JP2006323201A - Packing device and method, and print preparing device using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packing device where, in the production of a print pack for packing prints classified for every item, a stacked body of prints can be securely charged to a packing material, to provide a print preparing device using the same, and to provide a packing method. <P>SOLUTION: Every time a prescribed number of prints are exhausted onto an accumulation stand, the prints are energized from the end parts on both the sides in the width direction by a force higher than the force for moving the prescribed number of prints and smaller than the force for changing the shape of the accumulated prints, thereby the prints are accumulated while the position in the width direction of the prints is regulated, and the accumulated prints to be packed into one print packing bag are carried to a direction orthogonal to the width direction thereof, and are inserted into the print packing bag. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a packing device for bagging photographic prints on a case-by-case basis, a print creating device for creating photographic prints and bagging with a packing device to create bag-packed prints (print packs), and a packing method.

With the spread of personal computers (PCs), PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), and the like, the penetration rate of digital cameras is increasing. Furthermore, mobile phones having a photographing function are also widespread.
An image taken with a digital camera, a mobile phone or the like is usually handled as image data and used for various purposes. For example, it is taken in and processed by a PC or the like, used for creating a home page or New Year's card, displayed on a display of a PC or the like for viewing, or output by a home printer. However, there are many requests to leave images taken with a digital camera or the like as high-quality (photo) prints. Correspondingly, in recent years, prints are created from images taken with a digital camera, a mobile phone, or the like by a specialist such as a lab shop.

  For ordering prints of images taken with a digital camera or the like, for example, using a print order reception machine (hereinafter referred to as a reception machine) installed in a store such as a lab shop or various commercial facilities. Done.

The accepting machine normally loads a recording medium such as a memory card, IC card, or CD-R that stores the captured image (image data), or connects a digital camera or a mobile phone directly or using a connection means. The image is read and displayed on the display together with the order screen.
The customer inputs order information such as an image to be printed, a print size, and the number of prints for each image, using a display serving as a touch panel and a predetermined input method. When the order is confirmed and an output instruction is issued, the image and the order information are associated with each other and sent to a server or an image processing apparatus such as a lab shop, where the image is supplied to a digital photo printer. A print corresponding to the order information is created and output.

  Also, in recent years, a PC at home is operated as a reception machine by installing photo ordering software or browsing a lab store's homepage using communication means such as the Internet, and images and order information are transmitted to the lab by communication means. A so-called online order is also made in which a print order is sent to a store or the like.

  In traditional print production from photographic film, when a print production order is received at a lab store or the like, the name of the customer (print orderer) and contact information (address, telephone number, etc.) are stored in a special bag called a DP bag. When a photographic film (patrone, cartridge, etc.) is stored in the DP bag and prints are made, the photographic film is taken out of the DP bag and developed, and the developed film is used (finished photo) ) Create a print, put the print and developed film in the corresponding DP bag and return it to the customer.

On the other hand, there is no photographic film when creating a print from an image taken with a digital camera or the like. Therefore, the work at the time of shipment is simplified, the process from the creation of the print to the packaging is automated, and the print can be provided to the customer as a print pack in which the print is accommodated in a bag-like packaging material and sealed. It becomes possible.
For example, Patent Document 1 includes an order information storage unit that stores order information, an image data storage unit for creating a (photo) print, an image exposure unit that exposes a photosensitive material based on image data, A print receiving means for converting the order information into image data and sending it to the image exposure unit to expose the order information print on the photosensitive material and storing the print and the order information print in a print storage bag Or a digital photo printer (photo processor) having a mechanism for closing an order information print and a print storage bag containing a predetermined number of prints.
JP 2003-35938 A

  In producing such a print pack, as a method of storing the print in a bag-shaped packaging material, a method of forming a bag body after wrapping the print with a sheet-shaped packaging material, a guide member, a conveying member, etc. Various methods are conceivable, such as a method of pushing a print into a bag-shaped packaging material. Above all, as one of the methods that can simplify the structure and realize a low-cost device, the prints are collected and the print laminate is put from above the bag-like wrapping material to accommodate the prints in the wrapping material. A way to do this is considered.

Here, considering the commercial value, it is not preferable that the print is disturbed in the print pack, such as the print being rotated or a part of the print being turned sideways. In consideration of cost and the like, it is preferable that the amount of the packaging material used is small. Therefore, it is preferable to reduce the size of the bag body serving as the print pack as much as possible according to the size of the print to be accommodated, the maximum number of prints, and the like.
Considering such points, in order to securely store the print in the bag-shaped packaging material, it is necessary to insert the print into the packaging material in an orderly stacked state without being disturbed. However, there is no known device that can insert the stacked prints into the bag-shaped packaging material in an orderly and reliable manner without being disturbed.

  An object of the present invention is a packing device for producing a print pack in which prints such as photographic prints are collected in a bag and sealed in a bag, and the print laminate is neatly wrapped without being disturbed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing device that can be inserted into a material and that can securely store a print in a packaging material, even with a small bag, and a print creation device and a packing method using the packing device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a packing device for bagging prints on a case-by-case basis,
A stacking table for collecting the prints discharged from the print discharge unit;
The stacking height of the prints stacked on the stacking table is arranged on both sides of the stacking table in the width direction orthogonal to the print discharging direction from the print discharging unit with a space wider than the width of the print. A pair of regulating members having a height exceeding,
A force that changes the shape of the accumulated prints larger than the force that moves the predetermined number of prints when the regulating member abuts the end in the width direction of the prints accumulated on the stacking table. Biasing means for biasing the regulating member toward the print with a smaller force, and
Driving means for reciprocating at least one of the regulating members to a position where the prints accumulated on the collecting table are sandwiched between a pair of regulating members each time the predetermined number of prints are accumulated on the collecting table. A print stacking unit having
A print insertion unit configured to convey the prints to be packed in one print packaging bag accumulated in the print accumulation unit in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and insert the prints into the print packaging bag. Provide packing equipment.

Here, it is preferable that the drive unit synchronously drives both of the pair of restriction members so that the print is sandwiched between the pair of restriction members.
Moreover, it is preferable that the said control member can incline in the height direction.
Moreover, it is preferable that the urging means has a larger urging force at a higher position in the height direction than at a lower position.

Further, the biasing means has a biasing force smaller than a rigidity force in the width direction of the initial number of the printed laminates in a portion for biasing the predetermined number of the printed multilayers. And
The driving means preferably starts the driving of the restricting member after the initial number of the prints are accumulated.

Further, the driving means reciprocates the regulating member to a position corresponding to a minimum width when the print discharged from the print discharge portion is deformed in the width direction or a width narrower than that. Is preferred.
Further, it is preferable to further include a rotating means for rotating the direction of the print by a predetermined angle before inserting the print into the print packaging bag.

  The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium to create a print, and a print creating apparatus having any one of the above packing apparatuses.

  The image forming apparatus uses a photosensitive material as the recording medium, and exposes the photosensitive material, an exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive material, a developing unit that wet-develops the exposed photosensitive material, and dries the developed photosensitive material. It is preferable to provide a drying means.

Further, the present invention is a packing method for bagging prints on a case-by-case basis,
The print discharged from the print discharge unit is received on the stacking table,
Each time a predetermined number of prints are discharged on the stacking table, the print is moved from both ends in the width direction perpendicular to the print discharge direction from the print discharge unit. The print is accumulated while restricting the position in the width direction of the print by urging with a force smaller than the force that changes the shape of the accumulated print larger than the force to make the print,
Provided is a packing method in which the prints to be packed in one integrated print packaging bag are transported in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and inserted into the print packaging bag.

In this case, it is preferable that the position where the accumulated height of the print is high is biased with a biasing force larger than the low position.
In addition, after the predetermined initial number of prints are accumulated, the biasing of the print is started with a biasing force smaller than the rigidity force in the width direction of the laminate of the initial number of prints. preferable.

