JP4577887B2 - Collating device - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, a plurality of paper feeding units are arranged along a collation conveyance path, and sheets fed one by one from each paper feeding unit are overlapped on the collation conveyance path to form a set of paper bundles. Related to the combined device.

  A bundle of sheets is stacked on a plurality of sheet feeding units arranged along the collating conveyance path, and one set of sheet bundles is formed by stacking on the collating conveyance path while taking out one sheet from each sheet feeding unit. Collating devices are widely used in the bookbinding process and the creation of newspaper bundles.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a collation apparatus 101 for newspaper advertisement as a background art as an example of such a collation apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the collating apparatus 101 of this background art is arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the left side of the casing 2, and the paper feeding units 3 a to 3 j are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the right side of the casing 2. The sheet feeding units 3k to 3t are provided, and a bundle of advertisements P is stacked on each sheet feeding unit 3.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an advertisement P is loaded on the paper feeding unit 3 of the collation apparatus 101 of the background art. The paper feed unit 3 has a fixed paper feed plate 4, a paper feed roller 5 that presses against the top surface of the top end of the top advertisement P, a paper plate 6 that presses against the paper feed roller 5 from below, and a top advertisement. An auxiliary paper feed roller 7 is provided for allowing the leading end of P to enter between the paper feed roller 5 and the baffle plate 6, and the uppermost sheet is driven by rotation of the paper feed roller 5 and the auxiliary paper feed roller 7. The advertisement P is advanced in the feeding direction (arrow A direction). At this time, the top-level advertisement P is separated from the second and lower advertisements P by the action of the respective friction coefficients between the paper feed roller 5 and the advertisement P, the advertisement P and the suck board 6 and the advertisement P. Only the top advertisement passes through between the paper feed roller 5 and the baffle plate 6 and advances in the feeding direction. The tip of the fed advertisement P is sandwiched between the pair of horizontal transport rollers 8, guided to the guide plate 9, is sandwiched between the pair of vertical transport rollers 10, and is transported in the direction of arrow B. In addition, the paper feed unit 3 is provided with a sensor S1 that is a paper presence / absence detection unit that detects whether or not the advertisement P is loaded.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the vertical conveying roller pair 10 provided corresponding to each of the paper feeding units 3 arranged in parallel and a plurality of guide plates collate vertically to the center of the housing 2 in the figure. A path 11 is formed. The advertisements P supplied from the paper feeding units 3 are overlapped in the collation conveyance path 11 so that the leading ends thereof are aligned, and conveyed downward while forming a collation bundle.

A folding sheet feeding unit 12 is provided further below the lowermost sheet feeding unit 3 a on the left side of the drawing, and like the sheet feeding unit 3, a sheet feeding roller, a baffle plate, and the like are provided. A bundle of advertisements P1 is loaded on the folded paper feeder 12, and only the topmost advertisement P1 in the bundle is fed in the direction of the arrow C in the drawing. Then, the advertisement P1 enters the folding plate 13, and the tip of the advertisement P1 comes into contact with the stopper 14 and stops temporarily. The bundle of advertisements P stacked in the collating conveyance path 11 is located above the center of the upper surface of the advertisement P1. Abut. At this time, the flap 16 provided with the knife 15 moves from the standby position 16a to the folding position 16b, and the tip of the knife 15 is brought into contact with the advertisement P1, whereby the contacted portion is held in the folding roller pair 17. No, crease the advertisement P1. At this time, the advertisement P transported from the collating transport path 11 is sandwiched inside the fold of the advertisement P1. The advertisement bundle that has passed through the pair of folding rollers 17 is conveyed to the left in the drawing on the sheet discharge conveyance path 18, discharged from the sheet discharge outlet 19 to the outside of the apparatus, and stacked on the stacker 20.

  In this way, the advertisement P1 fed from the folding sheet feeding unit 12 is folded in two, and an advertisement bundle is formed in which the bundle of advertisements P fed from each sheet feeding unit 3 is inserted inside the fold. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). When the collating apparatus is started, this collating operation is repeatedly performed at regular time intervals t1. That is, in each of the paper feeding units 3 and the folding paper feeding unit 12, a paper feeding operation is performed at this time interval t 1, and the timing of the start of the operation is that when the advertisement P overlaps the collating transport path 11. It is set so that the tips are aligned.

  In such a collating apparatus 101, a continuous paper feed unit set designating unit that collectively sets a plurality of paper feed units adjacent to each other among a plurality of paper feed units 3 arranged in parallel is used as a continuous paper feed unit set F101. There is something to have. A plurality of adjacent paper feed units 3, for example, a total of three paper feed units 3r, 3s, and 3t are collectively designated as the continuous paper feed unit group F101 by the continuous paper feed unit set designating unit. When the combined apparatus is started, one of the paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t on which paper is stacked becomes an active paper feeding unit, and the other two become non-operating paper feeding units. The continuous feed unit control means controls the advertisement P so as not to be fed from the feed unit. In addition, when the continuous paper feeding unit control means detects that no paper is detected in the active paper feeding unit, the active paper feeding unit is set as a non-working paper feeding unit. One of the stacked sheet feeding units is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, and thereafter, the advertisement P is fed from the changed working sheet feeding unit.

  For example, in the continuous sheet feeding unit set F101, when the sheet feeding unit 3t first becomes an active sheet feeding unit, when the collating apparatus is started, the sheet feeding units 3r and 3s do not operate, so the advertisement P is fed. First, the advertisement P is fed and collated in 3t, which is the active sheet feeding unit, and the other sheet feeding unit 3 (non-continuous sheet feeding unit) that does not belong to the continuous sheet feeding unit F101. When there is no advertisement P in the active sheet feeding unit 3t and no advertisement is detected by the sensor S1, 3t is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit, and one of the remaining sheet feeding units. For example, the sheet feeding unit 3r is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, and thereafter, the sheet feeding unit 3r that is the working sheet feeding unit and the other sheet feeding units 3 that do not belong to the consecutive sheet feeding unit F101 (non- The advertisement P is fed in the continuous paper feed unit), and the paper feed units 3s and 3t do not operate, so the advertisement P is not fed.

