Abstract:
Embodiments of features for a paper punch machine are shown and described. Preferably, these features, which may be called “accessories” whether they are built-in original equipment manufacture or retrofit equipment, assist in proper paper alignment and punch control. A first accessory is an improved paper stop that is both grossly-adjustable and finely-adjustable, by a preferred combination of a biased sliding mechanism, followed by a fine-tuning mechanism gradually laterally moving the paper stop by causing a threaded shaft to rotate after the paper stop is already in the preferred “gross-adjustment” position. This way, the paper stop is brought close to the proper marking on the housing appropriate for a particular paper or die assembly, and then exact adjustment may be made in very small and precise amounts. If desired, the user may record or remember how may turns of the threaded shaft are typically required for a particular fine-tuning job, because the threads on the threaded shaft represent quantifiable and reproducible adjustments.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of prior, co-pending provisional application Serial No. 60/291,735, entitled “Accessories for Paper Punching Machine,” filed May 16, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to automatic paper hole punches, for preparing paper for binding into spiral-bound, comb-bound, or other notebooks for conventions, operating manuals, sales presentations, etc. More specifically, this invention relates to features of such machines that assist in paper hand-placement and in punch actuation.  
           [0004]    2. Related Art  
           [0005]    Many automatic punch machines have been built for medium to small scale print and binding operations. Such punches are made by Performance Design, Inc., of Boise, Id., for example, versions into which a die assembly is bolted, or versions with quick-die-change punches such as are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,771,768, and 6,047,623, for example.  
           [0006]    Prior art punch machines (P 1 , P 2 ) include die assemblies for punching holes through a stack of papers prior to binding. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1B, the die assembly (D) is slid and clamped into the machine and the die assembly has a long, vertical paper-receiving slot (S) for receiving the paper vertically, and accessible through housing opening (H). Paper is slid into the die assembly slot, so that about 1 inch of the edge of the paper resides in the slot. The die assembly includes a plurality of punch pins that are forced generally perpendicularly across the slot, through the paper near the paper edge. As the punch pins are driven across the slot to cut through the paper, each punch pin creates a hole in each paper at the location of each punch pin. Once a paper stack is properly inserted into the slot, the punch is actuated, typically by a foot pedal. Stacks of approximately 10-25 sheets are punched at a time, and then many stacks are combined for binding to make a notebook. Proper placement of each stack of paper in the die assembly slot is important, so that the final combined stack of paper to be bound into a notebook has all holes properly aligned and no holes are “off the edge.” 
           [0007]    Many conventional paper punch machines include a movable paper stop that determines the farthest position to one end of the die assembly to which the paper may slide. Prior art paper stops are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B at PS. The paper stop is particularly useful because differently-sized papers are typically used in the machine at different times. Also, different die assemblies made for various binding coils and combs have uniquely sized, spaced and shaped sets of holes, which also requires adjustment of the paper stop when a die assembly is changed. For example, when the user wishes to punch standard 8-½-×-11-inch paper instead of the 14-inch paper, the user must move the paper stop  60  to accommodate the paper and also move the stop each time he/she changes the die assembly. For example, if the paper stop adjustments are not made when switching from 14 inch paper to 11 inch paper, the punched holes are not centered along the 11-inch paper edge. The holes may be slightly offset to the right or left, and a partial hole may be cut at one or both ends of the paper edge. Non-adjustment of the paper stop, therefore, may result in inferior binding and an unprofessional appearance due to non-aligned pages or partial holes at the ends of some papers.  
           [0008]    Many adjustable paper stops are difficult to use properly. This is especially because the paper stop, when loosened for movement, tends to move easily or be bumped easily from its original position, and the user loses the reference point from which the stop should be adjusted. The conventional paper stop is usually a fairly clumsy device that requires the user to do many repetitions of punching a few sheets of paper, resetting the stop, punching more sheets to check paper and hole position, resetting the stop, etc.  
