Cheesecloth Attaching Apparatus for Existing Perfect Binders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing perfect binders lacking a cheesecloth supply apparatus require users to purchase a new binder for forming hard cover books, leading to increased costs and a larger device footprint due to the large scale of the cheesecloth supply apparatus.

Innovation Solution

An additional member attaching apparatus that can be easily installed to an existing paper back binder, supplying and attaching cheesecloth or similar materials to the book block spine, comprising a holding unit, unwinding, trimming, and attaching mechanisms, allowing for the formation of hard cover books without needing a new binder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cheesecloth supply apparatus is added to an existing binder to enable hard cover book formation, then the binder can process hard cover books, but the device footprint and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to process hard cover booksVSAvoiddevice footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the cheesecloth supply apparatus from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement above the binder. The cheesecloth is fed downward from an overhead supply mechanism, allowing the apparatus to utilize vertical space rather than requiring additional horizontal footprint. This dimensional change enables hard cover book processing capability while maintaining a compact device footprint.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a full-scale cheesecloth supply apparatus is integrated into the binder, then hard cover binding is enabled, but the overall device size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehard cover binding capabilityVSAvoidapparatus scale
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cheesecloth supply function from the main binder body and implements it as a separate, modular overhead apparatus. This extracted approach allows the binder to gain hard cover processing capability without integrating a large, complex cheesecloth supply system into its core structure. The separated design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The overhead cheesecloth supply apparatus is designed to work with the existing binder mechanism, creating a universal system that can process both paperback and hard cover books. The same binder structure handles different book types by receiving cheesecloth from the overhead apparatus when hard cover binding is required, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users purchase a new binder for hard cover books, then hard cover binding is achieved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehard cover processing capabilityVSAvoidpurchase cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the existing binder to perform multiple functions - both paperback and hard cover binding - by adding the overhead cheesecloth supply apparatus. This universalization allows a single binder to replace what would traditionally require two separate binders, reducing the quantity of equipment needed and lowering overall purchase costs for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3939800B1Additional member attaching apparatus and binding system including the same
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 HORIZON INC
  • EP3939800B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939800B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939800B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The embodiment includes: a roll accommodation unit 3 that accommodates a roll 2 of a continuous sheet of additional member Q; an unwinding unit 5 that unwinds and draws the additional member from the roll accommodation unit to a trimming station 4; a trimming unit 8 that is arranged in the trimming station and cuts and trims the additional member in accordance with the size of a book block B to form a strip of additional member; a gripper 12 that grips the strip of additional member while supporting the under face thereof, moves between a retracted position inside a housing 52 and a forward position outside the housing 52, and moves between the forward position and a raised position above the forward position; and a handover unit 23 that hands over the strip of additional member from the trimming station to the gripper located in the retracted position.