Sheet Bundle Divider With Pivotable Finger Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing office machines, such as paper binders, shredders, and punches, often jam or damage materials when faced with bundles exceeding the maximum thickness, leading to inefficiency and waste, especially when binding individual sheets, as users must count sheets to ensure standard thickness.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a platform, sliding member, and pivotable finger mechanism that allows for easy division of a bundle into smaller bundles of predetermined thickness without requiring sheet counting, by sliding and pivoting the member to lift and separate sheets from the main bundle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users insert bundles of material greater than the maximum thickness into the machine, then the machine can process more material at once, but the machine may become jammed or damaged, and the material may be creased or torn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of material processed at onceVSAvoidmachine operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides a large bundle of material into smaller sub-bundles of appropriate thickness for machine processing. The platform with back wall and sliding member creates a segmentation mechanism that automatically portions material into manageable sections, allowing users to process larger total amounts while maintaining machine reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus performs preliminary division of material bundles before they are inserted into the machine. By pre-separating material into correct thickness portions on the platform, the system prevents potential jamming or damage before it occurs, ensuring reliable operation while enabling higher overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If machines are marked with the maximum number of sheets to be inserted, then the machine can operate safely within thickness limits, but users must count sheets which is time-consuming and unnecessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe operation within thickness limitsVSAvoidtime to count sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus enables self-service division of material bundles without requiring user intervention for counting or measurement. The sliding member automatically portions material into correct thickness sections based on predetermined dimensions, allowing users to safely operate within machine limits while eliminating time-consuming counting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the opening is sized to prevent insertion of too thick a bundle, then the machine is protected from damage, but users cannot insert bundles of varying thicknesses that may be acceptable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine protection from damageVSAvoidability to accommodate bundles of varying thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the static opening into a dynamic system where the platform can slide to create variable opening sizes. This allows the machine to adapt to bundles of varying thicknesses by adjusting the effective opening width, while still protecting the machine by preventing insertion of excessively thick bundles that would cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables reliable and quick division of materials into suitable thicknesses, preventing machine damage and sheet damage, making the process more efficient and reducing waste by allowing operation on bundles of varying thickness without counting sheets.

Implementation Method 1

a sliding member moveable from the front to the back of the recess along an axis and pivotable from side to side about the axis... the sliding member is then pivoted about the axis to lift the finger under a part of the bundle of sheet material such that a smaller bundle of sheet material is lifted upwards

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical leverage: Lever

Data Source

PatentUS7503557B2Apparatus for dividing a bundle of sheet material into a number of smaller bundles of sheet material

Publication Date: 2009.03.17 ACCO UK LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for dividing a bundle of sheet material into smaller bundles includes a platform having a front and back on which the bundle is placed on an edge, a back wall against which the bundle is placed, a recess in the platform, a sliding member moveable from the front to the back of the recess along an axis and pivotable about the axis and having a portion which extends above the platform, and a finger protruding rearwardly from the sliding member offset from the axis and having a length equal to the thickness of the smaller bundles. The sliding member is moved backwards until the portion which extends above the platform abuts the bundle. It is then pivoted to lift the finger under a part of the bundle and a smaller bundle is lifted upwards from the bundle such that a user can then remove that smaller bundle.