JPH08224548A - Paper sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a letter classifying system adaptable up to classification by address areas by the reading of postal code number or addresses, classification by bar codes and route assembling classification. CONSTITUTION: A route assembling module 1 equipped with a letter refluxing mechanism, a large capacity accumulation module 2 equipped with a large capacity accumulation means, a postal code number or address reading module 3 and a classification and accumulation module 4 equipped with a large number of classifying ports are connected in series. Since module structures are provided at every functions, the system corresponding to necessary function can be constituted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reads a destination code such as a bar code provided on a paper sheet such as a mail, and sorts the inserted paper sheet according to the destination code. Regarding In particular, the present invention relates to a paper sheet sorting device capable of assembling a delivery area for each delivery area and rearranging the delivery order according to the destination so as to assemble the delivery route of the delivery article.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus for reading a destination code provided on a paper sheet such as a mail and rearranging the inserted paper sheets in the order instructed by the destination code is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-63. There is a paper sheet delivery sorting system as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 287584.

In this conventional technique, a delivery destination of paper sheets is input, and the destinations are classified according to the input delivery destination. At that time, the destination and the number of paper sheets are stored in the storage unit for each destination. Next, the stored destinations are sorted in the order of delivery and stored again. Next, the paper sheets sorted by the destination direction are once taken out, the paper sheets are again supplied to the supply means, the delivery destination is read again, and the delivery destinations in the storage unit are collated with each other. The delivery order is classified.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned conventional technique, when assembling the delivery route, the feeding means is provided so that the paper sheets such as mails once sorted in the sorting section are taken out and the order is not changed. It is necessary to return to. The means is
Measures have been taken to transport the sorted paper sheets from the sorting section to the feeding means and re-feed them. In this measure, in order to re-supply the mail pieces sorted and collected in the sorting section to the feeding means, it is necessary to move the mail pieces taken out of the sorting section from the sorting section to the feeding means by about 3 to 6 m.

However, for example, assuming that there are about 1,000 mail items per delivery person, the total weight is about 10 k.
Since it is about g, for example, prepare a basket for storing postal items near the sorting section, put the sorted postal items into the car with care not to disturb the order, and move the car to the vicinity of the feeding means. Therefore, it is necessary to supply the supply means in order. Such a work is troublesome, and there is a problem that if the order of the postal items is wrong when the items are put in and out of the car, the delivery route assembly will not be performed correctly.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of the work of assembling the delivery route of the sorted mail items, and to select and connect the function modules configured according to the function so that the destination areas can be sorted. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet sorting apparatus that enables sorting by work or delivery area. Another object is to provide a compact device that can be deployed in a small post office.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention comprises a feeding means for holding a plurality of paper sheets in an upright state, and a paper sheet in the feeding means. Separation means for separating and taking out the sheets, accumulating means having a plurality of divided areas for accumulating the paper sheets in an upright position sequentially, destination code reading means for reading a destination code previously given to the paper sheets, and separating means And a stacking means for connecting the paper sheets to each other, and a paper sheet sorting means for sorting and feeding the paper sheets into one of the sorting areas of the stacking means according to the destination code Performing a series of sorting operations in which the separated paper sheets are separated into single leaves by the separating means, are conveyed by the conveying means, the destination codes are read by the destination code reading means, and the sheets are separated and accumulated in the accumulating means based on a predetermined division setting. Can After the sorting operation, the paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating means are transferred to the supplying means again, and then the sorting operation is repeated to arrange the paper sheets in a predetermined order according to the destination code. In the sheet sorting apparatus, the route assembly module is characterized in that the transport means between the supply means and the stacking means is provided with a transport outlet for the sheets that can selectively deliver the sheets to the outside of the route assembly module. . In this device, the following modes are preferable.

(2): In addition to the route assembly module, a large-capacity integration module is provided, and the large-capacity integration module connects the large-capacity integration means having a larger integration capacity than the integration means and the transport outlet to the large-capacity integration means. And transporting means for transporting the sheets to which a specific destination code is attached, selectively discharging the sheets from the transport outlet of the route assembly module and delivering them to the large-capacity module, and transporting them to the large-capacity collecting means for stacking. Arrange each module as follows.

(3): In addition to the route assembling module, a section accumulating module is provided, and the section accumulating module comprises a section accumulating means having a larger number of section ports than the number of section areas of the accumulating means and a section accumulating means from the transport outlet. The paper sheet discharged from the transport outlet is transported to the sorting and accumulating module, and the modules are arranged so as to be sorted and accumulated in the sorting port of the sorting and accumulating means according to the destination code.

(4): In addition to the route assembly module, a reading module is provided, and the reading module is capable of optically reading and recognizing the address or the number written on the paper sheet, and the address. A destination code printing unit that can convert the address read by the address reading unit into a destination code and print it on the front surface of the paper sheet on the downstream side of the reading unit, and an address reading unit and a destination from the transport outlet of the route assembly module. It comprises a code printing means and a conveying means for conveying the paper sheets via the
A piecewise integrated module is connected downstream of the reading module.

