JP2012166180A - Feeding device for mixed paper item, feeding method for mixed paper item, and postal machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a feeding device for mixed paper items, a feeding method for mixed paper items, and a postal machine, capable of performing treatments of separating and delivering mail pieces without giving damage to the mail pieces even in a case of a mail pieces bundle where mail pieces with different kind envelop bodies are mixed.SOLUTION: The feeding device for mixed paper items includes: a type sensor that detects the envelope type of a leading mail piece of a mail piece bundle that has been conveyed, wherein the bundle of mail pieces includes mail pieces with a standard envelope of a standard stiffness and mail pieces with a soft envelope that is less stiff than the standard envelope; a suction part that includes a suction belt that rotates at a predetermined speed and separates the leading mail piece from the other mail pieces by the frictional force that results when the leading mail piece contacts the suction belt; a pickup part that includes a pair of pickup rollers, which rotate at a predetermined speed, and grasps and delivers the leading mail piece that has been separated by the suction part; and a control part that assesses the envelope type of the leading mail piece on the basis of the type signal and controls the rotation speeds of the suction part and the pickup part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite paper sheet supply apparatus, a composite paper sheet supply method, and a postal machine that continuously separate and send a plurality of postal items of different envelope types.

  In a mail machine that separates and sorts mail items one by one from a bundle of mail items, it is desired to improve the efficiency of separation and sorting processing. Therefore, the development of technology for continuously processing these mail pieces without damaging them by expanding the size of the mail pieces that can be handled and handling mail pieces with different exteriors has been studied. ing.

  For example, as a mail piece size that can be handled, expansion to C4 size (length 324 × width 229 mm, thickness t = 10 mm, weight 300 g) is desired. Moreover, as an exterior, expansion to a vinyl sealed letter, an open magazine, etc. other than a paper letter is desired. Hereinafter, the exterior of the mail is referred to as an envelope body, the paper envelope body is referred to as a standard envelope body, and the envelope body such as vinyl that is weaker than paper is referred to as a soft envelope body.

  However, if the separation processing conditions set for standard envelopes are applied to the postal items of flexible envelopes as they are, the flexible envelopes are weaker than standard envelopes, so damage such as wrinkles and tears can be easily achieved. There is a problem that occurs. For this reason, in order to continuously separate and sort a bundle of mail items (hereinafter referred to as a mail bundle) in which standard envelopes and soft envelopes are mixed, the postal items to be separated are soft envelopes. It is necessary to detect whether it is a body and to perform a separate sending process different from that of a standard envelope body. That is, separation processing according to the type of envelope is required.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for continuously distinguishing banknotes in different states. That is, when a banknote that may be damaged is conveyed at a high speed, troubles such as paper jams and poor stacking tend to occur. Therefore, when a discrimination unit for discriminating a bill being conveyed is provided and the bill being conveyed is a banknote of a specific denomination that is easily damaged, the control unit follows by decelerating the conveyance motor and the separation and accumulation motor. The bill feeding speed is slowed down. This prevents troubles such as paper jams and poor stacking when the banknotes are conveyed at high speed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-134225

  However, the banknotes targeted by the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 have known sizes and thicknesses, but in the case of mail, the sizes, thicknesses, and weights are different from each other. In some cases, mail bundles containing body mail cannot be continuously separated.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a composite paper sheet supply device and composite paper that can perform separation and sending processing without damaging the postal matter even if it is a postal bundle containing different types of envelopes. It is to provide a leaf supply method and a postal machine.

  In the composite paper sheet supply device according to the present invention, a bundle of postal items including a standard envelope postal item having a standard waist strength and a soft envelope postal item having a lower waist strength has been conveyed. It includes a type detector that detects the envelope type of the first mail piece of the mail bundle, and a suction belt that rotates at a predetermined speed. Includes a suction section that separates from the mail piece, a pair of pickup rollers that rotate at a predetermined speed, a pick-up section that grips and sends out the first mail piece separated by the suction section, and the envelope type of the first mail piece based on the type signal A control unit that determines and controls the rotation speed of the suction unit and the pickup unit.

