Patent Description:
In the related art, disclosed is a technology relating to a staple removing device configured to remove a staple from a sheet bundle (PTLs <NUM> and <NUM>). This type of the staple removing device is configured to remove the staple from the sheet bundle by inserting a wedge-shaped plate between the sheet bundle and a crown portion of the staple.

PTL <NUM> discloses a sheet processing device configured to remove a staple from a sheet bundle by inserting a pullout pin between the sheet bundle and the staple, and then raising the pullout pin. In addition, PTL <NUM> discloses a binding member removing device configured to insert a cutting means between a document bundle and a staple needle, to cut both leg portions of the staple needle and then to remove the staple needle from the document bundle.

From <CIT>, a staple removing device according to the preamble of claim <NUM> of the present invention is known.

In the meantime, in the sheet processing device described in PTL <NUM>, a pullout motor for operating the pullout pin and a drive motor for raising the pullout pin are respectively arranged above the pullout pin. For this reason, there is a problem that a dimension in a height direction of the device becomes large. On the other hand, in the binding member removing device described in PTL <NUM>, an electric motor for driving the cutting means is arranged on a side of the cutting means. For this reason, there is a problem that a dimension in a width direction of the device becomes large.

Therefore, a staple removing device according to the present disclosure is to suppress dimensions in a height direction and a width direction of the device and to miniaturize the entire device.

The present invention is defined in the independent claim <NUM>.

According to the staple removing device of the present disclosure, the accommodation part is arranged below the removing part when the removing part is at the second position, so that an empty space occurs below the removing part when the removing part is at the first position. By effectively utilizing the empty space and arranging the first motor therein, dimensions in a height direction and a width direction of the device can be suppressed. Thereby, the layout can be optimized and the entire device can be miniaturized.

Hereinafter, a favorable embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a front perspective view of a staple removing device <NUM>, and <FIG> is a rear perspective view of the staple removing device <NUM>. In addition, <FIG> is a right front left rear perspective view of an inside of the staple removing device <NUM>, and <FIG> is a left front right rear perspective view of the inside of the staple removing device <NUM>.

The staple removing device <NUM> is a device for automatically removing a staple from a sheet bundle bound by the staple, and includes a housing <NUM> having a substantially cuboid shape, a placing table <NUM> on which the sheet bundle is placed, a removing part <NUM> located below the placing table <NUM> (inside the housing <NUM> with respect to the placing table <NUM>) and configured to remove the staple from the sheet bundle placed on the placing table <NUM>, a first motor <NUM> configured to drive the removing part <NUM>, and an accommodation part <NUM> configured to accommodate the staple removed by the removing part <NUM>.

A cover part <NUM> configured to cover a part of the placing table <NUM> is provided above the placing table <NUM> (a side on which the sheet bundle is placed with respect to the placing table <NUM>). A predetermined gap is formed between the cover part <NUM> and the placing table <NUM>, and the sheet bundle is inserted into the gap. A start switch <NUM> for operating the staple removal device <NUM> is provided on an upper surface of the cover part <NUM>. Note that, in the present embodiment, a side on which the accommodation part <NUM> is provided is referred to as a rear side of the staple removing device <NUM>, and an opposite side is referred to as a front side of the staple removing device <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> is a substantially cuboid box body whose upper side is open, and is provided therein with the removing part <NUM>, the first motor <NUM>, the accommodation part <NUM>, and the like.

The placing table <NUM> is provided to cover the upper opening of the housing <NUM>, and has a placing surface 102a for placing a sheet bundle. The placing surface 102a is formed with an opening portion 102b so that a portion of the removing part <NUM> can protrude.

The removing part <NUM> has a predetermined length from a tip end portion <NUM> to a base end portion <NUM>. The removing part <NUM> has a wedge plate main body 122a, which is a first part including a tip end portion <NUM> that can be inserted between a sheet bundle and (a crown portion Sa of) a staple and configured to remove the staple from the sheet bundle, a wedge plate base portion 122f, which is a second part configured to drive by a drive force of the first motor <NUM> received by racks <NUM> and <NUM>, and a narrowed portion 122c, which is a third part located between the first part and the second part.

The wedge plate main body 122a is constituted by an elongated plate-shaped member, and at least the tip end portion <NUM> thereof is formed in a wedge shape so as to be easily inserted between the sheet bundle and the staple and to easily pull out the staple from the sheet bundle. In the present embodiment, the wedge plate main body 122a has a tapered shape from the base end portion <NUM> toward the tip end portion <NUM>. Specifically, the wedge plate main body is configured so that a plate thickness gradually decreases from the base end portion <NUM> toward the tip end portion <NUM>, in side view, and is also configured so that a plate width gradually decreases toward the tip end portion <NUM>, in plan view.

