EP1484117B1 - Method for sorting letters - Google Patents
Method for sorting letters Download PDFInfo
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- EP1484117B1 EP1484117B1 EP04011618A EP04011618A EP1484117B1 EP 1484117 B1 EP1484117 B1 EP 1484117B1 EP 04011618 A EP04011618 A EP 04011618A EP 04011618 A EP04011618 A EP 04011618A EP 1484117 B1 EP1484117 B1 EP 1484117B1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 40
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000012015 optical character recognition Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001454 recorded image Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009897 systematic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for automatically sorting mailings to be forwarded by means of a sorting machine, which processes the mailpieces in a continuous main stream, wherein the sorting machine has a feeder over which the sorting machine a plurality of unsorted addressed mailings are supplied.
- the individual items are subsequently marked by a marking device with an individualizing identifier, wherein the identifier is in each case assigned a data record in a file.
- the addresses located on the broadcasts are recorded, wherein a recorded address is decoded by a recognition module and written to the associated record.
- the program is assigned a corresponding error information if the address is not decipherable. This program with associated error information is then sorted out as a broadcast from the main stream.
- sorting machines of this type include methods for identifying items of mail US-A-5,703,783 known whose addresses are not recognized by the automatic optical character recognition (OCR).
- OCR automatic optical character recognition
- either "online” methods are provided in which a long delay line is used to delay the arrival of the items in the sorting bin.
- Offline methods are also known in which a separate pass is used to To have the rejects, whose addresses have been manually verified by the operator, sorted repeatedly by the procedure.
- the letters to be processed are first provided with an identity number, which is assigned to a record in a database.
- the database contains the important information for the respective letter, in particular the address. This is determined by a video recording with subsequent OCR and automatically written to the record. Shipments whose address is not automatically readable are registered as such and sorted out.
- the addresses of the rejected letters are then usually deciphered by operators and manually entered into the record. The sorting of the rejects is done in a separate run of the sorting machine.
- the disadvantage is that the sorting machine must be specially set for this separate run, which is associated with a high work and time and thus leads to increased costs. These special runs also interrupt the continuity of the machine's work process. Overall, processing the reject shipments puts a heavy burden on the efficiency of the machine.
- the object of the present invention is now to provide a method which can be easily implemented, which allows a continuous operation of such a sorting machine and which leads to increased processing speed while reducing costs.
- the core idea of the invention is to set up the method so that the "corrected" rejects can be fed together with the previously unsorted programs on the same indentation and processed together in succession. So as not to get into conflict with the systematics of the subsequent process, for example by means of a double marking, there is another one
- An essential aspect is to recognize and register the committee programs as such.
- the detection can be done by hardware or software.
- the method according to the invention makes it possible to guide the verified rejects, that is to say with respect to the address, back into the feeder of the machine at any time during the first pass without providing a special special run.
- a particularly advantageous form of the method with regard to an optimized organization avoids the repeated marking of the reject mailings which have already been marked at least once. Since these are excluded from the marking with a further identifier, the record already created for the mailing remains and only needs to be supplemented with the missing address data. By keeping this one record can at a later date the History of the processing of the shipment to be reproduced. In addition, the omission of a further mark avoids that several markings are placed one above the other. This eliminates difficulties in subsequent reading processes.
- the program detects the existing error message when the shipment passes a detector.
- the error message controls a turnout with which the consignment is diverted.
- the mission provided with error information is detected by its downstream identifier of a downstream detector and automatically sorted out of the main stream by means of a switch controlled by the detector.
- the program itself is provided with a sign indicating the error. This can be done by the transmission being provided by a writing device arranged in the main stream behind the reading device with the mark, which is realized in particular by a barcode. In the character, the information obtained by means of the reading device, in particular the error information, coded. In this way, the shipment is independent of the connection to the database and could be processed on any system.
- the message associated with the shipment is recognized by a downstream detector based on the character.
- the output signal of the detector can be used to control a switch so that the shipment in question is automatically sorted out of the main stream by means of a switch controlled by the detector.
- the reject program is automatically returned to the process after the special treatment.
