Punching And Binding Machine

Abstract

A combination punching and binding machine for gang punching a stack of sheets and binding the sheets with a ring-like plastic binding element. The machine has a manually actuated lever which, when operated in one direction, actuates the punches, and when operated in the opposite direction, first moves laterally a comb upon which the binding element is placed and continued movement actuates a plurality of finger elements to uncurl the curled fingers of the binding element for receiving the punched sheets. An alternate embodiment is also included which comprises substituting a first configuration for achieving lateral movement of the comb with a second configuration.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application now abandoned, Ser. No. 859,047, filed Sept. 18, 1969, entitled "Punching and Binding Machine."

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a combination punching and binding machine for punching sheets and then binding the sheets with a plastic binder.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Bouvier U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,023 shows a punching and binding machine wherein movement of the hand lever 95 forwardly causes rotation of rock shaft 55 to cause actuator pins 67, 70 to engage bushings 69 and move the pressure bar 15 downwardly for punching. Stripping of the punches from the paper is accomplished by means of the stripper member 39 engaging pins 40, which extend through the punches 16, for positively moving the stripper member upwardly upon upward movement of the pressure bar. When the lever 95 is moved in the opposite direction to cause rock shaft 56 to rock forwardly and operate the ring slide 21, it causes lateral movement of the uncurling fingers 27 and then causes the fingers to move downwardly into the portions 31 of slots 29.

The Emmer U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,801 shows a binding machine in which the combs are moved laterally by direct action of the rocker arm through a cam to the comb.

Frederick U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,613 shows a punching and binding machine in which the spreader fingers are moved laterally and thence away from the teeth 71.

A hand punch machine is shown by the Brooks U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,789 wherein the individual punches have racks thereon which are moved downwardly by the pinion teeth 20 on the rock shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward providing improvements in punching and binding machines and towards overcoming certain disadvantages of the prior machines.

Thus, one of the feature of the present invention is to provide unique means for actuating the comb to first move it laterally and thence for moving the hooks forwardly to spread the binding elements. This above-mentioned means includes an auxiliary shaft upon which is mounted a pair of cam rollers that engage a cam element depending from the comb and which positively move the comb laterally during the first part of the movement of the lever and then during the latter part of the movement of the lever, when it is being returned. In addition, means is included which is actuated by the auxiliary shaft to actuate the spreading fingers. This latter means has a roller mounted on a rocker arm which in turn is mounted on the auxiliary shaft and there is a depending finger attached to the hook means having a cam surface disposed on one side of the roller. There is a space between the roller and the cam surface during the first part of the movement of the lever to provide lost motion and time for the comb to move laterally.

Also, a feature is provided wherein the hook portions are retained contiguous to the comb when the lever is in an intermediate position so that binding elements having fingers which are curled to a small diameter can be accommodated on the machine. Heretofore, there has been a problem with the hooks being spaced from the comb so that these smaller bindings could not be accommodated. Applicant accomplishes this feature by means of a spring that compensates for the spacing heretofore mentioned between the depending finger and the roller on the rocker arm so that the hook portions are held contiguous with the comb.

Another feature of applicant's machine is magnetic brake means which is provided to keep the resiliency of the fingers of the binding element from pulling the hand lever from a position in which the fingers are fully opened.

A further feature relates to the improved punching action and withdrawal of the punches. A hook-shaped holder is disposed above the main shaft to prevent bending thereof during the punching operation, and this holder serves a dual function of providing journaling means for the auxiliary shaft. Also, the punches are arranged so that the longest ones are adjacent the middle of the machine with the punches being progressively shorter outwardly towards both sides. Additionally, the means for withdrawing the punches and the pressure bar arrangement provides for an improved machine. Thus, in applicant's machine the pressure bar is of hollow construction and utilizes a shoulder on each of the punches which engages the portion of the pressure bar between the slots through which the punches extend, to pull positively the punches upwardly as the pressure bar is moved upwardly. Thus, the pressure bar itself is utilized as opposed to previous complicated stripping means and previous devices such as pins extending through the punches which engage stripper plates and the like.

Still another feature relates to an improved adjustable stop which is engageable by the edge of the stack of papers to determine the amount of insertion into the machine. This adjustment provides means for maintaining the stop bar parallel at all times and which is simply and easily moved by the turn of a knob.

