Variable Tooth Height Binding Teeth for Sheet Bundle Crimping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet binding devices using crimp binding technology face issues with variable binding force depending on the number of sheets, leading to insufficient binding force at low-height portions and increased device size due to multiple types of binding teeth.
Innovation Solution
A pair of binding teeth with multiple areas of differing tooth heights that engage when pressed together, allowing for uniform binding force across varying sheet counts without the need for size-increasing mechanisms to switch between tooth types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple types of binding teeth with different tooth heights are held in the device, then binding force can be optimized for different sheet counts, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple binding areas with different tooth heights into a single binding tooth structure. The binding tooth includes a first binding area with a first tooth height and a second binding area with a second tooth height, allowing the single tooth to provide optimized binding for different sheet counts without requiring multiple separate teeth or switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The binding tooth is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously by incorporating binding areas with different tooth heights. This universal structure can adapt to bind different numbers of sheets (e.g., small bundles using the first binding area, larger bundles using the second binding area) without requiring the device to switch between different tooth types.
2Device complexity
If binding teeth with uniform tooth height are used, then device structure is simple, but binding force becomes insufficient for varying sheet counts
Solution Approach 1:
The binding tooth features different local qualities by having binding areas with different tooth heights. The first binding area has a first tooth height optimized for smaller sheet bundles, while the second binding area has a second tooth height optimized for larger sheet bundles. This local differentiation allows the single tooth structure to provide appropriate binding force for varying sheet counts without increasing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If binding teeth with different tooth heights are used, then binding force is improved for different sheet counts, but gap between teeth increases at low-height portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the engagement issue by transitioning from a one-dimensional height difference problem to a two-dimensional solution. The binding areas with different tooth heights are arranged in different lateral positions (first binding area and second binding area at different locations), allowing teeth from opposing binding teeth to engage properly in both binding areas simultaneously, eliminating gaps while maintaining different effective heights for different sheet counts.
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of binding teeth is configured to apply pressure to a sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle. The pair of binding teeth includes a binding unit configured to have two or more binding areas which differ in tooth height and crimping portions thereof come in contact when the binding teeth are pressed against each other in the binding areas.