The wedge plate base portion 122f has roles of supporting the wedge plate main body 122a via the narrowed portion 122c, and receiving power from the first motor <NUM> by the racks <NUM> and <NUM> and transmitting the power to the wedge plate main body 122a. As shown in <FIG> and the like, the wedge plate base portion 122f has a plate holder <NUM> constituted by a flat plate having a substantially U-shaped section, and a pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> attached to side surfaces of the plate holder <NUM>. The wedge plate main body 122a and an attaching portion 122b extending from the wedge plate base portion 122f are attached to an upper surface of the plate holder <NUM>. Each of the racks <NUM> and <NUM> is a plate-shaped member having substantially the same length as a longitudinal direction of the plate holder <NUM>, is formed on its lower surface with a plurality of teeth (rack) in mesh with a pinion <NUM>, which will be described later, and is configured to receive a drive force of the first motor <NUM>.

A sheet bundle insertion opening <NUM> for setting a sheet bundle in the cover part <NUM> is provided between the placing table <NUM> and the cover part <NUM>. The start switch <NUM> is provided on the upper surface of the cover part <NUM> so as for a user to easily operate, and is constituted by a button for operating the staple removing device <NUM>. The accommodation part <NUM> is a box body whose upper side is open, and is configured to be insertable/removable with respect to an opening portion 100a formed on a rear end surface of the housing <NUM>. The accommodation part <NUM> is arranged in a space part behind and below a central part in the housing <NUM>.

Here, for convenience, a staple S in a state of binding a sheet bundle P is described with reference to <FIG>, which will be described later. The staple S has a crown portion Sa and a pair of leg portions Sb and Sb formed by bending both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the crown portion Sa. A sheet bundle P is bound by causing the pair of leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S to penetrate a plurality of stacked sheets from the lowermost sheet toward the uppermost sheet and bending inwardly the penetrating leg portions Sb and Sb. A binding position of the staple S is, for example, a corner portion or an edge portion of the sheet. In the present embodiment, the staple S is removed from such sheet bundle P.

Next, an internal configuration of the staple removing device <NUM> is described. <FIG> is a right front perspective view of an inside of the staple removing device <NUM> when the removing part <NUM> is at a standby position, <FIG> is a left front perspective view of the inside of the staple removing device <NUM> when the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position, <FIG> is a plan view of the inside of the staple removing device <NUM> when the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position, <FIG> is a plan view of a first drive unit <NUM> and the like in the staple removing device <NUM>, and <FIG> is a side view of the inside of the staple removing device <NUM> when the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the inside of the staple removing device <NUM> when the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a staple pullout mechanism <NUM>. <FIG>is a plan view of the removing part <NUM>, <FIG> is a side view of the removing part <NUM>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along an A-A line of the removing part <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a sheet pressing mechanism <NUM>.

The staple removing device <NUM> includes a staple pullout mechanism <NUM> configured to remove the staple S from the sheet bundle P, a sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> configured to press against the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM>, and the above-described accommodation part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> includes the removing part <NUM> arranged inside the housing <NUM> below the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM> and configured to remove the staple S from the sheet bundle P by being inserted between the sheet bundle P and the staple, a pressing portion <NUM>, and a first drive unit <NUM> configured to drive the removing part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> and the like, the removing part <NUM> has the wedge plate <NUM> configured to be inserted between the crown portion Sa of the staple S and the sheet bundle P, and the racks <NUM> and <NUM> configured to move the wedge plate <NUM> between the crown portion Sa and the sheet bundle P.

In the present embodiment, as an example of the configuration of the removing part <NUM>, the removing part includes the plate holder <NUM> to which the wedge plate <NUM> is attached, a crown holder <NUM> configured to support the crown portion Sa of the staple S, and a holder <NUM> configured to restrict a position of the wedge plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and the like, the wedge plate <NUM> is constituted by an elongated plate-shaped member, and includes the wedge plate main body 122a, the attaching portion 122b, and the narrowed portion 122c. The tip end portion <NUM> is configured to be movable along a plane of the placing table <NUM> between a standby position L1 and a removal position L2, and when the tip end portion <NUM> moves to the removal position L2, the tip end portion <NUM> is inserted between the sheet bundle P and the staple.

In the present embodiment, the standby position L1 of the removing part <NUM> means a position where the removing part <NUM> is stopped before a removing operation is started. The removal position L2 of the removing part <NUM> means a position where the removing part <NUM> starts a removing operation, the removing part <NUM> is inserted between the crown portion Sa of the staple S and the sheet bundle P, and the staple S is removed from the sheet bundle P.

