IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,014,091
Granted Patent B2
US 7,014,091 · App. 10/477,306 · Granted Mar 21, 2006

Stapler apparatus

Assignees: ACCO Brands USA LLC; NISCA Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,014,091
App. No.
10/477,306
Granted
Mar 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stapler apparatus includes a fixed frame, a movable frame pivotably mounted to the fixed frame, a staple driving device, and a staple bending device to bend the staples. A drive mechanism reciprocally moves the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame to clamp a stack of sheets between the fixed frame and the movable frame. A transmission member is movably supported on the movable frame without any connection utilizing an elongated slot. An urging member is disposed to bias the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, the transmission member being coupled to the drive mechanism such that the drive mechanism engages and moves the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, thereby overcoming the bias of the urging member, to compensate for a stack height of the stack of sheets clamped between the fixed frame and the movable frame.

Claims (34)

1. A stapler apparatus comprising:

a fixed frame;

a movable frame pivotably mounted to the fixed frame;

a staple driving device disposed on one of the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a staple bending device to bend the leading ends of staples, the staple bending device disposed on the other of the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a drive mechanism to reciprocally move the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame to clamp a stack of sheets between the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a transmission member movably supported on the movable frame at a first mounting location, the transmission member being free to move about the first mounting location without restriction by the fixed frame at any point of the transmission member spaced from the first mounting location, and

an urging member disposed to bias the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, the transmission member being coupled to the drive mechanism such that the drive mechanism engages and moves the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, thereby overcoming the bias of the urging member, to compensate for a stack height of the stack of sheets clamped between the fixed frame and the movable frame.

2. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is rotatably supported on the movable frame such that the transmission member can rotate with respect to the movable frame.

3. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive cam.

4. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member includes an abutting portion configured to abut a protrusion on the movable frame, and wherein the urging member biases the abutting portion toward engagement with the protrusion on the movable frame.

5. The stapler apparatus of claim 4 , wherein when the bias of the urging member is overcome, the abutting portion disengages the protrusion on the movable frame.

6. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an activating member reciprocated by the drive mechanism and abutting the transmission member to move the transmission member.

7. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the urging member includes a spring connected to the transmission member and the movable frame.

8. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member includes a pair of transmission members positioned on opposite sides of the fixed frame.

9. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second urging member connected to the movable frame and the fixed frame to bias the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame.

10. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is movably supported on the movable frame without any connection utilizing an elongated slot.

11. A stapler apparatus comprising:

a fixed frame;

a movable frame pivotably mounted to the fixed frame;

a staple driving device disposed on one of the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a staple bending device to bend the leading ends of staples, the staple bending device disposed on the other of the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a drive mechanism to reciprocally move the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame to clamp a stack of sheets between the fixed frame and the movable frame;

a transmission member movably supported on the movable frame without any connection utilizing an elongated slot, and

an urging member disposed to bias the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, the transmission member being coupled to the drive mechanism such that the drive mechanism engages and moves the transmission member with respect to the movable frame, thereby overcoming the bias of the urging member, to compensate for a stack height of the stack of sheets clamped between the fixed frame and the movable frame.

12. The stapler apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transmission member is rotatably supported on the movable frame such that the transmission member can rotate with respect to the movable frame.

13. The stapler apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive cam.

14. The stapler apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transmission member includes an abutting portion configured to abut a protrusion on the movable frame, and wherein the urging member biases the abutting portion toward engagement with the protrusion on the movable frame.

15. The stapler apparatus of claim 14 , wherein when the bias of the urging member is overcome, the abutting portion disengages the protrusion on the movable frame.

16. The stapler apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an activating member reciprocated by the drive mechanism and abutting the transmission member to move the transmission member.

17. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the urging member includes a spring connected to the transmission member and the movable frame.

18. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member includes a pair of transmission members positioned on opposite sides of the fixed frame.

19. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second urging member connected to the movable frame and the fixed frame to bias the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame.

20. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is movably supported on the movable frame at a first mounting location, the transmission member being free to move about the first mounting location without restriction by the fixed frame at any point of the transmission member spaced from the first mounting location.

Assignments (14)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 028217/0360 Recorded May 17, 2013
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EXISTING SWING LINE LENDER AND EXISTING L/C ISSUER
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SWING LINE LENDER AND L/C ISSUER
Reel/Frame 030427/0574 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0713. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028487/0671 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0738. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028488/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2012
From: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028217/0360 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0713 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 30, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 023449/0180 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0784 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022203/0848 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2005
From: ACCO BRANDS, INC.
To: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 016674/0785 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2005
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 016914/0813 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2003
From: MOCHIZUKI, NAOTO
To: ACCO BRANDS, INC.; NISCA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014899/0718 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2003
From: MOCHIZUKI, NAOTO
To: ACCO BRANDS, INC.; NISCA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015102/0786 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2001-165892 · May 31, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040134962A1 · Jul 15, 2004