According to the present invention as described above, when a print pack is formed by sorting prints such as photographic prints and storing / sealing them in a bag-like packaging material (bag body), Since the body can be inserted into the packaging material in an orderly stacked state without being disturbed, even in a small packaging material according to the print size, maximum number of sheets, etc., the state in which the prints are stacked securely and orderly Can be accommodated in.
In particular, even when prints are made using photosensitive material, even if the prints have curls at the time of stacking, the prints are stacked in the same direction (width direction) as the width of the packaging material. Therefore, even with a small packaging material, it is possible to insert the print reliably and orderly.

  Hereinafter, a packing apparatus, a print creation apparatus using the same, and a packing method according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a printer which is an embodiment of a print creation apparatus of the present invention using the packing apparatus of the present invention for performing the packing method of the present invention.
The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 photoelectrically reads a print image obtained by performing predetermined processing on an image (image data) photographed with a digital camera, a mobile phone, or the like, or an image photographed on a photographic film. A print image obtained by applying a predetermined process to the image is obtained, and a photosensitive material A (printing paper) is exposed imagewise by a light beam modulated in accordance with the print image to form a latent image. The photosensitive material A is subjected to a predetermined development process (finished photo) to obtain a print P, and further packed (bag-packed) one by one to obtain a print pack 12.
In the illustrated example, the printer 10 includes an exposure unit 16 and a processor 18 that function as an image forming apparatus, and a packer 20 that is an example of the packing apparatus of the present invention.
Although not specifically described, the photosensitive material A is conveyed to each part by a known conveying means such as a conveying roller pair or a guide.

  The exposure unit 16 cuts the photosensitive material A into a size corresponding to the print to be produced, records a back print on the cut photosensitive material A, and modulates the light beam according to the above-described printing image (data). The photosensitive material A is imagewise exposed by L to record a latent image, and the exposed photosensitive material A is supplied to the processor 38.

The exposure unit 16 is loaded with a magazine 26 containing a photosensitive material roll 24 formed by winding the photosensitive material A at a predetermined position, and further includes a back printer 28, an exposure unit 30, and two sub-scanning conveyance roller pairs 32. And are provided.
The illustrated printer 10 can be loaded with two magazines 26. The photosensitive material A is pulled out from the magazine 26 and cut according to the print size by the cutter 34, and then the back print is recorded by the back printer 28 and supplied to the sub-scanning conveyance roller pair 32.

The aforementioned print image is supplied to the exposure unit 30.
The exposure unit 30 deflects the light beam L (recording light) modulated in accordance with the print image in the main scanning direction (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) and enters the predetermined exposure position. On the other hand, the photosensitive material A is scanned and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction while being positioned at the exposure position by the sub-scanning conveying roller pair 32 arranged with the exposure position sandwiched in the conveying direction. Therefore, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam L modulated according to the image, and a latent image is recorded on the entire surface.
The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is recorded is then supplied to the processor 18.

The processor 18 includes a developing unit 38 and a drying unit 40.
The photosensitive material A formed with the latent image in the exposure unit 16 and supplied to the processor 18 is first developed in the developing unit 42 in the developing unit 38 to be a visible image, and bleached in the bleaching / fixing unit 44. Fixing is performed, and the water is washed in the four water washing tanks 46 and conveyed to the drying unit 40.
The developed photosensitive material A is then dried by a heater, warm air, or the like in the drying unit 40, and is discharged to the packer 20 as a (finished photograph) print P from the exit roller pair 50 of the discharge unit 48.

Here, in the illustrated printer 10, for example, a print P larger than a predetermined size, such as a print larger than the postcard size, is not conveyed to the packer 20, and the large-size print discharge unit 52 located above the discharge unit 48. To discharge.
The conveyance path may be switched by a known method such as a method using a switching guide.

  The packer 20 is a packing device according to the present invention that packs and packs the prints P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 of the discharge unit 48 of the processor 18 one by one, and includes a stacking unit 56, a transport unit 58, The sheet feeding unit 60 includes a packaging sheet S supply unit 62, a holding unit 64, a seal / cut unit 66, a print loading load reduction table 68, and a product storage unit 70.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the stacking unit 56, the transport unit 58, and the input unit 60. 2A is a front view (a view seen from the same direction as FIG. 1), and FIG. 2B is a plan view.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to make it easy to understand the state of conveyance of the print P in each of the stacking unit 56, the conveyance unit 58, and the loading unit 60, a stack of prints P is shown in each of the above-described units. In actual conveyance of the print P, the print P is not necessarily conveyed to each of the above parts. For example, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, the conveyance of the print P from the conveyance unit 58 to the input unit 60 and the subsequent input of the print P to the packaging sheet S are continuously performed. When the print laminate is conveyed, the input unit 60 and the packaging sheet S are in a print input standby state, and the other print laminates are not conveyed / input.

The stacking unit 56 stacks the prints P discharged from the outlet roller pair 50, aligns the prints P in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction), and transports the prints P to the downstream transport unit 58. It is.
In the illustrated example, the stacking unit 56 includes a conveyor 72, a width adjusting guide 74, and driving means and biasing means (not shown in FIG. 2) of the width adjusting guide 74 described later. The width adjusting guides 74 are disposed on both sides of the conveyor 72 in the width direction, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2A, in order to clearly show the configuration of the conveyor 72, a state in which the conveyor 72 on the front side in the figure is removed is shown.

The conveyor 72 is a known belt conveyor including a pair of rollers 76 and 76 and an endless belt 78 stretched around the rollers 76 and 76. The print P is accumulated and conveyed to the conveyance unit 58 downstream of the belt. To do. The endless belt 78 functions as an accumulation stand for accumulating the prints P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 (print discharge unit). The rotation axes of the rollers 76 and 76 are respectively supported by support plates 76a and 76a (see FIG. 2B) provided on both sides in the width direction.
The conveyor 72 is located below the exit roller pair 50 in the vertical direction and upstream in the transport direction of the print P so that the prints P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 are accumulated on the endless belt 78. The roller 76 (that is, the upstream end portion of the conveying surface of the endless belt 78) is disposed at substantially the same position as the exit roller pair 50 (slightly downstream position in the illustrated example) or upstream thereof. Further, the width of the endless belt 78 is narrower than the minimum size in the width direction of the corresponding print P, and a width alignment guide 74 described later is brought into contact with the width direction end portion of the print P, thereby the width alignment guide 74. This ensures that the width can be adjusted.

In the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56, the print P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 is printed on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the endless belt 78 in order to prevent the print P from going downstream from the predetermined position. It is preferable to provide a regulating member 78a such as a protrusion or a wall portion that is located downstream of the discharge position (stacking position) when P is discharged.
Further, in order to more surely convey the print P by the conveyor 72, on the surface of the endless belt 78, when the print P is discharged, the upstream side of the print P discharge position (print P accumulation position) by the exit roller pair 50. It is preferable to have a pressing member 78b such as a protrusion or a wall portion located.

  The driving means for the width adjusting guide 74 is shown by a dotted line in FIG. 2B by reciprocating the two width adjusting guides 74, 74 in synchronization with the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the print P discharged / stacked on the conveyor 72 is brought into contact with the end of the print P so as to be sandwiched from both sides in the width direction, and the position of the print P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 in the width direction is determined. By restricting (moving in the width direction), the accumulated prints P are aligned (width-adjusted) in the width direction.

Below, the structure of the width adjusting guide 74 and its driving means and biasing means will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the width adjusting guide 74 and its driving means and biasing means. In FIG. 3, (A) is a plan view with the up and down direction as the transport direction, and (B) is a side view as seen from the downstream side in the transport direction.

  The width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are a pair of plate-shaped guide members (regulating members) arranged so that the endless belt 78 is sandwiched on both sides in the width direction of the endless belt 78 of the conveyor 72 and the guide surfaces thereof are opposed to each other. . The width alignment guides 74 and 74 are arranged with a wider interval than the width of the print P. Further, the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 have a height exceeding the maximum stacking height corresponding to the maximum number of stacked sheets to be stacked in the stacking unit 56. Note that the maximum number of sheets to be accumulated in the accumulation unit 56 is determined according to the maximum number of sheets of prints P that can be stored in the print pack 12.

