U.S. patent application number 13/365827 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-18 for aligning apparatus and enclosing and sealing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Toshio ENDOU, Yoshihiro NOGUCHI, Manabu TACHI, Akihiro TSUMURA.
Application Number | 20120260606 13/365827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47005345 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120260606 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NOGUCHI; Yoshihiro ; et
al. |
October 18, 2012 |
ALIGNING APPARATUS AND ENCLOSING AND SEALING APPARATUS
Abstract
When the width of an envelope has sufficient margin for the
width of a paper sheet, the aligning operation is skipped to
improve productivity. As shown in FIG. 2, in an aligning apparatus
1 including an aligning unit 4 that aligns both side edges of the
conveyed paper sheets, a difference value and a predetermined
threshold value for use in an aligning operation execution
determination are compared. The difference value is calculated by
subtracting width dimension obtained from sheet size information of
the paper sheet to be aligned from width dimension obtained from
envelope size information of the envelope to enclose the paper
sheet. The controller 7 controls not to execute the aligning
operation if the difference value exceeds the predetermined
threshold value.
Inventors: |
NOGUCHI; Yoshihiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; TSUMURA; Akihiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; ENDOU;
Toshio; (Tokyo, JP) ; TACHI; Manabu; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
47005345 |
Appl. No.: |
13/365827 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/331 20130101;
G03G 15/6594 20130101; G03G 2215/00514 20130101; G03G 15/6552
20130101; B65H 2511/12 20130101; B65H 31/34 20130101; B65H
2301/36112 20130101; B43M 5/042 20130101; B65H 2511/12 20130101;
B43M 3/045 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/255 |
International
Class: |
B65B 39/00 20060101
B65B039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2011 |
JP |
2011-036092 |
Mar 4, 2011 |
JP |
2011-047864 |
Claims
1. An aligning apparatus including an aligning unit that aligns
both side edges of conveyed paper sheets, the aligning apparatus
comprising a controller, wherein the controller compares a
difference value with a predetermined threshold value for use in an
aligning operation execution determination, and controls not to
execute an aligning operation if the difference value exceeds the
threshold value, the difference value being calculated by
subtracting sheet size information of the paper sheet from envelope
size information of an envelope to enclose the paper sheet to be
aligned.
2. The aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
aligning apparatus is disposed at a preceding stage of enclosing
and sealing unit which encloses and seals the paper sheet in the
envelope, and the controller controls the enclosing and sealing
unit not to execute a position adjustment of the envelope and the
paper sheets to match one another when the controller determines
that the aligning operation of the paper sheet is not executed.
3. The aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
aligning unit includes a pair of aligning plates to align the paper
sheets, and the controller executes control of the aligning plates
to move to a sheet receiving position that has a same size as an
opening of the envelope based on the envelope size information when
the controller determines that the aligning operation of the paper
sheet is not executed.
4. An enclosing and sealing apparatus for conveying an envelope and
content, and enclosing and sealing the content in the envelope, the
enclosing and sealing apparatus comprising: a memory that stores
aligning position data based on edge data of a preliminary conveyed
plurality of envelopes; the aligning unit according to claim 1 that
aligns the content and executes a position adjustment; a controller
that controls the aligning unit to adjust the position of the
content to the envelope based on the aligning position data of the
envelope stored in the memory.
5. The enclosing and sealing apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the edge data includes an amount of deviation and a
variation of a position of side edge portions of the envelope in a
widthwise direction perpendicular to a conveying direction, the
controller compares a size difference of the envelope to be used
and the content in the widthwise direction with the amount of
deviation and variation of the edge data, the controller controls
the aligning unit to adjust a position of the content in the
widthwise direction by the amount of deviation if the amount of
deviation exceeds the size difference and the variation is smaller
than the size difference, and the controller does not control the
aligning unit if the amount of deviation and the variation are
smaller than the size difference.
6. The enclosing and sealing apparatus according to claim 4,
further comprising a sensor that detects a side edge portion of the
envelope in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying
direction to detect edge data, wherein the enclosing and sealing
apparatus preliminary conveys a plurality of envelopes and obtains
the position of the side edge portions of the envelopes with the
sensor, thereby generating the aligning position data, and storing
the aligning position data in the memory.
7. The enclosing and sealing apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the aligning position data stored in the memory is reset in
association with a change of an enclosed envelope making condition
in the enclosing and sealing apparatus, and the aligning position
data is newly obtained in association with an operation of the
enclosing and sealing apparatus based on a new enclosed envelope
making condition, and stored in the memory.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an aligning apparatus that
aligns conveyed paper sheets, and also relates to an enclosing and
sealing apparatus that encloses and seals contents aligned by the
alignment apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In order to stably execute post-processing such as staple
processing on conveyed paper sheets after image forming, a sheet
post-processing apparatus includes an aligning unit which executes
sheet alignment as a preceding process so as to correct sheet
positions according to a content of post-processing (see Patent
Literature 1 below for more detail).
[0003] An enclosing and sealing apparatus interfolds an envelope
paper sheet to make an envelope, thereafter encloses and seals a
content in the envelope to produce a sealed matter. The enclosing
and sealing apparatus executes aligning processing which aligns the
center of the position of the content with the center of the
position of the envelope in the conveying direction with an
aligning unit, so as to precisely enclose the content in the
envelope when enclosing the content in the envelope, which is
similar to the above mentioned apparatus.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] However, the sheet post-processing apparatus disclosed in
Patent Literature 1 changes a content of the aligning operation
according to sizes of the paper sheets so as to increase its
processing speed. The sheet post-processing apparatus executes the
aligning operation of all of the conveyed paper sheets regardless
its number and size. Thus, even if the aligning operation is not
necessary, the aligning operation is always executed, thus
degrading the productivity and also causing problems of noise and
power consumption due to the unnecessary aligning operation.
[0005] When making envelopes by folding envelope paper sheets, the
folded part of the envelope paper sheet is commonly bonded with
pressure sensitive adhesive. The press-bonding area of the envelope
causes a smaller storage volume for the content than that of the
ready-made envelopes. Thus, the aligning process of the content is
executed. However, the apparatuses of this kind always execute the
aligning operation even when the envelope has a sufficient margin
in its width size for a width of the content. Accordingly, this
degrades the productivity and also causes problems of noise and
power consumption due to the unnecessary aligning operation.
[0006] With the aforesaid problems understood, the present
invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide an
aligning apparatus and an enclosing and sealing apparatus including
the aligning apparatus that reduces the unnecessary aligning
operation, thereby ensuring the improving the productivity.
Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the above-described problems, according to
a first aspect of the invention, we provide an aligning apparatus
including an aligning unit that aligns both side edges of conveyed
paper sheets. The aligning apparatus includes a controller. The
controller compares a difference value with a predetermined
threshold value for use in an aligning operation execution
determination, and controls not to execute an aligning operation if
the difference value exceeds the threshold value. The difference
value is calculated by subtracting sheet size information of the
paper sheet from envelope size information of an envelope to
enclose the paper sheet to be aligned.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, the aligning
apparatus according to the first aspect is disposed at a preceding
stage of enclosing and sealing unit which encloses and seals the
paper sheet in the envelope. The controller controls the enclosing
and sealing unit not to execute a position adjustment of the
envelope and the paper sheets to match one another when the
controller determines that the aligning operation of the paper
sheet is not executed.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the invention, in the
aligning apparatus according to the first or the second aspect, the
aligning unit includes a pair of aligning plates to align the paper
sheets. The controller executes control of the aligning plates to
move to a sheet receiving position that has a same size as an
opening of the envelope based on the envelope size information when
the controller determines that the aligning operation of the paper
sheet is not executed.
[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, we provide an
enclosing and sealing apparatus for conveying an envelope and
content, and enclosing and sealing the content in the envelope. The
enclosing and sealing apparatus includes: a memory that stores
aligning position data based on edge data of a preliminary conveyed
plurality of envelopes; the aligning unit according to the first
aspect that aligns the content and executes a position adjustment;
a controller that controls the aligning unit to adjust the position
of the content to the envelope based on the aligning position data
of the envelope stored in the memory.
[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the
enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the
edge data includes an amount of deviation and a variation of a
position of side edge portions of the envelope in a widthwise
direction perpendicular to a conveying direction. The controller
compares a size difference of the envelope to be used and the
content in the widthwise direction with the amount of deviation and
variation of the edge data. The controller controls the aligning
unit to adjust a position of the content in the widthwise direction
by the amount of deviation if the amount of deviation exceeds the
size difference and the variation is smaller than the size
difference. The controller does not control the aligning unit if
the amount of deviation and the variation are smaller than the size
difference.
[0012] According to a sixth aspectof the invention, in the
enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the fourth aspect or
the fifth aspect, the enclosing and sealing apparatus further
includes a sensor that detects a side edge portion of the envelope
in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction
to detect edge data. The enclosing and sealing apparatus
preliminary conveys a plurality of envelopes and obtains data of
the position of the side edge portion of the envelope with the
sensor, thereby generating the aligning position data, and storing
the aligning position data in the memory.
[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the
enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the
aligning position data stored in the memory is reset in association
with a change of an enclosed envelope making condition in the
enclosing and sealing apparatus. The aligning position data is
newly obtained in association with an operation of the enclosing
and sealing apparatus based on a new enclosed envelope making
condition, and stored in the memory.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014] With the aligning apparatus according to the first aspect of
the present invention, in the enclosing and sealing processing for
enclosing and sealing the paper sheets to be the contents in the
envelope, when the difference value calculated by subtracting the
width of the paper sheet from the width of the envelope exceeds the
threshold value for use in the aligning operation execution
determination, the aligning operation can be skipped. This improves
the productivity by shortening the time for making the enclosed
envelope processing, and reduces the electric power and the noise
at the aligning operation.
[0015] With the aligning apparatus according to the second aspect
of the present invention, when it is determined that the aligning
operation of the paper sheet is not executed, the positioning of
the envelope to the position of the paper sheet is not executed.
This further improves the productivity by shortening the processing
time in addition to the skip of the aligning operation.
[0016] With the aligning apparatus according to the third aspect of
the present invention, when it is determined that the aligning
operation of the paper sheet is not executed, the position of the
aligning plate is controlled to move to the sheet receiving
position which has the same size as the opening of the envelope.
Thus, the paper sheet does not deviate outside of the width of the
opening of the envelope. The paper sheet is received at the
position where the paper sheet is surely enclosed, thus conveyed to
the enclosing and sealing unit at the subsequent stage.
[0017] With the enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the
fourth aspect of the present invention, the side edge portion of
the conveyed envelope is detected, and the aligning position data
is generated from the obtained edge data and stored in the memory.
