JP2014148065A - Sealed letter preparation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sealed letter preparation system capable of improving convenience and suppressing deterioration of productivity of sealed letter preparation.SOLUTION: A control unit 17 controls a paper feeding unit 11 so as to feed one or more envelope sheets from among a plurality of kinds of envelope sheets so that all content sheets can be stored in one envelope in block or can be stored by being divided into a plurality of envelopes as envelope sheets to be used for sealed letter preparation when it is impossible to store all of the specified number of content sheets with specified size in one envelope to be formed of an envelope sheet of a type specified by enclosing and sealing jobs.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sealed letter production system for producing a sealed letter.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sealed letter production system including a printing apparatus and an encapsulating and sealing apparatus is known. In this sealed letter production system, the printing apparatus performs printing on the envelope paper and the content paper based on the sealed sealing job. The enclosing and sealing device forms an envelope from a printed envelope paper, and seals the envelope in a state where the printed content paper is stored to produce a sealed letter.

  Here, there is a case where the number of content sheets for one copy is larger than the number of envelopes that can be stored from the envelope sheet designated by the encapsulating and sealing job. In this case, even if the enclosing sealing job is executed as it is, one content sheet cannot be stored in one envelope.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, when the number of sheets to be packed in an envelope is too large to be stored in an envelope corresponding to the size of the sheet, the envelope preparation is stopped by automatically canceling the envelope packing mode. Technology is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3110806

  However, if the production of the sealed letter is stopped in error as in Patent Document 1, then it becomes necessary to start again. This is inconvenient because it takes extra time for the user. In addition, the productivity of sealed letter production has been reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sealed letter preparation system capable of improving convenience and suppressing a reduction in productivity of letter preparation.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first feature of an envelope preparation system according to the present invention is to form an envelope from a printing device that performs printing on envelope paper and content paper, and the envelope paper printed by the printing device. An envelope sealing device that stores the content paper printed by the printing device in the envelope to produce a sealed letter, and the printing device includes a plurality of types of envelope papers having different types of envelopes to be formed, And holding the envelope paper of one or more sizes, a paper feeding unit for feeding the content paper and the content paper, and the envelope paper fed by the paper feeding unit and the paper A printing unit for printing on content paper, a sending unit for sending the envelope paper and the content paper printed by the printing unit to the enclosing sealing device, a type of envelope paper, a size of the content paper, and Content A control unit that selects an envelope sheet and a content sheet to be used for producing a sealed letter based on an encapsulated sealing job that specifies the number of sheets, and controls the sheet to be fed from the sheet feeding unit. When it is impossible to store all the specified size and number of content sheets in a single envelope formed from the type of envelope paper specified by the sealed envelope job, the envelope paper is used for envelope preparation. Feed one or more envelope papers from the multiple types of envelope papers so that all content sheets can be stored together in a single envelope or divided into multiple envelopes It is to control the paper feeding unit.

  The second feature of the sealed letter preparation system according to the present invention is that the type of envelope paper specified by the sealed sealing job corresponds to a standard envelope capable of storing content paper of a size specified by the sealed sealing job. The envelope is a fixed-size envelope, and the paper feeding unit can store the fixed-size envelope and a content sheet of a size specified by the sealed sealing job, and can store a larger number of content sheets than the fixed envelope. In the case where it is impossible to store all of the number of content sheets designated by the sealing and sealing job in one of the standard envelopes. When the remaining number of content sheets stored in one or more of the fixed envelopes can be stored in one of the fixed envelopes, the envelope is prepared. As the envelope paper used is to control the feeding portion so as to feed the non-standard-size envelope sheet or one and and one of the standard-size envelope sheet.

  A third feature of the envelope preparation system according to the present invention is that the control unit includes a specified size and number of contents on a single envelope formed from an envelope paper of a type specified by the sealed sealing job. When it is impossible to store all the sheets, at least one of the plurality of types of envelopes formed from the plurality of types of envelope sheets held by the sheet feeding unit is used. Find all types of envelope usage types and number of sheets that can store all content sheets, calculate the postage required at the time of mailing for each of the obtained patterns, and respond to the pattern with the lowest postage The paper feeding unit is controlled to feed the type and number of envelope sheets to be fed.

