Appeal No. 2001-0267
Application No. 08/980,352
We cannot sustain the rejection of claims 1 through 3 and
5 through 8 for the reasons set forth, infra.
As disclosed (specification, page 3), an automatic
clipping device is provided for holding and bending a clip by
the use of a pair of clamps for fastening sheets together with
the clip. The device is capable of stopping a bending
operation by the pair of
clamps if a clip is not between the clamps when an operation
of feeding the clip between the clamps is performed a
predetermined number of times. Clip-setting-detecting means
are provided for detecting whether a separated clip is held by
the clamps or not. A control means has a detecting step in
which a slider that feeds plate-shaped clips from a cartridge
to the clamps is caused to perform an operation of feeding a
belt of plate-shaped clips a predetermined number of times,
and if the belt of plate-shaped clips is not detected by the
clip-setting-detecting means during the predetermined number
of times, the clamps and the slider are stopped from being
driven. The reference to a predetermined number of times
denotes at least two times (Fig. 1; specification, page 23,
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007