Collator managing system

Abstract

To provide a collator managing system that can inhibit a fact that a collator is in a state to be handled by a maintenance personnel from being overlooked.SOLUTION: A collator managing system comprises a collation machine that makes a collating action to make up a collation bundle by stacking sheet materials fed from each of a plurality of feeder units and a management server serving as external-information processing means, that communicates with communication means of the collation machine through an Internet line being a communication network, and is allowed to send / receive device information about the collation machine, so as to inform an alert of management-notice information, if the device information received by the management server satisfies an alert-outputting condition being a predetermined condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stitching device management system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a stitching device that overlaps sheet materials fed from each of a plurality of feeding devices to create a stitched bundle is known (Patent Document 1, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a system for managing this type of stitching device, the applicant has proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-209129, a stitching device management system that transmits the operation information and error information of the stitching device to external information processing means via an Internet line. In this stitching device management system, a maintenance manager who can access the external information processing means can quickly respond when an error occurs in the stitching device, take preventive measures before an error occurs, and replace consumables before they are completely consumed. However, it is difficult for the maintenance manager to check all of the error information and operation information sent from the stitching device and determine whether to take various measures. And if there is an oversight in checking the error information and operation information, there is a risk that the maintenance manager will overlook the fact that it is a state where measures should be taken.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a collating device that performs a collating operation to create a collated bundle by stacking sheet materials fed from each of a plurality of feeding units, and an external information processing means that communicates with the communication means of the collating device via a communication network and is capable of sending and receiving device information relating to the collating device, and is characterized in that when the device information received by the external information processing means satisfies predetermined conditions, management warning information is notified. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect in that it can prevent overlooking the fact that the collating device is in a state where maintenance by a maintenance manager is required. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the external appearance of a collating machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a collating machine, viewed from the front. [Figure 3] Rear view of the paper feed device. [Figure 4] Front view of the paper feed device. [Figure 5] Plan view of the paper feed device. [Figure 6] Left side view of the paper feed device. [Figure 7] A block diagram showing the electrical configuration, centered on the control unit of the collating machine. [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the collating machine management system. [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the flow when an alert is issued in the collating machine management system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] In the following, identical or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the dimensions of members in each drawing will be enlarged or reduced as appropriate for ease of understanding. Additionally, some members that are not important for explaining the embodiment will be omitted from the drawings.

[0009] An embodiment of the collating device according to the present invention will be described below. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the collating machine 10 according to this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the collating machine 10 viewed from the front. The collating machine 10 has ten shelves on each side of the housing 9. The shelves on the left side are equipped with the first to tenth paper feed devices 1 (1A to 1J), which consist of the first to tenth paper feed trays 14 (14A to 14J) and the first to tenth paper feed mechanisms 18 (18A to 18J) (for convenience, the symbols "1A" to "1I" and "18A" to "18I" are not shown in the diagram). On the right-hand shelf is the 11th to 20th paper feed device 1 (1K to 1U), which includes the 11th to 20th paper feed trays 14 (14K to 14U) and the 11th to 20th paper feed mechanisms 18 (18K to 18U) (for convenience, the symbols "1L" to "1U" and "18L" to "18U" are not shown in the diagram). Below the first paper feed tray 14A on the bottom left is the folding paper feed device 1X, which includes a folding paper feed tray 14X and a folding paper feed mechanism 18X. The paper feed device 1 (1A to 1X) and its constituent paper feed trays 14 (14A to 14X) and paper feed mechanisms 18 (18A to 18X) have similar structures, although their mounting positions, mounting directions, sizes, and shapes differ. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, these will be collectively referred to as "paper feed device 1," "paper feed tray 14," and "paper feeding mechanism 18," respectively.

[0010] The paper feeder 1, which includes a paper feed tray 14 and a paper feed mechanism 18, is detachably mounted on the housing 9. Specifically, the paper feeder 1 is configured so that when a locking mechanism (not shown) is released by the user, it is disengaged from the housing 9 and can be removed from the housing 9. Since such engagement methods are well known, a detailed explanation is omitted. On the front side of the left side surface of the housing 9, a sub-operation panel 5 is provided, on which a start key 152 for starting the matching operation and a stop key 154 for stopping the matching operation are arranged.

[0011] On the front of the housing 9, a tablet terminal 4 having a main operation panel 16 is detachably provided with respect to the housing 9 constituting the device body of the matching machine 10. The main operation panel 16 has a touch panel type liquid crystal display, and the user can perform a predetermined operation input for the matching process. When the tablet terminal 4 is attached to the housing 9, it is wiredly connected by a wired connection terminal such as a USB, and the main body control unit 50 and the tablet control unit 6 described later can communicate with each other via a wired line. On the other hand, when the tablet terminal 4 is removed from the housing 9, the main body control unit 50 and the tablet control unit 6 described later can communicate with each other via a wireless communication line such as Wifi (registered trademark). The main operation unit such as the main operation panel 16 is not limited to a configuration that is detachable from the device body, and may be fixed to the housing 9, or may not be attached to the device body and may be used in a separated state.

[0012] The paper feeding device 1 includes a paper feeding operation panel 20 corresponding to the paper feeding mechanism 18 provided in each. The paper feeding operation panel 20 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons for the user to perform a predetermined operation input for the paper feeding process. Details thereof will be described later.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the matching machine 10 further includes a sub-conveying mechanism 22 and a main conveying mechanism 24. The sub-conveying mechanism 22 is provided corresponding to the paper feeding mechanism 18 of each shelf. The paper feeding mechanism 18 sends out the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets placed on the paper feeding tray 14 one by one to the conveying path of the sub-conveying mechanism 22. The sub-conveying mechanism 22 feeds the paper sent out from the paper feeding mechanism 18 into the main conveying mechanism 24. The main conveying mechanism 24 is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction within the housing 9. The main conveying mechanism 24 conveys the paper fed in from each sub-conveying mechanism 22 downward while creating a matching bundle alone or by overlapping a plurality of sheets.

[0014] The stapling machine 10 further includes a folding paper conveyance plate 26, a folding paper placement plate 28, a folding paper stopper 30, a folding knife 32, and a pair of rollers forming a folding roller pair 34. On the folding paper feed tray 14X, papers to be folded in half (hereinafter referred to as "folding papers") that sandwich the stapled bundle conveyed by the main conveyance mechanism 24 inside are stacked. The folding paper feeding mechanism 18X feeds out the topmost folding paper of the stack of folding papers on the folding paper feed tray 14X one by one to the folding paper conveyance plate 26.

[0015] The folding paper conveyance plate 26 is arranged such that the end on the downstream side in the folding paper conveyance direction (the right side in FIG. 2) is slightly positioned on the upstream side in the folding paper conveyance direction (the left side in FIG. 2) with respect to the lower end of the main conveyance mechanism 24. The folding paper placement plate 28 is provided such that two plates overlap vertically with a gap therebetween. The folding paper placement plate 28 is arranged such that the end on the upstream side in the folding paper conveyance direction (the left side in FIG. 2) is slightly positioned on the downstream side in the folding paper conveyance direction (the right side in FIG. 2) with respect to the lower end of the main conveyance mechanism 24. The folding paper stopper 30 is arranged such that the tip of the folding paper guided into the folding paper placement plate 28 abuts thereon. The folding paper stopper 30 is configured to be movable along the folding paper placement plate 28 in the upstream (the left side in FIG. 2) and downstream (the right side in FIG. 2) directions in the folding paper conveyance direction by operating an actuator such as a motor.