  According to the first feature of the envelope preparation system according to the present invention, all the specified size and number of content sheets are stored in one envelope formed from the envelope sheet of the type specified by the sealed sealing job. When it is impossible to do so, multiple types of envelope paper can be stored in a single envelope or divided into multiple envelopes as envelope paper used for envelope preparation One or more envelope sheets are fed out of the envelope sheets. As a result, even if it is impossible to store all the specified size and number of content sheets in an envelope formed from the specified type of envelope paper, it is possible to avoid error-stopping printing for sealed letter preparation. Thus, it becomes possible to execute printing for preparing a sealed letter. As a result, convenience can be improved and a decrease in productivity of sealed letter production can be suppressed.

  According to the second feature of the sealed letter preparation system according to the present invention, the designated envelope is designated in a case where it is impossible to store all the number of contents sheets designated by the sealed sealing job in a single fixed envelope. In the case where a surplus of content sheets in which as many as possible of the number of content sheets can be stored in one or more non-standard envelopes can be stored in one standard envelope, One or more sheets of fixed envelope paper and one sheet of fixed envelope paper are fed. As a result, the postage for mailing the completed sealed letter can be reduced without increasing the number of sealed letters.

  According to the third feature of the envelope producing system according to the present invention, the type and number of envelope sheets corresponding to the pattern with the lowest postage are fed. Thereby, the postage when mailing the completed sealed letter can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the sealed letter production system which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a paper table. It is a figure which shows an example of the envelope information table. It is a flowchart of an envelope paper selection process. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st example of a specific example. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd example of a specific example. It is a flowchart of the envelope paper selection process in the modification of embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same or equivalent parts and components are denoted by the same or equivalent reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and different from the actual ones. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

  Further, the embodiment described below exemplifies an apparatus or the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention is to arrange the components and the like as follows. It is not something specific. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sealed letter production system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus. In the following description, the paper surface direction in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from the user, the top, bottom, left and right are defined as the top, bottom, left and right directions.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sealed letter production system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a printing device 2 and an encapsulating and sealing device 3.

  The printing apparatus 2 performs printing on the paper P. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 2 includes a paper feeding unit 11, a printing unit 12, a sending unit 13, an upper surface transport unit 14, a paper discharge unit 15, a reversing unit 16, and a control unit. 17 and a housing 18 for storing or holding each part.

  Note that a path indicated by a thick line in FIG. 2 is a transport path through which the paper P is transported. Of the transport routes, the route indicated by the solid line is the normal route RC, the route indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the reverse route RR, the route indicated by the long dashed line is the discharge route RD, the route indicated by the short dashed line is the delivery route RT, and is indicated by the two-dot chain line The route is the paper feed route RS. In the following description, upstream and downstream mean upstream and downstream in the transport path.

  The paper feeding unit 11 feeds the paper P. The paper feeding unit 11 is arranged on the most upstream side of the transport path. The paper feed unit 11 includes an external paper feed stand 21, an external paper feed roller 22, a first internal paper feed stand 23A, a second internal paper feed stand 23B, a third internal paper feed stand 23C, and a first internal A paper feed roller 24A, a second internal paper feed roller 24B, a third internal paper feed roller 24C, and a plurality of pairs of vertical transport rollers 25 are provided.

  The external paper feed tray 21 is used for loading paper P used for printing. The external paper feed tray 21 is partly exposed outside the housing 18.

  The external paper feed roller 22 takes out the paper P one by one from the external paper feed tray 21 and conveys the paper P toward a later-described registration roller 31 along the paper feed path RS. The external paper feed roller 22 is disposed on the upper side of the external paper feed table 21. The external paper feed roller 22 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The first to third internal paper feed trays 23A to 23C are used to stack paper P used for printing. The first to third internal paper feed trays 23 </ b> A to 23 </ b> C are disposed inside the housing 18.

  The first to third internal paper feed rollers 24A to 24C take out the paper P one by one from the first to third internal paper feed bases 23A to 23C and send them out to the paper feed path RS. The first to third internal paper feed rollers 24A to 24C are disposed above the first to third internal paper feed tables 23A to 23C, respectively. The first to third internal paper feed rollers 24A to 24C are driven by a motor (not shown).

  The vertical conveyance roller 25 conveys the paper P taken out from the first to third internal paper feed trays 23A to 23C toward a registration roller 31 described later. The vertical conveyance roller 25 is disposed along the paper feed path RS. The vertical conveying roller 25 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The printing unit 12 performs printing on the paper P while conveying the fed paper P. The printing unit 12 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper feeding unit 11. The printing unit 12 includes a registration roller 31, a belt conveyance unit 32, and an inkjet head unit 33.

