# US 10,479,637 B2 · Binding teeth, sheet processing device, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and sheet binding method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,637 B2 - Document ID: US10479637B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/357,671 - Filed: 2016-11-21 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-03 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Takuya Morinaga; Nobuyoshi Suzuki; Yuusuke Shibasaki; Wataru Takahashi; Koki Sakano - Inventors: Takuya Morinaga; Nobuyoshi Suzuki; Yuusuke Shibasaki; Wataru Takahashi; Koki Sakano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479637B2 ## CPC - B65H 37/04: for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) - B31F 5/02: by crimping or slotting {or perforating} - B65H 2301/51616: involving simultaneous deformation of parts of the material to be bound - B65H 2515/34: Pressure, e.g. fluid pressure - B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B31F: MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first binding area generates a first binding force which varies based on a number of sheets in the sheet bundle, and the second binding area generates a second binding force which varies based on the number of sheets in the sheet bundle, wherein the first binding force and the second binding force are different. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first height in the first binding area is greater than the second height in the second binding area, and the first binding force is less than the second binding force when the number of sheets in the sheet bundle is less than a threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first binding force is greater than the second binding force when the number of sheets in the sheet bundle is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first binding area is disposed proximate to a center of the first continuous row and the second continuous row, and the second binding area is arranged on sides of the first binding area distal to the center. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the first height of the first binding area is greater than the second height of the second binding area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sheet processing device, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet of the sheet bundle; an accumulating unit configured to accumulate thereon the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; an aligning unit that aligns an end of the sheet accumulated on the accumulating unit; the binding unit; and a pressurizing unit configured to hold the sheet bundle aligned by the aligning unit between the first planar member and the second planar member of the binding unit by applying pressure to engage the first plurality of binding teeth with the second plurality of binding teeth as the first planar member moves toward the second planar member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet processing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the image forming apparatus further comprises: an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet, and the sheet processing device performs a preset process on the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 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.