UnfoldIP

Company patents

Max Co., Ltd.

Max Co, Ltd. appears to be shifting its patent strategy, with a notable decline in filings for its core 'Packaging Machines' (down 64.7% in 2025) and 'Hand Tools' (down 40.9% in 2025) categories after significant growth in 2024. Surprisingly, despite the overall decline in manufacturing-related filings, there's an emerging focus on 'Manipulators & Robotics,' which saw 3 patents so far in 2026 after zero filings in 2024 and 2025, indicating a potential pivot towards automation.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

270 US filings (since 2023) · 7 categories · 10 themes

Power Tool Drivetrain & Mechanics

Design and optimization of the mechanical components and power transmission systems within powered hand tools, including motors, gears, spindles, and impact mechanisms, for efficiency, durability, and compact form factor.

Hand Tools
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27since 2023
+140.0%YoY
Specialized Fastener Installation/Removal

Tools and systems engineered for the precise installation, removal, or manipulation of specific components or fasteners, often involving specialized gripping, depth control, or extraction mechanisms.

Hand Tools
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23since 2023
+266.7%YoY
Integrated Tool Features & Ergonomics

Design elements and integrated components that improve the usability, comfort, and versatility of hand tools, such as built-in lighting, vibration reduction, modular storage, or adjustable form factors.

Hand Tools
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10since 2023
+300.0%YoY
Motor Power and Energy Management

Strategies and circuits for optimizing the supply and consumption of electrical power for motors, including current limiting, regenerative energy handling, battery integration, and managing power quality.

Motor Control
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6since 2023
new
Integrated Sheet/Web Post-Processingfiltered

Systems that perform operations like cutting, folding, binding, or applying liquids to sheets or webs, often integrated within larger production lines such as printing or image forming apparatuses.

Material Handling (Sheets, Webs)
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5since 2023
-75.0%YoY
Automated Winding & Reeling

Apparatus and methods for automatically winding or unwinding continuous materials such as webs, cables, conduits, or yarns onto or from spools, reels, or bobbins, including aspects like layering, coreless winding, and material supply.

Material Handling (Sheets, Webs)
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4since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Media Handling & Feeding Systems

Mechanisms and control systems for reliably feeding, conveying, and separating print media, including managing media roll changes, adjusting airflow, and adapting to different media characteristics.

Material Handling (Sheets, Webs)
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3since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Specialized Container Forming & Dispensing

Methods and apparatuses for creating unique package structures, such as recesses in specific materials, blister packages, or single-dose units, and for controlled dispensing of products from storage into these containers.

Packaging Machines
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2since 2023
n/a
Advanced Motor Topologies

Development of novel motor architectures beyond traditional radial flux designs, including linear, axial, or multi-armature configurations, often to optimize for specific performance characteristics like torque density or form factor.

Electric Motors & Generators
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1since 2023
n/a
Motor System Integration & Safety

Integration of electric motors into larger systems (e.g., vehicles, power tools) and safety features for high-voltage components, including control interfaces, mechanical integration, and environmental protection (e.g., waterproofing).

Electric Motors & Generators
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1since 2023
n/a

Patents

Showing 1-10 of 13

Integrated Sheet/Web Post-Processing
Page 1 of 2
US 12297065 B2GRANTED
B27F7/21

Image forming system, post-processing apparatus and binding device

Filed:2023-08-02Pub:2025-05-13
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus comprising a binding device configured to bind the sheet output from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the binding device. The binding device is capable of executing binding processing via a staple forming process of forming a staple and moving the staple toward a striking-out position and a staple striking-out process of striking out the staple at the striking-out position. The control unit is configured to control the binding device to repeat multiple times the staple forming process without undergoing the staple striking-out process.

US 20240424710 A1APPLICATION
B27F7/38

REFILL

Filed:2024-09-05Pub:2024-12-26
Applicant:Max Co., Ltd.

A refill includes a peripheral wall defining a space capable of accommodating staples therein. The peripheral wall includes a bottom wall having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a third side connecting end portions of the first side and the second side, a first side wall standing from the first side, a second side wall standing from the second side and opposing the first side wall, and a front wall positioned above the third side and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall. A first opening is formed on the first side wall and the front wall to extend across a boundary between the first side wall and the front wall.