[0016] The stapling machine 10 is provided with a main body control unit 50. The main body control unit 50 has a CPU that executes various operations, a ROM that stores various control programs, and a RAM that is used as a work area for data storage and program execution, and controls the operation of actuators provided inside the stapling machine 10. The user can perform various setting inputs on the main operation panel 16 or the paper feeding operation panel 20. The main body control unit 50 thus acquires the information input by the user and controls the operation of the stapling machine 10 according to the acquired information.

[0017] The collating machine 10 further includes a belt conveying mechanism 36, a pair of discharge rollers 38, and a stacker tray 40. When collating by sandwiching a collated bundle between folded paper loaded on a folding paper feed tray 14X, the folded paper is first conveyed from the folding paper feed tray 14X toward the folded paper mounting plate 28, where it abuts against the folded paper stopper 30 and stops. The collated bundle, formed while being conveyed downward by the main conveying mechanism 24, has its tip abut against the folded paper stopped on the folded paper mounting plate 28. At this timing, the main control unit 50 rotates the folding knife 32, abutting its tip against the folded paper stopped on the folded paper mounting plate 28 and pressing it toward the pair of folding rollers 34. In this way, the collated bundle is held by the folding roller pair 34 together with the folded paper that has stopped on the folded paper mounting plate 28, and the folded paper that has stopped on the folded paper mounting plate 28 is folded so as to sandwich the collated bundle, forming a collated bundle with the folded paper attached, which is then conveyed to the belt conveying mechanism 36.

[0018] The belt conveying mechanism 36 further conveys the collated bundles downstream. The discharge roller pair 38 discharges the conveyed collated bundles into the stacker tray 40. The stacker tray 40 is detachably attached to the housing 9 and is used to stack and store the created collated bundles. If the collated bundles are not sandwiched between folded paper as described above, the folded paper is not supplied from the folding paper feed tray 14X, and the collated bundles formed while being conveyed downward by the main conveying mechanism 24 are then held by the folding roller pair 34 and conveyed to the belt conveying mechanism 36.

[0019] The main control unit 50 performs the collating process of paper according to the number of copies specified by the user via the main operation panel 16 (hereinafter also referred to as the "collation setting number of copies"). The main control unit 50 can also send a signal to the paper feed device 1 to perform an initial adjustment process to properly adjust the separation pressure by the paper feeding mechanism 18 prior to the collating process, and can send a signal to the paper feed device 1 to perform an additional adjustment process to readjust the separation pressure as needed during the collating process.

[0020] Next, the configuration and operation of the paper feed device 1, which includes a paper feeding mechanism 18 that includes a paper handling pressure adjustment mechanism, will be described. Figures 3 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the paper feed device 1 and the sub-transport mechanism 22. Figure 3 is a rear view of the paper feed device 1 installed on the left shelf shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a front view of the paper feed device 1 installed on the left shelf. Furthermore, Figure 5 is a top view of the paper feed device 1, and Figure 6 is a left side view of the paper feed device 1. However, for the sake of explanation, some structural elements have been omitted from the illustrations in each figure. For example, in Figures 5 and 6, the guide plate 41, which is part of the paper feed device 1 and extends from the paper feed mechanism 18 to the position of the sub-transport mechanism 22, has been omitted from the illustration.

[0021] The paper feed tray 14 functions as a "storage area" where stacks of paper set by the user are loaded. Because the paper feed tray 14 is installed at an angle, the stacks of paper on the paper feed tray 14 are loaded in an angled manner, with the higher sheets of paper shifted forward (downstream in the paper feeding direction). Figures 3 to 6 show the paper feed device 1 in the state before the stacks of paper are set.

[0022] A guide plate 41 and a paper feeding mechanism 18 are provided on the downstream side of the paper feed tray 14 in the feeding direction. The guide plate 41 constitutes a lateral transport path to which the sub-transport mechanism 22 is provided, supporting the paper fed by the paper feeding mechanism 18 from below and guiding it toward the main transport mechanism 24. The guide plate 41 is provided on both sides and is supported by a pair of frames (not shown) that constitute the housing of the paper feeding device 1. The guide plate 41 has a notch at its downstream end in the paper feeding direction (right side in Figure 4) where the roller members (68, 70) of the sub-transport mechanism 22 are located in the width direction (front-to-back direction in Figure 4, direction perpendicular to the paper plane in Figure 4). This notch allows the paper feeding device 1 to be mounted in the housing 9 without the guide plate 41 on the paper feeding device 1 side and the sub-transport mechanism 22 on the main body side of the collating machine 10 interfering with each other.

[0023] The paper feeding mechanism 18 includes a paper feed roller 42, an auxiliary paper feed roller 44, a paper separator plate 46, etc. The paper feed roller 42 and the auxiliary paper feed roller 44 are each supported by a bracket 48. The paper feed roller 42 is a driven roller that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown, described later as a paper feed motor 77), and rotates in contact with the top surface of the paper stack to feed out the top sheet of paper. The auxiliary paper feed roller 44 is a driven roller connected to the paper feed roller 42 via a timing belt 52, and rotates in contact with the top surface of the paper stack. Since the bracket 48 is rotatably supported on a pivot axis (not shown) coaxial with the paper feed roller 42, the height position of the auxiliary paper feed roller 44 can be appropriately adjusted to a position corresponding to the number of sheets in the paper stack.

[0024] The separation plate 46 functions as a "separation member" and constitutes a separation mechanism that separates the second and subsequent sheets of paper from the top of the stack at the same time as the first sheet. The separation plate 46 is positioned opposite the paper feed roller 42 below it and forms a paper feed nip that holds the paper between itself and the paper feed roller 42. The separation plate 46 is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, urethane rubber. Below the separation plate 46 is a separation pressure adjustment mechanism 54 that adjusts the pressure generated between the separation plate 46 and the paper feed roller 42 as separation pressure by adjusting the position of the separation plate 46 in the direction of contact with and away from the paper feed roller 42. The separation pressure adjustment mechanism 54 is housed in a housing member 55 fixed to the pair of frames described above.

[0025] With this configuration, when the top sheet of paper in the stack of paper loaded in the paper tray 14 is fed between the paper feed roller 42 and the separator plate 46 by the auxiliary paper feed roller 44, the paper feed roller 42 then feeds that paper further downstream. This paper is fed while being held between the paper feed roller 42 and the separator plate 46 with appropriate pressure. At this time, the difference between the frictional force between the paper feed roller 42 and the paper and the frictional force between the separator plate 46 and the paper prevents the feeding of the second and subsequent sheets of paper from the top. As a result, only the top sheet of paper is fed through the gap between the paper feed roller 42 and the separator plate 46.

[0026] A timing sensor 56 is provided slightly downstream in the paper feeding direction from the paper separation plate 46 within the storage member 55. The timing sensor 56 is a reflective optical sensor and is used to detect when the second and subsequent sheets of paper from the top are stuck near the downstream side of the paper feeding mechanism 18 due to a decrease in separation pressure.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a double-feed detection mechanism 60 is provided adjacent to the paper feeding mechanism 18 on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The double-feed detection mechanism 60 has a reference roller 62 and a displacement roller 64. The displacement roller 64 functions as a "measuring roller" and contacts the reference roller 62 from above. The shaft of the reference roller 62 is fixed at both ends to the pair of frames described above. On the other hand, the shaft of the displacement roller 64 is fixed to one end of the lever member 65. Since the other end of the lever member 65 is rotatably supported on a pivot shaft (not shown) provided on the frame, the displacement roller 64 is able to move relative to the reference roller 62. A sensing surface 67 (upper surface) is provided on one end (upper part) of the lever member 65, and a displacement sensor 69 is provided on the frame to detect the displacement of the sensing surface 67.

