JPH08337230A - Apparatus for printing and pasting postal information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an apparatus for printing and pasting postal information wherein an apparatus cost and operating expenses can be largely reduced while the apparatus is downsized and handling is simplified. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for printing and pasting postal information includes a transfer means 10, a label sheet transfer and supply means 20, a printing means 30, a pasting means 60 and a cutting means 50, while a transfer and supply roller 24 is provided so that it can be intermittently engaged with a rear face B of a label sheet 22 with adhesive agent 45 applied. While the label sheet 22 is transferred and supplied synchronously with a mail 100, postal information C is printed on a surface F of the sheet 22, and also the adhesive agent 45 applied on the rear face B is utilized to paste the sheet 22 on the mail 100 while a rear end is cut, making a label.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail information printing / pasting device for sticking a label on which mail information coded mail information is printed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A postal information printing apparatus that directly prints postal information converted into a bar code corresponding to the postal code by inputting the postal code on the postal matter is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. No. 61-15758. However, with this direct printing method, no matter which printer is selected from the inkjet printer, the dot printer, etc., if the postal matter has irregularities or wrinkles, the postal information can be printed clearly and smoothly, and The drawback is that the optical reading cannot be accurate.

To solve this problem, the present applicant has
A postal information printing / pasting device that indirectly prints postal information on a postal matter by printing postal information on the label and pasting this label on the postal matter is proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-4
No. 5913). This indirect printing type mail information printing / pasting apparatus is shown in FIG.

That is, the postal information printing / pasting apparatus comprises a conveying means 10, a label supplying means 20P, a label printing means 30P and a label sticking means 60P which form the printing means.
It consists of and.

The transport means 10 is a main conveyor 1 for transporting a postal matter (for example, a letter or a postcard) 100 in the X direction while sandwiching it.
1 and a sub-conveyor 12 that conveys the postal matter 100 while regulating the height of the postal matter 100 in the vertical direction in FIG.

The label supply means 20P winds the feeding reel 203 for feeding the wound label tape 200 (tape 201, label 202) and the tape 201 as a release mount pulled out via a plurality of guide rollers 204. It is composed of the take-up reel 206, and the label tape 200 can be supplied while being conveyed in the X direction in synchronization with the postal matter 100. Each label 202 is transparent or opaque,
It is previously attached to the tape 201 via an adhesive.

The label printing means 30P includes a print head (for example, a thermal head) 31P, a platen roller 32P arranged opposite to the print head 31P, and an ink ribbon cassette 33P formed so as to be able to supply an ink ribbon between the both 31P and 32P. It is formed from and. Therefore, the postal information can be printed on the label 202 that has been conveyed and supplied.

The mail information in the case shown in FIG.
0 is a postal code information (bar code) Cn corresponding to the handwritten postal code 101 indicated by a two-dot chain line and a postal address information (bar code) Ca corresponding to the handwritten postal address 102. The respective information (101, 102) is keyed in using an input means (not shown) and converted into the respective bar codes Cn, Ca by the data conversion means, and then the label printing means 3
The label 202 is printed with 0P. Note that FIG.
Shows a method of printing on the respective labels 202N and 202A.

The label sticking means 60P includes a small-diameter peeling pin 61, a sticking roller 62, and a sticking roller (not shown) that faces the sticking roller 62 and the label 202.
The printed label 202 is peeled from the tape 201 by utilizing the feeding movement of the label tape 200 and the abrupt feeding direction changing action of the peeling pin 61, and the individual label 202 is attached by using the attaching roller 62. It is attached to the mail 100. That is, the postal information Cn, Ca
It is printed indirectly on the postal matter 100.

In such a postal information printing / pasting apparatus, the label 202 (202N, 202A) and the postal matter 100 are synchronously conveyed in the X direction, and a direction (X) orthogonal to the conveyance (X) direction between the label 202 and the postal matter 100 ( The relative position in the height direction) is constant. Therefore, the label 202N on which the postal code information Cn is printed by the label printing means 30P
Can be stably and reliably attached to a predetermined position of the postal matter 100. Label 2 with mail address information Ca printed
The same applies to the case of 02A.