When making the envelope, the control unit controls the aligning
unit using the aligning position data of the envelope stored in the
memory. The content is appropriately aligned, and its position in
the widthwise direction is adjusted to the envelope as necessary.
Accordingly, the content is enclosed in the envelope immediately
after the folding, thus reducing the unnecessary operation compared
with the conventional art. This shortens the processing time to
achieve high efficiency.
[0018] With the enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the
fifth aspect of the present invention, the controller compares the
size difference between the envelope to be used and the content in
the each widthwise direction with an amount of deviation and
variation of the edge data. Only when it is determined that the
alignment and the position adjustment by the aligning unit are
possible and necessary, the aligning unit is controlled to execute
appropriate position adjustment of the content and the envelope.
When the adjustment is not necessary to enclose the content in the
envelope without any trouble, the aligning unit is not controlled.
This reduces the unnecessary operation compared with the
conventional art, thus ensuring the shorten processing time and
high efficiency.
[0019] With the enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the
sixth aspect of the present invention, for the envelope making job
using the specified size of envelope and content, the side edge
portions of, for example, the number of initially conveyed
envelopes are detected with the sensor to output the plural pieces
of edge data. The aligning position data is generated from these
edge data pieces and stored in the memory. These data pieces are
used for controlling the aligning unit so as to ensure the shorten
processing time and the high-efficiency.
[0020] With the enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the
seventh aspect of the present invention, when the envelope making
job using the specified size of envelope and content is completed,
or the enclosed envelope making condition is changed in association
with the specifying of the new job, the aligning position data used
for the completed job or the foregoing job is erased. The new
aligning position data for the new job is obtained and stored in
the memory. This ensures the efficient execution of jobs with the
variant enclosed envelope-making condition with the short
processing time one after another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an enclosing
and sealing apparatus including an aligning apparatus according to
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system configuration of the
aligning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the aligning operation
for a plurality of paper sheets conveyed to the apparatus.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the aligning operation
for a single sheet conveyed to the apparatus.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exemplary table of difference values between
widths of ready-made envelopes and widths of paper sheets.
[0026] FIG. 6 is an exemplary table of difference values between
widths of envelopes made of folded envelope paper sheets and widths
of paper sheets.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a table for use in aligning operation execution
determination to determine whether the aligning operation is
executed or not when threshold values for use in the aligning
operation execution determination are determined in relation
between widths of ready-made envelopes and widths of sheets.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a table for use in aligning operation execution
determination to determine whether the aligning operation is
executed or not when threshold values for use in the aligning
operation execution determination are determined in relation
between widths of envelopes made of folded envelope paper sheets
and widths of sheets.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an enclosing
and sealing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 10A is an explanatory drawing of the enclosing and
sealing apparatus according to the second embodiment for
implementing the aligning function. FIG. 10B is a functional block
diagram of control means in FIG. 10A.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a plan view of positioning means at a preceding
stage of the enclosing and sealing means in the enclosing and
sealing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of press-bonding
unit of an enclosing and sealing unit in the enclosing and sealing
apparatus according to the second embodiment for illustrating its
structure and sealing function.
[0033] FIG. 13 is a plan view of main scan direction position
deviation correcting means as a preceding stage of the
press-bonding means in the enclosing and sealing apparatus
according to the second embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of an envelope paper
sheet for use in the enclosing and sealing apparatus according to
the second embodiment for illustrating its structure and folding
process.
[0035] FIG. 15A is a transparent view of the content of the
enclosed envelope for the aligning operation of the enclosing and
sealing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15B is a
transparent view of the content of the enclosed envelope not for
the aligning operation of the enclosing and sealing apparatus
according to the second embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 16 is a transparent view of the content of the enclosed
envelope for illustrating necessity of matching center lines of the
envelope and the content when the enclosing and sealing apparatus
encloses the content in the envelope.
[0037] FIG. 17 is an explanatory drawing for illustrating a control
method for content aligning means in the enclosing and sealing
apparatus previously proposed by this applicant.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail below by referring to the accompanying drawings. The present
invention will not be limited to the embodiment described below.
Any other configurations, embodiments, its technical operations,
and so on embodied by one of ordinary skill in the art are within
the scope of the present invention. The first embodiment and the
second embodiment will be described by referring to the drawings
that differ from each other. Though figures of the each embodiment
partially include common reference signs, elements and parts
designated by these reference signs indicate parts in figures of
the corresponding embodiment.
First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 8)
[1. Enclosing and Sealing Apparatus]
[0039] First, an enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the
present invention will be described.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, an enclosing and sealing apparatus 100
executes a process for each enclosed envelope to be made. That is,
a common print apparatus 10 prints on envelope paper sheets, which
are to be folded into an envelope form, and prints on sheet-formed
contents as necessary in an appropriate order. Next, the printed
envelope paper sheets and contents are conveyed to an enclosing and
sealing apparatus 20 and each conveyed in each of different
conveying paths. The envelope paper sheets are folded to form an
envelope form, while the contents are folded as necessary. Finally,
the both matters meet in the enclosing and sealing means 25, which
will be described below. The contents are enclosed in the
envelopes, thus aligned and discharged above the apparatus as
enclosed envelopes. Arrows shown in each part indicate the
conveying directions of the paper sheets, the envelope paper
sheets, and the envelope formed by the folding process.
[0041] The print apparatus 10 is an apparatus that prints on the
envelopes and the contents as paper sheets and discharges them. The
print apparatus 10 includes a plurality of paper feed trays (P1 to
P4), a looped conveying path 12, print means 13, a first discharge
path 14, a second discharge path 15, and a switchback path 16
inside or on side faces of its casing. The plurality of paper feed
trays (P1 to P4) which can store multiple kinds of paper sheets
(sheets of paper to be contents and envelope paper sheets). The
conveying path 12 conveys the paper sheets from the introductory
path 11. The print means 13 includes four ink jet heads C, K, M,
and Y which each eject each color of inks including cyan (C), black
(K), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). The first discharge path 14
ejects the paper sheet to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 20.
The second discharge path 15 discharges the paper sheets out of the
loop. The switchback path 16 receives the paper sheet conveyed from
the conveying path 12 and thereafter reverses into the conveying
path 12, thus turning the paper sheet upside down.
[0042] The enclosing and sealing apparatus 20 is an apparatus that
receives the envelope paper sheet and the paper sheets to be the
contents sent from the first discharge path 14 of the print
apparatus 10, and encloses and seals the contents in the envelope
paper sheet. The enclosing and sealing apparatus 20 includes a
first conveying route 21, a second conveying route 22, first
folding means 23, second folding means 24, the enclosing and
sealing means 25, water adding means 26, a pressure bonding roller
27, a discharge rack 28, and a discharge conveying unit 29. The
first conveying route 21 is a guiding path to run obliquely
downward from the first discharge path 14 of the print apparatus 10
so as to convey the envelope paper sheet to the first folding
means. The second conveying route 22 is a guiding path to run
obliquely downward from the preceding stage so as to convey the
paper sheet as the content to the second folding means 24. The
first folding means 23 (including a main folding roller A', a paper
sheet conveying roller D', and a first folding roller B') is
disposed at the end of the first conveying route 21 and folds the
envelope paper sheet so as to form the envelope form. The second
folding means 24 (including a main folding roller A, a first
folding roller B, a second folding roller C, and a paper sheet
conveying roller D) is disposed at the end of the second conveying
route 22 so as to fold the paper sheet. The enclosing and sealing
means 25 (including a main folding roller A'', a paper sheet
conveying roller D'', a first and a second folding roller B'' and
C'') is disposed at the meeting point of the first conveying route
21 and the second the conveying route 22. The enclosing and sealing
means 25 is a third folding means to further fold the envelope
paper sheet as necessary. The enclosing and sealing means 25
executes enclosing processing for aligning the content with the
folded envelope paper sheet. The enclosing and sealing means 25
further folds so as to enclose the content in the envelope, and
executes sealing processing for sealing the envelope. The water
adding means 26 is a bonding means to apply water to rewettable
paste on the envelope paper sheet to bring out adhesively, thus
bonding the envelope paper sheet to form the envelope. The pressure
bonding roller 27 vertically sandwiches applied places of the
pressure sensitive adhesive on the content enclosed envelope, thus
pressing to execute the pressure bonding. The discharge rack 28 is
disposed on the top face of the casing and sequentially stacks the
enclosed envelopes. The enclosed envelopes, the enclosing and
sealing of which are completed, are sent through a sending up path
running obliquely upward from the pressure bonding roller 27. The
discharge conveying unit 29 conveys the enclosed envelope to the
discharge rack 28.
[0043] The print apparatus 10 includes a memory 30 and a controller
40. The memory 30, which is common to the print apparatus 10 and
the enclosing and sealing apparatus 20, stores necessary drive
control information or the like to execute drive controls of each
of units which constitute the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100.
The controller 40, which is common to the print apparatus 10 and
the enclosing and sealing apparatus 20, stores necessary drive
information to drive the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100, and
various control information regarding the making of the enclosed
envelopes.
[0044] The aligning apparatus 1 according to the present invention
is disposed between the second conveying route 22 and the second
folding means 24 at the subsequent stage as shown in the drawing.
The aligning apparatus 1 executes an aligning operation to align
the position of the paper sheet with the alignment reference prior
to the folding processing of the paper sheet after the image
forming by the print apparatus 10.
[2. Aligning Apparatus]
[0045] Next, the aligning apparatus according to the present
invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 2 to 8.
[0046] In this application, moving positions of the aligning unit 4
according to the sheet alignment are assumed to be "standby
position" and "sheet receiving position" as follows. The standby
position is assumed to be a position to stand by from the end of
print job to the start of print job. The sheet receiving position
is assumed to be a position for the aligning unit 4 to have a
distance between themselves corresponding to a appropriate width
position (paper sheet width or envelope width) as necessary after
the start of the print job. The width position is based on sheet
size information indicative of the paper sheet used for the
executing print job.
<Apparatus Constitution>
[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, the aligning apparatus 1 in this example
includes a paper sheet conveying unit 2, a placing unit 3, an
aligning unit 4, a tip regulating unit 5, a memory 6, and a
controller 7. The memory 6 and the controller 7 respectively have
the same constitution as that of the memory 30 and the controller
40, which are common to the print apparatus 10 and the enclosing
and sealing apparatus 20. Here, only functions regarding the
aligning apparatus 1 as a constituting element of the aligning
apparatus will be described.