  In addition, the envelope type of the first mail piece of the mail bundle in which the mail bundle including the mail piece of the standard envelope with the waist strength and the mail of the soft envelope softer than the standard envelope has been conveyed Detection procedure, a suction procedure that separates the first mail piece from other mail pieces by the frictional force when the first mail piece contacts the suction belt rotating at a predetermined speed, and the first mail separated by the suction procedure. A pick-up procedure for gripping and sending out an article by a pair of pick-up rollers rotating at a predetermined speed, and a control procedure for controlling the rotational speed of the suction procedure and the pick-up procedure by judging the envelope type of the first mail piece based on the type signal It is characterized by including these.

  According to the present invention, since the type of envelope body is detected and control is performed according to the type of envelope body, even a mail bundle containing different types of envelopes is damaged. Separation and transmission processing can be performed without giving

It is a partial side view of the composite paper sheet supply apparatus in the mail machine applied to description of embodiment concerning this invention. It is a perspective view of the pickup roller concerning an embodiment. It is a partial side view of the composite paper sheet supply apparatus when the separation unit is retracted from the mail according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart of the composite paper sheet supply apparatus of the mail machine concerning an embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a composite paper sheet feeder 4 of a mail machine 2 according to the present invention. The composite paper sheet supply apparatus 4 includes a transport unit 6, a control unit 8, a supply unit 10, and a separation unit 46.

  Hereinafter, a bundle of postal items conveyed by the conveyor 21 is a postal piece bundle K1, a top postal matter that separates the postal matter bundle K1 from the postal piece bundle K1, and a postal matter that is separated and sent out. It is described as K3. Assume that the mail bundle K1 contains a mixture of soft envelopes and standard envelopes. At this time, an envelope of a vinyl product will be described as an example of the flexible envelope, but the present invention is not limited to the vinyl product.

The control unit 8 includes a state detector 31, a type detector 32, a pressure detector 33, and a control unit 34.
The control unit 34 controls the transport unit 6 and the supply unit 10 based on the detection signal from the state detector 31, the type signal from the type detector 32, and the pressure signal from the pressure detector 33.

  The state detector 31 detects the presence or absence of the head mail K2, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 34 as a detection signal. The type detector 32 detects the reflected light from the head mail K2, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 34 as a type signal.

  The pressure detector 33 is disposed on the back side (the back side in FIG. 1) of the supply unit 10 and detects the force with which the backup plate 22 presses the mail bundle K1 against the supply unit 10 side. And the pressure detector 33 outputs a detection result to the control part 34 as a pressure signal.

  The transport unit 6 includes a conveyor 21 and a backup plate 22. One end of the conveyor 21 extends to the supply unit 10, and conveys the mail bundle K <b> 1 to the supply unit 10. The backup plate 22 operates corresponding to the driving state of the conveyor 21.

  When the state detector 31 detects the first mail piece K2, the control unit 34 stops the conveyor 21 and operates the backup plate 22. By the operation of the backup plate 22, the mail bundle K1 conveyed by the conveyor 21 is pressed against the supply unit 10 side.

  The supply unit 10 includes a pickup unit 41 and a suction unit 43. The pickup unit 41 includes a pair of pickup rollers 41a and 41b and a pickup roller driving unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the pickup rollers 41a and 41b.

  The suction unit 43 includes a tension roller 43a, a suction roller 43b, a suction belt 43c, a driven roller 43d, a suction roller driving unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the suction roller 43b, and a supply unit swing that swings the supply unit 10. Part (not shown).

  The pickup roller driving unit and the suction roller driving unit include a driving source such as a servo motor, and the rotation speed and the like are controlled by the control unit 34.

