Packing apparatus, print producing apparatus using the same, and packing method

Abstract

A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order includes an accumulating unit for accumulating the prints having been output while regulating positions of the prints in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction to form a print stack of the prints to be packed for each order and horizontally transporting the print stack, an input unit for transporting the print stack in a downwardly inclined direction and inputting the print stack in a packing material and a sealing device for sealing the packing material accommodating the print stack. A print producing apparatus includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium to produce prints and the packing apparatus.

1 . A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 an accumulating unit for accumulating the prints having been output while regulating positions of the prints in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction to form a print stack of the prints to be packed for each order and horizontally transporting the print stack;    an input unit for transporting the print stack in a downwardly inclined direction and inputting the print stack in a packing material; and    sealing means for sealing the packing material accommodating the print stack.    
     
     
         2 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the print stack is supplied to said input unit through its transport in the downwardly inclined direction at an angle which is identical to or substantially identical to that at which the print stack is transported in said input unit.  
     
     
         3 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 further comprising a transport unit for receiving the print stack to transport the print stack to said input unit between said accumulating unit and the input unit,    wherein said transport unit receives the print stack in a horizontal state, is inclined downward at an angle which is identical to or substantially identical to that at which the print stack is transported in said input unit, and transports the print stack in this state, thereby supplying the print stack to said input unit.    
     
     
         4 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said transport unit and said input unit includes a curl correcting means for pressing the print stack from above in a stack direction, thereby correcting curls of the prints.  
     
     
         5 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said accumulating unit regulates the positions of the prints by sandwiching the prints with guide plates moving in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction every time a predetermined number of prints are output.  
     
     
         6 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined number of prints is any one selected from the group consisting of 1 to 5.  
     
     
         7 . A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 a print accumulating unit including: 
 an accumulating platform for accumulating the prints discharged from a print discharge section;  
 a pair of regulating members disposed on both sides in a width direction orthogonal to a print discharge direction from said print discharge section of said accumulating platform at an interval larger than a width of the prints and having a height exceeding an accumulation height of the prints accumulated on said accumulating platform;  
 bias means for biasing the regulating members to the prints with a force larger than a force for moving a predetermined number of the prints and smaller than a force for changing a shape of accumulated prints, when the regulating members come into contact with ends in the width direction of the prints accumulated on said accumulating platform; and  
 drive means for allowing at least one of said regulating members to reciprocate to a position where the prints accumulated on said accumulating platform are sandwiched by said pair of regulating members, every time the predetermined number of the prints are accumulated on said accumulating platform; and  
   a print insertion unit for transporting the prints of one order to be packed in one packing material to be formed into a print packing bag, accumulated in said print accumulating unit, in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and inserting the prints of one order in the packing material.    
     
     
         8 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said drive means drives said pair of regulating members in synchronization so that said pair of regulating members sandwich the prints.  
     
     
         9 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said regulating members are capable of being inclined in a height direction thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said bias means has, at a high position in the height direction, a bias force larger than that at a low position in the height direction.  
     
     
         11 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said bias means has, in a portion for biasing a print stack of a predetermined intended number of the prints, a bias force smaller than a rigidity force in the width direction of the print stack of the intended number of the prints; and    said drive means starts driving said regulating members after the intended number of the prints are accumulated.    
     
     
         12 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said drive means allows said regulating members to reciprocate to a position corresponding to a minimum width when the prints discharged from said print discharge section are deformed in the width direction or a width smaller than the minimum width.  
     
     
         13 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising rotation means for rotating a direction of the prints by a predetermined angle before the print are inserted in the packing material.  
     
     
         14 . A print producing apparatus, comprising: 
 an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium to produce prints; and    a packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, said packing apparatus comprising:    an accumulating unit for accumulating the prints having been output while regulating positions of the prints in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction to form a print stack of the prints to be packed for each order and horizontally transporting the print stack;    an input unit for transporting the print stack in a downwardly inclined direction and inputting the print stack in a packing material; and    sealing means for sealing the packing material accommodating the print stack.    
     
     
         15 . The print producing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said image forming apparatus comprises: 
 exposure means for using a photosensitive material as the recording medium and exposing the photosensitive material;    development means for developing the photosensitive material after exposure in a wet method; and    drying means for drying the photosensitive material after development.    
     
