A sheet binding apparatus

Abstract: A sheet binding (1) apparatus includes a support (9) for supporting a set of sheets (2); a puncher (3) for punching the sets of sheets (2) on the support; binder (7) for binding the sheets by penetrating a ring member (6) through punched holes of the sheets punched by the puncher (3); a detector (60) for detecting a size of the ring member (6) supported on the binder (7); a changing device for changing a degree of opening of the ring member (6) in accordance with a size of the ring member (6); a conveyer (5) for conveying the set of sheets (2) punched by the puncher (3) to the ring member (6) supported on the binder (7); a second support for supporting the binder (7) for movement between an automatic mode position wherein the binder (7) receives the set of sheets (2) conveyed by the conveyer (5) and a manual mode position wherein the set of sheets (2) can be received without use of the conveyer (5); a second detector for detecting the manual mode position of the binder (7) and for prohibiting conveyance of the sheets by the conveyer (5); ring controller for controlling the degree of opening of the ring member (6) during the manual mode; wherein the ring controller opens the ring member (6) to the degree of opening predetermined in accordance with the size of the ring member (6).

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART The present invention relates to a sheet binding apparatus, more particularly to a ring type sheet binder according to the preamble portion of claim 1. In a conventional ring binder which is known from the US-A-3 793 660 punched sheet materials are bound by a binding ring made of plastic resin comprising a spine and a number of inwardly curved fingers, the sheet materials are punched by a punching means including dies and punches, and thereafter, the sheet materials are taken out of the punching means, and the punched sheet materials are bound at another place. Since the punched sheet materials are taken out of the punching means, and since they are bound at another position, the binding operation is time-consuming, and some expertise is required to bind the sheet materials with the ring member. More particularly, the operator has to adjust the punch position so that the sheet materials are punched at the position corresponding to the size of the binding member, and also, the operator has to adjust the degree of opening of the binding member to make the binding operation easier. Therefore, some expertise is required for a stabile operation. Otherwise, the operating time becomes longer with the high possibility of erroneous operation. Further, the document US-A 4 320 547 discloses a sheet binding apparatus according to the preamble portion of claim 1. This apparatus comprises a punching means for punching holes into sheet materials disposed on a supporting means, and a conveying means for conveying the punched sheet materials to a ring member supported by a binding means which is adapted to bind the sheet materials by penetrating the ring member through the punched holes, wherein the punching means, the binding means and the Conveying means are controlled by a control means. Additionally, the post published document EP-A-0 390 199 discloses a sheet binding apparatus having means for supporting, punching, conveying and binding sheet materials, wherein a control means sequentially controls the punching means, the conveying means and the binding means. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sheet binder which is easy to manipulate. This object is solved by the features indicated in the independent claim 1. Advantageously developed embodiments of the invention are subject matters of the dependent claims 2 to 4. The advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a sectional view of a binding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A and 2B are flow charts illustrating the operation of the apparatus. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the apparatus. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a die and a stopper. Figure 5 is a side view of a punching station. Figure 6 is an enlarged side view illustrating a relation among the die, a puncher and a stopper. Figure 7 is a side view of a sheet confining mechanism. Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the sheet confining mechanism of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a side view of a conveyer. Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating an upper and a lower pawl. Figure 11 is a side view illustrating a binding member set in the upper pawl. Figure 12 is a side view in which the binding member is opened. Figure 13 is an enlarged front view illustrating a lower pawl operating mechanism. Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in Figure 13. Figure 15 is a side view in a manual mode. Figure 16(a) is a side view of the apparatus when the ring is closed in a manual operating mode. Figure 16(b) is a side view thereof when the ring is opened in the manual mode. Figure 17 is a sectional view of a sheet material binding apparatus according to a second embodiment. Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the apparatus of the second embodiment. Figure 19 is an enlarged view when the ring is set. Figure 20 is an enlarged view when the ring is opened. Figure 21 is a side view of a conveying passage. Figure 22 is a block diagram of a control system. Figure 23 is a side view of a sheet material binding apparatus in a manual mode. Figure 24 is a rear perspective view thereof. Figure 25 is a front view of a sheet confining means. Figure 26 is a side view thereof. Figure 27 is a flow chart in an automatic mode in an apparatus according to a third embodiment. Figure 28 is a block diagram of a control system. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Referring to Figure 1, the sheet binding apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a punching station 3 for punching a set of sheet materials or sheets 2, a conveyer 5 for conveying the punched sheets 2 and a ring opening station 7 for opening and closing a binding ring 6 for binding the sheets 2 conveyed thereto. These parts are mounted on a bed 1a of the apparatus 1. Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the punching station 3 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, a die 10 is disposed close to a sheet supporting tray 9. The supporting tray 9 is provided with a sensor hole 9a and a roller hole 9b. In the sensor hole 9a, a sensor lever 11a for detecting presence of the sheet material 2 is disposed. Below the sensor lever 11a a sensor 11 is disposed to detect the presence of the sheets 2 in response to the movement of the sensor lever 11a. As shown in Figure 4, the die 10 has a number of square die holes 10a aligned in a line, and two through holes 10b at a position downstream of the holes 10a with respect to the direction of the sheet conveyance which will be described hereinafter. Through the holes 10b, a pair of short stoppers 12a and a pair of long stoppers 12b for abutment with edges of the sheets 2 are retractable to align the sheets 2. The stoppers 12a constituting the pair are integrally connected, and also, the stoppers 12b constituting the pair are integrally connected. The stoppers 12a and 12b are coupled with solenoids 13a and 13b, respectively. The solenoids 13a and 13b lower the associated stoppers when they are deenergized, and raise them when they are energized. The distances l ₁ and l ₂ between the holes 10a and the stoppers 12a and 12b satisfy l ₁ < l ₂. It is desirable that the sheet materials 2 are punched at proper position which changes depending on the size of the resin ring 6 used. When the resin ring 6 is set on the upper supporting member 52 at the binding station, the ring sensor lever 60 automatically operates to detect the size of the resin ring 6 by the ring sensors 61a and 61b. Then, in order to set the proper punching position for the sheet materials 2, the stoppers 12a and 12b are interrelatedly moved. In this embodiment, two punching positions are prepared (the number may be three or more), and in response to the signal indicative that the resin ring 6 has been set, a selected one of the solenoids 13a and 13b is energized, by which non-selected one of the solenoids 13b and 13a is retracted. To the selected one, the sheet materials 2 are abutted. The number of the stoppers 12a and 12b' may be two or more. In addition, it or they may be movable. As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, an operating lever 16 has a shaft 15. When it is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the puncher 17 lowers along guides 19 and 20 to penetrate through the holes 10a of the die 10 which will be described hereinafter. As shown also in Figures 7 and 8, the die 10 is fixed on a die base 21. The guides 19 and 20 are fixedly mounted on a supporting frame 22 which is fixed to the die base 21. At upper portions adjacent longitudinally opposite ends of the supporting frame 22, there are sleeves 23, and punching rods 25 in telescope relation therewith. The bottoms of the pushing rods 25 are fixedly mounted to a confining plate 26. Between each of the sleeves 23 and an upper end of the associated pushing rod 25, a compression spring 27a is mounted, and between a flange 25a of each of the pushing rods 25 and the supporting frame 22, a compression coil spring 27b is mounted around the pushing rod 25. A pressing arm 29 is mounted on the top end of the punches 17, and it pushes the sleeve 23 downwardly. The pressing arm 29 is provided at longitudinal end projections 29a which are engaged with lever arms 30, which in turn are fixedly mounted to the ends of the shaft 15. When the lever 16 (Figures 1 and 5) is rotated in the clockwise direction, the pressing arm 29 lowers. Each of the punches 17 has a projection 23a which abuts a limiter 29b mounted on the pressing arm 29. The confining plate 26 has a cut-away portion 26a with which a locking plate 31 which has a generally hook shape engages. The locking plate 31 has a pawl 31a in its vertical portion. The bottom of the vertical portion is rotatably supported on a pin 32, and another vertical portion of the locking plate 31 has adjacent its upper end a projection 31b which is engaged with an elongated slot 33a of a releasing link 33. An upper portion of the releasing link 33 is rotatably supported on an arm 35 downwardly extended from the pressing arm 29, so that the pressing arm 29 is confined or released by the pawl 31a of the locking plate 31. As shown in Figure 5, sensor levers 36a and 36b are rotatable together with the lever 16. An upper sensor 37 and a lower sensor 39 are faced to the sensor lever 36a when it is at its upper position, and faced to the sensor lever 36b when it is at its lower position, respectively. Referring to Figures 1, 5 and 9, the conveyer 5 will be described. In this embodiment, the upper conveying roller 40b and the lower conveying roller 40a are disposed spaced apart from each other to provide a pick-up structure, as shown in Figure 9. When the sheet materials 2 are inserted to be abutted to the stopper 12a or 12b, the upper conveying roller 40b is in a retracted position from the conveying passage. After the punching operation is completed, it is lowered into the conveying passage in order to convey the sheet materials 2 to the binding station. The conveying roller 40a which is driven by a motor 8 mounted rotatably on the apparatus 1 is projected through the roller hole 9b of the sheet supporting tray 9. A pick-up lever 41 is rotatably supported on a pin 41a fixedly mounted on the apparatus at its intermediate position. The lower end portion of a pick-up arm 42 is rotatably mounted on the lever 41 by a pin 41b at a left side of the pin 41a. The right end of a lever 44 is rotatably supported on the lever 41. At the left end of the lever 44, an upper conveying roller 40b is rotatably supported. On the right end of the lever 44, a gear 48a and a pulley 48b coaxially integral with the gear 48a are rotatably supported. A pulley 54b is coaxially integral with a gear 54a which is in meshing engagement with the gear 48a. A pulley 54c is coaxial with and integral with the lower conveying roller 40a. A pulley 48c is coaxial and integral with the upper conveying roller 40b. Belts 8a, 8b and 8c are trained around a pulley of the motor 8 and the pulley 54c, around the pulley 54c and the pulley 54b, around the pulley 48b and the pulley 48c, respectively. By the rotation of the motor 8 in the clockwise direction, the upper and lower conveying rollers 40a and 40b grip the sheet materials 2 and convey them rightwardly. A tension spring 41d is mounted to the lever 41, so that the lever 41 is normally urged in the clockwise direction about the pin 41a, and so that the arm 42 is normally urged upwardly by the pin 41b. A vertical portion of the lever 41 is provided with a projection 41c, which is engageable with an engaging portion 46a of a hook 46 rotatably supported on a pin 45 fixed to the apparatus. The other end of the hook 46 is rotatably supported at an end of a core rod 47a of a solenoid 47. When the solenoid 47 is energized, the hook 46 rotates in the clockwise direction, by which the projection 41c is locked at its right side. When the solenoid 47 is deenergized, the hook 46 rotates in the counterclockwise direction to be released from the projection 41c. When the lever 16 is operated to rotate the sensor lever 36b in the counterclockwise direction to such an extent that the lower limit sensor 39 is interrupted, and when the arm 42 is lowered simultaneously against the upward urging force, the left side of the lever 41 is lowered, so that the lever 44 is released from the locking portion 41e of the lever 41, and the upper conveying roller 40b lowers by its weight together with the lever 44 to be press-contacted to the lower conveying roller 40a. An inlet guide 49 (Figure 9) for limiting the thickness of the set of sheet materials 2 is rotatably supported on a pin 49a fixed to the apparatus to be rotatable in the clockwise direction. The counterclockwise rotation is stopped by the stopper 49b. A conveying tray 50 (Figure 9) is arranged closely downstream of the die 10. A ring inlet guide 51 is effective to prevent disturbance of leading edges of the