JPH09175097A - Automatic sealing device for envelope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic sealing device of envelopes with functions of ejecting an envelops from the device and informing the user of the false insertion at the event of the false envelope insertion. SOLUTION: A first sensor 18a is provided at the guide downstream side from an envelope 4 forwarding roller and at the position where flaps of fed envelopes are superimposed, and a second sensor 18b is provided at the position where flaps are never superimposed. When an envelope is inserted correctly with the flap ahead, the second sensor 18b does not detect the envelope 4, however, when inserted falsely in a reverse direction, it detects the envelope 4 and controls the envelope 4 to be ejected therefrom.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic envelope sealing device for sealing an envelope using a roll adhesive tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device for automatically sticking an envelope using a roll adhesive tape has been proposed because it is not only troublesome but also time-consuming for shipping if the envelope is manually sealed. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-025197, an adhesive tape which is inserted with a flap at the front is transferred to a mounting table by a feed roller, the flap of the envelope is bent and held by a bender, and is sandwiched and pulled out by a moving clip. There is disclosed a device in which the tape is pressed against the flap by a pressure plate, the tape is cut and attached at one end side of the flap, and the tape is sealed by a pressure roller.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, since the flap of the envelope is bent at the correct bending position, the sensor detects when the tip of the flap reaches a predetermined position and stops the envelope. There is. At this time, if the user inserts the envelope correctly from the side with the flap, it will be possible to seal without problems, but if the envelope is inserted by mistake, that is, the envelope is inserted in the reverse direction or the shape or size is different. If you insert a sealed envelope, you will not be able to attach the tape in the correct condition, and the cutting position of the tape will affect the envelope, so the tape will not cut and the device will no longer operate normally. There was a problem that it could cause a breakdown.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a first sensor for detecting that an envelope has reached a bending position and a second sensor for detecting an erroneous insertion of an envelope. When the envelope is erroneously inserted, control is performed so that the envelope is ejected without executing the predetermined sequence of bending, pasting and sealing of the envelope. This allows the user to be notified of the incorrect insertion.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The automatic envelope sealing apparatus of the present invention includes an insertion and ejection means for feeding and ejecting an envelope with the flap as a leading end into the apparatus and a folding means for folding the flap of the envelope at a folding position. The sticking means for sticking the adhesive tape to the flap, the sealing means for further bending the flap to which the adhesive tape is stuck and adhering the adhesive tape to the main body side of the envelope, and the fact that the envelope has reached the folding position. It has a first sensor for detecting and a second sensor for detecting whether the envelope is correctly inserted or erroneously inserted when the envelope reaches the folding position, and the envelope is sent to the folding position by the first sensor. Is detected and the second sensor detects that the envelope has been correctly inserted, the subsequent predetermined sequence is continued,
When the first sensor detects that the envelope has been sent to the folding position and the second sensor detects that the envelope has been erroneously inserted, control is performed to eject the envelope without performing the predetermined sequence thereafter. It is a thing.

It is preferable that the first sensor is in a position where the envelope overlaps with the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position, and the second sensor is in a position where the envelope does not overlap with the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position. When the user mistakenly inserts the envelope into the envelope automatic sealing device configured as described above, that is, when the envelope is inserted from the bottom, when the already folded envelope is inserted from the folded portion, or when the predetermined shape or When an envelope of a different size is inserted, the second sensor detects an erroneous insertion, and the envelope is ejected to notify the user of the erroneous insertion without performing the subsequent sequence.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the automatic envelope sealing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This automatic envelope sealing device is a device that automatically seals an envelope using an adhesive tape. In FIGS. 1 and 3, a side plate 1 and a side plate 2 are provided in parallel with each other in the automatic envelope sealing device at intervals such that envelopes of various sizes can be inserted. The side plate 1 and the side plate 2 are connected and fixed to each other by bosses 1a and 2a which project in opposite directions. A guide plate 3 is detachably attached to the front end portions of the side plates 1 and 2. The guide plate 3 serves as a guide when the envelope 4 is inserted into or ejected from the automatic envelope sealing device. When the envelope 4 is inserted from the guide plate 3, the flap 4a at the front end is opened and the flap 4a is inserted at the front.

