JP6218273B2 - Collating machine and bookbinding system equipped with the collating machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a collating machine and a bookbinding system including the collating machine.

  As a conventional collating machine, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of this type of collating machine. As shown in FIG. 6, the collating machine includes a vertical conveyance path G for conveying paper, a plurality of paper trays 4 a to 4 e arranged at intervals along the conveyance path G, and a paper tray. A plurality of supply means 6a to 6e for supplying sheets one by one from the sheet stacks 5a to 5e placed on 4a to 4e to the conveyance path G, and a plurality of transmission photoelectric sensors 16a to 16a for detecting double feeding. And.

  When collating, the paper stacks 5a to 5e are placed on the paper trays 4a to 4e by the operator so that they are in page order from the upstream paper tray to each paper tray. Then, the uppermost sheets of the sheet stacks 5a to 5e are sequentially supplied to the transport path G by the supply units 6a to 6e. At this time, the passage of the paper is detected by the transmission type photoelectric sensors 16a to 16e, and the presence or absence of double feeding is detected based on the detection signal.

  Then, on the transport path G, the paper supplied from the next downstream paper tray is sequentially superimposed on the paper supplied from the upstream paper tray, and the downstream end of the transport path G in a state where the paper is collated. To the transport outlet E. Thereafter, the collated paper is transferred to a bookbinding machine arranged at the subsequent stage of the collator and subjected to bookbinding. When double feeding is detected, the collated paper passes through the transport outlet E and is then removed from the processing line and is not bound.

  By the way, in digital printing, it is possible to sequentially print a plurality of types of booklets having different numbers of pages in the order of pages. In such a case, the paper stack obtained by digital printing is made up of a plurality of paper sets stacked in the order of pages, and it is not necessary to collate.

  In view of this, the collating machine is provided with a function as a paper feeder, and the sheets are continuously fed one by one without collating from the sheet stack obtained by digital printing.

  When this is performed by the collating machine shown in FIG. 6, the paper stacks 5a to 5e obtained by digital printing are placed on the paper trays 4a to 4e. Then, the sheets are continuously supplied one by one from the sheet stack 5a of the most upstream sheet tray 4a, sequentially conveyed to the conveyance outlet E without being superimposed on the conveyance path G, and supplied from the most upstream sheet tray 4a. Is finished, the supply from the next downstream paper tray 4b is started, and this is continued until the supply of the most downstream paper tray 4e is completed. According to this configuration, a large volume of paper can be fed.

  Then, the bookbinding machine sorts the sheets supplied one by one from the collating machine for each book, performs bookbinding, and sequentially forms booklets. Here, when the number of pages of each sheet set constituting the sheet stack is different, the collating machine determines which of the sheets to be supplied one by one is the last page of the sheet set (booklet). Otherwise, the subsequent bookbinding machine cannot sort the papers one by one.

  In order to discriminate the paper of the last page, in this collating machine, although not shown in the figure, a mark is added in advance to a predetermined portion of the paper that becomes the last page of each paper set of the paper stacks 5a to 5e. A mark detection sensor is disposed so as to face the uppermost sheet of each of the sheet stacks 5a to 5e. The collator detects whether or not there is a mark at a predetermined position of the paper by the mark detection sensor before the uppermost paper is sent out from the paper trays 4a to 4e. When the collator detects that there is no mark on the paper, it determines that the paper is not the last page. On the other hand, when the collator detects that there is a mark on the paper, it determines that the paper is the last page and sends the signal to the bookbinding processor. As a result, the bookbinding processor can classify the paper for each book even when the number of pages of the paper set (booklet) is different.

  However, when the supply units 6a to 6e are of an air feeding method in which the uppermost sheet is separated from the sheet stacks 5a to 5e by air and fed one by one from the sheet trays 4a to 4e, the sheets are fluttered by the air. , The mark could not be detected stably. In addition, when the uppermost sheet is fed out from the sheet trays 4a to 4e, the next sheet below it may be dragged to the uppermost sheet and displaced, thereby detecting the mark stably. There was something I couldn't do.