sheet materials 2 coming thereto. The guide 51 is rotatably supported on a pin 51a fixedly mounted to the apparatus. Referring to Figure 1, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the ring opener 7 will be described. Upper pawls 52 are extended in a horizontal plane in the form of comb, and they have inclinedly bent up ends. The upper pawls 52 are vertically guided by the insides of the side walls of the main assembly 7a of the ring opener. The upper pawls 52 are driven by a motor 55 via a gear train 53. A number of lower pawls 56 are projected up inclinedly, and they have end portions extending perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the sheet materials 2. The lower pawls 56 are driven by a motor 59 via a gear train 57. A ring 6 which is a binding member having one spine and a number of lateral fingers bent into substantial circles, is set on the upper pawls 52 at its fingers. The sensor lever 60 rotatably mounted on a shaft 60a and normally urged in the clockwise direction, is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the distance corresponding to an outside diameter of the ring 6. Below the sensor lever 60, a plurality of ring sensors 61 is disposed along a line to detect the presence of the ring 6 and the size of the ring 6. Further referring to Figures 13 and 14, an operating mechanism for the lower pawl 56 will be described in detail. Figure 13 shows a front view, and Figure 14 shows a side view of the operating mechanism. A guide plate 63 is provided with a groove 62 at insides of both sides of the lower pawls 56. The groove 62 has horizontal and vertical portions. The guide plate 63 is mounted on the ring opener main assembly 7a. Projections 65 of the plate having the lower pawls 56 are guided along the groove 62. At the middle of the lower pawls 56, a pair of slanted grooves 66 is formed. A slanted projection 67 slidingly guided by the slanted slot 66 is formed on a driving plate 70 which is vertically movable. The driving plate 70 is supported for vertical movement on the ring opener main assembly 7a. The driving plate 70 is provided with a rack 71 which is in meshing engagement with an end gear of the gear train 57. At the front side of the lower pawls 56, a confining plate 72 is provided, and the confining plate 72 and the driving plate 70 are fixed by screws 75 penetrating a slanted loose groove 73 of the member having the lower pawls 56. As shown in Figure 15, there is provided a pin 76 for rotatably supporting the main assembly 7a of the ring opener 7 on the base 1a. When the main body 7a is inclined and fixed with the inclination, a microswitch 77 produces a signal. As shown in Figure 3, a ring opening button 86 and a ring closing button 87 are provided. Further, as shown in Figure 3, a re-binding button 89 is provided. Below the conveying table 50, a sensor 90 for detecting the sheet materials 2 is disposed. The inclination and the fixing of the main assembly 7a may be accomplished by a rail type stopper mechanism or a magnet attraction type. Referring to Figure 2A and 3, the operation of the apparatus constructed in the manner described above will be described. In Figure 2A, an automatic mode is selected, and a switch 81 is actuated. When the fingers of the ring 6 are set on the upper pawls 52, the sensor lever 60 rotates in the counterclockwise direction about the shaft 60a by being pushed by the outer periphery of the ring. In response thereto, a controller 85 receives a signal representing a size of the ring 6 and a signal representing the presence of the ring 6 from the sensors 61a and 61b. The controller 85 transmits a signal to a display 80 to display a message that the sheets are to be set (S1). At this time, the controller 85 selectively actuates the solenoid 13a or 13b in accordance with the size of the ring 6 detected so as to project the stopper 12a or 12b through the hole 10b of the die 10. Then, the sheets are inserted until they are stopped by the stopper 12a or 12b. Then, the controller 85 receives a signal from the sensor 11, and a message is displayed on the display 80 that the lever 16 is to be lowered (S2). Then, the operator lowers the lever 16. When the upper limit sensor 37 is deactuated by the disappearing of the sensor lever 36a, a signal indicative of that event is transmitted to the controller 85. Then, the elevated one of the solenoids 13a and 13b is lowered to lower the stopper 12a or 12b. Simultaneously, the pushing arm 29 is lowered by the lever arm 30, by which the sleeve 23 lowers against the spring forces of the compression springs 27a and 27b, by which the confining plate 26 integral with the pushing rods 25 presses the set of sheet materials 2. The lowered confining plate 26 is locked by the pawls 31a of the locking plate 31. Simultaneously, the punches 17 are lowered to punch the set of sheet materials on the die 10. Simultaneously, the pick-up arm 42 is lowered by the sensor lever 36b against the upward urging force. Then, the pick-up lever 41 lowers, and the upper conveying roller 40b and the lever 44 press the set of sheet materials 2 downwardly by the weight thereof. Simultaneously, the controller 85 receiving a signal from the lower limit sensor 39 now actuated, deenergizes the solenoid 47, upon which the lever 41 is locked by the core rod 47a, a locking portion 46a of the hook 46 and the projection 41c, and also a message indicative that the lever is to be raised is displayed on the display 80 (S3). In this case, if the bottom surface of the confining plate 26 is pressed to the set of sheet materials 2 before the punching edges of the punches 17 reach the set of sheet materials 2, the sheet materials 2 are confined before the start of the punching action, so that the possible disturbance (misalignment) of the sheet materials 2 can be prevented. This can be accomplished by adjusting the compression springs 27a and 27b. Even if the confining plate 26 is pressed to the sheet materials 2 earlier, excessive compression force to the pushing rods and the sleeves 23 can be avoided by the provision of the compression springs 27a and 27b. When the lever 16 is raised to such an extent that the sensor lever 36b deactuates the lower limit sensor 39, the controller 85 receives a signal indicative of this event, upon which the controller 85 opens the ring 6. On the other hand, when the sensor lever 36a actuates the upper limit sensor 37, the punches 17 have been retracted by the lever 16 via the pressing arm 29. With a delay from completion of the retraction of the punches 17 from the sheet materials 2, the locking plate is rotated by the upward movement of the pressing arm 29, in the counterclockwise direction about the pin 32 by the arm 35 and the releasing link 33, upon which the confining plate 26 is released from the pawl 31a, upon which the confining plate 26 is moved away from the sheet materials 2. The controller 85 receiving the actuation of the upper limit sensor 37 produces signals for actuating the stepping motor 8 for driving the conveying rollers 40a and 40b. The sheet materials are conveyed to the ring opener 7 by the conveying rollers 40a and 40b over a distance corresponding to a