  The pickup roller 41a is a two-stage roller as shown in FIG. 2, and has a shaft portion 47a, a first roller portion 47b coupled to the shaft portion 47a, and a diameter smaller than that of the first roller portion 47b, and the shaft portion 47a. And a second roller portion 47c that is freely inserted and rotated. The first roller portion 47b faces the pickup roller 41b at a predetermined interval (including the case where it contacts). At least one of the pickup roller 41a or the pickup roller 41b rotates by receiving rotational power from a pickup roller driving unit (not shown). As a result, the pickup unit 41 grips and sends the postal matter conveyed by the conveyor 21.

  The suction belt 43c is stretched around a pickup roller 41a, a suction roller 43b, a tension roller 43a, and a driven roller 43d, and is formed of a material having a high friction coefficient such as rubber. The tension roller 43a adjusts the tension of the suction belt 43c so that the frictional force applied to the leading postal matter K2 does not fluctuate. As the suction belt 43c rotates, the leading postal matter K2 moves in the direction of rotation of the suction belt 43c by the frictional force with the suction belt 43c, and is separated from the other postal bundles K1. Thereafter, the head mail K2 is sandwiched and picked up by the pickup rollers 41a and 41b.

  The supply unit swinging section swings the supply unit 10 in the direction of arrow D1 (clockwise direction) or arrow D2 (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. Move.

  The pressure received by the first mail piece K2 is the origin of the frictional force that the first mail piece K2 receives from the suction belt 43c and the other mail bundle K1. The direction of the frictional force received from the suction belt 43c and the frictional force received from the other mail bundle K1 are opposite. For this reason, if a large pressure is applied when the top postal matter K2 is a flexible envelope, the top postal matter K2 may be damaged by a frictional force such as wrinkles and breakage. Therefore, the pressure detector 33 detects the force applied to the leading postal matter K2, and the control unit 34 drives the supply unit swinging unit so that the pressure signal becomes equal to or lower than the pressure reference value, and causes the supply unit 10 to move. Rock.

  That is, if the control unit 34 determines that a pressure greater than the pressure reference value is acting on the first mail piece K2, the control unit 34 rotates the supply unit 10 in the direction of the arrow D1 in FIG. Make it smaller. On the other hand, when the control unit 34 determines that a force smaller than the pressure reference value is acting on the first mail piece K2, the control unit 34 rotates the supply unit 10 in the direction of the arrow D2 to increase the pressure applied to the first mail piece K2. . Thereby, the pressure of the pressure reference value is applied to the first mail piece K2.

  The separation unit 46 includes a separation roller 46a, a plurality of rollers 46b, a separation belt 46c stretched over the rollers 46a and 46b, a separation unit position adjusting unit (not shown), and a separation unit driving unit (not shown). The separation unit driving unit rotationally drives at least one of the plurality of rollers 46a and 46b. As a result, the separation belt 46c rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the suction belt 43c. The force in the opposite direction is the separation force.

  The separation unit position adjustment unit adjusts the position of the separation roller 46a with respect to the suction belt 43c. Even if the leading mail K2 cannot be completely separated from the other mail bundle K1 by the suction belt 43c, the separation belt 46c is in contact with the other mail bundle K1 that has moved together with the leading mail K2. Push back the mail bundle K1. Therefore, only the head mail K2 can be separated.

  At this time, if the separation belt 46c is strongly pressed against the suction belt 43c, a large separation force acts on the leading postal matter K2. This large separation force may cause wrinkles or damage to the front mail piece K2.

  In particular, when the first postal matter K2 is a flexible envelope, wrinkles or breakage easily occurs. Therefore, when the control unit 34 determines that the first postal matter K2 is a flexible cylinder based on the type signal from the type detector 32, the control unit 34 reduces the rotation speed of the suction roller 43b to rotate the suction belt 43c. Slow down. At the same time, the rotation of the pickup unit 41 is also slowed. Further, the separation unit position adjusting unit controls the position of the separation unit 46 based on the signal from the control unit 34 so that the suction belt 43c is retracted from the head mail K2. FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the composite sheet supply device 4 of the supply unit 10 when the separation unit 46 is retracted from the head mail K2.