           [0009]    An additional feature of some conventional punch machines is a foot-operated actuating system for turning the punching function on and off. A foot pedal is typically used to actuate a punching action, after the user inserts the paper stack into the die assembly slot. Actuation comprises the machine&#39;s drive mechanism moving a back portion of the die assembly forward toward the die assembly front portion to force the pins through the paper stack in the slot. After punching through the paper, the back portion withdraws the pins from the paper while returning to its rearward position in the machine. After the user reloads the die assembly with paper, he/she again presses the feet-pedal and the machine punches the fresh stack. This procedure, therefore, requires coordinated action by the user, both from his hands and his foot or feet, which can require postures or stances that are uncomfortable or frustrating for the user.  
           [0010]    Therefore, there is a need for improved accessories for a paper punch. Particularly, there is a need for an improved paper positioning system or “paper stop” that is more accurate and easy to use without repetitious trial and error. Also, there is a need for an improved actuation system that is more ergonomic and convenient. The present invention addresses these and other needs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The invention comprises one or more accessories for making paper punching operation more comfortable and accurate for the user, thus saving time and paper, and making the job more convenient and safe for the user. A first accessory is a fine-tunable paper stop, which comprises a main adjustment system plus a fine-adjustment system, to produce an accurate, reproducible, and quick paper stop operation. A second accessory is an adjustable actuation switch in a location when the user may actuate the punching operation with generally the same motion that he/she uses to insert paper into the die assembly.  
           [0012]    While one or the other of the accessories may be installed and used independently, together they provide a greatly-improved system for paper management and punch operation. The user may quickly adjust the paper stop to the general area that is desired for a particular type of paper and/or die assembly, and then may easily fine-tune the setting without repeated retries and errors. The user may actuate the punch machine with the same hand and generally the same motion used for insertion of the paper -as the user slides the paper into the slot, he/she may press his hand or wrist on the actuation switch that is generally adjacent to the die assembly paper slot, rather than using a foot pedal.  
           [0013]    The preferred paper stop includes a securable connection of the paper stop to the machine housing near the slot, which securable connection allows the paper stop to be released and slid along the longitudinal direction parallel to the die assembly slot, and then secured again after the paper stop is in the grossly-adjusted position. Preferably, the securable connection is a biased connection, wherein the paper stop may be pulled into a slidable “released” position, so that the paper stop may be slid along the length of the slot. When the paper stop is positioned during this “main” or “gross adjustment” generally in the desired area, the paper slot is released so that it is biased back to its “engaged” position.  
           [0014]    Then, after typically only one or two tries at punching the paper and checking to see how the holes line up on the paper edge, the paper stop is fine-tuned to the desired position for proper and accurate punching. Preferably, the paper stop securement system (or “securable connection”) is still operative during fine-tuning of the paper stop location, so that the paper stop is not ever loose, wobbly or otherwise easily moved into an undesirable position either between gross adjustment and fine-adjustment, or after fine-adjustment.  
           [0015]    The fine-adjustment (or “fine-tuning”) is preferably done by a threaded adjustment that moves the paper stop longitudinally slowly and in a continuous manner, rather than in increments. The preferred paper stop is disposed perpendicular to an elongated, threaded member that extends parallel to the slot. The elongated threaded member rotates on its axis, controlled by an external knob accessible to the user. The paper stop, when in the engaged position, has a threaded end that engages and cooperates with the threads of the elongated threaded, so that rotating the threaded member serves to move the paper stop longitudinally along the direction of the threaded member axis, thus, fine-adjusting the paper stop relative to the length of the slot and the die assembly punch pins.  
           [0016]    The improved paper stop allows both grossly-adjustable and finely-adjustable, by the preferred combination of a biased sliding mechanism, followed by a fine-tuning mechanism gradually laterally moving the paper stop by causing a threaded shaft to rotate after the paper stop is already in the preferred “gross-adjustment” position. This way, the paper stop is brought close to the proper marking on the housing appropriate for a particular paper or die assembly, and then exact adjustment may be made in very small and precise amounts. If desired, the user may record or remember how may turns of the threaded shaft are typically required for a particular fine-tuning job, because the threads on the threaded shaft represent quantifiable and reproducible adjustments.  