[0048] The paper sheet conveying unit 2 includes a pair of
carrying-in rollers 2a, a pair of conveying rollers 2b, and a pair
of discharging rollers 2c. The pair of carrying-in rollers 2a
includes the drive roller and the driven roller. The pair of
carrying-in rollers 2a carries in the paper sheets from the print
apparatus 10. The pair of conveying rollers 2b also includes the
drive roller and the driven roller. The pair of conveying rollers
2b conveys the paper sheets to the downstream direction. The pair
of discharging rollers 2c also includes the drive roller and the
driven roller. The pair of discharging rollers 2c convey to the
second folding means 24, which executes the sheet folding process
as the post-process in a predetermined timing. The pair of
discharging rollers 2c also executes skew correction of the paper
sheets. The pairs of rollers 2a to 2c are each rotatable along the
widthwise direction of the paper sheet.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, the driven roller of the pair of
conveying rollers 2b retracts to a retracted position when carrying
in the paper sheet, and sandwiches the paper sheet to convey with
the drive roller to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 4, the
paper sheet conveying unit 2 halts the drive of the pair of
discharging rollers 2c according to the skew correction execution
signal from the controller 7 when the content to be enclosed in the
envelope is a single paper sheet. This strikes the paper sheet
against the pair of discharging rollers 2c with conveying force of
the pair of conveying rollers 2b so as to slack the paper sheet,
thus executing the skew correction of the paper sheet.
[0050] The placing unit 3 includes an approximately flat surface
along the second conveying route 22 so as to temporarily reserve
the paper sheets, which are brought in by the pair of carrying-in
rollers 2a. The placing unit 3 includes a guide groove on its
mounting surface that limits a sliding direction of the aligning
unit 4 in a sheet widthwise direction perpendicular to the
conveying direction when aligning the sheets.
[0051] The aligning unit 4 includes a pair of aligning plates 4a
including plate members which slides in the sheet widthwise
direction so as to contact both side ends of the paper sheets, thus
aligning the paper sheet with the alignment reference. The aligning
unit 4 is slidably disposed upright along a guide groove of the
placing unit 3 at both outsides of the widthwise direction of the
paper sheet conveyed by the placing unit 3. The aligning unit 4
relatively moves the aligning plates 4a back and forth so as to
broaden or narrow the width which is a distance between aligning
plates 4a based on the aligning operation execution signal from the
controller 7. This, which is so-called the aligning operation,
limits the paper sheet in the widthwise direction and aligns the
paper sheet with the alignment reference. The aligning unit 4 does
not executes the aligning operation and put the aligning plates 4a
in a stand by state based on the aligning operation non-execution
signal from the controller 7.
[0052] Additionally, the aligning unit 4 moves from the standby
position to the predetermined sheet receiving position in response
to an input of the sheet receiving position movement signal from
the controller 7 when the aligning unit 4 inputs the aligning
operation non-execution signal. Thus, the aligning unit 4 receives
the conveyed paper sheet without executing the aligning operation.
The sheet receiving position is optionally adjustable according to
the content of the post-processing at the subsequent stage, which
is adjustable to, for example, the width of an opening of the
envelope for enclosing the content. This prevents operation failure
in the post-processing.
[0053] The tip regulating unit 5 includes a plate shaped member.
The tip regulating unit 5 is disposed movably in a direction
perpendicular to the mounting surface between the pair of conveying
rollers 2b and the pair of discharge rollers 2c. The tip regulating
unit 5 extends toward the mounting surface side of the placing unit
3 so as to regulate the front edge of the conveyed paper sheet
based on a regulation execution signal from the controller 7 when
carrying in the paper sheet. The tip regulating unit 5 retracts
toward the back side of the placing unit 3 after the aligning
operation. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip regulating unit 5 maintains
a retracted state based on a regulation non-execution signal from
the controller 7 without extending toward the mounting surface
side.
[0054] The memory 6 includes semiconductor memories such as
magnetic, optical memory medium, ROM, and RAM. The memory 6 stores
drive control programs for each unit of the aligning apparatus 1.
The memory 6 stores a table for use in the aligning operation
execution determination. The table includes the difference values,
the threshold values for use in the aligning operation execution
determination, and their associated comparison results. The
threshold values are calculated by subtracting sheet size
information of the paper sheet from envelope size information. The
threshold values for use in the aligning operation execution
determination are used in determination of the necessity of the
aligning operation.
[0055] Here, the table for use in the aligning operation execution
determination will be described. The table includes exemplary types
of envelopes and paper sheets usable in the enclosing and sealing
apparatus 100. This should not be construed in a limiting
sense.
[0056] First, relation between width dimensions of various types of
envelopes and paper sheets will be described. The types of
envelopes include "Western-style 0 envelope", "Western-style 5
envelope", "Rectangular 2 envelope", "Rectangular 3 envelope", "C5
envelope", "#10 envelope", and "#9 envelope". The paper sheets to
be the contents include "A4 sheet", "B5 sheet", and "legal or
letter size sheet".
[0057] FIG. 5 is a table for the difference values which are
calculated by subtracting widths b of the paper sheet as enclosed
objects from widths a of typical ready-made envelopes. FIG. 6 is a
table for the difference values which are calculated by subtracting
widths b of the paper sheet as enclosing objects from widths a of
the envelopes made of the folded envelope paper sheets. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6, the envelopes made of the folded envelope paper
sheets have the smaller difference values than the difference
values of the ready-made envelope by its bonding area for the
pressure sensitive adhesive. Accordingly, the necessity of the
aligning operation varies depending on whether the envelope used is
the ready-made envelope or the envelopes made of the folded
envelope paper sheets.
[0058] The tables for use in the aligning operation execution
determination are stored as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The table
includes types of the envelopes, types of the paper sheets, and the
threshold values for use in the aligning operation execution
determination in a relevant manner based on the above described
relation between the widths a of the envelopes and the widths b of
the paper sheets.
[0059] FIG. 7 shows tables for use in aligning operation execution
determination to determine whether the aligning operation is
executed or not when each of threshold values for use in the
aligning operation execution determination is determined in
relation between widths of ready-made envelopes and widths of
sheets. The threshold values are determined as 8 mm (one side 4
mm), 10 mm (one side 5 mm), 11 mm (one side 5.5 mm), 12 mm (one
side 6 mm), 14 mm (one side 7 mm), and 16 mm (one side 8 mm). FIG.
8 shows tables for use in aligning operation execution
determination to determine whether the aligning operation is
executed or not when each of threshold values for use in the
aligning operation execution determination is determined in
relation between widths of envelopes made of the folded envelope
paper sheet and widths of sheets, which is similar to the
ready-made envelope. The threshold values are determined as 8 mm
(one side 4 mm), 10 mm (one side 5 mm), 11 mm (one side 5.5 mm), 12
mm (one side 6 mm), 14 mm (one side 7 mm), and 16 mm (one side 8
mm).
[0060] In the table for use in the aligning operation execution
determination in this example, when the difference value which is
calculated by subtracting the width b of the paper sheet from the
width a of the envelopes is equal to or less than 3 mm, it is
determined that the paper sheet is not enclosable.
[0061] The controller 7 is a microcomputer that includes, for
example, CPU, ROM, and RAM and executes various control processing
and arithmetic processing. The controller 7 executes drive control
of each unit of the aligning apparatus 1. The controller 7
determines whether both side edges of the paper sheet as aligned
objects are within the range for executing the post-processing at
the subsequent stage in the aligning apparatus 1. The controller 7
controls execution or non-execution of the aligning operation, that
is, execution or non-execution of aligning the envelope with a
position of the paper sheet based on the determination result. In
other words, in this embodiment, the execution or non-execution of
the aligning operation, that is, the execution or non-execution of
aligning the envelope with a position of the paper sheet is
controlled. This is based on whether the difference values between
the width of the envelopes and the width of the paper sheets
exceeds the threshold value for use in the aligning operation
execution determination. The controller 7 executes the control of
the skew correction of the paper sheet, the control of the tip
regulating unit 5, and so on according to the number of the paper
sheets to be the contents.
[0062] Here, it is described below in detail with examples 1 to 4
that the control of the controller 7, based on the number of the
paper sheets to be the contents and the difference values between
the widths of the envelope and the widths of the paper sheet.
Example 1
[0063] In example 1, the contents are plural, and the difference
between the widths a of the envelopes and the widths b of the paper
sheets are equal to or less than the threshold value for use in the
aligning operation execution determination (a-b.ltoreq.threshold
value). The controller 7 calculates the difference values by
subtracting the widths b of the paper sheets from the widths a of
the envelopes based on the envelope size information and the sheet
size information from the print apparatus 10. The controller 7
collates the difference value and the table corresponding to the
predetermined threshold value for use in the aligning operation
execution determination among the tables for use in the aligning
operation execution determination which are stored in the memory
6.
[0064] If the result shows that the difference value, which is
calculated by subtracting the width b of the paper sheet from the
widths a of the envelopes, is equal to or less than the threshold
value for use in the aligning operation execution determination and
the controller 7 determines that the aligning operation is
necessary, the controller 7 outputs the aligning operation
execution signal for executing the aligning operation to the
aligning unit 4. The controller 7 outputs the regulation execution
signal to the tip regulating unit 5 because the paper sheets are
plural, and the front edge of the paper sheets need alignment. The
controller 7 further outputs the positioning operation execution
signal for executing the positioning operation of the envelope
position to the enclosing and sealing means 25 because the width of
the envelope does not have a large margin for the width of the
paper sheet.
Example 2
[0065] In example 2, the content is single, and the difference
between the widths a of the envelopes and the widths b of the paper
sheets are equal to or less than the threshold value for use in the
aligning operation execution determination (a-b.ltoreq.the
threshold value). The controller 7 calculates the difference values
by subtracting the widths b of the paper sheets from the widths a
of the envelopes based on the envelope size information and the
sheet size information from the print apparatus 10. The controller
7 collates the difference value and the table corresponding to the
predetermined threshold value for use in the aligning operation
execution determination among the tables for use in the aligning
operation execution determination which are stored in the memory
6.
[0066] If the result shows that the difference value, which is
calculated by subtracting the width b of the paper sheet from the
widths a of the envelopes, is equal to or less than the threshold
value for use in the aligning operation execution determination and
the controller 7 determines that the aligning operation is
necessary, the controller 7 outputs the aligning operation
execution signal for executing the aligning operation to the
aligning unit 4. The controller 7 outputs the regulation
non-execution signal to the tip regulating unit 5 because the paper
sheet is single, and the front edge of the paper sheet does not
need alignment. The controller 7 also outputs the skew correction
execution signal for executing the skew correction to the paper
sheet conveying unit 2. The controller 7 further outputs the
positioning operation execution signal for executing the
positioning operation of the envelope the position to the enclosing
and sealing means 25 because the width of the envelope does not
have a large margin for the width of the paper sheet.