Between the side plate 1 and the side plate 2, the side plate 1 and the side plate 2 are provided.
On the support portion 2b protruding inward of each of the (see FIG. 2)
A guide 5 is provided in the. The guide 5 is provided with a detection lever 5a for detecting the insertion of the envelope 4 so as to be vertically swingable. At the tip of the guide 5, a feed roller 6 for inserting and ejecting envelopes and a driven roller 7 pressed against the feed roller 6 are vertically opposed to each other. On the downstream side of the feed roller 6 and the driven roller 7, a bender lever 8 forming a part of a folding means for folding the flap 4a of the envelope 4 is swingably provided. The bender lever 8 is driven by a flap bending motor 9 via a train wheel (not shown). A guide 10 is provided on the further downstream side of the bender lever 8, and a drive roller 11 and a drive roller 12 which are sealing means are provided on the downstream side so as to face each other vertically. A guide 13 is provided on the downstream side of the drive roller 11 and the drive roller 12. The guide 13 is provided with a detection lever 13a similar to the detection lever 5a of the guide 5. The feed roller 6 on the upstream side, the drive roller 11 and the drive roller 12 on the downstream side are driven by an envelope feed motor 14 via a train wheel (not shown) to rotate at a constant speed.

A pedestal 15 is provided above the bender lever 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the pedestal 15 is arranged between the side plate 1 and the side plate 2. A receiving surface 15a is formed on the pedestal 15 (see FIG. 2). A small protrusion is formed on the receiving surface 15a so that the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape described later can be easily peeled off. Further, an edge portion 15b for sandwiching the envelope 4 with the groove portion 8a of the bender lever 8 is formed at the lower end portion of the pedestal 15. A movable guide 16 is swingably supported on the pedestal 15 with its one end 16a as a fulcrum. The movable guide 16 has its tip end urged downward by a spring 17. The movable guide 16 is for guiding the tip of the inserted envelope 4 so as not to hit the edge 15b. Guide 10
A sensor 18a and a sensor 18b, which will be described later in detail, are provided. The guide 10 is a receiving portion 2 formed integrally with the side plate 2.
It is attached to c.

The means for holding, tensioning and adhering the adhesive tape will be described below. In FIG. 1, the side plate 1 is formed with bosses 20 and 21, and the side plate 2 is also provided with similar bosses. Has been formed. A guide shaft 22 is fixed to the bosses 20 and 21 of the side plate 1, and a similar guide shaft 23 is fixed to the boss of the side plate 2. These two guide shafts 22, 23
A slide plate 24 is slidably supported on the. As shown in FIG. 2, a slide plate feed motor 25 is provided inside the side plate 2.
Is provided, and the rotation shaft of the slide plate feed motor 25 is connected to the slide plate 24 via a train wheel and a crank mechanism (not shown).
It is connected to. Therefore, by driving the slide plate feed motor 25, the slide plate 24 is moved to the envelope 4
It reciprocates in the feeding direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1, horizontal direction in FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide plate 24 includes:
A carrier 26 is provided on the slide plate 24 so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the envelope 4 (left-right direction in FIG. 1). The carrier 26 constitutes means for pulling out and tensioning the tape. Explaining the drive mechanism of the carrier 26, a carrier feed motor (not shown) is provided on the back side of the slide plate 24.
7 penetrates the slide plate 24 and projects to the front side. A pinion 28 is formed on the shaft 27, and a gear 30 is rotated via a gear 29. A gear 31 is integrally formed with the gear 30. A gear 32 that interlocks with the gear 31 is provided at the center of the slide plate 24, and the timing belt 3 having a tooth profile formed on the gear 31 and the gear 32.
3 is hung around. Further, a tension lever 34 is provided which is close to the timing belt 33 and applies tension to the timing belt 33. The tension lever 34 can swing around a shaft 35 as a fulcrum, and the tension roller 3 is attached to the tip end portion thereof.
6 is rotatably supported. Tension lever 34
Is urged upward by the spring 37 in FIG. on the other hand,
A guide shaft 38 is provided on the slide plate 24, and both ends of the guide shaft 38 are supported by support portions 24 a and 24 b of the slide plate 24. The carrier 26 is slidably supported by a guide shaft 38. In FIG. 2, the carrier 26 is formed with an engaging portion 26 a that engages with the tooth profile of the timing belt 33, and therefore the carrier 26 is provided with the timing belt 3.
It is designed to be linked to the movement of 3. Further, the carrier 26 has an engaging portion 26b that engages with a part of the slide plate 24.
Is formed, and the engaging portion 26b and the guide shaft 38 move in parallel.