(5): At least a route assembling module and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module are grouped and assigned to a plurality of zones as a first step of sorting paper sheets, and supplied. The paper sheets supplied to the means are conveyed to the sorting and accumulating module and are sorted according to the destination code described in each area to which each destination code belongs, and thereafter, each area is accumulated in a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module. The collected paper sheets are taken out to the transport tray, and then, as a second stage of paper sheet sorting work, the paper sheets are supplied to the supply means for each area, and the route assembly of the sheet is performed in the route assembly module. Place each module as you would.

(6): At least a route assembling module and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module are grouped and assigned to each of a plurality of zones as a first step of sorting paper sheets. The paper sheets supplied to the means are conveyed to the sorting and accumulating module and sorted according to the destination code described in each area to which each destination code belongs, and the destination code array corresponding to the sorting port of each area is routed. The sorting operation is performed so as to be the same as the first sorting operation of the sorting and repeating operation in the assembly module, and then the sheets sorted in each section are transferred to the transport tray while maintaining the order, After that, as a second-stage sheet sorting operation, the sheets are supplied to the supply means while maintaining the order in each area, and the route assembling operation of the sheets is performed in the route assembling module. To perform out second and subsequent division operation formed by arranging the modules.

(7): At least a route assembling module and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module are grouped and assigned to each sorting area as a first step of sorting paper sheets. The destination code that belongs to the section area is assigned to the stacking means in the route assembling module, and the paper sheets that do not belong to a specific area among the paper sheets supplied to the supply means are conveyed to the section stacking module and written to the destination. According to the code, each destination code belongs to a divided area, and after completing the supply of the paper sheets, a means for performing the second and subsequent sorting operations of the route assembling operation of the paper sheets belonging to the specific divided area. Prepare

(8): At least a route assembling module, a reading module, and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and the paper sheets supplied to the supplying means of the route assembling module are separated into single sheets and are conveyed by the conveying means to the conveying outlet. It is carried in to the reading module via the reading module, and the handwritten or printed address or zip code written on the paper sheet is read by the reading module, and a predetermined sorting port in the sorting module according to the read address or zip code. It is equipped with a means for separately putting in.

(9): At least a route assembling module and a reading module are provided, and the paper sheets supplied to the supplying means of the route assembling module are separated into single sheets, which are conveyed by the conveying means and read via the conveying outlet. There is provided means for loading the module into the module, reading the handwritten or printed address written on the paper sheet by the reading module, converting the read address into a destination code, and printing the destination code on the surface of the paper sheet.

(10): In (5) or (6),
At least a route assembly module, a large-capacity module, and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and each module is arranged so that a specific destination is selected and the paper sheets are accumulated in the large-capacity module when performing sorting for each sorting area.

(11): In (5) or (6),
At least a route assembling module and a sorting and accumulating module are provided, and each module is arranged so that a specific destination is selected when the sorting is performed for each sorting area and sheets are accumulated in the sorting and accumulating module.

[0018]

In addition to assembling the delivery route, the paper sheets from which the destination code has been read can be conveyed to the sorting shelving with a large number of sorting ports and sorted, so that, for example, 100 or 200 destination areas or delivery areas Division can also be done. In addition, since a large-capacity collecting means is provided, by allocating large destinations, such as schools and department stores, which have a large number of letters to be delivered, the mails of those destinations can be collected separately from those for general households. can do. Furthermore, if an optical destination reading means is connected, it is possible to perform address classification.

As described above, by combining the sorting functions as needed, it is possible to apply to various sorting works, and as a result, the efficiency of the mail sorting work can be improved.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a route assembly unit capable of performing delivery route assembly.

In the route assembly unit 1, the feeding means 101 can hold a plurality of paper sheets 102, and the fork 103 is supported along the feeding means 101 so as to be movable in the arrow A direction. It is possible to move in the arrow A direction while pressing 102.

The separating means 104 can separate only one sheet at the right end (in the drawing) of the paper sheets 102 placed on the supply means 101 and convey it downward. Such a paper sheet separating means is generally a suction method using a vacuum suction belt, or a friction separating method using a difference between a friction coefficient between the belt and the paper sheets 102 and a friction coefficient between the paper sheets 102. Target.

The conveying means 107 conveys the paper sheets 102, and conveys the paper sheets 102 separated by the separating means 104, for example, by sandwiching the front and back sides with a belt. The destination code reading means 109 reads a destination code such as a bar code which is given to the paper sheet 102 in advance.

The branch switch 115 is located in the middle of the conveying means 107 and can selectively branch the paper sheet 102 conveyed by the conveying means 107 to either the conveying means 107a or 107b on the downstream side. it can. The transfer outlet 110 is connected to the transfer means 1 by the branch switch 115.
It is a transport outlet that can discharge the paper sheet 102 transported to the 07b side from the route assembly module 1 and deliver it to another module.