- it is fed via a branched off from the main flow side stream to a buffer in which it remains until the address is verified. After verification, the broadcast is automatically mixed under the programs in the feeder.
- the first marked as a broadcast program broadcast is freed from the error message as soon as the correct address was written to the record.
- This exemption can again be done either by software, whereby the now revised data set is recognized as correct.
- the shipment then goes through the process without being sorted out again.
- the corresponding character can be overwritten so that the subsequent detector recognizes the program as unproblematic.
- each shipment processed by the sorter is scanned and the recorded image is stored together with the unique identification mark.
- the identification mark is also printed on the mailpiece and used for identification in subsequent passes. If a shipment already has an identification mark, it is read and compared with the markers present in the database. Shipments that have already been read by the OCR and assigned to a destination will, depending automatically sorted into the correct sort feeder according to which sorting scheme was selected. Mail pieces that can not be recognized by the OCR will be forwarded to a dedicated tray to wait for the result of the verification before returning to the process.
- Shown schematically in the figure is the method for automatically sorting letters 1 to be forwarded by means of a sorting machine, the letters being processed in a continuous main flow along the arrow A.
- the machine has a feeder 2, via which a stack 8 of addressed letters is fed.
- the stack is separated and the individual letters marked by a subsequent marking device 4 with an individualizing identifier.
- the identifier is in each case assigned a data record of a file.
- the letters are photographed below, with a translation program is trying to determine from the image of a letter 1 automatically the existing address thereon. If the address could be deciphered by a recognition module, it is written to a record associated with the letter 1. If the translation was unsuccessful, the letter 1 is assigned a corresponding error information.
- a letter 1 with associated error information is sorted out as a broadcast program 6 from the main stream and stored in a buffer 7.
- a reject broadcast 6 is placed on the stack 8 along with the unsorted letters and returned to the feeder.
- the retransmitted reject program is automatically recognized as such and excluded from the marker with another identifier.
- the re-supplied reject broadcast is recognized as such by a simple detector 9 located in front of the marking device on the basis of the existing marking.
- the letters are provided by a writing device 10 arranged in the main stream behind the reading device 5 with a bar code symbol which codes the information obtained by means of the reading device 5, in particular the error information.
- the error message associated with the letter is recognized by a downstream reading detector 11 on the basis of the bar code and automatically sorted out of the main stream A by means of a switch 12 controlled by the detector 11 and stored in the buffer 7. There it remains until the address is verified, the committee program 6 is automatically mixed after verification by way (arrow B) under the letters stacked in the feeder 2.
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Abstract
Description
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum automatischen Sortieren weiterzuleitender Sendungen mittels einer Sortiermaschine, welche die Sendungen in einem kontinuierlichen Hauptstrom bearbeitet, wobei die Sortiermaschine einem Einzug aufweist, über den der Sortiermaschine eine Vielzahl von unsortierten adressierten Sendungen zugeführt werden. Die vereinzelten Sendungen werden nachfolgend von einer Markierungseinrichtung mit einer individualisierenden Kennung markiert, wobei der Kennung jeweils ein Datensatz in einer Datei zugeordnet ist. Mit einer Leseeinrichtung werden dann die auf den Sendungen befindliche Adressen aufgenommen, wobei eine aufgenommene Adresse von einem Erkennungsmodul entziffert und in den zugeordneten Datensatz geschrieben wird. Dabei wird der Sendung eine entsprechende Fehlerinformation zugeordnet, wenn die Adresse nicht entzifferbar ist. Diese Sendung mit zugeordneter Fehlerinformation wird dann als Ausschusssendung aus dem Hauptstrom aussortiert.The present invention relates to a method for automatically sorting mailings to be forwarded by means of a sorting machine, which processes the mailpieces in a continuous main stream, wherein the sorting machine has a feeder over which the sorting machine a plurality of unsorted addressed mailings are supplied. The individual items are subsequently marked by a marking device with an individualizing identifier, wherein the identifier is in each case assigned a data record in a file. With a reading device then the addresses located on the broadcasts are recorded, wherein a recorded address is decoded by a recognition module and written to the associated record. In this case, the program is assigned a corresponding error information if the address is not decipherable. This program with associated error information is then sorted out as a broadcast from the main stream.