  Further, as a preferable aspect, the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 have a degree of freedom in the height direction, that is, the guide surface can be inclined in the height direction.

Since the pair of width adjusting guides 74 and 74 have the same driving means and urging means, respectively, on the right side in the transport direction (the left side in FIGS. 3A and 3B), representing both parts. The width adjusting guide 74 will be described.
In the illustrated example, the width adjusting guide 74 is supported by the support plate 120 via a total of four springs 124a, 124a, 124b, 124b, two in the width direction and two in the height direction. The support plate 120 is a plate material having a substantially L-shaped cross section, a wall surface portion 120a having a surface substantially parallel to the guide surface of the width alignment guide 74, and a width alignment direction from the lower end portion of the wall surface portion 120a, that is, an endless belt. And a bottom surface portion 120b extending in the direction of 78.

Through holes that are larger than the cylindrical portion of the pin 122 (or screw) and smaller than the head are provided at four predetermined locations of the wall surface portion 120a, and the pin 122 is on the side (outside) opposite to the endless belt 78. Has been inserted from. The tip of the pin 122 is fastened to the surface opposite to the guide surface of the width adjusting guide 74. Further, the cylindrical portion of the pin 122 is fitted with a compression coil spring 124a or 124b having an inner diameter larger than the cylindrical diameter, and the width adjusting guide 74 and the wall surface portion 120a are in a slightly compressed state with a free length. Is set between.
In order to allow the width adjusting guide 74 to be inclined in the height direction, the through hole of the pin 122 of the wall surface portion 120a has a diameter that is large enough to allow the inclination of the pin 122 or is long in the height direction. A hole is preferred. Alternatively, the angle of the connecting portion between the pin 122 and the width adjusting guide 74 may be variable.

  The springs 124a and 124b urge the width adjusting guide 74 toward the print P for width adjustment. In the illustrated example, two springs 124a and 124a having the same spring constant are attached to the upper side of the width adjusting guide 74 in the height direction, and two springs having a smaller spring constant than the spring 124a are attached to the lower side. 124b and 124b are attached.

  With this configuration, in the initial state, the width adjusting guide 74 is supported by the support plate 120 away from the wall surface portion 120a by a distance corresponding to the length of the pin 122, and a pressing force is applied to the guide surface of the width adjusting guide 74. Then, the springs 124a and 124b are moved so as to approach the wall surface portion 120a while being compressed with the wall surface portion 120a. When the springs 124a and 124b are compressed, the head of the pin 122 protrudes away from the outer surface of the wall surface 120a.

  In addition, two guide shafts 132 are provided in the wall portion 120a below the width adjusting guide 74 and the conveyor 72 so that the moving direction of the support plate 120 is guided in a direction parallel to the width direction. is doing. The guide shafts 132 and 132 extend across the width-adjusting guides 74 and 74 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the print P by the endless belt 78, that is, in the width direction, and wall surfaces 120a of both support plates 120 and 120. , 120a, and both end portions thereof are fixed to the support members. A sliding member or a sliding mechanism is used for a contact portion between the guide shaft 132 and the wall surface portion 120a.

Between the pair of width adjusting guides 74 and 74 and below the conveyor 72, as driving means for reciprocating the width adjusting guides 74 and 74, there are a motor 126, gears 128a and 128b, links 130 and 130, and these. A connecting member or the like is provided.
The motor 126 sorts the print P created by the exposure unit 16 and the processor 18 (information indicating the separation of the cases or the separation inserted into one print packaging bag) and the outlet roller pair 50 of the processor 18. Is rotated by a predetermined number of revolutions in accordance with a discharge signal of the print P discharged from the printer, for example, a stepping motor is used. A gear 128 a is fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor 126.

  The gear 128a is connected to the left support plate 120 in FIG. That is, a pin 134a is fixed to the gear 128a in parallel with the rotation axis thereof, and one end of the link 130 is rotated to a cylindrical portion of the pin 134a protruding above the gear 128a (on the opposite side to the motor 126). It is attached freely. The other end of the link 130 is rotatably fitted to a pin 134b fixed to the bottom surface portion 120b of the support plate 120. In addition, between the gear 128a connected by the pin 134a and the link 130, and between the bottom surface part 120b of the support plate 120 connected by the pin 134b and the link 130, an operation failure due to sliding friction between both members or In order to prevent damage, a sliding member is preferably interposed.

  When the motor 126 rotates, the gear 128a rotates, and the end of the link 130 connected to the gear 128a makes a circular motion with a predetermined diameter determined by the distance between the rotating shaft of the motor 126 and the gear 128a. The support plate 120 connected to the other end of the link 130 is guided by the above-described guide shafts 132 and 132 while being guided by the above-described guide shafts 132 and 132 in the direction parallel to the width direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 3A and 3B). It reciprocates with a predetermined stroke corresponding to.

  On the other hand, the gear 128b is meshed with a gear 128b that is pivotally supported by a fixed member, and the support plate 120 that supports the right side guide 74 in FIGS. 3A and 3B is connected to the gear 128b. They are connected via a link 130. Therefore, like the left support plate 120, the right support plate 120 in the drawing also reciprocates with a predetermined stroke in the width direction while being guided by the guide shafts 132 and 132 by the rotation of the motor 126.

Here, the gear 128a and the gear 128b have the same diameter and the same number of teeth, and mesh with each other at a position corresponding to the substantially center of the endless belt 78 in the width direction. The dimensions and positional relationships of the members that connect the gears 128a and 128b to the support plates 120 and 120 are also the same. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the gear 128a and the gear 128b are pins attached to the other gear 128b when the pin 134a attached to the gear 128a is located at the outermost side in the width direction. 134a is also meshed so as to be located on the outermost side in the width direction.
Thus, as the motor 126 rotates, both the gears 128a and the pins 134a and 134a of the gear 128b move synchronously toward and away from each other, so that both width-aligning guides 74 are at their most remote initial positions. It reciprocates between a position (position shown in FIG. 3; position m in FIG. 3B) and a closest position (position n in FIG. 3B).

  The driving means of the width adjusting guide 74 is configured so that a predetermined number of prints P are discharged onto the endless belt 78 every time a predetermined number of prints P are stacked on the endless belt 78 serving as a print P stacking base. Then, before the next print P is discharged, the width alignment guide 74 is reciprocated to a position where the print P accumulated on the endless belt 78 is sandwiched between the pair of width alignment guides 74. Align the edges in the width direction.

  When the width alignment guides 74 and 74 move inward in the width direction from the initial position m shown in FIG. 3B, abut against the end portion in the width direction of the print P, and move further inward, the width alignment guides 74 and 74 are , A pressing force toward the outside in the width direction due to the rigid force of the print P and a biasing force in the direction of the print P by the springs 124a and 124b opposed thereto act. When the support plate 120 is moved so as to move the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 to the position n closer to the center (stroke end position), the urging force by the springs 124a and 124b is maximized.

  Here, setting of the urging force of the width adjusting guide 74 and the stroke of the width adjusting guide 74 (support plate 120) will be described.

  In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the print P is created using the photosensitive material A (printing paper). The print P immediately after drying after the development processing is usually curled with the image surface concave, and has a hook shape. Also, in the photographic printer, it is preferable that the paper is discharged with the image surface facing upward, from the viewpoint that the image reproduced on the print P can be immediately confirmed, and the printer 10 in the illustrated example also has the image surface facing upward. Thus, the print P is discharged from the discharge unit 48 to the stacking unit 56.

  Further, the curl of the print P has a stronger influence in the short direction (width direction) than in the longitudinal direction in the rectangular print P. That is, the print P immediately after drying is curved in the width direction. In the printer 10, the print creation process is performed with the longitudinal direction of the print P aligned with the transport direction. Therefore, the accumulated print P is the paper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2A as viewed from the width direction. In FIG. 3B as viewed from the transport direction, the print P2 is curved with the upper side being concave in the left-right direction. .