The attaching portion 122b is integrally formed on the base end portion <NUM>-side of the wedge plate main body 122a, and is attached to an upper surface of the plate holder <NUM>. The narrowed portion 122c is a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the wedge plate <NUM>, and is formed between the wedge plate main body 122a and the attaching portion 122b. As shown in <FIG>, a dimension D1 in the width direction of at least a part of the narrowed portion 122c is narrower than a dimension D2 in the width direction of the base end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate main body 122a, and is also configured to be narrower than a dimension D3 in the width direction (refer to <FIG>) between the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S by springback that the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S try to return to the inwardly bent state when the staple S separates from the wedge plate <NUM>. Here, the 'width direction' is, in the present embodiment, a right and left direction, and may also be a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction (height direction) and a longitudinal direction (moving direction of the removing part <NUM>) of the wedge plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the plate holder <NUM> is constituted by a flat plate having a substantially U-shaped section, has an upper surface to which the attaching portion 122b is attached, and is arranged overlapped over the crown holder <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the crown holder <NUM> is arranged below the wedge plate <NUM> with the plate holder <NUM> being interposed therebetween, and is configured to support the crown portion Sa of the staple S removed from the sheet bundle P. The crown holder <NUM> has a groove portion 126a for preventing contact with the pressing portion <NUM> when the wedge plate <NUM> moves rearward from the front, and an opening portion 126b for dropping the staple S removed from the sheet bundle P into the accommodation part <NUM>. The opening portion 126b of the crown holder <NUM> and the narrowed portion 122c of the wedge plate <NUM> attached to the plate holder <NUM> are arranged to be at the same position, in plan view. The groove portion 126a is cut out from a tip end portion to a substantially central portion of the crown holder <NUM>, and has a width slightly wider than a width of the pressing portion <NUM>. The opening portion 126b is formed at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the crown holder <NUM> and continuously on a base end-side of the groove portion 126a, and has a width wider than at least a length of the crown portion Sa of the staple S.

A spring <NUM> is arranged between a lower surface on the other end-side of the plate holder <NUM> and an upper surface on the other end-side of the crown holder <NUM>, and one end-side of the wedge plate <NUM> and one end-side of the crown holder <NUM> are urged in a direction of coming close to each other by an elastic force of the spring <NUM>. In the present embodiment, one end-side indicates the rear of the staple removing device <NUM>, and the other end-side indicates the front of the staple removing device <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> is constituted by a flat plate having a substantially U-shaped section, and is arranged overlapped on the upper surface of the plate holder <NUM>. The holder <NUM> includes an opening portion 128a for exposing the wedge plate <NUM>, and a support portion 128b configured to regulate the pressing portion <NUM> to be located below the placing table <NUM> at least when the removing part <NUM> is stopped at the standby position L1.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, on the left side of the plate holder <NUM>, a plate-shaped rack <NUM> having substantially the same length as the longitudinal direction of the plate holder <NUM> is arranged. The rack <NUM> is configured to receive a drive force of the first motor <NUM>. A lower surface of the rack <NUM> is formed with a plurality of teeth in mesh with a pinion <NUM>, which will be described later.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, on the right side of the plate holder <NUM>, a plate-shaped rack <NUM> having substantially the same length as the longitudinal direction of the plate holder <NUM> is arranged. The rack <NUM> is configured to receive a drive force of the first motor <NUM>. A lower surface of the rack <NUM> is formed with a plurality of teeth in mesh with a pinion <NUM>, which will be described later.

As shown in <FIG>, on the left side of the rack <NUM>, a sensor <NUM> configured to detect a position of the removing part <NUM> is provided and a flag attaching plate <NUM> for detecting a position of the removing part <NUM> in a front and rear direction is provided. A rear end portion of the flag attaching plate <NUM> is provided with a first flag 132a for detecting movement of the wedge plate <NUM> from the standby position L1 to the removal position L2. A front end portion of the flag attaching plate <NUM> is provided with a second flag 132b for detecting arrival of the wedge plate <NUM> at the removal position L2. The sensor <NUM> is constituted by a transmission-type sensor and is configured to detect the first flag 132a and the second flag 132b of the rack <NUM> moving in the front and rear direction. A detection signal detected by the sensor <NUM> is supplied to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit is configured to control operations of the first motor <NUM> and a second motor <NUM>, based on the detection signal supplied from the sensor <NUM>.

A first drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into opening portions formed in each of the flag attaching plate <NUM>, the rack <NUM>, the plate holder <NUM>, the crown holder <NUM> and the rack <NUM> from the left side toward the left right side of the housing <NUM>.

A second drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into opening portions formed in each of the flag attaching plate <NUM>, the rack <NUM>, the plate holder <NUM> and the rack <NUM> from the left side toward the right side of the housing <NUM>.

In this way, the wedge plate <NUM>, the plate holder <NUM>, the crown holder <NUM>, the holder <NUM>, the racks <NUM>, <NUM>, and the flag attaching plate <NUM> are attached by the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM>, so that they constitute the removing part <NUM> and can integrally move forward and rearward as the removing part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pressing portion <NUM> configured to restrict movement of the sheet bundle P and the staple S in an insertion direction is arranged behind the crown portion Sa located at the removal position L2 and is configured to be able to come into contact with the crown portion Sa pushed by the wedge plate <NUM>. A width of the pressing portion <NUM> is selected to be, for example, a length in which it can support the crown portion Sa moving rearward from the front by a pushing force of the wedge plate <NUM> and can be inserted into the groove portion 126a of the crown holder <NUM>.

