U.S. patent application number 16/600057 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-06 for stapling device.
The applicant listed for this patent is SIGNODE INDUSTRIAL GROUP LLC. Invention is credited to Samuel HOCHSTRASSER, Benjamin HUBSCHMID, Dimitrios TAKIDIS, Michael WETTSTEIN.
Application Number | 20200039046 16/600057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64016047 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-06 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200039046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAKIDIS; Dimitrios ; et
al. |
February 6, 2020 |
Stapling Device
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable
battery-operated stapler.
Inventors: |
TAKIDIS; Dimitrios;
(Dubendorf, CH) ; HUBSCHMID; Benjamin; (Buchs AG,
CH) ; HOCHSTRASSER; Samuel; (Fallanden, CH) ;
WETTSTEIN; Michael; (Lenzburg, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIGNODE INDUSTRIAL GROUP LLC |
Glenview |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64016047 |
Appl. No.: |
16/600057 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/IB2018/000458 |
May 3, 2018 |
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16600057 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25C 5/1637 20130101;
B25C 1/06 20130101; B25F 5/02 20130101; B25C 5/15 20130101; B25C
5/1624 20130101; B25C 5/0207 20130101; B25C 1/005 20130101; B25C
1/008 20130101; B25C 5/0285 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B25C 5/02 20060101
B25C005/02; B25C 5/15 20060101 B25C005/15 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2017 |
CH |
00591/17 |
May 3, 2017 |
CH |
00592/17 |
May 3, 2017 |
CH |
00593/17 |
May 3, 2017 |
CH |
00594/17 |
May 3, 2017 |
CH |
00595/17 |
Claims
1-84 (canceled)
85. A stapling device comprising: a housing comprising a contact
surface and defining an ejection channel terminating in an ejection
opening defined in the contact surface, the housing comprising a
first detecting device; an ejector movable in the ejection channel
between an upper position and a lower position; a magazine attached
to the housing and configured to, when storing one or more staples,
position one of the one or more staples in the ejection channel; a
drive operably connected to the ejector and configured to move the
ejector from the upper position to the lower position to engage the
staple in the ejection channel and eject the staple out of the
ejection opening; an activatable trigger; and a control system
configured to, when in a semi-automatic operating mode: responsive
to a first triggering condition being met, control the drive to
cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower
position; and after the first triggering condition has been met,
responsive to a second triggering condition being met, control the
drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the
lower position, wherein the first triggering condition and the
second triggering condition are different.
86. The stapling device of claim 85, wherein the first triggering
condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first
detecting device detects an object.
87. The stapling device of claim 86, wherein the second triggering
condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after
the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device
stops detecting the object and later detects the object.
88. The stapling device of claim 85, wherein the trigger comprises
a second detecting device.
89. The stapling device of claim 88, wherein the first triggering
condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first
detecting device detects a first object and the second detecting
device detects a second object different from the first object.
90. The stapling device of claim 89, wherein the second triggering
condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after
the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device
stops detecting the first object and later detects the first object
while the second detecting device detects the second object.
91. The stapling device of claim 9, wherein the first and second
detecting devices include optical sensors.
92. The stapling device of claim 85, further comprising a lifting
element, a transmission rod connected to the lifting element, and a
guide element connected to the transmission rod, wherein the
ejector is mounted to the guide element, wherein the drive is
operably connected to the ejector via the lifting element, the
transmission rod, and the guide element.
93. The stapling device of claim 92, further comprising gearing and
an eccentric cam, wherein the drive is operably connected to the
cam via the gearing and configured to rotate the cam, wherein the
lifting element defines a slide, wherein the slide comprises first
and second portions that are oriented transversely to one another,
wherein the cam is at least partially positioned in the slide such
that the cam acts on the lifting element to move the lifting
element during rotation of the cam.
94. The stapling device of claim 85, wherein the control system is
further configured to, when in an automatic operating mode:
responsive to the first triggering condition being met, control the
drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the
lower position; and responsive to a third triggering condition
being met, control the drive to repeatedly cause the ejector to
move from the upper position to the lower position, wherein
consecutive movements of the ejector from the upper position to the
lower position are separated by a time interval, wherein the third
triggering condition is different from the first and second
triggering conditions.
95. The stapling device of claim 94, wherein the control system is
further configured to stop controlling the drive device to
repeatedly cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the
lower position responsive to the third triggering condition no
longer being met.
96. The stapling device of claim 95, wherein the first triggering
condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first
detecting device detects an object.
97. The stapling device of claim 96, wherein the third triggering
condition is met when both the trigger remains activated and the
first detecting device continues detecting the object after the
first triggering condition is met.
98. The stapling device of claim 97, wherein the second triggering
condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after
the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device
stops detecting the object and later detects the object.
99. The stapling device of claim 94, wherein the control system is
further configured to, when in a manual operating mode, responsive
to the first triggering condition being met, control the drive to
cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower
position.
100. The stapling device of claim 99, wherein the control system is
further configured to stop controlling the drive device to
repeatedly cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the
lower position responsive to the third triggering condition no
longer being met.
101. The stapling device of claim 100, wherein the first triggering
condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first
detecting device detects an object.
102. The stapling device of claim 101, wherein the third triggering
condition is met when both the trigger remains activated and the
first detecting device continues detecting the object after the
first triggering condition is met.
103. The stapling device of claim 102, wherein the second
triggering condition is met when, while the trigger remains
activated after the first triggering condition is met, the first
detecting device stops detecting the object and later detects the
object.
104. The stapling device of claim 94, further comprising an input
device configured to receive an input, wherein the control system
is further configured to change the time interval in response to
the input.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
and the benefit of PCT Application No. IB2018/000458, which was
filed on May 3, 2018, which claims priority to and the benefit of:
Swiss Patent Application No. 00591/17, which was filed on May 3,
2017; Swiss Patent Application No. 00592/17, which was filed on May
3, 2017; Swiss Patent Application No. 00593/17, which was filed on
May 3, 2017; Swiss Patent Application No. 00594/17, which was filed
on May 3, 2017; and Swiss Patent Application No. 00595/17, which
was filed on May 3, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a stapling device for
driving staples into an object, and more particularly to a
battery-powered portable stapling device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Certain known portable stapling devices (sometimes referred
to as staplers or stapling tools) use a fluid, such as compressed
air, to accelerate fasteners, such as staples, nails, clamps, and
the like, to drive these fasteners into objects. Such staplers are
used, for example, in the manufacture of furniture (for attaching
coverings such as leather upholstery to furniture) or to close the
flaps of cardboard boxes. Depending on the intended application,
staplers may differ from each other in their basic design layout.
But regardless of application, such staplers usually comprise a
piston movable in a cylinder between an upper and a lower dead
center. An element for driving fasteners is situated inside the
line of movement of the piston and serves for making contact with
and ejecting the fasteners that are introduced from a magazine into
the drive track.
[0004] Moreover, some known portable staplers include pincer
elements that bend the legs of staples after they are introduced
into a cardboard box. Such staplers are used especially for the
closing of the cover flaps of cardboard boxes. With this type of
stapler, it is necessary to coordinate the ejection movement with
the movement of the pincer elements to grasp the ejected two-legged
staples with the pincer elements when they have already pierced the
cardboard box and to bend the two legs of the respective staple in
the direction of a base leg of the staple.
[0005] There are several issues with these known staplers. The
magazine of certain known staplers cannot be easily managed on
account of the housing part of the motor interfering with the
magazine, such as by preventing a clear view of the magazine. With
certain known staplers it is difficult to precisely place staples
at desired positions. Certain known staplers only drive one staple
per trigger press, which leads to a slow work pace. Certain known
staplers provide display and control elements that are not
operator-friendly. Certain known staplers do not have an
operator-friendly, quick way to clear jammed staples from the
ejecting channel.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure provides various embodiments of
staplers that solve one or more of the above issues. In certain
embodiments, the stapler of the present disclosure includes a
housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle section
that extends away from the main housing section. An ejector device
is arranged in the main housing section and used to accelerate a
fastener and to eject the fastener from an exit opening of the
housing assembly. The stapler also includes a magazine assembly for
holding a supply of staples, a driving device for the ejector
device, a power supply device powering the drive device, and a
trigger activatable to cause the driving device to move the ejector
device to accelerate and eject at least one fastener from the exit
opening.
[0007] In certain embodiments, the stapler includes an electric
motor arranged in the handle section and oriented so its axis of
rotation does not run parallel to a longitudinal axis of a path of
acceleration of the ejector. This provides better access to the
magazine without situating the magazine in a different place or
altering its design. Surprisingly, the access to the magazine can
be significantly improved in that the electric motor is situated
not just at a greater distance from the magazine than previously.
Thanks to the integration of the electric motor in the handle
section of the housing the motor can be accommodated in a portion
of the housing that needs to be present anyway for reasons other
than to hold the motor. It is thus possible to avoid a separate
housing section of the stapler (required only for the motor) and
the associated weight thereof, and the handle may be used for an
additional purpose.
[0008] This also results in a surprising ergonomic improvement,
since the weight of the motor and possibly a gearing, including the
articulation or attachment of the drive to an ejection or outlet
mechanism, is arranged in or at least near the handle. Thus, the
weight resulting from the motor and from the other components of
the motor associated with the motor creates little or no torque
about the place where the operator is holding and handling the
stapler during its use. Thus, the operator need expend less force
to handle the stapler and does not become fatigued as quickly. In
one embodiment, at least a portion of the motor can be arranged
directly in and/or beneath the area of the handle section with
which the operator grabs the handle section by his hand and thereby
holds the stapler.
[0009] The mentioned benefits can be further enhanced when a
gearing (such as planetary gearing) switched in after the motor,
especially for speed reduction and torque boosting, is likewise
arranged in the handle section of the housing (or at least in its
immediate proximity or in its area).
[0010] In certain embodiments, the power supply device is an
interchangeable electric storage battery that can be installed in a
receptacle of the stapler arranged at one end of the handle section
of the housing and from which it can be removed. Thanks to this
location of the arrangement of the storage battery, at most only a
slight torque is required for the handling of the stapler, also due
to the storage battery, so that it is possible to handle the
stapler with only slight exertion of force. In one further
embodiment of the stapler, it may be provided in an arrangement of
the storage battery on the handle section of the housing that at
least one, and in some embodiments all, required electric power
supply lines from the storage battery to the motor are arranged
solely in the handle.
[0011] In one embodiment, the electric motor situated in the handle
section of the housing can be a brushless direct-current motor. The
absence of brushes in the motor, which are prone to wear and tear,
not only results in longer service life and no need for maintaining
the motor, but also a smaller size of the motor and thus the
possibility of designing the handle section solely in terms of
ergonomic standpoints, and not so as to be able to accommodate the
motor in the handle. The aspect of using a brushless direct-current
motor as the drive for a portable mobile stapler for industrial use
in the field of production and packaging with which staples are
ejected may also have independent significance beyond other aspects
of the present disclosure, especially--but not
exclusively--independent significance in connection with a
stapler.
[0012] A favorable ergonomic design of the stapler may also be
achieved in certain embodiments in that the axis of rotation of the
electric motor in relation to an acceleration path of the ejector
for ejecting a staple is an angle chosen from a range of 60.degree.
to 120.degree., preferably with an angle of at least approximately
90.degree.. Further, the two axes in certain embodiments intersect.
However, it may also be provided that the two axes are spatially
set off from each other. In this case, the mentioned angle between
the two axes results by projecting the one axis in the direction
onto the other of the two axes.