The accumulating means 111, after being read,
A means for accumulating the paper sheets 102 conveyed by the conveying means 107a, including a bottom plate 112, and a supply means 10.
It is installed adjacent to the upper part of 1. This collecting means 11
The inside of 1 is divided into a plurality of divided areas. In each of the divided areas, the paper sheet 102 can be held in substantially the same posture as the paper sheet 102 in the supply unit 101. The sorting means 113 is a paper sheet 10.
2 is distributed to one of the divided areas of the stacking means 111 and is input.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a large-capacity integration module, which is equipped with one or a plurality of large-capacity integration means 108 capable of accumulating, for example, 1000 sheets 102.
The branch switch 116 can switch the destination of the paper sheet 102 conveyed by the conveying means 107a, and when the branch switch 116 operates, the paper sheet 102 is thrown into one of the large-capacity accumulating means 108 and accumulated. .

Reference numeral 3 denotes destination information such as numbers or characters printed on the surface of the paper sheet 102 conveyed on the side of the conveying means 107b by the branching switch 115, or handwritten numbers or characters. Address reading unit 119 that can read the address information, and the delay conveyance path 10 that conveys the sheet 102 for a predetermined time after reading the address information.
7c, and a destination code printing means 120 for converting the destination information read downstream of the delay conveyance path into a destination code 15 such as a barcode and printing the destination code 15.

A downstream side of the reading module 2 is a sorting and accumulating module capable of sorting the sheets 102 conveyed through the conveying path 107 into respective sorting ports 121 according to their destinations and sorting them. Is. The sorting and stacking module 4 is provided with a plurality of sorting ports in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in which the paper sheets 102 can be stacked horizontally. For example, according to the destination code 15 or the address written on the paper sheets 102, for example, It is possible to sort into 200 sorting ports.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention. In this FIG.
The destination code reading means control means 61 can control the destination code reading means 109. The printing unit control unit 62 can control the destination code printing unit 120, and the address reading unit control unit 63 can control the address reading unit 119. The movement control means 64 is the accumulation means 1
It is possible to move the paper sheets 102 sorted and stacked in 11 to the supply means 101 in the stacked order. An example of such means can be realized by pulling out the bottom plate 112 of the stacking means 111 and dropping the paper sheet 102 into the supply means 1. The distribution control means 66 is the distribution means 1
13, 115, 116 are controlled to supply means control means 67
Controls the supply means 101. The separating means control means 68 controls the separating means 104.

The classification information input means 71 can input the classification information of the paper sheet 102. The second sorting control means 72 can control the changeover switch 125 in the sorting and accumulating module 4 to sort the fed sheets 102 into predetermined sorting ports 121 and sort them into them.
The address reading assisting means 73 is for assisting the operator to input an address which could not be read by the address reading means 119, and the details will be described later.

The control means 60 includes a destination code reading means control means 61, a printing means control means 62, an address reading means control means 63, a movement control means 64, a standing means 65, a sorting control means 66, a supply means control means 67, The separating means controlling means 68, the sorting information inputting means 71, the second sorting controlling means 72, and the address reading assisting means 73 are controlled.

FIG. 3 shows an accumulating means 111 which constitutes the present invention.
3 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of a distribution unit 113. FIG. In FIG. 4, the partitions 30a, 30b, 30c
... indicates the divided areas S0 and S by dividing the stacking means 111.
It is divided into 1, S2 ... The belt 31 forms a part of the conveyance path 7 and conveys the paper sheet 102 in the arrow A direction. The pulley 18 drives the belt 31, and the roller 34 drives the belt 31.
The paper sheet 102 is sandwiched between and.

The switching gate 35 holds the paper sheet 102, which is sandwiched between the belt 31 and the roller 34 and conveyed in the direction a in FIG. 3, in predetermined division areas S0, S1, S2 ,.
It can be rotated by a predetermined angle around the rotation center 36. Belt 31 is 1
In the case of a book belt, the switching gates 35 are arranged on both sides of the belt 31 and are in a positional relationship where they do not come into contact with the belt 31 when rotated around the rotation center 36. Alternatively, when the belt 31 is composed of two parallel belts, the switching gate 35 is disposed between the two belts 31 and when the belt 31 rotates about the rotation center 36,
It is in a positional relationship that does not contact with.

Here, for example, the switching gate 35 is 35
When the sheet 102 is in a position substantially parallel to the belt 31 as indicated by a or 35b, the sheet 102 is conveyed between the switching gates 35a and 35b and the belt 31 to the switching gate 35c.

Here, the switching gate 35c is rotated around the rotation center 36c by a predetermined angle, and the switching gate 35c is rotated.
When the tip of c is set to be closer to the pulley 18 than the belt 31, as shown in the paper sheet 102 ', the paper sheet 102'
Passes through the lower side of the switching gate 35c and is thrown into the inside of the divided area S3. By providing such a structure in the longitudinal direction of the stacking means 11 by the required number of partition areas, the stacking means 11 can be partitioned into ten partition areas, for example. Paper sheets 10 sorted into each sorting area
2 ″ are arranged along the partition 30 provided for each of the divided areas S0 to S9, and are stacked in a substantially upright state while being inclined.

