JP5469184B2 - Form transport device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a form transport apparatus for transporting individual forms.

  In recent years, variable data can be printed on individual forms such as for each customer, and a group of forms collated continuously can be enclosed in a sealed body such as an envelope with appropriate leaflets, and sealed. Done. In this case, it is also determined whether or not there is an abnormality such as omission or penetration by detecting the entire thickness of the sealing body before or after sealing. It is necessary to improve the accuracy when detecting such thickness or abnormality, and to determine the coincidence or mismatch of the inclusions with high accuracy.

  Conventionally, what is disclosed in the following patent documents has been known as a method for enclosing and sealing individual forms in a sealing body and determining abnormality by thickness detection. Patent Document 1 confirms whether or not a customer information sheet and a set sheet are attached in a state of being compatible with each other, and the customer information sheet is definitely attached to the set sheet with a correct correspondence relationship. In order to manage the situation, the sheets are collated sequentially based on the collation selection conditions, the thickness of each assembled sheet after collation is measured, and the bar code displayed on each customer information sheet that is sequentially attached Are sequentially read, and the measured thickness data is compared with the specified thickness data derived from the read customer information to determine whether the thickness data match or not.

  In addition, Patent Document 2 measures the actual thickness of an envelope in which a plurality of types of papers with different thicknesses are enclosed in a thickness detection unit in order to detect an abnormality in the enclosure even when using enclosures with different thicknesses. Calculate the theoretical thickness of the sealed envelope based on the thickness data for all papers, the number of enclosed sheets for each paper, and the envelope thickness data, and compare the theoretical thickness with the actual thickness. Is greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the enclosure is abnormal.

Japanese Patent No. 3709756 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-370718

  However, the thickness detection sensor for measuring the thickness has a tendency that the measurement accuracy becomes worse as the thickness by the number of sheets increases, particularly when measuring a plurality of sheets or sheets. As the number of sheets increases, the error with the specified thickness increases, and there is a problem that it is not possible to accurately determine matching or mismatching.

  Further, as described in Patent Document 2, even if the actual thickness of the envelope in which the paper is sealed is compared with the theoretical thickness based on the thickness data of each paper, the paper thickness itself (so-called original fabric) is determined as a lot. Each has an error within an allowable range (for example, a 70 Kg paper thickness is 90 μm to 100 μm). As the number of sheets increases, an error from the theoretical thickness increases, and it becomes difficult to make high-precision comparison and judgment. In this case, it is only necessary to increase the allowable range of the difference, but in that case, the thickness of one sheet or more may be absorbed into the allowable range.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, to improve the thickness measurement accuracy of the paper sheet for each individual as minimize errors in thickness measurement, matching enclosure, the form conveying device for determining the discrepancy with high precision The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1, a form conveying device for conveying a document group to be fed continuously for each individual by individual units, each form to be subjected fed, the number units A detection unit accumulating unit that accumulates up to a predetermined number of sheets divided and accumulates as a detection unit form group; a first thickness detection unit that detects a thickness of the detection unit form group accumulated in the detection unit accumulation unit; a number unit storage unit which accumulated by superposing detection units form groups detected thickness at the first thickness detection unit until the number units form groups of individual units, at least, it retains the thickness information of each of the pieces unit The thickness information held is compared with the total thickness detection value of the thickness detection value of each detection unit form group detected by the first thickness detection unit, and whether or not it is a normal individual unit form group is determined. And a control unit for determination.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an individual information including information on the total number of individual units is formed in at least a first form constituting an individual unit by a plurality of forms, and an information reading unit that reads the individual information is provided, and the individual unit The accumulating unit is configured to accumulate and accumulate the detected unit form group whose thickness is detected by the first thickness detecting unit until it becomes an individual unit form group based on the read individual information.
Further, the invention of claim 3 is an enclosure sealing mechanism for enclosing and sealing the individual unit form group stored in the individual unit storage unit, and after enclosing the individual unit form group in the encapsulant, or A second thickness detection unit that detects the thickness of the delivery item after sealing, and the control unit detects the total thickness of the thickness detection values of each detection unit form group detected by the first thickness detection unit. The detection value is compared with the final thickness value detected by the second thickness detection unit, and it is determined whether or not it is a normal delivery item.

