Punching and binding system and elements thereof
An apparatus for punching and binding a stack of papers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a paper clamp and a binding element insertion device that are movable relative to each other. The binding element insertion device is configured to receive and detect binding elements of different sizes. The apparatus also includes a punching mechanism, a controller, and a user interface. The controller controls movement of the paper clamp and the binding element insertion device based on the size of the binding element needed to bind the stack of papers together. The user interface is configured to provide information to a user of the apparatus and to receive input from the user before, during, and after the punching and binding operation.
1 . A binding apparatus comprising:
a binding element applicator constructed and arranged to insert a binding element into a stack of papers;
a controller in communication with the binding element applicator; and
a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface comprising:
a display configured to visually display information to a user of the binding apparatus to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus during operation of the apparatus.
2 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to visually display the information to the user to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus through a plurality of steps during operation of the apparatus.
3 . A binding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the user interface further comprises:
at least one input device configured to provide input information from the user during at least one of the plurality of steps to the controller.
4 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display comprises a pictorial instruction of an action to be taken by the user.
5 . A binding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display comprises an image representative of the binding element and the action to be taken by the user comprises loading the binding element into the apparatus.
6 . A binding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the image of the binding element is animated.
7 . A binding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the image representative of the binding element is representative of the binding element being loaded into the apparatus.
8 . A binding apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the image of the binding element is animated.
9 . A binding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display further comprises a size indication of the binding element.
10 . A binding apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the size indication is selected from the group consisting of S, M, L, and XL.
11 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises:
at least one input device configured to provide input information from the user during at least one of the plurality of steps to the controller.
12 . A binding apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of the input device and the action to be taken by the user comprises pressing the input device.
13 . A binding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of a lid of the apparatus and the action to be taken by the user comprises closing a lid of the apparatus.
14 . A binding apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the image of the lid is animated.
15 . A binding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of a bound document and the action to be taken by the user comprises unloading a bound document from the apparatus.
16 . A binding apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the image of the bound document is animated.
17 . A binding apparatus according to claim 15 , where the image representative of the bound document is representative of the bound document being unloaded from the apparatus.
18 . A binding apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the image of the bound document is animated.
19 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an error message.
20 . A binding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the input device signals the controller to proceed when engaged by the user.
21 . A binding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the input device signals the controller to not proceed when engaged by the user.
22 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one indicator configured to provide the user with additional information about a state of the binding apparatus.
23 . A binding apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the state of the binding apparatus is operational.
24 . A binding apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the state of the binding apparatus is stopped.
25 . A binding apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one indicator is a plurality of indicators, each of the indicators corresponding to a different location in the apparatus and being configured to indicate if an error has occurred at the corresponding location.
26 . A binding apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the indicators are illumination devices.
27 . A binding apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the illumination devices are capable of illuminating the color red.
28 . A binding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the display comprises:
a first portion configured to visually display the information to the user to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus through the plurality of steps during operation of the apparatus; and
a second portion configured to provide a visual indication of a current step within the plurality of steps being currently performed.
29 . A binding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display an indicator that provides information to a user of the binding apparatus instructing the user which size of binding element to insert into the binding apparatus.
30 . A binding apparatus according to claim 29 , further comprising:
a sensor for sensing a thickness of the stack of papers to be bound by the binding apparatus; and
wherein the display is configured to display the indicator based on the thickness sensed by the sensor.
31 . A binding apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the controller is communicated to the sensor and the display, the controller being operable to select the indicator to be displayed based on the thickness sensed by the sensor and control the display to display the selected indicator.
32 . A binding apparatus according to claim 31 , further comprising a binding element sensor operable to sense a size of the binding element inserted by the user into the binding apparatus;
wherein the controller is communicated to the binding element sensor and is operable to display an error indicator if the sensed size of the inserted binding element does not correspond to the indicator selected and displayed and/or the thickness sensed by the sensor.
33 . A binding apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the indicator is selected from a group consisting of the letters S, M, L, and XL.
34 . A binding apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the indicator is selected from a group consisting of the letters S, M, L, and XL.
