JP2015205763A - Sheet folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fold a sheet so that when enclosing the sheet in an envelope with a window, specific information printed on the sheet can be seen from a window part.SOLUTION: When an envelope is confirmed to be an envelope with a window, a sheet folding device moves a first abutment member 12a and a second abutment member 12b and adjusts contact positions with a sheet on the basis of envelope size information of the envelope, sheet folding manner information of the sheet which becomes a content P, and sheet size information so that a conveyance direction length of a specific information printed surface when the sheet is folded becomes shorter than a conveyance direction length of a surface with the window of the envelope by a length adjustment value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding apparatus that performs predetermined folding on a sheet that is a content to be sealed in an envelope.

  In the following Patent Document 1, when the size of the content is smaller than the size of the envelope, the content moves in the envelope, causing the content to be broken or printed, or the edge of the content is the envelope. In order to prevent the contents from being damaged along with the envelope at the time of opening, the length in the conveyance direction perpendicular to the fold line Is disclosed, the envelope preparation apparatus which controls the folding position of the contents so that it becomes equal to the length of the envelope in the conveyance direction when the envelope length in the conveyance direction is shorter than the reference length.

JP 2012-171671 A

  By the way, in addition to a general envelope whose contents cannot be confirmed from the outside, an envelope of a predetermined size is provided on the front surface of the envelope, and a transparent or translucent film is stuck on the envelope. Information that identifies recipients and senders that are printed on the contents without opening the envelope (for example, recipient address information (zip code, name, address, or address), recipients and senders) Includes identification information (one-dimensional code (barcode), two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark) or SP code), management number, etc.), sender information (postal code, name, address or residence, etc.) Hereinafter, a so-called “envelope with a window” having a window part for confirming these as a whole is referred to as “specific information” is known.

  And when using such an envelope with a window, it corresponds to the position of the window so that the specific information printed on the contents is visible from the window of the envelope with the window when the contents are sealed in the envelope. The specific information is printed, and the size of the envelope and the contents in the paper width direction is also suitable.

  Therefore, in the envelope preparation apparatus in which the content folding method and size change for each envelope to be prepared, the specific information can be viewed from the window portion based on the envelope size while taking into account the size of the envelope and the content, and It is necessary to fold the contents appropriately so that the size can be sealed in the envelope.

  However, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the content is not moved in the envelope by changing the folding position when the conveyance direction length of the content is shorter than the envelope conveyance direction length by a predetermined reference length. Although the folding position is positioned, it is not an apparatus that positions the folding position of the contents in consideration of the position of the window portion in the envelope with window. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, if the folding position is changed only under the condition that the length in the conveyance direction of the content is shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the envelope by a predetermined reference length, There is a possibility that the position of the window portion and the position of the specific information do not coincide with each other, or the contents move in the envelope, and there is a problem that the quality of the completed envelope is deteriorated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the contents are folded at an appropriate position so that the specific information printed on the contents can be visually recognized from the window portion of the envelope with window. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper folding device that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the sheet folding device according to claim 1 is printed with specific information that is enclosed as a content in a window envelope having a window surface provided with a window portion and is visually recognized from the window portion. Folding means for performing a predetermined fold on the printed paper;
Folding positioning means for positioning the folding position of the paper;
When it is determined that the envelope is an envelope with a window, the specific information printing surface on which the specific information facing the windowed surface of the envelope is printed when the paper is sealed as the contents in the envelope And a control unit for positioning the contact position of the folding positioning means with respect to the paper so that the length in the conveyance direction of the specific information printing surface is appropriately within the conveyance direction length of the surface with window.
It is provided with.

  3. The paper folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that the length in the transport direction of the specific information printing surface is specified from size information of the envelope. The movement amount from the standby position of the folding positioning means to the contact position is calculated so as to be shorter than the length in the conveyance direction by a preset length adjustment value α, and based on the calculated movement amount The folding positioning means is moved.