Further, here, the paper sheet 102 is moved from the accumulating means 111 to the supplying means 101 and is again separated by the separating means 104.
, The sorting operation of the paper sheets 102 can be repeated.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the sorting port 121 of the sorting and accumulating module 4 constituting the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a belt which forms a part of the conveying means 107 and which conveys the paper sheet 102, and moves in the arrow B direction. 28 is a pulley for driving the belt 41, and 44 is a roller for holding the paper sheet 102 between the pulley 41 and the belt 41.

A sheet 45 is sandwiched between the belt 41 and the roller 44 and conveyed from the direction B in FIG.
Is a switching gate for allocating and feeding the liquid into a predetermined sorting port 121, and can be rotated around the rotation center 46 by a predetermined angle. For example, when the switching gate 45 is in a position substantially parallel to the belt 41 as indicated by 45a, the paper sheet 102 is conveyed to the switching gate 45b between the switching gate 45a and the belt 41.

Here, the switching gate 45b is rotated around the rotation center 46b by a predetermined angle, and the switching gate 45b is rotated.
When the tip of b is located closer to the pulley 28 than the belt 41, as shown in the paper sheet 102 ', the paper sheet 102'
Passes under the switching gate 35b and passes through the predetermined partition port 1
It is thrown into the inside of 21. 47 is a section integration module 4
This is a paper sheet guide that guides the paper sheets 102 that have entered into the sheet stack and appropriately presses the paper sheets 102 that have already been accumulated inside the sorting and accumulating module 4.

With such a configuration, a plurality of rows can be stacked vertically, and by providing a required number in series in the transport direction of the paper sheets 102, for example, the sorting integrated module 4 having 200 sorting ports can be configured. Can, paper sheets 1
02 can be sorted and accumulated in a predetermined sorting port 121 according to the destination code 15 or the destination information 16.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the construction of the destination code and destination code reading means 109 previously given to the paper sheets constituting the present invention. As the destination code, a numeral or a symbol is represented by the length of the bar. It is intended for a bar code BAR that can be used. The bar code BAR is read by the bar code reading means 109a, and is decoded by the decoding means 109b into the destination code 15 represented by a normal numeral or symbol.

FIG. 6 shows an address reading means 119 and a bar code printing means 1 which are provided in advance on the paper sheets constituting the present invention.
In the figure showing an example of the configuration of 20, the address or zip code handwritten or written in a word processor on the surface of the paper sheet 102 is read by the optical reading means 119a, and the recognition means 11
The address or postal code is recognized by 9b.

If the optical reading means 119a cannot recognize a part or all of the address or postal code, the address reading assisting means 73 is used for recognition. The address reading assisting means 73 includes, for example, an image displaying means 73a for displaying an image read by the optical reading means 119a, and an inputting means 73b such as a keyboard for inputting address information. The address or postal code displayed on the screen is visually checked to determine the address or postal code, and the input means 73b
Enter the address or postal code information. Destination information 1 which is the address or zip code recognized in this way
Based on 6, the sorting port 12 in the sorting integrated module 4
1 can be sorted and collected for each destination.

For example, each division port 1 of the division integration module 4
21 is assigned to each zip code, and the supply means 101
By reading the postal codes written on the paper sheets 102 supplied to and collecting and sorting the postal codes, it is possible to perform a sorting operation for each postal code. Such work is, for example, a work corresponding to the case of the sorting division in which the mail delivered to the post or the counter is sorted according to the area of the destination.

Alternatively, each division port 1 of the division integration module 4
21 is assigned to each town name to be delivered, and the address reading means 119 reads the town names of the addresses written on the paper sheet 102 and sorts and collects them, so that sorting work for each town name to be delivered is possible. Such work corresponds to, for example, a delivery sorting work in which, when delivering a mail sent from a post office in each region to the area in which the post is in charge, the mail is sorted into each delivery area.

Further, when the address information has already been converted into the address code 15 such as a bar code and attached to the surface of the paper sheet 102, the address code reading means 109 is used instead of the address reading means 119. It is possible to make various classifications.

The recognized address information 16 can also be converted into a destination code 15 such as a bar code. That is, the recognized address information 16 can be converted into a bar code by the bar code conversion unit 120a, and can be printed on the surface of the paper sheet 102 conveyed by the conveyance unit 107 using, for example, an inkjet printer. By converting the address information into the destination code 15 in this manner, subsequent classification can be performed by reading the destination code 15.

Next, a rearrangement operation (sorting; here, a delivery route assembling operation) of the sheets 102 to which the destination code 15 is given by the delivery route assembling module 1 in the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. This will be described below with reference to FIGS. For the sake of explanation, the contents of the destination code 15 are indicated by three-digit numbers from 000 to 999, and displayed as COD000 to COD999 in order to distinguish them from other numbers.

