Stapling Head Former with Support Nose for Wire Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stapling devices face issues with staple leg deformation, leading to piercing problems during the stapling process, especially when dealing with thick or dirty wires, which affects the stapling efficiency and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The stapling device incorporates a stapling head with a support nose and control nose for deep wire section guidance, a pivotable clamp support with a curved guide surface and recesses for stable positioning, and a control cam with a roller for precise movement, ensuring the staple legs remain within the bender and preventing deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the staple legs are allowed to protrude from the bender after formation, then the stapling process is simpler and faster, but the staple legs can be deformed by products entering the stapling area, causing piercing problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestapling speedVSAvoidstaple leg integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a clamp support as an intermediary component between the bender and the staple legs. This clamp support includes a support nose that extends beyond the bender contour and provides continuous support for the staple legs after they are formed, preventing deformation while maintaining efficient stapling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the support nose is extended forward to draw the wire section deeply into the bending grooves, then the wire guidance is improved and staple formation is more precise, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire section positioning accuracyVSAvoidformer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The former is segmented into distinct functional elements: a support nose for positioning the wire section, a control nose for controlling the swing-out movement, and bending grooves for forming the staple. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The former is designed to swing out during operation, with the control nose interacting with the driver to control this swing-out movement. This dynamic design allows the support nose to extend forward for precise wire guidance during staple formation, then retract when not needed, avoiding permanent structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the guide surface of the clamp support is flat, then the structure is simpler, but the clamp support may jam due to tolerances, especially with thick or dirty wires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamp support structure complexityVSAvoidclamp support operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface of the clamp support is designed as a curved surface instead of a flat one. This curvature provides better guidance for the staple legs and accommodates tolerances more effectively, preventing jamming during operation, especially when dealing with thick or slightly dirty wires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of operation

If the control nose contour is curved, then the coordination between pivoting movement and support nose length is optimized, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting movement coordinationVSAvoidcontrol nose manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control nose is given a curved contour that coordinates with the swing-out movement of the former. This curved shape optimizes the interaction between the control nose and the driver, ensuring smooth and controlled pivoting movement throughout the stapling cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This configuration enhances the stapling process by maintaining staple leg alignment, reducing jamming, and improving the stapling efficiency, especially with thick or corroded wires, by ensuring the staple legs do not protrude and are properly guided throughout the stapling cycle.

Implementation Method 1

The pivoting movement of the clamp support is controlled by a control cam and a control cam in cooperation with a control roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentEP2045093B1Crimp head
Publication Date: 2016.07.06 MULLER MARTINI HLDG
  • EP2045093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2045093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2045093B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for stapling assembled printed products, in particular signatures, by means of staples. The device comprises a stapling head body (105), a former (1), a bender (2), a staple support (3), and a driver (4). The former also has a support lug (15) and a control lug (16), the support lug projecting beyond the contour of the control lug.