  According to the paper folding apparatus of claim 1, the paper is folded so that the contact position of the folding positioning means with the paper is appropriately moved so that the specific information printing surface matches the size of the envelope with the window. Therefore, when completed as a sealed letter, the specific information on the paper can be surely seen from the window part of the envelope, and even when the sealed letter is mailed, the specific information does not shift from the window part because the paper does not run out in the envelope. .

  According to the paper folding device of claim 2, the positioning means is set to the standby position so that the length in the transport direction on the specific information printing surface of the paper is shorter than the length in the transport direction on the windowed surface of the envelope by the length adjustment value α. Since the movement control is performed from the contact position to the contact position, the folding position is controlled so that the size of the specific information printing surface always matches the size of the enveloped window surface, regardless of how the paper is folded and the size. The specific information of the paper enclosed in the envelope can be reliably recognized from the window portion of the envelope. Therefore, even when the sealed letter is mailed, the paper does not move in the envelope, and the specific information does not shift from the window.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structural example of the sealed letter preparation apparatus with which the paper folding apparatus which concerns on this invention is mounted. It is an apparatus block diagram which shows the structural example of this apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of this apparatus. (A) is a diagram explaining inner tri-fold as a method of folding paper, (b) is a diagram explaining outer tri-fold (Z-fold) as a method of folding paper, and (c) is a diagram of how to fold paper. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the folding method of each folding position when a paper is folded in three, and the printing position of a specific information printing surface, (b) is the folding method of each folding position when a paper is folded in outer three And (c) is a diagram showing the folding method of each folding position and the printing position of the specific information printing surface when the sheet is folded in four. It is the figure explaining the name of each part in the envelope with a window used by this invention, and the paper used as the contents.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment, and all other forms, examples, operation techniques, and the like that can be considered by those skilled in the art based on this form are included in the scope of the present invention. Shall.

[About sealed letter production equipment]
First, the sealed letter preparation apparatus 100 on which the sheet folding apparatus 1 according to the present invention is mounted will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sealed letter preparation apparatus 100 includes a printing unit (printing apparatus) 110 that performs a predetermined printing process on the contents P and the envelope form PE enclosed in a sealed letter as a finished product, and the printing unit 110. Enclosed sealing unit 120 (encapsulated) is prepared by enclosing and sealing the content P in the envelope form PE after the necessary folding is applied to the content P and the envelope form PE that have been subjected to the predetermined printing process in Sealing device).

<About the printing unit>
The printing unit 110 is a device that performs a predetermined printing process on the envelope form PE and the contents P and discharges the envelope form PE and the contents P to the subsequent sealing unit 120.
More specifically, a sheet feeding unit 111 that feeds a plurality of types of sheets (sheet-like sheets P1 to P3 and envelope forms PE serving as contents P) to the inside and side surfaces of the apparatus housing at a predetermined timing. And a loop-shaped transport path 113 for transporting the paper from the introduction path 112, and four inkjet heads C for ejecting ink of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), respectively. , K, M, and Y, a first discharge path 115 that discharges the sheet to the enclosing and sealing unit 120, a second discharge path 116 that discharges the sheet out of the loop, and a conveyance path 113 A switchback path 117 that reverses the received paper and returns it to the transport path 113 to invert the paper upside down.

<About enclosed sealing unit>
The encapsulating / sealing unit 120 is an apparatus for producing a sealed letter by performing necessary encapsulating processing so that the envelope foam PE and the contents P are folded and the contents P are wrapped with the envelope foam PE. In this embodiment, the envelope form PE is folded in three and accommodated so as to wrap the contents P, but the number of times and how to fold the envelope foam PE depends on the shape and use of the finished product to be produced. Since there are various forms, there is no particular limitation.

