JP2005178233A - Paper-sheet aligning and stamping machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provided a paper-sheet aligning and stamping machine which can stably stamp a postmark even if irregularities are formed on the stamping surface of the paper sheet due to the thickness of the paper sheet, and which can change the length of the postmark even if a plurality of money amount stamps are stuck on the paper sheet. <P>SOLUTION: This paper-sheet stamping machine comprises: a length detecting means for detecting the length of the paper sheet P to be carried; a reading part 4 which reads and recognizes the money amount stamp stuck on the paper sheet P; a stamping control means which is produced so as to print the predetermined postmark in the predetermined position of the money amount stamp; and IJPs 61 and 62 for printing the postmark which is set by the stamping control means. The postmark is selected according to information on the length of the paper sheet, detected by the length detecting means, and the result of the recognition of the reading part 4. The first long postmark is selected for the short paper sheet P on which the money amount stamps are stuck, and the basic postmark is repeatedly printed on the long paper sheet P a plurality of times. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper sheet arranging and stamping machine capable of changing a postmark mark to be stamped on a paper sheet such as a postal matter.

  In the conventional automatic sorting and stamping machine, a postmark is imprinted on a fee stamp affixed to a paper sheet by rotating the stamp hub in accordance with the paper sheet being conveyed. That is, a mechanism is used in which when the stamp hub rotates, ink is applied to the stamp hub and a postmark is stamped on the paper sheet.

  For example, in FIG. 6, a paper sheet L such as a postal matter is sandwiched between a stamping hub 82 and a backup roller 83 and conveyed in the direction of arrow A in the figure. At that time, the stamp hub 82 rotates in contact with an ink roller (Ink Roller) 81, whereby ink is supplied from the ink roller 81. The stamp hub 82 supplied with the ink detects the stamp position of the paper sheet L with a sensor (not shown), and stamps a postmark mark at the stamp position (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the conventional stamping machine has the following problems.

  The first problem is that if the surface of the paper sheet L is uneven due to the contents, the stamping surface at the time of stamping will be uneven and uniform pressing will not be obtained, and the imprint of the postmark will become thin or postmarked. The mark may not be stamped. That is, the paper sheet L exceeding 4 mm has a problem that the postmark is thinned by mechanical stamping.

  The second problem is that ink from the ink roller 81 may scatter and contaminate surrounding sensors, which may cause malfunction of the machine.

  The third problem is that noise is likely to occur because the postmark is pressed against the paper sheet L.

  The fourth problem is that the conventional stamping method is a method in which the stamping mark 82 is stamped by rotating the stamping hub 82 once with respect to the paper sheet L. When a plurality of marks are affixed, it is a problem that a postmark cannot be imprinted on all charge marks.

The fifth problem is that if the ink amount of the ink roller 81 is increased, the ink amount at the time of stamping increases and the paper sheets are easily soiled. If the ink amount of the ink roller 81 is decreased, the ink amount at the time of stamping decreases and the postmark mark is printed. In the case of a main stamping apparatus that processes paper sheets L at a high speed and in large quantities, such as fading, the control of the amount of ink supplied from the ink roller 81 to the stamping hub 82 by the contact method becomes complicated. It is.
JP-A-5-286220 (first page, FIG. 1)

  In the contact method used in the conventional stamping machine in which the ink of the ink roller is attached to the stamping hub and the postmark is imprinted on the paper sheet by the ink, the contents when the thickness of the paper sheet exceeds 4 mm Since the pressing surface cannot be uniformly pressed due to the unevenness of the mark, the imprint of the postmark may become thin or the postmark may not be stamped. In addition, when a plurality of fee stamps are affixed to paper sheets, there is a problem that postmarks cannot be stamped on all fee stamps.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to stably stamp a postmark even if the stamping surface of the sheet has irregularities due to the thickness of the sheet, and the paper An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet assortment stamping machine capable of changing the length of a postmark even when a plurality of fee stamps are pasted on the leaves.