predetermined number of pulses. During the movement, the leading edges of the sheet materials 2 are prevented from being disturbed by the inlet guide 51. The set of sheet materials is stopped at a proper position relative to the ring 6 which is opened as shown in Figure 12, and, thereafter, the ring 6 is closed. The controller 85 receiving a signal representative of the stepping motor 8 stop, produces a signal for deenergizing the solenoid 47, upon which the projection 41c is disengaged from the engaging portion 46a, and the upper conveying roller 40b is raised by the urging force of the tension spring 41d by the engaging portion 41e of the lever 41 and by the lever 44. After the ring 6 is closed, the display indicative of the completion of the binding operation is made on the display 80. This is the end of the binding operation (S4). After the completion, the operator pulls the bound sheet materials 2 in the direction opposite to the setting direction. At this time, the ring inlet guide 51 and the inlet guide 49 (Figure 9) rotate in the clockwise direction so as not to impede the pulling action. Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the operation of the lower pawls 56 will be described. The rack 71 is lowered by the motor 59 via the gear train 57 shown in Figure 1. Then, the driving plate 70 lowers along an unshown guiding plate. The slanted projection 67 of the driving plate 70 applies a rightward force component to the lower pawls 56 through the slanted groove 66 in Figure 13. By this, the projections 65 of the lower pawl 56 assembly are guided along the horizontal portions of the groove 62 of the guiding plate 63 to be moved rightwardly, by which the lower pawls 56 become engageable with the fingers of the ring 6. Subsequently, they are guided by the vertical portions of the groove 62 by the downward component force, by which the lower pawls 56 lower to open the fingers of the ring 6 downwardly. When the rack 71 is pressed upwardly by the motor 59, the lower pawls 56 move downwardly on the contrary. The confining plate 72 is integral with the driving plate 70 by the screws 75 to always retain the lower pawls 56. Therefore, the screws 75 make the same movement as the slanted projection 67. In consideration of this, a slanted loose hole 73 similarly to the slanted groove 66 is formed in the lower pawl 56 assembly. In the foregoing embodiment, the bound sheet materials 2 are manually pulled out in the direction opposite to the sheet setting and conveyance direction. However, the bound sheet materials 2 may be automatically retracted by reversely rotating the motor 8 for driving the conveying rollers 40a and 40b when the completion of the binding operation is displayed on the display 80 without deenergizing the solenoid 47. By doing so, the labor for the binding operation can be saved, and the working period can be saved, too. Next, the description will be made as to the manual mode. As shown in Figure 15, when the main assembly 7a is inclined and fixed, the microswitch 77 is actuated, in response to which the controllers 85 switches the control system into a manual mode. This mode is used when the punching power of the punch 17 or the like per one punching operation is not enough in relation to the binding capacity of the ring 6. After punching a plurality of times, the binding operation is completed. In addition, it is used when the sheet materials are to be exchanged. Thus, the manual mode is used, when the automatic mode is not convenient. In the manual mode, the sheet materials 2 are not automatically conveyed, and therefore, the ring 6 is independently opened or closed by operating the ring opening button 86 and a ring closing button 87. When a sheet material or materials 2 are desired to be added, or when a part or all of the bound sheet materials are to be exchanged, the sheet materials 2 are set below the upper pole 52, as shown in Figure 16(a). Then, the ring opening button 86 is operated, by which the sheet materials 2 may be freely removed, as shown in Figure 16(b). Therefore, the adding or exchanging operation can be possible. By inclining the main assembly 7a, the apparatus can be easily watched, and the apparatus can be easily operated. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2B and Figure 3, a re-binding operation after a sheet conveyance error is detected during the operation in the automatic mode, will be described. A jam delay (conveyance error) is detected when the sensor 93 does not detect the sheet materials 2 within a predetermined period of time after the sheet materials 2 are punched and are conveyed to the conveying table 50 by the rollers 40a and 40b. In order to perform this detection, at step S4 (Figure 2A), the operation shown in Figure 2B starts from the start of the sheet material conveyance. At step K1, the sensor 93 detects the sheet material within the predetermined period of time. Then, step K2 is executed, by which the proper binding operation is completed. However, if the sensor 93 does not detect the sheet materials 2 within the predetermined period, the step K3 is executed by which "JAM" is displayed on the display 80, and the ring 6 is closed by the ring motors 55 and 59. Then, a display is made to the effect that the operator is to pull out the sheet materials 2. When the sheet materials are pulled out, step K4 is executed, and the ring 6 is detected by the sensor 61. The sheet materials 2 are inserted again, and when the sheet materials 2 are detected by the sensor 11, step K5 is executed, in which a stopper 12a or 12b corresponding to the size of the ring 6 is raised. A display is made to the effect that the re-binding button 89 is to be actuated. When it is actuated by the operator, step K6 is performed, in which the punching operation is omitted, and the stopper 12a or 12b raised, is lowered. Simultaneously, the ring 6 is opened, and the operation is shifted to the flow (3) to perform the conveyance and the re-binding of the sheet materials 2. Then, the operation as described above is repeated. If the ring 6 is not detected at step K4, it is discriminated that the operator stops the operation before the completion, and the operation is stopped. A modification will be described. In this modification, when the sheet materials 2 are not detected by the sensor 93 within the predetermined period of time, that is, when the conveyance error of the sheet materials 2 occurs, the sheet materials are pulled out, and then, are inserted again. Then, the lever 16 is slightly lowered, and then, it is raised. Thus, the upper limit sensor 37 is deactuated, and thereafter, it is actuated (since the lower limit sensor 39 is not actuated, the noncompletion of the punching operation is discriminated). In response to such a combination of signals, the conveying station 5 and the ring opening station 7 are automatically operated to allow the re-binding operation. By doing so, the provision of the re-binding button 89 becomes not necessary, so that the structure of the apparatus 1 can be simplified. Another modification will be described. In this modification, after the conveyance failure is detected by the sensor 93, the ring opening and closing buttons 86 and 87 which are operable during the manual mode, are permitted to be operated for the purpose of the re-binding operation, without changing the operational mode (automatic mode), in response to the conveyance failure detection signal. By doing so, similarly to the foregoing modification, the re-binding button 89 may be omitted. