Sheet Binding Apparatus with Movable Units and Shared Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet binding processing apparatuses face issues with sheet bundle disarrangement during binding processes, especially when using units with different processing capacities, leading to reduced efficiency and increased costs due to separate drive motors and potential collisions.

Innovation Solution

A controller is used to move one binding device to a waiting position outside the sheet area when the other is at the binding position, allowing for a common drive mechanism to operate both units, preventing disarrangement and optimizing space usage by positioning them contrarily to the binding position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple binding processing units are arranged to process sheet bundles simultaneously, then processing capacity is improved, but sheet bundle disarrangement occurs due to interference with opening portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding processing capacityVSAvoidsheet bundle posture stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The binding processing units are made movable between a processing position and a retracted position. When one unit processes a sheet bundle, the other unit automatically moves to the retracted position to avoid interference, preventing sheet disarrangement while maintaining high processing capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit coordinates the movement of binding processing units in advance before processing begins. The non-active unit is moved to the retracted position beforehand to prevent potential interference, ensuring sheet bundle stability is maintained throughout the processing operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If binding processing units with different processing capacities are used, then versatility is improved, but the number of sheets processed by high-capacity units is limited by low-capacity units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding unit capacity variationVSAvoidoverall processing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically allocates sheet bundles to appropriate binding processing units based on real-time capacity availability. High-capacity units can process larger sheet bundles when low-capacity units are occupied, eliminating the bottleneck effect and maximizing overall system productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit pre-coordinates the operation schedule of multiple binding processing units with different capacities. By planning the distribution of sheet bundles in advance according to each unit's capacity, the system ensures that high-capacity units are fully utilized without being constrained by low-capacity unit availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If separate drive motors are used for each binding processing unit, then operational independence is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunit operational independenceVSAvoiddrive mechanism quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single drive mechanism is shared between multiple binding processing units through a transmission system. The drive mechanism can transmit power to different units as needed, maintaining operational independence while reducing the total number of motors and simplifying the overall drive system structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common drive mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple binding processing units. By incorporating a transmission system that can selectively engage different units, the single drive mechanism performs the function of multiple separate motors, reducing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If binding processing units are positioned close to the sheet bundle, then processing efficiency is improved, but collision risk between units increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding processing efficiencyVSAvoidunit collision avoidance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The binding processing units are equipped with movable positioning capability, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions between a processing position (close to the sheet bundle for efficiency) and a retracted position (farther away to avoid collisions). The control unit coordinates these position changes to maintain both efficiency and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2894517B1Sheet binding processing apparatus and image forming system having the same

Publication Date: 2022.02.16 CANON FINETECH NISCA INC

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AI summary

A sheet binding processing apparatus including a processing tray (37) , a sheet positioning device (38, 39), a first binding device (47), a second binding device (51), a driving device which moves the second binding device to a binding position where the sheets positioned by the sheet positioning device are to be bound and to a retracting position for retracting to the outside of the sheets positioned by the sheet positioning device, and a controller (95) which controls the driving device and causes the second binding device to be located at the retracting position when the first binding device binds sheets.