The pressing holder <NUM> configured to support the pressing portion <NUM> is constituted by a flat plate processed into a substantial U-shape in plan view, and a rear end-side of the pressing holder <NUM> is rotatably supported by a shaft <NUM>. One end portion of a tension spring <NUM> is attached to the further rear of the pressing holder <NUM> than the shaft <NUM>. The other end portion of the tension spring <NUM> is attached to a left frame <NUM>. An upper end portion on the rear side of the pressing holder <NUM> is provided with a convex portion 142a capable of coming into contact with the support portion 128b of the holder <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the first drive unit <NUM> includes the first motor <NUM>, a gear 153a and the like connected to an output shaft 152a of the first motor <NUM>, and a pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> respectively provided at both ends of a shaft <NUM>, which are a first pinion part arranged at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the housing <NUM> and configured to mesh with the racks <NUM> and <NUM>. Note that, a plurality of gears 153a, 153b, 154a, 154b and <NUM> constitutes a speed reduction mechanism. The width direction of the housing <NUM> is, in the present embodiment, the right and left direction, and may also be a direction perpendicular to both the moving direction (front and rear direction) and the height direction of the removing part <NUM>.

The first motor <NUM> has the output shaft 152a and a motor main body 152b, and is constituted by, for example, a DC motor, a DC brushless motor or the like. The first motor <NUM> is configured to drive based on an instruction from the control unit (not shown), thereby transmitting a drive force of the first motor <NUM> to the removing part <NUM> via the speed reduction mechanism and moving the removing part <NUM> forward or rearward. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the first motor <NUM> is arranged below the removing part <NUM>, in the present embodiment, a second part when the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate main body 122a (first part) of the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position L1. Note that, the lower of the removing part <NUM> means that at least a part of the first motor <NUM> including the output shaft 152a is located directly under the removing part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the first motor <NUM> is arranged so that the output shaft 152a is parallel to the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>.

In addition, the output shaft is arranged to be orthogonal to the moving direction (longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>) of the wedge plate <NUM> from the front to the rear.

In the present embodiment, the description 'the output shaft 152a is parallel to the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>' means not only a case of being perfectly parallel but also a range slightly deviating from the perfect parallelism. The range may be, for example, within ±<NUM>°, but may also be within ±<NUM>° depending on the required accuracy. Similarly, 'parallel', which will be described later, includes a case of being perfectly parallel and a slightly deviating range.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the gears 153a and 153b are two-stage drive gears, and a diameter of the gear 153a is larger than a diameter of the gear 153b. The gear 153a is connected to the output shaft 152a of the first motor <NUM>. The gear 153b is in mesh with the gear 154a. The gears 154a and 154b are two-stage drive gears, and a diameter of the gear 154a is larger than a diameter of the gear 154b. The gear 154a is in mesh with the gear 153b, and the gear 154b is in mesh with the gear <NUM>. A right end portion of the shaft <NUM> extending in the width direction of the housing <NUM> is attached to a center of the gear <NUM>. The pinion <NUM> in mesh with the rack <NUM> is attached to a left and right end-side of the shaft <NUM> on the gear <NUM>-side, and the pinion <NUM> in mesh with the rack <NUM> is attached to the left end-side on an opposite side.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> configured to press against the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM> includes a sheet pressing part <NUM> having at least a part located above the placing table <NUM> and configured to be movable, and a second motor <NUM> configured to drive the sheet pressing part <NUM>.

The sheet pressing part <NUM> has a hold lever <NUM> to which components constituting the sheet pressing part are attached, a pair of sheet pressing racks <NUM> and <NUM> extending in a traveling direction at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the housing <NUM>, and a sheet pressing plate <NUM> configured to press the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the hold lever <NUM> has a pair of flat plates 172a and 172b arranged on the rear and front sides of the housing <NUM> and arranged at a predetermined interval in the width direction. Lower sides of the flat plates 172a and 172b are arranged in the housing <NUM>, and upper sides thereof are arranged to be exposed from the placing table <NUM> and are covered with the cover part <NUM>. A boss <NUM> protruding outward is attached to an outer surface of the flat plate 172a. One end portion of a return spring <NUM> constituted by a tension spring is attached to the boss <NUM>, and the other end portion of the return spring <NUM> is attached to the left frame <NUM>. Similarly, a boss (not shown) is attached to an outer surface of the flat plate 172b, and one end portion of a return spring <NUM> is attached to the boss, and the other end portion of the return spring <NUM> is attached to a right frame <NUM>.