[0013] Moreover, it has proven to be favorable for the power supply
device to be situated in the area of one end of the handle, in
certain embodiments at the free end of the handle. If, in one
especially embodiment, the power supply device is chosen to be an
interchangeable storage battery, which can be arranged by way of a
quick connection, for example a detent or a snap connection, on the
stapler, then a receptacle for such storage batteries can be
provided at the free end of the handle section of the housing. An
electrical contact between the receptacle and the storage battery
can be accomplished by contact elements integrated in the
receptacle. This achieves an especially short wiring between the
power supply device and the electric motor. This facilitates both
the assembly of the stapler and possible repairs. A short wiring
furthermore results in a slight electrical resistance of the
wiring, which reduces electric losses and increases the energy
content in the storage battery that can be utilized for stapling
processes. Furthermore, the weight of a storage battery at the free
end of the handle section results in better balancing of the
stapler. The weight of the storage battery also acts as a
counterweight to the ejection mechanism or ejector device of the
stapler.
[0014] Certain embodiments of the stapler simplify filling of the
magazine by including a fill level display or a fill level signal
device provided for signaling a supply of staples contained in the
magazine. Since in this way it is possible for an operator to
recognize or perceive whether the magazine is about to run empty,
it is possible to avoid an unforeseen emptying of the magazine.
[0015] Staples for filling a magazine are usually offered as staple
blocks containing a particular number of staples glued together.
These staple blocks have a particular length that depends on the
number of staples and the size of the staples. In one embodiment, a
marking may be provided on the magazine in addition to the fill
level display, being at least approximately the length of the
staple blocks suitable for the stapler. Once the fill level display
reaches the marking, there is sufficient room available in the
magazine to be able to add a new staple block to the magazine.
Depending on the length of the magazine and the length of the
staple blocks, it may be provided that the marking, as seen from
the end of the magazine, is located approximately at the height of
an integer multiple of the length of a staple block. If the marking
is reached by the fill level display, an optically perceptible
signal is sent that a number of staple blocks can be added to the
magazine, corresponding to the integer multiple (N=1, 2, 3 etc.).
The fill level display and the marking thus simplify the filling of
the magazine in each case as full as possible once more as it comes
toward the end of its staple supply. In this way, the work cycles
between two filling processes can be as long as possible, so that
the number of nonproductive filling processes can be reduced to a
minimum.
[0016] Certain embodiments of the stapler inprove the operator's
ability to precisely place staples in predetermined positions by
including at least one light-emitting device arranged in the
housing assembly and situated such that its emitted light contains
optically perceptible position information on U-shaped staples that
can be ejected by the stapler. Hence, the present disclosure
basically proposes using light to provide the operator with at
least information about a position where the stapler can eject a
staple, especially a substantially U-shaped staple, on account of
its momentary orientation in space. With this knowledge, the
operator can better orient the stapler than heretofore, such that a
staple during a stapling process can also be placed in an object at
the designated location.
[0017] In one embodiment, at least one light-emitting device can be
provided, with which a directed light beam can be emitted from the
housing in the direction of an object. With a directed light beam,
especially precise position information can be displayed and
relayed. The light-emitting device may send out directional light
beams in the form of lasers, for example.
[0018] In another embodiment, the light beam may contain optically
perceptible position information about a plane in which a staple
plane of ejectable staples extends. A plane of staples here can be
understood to mean in particular a plane of symmetry of the
U-shaped staples that extends through the middle of the base leg
and parallel to the two side legs of the staples. Such information
may be advantageous especially but not solely in connection with
the processing of cardboard boxes, in which two foldable cover
flaps are to be joined together by way of one or more staples to
form a cover of the cardboard box. With such a light beam, the
light beam of the stapler can be aligned with a joint between the
two cover flaps, thus ensuring the placing of the stapler in a
nominal position in which in each case one leg of the respective
staple will be placed in each of the two cover flaps.
[0019] In another embodiment the at least one light-emitting device
is situated in the housing assembly and contains position
information about a plane in which a staple plane of ejectable
staples extends. Knowledge of the plane of staples, i.e., the plane
in which the staple being ejected and the ejecting channel of the
stapler is located, may likewise contribute to the precise setting
of staples in objects. It is especially advantageous here if both
the midplane and the plane of staples can be indicated with the aid
of light-emitting device of the stapler.
[0020] In another embodiment, the stapler includes one or more
different light-emitting device, with which light can be emitted in
different colors, wherein the different colors in addition to the
position information can also represent state information about the
stapler in an optically perceptible manner. Thus, for example, the
one or more light-emitting devices, besides the position
information about the plane of ejection of the staples or other
position information, may also signal with different colors for
this respective position information whether the stapler is ready
to eject a staple. This information may be especially significant
if--as is provided in certain embodiments of the present
disclosure--at least one particular condition must be fulfilled to
enable an ejection. In various embodiments of the present
disclosure, this may be for example the detection of the presence
of an operator's finger on the trigger and/or the presence of an
object in the area of the contact surface, which may be the exit
opening for the ejecting of staples, or the contact between the
contact surface of the stapler and an object.
[0021] In one embodiment, the stapler comprises only one
light-emitting device that sends out a light beam directed in front
of the device. The light beam lies in a plane that runs at least
substantially perpendicular to the base leg of the respective
staple being ejected, in certain embodiments through the middle of
the base leg. This orientation of the light beam may also be
defined as lying in a plane that is oriented at least substantially
perpendicular to the plane of staples, which is subtended by the
three legs of the particular nondeformed staple being ejected. This
plane in certain embodiments runs parallel to the two free (not yet
deformed) legs and has the same distance from them in each case.
This light beam may be at least a laser light beam. Besides a
point-like laser, especially of interest in this regard are linear
lasers whose emitted light appears as a line on an object. The
light beam in this case is a light plane emitted by the linear
laser. Such lasers are already known in themselves and are offered
by various manufacturers. In other embodiments, other light sources
are also conceivable for this light beam, such as one or more
LEDs.
[0022] In another embodiment, the stapler has only at least one
light-emitting device, which indicates the staple plane formed by
the three legs of the respective (not yet deformed) staple to be
ejected. The at least one light-emitting device is in certain
embodiments situated and shines in this staple plane and/or emits
one or more light beams which are situated in the staple plane. In
various embodiments one such light-emitting device is provided on
either side of the exit opening for the staples laterally on the
housing. These light-emitting devices may be LEDs. In other
embodiments, other light sources are also conceivable for this at
least one light-emitting device, such as one or more lasers.
[0023] In one embodiment, the stapler comprises both light-emitting
devices, namely, at least one for signaling the position of the
staple center and at least one, and in certain embodiments at least
two, light-emitting device that indicates the position of the
staple plane in an optically perceptible manner.
[0024] In another embodiment, at least one laser may be provided as
the light-emitting device, and an adjusting device is provided for
the light-emitting device, by which a direction (emission
direction) of the directed light emitted by the light-emitting
device can be changed and set. Since the oriented light beam of the
light-emitting device is supposed to ascertain the most exact
possible position information, it is necessary for the laser to be
mounted as accurately as possible in its intended orientation and
position in the stapler. But on account of manufacturing and/or
assembly tolerances, the danger exists that the laser, especially a
linear laser (line laser), does not occupy exactly the intended
orientation and/or position in the holder. By way of the adjusting
device described here, such inaccuracies can be corrected and the
laser oriented as desired. In the case of a line laser in
particular the course of the line formed by the laser light on an
object can be altered and adjusted in this way. In other
embodiments of the present disclosure, the described teaching can
also be provided for light-emitting device other than lasers, for
example, for a LED as the light-emitting device.
[0025] In one embodiment of the stapler, a conventional laser,
especially a line laser, may be provided, and arranged in a
housing. The housing of the laser should be provided with an outer
surface that is circular in cross section and that is arranged in a
holder in which the housing can rotate. In certain embodiments, an
engaging element is provided on the housing, by whose activation
the housing is rotatable in its holder. By a rotation, the laser
can then be given a different orientation and thus a wrong
orientation or arrangement can be at least partly corrected. The
engaging element can be accessible for an activation not only
during the assembly of the stapler, but also on the finally
assembled and ready to use stapler. In this way, it is possible to
perform a correction also afterwards and without disassembly of the
stapler.
[0026] In one advantageous modification of this possible
embodiment, the engaging element can at least partly enclose the
outer surface and be accessible for a manual activation through a
recess of the holder. In another possible embodiment, the engaging
element may be elastically compressible and be arranged at least
slightly clamped in the slotlike recess. Such an engaging element
can be, for example, an O-ring arranged under stress on the
housing. The stress should be such that, when the O-ring attempts
to turn, no relative movement occurs between the O-ring and the
housing, but instead the housing is carried along with the movement
of the O-ring. Thanks to the at least slight clamping, it can be
ensured that the light-emitting device cannot move unintentionally
in its holder. A deliberate activation is required for a change in
its orientation or position. In this way, the O-ring can be
manually activated through the recess for a rotational movement, by
which the housing of the light-emitting device is carried along and
experiences a change in its orientation or alignment. Thanks to the
slight clamping action by which the elastically deformable O-ring
is arranged in the recess of the holder, the rotation occurs
against an at least slight frictional force, making it possible for
the light-emitting device to also be rotatable about very slight
rotation angles and thus adjustable.
[0027] In other embodiments, the at least one triggering device of
the stapling device includes a detection device for the detection
of a body part, especially a finger, placed on the trigger. The
detection device for the detection of a body part placed on the
trigger may be situated in the activatable trigger or on the
housing immediately alongside the activatable trigger. With such a
sensor on the triggering device, an additional preventative measure
may be achieved so that a staple may only be ejected if an operator
has contact with the triggering device or at least one body part,
such as a finger, is near the triggering device. This measure may
be provided either by itself or as a condition needing to be
fulfilled in addition to other conditions. A suitable detection
device for this may be a proximity sensor, a photodiode or a
photoresistor, for example.
[0028] Another condition for the performance of a stapling process
may be a detection of the presence of an object. For this, at least
one detecting device can be provided in the area of the contact
surface of the stapler to detect the presence of an object beneath
the contact surface.
[0029] In one embodiment, a stapler can thus also be provided in
which a detection signal of the detection device can be sent to a
control system of the stapler, and the control system is designed
such that the detection signal is a requirement for enabling
ejecting of a staple.
[0030] Finally, it has also proven to be especially advantageous
when the detection signal for the presence of a body part can be
utilized to switch on the at least one light-emitting device.
Hence, the at least one light-emitting device can only be turned on
when an operator also intends to make use of the stapler.
[0031] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, at
least one of the above-described teachings may also be provided for
a mobile strapping device for the strapping of packaged goods with
a plastic or metal band, by which a loop of such a band is
stretched and then a closure of the band loop can be placed on the
stretched loop. In particular, at least one light-emitting device
can be provided on the housing of such a strapping device,
indicating on the strapping device an inserting position and/or a
final position of a strapping band in the strapping device. Here as
well, the light-emitting device can be arranged on the housing
assembly of the strapping device such that its emitted light
represents optically perceptible position information with which
the operator is instructed how to situate the band in an intended
nominal position in the strapping device.
[0032] The prevention of unintentional triggering of the stapler
can be further enhanced by a further embodiment in which the
trigger can be activated against the spring forces of at least two
spring elements. In this way, it can be provided that, upon
activation, the trigger is at first activated only against the
spring force of the first spring and only during the further
activation is the trigger activated against the spring forces of
both spring elements. The triggering of an ejection also occurs
after the spring force of the second spring element acts on the
trigger against the activation of the trigger. Therefore, both
spring elements are situated in the movement path of the trigger,
but they only act for the first time on the respective trigger
after different activation distances of the trigger have been
traveled. Thanks to the suddenly increasing spring force on account
of the additional action of the second spring element, the operator
can be provided with the information that a triggering of an
ejection is now imminent. Thus, an operator can better coordinate
the ejecting of a staple.