           [0017]    The two preferred features for a paper punch machine may be called “accessories” whether they are built-in original equipment manufacture or retrofit equipment. Both assist in proper paper alignment and punch control. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1A is front perspective view of a prior art paper punch machine that includes a prior art paper stop.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of another prior art paper punch machine that includes a prior art paper stop.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a paper punch machine with a paper stop system and an actuation switch system according to embodiments of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged front perspective view of the left end of the embodiment of FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a left end, cross-sectional view of the preferred paper stop system of FIGS.  2 - 3 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a front, cross-sectional view of the machine of FIGS.  2 - 4 , illustrating the paper stop system in front of the die assembly with its hole punch pins and holes, and the actuation system on the right end of the machine.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the pieces parts of the preferred paper stop system of FIGS.  2 - 5 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6A is a partial detail view of a portion of the threaded member of the paper stop system in FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top right end of the punching machine, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the actuation system according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    Referring to the Figures, there are shown some, but not the only, embodiments of accessories that make paper placement and punching more convenient, accurate, and comfortable for the user of an automatic or semiautomatic punch machine.  
         [0028]    The Figures illustrate placement, operation, and structure of embodiments of the invented paper stop  12  and the actuation switch  14  in a preferred paper punch machine  10 . The paper stop  12  is shown on the machine  10  to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 3. The actuation switch  14  is shown to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 4.  
         [0029]    The paper stop  12  moves along its own slot  16 , parallel to the length of the slot  17  in the die assembly, which die assembly slot is directly below opening H in the housing. A stop portion  18  extends across the housing opening H, so that one end edge of the paper stack contacts/abuts the generally vertical stop surface  19  as the paper rests in the slot of the die assembly. The stop portion  18  serves, therefore, as a limit for longitudinal movement of the paper relative to the die assembly and therefore determines how the paper is aligned relative to the punch pins. The paper stop also includes knob  20  for user access to the main “macro” adjustment mechanism offered by the paper stop. By making “macro” adjustment, that is, large adjustments in the position of the paper stop relative to the housings with its markings  22 , the paper stop is also being moved along the length of the slot that receives the paper. Once the paper stop is moved along to approximately its desired position, as indicated by the markings  22  that correspond to the type of paper to be punched and the type and arrangement of punch holes/die assembly to be used, then fine adjustment may be used. The structure and workings of the paper stop are described below:  
         [0030]    To make large, “macro,” or “gross” adjustments, user pulls up on the knob  20 , which lifts the knob and its attached engagement mechanism  23  up away from elongated member  24  (against a bias provided by the spring or other bias system) and out of a position in which the paper stop is retained/prevented from making any longitudinal movement. Engagement mechanism comprises a shaft  25 , threaded inner end member  26  (“threaded nut”) having internal threads on curved inner surface  27 , and biasing member (preferably a spring  28 ). When the engagement mechanism  23  is pulled up, threaded nut  26  moves away from the threads of member  24 , perpendicularly to member  24 , so that the nut  26  threads do not engage and are not held from movement in a longitudinal direction (that is, along the axis of the member  24 , which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot and die assembly.) Stop portion  18  is preferably rigidly connected to the shaft  25  by means that prevent stop portion  18  from rotating around the axis of the shaft  25  and from moving up or down the shaft  25 . Thus, when knob  20  and engagement mechanism  23  are pulled up, stop portion  18  moves upward also as part of the combined unit (of knob  20 , shaft  25 , and threaded nut  26 , and stop portion  18 ), and the combined unit may then be slid longitudinally to the desired vicinity as suggested by the pre-printed markings  22 . Because bias is maintained that tends to pull the combined unit downward, and because the stop portion  18  is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft  25  and the combined unit is prevented from rotating on the axis of the shaft  25 , the movement of the paper stop tends to be controlled, predictable, and accurate, as opposed to the “looser” control and movement of conventional paper stops. Preventing the stop portion  18  from rotating relative to the shaft, and preventing the shaft and its nut  26  from rotating relative to the elongated threaded member  24  and the housing may be done by various methods, including square protrusions/nuts  50  that extend radially out from the otherwise round shaft to fit in square holes to prevent rotation. For example, which a square nut may be vertically slidable relative to the housing H 2  in a square hole in the housing H 2  but that will not rotate in the square housing hole. Or, a square nut on the shaft and square hole in the stop portion (not shown) may be used to prevent rotation of the stop portion relative to the shaft. Also, the housing lid HL preferably abuts against a surface  52  of the stop portion  18  to retain the stop portion  18  from rotation.  
