BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a stapler device that supports a cartridge storing staples that is detachable therefrom.  
           [0002]    Generally, this type of stapler device supports a cartridge storing staples that is detachable therefrom, and is configured such that the cartridge is replaced with a new cartridge when the staples therein are expended.  
           [0003]    For example, in the conventional staple devices disclosed in Japanese Patent No. S59-45482 and Japanese Published Patent Application No. H6-206179, when a cartridge is installed therein, the cartridge is first installed in a staple driver unit. After this, the operator must manipulate the cassette so that it engages with a wire-like hook that supports the cartridge. By manually setting the cartridge in the hook, only then will the urging force that urges the cassette toward the staple driver begin to act.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    However, in these conventional devices, installing the cartridge involves a two step process of inserting the cartridge and then engaging it with the hook. This process is a source of trouble because the cartridge is urged toward the driver and maintained in that state. In addition, there are times when the cartridge is not set properly because the hook is manually engaged with the cartridge. In this situation, the cartridge is not correctly positioned toward the staple driver, and in turn, there is a danger that this will cause unsatisfactory staples or a staple jam. In particular, there is a problem in that in situations in which this staple device is incorporated into an image forming device or into a post-processing device of this image forming device, changing the cartridge is a heavy burden on the operator thereof because the staple device is positioned in a narrow location, thus making this process difficult.  
           [0005]    This invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cartridge that can be simply and easily installed, and properly urged toward the cartridge driver and retained in that state.  
           [0006]    The staple device of this invention has a cartridge that stores staples detachably supported thereon, and a staple driver in the front thereof in the cartridge installation direction, the stapler device comprising an urging means that urges the aforementioned cartridge toward the staple driver, and an interlocking means that applies the aforementioned urging means on the cartridge that is interlocked to the mounting of the cartridge to the staple driving driver unit.  
           [0007]    The aforementioned urging means of the staple device of this invention is a spring member that moves a set lever that engages and retains the cartridge in the staple driver toward the staple driver.  
           [0008]    In the aforementioned interlock means of the staple device of this invention, one end of said interlock means engages with a set lever that retains said cartridge in the staple driver, and another end comprises an interlock lever that engages with the cartridge in response to the installation of the cartridge.  
           [0009]    The aforementioned interlock lever of the staple device of this invention is engagably arranged between the cartridge and a set lever having a retain position that retains the cartridge in the staple driver and a remove position that allows the cartridge to be removed from the staple driver. The interlock lever moves the set lever to the retain position in response to the installation of the cartridge.  
           [0010]    The aforementioned interlock lever of the staple device of this invention is engagably arranged on the cartridge and a set lever having a retain position that retains the cartridge in the staple driver and a retract position that allows the cartridge to be removed from the staple driver. The interlock lever is arranged so that it moves the cartridge in a direction opposite of the direction in which it was installed by moving the set lever to the retract position.  
           [0011]    The staple device of the present invention detachably supports a cartridge containing staples, and has a staple driver forward of the direction in which this cartridge is installed, and comprises a set lever that engages with the cartridge and is movable between a retain position that can retain the cartridge in the aforementioned staple driver and a retract position that can remove the cartridge from the staple driver, an urging means that urges a set lever in the retain position toward the staple driver and retains a set lever in a release position, and a interlock means that moves said set lever to the retain position in response to the installation of said cartridge, and is engagable with the set lever and the cartridge that moves in a direction opposite to a cartridge installation direction by means of movement of the set lever from the retain position to the remove direction.  
           [0012]    The aforementioned set lever of the staple device of this invention is formed into a shape that is substantially a U-shape and sandwiches the cartridge, and the urging means also sandwiches the cartridge and is constructed front and back of a pair of coil springs.  
           [0013]    The staple device of this invention detachably supports a cartridge between the aforementioned staple driver and the aforementioned cartridge, and has a detachable cartridge holder opposite the driver.  
           [0014]    According to the staple device of this invention, when changing the cartridge, the cartridge can be retained and urged toward the staple driver in response to the installation of the cartridge. The problems that this process causes the operator are eliminated, and the cartridge can be properly and firmly set in the driver.  