[0033] In certain embodiments, the stapler increases the work pace
when setting staples by including that at least one detecting
device for detecting the presence of an object beneath the contact
surface is provided in the area of the contact surface of the
stapler at which at least one clinch element of the clinch device
for the bending of staples emerges from the contact surface during
a stapling process. This detecting device and the detection signal
provided by it can be used to perform a stapling process with a
staple even without subsequent activation of the trigger.
[0034] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, at
least two different operating modes of the stapler can be set,
whereby in the first operating mode only one stapling process can
be triggered by a (single) activating of the triggering
device/trigger, such that only one staple can be ejected and its
legs can be bent by way of the clinch device, and in a second
operating mode multiple successive stapling processes can be
triggered with one activating of the triggering device, such that
each time one staple can be ejected and its legs can be bent by way
of the clinch device. Alternatively to the mentioned second
operating mode or supplementally as a third operating mode, in one
embodiment a mode may also be provided in which further stapling
processes are performed fully automatically in a given
predetermined or variable predeterminable interval. An ejecting of
staples in this latter mentioned operating mode may occur, for
example, as long as or in each case when a particular release
condition is present after a first ejection for further automatic
ejections of this one automatic ejection series. One possible
condition might be, for example, that the stapler has not been
lifted off from the object but rather is being pulled or guided
over the respective object with constant contact with the object
for the automatic ejecting of a series of staples. Thus, it may be
provided that the control system of the stapler will halt a series
of automatically occurring staple ejections as soon as the stapler
is lifted off from the object.
[0035] But as long as the presence of the stapler on an object is
detected, without the stapler having been lifted off from the
respective object, the automatically occurring ejection series will
continue. Among other things, for this detection process the
stapler may be provided with a releasing device which detects
whether such a release condition is fulfilled.
[0036] Alternatively, it may also be provided that the presence of
the stapler on an object must only be detected for the first
ejection of such an automatically occurring series of ejections in
an automatic mode and all subsequent ejections will then occur
without such a detection.
[0037] As regards the number and/or time intervals of the ejections
following the first ejection, these will occur in accordance with
the predetermined values stored in the control system of the
stapler. As regards the number of staples that can be ejected in
this mode, a maximum value of ejectable staples may be specified,
for example. It is also possible to significantly increase the work
pace in this way. Thus, for example, to place a series of staples
in an object, it is possible to merely pull the stapler set down on
an object in automatic mode across the object and the staples will
then be ejected in a predetermined or predeterminable time interval
and driven into the object. In order that each operator can adapt
the stapler to their own work pace and work style, in another
embodiment a teach-in mode may also be possible for the automatic
mode. In this mode, the stapler receives and memorizes the time
intervals at which an operator manually activates the respective
triggering device or the trigger two or more times in succession.
In the mentioned possible embodiment of the automatic mode, staples
are then ejected in precisely these time intervals.
[0038] With the teaching provided according to the present
disclosure, a faster work style or a more pleasant and less
fatiguing work style can be achieved for staplers outfitted with a
clinch device.
[0039] In this way, for staplers which are equipped with a clinch
device, it is furthermore possible to realize a semiautomatic mode
for carrying out several consecutive individual stapling processes.
In this semiautomatic operating mode, by a single activation of a
trigger element it is possible to perform multiple consecutive
stapling processes, including respective clinch processes, not
requiring any manual activation of a triggering element by the
operator for each of these stapling processes. There only needs to
be a single activating of the triggering element. By contrast with
the automatic mode, in the semiautomatic mode it may be provided,
for the triggering of the staple ejections following the respective
first staple ejection, that these will only occur if at least one
other condition is fulfilled, as in the automatic mode, and devices
are provided with which it can be detected whether the at least one
condition for the semiautomatic mode is fulfilled. One possible
condition may be, for example, that the stapler after a staple
ejection must necessarily be lifted off from the object to perform
the semiautomatic ejection of a series of staples when the trigger
continues to be activated. Hence, it may be provided that the
control system of the stapler will halt a series of
semiautomatically occurring staple ejections once the stapler is
lifted off from the object, but not set down again on the object
with the trigger activated. Among other things, for this the
stapler may be provided with a releasing device that detects
whether such a release condition is fulfilled. The
semiautomatically occurring ejection of staples can also be halted
by ending the activation, i.e., in particular the pressing of the
trigger.
[0040] In one embodiment there may be provided, in addition to the
triggering device, a releasing device that provides a release
signal to perform a stapling process to the control system in at
least one of the two operating modes when a predetermined condition
is fulfilled. In an embodiment, three possible operating modes are
provided, namely, a manual mode, a semiautomatic mode, and an
automatic mode, and in all three operating modes the releasing
device can detect, to enable each staple being ejected, whether the
next staple in each case is released for the ejecting. The
releasing device may thus comprise at least one detecting device
with which a presence of an object in the area of the contact
surface can be detected, especially a contact between the contact
surface and the object. It may be provided that a stapling process
with a staple is only enabled upon detecting an object in the area
of the contact surface by way of a detection device. In this
context, non-contact releasing device, i.e., in particular
detecting device working without contact, not needing the slightest
mechanical contact to detect the presence of an object in the area
of the contact surface.
[0041] However, the at least one detecting device for determining
an object at the contact surface, especially a contact between the
contact surface and the respective object, can in theory be based
on various principles of detection. Thus, optical detection device
are possible in particular, for example those having a light
transmitter and a light receiver, wherein the object serves as a
surface for reflecting the light emitted by the light transmitter
which is to be detected by the light receiver. Likewise,
mechanically working detecting devices are possible, such as
microswitches. Further detecting device can be for example
photoresistors, ultrasound distance sensors, proximity sensors, and
other sensors that are able to ascertain the presence of an
object.
[0042] One embodiment may provide at least two spaced apart
detecting devices in the area of the contact surface. For example,
it may be enough for objects that are not flat, such as curved
objects, to enable a stapling process already if one of the two
detecting device recognizes the presence of an object, especially a
contact with the object, beneath this detecting device and provides
a corresponding signal to the control system of the stapler.
[0043] It may also be provided that both of the at least two
detecting device must provide an enable signal in order that a
stapling process can occur. Insofar as one or more staples need to
be driven into an object with a substantially flat surface in the
area of the contact surface with bending of the legs of the
respective staples, it is a significant contribution to misfire
prevention that both detection devices must provide the presence of
an object in the area of the respective detection device to enable
a stapling process. In this regard, one embodiment has one
detecting device of the two detecting devices situated each time at
one of the two short side edges of the exit opening. Such an
embodiment may ensure that both legs of a staple--and not just only
one or even no legs--pierce the respective object.
[0044] The at least one releasing device provided in addition to
the actual triggering device, being configured as at least one
detecting device, has special advantages in connection with the
semiautomatic mode which can be set on the stapler as one possible
operating mode according to the present disclosure. With this
detecting device, in one possible embodiment, it can be ensured
that each stapling process actually occurring in the semiautomatic
mode--after an initial triggering of a semiautomatic cycle of
possible stapling processes--will only occur if the contact surface
is also in fact situated on or at least directly above an object.
Furthermore, the detection outcome ascertained each time in the
semiautomatic mode for an object present in the area of the contact
surface or a contact of the contact surface with an object can be
utilized to enable and perform the respective stapling process. It
may be provided here that it is necessary to detect at first the
absence of an object in the area of the contact surface and then
once more the presence of an object in the area of the contact
surface for the subsequent performance of a stapling process, such
as for each stapling process, in this cycle.
[0045] In various embodiments the ejecting of a staple will occur
with a predetermined time delay, after the respectively given at
least one condition for a releasing of the ejection is fulfilled.
In one embodiment, there may be two conditions involved, namely,
the detecting of a body part on the trigger and the presence of an
object beneath the exit opening for the staples. If both objects
are detected, the ejecting of a staple is enabled. However, in this
embodiment the ejection will be triggered and occur with a time
delay. It may occur with detecting device that they will wrongly
detect a contact not yet actually existing as pre-existing as they
are brought closer to an object, so that the ejecting of a staple
occurs too early. The length of the delay is adjustable on the
stapler. Alternatively, a fixed and unchangeable time delay may
also be provided.
[0046] Certain embodiments of the stapler improve the
operator-friendliness of the display and control elements via a
display and control device having a membrane keypad devicethat
comprises control elements as membrane keypad elements by whose
activation one can adjust settings for the stapler and/or change
the states of the stapler. The present disclosure thus proposes
having a central display and control device on the stapler,
encompassing as many as possible of the provided display and
control elements, and configuring this as a membrane keypad.
[0047] In one embodiment of the stapler it may be provided that the
stapler can be switched to a single ejection operating mode and a
semiautomatic operating mode in which several stapling processes
can be performed in succession after only a single activating of
the trigger, wherein the display and control device comprises
display device for signaling the operating mode which is switched
on. In one embodiment, the display and control device may comprise
at least one membrane keypad element for setting the operating
mode.
[0048] Alternatively to the mentioned second operating mode or in
addition as a third operating mode, in one embodiment such a mode
may also be provided in which further stapling processes are
performed fully automatically in a given predetermined or variable
predeterminable interval as long as the presence of the stapler on
an object is detected. Here as well the work pace can be
significantly boosted.
[0049] To improve the ergonomics, it may be favorable to also
provide on the membrane keypad device a display device for
signaling a malfunction of the stapler. Insofar as the display and
control device has a display device to indicate a charge state of a
storage battery of an electrically operated stapler, it can be
advantageous that the display device for the charge state can also
signal a malfunction of the stapler, especially by a different
display mode of the display device, especially by a change in color
and/or by a change in a blinking mode.
[0050] In another embodiment, the stapler may comprise at least one
light-emitting device arranged in the housing assembly that is
situated such that its emitted light contains optically perceptible
position information on the U-shaped staples which can be ejected
from the stapler. Preferably, this light-emitting device can be
switched to a ready state without emitting light. An actual turning
on of the at least one light-emitting device may then occur only
after another condition is fulfilled, for example, an operator has
placed his hand or his finger on a particular position of the
stapler. Thus, for example, a detecting device can be provided on
or near the trigger to detect the hand or a finger, for example, a
proximity sensor. An operating readiness display device arranged on
the display and control device may signal the operating readiness
of the light-emitting device, resulting in a turning on of the
light-emitting device with no further separate switching process
and the turning on of the light-emitting device will only depend on
the fulfillment of at least one operating condition. Such a display
device may be for example a display device of the membrane keypad
device. Moreover, it may be a light-emitting diode.
[0051] An ergonomically favorable working position in which an
operator while using the stapler can also notice and thus perceive
a warning or malfunction signals at once may be accomplished in
that the display and control device is arranged on a side surface,
especially an inclined side surface, of the main housing
section.
[0052] Certain embodiments of the stapler include a magazine device
that can be inserted and removed in a more operator-friendly way,
especially so as to be able to remove staples jammed in the
ejecting channel as quickly as possible and return the stapler to
an operational state once more.
[0053] Specifically, the stapler includes a quick lock provided
with a guiding device, which enables the magazine to move in
succession in two different directions, not parallel to each other,
guiding it at least in substantially straight directions each time,
during installation of the magazine on the carrier piece. The
magazine when being removed from the stapler also can only be
removed by moving the magazine along these two non-parallel
longitudinal axes, but in reverse sequence and in opposite
directions of movement. It is especially advantageous when the
movements are in each case only possible along the two different
axes or directions of movement for the removing and installing of
the magazine. Since the movements for the installing and the
removing are distinctly fixed and are also simple and quick
movements, the magazine can be quickly removed and also quickly
installed once more.
[0054] It may be especially favorable in this case to have a
guiding device that enables the magazine to move in succession in
two mutually perpendicular directions during a movement of
installing the magazine. Such movements can be performed especially
easily by an operator.