The same type of advertisement is loaded on the sheet feeding unit belonging to this continuous sheet feeding unit group, and when there is no advertisement in the active sheet feeding unit, another sheet feeding unit automatically loaded with the same type of advertisement Therefore, if the non-working paper supply unit is supplemented while the advertisement is being fed from the active paper supply unit, the processing can be continued without stopping the collating machine. This is particularly useful when dealing with advertisements and the like that are relatively thick and have a faster reduction in bundles at the paper feed unit than others.
JP 2002-3075 A

  In this collation apparatus of the background art, feeding is started from the upper sheet feeding shelf first, and feeding of the lower sheet feeding shelf is sequentially started, so that each sheet feeding is performed in the collating conveyance path 11. When the advertisements P fed from the shelf 3 are overlapped, their tips are aligned. In order to create a large number of collated bundles in a short time, the advertisement bundle for the next set is formed while the feeding of advertisements that form one set of advertisement bundles is still in progress in the lower sheet feeding shelf. The time interval t1 of the feeding operation may be set so that the advertisement to be fed starts from the upper paper feed shelf. That is, collation proceeds simultaneously at a plurality of locations in the collation transport path 11.

  In such a collating apparatus, when the active sheet feeder moves in the continuous sheet feeder group, depending on the position of the active sheet feeder before and after the transition, and the time interval t1 of the feeding operation, For the collating bundle that includes the last sheet fed in the active sheet feeding unit before the transfer, the first sheet in the working sheet feeding unit after the transfer is compared with the collating bundle that is collated next. There were cases where the feeding was not in time. That is, there is a problem that a collation bundle not including an advertisement loaded on the continuous sheet feeding unit group is generated. In such a case, there is a problem that the apparatus must be stopped by an error as a missing page.

  This problem will be described by taking as an example a case where the continuous sheet feeding unit F101 shifts the active sheet feeding unit from the sheet feeding unit 3t to the sheet feeding unit 3r. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the continuous sheet feeding unit set F101. As shown in FIG. 17, the advertisement Pt that is the last sheet is first fed in the active sheet feeding unit 3t before the change, and the advertisement fed from another non-continuous sheet feeding unit in the collating transport path 11. And a first collating bundle C1 is formed.

  When the rear end of the advertisement Pt passes the sensor St, the lever of the sensor St that has been pushed down by the advertisement Pt is raised, thereby detecting the absence of paper in the paper feed unit 3t. Thereafter, since the active paper feeding unit is changed from the paper feeding unit 3t to the paper feeding unit 3r, the first advertisement Pr is fed from the paper feeding unit 3r.

  However, even if the feeding of the first advertisement Pr from the paper feed unit 3r is started immediately after the sensor St detects the absence of the paper in the paper feed unit 3t, it is the second one after the first collation bundle C1. Since the leading end of the combined second collation bundle C2 has already reached the vicinity of the junction between the conveyance path from the paper feed unit 3r and the collation conveyance path 11, the advertisement Pr is displayed in the second collation bundle C2. Therefore, only the advertisement Pr protrudes in the collation bundle C2 with a considerable delay, so that a jam or the like may occur when the collation bundle C2 is discharged, or the bundle stacked on the stacker 20 Sometimes collapsed. In addition, the delay increases as the paper feeding units before and after the transition move away from each other, and the advertisement Pr may be completely removed from the second collation bundle C2.

  Therefore, when no paper is detected in the paper feeding unit 3t, even if the feeding is started in the transfer destination paper feeding unit, if the leading end is aligned with the next collating bundle and the timing for joining can not be met, Since the collating apparatus is stopped due to a missing page error without feeding from the sheet feeding unit 3r, time is lost, and the collation bundle C2 in which collation has already started is in a state where the advertisement Pr is missing. Since a bundle is formed, it has to be repaired manually, which increases the time required for the entire collating operation and increases the burden on the operator.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and even when a continuous sheet feeding unit set is specified in the collating apparatus, an error stop due to a missing page does not occur, and there is no paper missing or delay. An object of the present invention is to provide a collation apparatus that does not occur.

  In order to solve the above problems, the collating apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

In the first configuration, a plurality of sheet feeding units that take out sheets one by one from a stack of stacked sheets are arranged side by side, and collated conveyance is performed along the plurality of sheet feeding units to convey the sheets taken out from the sheet feeding unit. A collating device that repeats the collating operation that forms a set of collated bundles at regular time intervals, with each other being superposed on each other while being transported by the collating transport unit. The collating apparatus has the following configurations.
(A) A sheet presence / absence detection unit that is provided in each of the plurality of sheet feeding units and detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit.
(B) By specifying at least one continuous sheet feeding unit group that forms a part of the plurality of sheet feeding units and includes two or more adjacent sheet feeding units, The continuous paper feeding unit group designation means for classifying the paper feeding units into a continuous paper feeding unit belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group and a non-continuous paper feeding unit not belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group.
(C) The continuous paper feeding units belonging to each continuous paper feeding unit group are divided into one active paper feeding unit and other non-working paper feeding units, and the paper presence / absence detection unit operates during the collating operation. When no paper in the paper section is detected, this active paper feed unit is changed to a non-working paper feed unit, and other non-working paper feed units belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as this active paper feed unit A continuous paper feed unit control means for changing one of the paper feed units to an active paper feed unit.
(D) The sheet take-out operation during the collating operation is performed in a plurality of non-continuous sheet feeding units and one active sheet feeding unit for each continuous sheet feeding unit group, and is performed in the non-operating sheet feeding unit. Paper feed control means for controlling so that there is no.
(E) Due to the continuous paper feed unit control means, among the plurality of paper feed units belonging to each continuous paper feed unit set, the most downstream active paper feed unit in the collating transport direction is out of paper and is not operating. When the paper feeding unit is changed and the most upstream paper feeding unit in the collating transport direction is changed from the non-working paper feeding unit to the active paper feeding unit, the last one taken out from the previous working paper feeding unit After the first collation bundle is formed including one of the sheets, the second collation bundle formed subsequent to the first collation bundle is taken out from the changed working sheet feeding unit. A time interval calculating means for calculating a time interval of the collating operation according to the number of sheet feeding units forming the continuous sheet feeding unit set so as to include the first sheet.
(F) First collation operation control means for performing a collation operation at the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means.

The second configuration is a collation apparatus having the following configurations instead of the configuration (f) in the first configuration.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(H) The initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means are compared, and the collating operation is performed at the longer time interval. Second collation operation control means.

The third configuration is a collation apparatus having the following configurations instead of the configuration (f) in the first configuration.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(Li) Time interval selection means for selecting the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means.
(Nu) Third collation operation control means for performing the collation operation at the time interval selected by the time interval selection means.