Here, COD00s are arranged irregularly.
An operation (delivery route assembling operation) of rearranging 1000 sheets of paper 102 to which the destination code 15 of 0 to COD999 is given by the destination code 15 in the order input from the sorting information input means 71 is shown.

The operation of each component will not be described in detail here, but only the arrangement of the destination codes 15 in the process of rearranging the sheets 102 will be described. Further, as an example, it is assumed that the order applied by the sorting information input means 71 is to rearrange the destination codes 15 from COD000 to COD999.

7 to 10, the conveying means 107 for the paper sheet 102 is schematically shown by a solid line for the sake of explanation. Further, the accumulating means 111 has ten divided areas S0 to S.
It is divided into 9 parts, and each part is associated with a number from 0 to 9. It is assumed that the conveyed paper sheets are sorted into the sorting area corresponding to each destination code 15.

FIG. 7 shows a state where 1000 sheets of paper 102 to which the three-digit destination code 15 from COD000 to COD999 is attached are being supplied to the supply means 101. Here, the arrangement of the paper sheets 102 is irregular, and the paper sheet 102 at the right end is in contact with the separating means 104. Only one sheet at the right end is separated by the separating means 104 and delivered to the conveying means 107. The destination code 15 given in advance on the conveyed paper sheets 102, that is, the numerical value of any of COD000 to COD999 in this embodiment is read by the destination code reading means 109.

Here, at the time of the first stage of the sorting process, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the numbers 0 to 9 are sequentially associated with 0 to S9. Then, the paper sheet 102 whose destination code 15 is read by the destination code reading unit 109 is sorted and put into the sorting area having the first digit of the destination code 15, that is, the numeral digit of 1 as its number. For example, if the first digit of the destination code 15 is "2", the divided area of number 2,
That is, it is put into the divided area S2.

Similarly, all the paper sheets 102 have the destination code 1
When the sheets are sorted into the divided areas S0 to S9 according to the 1's digit of 5, sheets 102 having only the 1's are gathered in the divided areas S0 to S9. Here, the destination code CODXX0 represents a paper sheet 102 in which all 1s are 0s, but 10s and 100s may be any numbers from 0 to 9. Routing code CODXX1, CODX
The same applies to X2, ...

When the first stage processing is completed as described above, the order of all the sheets 102 is kept unchanged from the state in which they are stacked in all the divided areas S0 to S9 of the stacking means 111. It is moved into the supply means 101. An example of such means is to pull out the bottom plate 112 of the stacking means 111 and drop all the paper sheets 102 into the supply means 101.

If the paper sheet 102 in the supply means 101 is moved to the separating means 104 side, only the rightmost paper sheet can be separated again and can be conveyed along the conveying means. From this state, the following second stage processing is started. In this second stage processing, as shown in FIG.
9 to 0 are made to correspond to the divided areas S0 to S9 in 1 in order. Then, according to the order of the paper sheets 102 shown in FIG.
First, the paper sheet 102 in which only the 1s digit is 9 is the separating means 1
04, the destination code reading means 109 reads the destination code 15, and 10 of the destination codes 15 are read.
It is put into a divided area having the number of the digit as its number. In the same manner, paper sheets 10 whose 1's place is 8 to 0
2 is also put into the divided area of any of S0 to S9 corresponding to the second digit of the destination code 15, that is, the numeral in the tens digit.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
At 0, the paper sheets 102 whose last two digits are 99 are accumulated on the left end side, and the paper sheets 102 whose last two digits are 90 are accumulated on the rightmost side. However, the 100's place is completely random.
Inside the next divided area S1, the last two digits are 8 on the left end side.
9 paper sheets 102 are accumulated, and the last two digits are 80 on the rightmost side.
The paper sheets 102 are collected. Below division areas S2 to S9
Is the same, and the 100th place of the destination is random,
The larger the last two digits are, the closer they are to the left, and the sheets are sorted in the stacking unit 111.

When the second stage processing is completed as described above, it is assumed that all the paper sheets 102 are accumulated in all the divided areas S0 to S9 of the accumulating means 111 as in the first stage. The process is moved to the inside of the supply means 101 so that the order does not change, and the process of the second stage ends.

At the time of the third step of the next sorting, as shown in FIG. 10, 0 to 9 are made to correspond to the divided areas S0 to S9 in the stacking means 111 in order. As shown in FIG. 9, first, the paper sheets 102 whose last two digits are aligned with 00 are supplied to the separating means 104, and the destination code reading means 10 is supplied.
The destination code 15 is read at 9 and the divided code is divided into the divided area having the digit of 100 of the destination code 15 as its number. Similarly, the paper sheet 102 having the tens place of 8 to 0 is 100 out of the decoded destination codes 15.
Sorting is performed in any one of the sorting areas S0 to S9 corresponding to the digit of the place.