[0055] It may be especially advantageous for one of the movement
directions to be oriented parallel or at least approximately
parallel to the contact surface of the stapler. Especially if,
during the removal process, the movement performed parallel to the
contact surface is the first movement to be performed and it is
possible for the second movement to also be performed with the
stapler itself, the removal of the magazine can be done in a
working position on an object without having to be lifted off from
and removed from the object being worked upon.
[0056] In another embodiment, at least one of the two movements is
bounded by an end stop. Preferably this will be the movement which
is performed first, so that operator error can be prevented. In
this way, the operator has no difficulty in passing from the first
to the second movement at the proper place.
[0057] Moreover, it may be favorable to provide at least one swivel
lever or quick lock lever of the quick lock that can swivel about a
swivel axis running perpendicular to the contact surface. In
certain embodiments, it should be possible to swivel in each case
about in each case a swivel axis running perpendicular to the
contact surface in the area of both sides of the magazine. This can
realize an especially ergonomically favorable yet functionally
secure quick lock.
[0058] In certain embodiments, the at least one swivel lever is
arranged on a carrier piece of the stapler and interacts with a
mating element of the magazine. In certain embodiments the mating
element is a plate arranged on the magazine, which in the inserted
state of the magazine bounds the ejecting channel on one side of
the ejecting channel, a side of the ejecting channel at the
magazine side.
[0059] The function can be further enhanced by an embodiment when
the quick lock has self-locking device, which prevents the magazine
from being removed without activating a releasing device designed
to release the magazine. Preferably, the self-locking will further
increase the holding forces of the magazine or further strengthen a
form fit when such an attempt is made. One of several possibilities
for a self-locking may be, for example, that the magazine turns a
swivel lever--as the device of releasing the quick lock--against a
release direction when attempting to remove the magazine without
activating the release device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0060] FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned representation of a one example
embodiment of a mobile portable stapler of the present
disclosure.
[0061] FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the stapler of
FIG. 1.
[0062] FIG. 3 is a perspective partial representation of the
stapler of FIG. 1.
[0063] FIG. 4 is an exploded partial representation of the stapler
with its guide for a bayonet type arrangement and guidance of a
magazine on the stapler.
[0064] FIG. 5 is a representation per FIG. 4 during the inserting
of the magazine into the stapler.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a representation per FIG. 5 with the magazine in
its end position.
[0066] FIG. 7 is a representation of the stapler from underneath,
while inserting a magazine.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a representation per FIG. 7, with a further
inserting of the magazine.
[0068] FIG. 9 is a representation per FIGS. 7 and 8, with the
magazine in its end position.
[0069] FIG. 10 is a representation per FIG. 9.
[0070] FIG. 11 is a representation per FIG. 10 with a beginning
removal of the magazine from the guide.
[0071] FIG. 12 is a representation per FIGS. 9 and 11 with a
further removing of the magazine.
[0072] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section through the stapler of
FIG. 1 with a blocking device for the ejector.
[0073] FIG. 14 is the blocking device of FIG. 13 in a release
position.
[0074] FIG. 15 is the blocking device of FIGS. 13 and 14 in a
blocking position.
[0075] FIG. 16 is a perspective representation of the blocking
device with a pawl in the blocking position.
[0076] FIG. 17 is a perspective representation of the stapler of
FIG. 1 with a marking device arranged on the magazine device.
[0077] FIG. 18 is the marking device as the staples are further
consumed.
[0078] FIG. 19 is the marking device with nearly all staples
consumed from the magazine.
[0079] FIG. 20 is a side view of the stapler with a light beam of a
light-emitting device as a positioning aid.
[0080] FIG. 21 is a sectional representation of the stapler of FIG.
20.
[0081] FIG. 22 is the light-emitting device of FIGS. 20 and 21 in a
holder of the stapler.
[0082] FIG. 23 is a sectional representation of the representation
of FIG. 22.
[0083] FIG. 24 is the stapler with two light beams emerging at the
side of the stapler from two further light-emitting devices in a
front representation.
[0084] FIG. 25 is the representation of FIG. 24 with a rear
view.
[0085] FIG. 26 is a perspective representation of two light beam
planes oriented perpendicular to each other from two light-emitting
devices of FIGS. 20-25.
[0086] FIG. 27 is a sectional representation of the front end of
the stapler with the representation of two light-emitting devices
emitting light planes aligned with each other.
[0087] FIG. 28 is a sectional representation per FIG. 27 of
alternative light-emitting device and with two light shafts.
[0088] FIG. 29 is a side view of the representation of FIG. 28.
[0089] FIG. 30 is a head area of the stapler in a partial
representation with a display and control device provided on the
stapler.
[0090] FIG. 31 is a sectional representation of the stapler with a
trigger and two spring elements counteracting the operating force
of the trigger.
[0091] FIG. 32 is a partial representation of FIG. 31 with the
trigger in an early stage of activation, and with the two spring
elements, one of them lying against the trigger and the other one
spaced away from the trigger.
[0092] FIG. 33 is a representation per FIG. 32 with the trigger in
a later stage of its activation, in which both spring elements lie
against the trigger.
[0093] FIG. 34 is three front views each with a stapler, being
provided with two mechanical detecting devices (contact switches)
for the detection of an object in the area of a contact surface,
the detecting devices being shown in different detection states in
two partly sectioned representations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0094] FIG. 1 shows one example embodiment of the stapler of the
present disclosure as a portable electrically operated stapler 1,
as is provided in the industrial or commercial field for the
driving of fasteners, especially staples, into surfaces. The
electric energy provided is used to drive out or eject staples. The
housing comprises a main housing section 2 and a handle section 3,
as will be further explained below. On the main housing section 2
there is arranged a removable magazine device 4 in which a supply
of staples can be held. Inside the main housing section 2 is
arranged an ejecting mechanism 6, which contains an ejector 8
driven by a motor 7, which in its acceleration path strikes against
the foremost staple from the magazine 4, accelerates it, and pushes
it out from an ejecting channel 9 and its exit opening 10. The exit
opening 10 is situated in the area of a substantially flat contact
surface 11 by which the stapler 1 is placed on the item or object
to set a staple in the respective object with the stapler 1 in a
motor driven manner.
[0095] In this example embodiment, the stapler is used for the
closing of cardboard boxes. It therefore comprises two so-called
clinchers 14 (FIG. 3) that are synchronized in the movements
performed by them with the movement of the ejector 8 and are driven
in their movement into the cardboard box to bend the two legs of
the respective staple in the direction of a base leg of the
staple.
[0096] The housing may in certain embodiments be made from a
castable or injection moldable plastic and it has two halves that
can be put together. Each housing half thus has a portion of the
main housing section 2 and a portion of the handle section 3.
[0097] The ejecting mechanism 6 situated in the main housing
section 2 comprises a rotation element driven in rotation by the
motor 7, being equipped with an eccentric cam. The cam is led in a
slide of a straight-moving lifting element. The lifting element is
led in a straight line so that it performs in each case a straight
movement between an upper and a lower dead center, at which a
reversal of the direction of movement occurs each time. The slide
for the cam provided on the lifting element has a first slide
segment running at a slant to the lift axis and an adjacent second
slide segment running at least substantially perpendicular to the
lift axis.
[0098] On the lifting element there is arranged a transmission rod
by one of its ends, its other end being arranged on a guide element
likewise led in the lifting direction. At the lower end of the
guide element is situated the ejector, which together with the
lifting element and the guide element executes an oscillating
movement between the upper and the lower dead center of its
movement. The ejector in its motor driven path is designed to make
contact with the most forward staple of the staple supply located
in each case in the ejecting channel by an end of the ejector
facing away from the guide element and by the end face that is
provided here.
[0099] Furthermore, linked to the guide element are two clinchers
14 that can swivel by a lever gearing 28. Each of the clinchers 14
has at its free end a blade 14a that penetrates into the object,
here the cardboard box, during an ejection stroke of the ejector 8
by the swiveling movement of the respective clincher 14 and bends
one of the two U-legs of the staple 12 in the direction of the base
leg of the staple 12, thereby fixing the staple 12 against being
simply pulled out from the cardboard box. Usually a stapler of this
kind is arranged by its contact surface 11 on the cardboard box so
that one leg of the staple 12 pierces one of the two foldable flaps
of the cardboard box by which the cardboard box is to be closed.
After the clinchers 14 have bent the legs of the staple 12, the
clinchers 14 are swiveled back out from the cardboard box during
the upward stroke of the guide element and the link element on the
same path taken to arrive in the cardboard box and at the underside
of the two flaps of the cardboard box. The downward and upward
stroke movements of the link element thus follow the same straight
path, but in reversed movement direction. The movements here occur
along a common longitudinal axis, situated at the center of the
guide channel of the link element.
[0100] According to the present disclosure, the ejecting mechanism
6 is motor driven, namely, by an electric motor in the present
case. For this, a brushless direct-current electric motor 7 is
situated in the handle section 3. By handle section 3 may be
understood here the section of the housing that is designed to be
grasped by the hand of an operator when he is using the stapler and
guiding it by hand. This electric motor 7 in the present case is
situated, at least by one segment of its longitudinal extension,
inside the handle section 3 roughly in a place where the handle
section has a grip 3a on its outside, designed and intended for the
placement of the operating hand and fingers of the operating hand
of the operator. In the area of the grip 3a, the operator grasps
the handle section 3 and in this way can activate in ergonomically
favorable manner a trigger 29 situated in the area of the grip 3a
with his index finger. The trigger 29 is thus located immediately
next to the motor 7 and the power board 25. By activating the
trigger 29, the ejection of a staple can be set in motion.
[0101] Furthermore, a power electronics board 25 is located in the
handle section 3 and is designed to control the motor 7 and to
regulate the motor current. At the handle section 3 there is
furthermore provided in the area of its free end a receptacle for
an insertable and removable rechargeable storage battery 26. In the
exemplary embodiment, the power electronics board 25 is located
between the storage battery 26 and the electric motor 7. The
necessary wiring 30 between the storage battery 26 and the power
electronics board 25 and that between the power electronics board
25 and the electric motor 7 is likewise located in the handle
section 3 of the housing.
[0102] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the axis of rotation 7a of the
electric motor is oriented at least roughly parallel to the contact
surface 11 of the stapler. As can likewise be seen in FIG. 1, the
axis of rotation 7a of the electric motor is oriented at least
roughly, in certain embodiments as exactly as possible,
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 13 of the guide or ejecting
channel for the staples, and the straight movement axis 13 of the
lifting element. The electric motor is attached to a planetary
gearing 27, by which the respective motor speed is reduced, i.e.,
slowed down. The axis of rotation of the planetary gearing 27
connected to the motor rotation axis 7a at the output side of the
gearing is aligned with the motor rotation axis 7a. The drive
motion at the output side of the gearing drives the crank of the
ejector mechanism and via the ejector mechanism 6 also the ejector
8 and the clinchers 14. The motor rotation axis 7a has
approximately the same distance from the contact surface 11 as a
point of application of the motor rotational movement from the
gearing 27 or electric motor 7 to the ejecting mechanism 6.
[0103] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are provided
with a detection device 31 for the detection of a body part,
especially a finger, placed on the trigger 29. This detection
device 31 can be arranged either on the trigger 29 directly or on
the housing of the stapler in direct proximity to the trigger 29.
The detection device for the detection of a body part arranged on
the trigger may be a proximity sensor, a photodiode, or a
photoresistor. By way of a signal cable laid in the housing, a
detection signal of the detection device can be taken to a control
system of the stapler, the control system being designed such that
the detection signal is a prerequisite for enabling the ejecting of
a staple.
