JPH06135422A - Erroneous sealing detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely detect failure in enclosing a content, and defect an excessive enclosure in an automatic sealing machine by calculating a logical thickness of a finished envelope and comparing the logical thickness with an actual thickness value. CONSTITUTION:According to a signal from a destination information input means 1, a number of folds signal is sent from a number of folds signal generating means 8 and a number of enclosures signal is sent from a number of enclosures signal generating means 9 to a folding unit 3 and an enclosure supply unit 4 respectively. The enclosures folded and overlaid are put in and sealed into an envelope, and its thickness is measured by a sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6. On the other hand, the enclosures and the envelope are respectively measured by an enclosure thickness measuring device 2 and an envelope thickness measuring device 5, and a logical thickness of a finished envelope is calculated by a calculating means 10. A comparison means 11 compares the logical thickness calculated value from the calculation means 10 with the actual thickness value from the sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6, wherein if difference between them is a predetermined value or more, an alarm signal is sent to an alarm means 7, where an alarm is issued.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting erroneous encapsulation in mail processing, and more particularly to a device for automatically enclosing and sealing various contents in an envelope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, from the standpoint of labor saving (labor saving), contents such as card usage statements for banks and transaction statements for stocks and various leaflets are automatically enclosed in envelopes. , A device for sealing is appearing. Although this automatic encapsulation and sealing device is very simple, there are cases where the enclosed product is not properly enclosed in the envelope but is sealed due to mechanical or human error. Therefore, various systems have been proposed for detecting and preventing so-called erroneous encapsulation of the enclosed material, such as leakage and over-encapsulation, and there are roughly the following three methods.

That is, as a first method, the thickness of the standard sealed and sealed envelope is measured in advance and stored as a standard thickness, and the measured thickness of the actually finished, ie, sealed and sealed envelope is measured. As a second method for detecting whether or not the enclosed material is correctly sealed, the second method is to detect the thickness of the enclosed material one by one with a thickness measuring instrument provided for each supply part of the enclosed material. , Pre-stored enclosure 1
By comparing with the thickness of the sheet, it is possible to detect whether or not the encapsulation has been completed correctly. As a third method, a method using both the first and second methods, that is, provided for each supply part of the enclosed material The thickness measuring device detects the thickness of each enclosed item and compares it with the thickness of one enclosed item that is stored in advance, and also measures the thickness of the standard enclosing and sealing envelopes to determine the reference thickness. There is a method of detecting whether or not the encapsulation has been correctly completed by comparing the measured thickness of the envelope that is actually finished, that is, the encapsulated and sealed.

[0004]

However, the above three methods have the following problems. That is, in the first method, when the finished thickness varies, for example, when the number of enclosed items differs for each destination, the thickness of the finished envelope is not constant for each destination, so the reference thickness There is a problem that cannot be set, and setting it makes no sense. Further, in the second method, since the thickness of each enclosed item is checked at the time of supplying the enclosed item,
There is no problem if the number of enclosed items supplied differs for each destination,
If a worker forgets to replenish the supply despite the fact that there is a shortage of printed materials that must be enclosed, for example, due to a human error, he / she will not be able to check the forgotten replenishment and notice the leakage of the enclosure. There is a problem that there is no. Also,
In the third method, it is possible to detect the human error in the second method by comparing the first method, that is, the reference thickness with the actual sealed envelope thickness. If they are different, the thickness of the finished envelope is not constant for each destination, so that the drawback of the first method remains.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an erroneous encapsulation detection device for automatically enclosing the enclosed item in an envelope and reliably detecting leakage or excess encapsulation of the device for sealing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an erroneous enclosure detection device according to the present invention has the following features, as shown in FIG.
Destination information input means 1 for sending a signal instructing the specification of the enclosed matter for each destination, an enclosed matter thickness measuring device 2 for individually measuring the thickness of each enclosed matter, and a folding unit 3 for folding the enclosed matter.
And the enclosure supply unit 4 that stacks enclosures
And an envelope thickness measuring instrument 5 for measuring the thickness of the envelope in which the enclosed item is enclosed, a sealed envelope thickness measuring instrument 6 for measuring the thickness of the envelope in which the enclosed item is enclosed and sealed, and a warning in the case of erroneous enclosure. And a warning means 7 for issuing
In accordance with the signal from, the folding number signal generating means 8 for instructing the folding number of the enclosed matter and sending the folding number signal to the folding unit 3, and the signal from the destination information inputting means 1, the enclosed matter of the same destination. Enclosed object number signal generating means 9 for instructing the number of sheets and sending the enclosed object number signal to the enclosed object supply unit 4, a thickness measurement value signal from the envelope thickness measuring instrument 5, and a thickness from the enclosed object thickness measuring instrument 2. An arithmetic means 10 and an arithmetic means 10 for calculating the theoretical thickness of the envelope in which the enclosed material is sealed according to the measurement value signal, the number of folding signal from the folding number signal generating means 8 and the number signal from the enclosed number signal generating means 9. The theoretical thickness calculated value from the sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6 is compared with the actual thickness value, and when the difference between the calculated theoretical thickness value and the actual thickness value is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the warning means 7
It is characterized in that it is provided with a controller 12 comprising a comparing means 11 for sending a warning signal.

