JPH08318920A - Postal information printing adding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely add a mark which can be read by a machine at a specified area of an applicable mail regardless of the configuration of the mail, and reduce the cost as well. CONSTITUTION: An inputting means, a converting means, first and second postal information adding means 20, 50, a mail carrying means 60, a selecting means and a delayed driving control means are provided. Then the postal information printing adding device is constituted in such a manner that the first postal information adding means 20 which is a label affixing type, and the second postal information adding means 50 which is a direct printing type can be selectively applied in response to the configuration of a mail.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention converts a postal information (e.g., zip code) input into a machine-readable symbol such as a bar code and adds the postal information to a predetermined portion of the postal matter. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in order to rationalize postal delivery work, mechanical processing such as sorting work of postal matter has been further promoted. , A postal code) has been developed to print a machine-readable (for example, a bar code scanner readable) symbol such as a bar code corresponding to postal information on a postal matter by keying in a postal information printing addition device. There is.

In such a postal information printing / adding device, a symbol such as a bar code is directly printed on a predetermined portion of a mail by using an ink jet printer or the like.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-described postal information printing / adding device, since the symbol is directly printed on a predetermined portion of the postal matter, depending on the form of the postal matter, the print quality is extremely deteriorated and the machine becomes unreadable. It may become.

For example, when a bar code is printed on an envelope having an uneven surface due to the enclosed contents by an ink jet printer, the printed bar code may be bent and the machine cannot be normally read. Sometimes. In addition, when printing envelopes made of resin film, which is increasing in number in recent years, with inkjet printers,
The ink may not dry and the print may be crushed as the printing work is performed, making the machine unreadable. Even if another printer (for example, a dot printer) is used, it is difficult to clearly print a barcode on a sealed letter having an uneven surface.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention prints a barcode on a label indirectly by printing the barcode on a label and affixing the label to a predetermined portion of an envelope so as to avoid the above-mentioned inconvenience. A postal information printing addition device has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-45913, etc.).

[0007] By using this label attaching type postal information printing addition device, a clear bar code can be added even if the postal matter has irregularities, and ink is not contaminated even if the envelope is made of a resin film. The barcode can be read normally.

However, since the label is used, the running cost is higher than that of the direct printing method in which the bar code is directly printed on the mail, which causes a problem when a large amount of mail is processed.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can reliably add a machine-readable symbol to a predetermined portion of a postal matter regardless of the form of the postal matter, and can also reduce the cost. An object is to provide a printing addition device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, an input means for inputting postal information, a converting means for converting the input postal information into a machine-readable symbol, and the converted symbol are printed on a label. The first mail information adding means, which comprises a label printing means and a label sticking means capable of sticking a label on which a symbol is printed, to a predetermined part of the mail, and the symbol converted by the converting means is directly printed on the mail. Second that can be added
The mail information adding means and the mail conveying means for conveying the mail along the conveying path at a predetermined speed.
The postal information adding means are separately arranged along the conveyance path of the postal matter, and the selecting means which can select one postal information adding means to be used from the both postal information adding means and the postal matter conveying by the selecting means When the postal information adding means on the downstream side in the direction is selected, delay drive control means is provided for driving the postal information adding means by delaying the start by a set time compared to when the postal information adding means on the upstream side is driven. It is characterized by that.

[0011]

In the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the operator inputs the postal information (for example, postal code) written on the postal matter by the sender using the input means. The input postal information is converted into a symbol that can be read by a machine (for example, a barcode scanner) like a barcode by the conversion means.

Next, the operator selects the first mail information adding means by using the selecting means when the mail is, for example, a sealed letter made of a resin film or has irregularities on the outer surface. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the first postal information adding unit is arranged upstream of the second postal information adding unit in the postal matter transport direction.

Thereafter, the postal matter is conveyed at a predetermined speed along the conveying path by the postal matter conveying means. After a lapse of a predetermined time after the mail is started to be conveyed, the first mail information adding means is driven to attach a label having a symbol printed thereon to a predetermined portion of the mail to be conveyed on the conveying path. Therefore, it is possible to clearly add the barcode to the sealed letter made of the resin film or the mail having the unevenness on the outer surface.

