JP5347946B2 - Inclusion material inspection apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for inspecting an enclosed article, inspectable of whether a plurality of booklets are stacked in the enclosed article having the booklets folded even when thicknesses of the booklets vary. <P>SOLUTION: The device 1 for inspecting an enclosed article includes: a mark recognition means 10 for optically reading a rank-order number mark 30 with a rank-order number assigned to each booklet 3 encoded, and decoding the rank-order number mark 30 to acquire a rank-order number; and an enclosed article inspection means 11 which makes the mark recognition means 10 recognize the rank-order number marks 30 on enclosed articles 2 supplied in rank order, compares the rank-order number acquired by the mark recognition means 10 with the expected value of a rank-order number determined from the number of times of acquisition of rank-order numbers by the mark recognition means 10 to inspect the order of the rank-order numbers acquired by the mark recognition means 10, and detects the enclosed article 2 folded in a state that the plurality of booklets are stacked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting an enclosure in which a plurality of booklets are overlapped in a business of enclosing an enclosure in which a booklet such as a form is folded.

  In the business of enclosing an enclosure that is produced by folding a booklet, such as a form, first a booklet with the specified information printed on it is manufactured according to the size of the envelope to be encapsulated. An enclosure is manufactured by folding the booklet with a folding machine, and the press is stacked with a press stacker to arrange the fold and enclose the enclosure in an envelope.

  The structure of the folding machine is complicated, and in rare cases, the inclusions that are folded in a state where a plurality of booklets are overlapped may be discharged from the folding machine, and the folding machine is folded in a state where a plurality of booklets are overlapped. If the inclusions are enclosed in an envelope, there will be a problem that the inclusions will not be mailed to the correct destination. Therefore, whether the inclusions discharged from the folding machine are in a state where multiple booklets overlap. Must be detected in real time.

  If all booklets have the same thickness, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used to measure the thickness of each inclusion discharged from the folding machine, so that multiple booklets overlap. Although the inclusions folded in the state can be detected in real time, if the thickness of each booklet is not the same as in the usage specification, the thickness of each inclusion discharged from the folding machine is not the same. Even if the thickness of the object was measured, it was not possible to detect in real time the inclusions that were folded with multiple booklets stacked.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-19547

  Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method capable of inspecting whether or not an inclusion in which a booklet is folded is in a state in which a plurality of booklets are overlapped even when the thickness of the booklet is different. The purpose is to do.

  A first invention for solving the above-described problem is an inclusion inspection apparatus for inspecting an inclusion in a state in which a booklet is folded, and an order number mark in which an order number assigned to each booklet is encoded. Mark recognition means for optically reading and acquiring the order number by decoding the order number mark, and causing the mark recognition means to recognize the order number mark on the inclusions supplied in order, By comparing the rank number acquired by the recognition means with the expected value of the rank number determined from the number of times the mark recognition means has acquired the rank number, the rank number of the rank number acquired by the mark recognition means is obtained. An enclosure inspection apparatus comprising an enclosure inspection means that inspects and detects the enclosure that has been folded in a state where a plurality of booklets overlap.

  Further, the second invention is an inclusion inspection method for inspecting an inclusion in a state in which a booklet is folded, and an order number mark encoded with an order number assigned to each booklet is added to the booklet. The device for printing and inspecting the inclusions is arranged so that the inclusions are supplied in order, and the device optically reads the order number marks on the supplied inclusions, and the order number marks The sequence number is obtained by decoding the sequence number, and the sequence number obtained is compared with the expected value of the sequence number determined from the number of times the sequence number is acquired. A method for inspecting inclusions, comprising detecting the inclusions folded in a state in which a plurality of booklets are overlapped.

  According to the present invention, if there is an enclosure that is folded in a state where a plurality of booklets are overlapped, the order number mark printed on the inner booklet is not read by the mark recognition means, and is encoded into the order number mark. Since the order number of the order number read from the inclusion has been disturbed, the order of the order number read from the inclusion has been inspected. Can be detected in real time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the thickness of the booklet is different, it is possible to inspect whether or not the encapsulated material obtained by folding the booklet is in a state where a plurality of booklets are overlapped. And methods can be provided.

The figure explaining the installation condition of the enclosure inspection apparatus in this embodiment. The figure explaining a booklet. The figure explaining the conveyance state of an enclosure thing. The figure explaining the hardware with which the enclosure inspection apparatus was equipped. The block diagram of an inclusion inspection apparatus. The flowchart which showed operation | movement of the inclusion inspection apparatus.