JP 07-149468 A

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an inexpensive collating machine that can continuously feed sheets one by one without collating paper and that can stably detect marks, and a bookbinding system including the collating machine. It is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a collating machine according to the present invention is arranged at intervals along a sheet conveyance path, and a plurality of sheet feeding units that supply sheets one by one to the conveyance path, A transport unit that transports the paper supplied by the paper feed unit to the transport outlet at the downstream end along the transport path; and a control unit that controls the paper feed unit and the transport unit.
Each of the sheet feeding units is provided between a sheet tray on which a sheet stack is placed, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets one by one from the sheet tray to the conveyance path. A transmissive photoelectric sensor that is disposed between the paper tray and the conveyance path and detects the passage of the paper; and a sheet that is located at a certain conveyance distance downstream from the transmissive photoelectric sensor and is conveyed. A reflective photoelectric sensor disposed opposite to the
The control means includes
Paper is sequentially supplied from each of the paper stacks placed in page order for each paper tray from the upstream paper tray, and is next downstream to the paper supplied from the upstream paper tray on the conveyance path. A collation mode in which the sheets supplied from the sheet tray are sequentially overlapped, and the sheets are transported to the transport outlet in a state of being overlapped in page order;
Of the paper stacks that are stacked in multiple paper trays and stacked in multiple pages, each sheet from the paper stack in one paper tray. A non-collating mode for continuously supplying, transporting to the transport outlet without overlapping on the transport path, and starting feeding from the next paper tray when feeding from the paper tray is completed; In addition,
The control means includes
In the collation mode, based on the detection signal of the transmission photoelectric sensor, the presence or absence of double feeding of paper is detected,
In the non-collation mode, in the paper feeding unit that is feeding paper, the reflective photoelectric sensor is operated after a lapse of a certain time after the transmission photoelectric sensor detects passage of the front edge of the paper, and the reflection photoelectric sensor is operated. Based on the detection signal of the type photoelectric sensor, it is sequentially detected whether or not a mark indicating that it is the last page of the sheet set is attached to a predetermined position on the sheet,
If it is detected that the paper has a mark, it is determined that the paper is the last page of the paper set; if it is detected that the paper has no mark, the paper is determined not to be the last page of the paper set;
It is characterized by that.

Preferably, the non-collation mode includes a page number input unit for inputting the number of pages of the sheet set when the number of pages of each sheet set constituting the sheet stack is constant,
The control means is input when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of a mark is less than the number of input pages or after the detection of the mark. When the next mark is not detected on the same number of sheets as the number of printed pages, it is determined that there is a paper feed error.

Preferably, in the non-collation mode, when the number of pages of each sheet set constituting the sheet stack is indefinite, a minimum page number input unit for inputting the page number of the sheet set having the smallest number of pages, and a page A maximum page number input unit for inputting the number of pages of the sheet set having the largest number,
The control means detects the mark when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of the mark is less than the number of pages input to the minimum page number input section. When the next mark is not detected on the same number of sheets as the number of pages input to the maximum page number input section after detection, it is determined that there is a paper feed error.

Further, the bookbinding system according to the present invention includes:
With the above collating machine,
A bookbinding processor disposed downstream of the collator, receiving paper supplied from the collator, bookbinding, and sequentially forming a booklet;
In the non-collating mode, the collating machine immediately detects that there is no mark on the paper, and immediately causes the supply means to supply the next paper from the paper tray, and detects that the paper has a mark. A signal indicating that the paper is the last page of the paper set is transmitted to the bookbinding processor, and after waiting for a predetermined time, the supply means supplies the next paper from the paper tray,
The bookbinding processor receives the signal from the collating machine and starts a bookbinding process when receiving a sheet as the last page.

According to the present invention, the collating machine includes a collating mode for supplying sheets in a state where the sheets are overlapped and collated on the conveyance path, and a non-collation mode for supplying sheets one by one without overlapping on the conveyance path. . When the collating machine is in the collating mode, it detects double feeding of paper based on the detection signal of the transmission photoelectric sensor. When the collating machine is in the non-collating mode, the reflection type photoelectric sensor is operated by the transmission type photoelectric sensor in the paper feeding unit that is feeding, and the presence or absence of a mark is detected on the paper being conveyed. Detection is performed to determine whether or not the sheet is the last page of the sheet set.
As described above, the collating machine detects the presence or absence of a mark when the paper is being conveyed, unlike the conventional case where the presence or absence of a mark is detected before the paper is sent out from the paper tray. Therefore, the problem that the mark cannot be stably detected is solved by the paper fluttering due to the air or the paper being fed out of the paper tray drags the next paper and causes the positional deviation. Thereby, stable mark detection is possible.