If the mail is a normal mail not made of a resin film and the outer surface is not uneven, the second mail information adding means is selected. Then, the second mail information adding means is the upstream mail information adding means (here, the first mail information adding means) by the delay drive control means.
It is driven with the start delayed by a set time. Therefore, the symbol is directly printed on a predetermined portion (the same portion as the label sticking portion) of the postal matter conveyed on the conveying path. In this direct printing method, since no label is used, the running cost can be greatly reduced accordingly.

Therefore, it is possible to smoothly add a bar code to a large amount of ordinary mail to be processed while reducing the cost.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the present postal information printing addition device includes a device main body 1, a control unit 10, an input means (1
5), converting means (11, 12), first and second mail information adding means (20, 50), mail conveying means 60, selecting means (17a, 17b), delay drive control means (11,
12) is provided, and the first postal information adding means 20 of the label sticking system and the second of the direct printing system are provided according to the form of the mail.
The post information adding means (50) is selectively used.

The apparatus main body 1 is provided with each of the above-mentioned components, and is also provided with a hopper section 2 and a stacker section 3 as shown in FIG. The hopper unit 2 is used for postal matter (for example, a bar code C, etc.) to which a symbol such as a bar code C is added.
It is provided so that a large number of envelopes LT) can be accommodated. In addition, the stacker unit 3 displays the mail (L) after the symbol (C) is added.
T) can be accommodated in a large number.

The control unit 10 drives and controls the entire postal information printing addition device, and as shown in FIG.
The U11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the clock circuit 14, the input / output port (I / O) 18, and the like.

In this embodiment, the keyboard 15 is selected as the input means. The keyboard 15 has various keys such as numeric keys and execution keys, and is configured to be able to perform key operation input of postal information (for example, postal code N) of a postal matter (LT). The keyboard 15 is connected to the input / output port 18 of the control unit 10.

The converting means is means for converting the postal information (N) input by the inputting means (15) into a machine-readable symbol (C). In this embodiment, a bar code converting program and a postal code N are used. It is composed of a ROM 12 storing a corresponding bar code C and a CPU 11.

The postal matter conveying means 60 is a postal matter (LT) inserted from the postal matter insertion portion P1 in the vicinity of the hopper section 2.
Is a means for conveying the sheet toward the stacker unit 3 along the conveying path 69, and is composed of a first conveying belt means 61 and a second belt conveying means 71 as shown in FIG.

The second belt conveying means 71 comprises a pair of conveying belt portions (72, 72, which are arranged in parallel in the mail conveying direction (X direction)).
74), and is formed so that the postal matter (LT) can be sandwiched and conveyed in the X direction in a state in which the postal matter (LT) is laid horizontally in an upright position by both conveyance belt portions (72, 74). Conveyor belt section 72 (74)
Is a pair of support rollers (73A, 73B) [(75A,
75B)] and both supporting rollers (73A, 73B) [(7
5A, 75B)] endless belt 73C
(75C).

The first belt conveying means 61 is means for conveying the postal matter (LT) inserted at the postal matter inserting portion P1 to the second belt conveying means 71, and a pair of supporting rollers (63A, 63A, 63B) and both supporting rollers (63A, 63A)
It is formed of an endless belt 63C that is stretched around B).

A drive motor 65 is connected to each of the belt conveying means (61, 71) through a power transmission means (not shown), and conveys a mail (LT) at a predetermined speed (V) in the X direction. Is configured. This drive motor 65
Is a driver 6 connected to the input / output port 18 of the control unit 10.
It is connected via 5D.

The first postal information adding means 20 includes a label printing means (for example, a thermal printer 21) for printing the symbol (C) converted by the converting means (11, 12) on the label 38, and the symbol (C). And a label sticking means 41 capable of sticking a label 38 on which is printed to a postal matter (LT).

