Sheet stapler

Claim 2

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means for driving said stapling means toward the stapling position, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the level of the load by detecting a level of current through said electrical driving means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said load detecting means produces the signal when the current is not higher than the predetermined level.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising feeding means for feeding staples toward said stapling means in a feeding operation in response to each stapling operation by said stapling means, and wherein said control means is responsive to a signal generated by said load detecting means and repeats the stapling operation by said stapling means and the feeding operation by said feeding means.

Claim 5

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 6

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means includes a detector for detecting the load on the basis of a stapling speed of said stapling means, and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the stapling speed is higher than a predetermined level.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means includes a detector for detecting the load on the basis of stapling acceleration of said stapling means, and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the stapling acceleration is higher than a predetermined level.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting the load on the basis of an end of one cycle of operation of said stapling means and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the end of one cycle occurs within a predetermined period.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current on the basis of stapling speed of said stapling means, and discriminates that the current is overloaded when the stapling speed is lower than a predetermined level.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current on the basis of stapling acceleration of said stapling means, and discriminates that the current is overloaded when the stapling acceleration is lower than a predetermined level.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current on the basis of an end of one cycle of operation of said stapling means and discriminates that the current is overloaded when the end of one cycle does not occur within a predetermined period.

Claim 13

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects a light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 14

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects a light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes a detector for detecting the load on the basis of a stapling speed of said stapling means, and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the stapling speed is higher than a predetermined level.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes a detector for detecting the load on the basis of stapling acceleration of said stapling means, and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the stapling acceleration is high than a predetermined level.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting the load on the basis of an end of one cycle of operation of said stapling means, and for discriminating that the current load is a light load without a staple, when the end of one cycle occurs within a predetermined period.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current of and stapling means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation of said stapling means, and wherein said control means controls said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when the overloaded current is detected.

Claim 19

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means, reciprocable between a home position and a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, with said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means for reciprocating said stapling means in a direction toward the stapling position, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermined level, control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of the a level of current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 20

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means, reciprocable between a home position and a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, with said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means for reciprocating said stapling means in a direction toward the stapling position, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermined level, control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of the a level of current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 21

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, with said stapling means including a hammer reciprocable between a home position and a stapling position for driving a staple, and driving means for reciprocating said hammer in a direction toward the stapling position, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 22

A sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, with said stapling means including a hammer reciprocable between a home position and a stapling position for driving a staple, and driving means for reciprocating said hammer in a direction toward the stapling position, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 23

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 24

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 25

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 26

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 27

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 28

A sheet stapling apparatus for use with a sorter coupled with a copying machine, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 29

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermining level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 30

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside of a predetermining level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 31

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a stapling into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 32

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a stapling into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 33

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 34

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 35

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 36

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means, movable from a home position to a stapling position, for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer for driving a staple into the set of sheets; driving means, including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer, for driving said stapling means; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is outside a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said driving means to move said stapling means toward the home position when the load detected by said load detecting means is not less than a predetermined level, wherein said load detecting means detects the current load by detecting either one of a level of a current and a voltage of said electrical driving means.

Claim 37

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 38

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting an overloaded current of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is higher than the predetermined current during a stapling operation; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the overload.

Claim 39

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation thereby; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 40

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having an automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including hammer movable from a home position to a stapling position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; detecting means for detecting a light current load of said electrical driving means when a current applied to said electrical driving means is less than the predetermined current during a stapling operation thereby; and control means for controlling said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means detects the light load, and then repeating the stapling operation.

Claim 41

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having a sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 42

In a sorter coupled with a copying machine and having a sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current on the basis of an end of one cycle of operation of said stapling means and discriminates that the current is overloaded when the end of one cycle does not occur within a predetermined period.

Claim 44

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having a sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 45

In a finisher coupled with a copying machine and having a sheet stapling apparatus, comprising: stapling means for stapling a set of sheets, said stapling means including a hammer movable from a home position to a staple position for driving a staple into the set of sheets, and driving means for driving said hammer, said driving means including an electrical driving means for supplying power to said hammer and being driven by a predetermined current; load detecting means for detecting a current load of said electrical driving means during a stapling operation, and for generating a signal when the load detected by said load detecting means is over the predetermined current; and control means for controlling movement of said driving means to return said hammer to the home position when said detecting means generates the signal.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said detecting means detects an overloaded current on the basis of an end of one cycle of operation of said stapling means and discriminates that the current is overloaded when the end of one cycle does not occur within a predetermined period.