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the individual information of the total number information formed on at least the first form constituting the individual unit is read as appropriate , and the individual unit is appropriately divided into a predetermined number based on the individual information. Superimpose up to the number of sheets, accumulate as a detection unit form group, detect the thickness of the detection unit form group, and superimpose the detection unit form group into individual unit form groups based on the individual information read as appropriate In addition, the control unit stores the thickness information for each unit, compares the held thickness information with the total thickness detection value of the thickness detection value of each detection unit form group, and normal unit By determining whether it is a form group or not, not only the thickness of the final individual form group is detected, but the thickness is subdivided to detect the thickness even if the number of sheets increases. No error , Or to improve the thickness measurement accuracy of the paper sheet for each individual as a minimum, consistent inclusions, in which it is possible to determine a mismatch with high accuracy.

According to the invention of claim 3 , after the individual unit form group is sealed in the sealing body, or the thickness of the delivery product after sealing is detected as the final thickness, the control unit detects the thickness of each detection unit form group. By comparing the total thickness detection value of the value with the final thickness value detected by the second thickness detection unit and determining whether or not it is a normal delivery item, the actual measurement values are compared with each other. Even if the accuracy of the thickness value is lowered, the comparison error can be made smaller than the theoretical value and the comparison, and as a result, the determination accuracy of the delivery can be improved.

It is a schematic block diagram of the enclosure sealing apparatus provided with the form conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram regarding the control in the enclosure sealing apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the enclosure and sealing process in the enclosure sealing apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the number determination in the enclosure sealing apparatus of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the schematic block diagram of the enclosure sealing apparatus provided with the form conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown. In FIG. 1, an encapsulating and sealing apparatus 11 is a predetermined position on a sheet supply unit 12 on which a continuous form sheet (explained in FIG. 3) of, for example, two wide forms in which variable data is formed for each customer or the like is set. A bar code reader (BCR) 13 serving as an information reading unit is disposed in the apparatus. The paper supply unit 12 includes a paper feeding unit 31 and a cutting unit 32.

  The paper supply unit 12 is a single-sheet form from a continuous form sheet, and a detection unit storage unit 15 is disposed at the discharge destination with the first vertical conveyance unit 14 interposed. From the first vertical conveyance unit 14, a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated and accumulated in the detection unit accumulation unit 15 from the vertical state to the horizontal state. The detection unit accumulation unit 15 is connected to the first horizontal conveyance unit 16, and a first thickness detection unit 17 that is movable up and down is disposed on the first horizontal conveyance unit 16.

  A second vertical transport unit 18 is provided at the discharge destination of the first horizontal transport unit 16. A position corresponding to the discharge position of the first horizontal transport unit 16 in the second vertical transport unit 18 is an individual unit storage unit 19. The second vertical conveying unit 18 is connected to the sending unit 20, and the sending unit 20 and the enclosing unit 21 are further connected. A sealing body supply unit 22 is connected to a position facing the delivery unit 20 in the enclosure unit 21. Here, an envelope is shown as an example of sealing the form group for each unit, but a bag-like film or a method of wrapping with a film (in this case, the liquid application unit 24 described later is unnecessary) may be used. The first vertical conveyance unit 14 and the second vertical conveyance eve 18 may be horizontal conveyance.

  The enclosing unit 21 is connected to the second horizontal conveyance unit 23, and the liquid application unit 24 is disposed on the second horizontal conveyance unit 23. The liquid application unit 24 is preliminarily applied with dry glue on the flap of the envelope, and can be adhered by applying water to the envelope, and may be positioned at the flap position of the envelope that is always transported, Further, a driving unit may be provided to freely move up and down.

  The second horizontal conveyance unit 23 is connected to the flap bent bonding unit 25, and the flap bent bonding unit 25 and the stacker 26 are connected. The enclosure part 21, the sealing body supply part 22, the liquid application part 23, and the flap bending adhesion part 25 constitute an enclosure sealing mechanism. A second thickness detector 27 is arranged on the stacker 26 so as to be movable up and down. Note that a management apparatus configured by a computer or the like that controls these mechanisms is not shown, but a block diagram thereof is shown in FIG.