  In the non-collation mode, sheets with different pages (that is, different light transmittances) are sequentially supplied from the paper tray. Therefore, the transmissive photoelectric sensor that detects double feeding based on the light reflectance accurately performs double feeding. Cannot be detected. The collating machine effectively uses this transmission type photoelectric sensor used for double feed detection in the collation mode as a sensor for timing in the non-collation mode. As a result, it is not necessary to separately provide a sensor for timing, and the cost of the collating machine can be reduced.

  In addition, since each sheet feeding unit is provided with a reflective photoelectric sensor, the time from sheet feeding to the final page determination is short, so that the processing speed of the entire bookbinding system does not need to be reduced.

It is a side view which shows roughly the structure of the collating machine which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows roughly the structure of the paper feed unit of the collating machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the bookbinding system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the back surface of the paper used as the last page of a paper set (booklet). It is a figure which shows the structure of an input means. It is a side view which shows the structure of the conventional collation machine roughly.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a collating machine according to the present invention and a bookbinding system including the collating machine will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The bookbinding system includes a collating machine and a bookbinding machine disposed in the subsequent stage.

  Referring to FIG. 1, collator 1 is attached to frame 2 having a vertical conveyance path G for conveying a sheet, and is arranged at a distance along conveyance path G. And a plurality of paper feed units 3a to 3e for supplying the paper one by one.

  The paper feed units 3a to 3e are arranged between the paper trays 4a to 4e, the paper trays 4a to 4e, and the conveyance path G, respectively, and the paper from the paper stacks 5a to 5e placed on the paper trays 4a to 4e. Supply means 6a to 6e for feeding the sheets one by one to the conveyance path G.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the paper feeding unit. The supply unit 6 of the paper feed unit 3 is disposed above the front end side of the paper stack 5 and separates the paper feeding means 7 for sequentially feeding the uppermost paper P in the paper stack 5 and the paper on the top of the paper stack 5 from each other. In order to do so, a nozzle 8 for blowing air is provided. In this embodiment, the sheet feeding means 7 is composed of a horizontal vacuum rotor 9 extending in the sheet width direction. The vacuum rotor 9 has a large number of intake holes 10 on the outer peripheral surface, and is connected to an intake pump (not shown). A pulley is coupled to the rotary shaft of the vacuum rotor 9, and the pulley is coupled to a belt drive mechanism, whereby the vacuum rotor 9 is rotationally driven. The vacuum rotor 9 sucks the uppermost sheet P of the sheet stack 5 by the intake air from the intake hole 10 and sequentially sends it out in the horizontal direction.

  Furthermore, the supply unit 6 includes a sheet feeding unit 11 that feeds the sheet fed from the sheet tray 4 in the horizontal direction to the conveyance path G while changing the direction downward in the vertical direction. The paper feeding means 11 has a pair of drive rollers 12 and an idle roller 13 which have a horizontal rotating shaft and are arranged in contact with each other. The sheets fed from the sheet tray 4 by the sheet feeding means 7 are sequentially inserted between the drive roller 12 and the idle roller 13, conveyed between these rollers 12, 13, and sent to the conveyance path G.

  Between the paper feeding means 7 and the paper feeding means 11, an upper guide plate 14 and a lower guide plate 15 for guiding both edge portions of the paper are arranged.

