# US 12,044,998 B2 · Stapleless binder with enhanced binding force > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,044,998 B2 - Document ID: US12044998B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/911,217 - Filed: 2020-08-03 - Published: 2023-04-06 - Granted: 2024-07-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-13 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Eiji Fukasawa; Seounguk Han; Jeong-Yeon Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12044998B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6541: {Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing} - G03G 15/6544: {Details about the binding means or procedure} - B42B 5/00: Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching (by deformation thereof B31F; by adhesive peculiar to bookbinding B42C9/00) - 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) - H04N 1/00639: {Binding, stapling, folding or perforating, e.g. punching} - B65H 2301/51616: involving simultaneous deformation of parts of the material to be bound - B65H 2301/5162: Coating, applying liquid or layer of any material to material - B65H 2406/20: made only for liquid medium - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - G03G 2215/00827: Stapler - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B42B: PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together sheets or signatures B42C1/12; temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A post-processing device includes a paper alignment tray on which a plurality of papers is aligned and a stapleless binder including a stapleless binding portion to compress and bind the plurality of papers and a nozzle in the stapleless binding portion that supplies water vapor to the plurality of papers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A post-processing device comprising: a paper alignment tray on which a plurality of papers is aligned; a stapleless binder comprising a stapleless binding portion to compress and bind the plurality of papers, wherein the stapleless binding portion comprises a first binding block and a second binding block; a heater to heat water to form water vapor, wherein the heater is located on at least one of the first binding block and the second binding block; and a nozzle provided in the stapleless binding portion to supply the water vapor to the plurality of papers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The post-processing device of claim 1, wherein: first binding block includes a first compression teeth portion and the second binding block includes a second compression teeth portion having a complementary shape to the first compression teeth portion; and the nozzle is in at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The post-processing device of claim 2, further comprising: a vaporization chamber on at least one of the first binding block and the second binding block and connected to the nozzle; and the heater is to heat water in the vaporization chamber to form the water vapor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The post-processing device of claim 3, further comprising: a water tank to accommodate water; and a pump to supply the water in the water tank to the vaporization chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The post-processing device of claim 4, wherein: the pump comprises a water intake connected to the water tank, an air intake to suck air, and an outlet connected to the vaporization chamber to supply water and air to the vaporization chamber; and the heater heats the water and the air inside the vaporization chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The post-processing device of claim 4, further comprising: a first frame comprising the first binding block; a second frame comprising the second binding block and to: change to a first position in which the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion are engaged with each other; and change to a second position in which the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion are apart from each other; an elastic member to act as an elastic force on the second frame in a direction in which the elastic member is located at the second position; a binding cam to allow the second frame to change from the second position into the first position during forward rotation and the second frame to change into the second position by an elastic force of the elastic member during reverse rotation; and a pumping cam installed coaxially with the binding cam to: contract the pump when the binding cam is forwardly rotated; and relax the pump when the binding cam is reversely rotated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The post-processing device of claim 3, wherein the heater heats at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The post-processing device of claim 7, wherein the heater heats at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion in a state in which the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion are engaged with each other. ### Claim 9 A post-processing device comprising: a paper alignment tray on which a plurality of papers is aligned; and a stapleless binder comprising: a stapleless binding portion to compress and bind the plurality of papers; a nozzle provided in the stapleless binding portion to supply water to the plurality of papers; and a heater to dry moisture of the plurality of papers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The post-processing device of claim 9, wherein: the stapleless binding portion comprises: a first binding block including a first compression teeth portion; and a second binding block including a second compression teeth portion having a complementary shape to the first compression teeth portion; and the nozzle is in at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The post-processing device of claim 10, wherein the heater is on at least one of the first binding block and the second binding block and heats at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The post-processing device of claim 11, wherein the heater heats at least one of the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion in a state in which the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion are engaged with each other. ### Claim 13 A post-processing device comprising: a paper alignment tray on which a plurality of papers is aligned; and a stapleless binder comprising: a stapleless binding portion to compress and bind the plurality of papers; a nozzle provided in the stapleless binding portion to supply water to the plurality of papers; and a heater to dry moisture of the plurality of papers; a water tank to accommodate water; a water chamber on at least one of a first binding block of the stapleless binding portion and a second binding block of the stapleless binding portion and connected to the nozzle; and a pump to supply water in the water tank to the water chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The post-processing device of claim 13, wherein the pump supplies water and air to the water chamber and comprises a water intake connected to the water tank, an air intake to suck air, and an outlet connected to the water chamber; and wherein the heater heats air inside the water chamber to supply warm air to the nozzle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The post-processing device of claim 13, further comprising: a first frame comprising the first binding block; a second frame comprising the second binding block, the second frame to change into a first position in which a first compression teeth portion of the first binding block and a second compression teeth portion of the second binding block are engaged with each other and into a second position in which the first compression teeth portion and the second compression teeth portion are apart from each other; an elastic member to act as an elastic force on the second frame in a direction in which the elastic member is located at the second position; a binding cam to allow the second frame to change from the second position into the first position during forward rotation and the second frame to change into the second position by an elastic force of the elastic member during reverse rotation; and a pumping cam installed coaxially with the binding cam to contract the pump when the binding cam is forwardly rotated and to relax the pump when the binding cam is reversely rotated.