           [0015]    In addition, according to the staple device of this invention, the cartridge moves in a removal direction opposite that in which the cartridge was installed by moving the set lever that retains the cartridge to the release position, and thus the change operation is made extremely easy.  
           [0016]    Moreover, according to the staple device of this invention, the cartridge installation and removal operation is simple, the cartridge can be properly set and retained in the staple driver, and malfunctioning of the device can be reduced.  
           [0017]    Below, an embodiment of a stapler according to the present invention will be described in accordance with the figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stapler according to the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded plan view of a staple replenishment mechanism of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cartridge holder of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a front view of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is an upper view of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the stapler device of FIG. 1 in the clincher standby state.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a lateral view of the stapler device of FIG. 1 in the clincher sheet grasping state.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the stapler device of FIG. 1 in the clincher clinch completion state.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the required parts that describe the state in which the set lever has locked the cartridge in the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the required parts that describe the state in which the set lever has released the cartridge lock in the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 13 is a schematic view that describes the driver drive system of the stapler device of FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 14 is a timing chart that describes the serial operation of the stapler device of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0032]    [0032] 10  Staple cartridge  
         [0033]    [0033] 20  Cartridge holder  
         [0034]    [0034] 30  Anvil unit  
         [0035]    [0035] 40  Clincher  
         [0036]    [0036] 50  Paper guide unit  
         [0037]    [0037] 60  Joint lever  
         [0038]    [0038] 70  Paper thickness absorption leaf spring  
         [0039]    [0039] 80  Main body frame  
         [0040]    [0040] 90  Set lever  
         [0041]    MO Motor  
         [0042]    CO Connector base  
         [0043]    SE No staples/cartridge installation detection sensor  
         [0044]    HP Stapler home position sensor detector  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a stapler device, in which  10  is a staple cartridge,  20  is a cartridge holder,  30  is an anvil unit,  40  is a clincher,  50  is a paper guide unit,  60  is a joint lever,  70  is a paper thickness absorbing leaf spring,  80  is a main body frame,  90  is a set lever, MO is a motor, and CO is a connector base.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded plan view for describing a staple replenishing mechanism of the same stapler device, which comprises a stapler device main body  100 , a cartridge holder  20 , and a cartridge  10 . As the set lever  90  is held down in an installation position, installation knobs  22  on the left and right sides of the cartridge holder  20  are first pinched together, and the cartridge holder  20  is guided by an installation guide  101  of the stapler main body  100  and installed therein. Detents  21  on the cartridge holder  20  are retained in catch holes  102  on the stapler main device  100 . By guiding guide protrusions  11  on the cartridge  10  along installation guides  23  in the cartridge holder  20  and inserting staple end  12  in this state, as will be described later in FIG. 11, the guide protrusions  11  on cartridge  10  engage with a interlock lever  96  that releases a set lever by pushing it in, and thus the set lever  90  is released from its locked state. By engaging the set lever  90  while pushing the guide protrusions  11  on the cartridge  10  toward a staple driver  103  from the rear, the cartridge holder  20  and the cartridge  10  are retained in a state in which they are constantly urged toward the staple driver  103  of the stapler main body  100 . Note that in the case of the staple replenishing mechanism, in order to try to make installation possible in the state in which the installation knobs  22  on the cartridge holder  20  are pinched inward, an installation procedure has been selected so that the cartridge holder  20  cannot be installed in the stapler device main body  100  when the cartridge  10  is inserted in the cartridge holder  20 , and the cartridge holder  20  has been designed so that it cannot be easily detached from the stapler device main body  100 . Further, the method of urging the aforementioned cartridge holder  20  and the cartridge  10 , and the method of locking by means of the set lever  90 , will be described in detail in the operational description of FIGS. 11 and 12 provided below. Note also the cartridge  10  stores staples  20  in a storage unit  13  therein, the staples  20  being straight, long and slender and grouped together side to side, linked together into a belt by means