One of the difficulties is encountered in such devices in that where (typically) 20 apertures are provided in the packet, the force which is required to cause punches to penetrate the sheets may be quite large, and this requires the construction of a relatively heavy duty punching device, to enable sufficient force to be applied to the device to cause the punches to penetrate the sheets.

According to this invention there is provided a punching device comprising: a) a punch body; b) a plurality of punching devices mounted on the punch body, said punching devices being arranged in spaced, linear array, each punching device providing a support surface on which material to be punched may be located, the support surfaces lying generally in a plane, and each punching device comprising a punch housing and a punch member mounted for movement relative to the housing towards and away from the support surface, and into an aperture provided in the support surface, means being provided resiliently to urge said punch member away from the support surface; and c) manually operative means to urge the punch members towards said support surface to cause said punch members to pass through material located in the support surface and into the apertures in the support surface; characterised in that each of the punch members is of generally rectangular cross section, a first leading edge of the punch member being inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the punch member, and a second leading edge of the punch member which lies in a plane extending at right angles to a plane in which said first leading edge lies being inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the punch member.

Preferably the leading face of the punch member lies in a plane inclined to the longitudinal axis in two mutually perpendicular directions.

In this way each punch member passes into the sheets of paper point first, causing the paper to be severed by a guillotine-like movement along two sides simultaneously. This significantly reduces the force required to cause the punch to pass through the paper, and allows a punching device to be produced which is significantly less robust than has hereto for been found to be necessary.

Preferably both leading edges are straight edges, but may if desired be curved, preferably concave-curved.

Preferably said acute angle lies in the range of 3° to 30°. Preferably the angle of inclination of the two leading edges is different, one being greater than the other by a factor of 2 or more, and the cutting edges of each punch member completes their severing operations at different times. Preferably the angle of inclination of one of the leading edges lies in the range 80° to 60° to the longitudinal axis, preferably within the range 75° to 65°, and preferably the angle of inclination of the other leading edge of each punch member lies in the range 88° to 75°, preferably in the range 87° to 83° to the longitudinal axis of the punch member.

Where the leading edges are curved, the angle may represent the average angle of inclination of the leading edge, but preferably represents the maximum inclination of the leading edge.

Another problem encountered in punching and binding machines is in the provision of a device to cause the fingers of the binding element or comb to be uncoiled, to allow the perforated packet to be placed onto the comb, prior to relaxation and binding.

Thus, conventionally a binding device comprises clamping means to clamp the binding element, and a slide plate comprising a plurality of engagement elements of inverted L-shape which is moved to engage the fingers of the binding element to uncoil the fingers, to allow the perforated packed to be placed on the binding element.

Again, difficulty has previously been encountered in the provision of a binding device which is simple in its construction and operation.

Thus, in accordance with the second aspect of this invention there is provided a binding device comprising a housing, a slide plate mounted on the housing and provided with a plurality of engagement elements of inverted L- shape, operating means on the housing to cause the slide plate to move between an inoperative position and an operative position, and guide means to cause the slide plate to move from its inoperative position initially in a first direction and secondly in a second direction substantially at right angles to said first direction, the operating means being manually operative and comprising operating members mounted for linear movement on opposite sides of the device, whereby the operating members may be operated by two hands gripping said opposite sides of the device.

In this way, the slide plate may be caused to move the engagement elements to uncoil fingers of the binding element without the requirement to manipulate operating mechanism. This permits a binding device in accordance with the last preceding paragraph to be produced which is relatively simple in its construction and easy to operate.

Preferably said linear movement is linear retractive movement, ie. away from the housing, and preferably each operating member is adapted to engage with an inclined slot provided in the slide plate, said slot being inclined such that linear retractive movement of the operating member initially causes movement of the slide plate in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the operating member-viz, the first direction of movement of the slide plate-and subsequently causes movement of the slide plate in said second direction.

Thus preferably, each slot is inclined to the direction of movement of the operating member, and preferably the guide means comprises cam mechanism operative between the slide plate and the housing to restrict movement of the slide plate initially to movement in said first direction, in which the inverted L- shape elements enter into the coils of the comb, and subsequently in the second direction, for said elements to uncoil the fingers of the comb.

Thus the guide means may comprise one or more L-shaped slots in the slide plate, into which fixed bosses of the housing extend. Thus movement of the operating members, exerting an inclined force on the slide plate, initially cause the slide plate to move substantially width wise of the array of fingers, and subsequently cause the slide plate to move linearly away from the array of fingers.

Another of the problems encountered in punching and binding machines is the accommodation of scrap material punched from a stack of sheets, and it is another of the various objects of this invention to provide a punching device in which punched material may readily be accommodated.

