Center-fold Stapling Apparatus with Triangular Pushing Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet-stapling apparatuses face challenges in penetrating staples into center-fold booklets without causing buckling or shifting, as the increased apparent thickness due to sagging complicates staple penetration, and previous solutions either fail to hold the booklet securely or adequately flatten the folds.
Innovation Solution
A sheet-stapling apparatus with a booklet-holding member featuring a pushing recess portion with a triangular section, allowing the angle to change from a booklet-positioning angle to a booklet-pushing angle, which holds the fold in place and flattens it, ensuring stable staple penetration and preventing booklet shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the staple penetrates into the fold of the center-fold booklet, then the booklet is stapled at the correct position, but the amount of work to be done by the staple increases and buckling may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher member performs preliminary action by pushing the booklet to make the fold flat before the staple penetrates. This preliminary flattening reduces the apparent thickness and eliminates sagging, making subsequent staple penetration easier and preventing buckling while maintaining accurate stapling position.
2Force
If a pusher with a flat pushing part is used to flatten the fold, then the amount of work to be done by the staple is reduced, but the booklet may move perpendicular to the fold direction
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher member employs asymmetric geometry with a triangular cross-section where one surface is parallel to the fold direction and the other is perpendicular. This asymmetric design provides differential support: the parallel surface prevents booklet movement perpendicular to the fold, while the perpendicular surface allows effective flattening action, resolving the contradiction between stabilization and flattening.
3Force
If the booklet is allowed to sag to ease staple penetration, then buckling is prevented, but the apparent thickness increases making penetration difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher member performs preliminary flattening action on the booklet fold before staple penetration. By making the fold flat in advance, the apparent thickness is reduced and sagging is minimized, creating optimal conditions for easy staple penetration without requiring the staple to overcome excessive thickness or cause buckling.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet-stapling apparatus (1A) mounts a center-fold booklet (20) and staples the booklet at a fold (10a) of the booklet by a staple. The sheet-stapling apparatus has a supporting member (2) that mounts the center-fold booklet, pushing members (3, 3) that push the booklet to the supporting member, a stapler (4) that penetrates the staple through the booklet and a clincher (5) that clinches legs of the staple to bind the booklet. Each pushing member (3) has a pushing recess portion (30) for pushing the fold of the booklet. The pushing recess portion spreads from a booklet-positioning angle (α2) to a booklet-pushing angle (α3) to prevent the booklet from shifting.