Abstract: An electric stapler has a stapling mechanism which is connected to a power source through a switch and staples a sheet stack inserted into a throat. An actuator is adapted to abut against an edge of a sheet stack at a plurality of positions along the edge of the sheet stack and to be moved by the sheet stack in response to insertion thereof to an operative position where it operates the switch to actuate the stapling mechanism. A sub-actuator is positioned in front of the actuator and is movable between an erected position where it stands into the sheet stack insertion passage to abut against a sheet stack when the sheet stack is inserted into the throat and a horizontal position where it is retracted from the sheet stack insertion passage not to abut against a sheet stack.

Abstract: A stapling device including a staple driver for inserting a staple into sheets and a clincher for bending the staple piercing through the sheets, which are opposed to each other astride a sheet passage, is provided with shifting means for bringing the staple driver and clincher close to each other in stapling operation, and widely separating said staple driver from said clincher in standing ready for stapling. The sheet passage is widely secured between the staple driver and the clincher on standby so as to allow the sheets to smoothly enter into the sheet passage. This stapling device provides an automatic sheet binding function suitably applicable as a bookbinding system for an image forming device such as a printer and copying machine.

Abstract: A portable image scanner capable of selecting a manual document loading mode in which a cover member is united to a scanner body to feed a cut-sheet document through a document passage defined between the united scanner body and cover member for scanning the document, or a self-propelling mode in which the cover member is separated from the scanner body to move the independent scanner body on a thick document such as a book. The scanner body has a document sensor for detecting the cut-sheet document placed in the document passage in the manual document loading mode, and the thick document in the self-propelling mode to prevent the scanner body moving on the document from falling out of the edge of the thick document.