[0104] Finally, the trigger 29 can in certain embodiments be
activated against the spring forces of at least two spring elements
17, 18. When the trigger 29 is activated, this occurs at first only
against the spring force of the first spring 17 and only during the
further activation of the trigger does the second spring 18 also
act with its spring force against the trigger 29. As soon as the
second spring 18 on account of a further activation path of the
trigger 29 presents its spring force also as a compression spring
against the further pressing of the trigger 29, the spring forces
of both spring elements 17, 18 are then acting and the trigger now
has to be activated against both spring elements 17, 18.
[0105] In the area of the contact surface 11 of the mobile portable
stapler there is located a detecting device 19, 20 on either side
next to the exit opening 10, with which the presence of an object
directly underneath the contact surface 11 and thus beneath the
exit opening 10 can be detected. Thus, these two detecting devices
19, 20 (sensors) are supposed to determine whether the stapler is
arranged on an object into which a staple 12 can be delivered. In
certain embodiments both detecting devices 19, 20 detect the object
and must each provide a corresponding signal to the control system
in order for the control system to enable the ejecting of a staple
12. In this way, one can prevent the ejecting of staples with no
appropriate object being present. By having at least one detecting
device 19, 20 at each end face of the exit opening 10, it can
furthermore be detected whether the entire exit opening 10 or only
a portion thereof is located on an object. The at least two
detecting devices 19, 20 thus have a spacing from each other that
is larger than the length of the exit opening 10. Also in this way
it can be prevented that staples will be ejected and have only one
leg in an object, thus not being able to fulfill their intended
function.
[0106] The two detecting devices 19, 20 are in certain embodiments
optical sensors. In other embodiments, the detecting devices are
mechanical sensors or sensors based on other functioning
principles. Besides other optical sensors, sensors may be suitable
that emit light and detect a reflecting of the emitted light, for
example. Such optical proximity sensors have long been available in
many different designs, so that their construction shall not be
further discussed.
[0107] Certain embodiments of a stapler according to the present
disclosure in which mechanical contact switches are provided
instead of optical detecting devices in the contact surface 11 are
identified as detecting devices 119, 120. These detecting devices
119, 120 may at least be situated in substantially the same places
of the contact surface 11 at which the optical detecting devices
19, 20 are provided.
[0108] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are provided
with the possibility of setting, besides a single shot mode of each
time (only) one staple per activation of the trigger 29, also a
semiautomatic mode and/or a fully automatic mode. This
semiautomatic mode may be switched on and off at a display/control
device of the stapler each time by activating a button (here a
button of a membrane keypad 33, described below). By switching on
the semiautomatic mode, after a onetime activation of the trigger
29 a stapling process is possible each time as long as certain
conditions are fulfilled for the individual automatically occurring
stapling processes. Such conditions may be, in particular, that
both the detecting device 31 of the trigger 29 detect a finger and
the detecting devices 19, 20 detect an object in the area of the
exit opening 10. If such detection signals of the detecting devices
19, 20, 31 are absent, it may be arranged that no enabling will
occur for a first staple 12. But if a first staple has been enabled
and thus ejected on account of such detection signals, then no
further activating of the trigger is needed in this operating mode
for the output of further staples.
[0109] Thus, conditions for the triggering of a stapling process in
the semiautomatic mode may be, for example, that it is ascertained
by the detection devices that the contact surface is located on a
surface of an object. After performing the first stapling process
in semiautomatic mode, it may likewise be a condition for a
following stapling process of the same ejection series in
semiautomatic mode that the detection devices 19, 20 have detected
an interim removal of the contact surface 11 from the object and
then once more the presence of the object in the area of the
contact surface 11. In other words, it must be detected that the
stapler was lifted off from the object and set back down. It may
likewise be provided that a further detection device is used to
determine that an operator has placed a finger on the trigger, but
without the operator having to activate the trigger. In other
alternative embodiments, however, it may also be provided that a
series of staple ejections can only occur in the semiautomatic mode
if the trigger 29 is activated without interruption.
[0110] It is possible for detection devices, such as optical
proximity sensors in particular, to signal the presence of an
object already when the particular sensor is in the immediate
proximity of the respective object, but no contact exists as of yet
between the stapler and the object. To prevent staples from being
ejected too early in the semiautomatic mode, i.e., at times when
the stapler is not yet fully situated by its contact surface 11 on
the object, a time delay after such detection signals may be
provided for the respective staple ejection. The time delay may
either be stored as a fixed time value in the control system or it
may be adjustable by an operator on the stapler, especially
adjustable from a time value from a range. Possible time delays may
be for example values from a range of 5 milliseconds to 350
milliseconds, but in certain embodiments from a range of 10
milliseconds to 200 milliseconds. In the exemplary embodiment, a
value of 50 milliseconds is provided.
[0111] Besides the manual operating mode in which each time an
activation of the trigger is required for each individual staple
ejection, there is finally alternatively or possibly in addition to
the semiautomatic mode also a (fully) automatic mode. In this third
operating mode of the stapler that can be set in place of the other
two operating modes, after detection of the fulfillment of at least
one enable condition and after activation of the trigger 29,
staples can be ejected for as long as the trigger 29 remains
activated or depressed and the contact surface 11 is present
without interruption on an object. In this way, for example, it is
possible and intended for the stapler 1 to be pulled across an
object, each time there occurring the ejecting of a staple from a
series of staple ejections after a certain time interval. As soon
as the trigger 29 is released and/or the stapler is lifted off from
the object, the control system halts the ejecting of further
staples.
[0112] Finally, in conjunction with the automatic mode it may also
be provided that the time interval between one staple ejection and
the immediately following staple ejection can be changed. In one
possible embodiment, this interval may be set on the stapler 1 by
an operator by a corresponding entry as a value. Alternatively or
additionally, in a further possible embodiment, it may be provided
that the interval is dictated in a teach-in (learning) mode of the
stapler. For this, the time interval during which an operator
ejects two staples by way of the stapler can be memorized in an
adjustable teach-in mode. This interval is then used for the
automatic mode. In this way, the automatic mode can be adapted to
the work style and work pace of an operator.
[0113] In the area of the contact surface 11, in the region of the
two short side edges of the exit opening 10 of the ejecting channel
9, each time a detecting device 19, 20 is arranged on both sides
for the detection of an object. With these detecting devices 19, 20
it is possible to determine whether the stapler is located by its
contact surface 11 on an object and therefore a stapling process
can be enabled. Detection signals of the detection devices 19, 20
are relayed to the control system of the stapler and used there to
control the stapler. The detecting devices 19, 20 may work by
various principles, for example, as mechanical or as optical
detecting device.
[0114] In the figures, the stapler is shown with inserted magazine
37 in a slanted bottom representation. There has been installed in
the magazine a supply of staples 12 that is pressed by a
spring-loaded pusher 38 in the direction of the ejecting channel 9
of the stapler. The frontmost one of the U-shaped staples 12 is
thus always present in the ejecting channel 9, in which it is
grasped by the ejector 8 during its movement, accelerated, and
forced out from the exit opening 10.
[0115] In this representation of the figures, a swivel lever 40 and
its swivel axis 41 exist on either side of the magazine 37. The
swivel levers 40 and their swivel axes 41 belong to a quick lock by
which the magazine can be releasably secured to the stapler 1 and
also removed by releasing the quick lock. Thus, a first and a
second swivel lever 40 are located on opposite sides of the
magazine, both of them able to swivel about their respective swivel
axes 41. The two swivel axes 41 run parallel to each other and at
least substantially perpendicular to the contact surface 11.
Finally, the two swivel axes 41 are also oriented parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the ejecting channel 9.
[0116] As is represented in the cross sectional representation of
the figures, the main housing section of the stapler has two guide
bodies 42 for the magazine 37, spaced apart from each other. Each
of the two guide bodies 42 is provided with guide elements for the
magazine, which is approximately rectangular in cross section. On
their walls, the guide bodies 42 are provided with guide elements
43 for a movement of the magazine 37 parallel to the contact
surface 11 and with one or more end stops, to limit this movement.
In the exemplary embodiment, these guide elements 43 are recesses
running parallel to the contact surface 11, here being slotlike
recesses, in the guide bodies. Each time the ends of the slotlike
recesses serve as end stops 43a in the exemplary embodiment.
[0117] In the exemplary embodiment, the slotlike recesses pass into
rectangular recesses of the walls of the guide body 44. The
likewise rectangular recesses 44 also serve as guide elements for a
definite guided relative movement between the magazine 37 and the
housing of the stapler. The upper end face wall boundaries 44a of
the recesses 44 constitute the end stops here for the movement
guidance by way of the recesses 44 in the direction perpendicular
to the contact surface. Thus, as seen from the bottom open
rectangle shape of the recess 44, each of the two substantially
rectangular recesses 44 in the area of the upper end face wall
boundary adjoins the slot running parallel to the contact surface
11 and in the direction of the ejecting channel 9 as a guide
element 43. In certain embodiments described here merely as an
example, each of the two guide bodies thus has two identical guide
elements 43, 44 arranged alongside each other.
[0118] The magazine 37 is provided with two brackets 47 spaced
apart and arranged one behind the other in the area of its side
walls 46 near the ejecting channel. The brackets 47 project
perpendicular from the outer surfaces of the side walls 46 and when
a magazine 37 is inserted into the stapler 1 they have a
substantially parallel orientation to the contact surface 11. The
brackets 47 are spaced apart from each other and dimensioned such
that they can be arranged in the recesses of the guide elements 43,
44 of the guide body and can be moved there along the respective
longitudinal extension of the recesses--and only along these
longitudinal extensions. To attach a magazine 37 to the stapler 1,
the brackets 47 are introduced from the bottom open side of the
guide elements 44, so that the brackets 47 are moved in the guide
elements parallel to the contact surface 11 until the respective
bracket 47 reaches the upper end (end stop) of the respective
recess of the guide element 44. This movement direction is oriented
perpendicular to the contact surface 11. Now the respective bracket
47 can be moved parallel to the contact surface 11 into the
respective slotlike recess of the respective guide element 43 until
the brackets 47 reach their respective end stop 43a at the same
time. The slots of the guide elements 43 and the thickness of the
brackets 47 are dimensioned such that the brackets 47 after
reaching their end stop 44a in the respective guide element 44 are
introduced into the respective slot of the guide elements 43 and
can now perform a movement substantially parallel to the contact
surface. When inserting a magazine 37, the first movement of the
magazine 37, or that of its brackets 47, in the recesses of the
guide elements 44 and the second movement of the brackets 47 in the
slots of the guide elements 43 are thus oriented perpendicular to
each other. For the removal of the magazine from the stapler 1, the
slots are led out from the guide elements 43, 44, now in the
reversed movement direction, but along the same path. It is
possible both when inserting and when removing a magazine 37, to
also move the stapler 1 instead of the magazine 37 along the
described path. The relative movements between the magazine 37 and
the guide bodies 42 of the stapler 1 are what matter.
[0119] In each of the two guide bodies 42, one of the swivel axes
41 is led through the respective guide body 42 on both sides in the
area of the magazine 37 and a spring element 49 in certain
embodiments configured as a compression spring is arranged and
braced against the guide body 42. The respective swivel axis 41 is
arranged with a spacing from the spring element 49 (compression
spring) and has a smaller distance from the ejecting channel 9 than
the respective spring element 49 of the same side of the magazine.
Each of the swivel axes 41 runs at least substantially
perpendicular to the contact surface 11 of the stapler and also at
least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
ejecting channel 9. The swivel levers 40 that can pivot about their
respective swivel axis 41 can thus execute swivel movements about
this axis, lying substantially in a swivel plane running parallel
to the contact surface 11. The respective swivel axis 41 is also
led through one of the swivel levers 40.
[0120] The respective guide body 42 is situated between the
magazine 37 and the swivel lever 40 belonging to this side of the
magazine. At its outer side, each of the swivel levers 40 has a
shoulder 50. The shoulder 50 is provided for bearing against a
surface of a carrier body of the stapler 1 and thus serves to limit
the depth of insertion of the magazine 37 in the stapler.