A 4th structure is a collation apparatus characterized by having the following each structure instead of a structure (f) among 1st structures.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(L) Near-empty detection means provided in each paper feed unit for detecting that the remaining paper is low.
(W) Until the near empty detection means detects that the remaining paper in the active paper feeding unit is low, the paper is taken out at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the near empty detection is performed. And a fourth collation operation control means for performing a paper take-out operation at a time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means when it is detected by the means that the remaining amount of paper in the active paper supply unit is low.

The fifth configuration is a collation apparatus having the following configurations instead of the configuration (f) in the first configuration.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(L) Near-empty detection means provided in each paper feed unit for detecting that the remaining paper is low.
(W) Until the near empty detection means detects that the remaining paper in the active paper feeding unit is low, the paper is taken out at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the near empty detection is performed. When it is detected by the means that the number of sheets remaining in the active sheet feeding unit is low, the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculating means are thereafter And the fifth collation operation control means for performing the collation operation at the longer time interval.

The sixth configuration is a collation apparatus having the following configurations instead of the configuration (f) in the first configuration.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(F) Until the number of times the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit exceeds a predetermined number, the paper feeding operation is performed at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit. Sixth collation operation control means for performing a sheet take-out operation at a time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means after the number of times exceeds a predetermined number.

The seventh configuration is a collation apparatus having the following configurations instead of the configuration (f) in the first configuration.
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(E) Until the number of times the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit exceeds a predetermined number of times, the paper feeding operation is performed at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit. After the number of times exceeds the predetermined number, the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means is compared with the time interval calculated by the time interval calculating means, whichever is longer Sixth collation operation control means for performing a collation operation at intervals.

  In the eighth configuration, when the time interval calculation means in the first to seventh configurations designates a plurality of continuous paper feed unit sets by the continuous paper feed unit set specifying means, the plurality of continuous paper feed units are designated. A collating apparatus that calculates a time interval of a collation operation according to the number of sheet feeding units belonging to a continuous sheet feeding unit group having the largest number of sheet feeding units. is there.

  In the ninth configuration, in addition to the first to eighth configurations, a sheet length measuring unit that measures the length of the sheet taken out from the sheet feeding unit is provided. The collating apparatus is characterized in that the time interval of the collating operation is calculated according to the paper length measured in the paper feeding unit.

  The tenth configuration is a collation apparatus characterized by having first display means for displaying the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means in addition to the first to ninth configurations.

  In the eleventh configuration, in addition to the second to ninth configurations, whether the collating operation is performed with the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting unit is calculated by the time interval calculation unit. The collating apparatus is characterized in that it has a second display means for displaying whether or not a paper take-out operation is performed at time intervals.

  In the present invention, among the plurality of sheet feeding units belonging to each continuous sheet feeding unit set, the most downstream sheet feeding unit in the collating transport direction is out of paper, and the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit And when the most upstream sheet feeding unit in the collating transport direction is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, the last sheet taken out from the working sheet feeding unit before the change After the first collation bundle is formed including the first collation bundle, the second collation bundle formed subsequent to the first collation bundle is first taken out of the changed active sheet feeding unit. A time interval calculating unit that calculates a time interval of the collating operation according to the number of sheet feeding units that form a continuous sheet feeding unit set so as to include one sheet is provided. Since collation is performed at the calculated time interval, even if a continuous paper feeder group is specified in the collation device, an error due to missing pages Stop and the paper exit-delay does not occur, it reduces the burden on the operator, an effect that it is possible to reduce the time required for the entire collation work.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the member and structure which has the same shape and function as background art, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a collating apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention is provided with sheet feeding units 3 a to 3 j and sheet feeding units 3 k to 1 t arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the left and right sides of the casing 2, respectively. A bundle of advertisements P is loaded on the sheet feeding unit 3. The configuration of each paper feed unit 3 is the same as that of the background art paper feed unit (see FIG. 16).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the paper feed unit 3 is fixed to the paper feed unit 3, the paper feed roller 5 is pressed against the top surface of the topmost advertisement P, and the paper bag 5 is pressed against the paper feed roller 5 from below. A plate 6 and an auxiliary paper feed roller 7 for allowing the top end of the uppermost advertisement P to enter between the paper feed roller 5 and the sucker plate 6 are provided. When the paper feeding roller 5 and the auxiliary paper feeding roller 7 are driven and rotated, the uppermost advertisement P is separated from the second and lower advertisements P and advances in the feeding direction (arrow A direction), and the horizontal conveying roller. It is sandwiched between the pair 8, guided to the guide plate 9, sandwiched between the pair of vertical transport rollers 10, and transported in the arrow B direction.

  The paper feed rollers 5 are controlled by motors M (see FIG. 2) that can be independently controlled. Each paper feed unit is provided with a paper presence / absence detection sensor S1. If a bundle of advertisements P is loaded, the arm part S1a of the sensor S1 is pushed down by the advertisements P to detect the presence of paper. When the advertisement P disappears, the arm portion S1a of the arm portion S1 protrudes upward from the advertisement stacking surface through an opening appropriately provided on the advertisement stacking surface by appropriate biasing means, and in this state, it is recognized that there is no paper. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a collation conveyance path 11 is formed in the vertical direction in the center of the figure, and the advertisement P supplied from each paper feed unit 3 is overlapped in this collation conveyance path 11, Form a bundle. A folding roller pair 17, a flap 16 having a knife 15, and a paper discharge conveyance path 18 are provided below the collating conveyance path 11. A paper discharge port 19 and a stacker 20 are provided below the folding plate 13 and the folded paper feeding unit 12. The configuration and function of each member are the same as those of the collation apparatus 101 of the background art.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control of the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the paper feeding units 3p, 3q, 3r, 3s, and 3t shown in FIG. 1 are extracted from the paper feeding units in order to avoid complicated description. In actuality, it is assumed that the same control is performed for all the sheet feeding units.