The sheet pressing rack <NUM> is provided at a lower front rear end portion of the flat plate 172a of the hold lever <NUM>. The sheet pressing rack <NUM> has a substantial fan shape and is in mesh with a sheet pressing pinion <NUM>. The sheet pressing rack <NUM> is provided at a lower front rear end portion of the flat plate 172b of the hold lever <NUM>. The sheet pressing rack <NUM> has a substantial fan shape and is in mesh with a sheet pressing pinion <NUM> of a second drive unit <NUM>. The sheet pressing racks <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to convert rotational motions of the sheet pressing pinions <NUM> and <NUM> into substantially linear motions.

The sheet pressing plate <NUM> is configured to move toward the placing surface 102a so that the sheet bundle P does not deviate from the removing position L2 of the placing table <NUM> during a removing operation of the staple S, thereby pressing the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM>. The sheet pressing plate <NUM> is attached to the flat plates 172a and 172b so as to be parallel to the placing table <NUM>. Specifically, a left side surface of the sheet pressing plate <NUM> is supported by a shaft <NUM>, and a right left side surface of the sheet pressing plate <NUM> is supported by a shaft <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the second drive unit <NUM> includes the second motor <NUM>, a gear 193a and the like connected to an output shaft 192a of the second motor <NUM>, and a pair of sheet pressing pinions <NUM> and <NUM> respectively provided at both ends of a shaft <NUM>, which are a second pinion part arranged at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the housing <NUM> so as to mesh with the racks <NUM> and <NUM>. Note that, a plurality of gears 193a, 193b, 194a, 194b and <NUM> constitutes a speed reduction mechanism. The second motor <NUM> is arranged below the removing part <NUM> when the removing part is located at the standby position L1.

The second motor <NUM> has the output shaft 192a and a motor main body 192b, and is constituted by, for example, a DC motor, a DC brushless motor or the like. The second motor <NUM> is configured to drive based on an instruction from the control unit (not shown), thereby transmitting a drive force of the second motor <NUM> to the sheet pressing part <NUM> via the speed reduction mechanism and operating the sheet pressing part <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the second motor <NUM> is arranged ahead of and behind the first motor <NUM> and below the removing part <NUM>, in the present embodiment, the second part when the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position L1. Note that, the lower of the removing part <NUM> means that at least a part of the second motor <NUM> including the output shaft 192a is located directly under the removing part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the output shaft 192a of the second motor <NUM> is arranged to be parallel to the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>.

Further, the output shaft 192a of the second motor <NUM> is arranged to face toward an opposite side to the output shaft 152a of the first motor <NUM>, preferably, to face toward an opposite direction to the output shaft 152a of the first motor <NUM>. Specifically, the output shaft 152a of the first motor <NUM> is arranged to face rightward, and the output shaft 192a of the second motor <NUM> is arranged to face leftward on the opposite side thereto. The opposite direction means not only a case where the output shafts 152a and 192a are oriented in the opposite directions of <NUM> degrees but also a case where the output shafts are oriented in a range slightly deviating from the opposite directions of <NUM> degrees. The range may be, for example, within ±<NUM>°, but may also be within ±<NUM>° depending on the required accuracy.

In the present embodiment, the description 'the output shaft 192a is parallel to the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>' means not only a case of being perfectly parallel but also a case of slightly deviating from the perfect parallelism. The range may be, for example, within ±<NUM>°, but may also be within ±<NUM>° depending on the required accuracy.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the gears 193a and 193b are two-stage drive gears, and a diameter of the gear 193a is larger than a diameter of the gear 193b. The gear 193a is connected to the output shaft 192a of the second motor <NUM>. The gear 193b is in mesh with the gear 194a. The gears 194a and 194b are two-stage drive gears, and a diameter of the gear 194a is larger than a diameter of the gear 194b. The gear 194a is in mesh with the gear 193b, and the gear 194b is in mesh with the gear <NUM>. A left end portion of the shaft <NUM> extending in the width direction of the housing <NUM> is attached to a center of the gear <NUM>. The sheet pressing pinion <NUM> in mesh with the sheet pressing rack <NUM> is attached to a left end-side of the shaft <NUM> on the gear <NUM>-side, and the sheet pressing pinion <NUM> in mesh with the sheet pressing rack <NUM> is attached to a right end-side on an opposite side.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the accommodation part <NUM> is located below the removing part <NUM> when the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> constituting the removing part <NUM> is at the removal position L2, so as to be able to accommodate the staple S dropping from the sheet bundle P. In addition, the accommodation part <NUM> is arranged in an empty space part between the flat plates 172a and 172b of the hold lever <NUM> constituting the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> and below the pressing holder <NUM> constituting the staple pullout mechanism <NUM>. At least a portion of the accommodation part <NUM> and a portion of the first motor <NUM> are arranged at the same height.