Thus according to this invention there is also provided a punching device comprising a punch body, a plurality of punching devices mounted on the punch body, said punching devices being arranged in spaced, linear array, a support surface being provided on which material to be punched may be located, each punching device comprising a punch member mounted for movement in a direction at right angles to said support surface, means being provided to cause said punch members to move towards said support surface and through material located on the support surface and through punch apertures in the support surface, characterised in that the punching device comprises a cover detachably mounted on the punch body, providing an enclosure into which punched material may pass from the apertures.

Thus, preferably the apertures open downwardly into the enclosure, the cover and punch body thus providing a receptacle for punched material.

Preferably the cover is mounted on the punch body by snap-fit or similar quick release means, to enable the cover readily to be detached from the remainder of the punching device, to enable it conveniently to be emptied of punched material.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a punching and binding machine which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example, the machine comprising punching mechanism and binding mechanism, also illustrative of the invention in certain of its aspects.

In the accompany drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the punching and binding machine which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, a container body, affording a cover of the machine, having been removed; FIGURE 2 is a transfer sectional view of the machine, showing the punching mechanism of the machine in a first, inoperative position; FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, showing the punching mechanism in a second, operative condition; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of part of the machine, showing individual punching devices of the machine; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the leading edges of one of the punch members of the machine; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a slide plate of the binding mechanism of the machine; FIGURES 7,8 and 9 show three stages in the operation of the binding mechanism; and FIGURE 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line x-x of Figure 9.

The machine which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a punching assembly 6 and a binding assembly 8 secured together to provide a unitary punch and binding assembly 10. The punching assembly comprises a punch body 12 supporting, in spaced array, a plurality of punching devices 14, each punching device 14 comprising a punch housing 16 comprising detent members 18a, 18b adapted to be clipped into corresponding apertures in a base plate 20 of the punch body. Each punch housing comprises an elongate guide aperture 22, passing through a support surface 24 upon which material to be punched may be supported, and a punch member 26 slidably mounted relative to the housing 16 for linear movement within the aperture 22.

Spring means 28 is provided, which engages between an interior surface 29 of the punch housing and a flange 30 of the punch member 26 to urge the punch member into an upper position, shown in Figure 2, in which an upper end of the punch member 26 protrudes through an upper aperture 32 of the punch housing.

A lower, operative end portion of each punch member is inclined in two orthogonal directions, such that a first operative edge of the punch member is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the punch member at a first angle, and a second operative edge of the punch member is inclined to the longitudinal axis at a second, different angle.

Figure 5 shows the leading edge portion of the punch member 26, the portion in dotted lines being removed by a chamfering operation. Initially a chamfering operation is carried out from a first operative edge A, extending at an angle of alpha to the horizontal (90-alpha to the longitudinal axis of the punch member). Conveniently where the punch member is of non-square rectangular cross section, this first chamfering operation is carried out from the operative edge which is the longer of the two.

Subsequently a second chamfering operation is carried out on a second operative edge B, at a different angle beta to the horizontal (90-beta to the longitudinal axis of the punch member).

Pivotally mounted on the punch body 12, for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis 36, is an operating member 38, which also affords a top cover plate for the punch members. Pivotally mounted on the rear of the punch body, for rotation about a pivot axis 43 (see Figure 4), is a second operating member 42, which also affords a carrying handle which may be depressed (movement thereof in the direction A of Figure 4) to cause the operating member 38 to be rotated about pivot axis 36, causing an operating portion 40 thereof to engage the upper portions of the punch members 26 protruding through the apertures 32, to depress the punch members to cause them to move to operative positions, in which they pass downwardly within the guide apertures 22, passing across the slot 23 and moving beyond the support surface 24 into punch apertures 21.

Thus with the second operating member 42 in its inoperative position, a packet such as in the form of a plurality of sheets of paper may be entered orthogonally into the slot 23 to engage with a rear location surface 25 thereof, and the operating member 42 depressed to cause the punch members to be moved against the action of the springs 28 downwardly through the sheets, to provide a plurality of rectangular apertures in the packet, the severed material being forced downwardly to pass through the punch apertures 21 and through apertures 27 in the base plate 20. On release of the operating member 42, the operating member 38 will be rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot axis 36 (Figure 2), forcing the operating member 42 to adopt its inoperative position, as the punch members are withdrawn from the slots 32 of their punch housings.

By virtue of the particular design of the leading faces of the punch members, each punch member engages the packet initially with a point P, (Figure 5) provided between the two operative edges Q and R, inclined respectively to the longitudinal axis of the punch member by different amounts.