In order to achieve the above object, the paper sheet sorting and stamping machine of the present invention prints a postmark mark on the fee stamp by reading and recognizing the fee stamp attached to the conveyed paper sheet. A paper sheet assortment stamping machine, setting means for setting a print mode of the paper sheet assortment stamping machine;
Conveying means for conveying the paper sheets, length detecting means for detecting the length of the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying means, and material pasted on the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying means A reading means for reading the amount stamp, a recognition means for recognizing the fee amount stamp read by the reading means,
Based on the recognition result of the recognizing means, the transport direction arranging means for aligning the position where the fee stamp is pasted with respect to the transport direction of the transport means, and the paper sheets prepared by the transport direction arranging means. The postmark is generated based on the print mode set by the setting unit on the fee stamp of the class and the length of the paper sheet by the length detection unit, and the postmark position of the generated postmark And a printing means for printing the postmark set by the stamping control means.

  According to the present invention, the postmark can be printed on the paper sheet in a non-contact manner using an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as IJP). Even if there are irregularities on the stamping surface, it is possible to stably print the postmark, and because it is a printing method, even if multiple fee stamps are pasted on paper sheets A postmark that matches the length can be printed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic assortment stamping machine 1 equipped with an IJP that reads and recognizes a fee stamp attached to a paper sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention and prints a postmark mark on the fee stamp. It is. FIG. 2 is a block diagram relating to the control unit of the automatic assortment stamping machine 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram regarding the postmark.

  The automatic assortment stamping machine 1 has a take-out unit 2, a mechanism detection / exclusion unit 3, reading units 41 and 42, a delay conveyance path 43, a reversal / straight forward unit 5, a stamp unit 6, a delay conveyance path 63, and a stacking unit 7. Configured. Details will be described below.

  The take-out unit 2 takes out the sheets P supplied to the supply unit in a lump in front and back and supplies them one by one to the conveyance path 1a.

  The mechanism detection / exclusion unit 3 detects foreign matters such as the shape of the paper sheet P supplied to the transport path 1a, the thickness of the paper sheet P, and metal mixed in the paper sheet P. Based on the detection result, the non-standard-size paper sheets and the foreign-material-mixed paper sheets are excluded by the exclusion unit 31. The paper sheet P that has not been excluded by the mechanism detection / exclusion unit 3 is conveyed to the reading units 41 and 42.

  The reading units 41 and 42 are arranged on the left and right so as to face the conveyance path 1a, and read (reading means) and recognize a fee stamp attached to the left side or the right side of the conveyed paper sheet P (reading unit). Recognition means). Since the transported paper sheet P is transported in a mixed manner, the reading unit 41 is disposed on the left side and the reading unit 42 is disposed on the right side with respect to the transport direction of the transport path 1a. With this arrangement, even if the front and back sides of the paper sheet P are mixed and conveyed, the fee stamp attached to the paper sheet P can be detected.

  The delay conveyance path 43 is a part of the conveyance path 1a, and is provided in order to secure a calculation time until the reading recognition result of the paper sheet P that has passed through the reading units 41 and 42 is output. Accordingly, the reading recognition result of the reading units 41 and 42 is output while passing through the delay conveyance path 43.

  The reversing / straightening unit 5 branches the paper sheet P to the reversing unit 51 or the straight traveling unit 52 based on the reading recognition results of the reading units 41 and 42, and the amount mark of all the paper sheets P is pasted. The side is aligned with the lower side of the conveyance path (conveying direction arranging means). Thus, the paper sheets P aligned on the lower side of the transport path 1 a are transported to the stamping unit 6.

  The stamping unit 6 includes ink jet printers (IJP) 61 and 62 arranged on the left and right of the transport direction of the transport path 1a, and prints a postmark mark on the fee stamp attached to the paper sheet P. Here, the paper sheet P transported with the fee stamp affixed to the paper sheet P leftward in the transport direction is printed with a postmark in IJP 61 and transported with the fee stamp rightward in the transport direction. A postmark is printed on the paper sheet P by IJP 62 (printing means). The paper sheet P on which the postmark is printed further passes through the delay conveyance path 63 and is accumulated in the accumulating unit 7 in accordance with a preset division designation.