<FIG> shows an internal configuration of the staple removing device <NUM> including a left frame <NUM>, a right frame <NUM>, a front frame <NUM> and a rear frame <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the staple removing device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The left frame <NUM>, the right frame <NUM>, the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM> are erected on outer peripheral parts of the staple pulling mechanism <NUM> and the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> so as to surround the same.

The left frame <NUM> is erected on a left side of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM>. A guide groove <NUM> extending along the moving direction (longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>) ahead of or behind the removing part <NUM> is formed in an upper portion of the left frame <NUM>. The guide groove <NUM> includes a first groove 113a for locating, below the placing table <NUM>, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> standing by at the standby position L1, and a second groove 113b for moving the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> in a state of protruding from the placing table <NUM> until passing through the removal position L2 from a front of the removal position L2. The second groove 113b is formed at a position slightly lower than the first groove 113a via a step portion 113c. The left end portions of the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> are inserted in the guide groove <NUM>. Thereby, the removing part <NUM> can move along the guide groove <NUM>, and can move forward and rearward along the placing table <NUM>.

The right frame <NUM> is erected on a right side of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM>. A guide groove <NUM> extending along the moving direction (longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>) ahead of or behind the removing part <NUM> is formed in an upper portion of the right frame <NUM>. The guide groove <NUM> includes a first groove 115a for locating, below the placing table <NUM>, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> standing by at the standby position L1, and a second groove 115b for moving the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> in a state of protruding from the placing table <NUM> until passing through the removal position L2 from a front of the removal position L2. The second groove 115b is formed at a position slightly lower than the first groove 115a via a step portion 115c. The right end portions of the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> are inserted in the guide groove <NUM>. Thereby, the removing part <NUM> can move along the guide groove <NUM>, and can move forward and rearward along the placing table <NUM>.

The front frame <NUM> is erected on a front side of the staple pulling mechanism <NUM>, and the rear frame <NUM> is erected on a rear side of the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM>.

Next, an example of an operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> that is performed when removing the staple S from the sheet bundle P is described.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> located at the standby position L1, and <FIG> is a perspective view showing an operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> moving to the removal position L2. <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> located at the standby position L1, and <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism moving to the removal position L2. <FIG> is a side view showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> located at the standby position L1, and <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> moving to the removal position L2, and <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Note that, for convenience, in <FIG> and <FIG>, only the left frame <NUM>-side is described. However, it is assumed that the right frame <NUM>-side on the opposite side can also adopt the similar operations to the left frame <NUM>-side.

When the staple removing device <NUM> is in a standby state, the wedge plate <NUM> is stopped at the standby position L1 of the housing <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. At this time, the second drive shaft <NUM> is located in the first groove 113a of the guide groove <NUM> of the left frame <NUM>, and the first drive shaft <NUM> is located in the second groove 113b of the guide groove <NUM> of the left frame <NUM>. For this reason, the attaching portion 122b-side of the wedge plate <NUM> is in a lifted state, and the wedge plate main body 122a-side including the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> is at a position lower than the attaching portion 122b-side. Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, when the tip end portion <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position L1, the wedge plate main body 122a including the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> is located below the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>. Thereby, when placing the sheet bundle P on the placing table <NUM>, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that the wedge plate <NUM> collides with the sheet bundle P, and therefore, is separated from the placing table.

When the start switch <NUM> of the staple removing device <NUM> is operated, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first motor <NUM> is driven, and the drive force of the first motor <NUM> is transmitted to the pinions <NUM> and <NUM> via the plurality of gears 153a, 153b, 154a, 154b and <NUM>. Along with this, the pinions <NUM> and <NUM> rotate in a clockwise direction in <FIG>, and the racks <NUM> and <NUM> in mesh with the pinions <NUM> and <NUM> move rearward from the front along the placing table <NUM>, so that the wedge plate <NUM> moves rearward from the front.

At this time, as shown in <FIG>, the second drive shaft <NUM> moves from the first groove 113a of the guide groove <NUM> of the left frame <NUM> to the second groove 113b. For this reason, the position of the wedge plate <NUM> on the attaching portion 122b-side is lowered, so that the wedge plate main body 122a-side of the wedge plate <NUM> is lifted with the first drive shaft <NUM> as a fulcrum. Here, since the upper surface of the wedge plate main body 122a has a structure slightly protruding further than the upper surface of the attaching portion 122b, as shown in <FIG>, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> is located above the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the wedge plate <NUM> moves while maintaining the state of protruding from the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM> via the opening portion 102b of the placing table <NUM> until passing through the removal position L2 from the front of the removal position L2. Thereby, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate main body 122a is surely pushed between the sheet bundle P and the crown portion Sa.