of an adhesive, and wound up into a roll. The staple end is prevented from returning back into the storage unit  13  by means of a staple non-return pawl not shown in the figures, and that end of the staples is stored in a state in which it abuts and is positioned on the tip portion  12  of the cartridge  10 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cartridge holder of the same stapler device which, other than the detent  21 , the installation knobs  22 , and the installation guides  23 , comprises a magnet  24 A that is disposed such that it faces a position that a crank portion passes through which joins both ends of a staple that has been formed into a U-shape and driven into a stack of sheets, and that serves to eliminate unsatisfactorily bound staples from the device that are generated during the stapling process in the front of the stapler main body  100  (in the installation direction) by detaching the cartridge holder  20 . The cartridge holder  20  further comprises a non-magnetic magnet retaining member  24 B made of stainless steel and formed into a U-shape such that it holds a front portion of the magnet  24 A, the front portion thereof becoming a guide surface when a driver on the cartridge holder  20  slides, and a staple forwarding pawl means  25  that has a staple forwarding pawl  26  that steps the staples in the cartridge  10  to a stapling position one by one and is pivotably supported on the lateral surfaces of the cartridge holder  20  at a forward pivot portion, and an engaging portion  27  that engages with protrusions on the clincher  40 . The cartridge holder  20  also comprises a step pressing spring  28  that urges the staple forwarding means  25  in a stepped manner, and a hole  29  from which the staple tip portion  12  of the cartridge  10  projects. The process by which an unsatisfactory staple is removed from the stapler device when it is stuck between the stapler device main body  100  and the cartridge holder  20  will now be described. First, in the state shown in FIG. 1, by using one hand to push the set lever  90  downward, as described in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12 below, the lock on the cartridge  10  is released, the cartridge  10  is pushed out of the device, and the cartridge is then pulled out. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the installation knobs  22  on the cartridge holder  20  are pinched together, and by pulling out the cartridge holder  20  from the stapler device main body  100  in the state in which its engagement is released from the engagement holes  102  in the stapler device main body  100 , the space between the stapler device main body  100  and the cartridge holder  20  is open. The staples that are jammed in this space are generally made of steel wire about 0.5 mm in cross-section and are cut into 25 mm lengths, are grouped together side to side and linked together into a belt by means of a synthetic resin type of adhesive making them easily attracted to the magnet  24 A. In this situation, because the staples have almost no weight and are easily attracted to the magnet  24 A provided on the front portion of the cartridge holder  20 , a flux density of 40 Gauss is sufficient. By pulling the cartridge holder  20  out of the stapler device main body  100 , one can widen the space between the stapler device main body  100  and the cartridge  20  in which the jammed staple is sandwiched, jammed staples can be attracted to the magnet  24 A, and can be taken out of the device while the cartridge holder  20  is pulled out of the stapler device main body  100 . Note that in this embodiment, the magnetic attraction force of the magnet  24 A is used. However, by pulling the cartridge holder  20  out of the stapler device main body  100 , jammed staples can be taken out therefrom, and instead of using the magnetic attraction force of the magnet  24 A, the same effect can be easily obtained by replacing the magnet  24 A or the staple facing portion of the magnet retaining member  24 B with an adhesive such as adhesive tape. In addition, the magnet  24 A or the staple attracting agent such as an adhesive or the like are attached to the cartridge holder  20  in this embodiment. However, even in a staple storage unit in which the cartridge  10  and the cartridge holder  20  are formed integral with each other, this can be attained by arranging it in a position that corresponds to the front portion of the cartridge holder  20  in which the magnet  24 A is attached.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the same stapler device, FIG. 5 is a front view of the same stapler device, FIG. 6 is a rear view of the same stapler device, and FIG. 7 is a view of the top of the same stapler device. The configuration of the components will now be described in accordance with FIGS.  4  to  7 .  
         [0049]    As shown in FIG. 2, cartridge  10  is snail-shaped, and has guide protrusions  11 , a storage section  13  that is a stapler case having a symmetrical shape from left to right and that can be split into two section from left to right, and stores staples  200  that are staple sheets linked together into a belt and wound up into a roll, and a staple reverse prevention pawl  14  (shown in FIG. 9) that engages the front staple of the staples  200  such that it prevents it from returning back into the storage unit  13 .  