As a result, the inside of the divided area S0 is 10
The paper sheets 102 are stacked so that the digit of 0 is 0 and the last two digits are sequentially increased from left to right, and 1 is placed inside the divided area S1.
The paper sheets 102 are stacked so that the position of 00 is 1 and the lower two digits are sequentially increased from left to right. The same applies hereinafter, and inside the last divided area S9, the paper sheets 102 are stacked so that the 100's digit is 9 and the lower two digits are sequentially increased from left to right. Therefore, when the processing of the third stage is completed, the destination codes COD000 to COD are set so that the destination code becomes a value that increases in order from left to right as shown in FIG.
The paper sheets 102 of D999 are stacked in order from left to right.

The above is the rearrangement operation in the delivery route module 1, and this algorithm itself is well known. In the description here, the case where the three-digit destination codes are rearranged so as to be smaller toward the left has been described. For example, in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the arrangement of the numbers corresponding to the divided areas S0 to S9 is changed. If you set them all the other way around, the right end will be CO
D000, paper sheets 10 so that the left end is COD999
2 can be rearranged. Also, an example has been shown in which a three-digit (1000 ways) rearrangement operation from COD000 to COD999 is performed by repeating division into 10 divided areas three times, but this operation is not limited to this. If the number of partitioned areas is U and the number of repetitions is n, it is possible to perform rearrangement in the nth power of U.

As described above, even if the delivery route assembling module 1 is a single module, the delivery route assembling of the supplied paper sheets 102 can be performed based on the destination code.

At this time, if a large-capacity accumulating means 108 is assigned in advance to a large-scale address to which a large amount of mail is delivered, such as a school, a hospital, or a department store, the supplied paper sheets 102 can be transferred to the large-scale address. The mail items to be delivered can be selected and accumulated in the mass storage means 108. In this way, the number of paper sheets 102 stacked in the stacking unit 111 is reduced, so that the stacking unit 111 can be prevented from overflowing.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a description will be given of the operation of rearranging the sections of the paper sheet 102 for each delivery area and the route for delivering them. ◆ FIG. 11 shows an operation of dividing the paper sheet 102 into delivery areas. Here, as an example, one delivery person is in charge of one delivery area.

In FIG. 11, it is assumed that the paper sheets 102a belonging to a plurality of delivery areas are mixed in the tray 122. First, the paper sheet 102 is fed to the supply means 101.
a is supplied, the separating means 104 separates the sheets contacting the separating means 104 one by one, and the conveying means 107 conveys them downward. Destination code 15 in advance on the paper sheet 102
Is added, the destination code reading means 10
9 to determine which delivery area the paper sheet 102 belongs to. Branch switch 11
The sheet 102 is conveyed along the conveyance path 107b by 5 and is conveyed to the sorting and accumulating module 4 via the second accumulating module 2 and the reading module 3.

Here, for example, the rightmost two rows of the sorting port 121 in the sorting and accumulating module 4 are assigned to the delivery area 1, and two adjacent rows are sequentially delivered to the delivery area 2 and the delivery area 3.
Be assigned to. The conveyed paper sheets 102 are sorted into respective delivery areas, sorted into the corresponding sorting port, and accumulated.

If the destination code is not given to the supplied paper sheets 102, the address reading means 119.
Read the address by and classify in the same way. Here, if the paper sheets 102 'accumulated in each delivery area are taken out and stored in the tray 122 again, the paper sheets 102 can be sorted into each delivery area.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the paper sheets 102 whose delivery areas have been classified are supplied again to the supply means 101, and the paper sheets 102 'are rearranged to the delivery route.
The operation at this time is as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. That is, the sheet 102 is conveyed by the branch switch 115 along the conveying path 107a, and in the case of a large-sized destination, the branch switch 116 is operated to be stacked on the second stacking unit 108. ◆ If the above operation is performed for each delivery area, it is possible to rearrange all the supplied paper sheets 102 into a route for delivery.

Further, at the time of the sorting operation for each delivery area shown in FIG. 11, the allocation of the sorting port 121 in the corresponding delivery area is assigned to each sorting area of the accumulating means 111 in the first stage of the sorting shown in FIG. Paper sheets in the tray 122 if they are taken out in a predetermined order and transferred to the tray 122 after the delivery areas have been sorted.
02 ′ are arranged in the same order as when the first stage of sorting shown in FIG. 8 is completed.

Therefore, when the paper sheet 102 'is supplied again to the supply means 101 to perform route assembly, only the second and third steps of sorting shown in FIGS. 9 to 10 need to be performed. The processing time can be shortened.

Also, when a large-scale destination is assigned to the large-capacity accumulating means even when the delivery areas are sorted, the amount of the paper sheets 102 at the time of taking out the paper sheets 102 for each delivery area can be reduced. The workability is improved.