Furthermore, each of the two swivel levers 40 is curved by its end
at the ejecting channel side in the direction of the magazine 37
and provided with a profiled end face 45 (FIGS. 7-12).
[0121] The stapler 1 has a rear plate 51 in the area of its
magazine-side opening, which is also located in the area of the
ejecting channel 9, which bounds the ejecting channel 9 at the
magazine side when the magazine 37 has been inserted and is part of
the magazine 37. The rear plate 51 extends on both sides beyond the
rail of the magazine 37 in which staples 12 are stored. Side
surfaces of the rear plate 51 are situated roughly at the height of
the ends of the swivel levers 40 at the exit channel side. The end
faces 45 of the swivel lever ends are each provided with two
partial surfaces 40a, 40b making an obtuse angle, which interact
with the respective side surface 51a of the rear plate 51.
[0122] To release the magazine 37 secured in the stapler 1 and
remove it, for example on account of a staple jam or to refill the
magazine 37, first of all the two swivel levers 40 have to be
activated about their respective swivel axis 41 and against the
spring force of the spring elements 49. In the case of an inserted
magazine 37 locked at the quick lock, the rear sections 40c of the
swivel levers 40 are at a distance from the respective guide body
42. These swivel lever sections 40c are pushed away from the guide
body 42 by the spring element 49 in the form of a torque about the
swivel axis 41. A resulting swivel movement of the swivel levers 40
is limited each time by an end stop of the shoulder 50 of the
swivel levers 40 on the carrier body or on the housing of the
stapler. An activating of the swivel levers 40 now results at first
in a swivel movement about the swivel axis 41 against the spring
force, so that the rear sections 40c of the swivel levers 40 come
to bear against the guide body 42, as is shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9.
The profiled end faces of the front ends of the swivel levers 40
are lifted off by the rear plate 51 from their identical locking
positions on the rear plate 51, in which the two partial surfaces
40a, 40b of the profiled end faces of the swivel levers 40, angled
toward each other, thrust against an edge region of the end face of
the rear plate 51. In this way, the magazine 37 is released for
pulling out from the guide (guide elements 43, 44), and so the
quick lock is loosened.
[0123] On the other hand, as long as the respective end face of the
swivel levers 40 lies against the end face 51a of the rear plate 51
and the quick lock is not released by hand, the quick lock is
locked with self-locking. A pulling on the magazine 37 has the
result, due to the geometry of the front ends of the swivel levers
40, that the rear plate 51 has a tendency to swivel both swivel
levers 40 about their swivel axes 41 against their direction of
turning when loosening the quick lock. This results in an
increasing of the holding forces exerted by the swivel levers 40 at
the carrier side or housing side on the rear plate 51 at the
magazine side.
[0124] After the quick lock has been loosened as described, the
magazine 37 can be distanced from the housing with a movement
running parallel to the contact surface 11. The direction of this
movement is dictated by the slots of the guide elements 43 and the
brackets 47 led therein. The movement is halted as soon as the
brackets 47 strike against side boundary walls of the recesses of
the guide elements 44. In this position, all the brackets 47 are
situated with their entire longitudinal extensions inside the
recesses of the guide elements 44, at their upper ends. By a
movement of the brackets 47 inside the recesses of the guide
elements 44 toward the open bottom end of the recesses or
alternatively a movement of the recesses along the brackets 47, the
magazine 37 can be entirely removed from the stapler. Thus, a
simple option of removing the magazine 37 may be to place the
stapler 1 lying against a base by its contact surface 11 and the
bottom of the magazine 37 and to activate the swivel levers 40,
which may also be called quick lock levers. After this, the
magazine 37 is moved parallel to the contact surface 11 in a first
direction as far as the end stop of the brackets 47. The stapler
may then be lifted relative to the magazine, perpendicular to the
contact surface 11, until the recesses of the guide elements 44 are
removed from the brackets. The magazine 37 is now separated from
the stapler 1 and freely accessible.
[0125] For the inserting of the magazine 37 into the stapler 1, the
aforementioned movements between the magazine 37 and the stapler 1
can be performed now in reversed sequence and in reversed movement
direction (FIGS. 10, 11, 12). The magazine 37 can be attached by
its brackets 47 from underneath to the recesses of the guide
elements 44. With a movement of the magazine 37 perpendicular to
the contact surface 11, the brackets 47 can be introduced into the
recess and moved as far as the first end stop. After this, the
magazine 37 can be moved perpendicular to the first movement in the
direction of the ejecting channel 9. The rear plate 51 arranged on
the magazine 37 makes contact with ends of the swivel levers 40 at
the ejecting channel side and swivels them against the spring force
of the spring elements 49 about their respective swivel axis 41.
The rear plate 51 in this way can pass by the back-swiveled swivel
levers 40, whereupon the swivel levers 40 loaded by the spring
elements swivel back into their locking position, now in the
opposite swivel direction. Due to the acting spring force, the
swivel levers 40 snap back, which may serve as a sign of a magazine
37 properly arranged in its end position for the operator. As can
be seen in the enlarged representation of one of the figures, one
of the partial surfaces 40a of the front end face of the respective
swivel lever 40 gets in front of the rear plate 51 and locks it
against a pulling out of the magazine 37. The other partial surface
40b of the front end face, on the other hand, lies against the side
surface (end face) 51a of the rear plate 51 and in this way is
prevented from further movement about the swivel axis. Thus, the
swivel levers 40 remain in this position. Hence, besides the
magazine 37, the rear plate 51 is also arranged in its intended
nominal position on the stapler 1, in which it bounds the ejecting
channel 9 at the magazine side.
[0126] To ensure the stapler cannot be triggered when no magazine
is installed in the stapler, the stapler comprises a movable
blocking device. The blocking device can be swiveled into the
movement path of the ejector 8, so that the ejector 8 cannot
execute a lifting movement. The blocking device can be situated in
two end positions, whereby the blocking device in the first end
position is situated outside the movement path of the ejector 8 and
thus releases the ejector for its lifting movement to eject a
staple. In the second end position, on the other hand, the blocking
device is in the movement path and thus it blocks the ejector.
[0127] In the exemplary embodiment which is depicted, the blocking
device is a swivelable pawl 55 arranged on a shaft 56 and that can
pivot about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 56. The shaft 56 and
its swivel axis are oriented perpendicular to the lifting movement
of the ejector 8 and parallel to the base leg 12a of the respective
staples 12 situated in the magazine. The pawl 55 has two legs 55a,
55b, one leg 55a being located on one side of the shaft 56, the
other leg 55b being located on the opposite side of the shaft. The
pawl 55 has a driving lug 57 on the leg 55a at its lower end, close
to the exit opening 10. Furthermore, a compression spring 58
presses against the other leg 55b, which thereby tends to press the
leg 55b in the direction of the ejector. If no other force is
acting against the pawl 55, the force of the compression spring
will swivel the pawl 55 with its leg 55b into a groove 8a of the
ejector 8. In this end position, the leg 55b of the pawl 55 thus
blocks the ejector against a movement in the ejecting channel
9.
[0128] By inserting a magazine 37 into the stapler, a component 59
of the magazine pushes against the leg 55a of the pawl shortly
before reaching the end position of the magazine in the stapler 1.
During the movement of the magazine 37 parallel to its longitudinal
extension, the component of the magazine engages the driving lug 57
of the pawl 55 and swivels the pawl 55 against the spring force of
the compression spring, so that the leg 55b is swiveled out from
the groove of the ejector 8 and thus also out from the movement
path of the ejector 8. When the magazine 37 has reached its end
position, it holds the pawl 55 by bearing against the driving lug
57 in a second end position, in which the pawl 55, in the
representation of FIGS. 13, 14, is oriented substantially
vertically and parallel to the ejecting direction of the staples.
The pawl 55 in this second end position is situated outside the
ejecting channel 9 and thus clears the ejector for an ejecting
movement. When the magazine 37 is removed once more, it then again
releases the driving lug 57 and thus the pawl 55. In this way, the
pawl 55 can once again be moved into its end position in which it
blocks the ejector 8 during the removal movement, on account of the
force of the compression spring 58.
[0129] As can be seen from FIGS. 17, 18, the magazine is provided
with a fill level display 60. For this, a marking 61 is placed on
one or more stationary parts of the magazine 37, showing the degree
of fullness of the supply of staples in the magazine. The markings
for example may have optically perceivable differences along the
direction of supply or stacking of the staples in the magazine,
standing for a different degree of fullness and symbolizing that
degree. The optical differences for example may be different
colored partial markings 61a, 61b, and 61c. In particular, a
minimum fill level marking at which the magazine needs to be filled
again can be designated with a signal color, such as red, in
particular signal red. Of course, other kinds of markings are also
conceivable and possible, such as different geometrical shapes. An
acoustic signal may also be provided, either in addition or by
itself, for reaching a minimum fill level.
[0130] The magazine 37 furthermore has a display or indication
device 63 which moves along with the stack of staples that is
depleted during use, which shows the particular fill level of the
magazine 37 with staples 12 at the markings 61. An especially
favorable solution for this is a spring-loaded slide 64, with which
the stack of staples 12 arranged in the magazine 37 is pushed in
the direction of the ejecting channel 9 of the stapler 1, serving
to display or indicate the fill level with the aid of one or more
markings 61. A simple design form can, for example, be provided in
that one end face of the slide 64, by which the slide rests against
the stack of staples, indicates or represents the particular fill
level at the markings. The solution realized in the exemplary
embodiment calls for an arrow 62 arranged on the slide and pointing
at the markings as the indication device 63. The arrow may be
arranged for example on a handle piece of the slide 64, with which
the slide can be moved in the magazine 37 also by hand, in
particular it can be pulled back for the holding of staples.
[0131] The figures show exemplary embodiments of other aspects
according to the present disclosure. Thus, for example, FIG. 20-28
show the stapler 1 with its housing, where the stapler 1 comprises
a device 70 of emitting light from the housing. The light-emitting
device 70 is situated at the front end la of the housing. In the
exemplary embodiment, this light-emitting device 70 is a line
laser, which is situated in the housing above the ejecting channel
9. The laser 70 emits in the forward direction from a housing
opening 71 in front of the stapler 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 20,
21, the line laser emits, as its light beam 72, a light plane
directed at the particular object. This light plane can be
perceived on the object as a projected straight running line 72a.
Since the laser 70 emits light from the housing opening 71 in the
as exactly as possible middle parting plane of the housing, which
is also situated in the middle of the ejecting channel 9 and in the
middle of the base leg 12a of the staples, especially the staples
12 which are present in the ejecting channel 9, the projected line
72a reflects the middle of the base leg 12a of the staples 12 being
ejected. Hence, an operator of the stapler can set the staples 12
as precisely as possible, orienting himself to the line 72a
projected onto the particular object, which indicates--in terms of
the longitudinal extension of the base leg 12a--the middle of the
base leg 12a, if a staple ejection were to take place in this
position of the stapler. Thus, the line laser 70 has the function
of a positioning aid and the operator can orient himself to the
projected line 72a to achieve a particular orientation of the
stapler 1 and thus a particular orientation of a staple 12 to be
ejected.
[0132] In some embodiment, the light-emitting device 70, designed
here as a line laser, as well as any other conceivable
light-emitting device as a positioning aid, are able to be switched
on and off, for example, by a switch or a button on the stapler 1.
Likewise, in certain embodiments of a stapler according to the
present disclosure, it may be provided that an automatic switching
on and off of the respective light-emitting device is provided when
certain conditions are present, in particular, it can be switched
on and off as a function. For example, an automatic switching on
may occur when an operator touches the trigger 29 or his finger
comes close to it and is detected. In addition or alternatively, it
may also be provided that the at least one detecting device 19, 20
in the area of the contact surface 11 must detect the presence of
an object directly beneath the contact surface 11 in order for the
respective light-emitting device to be automatically switched on
for the display of optically perceivable position information in
regard to a staple position.
