Envelop making device

Abstract

To prevent normal products and defective products from being confused with each other without reducing productivity, even when the two are discharged to the same discharge destination.SOLUTION: A sealing device according to the invention is provided with: a printing device 110; an enclosing and sealing device having a first sheet passing path 220, a second sheet passing path 240, a merging section 250, and a sealed letter preparing section 270 configured to, at the merging section 250, form a sealed letter by bending a sheet conveyed along the first sheet passing path 220 so as to enclose a sheet conveyed along the second sheet passing path 240, and bonding a periphery thereof; and a control unit 300 configured to, when a printing defect is detected, control the system without stopping the printing device 110 and the enclosing and sealing device 200, by changing the paper folding position in the first sheet passing path 220 to form a sealed letter having a size different from that of a normal product, and discharging the formed sealed letter of different size as a defective product to the same discharge destination as the normal product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealed letter creating device that executes printing processing and encapsulation sealing processing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that prints destination information on an envelope based on image data and also prints the contents to be enclosed in the envelope, there is known a sealed letter creating device in which an encapsulation sealing device that encloses and seals the contents in the envelope on which the destination information is printed is connected.

[0003] In this sealed letter creating device, when a printing defect occurs, it is necessary to immediately stop the entire device and remove all the internal sheets, or to have a mechanism for discharging defective products to a defective product discharge section provided in the conveyance path of the device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that when an error occurs regarding the n-th (n is a positive integer) envelope sheet or content sheet and the sealed letter creating process is stopped, and then the error is resolved, the encapsulation sealing section is controlled so that the n-th sealed letter is not sealed for user confirmation and the sealed letter creating process is performed.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that switching control is performed on a position adjusting section between a sealing folding position for folding the outer folding paper portion so as to overlap the pressure-sensitive adhesive and a non-sealing folding position for folding the outer folding paper portion so as not to overlap the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, when an error occurs in the n-th (n is a positive integer) envelope paper or content paper, after the entire apparatus is stopped due to the error, the user has to remove the paper remaining inside the apparatus, and further has to check the inside of the unsealed envelope, which may result in a long apparatus stop time and significantly reduce the production efficiency of the envelope.

[0007] Also, in the technology of Patent Document 2, even if the switching is made between the sealing folding position where the outer folding paper part is folded so as to overlap the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the non-sealing folding position where the outer folding paper part is folded so as not to overlap the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the size of the created envelope is not necessarily changed, and there is a possibility of confusion if normal products and defective products are discharged to the same discharge destination.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an envelope creating apparatus that can prevent confusion between normal products and defective products and appropriately take out defective products even when normal products and defective products are discharged to the same discharge destination without reducing productivity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] To achieve the above object, the envelope creating apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes a plurality of paper feed trays, and a printing apparatus that feeds and prints papers of different sizes for each paper feed tray; a first paper passage for folding the printed paper printed by the printing apparatus, a second paper passage for folding the printed papers printed by the printing apparatus after stacking a plurality of them, a merging part where the first paper passage and the second paper passage merge, and an envelope creating part that creates an envelope by folding the paper conveyed through the first paper passage so as to enclose the paper conveyed through the second paper passage at the merging part and adhering the periphery; When detecting a printing defect, without stopping the printing device and the encapsulation and sealing device, change the paper folding position of the first paper path, create a sealed document with a size different from that of a normal product, discharge the created sealed document with a different size as a defective product to the same discharge destination as the normal product, change the paper folding position of the first paper path to the size of the normal product after discharging the defective product, and control to continue the operations of the printing device and the encapsulation and sealing device. It is provided with

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the characteristics of the sealed document creating device according to the present invention, even when discharging normal products and defective products to the same paper discharge destination without reducing productivity, it is possible to prevent confusion between the two and appropriately take out the defective products.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are denoted by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and different from the actual ones. Also, there are parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings.

[0013] In addition, the embodiments described below illustrate devices and the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention does not specify the arrangement of each component and the like as follows. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an envelope creation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the envelope creation device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the envelope creation device 100 includes a printing device 110 and an encapsulation and sealing device 200, and performs processing for each envelope to be created. That is, for the envelope paper to be folded into an envelope shape and the sheet-like paper of the contents, necessary printing is performed in an appropriate order using the common printing device 110. Then, the printed envelope paper and the contents are fed into the encapsulation and sealing device 200, and while being conveyed through separate conveyance paths, the envelope paper is folded into the form of an envelope, and the contents are also folded as necessary. Finally, the two are merged by the encapsulation and sealing means, the contents are encapsulated and sealed in the envelope, and the completed envelopes are aligned and discharged at the upper part of the device. The arrows shown in each part indicate the conveyance direction of the paper, the envelope paper, and the envelope formed by the folding process.