[0028] A rolling roller 66 is provided below the reference roller 62. Downstream of the double-feed detection mechanism 60, a pair of conveying rollers, an upper conveying roller 68 and a lower conveying roller 70, are provided vertically as a sub-conveying mechanism 22. The upper conveying roller 68 and the lower conveying roller 70 can contact each other, and the rolling roller 66 contacts the lower conveying roller 70 and the reference roller 62, respectively. The upper conveying roller 68 and the lower conveying roller 70 are driven by a motor (described later) not shown. The driving force of the lower conveying roller 70 is transmitted to the reference roller 62 via the rolling roller 66.

[0029] With this configuration, when paper passes between the reference roller 62 and the displacement roller 64, the axial position of the displacement roller 64 rises by the thickness of the paper. The displacement sensor 69 detects the amount of rise of the detection surface 67 at this time. Since the lever member 65 is biased by a tension spring (not shown), the displacement roller 64 is pressed against the reference roller 62 by the biasing force of the tension spring when no paper is passing through. Based on the detection information from the displacement sensor 69, it is possible to determine whether or not a double feed of paper has occurred.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the paper handling pressure adjustment mechanism 54 includes a paper handling base 72 that supports the paper handling plate 46, an inclined member 74 provided below the paper handling base 72, a link mechanism 76 that displaces the inclined member 74 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 42, and an adjustment motor 78 as an actuator that drives the link mechanism 76. In this embodiment, a DC brushless motor is used as the adjustment motor 78, but other motors such as a stepping motor may also be used. The paper handling base 72 has a main body that extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 42, and one end of the main body is rotatably supported on a pivot shaft 80. The pivot shaft 80 is provided parallel to the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 42 and is fixed to a housing member 55. The paper handling plate 46 is fitted onto the upper surface of about half of the other end of the main body of the paper handling base 72.

[0031] A ball 82 is embedded and fixed in the lower surface of the paper handling base 72 in such a manner that its lower half is exposed. An inclined member 74 is provided below the ball 82. The inclined member 74 has an inclined surface 84 that is inclined in a direction parallel to the pivot axis 80 (see Figure 6), and the ball 82 can slide along this inclined surface 84. Since the positional relationship between the ball 82 and the paper handling base 72 does not change, the paper handling base 72 rotates around the pivot axis 80 as the ball 82 moves up and down along the inclined surface 84. This allows the height position of the paper handling plate 46 to be changed. In other words, the paper handling base 72, the ball 82, and the inclined member 74 constitute a "lifting mechanism" that changes the height position of the paper handling plate 46, and also constitute a "pressure mechanism" that applies a pressing force to the paper feeding roller 42 by the paper handling plate 46. Furthermore, the connection structure between the link mechanism 76 and the inclined member 74 constitutes a "coordination mechanism" that operates in coordination with the link mechanism 76 and its pressurizing mechanism in accordance with the displacement of the link mechanism 76.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, a jam sensor 58 is provided alongside the lower transport roller 70. The jam sensor 58 is a reflective optical sensor that detects paper jams during the paper feeding process, but it also functions as a "paper sensor" used together with the timing sensor 56 to determine a decrease in the paper separation pressure.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a motor housing 86 is provided on one side (the rear side) of the housing member 55, and an adjustment motor 78 is housed in it. A control unit housing 88 is provided on the other side (the front side) of the housing member 55, and a paper feed control unit 3 is housed in it, which controls the input and output of the paper feed operation panel 20 and the various motors of the paper feed device 1.

[0034] The paper feed operation panel 20 includes a display unit 162 that shows the corresponding shelf number, etc., as well as a single / stop button 164 that is pressed when switching the use of the corresponding shelf, an initial adjustment button 166 that is pressed when performing the initial adjustment process of the paper handling pressure, and a continuous stage setting button 168 that is pressed when setting the continuous stage. Furthermore, the paper feed operation panel 20 is equipped with a timing advance button 170 that advances the paper feeding timing of the corresponding paper feeding mechanism 18, and a timing delay button 172 that delays the paper feeding timing. In addition, the paper feed operation panel 20 is equipped with a forward rotation button 174 that rotates the paper feeding motor in the forward direction in case of a paper jam, a reverse rotation button 176 that rotates the paper feeding motor in the reverse direction in case of a paper jam, and a test paper feed button 178 that is pressed when performing a test paper feed.

[0035] Since the configuration and operation of the sabaki pressure adjustment mechanism 54 can be the same as those known, such as the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0036] The paper feed device 1, as described with reference to Figures 3 to 6, is an auto-sparing unit equipped with an auto-sparing function that automatically adjusts the sorting pressure before continuous collating by acquiring thickness data, which is data related to the thickness of the paper, in advance and controlling the rotation amount of the adjustment motor 78 based on this thickness data. In this auto-sparing unit, a preparation paper feed operation is performed in the initial adjustment process before continuous collating. Based on the value detected by the displacement sensor 69 during this preparation paper feed operation, the thickness data of the paper to be fed in the continuous collating process is calculated. Then, the return amount corresponding to that thickness data is calculated and the height of the sorting plate 46 is adjusted appropriately. The paper feed control unit 3 maintains a table that associates the paper thickness data detected by the displacement sensor 69 with the rotation amount of the adjustment motor 78, and refers to these tables in the sorting adjustment process. In this auto-sparing unit, the thickness data acquired by the preparation paper feed operation is used for double feeding detection in the paper feeding operation during continuous collating. Thus, the paper feeder 1, equipped with an auto-sorting function, acquires thickness data as sheet preparation information through a preparatory paper feeding operation.

[0037] The paper feeder 1 is not limited to one equipped with the automatic sorting function described above. For example, the paper feeder 1 may be one that does not have a drive source for automatically adjusting the sorting pressure, such as an adjustment motor 78, and operates the sorting pressure adjustment mechanism manually. In this paper feeder 1, the adjustment amount that will result in the recommended sorting pressure is calculated based on the thickness data acquired during the preparation paper feeding operation, and the calculated adjustment amount is displayed on the display unit, prompting the user to adjust the sorting pressure adjustment mechanism with the calculated adjustment amount.

[0038] Furthermore, there is a paper feed device 1 that does not calculate the adjustment amount for the recommended sorting pressure, but instead acquires information about the paper during a preparatory paper feed operation performed before continuous collating. For example, there is a paper feed device 1 that acquires double-feed detection data, such as thickness data, during the preparatory paper feed operation, which can be used for double-feed detection, and uses the double-feed detection data only for double-feed detection during the paper feed operation in continuous collating. As the paper feed device 1 that acquires double-feed detection data, a thickness detection paper feed device can be used that acquires paper thickness data by sandwiching the paper between multiple members, similar to the double-feed detection mechanism 60 of the above-described embodiment and the configuration described in Patent Document 2, and calculates a threshold for determining whether or not a double feed has occurred based on the acquired thickness data. As for the double-feed detection configuration, an optical double-feed detection method is used that irradiates the paper being fed with light and detects double feeds by utilizing the fact that the amount of light transmitted differs depending on the number of sheets of paper, or an ultrasonic double-feed detection method is used that irradiates the paper being fed with ultrasonic waves and detects double feeds by utilizing the fact that the attenuation rate of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiving unit differs depending on the number of sheets of paper, and a threshold for determining double-feed detection can be calculated in either case.

[0039] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the collating machine 10, centered on the main control unit 50. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a collating machine 10 with two types of paper feed devices 1, an automatic sorting paper feed device 1α and a thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β, mounted on the housing 9. Although only two paper feed devices 1 (1α, 1β) are shown in Figure 7 for convenience, all paper feed control units 3 and the main unit control unit 50 of the paper feed devices 1 mounted on the collating machine 10 are capable of communicating with each other.