The postal matter 100 after the label is attached is discharged in the Y direction shown in FIG. 7 and is stocked in a stacker (not shown). Thus, the delivery destination of the postal matter 100 can read the postal information (bar code) Cn, Ca printed on the labels 202N, 202A, for example, with an optical reading device, without reading the handwritten postal code 101 and postal address 102. It is possible to know automatically and unattended by automatically performing optical reading using. Therefore, the sorting work according to the address can be automatically performed.

[0012]

By the way, there is room for further improvement when the postal information printing / pasting apparatus is put into practical use. That is, the label 202 is the tape (release mount) 2
01 is attached, so label 202 is for postal matter 1
Mechanism for winding the tape 201 (20
It is essential to attach 6). Therefore, there is room for downsizing.

Further, if the mechanism (206) is simplified or omitted, or the structure of the label tape 200 itself is simplified, the cost should be further reduced.

Further, the length of the label 202 is a fixed length from the viewpoint of its construction and use. Therefore, increase (decrease) of the amount of postal information (code length) to be printed
Applicability to is narrow. If the length of the label 202 is set to the shortest, printing becomes impossible, and if it is set to the longest, the effective utilization rate of the label 202 is reduced and waste occurs.

Further, the label tape 200 is the tape 20.
Since a plurality of labels 202 are intermittently attached to one label, the continuous operation time is shortened, the label tape 200 is replaced, the winding tape 201 is removed as a prerequisite for this, and the head of a new label tape 200 is replaced. Adjusting the delivery is troublesome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mail information printing / pasting device which can be reduced in size and easy to handle, and which can greatly reduce the device cost and running cost.

[0017]

The length of a label should be determined by the amount of postal information to be printed, and it is very difficult to determine the optimum value for the label tape in advance. Also, the adhesive on the back surface of the label should not be applied from the beginning. In other words, it is sufficient if it is applied by the time it is attached to the mail.

Based on this analysis, the present invention makes it possible to replace the conventional label tape with a mere tape (label paper), cut the label paper to form a label, and pre-install an adhesive on its back surface. The above-mentioned object is achieved by being configured so that it can be applied to each case and attached to a mail item.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the conveying means for conveying the postal matter in a predetermined direction, the label sheet conveying and supplying means for conveying the label sheet in the same direction as the postal matter, and the conveyed label sheet. The printing means that prints the postal information on the front side of the label, the sticking means that sticks the label paper on the postal matter that is being conveyed by pressing the back side coated with adhesive to the postal matter, and the label behind the postal information printed. A conveying / supplying roller which is provided with a cutting means for cutting the sheet, and which is engaged with at least the back surface of the conveying / supplying roller forming the label sheet conveying / supplying means, which is coated with the adhesive of the label paper. The mail information printing / pasting device is characterized in that the back surface is intermittently engageable.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the mail information printing / attaching device, wherein the label paper is a roll paper whose back surface is coated with an adhesive from the beginning.

[0021]

In the case of the first aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the postal matter by the conveying means and the label sheet by the label sheet conveying and supplying means are synchronously conveyed in a predetermined direction. During this synchronous conveyance, the printing means prints the postal information on the surface of the label paper. The back side of this label paper is coated with the adhesive from the beginning or after that. However, since the feeding / feeding roller forming the label sheet feeding / feeding means intermittently engages with the back surface coated with the adhesive, the adhesive is not peeled off and smooth feeding can be ensured. Thus, this label paper is attached to the postal matter by the attaching means,
Moreover, it becomes an independent label by being cut by the cutting means. That is, it is possible to indirectly print the postal information encoded in the postal matter.

Further, in the case of the invention of claim 2, in addition to the case of the invention of claim 1, since the label paper is formed from a roll paper whose back surface is coated with an adhesive from the beginning, this roll paper is used. Just set. Therefore, it is easy to handle and there is no need for an adhesive application means or a tape winding mechanism when a label tape is used, so that the size can be further reduced.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) This mail information printing / pasting apparatus is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the transporting means 10, the label paper transporting and supplying means 20, the printing means 30, the sticking means 60, and the cutting means 50 are provided, and the transporting and supplying roller 24 is an adhesive 45 for the label paper 22. The label paper 22 is structured so as to be intermittently engageable with the back surface B applied with, and the postal information C is printed on the front surface F of the label paper 22 while the label paper 22 is conveyed and supplied in synchronization with the mail 100, and the adhesive applied to the back surface B thereof. Using the agent 45, the rear end is cut while being attached to the postal matter 100 so that it can be labeled.