[0016] The printing device 110 is a device that prints and discharges the paper for the envelope and the contents. Inside or on the side of the housing that houses each part, there are a plurality of paper feed trays (P1 to P4) that can store a plurality of types of papers with different sizes (sheet-like papers for the contents and envelope papers), a loop-shaped conveyance path 112 that conveys the paper from the introduction path 111, a printing means 113 composed of four inkjet devices C, K, M, and Y that respectively eject cyan, black, magenta, and yellow inks, a first discharge path 114 that discharges the paper to the encapsulation and sealing device 200, a second discharge path 115 that discharges the paper outside the loop, and a switchback path 116 that reverses the paper after receiving the paper conveyed through the conveyance path 112 and returns it to the conveyance path 112 to invert the up and down of the paper.

[0017] The printing device 110 also includes a control unit 300 that controls the entire sealed document creation device 100. Details of the control by the control unit 300 will be described later.

[0018] The enclosure and sealing device 200 is a device that receives the envelope paper and the paper to be the contents sent from the first discharge path 114 of the printing device 110, encloses the contents in the envelope paper, and seals it.

[0019] The enclosure and sealing device 200 has a first paper path 220, which is a guide path that conveys the envelope paper extending obliquely downward from the first discharge path 114 of the printing device 110 to the first folding means 210.

[0020] The enclosure and sealing device 200 includes a second paper path 240, which is a guide path that branches from the front stage of the first folding means 210 and extends obliquely downward to convey the paper of the contents to the second folding means 230, and an intersection 250 that is at the confluence point of the second paper path 240 and the first paper path 220. After aligning the contents with the folded envelope paper, the intersection 250 further folds the paper to wrap the contents in the envelope.

[0021] The intersection 250 includes a stopper 251 and a pair of rollers 252. With the envelope paper conveyed through the first paper path 220 abutting against the stopper 251, the pair of rollers 252 sandwich the contents conveyed through the second paper path 240 and convey them through the second paper path 240.

[0022] Furthermore, the enclosure and sealing device 200 includes a sealed document creation unit 270 that folds the envelope paper to create the form of an envelope and creates a sealed document that encloses the contents, a discharge unit 290 through which the sealed document created by the sealed document creation unit 270 is discharged, and a third paper path 280, which is a guide path that conveys the sealed document from the sealed document creation unit 270 to the discharge unit 290.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the sealed document creation unit 270 includes a first stopper 271, a second stopper 272, a pair of folding rollers 273, and a pair of discharge rollers 274.

[0024] When the envelope paper with the contents sandwiched by the intersection part 250 is conveyed through the second paper passage 240, the folding roller pair 273 conveys it to the third paper passage 280 while folding the envelope paper so as to enclose the contents in a state of hitting either the first stopper 271 or the second stopper 272. As a result, the contents are created in the form of a sealed letter enclosed by the envelope paper.

[0025] The second stopper 272 is provided with a contact position 272a where the envelope paper conveyed through the second paper passage 240 hits and a retracted position 272b that avoids contact with the envelope paper conveyed through the second paper passage 240 so that the position can be variably adjusted. The variable operation may be a mechanism that retracts from the conveyance path by a solenoid or the like, or may be retracted by an existing movement mechanism. The second stopper 272 is provided at a position where the folding position becomes the normal width length L1 when it is located at the contact position 272a. On the other hand, the first stopper 271 is provided at a position where the folding position becomes the abnormal detection width length L2.

[0026] The sealed letter created by folding the envelope paper by the folding roller pair 273 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 274 on the third paper passage 280 to the discharge part 290.

[0027] When a printing defect is detected (when printing data, printing abnormalities, or printing errors are detected), the control unit 300 controls to change the paper folding position of the second paper passage 240 without stopping the printing device 110 and the stuffing and sealing device 200.

[0028] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the printing is normal (when no printing defect is detected), the control unit 300 moves the second stopper 272 to the abutting position 272a. As a result, the envelope paper conveyed through the second paper passage 240 abuts against the second stopper 272, and in the state of abutting against the second stopper 272, the folding roller pair 273 folds the envelope paper (for example, 233 mm × 296 mm) so as to enclose the contents while folding it at a position where the normal width length L1 (for example, 110 mm) is obtained, and conveys it to the third paper passage 280. Thereby, the envelope paper is normally created in the form of a sealed letter and is conveyed onto the third paper passage 280 to the discharge unit 290.

