Sheet Thermocompression Heating Layout to Prevent Sheet Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet thermocompression apparatuses face complications in operation control and maintenance due to multiple thermocompression units, and single-unit configurations result in displaced sheets during corner adhesion, affecting booklet quality.

Innovation Solution

A sheet thermocompression apparatus with a single thermocompression unit that includes a pressing member elongated in the longitudinal direction, capable of heating the end and center portions to different temperatures, ensuring stable thermocompression operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single thermocompression unit is moved to execute adhesion processing, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but sheet displacement occurs during thermocompression operation and booklet quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermocompression unit configurationVSAvoidbooklet quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating source is divided into multiple independent heating regions along the longitudinal direction of the pressing member, with each region capable of being heated to different temperatures. This segmentation allows different portions of the sheet to receive appropriate heat treatment independently, preventing sheet displacement while maintaining booklet quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the pressing member are heated to different temperatures according to the specific adhesion requirements at each location. The heating source provides localized temperature control, with end portions and center portions having different temperature characteristics, enabling precise thermocompression without causing sheet displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple thermocompression units are used to execute adhesion processing, then booklet quality is maintained, but operation control becomes complicated and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebooklet qualityVSAvoidoperation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A single thermocompression unit is designed to perform multiple adhesion functions by incorporating a heating source with multiple independently controllable heating regions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate thermocompression units while maintaining the ability to execute different adhesion processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating source dynamically adjusts temperature distribution along the longitudinal direction of the pressing member, enabling a single unit to adapt to different adhesion processing requirements that would otherwise require multiple fixed-function units. This dynamic temperature control simplifies operation while maintaining quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple thermocompression units are used to execute adhesion processing, then booklet quality is maintained, but maintenance ease decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebooklet qualityVSAvoidmaintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating functions are merged into a single integrated heating source with multiple heating regions. This consolidation reduces the total number of thermocompression units from multiple to one, significantly improving maintenance ease while preserving the ability to maintain high booklet quality through localized temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The apparatus achieves stable thermocompression with improved booklet quality by aligning and bonding sheets accurately, reducing power consumption, and simplifying operation and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a heating source for heating the pressing member, the heating source being capable of heating an end portion and a center portion of the pressing member in the longitudinal direction to different temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

melting an adhesion layer (adhesion toner) on the sheet again to perform adhesion processing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS12611884B2Sheet thermocompression apparatus and post-processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 CANON KK

AI summary

Provided is a sheet thermocompression apparatus for bonding a plurality of sheets to one another, the sheet thermocompression apparatus including: a loading portion in which sheets having adhesion toner formed thereon are loaded in a loading direction; and a thermocompression unit including a pressing member elongated in a longitudinal direction, for pressing the sheets loaded in the loading portion in the loading direction, and a heating source for heating the pressing member. In a case where the pressing member is viewed from the loading direction, the pressing member overlaps a region of a sheet loaded in the loading portion from one end portion to the other end portion in the longitudinal direction. The heating source is capable of heating an end portion and a center portion of the pressing member in the longitudinal direction to different temperatures.