  More specifically, a content folding unit 121 that performs a predetermined fold as necessary while conveying the content P, and an envelope foam folding unit that performs a predetermined fold as necessary while conveying an envelope form PE serving as an envelope. 122, a storage portion 123 that stores the content P while wrapping a part of the envelope foam PE as it is conveyed, and a second fold of the envelope form PE in which the content P is stored in the storage portion 123 A flap folding part 124 that folds in position to form a flap to form an envelope form PE, and a rewetting paste that functions as a standby path for positioning the folding position of the flap and is transferred in advance to the envelope foam PE A water application processing unit 125 that applies water to the part, a sealing unit 126 that seals the envelope after water application as it is transported, and the sealed sealed letter is transported up to the outside of the device casing After, a discharge unit 127 for discharging transported horizontally to the discharge tray 127a, and a.

  Further, the sealed letter preparation device 100 includes, for example, a general storage unit 128 that stores information necessary for driving each part of the sealed letter preparation device 100 such as a sealed letter preparation job in which conditions necessary for preparing the sealed letter are set, and a sealed letter And an overall control unit 129 that performs drive control of each unit included in the manufacturing apparatus 100.

  Note that the envelope preparation job includes, for example, the number of envelope preparations, envelope information that is information about the envelope produced by the envelope form PE to be used (for example, the number of printed sheets, the form size, and the envelope form PE when the envelope form PE becomes an envelope shape. Envelope size, presence / absence of window portion, printing conditions (single-sided printing / double-sided printing), print image data to be printed, information indicating how to fold, and the like, and paper information (for example, the number of copies, Information necessary to create a sealed letter, such as information on the number of contents, output size, printing conditions (single-sided printing / double-sided printing), print image data to be printed, folding method, information indicating the printing position of specific information described later, etc. It is included.

  The sealed letter preparation device 100 can obtain a sealed letter preparation job from an external terminal device such as a PC used by the user, or via an auxiliary storage device such as a USB memory storing a preset sealed letter preparation job. Obtaining a method for setting a sealed letter preparation job by providing a setting input means comprising various input keys, a touch panel, etc. on the main body of the apparatus, and obtaining it from an external server storing a preset sealed letter preparation job via a communication network There are ways to do this.

  The paper folding apparatus 1 according to the present invention corresponds to the “content folding part 121” in the above-described sealed letter preparation apparatus 100, and specific information printed on a predetermined portion of the paper to be the content P (this information is: Information for identifying the recipient and sender printed on the contents P without opening the envelope, for example, recipient address information (zip code, name, address or residence), identifying recipient and sender Identification information (including one-dimensional code (bar code), two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark) or SP code), management number, etc.), sender information (postal code, name, address or residence, etc.) This is an apparatus that positions and folds the length X in the conveying direction of the contents P so that it can be viewed from the window portion of the envelope that is the enclosure destination.

[About the paper folding device]
Next, the sheet folding apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The paper folding apparatus 1 of this example corresponds to the content folding unit 121 of the above-described enclosing sealing unit 120, and as shown in FIG. 2 or 3, while transporting the paper that becomes the content P enclosed in the envelope. This is a device that performs folding according to the folding method set in the sealed letter preparation job, and includes a sheet folding unit 10, a storage unit 20, and a control unit 30.

  In the following description, among the folds formed by folding the paper a predetermined number of times as shown in FIG. 6, when the paper is sealed in the envelope as the contents, the window portion in the envelope The surface of the folded piece on which the specific information facing the surface with the window provided (that is, the surface of the folded piece provided with the window when the envelope form PE is folded) is designated as “specific information printing surface”. ".

  Further, the contents P of the sealed letter to be folded by this apparatus is, for example, a normal sheet (size, thickness, etc. are arbitrarily selected according to the letter to be prepared), an irregular size paper, etc. Since these are various types of paper, in the following description, they may be simply called “paper”.