  When the first mail piece K2 is a standard envelope, the separation unit 46 is positioned at the initial setting position. However, when the first mail piece K2 is susceptible to wrinkles and breakage like a soft envelope, the separation belt 46c is the first mail. The separation unit 46 is moved backward so as not to hit the object K2 strongly. As a result, the separation force acting on the first mail piece K2 is reduced, so that the occurrence of wrinkles and breakage can be suppressed.

  Note that the thickness of the first mail piece K2 is not constant. Therefore, a plurality of the initial setting values may be set according to the thickness of the mail piece, and the position of the separation unit 46 may be changed according to the thickness of the mail piece by detecting the thickness of the mail piece. And even if it is the same thickness, the position of the separation unit 46 is changed between the standard envelope body and the soft envelope body. Thereby, the separation process according to the thickness and type of the mail can be performed.

  Next, the operation of the composite paper sheet supply device 4 of the mail machine 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The order of each process shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this order.

  Step S1: First, the control unit 34 operates the conveyor 21 to convey the plurality of mail bundles K1 to the supply unit 10. The plurality of mail bundles K1 include standard envelopes and soft envelopes. Then, the control unit 34 waits to receive a detection signal from the state detector 31, a type signal from the type detector 32, and a pressure signal from the pressure detector 33.

  Step S <b> 2: When receiving the detection signal indicating that the mail bundle K <b> 1 has been detected from the state detector 31, the controller 34 stops the conveyor 21 and operates the backup plate 22. As a result, the first head mail K2 is pressed against the suction belt 43c.

  Step S3: Based on the pressure signal from the pressure detector 33, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the pressure at which the backup plate 22 pushes the front mail piece K2 is greater than the pressure reference value. Hereinafter, the pressure reference value is referred to as pressure reference value F1, and the actual pressure indicated by the pressure signal acting on the mail is referred to as measured pressure F2.

  If the measured pressure F2 is smaller than the pressure reference value F1 (F2 <F1), the process proceeds to step S4. If the measured pressure F2 is greater than the pressure reference value F1 (F2 ≧ F1), the process proceeds to step S5.

  Step S4: When the measured pressure F2 is smaller than the pressure reference value F1 (F2 <F1), the control unit 34 controls the supply unit swinging unit so that the supply unit 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow D2 in FIG. . As a result, the supply unit 10 rotates toward the leading postal matter K2, so that the measurement pressure F2 increases and the pressure reference value F1 is applied to the leading postal matter K2. Then, it progresses to step S7.

  Step S5: On the other hand, when the measured pressure F2 is larger than the pressure reference value F1 (F2 ≧ F1), the control unit 34 determines whether or not the measured pressure F2 is equal to the pressure reference value F1. When the measured pressure F2 is equal to the pressure reference value F1 (F2 = F1), the process proceeds to step S7 without adjusting the pressure, but when the measured pressure F2 is greater than the pressure reference value F1 (F2> F1), the process proceeds to step S6. Proceed and adjust the pressure.

Step S6: Since the measured pressure F2 is larger than the pressure reference value F1, the control unit 34 rotates the supply unit 10 in the direction of the arrow D1 in FIG. As a result, the supply unit 10 rotates in a direction away from the first mail piece K2, and the measurement pressure F2 decreases. Accordingly, the pressure reference value F1 is added to the postal matter F2. Then, it progresses to step S7.
Note that the pressure applied to the first mail piece K2 by step S3 to step S6 becomes a constant pressure reference value F1 regardless of the type of the mail piece, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is possible to set a plurality of pressure reference values such as a pressure reference value for a standard envelope body and a pressure reference value for a flexible envelope body.