[0067] In example 2, though the aligning operation in the sheet
widthwise direction is not necessary in nature because the paper
sheet as the content is single, the aligning operation is executed
to align the paper sheet with the alignment reference because the
width of the envelope does not have a large margin for the width of
the paper sheet.
Example 3
[0068] In example 3, the contents are plural, and the difference
between the widths a of the envelopes and the widths b of the paper
sheets exceeds the threshold value for use in the aligning
operation execution determination (a-b>threshold value). The
controller 7 calculates the difference values by subtracting the
widths b of the paper sheets from the widths a of the envelopes
based on the envelope size information and the sheet size
information from the print apparatus 10. The controller 7 collates
the difference value and the table corresponding to the
predetermined threshold value for use in the aligning operation
execution determination among the tables for use in the aligning
operation execution determination which are stored in the memory
6.
[0069] If the result shows the difference value, which is
calculated by subtracting the width b of the paper sheet from the
widths a of the envelopes, exceeds the threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination and the controller 7
determines that the aligning operation is not necessary, the
controller 7 outputs the aligning operation non-execution signal
for non-execution of the aligning operation to the aligning unit 4.
The controller 7 outputs the regulation execution signal to the tip
regulating unit 5 because the paper sheets are plural, and the
front edge of the paper sheet need alignment. The controller 7
further outputs the positioning operation non-execution signal for
non-execution of the positioning operation of the envelope to the
enclosing and sealing means 25 because the width of the envelope
has a large margin for the width of the paper sheet.
Example 4
[0070] In example 4, the content is single, and the difference
between the widths a of the envelopes and the widths b of the paper
sheets exceeds the threshold value for use in the aligning
operation execution determination (a-b>threshold value). The
controller 7 calculates the difference values by subtracting the
widths b of the paper sheets from the widths a of the envelopes
based on the envelope size information and the sheet size
information from the print apparatus 10. The controller 7 collates
the difference value and the table corresponding to the
predetermined threshold value for use in the aligning operation
execution determination among the tables for use in the aligning
operation execution determination which are stored in the memory
6.
[0071] If the result shows that the difference value, which is
calculated by subtracting the width b of the paper sheet from the
widths a of the envelopes, exceeds the threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination and the controller 7
determines that the aligning operation is not necessary, the
controller 7 outputs the aligning operation non-execution signal
for skipping the aligning operation to the aligning unit 4. The
controller 7 outputs the regulation non-execution signal to the tip
regulating unit 5 because the paper sheet is single, and the
alignment in the sheet widthwise direction and the front edge of
the paper sheet do not need alignment. The controller 7 also
outputs the skew correction execution signal for executing the skew
correction to the paper sheet conveying unit 2. The controller 7
further outputs the positioning operation non-execution signal for
non-execution of the positioning operation of the envelope to the
enclosing and sealing means 25 because the width of the envelope
has a large margin for the width of the paper sheet.
[0072] As shown in examples 3 and 4, the controller 7 may output
the sheet receiving position movement signal to the aligning unit 4
for the aligning unit 4 to move to the sheet receiving position
when outputting the aligning operation non-execution signal to the
aligning unit 4. This reduces the variation to some extent in the
sheet placing position of the paper sheet which has the far smaller
width than the width of the envelope, thus preventing enclosing
failure.
<Processing Operation>
[0073] Next, a set of the processing operation in the aligning
apparatus 1 according to this example will be described. Here, this
is described with exemplary system configuration in which a user PC
outputs the print job to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100
for making the enclosed envelope. Each of the processing operations
of the above described examples 1 to 4 will be described. Here,
setting of the print job will be described with an exemplary
processing in which the setting is made at the PC. Setting method
of the print job is not limited to this, and the setting may be
made at a control panel on the enclosing and sealing apparatus
100.
Processing Operation of Example 1
[0074] The processing operation of example 1 as described above is
as follows. First, the user selects a desired envelope and a
desired paper sheet and sets the content of the print job such as
the number of the enclosed envelope at the PC, thus outputting it
to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100. When the print job is
initiated, the difference values between the width of the envelope
and the width of the paper sheet is calculated from the envelope
size information and the sheet size information based on the set
print job. The calculated difference value is compared with the
table corresponding to the predetermined threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination among the tables for
use in the aligning operation execution determination stored in the
memory 6.
[0075] At that time, the difference value, which is calculated as a
difference between the width of the envelope and the width of the
paper sheet, is determined to be equal to or less than the
threshold value for use in the aligning operation execution
determination. The aligning operation execution signal is output
for the aligning unit 4 to execute the aligning operation. The
regulation execution signal is output to the tip regulating unit 5
so as to regulate the front edge of the conveyed paper sheets, and
the positioning operation execution signal for positioning
operation of the envelope with the position of the paper sheet is
output to the enclosing and sealing means 25. Then, the
predetermined number of paper sheets are aligned and thereafter
conveyed to the second folding means 24 at the subsequent
stage.
Processing Operation of Example 2
[0076] The processing operation of example 2 as described above is
as follows. First, the user selects a desired envelope and a
desired paper sheet and sets the content of the print job such as
the number of the enclosed envelope at the PC, thus outputting it
to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100. When the print job is
initiated, the difference value between the width of the envelope
and the width of the paper sheet is calculated from the envelope
size information and the sheet size information based on the set
print job. The calculated difference value is compared with the
table corresponding to the predetermined threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination among the tables for
use in the aligning operation execution determination stored in the
memory 6.
[0077] At that time, the difference value, which is calculated as a
difference between the width of the envelope and the width of the
paper sheet, is determined to be equal to or less than the
threshold value for use in the aligning operation execution
determination. The aligning operation execution signal is output
for the aligning unit 4 to execute the aligning operation. The
regulation non-execution signal is output to the tip regulating
unit 5 so as not to regulate the front edge of the conveyed paper
sheets, and the skew correction execution signal is output to the
paper sheet conveying unit 2 for the pair of conveying rollers 2b
and the pair of discharging rollers 2c to execute the skew
correction. The positioning operation execution signal for
positioning operation of the envelope with the position of the
paper sheet is output to the enclosing and sealing means 25. Then,
the conveyed paper sheets are conveyed to the second folding means
24 at the subsequent stage.
Processing Operation of Example 3
[0078] The processing operation of example 3 as described above is
as follows. First, the user selects a desired envelope and a
desired paper sheet and sets the content of the print job such as
the number of the enclosed envelope at the PC, thus outputting it
to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100. When the print job is
initiated, the difference values between the width of the envelope
and the width of the paper sheet is calculated from the envelope
size information and the sheet size information based on the set
print job. The calculated difference value is compared with the
table corresponding to the predetermined threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination among the tables for
use in the aligning operation execution determination stored in the
memory 6.
[0079] At that time, the difference value, which is calculated as a
difference between the width of the envelope and the width of the
paper sheet, is determined to exceed the threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination. The aligning
operation non-execution signal is output for the aligning unit 4
not to execute the aligning operation. The regulation execution
signal is output to the tip regulating unit 5 so as to regulate the
front edge of the conveyed paper sheets, and the positioning
operation non-execution signal for skipping the position alignment
of the envelope with the position of the paper sheet is output to
the enclosing and sealing means 25. Then, the predetermined number
of paper sheets are aligned and thereafter conveyed to the second
folding means 24 at the subsequent stage.
Processing Operation of Example 4
[0080] The processing operation of example 4 as described above is
as follows. First, the user selects a desired envelope and a
desired paper sheet and sets the content of the print job such as
the number of the enclosed envelope at the PC, thus outputting it
to the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100. When the print job is
initiated, the difference value between the width of the envelope
and the width of the paper sheet is calculated from the envelope
size information and the sheet size information based on the set
print job. The calculated difference value is compared with the
table corresponding to the predetermined threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination among the tables for
use in the aligning operation execution determination stored in the
memory 6.
[0081] At that time, the difference value, which is calculated as a
difference between the width of the envelope and the width of the
paper sheet, is determined to exceed the threshold value for use in
the aligning operation execution determination. The aligning
operation non-execution signal is output for the aligning unit 4
not to execute the aligning operation. The regulation non-execution
signal is output to the tip regulating unit 5 so as not to regulate
the front edge of the conveyed paper sheets, and the skew
correction execution signal is output to the paper sheet conveying
unit 2 for the pair of conveying rollers 2b and the pair of
discharging rollers 2c to execute the skew correction. The
positioning operation non-execution signal for non-execution of the
positioning operation of the envelope to the position of the paper
sheet is output to the enclosing and sealing means 25. Then, the
conveyed paper sheets are conveyed to the second folding means 24
at the subsequent stage.
[0082] As described above, the aligning apparatus 1 calculates the
difference value between the width of the envelope and the width of
the paper sheet from the envelope size information and the sheet
size information based on the set print job. The aligning apparatus
1 also compares the calculated difference value with the table
corresponding to the predetermined threshold value for use in the
aligning operation execution determination among the tables for use
in the aligning operation execution determination stored in the
memory 6. When it is determined that the difference value, which is
calculated as the difference between the width of the envelope and
the width of the paper sheet, is determined to exceed the threshold
value for use in the aligning operation execution determination,
the aligning operation non-execution signal is output for the
aligning unit 4 not to execute the aligning operation.
[0083] This eliminates the execution of the unnecessary aligning
operation based on the information of the width of the envelope and
the width of the paper sheet, thus improving productivity.
[0084] The calculated difference value is compared with the table
for use in the aligning operation execution determination
corresponding to the threshold value for use in the aligning
operation execution determination stored in the memory 6. When it
is determined that the difference value, which is calculated as the
difference between the width of the envelope and the width of the
paper sheet, is equal to or less than the value for use in the
aligning operation execution determination, the positioning
operation non-execution signal is output to the enclosing and
sealing means 25. The positioning operation non-execution signal is
for non-execution of the positioning operation of the envelope
position to the paper sheet. This reduces the drive sound of drive
means (actuator) of the pair of conveying rollers when aligning the
position and the electric power for driving of the apparatus.
[0085] Furthermore, when it is determined that the aligning
operation of the paper sheet is not executed, the position of the
aligning plate is controlled to move to the sheet receiving
position which has the same size as the opening of the envelope.
This avoids deviation of the paper sheet outside of the width of
the opening of the envelope, thus receiving, at the position to
unfailingly enclose, the paper sheet and conveying to the enclosing
and sealing unit at the subsequent stage.
[0086] When the content to be enclosed in the envelope is a single
paper sheet, the regulation non-execution signal is output to the
tip regulating unit 5 for skipping the regulation of the front edge
of the conveyed paper sheet, thus executing the skew correction by
the pair of discharging rollers 2c only. This reduces the
consumption of the electric power for the apparatus drive and
improves productivity.