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in which in addition to the structures described in conjunction with Figures 1 - 16, a means is provided to control the opening operation of the resin ring and the degree of the opening of the resin ring, by operating a button for a predetermined degree. Figure 17 is a sectional view of the sheet material binding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus. The flow chart of Figure 18 deals with an automatic mode in which the automatic operation is performed from the punching of the sheet materials to the binding of them, and a manual mode in which the punching operation and the binding operation are performed independently from each other. The description will first be made as to the structure of the apparatus of this embodiment. Referring to Figure 17, the punching means 3 will be described. As shown in this Figure, a die 10 is disposed adjacent to a tray 9 for supporting the sheet materials 2. Through holes formed in the die 10, an end of a sensor lever 111 for detecting presence or absence of the sheet materials 2 and a lower conveying roller 40a are extended. The other end of the sensor lever 111 is associated with a sensor 113 for detecting the sheet materials 2. As shown in Figures 17, 5 and 6, a shaft 15 to which the lever 16 is fixed is provided with an arm 18 fixed thereto. When the lever 16 is rotated downwardly, the punch 17 is lowered along the guides 20 and 19 formed on the supporting frame 22, so that the punch 17 penetrates through the punching holes 10a of the die 10. As shown in Figures 6, 25 and 26, the die 10 and the supporting frame 22 are fixed to the base 21. On the supporting frame 22, the guides 20 and 19 are fixed. When the lever 16 is rotated downwardly, the supporting frame 22 is lowered, and the confining plate 26 is lowered at this time, by which the sheet materials 2 are confined. The lower position of the confining plate 26 is locked by the locking plate 29, and a releasing plate 31 is effective to release the locking action. The operation in the automatic mode will be described in conjunction with Figures 17, 18 and 22. First, the resin ring 6 is set on the upper supporting member 52 shown in Figure 10 described hereinbefore. At the initial stage, the ring sensor lever 60 is pressed to the upper supporting member 52 by an elastic member. When the resin ring 6 is set on the upper supporting member 52, it rotates in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Figures 10 and 11. Thus, the lower portion interrupts the light paths of the ring sensors 61a and 61b, so that the presence of the resin ring 6 is detected. A plurality of such ring sensors 61a and 61b are provided to determine the size of the resin ring 6 on the basis of a combination of ON/OFF states of the sensors. A plurality of sizes of the resin ring 6 are prepared in consideration of the thickness of the set of sheet materials to be bound. The values to be used in the subsequent step or steps are determined on the basis of the detection of the size of the ring, so that the automatic operation is accomplished after the punching operation. The sheet materials 2 are inserted from the operation side (left side in Figure 17). At this time, similarly to Figure 4, the sheet materials 2 are abutted to the stopper 113a, by which the punching position of the sheet materials 2 is determined. In addition, the sheet material confining means (inlet guide) 49 functions to prevent the leading edges of the sheet materials 2 from being raised. During the binding operation of the sheet materials 2, the sheet materials 2 are inserted in the direction indicated by an arrow A in Figure 21A. At this time, the sheet material confining means 49 abuts to a regulating stopper 49b by its weight, and therefore, it is retained there to maintain a constant gap x between the sheet material limiting means 49 and the die 10. The gap x is determined by the punching power, so that the set of sheet materials 2 having a thickness larger than the gap x is not permitted to be inserted, by the sheet material regulating means or control means 49. Thus, the possible failure in the punching operation and/or the binding operation is prevented. The sheet materials 2 having been inserted, punched and bound, are pulled out in the direction B in Figure 21B. At this time, the leading edges of the sheet materials 2 have the resin ring 6 binding the sheet materials, therefore, the maximum thickness of the set of the sheet materials 2 is increased. Since, however, the sheet material limiting means 49, as shown by solid lines in Figure 21B, is retractable in the clockwise direction, it does not impede the pulling action. Thus, it allows smooth pulling of the sheet material 2. As described in the foregoing, the thickness of the sheet materials 2 is limited by the sheet material control or limiting means 49, and therefore, the trouble of failures in punching and/or binding operation, so that the binding operation in total is stabilized. In addition, by placing the sheet materials 2 on the supporting tray 9, the sensor lever 111 rotates to interrupt the light path of the sheet sensor 113 to detect the presence of the sheet materials 2. Next, the punching operation will be described. As shown in Figure 6 described hereinbefore, a punch 17 is supported by guides 20 and 19 constituting a couple with the die 10. The vertically independent structure is intended to permit the sheet materials 2 after being bound by the resin ring 6 to be pulled out to the inlet side after the completion of the operation. In order to punch the sheet material 2 being abutted to the stopper 12a or 12b, the lever 16 is lowered. The position of the lever 16 is detected by the sensor levers 36a and 36b rotating together with the lever 16, and by the upper limit sensor 37 and the lower limit sensor 39. By the lowering of the lever 16, a cam mechanism cooperable with a shaft 15 lowers and raises the punch 17 to punch the sheet materials 2. The mechanism will be described in more detail. By lowering the lever 16, the lower limit sensor lever 36a rotates to interrupt the light path of the lower limit sensor 37, and simultaneously, it lowers the pick-up arm 42. By this, the pick-up lever 41 rotatable together with the pick-up arm 42 is lowered, and the upper conveying roller 40b lowers by its weight to cooperate with the lower conveying roller 40a to confine the sheet materials 2 and to accomplish stabilized conveying operation. At this time, in order to prevent the pick-up lever 41 from returning, a pin 41c fixed to the pick-up lever 41 is engaged with a pawl 46a at one end of the locking arm 46. After the sheet materials 2 are punched, the lever 16 is raised to retract the punch 17 from the sheet materials 2. At this time, the sheet materials 2 are raised by the