[0007]

According to the erroneous enclosure detection device in such means, when a signal is inputted from the destination information input means 1 to the controller 12, the fold number signal is enclosed from the fold number signal generating means 8 in accordance with this signal. The number-of-enclosed-items signal is sent from the number-of-items signal generation means 9 to the folding unit 3 and the enclosed unit supply unit 4, and in the folding unit 3, each enclosed item is folded by the required number of folds and enclosed items. In the supply unit 4, the enclosed items are overlapped by the required number. The stacked enclosures are sealed and sealed in an envelope, and the thickness of the sealed envelope is measured by the sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6. On the other hand, the enclosed items and the envelopes in which the enclosed items are enclosed have their thicknesses actually measured by the enclosed item thickness measuring device 2 and the envelope thickness measuring device 5, respectively, and the thickness measurement value signal and the number-of-folds signal and the number-of-sheets signal are measured. Computing means 10
Then, the calculation means 10 calculates the theoretical thickness of the finished envelope according to these signals. Then, the calculated theoretical thickness value of the finished envelope sent from the calculating means 10 and the actual thickness value sent from the sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6 are inputted to the comparing means 11, and the comparing means 11 calculates the theoretical thickness. The calculated value and the actual thickness value are compared, and when the difference is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a warning signal is sent to the warning means 7 because of the leakage and over-filling, and the warning means 7 issues a warning. Is emitted.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an erroneous enclosure detection device showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this erroneous enclosure detection device, three types of enclosed items are used, and the first and second enclosed items require folding, such as a bank card usage statement. The enclosed items and the third enclosed item do not require folding, for example, enclosed items such as leaflets are shown. This mis-encapsulation detection device is a specification of enclosed items by destination, that is, the number of folding of each enclosed item. , Destination information inputting means 1 for sending out a signal instructing the required number of sheets, and thickness measuring instruments 2a, 2b, 2c for measuring the thickness of the first, second and third enclosures respectively, first and second Folding units 3a and 3b for respectively folding the enclosed items of the required number of folds,
The pool units 4a and 4b for pooling the required number of the second enclosed items, the confluent unit 4c that superimposes the enclosed items of the pool units 4a and 4b, and the enclosed item of the confluent unit 4c requires the third enclosed item. Enclosed matter supply unit 4 composed of a supply unit 4d for superimposing sheets, an envelope thickness measuring device 5 for measuring the thickness of the envelope in which the enclosed matter is enclosed, and the envelope in the enclosed matter supply unit 4 described above. The enclosed unit 14 for enclosing the enclosed object, the enclosing unit 15 for enclosing the envelope enclosing the enclosed object with water glue, etc., and the thickness of the enclosed finished envelope, for example, reflection of laser etc. is used. A sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6 which measures by means of the above, and a display device 7a which lights an error lamp when erroneous sealing is performed,
Stop switch 7 to stop the device if it is erroneously sealed
In response to signals from the warning means 7 composed of b, the destination information input means 1, the thickness measuring instruments 2a, 2b, 2c, the envelope thickness measuring instrument 5, and the sealed envelope thickness measuring instrument 6, the folding units 3a, 3b, The pool unit 4a, 4b, the supply unit 4d, the display device 7a, and the controller 12 for sending a signal to the stop switch 7b are provided.