[0087] In the embodiment, this apparatus is mounted on the
enclosing and sealing apparatus 100 which includes the ink jet type
print apparatus 10 and the enclosing and sealing apparatus 20,
which executes forming processing (folding processing or
press-bonding processing, etc.) on the envelope paper sheet to make
the envelope, enclosing the content in the envelope, and sealing.
This should not be construed in a limiting sense. For example, the
print apparatus 10 may be various types of image forming
apparatuses (stencil printing apparatus, copy machine, or laser
printer, etc.) which can print on the content and the envelope
paper sheet, or a paper sheet conveying apparatus which conveys the
printed contents and envelope paper sheets to the enclosing and
sealing apparatus 20. The enclosing and sealing apparatus 20 may
execute print processing on the ready-made envelope, enclosing
processing of the content in the envelope, and sealing processing
only.
[0088] In the above description, the aligning apparatus 1 in this
example is mounted on the enclosing and sealing apparatus 100. The
enclosing processing is executed after the aligning operation of
the paper sheets which are conveyed from the print apparatus 10.
This should not be construed in a limiting sense. The aligning
apparatus 1 may be disposed at the preceding stage of the sheet
post-processing apparatus which executes post-processing such as
staple processing and punching processing. In this kind of
configuration, the aligning operation may be set to non-execution
as long as the both side edges (width dimension) of the paper
sheets are within a range for the post-processing.
Second Embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 17)
[0089] This embodiment includes the aligning apparatus according to
the first embodiment. This embodiment relates to enclosing and
sealing apparatuses that automatically enclose the content in the
envelope and, in particular town enclosing and sealing apparatus
that adjusts the position as necessary using the measured position
data of the envelope when the aligning apparatus executes the
aligning operation of the content. This can increase the speed of
operation to shorten the processing time, thus ensuring high
efficiency.
[0090] When a front office of a company or a retailer, etc. makes
DM (direct mail), it may order a printing company to print on the
paper sheets to be enclosed, and it print-addresses on the
envelopes by itself with its printer. In this way, the paper sheets
and the envelopes maybe printed with different print means. In this
case, generally, the printed sheets are enclosed and sealed in the
envelope by hand work or a desktop enclosing and sealing apparatus
that has comparatively simple constitution. Though apparatuses
which continuously and automatically process from the printing to
the enclosing and sealing exist, they are expensive and requires
area for its installation. Thus, it is difficult to purchase by
users who makes DM with low frequency.
[0091] Patent Literature Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. Hei 7-52596 (Patent Literature 2) discloses an
enclosing and sealing apparatus that includes sheet folding means
for folding sheets to be enclosed in the envelope, which may be
used as a desktop enclosing and sealing apparatus. This apparatus
includes: an automatic paper feeding device which automatically
feeds the top sheet of a sheet bundle to the sheet folding means;
and manual paper feed means which feeds manually-fed sheets to the
sheet folding means. This apparatus can selectively operate in
automatic paper feeding mode, manual paper feed mode, and mixed
mode in which the automatic paper feeding device and the manual
paper feed means concurrently feed.
[0092] If the desktop enclosing and sealing apparatus disclosed in
Patent Literature 2 is used for making one-to-one direct mail in
which the contents of printing on the enclosed paper sheets vary in
each envelope, the loaded order of the paper sheets to be enclosed
on the paper sheet feeding rack and the loaded order of the
envelope on the envelope feeding rack are required to match.
However, when the envelopes are printed in house and the contents
are printed by an outside third party, the paper sheets and the
envelopes are made by different means at different places. This may
cause differences such as a difference in the output orders and a
difference of mixed interleaf sheets. The loading in a feeding rack
of the desktop enclosing and sealing apparatus requires sufficient
confirmation to prevent failure in the enclosure. Also, manual
enclosing operation requires man-hour for the prevention of the
enclosing failure and may cause long time processing.
[0093] The applicant had been studying hard to solve this problem
and succeeded in the development of an enclosing and sealing
apparatus that prints on envelopes (or envelope paper sheets to be
envelopes) and a paper sheet as contents, and automatically
encloses and seals the content in the envelope to make the enclosed
envelope. The applicant filed Japanese Patent Application No.
2010-209546 on Sep. 17, 2010 for the result. This enclosing and
sealing apparatus has less incidence of enclosing failure such as
failure of enclosure itself or enclosing wrong content with simple
and compact constitution. This enclosing and sealing apparatus
allows the user alone to efficiently make the enclosed envelopes,
and this is especially appropriate for making one to one direct
mail, etc.
[0094] However, the applicant had been studying to improve the
enclosing and sealing apparatus, for which the patent application
was filed. The applicant has acknowledged a new problem to be
solved in the enclosing and sealing apparatus, that is, the
efficient automatic apparatus that automatically folds paper sheets
as contents as necessary and encloses it in the envelope. In order
to smoothly enclose contents in envelopes, it is necessary that the
center lines of the envelopes and the contents, which are parallel
to the conveying direction, are matched as much as possible. The
enclosing and sealing apparatus requires too much time due to its
complex operation procedure, thus causing a problem which makes it
difficult to increase the speed of operation to shorten the
processing time.
[0095] FIG. 16 is a transparent view of the content of the enclosed
envelope for illustrating necessity of matching center lines of the
envelope and the content when enclosing the content in the
envelope. The enclosing and sealing apparatus uses the envelope
paper sheet 100 which is to be folded to have an envelope form.
This envelope paper sheet 100 has the pressure sensitive adhesive
on both sides end in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the
conveying direction. After this envelope paper sheet 100 is folded
to have an envelope form while enclosing the content, the bond
range 110 (indicated with oblique lines in FIG. 16) at the both
sides end are sandwiched and pressed with press-bonding means in
the form of the pair of rollers, thus sealing to make the enclosed
envelopes. Especially when the width of the content sheet 30 and
the width of the envelope paper sheet 100 are close, the center
lines of both matters need to be matched as much as possible when
enclosing. Otherwise, the side end of the content sheet 30 overlaps
with the bond range 110 of the envelope paper sheet 100 in the
envelope. This causes a problem of bonding the content sheet 30 and
the envelope paper sheet 100 when sealing the envelope.
[0096] FIG. 17 shows a control method of aligning means Z1 for
contents executed in the enclosing and sealing apparatus to prevent
the problem. The enclosing and sealing apparatus includes the
aligning means Z1 at the aligning position of a plurality of
content sheets 30 as aligning means which aligns the plurality of
content sheets 30 and also adjusts the position of the plurality of
content sheets 30 with the envelope paper sheets 100. At the
downstream of the aligning means Z1 in the conveying direction of
the content sheet 30, folding means (not shown) is disposed for
folding the aligned plurality of the content sheet 30. At the
downstream of the folding means in the conveying direction of the
content sheet 30, positioning means Z2 is further disposed for
adjusting the position of the content sheet 30 in the widthwise
direction. At the downstream of the positioning means Z2 in the
conveying direction of the content sheet 30, enclosing and sealing
means (not shown) is further disposed for enfolding to enclose the
content sheet 30 in the envelope paper sheet 100, thus executing
the enfolding processing. At a proximity of this the enclosing and
sealing means, an edge sensor S is disposed for detecting the side
edge portions in the widthwise direction of the envelope paper
sheet 100 to detect edge data.
[0097] With the control method of the enclosing and sealing
apparatus shown in FIG. 17, for amounts of deviation of the
position in the widthwise direction of the envelope paper sheet 100
which are conveyed to the position of the enclosing and sealing
means, the maximum values (indicated as "maximum deviation" in the
figure), which are predicted values, are appropriately set
according to various conditions. These values are used for the
positioning at the aligning means Z1. At the preceding stage of the
enclosing and sealing apparatus, an image forming apparatus is
disposed for providing the printed sheet, etc. to the enclosing and
sealing apparatus. Amounts of deviation of the envelope, etc.
generated in this image forming apparatus and an amount of
deviation of the envelope, etc. generated at the conveyance in the
conveying path of the enclosing and sealing apparatus or the like
are the conditions for setting the maximum values. Accordingly,
these amounts of deviation are empirically obtained to predict the
maximum values as certain conditions. FIG. 17 shows an envelope
paper sheet 100a and two envelope paper sheets 100b and 100c, which
are overlaid. The envelope paper sheet 100a is disposed at the
correct position where its center line matches the center line C of
the assumed conveying direction, which means the amount of
deviation is zero. The two envelope paper sheets 100b and 100c are
each deviated to a right-and-left direction in the widthwise
direction from the center line by the each maximum value.
[0098] With the control method of the enclosing and sealing
apparatus shown in FIG. 17, the content sheet 30 is shifted by the
maximum deviation corresponding to the maximum value in one
direction as indicated by the arrows at the aligning position.
Thereafter, the content sheet 30 is folded at the folding means and
conveyed to the enclosing sealing position where the content sheet
30 is positioned with the envelope paper sheet 100 at the
positioning means Z2 before enclosing it in the envelope paper
sheet 100. That is, the sensor S at the enclosing sealing position
actually detects the side edge portion of the envelope paper sheet
100 to obtain the edge data. The positioning means Z2 is controlled
based on the edge data to move the content sheet 30 at the most
deviated position according to the actual position of the envelope
paper sheet 100 in the widthwise direction, thus positioning.
[0099] Accordingly, the enclosing and sealing apparatus for which
the applicant filed patent application is an efficient automatic
apparatus that automatically encloses and seals the content sheet
30 in the envelope paper sheet 100. However, in the positioning for
enclosing the content in the envelope, all of the envelopes are
once moved to the most deviated position without any exception when
aligning. Thereafter, the folded envelopes are moved in the
widthwise direction again according to the actual position of the
envelope just before enclosing, for positioning. Thus, the
operation process is complex and takes too much time, thus causing
a problem to make it difficult to increase the speed of operation
to shorten the processing time.
[0100] This embodiment is conceived with the aforesaid problems
understood and one of its objectives is to provide an enclosing and
sealing apparatus that automatically encloses and seals the content
in which the positioning is executed as necessary efficiently using
measured positions of envelopes, thus increasing the speed of
operation to ensure the short processing time and high
efficiency.
[0101] The enclosing and sealing apparatus according to the second
embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The
enclosing and sealing apparatus continuously prints on papers to be
envelopes by folding and paper sheets to be contents with respect
to each enclosed envelope to be made in the most appropriate order
for high efficiency in time. The paper sheets to be envelopes by
folding and the paper sheets to be contents are each conveyed in
the different conveying paths and folded as necessary. The paper
sheets to be envelopes by folding and the paper sheets to be
contents are met at the end, and the contents are enclosed in the
envelopes. Finally, the enclosed envelope, the flaps of which are
closed and sealed, are discharged on the apparatus.