An alternate embodiment is included for providing a second configured means for actuating the comb to first move it laterally and thence allow for moving the hooks forwardly to spread the binding elements. This above-mentioned means includes a cam arm assembly attached to the comb and depending therefrom, a cam disc which is rotatably supported by the auxiliary shaft and having an arcuate segment thereof offset from the major plane of the disc defining a pair of cam surfaces, i. e., one on either side of the disc, and a cranklike cam disc actuating lever. The cam lever is fixedly attached to the main shaft and a portion thereof defines a pin for sequentially engaging a slot in the cam disc as the main shaft is rotated by the hand lever. The lower end of the cam arm assembly includes a pair of rollers or cam followers which straddle the vertically disposed cam disc. Rotation of the main shaft in one direction causes the one side of the offset segment of the cam disc to engage one of the cam followers, thence the comb is caused to shift to the left. Conversely, rotation of the main shaft in the opposite direction causes the opposite side of the offset segment of the cam disc to engage the other cam follower which causes the comb to be shifted to the right.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the punching and binding machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken as on the line II--II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line III--III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the actuating means for the pressure bar and hooks.

FIG. 5 is a portion of that shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the cam action for laterally moving the comb.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VI-VI of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as on the line VII--VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken as on the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken as on the line IX--IX of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken as on the line X--X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view very similar to FIG. 2, emphasizing the structure of the machine peculiar to a second embodiment thereof and showing certain structure of the machine in an offset position.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view taken as on the line XII--XII of FIG. 11, showing only the central portion of the machine with certain structure thereof being in an offset position.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but showing certain structure of the machine in a loading position.

FIG. 14 shows a portion of the structure depicted in FIG. 11 with certain structure thereof displaced to a loading position.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken as on the line XV--XV of FIG. 11 excluding all structure except the cam disc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The punch and binding machine 11 of the present invention includes a frame 13, which includes a base 15, support structure mounted on base 15 including upstanding spaced apart end supports 19, 21, and a housing 23 mounted on base 15 over supports 19, 21. A support bracket 25 is supported by frame 13 at the opposite ends of the support bracket, and the support bracket extends transversely of the machine just below the top cover portion 27 of housing 23. Top cover portion 27 is shown integrally formed with the remainder of the housing for purposes of simplicity and clarity in disclosure, but it will be realized that it is preferable to have the top cover portion removable from the remainder of the housing. As will be noted, top cover portion 27 is preferably on a slope as well as the portion 29 of support bracket 25 which is parallel therewith. Support bracket 25 includes a depending portion 31 integrally formed along the rearward edge of sloped portion 29.

A comb 33 is slidably mounted from depending portion 31 for lateral movement between a loading position and an offset position, as will be better understood in the description later to follow in the specification. Comb 33 includes a vertical plate portion 35 and a plurality of spaced apart fingers 37 fixedly attached to and upstanding from plate portion 35. The means for slidably mounting comb 33 from support bracket 25 is preferably by a plurality of brads 39 or the like which extend through apertures, not shown, in plate portion 35 and through elongated slots 41 in depending portion 25. The means for shifting comb 33 will be described in detail later in the specification.

Hook means is provided which includes a plate 43 slidably mounted on sloped portion 29 in the space between sloped portion 29 and top cover portion 27, and a plurality of hook portions 45 upstanding from the rearward edge of plate 43 extending upwardly through slots 47. Means later to be described is provided for moving hook portions 45 from the loading position adjacent fingers 37 as shown in FIG. 1 forwardly into a spreading position adjacent the forward ends of slots 47. The comb fingers 37 are also shown in the loading position in FIG. 1 wherein it will be seen the comb fingers are in alignment with the hook portions 45 so that a binding element (not shown) may be placed on the comb 33 with the curled fingers of the binding elements extending through the spaces between the comb fingers 37. The binding elements (not shown) may be of a type well known to those skilled in the art, having a backbone and curled fingers extending therefrom, such as are shown and described in the U. S. patent to Douvry, U.S. Pat. No. 1,970,285. The comb fingers 37 will be shifted to the offset position heretofore mentioned and then the hook portions 45 will move forwardly to uncurl the fingers of the binding element so that the punched sheets may be engaged thereon. The above-mentioned lateral shifting of comb fingers 37 and movement of hook portions 45 is accomplished through movement of a hand lever 49, which will be better understood in the description of the actuating mechanisms later to be described.

