Staple Binding Device with Preliminary Forming to Prevent Idle Strikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems leave idle striking marks on sheets due to incomplete staple initial settings, where the leading staple is not positioned correctly for striking, leading to unnecessary strikes on the sheet.
Innovation Solution
The system controls the binding device to repeatedly perform staple forming processes without striking out the staple, ensuring the staple is moved to the striking position without actual striking, thus avoiding idle strikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the sheet is kept on standby without being set until the leading staple is detected at the striking position, then no idle striking mark is left on the sheet, but the operating time is increased due to waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The binding device performs preliminary staple feeding actions multiple times before the actual striking operation. The control unit controls the staple feeding unit to repeat the staple forming process a plurality of times in a staple initial setting state, positioning the leading staple at the correct location before the sheet is set, thereby preventing idle striking marks while reducing waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation mode between staple initial setting state and normal binding state. During staple initial setting, the system performs repeated staple forming without striking; during normal binding, it performs complete forming and striking operations. This dynamic switching optimizes both sheet quality and operating efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the staple initial setting is performed by repeating the staple forming process without striking out, then the leading staple is correctly positioned without idle striking marks, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls both the staple initial setting process (repeated forming without striking) and the normal binding process (forming and striking). The same staple feeding unit and forming components are used in both modes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing components (forming plate, driver plate, staple feeding unit) to perform the preliminary positioning function. The control unit leverages the natural reciprocating motion of these components to achieve staple positioning without requiring additional specialized mechanisms, thereby maintaining simplicity.
3Productivity
If the forming plate and driver plate are actuated in conjunction, then the staple is formed and struck out efficiently, but idle striking occurs when the staple is not at the correct position
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary staple positioning actions before the actual binding operation. The control unit controls the staple feeding unit to repeat the staple forming process in advance, ensuring the leading staple is correctly positioned at the striking location before the sheet is set and before the forming plate and driver plate are actuated together, thereby preventing idle striking while maintaining binding efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus comprising a binding device configured to bind the sheet output from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the binding device. The binding device is capable of executing binding processing via a staple forming process of forming a staple and moving the staple toward a striking-out position and a staple striking-out process of striking out the staple at the striking-out position. The control unit is configured to control the binding device to repeat multiple times the staple forming process without undergoing the staple striking-out process.