  The registration roller 31 temporarily stops the paper P conveyed from the paper feeding unit 11 or the reversing unit 16 and then conveys the paper P toward the belt conveyance unit 32. The registration rollers 31 are arranged on a normal route RC in the vicinity of the junction point between the paper feed route RS and the reverse route RR. The registration roller 31 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The belt conveyance unit 32 conveys the paper P conveyed from the registration rollers 31 by sucking and holding the sheet P on the belt. The belt conveyance unit 32 is disposed on the downstream side of the registration roller 31. The belt conveyance unit 32 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The inkjet head unit 33 has a plurality of line-type inkjet heads (not shown) in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a direction (front-rear direction) substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. The inkjet head unit 33 is disposed above the belt conveyance unit 32. The inkjet head unit 33 prints an image by ejecting ink from the inkjet head onto the paper P conveyed by the belt conveyance unit 32.

  The sending unit 13 sends the printed paper P to the sealed sealing device 3 at the time of printing for preparing a sealed letter. The sending unit 13 includes a switching unit 36 and a sending roller 37.

  The switching unit 36 switches the transport route of the paper P between the normal route RC and the delivery route RT. The switching unit 36 is arranged at a branch point between the normal route RC and the sending route RT. The delivery route RT is a route that extends to the right from the boundary between the printing unit 12 and the upper surface transport unit 14 toward the sealing device 3. The downstream end of the delivery path RT is connected to the upstream end of the introduction path in the sealing device 3.

  The feed roller 37 transports the paper P transported from the belt transport unit 32 and sends it to the enclosing sealing device 3. The delivery roller 37 is disposed on the downstream side of the switching unit 36 along the delivery path RT.

  The upper surface transport unit 14 transports the paper P transported from the belt transport unit 32 so as to make a U-turn from the right direction to the left direction. The upper surface transport unit 14 includes a plurality of pairs of upper surface transport rollers 39.

  The upper surface transport roller 39 transports the paper P while nipping it. The pair of uppermost transport rollers 39 on the most downstream side is disposed in the upstream part of the reversing path RR. The other upper surface conveyance roller 39 is disposed along the normal path RC between the printing unit 12 and the paper discharge unit 15. The plurality of pairs of upper surface transport rollers 39 are driven by a plurality of motors (not shown).

  The paper discharge unit 15 discharges the printed paper P. The paper discharge unit 15 includes a switching unit 41, a paper discharge roller 42, and a paper discharge table 43.

  The switching unit 41 switches the transport path of the paper P between the paper discharge path RD and the reverse path RR. The switching unit 41 is disposed at a branch point between the paper discharge route RD and the reversal route RR. The switching unit 41 is driven by a solenoid (not shown).

  The paper discharge roller 42 conveys the paper P guided to the paper discharge path RD by the switching unit 41 and discharges it to the paper discharge tray 43. The paper discharge roller 42 is disposed between the switching unit 41 and the paper discharge tray 43 along the paper discharge path RD. The paper discharge roller 42 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The paper discharge tray 43 is for stacking the discharged paper P. The paper discharge tray 43 is disposed at the downstream end of the paper discharge path RD.

  The reversing unit 16 reverses the single-side printed paper P and conveys it to the registration roller 31 during double-sided printing. The reversing unit 16 includes a reversing roller 46, a switchback unit 47, a refeed roller 48, and a switching gate 49.

  The reversing roller 46 temporarily transports the paper P transported by the upper surface transport unit 14 to the switchback unit 47 and then transports it to the refeed roller 48. The reverse roller 46 is disposed on the reverse path RR between the pair of uppermost transport rollers 39 on the most downstream side and the carry-in port of the switchback unit 47. The reverse roller 46 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The switchback unit 47 is a space for the reversing roller 46 to temporarily carry in the paper P. The switchback portion 47 is formed at the lower part of the paper discharge tray 43. The switchback portion 47 is opened in the vicinity of the reversing roller 46 for carrying the paper P therein.

  The refeed roller 48 conveys the paper P conveyed by the reversing roller 46 to the registration roller 31. The refeed roller 48 is disposed on a reverse path RR between the reverse roller 46 and the registration roller 31. The refeed roller 48 is driven by a motor (not shown).