A die plate 51 is mounted in a recessed portion 53 of base 15. A plurality of apertures 55 are provided in die plate 51 to respectively receive the lower ends of punches 57. Punches 57 are slidably received for vertical movement in the vertical bore openings 59 in punch guide 61. The vertical openings 59 are preferably formed by vertical notches 59A in guide 61 and a vertical plate 63 which forms the front part of guide 61 and is removable to gain access to the punches 57. The lower edge 65 of guide 61 serves as a stripper for stripping the punches from the sheets being punched. In base 15 there are vertical openings 67 below apertures 55 for removal of the punched out portions of the sheets.

The upper ends of punches 57 are received in an elongated boxlike transverse pressure bar 69, which includes spaced apart top and bottom portions 71, 73, respectively, interconnected by forward portion 75 and rearward portion 77. Each punch 57 is notched out to provide a narrowed portion 57A and a shoulder portion 57B at the upper end of the notch. The narrowed portions 57A slidably extend through the apertures 79 in bottom portion 73 with the shoulders 57B overlying the part of bottom portion 73 between apertures 79, as best seen in FIG. 7. A plurality of set pins 81 are provided in pressure bar 69. Pins 81 extend through openings 83 provided in forward portion 75 and outwardly through openings 85 provided in a pin guide 87 mounted on the front of pressure bar 69, and on outwardly through slots 89 provided in housing 23. There is a stop 91 provided on each of the pins 81 to limit movement of the pins between an inward position over punch 57 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 and an outward position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6 in which the end of the pin does not extend over punch 57. There is a leaf-like spring 93 which urges downwardly on pins 81 to maintain the pins in a selected inward or outward position. In addition, there are openings 95 in rearward portion 77 into which the ends of the pins 81 are adapted to fit when they are in said inward positions. It will be understood that when the pins are in the inward positions, the corresponding punches 57 will be moved downwardly into punching engagement with the sheets when pressure bar 69 is moved downwardly in a manner later to be described. Also, it will be understood that those pins which are in an outward position will not cause the corresponding punches to punch the sheets so that the number of holes punched in the sheets can be selected by manipulation of the pins 81.

The length of punches 57 from the tops 57C thereof varies as shown in FIG. 7, wherein it will be seen the longest punches 57 are adjacent the middle of the machine 11 with the lengths progressively being shorter towards the opposite sides of the machine. It will also be noted that the distance between the tops 57C and the shoulders 57B are substantially the same for all punches 57. Thus, during downward movement of the pressure bar 69, holes will first be punched adjacent the center of the sheets and thence progressively outwardly towards the edges of the sheets, which provides for ease in punching and less force required to punch. Also, it will be understood that during the upward movement of the pressure bar 69 to withdraw the punches 57, the shoulders 57B will be engaged by the parts of the pressure bar 69 between the apertures 79 to withdraw the punches from the sheets. In addition, a pair of compression springs 96 are provided between guide 61 and pressure bar 69 to aid in withdrawal of the punches from the sheets. It will be understood that the punches 57 adjacent the sides of the machine 11 will be withdrawn first and thence progressively those towards the middle of the machine.

The opposite ends of pressure bar 69 are slidably mounted on end supports 19, 21 by suitable means for vertical sliding movement. At the opposite ends of pressure bar 69 and on the back side thereof are provided gear racks 97 engageable by pinion gear segments 99, which are fixedly mounted adjacent the opposite ends of a main shaft 101. Main shaft 101, which extends transversely of machine 11, is journaled in the opposite ends thereof in end supports 19, 21 and extends outwardly adjacent support 19 through an aperture 102 in housing 23 and on the distal end of which is attached the hand lever 49.

An auxiliary shaft 103, which extends transversely of machine 11, in parallel relationship to main shaft 101, is journaled at the opposite ends thereof in end supports 19, 21. A pair of rocker arms 105 are mounted on auxiliary shaft 103 for movement with the auxiliary shaft. Disengageable connecting means is provided for interacting between main shaft 101 and rocker arms 105, and which disengageable connecting means is preferably in the form of pins 107 fixedly supported in parallel relationship with main shaft 101 by the arms 109, and structure on rocker arms 105 defining slots 111 for reception of pins 107 respectively.