35 . A method for operating a binding apparatus, the binding apparatus comprising: (i) a binding element applicator constructed and arranged to insert a binding element into a stack of papers; (ii) a controller in communication with the binding element applicator; and (iii) a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface comprising a display; the method comprising:
displaying information to a user of the binding apparatus to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus during operation of the apparatus.
36 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the display visually displays the information to the user to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus through a plurality of steps during operation of the apparatus.
37 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the user interface further comprises at least one input device, and wherein the method further comprises inputting information from the user via the at least one input device during at least one of the plurality of steps to the controller.
38 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display comprises a pictorial instruction of an action to be taken by the user.
39 . A method according to claim 38 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display comprises an image representative of the binding element and the action to be taken by the user comprises loading the binding element into the apparatus.
40 . A method according to claim 39 , wherein the image of the binding element is animated.
41 . A method according to claim 40 , wherein the image representative of the binding element is representative of the binding element being loaded into the apparatus.
42 . A method according to claim 41 , wherein the image of the binding element is animated.
43 . A method according to claim 39 , wherein the information visually displayed by the display further comprises a size indication of the binding element.
44 . A method according to claim 43 , wherein the size indication is selected from the group consisting of S, M, L, and XL.
45 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the user interface further comprises at least one input device, and wherein the method further comprises inputting information from the user via the at least one input device during at least one of the plurality of steps to the controller.
46 . A method according to claim 45 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of the input device and the action to be taken by the user comprises pressing the input device.
47 . A method according to claim 38 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of a lid of the apparatus and the action to be taken by the user comprises closing a lid of the apparatus.
48 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the image of the lid is animated.
49 . A method according to claim 38 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an image representative of a bound document and the action to be taken by the user comprises unloading a bound document from the apparatus.
50 . A method according to claim 49 , wherein the image of the bound document is animated.
51 . A method according to claim 49 , where the image representative of the bound document is representative of the bound document being unloaded from the apparatus.
52 . A method according to claim 51 , wherein the image of the bound document is animated.
53 . A method according to claim 34 , wherein the information visually displayed comprises an error message.
54 . A method according to claim 37 , wherein the input device signals the controller to proceed when engaged by the user.
55 . A method according to claim 37 , wherein the input device signals the controller to not proceed when engaged by the user.
56 . A method according to claim 34 , wherein the binding apparatus further comprises at least one indicator, and wherein the method comprises the indicator providing the user with additional information about a state of the binding apparatus.
57 . A method according to claim 56 , wherein the state of the binding apparatus is operational.
58 . A method according to claim 56 , wherein the state of the binding apparatus is stopped.
59 . A method according to claim 56 , wherein the at least one indicator is a plurality of indicators, each of the indicators corresponding to a different location in the apparatus,
wherein the method further comprises monitoring operation of the binding apparatus at the different locations and activating a corresponding one of the indicators if an error has occurred at a corresponding one of the locations.
60 . A method according to claim 59 , wherein the indicators are illumination devices, and wherein activating a corresponding one of the indicators includes illuminating.
61 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the display comprises a first portion and a second portion; wherein the first portion visually displays the information to the user to guide the user to interact with the binding apparatus through the plurality of steps during operation of the apparatus, and the second portion displays a visual indication of a current step within the plurality of steps being currently performed.
62 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the display displays an indicator that provides information to a user of the binding apparatus instructing the user which size of binding element to insert into the binding apparatus.
63 . A method according to claim 62 , further comprising sensing a thickness of the stack of papers to be bound by the binding apparatus; and displaying the indicator on the display based on the sensed thickness.
64 . A method according to claim 63 , wherein the controller selects the indicator to be displayed based on the sensed thickness and controls the display to display the selected indicator.
65 . A method according to claim 64 , further comprising sensing a size of the binding element inserted by the user into the binding apparatus; and
displaying an error indicator if the sensed size of the inserted binding element does not correspond to the indicator selected and displayed and/or the sensed thickness.
66 . A method according to claim 62 , wherein the indicator is selected from a group consisting of the letters S, M, L, and XL.
67 . A method according to claim 64 , wherein the indicator is selected from a group consisting of the letters S, M, L, and XL.