JPH024484A - Automatic mail sorting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a good processing efficiency and to improve a read factor by a constitution wherein mails supplied from a preprocessing unit are processed in a mixed reading mode and those from a take-out device are processed in a specified reading mode. CONSTITUTION:Mails accumulated in a supply unit are taken out by a take-out unit 2 one by one and carried along a transportation path. Mails supplied from a send-out unit of a coupling device are also joined and carried along the transportation path. Zip code numbers on the mails are read during this transportation. In this case, a control unit 21 discriminates whether the mails corresponding to a read station 4 are supplied from the supply unit or from the coupling device in accordance with signals from detectors 53 and 54. A read processing in a reading mode specified by an operation panel 7 is carried out for the mails from the supply unit and that in a mixed mode is carried out for the mails from the coupling device. It is possible, as a result, to achieve a good processing efficiency and to improve a read factor.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides a method in which mail is supplied from a sorting, sorting and stamping machine via a coupling machine, and also from a supply section of the sorting machine itself. Regarding automatic mail sorting machines.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a mail processing system consisting of a sorting, arranging and stamping machine, a concatenation machine, and an automatic mail sorting machine, the mail to be read and sorted by the automatic mail sorting machine is transferred from the sorting, grading and stamping machine to the concatenation machine. and from the feed section of the sorting machine itself.

In automatic mail sorting machines like the ones mentioned above, there are two reading specifications for postal codes: handwritten (zip codes in the red entry frame) and printed type (printed), and the field of view of the reading section is set differently for each. It has become so. For this reason,
There are three types of classification modes: a handwriting mode, a printing mode, and a mixed mode in which a mixture of these modes is read.

Note that handwriting mode and stamping mode can only be used when the position of the postal code is fixed, and processing in these modes results in a high reading rate and short reading time. There is. However, in the case of mixed mode, the postal code is determined from the entire piece of mail, and the postal code is read based on the results of this determination, which takes time and is difficult to read. The rate is also low.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned automatic mail sorting machine, when used alone, three types of modes can be selected for efficient processing; When mail is fed, it will be in mixed mode, and even if the mail in the feeder is handwritten or printed, it will also be processed in mixed mode, which will take longer to process. This method has the drawbacks of poor efficiency and lower reading rate.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) This invention eliminates the disadvantages of poor processing efficiency and low reading rate.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic mail sorting machine that can improve the reading rate.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) The automatic mail sorting machine of the present invention is capable of accepting mail that has been processed in a pre-processing section such as a mail sorting and stamping machine. a receiving means for receiving the mails supplied from the preprocessing section, an electronic transmission means for transporting the mails received by the receiving means together with the mails taken out by the extracting means, and this transporting means. A reading means provided on the mailpiece to read classification information on the mail to be conveyed in one of handwritten, printed type, and mixed reading modes; a designation means for specifying a reading mode by the reading means; and a designation means for specifying the reading mode by the reading means; a detection means for detecting whether the mail is received by the receiving means or from the retrieval means; and when acceptance of the mail by the receiving means is detected according to the detection result by the detection means, the reading The apparatus includes processing means for processing the means in a mixed mode, and processing the reading by the reading means in a reading mode designated by the designation means when a mail from the take-out means is detected.

(Function) The present invention provides a mail handling and stamping machine capable of receiving mail processed by a pre-processing section, in which the mail supplied from the pre-processing section and received by the receiving means cannot be read by the reading means. The mail is processed in a mixed mode, and the reading of the mail from the take-out means by the reading means is carried out in the reading mode specified by the specifying means.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figures 2 and 3 show a mail processing system in which a sorting, arranging and stamping machine as a pre-processing section and an automatic mail sorting machine are connected by a coupling machine, and have the following configuration. . That is, a sorting, arranging and stamping machine (not shown) as a pre-processing section is connected to an automatic mail sorting machine 33 via a gate-shaped conveyance path 31 and a coupling machine 32.

The above-mentioned portal conveyance path 31 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. This gate-shaped conveyance path 31 conveys the stamped mail P carried out from the sorting, arranging and stamping machine to the coupling machine 32.

The coupling machine 32 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The coupling machine 32 includes a receiving section 41 that receives the mail P supplied from the portal conveyance path 31, a sorting section 42 that sorts the mail received in the receiving section 41, and a sorting section 42 that sorts the mail P that is received in the receiving section 41. A stacking section 43 as a buffer stacker that stacks the postal items P that have been placed, a two-piece separating section 44 that takes out the mails P one by one from the two-piece separating section 43, and one mail piece each from the two-piece separating section 44. It is composed of a sending section 45 that sends out P to the automatic mail sorting machine 33.