Generell sind von Sortiermaschinen derartige Verfahren zur Kennzeichnung von Sendungen z.B. aus
Bei diesen Verfahren werden die zu verarbeitenden Briefe zunächst mit einer Identitätsnummer versehen, der jeweils ein Datensatz in einer Datenbank zugeordnet ist. Die Datenbank enthält die für den jeweiligen Brief wichtige Information, wie insbesondere die Adresse. Diese wird über eine Videoaufnahme mit anschließender OCR ermittelt und automatisch in den Datensatz geschrieben. Sendungen, deren Adresse nicht automatisch lesbar ist, werden als solche registriert und aussortiert. Die Adressen der aussortierten Briefe werden dann meist von Bedienpersonal entziffert und manuell in den Datensatz eingetragen. Das Sortieren der Ausschusssendungen geschieht in einem gesonderten Lauf der Sortiermaschine.In these methods, the letters to be processed are first provided with an identity number, which is assigned to a record in a database. The database contains the important information for the respective letter, in particular the address. This is determined by a video recording with subsequent OCR and automatically written to the record. Shipments whose address is not automatically readable are registered as such and sorted out. The addresses of the rejected letters are then usually deciphered by operators and manually entered into the record. The sorting of the rejects is done in a separate run of the sorting machine.
Nachteilig ist, dass die Sortiermaschine extra für diesen gesonderten Lauf eingestellt werden muss, was mit einem hohen Arbeits- und Zeitaufwand einhergeht und so zu erhöhten Kosten führt. Durch diese Sonderläufe wird zudem die Kontinuität im Arbeitsprozess der Maschine unterbrochen. Insgesamt belastet das Verarbeiten der Ausschusssendungen die Effizient der Maschine über Gebühr.The disadvantage is that the sorting machine must be specially set for this separate run, which is associated with a high work and time and thus leads to increased costs. These special runs also interrupt the continuity of the machine's work process. Overall, processing the reject shipments puts a heavy burden on the efficiency of the machine.
Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es nunmehr, ein Verfahren zu schaffen, das sich einfach umsetzen lässt, das ein kontinuierliches Arbeiten einer solchen Sortiermaschine ermöglicht und das zu erhöhter Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit bei Verringerung der Kosten führt.The object of the present invention is now to provide a method which can be easily implemented, which allows a continuous operation of such a sorting machine and which leads to increased processing speed while reducing costs.
Diese Aufgabe wird mit einem Verfahren mit den kennzeichnenden Merkmalen des Anspruch 1 gelöst.This object is achieved by a method having the characterizing features of claim 1.
Der Kerngedanke der Erfindung liegt darin, das Verfahren so einzurichten, dass die "korrigierten" Ausschusssendungen zusammen mit den bis dahin unsortierten Sendungen über denselben Einzug zugeführt und in Folge gemeinsam verarbeitet werden können. Um nicht beispielsweise durch eine doppelte Markierung mit der Systematik des nachfolgenden Prozesses in Konflikt zu geraten, liegt ein weiterer wesentlicher Aspekt darin, die Ausschusssendungen als solche zu erkennen und registrieren. Dabei kann die Erkennung per Hardware oder per Software erfolgen. Die erfindungsgemäße Methode ermöglicht es, die verifizierten, also bezüglich der Adresse vervollständigten, Ausschusssendungen jederzeit während des ersten Durchgangs zurück in den Einzug der Maschine zu leiten, ohne einen speziellen Sonderlauf vorzusehen.The core idea of the invention is to set up the method so that the "corrected" rejects can be fed together with the previously unsorted programs on the same indentation and processed together in succession. So as not to get into conflict with the systematics of the subsequent process, for example by means of a double marking, there is another one An essential aspect is to recognize and register the committee programs as such. The detection can be done by hardware or software. The method according to the invention makes it possible to guide the verified rejects, that is to say with respect to the address, back into the feeder of the machine at any time during the first pass without providing a special special run.