     
         16 . A packing method for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 receiving the prints discharged from a print discharge section on an accumulating platform;    accumulating the prints while regulating positions in a width direction orthogonal to a print discharge direction from said print discharge section of the prints every time a predetermined number of the prints are discharged on said accumulating platform, by biasing the prints from ends on both sides in the width direction with a force larger than a force for moving the predetermined number of the prints and smaller than a force for changing a shape of the accumulated prints; and    transporting the accumulated prints of one order to be packed in one packing material to be formed into a print packing bag in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and inserting the prints in the packing material.    
     
     
         17 . The packing method according to  claim 16 , wherein a high position of an accumulation height of the prints is biased with a bias force larger than a low position of the accumulation height.  
     
     
         18 . The packing method according to  claim 16 , wherein, after a predetermined intended number of the prints are accumulated, the bias of the prints is started with a bias force smaller than a rigidity force in the width direction of a stack of the intended number of the prints.  
     
     
         19 . A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 transport means for transporting a print stack composed of stacked prints in a downwardly inclined direction to input it in a packing material;    pressing means for, when inputting the print stack in the packing material with said transport means, pressing the print stack from an upstream side in a transport direction at a speed equal to that of said transport means; and    sealing means for sealing the packing material storing the prints,    wherein said transport means transports the print stack in the downwardly inclined direction to input it in the packing material at a speed equal to or higher than a free fall speed of the print stack on said transport means.    
     
     
         20 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said transport means is a belt conveyer for transporting the print stack placed thereon; and    said pressing means is a pressing member erected on a belt of said belt conveyer.    
     
     
         21 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said transport means inputs the print stack in the packing material at a transport speed of 1 to 2000 mm/sec.  
     
     
         22 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said transport means transports the print stack in the downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 45° to 90° to input it in the packing material.  
     
     
         23 . A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 transport means for transporting a print stack of the prints in the downwardly inclined direction to put the print stack in a packing material;    a shutter disposed at a lower end of said transport means and having two doors each including a bottom for supporting the print stack from below and a side wall for regulating a position of the print stack in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction when opened, and closing a transport path of the print stack when closed; and    sealing means for sealing the packing material accommodating the print stack,    wherein said shutter opens/closes said doors in a double-doored manner, at least a tip end of said side wall of each door when opened have a shape whose height decreases gradually toward a downstream side in a transport direction, and said tip end of each door is inserted in the packing material when said shutter is opened.    
     
     
         24 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said tip end of said side wall of each door is tapered, and a taper angle is at least 30°.  
     
     
         25 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein an upper end of a tapered region of said tip end of each door is ±15° with respect to a vertical direction when said shutter is opened.  
     
     
         26 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said transport means transports the print stack in the downwardly inclined direction at an angle of 45° to 90° to input the print stack in a packing material.  
     
     
         27 . A packing apparatus for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 holding means for opening a print insertion port of a packing material to be formed into a print packing bag upward, and holding the packing material under a condition that the packing material hangs down;    input means for inputting accumulated prints to be packed in the packing material toward the print insertion port from above the packing material held by said holding means; and    support means for supporting the packing material from below under a condition of lifting up a lower end of the packing material held by said holding means and hanging down, at a time of input of the prints by said input means.    
     
     
         28 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising sealing means for sealing the print insertion port of the packing material.  
     
     
         29 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein said support means includes a support platform for supporting the packing material, and inclines said support platform downward after sealing the print insertion port, thereby guiding the packing material in which the prints are packed to a discharge section.  
     
     
         30 . The packing apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising accumulating means for accumulating the prints while regulating positions in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the prints and transporting the accumulated prints to said input means after prints of one order to be packed in the packing material are accumulated.  
     
     
         31 . A packing method for packing prints for each order, comprising: 
 opening a print insertion port of a packing material to be formed into a print packing bag upward, and holding the packing material under a condition that the packing material hangs down;    supporting the packing material from below under a condition of lifting up a lower end of the packing material held and hanging down; and    inputting accumulated prints to be packed in the packing material toward the print insertion port from above the packing material.    
     
     
         32 . The packing method according to  claim 31 , wherein the print insertion port is sealed after the prints are input.  
     
     
         33 . The packing method according to  claim 32 , wherein, after the print insertion port is sealed, a support platform for supporting the packing material is inclined downward to guide the packing material in which the prints are packed to a discharge section.  
     
     
         34 . The packing method according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the prints are accumulated while positions in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the prints are regulated; and    the accumulated prints are transported to an input position for inputting in the packing material after the prints of one order to be inserted in the packing material are accumulated.