Capillary Liquid Applier Layout for Compact Crimp Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium processing apparatuses face challenges in downsizing and simplifying the liquid applier due to its increased size and complexity, which affects the binding strength and efficiency of crimp binding.
Innovation Solution
A medium processing apparatus with a liquid applier that includes a liquid storage, a liquid supply portion, and a liquid application member, where the contact surface of the liquid application member is positioned higher than the liquid storage level, allowing for efficient liquid application without the need for a pump, thereby reducing the size and complexity of the liquid applier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump is mounted in the binding unit to apply liquid, then liquid application capability is improved, but the binding unit increases in size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pump from the binding unit and relocates it to the liquid storage unit. This separation removes the complex pumping mechanism from the binding area, simplifying the binding unit's structure while maintaining liquid application capability through the liquid storage unit's integrated pump system.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid storage unit is designed to store multiple types of liquid (binding liquid and cleaning liquid) within a single integrated structure. The pump is nested within the liquid storage unit, creating a compact subsystem that supplies liquid to the binding unit without adding external complexity.
2Productivity
If binding teeth are used to bind sheet bundles, then binding function is achieved, but increased number of sheets hampers binding teeth from biting into the sheet bundle
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies liquid to the sheet bundle before the binding teeth attempt to bite in. This preliminary liquid application softens or prepares the sheet material, making it more susceptible to the binding teeth's mechanical action, thereby enabling effective binding even of thick sheet bundles that would otherwise resist tooth penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state or properties of the sheet bundle by applying liquid, which modifies the material characteristics to facilitate easier biting by the binding teeth. This parameter change allows the binding mechanism to effectively process a wider range of sheet bundle thicknesses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact and simplified liquid applier that enhances the binding strength and efficiency of crimp binding, addressing the issues of size and complexity in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid supply portion has one end immersed in the liquid stored in the liquid storage to absorb the liquid toward another end of the liquid supply portion
Data Source
AI summary
A medium processing apparatus includes a liquid applier to apply liquid to a part of a medium and a post-processing device to perform processing on a bundle of media including the medium to which the liquid is applied by the liquid applier. The liquid applier includes a liquid storage to store the liquid, a liquid supply portion having one end immersed in the liquid stored in the liquid storage to absorb the liquid toward another end of the liquid supply portion, and a liquid application member coupled to the other end of the liquid supply portion and having a contact surface to contact the medium to apply the liquid supplied from the liquid supply portion to the medium. The contact surface of the liquid application member with the medium is at a position higher than a position of an uppermost surface of the liquid stored in the liquid storage.