Binding Device Clamping Unit Reduces Sheet Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional binding devices that use serrated rotary members to bind sheet bundles often distort the sheets, leading to untidy and unfavorably bound appearances due to the serrated portions pulling the bundle in the rotating direction.
Innovation Solution
A binding device with a clamping unit that applies a pulling force opposite to the moving direction to the sheet bundle, reducing distortion by clamping upstream of the engagement position, while serrated rotary members form serrations in the sheet bundle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two rotary members with serrated portions are used to perform binding process, then the binding efficiency and productivity are improved, but the sheet bundle becomes distorted and the binding appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping unit applies a preliminary counteracting force in the direction opposite to the pulling force generated by the rotary members. This preliminary anti-action prevents the sheet bundle from being distorted by the serrated portions during the binding process, thereby maintaining both high productivity and good binding appearance quality.
2Speed
If serrated portions are engaged with the sheet bundle in the rotating direction, then the binding process speed is improved, but the sheets are pulled and become untidy
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping unit generates a counterforce that opposes the pulling force exerted by the rotating serrated portions on the sheet bundle. This counterweight mechanism prevents the sheets from becoming untidy while allowing the binding process to proceed at high speed, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and sheet bundle neatness.
3Device complexity
If the sheet bundle is moved in the rotating direction during binding, then the binding process is simplified, but distortion occurs and binding quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the clamping unit that applies a counteracting force before the distortion can occur, the system maintains the simplicity of moving the sheet bundle in the rotating direction while preventing quality degradation. The preliminary anti-action from the clamping unit compensates for the harmful effects of this simple movement approach.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the invention, a binding device includes a first rotary member including a first serrated portion on its circumferential surface, a second rotary member including, on its circumferential surface, a second serrated portion to be engaged with the first serrated portion at an engaging position and configured to perform a binding process by rotating together with the first rotary member with a bundle of sheets pinched therebetween to form serrations in the sheet bundle in thickness direction and bring the sheets into engagement with each other while relatively moving the sheet bundle in a predetermined moving direction, and a clamping unit configured to, when the binding process is performed, clamp the sheet bundle at a clamping position upstream of the engaging position to apply a predetermined pulling force acting in a direction opposite to the moving direction to the sheet bundle.