The second mail information adding means is the conversion means (1
1, 12) is a means for directly printing and adding the symbol (C) converted to the postal matter (LT), and in this embodiment, the ink jet printer 50 has a low running cost.

Then, the first and second mail information adding means (20, 50) are spaced apart from each other along the transport path 69 of the mail (LT). In this embodiment, the ink jet printer 50 is arranged on the downstream side of the first mail information adding means 20 in the mail conveying direction (X direction),
The direct printing position P3 is separated from the label printing position P2 by a predetermined distance L.

More specifically, the first postal information adding means 2
0 means that the label 38 can be attached to a predetermined portion of the postal matter (LT), and the time Ti from the start of the conveyance of the postal matter (LT) by the postal matter conveying means 60 is longer than the set time Ts. It is said to be driven when it becomes large. The set time Ts is the RAM of the control unit 10.
It is set and stored in a predetermined area 13 and is backed up by a battery. The set time Ts can be changed via the keyboard 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer 21 of the first mail information adding means 20 includes a thermal head unit 22, an ink ribbon cassette 25, and a platen roller 26, and the thermal head unit 22 and the platen roller are included. The label 38 supplied between the label 26 and the label 26 is printable by using an ink ribbon. In the thermal printer 21, the label 38 is fed by the label feeding means 31 and the label 38 is fed by the mail conveying means 60.
It is automatically supplied at a speed (V) synchronized with the conveyance of.

The label supply means 31, as shown in FIG.
Winding rotary body 32, feeding rotary body 33, upstream and downstream intermediate support rollers [(35A, 35B), 36]
It is formed including and.

Here, the labels 38 are attached to the strip-shaped release liner 39 at equal intervals, and the release liner 3 is attached.
The roll 9 is wound in a roll shape and is set in the payout rotating body 33 so as to be drawn out. In this embodiment, label 38
Is made of a transparent resin film in order to prevent the characters (for example, an address) written on the attached postal matter (LT) portion from being hidden.

Therefore, the part of the release liner 39, which is pulled out from the feeding rotary member 33 side, is supported by the upstream intermediate supporting rollers (35A, 35B) and the thermal printer 2
1 thermal head unit 22 and platen roller 26
And is wound around the winding rotary body 32 via the downstream side intermediate support roller 36. A predetermined tension is applied to the part of the release liner 39.
The take-up rotary member 32 is rotationally driven and controlled by a drive motor (not shown) in cooperation with the mail conveying means 60.

The label sticking means 41 is a means for sticking the label 38 on which the symbol (C) is printed to a predetermined portion (a portion near the right end) of the postal matter (LT), and as shown in FIG. 1, the label sticking position P2. The pressure roller 45 disposed rotatably around the vertical axis on the further downstream side and the part of the release liner 39 discharged from the thermal head unit 22 are bent at an acute angle to remove the label 38 from the liner 39. It is composed of a peeling shaft member 42 which can be peeled off. The label 38 peeled from the release liner 39 is used for the postal matter (L
T) and the pressure roller 45 are sent and pinched. As a result, the label 38 is attached to a predetermined portion of the postal matter (LT).

The delay drive control means is used when the mail information adding means (inkjet printer 50) on the downstream side in the mail conveying direction (X direction) is selected by the selecting means (labeling selection key 17a, direct printing selection key 17b). The mail information adding means (first mail information adding means 20) on the upstream side is provided so that the code (C) can be directly printed on a predetermined portion of the mail matter (LT) by the mail information adding means (50). This is a means for driving with the start being delayed by the set time ΔT than when driving.

In this embodiment, the ROM 12 storing the delay drive control program, the CPU 11, and the clock circuit 14
And is executed in step ST18 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The set time ΔT is determined by the distance (L) between the direct printing position P3 and the label printing position P2 and the postal matter (L).
It is set according to the transport speed (V) of T). The set time ΔT is set and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 13 of the control unit 10 and backed up by a battery. The set time ΔT can be changed via the keyboard 15.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. To add the symbol (C) corresponding to the postal information (N) to the postal matter (LT), the operator takes out the postal matter (LT) made of the transparent resin film from the hopper unit 2, and then the postal matter (LT). Input the postal information (N) described in the item 1 using the keyboard 15 (S
T10). The input postal information (N) is converted into the symbol (C) by the conversion means (11, 12).