  The concave curl extends as time passes. This is due to the difference in moisture absorption of the layers constituting the photosensitive material A (for example, the gelatin layer on the image surface). Therefore, in one print laminate in which the prints P are sequentially processed and discharged one by one, the degree of curling of each print P is slightly different. (Shown as a print P1 in FIG. 3B), the more the paper discharged later, the larger the curl (shown as print P2 in FIG. 3B). Further, the print P immediately after drying has a large variation in curl amount.

  If the print P having such a curl is simply arranged by regulating the position in the width direction within the width when the print P is not curled, the position of the curled print P can be set to a regulated width. Fluctuates in range. Therefore, when the curl amount decreases after a certain period of time or when curling is restricted by pressing the surface of the print P, the end portion of the print P where the curl is extended protrudes from the regulation width of the print P. Furthermore, since the protrusion direction and the protrusion amount of each print P are different, the width of the print laminate is widened.

  Therefore, in the packer 20 of the present invention, the stroke of the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 (support plates 120 and 120) and the urging force of the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 in the stacking unit 56 are set as follows.

  First, the strokes of the support plates 120 and 120 that support the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are the width of the print P when the curl amount of the print P is maximum (for example, the state of the print P2) (the minimum width of the print P). It is set so that the position of the print P is regulated within a range of the same or narrower width. That is, when there is no print P on the endless belt 78, the strokes of the support plates 120 and 120 are set so that the width alignment guides 74 and 74 are moved to a position n that is equal to or smaller than the minimum width of the print P.

Further, the upper spring 124a and the lower spring 124b, which are the urging means of the width adjusting guides 74, 74, have a biasing force that is exerted while the width adjusting guide 74 is in contact with the print P. Is selected so as to be larger than the force for moving the predetermined number of prints P according to the timing at which is driven, and smaller than the force for changing the shape of the prints P accumulated on the endless belt 78.
The biasing force smaller than the force that changes the shape of the print P is a biasing force within a range in which the amount of curling is not increased or buckled when the print P is curled. If not, the biasing force is within a range that does not cause buckling or wrinkling. It should be noted that the deformation to the extent that the print P is restored by releasing the urging force, such as some deflection of the print P, is acceptable.

  When the number of prints P stacked on the width alignment guide 74 is small, the lower spring 124b substantially acts on the width alignment of the prints P. Therefore, in particular, the lower spring 124b is selected to have a biasing force that is smaller than the width adjusting guide 74 changing the shape of the minimum number of prints P on the endless belt 78 from which the width adjusting starts. For example, when the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are driven each time one print P is discharged, the spring 124b moves one print P on the endless belt 78 or the previously accumulated print P. A biasing force that is larger than the force to be applied and does not change the shape of the first print P placed on the endless belt 78 is used.

  After the print P is further laminated, the upper spring 124a also acts. However, since the laminate of the print P has a large rigidity in the width direction by being laminated, the spring 124a is the spring 124b. A stronger spring (having a larger spring constant) can be used. By using a spring stronger than the spring 124b for the upper spring 124a, the print P can be urged more reliably and the width can be appropriately adjusted. Further, the width adjusting guide 74 is inclined so as to correspond to the inclination of the end portion in the width direction of the print laminated body, and the width adjusting guide 74 is brought into contact with the end portion of the print P which is laminated upward and still has a large curl amount. Thus, the width of the print P can be surely adjusted.

  In this way, by using springs having different spring constants on the upper side and lower side in the height direction of the width adjusting guide 74 and having a higher biasing force at a higher position (upper side) than at a lower position (lower side), When the predetermined number of prints P discharged to the width are aligned, the minimum number of prints P can be urged with a weak urging force that does not deform, and the width can be adjusted. On the other hand, even when the end face in the width direction is inclined, the position in the width direction can be aligned for all the stacked prints by urging with a sufficient urging force.

  Further, the deflection amount of the springs 124a and 124b is such that the widthwise end portion (end surface) of the print laminate on the endless belt 78 is wide even when the end face in the width direction of the print laminate is inclined due to the curl of the print P. The width adjusting guide 74 is set so as to be able to come into contact therewith.

With the above configuration, the positions in the width direction of the prints P accumulated in a curled state are aligned with the center reference, and the width direction end (edge) is aligned even when curling is reduced due to aging or curling regulations. Thus, a printed laminate with little variation can be obtained.
Thus, by arranging the position of the print laminate in the width direction in the stacking unit 56, the print laminate can be inserted into the packaging material in an orderly manner without being disturbed, and a narrow packaging bag (for packaging) Even in the case of the sheet S), the print can be reliably stored in the packaging bag.

Next, the width adjusting operation in the stacking unit 56 will be described.
Prior to the start of the width aligning operation, the width aligning guides 74 and 74 are arranged with their positions spaced apart from the print P as the home position.
When a predetermined number of prints P are discharged onto the endless belt 78, the packer 20 drives the drive means of the width alignment guides 74, 74 and reciprocates the width alignment guides 74, 74 toward the print P, The prints P are stacked while being aligned.
Each time a predetermined number of prints P are discharged, the width alignment guide 74 repeats the width alignment operation of the print P before the next print P is discharged.

  When the packer 20 receives a signal (sort information) indicating that the accumulation of the prints P to be packaged on one packaging sheet S is completed, the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 move toward the print laminate, and the print laminate Stops in contact with the. As a result, even if the user touches and shifts the print P for confirmation during stacking, or the print P shifts due to wind such as air conditioning, the width of the print laminate will eventually be reduced. Can be aligned.

Next, the endless belt 78 is driven, and the accumulated printed laminated body is conveyed to the conveyance unit 58 in the next process while the width direction end portions are guided by the width adjusting guides 74 and 74. That is, the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are caused to act as conveyance guides.
When the print stack is conveyed to the conveyance unit 58, the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are returned to the home position, and the next print P is in a standby state for the width alignment accumulation.

  The driving timing of the width aligning guides 74, that is, the timing for aligning the prints P (the number of the prints P) can be set as appropriate according to the number of sheets that can be stacked to align the positions in the width direction. Good. For example, the width adjusting guide 74 may be driven each time one print P is discharged, or may be driven each time a predetermined number of two or more sheets are discharged.

  Here, considering the burden on the print P, the clamping force (pressing force) by the width adjusting guide 74 is preferably small. In particular, since the photographic print as shown in the figure has a relatively large surface friction coefficient, if a large number of sheets are overlapped, a large force is required for width adjustment. In addition, it is possible to align prints reliably and orderly by performing the width adjustment for every small number of sheets.

In consideration of the above points, it is preferable that the stacking unit 56 drives the width adjusting guide 74 to align the prints P every time a set number of prints P of 5 or less are appropriately discharged. It is preferable to align the prints P by driving the width adjusting guide 74 every time, especially when one print is discharged.
Further, in order to perform the width alignment more surely, the width alignment guide 74 may be brought into contact with the print P a plurality of times for each driving timing of the width alignment guide 74. The number of contact of the width adjusting guide 74 with the print P corresponds to the number of rotations of the motor 126.

In the above example, by using a weak spring on the lower side of the width adjusting guide 74 and a strong spring on the upper side, both the minimum number of sheets can be prevented from being deformed and the entire print P can be properly adjusted. ing.
However, springs having the same spring constant may be used as the upper and lower springs of the width adjusting guide 74. The spring in this case is preferably selected so as to exert an urging force that can move the print P reliably and make it closer. When the urging force by the selected spring is larger than the urging force for deforming one print P, the urging force is smaller than the rigidity force in the width direction of the print laminate composed of a plurality of prints P. The driving of the width adjusting guide 74 may be started after the initial number of prints P are accumulated on the endless belt 78, with the number of prints P as the initial number.

