Stapling Device

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable battery-operated stapler.

1 - 84  (canceled) 
     
     
         85 . A stapling device comprising:
 a housing comprising a contact surface and defining an ejection channel terminating in an ejection opening defined in the contact surface, the housing comprising a first detecting device;   an ejector movable in the ejection channel between an upper position and a lower position;   a magazine attached to the housing and configured to, when storing one or more staples, position one of the one or more staples in the ejection channel;   a drive operably connected to the ejector and configured to move the ejector from the upper position to the lower position to engage the staple in the ejection channel and eject the staple out of the ejection opening;   an activatable trigger; and   a control system configured to, when in a semi-automatic operating mode:
 responsive to a first triggering condition being met, control the drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position; and 
 after the first triggering condition has been met, responsive to a second triggering condition being met, control the drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position, 
 wherein the first triggering condition and the second triggering condition are different. 
   
     
     
         86 . The stapling device of  claim 85 , wherein the first triggering condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first detecting device detects an object. 
     
     
         87 . The stapling device of  claim 86 , wherein the second triggering condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device stops detecting the object and later detects the object. 
     
     
         88 . The stapling device of  claim 85 , wherein the trigger comprises a second detecting device. 
     
     
         89 . The stapling device of  claim 88 , wherein the first triggering condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first detecting device detects a first object and the second detecting device detects a second object different from the first object. 
     
     
         90 . The stapling device of  claim 89 , wherein the second triggering condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device stops detecting the first object and later detects the first object while the second detecting device detects the second object. 
     
     
         91 . The stapling device of claim  9 , wherein the first and second detecting devices include optical sensors. 
     
     
         92 . The stapling device of  claim 85 , further comprising a lifting element, a transmission rod connected to the lifting element, and a guide element connected to the transmission rod, wherein the ejector is mounted to the guide element, wherein the drive is operably connected to the ejector via the lifting element, the transmission rod, and the guide element. 
     
     
         93 . The stapling device of  claim 92 , further comprising gearing and an eccentric cam, wherein the drive is operably connected to the cam via the gearing and configured to rotate the cam, wherein the lifting element defines a slide, wherein the slide comprises first and second portions that are oriented transversely to one another, wherein the cam is at least partially positioned in the slide such that the cam acts on the lifting element to move the lifting element during rotation of the cam. 
     
     
         94 . The stapling device of  claim 85 , wherein the control system is further configured to, when in an automatic operating mode:
 responsive to the first triggering condition being met, control the drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position; and   responsive to a third triggering condition being met, control the drive to repeatedly cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position, wherein consecutive movements of the ejector from the upper position to the lower position are separated by a time interval,   wherein the third triggering condition is different from the first and second triggering conditions.   
     
     
         95 . The stapling device of  claim 94 , wherein the control system is further configured to stop controlling the drive device to repeatedly cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position responsive to the third triggering condition no longer being met. 
     
     
         96 . The stapling device of  claim 95 , wherein the first triggering condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first detecting device detects an object. 
     
     
         97 . The stapling device of  claim 96 , wherein the third triggering condition is met when both the trigger remains activated and the first detecting device continues detecting the object after the first triggering condition is met. 
     
     
         98 . The stapling device of  claim 97 , wherein the second triggering condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device stops detecting the object and later detects the object. 
     
     
         99 . The stapling device of  claim 94 , wherein the control system is further configured to, when in a manual operating mode, responsive to the first triggering condition being met, control the drive to cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position. 
     
     
         100 . The stapling device of  claim 99 , wherein the control system is further configured to stop controlling the drive device to repeatedly cause the ejector to move from the upper position to the lower position responsive to the third triggering condition no longer being met. 
     
     
         101 . The stapling device of  claim 100 , wherein the first triggering condition is met when the trigger is activated while the first detecting device detects an object. 
     
     
         102 . The stapling device of  claim 101 , wherein the third triggering condition is met when both the trigger remains activated and the first detecting device continues detecting the object after the first triggering condition is met. 
     
     
         103 . The stapling device of  claim 102 , wherein the second triggering condition is met when, while the trigger remains activated after the first triggering condition is met, the first detecting device stops detecting the object and later detects the object. 
     
     
         104 . The stapling device of  claim 94 , further comprising an input device configured to receive an input, wherein the control system is further configured to change the time interval in response to the input.