  Further, in the following embodiment, a configuration in which the sheet is folded twice at a predetermined folding position by a group of rollers (four rollers of a first roller 11a to a fourth roller 11d to be described later) constituting the sheet folding unit 10. It is an example. As for the folding method of the sheet, the inner trifold shown in FIG. 4 (a) or FIG. 5 (a) is used (the second folded piece overlaps the first folded piece so that the first folded when the sheet is unfolded). Both the folding position and the folding position at the second folding position are valley folds), the outer trifold shown in FIG. 4B or 5B (substantially Z in which the first and second folded pieces do not overlap) 4) as shown in FIG. 4 (c) or FIG. 5 (c). When the paper is unfolded, the folding method at the first folding position is a mountain fold and the folding method at the second folding position is a valley fold. Folding (Folding is performed in the folded state, so that when the paper is unfolded, the first folding position is folded in a valley, one of the second folding positions is a valley fold, and the other folding position is Take the example of three patterns.

  Note that the folding method (valley fold, mountain fold) at each folding position in the inner trifold, outer trifold, and quadruple fold shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. Since it depends on the printing position of the specific information, it is only an example.

  The sheet folding unit 10 includes a folding unit 11 that folds a sheet received from the preceding printing unit 110 along a restricted conveyance path 13 a predetermined number of times, and a sheet folding unit 10 when folding the sheet. A folding positioning means 12 is provided for positioning the folding position.

  Under the control of the control unit 30, the folding unit 11 carries in the printed paper that has been printed by the printing unit 110, and causes the paper to follow the restricted conveyance path 13 in the folding method set in the sealed letter preparation job. Then, the sheet is nipped and conveyed, and then is nipped and conveyed toward the subsequent stage (housing portion 123). As shown in FIG. 2, the folding means 11 is composed of a roller group including a first roller 11a to a fourth roller 11d.

  As a combination of the folding roller pair in the folding means 11, the first roller 11a and the second roller 11b constitute a first roller pair, and a first abutting described later is carried out in order to carry the paper and position the first folding position. The sheet is transported along the first restricted transport path 13a until the sheet hits the member 12a. In addition, the second roller 11b and the third roller 11c constitute a second roller pair, and after folding the paper that hits the first abutting member 12a at the first folding position, the second folding position is positioned. Therefore, the sheet is conveyed along the second restricted conveying path 13b until the sheet abuts against a second abutting member 12b described later. Further, the third roller 11c and the fourth roller 11d constitute a third roller pair, and after folding the sheet on which the second folding position is positioned, the sheet is carried out to the storage unit 123 at the subsequent stage.

  The fold positioning means 12 includes a first abutting member 12a formed of a plate-like member that is slidably provided along the sheet conveyance direction on the first regulation conveyance path 13a and is used to position the first fold position with respect to the sheet. The second abutting member 12b is provided on the second restricted conveying path 13b so as to be slidable along the sheet conveying direction and is a plate-like member for positioning the second folding position with respect to the sheet. The folding positioning unit 12 is configured such that the conveyance direction length X of the specific information printing surface of the paper is shorter than the conveyance direction length Y of the enveloped window-attached surface by the length adjustment value α stored in the storage unit 20. In addition, the first abutting member 12 a and the second abutting member 12 b are appropriately moved under the control of the control unit 30.

  The storage unit 20 includes, for example, various semiconductor memories including a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM and a flash memory, a volatile memory such as a DRAM and an SDRAM, and various storage devices such as an HDD, and drives each unit constituting the sheet folding device 1. Control information is stored.

  Further, the storage unit 20 is shortened by a predetermined length with respect to the conveyance direction length Y on the window-attached surface of the envelope in which the paper is stored, so that the enclosed paper is not violated in the envelope, and the specific information is stored in the window portion. The length adjustment value α for adjusting the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the sheet so as to be visible from the position is stored. As shown in FIG. 6, the length adjustment value α is such that the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the sheet is a predetermined length (for example, 3 to 3) with respect to the conveyance direction length Y on the windowed surface of the envelope used. This is a setting value for adjusting the folding position so as to be shorter.

