JP5298890B2 - Water drop inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention belongs to the technical field of inspecting the supply state of droplets and the like. In particular, to the water droplet detection device for replenishing water directly inspect whether or not constantly performed for activating the mouth glue applied to the surface of the envelope flap in an envelope stuffing machine.

In the process of enclosing the contents in an envelope such as direct mail and gluing and sealing the sealing opening, an envelope that is not properly sealed in the sealing and sealing machine (an unsealed envelope) is generated and mixed with a properly sealed envelope. Sometimes. There is a need to search for unsealed envelopes from within the mixture, reseal them without missing them, and make them properly sealed envelopes. This requires a lot of manpower and is extremely expensive work including confirmation work. Moreover, if the unsealed envelope is leaked to the society as a product as it is, it means not only the outflow of defective products but also the leakage of personal information. The leakage of personal information is an irreversible situation and can give immeasurable disadvantages to the people involved. For this reason, it is required to reliably prevent the unsealed envelope from flowing out. For this purpose, various methods have been proposed.
For example, a seal that uses a paste containing a luminescent material that emits visible light by receiving light having a wavelength band different from that of visible light is different from visible light that emits light from a luminescent material. Light irradiation means for irradiating light in the wavelength band, light detection means for detecting visible light emitted from the glued part of the sealed letter and outputting a detection signal, and whether the sealed letter is unsealed based on the detection signal There is an invention that has sealing determination means for determining whether or not (Patent Document 1).
In addition, the envelope body passage time detection means for detecting the time when the envelope body that travels at a predetermined speed reaches the water application position of the enclosing sealer and the time when the envelope passes, and the envelope flap that travels reach the water application position of the enclosure sealer Envelope flap passage time detection means for detecting the time of passage and the time of passage, envelope flap position detection means for detecting the envelope flap position which is a position perpendicular to the traveling direction of the traveling envelope flap, the envelope body and the envelope There is an invention in which sealing determination means for determining normality / abnormality of sealing from the passage time of the flap and the envelope flap position is provided (Patent Document 2).
In addition, the envelope flap temperature is increased by applying warm water to the envelope flap while the envelope is running, and the envelope flap temperature is set to a predetermined threshold in a predetermined time zone after the envelope body passes the water application position. There is an invention in which it is determined that the sealing is normal when the temperature is equal to or higher than Tc, and otherwise the sealing is determined to be abnormal (Patent Document 3).

  These inventions can detect an envelope that is suspected of being unsealed in a sealing process, and are very meaningful in minimizing the damage caused by an unsealed envelope. However, the main cause of the occurrence of unsealed envelopes is a defect in the part that activates the mouth paste, especially a problem that the supply of water is interrupted, and it is necessary to eliminate it.

JP 2006-138639 A JP2007-168880 JP2007-191179A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water drop inspection device for directly inspecting whether or not water supply for activating the glue applied to the surface of the envelope flap is continuously performed in the sealing and sealing machine. It is in.

Water drop detecting device according to claim 1 of the present invention, a water drop means that the water droplets of the water in the supply path of the water mouth glue activation purposes definitive in enclosing and sealing machine, water droplets detection signal detects the water droplet output Obtained by inputting the sealing signal, the water droplet detecting means for performing the sealing quantity setting means for setting a predetermined sealing number, the sealing detecting means for detecting the sealing of the envelope in the sealing and sealing machine and outputting a sealing signal Sealing counting means for outputting a count value of the number of seals , and error determination means for outputting an error signal when the water droplet detection signal is not input during a predetermined period when the count value reaches the predetermined sealing number. It is a thing.
The water droplet detection device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the water droplet detection device according to claim 1, wherein the water droplet forming means adjusts the amount of water to be replenished at a predetermined pressure, and an opening tip. Has a nozzle directed downward .