[0040] The paper feed control unit 3 of the automatic paper feeder 1α receives detection signals from the limit sensor S1, home sensor S2, upper limit sensor S3, timing sensor 56, jam sensor 58, and displacement sensor 69, as well as operation signals from the paper feed operation panel 20. The limit sensor S1, home sensor S2, and upper limit sensor S3 are sensors used when automatically adjusting the paper feeding pressure with the automatic paper feeding function described above. Based on these detection signals, operation signals, and various signals input from the main unit control unit 50, the paper feed control unit 3 of the automatic paper feeder 1α performs predetermined calculation processing for paper feeding control and paper feeding pressure adjustment control, outputs control command signals to the paper feed motor 77 and adjustment motor 78, and outputs display command signals to the display unit 162 of the paper feed operation panel 20.

[0041] The thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β is an optional paper feed device that performs double-feed detection and is equipped with a mechanical double-feed detection means that detects double-feeds based on thickness data acquired by sandwiching paper. The thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β differs from the auto-dispensing paper feed device 1α in that it does not have a function to automatically adjust the dispensing pressure and does not have a limit sensor S1, home sensor S2, upper limit sensor S3, and adjustment motor 78. On the other hand, it is equipped with the same timing sensor 56, jam sensor 58, displacement sensor 69, paper feed operation panel 20, and paper feed motor 77 as the auto-dispensing paper feed device 1α. The paper feed control unit 3 of the thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β receives detection signals from the timing sensor 56, jam sensor 58, and displacement sensor 69, as well as operation signals from the paper feed operation panel 20. Furthermore, the paper feed control unit 3 of the thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β performs predetermined calculation processing for paper feed control based on these detection signals, operation signals, and various signals input from the main unit control unit 50, outputs a control command signal to the paper feed motor 77, and outputs a display command signal to the display unit 162 of the paper feed operation panel 20.

[0042] The paper feed control unit 3 of the automatic paper feeder 1α and the thickness-detecting paper feeder 1β controls the various sensors, drive units, and display units of the paper feeder 1 based on the paper feed control program stored in the paper feed memory unit 31, and also communicates with the main unit control unit 50. Furthermore, since the automatic paper feeder 1α and the thickness-detecting paper feeder 1β have different functions, the paper feed control programs stored in the paper feed memory unit 31 are different.

[0043] The main control unit 50 receives input signals from the sub-operation panel 5, input signals from the main operation panel 16 via the tablet control unit 6, and input signals from the paper feed operation panel 20 via the paper feed control unit 3. It also receives detection signals from the paper discharge sensor 180, which detects the discharge of paper into the stacker tray 40. Based on the main control program stored in the main storage unit 51, the main control unit 50 controls various sensors, drive units, and display units of the main unit, and communicates with the paper feed control unit 3 and the tablet control unit 6. In addition, as shown in Figure 7, the main body of the collating machine 10 is equipped with a main auxiliary storage unit 59, which can communicate with the main control unit 50. The main auxiliary storage unit 59 has a larger capacity than the main storage unit 51, but its communication speed with the main control unit 50 is slower. While the main storage unit 51 corresponds to the main memory, the main auxiliary storage unit 59 corresponds to storage. The main auxiliary storage unit 59 can store settings for collating operations entered by the user.

[0044] The sub-operation panel 5 is equipped with a start key 152 for initiating the collating process and a stop key 154 for stopping the collating process. The main operation panel 16 of the tablet terminal 4 is a touch panel that allows various settings to be made before continuous collating. On the other hand, the paper feed operation panel 20 includes various switches corresponding to the buttons shown in Figure 6. However, the paper feed operation panel 20 of the thickness-detecting paper feed device 1β is equipped with function buttons that have the same appearance as the initial adjustment button 166 in Figure 6, and perform predetermined functions when pressed simultaneously with other buttons.

[0045] The main control unit 50 and each paper feed control unit 3 perform predetermined calculations for paper feed control, transport control, folding control, etc., based on inputs from various switches, buttons, and sensors, and output control command signals to the paper feed motor 77, adjustment motor 78, main motor 182, etc. The main motor 182 is a motor shared by the various transport rollers that make up the sub-transport mechanism 22 and the main transport mechanism 24. The tablet control unit 6 displays the setting screen for collating, error notifications, etc., on the liquid crystal display of the main operation panel 16.

[0046] As shown in Figure 7, the tablet terminal 4 is equipped with a tablet communication unit 8, and the tablet control unit 6 is capable of data communication with the management server 203 via the internet line 200. Based on the tablet control program stored in the tablet storage unit 47, the tablet control unit 6 controls the display of the main operation panel 16 on the tablet body, and also communicates with the main unit control unit 50 and with the management server 203 via the internet line 200.

[0047] Device information from the collating machine 10 is transmitted from the tablet control unit 6 to the tablet communication unit 8, from the tablet communication unit 8 to the Wi-Fi router 201 via the Wi-Fi line, and then to the modem 202. The modem 202 transmits the device information from the collating machine 10 to the management server 203 via the internet line 200, and the management server 203 stores the received device information as needed. The stored device information can be checked by maintenance personnel and other service staff.

[0048] The tablet control unit 6 can transmit device information such as operation information and error information of the collating machine 10 to the management server 203, which is an external information processing means, when the collating machine 10 is powered on, when an error occurs, or when the power is turned off. The operation information transmitted to the management server 203 may include, but is not limited to, the type and position of the paper feed device 1 used for collating, the type of sheet material loaded, and a cumulative counter indicating the number of collating operations performed by the collating machine 10. The tablet control unit 6, the main unit control unit 50, and the paper feed control unit 3 can obtain information about the collating machine 10 (error resolution methods, malfunction repair methods, control program update information, etc.) from the management server 203 via the internet line 200, and can also transmit input information from management terminals (90, 91) to the tablet control unit 6, the main unit control unit 50, and the paper feed control unit 3 via the internet line 200. The management server 203 is not limited to a server device owned by the administrator; a publicly known cloud service platform may also be used.

[0049] The collating machine 10 of this embodiment is configured to allow updates for control programs, such as the main unit control program, the tablet control program, and the paper feed control program, to be downloaded from the management server 203 via the internet connection 200. This configuration, which allows updates for control programs to be obtained from an external information processing means such as the management server 203 via a communication network such as the internet connection 200, reduces the number of visits by service technicians to user sites, thereby saving time and costs.

[0050] The collating machine 10 of this embodiment can transmit not only information related to the control program, but also device information such as past operation information and error information of the collating machine 10 to the management server 203 via the internet line 200. Examples of operation information to be transmitted include a cumulative counter which is the cumulative number of collations, and the number of times each paper feeder 1 has been fed. Information such as which of the multiple shelves in the housing 9 has which paper feeder 1 (serial number, type, etc.) installed may also be transmitted. Furthermore, the configuration may include transmitting the number of times paper has been fed since the sorting of the paper feeder 1 was changed, and if the paper feeder 1 has multiple sorting options, the number of times paper has been fed for each sorting option. Examples of error information to be transmitted include the total number of errors that have occurred in the collating machine 10, the number of occurrences for each type of error, the number of errors that have occurred for each paper feeder 1, and the number of occurrences for each type of error. This enables maintenance managers to respond quickly when errors occur, take preventive measures before errors occur, and replace consumables before they are completely worn out.

