JPH05314308A - Address position detector for postal matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily detect the position of a label where an address is written even at the time of sticking the white label to a white postal matter. CONSTITUTION:The intensity distribution of reflected light at the time of irradiating the edge sides of a label 2, which is stuck to a postal matter 1, obliquely from above by a light source part 3 is detected by a light reception part to detect the position of edges of both sides of the label.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mailing address position detecting device equipped with an optical scanner for detecting a mailing address position of a mail item.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an address position detecting apparatus for a postal matter has a light source section for irradiating light on the postal matter on a conveyor belt which is conveyed and driven by a roller which is rotationally driven by a motor, and a surface of the matter. It is configured to include a camera lens for receiving the light reflected by and a light receiving portion formed of a CCD.

Illumination from the light source is reflected on the paper surface or the label surface of the postal matter and is incident on the light receiving portion. At this time, the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving unit is greater from the label surface than from the paper surface of the postal matter, so the slice level is set between both levels and binarization is performed. This 2
A two-dimensional image of the label surface can be obtained and the position can be detected by continuously performing the binarization process in accordance with the transportation of the postal matter.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional address position detecting device, when applied to a mail matter in which a white label is attached to a white background letter or postcard, the difference in the amount of reflected light between the paper surface and the label surface is sufficient. Therefore, there is a drawback that the label sticking position cannot be detected, and thus the addressing position on the label is difficult to detect.

[0005]

The address position detecting apparatus of the present invention comprises a light source unit for giving irradiation light to the surface of a mail piece having a label with an address attached on its upper surface, and light reflected on the surface of the mail piece. In a device for detecting the address of a postal matter, which has a light receiving part for receiving
The light receiving unit generates the electric signal according to the intensity of the reflected light when the light source unit irradiates the edge of the label from obliquely above, and the label is detected by detecting the difference in the reflected light amount. Is detected.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the light source unit 3 irradiates light to the white postal matter 1 and the white label 2 attached on the postal matter 1 from diagonally above. As the postal matter 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow C, the position of the light source unit 3 when the front edge of the label 2, that is, the label 2 reaches the main scanning position is a solid line, and the postal matter is further conveyed to the B line, that is, the label. The position of the light source unit 3 when the rear edge of the light source reaches the main scanning position is shown by broken lines. In the A line, a shadow is formed due to the thickness of the label 2, but in the B line, the reflected light amount increases due to the edge portion of the label 2.

A binarization is performed by setting a slice level between the reflection level 4 on the paper surface of the postal matter 1 and the reflection level 5 from the shadow portion of the label 2 during irradiation of the A line portion. Similarly, at the time of irradiation of the B line portion, a slice level is set between the reflection level 4 on the surface of the paper and the reflection level 6 from the edge portion of the label 2 and binarized. Since the reflection level on the paper surface of the postal matter 1 is inverted by binarization between the A line portion and the B line portion, one of the two is inverted after binarization.

For lines other than the A line and the B line, binarization cannot be performed because the difference in the amount of reflected light between the surface of the paper and the surface of the label is small. As a result, a two-dimensional image in which the edges 20 and 21 at both ends of the label are extracted as shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. In FIG. 2, the area between the shaded edges 20 and 21 can be determined as the label sticking position, so that the label position can be detected.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the difference in the amount of reflected light at the boundary between the paper surface of the mail and the label, which is caused by irradiating the mail with light obliquely from above, is detected. As a result, the address position can be detected even in a postal matter in which a difference in reflected light amount due to a difference in color such as a white label attached to a white background cannot be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image pattern diagram showing a two-dimensional image obtained according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Mail 2 Label 3 Light source 4-6 Reflection level

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Rihari Kubota 1-1-25 Shinurashima-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture NEC Robot Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kuto Shinurashima-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 1-chome 1-25 Nippon Electric Robot Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Nishijima 1-1-25 Shinurashima-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source unit for applying irradiation light to the surface of a mail piece having a label with an address attached on its upper surface, and a light receiving unit for receiving the light reflected by the surface of the mail piece and generating an electric signal indicating its intensity. And a light receiving unit for generating an electric signal according to the intensity of the reflected light when the light source unit irradiates the edge of the label from obliquely above. The edge position of the label is detected by detecting the difference in the amount of reflected light.