A solenoid 39 is provided on the carrier 26. A connecting portion 41 is swingably connected to the solenoid shaft 40 via a shaft 42. A clamper 43 is connected to the connecting portion 41 and is swingably supported by a shaft 44. Further, the clamper 43 is biased by a spring 45 in the opening direction. A clamp claw 46 is formed on the clamper 43. The carrier 26 has a claw 46.
A clamp claw receiver 26c is provided opposite to.

Next, the means for holding the tape will be described. The tape cassette 47 is attached to the slide plate 24 by the locking claws 4.
It is detachably attached by 7a. Tape cassette 47
A central shaft 47b is integrally provided on the tape holder 4
8 is rotatably provided. The tape holder 48 is removable from the central shaft 47b. A commercially available tape roll 49 is attached to the tape holder 48, and the rib 48a of the tape holder 48 is press-fitted into the roll core 50 at the time of attachment. The pull-out end of the tape T is provided with a pair of guide plates 52, 53 via the guide pin 51.
Is pinched by The guide plate 52 is biased counterclockwise by a spring (not shown), and the guide plate 53 is biased clockwise by a spring (not shown). The tip of the tape T projects a predetermined length toward the clamper 43 side of the guide plates 52 and 53.

Next, the means for cutting the tape will be described. The cutter motor 54 is provided on the slide plate 24, and the worm 55 is fixed to the motor shaft. The rotation of the worm 55 is transmitted to the gears 56 and 57.
An eccentric pin 57a is formed on the gear 57 and is fitted to the U-shaped arm 58a of the cutter holder 58. When the eccentric pin 57a rotates, the cutter holder 58 moves forward and backward in a direction orthogonal to the protruding end of the tape T. A cutter 59 is attached to the cutter holder 58.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a slide plate 24
A pressing plate 60 for pressing and adhering the tape T to the flap 4a of the envelope 4 is provided at a position facing the pedestal 15. The holding plate 60 is made of rubber, and is used as the slide plate 24.
Is attached to a holding plate holder 61 fixed to the back side of the.

Next, returning to the sensor mechanism, the guide 10 is provided with the sensors 18a and 18b as described above. The sensor 18a is a sensor that detects the arrival of the tip of the flap 4a of the inserted envelope 4, and is arranged in a recess formed in the guide 10 via the circuit board 19 as shown in FIGS. And is connected to a control circuit (not shown). The position of the sensor 18a is set so that when the tip of the flap 4a reaches the position of the sensor 18, the bent portion of the envelope 4 is directly below the edge portion 15b facing the bender lever 8. Further, the sensor 18b is a sensor for detecting whether the envelope is properly inserted or erroneously inserted when the envelope 4 reaches the bending position, and in FIG. 1, the clamp claw 46 of the clamper 43 which is a tape holding unit. Is provided in the recess of the guide 10 through the circuit board like the sensor 18a and is connected to a control circuit (not shown).