The number of springs in the transport direction is not limited to two in the illustrated example, and three or more springs may be arranged. By supporting the width adjusting guide 74 with a plurality of springs arranged in the transport direction, the print P can be biased substantially evenly in the transport direction to perform width alignment.
The number of springs in the height direction is not limited to two, and three or more springs may be arranged. In that case, the urging force may be changed stepwise in the height direction.

  As the biasing means for the width adjusting guide 74, a cylinder using gas or liquid, an elastic member, or the like is used as long as the necessary biasing force and deflection amount (stroke) can be obtained in addition to the spring. You can also

Further, as in the present embodiment, both the pair of width adjusting guides 74 and 74 are movable in the width direction, and the synchronous driving is performed so that the print P is sandwiched between the pair of width adjusting guides 74 and 74. By bringing the width adjusting guides 74 into contact with each other, it is possible to efficiently perform the width adjusting, and it is excellent in that the orderliness is high.
In particular, when the print P has a curl, all the prints P are collected based on the center of the two width adjusting guides 74 and 74 by the above-described configuration, so that in the process from the collection to the packing. Even when the curl is pressed by pressing the center portion of the print P or when the curl is naturally reduced, it is possible to keep the organized state after the width adjustment without protruding in the width direction.

  However, for example, when the print P does not have curl or the curl is extremely small, the one width adjusting guide 74 is fixed, and only the other width adjusting guide 74 is reciprocated. The width adjustment of the print P based on the guide surface of the width adjustment guide 74 may be performed.

  Further, in the packer 20 of the present embodiment, the stacking unit 56 can appropriately perform the width adjustment corresponding to the curl characteristic of the print P using the photosensitive material A and the temporal change of the curl. Is particularly good. However, according to the packing method and the packing apparatus of the present invention, the width of the print can be appropriately adjusted even for a print using a material other than the photosensitive material.

  For example, a print having a curl, such as a print created by various image forming methods such as an electrophotographic method and an ink jet method, using paper supplied in a roll shape, and wound by a roll Even when the curl amount varies depending on the position or the change over time of the curl amount is small, it is possible to appropriately perform the width adjustment of the print by appropriately selecting the urging force of the print by the width alignment guide 74. . It is preferable that the width adjusting guide 74 can be inclined in the height direction as in the above-described example, so that it can cope with the case where the lower side becomes narrower and vice versa.

  Further, for example, when the print to be accumulated does not have curl, for example, when a sheet supplied as a sheet is used or when a printing correction unit is provided, the width alignment guide 74 may not be tiltable. The width alignment intervals of the width alignment guides 74 and 74 are substantially the same as the print width, and by appropriately selecting the urging force of the print by the width alignment guide 74, it is possible to appropriately perform the width alignment of the prints.

In this embodiment, since the width direction of the prints P in the stacking unit 56 and the width direction of the packaging bag coincide with each other, the printed stacks stacked in the stacking unit 56 are transported in the same direction and packed. However, when the width direction of the print P in the stacking unit 56 and the width direction of the packaging bag are different, it is necessary to change the direction of the print laminate.
In this case, in order to prevent the position in the width direction of the printed laminate from being disturbed, the print P stacking base and the width adjusting guide in the stacking unit 56 are configured to be rotatable, and the width direction position remains the same. In this state, it is preferable that the orientation of the printed laminate can be changed. When the stacking table and the width adjusting guide are rotated, it is preferable that the print laminate is sandwiched by the width adjusting guide.

  Next, the transport unit 58 is a part that receives the stacked body of prints P (according to the print stacked body) collected by the stacking unit 56 and aligned in the width direction, and transports it to the downstream input unit 60. It has a conveyor 80, a curl crushing roller 82, and a swinging means for the conveyor 80 (not shown).

  The conveyor 80 is a known belt conveyor including an endless belt 84 and a pair of rollers 86 and 86 that stretch the endless belt 84. In the example of illustration, the conveyance part 58 has 2 sets of conveyors 80 and 80 which are arrange | positioned in parallel with the width direction and are driven synchronously. The rollers 86 and 86 of each conveyor 80 have their rotation shafts supported by support plates 86a and 86a (see FIG. 2B) provided on both sides in the width direction. In addition, each support plate 86a of the two conveyors 80 and 80 is an integral member. Further, the conveying surfaces of the endless belts 84 and 84 of both conveyors 80 and 80 are the same plane, and are arranged at an interval narrower than the minimum width of the print P.

  In the illustrated example, the two sets of conveyors 80, 80 are arranged at positions sandwiching the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56 in the width direction, the rotation shafts of the rollers 86, 86 on the upstream side, and the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56. The rotation shaft of the roller 76 on the downstream side is arranged in a straight line (coaxial) extending in the width direction. The roller diameters of the roller 76 and the roller 86 are substantially the same, and the endless belt 78 and the endless belt 84 are in a state where the belt conveying surface of the conveyor 80 is substantially horizontal (shown by a solid line in FIG. 2A). The conveyance surface by is made into the substantially the same plane. Accordingly, the transport area is overlapped by the stacking unit 56 and the transport unit 58 to ensure the transport of the print laminate from the stacking unit 56 to the transport unit 58. At the same time, the transport direction of the print P by the conveyor 80 and the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56 is substantially linear, and the transport path for transporting the print laminate from the stacking unit 56 to the transport unit 58 is linear. It is configured.

As will be described later, the conveyor 80 is inclined so that the upstream side is lifted and the conveying direction is obliquely downward when conveyed to the input unit 60 (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2A). .
At this time, in order to prevent the print laminate from collapsing in the transport direction, the maximum stack height corresponding to the maximum number of prints P in the print pack 12 is provided on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the endless belt 84 of the conveyor 80. A wall portion 88 higher than the height is erected. The conveyor 80 controls the drive so that the wall portion 88 is located on the downstream side of the print laminate when receiving the print laminate from the stacking unit 56 and located on the upper surface of the conveyor 80 when the loading is completed. Is done.
Similarly to the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56, in order to more reliably convey the print laminate, the upstream side of the print laminate is placed on the surface of the endless belt 84 when the print laminate is completely placed on the conveyor 80. It is preferable to have a pressing member 84a, such as a protrusion or a wall, located in

The conveyance part 58 has the curl crushing roller 82 as a preferable aspect.
As described above, the print P immediately after being discharged from the outlet roller pair 50 of the processor 18 is greatly curled, and the curl amount decreases with time. Therefore, each print P of the print laminate may have a different curl.
The curl crushing roller 82 presses the central portion in the width direction of the print laminate from above to crush and correct the curl of the print P, while increasing the height of the print laminate that is bulky due to different curls of each print P. Hold down.

Thus, by having the curl correcting means such as the curl crushing roller 82, it is possible to prevent the print laminate from becoming difficult to enter the packaging sheet S due to the curl of the print P, and the print laminate can be more reliably attached to the packaging sheet. S can be input.
Further, since the position of the print laminate is aligned with respect to the center in the width direction in the stacking unit 56 of the previous step, the edges of the print laminate pressed by the curl crushing roller 82 are aligned. It has become.

In the illustrated example, the curl crushing roller 82 is provided at a position corresponding to the central portion in the width direction of the printed laminate conveyed by the endless belts 84 and 84 so as to face the conveyance surface of the endless belts 84 and 84. The curl crushing roller 82 is pivotally supported on one end of a rod-shaped arm 90. The other end of the arm 90 is swingably supported by a fixed shaft 92, and the curl crushing roller 82 is fixed as shown by an arrow b in the figure by swinging the arm 90 by a drive source (not shown). It is rotated up and down around the shaft 92.
The curl crushing roller 82 is moved upward before the print laminate is carried from the stacking unit 56 to the transport unit 58. When the print laminate is conveyed from the stacking unit 56 to the conveyance unit 58, the curl crushing roller 82 is moved downward to press the print laminate from above to correct the curl.
The curl crushing roller 82 may be a driven roller (idle roller), or a driving roller that is rotationally driven in synchronization with the conveyance of the print laminate to the input unit 60 described later.