[0029] On the other hand, when the printing is abnormal (when a printing defect is detected), the control unit 300 moves the second stopper 272 to the retracted position 272b. As a result, the envelope paper conveyed through the second paper passage 240 abuts against the first stopper 271, and in the state of abutting against the first stopper 271, the folding roller pair 273 folds the envelope paper so as to enclose the contents while folding it at a position where the width length L2 at the time of abnormality detection (for example, 130 mm) is obtained, and conveys it to the third paper passage 280. Thereby, the envelope paper is created so as to be distinguishable as a sealed letter at the time of abnormality detection and is conveyed onto the third paper passage 280 to the discharge unit 290. Then, when the discharge of the sealed letter (defective product) at the time of abnormality detection is completed, the control unit 300 moves the second stopper 272 to the abutting position 272a and continues the subsequent printing. At this time, recovery printing (reprinting) of the sealed letter (defective product) at the time of abnormality detection may be performed. Further, after the discharge of the sealed letter (defective product) at the time of abnormality detection is completed, the sealed letter creating apparatus 100 is stopped, information instructing removal of the defective product is displayed on a display panel (not shown), etc., and after the user removes the defective product, the control unit 300 moves the second stopper 272 to the abutting position 272a and may perform recovery printing (reprinting) of the sealed letter (defective product) at the time of abnormality detection.

[0030] FIG. 3(a) shows an example of the sealed letter F1 created when the printing is normal, and FIG. 3(b) shows an example of the sealed letter F2 created when the printing is abnormal.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the printing is normal (when no defect is detected), the envelope paper is bent at the position of the normal width L1 so as to wrap the contents by the folding roller pair 273 in a state of abutting against the second stopper 272. Therefore, a sealed letter with the normal width length L1 is created.

[0032] Also, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when the printing is abnormal (when a defect is detected), the envelope paper is bent at the position of the width length L2 at the time of abnormality detection so as to wrap the contents by the folding roller pair 273 in a state of abutting against the first stopper 271. Therefore, a sealed letter with the width length L2 at the time of abnormality detection is created.

[0033] Here, when the printing is abnormal (when a defect is detected), the sealed letter is created such that the width length of the sealed letter becomes the width length L2 at the time of abnormality detection, which is longer than the normal width L1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sealed letter may be created such that the width length of the sealed letter becomes the width length L3 at the time of abnormality detection, which is shorter than the normal width L1.

[0034] (Supplementary Note) This application discloses the following inventions.

[0035] (Supplementary Note 1) A printing apparatus including a plurality of paper feed trays, and feeding and printing papers of different sizes for each paper feed tray, A first paper passage for bending the printed paper printed by the printing apparatus, a second paper passage for stacking a plurality of printed papers printed by the printing apparatus and then bending them, a confluence portion where the first paper passage and the second paper passage merge, and a sealed letter creating portion that bends the paper conveyed through the first paper passage at the confluence portion so as to enclose the paper conveyed through the second paper passage and adheres the periphery to create a sealed letter. When detecting a printing defect, without stopping the printing device and the encapsulation and sealing device, change the paper folding position in the first paper path, create a sealed letter with a size different from that of a normal product, and control to discharge the created sealed letter with a different size as a defective product to the same discharge destination as the normal product. A sealed letter creating device, characterized by comprising the above.

[0036] In this way, without stopping the printing device and the encapsulation and sealing device, sealed letters with different sizes can be discharged to the same paper discharge destination. Therefore, even when discharging normal products and defective products to the same paper discharge destination without reducing productivity, it is possible to prevent confusion between the two and appropriately take out defective products.

Explanation of Signs

[0037] 100 Sealed letter creating device 110 Printing device 200 Encapsulation and sealing device 220 First paper path 240 Second paper path 250 Confluence part 250 Intersection part 251 Stopper 252 Roller pair 270 Sealed letter creating part 271 First stopper 272 Second stopper 273 Roller pair 274 Discharge roller pair 280 Third paper path 290 Discharge part 300 Control part

Claims

【Claim 1】 A printing apparatus including a plurality of paper feed trays, for feeding and printing papers of different sizes for each paper feed tray, a first paper passage for folding the printed paper printed by the printing apparatus, a second paper passage for folding the printed papers printed by the printing apparatus after stacking a plurality of them, a confluence part where the first paper passage and the second paper passage merge, and an enclosure sealing device having an enclosure creating part for folding the paper conveyed through the first paper passage at the confluence part so as to enclose the paper conveyed through the second paper passage and adhering the periphery to create an enclosure; a control unit that, when detecting a printing defect, changes the paper folding position of the first paper passage without stopping the printing apparatus and the enclosure sealing device, creates an enclosure of a size different from that of a normal product, and controls to discharge the created enclosure of a different size as a defective product to the same discharge destination as that of the normal product; An enclosure creating apparatus, characterized by comprising the above.

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