  From this, the embodiments of the present invention will be described to the extent that those skilled in the art of the present invention can understand the contents of the present invention and implement the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an installation state of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, as a machine used for production, a feeder 4a for feeding a booklet 3 to a folding machine, a folding machine 4b for folding the booklet 3 fed from the feeder 4a, and a folding machine 4c are discharged. As a device for inspecting the inclusion 2, a conveyor 4 c that conveys the inclusion 2 and a press stacker 4 d that arranges the folding of the inclusion 2 discharged from the conveyor 4 c and discharges the inclusion 2 in a sashimi shape are included. An inclusion inspection apparatus 1 that detects an inclusion 2 that is folded in a state where a plurality of booklets 3 overlap each other is installed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the booklet 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an order number mark 30 in which an order number that is a serial number assigned to each booklet 3 is encoded is printed on the booklet 3.

  The order number mark 30 printed on the booklet 3 may be in any form that can be read optically, and a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode in which the order number is encoded can also be used as the order number mark 30. In addition, an order number printed in a font for OCR (Optical Character Reader) can be used as the order number mark 30. The order number mark 30 printed on the booklet 3 does not have to be visually confirmed, and the order number mark 30 can be printed with fluorescent ink that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the state of conveyance of the enclosure 2. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the inclusion 2 is sandwiched between narrow ropes provided on the conveyor 4c and conveyed so that the sequence number mark 30 printed on the booklet 3 faces upward. Is done. 1 is loaded with the booklets 3 in the order of the order numbers, and the booklets 3 are fed to the folding machine 4b in the order of the order numbers, so the conveyor 4c conveys the inclusions 2 in the order of the order numbers. become.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining hardware provided in the enclosure inspection apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 includes, as hardware, a CPU 1a (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a ROM 1b (ROM: Read-Only Memory) on which a BIOS is mounted, and a main memory of the computer. RAM 1c (RAM: Random Access Memory), a large-capacity data storage device 1d (for example, a hard disk) as an external storage device, an input / output interface 1e for data communication with the external device, and a network for network communication An interface 2f, a display 1g, a character input device 2h, a pointing device 1i, and the like are provided. The input / output interface 1e optically reads an order number mark 30 on the enclosure 2 (for example, a digital camera). Is connected.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 optically reads an order number mark 30 in which an order number assigned to each booklet 3 is encoded, and decodes the order number mark 20 to obtain an order number. The mark recognizing unit 10 for acquiring the mark number, the rank number acquired by the mark recognizing unit 10 and the expected value of the rank number determined according to the number of times the mark recognizing unit 10 has acquired the rank number are compared. Is provided with an inclusion inspection means 11 that inspects the order of the acquired order numbers and detects the inclusion 2 that is folded in a state in which the plurality of booklets 3 overlap each other.

  The contents for realizing the mark recognition means 10 installed above the conveyor 4 c depend on the format of the sequence number mark 30. For example, if the sequence number mark 30 is a two-dimensional bar code, the mark recognition means 10 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 is realized by a computer and a computer program for analyzing a photographed image of the camera. If the rank number mark 30 is a one-dimensional barcode, the mark recognition means 10 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 can be realized by a one-dimensional barcode reader.

  The inclusion inspection means 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 uses the rank number included in the range of the start number and end number input by the operator of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 as an expected value, and the mark recognition means 10 acquires the rank number. In each case, the expected value is changed in accordance with the order, and the order number obtained by the mark recognizing means 10 is checked by comparing the expected number with the order number obtained by the mark recognizing means 10.

  For example, when the mark recognizing unit 10 first obtains the sequence number, the enclosure inspection unit 11 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 uses the start number input by the operator of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 as an expected value, and the mark recognition unit 10 Compares the first obtained sequence number with the expected value. Further, when the mark recognition means 10 acquires the sequence number for the second time, the inclusion inspection means 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 uses the number next to the start number input by the operator of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 as an expected value. , The mark recognition means 10 compares the rank number acquired for the second time with the expected value.

  The inclusion inspection unit 11 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 includes a plurality of items when the rank number acquired by the mark recognition unit 10 is not in accordance with the rank, that is, when the rank number acquired by the mark recognition unit 10 is different from the expected value. It is determined that there is an inclusion 2 folded in a state where the booklet 3 is overlapped. If there are inclusions 2 folded in a state where a plurality of booklets 3 are overlapped, the order number acquired by the mark recognizing means 10 is not the same as the order, so the order numbers acquired by the mark recognizing means 10 are the order. Otherwise, it can be determined that the inclusion 2 inspected last time is in a state in which a plurality of booklets 3 are overlapped.