[0051] If the collating machine 10 is capable of inputting and storing paper identification information that indicates the characteristics of the paper, such as the sponsor name of the advertising print material, it is preferable to associate and store the paper separation conditions (type of separation member and separation pressure) in the paper feed device 1 with the paper identification information when performing continuous collating operations. This makes it possible to shorten the time required to adjust the paper separation conditions by recalling the stored paper separation conditions and applying or referencing them the next time paper with the same paper identification information is fed. Furthermore, by transmitting information linking the sorting conditions and paper identification information from the collating machine 10 to the management server 203 for management, it becomes possible to share sorting condition information for paper with specific paper identification information with collating machines 10 installed in other locations, thereby shortening the time required for adjusting sorting conditions among collating machines 10 within the same collating machine management system 100.

[0052] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the collating machine management system 100 according to this embodiment. The collating machine management system 100 shown in Figure 8 comprises a plurality of collating machines 10 (10A to 10D), a management server 203 which is an external information processing means, and a management PC 90 and a management mobile terminal 91 as management terminals. The configuration of the collating machines 10 is the same as the configuration described using Figures 1 to 7, and the configuration that enables data communication between the collating machines 10 and the management server 203 is the same as the configuration described using Figure 7, but is not limited to this. In addition, although the collating machine management system 100 shown in Figure 8 conveniently shows a configuration in which four collating machines 10 (10A to 10D) can communicate with the management server 203, the number of collating machines 10 that can communicate with the management server 203 is not limited to this, and may be one to three, or five or more.

[0053] The device information for each collating machine 10 (10A to 10D) stored in the management server 203 is associated with each collating machine 10. The stored device information is then processed using a dedicated application to create information for use on the management screen, which can be viewed as a management screen display from the management terminals (90, 91). By viewing and analyzing the device information stored in the management server 203 using the management terminals (90, 91), maintenance managers can perform maintenance management such as rapid response in the event of an error, preventive measures before an error occurs, and replacement of consumables before they are completely worn out.

[0054] However, in order to perform proper maintenance and management, it is necessary to obtain a lot of device information from the collating machine 10, and it is difficult for the maintenance manager to check all the error information and operational information sent from the collating machine 10 and decide whether or not to take various actions. Furthermore, if the error information or operational information is not checked, there is a risk of overlooking a situation where various actions should be taken. Moreover, as shown in Figure 8, when trying to manage multiple collating machines 10, the amount of device information increases, making it difficult for the maintenance manager to properly grasp the status of each collating machine 10.

[0055] In contrast, the collating machine management system 100 of this embodiment is configured such that when the device information transmitted from the collating machine 10 to the management server 203 meets predetermined conditions, the management server 203 outputs an alert, which is management warning information, to the management terminal. Each control unit on the collating machine 10 side (main unit control unit 50, tablet control unit 6, and paper feed control unit 3) only transmits device information such as error information and operation information, and does not determine whether an alert output is necessary. The management server 203 or the management terminals (90, 91) accumulate the received device information, and when the conditions are met, they display an alert on the display screen of the management terminals (90, 91). It is desirable that the conditions for displaying this alert can be changed as appropriate by the administrator.

[0056] Furthermore, a service call button may be provided on the collating machine 10. When this service call button is pressed, the information is transmitted to the management server 203 via the internet line 200 or the like, and the management server 203 transmits it to the management terminals (90, 91) via email or a communication line via the internet. As a result, the display on the management terminals (90, 91) will show that the service call button has been pressed. Conventionally, when a malfunction occurred in the collating machine 10, the main course of action was to call the call center. However, there are cases where the call center cannot handle the malfunction, and the call center may only act as a link between the user and the administrator. In contrast, with the service call button described above, an administrator who can handle any malfunction can check the error information and operational information up to the point when the service call button is pressed, predict the state of the malfunction to some extent, and then contact the user.

[0057] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the flow when an alert is output by the collating machine management system 100. After the collating operation of the collating machine 10 is completed, when the user turns off the power switch, a power-off signal is input to the tablet control unit 6 (S11), and the tablet control unit 6 transmits device information to the management server 203 (S12).

[0058] Upon receiving the device information (S21), the management server 203 transmits a confirmation of receipt information to the tablet control unit 6 of the collating machine 10 (S22). If the device that transmitted the device information (S12) receives the confirmation of receipt information from the management server 203 within a predetermined time (S13, "Yes"), it controls the power to turn off the power to the tablet terminal 4 and the collating machine 10 (S14). The power to the collating machine 10 may also be configured to turn off when the user turns off the power.

[0059] The management server 203, which sent the reception confirmation information (S22), determines whether the received device information meets the alert output conditions (S23). If the alert output conditions are not met (No in S23), it creates information to be used for displaying on the management screen based on the received device information (S25). The created management screen display can be viewed by the administrator using the management terminals (90, 91).

[0060] On the other hand, if the received device information meets the alert output conditions (Yes in S23), an alert email is sent to an email address that can be viewed on the management terminal of the administrator who manages the collating machine that meets the alert output conditions (S24). The management terminal that receives the alert email (S31) displays an alert notification screen on its display unit indicating that an alert email has been received (S32). This allows the administrator to be notified that the status of the collating machine 10 has met the alert output conditions.

[0061] The management server 203, which sent the alert email (S24), creates information to be used for displaying the management screen, which allows the administrator to confirm that the machine is in a state to output an alert and to see the content of the alert (S25). By viewing the created management screen display using the management terminals (90, 91), the administrator can confirm that the collating machine 10 is in a state to output an alert and to see the content of the alert.

[0062] The recipient of alert emails is not limited to email addresses accessible on management terminals that can connect to management server 203; any address accessible on the administrator's terminal is acceptable. Administrators who receive alert emails on terminals that cannot connect to management server 203 may connect to management server 203 from their management terminal (90 or 91) and check the alert details from the management screen display.

[0063] Alert conditions can be set by experimentally confirming in advance device information that indicates a high probability of errors or malfunctions requiring repair by an administrator, or device information that indicates a condition where replacement is imminent. Alternatively, the collating machine management system 100 can be operated, and when various actions by an administrator are required, the device information acquired up to that point can be analyzed and alert output conditions can be set. Since the alert output conditions are stored on the management server and the administrator can change the alert output conditions without operating the user's collating machine 10, the alert output conditions can be changed as appropriate based on the relationship between the acquired device conditions and the timing and content of the actions required by the administrator.

[0064] The system may also be configured to use artificial intelligence to calculate alert output conditions based on device condition information stored in the management server 203 and information on the timing and content of actions required by the administrator, and to appropriately change the alert output conditions used for control.

[0065] In the configuration described above, which includes a service call button, the information used to calculate the alert output conditions may be information that links the device information before and after the service call button was pressed with information about the administrator's response to the service call button being pressed. By calculating the alert output conditions and issuing an alert based on the device information before the service call button was pressed, the collating machine management system 100 can issue an alert before a malfunction occurs that would require the service call button to be pressed, allowing the administrator to take action. This suppresses the occurrence of the above malfunction and improves user usability.

[0066] Furthermore, the system may include a configuration to notify the user when an alert has been output to the management terminals (90, 91). This notification configuration could involve sending an email to a pre-registered user email address informing the administrator that an alert has been output, or displaying a notification on the collating machine 10's display screen. By notifying the user that an alert has been output to the administrator, users experiencing frequent errors or other problems with the collating machine 10, even if they can continue using it, can wait for contact from the administrator without having to contact them themselves.

[0067] The alert output destination is not limited to the administrator; it can also be the user. For example, the alert email could be sent to the user's email address, or the alert content could be displayed on the display screen of the collating machine 10.

[0068] Furthermore, the system may be configured to allow various types of information, which are entered by the user through predetermined operations for collating processing via the main operation panel 16, to be input via the internet connection 200.