According to the water drop detecting device according to claim 1 of the present invention, a water drop means that the water droplets of the water in the supply path of the water mouth glue activation purposes definitive in enclosing and sealing machine, the detected water drop detection signal said water droplets By inputting the sealing signal, a water droplet detecting means for outputting a sealing amount, a sealing quantity setting means for setting a predetermined sealing number, a sealing detecting means for detecting sealing of the envelope in the sealing and sealing machine and outputting a sealing signal, and Sealing counting means for outputting a count value of the obtained sealing number; and error determination means for outputting an error signal when the water droplet detection signal is not input during a predetermined period when the count value reaches the predetermined sealing number. An apparatus is provided.
Therefore, water droplets detection device for directly checking whether replenishment of water to activate the mouth glue definitive in enclosing and sealing machine is constantly performed is provided.
Further, according to the water drop detecting device according to claim 2 of the present invention, the water drop detecting device according to 請 Motomeko 1, wherein the water droplet means is a throttle valve for adjusting the amount of water of the water to be replenished at a predetermined pressure And a nozzle having an opening tip directed downward. Therefore, the amount of water to be replenished can be adjusted, and it can be directly monitored whether or not the water is constantly being replenished.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure in the water droplet detection apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the structure in the water droplet formation means and water droplet detection means of the water droplet detection apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in the counting means of the water droplet detection apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in the water droplet detection apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement after the error determination in the water droplet detection apparatus of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An example of the configuration of the water droplet detection device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as a block diagram. An example of the configuration of the water droplet forming means and the water droplet detection means of the water droplet detection device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 as an explanatory diagram. 1 and 2, 1 is a data processing unit, 11 is a predetermined sealed number, 12 is a count value, 13 is a sealed number setting means, 14 is a counting means, 15 is an error determination means, 2 is a sealing detection means, Water droplet forming means, 31 is a needle valve, 32 is a nozzle, 4 is a water drop detecting means, 41 is a light projecting section, 42 is a light receiving section, 5 is an alarm means, 6 is a water storage tank, and 9a and 9b are water drops.

The data processing unit 1 is a part that performs data processing for checking whether or not water supply is constantly performed in the water droplet detection device of the present invention. The data processing unit 1 can be configured by hardware and software of a data processing device such as a logic operation circuit, a board computer, a PLC (Plogramable Logic Controller), and a personal computer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing unit 1 includes a storage unit and a calculation unit. The storage unit includes a predetermined sealed number 11 and a count value 12, and the calculation unit includes a sealed number setting unit 13. There are a counting means 14 and an error determination means 15.

The predetermined sealed number 11 is stored in the storage unit of the data processing unit 1 by the sealed number setting means 13, that is, the predetermined sealed number that has been set.
The sealed number setting means 13 has an interface with the operator, and performs processing for storing the sealed number set by the operator through the interface as a predetermined sealed number 11 in the storage unit of the data processing unit 1. The interface may be, for example, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) in a personal computer or the like, a plurality of switches (dip switches) that can be switched on and off, and directions indicating predetermined numerical values (for example, 0 to 9). Alternatively, a switch (rotary code switch) capable of rotating the indicating shaft and switching the numerical value setting may be used. The present invention is not limited by the interface.

The count value 12 is a count value stored in the storage unit of the data processing unit 1 every time the counting unit 14 performs counting. That is, the count value counted by the counting means 14.
The counting means 14 performs a process of counting the number of sealings by a sealing and sealing machine (not shown) under a predetermined condition and storing it in the storage unit of the data processing unit 1. The predetermined conditions are a processing condition for incrementing the count value (adding 1 to the count value that is an integer value) and a processing condition for resetting the count value to zero (resetting the count value to 0 (zero)). These are the two conditions. The incrementing condition is a condition that a sealing signal output from the sealing detection means 2 is input every time sealing is executed. That is, the counting means 14 increments the count value every time a sealing signal is input. The condition for zero reset is a condition that a water droplet detection signal output from the water droplet detection means 3 is input. That is, the counting means 14 resets the count value to zero each time a water droplet detection signal is input.

  The error determination means 15 outputs an error signal when no water droplet detection signal is input during a predetermined period. The predetermined period needs to be set so that the supply of water exceeds the consumption of water for activating the glue applied to the surface of the envelope flap. In other words, it is necessary to set the predetermined period so that the period for supplying one drop of water is shorter than the period for consuming one drop of water. Such a predetermined period can be set as a certain time, for example. Moreover, it can set as time linked | related (for example, inversely proportional) with the driving speed of an enclosure sealing machine. Moreover, it can set as time linked with the sealing number which is a more concrete parameter | index of water consumption. Here, as a preferred embodiment, a predetermined period is set as a period during which the count value 12 reaches the predetermined sealed number 11 (details will be described later).

