Staple Refill Positioning for Compact Stapler Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric stapling machines face challenges in miniaturization due to the rattling of staples in the cartridge, which complicates the configuration and increases the size of the stapling machine and cartridge, affecting the transfer mechanism's efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A staple-refill design with a casing that includes a staple guide portion, a staple discharge portion, and a pushed portion to facilitate accurate positioning and alignment of staples, reducing the need for complex mechanisms and allowing for a more compact design by using positioning projections and a push lever to manage staple transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transfer mechanism is designed to accommodate staple rattling in the cartridge, then the staples can be reliably transferred, but the configuration becomes complicated and the size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The staple-refill is pre-positioned in the cartridge before operation, with its position fixed by the positioning projection fitting into the positioning groove. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during staple transfer, maintaining reliability while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning projection on the staple-refill acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the staple storage function and the transfer mechanism. By providing a simple geometric interface (projection-groove fit), it enables reliable staple positioning without requiring complex mechanical systems to accommodate rattling.
2Reliability
If the operation stroke of the transfer plate is increased to account for rattling degree, then staples can be reliably sent to the guide section, but the driver stroke must also increase and the configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The staple-refill position is predetermined and fixed by the positioning projection-groove interface before the transfer operation begins. This eliminates the need to design for maximum rattling stroke, allowing the driver to use a compact, fixed-stroke mechanism while still ensuring reliable staple transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system changes the parameter of staple-refill position from variable (to accommodate rattling) to fixed (determined by projection-groove fit). This parameter change allows the driver stroke to be optimized for a specific, compact length rather than needing to accommodate a range of positions.
3Reliability
If the cartridge configuration is increased to accommodate rattling expectations, then staple transfer can be ensured, but the stapling-machine main-body size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The staple-refill is pre-positioned in the cartridge using the positioning projection that fits into the positioning groove, establishing a fixed relationship before operation. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for increased cartridge volume to accommodate rattling, maintaining compact dimensions while ensuring reliable staple transfer.
Data Source
AI summary
A staple-refill 11 is provided with: a casing 12 in which a connected staple 10 is accommodated and which is to be mounted in a main-body of a stapling-machine 1; a staple discharge portion 16; and a pushed portion 29 which is provided on the casing 12 and to be pushed by a push portion 102 that pushes the casing 12 towards a staple guide portion 75 of a stapling-machine main-body.