[0069] While device conditions may be transmitted only when an error occurs, transmitting device information when the power is turned off allows for earlier alert notification when alert output conditions, including device information other than error information such as cumulative counters, are met. Furthermore, the timing of transmitting device conditions can be any timing; they may be transmitted each time the collating operation of the collating machine 10 stops, such as when a job is completed or when an error occurs, or they may be configured to transmit continuously while the collating machine 10 is powered on.

[0070] It is conceivable that the collating machine 10 would send device information, such as error information, to the management server 203 each time the collating machine 10 stops operating. In this case, the management server 203 would send error information to the management terminals (90, 91) at predetermined intervals, such as every hour, summarizing the device information received from the collating machine 10 since the last transmission to the management terminals (90, 91). It is desirable that the predetermined interval for transmission to the management terminals (90, 91) be changed as appropriate by the user and administrator. A configuration that sends device information, including error information, to the management terminals (90, 91) at predetermined intervals (e.g., every hour) allows for near real-time information acquisition and prevents delays in the transmission of error information.

[0071] In the flow shown in Figure 9, since the device information is transmitted when the power is off, the control shows that the power of the collating machine 10 is turned off when the collating machine 10 receives the reception confirmation information. However, when transmitting device information when an error occurs, even if the reception confirmation information is not received, the machine will be in a state where collating can be performed once it is confirmed that the error has been resolved.

[0072] Next, we will explain the alert output conditions. As the collating machine 10 is used over time, various components will wear out and require replacement. It is desirable to issue an alert to at least one of the administrators and users to prompt replacement before the collating machine 10 becomes unusable due to the worn-out components not being replaced. Furthermore, errors that cause the device to stop can be resolved by the user, such as paper jams or double feeds, or they may require repair or adjustment by a manager, such as a sales company that provides maintenance. Before the collating machine 10 becomes unusable due to a situation requiring managerial intervention, it is desirable to issue an alert to at least one of the managers or users to prompt them to take action for repair or adjustment.

[0073] Consumables that need to be replaced periodically in the collating machine 10 include the paper separators 46 provided in each of the multiple paper feeders 1. Furthermore, it is desirable to output an alert prompting the replacement or preparation for replacement of each sorting plate 46 before each sorting plate 46 reaches its replacement time. The alert condition may be set to the point when the cumulative number of times the paper feeder 1 equipped with the new paper feeder 46 has fed paper since the replacement of the new paper feeder 46 has reached a predetermined number. However, since the collating machine 10 handles various types of paper, the amount of wear on the separator plate 46 may differ depending on the paper quality of the sheets being fed, the separator pressure, etc., even with the same number of paper feeds. Therefore, when feeding at high separator pressure or when feeding paper with a wear-prone quality (such as a rough surface), a weighting process is applied to the number of paper feeds to calculate a cumulative number of paper feeds for alert determination. When this value reaches a predetermined number of feeds, it is determined that the alert output conditions have been met.

[0074] In the automatic paper handling unit, information regarding the paper handling pressure can be obtained by controlling the paper handling pressure. Specifically, from the state in which the paper handling pressure described in Patent Document 1 reaches the limit value, the smaller the amount of drive the adjustment motor 78 in the direction of lowering the paper handling plate, the greater the paper handling pressure, and the larger the drive amount, the smaller the paper handling pressure. When calculating the cumulative number of paper handlings for alert determination, one paper handling at a high paper handling pressure is weighted as 1.2 paper handlings. Alternatively, when paper is fed with reduced paper handling pressure, it may be weighted as 0.5 paper handlings.

[0075] When the paper handling pressure is high, the time from the start of the paper feeding operation until the leading edge of the paper reaches a predetermined position downstream tends to be longer. Therefore, it is possible to determine that the longer the time from the start of the paper feeding operation until the leading edge of the paper is detected by the timing sensor 56 (the first paper sensor located downstream in the paper feeding direction relative to the paper feeding nip), the higher the paper handling pressure, and the shorter the time, the lower the paper handling pressure, and then weight the number of paper feeding cycles according to the paper handling pressure.

[0076] Not limited to situations with high paper-flipping pressure, but under conditions where the paper-flipping components are prone to wear, the cumulative number of paper feeds for alert determination may be calculated by weighting the number of paper feeds. For example, if the wear of the paper-flipping components differs depending on physical properties such as temperature, humidity, number of consecutive uses, paper type, and paper thickness, these physical properties may be detected, and the number of paper feeds may be weighted according to the detection results. Regarding temperature and humidity, the installation environment of the collating machine 10 may be detected, or a detection means may be installed near the sorting board 46 that is the target of the alert to detect the temperature and humidity.

[0077] If the paper type can be entered, the number of paper feeds may be weighted according to the paper type. Furthermore, if identification information about the paper, such as sponsor information for advertising printouts, can be obtained, the identification information of the paper and the cumulative number of sheets of paper that have been fed that have required replacement of the separator plate 46 may be linked and stored, and the number of paper feeds may be weighted according to the cumulative number of sheets of paper that have been fed that have required replacement of the separator plate 46, when feeding paper with the corresponding identification information.

[0078] As the scrubbing plate 46 wears down, it becomes thinner, and the position of the part of the scrubbing base 72 that supports the scrubbing plate 46 rises when the scrubbing pressure reaches its limit value. In other words, in the auto scrubbing unit, during the initial adjustment process of the scrubbing pressure, the amount of drive of the adjustment motor 78 from the lowest position to the highest position of the scrubbing plate 46 increases as the scrubbing plate 46 becomes thinner (the amount of rotation of the adjustment motor 78 in the forward direction increases from the state in which the home sensor S2 described in Patent Document 1 detects to the state in which the limit sensor S1 does not detect). Therefore, as device information, the amount of drive of the adjustment motor 78 from the lowest position to the highest position of the scrubbing plate 46 during the initial adjustment process of the scrubbing pressure may be acquired, and an alert to replace the scrubbing plate 46 may be output when the increase in the amount of drive compared to the initial amount of drive after the scrubbing plate 46 was replaced exceeds a predetermined amount. The system is not limited to the configuration described above. If there is a thickness-related information detection means that can detect information about the thickness of the splitting member being used, an alert may be output based on the detection result to notify the system of when to replace the splitting member.

[0079] Furthermore, not only the separator plate 46 of the paper feed device 1, but also the paper path forming members that form the paper passage path from the paper feed tray 14 to the stacker tray 40 may wear out differently depending on the physical properties of the paper being fed, such as paper quality, thickness, and length. For this reason, a weighting process may be applied to the number of paper passes based on the physical properties of the paper that affect the wear of the paper path forming members, and a cumulative number of paper passes for alert determination to notify when it is time to replace the members may be calculated. In collation machines for newspaper advertisements, various types of paper are fed through. By weighting the paper according to its physical properties and calculating the cumulative number of paper passes required for alert determination, it becomes possible to output alerts at a more precise timing.

[0080] Furthermore, it is desirable that alert output conditions be set based on device information that indicates a malfunction. For example, if the frequency of a particular error is higher than a predetermined frequency, an alert is issued indicating a high probability of failure. Additionally, the temperature change inside the collating machine 10 is measured over time, and if the temperature rise per hour inside the collating machine 10 exceeds a predetermined rise, an alert is issued. If the temperature around the drive source rises rapidly in a short period, an alert is issued to prompt administrator verification, as this may increase the likelihood of failure due to overload. Furthermore, a microphone may be placed to collect sounds from the collating machine 10 during operation, and an alert may be output if the operating volume increases or if sounds of a specific frequency (abnormal noise) are detected. This allows for the output of an alert based on changes in operating sounds that may indicate a malfunction, prompting the administrator to take action.

