How does a stapler work?

Question

I've always wondered about this. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

Staplers can be manual, electrical or pneumatic. Manual staplers are either direct or spring-driven.

In all cases, a u-shaped "log" of staples rides either on a rail or  pair of rails or in a trough. A spring provides pressure at the back of the "log" to advance it toward the stapling head so that a single staple is always positioned between in a chute made from two plates at the front of the device.

There is a hammer or pusher at the front of the stapler, It can slide between the two plates mentioned above. In a simple desk stapler, the use just pushes down firmly and the hammer contacts the top of the staple in the chute and pushes it down through the paper being stapled. As the staple descends, the staple ends are bent either inward or outward by grooves cut into the base of the stapler .

Heavy spring-driven (or electrical or pneumatic) staplers are intended to drive staples their full length into the target, so do not have the same kind of base. Instead the front end of such a stapler is open so that when the hammer comes down, the staple is driven into the target material.

Now you know............

Answer 2

Put two or more pieces of paper in its mouth and push on the head.  It will put a small metal rod into the two or more pieces of paper, and vola!....they are connected!!!

Answer 3

As with anything, sometimes the best way to figure it out is to take one apart, after its warranty expires.

Answer 4

The stapler forces a small piece of sharp bendable wire down through the guide. The wire pierces the paper(s), and then is bent inwards or outwards - depending on the stapler - against the paper(s) to clasp it together.

The force that you apply to the head of the stapler is what bends the wire.

Nowadays, staples come lightly glued together for ease in loading into the stapler or staple gun.

Note that a staple gun is slightly different in that it does not bend the ends of the wire, but just shoots the sharp ends into the material you have selected.

Answer 5

Take one and look at it. Lift the reload lever so you can see the unused staples.  Look at the other side of the stapler where the staple is "closed". Use it.

In other words, figure it out. It's one of the simplest machines around.