Variable-Height Projections for Binding Device Pressure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing binding apparatuses face challenges in effectively binding stacks of varying thickness and type, often resulting in reduced binding performance for thick sheets and increased likelihood of creases and damage due to uneven pressure distribution and projection configurations.

Innovation Solution

A binding apparatus featuring a pressing member pair with a base and projections, where at least one member has lower projections closer to the base and more projections than the other, allowing for tailored pressure application to accommodate different sheet thicknesses and types, reducing creases and improving binding efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uniform projections are used in pressing members, then the structure is simple, but binding performance is reduced for thick sheets and creases/damage occur due to uneven pressure distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojection configurationVSAvoidbinding performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing members feature projections with varying heights (first, second, and third projections of different heights) arranged in specific patterns. This local variation in projection geometry allows different regions to apply different pressure levels to the recording media stack, ensuring adequate binding pressure for thick sheets while preventing excessive pressure that causes creases or damage to thinner areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing members are divided into multiple projection elements rather than using a single uniform pressing surface. The projections are segmented into different height levels (first projections with greatest height, second projections with intermediate height, third projections with least height) to create a graduated pressure distribution across the pressing surface, optimizing binding for varied sheet thicknesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If more projections are added to accommodate thick sheets, then binding performance improves, but pressure distribution becomes uneven causing creases and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding performance for thick sheetsVSAvoidcreases and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the pressing member have projections of different heights tailored to local requirements. Areas requiring higher pressure for thick sheet binding have taller projections, while areas prone to creasing or damage have shorter projections. This spatially varying projection height distribution optimizes pressure application to match the actual thickness and fragility variations across the recording media stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The projection height parameter is varied across different regions of the pressing member. By changing this geometric parameter (height) rather than keeping it uniform, the system can adapt the pressure application to accommodate variations in recording media stack thickness, improving binding reliability while minimizing harmful effects like creases and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pressing members are designed for thin sheets, then creases and damage are minimized, but binding performance for thick sheets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecreases and damage to thin sheetsVSAvoidbinding performance for thick sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member incorporates a mixed array of projection heights where third projections (shortest) protect thin sheet areas from excessive pressure, while first projections (tallest) provide sufficient binding pressure for thick sheet regions. This localized differentiation in projection geometry allows the same pressing member to simultaneously protect thin sheets from damage and effectively bind thick sheets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member design achieves multi-functionality by incorporating projections of multiple heights that can handle both thin and thick recording media stacks with a single device configuration. The varied projection heights allow the pressing member to adapt its pressure distribution to different sheet thicknesses, eliminating the need for separate pressing members for different media types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10386773B2Projection arrangement for binding device

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A binding apparatus includes a first pressing member including a base part and multiple projections projecting from the base part, the first pressing member presses a recording media stack from one side; and a second pressing member including a base part and multiple projections projecting from the base part, the second pressing member facing the first pressing member and pressing the recording media stack from the other side. At least one of the first and second pressing members has at least one lower projection whose apex in a projecting direction closer to the base part than the apexes of the other projections are, and the lower projection is provided in the first or second pressing member that has more projections than the other, or more lower projections are provided in the first or second pressing member that has more projections than the other.