  The above-mentioned classification designation is, for example, normal paper sheet leading edge alignment in order from the left side with respect to a plurality of stackers constituting the stacking unit 7 (the side on which the paper sheet fee mark is pasted is the leading edge in the transport direction). Align the rear end of the stacker and normal paper sheets (align so that the side with the postage stamp on the post is the rear end in the transport direction). Specified to be divided into stackers such as rear-end alignment stackers for express delivery sheets, post-payment stamps and charge meter stackers, unreadable / overflow stackers, etc.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the block diagram regarding the control part of the automatic assortment stamping machine 1 is demonstrated. The control unit of the automatic assortment stamping machine 1 includes a main control unit 10, an extraction control 11, a transport control 12, a sorting unit control 13, an operation panel control 14, and a stamping control 61.

  The main control unit 10 communicates with the take-out control 11, the conveyance control 12, the sorting unit control 13, the operation panel control 14, and the stamp control 61 to control the entire automatic assortment stamping machine 1.

  The extraction control 11 controls the extraction unit 2. The transport control 12 controls the transport of the paper sheet P supplied to the transport path 1a (transport means) by the take-out unit 2.

  The sorting unit control 13 is configured so that the paper sheets P are stacked on a predetermined stacker of the stacking unit 7 based on the result of the reading units 41 and 42 reading and recognizing the fee stamps attached to the paper sheets P. Control to sort the paper sheet P is performed.

  The operation panel control 14 (setting means) is for starting and stopping the automatic assortment stamping machine 1 main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body), the print mode setting process, displaying the accumulated information on the sheets P, and the apparatus main body. Display error information.

  The stamp control 61 controls the IJPs 61 and 62 constituting the stamp unit 6 so as to stamp a stamp mark on the fee stamp attached to the paper sheet P (in the present invention, this stamp function is achieved by printing). To do). In other words, the stamp control 61 sets a postmark suitable for the position where the fee stamp is pasted based on the recognition result obtained by reading the fee stamp pasted on the paper sheet P by the reading units 41 and 42. This is selected (details will be described later) and notified to the IJPs 61 and 62 (stamping control means). Receiving this notification, the IJPs 61 and 62 print a postmark on the fee stamp of the paper sheet P based on the notification information from the stamp control unit 61 (printing means).

  Next, the postmark will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows an example in which a postmark is imprinted on one fee stamp 20.

  The postmark is composed of a wave 21 portion, post office names 22a and 22b portions, and a date / time 23 portion. The postmark length 24a is the length of the postmark portion printed on the fee stamp portion, and the illustrated one is the “basic postmark mark”. Therefore, in the case of imprinting by the conventional hub method, the imprinting is performed by rotating the hub once in accordance with the conveyance of the paper sheet P.

  The information on the date / time 23 is set by the operation panel control 14 based on the date / time input by an operator from an operation panel (not shown). This date / time printing method includes a method of printing without updating the paper sheet P during the postmarking process (fixed time printing mode) and a method of printing in real time during the postmarking process (realtime printing mode). There is. Which method is used can be set from the operation panel, and is set by the operation panel control 14 (print mode selection means) in the same manner as the date and time.

  FIG. 3B shows an example in which a postmark is printed on three fee stamps 20. In this example, a wave portion of a postmark mark is printed on each fee stamp, so that the postmark length 24b is longer than the postmark length 24a of FIG. In the example shown in the figure, the wave 21 portion is repeatedly printed in accordance with the range in which the charge mark is pasted in order to make the length 24b of the postmark mark variable.

  Alternatively, even if the “basic postmark mark” shown in FIG. 3A is repeatedly printed on a plurality of fee marks, the same postmark effect can be obtained.

  In this way, the length 24b of the postmark can be made variable by repeatedly printing the wave 21 portion or the basic postmark 24a according to the number of the fee stamps of the paper sheet P. Therefore, the length 24b of the postmark can be made variable. Is registered in a memory (not shown) of the apparatus main body. For example, the postmark mark in FIG. 3 (A) is registered for one fee stamp, and in the case of two or more fee stamps, the postmark mark in FIG. 3 (B) is set to the length of the fee stamp. Several types of postmarks with different postmark length 24b are registered so that they can be changed accordingly. The registered postmark is called and printed according to the result of reading and recognizing the fee stamp by the reading units 41 and 42.