  Here, in FIG. 2, the block diagram regarding the control in the enclosure sealing apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown. In FIG. 2, a control unit 41 controls the entire apparatus in an integrated manner, and includes an electronic circuit and a program for that purpose. In addition, the control unit 41 includes a program for holding thickness information corresponding to the number of individual unit form groups, which will be described later, which is a unit for each unit, and performing a thickness comparison determination as a function.

  And with respect to the control part 41, the display part 42, the paper supply drive part 43, the BCR data input part 44, the 1st vertical conveyance drive part 45, the 1st horizontal conveyance drive part 46, the 1st thickness detection value input part 47, A flap bending mechanism driving unit 48, an envelope supply mechanism driving unit 49, a sealing mechanism driving unit 50, a second vertical conveyance driving unit 51, a second horizontal conveyance driving unit 52, a second thickness detection value input unit 53, and a stacker driving unit 54. Are connected to each other. Note that the storage area for developing the program and the memory for temporarily storing the thickness detection value are not shown.

  Among these, the first vertical conveyance drive unit 45 performs intermittent drive control when reaching the number of overlapped sheets on the detection unit accumulation unit 15, and the same applies to the paper supply drive unit 43 correspondingly. Intermittent drive control. In addition, the second vertical conveyance driving unit 51 performs intermittent driving control when reaching the number of overlaps on the unit accumulating unit 19, and correspondingly, the same applies to the subsequent downstream units. Intermittent drive control.

  The display unit 42 displays the operating state of the device. For example, when the entire device is stopped due to a mismatch due to the thickness determination, the display unit 42 causes the display unit 42 to display a specific unit form group to be mismatched. Is also done.

  Therefore, FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram of the sealing and sealing process in the sealing and sealing device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of the number determination in the sealing and sealing device of FIG. FIG. 3 (A) shows a continuous form sheet 61, in which two forms are connected in the width direction by a cut line with a broken line in the conveyance direction, and these are made continuous by a broken line in the width direction. In this case, for example, variable information for each individual is formed in order in a fixed direction in units, and the first page of the next unit and the last page of the previous unit may be arranged in the width direction.

  After the continuous form sheet 61, a barcode 62 as individual information is formed for each single-leaf form. The barcode 62 is not limited to a one-dimensional one, but may be a two-dimensional one. The bar code 62 is formed by including information on the total number of sheets in at least the first form of each unit. For example, the barcode 62 of the first page of the individual unit includes information specifying the individual unit, the total number of sheets, and the page number, and the barcode 62 of the next form of the same individual unit includes only the page number (total number of sheets). Information may also be included). In this case, other information may be included. If the page number is not included in the barcode 62, a sensor or the like may be provided on the conveyance path to count the number of sheets. On the other hand, as a method for recognizing the first page, there are various methods such as including a page number in each form, forming an individual ID number for each unit, and printing a mark indicating the head in the margin. is there.

  The use of the barcode 62 as individual information formed on each form means that, for example, when a customer code is used, it is necessary to access the customer database for confirmation each time. Can be completed in the apparatus as unnecessary.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, such a continuous form sheet 61 is supplied to the paper supply unit 12 in a horizontal state, and at this time, each bar code 62 of the two forms connected in the width direction by the BCR 13 is read. . The read information (total number and page number) is sent to the control unit 41 shown in FIG. 2, and the first page is recognized by the read barcode information, and the total number specifying the unit is recognized. Here, for example, 100 sheets will be described as the total number.

  The continuously formed two forms in which the respective barcodes 62 are read by the BCR 13 are cut in the transport direction and the width direction by the cutting unit 32 by feeding of the paper supply unit 12 (paper supply driving unit 43), and each single-leaf form 63 is cut. And sent to the first vertical conveyance unit 14. The first vertical conveyance unit 14 sequentially conveys the detection unit accumulation unit 15 to the detection unit accumulation unit 15 where it is inverted and superimposed and accumulated in a horizontal state.