friction between the punch 17 and the sheet materials 2, and is abutted to the guide 19, upon which the punch 17 is retracted from the sheet materials 2. If this occurs, the sheet materials 2 are pulled inclinedly, with the result that the sheet materials are deviated from a position determined by the stopper 12a or 12b. To prevent this, the sheet materials are confined by the sheet material confining mechanism shown in Figure 26. The mechanism will be described. At the initial stage, the mechanism is pressed to the guide 19 by a spring 27. However, it lowers together with the operation of the lever 16 to confine the sheet materials 2, so that the deviation of the sheet materials 2 during the punching operation is prevented. After the sheet materials 2 are punched, a locking plate 29 prevents the returning of the mechanism to assist the pulling of the punch 17. Immediately before the lever 16 interrupts the upper limit sensor 37, that is, at the timing when the punch 17 is pulled out from all of the sheet materials 2, the mechanism is restored by a cam mechanism of a releasing plate 31. By this, the mechanism is reset. When the upper limit sensor 37 detects the completion of the punching operation, the selected one of the stoppers 12a and 12b is retracted by the solenoid 13a or 13b. Thereafter, the conveying motor 37 simultaneously rotates the lower conveying roller 40a and the upper conveying roller 40b to convey the sheet materials 2 through the belt and the gear. The sheet materials 2 may be conveyed by one of either one of the upper or lower conveying rollers 40a and 40b. In order to assure a large number of sheet materials to be conveyed, they are preferably driven by both of the rollers. The conveyed sheet materials 2 are supplied to the ring opening station through the conveying table 50. The conveying passage is provided with a ring inlet limiting plate 51 to limit the gap of the inlet to prevent the curling and disturbance of the leading edges of the sheet materials 2 so as to assure the binding of the sheet material 2 by the resin ring 6. The punching and conveyance of the sheet materials 2 are described in the foregoing. Then, the ring opening station 7 will be described. The ring opener, as shown in the right half of Figure 17, comprises an upper supporting member 52, a lower supporting member 56, gear trains 53 and 57 for driving them, respectively, motors 55 and 59 and a sensor for detecting the size of the resin ring 6. As described in the foregoing, when the resin ring 6 is inserted between the upper supporting member 52 and the ring sensor lever 60, the size of the resin ring 6 used is detected, and degree of opening of the resin ring 6 is determined. At this time, the degree of opening is different, depending on the size of the used resin ring 6. The amounts of movements of the upper supporting member 52 and the lower supporting member 56 by which the resin ring 6 is opened, is different, depending on the size of the resin ring 6. Referring to Figures 19 and 13, the opening operation of the resin ring 6 will be described. The resin ring 6 set is supported by the upper supporting member 52, and is sandwiched between it and the ring sensor lever 60. The lower supporting member 56 in the form of a hook translates into the inside of the resin ring 6 by an unshown cam mechanism, as shown in Figure 16. Thereafter, the upper supporting member 52 and the lower supporting member 56 are moved to provide the determined degree of opening. In this embodiment, the opening operation is started as soon as the upper limit sensor 37 of the lever 16 detects the completion of the punching operation. However, the timing of the opening may be different, if it is before the sheet materials 2 reach the predetermined position. The ring open state is as shown in Figure 20. As regards the degree 172 of the opening of the resin ring 6 and the position 173 of the ring edge, they are empirically determined in the manner that as many as possible sheet materials 2 can be properly bound within the elasticity limit of the resin ring 6, so that they can be properly set without the operator wondering each time when the resin ring 6 is set. The sheet materials 2 conveyed have been punched at positions determined in accordance with the size of the ring, and the sheet materials 2 are conveyed so that the punched holes are aligned with the ring edges. After the completion of the conveying operation, the upper supporting member 52 and the lower supporting member 56 are moved in the same direction in the manner that the degree of the opening of the resin ring 6 is retained. They are moved until the edges of the resin ring 6 penetrate through the punched holes of the sheet materials 2. After the penetration, the upper supporting member 52 and the lower supporting member 56 are moved so as to close the opening. Finally, the bound sheet materials 2 are pulled toward the operator. Since the limiting member 49 and the ring inlet limiting plate 51 are rotatable, they do not impede the retracting action of the sheet materials 2. The operations in each of the steps are displayed on the operating panel so that the operator is instructed sequentially until the final stage of the operation. Figure 22 is a block diagram of a control system accomplishing it. Referring to Figures 17, 15, 23 and 24, the manual mode operation will be described. Usually, the automatic mode is usable when the number of sheet materials or a thickness of the set of the sheet materials 2 is lower than the maximum punching power of the punching station. When the number of sheet materials which are to be bound exceeds the punching power, the automatic mode is not used, and the sheet materials 2 are divided or grouped into plural sets of sheet materials 2 each having the number less than the maximum punching power, and the divided sets are respectively punched. Then, they are bound by the resin ring 6. When additional sheet material or sheet materials are desired to be added to the bound sheet materials, or when a part or all of the bound sheet materials are to be replaced by another sheet material or sheet materials, the manual mode, not the automatic mode, is used. When the sheet materials 2 are to be bound in the manual mode, the binding means 7 in Figure 17 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the pivot 175, and fixed at the position shown in Figure 23. At this time, the automatic-manual selector switch 76 mounted on the binding means 7 is rotated to become deactuated, whereupon the selection of the manual mode is detected. An auxiliary guide cover 79 mounted on the cover 77 of the automatic sheet material binding device 1 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction to a position shown in Figure 23. The auxiliary guide cover 79, during the automatic mode, is moved interrelatedly with an unshown cover of the binding means 7, and is retained at the position shown in Figure 17. The cover 79, however, during the manual mode, is moved to a position shown in Figure 23 by an elastic member not shown. The operation will be described. The resin ring 6 used for the binding is opened by the upper supporting member 52 and the