The supply unit 6 includes a transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 disposed between the paper tray 4 and the conveyance path G. The transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 includes a pair of a light projecting unit R that irradiates light to the paper sent out from the paper tray 4 and a light receiving unit S that receives light that has passed through the paper, and detects the passage of the paper. To do.
The supply unit 6 includes a reflective photoelectric sensor 17 disposed on the downstream side of the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 so as to face the conveyed paper. The reflective photoelectric sensor 17 is located at a certain transport distance from the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16. Although not shown in the figure, the reflective photoelectric sensor 17 has a pair of a light projecting unit that irradiates light to a sheet conveyed on the conveyance path G and a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from the sheet. Prepared in. The reflective photoelectric sensor 17 is for detecting a mark as will be described later.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the collator 1 is further attached to the frame 2, and conveys the sheets supplied by the sheet feeding units 3 a to 3 e along the conveyance path G to the conveyance outlet E at the downstream end thereof. Conveying means 18 and 19 are provided. The conveying means 18 and 19 are arranged so that the conveying surface extends in the vertical direction, the vertical conveyor belt 18 facing each of the paper feeding units 3 a to 3 e, the conveying surface extends in the horizontal direction, and below the vertical conveyor belt 18. It consists of a horizontal conveyor belt 19 arranged. The vertical conveyor belt 18 conveys the paper supplied from each of the paper trays 4a to 4e along the conveyance path G vertically downward. The horizontal conveyor belt 19 conveys the paper conveyed by the vertical conveyor belt 18 to the conveyance outlet E in the horizontal direction along the conveyance path G. Thus, the paper supplied from each of the paper supply units 3 a to 3 e is conveyed along the conveyance path G to the conveyance outlet E.

  The collating machine 1 includes a microcomputer or the like, and includes a control unit 20 that controls operations of the paper feeding units 3a to 3e and the conveying units 18 and 19. The collating machine 1 includes an input means 21 for receiving input from an operator. In this embodiment, the input means 21 is a touch panel display and is attached to the frame 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the bookbinding system.
In the collator 1, the transmission photoelectric sensors 16 a to 16 e and the reflection photoelectric sensors 17 a to 17 e are connected to the control means 20. The supply units 6 a to 6 e, the transport units 18 and 19, and the input unit 21 are also connected to the control unit 20. Further, the control means 20 is connected to a bookbinding processor 22 arranged at the rear stage of the collating machine 1, specifically to a control means (not shown) of the bookbinding processor 22.

The bookbinding machine 22 performs bookbinding on sheets supplied from the collating machine 1 as described later, and sequentially forms booklets.
For example, when the bookbinding machine 22 is a perfect binding bookbinding machine, the milling part that cuts the back of the paper divided into one book, the glue part that glues the cut back, and the three-way cutting Includes a cutting department. For example, when the bookbinding processing machine 22 is a saddle stitch bookbinding processing machine, the stitching unit for stitching the paper divided into one book, the half-folding processing unit for forming a crease at the center of the paper, and three-way cutting. Includes three-way cutting department. Since a well-known configuration is applied to the configuration of the bookbinding processor 22, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the collator 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again. The collating machine 1 has a collating mode for collating paper and a non-collating mode for feeding paper without collating paper. When receiving the mode switching input from the input unit 21, the control unit 20 switches between the collation mode and the non-collation mode.

In the collation mode, the paper stack is formed by superimposing sheets of the same page. First, the paper stacks 5a to 5e are placed on the paper trays 4a to 4e by the operator so as to be in page order for each paper tray in order from the upstream paper tray.
The control unit 20 causes the supply units 6a to 6e to sequentially supply the sheets from the sheet trays 4a to 4e to the conveyance path G. Then, the control unit 20 causes the transport units 18 and 19 to transport the paper supplied from the paper trays 4a to 4e along the transport path G, and converts the paper supplied from the upstream paper tray on the transport path G to the paper supplied from the upstream paper tray. The sheets supplied from the next sheet tray are sequentially overlapped so that the sheets are transported to the transport outlet E in a state where they are stacked in the page order.

  In the collation mode, when each of the transmissive photoelectric sensors 16a to 16e detects the passage of the paper, the control unit 20 detects the light transmittance of the paper based on the detection signal. The control means 20 uses the fact that the detected light transmittance is different between when the paper is being double-fed and when it is not, and detects the presence or absence of double-feed based on the detected value.