Here, the destination information input means 1, the thickness measuring instruments 2a, 2b, 2c, 5, 6 and the folding units 3a, 3
b, pool units 4a and 4b, merging unit 4c, supply unit 4d, enclosing unit 14, sealing unit 1
5, the display device 7a, and the stop switch 7b have a well-known structure, and a description thereof will be omitted here. Note that the arrow lines in FIG. 2 are electric signal lines, the arrow lines having diagonal lines inside are envelopes,
The flow of enclosed items is shown respectively.

The folding units 3a and 3b, the pool units 4a and 4b, the supply unit 4d, the display device 7a,
The above-mentioned controller 12, which controls the sending of the signal to the stop switch 7b, is configured to achieve the same functions as the number-of-folds signal generating means 8, the number-of-enclosed-items signal generating means 9, the calculating means 10 and the comparing means 11 in FIG. It is a microcomputer. RO in this controller 12
A program capable of achieving the above functions is written in M, and each set value and data table are stored. RO
The flow chart of the program written in M is as shown in FIG.

The operation of this apparatus will be described below according to a program. When the program starts, first in step 1, the thickness tE of the envelope in which the enclosed material is enclosed.
Is measured by the envelope thickness measuring device 5, and the process proceeds to step 10. On the other hand, step 2 is executed in parallel with step 1, and in step 2, the thickness of the first enclosed product is measured by the enclosed product thickness measuring instrument 2a, and the process proceeds to step 3 in which the first enclosed product is measured. The folding thickness t1 of is calculated. t1 ← t1 × n1 (t1; the thickness measured in step 2,
n1; number of folds of the first enclosed product) Here, for example, n1 = 1 is set when it is not necessary to fold, and n1 = 3 is set in the case of three-fold. Then, the process proceeds to step 4, and in step 4, the thickness t1 when m1 sheets of the first enclosed material are sent to the same destination is calculated. t1 ← t1 × m1 (t1; folding thickness calculated in step 3, m1; number of first enclosed items) where, for example, when the number is 1, m1 = 1,
When two sheets are sent, m1 = 2. Then, when this calculation is completed, the process proceeds to step 10.

Further, in parallel with steps 1 and 2, step 5
However, since the flow of steps 5 to 7 performed on the second enclosed material is exactly the same as the flow of the first enclosed material described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

Further, step 8 is executed in parallel with steps 1, 2 and 5, and in step 8, the thickness of the third enclosed material is measured by the enclosed material thickness measuring device 2c, and step 9
Proceeding to step 9, in step 9, the thickness t3 in the case where m3 sheets of the third enclosed material are sent to the same destination is calculated. t3 ← t3 × m3 (t3; the thickness measured in step 8,
m3; the number of third enclosed items) Then, when this calculation is completed, the process proceeds to step 10. Here, the third enclosure does not require folding as described above. For the enclosure such as a leaflet, the folding thickness calculated for the first and second enclosures is calculated. Absent.
Further, the number of folds of the first, second, and third enclosed items, the required number of sheets, and the like are designated by an input signal from the destination information input means 1.

Then, in step 10, the theoretical thickness t of the finished envelope is calculated. t = tE + t1 + t2 + t3 Then, when this calculation is completed, the process proceeds to step 15.

On the other hand, in step 11, the number of folds n1 used in steps 3 and 6 for the first and second enclosures,
n2 minutes, folding by the folding units 3a and 3b, the process proceeds to step 12, and in step 12, the number m1 of the first and second enclosed items used in steps 4 and 7,
m2 minutes, pooled by the pool units 4a and 4b, and the pooled first and second enclosed items are merged into the merge unit 4
They are merged by c, and the third enclosed matter of the number m3 used in step 9 is superposed on the merged first and second enclosed matters by the supply unit 4d. That is,
In this step 12, the first, second, and
A required number of the third enclosed items are stacked by the enclosed item supply unit 4. Then, the process proceeds to step 13, and the first, second, and
The third enclosed item is the enclosing unit 14 and the enclosing unit 15.
Then, the envelope is sealed and sealed, and the process proceeds to step 14. At step 14, the thickness (t0) of the finished (enclosed and sealed) envelope is measured by the sealed envelope thickness measuring device 6, and the process proceeds to step 15.