  Next, another method for making the postmark mark variable length by the IJP of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the fee stamp of the paper sheet P is read and recognized by the reading units 41 and 42, the number of the fee stamp and the pasted range are detected. The detection result is notified to the stamp control unit 61. The stamp control unit 61 calculates the length of the wave 21 of the postmark based on the detection result, registers one period portion of the wave in the memory of the apparatus main body, and increases the postmark length as described above. A print format is generated by repeating the wave of the periodic portion, and the generated print format is printed using the IJP 62 or IJP 63. There is also a method for printing in this way, which can be realized by the printing method of this embodiment.

  The registration function for registering the postmark is protected by a security function that allows only specific members to register.

  Further, when the amount of the fee stamp is insufficient as a result of the reading recognition of the reading units 41 and 42, for example, the special symbol shown in FIG. It is also possible to distinguish it from other types so that the delivery person can confirm it visually. Note that the symbols shown in FIG. 4 are merely examples, and similar functions can be achieved by using other symbols.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of the postmarking process shown in FIG. 5, how the postmark is selected and printed will be described.

  First, the operator selects whether to print the date / time 23 portion of the postmark mark in a fixed manner or in real time (setting means) (S1). If fixed printing is selected (Yes in S1), the fixed time printing mode is set (S2). When real time printing is selected (No in S1), the real time printing mode is set.

  If the paper sheet P is transported by the setting means and is read and recognized by the reading units 41 and 42, if the charge becomes insufficient (Yes in S4), the “insufficient mark printing mode” is set (S5). . In this case, a special symbol 25 (see FIG. 4) or a mark (not shown) with insufficient charge is additionally printed after normal postmark printing.

  It is determined whether or not a plurality of fee stamps pasted on the paper sheet P are used from the results of the reading and recognition of the reading units 41 and 42, and a postmark is selected based on the determination result ( (Postmark selection means) (S6).

  As a result of this discrimination, if there is only one fee stamp (No in S6), a “basic postmark” (for example, see FIG. 3A) is selected and printed. (S8).

  If a plurality of fee stamps are used as a result of this determination (Yes in S6), the length of the sheet P is determined from the shape data of the sheet P detected by the mechanism detection / exclusion unit 3. Information is discriminated (length detecting means) (S7).

  As a result of the determination of the length information, when a plurality of fee stamps are used and the length of the paper sheet P is not long (No in S7), for example, in FIG. 3B or FIG. A long postmark (first postmark) shown is printed (S9).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination of the length information, when a plurality of fee stamps are used and the length of the paper sheet P is long (Yes in S7), for example, the “basic postmark mark shown in FIG. "Is repeated for the number of times of printing n (second postmark). The number of times of repeated printing n is set according to the number of used fee stamps (postmark selection means) (S10).

  In the insufficient charge mark printing mode (S5), the insufficient charge mark 25 is printed following the printing of the postmark.

  By the above method, the problem that the postmark is thin when the thickness of the post part, which was the first problem, exceeds 4 mm, is that the thickness of the paper sheet is 4 mm or more and 6 mm or less. Even if the stamping surface has irregularities, the postmark can be printed stably.

  The second problem is the problem of ink scattering from the ink roller, and the third problem is the noise problem at the time of stamping, because the contact method using the stamp hub is changed to the non-contact printing method based on the IJP method. Stain and noise on the printing surface are improved. Since this noise is generated by pressing and imprinting, it is greatly improved by adopting a printing method in which this pressing is not performed.

  The fourth problem is that the postmark length of the postmark is a fixed length, and if it is pasted on multiple fee stamp papers, the postmark cannot be stamped on all fee stamps. Since the mark length can be set to an arbitrary length, postmark marks can be printed on all fee stamps.