         [0031]    Once the gross adjustment has been made, the knob  20  is released and the biasing member urges the combined unit down again so that the threaded nut  26  contacts the elongated member  24  and threadingly engages the member  24 . The female threads of the nut  26  match the male threads of the member  24  so that the nut  26  and member  24  cooperate, as a bolt and matching nut would do. Nut  26  preferably extends circumferentially half way (or less) around the member  24 , that is, one could consider it preferably half of a nut of a bolt and nut combination.  
         [0032]    As illustrated in FIG. 5, 6, and  6 A, elongated member  24  is long and threaded along all or substantially all its length. Preferably, elongated member  24  and paper stop slot  16  extend about ¾ of the way, and preferably at least half of the way, along the distance between the sides of the machine  10 . This way, the paper stoop  12  may be adjusted for many various papers and die assemblies. A fine-tuning knob  30  is connected at the outer end of the member  24 . The member  24  is mounted inside the housing, preferably at its inner end, by a mounting system that allows the threaded member  24  to rotate on its axis but not move longitudinally support system that allows rotation of the member inside the retaining/bearing rings of bearing system  40  while maintaining the member parallel to the die assembly, while the member  24  rotates. Retaining member  41  of the bearing system  40  is anchored in the housing, as one of various means for supporting the member  24 , and bearings  42  are positioned preferably on both sides of the retaining member  41 . Thus, one may see that the member  24  does not move in an axial direction or away from a single axis of rotation, but the threads move in a radial direction, causing axial movement of the threaded nut  26 . Thus, when the user rotates the knob  30  to rotate the member  24 , the member  24  does not “screw” into or out of the housing, but movement of the threads of the member  24  do exert a force on the threaded nut  26  by virtue of the nut  26  threads and the member threads  124  being mated. This movement causes the nut  26  to move longitudinally from its gross adjustment location, either in toward the center of the die assembly (when the knob  30  is rotated a first direction) or out toward the outer left side of the machine (when the knob  30  is rotated in an opposite direction). The threads  124 , which are only shown in FIG. 6A, are positioned so that the member  24  has a small screw lead angle. This way, the user may finely control the position of the nut  26  (and consequently the paper stop surface  19 ).  
         [0033]    Preferably, the screw lead angle of the member  24  is designed so that about ¼-1 turn of the knob  30  is needed to fine-tune the paper stop position after the gross adjustment is done. Therefore, the user may learn to conduct the gross “macro” positioning of the paper stop, and, after one trail punch of paper and viewing of the hole position, will quickly learn the amount of fine-tuning that is needed. For example, depending on the screw lead angle, the user may quickly learn, for example, that moving the paper about ⅛ hole width relative to the die assembly requires fine-tuning the paper stop by moving the knob  30  about ¼ rotation. Or, the user will quickly learn, for example, that moving the paper about ¼ hole width requires fine-tuning the paper stop by turning the knob  30  about ½ rotation. These are examples, and other sensitivities may be designed into the paper stop system.  
         [0034]    One may see from these examples that it takes many turns of the knob  30  (and member  24 ) to move the stop portion  18  a significant distance along the machine over the slot  17 . For example, one could expect to turn the knob  30  many rotations to move the stop portion  18  an axial distance of one inch. Such an adjustment of one inch by the knob  30  and threaded member  24 , however, would typically be unnecessary and undesirable because the “lift and slide” gross adjustment may be used to move the stop portion on the order of about ¼ inch to several inches. This gross adjustment places the stop portion  18  very close to the location desired for perfect hole punching (preferably within about {fraction (1/32)}-⅛ inch, or at least within about ¼ inch of the precise location desired). Because of the practicalities of changing between many different die assemblies and many different papers, and the natural inconsistencies of manufacture and operation, the gross adjustment will often not place the paper exactly where it needs to be for perfect hole placement, and, hence, the fine-tuning adjustment provided by the threaded member system is an excellent feature for these sem-automatic punch machines.  
