Method and apparatus for punching a hole in a stack of sheets in an image forming apparatus having a hole puncher
US5508799A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00818
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for punching holes in a stack of sheets using a hole puncher. The method includes the steps of activating the hole puncher, determining whether the hole puncher has completely punched a hole in the stack of sheets, and repeating the activating step in response to the determining step until the hole punching is successful. The method also includes determining whether a reference number of unpunched sheets, which is not greater than a single punch capacity of the hole puncher, has been stacked. Upon determining that the reference number of sheets has been reached, the method includes discontinuing the stacking of further sheets and applying a punching operation to the reference number of sheets. The method also includes reinitiating the stacking operation if the number of sheets to be stacked is greater than the reference number of sheets. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the noted method steps. Thus, a large quantity of sheets can be punched under the invention without having to enhance the structure of the hole puncher.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.