[0102] The enclosing and sealing apparatus, as detailed later,
determines whether the aligning operation of the content with the
envelope is executed or not. The enclosing and sealing apparatus
determines based on the measured positions of the envelope and its
variation to the size differences between the envelope to enclose
and the content. The enclosing and sealing apparatus executes the
aligning operation only when it is necessary, thus minimizing the
operation so as to ensure the speedy and secure enclosing and
sealing operation.
1. Outline of Whole Constitution and Operation of the Enclosing and
Sealing Apparatus (FIGS. 9 to 13)
[0103] The enclosing and sealing apparatus, whole constitution of
which is shown in FIG. 9, will be described by referring to FIGS.
10A and 10B to FIG. 13, which show details of each unit.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 9, this enclosing and sealing apparatus 1
includes a printing unit 2 that prints and discharges the envelope
paper sheets 100 to be the envelopes and the content sheet 30 to be
the contents. This printing unit 2 includes a plurality of feeding
racks P (P1 to P4) inside and on a side face of a casing 4, which
houses each unit of the apparatus. In this example, the feeding
rack P1 mounted on the side face of the casing 4 stores the
envelope paper sheets 100, while the feeding racks P2 to P4 inside
of the casing 4 store the content sheets 30 to be contents.
[0105] The paper sheets fed from the feeding racks P are sent from
an introductory route to a looped conveying path 5 and conveyed
there. Print means, which are spaced apart at a predetermined
interval along the lower part of looped conveying path 5 and face
downward, form images. In this example, four ink jet apparatuses C,
K, M, and Y are disposed for ejecting each color of inks including
cyan, black, magenta, and yellow as print means.
[0106] A first exit route 6 is bifurcated from this looped
conveying path 5. The first exit route 6 is disposed next to the
print means in its downstream. The first exit route 6 discharges
the paper sheets in the horizontal direction. A second exit route 7
is bifurcated from the upper part of the looped conveying path 5.
The second exit route 7 discharges the paper sheets outside of the
loop. Furthermore, a switchback route 8 is bifurcated from between
the second exit route 7 and the introductory route from the feeding
racks P. The switchback route 8 receives the paper sheets conveyed
from the conveying path 5 and thereafter reverses them to the
conveying path 5, thus turning the paper sheets upside down on the
conveying path 5. With this switchback route 8, the paper sheets
are conveyed on the conveying path 5 twice with turning the paper
sheet upside down on, and the ink jet apparatus C, K, M, and Y
print color images on both sides of the paper sheets.
[0107] As shown in FIG. 9, an enclosing and sealing unit 3 is
disposed next to the printing unit 2. The enclosing and sealing
unit 3 receives the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet
30 sent from the first exit route 6, and processes them, thus
enclosing the paper sheets in the envelope and sealing.
[0108] The first exit route 6 of the printing unit 2 horizontally
extends and projects outside of the casing 4, thereby introduced
into the casing 9 of the enclosing and sealing unit 3 next to the
casing 4. In the casing 9, the exit route 6 bifurcates into the
second conveying route 20 and the first conveying route 10 which
each run obliquely downward.
[0109] As shown in FIG. 9, a sensor S2 is disposed at the position
which is proximity of the exit route 6 introduced into the casing 9
of the enclosing and sealing unit 3 and just before the bifurcation
of the second conveying route 20 and the first conveying route 10.
This sensor S2 is a sensor which is usable instead of a sensor S1
described later. The sensor S2 detects one of the side edge
portions of the envelope paper sheets 100 passing through the exit
route 6, or one side of edge in the widthwise direction
perpendicular to the conveying direction, thus outputting the edge
data. Here, a state where the center line of the envelope paper
sheet 100 matches the center lines of conveyance on the conveying
route 10 is assumed to be ideal state where an amount of deviation
of the position is zero in the widthwise direction perpendicular to
the conveying direction. The edge data means "an amount of
deviation" which is a length of the error of the side edge portion
of the envelope paper sheet 100 from the ideal state in the
widthwise direction. Furthermore, as described below, when a
plurality of envelope edges are measured to obtain the plurality of
"an amount of deviation", the edge data means median or a mean
value of "an amount of deviation" which is obtained by the
arithmetic operation in the control means. The edge data also means
"variation" indicative of the range of "an amount of
deviation".
[0110] A first conveying route 10 includes a path 11 at its former
part which is a guiding path to convey the envelope paper sheet 100
to the first folding means. A second conveying route 20 includes a
route 21 at its former part which is a guiding path to convey the
content sheet 30 to the second folding means. Changeover of the
first and the second conveying routes 10 and 20 is executed by a
changeover flap (not shown) at the bifurcation point of the first
conveying route 10 and the second conveying route 20 on the first
exit route 6.
[0111] The sensor S1 is disposed at the terminal end of the route
11 at the former part of the first conveying route 10. As shown in
FIGS. 10A and 10B, this sensor S1 detects one of the side edge
portions of the envelope paper sheet 100 passing through the route
11, or one side of edge in the widthwise direction perpendicular to
the conveying direction, thus outputting the edge data. The meaning
of the edge data is the same as the content previously described
with the sensor S2. The edge data means "an amount of deviation"
which is a length of the deviation of the side edge portion of the
envelope paper sheet 100 from the ideal state in the widthwise
direction. Furthermore, as described below, when a plurality of
envelope edges are measured to obtain the plurality of "amounts of
deviation", the edge data means median or mean value of "an amount
of deviation" which is obtained by the arithmetic operation in the
control means 90. The edge data also means "variation" indicative
of the range of "an amount of deviation". Specifically, in this
case, the each side edge portion of a plurality of the envelope
paper sheets 100, which are conveyed one after another, is detected
by the sensor S2. The position apart from the position of one side
edge portion of the envelope paper sheet in the ideal state in
outward direction (this direction is assumed to be + direction) by
2 mm and by 6 mm are respectively assumed to be the most inner side
and the most outer side. When the each side edge portion of the
envelope is detected in the range between the most inner side and
the most outer side, as described later, the control means 90
calculates "an amount of deviation" as +4 mm of the median of the
each value and obtains the result as the arithmetic operation which
includes "variation" is the range of .+-.2 mm from the median as
the center.
[0112] The first folding means is disposed at the terminal end of
the route 11 in the downstream of the sensor S1. The first folding
means is available for folding the envelope paper sheet 100 to form
the envelope form. This first folding means includes a rotatable
main folding roller A', a paper sheet conveying roller D', and a
first folding roller B'. The paper sheet conveying roller D' and a
first folding roller B' rotate in contact with the main folding
roller A'. These rollers are made of rubber, and lengths of these
rollers in the axial direction are longer than the width of the
envelope paper sheet 100. A route 51 is disposed beyond the main
folding roller A' and the paper sheet conveying roller D'. The
route 51 includes a striking portion for the paper sheet at the
front edge.
[0113] The first conveying route 10 includes a route 13 as its
latter part, which horizontally runs from between the main folding
roller A' and the first folding roller B' of the first folding
means of the first conveying route 10. The terminal end of the
route 13 at the latter part is introduced into the enclosing and
sealing means, which is described later.
[0114] The folding means allows passage of the threefold type
envelope paper sheet 100 (shown in FIG. 14) , which is described
later, without folding. The enclosing and sealing means, which is
described later, folds as necessary, for the enclosing and sealing.
When the envelope paper sheet to be folded thrice, the main folding
roller A' and the paper sheet conveying roller D' convey at the
first folding means to the route 51, thus striking it against the
striking portion at the terminal end so as to slack the envelope
paper sheet. The slack portion is sandwiched between the main
folding roller A' and the paper sheet conveying roller B' and
conveyed by the route 13 at the latter part. This sends the
envelope paper sheet 100, which is folded once, to the enclosing
and sealing means.
[0115] Next, the second conveying route 20, which is bifurcated
from the exit route 6, is disposed below the first conveying route
10. The second conveying route 20 includes the route 21 at its
former part that sends downward the paper sheets horizontally sent
from the exit route 6 of the printing unit 2.
[0116] The aligning means Z1 is first disposed at the halfway of
the route 21. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the aligning means Z1
includes plate-shaped aligning plates that are each disposed in
parallel at both sides of the center line of conveyance at the
route 21. The aligning plates are kept in parallel and each
independently move by a desired amount in a desired direction. A
paper sheet conveying roller 22 and an openable gate 23 are
disposed at the downstream of the aligning means Z1 on the route
21. By closing the route 21 with the gate 23, the conveyed content
sheets 30 can be stacked and reserved in the route 21. Then, in
this state, the aligning means Z1 moves based on aligning position
data sent from the control means 90 as described in detailed later.
The aligning means Z1 aligns the stacked content sheets 30 in the
route 21. The aligning means Z1 can aligns the position of the
stacked content sheets 30 in the widthwise direction with the
position of the envelope paper sheet 100, which will meet at the
enclosing and sealing means, in the width direction.
[0117] As shown in FIG. 9, the second folding means is disposed at
the terminal end of the route 21 so as to fold the content sheet
30. The second folding means includes a rotatable main folding
roller A at the center. The second folding means further includes
the first folding roller B, the second folding roller C, and one
paper sheet conveying roller D, which are each rotatably in contact
with the main folding roller A. These rollers are made of rubber,
and lengths of these rollers in the axial direction are longer than
the width of the content sheet 30. A route 52 is disposed beyond
the main folding roller A and the paper sheet conveying roller D.
The route 52 includes a striking portion for the paper sheet at the
front edge. A route 53 is disposed beyond the main folding roller A
and the paper sheet conveying roller B. The route 53 includes a
striking portion for the paper sheet at the front edge.
[0118] The second conveying route 20 includes a route 26 at its
latter part that runs obliquely upward from between the main
folding roller A and the second folding roller C of the second
folding means of the second conveying route 20. The route 26 at the
latter part meets the route 13 at the latter part of the first
conveying route 10 at the enclosing and sealing means.
[0119] When the second folding means at the second conveying route
20 folds the content sheet 30, the content sheet 30 is conveyed
with the main folding roller A and the paper sheet conveying roller
D to the route 52, thus striking the content sheet 30 against the
striking portion at the terminal end to slack it. The slack portion
of the paper sheet is sandwiched between the main folding roller A
and the paper sheet conveying roller B, thus conveyed and folded
once. The content sheet 30 is further conveyed along the route 53
and struck against the striking portion at the terminal end to
slack it. The slack portion is sandwiched between the main folding
roller A and the paper sheet conveying roller C and conveyed, thus
conveyed to make the second folding. Accordingly, the content sheet
30 is folded twice and sent to the enclosing and sealing means
through the route 26 at the latter part.
