Bookbinding Apparatus Nip Head Alignment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bookbinding apparatuses face issues with misalignment of paper stacks due to electrostatic and frictional forces, leading to poor bookbinding quality and defective products.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a positioning bar and nip head mechanism with first and second nip plates that extend parallel to the clamping plates, allowing the paper stack to be aligned and gripped accurately, preventing misalignment during the supply process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the paper stack is supplied by the conventional paper stack supplying machine, then the paper stack can be transported and positioned, but the paper sheets may follow the grip plates and shift upward due to electrostatic and frictional forces, causing misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper stack supply operationVSAvoidpaper stack alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning bar is introduced as an intermediary element between the grip plates and the paper stack. The positioning bar contacts the top or bottom of the paper stack to prevent upward shifting during the supply operation, thereby maintaining alignment without interfering with the basic supply function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping mechanism is divided into two independent parts: grip plates for holding the paper stack and a positioning bar for alignment control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, preventing misalignment while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the nip plates are moved to grip the paper stack, then the paper stack can be supplied to the carriage clamp, but the paper stack may become misaligned due to electrostatic and frictional forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper stack supply speedVSAvoidpaper stack alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning bar is positioned in advance to contact the paper stack before the gripping action occurs. This preliminary positioning prevents misalignment from occurring during the supply process, allowing high-speed operation without sacrificing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning bar acts in a different dimension (vertical contact at top or bottom) compared to the horizontal gripping action of the nip plates. This dimensional separation allows both gripping and alignment functions to occur simultaneously without interference, maintaining both productivity and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3772418B1Bookbinding apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3772418B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP3772418B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP3772418B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(C)

AI summary

A paper stack S supplied between clamping plates 1a, 1b of a carriage clamp 1 is pushed toward a positioning bar 2b by an alignment bar 5. A nip head 7 of a paper stack supplying unit 3 has first and second nip plates 9, 10, and a nip plate drive mechanism 11 moving each nip plate from a protruding position at which the nip plate protrudes from the nip head and a retracted position at which the nip plate retracts into the nip head, and translating the second nip plate taking the protruding position relative to the first nip plate taking the protruding position between a first position at which the first and second nip plates receive the paper stack therebetween and a second position at which the second nip plate cooperates with the first nip plate to grip the paper stack. When the nip head supplies the paper stack between the clamping plates, the paper stack gripped by the nip head is located between the clamping plates, and the nip head is located opposite the clamping plates with respect to the positioning bar of the carriage clamp.