  The collated material that has passed through the transfer outlet E is transferred to the bookbinding machine 22. Then, the bookbinding processor 22 performs bookbinding on the collated materials sequentially supplied from the collator to form a booklet. When it is detected that there is a double feed, the collated material including the double fed paper is removed from the subsequent processing line after passing through the transport outlet E and is not transferred to the bookbinding processor 22.

In the non-collation mode, the paper stack is formed by stacking a plurality of paper sets obtained by, for example, digital printing or the like, which are obtained by superposing one paper sheet in page order.
Each of the paper sets constituting the paper stack includes a mark indicating that the paper is the last page on the paper that is the last page.
FIG. 4 shows a sheet that is the last page of the sheet set. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the mark M to be added to the paper P _L of the paper sets the last page has a rectangular shape, attached to a predetermined portion of the back surface of the front F side of the paper P _L ing. The mark M has a color (for example, black) whose reflectance is greatly different from the surrounding color (for example, white) to which the mark M of the paper P _L is attached. The mark M is detected by the reflective photoelectric sensors 17a to 17e as will be described later. The mark M is not attached to a predetermined portion of the paper other than the last page of the paper set.

  Such a paper stack is placed on a plurality of paper trays, and paper is successively supplied from the paper stack of one of the paper trays one by one, and sequentially to the transport outlet E without being superimposed on the transport path G. When the supply from the paper tray is completed, the supply from the next paper tray is started.

  In the collating machine 1 of the present embodiment, the paper stacks 5a to 5e are placed on the paper trays 4a to 4e by the operator. The paper stacks 5a to 5e are placed so that the back surface of the paper faces downward. Then, the control unit 20 causes the supply unit 6a to continuously supply the sheets one by one from the sheet stack 5a of the uppermost sheet tray 4a to the conveyance path G, and causes the conveyance units 18 and 19 to convey the sheets to the conveyance path G. Are sequentially transported to the transport outlet E. At this time, paper is not supplied from the other paper trays 4b to 4e. Then, when the supply from the most upstream paper tray 4a is completed, the control means 20 starts the supply from the next downstream paper tray 4b, and in the same manner, from the most downstream paper tray 4e. The paper is fed until the supply is completed. The sheets that have passed through the conveyance outlet E are transferred to the bookbinding machine 22 one by one.

  As described above, the collating machine 1 includes a non-collating mode in which only a paper stack that is not required for collation obtained by digital printing or the like is fed, and can be used as a paper feeding machine. In the non-collation mode, the sheet feeding is performed from the most upstream sheet feeding unit 3a to the most downstream sheet feeding unit 3e in order, so that large capacity sheet feeding is possible.

  In the non-collation mode, the control means 20 performs the conveyance in the paper feeding unit that is feeding paper so that the bookbinding machine 22 can sort the sheets supplied one by one from the collating machine 1 by one. Marks are sequentially detected for the sheets that have been printed, and it is determined whether or not the sheet is the last page of the sheet set. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 detects passage of the front end of the paper, the control unit 20 recognizes the paper transport position based on the detection signal and the paper transport speed. Then, the control means 20 operates the reflective photoelectric sensor 17 after a lapse of a certain time after detecting the detection signal, and the front end side of the conveyed paper faces the reflective photoelectric sensor 17 on the conveyance path G. While passing through the position, light is emitted from the projector of the reflective photoelectric sensor 17. As a result, light from the projector is irradiated onto a predetermined portion of the back surface of the paper, and the reflected light is received by the light receiver. That is, when the sheet being conveyed is the last page of the sheet set, light is irradiated to the mark attached to a predetermined location.

Then, the control means 20 detects the light reflectance of the paper based on the detection signal of the reflective photoelectric sensor 17. Since the mark is not attached to the predetermined position on the back surface of the paper that is not the final page and the mark is attached to the predetermined position on the back surface of the paper that is the final page, the detected reflectance is different. The control means 20 uses this and detects whether or not there is a mark on the paper based on the detected value.
When the control unit 20 detects that there is no mark at a predetermined position of the sheet, the control unit 20 determines that the sheet is not the last page of the sheet set. Then, the control unit 20 immediately causes the supply unit 6 to supply the next sheet from the sheet tray 4.