The automatic mail sorting machine 33 will be explained with reference to FIG. This mail automatic sorting machine 33 has a supply section (retrieval device) 1
The postal items P such as postcards and envelopes set in a standing position in bulk are taken out one by one by the take-out unit 2 from the frontmost postal item P and transported, and placed in the middle of the take-in transport path 3. The postal code assigned to the postal item P is read by the reading unit 4.

The reading section 4 includes a photoelectric conversion section 4 that photoelectrically converts the postal code on the postal item P, a discrimination section 42 that discriminates the postal code by recognizing a character pattern according to the output of the photoelectric conversion section 41, and a discriminating section 42 that will be described later. a field of view position designation section 43 that specifies the reading field of the photoelectric conversion section 41 in accordance with a field of view designation signal from the control section 21 to supply only the read signal within the reading field of view to the discrimination section 42; This is a well-known fact.

Further, in front of the reading section 4 of the conveyance path 3, a carry-in path 51 for carrying in the mail P supplied from the sending section 45 of the coupling machine 32 joins at a merging section 52, and the mail to be carried in is The object P is also guided to the reading section 4 by the conveyance path 3.

Next, the mail P that has passed through the reading section 4 is conveyed to the sorting section 11 via the conveyance path 3.

This sorting section 11 is configured such that a gate mechanism (not shown) selectively sorts the goods into the sorting conveyance paths 5a, 5g, which are provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, based on the reading results of the postal codes and the like.

A plurality of pockets (accumulation boxes) 6 are arranged in multiple stages (A stage, ~G stage) along the lower surface side of the divided conveyance paths 5a and 5f, and the divided conveyance paths Road 5a
, ~5g are sorted and accumulated in predetermined pockets 6 based on the reading results of the reading section 4.

In addition, on the conveyance paths 3 and 5a and the top of the mountain, there are conveyance detector groups (not shown) for detecting the conveyance of mail P on the conveyance paths.
is provided.

Further, in the carry-in path 51, there is a detector 5 for detecting the carry-in of the mail P supplied from the delivery section 45 of the coupler 32''.
3, and a detector 54 for detecting the conveyance of the mail P supplied from the take-out section 2 is provided in front of the merging section 52 on the taking-in conveyance path 3.

Further, an operator panel 7 as an operation panel is provided on the upper part of the supply section 1. The operator panel 7 is composed of a designation switch and the like as designation means for designating the reading mode of the reading part 4 according to the written state of the postal code of the mail P supplied from the supply part 1. These designation switches include a handwriting mode key 7a that is specified when the postal code of the postal item P is handwritten, a printing mode key 7b that is specified when the postal code of the postal item P is printed type, and the handwriting and printing. It is constituted by a mixed mode key 7c which is specified when printed characters are mixed.

FIG. 1 shows an electrical circuit. That is, the control unit 21 uses the classification specification table stored in the memory 24 to read the classification designation data corresponding to the postal code supplied from the determination unit 42 of the reading unit 4, and reads out the classification designation data ( The mail P is conveyed to the pocket 6 corresponding to the address of the pocket. For example, the driver 22 is used to control the sorting gates 23, . The memory 24 stores addresses (category specification data) of the pockets 6 corresponding to each postal code as a category specification table.

Further, when the detection signal from the detector 53 is supplied, the control section 21 sends a designation signal to the reading section 4 according to the designation of each mode key 7a, 7b, 7c on the operator panel 7. This is output to the visual field position specifying section 43. For example, when the handwriting mode key 7a is turned on, the control unit 21 outputs a handwritten visual field designation signal to the visual field position designation unit 43 when the mail P from the supply unit 1 is supplied to the reading unit 4. , when the printing mode key 7b is turned on, the control section 21 outputs a field of view designation signal for printed characters to the field of view position designation section 43 when the mail P from the supply section 1 is supplied to the reading section 4. However, when the mixing mode key 7C is turned on, the control section 21 controls the mail P from the supply section 1.
is supplied to the reading unit 4, a mixed reading designation signal is output to the visual field position designation unit 43.

Further, the control section 21 controls the entire transportation system by driving the transportation mechanism section 26 with a driver 25.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained.

First, the operator selects and specifies whether the postal code to be read, that is, the postal code of the mail P supplied from the supply section 1, is handwritten, printed, or mixed using the designation switch on the operator panel 7. For example, handwriting mode key 7
a is input, the control unit 21 outputs a handwritten visual field designation signal to the visual field position designation unit 43 when the mail P from the supply unit 1 is supplied to the reading unit 4, and presses the printing mode key. 7b is turned on, the control section 21 outputs a field of view designation signal for printed characters to the field of view position designation section 43 when the mail P from the supply section 1 is supplied to the reading section 4, and presses the mixed mode key. 7C is turned on, the control unit 21 controls the supply unit 1
When the mail P from is supplied to the reading unit 4, a mixed reading designation signal is output to the field of view position designation unit 43.