[0133] The line laser 70 has a round circular housing 74 in cross
section, which is arranged inside the housing of the stapler 1 in a
holder 75. The holder 75 likewise has a round circular receptacle
76 in cross section for this purpose, in which the line laser 70 is
arranged and mounted. A longitudinal axis of the round circular
receptacle 76 is directed downward at a slant onto the respective
object and with a spacing in front of the stapler 1. On the outer
surface 74a of the housing 74 of the line laser 70 there is
arranged an elastically stretched O-ring 77. A segment of the
O-ring 77 is situated in a recess 78 of the wall of the holder 75,
so that this segment of the O-ring 77 is accessible to grasping. By
a rotary activation of the O-ring 77 through the recess 78, it is
possible to change the rotary position of the line laser 70 in its
holder 75. The O-ring 77, arranged rigidly on the housing 74 of the
laser 70, carries along the laser 70 during this activation, so
that the laser 70 rotates in the holder 75. The slight clamping of
the O-ring 77 in the holder 75, which is also present, is overcome
during the activation and allows very slight angles of rotation of
the laser 70 in the holder 75 to be performed and adjusted.
[0134] By rotating the laser 70, the orientation of the line 72a
projected by it on an object can be changed. A deviation of the
actual rotary position from the designed nominal position possibly
occurring when installing the laser 70 in the holder 75 might mean
that the projected (light) line 72a has at least a slight slanted
trend in regard to the base leg 12a of the respective staple 12.
With the O-ring 77 and the recess 78 in the holder 75, a correction
of such wrong orientations can be done quickly and easily and the
laser can be oriented exactly in its nominal position. Such a
correction can even be done quickly and easily after the assembly
and delivery of the stapler, if such a wrong orientation is
discovered only during use.
[0135] The drawings show two further light-emitting devices 80,
which likewise indicate position information on a staple 12 being
ejected. These two light-emitting devices may likewise be lasers,
especially as line lasers. The two identically designed
light-emitting devices 80 are each situated on one side of the
stapler beneath the housing and substantially above the ejecting
channel. The respective line laser 80 likewise emits its light from
a housing opening slanting downward onto the particular object and
it can once again be optically perceived there as a straight
projected line. The layout and arrangement of the two line lasers
80 as well as their arrangement in a holder including a possibility
of adjustment can be provided in accordance with the solution for
the laser 70.
[0136] Each of the two lasers 80 emit a light plane on different
sides of the stapler, each of them projecting a line 80a on the
particular object, being oriented perpendicular to the line 70a and
aligned with the center line of the ejecting channel. The lines 80a
furthermore run in alignment with the base leg 12a of a staple 12
being ejected. Moreover, the lines 80a projected by the lasers 80
on either side of the stapler are aligned with each other. Thus,
the two light-emitting devices signal the longitudinal trend of a
base leg 12a of a staple being ejected or the plane in which the
three legs of a staple 12 being ejected are situated. Hence, the
two light-emitting devices 80 interacting with each other also
serve as a positioning aid to eject a staple in a predeterminable
position and set it in an object.
[0137] In an alternative embodiment, the light-emitting devices 70,
80 may also be formed with light sources other than lasers. Thus,
in other embodiments, lasers may be replaced in particular by one
or more LEDs 86. In particular for LEDs as the light-emitting
device 80, a kind of light shaft 85 can be formed each time on the
housing, which in certain embodiments has a transparent or at least
partly transparent cover 84. The respective light shaft 85 in
certain embodiments lies in the plane whose position is to be
indicated by the respective light-emitting devices. Thus, if the
stapler has a light shaft on either side of the stapler 1 with at
least one shining LED situated therein, and capable of being
switched on and off, then each of the two light shafts 85 will be
situated within the staple plane formed by the three legs of the
staple being ejected.
[0138] In one embodiment of the stapler 1 according to the present
disclosure, one or more light-emitting devices may also be provided
in a light shaft, especially devices which can shine in different
colors. Alternatively, two or more light-emitting devices can also
be provided in a light shaft each of them shining in only one, but
not the same color. Different colors can, however, also be produced
by lasers as the light-emitting devices. With such embodiments, it
is possible to signal not only position information but also one or
more further pieces of operating or state information, such as
whether the stapler 1 is ready for use, and/or whether a
malfunction is present and/or which mode the stapler is in and/or
whether the detection device of the trigger 29 has detected a
finger on the trigger 29. Instead of or in addition to different
colors for relaying optically perceivable information, blinking
signals of the light-emitting devices or otherwise varying light
emissions of the particular light-emitting devices can also be
provided.
[0139] The figures also show the display/control device of the
stapler as a membrane keypad 33. The membrane keypad in the one
exemplary embodiment is arranged on a sloping side surface of the
main housing section 2 of the stapler 1. This membrane keypad 33
may have buttons for various functions which can be set or called
up. In particular, the membrane keypad may be provided with one or
more buttons for setting the operating modes. Likewise, the
membrane keypad 33 may be provided with optically perceivable
display devices, to signal set functions, values, malfunctions,
charge state of the storage battery and/or operating modes in an
optically perceivable manner. Such display devices may be
light-emitting devices and/or alphanumerical displays integrated in
the membrane keypad. Optionally, light-emitting devices and/or
alphanumerical displays can also be integrated in buttons of the
membrane keypad. The light-emitting devices and/or the at least one
alphanumerical display may also optionally represent optically
perceivable information in different and changing colors, just as a
blinking mode is also possible for this. In this way, in
particular, warning colors such as red can indicate especially
important information. In other embodiments according to the
present disclosure, the stapler may also be provided with
alternative display and control devices. One such device can be a
touchscreen, for example.
[0140] Various embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
comprise a housing assembly with a main housing section and a
handle section that extends away from the main housing section,
wherein an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section,
by way of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject
the fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device
for holding a supply of fastener on the stapler, a driving device
for the ejector device, which comprises an electric motor as well
as a power supply device, which is designed in particular as an
energy storage device, such as a rechargeable electrical storage
battery, which can be or is electrically connected to the electric
motor, at least one triggering device with an activatable trigger,
by whose activation at least one fastener can be accelerated by way
of the ejector device thereby set in motion and ejected from the
exit opening, wherein the activatable trigger is arranged in the
area of the handle section of the housing. The electric motor is
arranged in the handle gripping section and its axis of rotation
does not run parallel to a longitudinal axis of a path of
acceleration of the ejector.
[0141] In certain such embodiments, the power supply device is
situated in the area of one end of the handle, such as at the end
of the handle.
[0142] In certain such embodiments, the power supply device is an
interchangeable electric storage battery, which can be installed in
a receptacle arranged at one end of the handle section and from
which it can be removed, while at least one electric power supply
line for the motor is arranged solely in the handle.
[0143] In certain such embodiments, the handle section of the
housing is provided with a grip, especially an ergonomically
configured grip.
[0144] In certain such embodiments, the axis of rotation in
relation to an acceleration path of the ejector is an angle chosen
from a range of 60.degree. to 120.degree., preferably with an angle
of at least approximately 90.degree..
[0145] In certain such embodiments, the electric motor situated in
the handle section is a brushless direct-current motor.
[0146] In certain such embodiments, a gearing switched in after the
motor and situated in the handle, especially a planetary
gearing.
[0147] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
comprise a housing assembly with a main housing section and a
handle section, which extends away from the main housing section,
wherein an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section,
by way of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject
the fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device
for holding a supply of staples on the stapler, which can be
releasably attached in the area of an ejecting channel on a carrier
piece of the stapler by way of a quick lock, a driving device for
the ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, at least one triggering device of a triggering device with
an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least one fastener
can be accelerated by way of the ejector device thereby set in
motion and ejected from the exit opening; characterized by a fill
level display or a fill level signal device for signaling a supply
of staples contained in the magazine.
[0148] In certain such embodiments, the fill level display or the
fill level signal device is arranged on the magazine.
[0149] In certain such embodiments, different optically perceptible
markings are provided to symbolize the respective fill level.
[0150] In certain such embodiments, markings, especially different
colored markings, of the fill level display are arranged on one
wall of the magazine.
[0151] In certain such embodiments, a spring-loaded slide in the
magazine, which is provided for the advancing of a stack of staples
in the magazine, wherein the slide is provided with an indication
device, especially a line or arrow oriented to the markings, with
which the fill level display each time indicates a currently
present supply of staples in the magazine.
[0152] In certain such embodiments, the stapler comprises a device
for outputting an acoustic signal representing a determined fill
level.
[0153] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
comprise a housing assembly with a main housing section and a
handle section, which extends away from the main housing section,
wherein an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section,
by way of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject
the fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device
for holding a supply of staples on the stapler, a driving device
for the ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power
supply device, at least one triggering device of a triggering
device with an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least
one fastener can be accelerated by way of the ejector device
thereby set in motion and ejected from the exit opening,
characterized by at least one light-emitting device arranged in the
housing assembly, which is situated such that its emitted light
contains optically perceptible position information on U-shaped
staples which can be ejected by the stapler.
[0154] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
one light-emitting device with which a directed light beam can be
emitted from the housing in the direction of an object.
[0155] In certain such embodiments, the light beam contains
optically perceptible position information about a plane in which a
staple plane of ejectable staples extends.
[0156] In certain such embodiments, the light beam contains
optically perceptible position information about a midplane of
ejectable staples.
[0157] In certain such embodiments, the at least one light-emitting
device is situated in the housing assembly and contains position
information about a plane in which a staple plane of ejectable
staples extends, especially U-shaped staples.
[0158] In certain such embodiments, the at least one light-emitting
device is situated in the housing assembly behind a transparent or
at least semitransparent cover or a luminous body or an optical
fiber.
[0159] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
two light-emitting devices arranged on the housing, which contain
on two different sides of the housing assembly position information
about a plane in which a staple plane of ejectable staples
extends.
[0160] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes multiple
different light-emitting device, with which light can be emitted in
different colors, or by the at least one light-emitting device with
which light can be emitted in different colors, wherein the
different colors in addition to the position information can also
represent state information about the stapler in an optically
perceptible manner.
[0161] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes an
adjusting device of the light-emitting device, by which a position
of the light-emitting device in a holder can be changed so that a
direction of emission of the light emitted by the light-emitting
device can be changed and set.
[0162] In certain such embodiments, the adjusting device can change
and set a rotation position of the light-emitting device in its
holder.
[0163] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section (3),
wherein an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section,
by way of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject
the fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device
for holding a supply of staples on the stapler, a driving device
for the ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power
supply device, at least one triggering device of a triggering
device with an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least
one fastener can be accelerated by way of the ejector device
thereby set in motion and ejected from the exit opening,
characterized in that the at least one triggering device comprises
a detection device for the detection of a body part, especially a
finger, placed on the trigger.
[0164] In certain such embodiments, the detection device for the
detection of a body part placed on the trigger is situated in the
activatable trigger or on the housing immediately alongside the
activatable trigger.
[0165] In certain such embodiments, the detection device for the
detection of a body part placed on the trigger contains a proximity
sensor, a photodiode or a photoresistor.
[0166] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a device
with which a detection signal of the detection device can be sent
to a control system of the stapler, and the control system is
designed such that the detection signal is a requirement for the
releasing of an ejecting of a staple.
[0167] In certain such embodiments, the detection signal for the
presence of a body part can be utilized to switch on the at least
one light-emitting device.
[0168] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
one detecting device in the area of the contact surface to detect
the presence of an object beneath the contact surface.