FIG. 4 schematically shows a positional relationship between the sensor 18a and the sensor 18b and a state in which the envelope 4 reaches the bending position. As shown in the figure, the flap 4a of the envelope 4 has a normal shape in which both sides thereof are notched in a tapered shape so that the tape-adhered portion at the leading end is formed to be narrower than the lateral width of the envelope body. Further, in this apparatus, when the tape is cut by the tape cutting means, the cutter 59 advances to the vicinity of the tapered notch 4b of the flap 4a to cut the tape. The sensor 18a is a flap 4a.
The flap 4a is provided at a position (line A in the figure) where the tip of the flap 4a overlaps when the bent portion reaches the bending position (line B in the figure). Further, the sensor 18b is provided so that when the tip of the flap 4a overlaps the sensor 18a, it does not overlap the flap 4a, that is, it is located outside the tapered notch 4b on the left side of the flap 4a in the drawing. That is, when the envelope 4 is correctly inserted, the sensor 18a
Detects the envelope 4 when the envelope 4 reaches a predetermined folding position, but the sensor 18b does not detect the envelope 4. Therefore, the control circuit (not shown) receives only the signal from the sensor 18a, controls the swinging bender lever 8 so as to bend the envelope 4, and then bends the envelope 4, and then sticks the tape, seals, and ejects the envelope. The predetermined sequence of is performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the envelope 4 is erroneously inserted, for example, when the envelope 4 is inserted in the reverse direction from the bottom, or when the already folded envelope is inserted from the bent portion. The sensor 18b detects the envelope 4 because the tip of the envelope 4 overlaps the sensor 18b. When the control circuit (not shown) receives signals from both the sensor 18a and the sensor 18b, the feed roller 6 as a tape insertion / ejection means is driven to rotate in the reverse direction as shown in FIG. 5B, and the envelope 4 is ejected. Control to do. This allows the user to know that the insertion is incorrect. Also, if the flap of the inserted envelope is not in a regular shape or is not a regular size and the flap of the envelope hangs at the cutting position of the tape, it will hinder the cutting of the tape. In the case of such an incorrect insertion, the sensor 18b
Will detect the envelope 4, and the envelope 4 will be ejected under the same control as above.

Next, a series of operations when the envelope is normally inserted into the automatic envelope sealing device will be described.

The envelope 4 is inserted from the guide plate 3, and the envelope 4
When it is detected that the tip of the flap 4a of the guide 4 has reached the detection lever 5a of the guide 5, the envelope feed motor 14 is driven, which causes the feed roller 6 to rotate clockwise, and in conjunction with this, the driven roller 7 When is rotated counterclockwise, the envelope 4 is sent to the downstream side. When the tip of the envelope 4 reaches the position of the sensor 18a of the guide 10, the envelope feed motor 14 is stopped by the signal from the sensor 18a as described above, and thus the envelope 4 also stops moving. The stop position corresponds to a position where the portion corresponding to the fold of the envelope 4 comes directly below the edge portion 15a of the pedestal 15.

Next, when the flap bending motor 9 is driven, the tip of the bender lever 8 swings upward, and the fold line of the envelope 4 is sandwiched between the groove 8a and the edge 15b of the bender lever 8. Then, the flap 4a is the pedestal 15
It is bent about 90 degrees to a position where it comes into contact with the receiving surface 15a. In this state, the envelope 4 is held.

Next, in the tape tensioning means, the solenoid 39 is driven, whereby the clamper 43 swings and the protruding end of the tape T protruding from the guide plates 52 and 53 is connected to the claw 46 and the clamp claw receiver 26c. Clamp between. Then, the carrier feed motor is activated to move the carrier 26 to the right as shown in FIG. As a result, the tape T is pulled out into the air between the pedestal 15 and the pressing plate 60. At that position, the lower half of the pulled-out tape T faces the upper end of the flap 4a of the envelope 4 bent by the bender lever 8. When the tape T is pulled out to a certain length, the carrier feed motor stops and the tape is stretched. At this time, the tape T is in a position where the upper half portion thereof projects further upward from the upper end portion of the flap 4a of the envelope 4.