Further, in the sorting operation for each delivery area shown in FIG. 11, the paper sheet 102 belonging to the delivery area 1 is replaced with the sorting means in the route assembly unit 1 instead of the sorting port 121 in the sorting and accumulating module 4. 111, and stacking means 111
If the arrangement of the divided areas is the same as in the first step of sorting shown in FIG. 8, it is not necessary to transfer the paper sheets 102 belonging to the delivery area 1 to the tray 122 and supply them again to the supply means 101. Instead, the route assembly is completed by performing only the second and third steps of sorting shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, and the processing time can be further shortened.

Further, when the number of large-scale destinations within the same delivery area is larger than the number of large-capacity collecting means 108 provided in the large-capacity integrating module, for example, the large-capacity collecting means 10 is provided.
When there are two sets of 8 and there are three large destinations in the delivery area 1, one of the large destinations is assigned to the large-capacity accumulating means 108 in advance during the division for each delivery area shown in FIG. After being accumulated, the remaining two large destinations may be allocated to the large capacity accumulating means 108 in the route assembling work shown in FIG.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to rearrange the paper sheets, such as postal items, on which the address or destination code is displayed, in the order indicated by the destination code. As an example, when the destination code represents the delivery destination of the postal matter and the sequence is associated with the delivery route of the postal matter, the supplied postal items can be sorted into the delivery route. Further, by reading and sorting the postal code, it is possible to make a division for each destination area corresponding to the postal code.

Furthermore, the address can be read and classified according to the delivery area, and the address can be converted into a destination code such as a bar code, and the supplied mail can be delivered to a plurality of delivery areas. Then, the mail can be sorted and then the mail items can be re-supplied for each delivery area to perform delivery route assembly.

Further, by collecting the postal items for the large addresses, which are delivered in large amounts, in the dedicated large-capacity accumulating means, it is possible to efficiently carry out the delivery route assembling work of the postal items including the large addresses. Become.

Further, a route assembly module, a high capacity integrated module, a reading and bar code printing means, eg 2
An appropriate system according to a required function can be configured by combining each of the 00 integrated modules with a module structure.

For example, by combining only the route assembling module and the large-capacity accumulating means module, the route assembling / sorting machine can cope with large destinations. Alternatively, if only mail items having a bar coded address are to be processed, it is sufficient to combine only the route assembling module and the sorting and accumulating module.

[0079]

According to the present invention, it is possible to rearrange the paper sheets, for example, mail pieces, on which the destination code is displayed, in the order indicated by the destination code, and to improve the efficiency of the delivery route assembling work. Can be improved. In addition, since the function is modularized, it is possible to configure an appropriate system according to the required function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a configuration of a stacking unit and a first sorting selection unit that constitute the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a stacking unit that constitutes the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a destination code and a destination code reading unit that constitute the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an address reading unit and an address code printing unit that constitute the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram showing an example of a delivery route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing another example of the delivery route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view showing still another example of the delivery route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view showing another example of the delivery route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view showing an example of a sorting operation for each delivery area in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram showing an example of a delivery route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Direction assembly unit, 2 ... Large-capacity integrated module, 3
... reading module, 4 ... sorting integrated module, 15
... Destination code, 16 ... Address information, 60 ... Control means, 61
... destination code reading means control means, 62 ... printing means control means, 63 ... address reading means control means, 64 ... movement control means, 66 ... distribution control means, 67 ... supply means control means, 68 ... separation means control means, 71 ... Classification information input means, 72 ... Second sorting control means, 73 ... Address reading assisting means, 101 ... Supplying means, 102 ... Paper sheets, 1
04 ... Separating means, 107 ... Conveying means, 108 ... Large-capacity accumulating means, 109 ... Destination code reading means, 110 ... Conveying outlet, 111 ... Accumulating means, 112 ... Bottom plate, S0 to S9
..... sorting area, 113 ... sorting means, 116 ... branch switch, 119 ... address reading means, 120 ... bar code printing means, 121 ... sorting port.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Junichi Tamamoto 502 Jinritsucho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Hiritsu Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Mechanical Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Toshihiko Tajiri Ikegami, Haruoka-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Hitachi, Ltd. Office System Division