  The conveyor 80 of the transport unit 58 can swing around the rotation axis of the downstream roller 86. For example, the upstream roller 86 is lifted by a driving source (not shown), and a dotted line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the downstream side is inclined downward and becomes the same angle (substantially the same angle) as the conveyor 96 of the input unit 60 described later. The curl crushing roller 82 also moves in synchronization with the swing of the conveyor 80, and the curl crushing roller 82 presses the printed laminate even when the conveyor 80 is inclined. In addition, as will be described later, the conveyor 80 and the conveyor 96 of the charging unit 60 are arranged so that the rotation axes of the rollers are linear (coaxial). It becomes straight.

In the transport unit 58, the print laminate is received from the stacking unit 56 in a state where the conveyor 80 is horizontal, and then the upstream side of the conveyor 80 is lifted to the same angle as the conveyor 96 of the input unit 60. The print laminate is conveyed to 60. Thus, the transport unit 58 transports the print laminate to the input unit 60 through a linear transport path by transporting obliquely downward at substantially the same angle as the input unit 60.
Thus, by making the conveyance direction of both into a linear form, when a print laminated body is conveyed from the conveyance part 58 to the input part 60, it can prevent that a print laminated body collapses.

  The input unit 60 inputs (inserts) the print laminate received from the conveyance unit 58 into the packaging sheet S to be a print packaging bag by conveying it in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print and obliquely downward. To do. In the illustrated example, the input unit 60 includes a conveyor 96, a shutter 98, a guide plate 100, and two curl crushing rollers 102 that are pivotally supported by the guide plate 100 (or a support member thereof). Although the details will be described later, the packaging sheet S is a long cylindrical transparent sheet as shown in FIG. 4, and has a cut d serving as a print insertion opening.

The conveyor 96 is a known belt conveyor including a pair of rollers 104 and 104 and an endless belt 106 stretched around the rollers 104 and 104, and is disposed obliquely with the conveying direction facing downward. The roller 104 is supported by a support plate (not shown) similar to the support plates 76a and 86a that support the rollers 76 and 86 described above. The conveyor 96 is disposed at a position sandwiched between the two sets of conveyors 80 and 80 of the transport unit 58 in the width direction, and the conveyor of the input unit 60 is similar to the arrangement relationship between the stacking unit 56 and the transport unit 58 described above. The rotating shaft of the upstream roller 104 of 96 and the rotating shaft of the roller 86 downstream of the conveyor 80 of the transport unit 58 are arranged so as to be linear (coaxial) extending in the width direction. Further, the roller diameter of the roller 86 roller 104 is substantially the same. As shown by a broken line in FIG. 2A, the endless belt 84 and the endless belt 106 are used in a state where the conveyor 80 of the conveying unit 58 is inclined. The conveyance surfaces are substantially the same plane. Thereby, the conveyance area is overlapped by the conveyance unit 58 and the input unit 60 (both conveyors) to enable reliable conveyance, and the conveyance path of the print laminate in the conveyance unit 58 and the input unit 60 is more preferably linear. It is possible to make it.
In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the print laminate is put into the print insertion opening (notch d) of the packaging sheet S by this obliquely lower conveyance and gravity drop.

In order to prevent the transported print laminate from collapsing and falling, the surface of the endless belt 106 of the conveyor 96 has a maximum according to the maximum number of prints P that can be stored in the print pack 12. It is preferable that the wall portion 108 is erected with a height exceeding the stacking height. The conveyor 96 controls the drive so that the wall portion 108 is located downstream of the print laminate when receiving the print laminate from the transport unit 58 and located on the upper surface of the conveyor 96 at the end of loading. Is done.
Similarly to the conveyor 72 and the like of the stacking unit 56, when the print stack is completely placed on the conveyor 96 on the surface of the endless belt 106, the print stack is more reliably transported. It is preferable to have a pressing member 106a such as a protrusion or a wall portion that is located upstream of the surface.

Here, the conveyance speed of the conveyor 96 when the printed laminate is put into the packaging sheet S is not particularly limited, but is preferably higher than the free fall speed of the printed laminate.
Thereby, it can prevent more reliably that a printed laminated body collapses at the time of throwing into the packaging sheet S, and it becomes possible to throw the printed laminated body into the packaging sheet S more reliably in an orderly laminated state. .
Further, by driving the conveyor 96 so as to push out the rear end of the print laminate by the pressing member 106a, the disturbance in the transport direction of the print laminate can be reduced, and the print laminate can be reliably and at high speed. And the disturbance in the length direction of the print P in the print pack 12 can be reduced.

The guide plate 100 is a plate-like member having a width over the entire width of the print P, and is spaced apart from the endless belt by the maximum height corresponding to the maximum number of printed laminates and the curl amount.
In the illustrated example, the guide plate 100 is gradually inclined downward (direction approaching the conveyance surface of the conveyor 96) toward the conveyance direction in a predetermined section on the upstream side (print carry-in portion), and then the conveyance surface of the conveyor 96 It has a shape that is parallel to. A slit-shaped opening is formed at the center of the guide plate 100 in the width direction so that the pressing member 106a and the wall 108 pass therethrough.

The guide plate 100 abuts against the upper end of the print laminate conveyed to the input unit 60 to regulate the height, supports the curl crushing roller 102 and is conveyed from the conveyance unit 58. Is guided below the curl crushing roller 102 on the upstream side.
As described above, since the print P has a curl shape with the upper surface concave and curved in the width direction, the end portion of the print P in the width direction contacts the guide plate 100. Therefore, the guide plate 100 does not damage the image surface or the like of the print P, and does not deteriorate the quality of the print P as a product.
The curl crushing roller 102 corrects the curling of the print by pressing the print laminate from above, like the curl crushing roller 82 described above. Note that the curl crushing roller 102 is provided as a preferred mode, and the curl crushing roller 102 does not need to be provided when the curl is small due to the paper quality of the print P or the like.

The shutter 98 mainly functions as a guide member in the width direction and the drop direction when the printed laminate is put into the packaging sheet S.
In the illustrated example, the shutter 98 is a so-called double door which is composed of two doors 98a that are pivotally supported at the ends in the width direction and open from the center toward both sides as indicated by arrows c in FIG. Is a shutter that opens and closes. Further, the door 98a has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed from the conveyance direction in an open state.
The two doors 98a are opened, and at least the front ends thereof are inserted into the packaging sheet S through the notches d of the packaging sheet S. Thereby, the function as a guide by the shutter 98 is made more suitable.

As described above, in the illustrated packer 20, after the print stack is transferred from the stacking unit 56 to the transport unit 58, the transport unit 58 is configured so that the transport path of the transport unit 58 is linear with the transport path of the input unit 60. The print laminate is conveyed to the input unit 60 through a linear conveyance path by inclining 58 and conveying it obliquely downward at the same angle as the input unit 60. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the printed laminate from being disturbed or collapsed during the conveyance, and more reliable printing can be performed.
In addition, by making the conveyance unit 58 and the input unit 60 a linear conveyance path, the print stacking from the input unit 60 to the packaging sheet S following the transfer of the print laminate from the conveyance unit 58 to the input unit 60 is performed. The body is being thrown in. According to this configuration, the printed laminated body can be reliably put into the packaging sheet S at high speed while suppressing the disorder in the transport direction.
In addition, as shown in the illustrated example, a conveyance unit 58 is provided between the accumulation unit 56 and the input unit 60, and the conveyance unit 58 is inclined to convey the print laminate to the input unit 60. After the prints for one item are collected at 56 and conveyed to the conveyance unit 58, the next print P can be accumulated immediately, and smooth and efficient print production becomes possible.

However, the packing apparatus and the packing method of the present invention are not limited to this, and the process from the collection of prints to the input may be performed by another configuration.
For example, instead of the loading unit 60, a loading guide for guiding the print laminate from the conveyance unit 58 to the notch d of the packaging sheet S is provided, and the print conveyed by the endless belt 84 of the conveyance unit 58 and pushed out by the pressing member 84 a. The laminated body may be dropped into the packaging sheet S by dropping along the charging guide.
In addition, a feeding unit having a feeding guide may be arranged following the stacking unit 56 without providing the transport unit 58.

