Patent ID: 7073706

Claim:
A punching device comprising: a die member having a plurality of die holes formed therein; a plurality of punch members which are adapted to advance into the die holes to punch holes in a sheet; an operating member having cam portions, said operating member being moved along the direction intersecting the direction of advancement of said punch members to cause said punch members to advance into the die holes by said cam portion; detection means for detecting the position of said operating member; a drive motor; and control means for operating said drive motor so as to control movement of said operating member wherein said control means operates said drive motor to perform an initializing operation for moving said operating member to a first rest position or to a second rest position before said control means operates said drive motor to perform a punching operation for punching holes in the sheet while moving said operating member between said first rest position and said second rest position, wherein in said initializing operation (i) said operating member is moved to the first rest position when said detection means detects that said operating member is present in a position nearer to the second rest position than the first rest position, and (ii) said operating member is moved to the second rest position when said detection means detects that said operating member is present in a position nearer to the first rest position than the second rest position.