Auch wenn mit dem Verfahren beliebige Sendungen sortiert werden können, lässt es sich besonders vorteilhaft für Briefe einsetzen, die in großen Mengen stapelweise angeliefert und von einem dem Einzug zugeordneten Vereinzeler vereinzelt werden.Even if the program can be used to sort any items, it is particularly advantageous for letters to be used which are delivered in large quantities in batches and separated by a separator associated with the collection.
Die Vorteile der Erfindung liegen auf der Hand: Während nach dem bekannten Verfahren eine Sortiermaschine in zwei verschiedenen Betriebsmodi und damit diskontinuierlich betrieben werden musste, um Ausschusssendungen zu verarbeiten, kann eine das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren realisierende Maschine in einem Modus verbleiben und dabei "frische" Sendungen zusammen mit korrigierten Ausschusssendungen in einem kontinuierlichen Prozess sortieren. Das führt zu einer erhöhten Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit. Beim Einsatz des Verfahrens ist keine Arbeitskraft mehr für das Umstellen der Maschine notwendig. Diese Faktoren tragen dazu bei, dass eine drastische Verringerung der Kosten bei der Sortierung von Sendungen möglich ist. Dabei ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn die verifizierten Ausschusssendungen das Verfahren noch einmal ganz von vorne mit den herkömmlichen Sendungen durchlaufen und nicht zwischendurch dem Verfahren zugeführt werden und dabei einer Lücke in dem sonst kontinuierlichen Strom von Sendungen bedürfen. Gerade dadurch kann die Kontinuität des Prozesses gewährleistet werden.The advantages of the invention are obvious: Whereas, according to the known method, a sorting machine had to be operated discontinuously in two different operating modes in order to process rejects, a machine implementing the method according to the invention can remain in one mode, thereby combining "fresh" mailings sort with corrected rejects in a continuous process. This leads to an increased processing speed. When using the method, no labor is required for the changeover of the machine. These factors help to dramatically reduce the cost of sorting consignments. It is particularly advantageous if the verified committee shipments go through the process once again from the beginning with the conventional shipments and are not intermittently fed to the process and thereby require a gap in the otherwise continuous stream of shipments. This is precisely what ensures the continuity of the process.
Eine im Hinblick auf eine optimierte Organisation besonders vorteilhafte Form des Verfahrens vermeidet die nochmalige Markierung der schon mindestens einmal markierten Ausschusssendungen. Da diese von der Markierung mit einer weiteren Kennung ausgenommen sind, verbleibt der schon zu der Sendung angelegte Datensatz und braucht nur um die fehlenden Adressdaten ergänzt werden. Durch die Beibehaltung dieses einen Datensatzes kann zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt die Historie der Bearbeitung der Sendung nachvollzogen werden. Außerdem wird durch den Verzicht auf eine weitere Markierung vermieden, dass mehrere Markierungen übereinander angebracht werden. So werden Schwierigkeiten bei nachfolgenden Leseprozessen ausgeschlossen. Am einfachsten kann die vorhandene Markierung auf der erneut zugeführten Ausschusssendung durch einen stromaufwärts vor der Markierungseinrichtung befindlichen Detektor festgestellt werden. Der Detektor kann von einem einfachen Lesegerät, das speziell auf diese Markierungen sensibel ist, realisiert werden. Es ist jedoch auch möglich, die Erkennung über die ehedem angefertigte Videoaufnahme zu realisieren.A particularly advantageous form of the method with regard to an optimized organization avoids the repeated marking of the reject mailings which have already been marked at least once. Since these are excluded from the marking with a further identifier, the record already created for the mailing remains and only needs to be supplemented with the missing address data. By keeping this one record can at a later date the History of the processing of the shipment to be reproduced. In addition, the omission of a further mark avoids that several markings are placed one above the other. This eliminates difficulties in subsequent reading processes. The easiest way to determine the existing mark on the re-supplied reject broadcast by a detector located upstream of the marking device. The detector can be realized by a simple reader, which is especially sensitive to these markings. However, it is also possible to realize the recognition via the previously made video recording.