[0120] As shown in FIG. 9, the positioning means Z2, which adjusts
the position of the folded content sheet 30 in the widthwise
direction, is disposed at a position before the enclosing and
sealing means on the route 26. The positioning means Z2 is an
apparatus that positions the folded content sheet 30 to the
envelope paper sheet 100 in the widthwise direction as
hypothetically indicated by arrows shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. In
this embodiment, the positioning means Z2 is not necessarily used
and driven as necessary. As shown in a plan view of FIG. 11, this
positioning means Z2 includes a conveying base plate 201 which
moves in the widthwise direction by drive means 200 such as a motor
and a conveying roller 202. The positioning means Z2 can move in
the widthwise direction while the content sheets 30 are conveyed.
Then, the content sheets 30, which are positioned to the envelope
paper sheet 100, are sent to the enclosing and sealing means, thus
enclosed and sealed.
[0121] As shown in FIG. 9, the enclosing and sealing means is
disposed at the meeting point of the first conveying route 10 and
the second conveying route 20.
[0122] This enclosing and sealing means functions as third folding
means for folding the envelope paper sheet 100 as necessary. The
enclosing and sealing means also functions as enclosing means for
enclosing the content in the envelope by matching the content sheet
30 with the folded envelope paper sheet 100, and folds them so as
to enfold the content sheet 30 in the envelope. The enclosing and
sealing means includes sealing means for sealing this envelope.
[0123] First, the enclosing and sealing means includes a rotatable
main folding roller A'', a paper sheet conveying roller D'', a
first folding rollers B'', and a second folding rollers C'', which
rotate in contact with the main folding roller A'' as the third
folding means. These rollers are made of rubber, and their lengths
in the axial direction are larger than the width of the envelope
paper sheet 100. The envelope paper sheet 100 to be folded twice
passes the first folding means (main folding roller A' and first
folding roller B', etc.) without being folded, thereafter sent to
the main folding roller A'', etc. of the third folding means. The
envelope paper sheet 100 to be folded twice is folded with the
content 30 enclosed.
[0124] A route 46 is disposed below these rollers along the
conveying direction of the main folding roller A'' and the paper
sheet conveying roller D'' of the enclosing and sealing means. The
route 46 is disposed along the vertical direction. The route 46
includes a striking portion for the paper sheet at the lower
end.
[0125] A route 59 is disposed rightward of these rollers along the
conveying direction of the main folding roller A'' and the paper
sheet conveying roller B'' of the enclosing and sealing means. The
route 59 includes a striking portion for the paper sheet at the
front edge. At before and downward of the striking portion of the
route 59, water adding means 60 is disposed as adhesivity providing
means. The water adding means 60 applies water to rewettable paste
107 on the envelope paper sheet 100, which will be described later,
thus bringing out adhesivity. This bonds the envelope paper sheet
100 with rewettable paste 107, which will be described later, to
form the envelope.
[0126] A route 47 is disposed between the main folding roller A''
and the second folding roller C'' of the enclosing and sealing
means. The route 47 runs obliquely upward. This route 47 includes a
conveying roller (not shown) and a press-bonding rollers 80 along
the conveying direction of the envelope. The press-bonding rollers
80 is sealing means which makes a part of the enclosing and sealing
means. As shown in FIG. 12, the press-bonding rollers 80 includes a
pair of rollers each at top and bottom on the left side and a pair
of rollers each at top and bottom on the right side. The
press-bonding rollers 80 vertically sandwiches the both ends in the
widthwise direction of the envelope paper sheet 100 which encloses
the content sheet 30, thus pressing to seal with pressure sensitive
adhesive 106, which will be described later.
[0127] As shown in FIG. 13, a position deviation correcting means
Z3 is disposed before the press-bonding rollers 80. The position
deviation correcting means Z3 adjusts the position of the envelope
paper sheet 100 relative to the main scan direction. The position
deviation correcting means Z3 includes a conveyance base plate 211
which moves in the widthwise direction by drive means 210 such as a
motor and a conveying roller 212. The position deviation correcting
means Z3 moves in the widthwise direction to adjust the position of
the envelope paper sheet 100, which is folded to enclose the
content sheet 30 in the envelope form, in the main scan direction
while the folded envelope paper sheet 100 is conveyed. Thus, the
envelope paper sheet 100 is positioned to the press-bonding rollers
80 so as to sandwich press-bonding areas at the both side edge
portions of the envelope paper sheet 100 with the press-bonding
rollers 80, thus conveying to complete the sealing.
[0128] The enclosed envelope, which is sealed and completed, is
discharged to the discharge tray 48 on the top face of the casing 9
through the route 47.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 9, the enclosing and sealing apparatus 1
includes the controller 90 which controls the overall apparatus
including the printing unit 2 and the enclosing and sealing unit 3,
which are described above.
2. Regarding Envelope Paper Sheet (FIG. 14)
[0130] The shape and constitution of the envelope paper sheet 100
used in this embodiment will be described by referring to FIG. 14.
FIG. 14 shows the back face (opposite side of a side on which
address is printed) of the threefold type envelope paper sheet 100
used in the embodiment. FIG. 14 shows the envelope in the process
of folding. The content 30 to be enclosed is not shown. This
envelope paper sheet 100 is a rectangular paper sheet which
includes three rectangular portions in about the same shape: a
first portion 101, a second portion 102, and a third portion 103.
The envelope paper sheet 100 is folded at the scores to make the
first portion 101, the second portion 102, and the third portion
103, which have about the same shape.
[0131] As shown in FIG. 14, in order to fold the threefold type
envelope paper sheet 100 to form the envelope form, firstly the
third portion 103 is folded back to the back face and placed on the
back face of the second portion 102. The content sheet 30 is
enclosed between the second portion 102 and the third portion 103.
The content sheet 30 may be placed on the third portion 103
depending on the procedure. The first portion 101 is further folded
back to the back face and placed on the front face (or on the
content sheet 30 above it) of the third portion 103, thus forming
the envelope form.
[0132] As shown in FIG. 14, patterns of the rewettable paste 107,
which are parallel to the widthwise direction, are formed on the
front face of the third portion 103 at a proximity of the score
between the front face of the second portion 102 and the front face
of the third portion 103. The rewettable paste 107 brings out
adhesivity when water is applied by the water adding means 60 in
the enclosing and sealing means. After the application of water,
the envelope is passed between the main folding roller A'' and the
second folding roller C'' of the folding means, thus sealed.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 14, the pressure sensitive adhesives 106 is
provided in belt-like patterns on the both side ends in the
widthwise direction of each portion. The positions of the pressure
sensitive adhesive 106 on each portion respectively correspond to
each other. The described function of the enclosing and sealing
apparatus 1 encloses the content sheet 30 in the envelope paper
sheet 100, stacks each portion of the envelope paper sheet 100 to
form the envelope from, and places the pressure sensitive adhesive
106 in face-to-face. As described by referring to FIG. 12, the
envelope paper sheet 100 in the envelope from is sandwiched by the
press-bonding rollers 80 so as to convey. The both side edge
portions are pressed to bond the stacked portions with the pressure
sensitive adhesive 106, thus forming the envelope form.
3. Control by the Control Means 90 Using the Sensor S1 and Aligning
Means Z1, etc. (FIGS. 10A and 10B and FIGS. 15A and 15B)
[0134] Next, the aligning operation of the envelope paper sheet 100
and the content sheet 30 in the enclosing and sealing apparatus and
its control will be described by referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B and
FIGS. 15A and 15B and other drawings. The control means 90 shown in
FIGS. 10A and 10B is control means that controls overall of the
enclosing and sealing apparatus 1 including the printing unit 2 and
the enclosing and sealing unit 3 as described above. In this
section, only the function of the alignment or the positioning
control or the like of the paper sheet using the sensor S1 and the
aligning means Z1, etc. will be illustrated and described.
[0135] As shown in FIG. 10A, in the enclosing and sealing apparatus
1, the edge of the envelope paper sheet 100 is measured with the
sensor S1. The control means 90 obtains an amount of deviation of
the edge as the edge data. The control means 90 generates aligning
position data for controlling the aligning means Z1 based on the
amount of deviation of the edge. The aligning position data is
stored in the memory and used for the subsequent control, thus
allowing quick positioning.
[0136] As shown in FIG. 10B, the control means 90 includes a
controller 91 that commands for controls of the arithmetic
operation and other functioning unit. The controller 91 inputs the
edge data sent from the sensor S1 and envelope forming information
from input means 92. The envelope forming information specifies the
type of the envelope paper sheet 100 for forming the enclosed
envelope and the type of content sheet 30.
[0137] At the initiation of the job, the sensor S1 detects the edge
of an initial plurality of the envelope paper sheets 100 in the job
and send the plurality of amounts of deviation to the controller
91. The controller 91 calculates an representing amount of
deviation as a median or a mean value from the plurality of amounts
of deviation. The controller 91 also calculates a variation from
the plurality of amounts of deviation. The calculated "an amount of
deviation" and "variation" are sent to a comparison determining
unit 93, which will be described later.
[0138] The user provides the envelope forming information from
input means 92 to the controller 91 for each one job for a
predetermined plurality of enclosed envelopes. The envelope forming
information specifies types of the envelope paper sheet 100 and the
content sheet 30. Since the sizes of envelopes are stipulated in
Postal Acts, the type of the envelope paper sheet 100 is normally
limited to types stipulated in the standard. However, there is no
limitation on the content. The paper sheet stipulated in the
standard can be specified. When the paper sheet in an optional
shape is desired to specify, its sizes (width and length) can be
specified at the input means 92 with numeric values.
[0139] As shown in FIG. 10B, the control means 90 includes the
memory M1. The memory M1 stores paper sheet basic data such as
sizes in the widthwise direction and in the longitudinal direction
of the regulated envelope paper sheet 100 and the regulated content
sheet 30. The size difference in the widthwise direction between
the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30 for each
combination is stored in a table. The controller 91 inputs data of
the size difference from the memory M1 and outputs it to the
comparison determining unit 93 according to the envelope forming
information input from the input means 92.
[0140] The details will be described later. In the positioning
control of the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30,
the size difference in the widthwise direction between the envelope
paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30 is important data. The
table for the data of this size difference is required to determine
the necessity of the positioning control. As shown in FIG. 15B,
when the envelope paper sheet 100 has an interior width which is
sufficiently large for the exterior width of the content sheet 30,
it maybe enclosed with a large deviation without the positioning.
However, as shown in FIG. 15A, the envelope paper sheet 100 has an
interior width which does not have a sufficient margin for the
exterior width of content sheet 30, the positioning may be
necessary even with a small deviation. Accordingly, in the
embodiment, the necessity of the positioning for enclosing is
determined based on the relation between the size difference in the
widthwise direction of the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content
sheet 30 and the amount of deviation of the envelope.