Next, the operator is, for example, a mail item (L
If T) is a resin film envelope or has irregularities on the outer surface, the label sticking selection key 17a is operated to select the first mail information adding means 20 (ST1).
1). After that, the postal matter (LT) is transported by the postal matter conveying means 60.
Is transported at a predetermined speed (V) along the transport path 69 (ST12).

After a lapse of a set time (Ts) from the start of the transportation of the mail (LT), the first mail information adding means 20 is driven and a predetermined amount of the mail (LT) is conveyed on the conveyance path 69. A label 38 having a symbol (C) printed on its part is attached (ST13, 14, 15). Therefore, it is possible to clearly add the symbol (C) to a sealed letter made of a resin film or a mail (LT) having irregularities on the outer surface.

When the mail is a normal letter LT which is not made of resin film and has no irregularities on the outer surface, the direct print selection key 17b is operated to select the second mail information adding means (50). (ST16). Then, the second mail information adding means (50) causes the delay drive control means (11, 1).
By 2), the start is delayed by the set time ΔT from the first mail information adding means 20 on the upstream side.

Therefore, the symbol (C) is directly printed on a predetermined portion (the same portion as the label sticking portion) of the postal matter (LT) conveyed through the conveying path 69 (ST18, 19, 20).
In this direct printing method, since no label is used, the running cost can be greatly reduced accordingly. When each selection key (17a, 17b) is not operated, an alarm sound is emitted (ST21).

According to this embodiment, however, the input means (15), the conversion means (11, 12), the first and second mail information adding means (20, 50), and the mail conveying means 6
0, selection means (17a, 17b), delay drive control means (11, 12) are provided, and the first mail information adding means 20 of the label sticking method and the first mail information of the direct printing method according to the form of the postal matter (LT). It is possible to selectively use the second mail information adding means 50. Therefore, the machine-readable symbol (C) can be surely added to the predetermined portion regardless of the form of the mail (LT), and the cost can be reduced.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the input means, the conversion means,
First and second mail information adding means, mail conveying means,
Since the selection means and the delay drive control means are provided and the first mail information adding means of the label sticking method and the second mail information adding means of the direct printing method can be selectively used according to the form of the mail, the mail can be selected. Regardless of the form, a machine-readable symbol can be surely added to the predetermined part, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise an external perspective view.

FIG. 3 is likewise a block diagram for explaining the overall configuration.

FIG. 4 is likewise a flowchart for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 control unit 11 CPU (conversion means, delay drive control means) 12 ROM (conversion means, delay drive control means) 14 clock circuit (delay drive control means) 15 keyboard (input means) 17a label sticking selection key (selection means) 17b Direct print selection key (selection means) 20 First mail information addition means 38 Label 50 Inkjet printer (second mail information addition means) 60 Mail conveying means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting postal information, conversion means for converting the input postal information into a machine-readable symbol, label printing means for printing this converted symbol on a label, and the symbol are printed. A first postal information adding unit that is a label attaching unit that can attach the created label to a postal item, and a second postal information adding unit that can add the symbol converted by the conversion unit by directly printing it on the postal item. A mail piece conveying means for conveying the mail piece at a predetermined speed along the conveying path, and the first and second mail information adding means are arranged separately along the mail piece conveying path, and both mail information adding means are provided. Selecting means for selecting one of the mail information adding means to be used, and when the mail information adding means on the downstream side in the mail conveying direction is selected by this selecting means, the mail information adding means is selected on the upstream side. Postal information addition Postal information print additional apparatus characterized in that a delay drive control means for driving delays the start by the set time than when driving the stage.