The sealing detection means 2 detects that sealing has been performed in the sealing machine and outputs a sealing signal. The sealing signal is, for example, a pulse signal, and one pulse signal is output for one sealing execution. Therefore, the number of sealed signals can be counted, and the counted value has a correspondence relationship with the number of sealed signals.
The sealed sealing machine is usually provided with the same mechanism as the sealed detection means 2 itself or the sealed detection means 2. For example, since the sealing and sealing machine operates by sealing one envelope as one cycle, it is possible to detect that sealing has been performed from a mechanism synchronized with the cycle. However, even if the sealed sealing machine executes the cycle, it is necessary not to detect sealing when the envelope is not actually inserted. For example, a sealing signal is generated by calculating a logical product of a signal indicating that an envelope is present in the sealing portion of the sealing device and a signal indicating that the sealing device has executed the cycle.
Instead of this method, a sensor for detecting the passage of the envelope may be installed in the sealing part of the sealing device, the sensor may be used as the sealing detection means 2, and the output signal may be used as the sealing signal.

The water droplet forming means 3 converts the water into water droplets in a water replenishment path for activating the paste applied to the surface of the envelope flap in the sealed sealing machine. The water droplet forming means 3 can be constituted by a throttle valve for adjusting the amount of water replenished at a predetermined pressure, and a nozzle whose opening tip is directed downward. An example of the water droplet forming means 3 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, 31 is a needle valve, 32 is a nozzle, 41a and 41b are a light projecting part and a light receiving part, 6 is a water storage tank, and 9a and 9b are water droplets.
As shown in FIG. 2, the needle valve 31 has an adjustment dial at the top and an inlet that is an inlet for water at the trunk. The adjustment dial is a dial for operating a needle that functions as a valve that adjusts the flow rate of water flowing into the inlet (that is, water flowing out to the nozzle 32). The water flowing into the inflow port is water having a predetermined pressure, and the water flowing in from the inflow port flows through the water channel formed in the needle valve 31 and the nozzle 32 and flows out from the opening at the tip of the nozzle 32. By operating the adjustment dial, the needle changes its axial position, and by changing its position, the needle changes the cross-sectional area of the water channel to adjust the flow rate of water.
The tip of the nozzle 32 is an opening. Surface tension and gravity act on the water flowing through the water channel and reaching the opening. When the effect of surface tension is greater than the effect of gravity, water stays in the opening, and when the effect of gravity is greater than the effect of surface tension, water falls from the opening as water droplets 9a and 9b. Since the water lost from the opening due to the fall is replenished from the water channel, the amount of water remaining in the opening increases with time. That is, the effect of gravity increases with time, and becomes greater than the effect of surface tension after a predetermined time. By repeating this, water droplets 9a and 9b fall from the nozzle 32. The period of dropping of the water droplets 9a and 9b is inversely proportional to the water flow rate.

An electromagnetic on-off valve for selecting whether to flow or stop water can be provided on the upstream side of the water droplet forming means 3. This electromagnetic on-off valve can be used for stopping the water flow in conjunction with stopping the sealing in the sealing machine, and recovering the water flow in conjunction with the start of sealing. By providing the electromagnetic on-off valve, it is not necessary to operate the needle valve 31 for that purpose, and the adjustment of the flow rate can be maintained.
Further, a mechanism for adjusting the water pressure, such as a pressure control valve, can be provided on the upstream side of the water droplet forming means 3. In the case where the fluctuation of the water pressure has a great influence on the period of dropping of the water droplets 9a, 9b, it is necessary to adjust the water pressure. This pressure control valve is an example of a configuration for adjusting the water pressure.

  The water droplet detection means 4 detects a water droplet and outputs a water droplet detection signal. As a method of the water droplet detection means 4, since it is necessary to avoid troubles such as erroneous detection due to adhesion of water droplets, a method of detecting from a position sufficiently away from the water droplets without contact with the water droplets is preferable. For example, it is preferable to use an area detection type sensor having a detection width that is 10 times or more the diameter of the water droplet as the water droplet detection means centering on the drop path of the water droplet. The area detection type sensor is a sensor that detects the presence of an object (water droplet) in a predetermined detection area (detection area). For example, it has the light projection part 41, the light-receiving part 42, and the amplification part (not shown). The light projecting unit 41 emits strip-shaped light, and the light receiving unit 42 receives the strip-shaped light. The range of the band-shaped light received by the light receiving unit 42 is the detection region, and the width is the detection width. When an object (water droplet) blocks the strip-shaped light received by the light receiving unit 42, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 42 changes. The amplifying unit determines whether or not an object (water droplet) exists in the detection region (in the band-shaped light) based on the change in the amount of received light. And when it determines with existing, the detection signal which shows the detection of an object (water droplet) is output. For example, a fiber unit FU-E40 (registered trademark) of Keyence Corporation is used for the light projecting section 41 and the light receiving section 42 in the area detection type sensor, and a fiber sensor amplifier FS-V31 (registered trademark) of Keyence Corporation is used for the amplification section. Can be used.