  The switching gate 49 guides the sheet P conveyed by the upper surface conveying roller 39 to the reversing roller 46. Further, the switching gate 49 guides the paper P carried out from the switchback unit 47 by the reversing roller 46 to the refeed roller 48. The switching gate 49 is disposed in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the three positions of the pair of the uppermost transport roller 39, the reverse roller 46, and the refeed roller 48 on the most downstream side.

  The control unit 17 controls the operation of the entire printing apparatus 2. Moreover, the control part 17 controls operation | movement of the enclosure sealing device 3 whole. The control unit 17 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

  The control unit 17 stores a paper table 51 shown in FIG. The paper table 51 is a table showing the paper types that are stacked and held on each of the external paper supply base 21 and the first to third internal paper supply bases 23A to 23C of the paper supply unit 11. The paper type includes envelope paper, plain paper of each size, and the like.

  Here, the envelope paper is a paper dedicated for producing a sealed letter in the sealed sealing device 3. The envelope paper is preliminarily coated with a re-wetting paste that can be bonded when water adheres thereto and a pressure-sensitive adhesive that is bonded by pressure contact. Envelope paper includes regular envelope paper and non-standard envelope paper. The regular envelope paper is an envelope paper on which a regular envelope is formed. A regular envelope is an envelope that satisfies the conditions of a regular mail. The non-standard envelope paper is an envelope paper on which a standard envelope is formed. The non-standard envelope is an envelope other than the standard envelope.

  Moreover, the control part 17 has memorize | stored the envelope information table 52 shown in FIG. The envelope information table 52 is a table showing the storable size and the storable number of contents sheets in the envelope corresponding to the envelope sheets held by the sheet feeding unit 11. The storable size is the maximum size that can be stored in each envelope, and can be stored as long as it is smaller than the storable size. In the envelope in which the content paper folded by the content folding unit 62 of the enclosing sealing device 3 described later is stored, the storable size indicates the maximum size of the content paper that can be stored after being folded. .

  The control unit 17 refers to the paper table 51 and controls to select and feed the envelope paper and the content paper from the paper feeding unit 11 based on the sealed sealing job at the time of printing for creating a sealed letter. At this time, the control unit 17 refers to the envelope information table 52 and performs envelope sheet selection processing to be described later. The encapsulated sealing job is a print job transmitted from an external terminal device to the printing apparatus 2 at the time of sealed letter preparation printing. The enclosing and sealing job designates the type of envelope paper, the size of the content paper, and the number of content papers for producing one sealed letter.

  The enclosing and sealing device 3 forms an envelope from the envelope paper printed by the printing device 2, and stores the content paper printed by the printing device 2 in the envelope to produce a sealed letter. As shown in FIG. 1, the encapsulating and sealing apparatus 3 includes a matching unit 61, a content folding unit 62, an envelope forming unit 63, and a sealing unit 64.

  The alignment unit 61 accumulates and aligns the printed content sheets sent from the printing apparatus 2 for each envelope sheet.

  The content folding unit 62 folds the content sheets aligned by the alignment unit 61. The content folding unit 62 is configured to be capable of a plurality of folding processes such as bi-folding and tri-folding.

  The envelope forming unit 63 stores the content sheet in the envelope while forming the envelope from the printed envelope sheet sent from the printing apparatus 2. The envelope forming unit 63 forms an envelope by applying water to the re-wetting paste provided at a predetermined position of the envelope paper, and bonding the facing surface at the predetermined position while bending the envelope paper.

  The sealing unit 64 seals the envelope containing the content sheet formed by the envelope forming unit 63 to complete the sealed letter. The sealing part 64 is sealed by pressure-bonding the pressure-sensitive adhesives of the envelope.

  Next, the operation of the sealed letter production system 1 will be described.

  When the sealed sealing job is received from the external terminal device, the control unit 17 of the printing apparatus 2 performs an envelope paper selection process. The envelope paper selection process is a process for selecting the envelope paper to be fed in the envelope preparation printing. The envelope paper selection process will be described.