When the control unit 20 detects that there is a mark at a predetermined position on the sheet, the control unit 20 determines that the sheet is the last page of the sheet set. Then, the control means 20 sends a signal indicating that the paper is the last page to the bookbinding processor 22 and waits for a predetermined time before feeding the next paper (the next paper) from the paper tray 4 to the supply means 6. Paper of the first page of the set) is supplied.
When the bookbinding processor 22 receives the signal from the control unit 20 of the collating machine 1 and receives the final page of paper, the bookbinding processor 22 starts the bookbinding processing for the paper divided into one booklet, and produces one booklet. Will be formed. At this time, after the supply means 6 waits for a certain period of time, the next paper is supplied from the paper tray 4 so that the bookbinding processor 22 sends out the paper divided into one book to the bookbinding processing line. Time is secured until the sheet from the machine 1 can be received.

In the non-collation mode, sheets with different pages (sheets with different light transmittances) are sequentially supplied from the sheet tray 4, so that the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 cannot correctly detect double feeding. The collating machine 1 uses the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 that detects double feeding in the collating mode as a sensor that takes a timing in order to perform mark detection in the non-collating mode. Accordingly, it is not necessary to separately provide a sensor for taking timing, so that an inexpensive collator can be provided.
Further, the collating machine 1 of this embodiment is inexpensive because it does not use an expensive detector such as a barcode reader for mark detection.

As shown in FIG. 1, since each of the paper feeding units 3a to 3e is provided with the reflective photoelectric sensors 17a to 17e, the time from the start of paper feeding to the determination of the final page is short. It is not necessary to slow down the processing speed of the entire system.
Further, in each of the paper feeding units 3a to 3e, the transport distance from the transmission type photoelectric sensors 16a to 16e for timing to the reflection type photoelectric sensors 17a to 17e for detecting a mark is constant (same). In the non-collation mode, the timing at which mark detection is performed by the reflection type photoelectric sensors 17a to 17e after the transmission type photoelectric sensors 16a to 16e detect the passage of the front edge of the paper, regardless of the sheet feeding unit. Are the same so that stable mark detection is possible.

The collating machine 1 also has the following configuration in the non-collating mode.
FIG. 5 shows a display screen displayed on the touch panel display that is the input means 21 when the non-collation mode is selected. The input means 21 includes a mark function selection unit 23 that selects whether or not to use the mark detection function when feeding paper. The mark function selection unit 23 includes an “ON” button and an “OFF” button. The operator selects the “ON” button when feeding paper using the mark detection function, and presses the “OFF” button when feeding paper without using the mark detection function.

  The input unit 21 selects a sheet for selecting whether the number of pages of each sheet set constituting the sheet stacks 5a to 5e is constant or indefinite so that the control unit 20 can detect a sheet feeding error as described later. A set selection unit 24 is provided. The sheet set selection unit 24 includes a “constant” button and an “undefined” button. When the number of pages of each paper set is constant (that is, when the paper stack is composed of only paper sets having the same number of pages), the operator selects the “constant” button, and the number of pages of each paper set is When indefinite (that is, when the paper stack includes paper sets having different page numbers), the “indefinite” button is selected.

The input means 21 includes a page number input unit 25 for inputting the number of pages of a sheet set when the “fixed” button is selected. For example, when the number of pages of each sheet set is 8, the operator inputs a numerical value “8” into the page number input unit 25.
The input means 21 includes a minimum page number input unit 26 for inputting the page number of the paper set having the smallest number of pages among the paper sets of the paper stacks 5a to 5e when the “undefined” button is selected, and the number of pages. And a maximum page number input unit 27 for inputting the number of pages of the sheet set having the largest number. For example, if the paper set having the smallest number of pages is 6 pages and the paper set having the largest number of pages is 15 pages, the operator sets the numerical value “6” in the minimum page number input unit 26 and the maximum page number input unit 27. Enter the numerical value “15” in.