Actuating means is provided coupling auxiliary shaft 103 with plate 43 of the hook means, which actuating means preferably comprises arm portions 113 respectively of rocker arms 105, rollers 115 respectively turnably mounted on the distal ends of arm portions 113, and depending first fingers 117 attached to plate 43 at opposite ends thereof and each having a first cam surface 119 disposed on one side of a roller 115 for engagement thereby. In addition, a pair of second fingers 121 are attached to plate 43 at the opposite ends thereof and with each second finger being on the opposite side of roller 115 from a finger 117. Each second finger 121 has a second cam surface 123 adapted for engagement by roller 115. As will be best seen in FIG. 4, the cam surfaces 119 and 123 are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of roller 15 for a purpose later to be described. First and second fingers 117, 121 are preferably, though not necessarily, of integral construction with plate 43 and are preferably formed by downturning the end portions of the plate, which are extended through slots, not shown, in sloped portion 29 and with the material being cut out between fingers 117, 121 to establish the fingers and the cam surfaces 119, 123. Resilient means is provided for urging plate 43 rearwardly, and this means is preferably in the form of tension springs 125 attached at one end to first fingers 117 and at the opposite end to housing 23 as best seen in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that cam means is provided which is operably coupled to the comb 33 for the shifting thereof between the heretofore described loading and offset positions, and which cam means preferably comprises a cam plate 127 attached to the vertical plate portion 35 of the comb 33 and depending therefrom, and first and second followers 129, 131 which are fixedly attached to the auxiliary shaft 103 at predetermined locations along the length thereof. Further, the driving means for actuating the cam means when the main shaft 101 is rotated by the hand lever 49, preferably comprises the previously described structure for driving the auxiliary shaft 103, i. e., the rocker arms 105 mounted on the auxiliary shaft 103 and disengageable connecting means for interacting between the main shaft 101 and the rocker arms 105 which includes the pins 107 fixedly supported in parallel relationship with the main shaft 101 by the arms 109 and structure on the rocker arms 105 defining slots 111 for reception of pins 107 respectively.

More specifically, the cam plate 127 has spaced apart substantially parallel first and second cam surfaces 133, 135 angled downwardly, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Cam follower 129 engages cam surface 133 and cam follower 131 engages cam surface 135 so that there is positive shifting of the comb 33. Thus, when auxiliary shaft 103 is rocked to carry the cam followers 129, 131 upwardly from the broken line position shown in FIG. 5 towards the solid line position shown in this Figure, the comb is shifted from the loading position shown in broken lines to the offset position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 relative to the hook portions 45. Then, when the auxiliary shaft 103 is rocked in the opposite direction to move the cam followers 129, 131 downwardly from the position shown in solid lines to that shown by the broken lines, the comb 33 will be shifted back into the loading or aligned position relative to the hook portions 45.

Magnetic holding means is provided for holding auxiliary shaft 103 in a selected position and which magnetic holding means preferably comprises a metal disc 137 fixedly mounted on shaft 103 and permanent magnets 139 which frictionally engage disc 137. The magnets 139 are mounted from base 15 by a bracket 141 which allows limited movement of the magnets 139 in a direction towards the disk 137 so that the magnets will be held in magnetic engagement with the disk. In other words, the magnets 139 act as a drag on the disk 137 so that the shaft 103 can be turned but will maintain the position into which turned. This is particularly useful in holding the hook portions 45 in a spread position to keep the resiliency of the binding fingers from pulling the hooks back towards the comb fingers 37.

A support member 143 is mounted on base 15 adjacent the middle of machine 11. Support member 143 includes a hooklike portion 145 engaging the top of main shaft 101. In addition, support member 143 is provided with a transverse hole 147 through which extends auxiliary shaft 103 so that the support member performs the dual function of journaling shaft 103 as well as providing a backup member for main shaft 101 to prevent the shaft from buckling when the shaft is under considerably buckling or upward bending forces during the punching operation.

An adjustable sheet stop means is provided for varying the distance between the edges of the sheets and the holes punched therein, which sheet stop means preferably includes an elongated bar 149 which is disposed rearwardly of punches 57 at the rearward end of a mouth 151 cut out from the lower front edge of housing 23 and the front of guide 61. Base 15 is provided in the upper surface thereof with a pair of parallel slots 153 extending at an angle relative to the base. A pair of protrusions 155 are fixedly mounted on the bottom of bar 149 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and depend therefrom respectively into slots 153 for maintaining bar 149 in straight transverse alignment across base 15 while permitting forward and rearward movement of the bar. A stub shaft 157 is turnably mounted in an aperture not shown in support 19 and extends through another aperture, not shown, in housing 23 to the exterior thereof where it is provided with a knob 159. The inner end of stub shaft 157 is enlarged as at 161 and is provided with a downwardly facing socket 163. A pin 165 is somewhat loosely received adjacent its upper end in socket 163. The lower end of pin 165 is preferably enlarged to provide a shoulder as at 167 against which is seated a compression spring 169 and which spring surrounds the reduced portion of pin 165 and is seated at its opposite end against enlarged portion 161 to urge the pin 165 in a direction away from the enlarged portion 161. The lower end of pin 165 is rounded as at 171 and fits into an upwardly facing rounded recess 173 in the upper surface of a link 175, which is pivotally attached adjacent the forward end thereof by suitable means to bar 149. It will be understood that when knob 159 is turned in one direction, pin 165 will push bar 149 forwardly and when the knob is turned in the opposite direction, it will pull the bar 149 rearwardly to adjust the position of the bar. Also, it will be understood that spring 169 will keep rounded end 171 in recess 173 when the recess moves away from enlarged portion 161 as the knob 159 in turned to move the bar 149 forwardly.