In FIG. 2, the label paper feeding and supplying means 2
The label paper 22 fed from the roll paper 21 rotatably held on the slide panel 29 and the mail 100 transported by the transporting means 10 (main conveyor 11 and sub-conveyor 12) and predetermined (X). ), The guide roller 23 and the plurality of conveying rollers 2
4 and 25.

The label paper 22 may be transparent or opaque, but in the case of this embodiment, the address handwritten under the mail 100 is visible while it is affixed to the mail 100. For the optical reading of the information C, its address is semi-transparent, which is selected so as not to cause disturbance. Further, the adhesive 45 is entirely applied from the beginning to the back surface B of the label paper 22, that is, the rolled roll paper 21.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the feeding and feeding roller 2 which engages with the surface F of the label paper 22 being fed and fed.
Although 5 has a columnar structure, the feeding / supplying roller 24 that engages with the back surface B coated with the adhesive 45 has a gear shape and is formed so as to be intermittently engageable with the adhesive coating surface. Therefore, the conveyance supply roller 24 and the label paper 22 do not adhere to each other and the adhesive 45 is not peeled off from the label paper 22. Further, the transport supply roller 24 has a three-stage structure (24A, 24B, 24C) as shown in FIG.
The area of engagement with the back surface B is further reduced.

The printing means 30 is formed from an ink jet printer and prints the coded postal information C on the front surface F of the label paper 22. The postal information C is a combination of postal code information (Cn) and postal address information (Ca), which is printed on one label 202. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the label 202 is divided into each information Cn and Ca and is separately provided.
You may make it print on N, 202A. Further, the printing means 30 may be formed by a thermal printer or the like.

The cutting means 50 is means for extruding the tip blade to cut the printed label paper 22, and is performed by exciting (ON) the solenoid (SL) 51 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting means 50 is formed so that it can be cut after a set time (t) from the time when the printing of the postal information C is completed. That is, the after-time cut control means including the ROM 82 storing the after-time cut control program shown in FIG. 4 and the CPU 81 controls the excitation (ON) timing of the solenoid 51.

That is, since the conveyance speed of the label paper 22 in the predetermined (X) direction is constant, if the set time (t) is long (short), the cut position P1 from the printing end is made far (close). be able to. That is, the label 202 after cutting
The length can be sufficient for optical reading and sufficient for saving consumption of the label paper 22.

Further, in this first embodiment, since the label paper feeding / supplying means 20 is formed by the two feeding / supplying rollers 24 and 25, the label paper pressing means 55 having the gear-shaped pressing roller 56 is provided. During the cutting operation of the cutting means 50, the solenoid 57 (driver 57
D) is excited (ON), and the label paper 22 is sent to the mail item 10
It is formed so that it can be pressed lightly to zero. As a result, a constant tension can be established on the label sheet 22, and the label sheet 22 can be cut more smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sticking means 60 is composed of a pair of sticking rollers 62 and a sticking roller (not shown) which are arranged to face each other across the mail piece 100.
Reference numeral 2 is a rubber roller having high elasticity. Between the two, the postal matter 100 and the label paper 22 (or the label 2 after cutting)
02) is conveyed in synchronism, the adhesive force can be used to paste it on the postal matter 100.

In FIG. 4, the control unit 80 includes a CPU 8
1, the ROM 82, and the RAM 83, the entire apparatus can be driven and controlled in an appropriate amount at a suitable time. For this purpose, a conveyance motor 13 (driver 13D) forming a part of the conveyance means 10, a conveyance supply motor 28 (driver 28D) forming a part of the label sheet conveyance supply means 20, a printing means 3
Print head 31 forming a part of 0 (control circuit 31
C), solenoid 51 forming part of the cutting means 50
The (driver 51D) is connected to the solenoid 57 (driver 57D) forming a part of the label paper pressing means 55. In addition, the sticking means 60 includes the motors 13, 28.
You may rotate by either.