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A supply means for holding a plurality of paper sheets in an upright state, a separating means for separating and taking out the paper sheets in the supply means, and a plurality of stacking means for sequentially accumulating the paper sheets in an upright state. Stacking means having a divided area, destination code reading means for reading a destination code previously given to the paper sheet, and paper sheet conveying means for connecting the separating means and the collecting means,
A paper sheet sorting means for sorting and feeding the paper sheet into one of the divided areas of the stacking means according to the destination code, and the paper sheet supplied to the supply means by the separating means. It is possible to perform a series of sorting operations in which the sheets are separated into single leaves, are transported by the transporting means, the destination codes are read by the destination code reading means, and are sorted and stacked in the stacking means based on a predetermined sorting setting. After the operation, the paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating means are transferred to the supplying means again, and then the sorting operation is repeated, so that the paper sheets can be rearranged in a predetermined order according to the destination code. In the paper sheet sorting apparatus provided with an assembly module, the route assembly module is selective to the transport means between the supply means and the stacking means. Sheet sorting apparatus characterized by providing a conveying outlet of the paper sheet can be delivered to the paper sheet outside the route sequencing module. 2. A large-capacity integrated module is provided in addition to the route assembly module, and the large-capacity integrated module has a large-capacity integrating means having an integrated capacity larger than that of the collecting means, and the transport outlet to the large-capacity integrating means. Transporting means for connecting the large-capacity module to the large-capacity module, selectively discharging the paper sheets provided with a specific destination code from the transport outlet of the route assembly module. 2. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modules are arranged so that the modules are conveyed to the means and accumulated. 3. A sorting and accumulating module is provided in addition to the route assembling module, and the sorting and accumulating module comprises a sorting and accumulating means having a number of dividing ports larger than the number of dividing areas of the accumulating means and the conveying and collecting outlet to the sectional accumulating means. Transporting means for connecting the sheet to the sorting stacking module, and transporting the sheets discharged from the transporting outlet to the sorting stacking module, and sorting and stacking the sheets at the sorting port of the sorting stacking means according to the destination code. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each module is arranged in the sheet. 4. A reading module is provided in addition to the route assembly module, the reading module being capable of optically reading and recognizing an address or a number written on the paper sheet, and the address. Destination code printing means capable of converting the address read by the address reading means into a destination code and printing it on the surface of the paper sheet on the downstream side of the reading means; 4. The address-reading means and the carrying means for carrying paper sheets via the destination code printing means are provided, and the sorting and accumulating module is connected downstream of the reading module. Paper sheet sorting device. 5. A route assembling module and a sorting and accumulating module are provided at least, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module are grouped and assigned to each of a plurality of zones as a first step of sorting the paper sheets. , The paper sheets supplied to the supply means are conveyed to the sorting and accumulating module and are segmented into areas to which respective destination codes belong in accordance with the described destination codes. The paper sheets accumulated in a plurality of sorting ports are taken out to a tray for transportation, and then, as a sorting operation of the paper sheets in the second stage, the paper sheets are supplied to the supply means for each area, and 4. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each module is arranged so that the route assembly of the paper sheets is performed in the route assembly module. 6. A route assembling module and a sorting / collecting module are provided at least, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting / collecting module are grouped and assigned to each of a plurality of zones as a first step of sorting the paper sheets. , The paper sheets supplied to the supply means are conveyed to the sorting and accumulating module, and are sorted into areas to which the respective destination codes belong according to the destination codes described, and correspond to the sorting ports of the respective areas. The destination code sequence is sorted so as to be the same as the first sorting operation of the sorting and repeating operation in the route assembling module, and then the paper sheets sorted into each area are transported while maintaining the order. Then, the sheets are transferred to a tray for feeding, and then, as a second step of sorting the sheets, the sheets are supplied to each of the supply means while maintaining the order in each area. Sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by being arranged each module to perform the second and subsequent segment operation of the route sequencing operation of the paper sheet in the route sequencing module. 7. The route assembling module and the sorting and accumulating module are provided at least, and a plurality of sorting ports of the sorting and accumulating module are grouped and assigned to each sorting area as the first step of sorting the paper sheets. A destination code belonging to a specific section area is assigned to the stacking means in the route assembling module, and the paper sheets that do not belong to a specific area among the paper sheets supplied to the supply means are sorted into the classifying module. According to the destination code conveyed to the destination code, the destination code is divided into each divided area, and after the supply of the paper sheets is completed, among the route assembling operations of the paper sheets that belong to the specific divided area. 4. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for performing a sorting operation from the second time onward. 8. The route assembly module, the reading module, and the sorting and accumulating module at least, wherein the paper sheets supplied to the supply means of the route assembly module are separated into single sheets and conveyed by a conveying means. Then, it is carried into the reading module via the transport outlet, the handwritten or printed address or zip code written on the paper sheet is read by the reading module, and the address or zip code is read according to the read address or zip code. 5. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for sorting into predetermined sorting ports in the sorting stacking module. 9. The route assembling module and the reading module are provided at least, and the paper sheets supplied to the supply means of the route assembling module are separated into single sheets and are conveyed by a conveying means to make the conveying outlet. It is carried in to the reading module via the reading module, the handwritten or printed address written on the paper sheet is read by the reading module, the read address is converted into a destination code, and the destination code is the paper sheet. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for printing on a front surface. 10. The route assembly module, the large-capacity module, and the sorting and accumulating module, and at least a specific destination is selected when performing sorting for each sorting area, and the paper sheets are transferred to the large-capacity module. 7. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the modules are arranged so as to be stacked. 11. The route assembling module and the sorting and accumulating module are provided at least, and when performing sorting for each sorting area, a specific destination is selected so that the paper sheets are accumulated in the sorting and collecting module. 7. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein modules are arranged.