         [0050]    The cartridge holder  20  serves to hold the cartridge  10 . However, a description thereof will be omitted because it was described in detail earlier in FIG. 3.  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 5, the anvil unit  30  is an open U-shaped member in which the lower side thereof covers the top of the paper guide unit  50  disposed below it. The anvil unit  30  includes clincher arms  31  that pivot about a front pivot portion  32  overlooking the staple driver  103  and which are respectively synchronous in the backward direction therewith, and engage with and fold a staple that has been sent out to the staple position, driven into a sheet bundle in a suitable position, and passed therethrough. The anvil unit  30  further comprises support arms  33  on which a fulcrum shaft  81  is pivotably supported. Plates on the left and right sides of the frame  80  are supported on and fixed to the fulcrum shaft  81 , and extend toward the direction in which the cartridge  10  is installed in the staple driver  103 . The anvil unit  30  also comprises a bending protrusion  34  that is engaged with the frame  80  via a pulling spring  201  that is provided in a tensioned state therebetween, and a bending protrusion  35  that is engaged with one end of a pulling spring  202  that is engaged with the joint levers  60  via a pulling spring  201  provided in a tensioned state therebetween in order to constantly urge it in a direction away from the paper tray unit  50 . The anvil unit  30  also comprises a leaf spring attachment portion  36  that is attached to the paper thickness absorbing leaf spring  70 , which serves to release the drive interlock of the motor MO in response to the thickness of the paper bundle and prevent damage to the device, and a bending protrusion  37  that mates with a slit hole  63  in the joint levers  60 , and serves to restrict movement of the joint levers  60 .  
         [0052]    The clincher  40  is a U-shaped member that is open on the lower side thereof like the anvil unit  30 , and has a clinching unit  41  that pushes down on the anvil unit  30  and bends the staple, support arms  42  that are pivotably supported by the fulcrum shaft  81  that is the same fulcrum point for anvil unit  30 , and a connection shaft  43  that passes through the central portion of the anvil unit  30  and connects the joint levers  60  therewith.  
         [0053]    The paper guide unit  50  is supported in its entirety by the device frame  80 , and has a configuration in the front of the staple driver  103  that is generally well known. It includes a former means that first forms a straight staple into a U-shape, and a driver means that drives the staple formed into a U-shape by the former means into a sheet bundle.  
         [0054]    Joint levers  60  connect the anvil unit  30  with the clincher  40  via the paper thickness absorbing leaf spring  70 . Because they receive the rotation force of the motor MO and pivot the anvil unit  30  and the clincher  40 , they have connection arms  61  that are rotatably supported on connection shaft  43  on the clincher  40  that extend upward, bending protrusions  62  that engage with the anvil unit  30  via pulling springs  202  provided therebetween in a tensioned state, slit holes  63  that mate with the bending protrusions  37  on the anvil unit  30  in order to restrict the position of the anvil unit  30 , and slit holes  64  that receive the rotational force of the motor MO, and mate with a pivot shaft  203  in order to pivot the anvil unit.  30  and the clincher  40 .  
         [0055]    When the anvil unit  30  that is pivoted by the joint levers  60  pushes down on a sheet bundle and reaches the point where it cannot pivot any further, the paper thickness absorbing leaf spring  70  is a spring for so-called paper thickness absorption which serves to block any further pivot connection. It comprises a leaf spring having a plurality of leaves for suitably adjusting the spring pressure, is open on one end thereof, and is attached to a leaf spring attachment portion  36  on the anvil unit  30 .  
         [0056]    As shown in FIG. 5, the main body frame  80  is U-shaped and open at the top such that it contains the cartridge  10 , the cartridge holder  20 , the anvil unit  30 , the clincher  40 , and the paper guide unit  50  on both sides thereof. It also supports the paper guide unit  50  on the staple driver  103  side, and supports the stapler drive mechanism disposed in the rear thereof as shown in FIG. 12. In addition, it supports an auxiliary frame  85  attached thereto and formed from a die. The auxiliary frame  85  has a cam groove  86 , and shafts  87 ,  88 , and supports a cartridge lock mechanism, a detection sensor that is used both to detect cartridge installation and when the staples have been exhausted, and the like.  
