Staple With Protrusions Reducing Penetration Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing staples require increased stiffness or power to penetrate high-penetration-resistant sheets of paper, leading to higher costs and energy consumption, especially when using staples with large wire diameters or additional resistance-reducing agents.
Innovation Solution
A staple design featuring leg portions with protrusions on their side surfaces that reduce penetration resistance by distributing the load and frictional contact area, allowing for easier penetration without strengthening the stapler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a staple with a large wire diameter is used to penetrate sheets of paper with high penetration resistance, then the penetration capability is improved, but the stiffness of the stapler must be increased and the entire size of the stapler is required to be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The staple applies local quality by concentrating the penetration function at the distal end portion with a reduced wire diameter, while maintaining a larger wire diameter in the leg portions for binding strength. This localized differentiation allows the staple to penetrate high-resistance paper without requiring the entire stapler to be oversized.
Solution Approach 2:
The staple is segmented into distinct functional zones: a distal end portion for penetration with reduced diameter, and leg portions for binding with larger diameter. This segmentation enables each portion to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between penetration capability and overall size.
2Strength
If a staple with a large wire diameter is used to penetrate sheets of paper with high penetration resistance, then the penetration capability is improved, but power consumption increases when used in an electric stapler
Solution Approach 1:
The staple reduces power consumption by applying local quality - the distal end portion has a reduced wire diameter that requires less force to penetrate, while the leg portions maintain larger diameter for binding strength. This localized optimization reduces the energy required for penetration without compromising binding capability.
3Force
If a penetration resistance reducing agent is attached on the sheets of paper to be stapled, then the penetration resistance is reduced, but an apparatus for attaching the agent is required resulting in cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The staple performs self-service by incorporating the penetration resistance reduction function directly into its structure through the reduced wire diameter at the distal end portion. This eliminates the need for external penetration resistance reducing agents and the apparatus required to apply them, while still achieving reduced penetration resistance.
4Strength
If notches are added to the staple to increase frictional resistance when pulling out the staple, then the binding strength is improved, but the penetration load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The staple applies local quality by differentiating the wire diameter across different portions: the distal end portion has reduced diameter for easy penetration, while the leg portions have larger diameter for strong binding. This spatial differentiation allows the staple to achieve both low penetration load and high binding strength without compromising either function.
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 staple effectively binds high-penetration-resistant sheets with reduced load and energy consumption, maintaining energy efficiency and avoiding the need for additional resistance-reducing agents or larger stapler sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a protrusion protruding in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the leg portion, from a portion of a side surface of the leg portion between the crown portion and a distal end portion of the leg portion and near the distal end portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A penetration load reduced staple includes a pair of leg portions configured to penetrate sheets of paper, a crown portion connecting the pair of leg portions. Each of the leg portions includes a protrusion protruding in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the leg portion, from a portion of a side surface of the leg portion between the crown portion and a distal end portion of the leg portion and near the distal end portion.