  In the collating apparatus 1 according to the present invention, a continuous paper feed unit set designating unit that sets a plurality of paper feed units adjacent to each other among the plurality of paper feed units 3 arranged in parallel to form a continuous paper feed unit set F is provided. Have. Assume that a plurality of adjacent paper feeding units 3, for example, a total of three paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t are collectively designated as the continuous paper feeding unit group F1 by the continuous paper feeding unit group designation means. Each of the paper feed units 3 includes a continuous paper feed unit (3r, 3s, 3t) belonging to the continuous paper feed unit set F1, and a non-continuous paper feed unit (3a) not belonging to the continuous paper feed unit set F1. 3b... 3p, 3q).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the continuous paper feed unit set designating means is provided with a switch 22 (22a, 22b... 22p, 22q, 22r, 22s, 22t) for each paper feed unit 3. Can be switched between “ream” and “single”, and the sheet feeding unit 3 whose switch 22 is “ream” and the sheet feeding unit 3 adjacent above the sheet feeding unit 3 are connected to the continuous sheet feeding unit. Become a pair. When the “continuous” sheet feeding units are continuous in a plurality of stages, the continuous plurality of stages and the sheet feeding unit adjacent above the plurality of stages form a continuous sheet feeding unit set.

  For example, if the switch 22s of the paper feed unit 3s and the switch 22t of the paper feed unit 3t in FIG. 2 are “ream”, the paper feed unit 3r located above the paper feed units 3s and 3t is included. The three sheet feeding units are designated as the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1. The continuous paper feed unit set specifying means is provided as described above as an example. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, the continuous paper feed unit set is configured only by the paper feed units whose switches are set to “ream”. Alternatively, an arbitrary paper feed unit may be selected on the operation panel to designate a continuous paper feed unit set.

  When a continuous paper feed unit group is designated by the continuous paper feed unit group specifying unit, information indicating which paper feed unit is a continuous paper feed unit group and a sensor S1 of each continuous paper feed unit. The paper presence / absence information is sent to the continuous paper feed unit control means 23 provided in the CPU 21 (see FIG. 5). Then, the continuous paper feed unit control means 23 sets one of the paper feed units belonging to each continuous paper feed unit group as the active paper feed unit and the other paper feed units. The paper portion is set as a non-operating paper feeding portion. When there are a plurality of continuous sheet feeding units on which sheets are stacked, any of the plurality of sheet feeding units may be used as the active sheet feeding unit. For example, the upper sheet feeding unit is given priority as the working sheet feeding unit. Or may be selected at random. Further, information about whether the paper feeding unit is an active paper feeding unit or a non-working paper feeding unit is transmitted from the continuous paper feeding unit control means 23 to each continuous paper feeding unit. The data is stored in the storage unit 24 provided in the paper supply unit.

  For example, when the continuous paper feed unit set F1 is designated, among the paper feed units, information indicating that the paper feed units 3r, 3s, and 3t are designated as the continuous paper feed unit set F1, and the paper feed unit 3r Paper presence / absence information from the sensors S1r, S1s, and S1r at 3s and 3t is sent to the continuous paper feed unit control means 23. Among these, when advertisements are loaded on the sheet feeding units 3r and 3t and no advertisement is loaded on the sheet feeding unit 3s, one of the sheet feeding units 3r and 3t is set as an active sheet feeding unit. Since any of the paper feeding units 3r and 3t may be selected as the active paper feeding unit, for example, the paper feeding unit 3t is selected as the active paper feeding unit. Then, the remaining two sheet feeding units 3r and 3s become non-working sheet feeding units. Then, information indicating that the sheet feeding unit 3t is an active sheet feeding unit is sent from the continuous sheet feeding unit control means 23 to the sheet feeding unit 3t and stored in the storage unit 24t of the sheet feeding unit 3t, and the sheet feeding unit 3r. 3s, information indicating that the sheet feeding units 3r and 3s are non-operating sheet feeding units is sent and stored in the storage units 24r and 24s of the sheet feeding units 3r and 3s.

  When the collating apparatus is started, a paper feed start signal is sent to each paper feed unit by a paper feed control means 25 provided in the CPU 21. Then, each paper feed unit drives the motor M at a predetermined timing to feed advertisements. At this time, in the continuous paper feed unit group, each continuous paper feed unit stores whether it is an active paper feed unit or a non-working paper feed unit. Is driven and the advertisement is fed, and the motor M is not driven and the advertisement is not fed in the non-operating sheet feeding unit. Note that non-continuous paper feeders that do not belong to the continuous paper feeder group are fed from all paper feeders on which advertisements are stacked, or only from paper feeders designated by a separate designating means. To feed.

  During the collating operation, when it is detected that the active paper feeding unit is out of paper, the continuous paper feeding unit control means 23 sets the active paper feeding unit as a non-working paper feeding unit, and the remaining two paper feeding units. Among them, one of the paper feeding units loaded with paper is changed from the non-operating paper feeding unit to the active paper feeding unit, and thereafter, the advertisement P is fed from the changed active paper feeding unit.

  For example, in the continuous paper feed unit set F1, when the absence of paper is detected by the sensor S1t of the active paper feed unit 3t, this detection signal is transmitted to the continuous paper feed unit controller 23. In order to change the sheet feeding unit 3t to a non-operating sheet feeding unit, the continuous sheet feeding unit control means 23 informs the storage unit 24t of the sheet feeding unit 3t that the sheet feeding unit 3t is a non-working sheet feeding unit. By transmitting the information and rewriting the information in the storage unit 24t, the sheet feeding unit 3t is changed to a non-operating sheet feeding unit. Further, among the remaining sheet feeding units 3r and 3s, in order to change the sheet feeding unit 3r on which sheets are stacked to the active sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding unit 3r is added to the storage unit 24r of the sheet feeding unit 3r. Is transmitted, and the information in the storage unit 24r is rewritten to change the sheet feeding unit 3r to an active sheet feeding unit. Thereafter, the advertisement is fed from the active sheet feeding unit 3r, and the advertisement is not fed from the non-working sheet feeding units 3s and 3t.

  Thereafter, while the advertisement is fed from the active sheet feeding unit 3r, if the advertisement is loaded on at least one of the non-working sheet feeding units, for example, the sheet feeding unit 3s, the sheet feeding unit 3r When there are no advertisements, the continuous sheet feeding unit control means 23 moves the active sheet feeding unit to the sheet feeding unit 3s, and thereafter, advertisements are fed from the sheet feeding unit 3s.

  FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation timing of the paper feed roller 5 of each paper feed unit in the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention. In order to simplify the description, this time chart shows only the operation of the sheet feeding units 3k to 3t located on the right side of the housing 2 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, first, at timing T110, driving of the paper feed roller 5 is started in the uppermost paper feed unit 3k. The paper feed roller 5 is driven only until a timing T111 after a predetermined time. In the paper feeding unit 3k, by driving the paper feeding roller 5, the top advertisement Pk among the stacked advertisements is fed out. At the timing T111, the advertisement Pk has already been added to the front end of the pair of horizontal conveying rollers 8 that are always driven to rotate. Therefore, the advertisement Pk is transported to the collating transport path 11 by the lateral transport roller pair 8 even after the driving of the paper feed roller 5 is stopped at the timing T111. Since a one-way clutch is inserted between the paper feed roller 5 and its rotating shaft, the paper feed roller 5 rotates following the advertisement Pk.

  At the timing 120 after a certain time t2 from the timing T110, the driving of the sheet feeding roller 5 is started in the sheet feeding shelf 3l in the second stage from the top. Then, the uppermost advertisement Pl loaded on the sheet feeding shelf 3l is taken out and overlaps with the advertisement Pk transported from above in the collating transport path 11 with its front end substantially aligned.

  In this way, by driving the sheet feeding roller 5 of the lower sheet feeding unit in order at a certain time t2, the advertisement is merged as it is conveyed downward in the collation conveying unit 11, and the first collation bundle is obtained. C1 is formed.

Further, at timing T210 at a constant time interval t2 from timing T110, driving of the sheet feeding roller 5 of the sheet feeding unit 3k, which is the uppermost stage, is started. Starting from this timing T210, the second collating bundle C2 is formed by sequentially driving the sheet feeding roller 5 of the lower sheet feeding section at regular time intervals t2.

  FIG. 4 shows the collating apparatus 1 according to the present invention, in which the lower right sheet feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t in FIG. 10 is a time chart showing operation timing when the sheet feeding unit 3t on the downstream side in the transport direction becomes an active sheet feeding unit. In order to simplify the description, this time chart shows only the operation of the sheet feeding units 3k to 3t located on the right side of the housing 2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, among the paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t, only 3t starts to drive the paper feeding roller 5 at timing T200. Since 3r and 3s are non-operating sheet feeding units, the sheet feeding roller 5 does not operate. Accordingly, only the advertisement Pt is fed out of the advertisements Pr, Ps, and Pt stacked on the paper feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t.

  FIG. 5 shows the collating apparatus 1 according to the present invention, in which the lower right sheet feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t in FIG. The last one advertisement Ptl is fed from the active sheet feeding unit 3t on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the first collation bundle C1 is formed including the last advertisement Ptl. The sensor St detects that the advertisement of the sheet feeding unit 3t has disappeared, and the sheet feeding unit 3t is changed from the active sheet feeding unit to the non-working sheet feeding unit, and is the most accurate among the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1. The sheet feeding unit 3r on the upstream side in the transport direction is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, and the advertisement Prf which is the first sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 3r is fed, and this advertisement Ptf It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement timing in case the 2nd collation bundle C2 is formed including this. In order to simplify the description, this time chart shows only the operation of the sheet feeding units 3k to 3t located on the right side of the housing 2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the collating operation of the first collating bundle C1, the driving of the paper feeding roller 5 of the paper feeding unit 3t is started at timing T200. By driving the paper feed roller 5, the last one advertisement Ptl stacked on the paper feed unit 3t is fed, and the trailing end thereof passes the sensor St at timing T202. At this time, since the apparatus recognizes that there is no advertisement in the sheet feeding unit 3t, the active sheet feeding unit shifts to the sheet feeding unit 3r. In the collating operation of the second collating bundle C2, at time T280, the driving of the paper feeding roller 5 of the paper feeding unit 3r is started, and the first advertisement Prf loaded on the paper feeding unit 3r is fed. . Since the sheet feeding units 3s and 3t are non-operating sheet feeding units, no advertisement is fed.

  At this time, if the time interval t1 is short, that is, if the interval between the collation operation of the first collation bundle C1 and the collation operation of the second collation bundle C2 is small, as shown in FIG. The timing T202 for recognizing that no advertisement is present in the section 3t is later than the timing T280 at which the sheet feeding roller 5 of the sheet feeding section 3r should start driving in the collating operation of the second collating bundle C2. Then, the first advertisement Prf in the sheet feeding unit 3r will not be in time for the second collation bundle C2. In the present invention, the time interval t1 is automatically adjusted so that the timing T202 is before T280 so that such a phenomenon shown in FIG. 6 does not occur.

  The adjustment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2, the collation apparatus 1 of the present invention has time interval calculation means 26 for calculating the time interval t1 of the collation operation performed every fixed time interval t1. This time interval calculation means 26 is determined by the continuous paper feed section control means that the most downstream active paper feed section in the collating transport direction is out of paper among a plurality of paper feed sections belonging to each continuous paper feed section set. When the most upstream paper feed unit in the collating transport direction is changed from the non-working paper feed unit to the active paper feed unit, the paper is taken out from the previous active paper feed unit. After the first collated bundle C1 is formed including the last one, the second collated bundle C2 formed subsequent to the first collated bundle is used as the operating supply after the change. The time interval of the collating operation is calculated according to the number of sheet feeding units forming the continuous sheet feeding unit set so as to include the first sheet taken out from the sheet unit.

  In the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention, an example of a method of calculating the time interval t1 in the time interval calculating means 26 when the lower right sheet feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t in FIG. Will be explained. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1. Here, it is assumed that the paper feed roller 5, the horizontal conveyance roller pair 8, and the vertical conveyance roller pair 10 all rotate at the same linear velocity V1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the time interval t1 is the time when the advertisement Ptl, which is the last sheet fed from the paper feed unit 3r, is transferred from the paper feed unit 3t to the paper feed unit 3r. The first collation bundle C1 is formed including the advertisement Ptl, and the second collation bundle C2 to be collated next is the first one fed from the sheet feeding unit 3r. The time interval between the first collation bundle C1 and the second collation bundle C2 is set to be open to the extent that the advertisement Prf can be formed.

  This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. When the advertisement Ptl is fed in the sheet feeding unit 3t and the trailing end of the advertisement Ptl passes the sensor S1r, the sensor S1r transmits a paper absence signal to the continuous sheet feeding unit control unit 23. In response to this signal, the continuous paper feed unit controller 23 changes the active paper feed unit to the paper feed unit 3r. After this change is made, the paper feed roller 5r of the paper feed unit 3r rotates.