         [0057]    The set lever  90  is a member that is formed into an approximate U-shape and interposed between the cartridge  10  such that it holds the cartridge  10  from the rear. As described earlier in FIG. 2, it can detach the cartridge  10  and the cartridge holder  20 , and moreover supports and constantly urges the cartridge  10  and the cartridge holder  20  toward the staple driver  103 . As shown in FIG. 11, cartridge lock mechanism that includes the set lever  90  is supported by the auxiliary frame  85 . The set lever  90  has a lock release knob  91  that is manually pushed in and downward when the cartridge  10  is removed, a slit hole  92  that is arranged so that the set lever  90  can pivot forward and backward when the lock is released, a lock pin shaft  93  that moves in the cam groove  86  of the auxiliary frame  85  between a retain position that locks the cartridge  10  and a retract position that allows the cartridge  10  to be removed, a lock pawl  94  that engages the guide protrusions  11  on the cartridge  10 , and a protrusion  95  for detecting arm withdrawal that, in the release position, withdraws and retains a detection arm SE 2  on a no staples/cartridge installation detection sensor SE. In addition, the set lever  90  has a interlock lever  96  that pivots in response to the set lever  90  in the clockwise direction by moving a set lever  90  that is in the locked, retain position to the retract position when the cartridge  10  is removed. Further, the lock pin shaft  93  is pivotably supported so that it constantly abuts the cam groove  86  in the auxiliary frame  85  by means of an urging means  205  that comprises a pulling coil spring member. Note that the interlock lever  96  moves the set lever  90  from the retract position to the retain position in response to the installation of the cartridge  10 , the shaft  84  on the main body frame  80  is rotatably supported, and the set lever further includes a contact arm  97  that abuts guide protrusions  11  on the cartridge  10  during cartridge installation on one end thereof, and a lock release arm  98  moves the lock pin shaft  93  on the set lever  90  to the lock release position from the locked position on the other end thereof.  
         [0058]    Motor MO is a drive source that bends staples in a stapler into U-shapes in one continuous process, drives the staples into sheet bundles, and bends the staples driven therein. It decelerates the rotations of a standard DC motor, and drives each element by controlling the cam means with this rotation.  
         [0059]    The connector base CO connects an external control circuit with the motor MO, and a home position sensor (not shown in the figures).  
         [0060]    As shown in FIG. 11, the no staples/cartridge installation detection sensor SE is pivotably supported by the shaft  88  on the auxiliary frame  85 . The detection arm SE 2  that extends to one side due to urging spring SE 1  is urged to the position illustrated in the figure, in which it is able to detect whether or not the staples have been exhausted and whether or not a cartridge has been installed. A sensor detection protrusion SE 3  on the other side thereof works together with a detection sensor not shown in the figures, and is able to detect whether or not the staples have been exhausted and whether or not a cartridge has been installed by detecting an ON/OFF state. Further, a protrusion SE 4  in the area around the rotational shaft is pressed downward by means of the protrusion  95  on the set lever  90  in order to retain the set lever  90  in the retract position during removal of the cartridge  10 . Note that the state in the figure shows the detection of staples replenished in the cartridge or a cartridge having staples when mounting a cartridge and the detection arm SE 2  in a state of touching a staple.  