US 12097635 B2GRANTED
B25C5/16

Staple refill

Filed:2020-09-28Pub:2024-09-24
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

A refill includes a peripheral wall defining a space capable of accommodating staples therein. The peripheral wall includes a bottom wall having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a third side connecting end portions of the first side and the second side, a first side wall standing from the first side, a second side wall standing from the second side and opposing the first side wall, and a front wall positioned above the third side and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall. A first opening is formed on the first side wall and the front wall to extend across a boundary between the first side wall and the front wall.

US 12036809 B2GRANTED
B65H37/04

Electric stapler and sheet processing apparatus

Filed:2022-04-14Pub:2024-07-16
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An electric stapler includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing on a sheet bundle by sequentially executing a clamping process of clamping the sheet bundle, a penetration process of penetrating a staple through the clamped sheet bundle, and a clinching process of pressing leg portions of the staple penetrating through the sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit, and a controller configured to control the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor to execute the clamping on the sheet bundle or the pressing on the leg portions multiple times in the clamping process.

US 20240043235 A1APPLICATION
B65H37/04

IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND BINDING DEVICE

Filed:2023-08-02Pub:2024-02-08
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus comprising a binding device configured to bind the sheet output from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the binding device. The binding device is capable of executing binding processing via a staple forming process of forming a staple and moving the staple toward a striking-out position and a staple striking-out process of striking out the staple at the striking-out position. The control unit is configured to control the binding device to repeat multiple times the staple forming process without undergoing the staple striking-out process.

US 20220332138 A1APPLICATION
B42C1/12

ELECTRIC STAPLER AND SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS

Filed:2022-04-14Pub:2022-10-20
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An electric stapler includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing on a sheet bundle by sequentially executing a clamping process of clamping the sheet bundle, a penetration process of penetrating a staple through the clamped sheet bundle, and a clinching process of pressing leg portions of the staple penetrating through the sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit, and a controller configured to control the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor to execute the clamping on the sheet bundle or the pressing on the leg portions multiple times in the clamping process.

US 11325805 B2GRANTED
B65H37/04

Electric stapler, post-processing device, and image forming system

Filed:2021-04-30Pub:2022-05-10
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An electric stapler includes a clamp part that is configured to include a first wall portion and a second wall portion for gripping a paper bundle, a penetration part that causes a staple to penetrate the paper bundle gripped by the clamp part, a clinch part that bends the staple penetrating the paper bundle to bind the paper bundle, a gripping release detection unit that detects that the paper bundle is released from gripping after the first wall portion moves in the direction of separating from the second wall portion from a state where the paper bundle is gripped by the clamp part; and an output unit that, after it is detected that the paper bundle is released from gripping of the clamp part, outputs a gripping release signal indicating that the paper bundle is released from gripping of the clamp part to an outside.

US 11279015 B2GRANTED
B66F15/00

Staple removing device

Filed:2017-09-21Pub:2022-03-22
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

A staple removing device configured to remove a staple of a paper bundle bound by the staple includes a loading portion on which the paper bundle is loaded and a pressing member ( 120 A) configured to press the paper bundle to the loading portion. The pressing member ( 120 A) includes a staple support portion ( 126 ) configured to position the staple at a removing position at which the staple abuts against the staple support portion ( 126 ).

US 20210339975 A1APPLICATION
B65H37/04

ELECTRIC STAPLER, POST-PROCESSING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

Filed:2021-04-30Pub:2021-11-04
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

An electric stapler includes a clamp part that is configured to include a first wall portion and a second wall portion for gripping a paper bundle, a penetration part that causes a staple to penetrate the paper bundle gripped by the clamp part, a clinch part that bends the staple penetrating the paper bundle to bind the paper bundle, a gripping release detection unit that detects that the paper bundle is released from gripping after the first wall portion moves in the direction of separating from the second wall portion from a state where the paper bundle is gripped by the clamp part; and an output unit that, after it is detected that the paper bundle is released from gripping of the clamp part, outputs a gripping release signal indicating that the paper bundle is released from gripping of the clamp part to an outside.

US 11077580 B2GRANTED
B25C5/16

Refill

Filed:2019-05-24Pub:2021-08-03
Applicant:MAX CO., LTD.

A refill includes a peripheral wall defining a space capable of accommodating staples therein. The peripheral wall includes a bottom wall having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a third side connecting end portions of the first side and the second side, a first side wall standing from the first side, a second side wall standing from the second side and opposing the first side wall, and a front wall positioned above the third side and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall. A first opening is formed on the first side wall and the front wall to extend across a boundary between the first side wall and the front wall.

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