The usual adjustable guide 177 is adjustably mounted by bolt-nut means 179 in a slot 181 provided in base 15 to act as a guide for the side edges of the sheets.

In describing the operation of machine 11, it is assumed that bar 149 has been adjusted to the desired position, guide 177 has been adjusted properly, and the pins 81 have been moved to the desired positions to cause punching by the desired punches 57. Then, with lever 49 in an upright intermediate position shown in FIG. 1 and with main shaft 101 in the corresponding intermediate position shown in FIG. 4, a stack of sheets, not shown, are inserted in mouth 151 until they engage bar 149. Then, hand lever 49 is pulled forwardly to cause clockwise rotation of main shaft 101, as viewed in FIG. 4, whereupon pins 107 disengage from slots 111 and pinion gears 99 engage gear racks 97 to cause downward movement of pressure bar 69 with corresponding downward movement of punches 57 which have their corresponding pins 81 positioned inwardly as shown in FIG. 2, which causes punching of the sheets. After the hand lever 49 is moved to a completely forward position, and a corresponding forward position of main shaft 101, all of the punches 57 will have been moved through the sheets of paper and into the apertures 55 of die plate 51. Then, hand lever 49 is moved back to said intermediate position whereupon the sheets of punched paper may be removed from mouth 151. Next, the binding element is placed on comb fingers 37, in a manner heretofore described, and the hand lever 49 is moved rearwardly to cause main shaft 101 to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 whereupon pins 107 will engage in slots 111 and cause rocker arms 105 to move auxiliary shaft 103 from a first position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 clockwise to a second position in which the rocker arm 105 is in the broken line position shown in FIG. 4. This broken line or second position corresponds to the fully rearward position of hand lever 49. In moving from said first position to said second position, auxiliary shaft 103 moves through a third position in which third position rollers 115 just touch first cam surfaces 119. This, it will be understood, is at the very beginning of movement of hand lever 49 rearwardly from said intermediate position and is due to the spacing between rollers 115 and cam surfaces 119 when shaft 103 is in said first position, as will be best seen in FIG. 4. During this initial movement from said first position to said third position, rotation of shaft 103 will cause lateral movement of comb fingers 37 from an aligned position with hook portions 45 to an offset position relative thereto, as heretofore explained, so that the hook portions will be in position behind the curled fingers of the binding element, not shown. Then, with continued movement of auxiliary shaft 103 from said third position to said second position, rollers 115 will cause hook portions 45 to move forwardly and spread the fingers of the binding element so that the punched sheets may be placed thereon. Then, hand lever 49 is returned from said rearward position to said intermediate position which permits the fingers of the binding element to recurl to complete the binding. It will be understood that if springs 125 are not effective alone to move hook means 45 toward comb fingers 37, then rollers 115 will engage second cam surfaces 123 to positively return the hook portions 45 almost to their positions contiguous the comb fingers 37 with the remainder of the travel into said contiguous position being caused by the springs 125. It will be understood that the rollers 115 cannot return the hook portions 45 all the way since there is a space between rollers 115 and cam surfaces 123 when the hook portions are in a completely rearward position, with this space being shown as in FIGS. 2 and 4.

A second embodiment of the present invention is herein included which pertains to the cam means operably coupled to the comb 33 and the driving means for actuating the cam means when the main shaft 101 is rotated from the heretofore-described intermediate position toward the rearward position to move the comb 33 between the heretofore-described loading position and offset position during the initial movement of the main shaft 101 and to maintain the comb 33 in this offset position while the main shaft is being rotated to its rearmost position to spread the fingers of the binding element. The second embodiment generally includes a cam lever 226, a cam plate or arm assembly 227, and a cam disc 228. The arm assembly 227 is suitably attached to the vertical plate portion 35 of the comb 33 and depends therefrom. The arm assembly 227 includes a pair of cam followers 229, 231 comprising rollers which are rotatably attached to the arm adjacent the lower end thereof at a predetermined spaced apart distance. The cam disc 228 is substantially disposed in a vertical plane and is rotatably supported by the auxiliary shaft 103, as best viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings.