         [0061]    As shown in FIG. 13, stapler home position detection sensor HP is comprised of a detection sensor protrusion CA 31  that is established in a suitable position overlooking an initial position on the circumferential surface of a driver cam rotor CA 30  that rotates by means of the motor MO, and an optical detection sensor that is disposed in a suitable position on the stapler device main body  100 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the clincher  30  of the same stapler device in a clincher standby state. This position can always be detected by the home position sensor (not previously shown in the figures), and is a state in which stapling can occur after a stapling operation has been completed, after a jam has been cleared, or the like. A large opening is opened in staple driver  103 , and is in a standby state such that a sheet bundle can be inserted therein.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 9 is a lateral view of the clincher  30  of the same stapler device in a sheet grasping state, and is shown in a state in which there are no sheets grasped therein in order to describe the maximum pivot limitation. In a real stapling operation, first the pivot of the anvil unit  30  is stopped within this pivot range due to the thickness of the sheet bundle, then clincher  40  pivots further and pivots the clincher arm  31 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the clincher  30  of the same stapler device in a clinching completed state. In the state shown in FIG. 9, the clincher arm  31  pivots further, bends the tips of the staples, engages with the engaging portion  27  of the staple forwarding pawl  25  that is formed on the clincher arm  31 , and the staple forwarding pawl  25  resists and is charged by the urging force of the step pressing spring  28 . In this case, even if the staple reverse prevention pawl  14  does not engage with a staple and the staple connecting portion, and the staple returns half-way back, the staple has already been driven into the sheet bundle so jams do not occur when a staple returns half-way back or there is mis-positioning of the engaging position with the driver when driving a staple.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the necessary components that describe the state in which the set lever  90  of the same stapler device locks the cartridge  10 , and shows a partial cross-sectional view of the necessary components of a lock mechanism for the cartridge  10  used when the cartridge  10  is installed in the stapler device main body  100 . The figure shows the cartridge  10  in the installed state, and locked and retained in the stapler device main body  100 , set lever  90  is urged in the direction of the staple driver  103  by the urging means  205  that comprises a coil spring of a pulling spring member that is stretched between the shaft  87  on the auxiliary frame  85  and the lock pin shaft  93  on the set lever  90 . The lock pawl  94  on the set lever  90  engages with the guide protrusions  11  on the cartridge  10 , and urge them toward the staple driver  103 . In the figure, gaps are provided between the slit hole  92  on the set lever  90  and the shaft  87  on the auxiliary frame  85 , and between the cam groove  86  in the auxiliary frame  85  and the lock pin shaft  93  on the set lever  90 , so that the set lever  90  can move further in the direction of the staple driver  103 . These gaps enable the set lever to retain and to lock the cartridge  10  in the retaining position without eliminate looseness at all times. Note that there are two urging means  205 , each comprised of a coil spring, with one provided in a tensioned state in the same position on the opposite side of FIG. 11.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the necessary components that describe the state in which the set lever  90  of the same stapler device releases the lock on the cartridge  10 . In the state shown in FIG. 11, when a staple is jammed between the staple device main body  100  and the cartridge holder  20 , or due to a staple replenishment signal to the user by means of a signal from the no staples/cartridge installation detection sensor SE, first, while the lock release knob  91  on the set lever  90  is pulled out to the nip side around the shaft  87  on the auxiliary frame  85  by the slit hole  92 , it resists the urging means  205  and the lock pin shaft  93  lowers along the cam groove  86  on the auxiliary frame  85  and to be retained in the state of the figure. In this state, the lock pin shaft  93  touches the engaging arm  98  on the interlock lever  96  that releases the set lever to pivot clockwise in resistance to the urging means, not shown in the drawing. The lock release arm  97  established on one end of the interlock lever  96  to release the set lever faces the position to engage the guide protrusions on the upper cartridge  10 , as can be seen in the figure, and the lock release arm  97  pushes the cartridge  10  to the outside of the device. The cartridge is then pulled further out to replenish staples. In this state, the cartridge  10  having been replenished with staples is inserted into the stapler device main body  100  thereby the cartridge  10  guide protrusions  11  touch the lock release arm  97  to push the lock release arm  97  counter-clockwise thereby the engaging arm  98  on the lock release arm  97  pushes the lock pin shaft  93  on the set lever  90  upward. The lock pin  93  shaft faces the retaining position to lock along the cam groove  86  on the auxiliary frame  85 , shown in FIG. 11. At this time, the guide protrusion  11  on the cartridge  10  is at the position passing the engaging arm  98  and the guide protrusion  11  engages from behind by the engaging arm  98 . The urging means  205  constantly urges toward the staple position direction to make the locked state shown in FIG. 11. Note that in the locked state, the cartridge  10  is constantly urged to the staple position direction to correctly position the end of the staples always on the staple driving position on the staple driver  103  so that the end of the staple  200  is retained at the staple end  12  and it is impossible for staples to be unnecessarily taken out.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 13 is a schematic view that describes the driver drive system of the same stapler device. It is composed of the drive motor MO that is comprised of a direct current motor, an output gear GA 10 , first and second reduction gears GA 20  and GA 30 , third and fourth reduction gears GA 40  and GA 50 , a fifth reduction gear GA 60 , a clincher drive eccentric cam CA 10 , an anvil drive eccentric cam CA 20 , a driver cam rotor CA 30  that forms an engagement,pin CA 31 , and a driver drive eccentric cam CA 40  that forms the driver drive cam surface CA 42  and the indentation mated by the engaging pin CA 31 . The pivot shaft  203  that pivots the clincher  40  abuts the clincher drive eccentric cam CA 10 , and the pivot shaft  204  that pivots the anvil unit  30  abuts the anvil drive eccentric cam CA 20 . In addition, the detection protrusion CA 31  that detects the home position is configured to interrupt light at the home position to control the optical detection sensor HP established at the appropriate position on the stapler device main unit  100  in one rotation.  