The control unit 80 (81, 82, 83) has a keyboard 84 (control circuit 84C) and a display unit 8.
5 (control circuit 85C) is connected. Keyboard 8
When the postal code and the address read from the postal matter 100 are input while visually checking them on the display 85 using the CPU 4, the CPU 8
1 is coded based on the program stored in the ROM 82, and is output to the control circuit 31C forming a part of the printing unit 30. Here, the appearance is the form shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
The control unit 80 transfers the mail 100 to the X-axis by the transporting unit 10.
The label paper transporting means 20 is driven while transporting in the direction, and the label paper 22 fed from the roll paper 21 is synchronously transported and supplied. The transport supply roller 24 (24A, 24B, which engages with the back surface B of the label paper 22 coated with the adhesive 45)
24C) are intermittently engaged, the adhesive 45 can be smoothly conveyed and supplied without peeling and without being adhered.

When the leading edge of the label paper 22 is detected, the printing means 30 is drive-controlled to print a bar code on the surface F of the label paper 22 which is carrying and feeding the postal information C as shown in FIG. When the set time (t) has elapsed from the end of printing the postal information C, the control unit 80 causes the cutting means 50 to
By driving (51), the label paper 22 is cut at the cutting position P1 shown in FIG. 5, and the independent label 202 is formed. Prior to this, the label paper pressing means 55 operates.

Even during this period, when the leading edge of the label paper 22 (or the label 202) reaches the attaching means 60, the label paper 22 is automatically attached to the mail item 100. Then, the postal matter 100 is collected by the stacker 70. After that,
The postal matter 100 is optically read and automatically sorted by address.

According to the first embodiment, however, the transport means 10, the label sheet transport supply means 20, the printing means 30, the sticking means 60, and the cutting means 50 are provided, and the transport means is provided. The supply roller 24 is configured to be intermittently engageable with the back surface B of the label paper 22 to which the adhesive 45 is applied,
The postal information C is printed on the front surface F of the label paper 22 while feeding and feeding the label paper 22 in synchronization with the postal matter 100, and the adhesive 45 applied to the back surface B of the label paper 22 is applied to the postal matter 100 and thereafter Since it is formed so that it can be labeled by cutting the edges, the device cost and running cost can be significantly reduced while achieving downsizing and easy handling.

Further, since the label paper 22 is formed from the roll paper 21 on the back surface B of which the adhesive 45 is applied from the beginning, the adhesive 45 is easier to handle than the case where the label tape 200 is used. Since neither the coating means (40) nor the tape winding mechanism (206) is required, the size can be further reduced and the running cost can be further reduced.

Further, the feeding and feeding roller 24 has a gear shape of 3
Since it has a step structure (24A, 24B, 24C),
The area of engagement of the label paper 22 coated with the adhesive 45 to the back surface B can be further reduced. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the peeling of the adhesive 45 and the like.

Further, the cutting means 50 is used for the label paper 22.
Since the postal information C is formed so that it can be cut after a set time from the time when the printing is completed, it is possible to adjust the length of the label according to the amount of postal information to be printed. Therefore, the consumption of the label paper 22 can be reduced and the continuous operation time can be further extended.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the label paper 22 is formed only from the paper (tape) and the coating means 40 is provided as shown in FIG. 6, and the back surface B is provided with the adhesive 45 each time. It is configured to be applied. That is, the first
Back surface B of roll paper 21 similar to the case of the embodiment (FIG. 2)
The adhesive 45 is not applied from the beginning.

As shown in FIG. 6, the application means 40 includes an application member 41 made of a sponge-like porous material impregnated with the adhesive 45, so that the adhesive 45 can be applied to the back surface B of the label paper 22. Has been formed.

Further, the coating member 41 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 42, and when the solenoid 43 is excited (ON), the tips thereof can be separated from the back surface B of the label paper 22. A non-application portion is provided in a part (tip) in the transport direction (length direction) of the label paper 22 that becomes the label 202 after being cut, and the label 202 is read after optical reading.
This is because it can be easily separated from the postal matter 100.

