Binding Device Holding Portions Prevent Tooth Shifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

In binding devices that use upper and lower teeth portions to deform a recording material bundle for binding, the shifting or inclining of teeth can lead to a decrease in binding force, especially when dealing with bundles of six or more sheets, resulting in reduced binding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A binding device with upper and lower teeth portions that form unevenness in the bundle, paired with holding portions to maintain the bundle's position differently from the binding function areas, preventing tooth shifting or inclining during the binding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If an upper teeth portion and a lower teeth portion are used to perform binding processing by partially deforming the recording material bundle, then binding force is generated, but teeth may shift or incline causing decreased binding force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding forceVSAvoidtooth position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The binding device is divided into functionally distinct segments: teeth portions for binding and holding portions for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, preventing tooth shifting while maintaining binding force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holding portions perform preliminary positioning of the recording material bundle before the teeth portions apply binding force. By pre-positioning the bundle, the holding portions prevent tooth shifting and inclining during the subsequent binding operation, ensuring reliable tooth engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If binding processing is performed on a bundle including six or more recording materials, then binding capacity is increased, but tooth shifting or inclining becomes more likely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of recorded materialsVSAvoidtooth alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding portions act as intermediary elements between the teeth portions and the recording material bundle. They mediate the interaction by providing stable positioning support, which prevents tooth shifting even when binding large bundles of six or more sheets, thereby maintaining alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If only teeth portions are used for binding, then device structure is simple, but binding force decreases due to tooth shifting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidbinding force

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The holding portions and teeth portions are merged into a single integrated binding device. This combination allows the device to simultaneously perform positioning and binding functions, maintaining structural simplicity while preventing tooth shifting and ensuring consistent binding force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11602917B2Binding device, binding member, and image forming system

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A binding device includes: an upper teeth portion having at least one teeth row that forms unevenness in a recording material bundle; a lower teeth portion having at least one teeth row that forms unevenness in the recording material bundle and being paired with the upper teeth portion; and at least one holding portion that holds the recording material bundle at a position different from a position where the upper teeth portion and the lower teeth portion have a binding function, when binding processing is performed by the upper teeth portion and the lower teeth portion.