Recording Medium Post-Processing Device Binding Hole Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Recording medium bundles often experience tearing when a recording medium is removed after a binding process, particularly when the binding and hole forming regions overlap, leading to increased binding force that can cause the medium to tear.

Innovation Solution

A recording medium post-processing device that includes a binding unit and a hole forming unit, where the hole forming process is performed in a region that includes part of the binding region, reducing the binding force and minimizing the likelihood of tearing by distributing the pressure across overlapping areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the binding process is performed without overlapping the hole forming region, then the binding force is strong and secure, but the recording medium bundle is prone to tearing when removing a recording medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding forceVSAvoidtear of recording medium
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different binding force characteristics in different regions of the recording medium. Specifically, the binding force is made weaker in the overlapping region (where binding and hole forming coincide) compared to non-overlapping regions. This localized variation in binding strength allows easy removal of individual sheets in the overlapping area while maintaining strong binding elsewhere, thus resolving the contradiction between strong binding and tear prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the binding region and hole forming region overlap, then the recording medium can be removed easily without tearing, but the binding force is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval of recording mediumVSAvoidbinding force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the binding region into two distinct zones: an overlapping region where binding and hole forming coincide, and a non-overlapping region where only binding is performed. This segmentation allows different functional characteristics in different parts of the binding area, enabling easy removal in the overlapping zone while maintaining strong binding in the non-overlapping zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a punch mechanism performs hole forming on pages excluding first and last pages, then binding can be performed in specific regions, but the process complexity increases when coordinating binding and hole forming operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding process coordinationVSAvoidprocess coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the overlapping region between binding and hole forming operations before the actual processing begins. The control unit is configured to identify and establish this overlapping region in advance based on the recording medium bundle information, allowing the binding and hole forming mechanisms to coordinate their actions without complex real-time calculations or adjustments during the processing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11351808B2Recording medium post-processing device
Publication Date: 2022.06.07 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • US11351808B2 patent drawing
  • US11351808B2 patent drawing
  • US11351808B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A recording medium post-processing device includes a binding unit and a hole forming unit. The binding unit performs a binding process on a recording medium bundle. The hole forming unit performs a hole forming process in a region of recording media that constitute the recording medium bundle including a part of a binding region in which the binding process is performed.