[0141] As shown in FIG. 10B, the comparison determining unit 93
inputs the size difference sent from the memory M1 and "an amount
of deviation" and "variation" sent from the controller 91. The
comparison determining unit 93 determines whether or not the
aligning operation of the content sheet 30 with the envelope paper
sheet 100 is executed by the aligning means Z1 only with these data
pieces. When executed, the aligning position data to drive the
aligning means Z1 is generated and saved in the memory M2. When not
executed, the comparison determining unit 93 determines whether it
will be enclosed without the aligning operation or it will be
enclosed with other control. The other control is a combination use
of the aligning means Z1 and the positioning means Z2 for
positioning of the folded content sheet 30.
[0142] First, when both of the variation and the amount of
deviation are smaller than the size difference, the aligning means
Z1 does not execute the aligning operation. Even if the content
sheet 30 is enclosed in the envelope paper sheet 100 without the
aligning operation, the content sheet 30 is enclosed at the
position sufficiently apart from the bond range 110 (indicated with
oblique lines in such as FIG. 15B) at the both side ends of the
envelope paper sheet 100.
[0143] For example, assuming the interior width of the envelope
paper sheet 100 is 220 mm and the width of the content sheet 30 is
210 mm. In this case, the size difference is 5 mm at one side.
Here, when the median of amounts of deviation of the envelope paper
sheet 100 is 2 mm, and "variation" is the range of .+-.2 mm (range
of .+-.2 mm from 2 mm of median), it is not necessary to move the
content sheet 100 in the job.
[0144] Next, when the amount of deviation exceeds the size
difference, and the variation is smaller than the size difference,
the aligning means Z1 executes the aligning operation. The content
sheet 30 is moved in the opposite direction by the amount of
deviation of the envelope paper sheet 100, then the variation is
within the range of the size difference. Thus, it is possible to
correct the position to enclose.
[0145] For example, assuming the described size difference is 5 mm
at one side. The median of amounts of deviation of the envelope
paper sheet 100 exceeds 5 mm (for example 6 mm), and the variation
is within the range of .+-.2.5 mm. In this case, the content sheet
30 is moved in the opposite direction of the deviation of the
envelope paper sheet 100 by the amount of deviation (for example,
the described 6 mm) of the envelope paper sheet 100. Thus, it is
possible to align the position to enclose. In this case, the
comparison determining unit 93 stores the median of amounts of
deviation from the controller 91 as the aligning position data in
the memory M2. This job can be controlled with the aligning
position data stored in the memory M2.
[0146] Next, when the variation exceeds the size difference, the
aligning operation by the aligning means Z1 alone is not executed.
In this case, as described in [Solution to Problem], the aligning
means Z1 preliminary moves the content sheet 30 by the predicted
maximum value (maximum deviation), thereafter the position of the
folded content sheet 30 is adjusted by the positioning means Z2
based on the edge position of the envelope paper sheet 100 measured
by the sensor S1. A part which is framed by dashed lines in FIG.
10A indicates the actuation of the positioning means Z2 in this
case.
[0147] In the example in which the described size difference is 5
mm at one side, regardless of the median of amounts of deviation of
the envelope paper sheet 100, the position of the content sheet 30
is adjusted for the each envelope paper sheet 100 in this job as
long as the variation exceeds the range of .+-.2.5 mm (such as
.+-.5 mm).
[0148] As described above, this enclosing and sealing apparatus
detects the edge of the initial plurality (for example 10) of
envelope paper sheets 100 so as to obtain the plural pieces of edge
data (an amount of deviation), for each one job for making a
predetermined plurality of enclosed envelopes from the
predetermined types of envelope paper sheet 100 and the content
sheet 30. The enclosing and sealing apparatus calculates the median
and the variation of amounts of deviation of the envelope paper
sheet 100 in the job at the control means 90. With this data and
the size difference between the width of the envelope paper sheet
100 to be used for this job and the width of the content sheet 30,
the control means 90 determines whether the control by the aligning
means Z1 is executed or not. If the control means 90 determines
that the control by the aligning means Z1 is executed, the
necessary aligning position data is generated and save in the
memory M2. Once the necessary aligning position data is saved in
the memory M2, it is not necessary to detect the envelope paper
sheet 100 with the sensor S1. In this job, the aligning means Z1 is
just driven with the obtained aligning position data so as to align
the content sheets 30 and adjust its position to the envelope paper
sheet 100, thus quickly and unfailingly enclosing to make the
enclosed envelope at high speed.
[0149] In this embodiment, the necessary aligning position data for
each the job is saved in the memory M2 and used for the control.
When the job is completed or the next job is specified and the
envelope forming information is provided to the apparatus, the
previous aligning position data stored in the memory M2 may be
reset. Then, the new aligning position data may be generated in
association with the operation of the enclosing and sealing
apparatus according to a new enclosed envelope making condition and
stored in the memory M2.
[0150] In this embodiment, since the sensor S2 is disposed at the
exit route 6, which is the entrance of the enclosing and sealing
unit 3, this sensor S2 may be used instead of the sensor S1. In
this case, the edge position of the envelope paper sheet 100 can be
obtained early. It is possible to send the edge data to the control
means 90 every time the envelope paper sheet 100 is conveyed so as
to move the content sheet 30 to adjust its position to the envelope
paper sheet 100 by the amount of deviation without storing the data
in the memory. However, the position of the sensor S2 which detects
the edge position is disposed far from the enclosing and sealing
means in upstream. Thus, if the position of the envelope paper
sheet 100 in the widthwise direction further deviates in the
conveyance after the obtainment of the edge data, the additional
deviation may degrade the accuracy of the edge data of the
envelope.
4. Modification of the Second Embodiment
[0151] In the described second embodiment, the sensor S1 at the
side of the enclosing and sealing unit 3 obtains the edge data of
the plurality of envelope paper sheets 100. The control means 90
generates the aligning position data based on the edge data and the
size difference between the envelope paper sheet 100 and the
content sheet 30. However, the sensor which detects the edge of the
envelope paper sheet 100 may be disposed at the side of the
printing unit 2. The data of the size difference between the
envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30, which is
necessary to generate the aligning position data, may be provided
from the control means dedicated for the printing unit 2.
[0152] The enclosing and sealing unit 3 of the enclosing and
sealing apparatus 1 according to the described second embodiment is
an exemplary configuration. The conveying paths of the envelope
paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30 in the enclosing and
sealing unit are not necessarily independent paths, the conveying
paths may be entirely or partially common and the both paper sheets
may be conveyed at the different timing.
[0153] The enclosing and sealing apparatus 1 according to the
described second embodiment includes the printing unit 2. However,
the printing unit is not essential for the enclosing and sealing
apparatus according to the present invention. In the case where the
printing unit is provided, the printing unit is not limited to an
apparatus integrated with the enclosing and sealing unit, and the
printing unit may be existing image forming apparatus. That is, an
ordinary image forming apparatus installed in a business office or
the like may be used as the printing unit 2 in this embodiment, and
the enclosing and sealing unit 3 may be coupled to make the
enclosing and sealing apparatus 1 according to the present
invention. Thus, one existing image forming apparatus may be used
for printing the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30,
thus reducing installation cost for an automatic enclosing and
sealing apparatus. The image forming apparatus may be an ink jet
apparatus as described in the embodiment, and other types of image
forming means may be used. This is applicable in any principle of
image formation.
[0154] Although the enclosing and sealing apparatus 1 according to
the described second embodiment folds the envelope paper sheets 100
to make the envelopes, this should not be construed in a limiting
sense. Completed envelopes may also be used.
[0155] In the described second embodiment, paper sheets are used as
the envelope paper sheet 100 and the content sheet 30. However,
this should not be construed in a limiting sense. For example, a
rolled paper sheet may be used by cutting it into a required length
every time it is used.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0156] The first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 8) [0157] 1 . . . aligning
apparatus [0158] 2 . . . paper sheet conveying unit (2a . . . pair
of the carrying-in roller, 2b . . . pair of conveying rollers, 2c .
. . pair of discharging rollers) [0159] 3 . . . placing unit [0160]
4 . . . aligning unit (4a . . . aligning plates) [0161] 5 . . .
distal end regulating unit [0162] 6(30) . . . memory [0163] 7(40) .
. . controller [0164] 10 . . . print apparatus [0165] 11 . . .
introductory path [0166] 12 . . . conveying path [0167] 13 . . .
print means [0168] 14 . . . first discharge path [0169] 15 . . .
second discharge path [0170] 16 . . . switchback path [0171] 20 . .
. enclosing and sealing apparatus [0172] 21 . . . first conveying
path [0173] 22 . . . second conveying path [0174] 23 . . . first
folding means [0175] 24 . . . second folding means [0176] 25 . . .
enclosing and sealing means [0177] 26 . . . water adding means
[0178] 27 . . . pressure bonding roller [0179] 28 . . . discharge
rack [0180] 29 . . . discharge conveying unit [0181] 30(6) . . .
memory [0182] 40(7) . . . controller
[0183] The second embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 17) [0184] 1 . . .
enclosing and sealing apparatus [0185] 2 . . . printing unit [0186]
3 . . . enclosing and sealing unit [0187] 10 . . . first conveying
route [0188] 11 . . . one route of the first conveying route [0189]
13 . . . the other route of the first conveying route [0190] 20 . .
. second conveying route [0191] 21 . . . one route of the second
conveying route [0192] 26 . . . the other route of the second
conveying route [0193] 30 . . . content sheets [0194] 60 . . .
water adding means as adhesivity providing means [0195] 80 . . .
press-bonding rollers making a part of the enclosing and sealing
means [0196] 90 . . . control means [0197] 91 . . . controller
[0198] 93 . . . comparison determining unit [0199] 100 . . .
envelope paper sheet [0200] A, A' . . . main folding roller as
folding means [0201] B, B' . . . first folding roller as folding
means [0202] C . . . second folding roller as folding means [0203]
D, D' . . . paper sheet conveying roller as folding means [0204]
A'' . . . main folding roller making a part of the enclosing and
sealing means [0205] B'' . . . first folding roller making a part
of the enclosing and sealing means [0206] C'' . . . second folding
roller making a part of the enclosing and sealing means [0207] D''
. . . paper sheet conveying roller making a part of the enclosing
and sealing means [0208] Z1 . . . aligning means [0209] Z2 . . .
positioning means [0210] Z3 . . . position deviation correcting
means [0211] S1, S2 . . . sensor [0212] M1, M2 . . . memory
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0213] {Patent Literature 1} Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2001-348153.
[0214] {Patent Literature 2} Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. Hei 7-52596
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