The cam disc 228 has an arcuate segment 232 thereof offset from the major plane of the disc 228 defining a pair of cam surfaces 233, 235, i. e., the cam surface 233 being on one side of the disc and the cam disc 235 being on the opposite side thereof as shown in FIG. 15 of the drawings. The cam disc 227 additionally includes a concentric bushing 237 which rotatably receives the auxiliary shaft 103, i. e., the bushing 237 is fixedly attached to the disc 228 and is free to rotate about the shaft 103.

It will be understood that the arm assembly 227 replaces the cam plate 127; the cam followers 229, 231 replace the cam followers 129, 131; and the cam surfaces 233, 235 replace the cam surfaces 133, 135, i. e., the cam plate 127, the cam followers 129, 131 and the cam surfaces 133, 135 comprise structure peculiar to the first embodiment.

The cam lever 226 generally comprises a crank-like structure fixedly attached to the main shaft 101. In other words, the arm 226 preferably includes perpendicularly disposed members 239, 241. One end of the member 239 is fixedly attached to the main shaft 101 and the other end of the member 239 carries the perpendicularly disposed member 241. The member 241, preferably being in the form of a pin having a circular cross section, is arranged so as to be parallel with the rotating axes of the shafts 101, 103 and is substantially directed toward the shaft 103 when the hand lever 49 is in the afore-mentioned intermediate position, for reasons yet to be disclosed.

The disc 228 is provided with a slot 243 and a notch 245, both being disposed about the circumferential periphery of the disc 228 at predetermined locations thereon. The slot 243 preferably is positioned about the disc 228 so that the pin 241 is received in the mouth of the slot 243 when the main shaft 101 is moved rearwardly beyond the intermediate position. The pin 241 is engageably received in the slot 243 as the main shaft 101 is moved from the intermediate position towards the rearward position.

In other words, rotation of the main shaft 101, by movement of the hand lever 49, causes the pin 241 to move along an arcuate path, i. e., the arc passes through the mouth of the slot 243. Accordingly, further rotation of the main shaft 101 from the intermediate position towards the rearward position thereof causes the pin 241 to be engageably received within the slot 243, i. e., causing the disc 228 to rotate about the auxiliary shaft 103 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the main shaft 101. More specifically, the initial rotation of the shaft 101 from the intermediate position towards the rearward position causes the pin 241 to engage the one edge of the slot 243, thus rotatably driving the cam disc 228 about the shaft 103 as the pin 247 is urged deeper into the slot 243, structure obvious to those skilled in the art.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings it may be seen that the main plane of the cam disc 228 is sandwiched between the cam followers 229, 231 when the hook portions 45 are in the previously described loading position. On the other hand, from FIGS. 11 and 12 it may be seen that the arcuate segment 232 of the disc 228 is sandwiched between the cam followers 229, 231 when the hook portions 45 are in the previously described offset position.

In other words, the main shaft 101 (FIG. 14) is rotated counterclockwise when being moved from the intermediate position to the rearward position, thence the disc 228 is rotated clockwise which engages the cam surface 233 with the cam follower 229 which shifts the cam arm assembly 227 hence the comb 33 from the loading position substantially as depicted in FIG. 13 leftwardly to the offset position substantially as depicted in FIG. 12. In this regard, it should be observed that FIGS. 3 and 5 are taken from an opposite direction than are FIGS. 12 and 13.

Conversely, rotating the shaft 101 (FIG. 11) clockwise urges the pin 241 against the opposite side of the slot 243, thence the disc 228 is rotated counterclockwise, thence the cam surface 235 engages the cam follower 231 and the comb 33 is shifted from the offset position (FIG. 12) rightwardly to the loading position (FIG. 13).

Lateral movement along the shaft 103 of the disc 228 is obviated by incorporating a pair of snaprings 247, i. e., the snaprings 247 being received in annular grooves (not shown) suitably positioned along the length of the shaft 103, structure obvious to those skilled in the art.