Next, a configuration in which the control unit 20 detects a paper feed error based on an input from the input unit will be described.
If the number of pages of each sheet set is constant, the marks attached to the last page of the sheet set should be detected every fixed number of pages, otherwise a paper feed error should have occurred.
Therefore, if the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed between the detection of a mark and the next detection of the mark is the same as the number of pages input to the page number input unit 25, the control means 20 supplies the mark. It is determined that there is no paper error.
On the other hand, when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed between detection of a mark and detection of the next mark is less than the number of pages input to the page number input unit 25, the control unit 20 detects a paper feed error. Judge that there is. Further, the control means 20 determines that there is a paper feed error even when the next mark is not detected on the same number of sheets as the number of pages input to the page number input unit 25 after detecting the mark. . When it is determined that there is a paper feed error, the control unit 20 temporarily stops the paper feed.

For example, assume that the number of pages in each sheet set is eight.
At this time, the operator selects the “ON” button of the input means, selects the “constant” button, inputs the numerical value “8” into the page number input section 25, and presses the “start” button (FIG. 5). Start feeding paper.
In this case, if the paper is fed correctly, the control means 20 should detect a mark every eight sheets. Therefore, the control means 20 determines that there is no paper feed error when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of a mark until the next detection of the mark is “8”.
On the other hand, the control means 20 determines that there is a paper feed error when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed between the detection of a mark and the next detection of the mark is less than “8”. Further, the control unit 20 detects a mark, and even when the next mark is not detected on the “8th” sheet (that is, in the eighth mark detection), there is a paper feed error. Is determined.

If the number of pages in each paper set is indefinite, the number of sheets for which mark detection was performed after the detection of a mark until the next mark detection is based on the number of pages in the paper set with the smallest number of pages. It should be within the range of the number of pages of the largest number of paper sets, otherwise a paper feed error should have occurred.
Therefore, the control means 20 detects that the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of a mark is equal to or greater than the number of pages input to the minimum page number input unit 26 and the maximum number of pages. When the number is less than or equal to the number of pages input to the number input unit 27, it is determined that there is no paper feed error.
On the other hand, when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed between the detection of a mark and the next detection of the mark is less than the number of pages input to the minimum page number input unit 26, the control means 20 It is determined that there is a paper error. Further, if the control unit 20 does not detect the next mark on the same number of sheets as the number of pages input to the maximum page number input unit 27 after detecting the mark, there is a paper feed error. judge. When it is determined that there is a paper feed error, the control unit 20 temporarily stops the paper feed.

For example, it is assumed that the paper set with the smallest number of pages is 6 pages and the paper set with the largest number of pages is 15 pages.
At this time, the operator selects the “ON” button of the input means 21, selects the “undefined” button, inputs the value “6” into the minimum page number input unit 26, and sets the value “ 15 ”is entered. Then, the “start” button is pressed to start paper feeding.
The control means 20 determines that there is no paper feed error if the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed from detection of a mark to detection of the next mark is not less than “6” and not more than “15”. .
On the other hand, the control means 20 determines that there is a paper feed error if the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed between the detection of a mark and the next detection of the mark is less than “6”. Further, the control means 20 determines that there is a paper feed error even if the next mark is not detected on the “15th” sheet (that is, in the 15th mark detection) after detecting the mark. .

  As described above, the collating machine 1 efficiently detects a paper feeding error in the non-collating mode by using the mark attached to the paper of the last page of the paper set.

  The input means 21 further includes a distance input unit 28 for inputting a distance L (FIG. 4) from the front end of the sheet to the front end of the mark. The control means 20 increases the time from when the transmissive photoelectric sensor 16 detects the passage of the front edge of the paper until the reflective photoelectric sensor 17 starts operating in proportion to the input distance L, thereby detecting the mark. Correct the timing to perform. Thereby, more stable mark detection can be performed.

As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this embodiment.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the reflective photoelectric sensor 17 for mark detection is arranged on the downstream side of the paper feeding means 11 that feeds the paper to the transport path G, but the transmission type photoelectric sensor that takes the timing. As long as it is arranged downstream of the sensor 16, it may be arranged upstream of the paper feeding means 11.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collator 2 Frame 3, 3a-3e Paper feeding unit 4, 4a-4e Paper tray 5, 5a-5e Paper stack 6, 6a-6e Supply means 7 Paper delivery means 8 Nozzle 9 Vacuum rotor 10 Intake hole 11 Paper feed Means 12 Driving roller 13 Idle roller 14 Upper guide plate 15 Lower guide plate 16, 16a to 16e Transmission type photoelectric sensor 17, 17a to 17e Reflection type photoelectric sensor 18, 19 Transport means 20 Control means 21 Input means 22 Bookbinding machine 23 Mark function selection section 24 Paper set selection section 25 Page number input section 26 Minimum page number input section 27 Maximum page number input section 28 Distance input section G Transport path E Transport exit F Front edge L of paper Distance from the front edge of the paper to the front edge of the mark M Mark P Topmost sheet P _L Last sheet of paper in sheet set R Emitting unit S Receiving unit

