Patent Publication Number: US-2010107844-A1

Title: Automated Hole Punch

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to document handling in which sheets are prepared by operation of a hole punch. 
     2. Brief Discussion of Related Art 
     After media, such as sheets of paper, is printed in a printer, the sheets may be further processed in a finisher section of the machine. The word “printer” as used herein encompasses any apparatus, such as a digital copier, bookmaking machine, facsimile machine, multifunction machine, etc. which performs a print outputting function for any purpose. A common process performed by the finisher on documents and other printed matter is the punching of holes to allow sheets to be bound in a standard ring binder. Such binders are inherently flexible since they allow rearrangement of the order of sheets and allow insertions and deletions at will. 
     The process of forming the holes is performed by a hole punching unit. Hole punches typically include a die having apertures therein and opposed reciprocating punches which create the holes in the media. Media traveling through the finisher passes over the apertures whether it is to be punched or not. These openings create a potential for snagging the paper as it passes through the hole punch unit. Depending on the orientation of the media, a corner thereof may pass over the openings in the die and may become snagged in the openings, leading to a jam. Jams interrupt the processing and require a user to clear the jam before processing can continue. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hole punching unit which permits the smooth flow of media over the openings in the hole punch unit in order to avoid processing interruptions. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an automated hole punch including a die plate having a surface including a plurality of spaced apertures extending there through. A plurality of punches, one of the plurality of punches cooperating with each of the apertures. A raised profile extends outwardly from the surface of the die plate and above one or more of the plurality of apertures. A drive mechanism operatively connected to the plurality of punches for moving the plurality of punches toward the plurality of apertures. 
     According to other aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an automated hole punch including a die plate having a surface and a plurality of spaced apertures extending through the surface. A plurality of punches is disposed above the die plate with one of the plurality of punches cooperating with each of the apertures and being insertable therein. A plurality of tapered raised profiles extends upwardly from the surface of the die plate. Each of the plurality of profiles corresponds to one of the plurality of apertures. A drive mechanism is operatively connected to the plurality of punches for moving the plurality of punches toward and into the plurality of apertures. 
     According to still other aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method of punching holes in a sheet including: 
     providing a hole punch device, the hole punch device including a die plate including a surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein, a punch disposed adjacent each of the apertures and movable with respect thereto; 
     offsetting the sheet above the surface as it passes over the apertures; 
     moving the punches toward the apertures and forming holes in the sheet; and 
     transporting the sheet out of the hole punch device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified partial elevational view of a finisher module including a hole punch device. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a die plate used in the hole punch device. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational front view of the hole punch device. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a die plate. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the die plate. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of a die plate. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a still a further alternative embodiment of a die plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments include an automated hole punch having a die plate including apertures there through and a plurality of punches cooperating with the apertures to form the holes. The hole punch can include raised profiles extending from and above the die plate surface. 
     As used herein, “hole punch” refers to a device for forming holes in media such as sheets of paper. 
     As used herein, “die plate” refers to a tool used to cut, shape or form material. 
     As used herein, “punch” refers to a tool for forming a structure such as a hole in material. 
     As used herein “raised profile” refers to a structure having a portion offset from a surface. 
     As used herein “drive mechanism” refers to a device for causing motion of another device. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a document processing machine  10  such as a copier or printer includes an image processing module  12  where media  14 , such as paper sheets, are printed. The machine  10  further includes a finisher module  16  including a hole punch device  18 . Printed media  14  is transported from the image processing module  12  to the finisher module  16  by way of transport wheels  17  in a manner known in the art. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hole punch device  18  may be disposed adjacent to the entry of the finisher module  16 . However, the hole punch device  18  may be located at other locations along the path of the media in the finisher module  16  as desired. The hole punch device  18  may include a die plate  20  which includes a surface  21  over which the media  14  travels. The direction of media travel is indicated by an arrow shown in  FIG. 2 . Surface  21  supports the media  14  when holes are being punched in the media. Formed in, and extending through, the die plate surface  21  is a plurality of apertures  22  spaced along a longitudinal axis, L, of the die plate  20 . The number and location of the apertures  22  may correspond to standard hole patterns for paper used, for example, in binders. Two, three, and four hole punch patterns are commonly used; however, the number and spacing of the apertures may be formed as desired. The apertures  22  include a leading edge  23  and a trailing edge  25  with the media  14  first passing over the leading edge and then the trailing edge as it moves over the die plate  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the hole punch device  18  may further include a plurality of punches  24  with one supported above each of the apertures  22 . Punches  24  may be moveably supported in a frame  26 . Frame  26  may include chambers  19  formed therein for receiving the punches  24 . Each punch  24  is urged toward a retracted position by a biasing device  27  which may include a coil spring. A drive mechanism  28  moves the punches  24  to an extended position wherein each punch enters its corresponding aperture  22 . The drive mechanism  28  may include a series of spaced cams  29  mounted to a cam shaft  30 . Cam shaft  30  may be operatively connected to a motor  31 . Rotation of the cams  29  results in the punches  24  moving into the apertures  22  and punching the hole in the media  14 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , die plate  20  may include raised profile  32  disposed adjacent to die apertures  22  and extending outwardly from the surface  21 . When the surface  21  lies in a generally horizontal plane, the outward extension of the raised profile  32  is generally upward in a vertical direction. At least a portion of the profile  32  may be disposed upstream of the aperture trailing edge  25 . It is the engagement of a corner or edge of a sheet with the aperture trailing edge that typically leads to snagging. When the media  14  approaches an aperture  22 , it engages the raised profile  32  and is vertically displaced from the surface  21  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the leading edge of the media  14  is lifted above the die apertures  22  as it passes by them. This prevents the edges or corners of the media from becoming snagged by die apertures  22 , and particularly by the aperture trailing edge  25 , and causing a jam. 