[0169] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a device
with which a detection signal of the detecting device can be sent
to a control system of the stapler, and the control system is
designed such that the detection signal of the at least one
detecting device is a requirement for the releasing of the ejecting
of a staple.
[0170] In certain such embodiments, the electric motor is situated
in the handle gripping section and its axis of rotation runs not
parallel to a longitudinal axis of an acceleration path of the
ejector.
[0171] In certain such embodiments, the activatable trigger is
situated in the area of the handle section of the housing.
[0172] In certain such embodiments, the trigger can be activated
against the spring forces of at least two spring elements, wherein
upon an activation, the trigger is at first activated only against
the spring force of the first spring and only during the further
activation is the trigger activated against the spring forces of
both spring elements.
[0173] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a clinch
device with which two legs of a staple emerging from an exit
opening of the stapler can be bent.
[0174] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, by way
of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject the
fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device for
holding a supply of staples on the stapler, a driving device for
the ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, a clinch device by which two legs of a staple emerging from
an exit opening of the stapler can be bent, at least one triggering
device of a triggering device with an activatable trigger, by whose
activation at least one fastener can be accelerated by way of the
ejector device thereby set in motion and ejected from the exit
opening, characterized in that at least one detecting device for
detecting the presence of an object beneath the contact surface is
provided in the area of the contact surface at which at least one
clinch element of the clinch device for the bending of staples
emerges from the contact surface during a stapling process.
[0175] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
two detecting device are provided in the area of the contact
surface, arranged spaced apart from each other.
[0176] In certain such embodiments, the at least two detecting
device arranged at a spacing from each other are situated in the
area of mutually opposite side edges of the substantially
rectangular exit opening.
[0177] In certain such embodiments, the at least two detecting
device are situated in the area of the two mutually opposite side
edges of the exit opening and arranged with a larger spacing from
each other.
[0178] In certain such embodiments, the at least one detecting
device is an optical detecting device.
[0179] In certain such embodiments, the at least one detecting
device is a mechanically activatable detecting device.
[0180] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a device
of the triggering device with which at least two different
operating modes of the stapler can be set, whereby in the first
operating mode only one stapling process can be triggered by a
single activating of the triggering device, such that only one
staple can be ejected and its legs can be bent by way of the clinch
device, and in a second operating mode multiple successive stapling
processes can be triggered with a single activating of the
triggering device, such that each time one staple can be ejected
and its legs can be bent by way of the clinch device.
[0181] In certain such embodiments, the second operating mode each
stapling process with a staple occurring after a single triggering
process can only be enabled by the control system of the stapler
after the at least one detecting device has detected an object
underneath the contact surface.
[0182] In certain such embodiments, in the second operating mode
each stapling process occurring after a single triggering process
can only be enabled by the control system of the stapler after both
of the at least two detecting devices situated at a spacing from
each other have detected an object underneath the contact
surface.
[0183] In certain such embodiments, the at least one triggering
device comprises a detection device for the detection of a body
part located on the trigger, especially a finger.
[0184] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a device
with which a detection signal of the detection device can be sent
to a control system of the stapler, and the control system is
designed such that the detection signal is a requirement for the
releasing of the ejecting of a staple.
[0185] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, by way
of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject the
fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device for
holding a supply of staples on the stapler, a driving device for
the ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, a clinch device by which two legs of a staple emerging from
an exit opening of the stapler can be bent, at least one triggering
device of a triggering device with an activatable trigger, by whose
activation at least one fastener can be accelerated by way of the
ejector device thereby set in motion and ejected from the exit
opening, characterized in that device of the triggering device are
provided with which at least two different operating modes of the
stapler can be set, whereby in the first operating mode only a
stapling process can be triggered by an activation of the
triggering device such that only one staple can be ejected and its
legs can be bent by way of the clinch device, and in a second
operating mode several consecutive stapling processes can be
triggered with one, and in certain embodiments only one, activation
of the triggering device, such that each time one staple can be
ejected and its legs can be bent by way of the clinch device.
[0186] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
one releasing device provided in addition to the triggering device,
which provides a release signal to perform a stapling process to
the control system in at least one of the two operating modes when
a predetermined condition is fulfilled.
[0187] In certain such embodiments, the releasing device comprises
at least one detecting device with which a presence of an object in
the area of the contact surface can be detected, especially a
contact between the contact surface and the object.
[0188] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
one detecting device for detecting the presence of an object
beneath the contact surface is provided in the area of the contact
surface.
[0189] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a
detecting device as the releasing device arranged in the area of
the trigger, with which a presence of a body part on the trigger
can be detected.
[0190] In certain such embodiments, the stapler is operable in a
semiautomatic operating mode, in which when the trigger is
permanently activated one stapling process of a series of stapling
processes can in each case be performed after the stapler is lifted
off from the object after a previous stapling process and then set
back down on the object, wherein the lifting off and setting down
once more can be detected by way of at least one detection
device.
[0191] In certain such embodiments, the stapler is operable in an
automatic mode, in which when the trigger is permanently activated
in a given interval of time, stapling processes of a series of
stapling processes can in each case be performed, wherein stapling
processes can be performed for as long as the trigger remains
activated and the stapler is present by its contact surface on an
object without interruption.
[0192] In certain such embodiments, the time interval can be
adjusted and/or set in a teach-in mode of the stapler.
[0193] In certain such embodiments, the driving device comprises an
electric motor and a storage battery which can be connected to the
motor.
[0194] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, by way
of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject the
fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device for
holding a supply of staples on the stapler, which can be releasably
attached in the area of an ejecting channel on a carrier piece of
the stapler by way of a quick lock, a driving device for the
ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, at least one triggering device of a triggering device with
an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least one fastener
can be accelerated by way of the ejector device thereby set in
motion and ejected from the exit opening; characterized by a
display and control device having a membrane keypad device, which
comprises control elements as membrane keypad elements by whose
activation one can adjust settings for the stapler and/or change
the states of the stapler.
[0195] In certain such embodiments, the stapler can be switched to
a single ejection operating mode and a semiautomatic operating mode
in which several stapling processes can be performed in succession
after only a single activating of the trigger, wherein the display
and control device comprises display device for signaling the
operating mode which is switched on.
[0196] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a device
for switching the stapler into an automatic mode in which stapling
processes are performed automatically in succession at a given or
predeterminable interval of time, wherein the display and control
device comprises display device for signaling the operating mode
which is switched on.
[0197] In certain such embodiments, the display and control device
comprises at least one membrane keypad element for setting the
operating mode.
[0198] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a display
device for signaling a malfunction of the stapler.
[0199] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a display
device for a charge state of a storage battery.
[0200] In certain such embodiments, the display device for the
charge state can also signal a malfunction of the stapler,
especially by a different display mode of the display device,
especially by a change in color and/or by a change into blinking
mode.
[0201] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes at least
one light-emitting device arranged in the housing assembly, which
is situated such that its emitted light contains optically
perceptible position information on the U-shaped staples which can
be ejected from the stapler.
[0202] In certain such embodiments, the display and control device
comprises a display device to signal an on state of the
light-emitting device.
[0203] In certain such embodiments, the membrane keypad device
comprises a membrane keypad operating piezoelectrically or by way
of mechanical click switches.
[0204] In certain such embodiments, the display and control device
is arranged on a side surface, especially an inclined side surface,
of the main housing section.
[0205] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, by way
of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject the
fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device for
holding a supply of staples on the stapler, which can be releasably
attached in the area of an ejecting channel on a carrier piece of
the stapler by way of a quick lock, a driving device for the
ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, at least one triggering device of a triggering device with
an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least one fastener
can be accelerated by way of the ejector device thereby set in
motion and ejected from the exit opening, characterized in that the
quick lock is provided with guiding device, which move the magazine
in succession in two different directions, not parallel to each
other, during the movement of installing the magazine on the
carrier piece.
[0206] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes guiding
device, which guides the movement of the magazine in succession in
two mutually perpendicular directions during a movement of
installing the magazine.
[0207] In certain such embodiments, one of the two directions is
oriented at least substantially parallel to a flat contact surface
of the stapler on which the exit opening is situated.
[0208] In certain such embodiments, to remove a magazine arranged
on the stapler the guiding device are configured such that the
stapler can move parallel to the contact surface as far as an end
stop and then the stapler can be lifted off from the magazine.
[0209] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a
hand-operable releasing device of the quick lock, with which a
locking or a form fitting of the quick lock can be removed.
[0210] In certain such embodiments, the quick lock, especially a
swivel lever of the quick lock, is provided with a locking lug
which interacts with the magazine.
[0211] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a profiled
locking lug, which in a locking position lies against two
nonparallel surfaces of the magazine, such that both a movement
trajectory of the locking lug is limited and a form fitting locking
of the quick lock occurs.
[0212] In certain such embodiments, at least one swivel lever of
the quick lock, which can swivel about a swivel axis running
perpendicular to the contact surface.
[0213] In certain such embodiments, the swivel lever can be
pretensioned with a spring element, wherein the swivel lever can be
swiveled against a spring force of the spring element about the
swivel axis and a locking lug of the swivel lever can be lifted out
from a locking position to remove the magazine.
[0214] In certain such embodiments, the swivel axis extends through
the swivel lever.
[0215] In certain such embodiments, a self-locking of the quick
lock when a tensile force is exerted on the magazine and when a
swivel lever is not activated.
[0216] In certain such embodiments, the electric motor is situated
in the handle section of the housing and an axis of rotation of the
electric motor extends not parallel to a longitudinal axis of an
acceleration path of the ejector.
[0217] In certain such embodiments, the stapler includes a clinch
device, by which two legs of a staple emerging from an exit opening
of the stapler can be bent.
[0218] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, by way
of which each time a fastener can be accelerated to eject the
fastener from an exit opening of the stapler, a magazine device for
holding a supply of staples on the stapler, which can be releasably
attached in the area of an ejecting channel on a carrier piece of
the stapler by way of a quick lock, a driving device for the
ejector device, which can be or is connected to a power supply
device, at least one triggering device of a triggering device with
an activatable trigger, by whose activation at least one fastener
can be accelerated by way of the ejector device thereby set in
motion and ejected from the exit opening, characterized by a quick
lock, which is provided with a hand-operable releasing device of
the quick lock, wherein a locking or form fitting of the quick lock
can be removed by way of the releasing device, and wherein the
quick lock comprises as releasing device at least one swivel lever,
which can swivel about a swivel axis running at least substantially
perpendicular to the contact surface.
[0219] Other embodiments of the stapler of the present disclosure
include a housing assembly with a main housing section and a handle
section, which extends away from the main housing section, wherein
an ejector device is arranged in the main housing section, which
has an ejector, by way of which each time a fastener can be
accelerated to eject the fastener from an exit opening of the
stapler, a magazine device for holding a supply of staples on the
stapler, which can be releasably attached in the area of an
ejecting channel on a carrier piece of the stapler by way of a
quick lock, a driving device for the ejector device, which can be
or is connected to a power supply device, at least one triggering
device of a triggering device with an activatable trigger, by whose
activation at least one fastener can be accelerated by way of the
ejector device thereby set in motion and ejected from the exit
opening, characterized by a blocking device, which can be arranged
in at least two end positions, wherein the blocking device in its
first end position is located in the movement trajectory of the
ejector and in the second end position it clears the movement
trajectory of the ejector.
[0220] In certain such embodiments, the blocking device can be
converted from its first to its second end position by way of a
magazine of the magazine device which can be introduced into its
receptacle on the stapler.
[0221] In certain such embodiments, the blocking device is
swivel-mounted on the stapler, and in that the magazine located in
its receptacle on the stapler holds the blocking device in its
second end position, wherein the blocking device is releasable by
the magazine when the magazine is removed from the stapler, so that
the blocking device can swivel from its second end position to its
first end position and in this way blocks the ejector.
* * * * *