Next, an example of an operation of the staple pressing mechanism <NUM> that is performed when removing the staple S from the sheet bundle P is described.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an operation of the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> located at the standby position, and <FIG> is a perspective view showing an operation of the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> moving to a pressing position. <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> located at the standby position, and <FIG> is a side view of main parts showing the operation of the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> moving to the pressing position.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the staple removing device <NUM> is at the standby position, the sheet pressing plate <NUM> is stopped at a position at a certain interval from the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>. The certain interval is an interval at which the lower surface of the sheet pressing plate <NUM> does not come into contact with the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM>.

When the start switch of the staple removing device <NUM> becomes on, the second motor <NUM> is driven. The drive force of the second motor <NUM> is transmitted to the sheet pressing pinions <NUM> and <NUM> via the gears 193a, 193b, 194a, 194b and <NUM>. Along with this, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sheet pressing pinions <NUM> and <NUM> rotate in the clockwise direction, and the sheet pressing racks <NUM> and <NUM> in mesh with the sheet pressing pinions <NUM> and <NUM> move substantially downward. When the sheet pressing racks <NUM> and <NUM> move substantially downward, the hold lever <NUM> rotates in a counterclockwise direction with the hold lever shaft <NUM> as a fulcrum against the elastic force of the return spring <NUM>, and the sheet pressing plate <NUM> moves (descends) in a direction toward the placing table <NUM>. Thereby, the sheet bundle P placed on the placing table <NUM> is pressed with a certain pressing force by the sheet pressing plate <NUM>.

When the operation of removing the staple S from the sheet bundle P is over, the second motor <NUM> is driven in reverse rotation. Thereby, the sheet pressing plate <NUM> moves (ascends) in a direction away from the sheet bundle P and returns to the standby position shown in <FIG> and the like.

Next, an operation and the like of the staple removing device <NUM> that is performed when removing the staple S from the sheet bundle P are described. Note that, since the operations of the staple pullout mechanism <NUM> and the sheet pressing mechanism <NUM> are similar to those in <FIG>, <FIG> and the like, the detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

<FIG> are side views showing an example of an operation of the staple removing device <NUM> that is performed when pulling out the staple S from the sheet bundle Pare described. <FIG> are enlarged views of main parts showing an example of an operation of the wedge plate <NUM> when pulling out the staple S from the sheet bundle P. <FIG> show states of the wedge plate <NUM> and the staple S when pulling out the staple S from the sheet bundle P. Note that, in the descriptions of <FIG> and the like, for convenience, only an operation on the right side of the staple removing device <NUM> is described. However, it is assumed that the left side on an opposite side can also adopt the similar operation to that of the right side.

As shown in <FIG>, when removing the staple S from the sheet bundle P, the sheet bundle P bound by the staple S is first placed on the placing table <NUM>. A user aligns the sheet bundle P with a mark indicating the removal position L2 provided on the placing table <NUM>, and places the crown portion Sa-side of the staple S toward the placing table. As shown in <FIG>, the sheet bundle P is bound by the staple S. The leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S penetrate the sheet bundle P in the thickness direction of the sheet, are bent inwardly, and are bitten into the sheet surface.

Next, when the start switch <NUM> of the staple removing device <NUM> is pushed by the user, the second motor <NUM> is started to drive. Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, the sheet pressing plate <NUM> moves (descends) in the direction toward the placing table <NUM>, and the sheet bundle P is pressed with a certain pressing force by the sheet pressing plate <NUM>.

Subsequently, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of driving of the second motor <NUM>, the first motor <NUM> is driven. Thereby, the pinion <NUM> rotates in the clockwise direction, so that the removing part <NUM> including the rack <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM> moves rearward from the front. At the start of movement of the removing part <NUM> from the front to the rear, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate main body 122a is located below the placing surface 102a of the placing table <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, similar to the standby position L1.

When the tip end-side of the removing part <NUM> moves rearward from the front ahead of the removal position L2, the second drive shaft <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> moves to the second groove 115b of the guide groove <NUM>. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the tip end portion <NUM> of the wedge plate <NUM> protrudes from the placing surface 102a via the opening portion 102b of the placing table <NUM>. The wedge plate <NUM> moves rearward from the front in a state where the upper surface of the wedge plate comes into contact with a back surface of the lowermost sheet of the sheet bundle P and presses the sheet bundle P.

When the tip end-side of the wedge plate <NUM> moves to the removal position L2, it is pushed between the crown portion Sa and the sheet bundle P, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. At this time, as shown in <FIG>, the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S shift to a state substantially parallel to the sheet surface of the sheet bundle P from the state of being bitten into the sheet surface of the sheet bundle P. When the wedge plate <NUM> further moves rearward from the front in this state, the convex portion 142a of the pressing holder <NUM> separates from the support portion 128b of the holder <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the pressing portion <NUM> ascends due to the urging of the tension spring <NUM>, and comes into contact with the crown portion Sa on the sheet bundle P moving rearward from the front by the pushing force of the wedge plate <NUM>, thereby restricting the forward movement of the staple S.