In such a state, for example, the mail pieces P currently accumulated in the supply section 1 are taken out one by one by the take-out section 2,
It is conveyed through the take-out conveyance path 3. Furthermore, the mail P supplied from the delivery section 45 of the coupler 32 is also merged at the merging section 52 via the carry-in path 51 and conveyed by the conveyance path 3.

During this transportation, the postal code on the mail P is read by the reading section 4.

In this case, the control section 21 determines whether the mail P facing the reading section 4 is supplied from the supply section 1 or from the coupler 32 in accordance with the detection signals from the detectors 53 and 54. judge. That is, when a detection signal is supplied from the detector 53, it is determined that the mail P from the supply unit 1 has been supplied, and when a detection signal is supplied from the detector 54, it is determined that the mail P from the coupler 32 has been supplied. It is determined that it has been supplied.

If it is determined that the mail P from the supply section 1 has been supplied, the control section 21 outputs a handwritten visual field designation signal to the visual field position designation section 43 . Then, the visual field position specifying unit 43 specifies the reading visual field of the photoelectric conversion unit 41 and outputs only the read signal within the reading visual field to the determining unit 42 . Thereby, the determination unit 4□ determines the postal code according to the read signal within the reading field from the photoelectric conversion unit 41, and outputs this determination result to the control unit 21. Furthermore, even when the printing type mode or the mixed mode is specified, the postal code is determined according to the reading signal within the corresponding reading field.

Next, when the mail P is conveyed to the sorting section 11, the control section 21 uses the sorting specification table in the memory 24 to read out sorting specification data corresponding to the postal code, and assigns a pocket corresponding to this sorting specification data. (6) The transport of the mail P is controlled.

Then, the control unit 21 controls the sorting gates 23 according to the read sorting designation data and the detection signals from the conveyance detectors 20... so that the postal item P corresponds to the postal code. It is accumulated in the pocket 6.

Further, when it is determined that the mail P from the coupler 32 has been supplied, the control section 21 outputs a mixed reading designation signal to the field of view position designation section 43 . Then, the visual field position specifying section 43 specifies the reading visual field of the photoelectric conversion section 41, and outputs the read signal within the reading visual field to the determining section 4□. Thereby, the determination section 42 determines the postal code according to the read signal within the reading field from the photoelectric conversion section 41 and outputs this determination result to the control section 21 .

Next, when the mail P is conveyed to the sorting section 11, the control section 21 uses the sorting specification table in the memory 24 to read out sorting specification data corresponding to the postal code, and assigns a pocket corresponding to this sorting specification data. (6) The transport of the mail P is controlled.

Then, the control unit 21 controls the sorting gates 23 according to the read sorting designation data and the detection signals from the transport detectors 20... so that the postal item P corresponds to the postal code. It is accumulated in the pocket 6.

As mentioned above, mail pieces from the supply section of the automatic mail sorting machine are read in the reading mode specified by the operation panel, and mail pieces fed from the sorting, sorting, stamping machine via the coupling machine are read. Since the reading process is performed in the mixed reading mode, the processing efficiency is high and the reading rate can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic mail sorting machine that has good processing efficiency and can improve the reading rate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a portal conveyance path and a coupling machine, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an automatic mail sorting machine, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a coupling machine. 1... Supply section (retrieval means) P... Mail, 2...
- Take-out section, 3... Take-out conveyance path, 4... Reading section, 41
... Photoelectric conversion section, 42. ...Discrimination section, 43...Visual field position designation section, 5a, ~5g...Divided conveyance path, 6, ...
... Pocket (accumulation box), 7 ... Operator panel, 11 ... Sorting section, 20 - ... Conveyance detector group, 21
...control unit, 22, ...driver 23-...separation gate, 31...portal conveyance path, 32...coupling machine,
33... Automatic mail sorting machine, 51... Loading path, 52
...merging section, 53.54...detector. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An automatic mail sorting machine capable of accepting mail processed by a pre-processing section such as a mail handling and stamping machine, comprising: a take-out means for taking out mail pieces one by one; and a supply from the pre-processing section. a receiving means for receiving the mail, which is received by the receiving means, along with the mail taken out by the taking out means, and a conveying means for transporting the mail received by the receiving means; a reading means for reading classification information in one of handwritten, printed type, and mixed reading modes; a designating means for specifying a reading mode by the reading means; a detection means for detecting whether the mail has come from the receiving means or the mail from the taking-out means; An automatic mail sorting machine characterized by comprising: processing means for processing the reading by the reading means in a reading mode specified by the specifying means when a mail is detected from the means.