The alarm unit 5 issues an alarm based on an error signal output when the error determination unit 15 does not input a water droplet detection signal for a predetermined period. This alarm is one way to inform the operator that the required water is not being replenished. In addition, a method such as lighting a lamp may be used. At the same time as the alarm, the operation of the sealed sealing machine may be stopped based on the error signal.
The water storage tank 6 is a container for receiving and storing water drops 9 a and 9 b falling from the water droplet forming means 3. The water stored in the water storage tank 6 is guided to the sealing part of the sealing machine by piping or the like and used as water applied to the surface of the envelope flap. For the application, for example, a brush (brush or the like), an application roller, or the like is used.

The configuration has been described above. Next, the operation of the water droplet detection device of the present invention. First, the counting unit 14 in one operation in the water droplet detection device of the present invention will be described counting operation performed by a main. An example of the operation of the counting means of the water droplet detection device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 as a flowchart. As shown in an example in FIG. 3, the operation related to sealing detection and the operation related to water droplet detection proceed simultaneously (it may be performed by time sharing, but there is a need to substantially proceed simultaneously). .
As an operation related to the sealing detection, first, in step S11 (sealing detection?) In FIG. 3, the counting means 14 inputs the sealing signal output from the sealing detection means 2, and was sealing performed based on the sealing signal? Determine whether or not. If the determination is seal detection, the process proceeds to step S12, and if not, the process proceeds to step S13.
Next, in step S12 (increment), the counting means 14 performs a process of incrementing the count value.
Next, in step S13 (end), the counting means 14 determines whether or not the water droplet inspection process has ended. If it has been completed, the counting means 14 ends the counting process. Otherwise, it returns to step S11, and the counting means 14 repeats the subsequent steps described above.

As an operation relating to water droplet detection, first, in step S21 (water droplet detection?) In FIG. 3, the counting means 14 inputs a water droplet detection signal output from the water droplet detection means 4, and from the nozzle 32 based on the water droplet detection signal. It is determined whether or not a dropped water droplet is detected. If the determination is water droplet detection, the process proceeds to step S22, and if not, the process proceeds to step S23.
Next, in step S22 (zero reset), the counting means 14 performs a process of resetting the count value to zero.
Next, in step S23 (end), the counting means 14 determines whether or not the water droplet inspection process has ended. If it has been completed, the counting means 14 ends the counting process. If not completed, the process returns to step S21, and the subsequent steps described above are repeated.
As described above, the operation related to the detection of sealing and the operation of the counting means 14 related to the detection of water droplets proceed at the same time, so that the maximum value of the count value 12 is the number of water droplets from when a water droplet is detected until the next water droplet is detected. It will indicate the number of seals made during the fall cycle.

Then, the error determination unit 15, one of the operations in the water droplet detection device of the present invention will be described operation of the error determination carried out a major. An example of the operation of the error determination means 15 of the water droplet detection device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 as a flowchart.
First, in step S1 (in operation?) In FIG. 4, the error determination means 15 determines whether or not sealing is performed in the sealing and sealing machine. Determination in step S1, a judgment is made to determine whether or to start error decision, i.e. water droplet inspection by water droplet detection device according to the error determination means 15. The error determination means 15 receives the seal detection signal output from the seal detection means 2, and determines whether or not the sealed sealer is in operation based on the seal detection signal. If it is in operation, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the subsequent steps. That is, the error determination means 15 stands by without performing the error determination process until the operation is started.

Next, in step S2 (execution condition OK?), The error determination means 15 determines whether or not the execution condition is satisfied. Determination in step S2 is a judgment for determining whether or to start error decision, i.e. water droplet inspection by water droplet detection device according to the error determination means 15. As execution conditions, water drops are properly dropped, the predetermined number of seals is set appropriately, execution condition by operator OK? The presence or absence of confirmation input. If the error determination means 15 determines that the execution condition is OK, the process proceeds to step S3. If not, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the subsequent steps. That is, the error determination unit 15 stands by without performing the error determination process until the execution condition is satisfied.