Claims (4)

A plurality of paper feed units arranged at intervals along the paper conveyance path and supplying the paper one by one to the conveyance path, and the paper supplied by the paper feed unit along the conveyance path downstream thereof A transport means for transporting to a transport outlet at the end, and a control means for controlling the paper feed unit and the transport means,
Each of the sheet feeding units is provided between a sheet tray on which a sheet stack is placed, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets one by one from the sheet tray to the conveyance path. A transmissive photoelectric sensor that is disposed between the paper tray and the conveyance path and detects the passage of the paper; and a sheet that is located at a certain conveyance distance downstream from the transmissive photoelectric sensor and is conveyed. A reflective photoelectric sensor disposed opposite to the
The control means includes
Paper is sequentially supplied from each of the paper stacks placed in page order for each paper tray from the upstream paper tray, and is next downstream to the paper supplied from the upstream paper tray on the conveyance path. A collation mode in which the sheets supplied from the sheet tray are sequentially overlapped, and the sheets are transported to the transport outlet in a state of being overlapped in page order;
Of the paper stacks that are stacked in multiple paper trays and stacked in multiple pages, each sheet from the paper stack in one paper tray. A non-collating mode for continuously supplying, transporting to the transport outlet without overlapping on the transport path, and starting feeding from the next paper tray when feeding from the paper tray is completed; In addition,
The control means includes
In the collation mode, based on the detection signal of the transmission photoelectric sensor, the presence or absence of double feeding of paper is detected,
In the non-collation mode, in the paper feeding unit that is feeding paper, the reflective photoelectric sensor is operated after a lapse of a certain time after the transmission photoelectric sensor detects passage of the front edge of the paper, and the reflection photoelectric sensor is operated. Based on the detection signal of the type photoelectric sensor, it is sequentially detected whether or not a mark indicating that it is the last page of the sheet set is attached to a predetermined position on the sheet,
If it is detected that the paper has a mark, it is determined that the paper is the last page of the paper set; if it is detected that the paper has no mark, the paper is determined not to be the last page of the paper set;
A collating machine characterized by that. In the non-collation mode, when the number of pages of each sheet set constituting the sheet stack is constant, the page number input unit for inputting the number of pages of the sheet set,
The control means is input when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of a mark is less than the number of input pages or after the detection of the mark. 2. The collating machine according to claim 1, wherein when the next mark is not detected on the same number of sheets as the number of pages that have been detected, it is determined that there is a paper feed error. In the non-collation mode, when the number of pages of each paper set constituting the paper stack is indefinite, the minimum page number input section for inputting the number of pages of the paper set having the smallest number of pages, A maximum page number input section for inputting the number of pages of a large number of paper sets,
The control means detects the mark when the number of sheets on which mark detection has been performed after the detection of the mark is less than the number of pages input to the minimum page number input section. 2. A paper feed error is determined when the next mark is not detected on the same number of sheets as the number of pages input to the maximum page number input section after detection. The collating machine described. A collator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A bookbinding processor disposed downstream of the collator, receiving paper supplied from the collator, bookbinding, and sequentially forming a booklet;
In the non-collating mode, the collating machine immediately detects that there is no mark on the paper, and immediately causes the supply means to supply the next paper from the paper tray, and detects that the paper has a mark. A signal indicating that the paper is the last page of the paper set is transmitted to the bookbinding processor, and after waiting for a predetermined time, the supply means supplies the next paper from the paper tray,
The bookbinding system, wherein the bookbinding processor receives the signal from the collating machine and starts a bookbinding process when receiving a sheet as a final page.

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