  Here, the envelope paper designated by the sealed sealing job is a standard envelope paper. The fixed envelope paper is held in the paper feeding unit 11 of the printing apparatus 2. Further, it is assumed that one type of non-standard envelope paper is held in the paper feeding unit 11. The fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper held by the paper supply unit 11 has a size that can be stored larger than the size that can be stored in the fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper designated by the sealed sealing job, All content sheets of a size that can be used for sealed letter production in the enclosing and sealing device 3 can be stored. Further, the number of storable envelopes is larger than the number of stipulated envelopes formed from the standard envelope paper designated by the sealed sealing job. Further, it is assumed that the content sheet having the size specified by the encapsulating sealing job is held in the paper feeding unit 11. As the content paper, plain paper or the like is used.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the envelope paper selection process. The process of the flowchart of FIG. 5 starts when the printing apparatus 2 receives the encapsulating and sealing job.

  When receiving the encapsulated sealing job, in step S1 of FIG. 5, the control unit 17 refers to the envelope information table 52, and the size of the content sheet designated by the enclosed sealing job is formed from the designated regular envelope paper. It is determined whether or not the size can be stored in the fixed envelope.

  Here, when there are multiple contents paper sizes specified by the encapsulating and sealing job, that is, when the contents paper is a mixture of multiple sizes, the largest of the specified sizes is stored in the standard envelope. Determine whether the size is possible. If the maximum size can be stored, it can be determined that all the specified sizes can be stored.

  When it is determined that the size of the content sheet is a size that can be stored in the standard envelope (step S1: YES), in step S2, the control unit 17 determines that the number of content sheets to be specified is one. It is determined whether or not the number of sheets can be stored in a single envelope.

  When it is determined that the number of content sheets is the number that can be stored in the standard envelope (step S2: YES), in step S3, the control unit 17 is designated by the sealed sealing job as the envelope sheet used for preparing the sealed letter. Select a standard envelope.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the size of the content paper cannot be stored in the standard envelope (step S1: NO), and the number of content papers cannot be stored in the standard envelope in step S2. When it is determined that there is (step S2: NO), in step S4, the control unit 17 selects a non-standard-size envelope sheet as the envelope sheet used for envelope production. Here, when selecting non-standard envelope paper, the number of contents paper specified as one for the sealed envelope job is stored together in a single standard envelope or divided into multiple standard envelopes. And store. Therefore, the control unit 17 determines the necessary number of fixed envelope envelopes for storing all the specified number of contents sheets from the specified number of contents sheets and the number of non-standard envelope sheets that can be stored. calculate. The envelope paper selection process is thus completed.

  When the envelope sheet selection process is completed, the control unit 17 starts printing for envelope preparation.

  The sealed letter preparation printing in the printing apparatus 2 will be described.

  First, a sheet P that is a content sheet or an envelope sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 11 to the printing unit 12. In the printing unit 12, the paper P is conveyed to the belt conveyance unit 32 by the registration rollers 31. One side of the paper P is printed by the ink ejected from the inkjet head unit 33 while being conveyed by the belt conveyance unit 32.

  In the case of single-sided printing, the paper P on which one side is printed is guided from the normal route RC to the sending route RT by the switching unit 36. Then, the paper P is sent to the enclosing sealing device 3 by the sending roller 37.

  In the case of duplex printing, the paper P on which one side is printed is guided to the upper surface transport unit 14 by the switching unit 36. The paper P is conveyed to the switching unit 41 by the upper surface conveyance roller 39 of the upper surface conveyance unit 14 and is guided from the normal route RC to the reverse route RR by the switching unit 41. The sheet P guided to the reversing path RR is guided to the reversing roller 46 by the switching gate 49 in the reversing unit 16 and is carried into the switchback unit 47 by the reversing roller 46. Thereafter, the paper P is unloaded from the switchback portion 47 by the reverse roller 46, guided to the refeed roller 48 by the switching gate 49, and conveyed to the registration roller 31 by the refeed roller 48. Then, the paper P is conveyed to the belt conveyance unit 32 by the registration rollers 31. Here, since the paper P is reversed by the reversing unit 16, the unprinted surface (the other surface) is directed upward, and is ejected from the inkjet head unit 33 while being transported by the belt transport unit 32. Printed on the other side with ink. The double-side printed paper P is guided from the normal route RC to the delivery route RT by the switching unit 36. Then, the paper P is sent to the enclosing sealing device 3 by the sending roller 37.

  In printing for envelope preparation, after printing on the number of content sheets corresponding to one envelope, printing is performed on envelope sheets that serve as envelopes for storing these content sheets. The printed content paper and envelope paper are sequentially sent to the enclosing sealing device 3.

