Printer Paper-Edge Guides for Simple Photo Book Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers for creating photo books have a complex configuration that makes it difficult to precisely align and bind sheets of printed paper.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a paper discharge tray and a holding member that includes side edge guide portions to align the paper, and a bookbinding assisting tool that integrates a front cover, back cover, and spine, allowing for precise alignment and binding with a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a printer is configured to bind a book by stacking sheets of printed paper on a front cover while a spine of the book is folded at the right angle, then the bookbinding function is achieved, but the device configuration becomes large and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a paper discharge tray for accumulating printed sheets, a holding member with side edge guide portions for alignment, and a bookbinding assisting tool with V-shaped front cover. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining the binding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment and bookbinding functions are extracted from the main printer body and implemented as separate assisting tools. The holding member with side edge guide portions is provided at the paper discharge tray, and the bookbinding assisting tool with V-shaped front cover is positioned at the discharge portion, allowing precise alignment and binding without complicating the printer's core structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the back cover is attached after aligning and stacking edges of the sheets of printed paper on a front cover member where the front cover and the spine are integrated, then the bookbinding precision is improved, but the device configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The side edge guide portions are provided in advance on the holding member at the paper discharge tray, enabling automatic alignment of paper edges as sheets are discharged and stacked. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for complex post-alignment mechanisms, achieving precise edge stacking with a simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member with side edge guide portions automatically aligns paper edges through the natural discharge and stacking process, without requiring additional alignment mechanisms or manual intervention. The V-shaped front cover of the bookbinding assisting tool also self-aligns the paper bundle, achieving precise binding preparation with minimal device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a paper discharge tray that is configured to accumulate paper discharged from a discharge portion; and a holding member that is provided at a position where the paper discharged from the discharge portion is stacked, the holding member configured to be integrated with the paper discharge tray or held to be extractable from the paper discharge tray. The holding member includes a pair of side edge guide portions that are configured to guide opposite side edges of the paper. The holding member is configured to be held to be movable to a position of the paper in a width direction where the paper is stored between the pair of side edge guide portions in response to a force acting when the discharged paper comes into contact with the pair of side edge guide portions.