  Here, the maximum number of forms to be overlapped by the detection unit storage unit 15 is the number obtained by dividing the total number into a predetermined number, and is set to 20 here. This set value is a thickness at which there is no detection error of the first thickness detection unit 17 at the subsequent stage or the detection error is minimized, but it is not necessarily the maximum detectable thickness. Therefore, the maximum number of overlaps in the detection unit storage unit 15 is set depending on the accuracy of the first thickness detection unit 17. The thickness of the predetermined number of sheets can be obtained by comparing the measured value for each of the 1 to 20 sheets with the measured value in addition to the method of comparing the measured value as the average thickness of one sheet × the number of sheets. It is something that can be done.

  Based on the bar code information (number of pages), when the single-leaf forms 63 are sequentially superposed on the detection unit storage section 15 from the first vertical conveyance section 14 and reach 20 sheets, the first horizontal conveyance is made as a detection unit form group 64. The thickness is detected by the first thickness detection unit 17 and sent to the control unit 41 where it is stored. When this detection unit form group 64 is sent to the first horizontal conveyance unit 16, the next single leaf form 63 belonging to the same individual unit is overlapped in the detection unit storage unit 15, and similarly, the first thickness detection unit 17 is used. The thickness is detected.

  Then, when the last page form 63 is accumulated in the detection unit accumulation unit 15 and sent to the first horizontal conveyance unit 17, each single-sheet form 63 of the next individual unit is accumulated in the detection unit accumulation unit 15. Is. When the total number of individual units is not divisible by the set 20 sheets, a detection unit form group 64 of 20 sheets or less is formed. For example, when the number of constituents is 75, 15 sheets are detected after detecting 3 times with 20 sheets.

  The detected unit form group 64 whose thickness is detected by the first thickness detecting unit 17 is sent to the individual unit accumulating unit 19 of the second vertical conveying unit 18. In the individual unit accumulating unit 19, the second vertical conveying unit 18 is not transported until each detection unit form group 64 has the number of individual units, and the detection unit form groups 64 are sequentially accumulated and accumulated. Based on the barcode information (total number of sheets), the second vertical conveyance unit 18 is driven when five detection unit form groups 64 corresponding to the total number of sheets (100 sheets) constituting the unit are overlaid, The unit form group 65 is conveyed to the sending unit 20.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the thickness detection value by the first thickness detection unit 17 is the thickness (d1, d2,...) Of each detection unit form group 64 that constitutes a unit in the control unit 41. d5) is added to calculate the total thickness of the form (D1). The total thickness (D1) of the form is compared with the thickness information of the target unit form group held, and it is determined whether or not they match.

  If they match, the operation is continued as normal, and if it is determined that they do not match, the apparatus is stopped when all the detected unit form groups 64 constituting the individual unit are accumulated in the individual unit storage unit 19. Then, the control unit 41 specifies the individual unit form group 65 to be abnormally displayed and displays it on the display unit 42. In the stopped state, the worker inspects the target individual form group 65 according to the display on the display unit 42 and appropriately excludes it.

  In the sending-out unit 20, the individual unit form group 65 is sent out to the enclosing unit 21, and the envelope 66 is supplied from the sealing body supply unit 22 immediately before that. The envelope 66 is supplied to the enclosing unit 21 with the adhesive surface facing upward (that is, the back surface as an envelope) with the flap coated with dry glue open. A window 68 is formed on the surface (address surface) of the envelope 66 so that at least the barcode 62 as individual information can be visually recognized.

  In the enclosing unit 21, the individual unit form group 65 sent out from the sending-out unit 20 is enclosed in the envelope 66 and conveyed to the flap bending bonding unit 25 by the second horizontal conveying unit 23, and at that time, by the liquid applying unit 24 Water is applied to the dry glue portion of the flap.

  In the flap folding adhesion part 25, the flap of the envelope 66 is bent and bonded and sealed to form a delivery 67, which is reversed and sequentially sent to the stacker 26. By reversing the delivery item 67, the window portion 68 through which the barcode 62 can be viewed becomes upward (address surface). On the stacker 26, the second thickness detector 27 detects the entire thickness of the delivery item 67 again, and the controller 41 stores it.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 41 acquires the final thickness detection value D2 by the second thickness detection unit 27 for the final delivery 67. Then, the control unit 41 compares the final thickness (D2) of the delivery item with the total form thickness (D1), takes the thickness of the envelope 66 into consideration, and the comparison value is within a set range (range α to β). It is determined whether or not the individual unit form group 65 between the 1-thickness detection unit 17 and the envelope 66 has a gap or misplacement. For example, when the envelope thickness is D3 and the average thickness of one sheet is 0.1 mm, the range of D2− (D1 + D3) is ± 0.05 mm. As a result, when one sheet is added or removed during conveyance, the setting range is exceeded. However, if there is a large fluctuation in the thickness of each envelope D3, the allowable value of the setting range may be reduced.