The second embodiment of the present invention includes holding means, e. g., a piano wire spring 249 or the like. The resilient spring 249, preferably shaped substantially as depicted in the drawings, includes a first horizontal portion 251, a second horizontal portion 253, and a vertical portion 255 interconnecting the portions 251, 253. In other words, the portion 251 is suitably attached to the base 15 so that the portion 253 is received in the notch 245 (FIG. 14) when the shaft 101 is in the intermediate position and/or in any one of an infinite number of positions between the intermediate position and the previously described forward position. In other words, the spring 249 holds the disc in a predetermined position while the pin 241 is disengaged from the slot 243 to insure that the mouthlike opening of the radial slot 243 is consistently presented to the pin for engagement thereof when the main shaft 101 is rotated from the forward position to the intermediate position.

It should be understood that the cam means operably coupled to the comb 33 of the second embodiment for the shifting of comb 33 between said loading and offset positions comprises the cam plate or arm assembly 227 attached to the vertical plate portion 35 of the comb 33 and depending therefrom, the cam followers 229, 231 which are fixedly attached to the assembly 227, and the arcuate segment portion 232 of the cam disc 228 which includes the cam surfaces 233, 235. Further, the driving means for actuating the cam means when the main shaft 101 is rotated by the hand lever 49 of the second embodiment comprises the crank-like cam lever 226 which is fixedly attached to the main shaft 101 and a portion of the cam disc 228 which is engageably and disengageably associated therewith, i. e., the notch 243. More specifically, the driving means of the second embodiment is not dependent upon the rotation of the auxiliary shaft 103, i. e., the shaft 103 merely serving the purpose of rotatably supporting the cam disc 228 in a manner previously disclosed.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the present invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A punching and binding machine comprising hook means including spaced hook portions, means slidably mounting said hook means for movement forwardly into a spreading position and rearwardly into a loading position, a comb including comb fingers, means slidably mounting said comb fingers for lateral shift thereof between a loading position in which said comb fingers are adjacent and in alignment with said hook portions for loading a plastic binding thereon and an offset position in which said comb fingers are disposed in alignment with the spaces between said hook portions; sheet punching means including a plurality of punches, a pressure bar movably mounted in said frame for movement between an upper position and a lower punching position, and a plurality of pins movably mounted in said pressure bar for engaging said punches; a transverse main shaft, means turnably mounting said main shaft in said frame, a hand lever attached to said main shaft for rotating said main shaft forwardly or rearwardly between forward or rearward positions through an intermediate position, an auxiliary shaft, means turnably mounting said auxiliary shaft in parallel relationship to said main shaft, means interconnecting said main shaft and said pressure bar for moving said pressure bar between said upper and lower positions respectively when said main shaft is correspondingly moved between said intermediate position and said forward position, at least one rocker arm mounted on said auxiliary shaft for movement therewith, disengageable connecting means interacting between said main shaft and said rocker arm for rotating said auxiliary shaft in the opposite direction to the rotation of said main shaft between first and second positions through a third position adjacent said first position when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate position and said rearward position and for disengaging said main shaft from said rocker arm when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate position and said forward position, cam means operably coupled to said comb, driving means for actuating said cam means when said main shaft is rotated from said intermediate position towards said rearward position to move said comb between said loading position and said offset position while said hook means remains in said loading position, and actuating means coupling said auxiliary shaft and said hook means for moving said hook means linearly between said loading position and said spreading position when said auxiliary shaft is moved between said third position and said second position.

2. The machine of claim 1 which includes magnetic holding means holding said auxiliary shaft in a selected position.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said magnetic holding means includes a metal disc mounted on said auxiliary shaft and magnet means mounted adjacent said disc frictionally engaging said disc.

4. The machine of claim 1 in which said actuating means includes a portion of said rocker arm, a roller mounted on said portion of said rocker arm, a depending first finger attached to said hook means and having a first cam surface disposed on one side of said roller for engagement thereby when said auxiliary shaft is moving from said third position to said second position; when said auxiliary shaft is in said first position and in positions between said first position and said third position, said roller being spaced from said first cam surface.

5. The machine of claim 4 which includes resilient means attached to said hook means urging said hook means and said hook portions in a direction towards said comb fingers and urging said hook means into a position contiguous with said comb fingers when said auxiliary shaft is in said first position and is in positions between said first position and said third position.

6. The machine of claim 5 in which is included a second finger attached to said hook means having a second cam surface disposed from the opposite side of said roller from said first cam surface and adapted for engagement by said roller is said resilient means is not effective alone to move said hook means towards said comb fingers when said auxiliary shaft is moved from said second position to said third position.

7. The machine of claim 6 in which said first and second cam surfaces are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of said roller to provide for lost motion therebetween.