  From here, the procedure performed with the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1.

  When the enclosure inspection means 11 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 receives an instruction to start the inspection of the enclosure 2, the enclosure inspection unit 11 starts inspection of the enclosure 2 passing on the conveyor 4c (S1). The instruction to start the inspection of the inclusion 2 is performed by the operation of the operator of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1, and when starting the inspection of the inclusion 2, the start number and the end number of the sequence number in the lot for inspecting the inclusion 2 are set. Input to the inclusion inspection apparatus 1.

  When the inclusion inspection unit 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 starts the inspection of the inclusion 2, the inclusion inspection unit 11 enters a state of waiting for a trigger for operating the mark recognition unit 10 (S2), and detects a trigger for operating the mark recognition unit 10. The mark recognition means 10 is operated. If an operation for ending the inspection of the inclusion 2 is detected while waiting for a trigger, this procedure is ended.

  The inclusion inspection means 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 is provided with a mechanism for generating a trigger so that the sequence number mark 30 on the inclusion 2 matches the timing of passing the reading range of the mark recognition means 10. .

  For example, a sensor for detecting the inclusion 2 may be installed on the conveyor 4c immediately before the reading range of the mark recognition means 10, and the signal from the sensor may be used as the trigger. Further, when the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 is interlocked with an apparatus such as the folding machine 4b, the timing at which the inclusion 2 passes through the reading range of the mark recognition means 10 is interlocked with the operation of the apparatus such as the folding machine 4b. It is also possible to obtain a signal serving as a trigger for operating the mark recognition means 10 from the rotation of the gear of the device such as the machine 4b.

  When the mark recognition means 10 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 operates in response to an instruction from the inclusion inspection means 11, the sequence number mark 30 existing in the reading range of the mark recognition means 10 is optically read (S3) and read. By decoding the sequence number mark 30, the sequence number encoded in the sequence number mark 30 is obtained (S4).

  The inclusion inspection means 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 includes the expected rank number included in the range of the start number and end number input to the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 when the mark recognition means 10 acquires the order number. Then, the expected value corresponding to the number of times that the mark recognizing means 10 has acquired the order number is selected, and the order number acquired by the mark recognizing means 10 is compared with the selected expected value. The order of numbers is inspected (S5).

  The inclusion inspection means 11 of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 branches the process according to the order inspection result of the order number acquired by the mark recognition means 10 (S6), and the order number acquired by the mark recognition means 10 is not according to the order. That is, when the sequence number acquired by the mark recognizing unit 10 and the selected expected value are different, the enclosure inspection unit 11 of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1 includes a plurality of booklets 3 on the display 1 g of the enclosure inspection apparatus 1. After executing processing for displaying a message or the like notifying that the inclusion 2 folded in the overlapped state has been detected (S7), a trigger waiting state for activating the mark recognition means 10 is entered.

  In addition, when the order number acquired by the mark recognition means 10 is in accordance with the order, a message that informs the display 1g of the inclusion inspection apparatus 1 that the inclusion 2 that has been folded in a state where a plurality of booklets 3 are overlapped is detected. Without waiting for a trigger to activate the mark recognition means 10.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inclusion thing inspection apparatus 10 Mark recognition means 11 Inclusion thing inspection means 2 Inclusion thing 3 Booklet 30 Order number mark

Claims (2)

  An enclosure inspection apparatus for inspecting an inclusion in a state in which a booklet is folded, optically reading an order number mark in which an order number assigned to each booklet is encoded, and decoding the order number mark The mark recognizing means for acquiring the order number, the order number mark on the inclusions supplied in the order of order are recognized by the mark recognizing means, and the order number acquired by the mark recognizing means, and the mark A state in which a plurality of booklets are overlapped by checking the rank number obtained by the mark recognition means by comparing the expected value of the rank number determined from the number of times the recognition means obtains the rank number. An enclosure inspection apparatus, comprising: an enclosure inspection means for detecting the enclosure folded in step (a). A method for inspecting inclusions in a state in which a booklet is folded, wherein an order number mark in which an order number assigned to each booklet is encoded is printed on the booklet, and the inclusion is inspected. The enclosure is supplied to the apparatus in the order of order, and the apparatus optically reads the order number mark on the supplied inclusion, and decodes the order number mark to decode the order number. The obtained order number is compared with the expected value of the order number determined from the number of times the order number is obtained, and the order of the obtained order numbers is checked, and a plurality of the booklets overlap. A method for inspecting inclusions, comprising detecting the inclusions that are folded in a closed state.

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