lower supporting member 56. The sheet materials 2 to be bound are grouped into plural sets, each having a number or thickness less than the maximum punching power, in the manner described in the foregoing. Then, the sets of the sheet materials 2 are sequentially set to the pawl 6a of the resin ring 6 which is kept open. When the desired sets of sheet materials 2 are set, the resin ring 6 is closed. Then, the sheet materials 2 are retracted, and the binding operation is completed. When the sheet materials 2 are set to the resin ring 6, the auxiliary guide cover 79, as shown in Figure 15 functions as if it is a guide and a supporting table for the sheet materials 2. Therefore, the resin ring 6 is easily joined with the sheet materials 2. Since the ring sensors 61a and 61b are mounted on the automatic sheet material binding device 1, it is not usable when the binding means 7 is rotated into the manual mode. A plurality of sizes of the resin ring 6 is prepared, and therefore, the degree of the opening of the resin ring 6 is determined by the operator. At this time, the degree of opening of the resin ring is stored in the apparatus for each of the sizes of the resin ring 6, and the operator sets the resin ring 6 on the upper supporting member 52, and, thereafter, he depresses the ring opening button 80 shown in Figure 23 an optimum number of times corresponding to the size of the resin ring. Then, the proper degree of opening of the resin ring 6 is provided. Upon completion of the setting operation, the ring closing button 81 is pressed to close the ring 6. This is the end of the operation. When sheet materials are to be added, or when a part or all of the bound sheet materials are to be exchanged, the sheet materials 2 are set such that the sheet material 2 are below the upper supporting member 52, as shown in Figure 16. Then, similarly to the foregoing, the opening and closing operation of the resin ring 6 is performed, and the punching operation of the sheet material 2 is performed, whereafter the adding or exchanging operation is performed. The apparatus of the second embodiment comprises punching means for punching the sheet materials, conveying means for conveying the sheet materials punched by said punching means to a binding position for binding the sheet materials by a resin binding member, binding means for binding the sheet materials conveyed by said conveying means with a resin binding member, wherein the apparatus is operable in an automatic binding mode and in a manual binding mode. The opening of the resin binding member is controlled to a predetermined degree by operating a button. When the sheet materials are to be bound in the manual mode, the resin ring is set on the binding means, and a ring opening button is operated, by which the resin ring is opened to receive the sheet materials. The opening operation of the resin ring continues to the degree of opening predetermined empirically, so that the proper degree of the opening can be provided without expertise of the operator. A third embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which in addition to the structures described in conjunction with Figures 1 - 16, there is provided switching means for selecting a mode in which the sheet materials are automatically conveyed immediately after they are punched and a mode in which the sheet materials which are once retracted and re-inserted, are thereafter automatically conveyed. Referring to Figure 28, a switching structure including a switch 84 will be described. When the switch 84 is operated by one stage, the controller 85 responds to it to disable the function for actuating the stepping motor 8 for driving the conveying rollers 40a and 40b when the lever upper limit sensor 37 is deactuated and thereafter actuated. When the switch 84 is operated by two stages, the controller 85 responds to it to disable the display of instructions of the lowering of the lever although the stepping motor 8 is actuated in response to a detection signal by a sheet detection sensor 111. When the switch 84 is returned, the regular automatic mode is selected. Referring to Figures 27 and 28, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the manual mode will be dealt with. As shown in Figure 15, the main assembly 7a is inclined about the pin 76, and is fixed in the inclined state. Then, the microswitch 77 is actuated. Receiving the actuation signal, the controller 85 switches the control system to the manual mode. An auxiliary guide 79 rotates in the clockwise direction about a pin 79a to support and guide the sheet materials 2 during the manual mode. Since the sheet materials 2 are not automatically conveyed in the manual mode, the ring 6 is opened and closed by the ring opening button 82 and the ring closing button 83 shown in Figure 24. The degree of the opening is decided by the operator. The degree of the opening which is proper to the ring 6 to be used is stored in the controller 85 as in the automatic mode. Then, the operator depresses the ring opening button 82 an optimum number of times to provide the proper degree of the opening of the ring 6. Even if the ring opening button 82 is depressed more often than a proper number of times, the ring 6 is not opened beyond the degree stored in the apparatus 1. Upon completion of the binding operation, the ring closing button 83 is depressed to close the ring. The description will be made as to the operation when the number of sheet materials is beyond the tolerable level of the punching station 3 in the automatic mode. The sheet materials are grouped into plural sets of sheet materials each having the number less than the tolerable level. This operation is not strict, and therefore, can be easily performed without specific difficulty. Then, the switch 84 shown in Figure 28 is operated by one stage. Then, a selected ring 6 is set at the ring opener 7. Then, the event that the ring is set is displayed on the display 80 in response to signals from the ring sensors 61a and 61b, and the solenoid 13a or 13b is energized, upon which a stopper 12a or 12b is projected through the hole 10b. Then, the operator sets one of the grouped sheet materials 2 on the supporting tray 9, and the leading edges thereof are abutted to the stopper 12a or 12b. The sensor 11 produces a signal, upon which the display of instructing the lowering of the lever 16 is made on the display 80. Then, the operator lowers the lever 16. When the lower limit sensor 39 is actuated, the display 80 responsive to the signal indicative of the actuation of the lower limit sensor 39 displays the instruction of raising the lever 16. Then, the operator raises the lever 16. Here, even if the upper limit sensor 37 is actuated, the motor 8 is not actuated. Subsequently, the punched sheet materials 2 are pulled out. The above-operation is repeated for all of the remaining sets of sheet materials 2. Then, all of the sets of the punched sheet materials 2 are aligned. Subsequently, the switch 84 is actuated to a second stage position. Here, the lowering or the raising of the lever 16 is not displayed on the display 80. The stopper 12a or 12b is kept raised. The aligned set of sheet