Binding teeth, sheet processing device, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and sheet binding method
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsTakuya Morinaga, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Wataru Takahashi, Koki Sakano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims11
An apparatus, comprising:
- a binding unit configured to apply pressure to a sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle, the binding unit comprising:
- a first planar member comprising a first plurality of binding teeth organized in a first continuous row;
- and
- a second planar member comprising a second plurality of binding teeth organized in a second continuous row that are configured to engage with the first plurality of binding teeth to apply the pressure to the sheet bundle,
- wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth each have a first height within a first binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row,
- wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth each have a second height within a second binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row,
- wherein the first height in the first binding area is different than the second height in the second binding area,
- wherein the first planar member and the second planar member move toward each other and contact the sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle,
- wherein the first binding area and the second binding area are arranged side-by-side in a length direction of the binding unit in which the first continuous row of the first plurality of binding teeth and the second continuous row of the second plurality of binding teeth are arranged,
- wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth, collectively forming the first binding area and the second binding area, engage with each other such that the first binding area and the second binding area independently operate to crimp-bind the sheet bundle.
A method of operating a binding unit to apply pressure to a sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle, the binding unit comprising a first planar member comprising a first plurality of binding teeth organized in a first continuous row, a second planar member comprising a second plurality of binding teeth organized in a second continuous row that are configured to engage with the first plurality of binding teeth to apply the pressure to the sheet bundle, wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth each have a first height within a first binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row, wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth each have a second height within a second binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row, wherein the first height in the first binding area is different than the second height in the second binding area, wherein the first planar member and the second planar member move toward each other and contact the sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle, wherein the first binding area and the second binding area are arranged side-by-side in a length direction of the binding unit in which the first continuous row of the first plurality of binding teeth and the second continuous row of the second plurality of binding teeth are arranged, the method comprising:
- positioning the sheet bundle between the first planar member and the second planar member;
- applying the pressure to the sheet bundle by engaging the second plurality of binding teeth with the first plurality of binding teeth, wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth, collectively forming the first binding area and the second binding area, engage with each other such that the first binding area and the second binding area independently operate to crimp-bind the sheet bundle;
- and
- crimp-binding the sheet bundle utilizing the pressure applied to the sheet bundle by the binding unit.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a binding unit configured to apply pressure to a sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle, the binding unit comprising:
- a first planar member comprising a first plurality of binding teeth organized in a first continuous row;
- and
- a second planar member comprising a second plurality of binding teeth organized in a second continuous row that are configured to engage with the first plurality of binding teeth to apply the pressure to the sheet bundle,
- wherein a first crimping portion between the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth is formed within a first binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row,
- wherein a second crimping portion between the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth is formed within a second binding area of the first continuous row and the second continuous row,
- wherein a height of the first crimping portion in the first binding area is different than a height of the second crimping portion in the second binding area,
- wherein the first planar member and the second planar member move toward each other and contact the sheet bundle to crimp-bind the sheet bundle,
- wherein the first binding area and the second binding area are arranged side-by-side in a length direction of the binding unit in which the first continuous row of the first plurality of binding teeth and the second continuous row of the second plurality of binding teeth are arranged,
- wherein the first plurality of binding teeth and the second plurality of binding teeth, collectively forming the first binding area and the second binding area, engage with each other such that the first binding area and the second binding area independently operate to crimp-bind the sheet bundle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.