Binder Mover Rotation Limiter for Staple Replenishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In post-processing apparatuses, staple replenishment is complicated due to the locking of the binder's movement when a jam occurs, making it difficult for users to replenish staples efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a binder mover mechanism that includes a motor, ratchet gear, driving force transmitter, and rotation limiter, allowing the binder to move in the main scanning direction and facilitating staple replenishment by restricting reverse rotation of the ratchet gear when the cover is opened.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the binder movement is locked when the door opens to prevent staple depletion, then staple replenishment is facilitated, but the binder cannot be moved to replenish staples when a jam occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation limiter is designed to dynamically change its state based on the door position. When the door is closed, the rotation limiter allows bidirectional rotation of the ratchet gear for normal binder movement. When the door is opened, the rotation limiter automatically shifts to a state that restricts reverse rotation, thereby locking the binder in its current position to facilitate staple replenishment. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing different movement constraints based on operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation limiter acts as an intermediary mechanism between the ratchet gear and the binder. It mediates the rotation control by selectively allowing or restricting reverse rotation based on door position. This intermediary component enables the system to achieve both binder locking for staple replenishment and binder movement for jam resolution without requiring complex control systems.
2Ease of operation
If the rotation limiter restricts reverse rotation of the ratchet gear when the door opens, then the binder is locked for staple replenishment, but the binder cannot be moved to resolve jams
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation limiter is designed to automatically adjust its restriction state based on the door position without requiring external control signals. When the door opens, the rotation limiter self-activates to restrict reverse rotation, and when the door closes, it automatically allows rotation again. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall control system while achieving the desired binder locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation restriction function is extracted from the main binder mover mechanism and implemented as a separate rotation limiter component. This extraction allows the restriction function to be independently controlled based on door position, separating the complexity of the restriction mechanism from the core binding operation while maintaining overall system simplicity.
3Device complexity
If the binder is locked at door opening to prevent staple depletion, then staple replenishment is simplified, but operational complexity increases when jams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation limiter is pre-configured to automatically restrict reverse rotation when the door opens, preparing the binder in advance for staple replenishment operation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual binder repositioning during staple replenishment, reducing operational time and complexity while maintaining the ability to resolve jams when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration simplifies the staple replenishment process and allows manual movement of the binder during jams, reducing operational complexity and power consumption while ensuring efficient binding operations.
Implementation Method 1
The ratchet gear receives a driving force of the motor to rotate in a forward direction or a reverse direction
Implementation Method 2
The driving force transmitter moves the binder toward one side in the main scanning direction as the ratchet gear rotates in the forward direction and moves the binder toward an opposite side in the main scanning direction as the ratchet gear rotates in the reverse direction
Implementation Method 3
the rotation limiter contacts the ratchet gear to allow rotation in the forward direction and restrict rotation in the reverse direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A post-processing apparatus (3) includes a conveyor (10 to 19), a tray (22), a binder (25), and a binder mover (40). The binder (25) binds the recording media on the tray (22) with a plurality of staples in a cartridge (52). The binder mover (40) includes a motor (42), a ratchet gear (49) that receives a driving force of the motor (42) to rotate in a forward direction or a reverse direction, a driving force transmitter (43 to 48) that moves the binder (25) toward one side in the main scanning direction as the ratchet gear (49) rotates in the forward direction and moves the binder (25) toward an opposite side in the main scanning direction as the ratchet gear (49) rotates in the reverse direction, and a rotation limiter (50) that moves between a rotation allowing position and a rotation limiting position.