materials 2 is placed on the supporting tray 9, and the leading edges thereof are abutted to the stopper 12a or 12b, upon which the stopper 12a or 12b is lowered. Then, the motor 8 is started, and the ring 6 is opened by the ring opener 7. By the conveying roller 40a driven by the motor 8, the sheet materials are conveyed to a predetermined position where the ring 6 is set. The controller 85 receives a signal indicative of the stoppage of the motor 8, and transmits a signal to the ring opener 7 to close the ring 6. Then, the completion of the operation is displayed on the display 80. The set of sheet materials 2 now bound by the ring 6 is retracted. Returning the switch 84 to its original state, the automatic sheet material binding apparatus 1 is restored to the automatic mode. The dividing automatic binding operations are similar to the dividing binding operation of manual mode, but it should be noted that the setting to the ring opening 7 is automatical, so that the manual operation of the binding can be saved. In the foregoing, the switch 84 is actuated to the first stage, and the grouped sets of sheet materials 2 are sequentially punched and pulled out, and therefore, they are aligned; and thereafter, the switch 84 is actuated to the second stage, so that the aligned sheet materials 2 are conveyed and bound. However, this is not limiting, and the following is a possible alternative. The switch 84 is actuated only by one stage. Then, the sets of grouped sheet materials 2 are sequentially punched. Subsequently, the switch 84 is returned to the original position, thus all of the sets of sheet materials aligned are bound by the automatic mode. More particularly, all of the aligned sheet materials 2 are placed on the supporting tray 9, and the lever 16 is lowered. Since the punched holes are all aligned, the punch 17 penetrates through the already punched holes without resistance, and therefore, the automatic mode operation can be performed. The switch 84 may be such that the automatic mode is selected at the middle switch position, and the other mode or modes can be selected by the side position or positions. Other types are also possible. According to the third embodiment, as described hereinbefore, the selecting means responsive to switching means permits selection between a mode wherein the sheet materials are punched by the punching means, conveyed by the conveying means to the binding means, and are bound by the binding means, and a mode wherein the sheet materials are grouped into plural sets, and the plural sets are respectively punched, and thereafter, all the sets are manually aligned, and thereafter, all the sheet materials are automatically conveyed to the binding means. Therefore, when a number of sheet materials beyond the punching power of the punching means are to be automatically bound, the sheet materials are grouped into plural sets, and the respective sets are punched, and all the sheet materials are aligned. Thereafter, the sheet materials are automatically conveyed by the conveying means, and the sheet materials are automatically bound. Therefore, the manual operation can be minimized, with the advantage of reduction of the operating time. The other features in the embodiments described in the foregoing are summarized as follows. An automatic sheet material binding apparatus comprises punching means for punching sheet materials, binding means for binding the sheet materials with a resin binding member, conveying means for conveying the sheet materials punched by said punching means to said binding means, wherein when the binding means is manually operated with the binding means shifted away from the conveying passage of the sheet material conveying means, a part of an outer housing is rotated in association with movement of the binding means, so that it functions to support the sheet materials. With this feature, when the manual binding operation is performed with the binding means retracted from the sheet material conveyance path, a part of the outer housing is rotated in association with the movement of the binding means to provide a guiding and/or supporting table for the sheet materials during the manual binding operation. Therefore, the manual binding operation is made stabilized and easy. An automatic sheet material binding apparatus comprises punching means or punching the sheet materials, binding means for binding the sheet materials with a resin binding member, and conveying means for conveying the sheet materials punched by the punching means to the binding means, wherein the binding means is movable away from the conveying means. With this structure, the automatic sheet material binding apparatus is usable in the automatic mode and the manual mode, because of such a movability of the binding means. Therefore, a thick set of sheet materials or a large number of sheet materials can be added or exchanged irrespective of the punching power of the apparatus. Therefore, the operational efficiency of the sheet material binding can be improved. One or more of the first, second and third embodiment can be combined.

Claims: A sheet binding apparatus, comprising a punching means (3) for punching holes into sheets (2) disposed on a supporting means (9), and a conveying means (5, 40a, 40b) for conveying said punched sheets (2) to a ring member (6) supported by a binding means (7) which is adapted to bind said sheets (2) by penetrating said ring member (6) through said punched holes, characterized by a binding operating means (89, 90, K5) for alternatively operating said sheet binding apparatus in a first mode in which said sheets (2) are conveyed to said binding means (7) after said sheets (2) have been punched by said punching means (3), and a second mode in which said sheets (2) are conveyed from said supporting means (9) to said binding means (7), wherein the punching operation by said punching means (3) is omitted, respectively. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said binding operating means comprises a detecting means (93) for detecting a failure of conveyance of said sheets (2) after the punching operation by said punching means (3), wherein said binding operating means is adapted to operate said apparatus in said second mode when said sheets (2) have been re-inserted after the sheet conveyance failure was detected by said detecting means (93). An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said binding operating means comprises a selecting means (89) for selecting between said first and said second mode. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a regulating means (49, 49b) for regulating the insertion of a stack of said sheets (2) having a thickness larger than a predetermined thickness (X) which is determined by the punching power of said punching means (3).

Inventors: IIZUMI KENICHI C O DAIICHI SEI, MATSUO KAZUHIRO, MURAKAMI KOICHI, TAGAWA YOICHI C O DAIICHI SEIK, IIZUMI, KENICHI, C/O DAIICHI SEIKI KOGYO, MATSUO, KAZUHIRO, MURAKAMI, KOICHI, TAGAWA, YOICHI, C/O DAIICHI SEIKI KOGYO
Applicants: CANON APTEX INC, CANON KK, CANON APTEX KABUSHIKI KAISHA, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B42B5
IPC codes: B42B5