     Raised profile  32  may include a plurality of discrete profiles such that the profiles may be placed adjacent all the die apertures, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or may be placed adjacent only the die apertures which are most likely to cause snagging. For example, the snagging of the media  14  is especially problematic in a die plate configured for a three-hole punch along the long side of 8.5×11 media. When the 8.5×11 media  14  is fed through the hole punch device  18  short side first, the corners of the media tend to pass over the outer die apertures  22   a  in a three-hole punch die plate arrangement. To prevent the corners from snagging in these two outer apertures  22   a , a raised profile  32  may be positioned adjacent to them as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The discrete raised profiles  32  may be disposed on the die plate surface  21  adjacent the apertures  22 . The apertures  22  may be aligned along longitudinal axis L of the die plate, and the raised profiles  32  are spaced from the apertures  22  along the longitudinal axis L ( FIG. 2 ). The raised profiles  32  are positioned such that the media  14  travels over them. The raised profiles  32  associated with the outer die apertures  22   a  may, for example, be positioned inward of these die apertures  22   a . As a media  14  passes over the apertures, it engages the profiles  32  and starts to lift. Therefore, the edge of the media  14  is above the aperture and will not become ensnared by it. Alternatively, the profile  32  may be located upstream of the apertures  22  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The media is lifted up and way from surface  21  before reaching the apertures  22 . 
     The raised profile  32  may be configured in a variety of shapes including a dome-shaped protrusion as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Alternatively, raised profile  32  may be formed in a variety of shapes, such as, a tapered rail ( FIG. 5 ), ramp ( FIG. 7 ), or convex semicircular structure ( FIG. 6 ). In a further alternative embodiment, raised profile  32  may be a unitary structure extending between at least two of the holes, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a smooth transition is formed between the die surface  21  and the raised profile  32 . The leading wall  34  of the raised profile may be tapered upwardly from the die surface  21  to the raised profile top  38  to permit the corner or edge of the media  14  to slip over the raised profile without snagging. 
     The raised profiles  32  may have a height relative to the surface  21  of about 1 mm. However, the height may, for example, be in the range of about 0.5 mm to 5 mm. Additionally, the center  38  of the raised profile may be located a distance X ( FIG. 2 ) of about 10 mm from the side edge  40  of the apertures  22 . Distance X could be in the range of about 1 to 25 mm. The profile  32  at its base may be a diameter of about 8 mm. These dimensions are meant to be for exemplary purposes and are not intended to be limiting. 
     The raised profiles  32  may be integrally formed with the die plate  20 , for example, by punching, pressing, or stamping the die plate. Alternatively, the raised profiles  32  may be formed separately from the die plate  20  and operably coupled thereto by any known fastening means. 
     In operation, media  14  is acted upon by the image processing module  12  to create the image. The processed media  14  then exits the image processing module  12  and enters the finisher module  16 . The media  14  is then transported to the hole punch device  18 . The media  14  moves over the die plate  20  and the leading edge of the media  14  encounters the raised profile  32 . The media  14  is then lifted above the die plate surface  21  and the apertures  22  formed therein. When the media reaches the appropriate position, if holes are to be punched, the drive mechanism  28  is activated and the punches  24  are driven toward the apertures  22  by action of the cams  29 . Punched holes are thus formed in the media. If holes are not to be punched in the media, the drive mechanism may not be activated. The media may be transported out by transport rollers and the next sheet of media may be moved into place for punching. This process continues for the predetermined number of sheets. Media that is not to be hole punched may pass through the hole punch device  18  and over the die plate  20 . This media also engages the raised profiles  32  and is offset above the apertures to eliminate snagging and jams. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.