a plurality of copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position.

Claim 17

A copy paper processing apparatus for processing copy papers, comprising: (A) a stacker tray for receiving copy papers, said stacker tray including side plates for engaging opposing sides of the copy papers when the copy papers are received on the stacker tray; (B) stopper means movable between a first position for engaging one edge of the copy papers and holding the copy papers in a desired position relative to the stacker tray when the copy papers are disposed on said stacker tray and a second position for permitting the copy papers to slide freely along the stacker tray; (C) punching means for punching holes in the copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position, said punching means including: punch pins; punch drive means for driving said punch pins in a desired direction including motor means for reciprocatively rotating a shaft; a worm gear driven by said rotating shaft; a driven gear driven by said worm gear; at least one eccentric block fixed to one end of said driven gear; rocking members having a first end and a second end, said rocking members being rockingly coupled at said first end to said eccentric block and operatively connected to said punch pins at said second end; pin guides for receiving and guiding said punch pins along said desired direction; and punch dies, corresponding to said punch pins, disposed along said desired direction for stopping the movement of said punch pins as said punch drive means drives said punch pins along said desired direction; and (D) stapling means for stapling together a plurality of copy papers held on said stacker tray in said desired position.

Claim 18

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said eccentric blocks are driven at different phases by said worm gear.

Claim 19

A copy paper processing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further including moving means for moving said punching means into a desired position relative to the copy papers when the copy papers are in said desired position.