8. The machine of claim 1 in which said cam means includes a cam plate attached to said comb and depending therefrom, said cam plate having spaced apart substantially parallel first and second cam surfaces angled downwardly relative to said comb, a first cam follower means mounted on said auxiliary shaft engaging said first cam surface for moving said comb from said loading position to said offset position when said auxiliary shaft is rotated from said first position to said third position, and a second cam follower means mounted on said auxiliary shaft engaging said second cam surface for moving said comb from said offset position to said loading position when said auxiliary shaft is rotated from said third position to said first position.

9. The machine of claim 1 which includes a support member mounted on said frame and rotatably journaling said auxiliary shaft, said support member including a hooklike portion engaging the top of said main shaft for preventing upward bending thereof.

10. The machine of claim 1 in which said punches are longer adjacent the middle of said frame and are progressively shorter from adjacent the middle towards the opposite sides of said frame.

11. The machine of claim 1 in which said pressure bar includes a bottom portion having a plurality of apertures therein, said punches each being provided with a reduced portion extending through said aperture and providing a shoulder extending over the part of said bottom portion between an adjacent pair of said apertures for causing upward withdrawal movement of said punches upon upward movement of said pressure bar.

12. The machine of claim 1 which includes adjustable sheet stop means comprising an elongated bar extending transversely of said frame, said frame being provided with a pair of parallel slots extending at an angle relative to said frame, a pair of protrusion means fixedly mounted on the bottom of said bar adjacent opposite ends thereof and depending therefrom respectively into said slots for maintaining said bar in straight transverse alignment across said frame while permitting forward and rearward movement of said bar, a stub shaft turnably mounted in said frame, a knob attached to said stub shaft for manually turning said stub shaft, a link slidably mounted on said frame, means pivotally attaching said link adjacent one end thereof to said bar, and means coupling said shaft to said link for moving said link to move said bar upon rotation of said stub shaft.

13. The machine of claim 12 in which said means coupling said shaft to said link includes a pin, said link being provided adjacent the opposite end thereof from said means pivotally attaching said link to said bar with an upwardly facing recess, said shaft being provided with a downwardly facing socket, said pin having one end slidably extending into said socket and the opposite end extending into said recess, and a spring acting between said stub shaft and said pin for urging said pin into said recess.

14. The machine of claim 1 in which said means interconnecting said main shaft and said pressure bar includes a pair of straight gear racks fixedly attached to said pressure bar adjacent opposite ends thereof, and a pair of gear segments mounted on said main shaft and respectively engaging said racks.

15. The machine of claim 1 in which said disengageable means includes means providing a pair of slots on said rocker arms, and a pair of pins mounted on said main shaft respectively receivable in said slots when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate and rearward positions and movable out of said slots when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate and forward positions.

16. In a binding machine, hook means including spaced hook portions, a comb including comb fingers; means, including a rotatable shaft, for moving said hook means relative to said comb upon rotation of said shaft, and magnetic actuated drag means for yieldably impeding the rotation of said shaft to prevent inadvertent movement of said hook means relative to said comb.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said magnetic holding means includes a ferro-magnetic metal disk fixedly mounted on said shaft and stationary magnet means mounted adjacent said disk for magnetic attraction therewith whereby steady rotation of said shaft is achieved by overpowering the frictional drag which said magnet means imparts to said disc.

18. The machine of claim 1 in which said cam means includes bracket assembly means attached to said comb and depending therefrom, cam disc means substantially disposed in a vertical plane and being rotatably supported by said auxiliary shaft and having a portion thereof offset from said plane defining a first cam surface on the one side of said disc means and a second cam surface on the opposite side thereof, and said bracket assembly means including first and second spaced apart cam follower means straddling said cam disc means adjacent the circumferential periphery thereof for respective engagement with said first and second cam surfaces of said cam disc means.

19. The machine of claim 18 in which said driving means includes a portion of said cam disc means, said portion being provided with a radial slot having a mouthlike opening adjacent the periphery thereof, a cam lever fixedly attached to said main shaft, said lever having a pin disposed substantially parallel with said main shaft and fixedly attached to said lever adjacent the outermost end thereof, said lever being positioned radially about said main shaft so that said pin attached thereto is engageably received in said radial slot and rotatably drives said cam disc means fractionally about said auxiliary shaft when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate and rearward positions and movable out of said radial slot when said main shaft is rotated between said intermediate and forward positions.

20. The machine of claim 19 in which is included holding means for holding said cam disc means in a predetermined position while said pin is disengaged therefrom to readily present said mouthlike opening of said radial slot to said pin when said main shaft is rotated from said forward position to said intermediate position.