Stapler Hook and Shaft Layout for Low-Force Positive Striking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional staplers face challenges in achieving an effort-saving operation while ensuring positive staple striking, and lack a safety mechanism to prevent false triggering.
Innovation Solution
A stapler design with a unique shaft configuration and elastic unit that allows for a longer staple driving stroke and includes a safety mechanism to prevent re-triggering, utilizing a pivotably connecting member and restoring member to enhance effort-saving operation and staple striking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the elastic force of the plate spring is increased to ensure firm staple striking, then the staple striking force is improved, but the user has to apply a relatively larger downward pressing force to operate the operation lever, resulting in operational inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable elastic abutting portion that can dynamically adjust its position and contact state with the staple driver. During the stapling process, the elastic abutting portion moves from an initial contact position to a separated position, allowing the elastic force to be applied more effectively throughout the driving stroke. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the conversion of elastic potential energy to kinetic energy, improving staple striking force while maintaining reasonable operation force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of elastic force application by introducing an elastic abutting portion with specific geometric parameters (inclination angle, length) that can be adjusted to optimize the elastic force characteristics. The elastic abutting portion is designed with an inclination angle between 30-60 degrees, which optimizes the force transmission efficiency from the plate spring to the staple driver, thereby achieving better staple striking force without requiring excessive downward pressing force.
2Ease of operation
If the elastic force of the plate spring is decreased to reduce the downward pressing force, then the operation becomes effort-saving, but the staple striking effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic abutting portion is designed to separate from the staple driver at a specific point during the upward movement, creating a dynamic release mechanism. This separation allows the staple driver to be propelled forward by the stored elastic force without continuous constraint, maximizing the conversion of elastic potential energy to driving force. This dynamic mechanism enables effort-saving operation while maintaining strong staple striking effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate spring is pre-compressed during the operation lever pressing process, storing elastic potential energy before the actual stapling action. The elastic abutting portion maintains contact with the staple driver during this pre-compression phase, ensuring that the elastic force is properly stored and positioned to be released at the optimal moment for staple driving, thereby achieving both effort-saving operation and effective staple striking.
3Ease of operation
If the downward pressing force is reduced for effort-saving operation, then the operation becomes easier, but it is difficult to ensure sufficient staple striking force
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic abutting portion provides a feedback mechanism by maintaining contact with the staple driver during the initial phase of operation lever movement. This contact ensures that the system is properly engaged and that the elastic force is correctly positioned before the stapling action commences. The feedback from the elastic abutting portion's contact state helps ensure reliable staple striking while allowing for effort-saving operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism performs preliminary engagement through the elastic abutting portion contacting the staple driver before the actual stapling force is applied. This preliminary action ensures that the elastic force is properly stored and the driving path is established, creating a reliable foundation for the subsequent stapling action. This preliminary engagement phase allows the user to apply minimal force while ensuring the system is ready for effective staple striking.
4Device complexity
If a conventional stapler design is used without safety mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the stapler can be falsely triggered without any protection
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic abutting portion serves as an intermediary safety mechanism between the operation lever and the staple driver. During normal operation, it maintains contact and allows proper stapling. However, during false triggering attempts, the geometric relationship and movement constraints of the elastic abutting portion prevent the staple driver from being activated without the proper sequential motion through the operation lever, thereby providing passive safety protection while maintaining relatively simple structure.
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 design provides a better effort-saving effect and positive staple striking force while preventing false triggering, with improved ergonomic operation and efficient staple driving.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic unit, which is provided with a plate spring and an elastic abutting portion, is disposed in the body; the free end of the plate spring is inserted in the installation hole of the staple driver
Implementation Method 2
a restoring member having a first connecting end connected to the body, and a second connecting end connected to the hook member in a way that the elastic force of the restoring member makes the hook portion of the hook member displace downwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A stapler includes a body, first and second shafts connected to the body, a staple driver having a hooked hole, an elastic unit elastically driving the staple driver, an operation lever inserted by the first shaft, a third shaft making the operation lever pivotably connected with a pivotably connecting member, a hook member having a second hole wherein the second shaft is inserted, an elongated hole wherein the third shaft is inserted, and a hook portion releasably hooked at the hooked hole, and a fourth shaft making the pivotably connecting member pivotably connected with the hook member in a way that the fourth shaft is slidably abutted against a shaft displacement limiting portion when the hook member is swung. A first distance is defined between the first and third shafts, and a second distance smaller than the first distance is defined between the third and fourth shafts.