  H1 is an arrangement interval of the sheet feeding units arranged side by side. If the paper feed roller 5t and the paper feed roller 5r start to drive at the same time, the distance between the leading end of the first collating bundle C1 and the leading end of the second collating bundle C2 in the collating conveyance path 11 is: The arrangement interval between the unit 3r and the sheet feeding unit 3t, that is, 2 × H1, is sufficient, that is, the time interval is 2 × H1 × V1. However, in actuality, since the paper feed roller 5r cannot start driving until the paper feed unit 3t detects the absence of paper, the sensor S1t runs out of paper after the drive of the paper feed roller 5t to this 2 × H1 × V1. Needs to be added, that is, (L1-L2) × V1. Here, L2 is the distance from the contact point between the paper feed roller 5t and the advertisement Ptl to the contact point between the arm of the sensor S1t and the advertisement Ptl. L1 is preferably the length in the conveyance direction of the advertisement Ptl. However, since the length in the conveyance direction varies depending on the type of advertisement, it is set to the maximum value in the specification of the length in the conveyance direction of the advertisement.

  In addition, if the tip of the advertisement Ptl has not reached the paper feed roller 5t when the paper feed roller 5t starts to be driven, the auxiliary paper feed roller 7t calls the tip, and this call-out time may be excessive. is there. In addition, the advertisement may be delayed due to a slip between the sheet feeding roller 5t and the sucker plate 6t and the advertisement. It is desirable to add a correction value α in consideration of these factors.

From the above, the calculation of the time interval t1 is performed by the following equation 51.
t1 = {(L1-L2) + H1 × N} × V1 + α (Formula 51)
Here, N is the number of paper feed units constituting the continuous paper feed unit set F1. That is, the time interval t1 becomes longer as the number of sheet feeding units constituting the continuous sheet feeding unit group is larger.

  The time interval calculation means 26 transmits the time interval t1 calculated in this way to the collation operation control means 27. The collation operation control means 27 controls the paper feed control means 25 to send a paper feed start signal every time interval t1.

  In the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention, a plurality of continuous sheet feeding unit groups can be set. When multiple continuous paper feed unit groups are set, calculation is performed based on the number of paper feed units of the continuous paper feed unit group having the largest number of paper feed units constituting the continuous paper feed unit group. Is done.

  For example, if the upper left sheet feeding units 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d shown in FIG. 1 are set as the continuous sheet feeding unit group F2 in addition to the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1, the continuous sheet feeding unit group F1 Since the number of component sheet feeding units is 3, and the number of component sheet feeding units in the continuous sheet feeding unit group F2 is 4, the time interval t1 is calculated based on the larger number of component sheet feeding units 4. The continuous paper feed unit control means 23 receives the setting status of the switch 22 of each paper feed unit, grasps and compares the number of continuous paper feed unit groups and the number of each configuration paper feed unit, and the most configuration among them The number of paper feeds is transmitted to the time interval calculation means 26.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control of the collating apparatus of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the collating apparatus of the second embodiment has a time interval initial value setting means 28 in addition to the first embodiment. The time interval initial value setting means 28 is set so that the operator can arbitrarily set the time interval t3 by an input from the operation panel of the collation apparatus or a knob provided on the collation apparatus. The time interval t3 is transmitted to the collation operation control means 27v. On the other hand, the time interval calculation means 26 calculates the time interval t1 by the same method as in the first embodiment, and transmits it to the collation operation control means 27v. The collation operation control means 27v compares the time intervals t1 and t3, selects the longer time interval, and generates a paper feed start signal at each selected time interval. A signal is sent to the paper control means 25.

  According to the second embodiment, since the time interval can be arbitrarily set by the operator, the time interval can be freely set according to the operation of taking out the collated bundle from the discharge unit and the convenience of the post-processing device connected to the collating device. Can be set, and if the set time interval is too short, even if the continuous paper feeder group is specified, even when the active paper feeder is transitioned, an error stop due to missing pages will not occur automatically. Since the time interval is set, there is an advantage that the usability is improved.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the control of the collating apparatus of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the collating apparatus of the third embodiment includes a time interval initial value setting means 28 and a time interval selection means 29 in addition to the first embodiment. The time interval initial value setting means 28 allows the operator to arbitrarily set the time interval t3 in the same manner as in the second embodiment, and transmits the time interval t3 to the collation operation control means 27, and calculates the time interval. The means 26 calculates the time interval t1 by the same method as in the first and second embodiments, and transmits it to the collation operation control means 27.

  Further, the time interval selection means 29 is used to input the setting value t3 by the time interval initial value setting means 28 or the time interval by an input from the operation panel of the collation apparatus or a switch provided in the collation apparatus. It is possible to select and set at which time interval t1 of the calculated value by the calculating means 26 the collating operation is performed. This selection setting information is transmitted to the collation operation control means 27w, and the collation operation control means 27w selects one of the time intervals t1 and t3 by this selection setting information, and for each selected time interval. A signal is sent to the paper feed control means 25 so as to generate a paper feed start signal.

  According to the third embodiment, since it is possible to select whether or not to perform collation work at the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means, for example, the time interval without using the time interval calculation function at the time of urgent work Since collation can be performed at a pace faster than t1, there is an advantage that the range of selection by the operator is widened.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing the sheet feeding unit of the collating apparatus of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the control of the collating apparatus of the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the paper feeding unit of the collating apparatus of the fourth embodiment is provided with a near empty detection means S2 in addition to the paper feeding unit of the first embodiment. This near empty detection means S2 is composed of a reflective optical sensor or the like provided on a side end guide 30 or the like that guides the side end of the advertisement P stacked on the paper feed unit 3, and the bundle of advertisements P stacked. It is detected that the upper surface has become lower than a predetermined height.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the detection result of the near empty detection means S2 is transmitted to the continuous paper feed section control means 23x. The continuous paper feed unit control means 23x causes the near empty detection means S2 to lower the advertisement bundle upper surface of the active paper feed unit of the continuous paper feed unit set below a predetermined height. When it is detected that the remaining capacity is low, a signal is sent to the collation operation control means 27x. The collating apparatus of this embodiment has the same time interval initial value setting means 28 as in the second and third embodiments, and sends the time interval t3 arbitrarily set by the operator to the collation operation control means 27x. Then, the collation operation control means 27x sends a signal to the paper feed control means 25 so as to generate a paper feed start signal every time interval t3 until it receives near empty detection of the active paper feed unit. After receiving the near empty detection of the paper portion, a signal is sent to the paper feed control means 25 so as to generate a paper feed start signal at every time interval t1 calculated by the time interval calculation means 26. Further, after the active sheet feeding unit has shifted, a sheet feeding start signal is generated again at every time interval t3.

