Connie J Tiberio

US Patent:

20020150414, Oct 17, 2002

Filed:

Apr 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/833778

Inventors:

Sally Conard-White - Rochester NY, US
LynneMarie Tatar - Rochester NY, US
Connie Tiberio - Webster NY, US

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation

International Classification:

B65H033/04

US Classification:

399/410000

Abstract:

An automatic clip attaching mechanism is provided for automatically attaching, to a set of sheets, a clip having a crown portion, elbow portions' arm portions connected to the crown portion, and a pair of deflectable hands attached to the arm portions and defining a gap with the crown portion. The automatic clip attaching mechanism includes a support assembly having a set compiler tray defining (i) a set plane for supporting a set of sheets, (ii) an open space below the set plane, and (iii) an open space above the set plane. The automatic clip attaching mechanism also includes a clip support and guide member for supporting and guiding a clip towards the set plane to be automatically attached to an edge of the set of sheets. The clip support and guide member defines a clip feeding position and includes (i) a clip stacking and guide member for supporting a stack of clips and for guiding a lead clip in a supported stack of clips into the feeding position, as well as (ii) a clip hands spreading and guide member for spreading the pair of deflectable hands of the clip from the crown portion and arms portions thereof, and for guiding the pair of deflectable hands and the arms portions oppositely into the space above and the space below the set of sheets. The automatic clip attaching mechanism then includes a powered device for contacting the elbow portions of the lead clip in the feeding position and for automatically pushing such lead clip over the clip hands spreading and guide member into an attached relationship with the set of sheets on the set plane.

US Patent:

20020150415, Oct 17, 2002

Filed:

Apr 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/834007

Inventors:

Sally Conard-White - Rochester NY, US
LynneMarie Tatar - Rochester NY, US
Connie Tiberio - Webster NY, US

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation

International Classification:

B65H033/04

US Classification:

399/410000

Abstract:

A paper clip automatic attaching device is provided for automatically attaching, to a set of sheets, a paper clip having a crown portion and a pair of deflectable side by side legs. The automatic paper clip attaching device includes (a) a support assembly including a set compiler tray defining (i) a set plane for supporting a set of sheets, (ii) an open space below the set plane, and (iii) an open space above the set plane; and (b) a paper clip travel path assembly defining a paper clip travel path adjoining the set plane for guiding a paper clip towards the set plane to be automatically attached to an edge of the set of sheets. The paper clip travel path assembly includes (i) a first support member having a first guide surface for guiding a first leg of the pair of deflectable side by side legs into a first position within the space below the set plane, and (ii) a second support member spaced from the first support member and having a second guide surface for deflecting a second leg of the pair of deflectable side by side legs into a second position within the open space above the set plane. The automatic paper clip attaching device also includes clip holding assembly for holding a stack of the paper clip in position for feeding a lead paper clip in the stack into the paper clip travel path; and a powered device for contacting the common crown portion of the lead paper clip in the stack, and automatically pushing such lead paper clip, legs first, into an attached relationship with the set of sheets on the set plane.