Refill Case Eaves Part Prevents Staple Misfeeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing attachment mode of the refill case to the staple cartridge creates a clearance gap, allowing idle-driven staples to fall and potentially cause poor feeding in electric staplers, especially when operated without paper.

Innovation Solution

The refill case features an eaves part above the leading-out port and an engaging part that protrudes forward, while the staple cartridge has a pressing part with a protrusion opposing the eaves part, reducing the gap between them to prevent staple entry. This configuration ensures the gap is smaller than the staple thickness, preventing idle-driven staples from entering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the refill case is attached to the staple cartridge using the existing attachment mode, then the refill case can be easily attached and detached, but a clearance gap is produced between the refill case and staple cartridge allowing idle-driven staples to enter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidprevention of staple misfeeding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an eaves part as an intermediary structure that extends from the front wall of the refill case to cover the clearance gap between the refill case and staple cartridge. This eaves part acts as a mediator that blocks idle-driven staples from entering the gap while preserving the ease of attachment operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the protection against staple misfeeding from a two-dimensional attachment interface to a three-dimensional structure by adding the eaves part that protrudes forward from the front wall, creating a protective overhang that covers the clearance gap in the horizontal dimension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the refill case is rotated downward during attachment, then the back portion can be locked to the locking part, but the front upper portion moves backward and separates from the attachment part creating a clearance gap

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment mechanismVSAvoidclearance gap distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The eaves part is pre-positioned on the refill case before attachment occurs. This preliminary structure ensures that when the refill case is rotated downward during attachment, the eaves part already extends forward to cover the clearance gap that will be created, preventing staple entry from the outset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the electric stapler is operated without paper sheets, then idle-driven staples are driven out, but these staples can fall into the clearance gap and enter the feeding path causing poor feeding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation without paperVSAvoididle-driven staple contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful clearance gap into a controlled feature by adding the eaves part that deliberately covers the gap. This transforms the gap from a harmful pathway for staple contamination into a controlled space that maintains attachment flexibility while preventing idle-driven staple entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9434088B2Refill case and staple cartridge

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 MAX CO LTD

AI summary

A refill case (A) is provided with: an accommodating part (2) in which staple-sheets, each of which is formed by connecting straight staple members in a sheet shape, are stacked in an up/down direction and accommodated; a front wall (8a); a leading-out port (3) formed in the front wall (8a), and from which a lowermost staple-sheet of the stacked staple-sheets in the accommodating part is led out forward; and an eaves part (7) formed in an upper side of the leading-out port (3). The eaves part (7) includes a front end (7F) positioned in a front side of the front wall (8a) and a lower surface (7L) formed between the front end (7F) and the front wall (8a).