  According to the fourth embodiment, if the time interval t3 is set to be shorter than the time interval t1, the collating operation can be performed at a fast pace until the remaining advertisement in the active paper feeding unit is reduced. There is an advantage that the entire work time can be shortened without causing an error stop due to missing pages.

  As a modification of the fourth embodiment, the collating operation is performed by selecting the longer time interval between the time interval t1 and the time interval t3 as the time interval after the near empty detection of the active sheet feeding unit. You may make it do.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing a sheet feeding unit of the collating apparatus of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing control of the collating apparatus of the fifth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a sensor S <b> 3 is provided on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 5 in the paper feed unit of the collating apparatus of the fifth embodiment. This sensor S3 is a transmissive or reflective optical sensor, and the length L3 of the advertisement P in the feeding direction is determined by measuring the time for which the advertisement fed by the paper feed roller 5 passes this sensor. taking measurement.

As shown in FIG. 13, the length information measured by the sensor S3 is transmitted to the continuous paper feed unit control means 23y. The continuous paper feed unit control unit 23y sends the length information measured by the active paper feed unit of the continuous paper feed unit group to the time interval calculation unit 26y. In the time interval calculating means 26y, instead of the paper length L1 (maximum value in the specification) in the equation 51, the equation 52 using the length L3 (actually measured value) measured by the sensor S3 of the active sheet feeding unit is used. A time interval t4 is calculated.
t4 = {(L3-L2) + H1 × N} × V1 + α (Formula 52)

  When the collating operation is started, before the time interval t4 is calculated, the collating operation is performed at a previously set time interval or a time interval set by the operator using the time interval initial value setting means. After the time interval t4 is calculated, this time interval t4 is sent to the collation operation control means 27y, and the collation operation control means 27y sends the paper feed control means 25 to generate a paper feed start signal at each time interval t4. Send a signal.

  According to the fifth embodiment, since the time interval is calculated by using the actually measured value for the paper length, the time interval can be made shorter than that calculated by the maximum value in the specification. There is a merit that improves.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the control of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 14, the collation apparatus of the sixth embodiment is provided with a sensor S <b> 3, and an advertisement passage detection signal by the sensor S <b> 3 is sent to the counting means 31 provided in the CPU 21. This counting means counts the number of sheet feeding operations of each sheet feeding unit.

  The counting result by the counting means 31 is transmitted to the continuous paper feeding section control means 23z, and the continuous paper feeding section control means 23z indicates that the counting result of the active paper feeding section of the continuous paper feeding section set is a predetermined value. Is exceeded, a signal is sent to the collation operation control means 27z. Further, the collating apparatus of this embodiment has the same time interval initial value setting means 28 as in the second, third, and fourth embodiments, and the time interval t3 arbitrarily set by the operator is set to the collation operation control means 27z. Send to. Then, the collation operation control means 27z sends a signal to the paper feed control means 25 so as to generate a paper feed start signal at every time interval t3 until the count result of the active paper feed unit exceeds a predetermined value. After the count result of the active sheet feeding unit exceeds a predetermined value, a signal is sent to the sheet feeding control unit 25 so as to generate a sheet feeding start signal at every time interval t1 calculated by the time interval calculating unit 26. Further, after the active sheet feeding unit has shifted, a sheet feeding start signal is generated again at every time interval t3, and the counting is restarted from zero.

  According to the sixth embodiment, if the time interval t3 is set to be shorter than the time interval t1, the collating operation is performed at a fast pace until a predetermined number of advertisements of the active paper feeding unit are fed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the entire work time can be shortened without causing an error stop due to missing pages.

  As a modification of the sixth embodiment, the time interval after the counting result of the active paper feeding unit exceeds a predetermined value is set to the longer time interval between the time interval t1 and the time interval t3. You may make it select and perform collation operation | movement.

  In 1st thru | or 6th embodiment of this invention, you may provide the 1st display means which displays the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means. The display means is preferably displayed so that the operator can visually recognize a part of an operation panel for performing various settings and operations of the collation apparatus. According to the first display means, it is convenient because it is possible to check how fast the operator can collate.

  Further, in the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, whether the collating operation is performed with the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, or the time calculated by the time interval calculating means. You may provide the 2nd display means to display whether the paper taking-out operation is performed at intervals. The display means is preferably displayed so that the operator can visually recognize a part of an operation panel for performing various settings and operations of the collation apparatus. According to the second display means, there is an advantage that the operator can confirm the time interval at which collation is currently performed, the change status of the apparatus time interval, and the like.

  Furthermore, in the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, the time interval calculation means 26 and 26y refer to the time interval table stored in advance in the memory or the like instead of the above formulas (51) and (52). The time interval may be determined.

  8, 9, 11, 13, and 14 are similar to FIG. 2, among the paper feeding units, the paper feeding units 3 p, 3 q, 3 r, 3 s in the lower right shown in FIG. 3t is extracted and described, and it is assumed that the same control is actually performed for all the sheet feeding units.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the present invention is applied to a newspaper advertisement collation machine has been described, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to a newspaper advertisement collation machine, Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to all collating apparatuses such as for creating forms.