  Here, as described above, when selecting a non-standard envelope paper, there may be a case where one content sheet designated by the sealed sealing job is divided into a plurality of standard envelopes and stored. . In this case, after printing on the number of content sheets corresponding to one divided envelope, printing is performed on a fixed-size envelope that becomes a fixed-size envelope containing these content sheets. Repeated as many times as the number of divisions. On each of the plurality of non-standard envelope papers, the same image (address, etc.) as that included in the sealed envelope job as a print image on the standard envelope paper is printed. However, a serial number or the like may be printed on each non-standard envelope paper.

  In the enclosing / sealing device 3, the content sheets corresponding to one sealed letter sent from the printing device 2 are aligned by the alignment unit 61, and the aligned content sheets are folded by the content folding unit 62. When the envelope sheet is sent from the printing apparatus 2, the envelope forming unit 63 forms the envelope from the envelope sheet and stores the folded content sheet in the envelope. Thereafter, the envelope is sealed at the sealing portion 64, and the sealed letter is completed. When there is no need to fold the content sheet, the folding process in the content folding unit 62 is omitted, and the unfolded content sheet is stored in the envelope.

  Next, the above-described envelope paper selection process, sealed letter preparation printing, and sealed letter preparation will be described using specific examples.

  Here, as in the paper table 51 of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the fixed envelope paper PA1 is loaded on the external paper feed tray 21, and the fixed envelope paper PA2 is loaded on the first internal paper feed tray 23A. Assume that the standard envelope formed from the standard envelope paper PA1 has a storage size of A4 and a storage capacity of five sheets as in the envelope information table 52 of FIG. Here, the A4 size paper folded in three can be stored in the standard envelope formed from the standard envelope paper PA1. Further, the fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper PA2 is assumed to have a storage size of A4 and a storage capacity of 15 sheets as in the envelope information table 52 of FIG. Here, the non-folded A4 size paper can be stored in the non-standard envelope formed from the standard envelope envelope PA2.

  Further, as in the paper table 51 of FIG. 3, it is assumed that sheets of A4 size and B5 size are loaded on the second internal paper feed tray 23B and the third internal paper feed tray 23C, respectively. The papers stacked on the second internal paper supply base 23B and the third internal paper supply base 23C can be used as content papers in sealed letter preparation printing.

  As a first example, an example will be described in which the type of envelope paper designated by the encapsulating seal job is the fixed envelope paper PA1, the size of the content paper is A4, and the number of content papers is three.

  In this first example, the fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper PA1 designated by the sealed sealing job can store all three A4 size content sheets. Therefore, the fixed envelope paper PA1 is selected in the envelope paper selection process.

  At the time of sealed letter preparation printing, three A4 size sheets are sequentially fed from the second internal paper feed tray 23B as the content sheet PB used for sealed letter preparation. Thereafter, one sheet of fixed envelope paper PA1 is fed from the external paper feed tray 21. The content paper PB and the regular envelope paper PA1 that are sequentially fed are subjected to single-sided printing or double-sided printing, and then sequentially sent to the enclosing sealing device 3.

  In the enclosing and sealing device 3, as shown in FIG. 6, the content paper PB is folded in three, and the three-folded content paper PB is stored in a standard envelope formed from the standard envelope paper PA1, and the standard envelope is sealed. As a result, the sealed letter M1 is produced. In FIG. 6, for convenience, the three content sheets PB are shown individually, but in reality, the three sheets are folded in three with the three sheets overlapped.

  As described above, in the first example, it is possible to produce the sealed letter M1 using the regular envelope paper PA1 designated by the sealed sealing job.

  Next, as a second example, an example will be described in which the type of envelope paper designated by the encapsulating and sealing job is the fixed envelope paper PA1, the size of the content paper is A4, and the number of content papers is 25 sheets.

  In this second example, the regular envelope formed from the regular envelope paper PA1 designated by the encapsulating and sealing job cannot store all the 25 content sheets. In addition, the fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper PA2 can store A4 size content sheets, but cannot store all 25 sheets. If there are two fixed envelopes formed from the fixed envelope paper PA2, 25 content sheets can be divided into 15 sheets and 10 sheets and stored. Therefore, in the envelope paper selection process, the non-standard envelope paper PA2 is selected, and the required number is calculated as two.