  Further, for example, in the stacking unit 56, instead of the conveyor 72, a stacking table that can be inclined in the input direction of the print P is provided, and the prints P discharged from the exit roller pair 50 are stacked while being narrowed as described above. It is also possible to inject the accumulated printed laminate into the packaging sheet S by tilting the accumulation stand after the accumulation so that the front end (the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the print P) is directed to the notch d of the packaging sheet S. Good.

In addition, the print pack 12 can be produced without having a complicated apparatus configuration by dropping the print laminate and putting it into the packaging sheet S as in this embodiment. The packing device is not limited to this, and insertion of the printed laminate into the packaging sheet S can be performed in various forms.
For example, the print stack may be inserted into the packaging sheet S by being pushed out from the rear while the mounting table of the print stack is horizontal, or a grip means for the print stack is provided and gripped by the grip means. The print laminate may be inserted into the packaging sheet S.
In any case, since the positions in the width direction are aligned when the prints P are collected, the print laminate can be inserted into a small packaging bag in an orderly manner to produce a print pack. it can.

Next, the packaging sheet supply unit 62 supplies the packaging sheet S to the print input position by the input unit 60. The loading unit of the sheet roll 110, the conveying roller pair 112, and others It has conveyance guide means for the packaging sheet S (not shown).
In the illustrated example, the packaging sheet S is a cylindrical transparent long sheet formed by overlapping two long sheets and bonding them at the end in the width direction as shown in FIG. On one surface, a cut d is formed extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction at an interval t corresponding to one print pack 12.

In the sheet supply unit 62, the packaging sheet S is loaded as a sheet roll 110 wound in a roll shape with the surface having the notch d facing the input unit 60, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 112, a conveyance guide (not shown), or the like. It is transported along a predetermined route.
The transport of the packaging sheet S comes to a position corresponding to the loading of the printed laminate from the feeding section 60, such as a position where the cutting d is slightly below the lower end of the conveyor 96 of the feeding section 60. Stop at the point.

The holding means 64 hangs down and holds the print packaging bag portion of the packaging sheet S in a state where the print insertion opening (notch d) of the packaging sheet S to be a print packaging bag is opened upward. And a holding means 64a for the packaging sheet S and an opening means 64b.
When the notch d of the packaging sheet S is in a predetermined position, the gripping means 64a grips a position that is in the vicinity of the notch d of the packaging sheet S and does not hinder the opening and closing of the notch d. For example, the both ends of the cut d of the packaging sheet S are gripped. A known gripping tool or the like can be used as the gripping means 64a. In addition, the gripping force by the gripping means 64a may be large enough to support the weight when the print P is put into the bag-like packaging sheet S that hangs down from the gripping portion.

  In addition, the gripping means 64 a holds the packaging sheet S so that the cut d of the packaging sheet S containing the prints is located at a position corresponding to the seal / cut portion 66 after the printing has been put into the packaging sheet S. It moves downward, and when the sealing / cutting of the packaging sheet S, which will be described later, is finished, the packaging sheet S is released, and a predetermined portion of the packaging sheet S supplied as the next printed packaging bag (near the notch d) Grip.

The opening means 64b holds the packaging sheet S directly below the notch d (for example, sucking and holding), and moves in the direction of opening the cylinder of the packaging sheet S (in the direction of the arrow in the figure), so that the packaging sheet S The notch d is opened. Furthermore, it is preferable to blow the wind from the fan from above to the cut d, increase the opening of the cut d, and inflate the packaging sheet S.
The opening means 64b stops the holding of the packaging sheet S after the printing has been put into the packaging sheet S.

The seal / cut section 66 is for fusing the notch d of the packaging sheet S, sealing the print packaging bag in which the print is inserted, and separating it from the long packaging sheet S. As a preferred embodiment, a fusing heater capable of simultaneously performing heat fusion and cutting (cutting) of the packaging sheet S is used for the seal / cut portion 66. This heater has a minute convex portion extending in the width direction at the center of the heater (the center in the conveying direction of the packaging sheet S (the vertical direction in FIG. 1)).
The delivery of the packaging sheet S stops at a position where the convex portion at the center of the heater coincides with the notch d. Next, the heater of the seal / cut portion 66 is pressed against the packaging sheet S, the packaging sheet S is sealed (closed) at the upper and lower portions of the cut d, and is wrapped at the cut d by the convex portion at the center of the heater. The sheet S for cutting is cut (melted).
Accordingly, the lower end of the packaging sheet S that accommodates the next print P (the lower end of the packaging sheet S connected to the sheet roll 110) is closed, and the upper end of the packaging sheet S that accommodates one print P is closed. Closing and cutting completes one print pack 12.

  Note that the seal / cut section 66 is not limited to the above, and has a heat sealer and a cutter separately, and seals the notch d of the packaging sheet S and cuts from the packaging sheet S of the print pack 12. May be performed separately, or the cut d may be bonded using an adhesive.

  The print loading load reduction stand 68 supports the lower portion (lower end portion) of the bag-shaped portion of the packaging sheet S held by the holding means 64 when the loading portion 60 loads the print. The print input load reduction base 68 includes a base 68a, an impact absorbing material 68b, and a shaft 68c.

  The base 68a is a flat plate having a width approximately equal to the width of the packaging sheet S, and the upper surface thereof (the support surface of the packaging sheet S) is damaged at the edge of the print P when the print P is loaded. Is provided, and an impact absorbing material 68b is provided for suppressing disturbance due to the bounce of the print P. The base 68a is arranged such that the surface of the shock absorbing material 68b is above the lower part of the packaging sheet S when it is gripped and suspended by the gripping means 64a. Therefore, the print input load reduction stand 68 supports the print packaging bag in a state where the bottom of the print packaging bag is lifted.

  One side (right side in the illustrated example) extending in the width direction of the base 68a is supported by a shaft 68c so as to be swingable. The base 68a is a first position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) that supports the lower portion of the bag-like portion of the packaging sheet S when the print is put in, and releases the support of the bag-like portion of the packaging sheet S after the print is put in. In addition, it can swing between a second position (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) retracted from the conveyance path of the print pack 12.

  In the state where the lower part of the packaging sheet S is supported by the print loading load reduction stand 68, the printed laminate is introduced into the packaging sheet S to prevent the packaging sheet S from being torn and The frictional load between the print P and the packaging sheet S due to the input can be reduced. Therefore, the printed laminate can be quickly and reliably inserted into the bag-like portion of the packaging sheet S without greatly disturbing the loading direction.

The print loading load reduction stand 68 supports the bottom of the packaging sheet S at the first position (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) where the support surface is horizontal when the printed laminate is loaded into the packaging sheet S.
After the printing is input, the printing input load reduction base 68 is inclined as the packaging sheet S is moved downward by the gripping means 64a of the holding means 64 described above. When the cut d of the packaging sheet S comes to the position of the seal / cut portion 66, the packaging sheet S is sealed and cut. At this time, the print input load reduction stand 68 is separated from the packaging sheet S or is in a state of being hardly supported even if it is touched, and the prints inside the packaging sheet S are aligned and the packaging sheet S is aligned. Therefore, the print P is not sandwiched between the seal portions (near the notch d).

  Thereafter, the print input load reducing stand 68 further moves and retreats from the path where the one cut into the print pack 12 by being cut by the seal / cut section 66 falls into the product storage section 68 (second position. FIG. 1 with a dotted line). Alternatively, the print input load reduction base 68 may be slightly inclined, and the print pack 12 may be guided to the product storage unit 68 by the support surface.

  Next, the operation of the packer 20 in the printer 10 will be described.

  As described above, the print P is conveyed through the discharge unit 48 of the processor 18 and discharged and collected on the stacking unit 56 (on the endless belt 78 of the conveyor 72) by the exit roller pair 50.