  The length adjustment value α is determined from the position of the envelope window by shortening the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the paper by a predetermined length with respect to the conveyance direction length Y on the enveloped window surface. It is a value for adjusting the folding position of the folded piece that becomes the specific information printing surface on the paper so that the specific information can be visually recognized. Therefore, when operating the apparatus, when the length adjustment value α is adjusted, the size and position of the window portion provided on the enveloped window surface and the printing area of the specific information on the specific information printing surface It is a condition that the envelope form PE and the paper are prepared in advance so that the size and the position of the paper are matched.

  The control unit 30 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or a processor such as an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) having these functions. The drive control of each part which comprises 1 is performed.

  Further, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the envelope is a windowed envelope from the window portion presence / absence information included in the envelope preparation job, and if it is determined that the envelope is a windowed envelope, it is also included in the envelope preparation job. Based on the paper folding information, the specific information printing position information, and the paper size information, the specific information printing surface of the paper is specified, and the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface is the conveyance direction length Y on the enveloped window surface. The specific information printing surface that defines the specific information printing surface on the sheet by calculating the amount of movement of the first abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12b from the standby position so as to be shorter than the length adjustment value α. A defining means 31 is provided.

  The specific information printing surface defining means 31 drives and controls the folding positioning means 12 based on the movement amount calculated by the specific information printing surface defining means 31. That is, the control unit 30 uses the first abutting member 12a and the first abutting member 12a calculated by the specific information printing surface defining means 31 from the envelope size information, the paper folding method information, the specific information printing position information, and the paper size information included in the letter preparation job. Based on the amount of movement of the two abutting members 12b, the first abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12b are moved along the regulation conveyance path 13 from the standby position by a predetermined distance, and are stored in the envelope as contents. The size of the specific information printing surface of the paper is specified.

  As a processing operation when the above-described paper folding device 1 is installed and operated in the sealed letter preparation device 100, when a sealed letter preparation job is started, whether or not the envelope is a windowed envelope is determined from the job contents. Confirm.

  Next, when it is confirmed that the envelope is an envelope with a window, when the paper is folded based on the envelope size information, paper folding method information, specific information printing position information, and paper size information included in the envelope preparation job The first abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a are folded so that the length X in the conveyance direction on the specific information printing surface is shorter than the length Y in the conveyance direction on the surface with the window of the envelope by a length adjustment value α. The specific printing surface defining means 31 calculates the amount of movement of the abutting member 12b from the standby position.

  Next, after the first abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12b are appropriately moved along the restricted conveyance path 13 based on the calculated movement amount, the sheet is printed on the printed sheet conveyed from the printing unit 110. Folding is carried out while conveying the paper in the folding method based on the folding information. At this time, the sheet is folded so that the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface formed by this folding process is shorter than the conveyance direction length Y on the enveloped window surface by the length adjustment value α. Is done. Then, the sheet that has been subjected to the predetermined folding is conveyed to the storage unit 123 in the subsequent stage.

  As described above, when the above-described paper folding device 1 is confirmed to be an envelope with a window, the paper folding device 1 applies paper to the paper based on the envelope size information, paper folding information, and paper size information included in the envelope preparation job. The first abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a and the second abutting member 12a. Since the abutting member 12b is appropriately moved to adjust the position of contact with the paper, the specific information on the paper can be reliably viewed from the window portion of the envelope when it is completed as a sealed letter.

  Further, even when the envelope is mailed, the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the paper is reduced only by the length adjustment value α with respect to the conveyance direction length Y on the enveloped window surface. Even when mailing, the specific information will not be shifted from the window.

  Further, according to the envelope size information, the paper folding method information, and the paper size information, the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the paper is the length adjustment value α rather than the conveyance direction length Y on the windowed surface of the envelope. Since the length is shortened, the folding position can be controlled so that the size of the specific information printing surface always matches the size of the enveloped window surface regardless of the folding method and size of the paper.

[Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment, For example, as shown below, it can also change suitably according to a use environment etc. and can also be implemented. Also, the following modifications can be implemented in any combination within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the apparatus configuration example in which the number of rollers and the arrangement of three patterns of the inner tri-fold, the outer tri-fold, and the four-fold are possible as the folding method of the paper. For example, the sheet may be folded by various folding methods such as bi-folding, Kannon folding, bellows folding (W-folding), or any combination of folding methods (cross-folding). In order to cope with such various folding methods, the number of rollers in the folding means 11 may be appropriately increased as an apparatus configuration so that the target folding can be performed.

  Even when the arrangement and number of rollers are changed, the folding positioning means is such that when the sheet is enclosed in the envelope, the length in the conveyance direction on the surface with the window of the envelope is shortened by the length adjustment value α. 12 may be driven to adjust the length X in the conveyance direction on the specific information printing surface.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sheet is folded so that the conveyance direction length X on the specific information printing surface of the sheet is shorter than the conveyance direction length Y on the window-attached surface of the envelope by the length adjustment value α. However, since the length in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction depends on the envelope size, it is necessary to use a size that fits both the envelope form PE and the paper in advance.

However, as another embodiment, for example, when a paper that does not match the size of the envelope form PE is selected, a folding mechanism for performing the folding in the width direction of the paper and adjusting the size to a size that can be enclosed in the envelope If the configuration is added, it is possible to cope with the case where the size of the paper and the envelope does not match. Note that the folding in the width direction of the paper may be adjusted as appropriate in consideration of the position information and margin position information of the content printed on the paper in addition to the paper size information and the envelope size information.

  Furthermore, although the example using an inkjet recording apparatus as the configuration of the printing apparatus serving as the printing unit 110 in the envelope preparation apparatus 100 has been described, a desired image can be applied to the contents P, the envelope form PE, or the like according to the preparation contents of the envelope to be manufactured. As long as the image can be formed, various image forming apparatuses such as a stencil printing apparatus, a copying machine, and a laser printer may be employed in addition to the ink jet recording apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiment, the paper folding device 1 is described as having the storage unit 20 and the control unit 30. However, the overall storage unit 128 and the overall control unit 129 of the sealed letter preparation apparatus 100 on which the present apparatus is mounted include , You may cover its function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper folding apparatus 10 ... Paper folding part 11 ... Folding means (11a ... 1st roller, 11b ... 2nd roller, 11c ... 3rd roller, 11d ... 4th roller)
12. Fold positioning means (first abutting member 12a, second abutting member 12b)
13: Restricted conveyance path (13a: First regulated conveyance path, 13b: Second regulated conveyance path)
20 ... Storage unit 30 ... Control unit (31 ... Specific information printing surface defining means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Seal letter preparation apparatus 110 ... Printing unit (printing apparatus)
120 ... Encapsulated sealing unit (encapsulated sealing device)
P ... Contents (paper to be folded)
PE ... envelope form

Claims (2)

Folding means for performing predetermined folding on a sheet printed with specific information that is enclosed as a content in a window envelope having a window provided with a window and is visually recognized from the window;
Folding positioning means for positioning the folding position of the paper;
When it is determined that the envelope is an envelope with a window, the specific information printing surface on which the specific information facing the windowed surface of the envelope is printed when the paper is sealed as the contents in the envelope And a control unit for positioning the contact position of the folding positioning means with respect to the paper so that the length in the conveyance direction of the specific information printing surface is appropriately within the conveyance direction length of the surface with window.
A sheet folding device comprising: The control unit is configured so that a length in the transport direction of the specific information printing surface is shorter than a length in the transport direction of the surface with the window specified from the size information of the envelope by a preset length adjustment value α. 2. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a movement amount of the folding positioning unit from the standby position to the contact position is calculated, and the folding positioning unit is moved based on the calculated movement amount. .

Images