  At the time of sealed letter preparation printing, 15 sheets of A4 size content paper PB are sequentially fed from the second internal paper feed tray 23B. Next, a single non-standard envelope paper PA2 is fed from the first internal paper feed tray 23A. Next, 10 sheets of A4 size content paper PB are sequentially fed from the second internal paper feed tray 23B. Next, a single non-standard envelope paper PA2 is fed from the first internal paper feed tray 23A. The sequentially fed content paper PB and the non-standard envelope paper PA2 are one-sided or double-sided printed, and then sequentially sent to the enclosing sealing device 3.

  In the enclosing and sealing device 3, as shown in FIG. 7, the content paper PB divided into 15 sheets and 10 sheets is respectively stored in a fixed outer envelope formed from the fixed outer envelope paper PA2, and the fixed outer envelope is sealed. As a result, two sealed letters M2 are produced.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 17 puts all the specified size and number of content sheets into one fixed envelope formed from the fixed envelope paper specified by the sealed sealing job. When it is impossible to store the envelope, a non-standard-sized envelope sheet held by the sheet feeding unit 11 is selected as the envelope sheet used for preparing the envelope. Then, at the time of printing for preparing a letter, the control unit 17 feeds a number of non-standard-sized envelope sheets that can store all of the designated number of contents sheets. As a result, even when it is impossible to store all the specified size and number of content sheets in a standard envelope formed from the specified standard envelope paper, it is possible to avoid error-stopping printing for envelope preparation. Thus, it becomes possible to execute printing for preparing a sealed letter. As a result, convenience can be improved and a decrease in productivity of sealed letter production can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, when it is impossible to store all of the contents paper in one fixed envelope, the non-standard envelope paper is used. However, the size of the contents paper can be stored in the fixed envelope. For example, a plurality of fixed envelope sheets may be fed so as to be divided into a plurality of fixed envelopes and store the contents sheets. However, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a non-standard envelope paper corresponding to a standard envelope having a larger number of sheets than a standard envelope because the number of sealed letters can be reduced. Moreover, you may use a regular envelope paper for a part.

  In the present embodiment, the paper feed unit 11 holds the regular envelope paper and the non-standard envelope paper, but the type of envelope paper held by the paper feed unit 11 is not limited to this. Further, the paper feed unit 11 may hold three or more types of envelope paper. Even in such a case, if the control unit 17 cannot store all the specified size and number of content sheets in the envelope formed from the specified type of envelope paper, As the envelope paper to be used, a plurality of types of envelope paper held by the paper feeding unit 11 are stored so that all the content papers can be stored together in one envelope or divided into a plurality of envelopes. Control may be performed so that one or more envelope sheets are fed.

  Further, in this embodiment, when selecting a non-standard envelope paper, all the envelope paper to be fed is a standard non-standard envelope paper, but the content paper is a size that can be stored in the standard envelope, and the last one If the number of content sheets stored in the non-standard envelope is the number that can be stored in the standard envelope, the last one may be replaced with the standard envelope. That is, the control unit 17 can store the remaining content sheets in the designated number of content sheets in one or more regular outer envelopes in one regular envelope. One or more non-standard envelope sheets and one standard envelope sheet may be fed. As a result, the postage for mailing the completed sealed letter can be reduced without increasing the number of sealed letters.

(Modification)
A modified example in which the envelope paper selection process of the above embodiment is changed will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the envelope paper selection process in the present modification. In FIG. 8, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as those in the flowchart of the envelope paper selection process of FIG. 5 described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the size of the content paper cannot be stored in the standard envelope (step S1: NO), and the number of content papers cannot be stored in the standard envelope in step S2. If it is determined that there is (step S2: NO), in step S11, the control unit 17 obtains all the storable patterns that are patterns of the use type and number of used envelopes in which all the contents sheets can be stored.

  For example, if the contents paper can be divided and stored in 2 regular envelopes and 1 regular envelope, the usage type is 2 regular envelopes and 2 regular envelopes and 1 regular envelope. Is one of the patterns that can be stored. In addition, if the same number of contents sheets can be stored by dividing them into five standard envelopes, a pattern in which the type of use is only a standard envelope and the number of standard envelopes used is five is also a required storage pattern. One.

  As described above, in step S1, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the maximum size is a size that can be stored in the standard envelope when the content sheet has a plurality of sizes. In other words, even when “NO” is determined in step S1, the size of the content sheet may include a size that can be stored in the fixed envelope. Therefore, even when “NO” is determined in step S1, there may be a storable pattern in which the fixed envelope is included in the usage type.