In step 15, the theoretical thickness t (tE + t) of the finished envelope calculated in step 10 is calculated.
1 + t2 + t3) is compared with the actual thickness t0 of the finished envelope measured in step 14. here,
In the case of t-a ≤ t0 ≤ t + a (a; the allowable range value of the measurement value including the measurement error), there is no enclosure leakage or over-encapsulation, and it is assumed that the enclosure is correctly encapsulated and sealed. The flow is completed, and if t0> t + a or t0 <t−a, there is leakage of enclosure of the enclosure, excess enclosure, etc., and it is determined that the enclosure is not properly encapsulated or sealed, and the process proceeds to step 16 and step 16 In step 3, the error lamp of the display device 7a is turned on, the device stop switch 7b is turned on to notify that there is an erroneous sealing, and this flow is ended.

As described above, in this embodiment, the thickness of the envelope and the thickness of the first, second and third enclosures is measured by the thickness measuring devices 5 and 2.
a, 2b, 2c are individually measured, the thickness of the finished envelope (sealed envelope) is calculated based on the thickness and the destination information, and the theoretical thickness t is compared with the actual measured value t0 of the finished envelope. As a result, even if the number of enclosed items varies from envelope to envelope, it is possible to evaluate the actual thickness of the finished envelope and prevent leakage and excess packaging. There is.

Further, even when a worker forgets to replenish the work despite a human error such as a printed matter or the like which must be enclosed in the middle of the work, the actual finished envelope thickness t0. Is thin due to the lack of the enclosed material, but the theoretical thickness t is calculated based on the destination information regardless of the lack, so it becomes possible to detect the leakage of inclusion by comparing t0 and t. There is.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say, for example, in the above embodiment, the three types of the first, second, and third enclosures are enclosed in the envelope, but the combination is not limited to this. There may be any number of enclosed items, and the number of folds and the like are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the enclosed material supply unit 4 is constituted by the pool units 4a and 4b, the confluence unit 4c, and the supply unit 4d, but of course it may be constituted by other patterns. good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device 7
Although the alarm switch 7a informs the user that the erroneous encapsulation has been performed by using the stop switch 7b, it is possible to use another object as the warning means 7.

Furthermore, by means of the input of thickness information,
Of course, it is also possible to input the thickness of each enclosed item and envelope into the calculating means 10.

[0023]

As described above, according to the erroneous enclosure detection device of the present invention, the thicknesses of the envelope and the enclosed product are individually measured, and the finished envelope (sealed envelope) based on the thickness and the destination information. Since the theoretical thickness is calculated and the theoretical thickness is compared with the actual measured value of the finished envelope, it is possible to reliably detect automatic encapsulation, encapsulation leakage of the sealing device, and excess encapsulation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an erroneous enclosure detection device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program stored in the controller shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Address Information Input Means 2 Enclosed Item Thickness Measuring Device 3 Folding Unit 4 Enclosed Item Supply Unit 5 Envelope Thickness Measuring Device 6 Envelope Envelope Thickness Measuring Device 7 Warning Means 8 Folding Number Signal Generating Unit 9 Enclosing Item Number Signal Generating Unit 10 Computing Unit 11 Comparison means 12 Controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for automatically enclosing an enclosed item in an envelope and detecting an erroneous encapsulation of a device for enclosing, comprising: destination information input means for transmitting a signal instructing a specification of the enclosed item for each destination. Measure the thickness of the enclosed item thickness meter that individually measures the thickness of each enclosed item, the folding unit that folds the enclosed item, the enclosed item supply unit that stacks the enclosed item, and the envelope in which the enclosed item is enclosed. An envelope thickness measuring instrument, an enclosing envelope thickness measuring instrument that measures the thickness of an envelope that encloses the enclosed material, and a warning unit that issues a warning when mis-encapsulation is made, and a signal from the destination information input unit According to the instruction, the number of folds of the enclosed item is indicated, and the fold number signal generating means for sending the fold number signal to the fold unit and the number of each enclosed item of the same destination are indicated according to the signal from the destination information input means. Shi An enclosure number signal generating means for sending the enclosure number signal to the enclosure supply unit; a thickness measurement value signal from the envelope thickness measuring instrument; a thickness measurement value signal from the enclosure thickness measuring instrument; A calculation means for calculating the theoretical thickness of the envelope in which the enclosed material is sealed and sealed according to the number-of-folds signal from the signal generation means and the number signal from the enclosed quantity signal generation means, and the theoretical thickness calculation value from the arithmetic means and the Comparison of comparing the actual thickness value from the sealed envelope thickness measuring device, and sending a warning signal to the warning means when the difference between the theoretical thickness calculation value and the actual thickness value is a predetermined value or more. An erroneous enclosure detection device characterized by comprising a controller comprising means.