In the stacking unit 56, the stacked prints P are sandwiched between the width adjusting guides 74 and 74 at a predetermined timing such as one by one, and the prints P are aligned in the width direction.
In this way, the stacking unit 56 performs the width adjustment, so that the printed laminate can be put in an orderly stacked state without being disturbed. Therefore, a small packaging material (bag body) according to the print size, the maximum number of sheets accommodated, etc. ) Even if the prints are neatly stacked, they can be reliably stored.

  When the packer 34 detects that one print P (or the maximum number of sheets that can be accommodated in the print pack 12) is stacked on the stacking unit 56 by sorting information or the like, for example, the packer 34 conveys it to the conveyor 72 of the stacking unit 56. The print laminate is transported from the stacking unit 56 to the transport unit 58 by driving the conveyor 80 of the unit 58 synchronously.

  When the print laminate is transported to the transport unit 58, the curl crushing roller 82 is moved downward to press the print laminate from above to correct the curl, and then the upstream roller 86 is lifted, whereby FIG. As shown by the dotted line in FIG.

  On the other hand, the packaging sheet S is held in a state where the vicinity of the notch d is gripped by the gripping means 64a, the notch d is opened by the opening means 64b, and is hanging down. At this time, the lower end portion of the packaging sheet S is supported in a slightly lifted state by the print input load reducing table 68 of the print input load reducing table 68.

  When the conveyor 80 of the conveying unit 58 has the same angle as the conveyor 96 of the loading unit 60, the shutter 98 is opened, and then the conveyor 80 and the conveyor 96 are driven in synchronization to remove the print laminate from the conveying unit 58. The sheet is conveyed to the input unit 60, and subsequently conveyed obliquely downward by the input unit 60, and the printed laminate is input to the packaging sheet S from the opened cut d. At this time, by opening the shutter 98, the door 98a of the shutter 98 has at least a front end inserted into the packaging sheet S and acts as a guide for loading the printed laminate.

  The transport of the printed laminate from the transport unit 58 through the input unit 60 to the input to the packaging sheet S is not limited to being performed continuously as described above, and the transport unit 58 and the input unit 60 may be performed intermittently. For example, after the transport unit 58 is inclined and the print laminate is transported from the transport unit 58 to the input unit 60, the input unit 60 (conveyor 96) is reached when the wall portion 108 reaches a predetermined position upstream of the shutter 98. In this case, the printing laminate is temporarily stopped, the shutter 98 is opened, and then (or synchronously), the conveyance by the conveyor 96 is resumed, so that the printed laminate is inserted from the cut d of the packaging sheet S. Good.

  When the printed laminate (one print P) is accommodated in the packaging sheet S, the opening means 64 releases the packaging sheet S (or further stops the fan), and then the sheet roll 110 rotates and cuts. The packaging sheet S is sent out until d reaches the seal / cut portion 66. At this time, the gripping means 64a moves downward while gripping the packaging sheet S. Further, the print input load reduction stand 68 also moves downward and leaves the packaging sheet S.

  When the cut d moves to a predetermined position, the seal / cut part 66 fuses and melts the packaging sheet S. At the same time, the gripping means 64 a releases the packaging sheet S, and the finished product that is the print pack 12 with the opening sealed is accommodated in the product accommodating portion 68.

  As mentioned above, although the packing apparatus of this invention, the print production apparatus using the same, and the packing method were demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to the said various Example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is various. Of course, improvements and changes may be made.

  For example, in the above example, a photo print created by exposing a photosensitive material (photographic paper) is packed into a print pack, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an inkjet printer, an electrophotographic printer, etc. By using the packing device of the present invention for various types of printers, various types of prints such as inkjet prints and electrophotographic prints can be packed into a print pack.

  In the above example, the print is packaged by using a long cylindrical packaging sheet to create a print pack. However, the packaging material for wrapping the print is formed in an individual bag shape in advance. May be used.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer that uses an example of a packing device of the present invention. It is the elements on larger scale of the packer of the printer shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a top view. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an integration | stacking part, (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view. It is a schematic perspective view of an example of the packaging sheet which packs a print.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Print pack 16 Exposure part 18 Processor 20 Packer 24 Photosensitive material roll 26 Magazine 28 Back printer 30 Exposure unit 32 Sub scanning conveyance roller pair 34 Cutter 38 Developing part 40 Drying part 42 Developing tank 44 Bleaching / fixing tank 46 Washing tank 48 Discharge unit 50 Exit roller pair 52 Large size print discharge unit 56 Stacking unit 58 Conveying unit 60 Input unit 62 Packaging sheet supply unit 64 Opening means 66 Sealing / cutting unit 68 Print input load reduction table 70 Product storage unit 72, 80, 96 Conveyor 74 Widening guide 76, 86, 104 Roller 78, 84, 106 Endless belt 78a Restricting member 78b, 84a Pressing member 82, 102 Curl crushing roller 84a Pressing member 88, 108 Wall 90 Arm 92 Shaft 98 Shutter 9 a door 100 guide plate 110 sheet roll 112 conveying roller pair 120 support plate 120a wall surface portion 120b bottom surface 122 pins 124a, 124b spring 126 motor 128a, 128b gear 130 link 132 guide shafts 134a, 134b pins

Claims (12)

A packing device for bagging prints on a case-by-case basis,
A stacking table for collecting the prints discharged from the print discharge unit;
The stacking height of the prints stacked on the stacking table is arranged on both sides of the stacking table in the width direction orthogonal to the print discharging direction from the print discharging unit with a space wider than the width of the print. A pair of regulating members having a height exceeding,
A force that changes the shape of the accumulated prints larger than the force that moves the predetermined number of prints when the regulating member abuts the end in the width direction of the prints accumulated on the stacking table. Biasing means for biasing the regulating member toward the print with a smaller force, and
Driving means for reciprocating at least one of the regulating members to a position where the prints accumulated on the collecting table are sandwiched between a pair of regulating members each time the predetermined number of prints are accumulated on the collecting table. A print stacking unit having
A print insertion unit configured to convey the prints to be packed in one print packaging bag accumulated in the print accumulation unit in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and insert the prints into the print packaging bag. Packing equipment.   The packing device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit synchronously drives both of the pair of regulating members so that the print is sandwiched between the pair of regulating members.   The packing device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member is tiltable in a height direction thereof.   The packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the urging unit has a urging force at a higher position in the height direction than at a lower position. The biasing means has a biasing force smaller than a rigidity force in the width direction of the laminate of the initial number of prints on a portion that biases the predetermined number of the stack of prints,
The packing device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit starts the driving of the restricting member after the initial number of the prints are accumulated.   2. The drive unit reciprocates the regulating member to a position corresponding to a minimum width or a narrower width when the print discharged from the print discharge portion is deformed in the width direction. The packing apparatus in any one of -5.   The packing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a rotating unit that rotates the direction of the print by a predetermined angle before inserting the print into the print packaging bag. An image forming apparatus for forming a print by forming an image on a recording medium;
A print production apparatus comprising: the packing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus uses a photosensitive material as the recording medium and exposes the photosensitive material, developing means for wet-developing the exposed photosensitive material, and drying means for drying the developed photosensitive material The print creating apparatus according to claim 8. A packing method for bagging prints on a case-by-case basis,
The print discharged from the print discharge unit is received on the stacking table,
Each time a predetermined number of prints are discharged on the stacking table, the print is moved from both ends in the width direction perpendicular to the print discharge direction from the print discharge unit. The print is accumulated while restricting the position in the width direction of the print by urging with a force smaller than the force that changes the shape of the accumulated print larger than the force to make the print,
A packing method in which the prints to be packed in one integrated print packaging bag are transported in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and inserted into the print packaging bag.   The packing method according to claim 10, wherein a position where the accumulated height of the print is high is biased with a biasing force larger than that of the low position.   The biasing of the print is started with a biasing force that is smaller than a rigidity force in the width direction of the laminate of the initial number of the prints after the predetermined initial number of the prints are accumulated. The packing method according to 11.

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