  Next, in step S12, the control unit 17 calculates a postage required for mailing for each storable pattern. For example, if the usage type is a regular envelope and a regular outer envelope, and the number of sheets used is a storable pattern of two regular envelopes and one regular envelope, two postage charges using a regular envelope and a regular envelope The total amount of the postage used for one sealed letter is the postage for the storable pattern.

  Next, in step S13, the control unit 17 selects a storable pattern with the lowest postage out of all storable patterns as a storable pattern for preparing a sealed letter. In this case, the control unit 17 determines the number of sheets corresponding to the storable pattern on at least one of the standard envelope paper and the non-standard envelope paper based on the storable pattern with the lowest postage in printing for preparing a letter. Feed paper one by one.

  Thus, in this modification, since the control part 17 selects the storable pattern in which the postage is the lowest, the postage when the completed sealed letter is mailed can be reduced.

  In the present modification, the case where the paper feed unit 11 holds the regular envelope paper and the non-standard envelope paper has been described, but the type of envelope paper held by the paper feed unit 11 is not limited to this. Further, the paper feed unit 11 may hold three or more types of envelope paper. Even in such a case, the control unit 17 uses all the envelopes of at least one of the plurality of types of envelopes formed from the plurality of types of envelope sheets held by the sheet feeding unit 11 to use all the envelopes. All the storable patterns that can store the content sheets may be obtained. And the control part 17 should just calculate the postage required at the time of mailing about each of the calculated | required storable pattern, and should select the storable pattern with the lowest postage.

  It goes without saying that the present invention includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seal letter preparation system 2 Printing apparatus 3 Enclosed sealing apparatus 11 Paper feed part 12 Printing part 13 Sending part 14 Upper surface conveyance part 15 Paper discharge part 16 Inversion part 17 Control part 51 Paper table 52 Envelope information table 61 Matching part 62 Contents folding part 63 Envelope forming part 64 Sealing part

Claims (3)

A printing device for printing on envelope paper and content paper;
An envelope sealing device that forms an envelope from the envelope paper printed by the printing device, stores the content paper printed by the printing device in the envelope, and produces a sealed letter;
The printing apparatus includes:
A plurality of types of envelope papers having different types of envelopes to be formed, and a paper feed unit for holding one or more size content papers and feeding the envelope papers and the content papers held therein; ,
A printing unit for printing on the envelope paper and the content paper fed by the paper feeding unit;
A sending unit for sending the envelope paper and the content paper printed by the printing unit to the sealed sealing device;
Select envelope paper and content paper to be used for envelope preparation based on the enclosing sealing job that specifies the envelope paper type, content paper size, and number of content paper, and feed the paper from the paper feed unit. A control unit for controlling,
The control unit prepares a sealed letter when it is impossible to store all the specified size and number of content sheets in a single envelope formed from the type of envelope paper specified by the sealing and sealing job. One or more of the above-mentioned types of envelope paper so that all content sheets can be stored together in a single envelope, or divided into a plurality of envelopes. The envelope preparing system controls the sheet feeding unit to feed the envelope sheet. The type of envelope paper designated by the enclosed sealing job is a standard envelope paper corresponding to a regular envelope capable of storing content paper of the size designated by the enclosed sealing job,
The paper feeding unit is capable of storing the standard envelope paper and the content paper of the size specified by the sealing and sealing job, and has a larger number of content paper than the standard envelope. Hold envelope paper and
The control unit is capable of out of the specified number of content sheets in the case where it is impossible to store all of the specified number of content sheets in the sealed envelope job in the single envelope. In the case where the surplus content sheets stored in one or more regular envelopes can be accommodated in one regular envelope, one or more regular envelopes are used as envelope papers for preparing envelopes. The sealed letter production system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding unit is controlled to feed a sheet and one sheet of the regular envelope sheet. In the case where it is impossible to store all of the specified size and number of content sheets in a single envelope formed from the type of envelope paper specified by the sealed sealing job,
An envelope that can store all content sheets using at least one of a plurality of types of envelopes formed from the plurality of types of envelope sheets held by the sheet feeding unit. Find all patterns of usage type and number of used cards,
The postage required for mailing is calculated for each of the obtained patterns, and the paper feeding unit is controlled to feed the type and number of envelope papers corresponding to the pattern with the lowest postage. The sealed letter production system according to claim 1.