[0081] Furthermore, an alert may be issued if the time from error occurrence to recovery is chronically long. In this case, it is possible that there is a malfunction that is causing the recovery to take a long time, or that the user lacks technical skills. Therefore, the administrator can check for the presence of a malfunction and the user's technical level, and by resolving the malfunction or providing advice on improving the user's technical level, the usability for users can be improved in the future.

[0082] As shown in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the collating machine management system 100 has multiple collating machines 10 that can communicate with the management server 203. Device information transmitted from each collating machine 10 is stored in the storage unit of the management server 203 in association with each collating machine 10, and alerts are notified for each collating machine 10. By managing the device information for each collating machine 10 and outputting alerts, it becomes possible for a small number of administrators to manage a large number of collating machines 10. For example, it is extremely difficult for a small number of administrators to check the error and operational information of dozens to hundreds of collating machines 10 and to grasp the status of all collating machines 10 on a daily basis. There is a risk that administrators may overlook conditions that require them to visit the installation site of a collating machine 10 to take action. In contrast, a collating machine management system 100 that manages multiple collating machines 10 manages device information for each collating machine 10 and outputs an alert to the administrator when the alert output conditions are met for each collating machine 10, thereby preventing administrators from overlooking conditions that require their action.

[0083] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 8, the first collating machine 10A is installed at the first newspaper sales office NS1, the second collating machine 10B is installed at the second newspaper sales office NS2, and two collating machines 10, the third collating machine 10C and the fourth collating machine 10D, are installed at the third newspaper sales office NS3. The device information for each collating machine 10 is stored in conjunction with the user's (newspaper sales office's) identification information. This makes it possible for administrators to efficiently visit users when other alerts are issued to the same user, such as when a low-priority alert is issued to a collating machine 10 linked to a particular user.

[0084] The collating machine management system 100 shown in Figure 8 has multiple collating machines 10 to be managed, and the device information transmitted from each collating machine 10 is managed separately for each machine. The information for each collating machine 10 is stored in association with the user. On the other hand, when calculating alert output conditions based on the device information transmitted from each collating machine 10, the alert conditions are calculated based on all device information, regardless of the correspondence between the device information and the collating machine 10, and the correspondence between the collating machine 10 and the user. This allows for the calculation of alert conditions based on more information, thereby improving the accuracy of alert output.

[0085] The paper feeder 1 is detachable from the collating machine 10, the position of the shelf on which it is mounted in one collating machine 10 can be changed, and it can also be mounted in other collating machines 10. For this reason, it is desirable to assign identification information to each paper feeder 1 and manage the device information related to the paper feeder 1 in conjunction with the identification information of the paper feeder 1. This makes it possible to appropriately output alerts for each paper feeder 1 even if the mounting position of the paper feeder 1 or the collating machine 10 to which the paper feeder 1 is mounted changes. The alert conditions for consumable parts of each paper feeder 1 may be set not only based on the cumulative number of paper feeds, but also on a combination of factors such as the frequency of slippage and the frequency of double feeding.

[0086] For alert output, the display may differ depending on the urgency of the response required. When notifying via email, for highly urgent alerts, "Urgent" may be displayed at the beginning of the subject line, while for less urgent alerts, "Confirmation Required" may be displayed at the beginning of the subject line. Furthermore, when displaying alerts on the management screen shown on management terminals (90, 91), parts of the alert display or the frame may be color-coded in order of urgency, such as red, yellow, and blue. Such color coding is also included in alert output that notifies the administrator that a situation requires action.

[0087] In the collating machine management system 100 of the embodiment described above, the management server 203, which receives device information from the collating machine 10, determines whether or not an alert is necessary. However, the control unit of the collating machine 10 (main unit control unit 50, tablet control unit 6) may be configured to determine whether or not an alert is necessary. In this case, the alert may be notified to the display unit of the collating machine 10, or the collating machine 10 may notify the administrator via email through the internet line 200.

[0088] When the tablet terminal 4 is mounted in the housing 9, the tablet control unit 6 and the main unit control unit 50 are connected via a USB terminal, enabling communication via a wired connection. The main unit also includes a main unit communication unit 53, and when the tablet terminal 4 is removed from the housing 9, the main unit communication unit 53 and the tablet communication unit 8 can communicate via a Wi-Fi® connection. However, when the tablet communication unit 8 is connected to the main unit communication unit 53, the tablet communication unit 8 cannot communicate with the Wi-Fi router 201. Therefore, the control program download is performed with the tablet terminal 4 mounted in the housing 9. Furthermore, since communication with the management server 203 is performed when the power is turned on, it is desirable that the tablet terminal 4 is mounted in the housing 9 when the collating machine 10 is powered on. If the tablet terminal 4 is not mounted in the housing 9 when the power is turned on, communication with the management server 203 via the internet connection 200 may be initiated when the tablet terminal 4 is first mounted in the housing 9 after power is turned on.

[0089] In this embodiment, the collating machine 10 has multiple paper feeders 1 arranged vertically. However, the collating machine that can be implemented in this invention is not limited to one in which multiple feeding devices are arranged vertically, but may also have multiple feeding devices arranged horizontally. By arranging multiple feeding devices vertically, as in the collating machine 10 of this embodiment, the installation space can be reduced.

[0090] The collating device managed by the collating device management system according to the present invention is not limited to those that create a stack of paper by stacking paper placed on multiple paper trays, as in the collating machine 10 of the embodiment described above. For example, it may be a collating device, also called an inserter or inserter, that inserts other paper, such as an advertisement stack, into the fold of a stack of paper, such as a stack of newspapers, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-87087. Even such a collating device can be connected to an external information processing means such as a management server via a communication network such as the Internet, and when the device information transmitted by the collating device satisfies predetermined conditions such as alert output conditions, the external information processing means notifies management warning information such as an alert, thereby preventing the administrator from overlooking a situation where the collating device is in a state where the administrator should take action.

[0091] The above is just one example; each of the following embodiments produces its own unique effects.

[0092] [Aspect 1] Embodiment 1 relates to a collation device management system comprising: a collation device such as a collation machine 10 that performs a collation operation to create collated bundles by stacking sheet materials such as paper fed from each of the feeding units of a plurality of paper feeders 1; and an external information processing means such as a management server 203 that communicates with the communication means (tablet communication unit 8, etc.) of the collation device via a communication network such as an internet line 200 and is capable of sending and receiving device information such as operational information and error information related to the collation device, and is characterized in that when the device information received by the external information processing means satisfies predetermined conditions such as alert output conditions, it notifies management caution information such as an alert. In this embodiment 1, it is possible to prevent overlooking the fact that the collating device under management is in a state that requires attention from a maintenance manager.

[0093] [Aspect 2] Embodiment 2 is characterized in that, in the collating device management system according to Embodiment 1, the predetermined conditions for notifying management warning information regarding passage path forming members (consumable parts of the paper feed device 1 such as paper feed rollers 42 and separation plates 46, and transport members on the main body side of the collating machine 10, etc.) that form the sheet material passage path through which the sheet material passes in the collating device are set by a combination of the number of times the sheet material passes through the sheet material passage path (cumulative number of paper feeds, etc.) and error information related to transport defects such as slippage or double feeding in the sheet material passage path. According to this, it becomes possible to detect and notify of conditions that require action by maintenance personnel, which cannot be detected solely by the number of times the sheet material has passed over the system.