       Description of Operation  
       [0068]    [0068]FIG. 14 is a timing chart that describes the serial operation of the same stapler device. This serial operation will be described by using this FIG. 14, the drive system of FIG. 13, and FIGS.  8  to  10 . Drive motor MO receives a staple operation start signal from the device main body (not shown in the figures) and begins to rotate. As shown in FIG. 13, the output gear GA 10  receives the rotation of the drive motor MO, and the sixth reduction gear  60  starts to rotate via the first through fifth rotation gears  10 - 50 . The movement of this sixth reduction gear  60  corresponds to the movement of the drive motor MO of FIG. 14. First, the anvil pivot shaft  203  that abuts the anvil drive eccentric cam CA 20  starts the pivoting of anvil unit  30  to pivot within a range of a maximum of 2 sheets in a plurality sheets in a sheet bundle to be sandwiched (rotational angle 85° of the sixth reduction gear  60 ) and 50 sheets which is the tolerable number of sheets in a bundle, indicated by the dotted line in the figure. When doing so, the anvil unit  30  sandwiches the sheet bundle and cannot swing farther so the swinging of anvil pivot shaft  203  that abuts the anvil drive eccentric cam CA 20  is absorbed by the paper thickness absorbing leaf spring  70 . The former and driver, not shown in the figures and driven by the driver drive cam CA 40  shown in FIG. 1 is slidably supported in the vertical direction in the paper guide unit  50  moves slightly later than the pivoting of the anvil unit  30  and after the former has formed the straight staple ends into a U-shape, the driver continues to drive the staple ends formed into a U-shape into the sheet bundle an appropriate amount. Then, the pivot shaft  203  that abuts the clincher drive eccentric cam CA 10  starts the pivoting of the clincher  40  to bend the ends of the staples driven into and having pierced through the sheet bundle an appropriate amount. After bending, the clincher  40  returns and anvil unit  30  and the driver and former return to complete one series of the stapling operation. Note that after starting the rotation of the drive motor MO, the home position sensor HP slightly later because of the rotation of the driver cam rotating body CA 30  detects that the stapler device  100  is not in the home state or the prescribed initial state. By detecting whether or not it has returned to its initial state in the prescribed time, it checks to confirm the series of the stapler&#39;s operations and in the event that the home position sensor HP output after the prescribed operations is not recovered to its initial state, an error is determined for handling. Note, that although the starting of the operation is slightly delayed, in reference to the action of the drive motor MO, it is also possible to detect simultaneously.
A stapler apparatus includes a cartridge 10 storing staples 200 detachably supported, a staple driving unit 103 in the front direction of the cartridge mounting, an urging means 205 to urge the cartridge 10 to the staple punching side, and an interlocking means 96 mounted and linked to the cartridge 10 staple punching unit 103 to operate the urging means 205 onto the cartridge 10. The construction provides a stapler apparatus that allows the easy mounting of a cartridge and that can effectively urge a cartridge toward the punching station of the cartridge.