The error determination unit 15 determines that a water droplet has been properly dropped by inputting a water droplet detection signal output from the water droplet detection unit 4. For example, a cycle in which water drops are dropped is calculated based on the water drop detection signal. Then, it is determined whether or not water droplets are properly dropped depending on whether or not the cycle is set in advance by an operator and is within a cycle allowable range (not shown) stored in the storage unit.
Further, the error determination means 15 determines that the predetermined sealed number 11 is properly set with reference to the value of the predetermined sealed number 11. That is, whether or not the predetermined sealed number 11 is properly set depending on whether or not the predetermined sealed number 11 is set in advance by an operator and is within a predetermined sealed number allowable range (not shown) stored in the storage unit. Determine whether.
Moreover, the error determination means 15 is an execution condition OK by the operator? Is determined from the value of a confirmation input flag (not shown) stored in the storage unit. For example, the error determination unit 15 confirms that the operator has confirmed that a water droplet has been properly dropped and the predetermined number of seals has been properly set, and before the error determination process is started. It is requested to press by blinking an LED (Light emitting diode). When the operator presses the confirmation button, the error determination means 15 sets the value of the confirmation input flag to a value indicating that there has been a confirmation input.

Next, in step S3 (predetermined sealed number> count value?), The error determination means 15 compares the predetermined sealed number 11 with the count value 12. If the count value is smaller than the predetermined number of seals, the process proceeds to step S5, and otherwise, the process proceeds to step S4. The error determination means 15 determines whether or not a water droplet detection signal is input during a predetermined period. Here, the predetermined period is a period during which the count value reaches a predetermined sealed number.
Note that step S3 may be (predetermined sealed number ≧ count value?), And if the predetermined sealed number is equal to or smaller than the count value, the process proceeds to step S5. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S4.
Next, in step S4 (error determination output), the error determination means 15 outputs an error signal because it has determined that the water droplet detection signal has not been input for a predetermined period.
Next, in step S5 (end?), The error determination unit 15 determines whether or not sealing is continuously performed in the sealing machine. If the sealing is finished, the counting means 14 finishes the water droplet inspection process. If not completed, the process returns to step S3, and the error determination means 15 repeats the subsequent steps described above.

It will now be described one by error determination after treatment operation in the water droplet detection device of the present invention. An example of the operation after error determination in the water droplet detection apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG.
First, in step S31 (alarm output) in FIG. 5, the alarm unit 5 issues an alarm based on an error signal output when the error determination unit 15 does not input a water droplet detection signal for a predetermined period.
Next, in step S32 (machine stop), the operation of the sealing and sealing machine is stopped based on the error signal.
Next, in step S33 (water injection), the operator manually performs water injection. For example, when water is poured into the water storage tank 6, the water stored in the water storage tank 6 is guided to the sealing portion of the sealing machine by piping or the like and used as water to be applied to the surface of the envelope flap.
Next, in step S34 (reset), the operator confirms the cause of the error signal is outputted, and restarts the operation of enclosing and sealing machine after the process of removing the cause, the operation of subsequently out water droplets detection device Resume.

As described above, the water droplet detection device of the present invention is directly inspect whether replenishment of water to activate the mouth glue applied to the surface of the envelope flap in enclosing and sealing machine is constantly performed Can be used for. Further, the present invention is not limited to water droplets, and can be used for replenishment inspection of other liquid droplets, particulate matter, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data processing part 11 Predetermined sealing number 12 Count value 13 Sealing number setting means 14 Counting means 15 Error determination means 2 Sealing detection means 3 Water droplet forming means 31 Needle valve 32 Nozzle 4 Water droplet detection means 41 Light projection part 42 Light receiving part 5 Alarm means 6 Water tank 9a, 9b Water drop

Claims (2)

A water drop means that the water droplets of the water in the supply path of the water mouth glue activation purposes definitive in enclosing and sealing machine,
Water droplet detection means for detecting the water droplet and outputting a water droplet detection signal;
Sealing quantity setting means for setting a predetermined sealing number; sealing detection means for detecting sealing of the envelope in the sealing machine and outputting a sealing signal;
Sealing counting means for outputting a count value of the sealing number obtained by inputting the sealing signal;
An error determination means for outputting an error signal when the water droplet detection signal is not input during a predetermined period when the count value reaches the predetermined sealing number ;
A water droplet detection device comprising: 2. The water droplet detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the water droplet forming means includes a throttle valve that adjusts the amount of the water replenished at a predetermined pressure, and a nozzle whose opening tip is directed downward. Detection device.

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