  Furthermore, when the charge stamp attached to the paper sheet is insufficient, a charge shortage mark can be printed, and the stamping operation that has been manually stamped conventionally is greatly improved. Further, the paper sheet on which the insufficient charge mark is printed is processed as a mark that can be easily read by a sorting machine (not shown) defined in the next item.

The plane block diagram of the automatic arrangement stamping machine by the Example of this invention. The block diagram regarding the control part of the automatic arrangement stamping machine of this invention. The figure explaining a postmark. The figure explaining a charge shortage mark. The flowchart of a postmark process by the Example of this invention. Conventional example of a stamping part.

Explanation of symbols

L Paper sheet P Paper sheet 1 Automatic assortment stamping machine 1a Conveying path 2 Unloading section 20 Fee stamp 21 Wave 22a, 22b Post office name 23 Date 24a, 24b, 24c Postmark length 3 Mechanism detection / exclusion section 31 Exclusion section 41, 42 Reading section 43 Delayed conveyance path 5 Reverse / straight forward section 51 Reverse section 52 Straight forward section 6 Stamping sections 61, 62 IJP
63 Delayed conveyance path 7 Stacking unit

Claims (6)

A paper sheet arrangement stamping machine that prints a postmark mark on the fee amount stamp by reading and recognizing the fee amount stamp affixed to the conveyed paper sheet,
Setting means for setting a printing mode of the paper sheet assortment stamping machine;
Conveying means for conveying the paper sheet;
A length detection means for detecting the length of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveyance means;
Reading means for reading a fee stamp affixed to the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means;
Recognition means for recognizing the fee stamp read by the reading means;
A conveyance direction arranging unit that arranges the position where the fee stamp is pasted with respect to the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit based on the recognition result of the recognition unit;
The postmark is set based on the print mode set by the setting unit and the length of the paper sheet by the length detection unit on the charge stamp of the paper sheets arranged by the conveyance direction arranging unit. A paper sheet arrangement comprising: a stamp control unit configured to generate and set a stamp position of the generated postmark mark; and a print unit configured to print the postmark set by the stamp control unit. Stamping machine. The transport direction arranging means is
A straight-ahead unit that conveys the conveyed paper sheets as they are;
Reversing the front and back of the paper sheet,
The surface of the fee stamp affixed to the paper sheet by selectively transporting the paper sheet through the straight part or the reversing part is any one of the directions perpendicular to the transport direction. 2. The paper sheet arranging and stamping machine according to claim 1, wherein The stamping means is
An ink jet printer disposed opposite to the conveying means;
2. The paper sheet according to claim 1, wherein the postmark is printed at a stamping position of the paper sheet based on the stamping position of the paper sheet and the postmark mark set by the stamp control means. Assortment stamping machine. The stamp control means includes
A print mode selection means for selecting either a fixed time print mode or a real-time print mode according to the print mode set by the setting means;
As a result of reading and recognizing the charge amount stamp affixed to the paper sheet by the reading means, an insufficient charge mark printing mode selection means for printing an insufficient charge mark when the charge is insufficient,
The paper sheets detected by the length detection unit when a plurality of fee stamps are pasted as a result of reading and recognition of the fee stamps pasted on the paper sheets by the reading unit. 2. A paper sheet assortment stamping machine according to claim 1, further comprising postmark selection means for selecting a postmark according to the length of the postmark. The postmark is
Basic postmark mark,
A first postmark that is longer than this basic postmark;
A second postmark generated by printing the basic postmark multiple times,
The postmark selection means is
When a plurality of fee stamps are pasted on the paper sheet, and the length of the paper sheet is longer than a predetermined length, the first postmark is selected,
If a plurality of fee stamps are affixed to the paper sheet and the length of the paper sheet is shorter than a predetermined length, the basic postmark mark is selected, and the paper sheet The paper sheet assortment stamping machine according to claim 4, wherein the basic postmark mark is repeatedly printed according to the length. The charge shortage mark printing mode selection means includes:
5. The paper sheet arrangement according to claim 4, wherein when the postage is insufficient as a result of reading and recognizing the fee stamp attached to the paper, printing is performed in the vicinity of the postmark. Stamping machine.

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