  Step S7: Next, the control unit 34 determines the type of the first postal matter K2 based on the type signal from the type detector 32. This type signal corresponds to the luminance value of the light reflected by the surface of the head mail K2. Therefore, if the value of the type signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as a type determination criterion), the control unit 34 determines that the first postal matter K2 is a soft envelope and proceeds to step S4. move on. On the other hand, if the value of the type signal is less than or equal to the type determination criterion, it is determined that the envelope is a standard envelope and the process proceeds to step S6. As a result, the type of the first mail piece K2 can change the control of the separation process according to the flexible envelope body, the standard envelope body, or the like.

  In addition, even if the first postal matter K2 is a soft envelope, the surface of the flexible envelope is subjected to a surface treatment such as white, and the name of the address can be seen through. In some cases, it remains transparent. Therefore, the brightness of the reflected light from the flexible envelope depends on the surface state of the flexible envelope. However, in the case where the base processing is performed, the base processing is rarely performed on the entire sealed letter. That is, in many cases, background processing is performed only on an area such as an address, and advertisements are printed on other areas. The surface of the print area shows high gloss, but the surface of the base treatment area does not show high gloss. In consideration of such a case, a plurality of type detectors 32 may be provided so that reflected light from a plurality of surface positions of the first mail piece K2 can be received.

  Step S8: When it is determined that the first mail piece K2 is a soft sealed cylinder, the control unit 34 controls each drive unit so as to reduce the rotational speed of the suction roller 43b. If it is determined in step S7 that the first postal matter K2 is not a flexible envelope, the rotational speed of the suction roller 43b is not reduced. That is, since the rotation speed of the suction roller 43b is initially set on the assumption that the head mail K2 is a standard envelope, the set value is not changed when it is determined that the head mail K2 is a standard envelope. When the rotation speed of the suction roller 43b is reduced, the separation force for pulling up the leading mail piece K2 is also reduced, so that the leading mail piece K2 can be prevented from wrinkling or being damaged.

  Step S9: The control unit 34 controls each drive unit so as to decelerate the rotation speed of the pickup unit 41. If it is determined in step S7 that the first postal matter K2 is not a soft sealed cylinder, the rotational speeds of the pickup rollers 41a and 41b are not changed as with the suction roller 43b. When the rotational speed of the pickup unit 41 becomes slow, the sending output of the first mail piece K2 becomes small, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles or damage due to excessive force acting on the first mail piece K2.

  Step S10: The controller 34 adjusts the position of the separation unit 46 so as to retreat from the supply unit 10 while reducing the rotational speed of the suction roller 43b. At this time, the retreat position of the separation unit 46 includes not only a position where the separation belt 46c and the front mail piece K2 are not completely in contact but also a position where the separation unit 46 is in light contact. Which position is set is set by the user in consideration of the influence on the head mail K2. When the degree of contact between the separation belt 46c and the front mail piece K2 is reduced, the separation force by the separation belt 46c is reduced, so that the front mail piece K2 can be prevented from being wrinkled or damaged.

  Step S11: Through the processing so far, the leading postal matter K2 is pulled up to the pickup section 41 side by the frictional force of the suction belt 43c, and is separated only by the leading postal matter K2 by the separation unit 46. The separated first mail piece K2 is sandwiched between the pair of pickup rollers 41a and 41b and sent out according to the rotation of the pickup rollers 41a and 41b.

  Step S12: When the delivery of the first postal matter K2 is completed, the control unit 34 starts the operation of the conveyor 21, returns to Step S1, and repeats the above-described processing until the delivery of all the first postal matter K2 is completed. It is.

  As described above, even if mail bundles of different types of flexible envelopes are included in a bundle of mail items supplied by the conveyor, control according to the type is performed, so that the mail items are damaged or damaged. Can be processed continuously without any problems.