  When the determination result is normal as the number of forms in the individual form group 65 matches within the set range, no particular display is performed on the display unit 42. Are identified and displayed on the display unit 42, and the operation of the apparatus is stopped. In the stopped state, the worker appropriately removes the target delivery according to the display on the display unit 42.

  The envelope 66 may include not only the form but also a predetermined number of leaflets. In this case, when verifying the number of forms by detecting the thickness of the delivery 67, the thickness is determined by taking into account the thickness of the leaflet.

  In this way, the thickness of the final individual unit form group 65 is not only detected, but is divided and accumulated by the detection unit accumulating unit 15, and each thickness is detected. Therefore, it is possible to improve the thickness measurement accuracy of each individual (each unit) as a minimum, and to determine the coincidence or non-coincidence of the number of forms as the inclusions with high accuracy.

  In addition, after the individual group of forms is sealed in the envelope 66 (may be before or after sealing), the thickness of the entire delivery is detected, and individual thickness detection is detected for each detected unit number. Compared to actual values, the measured values are compared with each other, so even if the accuracy of the final thickness value is reduced, the comparison error can be made smaller than the theoretical value and the comparison, and as a result, the accuracy of determining the number of delivered items is improved. It can be made to.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the original form is described as the continuous form sheet 61 in which two forms are continuously arranged. However, the number of the continuous forms is not questioned, and the single form 63 is not the continuous form sheet 61 but the BCR 13. Thus, the present invention can be applied even when the individual information 62 is read and sequentially conveyed.

The form conveying apparatus of the present invention can be used for manufacturing, using, and the like of an apparatus that continuously encloses individual forms in a sealing body.

11 Sealing Device 12 Paper Supply Unit 13 Barcode Reader (BCR)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Detection unit storage part 17 1st thickness detection part 19 piece unit storage part 21 enclosure part 24 liquid application part 25 flap bending adhesion part 26 stacker 27 2nd thickness detection part 61 continuous form sheet 62 barcode 63 single leaf form 64 detection unit Form group 65 Individual form group 66 Envelope 67 Delivery

Claims (3)

A form transport device that transports a group of forms that are continuously supplied for each individual unit ,
Each form to be subjected sheet, superposed to within the number obtained by dividing the number units at a predetermined number of sheets, a detecting unit storage section for storing a detection unit form groups,
A first thickness detection unit that detects the thickness of the detection unit form group accumulated in the detection unit accumulation unit;
A number unit storage unit which accumulated by superposing thickness detected detected units form groups until number units form groups of individual units in the first thickness detection unit,
At least hold the thickness information for each unit, compare the held thickness information with the total thickness detection value of the thickness detection value of each detection unit form group detected by the first thickness detection unit, A control unit for determining whether or not a normal individual unit form group,
A form conveying apparatus characterized by comprising: The form transport device according to claim 1,
Individual information including information on the total number of individual units is formed in at least the first form that forms individual units with a plurality of forms, and includes an information reading unit that reads the individual information,
The individual unit accumulating unit accumulates and accumulates the detected unit form group whose thickness is detected by the first thickness detecting unit until it becomes an individual unit form group based on the read individual information. A form transport device. The form conveying device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
An enclosing sealing mechanism that encloses and seals the individual unit form group accumulated in the individual unit accumulating unit;
A second thickness detection unit for detecting the thickness of the delivered product after sealing, or after sealing the individual unit form group in a sealing body;
Have
The control unit compares the total thickness detection value of the thickness detection values of each detection unit form group detected by the first thickness detection unit with the final thickness value detected by the second thickness detection unit, and normal delivery It is determined whether or not it is a form conveying apparatus .

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