Movement of the punch member through the packet will cause cutting to be effected simultaneously by the two edges Q and R, cutting being transferred to the third operative face S (parallel to and opposite the face Q) as the second operative face R passes beyond the surface 24. Cutting is then continued by the two operative faces Q and S, until the operative face Q passes beyond the surface 24, at which cutting is transferred to the fourth operative face T, parallel to and opposite the operative face R, until the uppermost corner U of the operative face of the punch member passes beyond the support surface 24.

It has been found that with this design of punch, highly effective passage of the punch members through the material may be obtained with a significantly lower force then has heretofore been found possible. In particular, the initial point penetration of the paper by the point P may be effected relatively easily, and transfer of the cutting operation from the cutting edges Q and R to the cutting edges T and S occur at different times, resulting in smoother passage of the punches through the material.

The machine which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises a cover 50 having formations 52a which may be located in recesses (not shown) on the punch body, and recesses 54 into which resilient engagement members 58 projecting rearwardly of the punch body may be located to snap-fit the cover 50 onto the punch body, although it will of course be appreciated that these elements may be reversed, if desired.

When snap-fitted in position, a lower plate 56 of the cover engages with an interior vertical wall 31 of the punch body, with the lower plate 56 being located beneath the base plate 20, providing an enclosure 51 into which material passing through the punch apertures 21 may fall. In this manner, and in particular by the use of a cover for the machine, a receptacle for relatively large quantities of punched material is provided conveniently, and which may be emptied relatively simply by the removal of the cover from the punch body.

The binding assembly 8 comprises a housing 66 which is secured to the punch body 12 by two screws 64 which pass through the underside of a lower plate 62, extending forwardly from the wall 31, and into cylindrical bosses 65 which extend downwardly from the underside of the housing 66.

The binding assembly comprises a slide plate 70 provided along one side edge thereof with a plurality of engagement members 80, of inverted L-shape, shown in Figure 6. Provided at the side edges of the slide plate are two inclined slots 84, extending approximately at 45° to the array of engagement elements, affording part of operating mechanism of the binding assembly, as will hereinafter be described in further detail. Provided in the slide plate 70 are two L-shaped slots 86 affording part of guide means of the binding assembly, as will also be described hereinafter.

The slide plate is located within the housing 66, resting on ribs 67 thereof, with the bosses 65 extending through the slots 86, with the engagement members 80 extending through L-shaped slots 88 provided in the upper face of the housing 66.

Whilst in the preferred embodiment two screws 64, bosses 65 and slots 86 are utilised, if desired three (or more) may be utilised to increase stability.

Provided at the outer sides of the housing 66 are guide ways 90, in each of which an operating member 60 is mounted, so as to be slideably moveable linearly in the direction C (Figure 7). The slide plate 70 is secured to the operating members 60 by screws 83 which pass into the operating member 60 from the underside thereof, and through the inclined slots 84 in the slide plate, the slide plate being retained in position adjacent to the operating members by the heads of the screws 83, but being permitted limited lateral movement relative thereto as the screw moves relative to the slot 84. To assist such movement, a bearing collar 85 is mounted on the shank of the screw 83 (see Figure 10).

In the use of the binding assembly of the machine, a binding comb is inserted onto the housing by locating the spine between the housing and the upwardly-extending tabs 69, as shown in Figure 10, with the engagement elements 80 located to the sides of the fingers. From the position shown in Figure 7, the operating members 60 are retracted in the direction of the arrow C, conveniently by grasping the housing 66 and with the use of thumb pressure alone, causing the screws 83 to engage with the forward surfaces of the slots 84. At this stage movement of the slide plate 70 is constrained by engagement of the bosses 65 within the slots 86, and only horizontal movement of the slide plate, particularly to the right as shown in the drawing, is permitted, until the bosses 65 engage with the left hand side faces of the slots 86. At this position (shown in Figure 8) the terminal portions 82 of the L-shaped engagement members 80 are located within the coils of the binding comb, and on continued movement of the operating members 60, engagement of the screws 83 with the forward faces of the slot 84 cause the slide plate to move forwardly to a latched position shown in Figure 9, and the members 80 consequently to move in a way as to cause uncoiling of the binding comb, in conventional manner. Latching of the operating member 60 is achieved by movement of a shoulder of the operating member, the position of which is indicated by the numeral 63 in Figure 7, behind a shallow wall of the housing. The perforated stack of sheet material may be inserted over the fingers of the comb, and by releasing the latch, effected by downward pressure on the operating members, reverse movement of the operating members the engagement elements are firstly withdrawn, to the position shown in Figure 8, to allow the binding comb to coil itself around the edge margin of the stack of sheet material, and secondly to the position shown in Figure 7, in which the terminal portions of the engagement element are removed from within the coils, permitting the bound stack to be removed from the machine.