Then, the slide plate feed motor 25 is driven, and the slide plate 24 is advanced to the upstream side in the envelope insertion direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, the upper end of the tape T is pressed against the receiving surface 15a of the pedestal 15 by the pressing plate 60, and at the same time, the lower half of the tape T is attached to the upper end of the folded flap 4a. At this time, the cutter motor 54 operates to advance the cutter 59 to the tape cutting position to cut the tape, and at the same time, the clamping of the tip portion of the tape T by the solenoid 39 is released.

Next, the slide plate feed motor 25 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the slide plate 24 retracts, the presser plate 60 separates from the tape T and returns to FIG. 1, and at the same time, the flap bending motor 9 rotates reversely. The bender lever 8 swings downward and separates from the envelope 4.

Next, the carrier feed motor is rotated in the reverse direction to return the carrier 26 to the original position in FIG. 1, and at the same time, the envelope feed motor 14 is re-driven, and the feed roller 6 and the driven roller 7 are rotated and the envelope 4 is pulled. Move further upstream. The fold line of the envelope 4 reaches the drive rollers 11 and 12, and the drive roller 1
After passing between 1 and 12, the flap 4a of the envelope 4 is closed and the upper half of the tape T is stuck and sealed to the envelope 4. Then, when passage of the envelope 4 is detected by the detection lever 13a of the guide 13, the envelope feed motor 14 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction to feed the envelope 4 in the reverse direction. As a result, the flap 4a again passes between the drive rollers 11 and 12. Therefore, the tape T can be reliably attached. Further, the envelope 4 is fed back to the upstream side, discharged to the guide plate 3, and the apparatus stops.

[0026]

As described above, in the automatic envelope sealing apparatus of the present invention, the first sensor detects that the envelope has been sent to the bending position, and the second sensor correctly inserts the envelope. Is detected, the predetermined sequence thereafter is continued so that the envelope is sealed, the first sensor detects that the envelope has been sent to the bending position, and the second sensor detects that the envelope has been erroneously inserted. When it is detected, the envelope is controlled so as to be ejected without performing the predetermined sequence thereafter, so that the user can easily know the erroneous insertion of the envelope and can smoothly perform the sealing operation. Further, if the first sensor is provided at a position that overlaps the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position, and the second sensor is provided at a position that does not overlap the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position, the envelope has a simple configuration. It can detect the incorrect insertion of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automatic envelope sealing device.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1 with an adhesive tape attached.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a positional relationship of sensors and an inserted state of an envelope.

5A and 5B are plan views schematically showing an erroneous insertion state of an envelope, where FIG. 5A shows a state in which a sensor detects an erroneously inserted envelope, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the envelope is ejected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 T Adhesive tape 4 Envelope 4a Envelope flap 6 Feed roller 8 Bender lever 18a 1st sensor 18b 2nd sensor 59 Cutter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An insertion and ejection means for feeding and ejecting an envelope into the apparatus with the flap as a leading end, a folding means for folding the flap of the envelope at a folding position, and an adhesive tape attached to the folded flap. Adhesion means, sealing means for further bending the flap to which the adhesive tape is adhered to adhere the adhesive tape to the main body side of the envelope, and a first sensor for detecting that the envelope has reached the folding position. And a second sensor for detecting whether the envelope is correctly inserted or erroneously inserted when the envelope reaches the folding position, and the envelope is sent to the folding position by the first sensor. Is detected and the second sensor detects that the envelope is correctly inserted, the subsequent predetermined sequence is continued, When the first sensor detects that the envelope has been fed to the folding position and the second sensor detects that the envelope has been erroneously inserted, the envelope is ejected without performing the predetermined sequence thereafter. An automatic envelope sealing device characterized by being controlled so that 2. The first sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is
The envelope automatic device is characterized in that it is in a position where it overlaps with the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position, and the second sensor is in a position where it does not overlap with the flap when the envelope reaches the folding position. Sealing device.