2 Postal machine 4 Composite paper sheet supply device 6 Conveyance unit 8 Control unit 10 Supply unit 21 Conveyor 22 Backup plate 31 Status detector 32 Type detector 33 Pressure detector 34 Control unit 41 Pickup unit 41a, 41b Pickup roller 43 Suction unit 43b Suction roller 46 Separation unit 46a Separation roller 46c Separation belt

Claims (10)

The envelope type of the first mail piece of the mail bundle in which the bundle of mail pieces including the mail piece of the standard envelope having the waist strength and the soft envelope mail piece softer than the standard envelope has been conveyed. Type detector to detect,
A suction unit that includes a suction belt that rotates at a predetermined speed, and that separates the first postal piece from the other postal items by a frictional force when the first postal piece contacts the suction belt;
A pickup unit that includes a pair of pickup rollers that rotate at a predetermined speed, and that grips and sends out the first mail piece separated by the suction unit;
A composite paper sheet supply apparatus comprising: a control unit that determines the envelope type of the leading mail based on the type signal and controls the rotation speed of the suction unit and the pickup unit. The composite paper sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1,
When the control unit determines that the envelope type of the first mail piece is the standard envelope, the rotation speed of the suction unit and the pickup unit is set to a standard speed, and when the determination is the flexible envelope The composite paper sheet supply apparatus, wherein the rotation speed of the suction section and the pickup section is made slower than the standard speed. The composite paper sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A separation unit that rotates in a direction opposite to that of the suction belt and separates the other postal items from the first postal item by contacting with the other postal items separated together with the first postal item; ,
When the control unit determines that the envelope type of the head mail is the soft envelope, the separation unit is set at a position farther from the head mail than the position of the separation unit in the standard envelope. This is a composite paper sheet feeder. A composite paper sheet supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A pressure detector that detects a force applied to the leading postal matter when the postal bundle that has been conveyed contacts the suction unit;
The composite sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the position of the suction unit so that a predetermined pressure is applied to the leading mail based on a pressure signal from the pressure detector. The composite paper sheet supply device according to claim 4,
The composite paper sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit controls the position of the suction unit, the suction unit is swung around the rotation axis of the pickup roller. The composite paper sheet supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The composite paper sheet supply device includes a transport unit that transports a bundle of postal items including postal items of a standard envelope having a standard stiffness and soft postal items having a lower stiffness than the standard envelope. Characteristic postal machine. The envelope type of the first mail piece of the mail bundle in which the bundle of mail pieces including the mail piece of the standard envelope having the waist strength and the soft envelope mail piece softer than the standard envelope has been conveyed. Type detection procedure to detect,
A suction procedure for separating the first mail piece from the other mail pieces by a frictional force when the first mail piece contacts the suction belt rotating at a predetermined speed;
A pick-up procedure for picking up and sending out the first mail piece separated by the suction procedure by a pair of pick-up rollers rotating at a predetermined speed;
And a control procedure for determining the envelope type of the first mail piece based on the type signal and controlling the rotational speed of the suction procedure and the pickup procedure. The composite paper sheet supply method according to claim 7,
In the control procedure, when the envelope type of the first mail piece is the standard envelope, the rotation speed of the suction belt and the pickup roller is set to a standard speed, and in the case of the flexible envelope, the suction belt And a method of supplying composite paper sheets, comprising a step of making the rotational speed of the pickup roller slower than the standard speed. The composite paper sheet supply method according to claim 7 or 8,
Separation procedure for separating the other postal items and the first postal item by contacting the other postal items separated together with the first postal item by a separation unit rotating in a direction opposite to the suction belt Including
When the control procedure determines that the envelope type of the leading mail is the soft envelope, a procedure for setting the separating unit at a position farther from the leading mail than the position of the separating unit in the standard envelope. A method for supplying composite paper sheets, comprising: The composite paper sheet supply method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A pressure detection procedure for detecting a force applied to the leading postal piece when the postal piece bundle conveyed comes into contact with the suction belt;
The control procedure includes a procedure for controlling the position of the suction belt with respect to the front post so that a predetermined pressure is applied to the front post based on a pressure signal from the pressure detection procedure. Paper sheet supply method.

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