It is a model front view which shows the collation apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus 1 of this invention. 6 is a time chart showing the operation timing of the paper feed roller 5 of each paper feed unit in the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention, the lower right sheet feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t in FIG. 1 are defined as a continuous sheet feeding unit set F1, and the downstream side of the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1 is the most downstream in the collating conveyance direction. 6 is a time chart showing the operation timing when the sheet feeding unit 3t becomes an active sheet feeding unit. In the collating apparatus 1 of the present invention, the lower right sheet feeding units 3r, 3s, and 3t in FIG. 1 are defined as a continuous sheet feeding unit set F1, and the downstream side of the continuous sheet feeding unit set F1 is the most downstream in the collating conveyance direction. The last sheet of advertisement Ptl is fed from the active sheet feeding unit 3t, and the first collation bundle C1 is formed including the last advertisement Ptl, and is fed by the sensor St of the sheet feeding unit 3t. It is detected that the advertisement of the paper unit 3t has disappeared, and the paper feeding unit 3t is changed from the active paper feeding unit to the non-working paper feeding unit, and the upstream side of the continuous paper feeding unit set F1 in the collating conveyance direction most. The sheet feeding unit 3r is changed from the non-working sheet feeding unit to the working sheet feeding unit, and the advertisement Prf, which is the first sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 3r, is fed and includes the advertisement Ptf. It is a time chart which shows the operation timing in case 2 collation bundles C2 are formed. It is a time chart which shows the operation timing when time interval t1 is set short. It is a schematic diagram which shows the continuous paper feed part group F1 in the collation apparatus 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a model front view which shows the paper feed part of the collation apparatus of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a model front view which shows the paper feed part of the collation apparatus of 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus of 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows control of the collation apparatus of 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the collation apparatus 101 for newspaper advertisement of background art. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which loaded the advertisement P on the paper supply part 3 of the collation apparatus 101 of background art. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a continuous sheet feeding unit set F101 in the collation apparatus 101 of the background art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Collating apparatus 2; Housing | casing 3; Paper feed part 4; Paper feed plate 5; Paper feed roller 6; Sabaki plate 7; Auxiliary paper feed roller 8: Horizontal conveyance roller pair 9; Guide plate 10; ; Collating conveyance path 12; folding paper feeding unit 101; collating device A, B, C; arrows F, F1, F2, F101; continuous paper feeding unit set P, P1; advertisement S1; sensor t0, t1, t3 , T4: time interval

Claims (11)

A plurality of sheet feeding units that take out sheets one by one from the stacked sheet bundle are provided side by side, and a collating conveyance unit that is provided along the plurality of sheet feeding units and conveys the sheets taken out from the sheet feeding unit is provided. In the collating apparatus that repeats the collating operation to form a set of collated bundles at regular time intervals, the paper is removed from the paper section while being conveyed by the collating conveyance section. A collating apparatus characterized by comprising:
(A) A sheet presence / absence detection unit that is provided in each of the plurality of sheet feeding units and detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit.
(B) By specifying at least one continuous sheet feeding unit group that forms a part of the plurality of sheet feeding units and includes two or more adjacent sheet feeding units, The continuous paper feeding unit group specifying means for classifying the paper feeding units into a continuous paper feeding unit belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group and a non-continuous paper feeding unit not belonging to the continuous paper feeding unit group.
(C) The continuous paper feeding units belonging to each continuous paper feeding unit group are divided into one active paper feeding unit and other non-working paper feeding units, and the paper presence / absence detection unit operates during the collating operation. When no paper in the paper section is detected, this active paper feed unit is changed to a non-working paper feed unit, and other non-working paper feed units belonging to the same continuous paper feed unit set as this active paper feed unit A continuous paper feed unit control means for changing one of the paper feed units to an active paper feed unit.
(D) The sheet take-out operation during the collating operation is performed in a plurality of non-continuous sheet feeding units and one active sheet feeding unit for each continuous sheet feeding unit group, and is performed in the non-operating sheet feeding unit. Paper feed control means for controlling so as not to
(E) Due to the continuous paper feed unit control means, among the plurality of paper feed units belonging to each continuous paper feed unit set, the most downstream active paper feed unit in the collating transport direction is out of paper and is not operating. When the paper feeding unit is changed and the most upstream paper feeding unit in the collating transport direction is changed from the non-working paper feeding unit to the active paper feeding unit, the last one taken out from the previous working paper feeding unit After the first collation bundle is formed including one of the sheets, the second collation bundle formed subsequent to the first collation bundle is taken out from the changed working sheet feeding unit. A time interval calculating means for calculating a time interval of the collating operation according to the number of sheet feeding units forming the continuous sheet feeding unit set so as to include the first sheet.
(F) First collation operation control means for performing a collation operation at the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(H) The initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means are compared, and the collating operation is performed at the longer time interval. Second collation operation control means. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(Li) Time interval selection means for selecting the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means.
(Nu) Third collation operation control means for performing the collation operation at the time interval selected by the time interval selection means. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(L) Near-empty detection means provided in each paper feed unit for detecting that the remaining paper is low.
(W) Until the near empty detection means detects that the remaining paper in the active paper feeding unit is low, the paper is taken out at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the near empty detection is performed. And a fourth collation operation control means for performing a paper take-out operation at a time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means when it is detected by the means that the remaining amount of paper in the active paper supply unit is low. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(L) Near-empty detection means provided in each paper feed unit for detecting that the remaining paper is low.
(W) Until the near empty detection means detects that the remaining paper in the active paper feeding unit is low, the paper is taken out at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the near empty detection is performed. When it is detected by the means that the number of sheets remaining in the active sheet feeding unit is low, the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means and the time interval calculated by the time interval calculating means are thereafter And the fifth collation operation control means for performing the collation operation at the longer time interval. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(F) Until the number of times the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit exceeds a predetermined number, the paper feeding operation is performed at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit. Sixth collation operation control means for performing a sheet take-out operation at a time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means after the number of times exceeds a predetermined number. 2. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each configuration according to claim 1, the following configuration is provided instead of the configuration (f).
(G) Time interval initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the time interval of the paper take-out operation before collation work.
(E) Until the number of times the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit exceeds a predetermined number of times, the paper feeding operation is performed at the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, and the paper is taken out in the active paper feeding unit. After the number of times exceeds the predetermined number, the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means is compared with the time interval calculated by the time interval calculating means, whichever is longer Sixth collation operation control means for performing a collation operation at intervals.   When the plurality of continuous sheet feeding unit groups are designated by the continuous sheet feeding unit set designating unit, the time interval calculating unit determines whether the number of sheet feeding units constituting the plurality of continuous sheet feeding unit sets is 8. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a time interval of the collating operation is calculated according to the number of paper feeding units belonging to the largest number of continuous paper feeding unit groups.   9. In addition to the constructions of claims 1 to 8, a paper length measuring means for measuring the length in the take-out direction of the paper taken out from the paper feed unit is provided, and measurement is performed at the active paper feed unit among the continuous paper feed units. 9. The collating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a time interval of the collating operation is calculated according to the sheet length that has been set.   10. The collation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first display means for displaying the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means in addition to the structure according to claim 1.   In addition to the configuration of claims 2 to 9, whether the collating operation is performed with the initial value of the time interval set by the time interval initial value setting means, or the time interval calculated by the time interval calculation means 10. The collating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising second display means for displaying whether or not a paper take-out operation is being performed.

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