Further, in order to provide the coating means 40, the same intermittent engagement as in the case of the feeding / feeding roller 24 (24A to 24C) in the first embodiment can be engaged with the label sheet feeding / feeding means 20 on the downstream side thereof. Conveyance supply roller 26 (26A-2
6C) and a columnar transport and supply roller 27 are provided. Therefore, the label paper pressing means 55 is omitted.

The upstream feeding / feeding roller 24 has a columnar structure because it does not engage the back surface B coated with the adhesive 45. Of course, it may be the same as in the case of the first embodiment.

Therefore, according to this second embodiment, the first
In addition to the same operational effects as in the case of the embodiment, the cost of the label paper 22 (20) can be greatly reduced, and the adhesive force can be made more effective because it can be applied immediately before being attached to the mail 100. Available.

Further, since the coating member 41 of the coating means 40 can be temporarily separated from the back surface B of the label paper 22 to form the non-coated portion of the adhesive 45, the label 202 is optically read after the mail information C is read. It can be easily removed from the object 100. Therefore, it is possible to deliver without impairing aesthetics.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a conveying means,
Label paper transport supply means, printing means, pasting means,
A cutting and feeding means is provided, and the feeding roller is configured to be intermittently engageable with the back side of the label sheet on which the adhesive is applied. By using the adhesive applied to the back surface of the postal printing and sticking it to the mail and cutting the rear end of the postal mail so that it can be labeled, the following excellent effects can be achieved.

Since the label paper itself is used as a label, the running cost can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where a label tape is used, and the tape winding mechanism can be wiped out, so that the device cost can be reduced and the size can be greatly reduced. Can be realized.

Since the label is formed from the label paper, the continuous operation time can be extended even when the winding diameter is the same as the winding diameter of the label tape. Therefore, the replenishment period of the label paper can be extended and the adjustment of the cue in the case of the label tape is not necessary, and the handling is much easier from this point as well.

Since the label length can be expanded / contracted according to the amount of postal information to be printed, the consumption of label paper can be reduced and the applicability can be remarkably expanded.

Since the adhesive applied to the back surface of the label is directly used, the adhesive strength can be kept high as compared with the case where the adhesive once peeled off using the label tape is reused.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the label paper is formed from the roll paper whose back surface is coated with the adhesive from the beginning, so that it is easier to handle than the case where the label tape is used. Since neither adhesive coating means nor tape winding mechanism is required, the size can be further reduced and the running cost can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise an external perspective view for explaining main components.

FIG. 3 is also a diagram for explaining a transport supply roller that can be intermittently engaged.

FIG. 4 is likewise a block diagram for explaining a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cutting operation after the set time.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an indirect printing type mail information printing / pasting apparatus using an individual label.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Conveying Means 11 Main Conveyor 12 Sub Conveyor 20 Label Paper Conveying Supply Means 21 Roll Paper 22 Label Paper 23 Guide Rollers 24-27 Conveying Supply Rollers 30 Printing Means 40 Applying Means 41 Applying Members 45 Adhesives 50 Cutting Means 55 Label Paper Holding Means 56 Presser roller 60 Sticking means 70 Stacker 80 Control section 81 CPU 82 ROM 83 RAM 84 Keyboard 85 Display 100 Mail 202 Label C Postal information

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transport means for transporting a postal matter in a predetermined direction, a label paper transporting and feeding means for transporting a label paper in the same direction as the postal matter, and printing of postal information on the surface of the label paper transported. A printing means, a sticking means for pressing the back side coated with the adhesive to the mail piece to stick the label paper to the mail piece being conveyed, and a cutting means for cutting the label paper behind the mail information printed. And a transport supply roller that is engaged with at least the back surface of the transport supply roller forming the label paper transport supply means, which is coated with the adhesive of the label paper, can be intermittently engaged with the back surface. A mail information printing / pasting device having the above-mentioned configuration. 2. The mail information printing / pasting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label paper is a roll paper whose back surface is coated with an adhesive from the beginning.