[0094] [Aspect 3] Embodiment 3 is a collating device management system according to Embodiment 1 or 2, characterized in that the predetermined conditions for notifying management warning information regarding the passage path forming member (paper passage path forming member, etc.) that forms the sheet material passage path through which the sheet material passes in the collating device are set by a combination of the number of times the sheet material passes through the sheet material passage path and information regarding the physical properties of the sheet material (length, thickness, paper type, etc.). According to this, even if the collating device collates various types of sheet materials, and the degree of wear and tear on the components differs depending on the type of sheet material, it will be possible to notify management warnings at the appropriate time.

[0095] [Aspect 4] Embodiment 4 is characterized in that, in the collation device management system according to Embodiments 1 to 3, predetermined conditions are set for notifying management warning information based on device information (cumulative number of paper feeds, etc.) regarding the degree of wear and tear of the components of the collation device.

[0096] [Aspect 5] Embodiment 5 is a collating device management system according to Embodiments 1 to 4, characterized in that there are multiple collating devices that can communicate with an external information processing means, device information is stored in the external information processing means in association with each collating device, and management caution information is notified for each collating device. According to this, a small number of maintenance personnel will be able to manage a large number of collating devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1: Paper feeder 2: Batch adjustment button 3: Paper feed control unit 4: Tablet devices 5: Sub-control panel 6: Tablet Control Unit 8: Tablet Communication Department 10: Collation device 11: First Link 12: Second Link 13: Third Link 14: Paper feed tray 16: Main control panel 18: Paper feeding mechanism 20: Sub-control panel 22: Sub-transport mechanism 24: Main transport mechanism 30: Folding paper stopper 31: Paper feed memory unit 40: Stackable Tray 42: Paper feed roller 44: Auxiliary paper feed roller 46: Sabaki board 50: Control Unit 51: Main memory unit 54: Sabaki pressure adjustment mechanism 55: Containing member 56: Timing Sensor 58: Jam Sensor 59: Main unit auxiliary storage 60: Double feed detection mechanism 62: Reference Roller 64: Displacement roller 66: Rolling roller 68: Conveyor roller 69: Displacement Sensor 70: Conveyor lower roller 72: Sabaki Base 74: Inclined member 76: Linkage mechanism 77: Paper feed motor 78: Adjustment Motor 80: Rotary shaft 82: Sphere 84: Inclined surface 90: Management PC 91: Management mobile terminal 100: Collating Machine Management System 200: Internet connection 203: Management Server S1: Limit sensor S2: Home Sensor S3: Upper limit sensor

Claims

1. a collating device that performs a collating operation to stack sheet materials fed from each of a plurality of feeding units to create a collated bundle; the external information processing means communicating with the communication means of the collating device via a communication network and capable of transmitting and receiving device information related to the collating device; A collation device management system characterized in that when the device information received by the external information processing means satisfies a predetermined condition, management caution information is notified.

2. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, the device information transmitted by the collation device to the external information processing means includes the number of feedings for each of the plurality of feeding units, A collation device management system characterized in that when the cumulative number of feeding times for each of the feeding sections reaches a predetermined value, the management warning information is notified.

3. In the collation device management system described in claim 2, the feeding unit is detachable from the collating device, assigning identification information to each of the feeding units, and managing the device information related to the feeding units, including the number of feedings for each of the feeding units, in association with the identification information for each of the feeding units; A collation device management system capable of notifying the management attention information for each of the feed units even if the mounting position of the feed units in the collation device is changed.

4. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, the device information transmitted by the collating device to the external information processing means includes a cumulative counter indicating the number of collating operations of the collating device; A collation device management system characterized in that when the cumulative counter reaches a predetermined value, the management warning information is notified.

5. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system, characterized in that the predetermined conditions for notifying the management warning information are set based on the device information that is a sign of a malfunction of the collation device.

6. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system characterized in that, when the frequency of occurrence of a specific error is higher than a predetermined frequency, the management warning information is notified.

7. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system characterized in that when an amount of temperature rise per hour in the collation device exceeds a predetermined amount of rise, the management warning information is notified.

8. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system characterized by notifying the management warning information when at least one of the following occurs: the volume of the collation device increases during operation, or an abnormal noise is detected during operation.

9. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system characterized in that when the time from the occurrence of an error to recovery in the collation device is chronically long, the management warning information is notified.

10. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, a management terminal capable of viewing the device information of the collation device stored in the external information processing means; When the predetermined condition is satisfied, a management warning information notification display for notifying the management warning information is displayed on the management terminal, A collation device management system characterized in that the management notice information notification display is changed depending on the urgency of the response to the management notice information.

11. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, A collation device management system characterized in that the specified conditions for notifying the management warning information are set based on device information indicating a state in which there is a high possibility of an error or failure occurring that will require repair by an administrator, or device information indicating a state in which replacement will soon be required.

12. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, a management terminal capable of viewing the device information of the collation device stored in the external information processing means; 10. A collation device management system, comprising: a management terminal that can change the predetermined conditions for notifying the management warning information based on an input from the management terminal;

13. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, a management terminal capable of viewing the device information of the collation device stored in the external information processing means; A collation device management system characterized in that the specified conditions for notifying the management warning information are calculated using artificial intelligence based on the information on the device conditions stored in the external information processing means and information on the timing and content of the response when action by the manager is required.

14. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, a management terminal capable of viewing the device information of the collation device stored in the external information processing means; A collation device management system characterized in that, when the specified conditions are met, the management warning information is output to notify the administrator by at least one of sending an email to an email address that can be viewed by the administrator operating the management terminal, or by displaying the information on the management terminal.

15. In the collation device management system described in claim 14, a display unit of the collation device that displays the output of the management warning information to the manager;

16. In the collation device management system described in claim 1, a management terminal capable of viewing the device information of the collation device stored in the external information processing means; the collating device transmits the device information to the external information processing means when the operation of the collating device stops; The collation device management system is characterized in that the external information processing means transmits the received device information to the management terminal at predetermined time intervals.

17. In the collation device management system of claim 1, A collation device management system characterized in that the specified conditions for notifying the management warning information regarding a passage path forming member that forms a sheet material passage path through which the sheet material passes in the collation device are set by conditions including the number of times the sheet material passes through the sheet material passage path.

18. In the collation device management system of claim 17, A collating device management system, characterized in that the predetermined condition for notifying the management attention information about the passage path forming member includes error information related to a transport failure in the sheet material passage path.

19. In the collation device management system of claim 17, 4. A collating device management system, wherein the predetermined condition for notifying the management caution information about the passage path forming member includes information about physical property values ​​of the sheet material.

20. In the collation device management system of claim 1, A collating device management system, characterized in that the predetermined conditions for notifying the management warning information are set based on device information relating to the degree of wear of components of the collating device.

21. In the collation device management system of claim 1, The device information to be transmitted from the collation device to the external information processing means includes: A collating device management system characterized by including at least any of the following information: identification information of the feeding unit; information on the type of the feeding unit; information on the installation position of the feeding unit in the collating device; information on the number of feedings since the separating member of the feeding unit was replaced; information on the separating pressure of the feeding unit; information on the type of the separating member of the feeding unit; information indicating the degree of wear of the separating member; information on the type of sheet material loaded in the feeding unit; information on the time from the start of feeding in the feeding unit to the detection of the sheet material by a specified sensor; information on the temperature within the collating device; information on the sound of the collating device when it is operating; and information on the time from the occurrence of an error in the collating machine to recovery.

22. In the collation device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, There are a plurality of the collating devices that can communicate with the external information processing means, The collating device management system is characterized in that the device information is stored in the external information processing means in association with each collating device, and the management warning information is notified for each collating device.

23. In the collation device management system of claim 22, A collation device management system characterized in that the device information of each of the collation devices is linked to identification information of each user of the collation device and stored.

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