         [0035]    The invented system, therefore, allows for gross adjustments by freeing the paper stop preferably entirely from the member  24  that retains it in a longitudinal location. Then, once the paper stop “springs” into its grossly-adjusted position engaging the threaded member, the threaded member  24  may itself be turned to produce very small amounts of longitudinal movement relative to the housing, die assembly, and therefore the punch pins. Some trial and error may still be needed to find the exact preferred location for the paper stop, but, because the paper stop is not loose and easily bumped out of position at any time during its adjustment, the process is much easier and more accurate and reliable than conventional paper stop use.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 illustrates the preferred actuating accessory  14  for paper punching machine  10  that makes easier the actuation of the punching operation. This accessory  14  comprises an adjustable actuation switch assembly  70  shown on the top of the punch machine, preferably on a top, forward surface near the right end of the housing opening H and the right end of the die assembly D. This switch assembly  70  includes a base  72  that is slidably mounted on the housing surface, preferably by an adjustable system including a fastener  74  tightenable in a longitudinal slot  76  in the base  72 . The fastener  74  connects to the housing and tightens down to secure the base of the switch assembly against movement, either longitudinal or rotational movement relative to the housing. This may, when fastener  74  is purposely loosened, the base may be slid longitudinally to the desired position, and the fastener  74  tightened, so that the switch assembly  70  is in a proper location for use with a particular punching job—that is, for a particular paper size, and paper location in the die. Preferably, the “proper location” means that the user adjusts the switch assembly  70  location so that when he/she inserts a stack of paper into the slot of the die assembly, the user&#39;s hand will be aligned to easily come in contact with the switch button  80  at an appropriate time. “The appropriate time” means, preferably, after the paper is in place, so that the punch drive is switched on for punching while the user is holding the paper in position, or just after the user has placed the paper in position and the user&#39;s hand is still close to the paper on the right side of the machine (mirror image machines and switch assemblies may certainly be designed). Thus, for short paper, the switch assembly is moved farther to the left, so that the switch button  80  is closely convenient to the user&#39;s right hand as soon as the paper is in place, with no or little movement of the hand except for the hand to come down on the button  80 . Appropriate electrical/electronic connection and control mechanisms (not shown, preferably internal) may be supplied to connect the switch cooperating with the button  80  to the drive and/or other controls for the machine. The switch assembly  70  may be a disconnectable accessory, or may be made generally integral with the machine  10 .  
         [0037]    Thus, the invention may be said to comprise a paper punch machine that has a housing and a die assembly with a longitudinal slot for receiving paper to be punched by the die assembly, and a paper stop system. The preferred paper stop may be said to comprise an upper stop portion extending transversely across the paper-receiving slot of the die assembly so that edges of the paper abuts against said upper stop portion when the paper is in said paper-receiving slot. The preferred paper stop is movable into a sliding position wherein the paper stop is longitudinally along the housing parallel to the paper-receiving slot, and also movable into a non-sliding position wherein the paper stop does not slide longitudinally along the housing parallel to the paper-receiving slot. Whether the paper stop is in the released, sliding position (pulled outward from the housing) or in the temporarily-anchored non-sliding position is controlled by the inward force of the biasing system vs. the outward force of the user, who purposely and manually pulls the paper stop outward and slides the paper stop along the housing to obtain the gross adjustment. Thus the preferred biasing system as shown, and others that might be designed after seeing this disclosure, are adapted anchor the paper stop unless the user is pulling/holding it out. The fine-tuning system is operatively connected to said paper stop for moving said paper stop longitudinally to a finely-adjusted position when the paper stop is in said non-sliding position, wherein the preferred fine-tuning system comprises a rotatable member with a threaded portion engaging a lower end of the paper stop so that rotating the threaded member moves the paper stop longitudinally parallel to the paper-receiving slot due to the threaded interaction of the member and the lower end. Thus, when the biasing member is biasing the paper stop into threaded engagement with the threaded member (or threaded rod), preferably only fine-tuning is possible and there is no movement of the paper stop unless the threaded member (rod) is rotated by the user. When the user has pulled the paper stop out of engagement with the threaded rod, then the paper stop system is back in gross-adjustment mode and the paper stop can be slid along the slot/housing, but fine-adjustment by the threaded rod system is not possible.  
         [0038]    Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.