When the tip end-side of the wedge plate <NUM> passes through the removal position L2, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the thickness of the wedge plate <NUM> pushed between the sheet bundle P and the crown portion Sa at the removal position is increased, in side view. The pressing portion <NUM> accordingly descends in the thickness direction of the wedge plate <NUM> in the state of being in contact with the wedge plate <NUM> and the crown portion Sa by the extension of the tension spring <NUM>. Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, the crown portion Sa is pushed in a direction away from the sheet bundle P by the wedge plate <NUM>, and the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S bent inwardly extend to be substantially orthogonal to the sheet surface of the sheet bundle P. As shown in <FIG>, when the thickness of the wedge plate <NUM> at the removal position L2 becomes thicker, in side view, the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S are pulled out from the sheet bundle P, as shown in <FIG>. However, since the leg portions Sb and Sb are caught on the side surface of the wedge plate <NUM> due to the springback of the staple S, the staple S does not drop at this stage.

As shown in <FIG>, when the wedge plate <NUM> moves rearward from the front to the end position of the movement range, the narrowed portion 122c of the wedge plate <NUM> is located at the removal position L2. Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, since the dimension D1 in the width direction of the narrowed portion 122c of the wedge plate <NUM> is narrower than the dimension D3 in the width direction between the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S that springs back, the leg portions Sb and Sb of the staple S are separated from the side surface of the wedge plate <NUM>, and the staple S drops into the accommodation part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the removal of the staple S from the sheet bundle P is completed, the first motor <NUM> is driven in reverse rotation. Along with this, the pinion <NUM> reversely rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the removing part <NUM> including the rack <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM> moves forward from the rear along the placing table <NUM>, and the removing part <NUM> returns from the removal position L2 to the standby position L1. In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the reverse rotation of the first motor <NUM>, the second motor <NUM> is driven in reverse rotation. Along with this, the sheet pressing pinion <NUM> rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the sheet pressing rack <NUM> moves substantially upward, so that the sheet pressing plate <NUM> moves in the direction away from the placing table <NUM> via the hold lever <NUM> and returns to the standby position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the first motor <NUM> and the second motor <NUM> are arranged directly under the removing part <NUM> when the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> is at the standby position L1. The part directly under the removing part <NUM> is a space part, specifically, an empty space part behind the accommodation part <NUM> formed by arranging the accommodation part <NUM> directly under the removing part <NUM> when the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> is at the removal position L2. For this reason, by effectively utilizing the space part behind the accommodation unit <NUM> and centrally arranging the first drive unit <NUM> including the first motor <NUM> and the second drive unit <NUM> including the second motor <NUM> in the space part, it is possible to suppress dimensions in the height direction and the width direction of the staple removing device <NUM>, thereby miniaturizing the staple removing device <NUM>.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the accommodation part <NUM> is arranged directly under the removing part <NUM> when the wedge plate <NUM> of the removing part <NUM> is at the removal position L2. Therefore, the removed staple S can be dropped into the accommodation part <NUM>, as it is. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism such as a guide portion for guiding the removed staple S into the accommodation part <NUM>, so that it is possible to simplify a structure of the staple removing device <NUM>.

As described above, in the configuration of the staple removing device <NUM> in which the first drive unit <NUM> including the first motor <NUM> and the like and the accommodating unit <NUM> are provided and the wedge plate <NUM> moves linearly, the layout of the staple removing device <NUM> of the present embodiment is the most economical and optimized layout, the configuration is simple and the device can be miniaturized.

Note that, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments can be variously changed without departing from the present invention. For example, the staple removing device <NUM> of the present embodiment can be mounted on an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet. In this case, the staple removing device <NUM> of the present embodiment may be arranged at a position adjacent to an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, or may be arranged inside the image forming apparatus or a post-processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

Claim 1:
A staple removing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a placing table (<NUM>) on which a sheet bundle (P) bound by a staple (S) is placed;
a removing part (<NUM>) located below the placing table (<NUM>), configured to remove the staple (S) from the sheet bundle (P) placed on the placing table (<NUM>), and including a tip end portion (<NUM>) that can be inserted between the sheet bundle (P) and the staple (S) and is configured to be movable along the placing table (<NUM>) between a first position (L1) and a second position (L2) and to be inserted between the sheet bundle (P) and the staple (S) when the tip end portion moves to the second position;
a first motor (<NUM>) configured to move the removing part (<NUM>); and
an accommodation part (<NUM>) configured to accommodate the staple (S) removed by the removing part (<NUM>),
wherein the first motor (<NUM>) is located below the removing part (<NUM>) when the tip end portion (<NUM>) is at the first position (L1), and
wherein the accommodation part (<NUM>) is located below the removing part (<NUM>) when the tip end portion (<NUM>) is at the second position,
characterized in that
the first motor (<NUM>) is located directly under the removing part (<NUM>) when the tip end portion (<NUM>) is at the first position (L1).