The present invention concerns a device with ring binder for the perforation of holes, in accordance with the introduction to Claim 1.

With existing ring binders one is obliged to use a perforator- As the perforator or punch is kept in a different place fεom the ring binder, this can waste a lot of time when searching for it. Then, the perforation proces itself is time consuming, since there are a number of different work operations required. Devices are known that combine a ring binder and a hol perforator.

Devices are described in US patent specification 1 567 374 and NO explanatory notice 142 205 for the punching of holes in sheets of paper. These are designed to fit in on the rings, and make single holes. NO explanatory notice 152 536 also describes a device to make single holes, by means of a punch on a trigger mechanism fitted to the clamp slide.

DE explanatory notice 1 124 455 shows a hole punching mechanism that uses the clamp slide itself. In this patent specification a sheet of paper is placed in the path of the ring bracket which is open, the rings are then closed, and the clamp slide is then pushed across, taking the sheet and thus perforating it. The disadvantage of this device is that it will be difficult to make exact holes, and at the same time it will be a problem to hold a sheet of paper in the correct position.

One main objective of the present invention is to design a device to perforate holes that is an integral part of a ring binder but which avoids the disadvantages associated with known devices of similar character.

The objective of the invention is realized by a device that is designed in accordance with the characterizing part of Claim 1. Other advantageous characteristics are evident from the associated subsidiary claims.

The principle of the invention is based on integrating a perforation unit in the binding mechanism of a ring binder by means of a slot between the support of the locking mechanism and the binder itself. Furthermore, the perforator is connected to the bracket so that it can be moved by the lever. It is also advantageous to have a container to collect the pieces that have been punched from the sheets. The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the enclosed drawings, where Fig. 1 shows an example of a design in accordance with the invention, in lateral perspective, and Fig. 2 shows the design in Fig. 1 in a front perspective.

The drawings show a ring binder with an attachment plate 1, which has a number of binding supports 8. These binding supports 8 are designed to fit sheeted material that has been previously perforated by suitable equipment. There is also the same number of ring brackets 2, that are secured so as to pivot at one end 3 from a joint 10. At their foot the ring brackets 2 form a tongue, or what is essentially a horizontal clamp 4, that is held underpressure by a leaf spring 5. A lever 6 counterbalances the pressure from spring 5 by means of a wheel 15. The lever 6 is pivoted at point 6 to a protrusion 17 on the binding plate 18. The joints 10 are also linked to the binding plate 18. At the other end 7 of the ring bracket, there is a closed connection called the binder rings 2,8, with the supports 8 protruding upwards when the lever 6 is in its lower position. When the lever 6 is lifted the leaf spring 5 forces the bracket 2 to pivot from the joint 10 so that the supports 8 are released at the top and the perforated sheeted material can be placed on the supports. This is known design.

Apart from what is known, the present invention includes a binding plate 18 that is fitted slightly above the ring binder 1, so that slot 9 is formed. There are also punches 11. The punches are connected to the lever mechanism by a rod or one or two rods 19. At their lower end, the punches 11 fit holes 13 in the binder plate, these holes 13

forming an opening to a receptacle 12 in the ring binder 1. The ring binder is preferably equipped with a removable plastic lid 14.

When the lever 6 is used to open the bracket 2 to insert sheeted material, the punches 11 are also raised. This means that the slot 9 is completely open and one or more sheets can be inserted into it. The sheets can be inserted as far as the edge of the binding plate, so that the holes will be at the correct distance from the edge of the sheet. When the lever 6 is pressed down, the punches 11 follow, perforate the sheets and go through the holes 13 so that the material that has been punched will be emptied int this receptacle 12. The container 12 will be gradually filled with small pieces of paper, and can be emptied by removing its lid 14.

The example has been based on a ring binder for two holes. The invention can nevertheless also be applied with other numbers of holes, such as three or four. It is also fully possible to use the invention in connection with another type of opening mechanism than a lever.

Nevertheless, it is an advantage that there is some kind of gearing to increase the force at the punches. This is especially important when a number of sheets are to be perforated at the same time.