Um das zuverlässige Aussortieren der Sendungen mit nicht entzifferter Adresse gewährleisten zu können, ist es notwendig, die Fehlerinformation der jeweiligen Sendung zuzuordnen. Eine Zuordnung kann über die Software geschehen, indem die Fehlerinformation im Datensatz kodiert wird. Dabei kann die Kodierung entweder im expliziten Beschreiben des Datensatzes mit der Fehlerinformation oder im Nichtausfüllen notwendig auszufüllender Felder liegen. Das Programm erkennt die vorhandene Fehlermeldung, wenn die Sendung einen Detektor passiert. Durch die Fehlermeldung wird eine Weiche gesteuert, mit der die Sendung abgezweigt wird. Somit wird die mit Fehlerinformation versehene Sendung anhand der ihr zugeordneten Kennung von einem nachgeordneten Detektor erkannt und mittels einer von dem Detektor gesteuerten Weiche automatisch aus dem Hauptstrom aussortiert.In order to ensure the reliable sorting of the shipments with non-deciphered address, it is necessary to assign the error information of the respective program. An assignment can be made via the software by coding the error information in the data record. In this case, the coding can either be in the explicit writing of the data record with the error information or in the non-completion of necessary fields to be filled. The program detects the existing error message when the shipment passes a detector. The error message controls a turnout with which the consignment is diverted. Thus, the mission provided with error information is detected by its downstream identifier of a downstream detector and automatically sorted out of the main stream by means of a switch controlled by the detector.
Statt, wie beschrieben, die Zuordnung der Fehlermeldung per Software zu realisieren, kann auch eine Lösung, die sich in gewisser Weise einer Hardware bedient, vorteilhaft sein. Dabei wird die Sendung selber mit einem Zeichen, das auf den Fehler hinweist, versehen. Das kann dadurch geschehen, dass die Sendung von einer im Hauptstrom hinter der Leseeinrichtung angeordneten Schreibeinrichtung mit dem Zeichen, das insbesondere von einem Barcode realisiert wird, versehen wird. In dem Zeichen wird die vermittels der Leseeinrichtung gewonnene Information, insbesondere die Fehlerinformation, kodiert. Auf diese Weise wird die Sendung unabhängig von der Verbindung zur Datenbank und könnte auf beliebigen Systemen verarbeitet werden.Instead, as described, to realize the assignment of the error message by software, can also be a solution that makes use of hardware in some way, be advantageous. The program itself is provided with a sign indicating the error. This can be done by the transmission being provided by a writing device arranged in the main stream behind the reading device with the mark, which is realized in particular by a barcode. In the character, the information obtained by means of the reading device, in particular the error information, coded. In this way, the shipment is independent of the connection to the database and could be processed on any system.
Bei der weiteren Verarbeitung der Sendung ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die der Sendung zugeordnete Fehlermeldung von einem nachgeordneten Detektor anhand des Zeichens erkannt wird. Das Ausgangssignal des Detektors kann zur Steuerung einer Weiche genutzt werden, so dass die fragliche Sendung mittels einer von dem Detektor gesteuerten Weiche automatisch aus dem Hauptstrom aussortiert wird.In the further processing of the shipment, it is advantageous if the message associated with the shipment is recognized by a downstream detector based on the character. The output signal of the detector can be used to control a switch so that the shipment in question is automatically sorted out of the main stream by means of a switch controlled by the detector.
In einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführungsform wird die Ausschusssendung nach der Sonderbehandlung dem Prozess automatisch wieder zugeführt. Dazu wird sie über einen vom Hauptstrom abgezweigten Nebenstrom einem Puffer zugeleitet, in dem sie solange verbleibt, bis die Adresse verifiziert ist. Nach der Verifikation wird die Ausschusssendung automatisch unter die im Einzug befindlichen Sendungen gemischt.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the reject program is automatically returned to the process after the special treatment. For this purpose, it is fed via a branched off from the main flow side stream to a buffer in which it remains until the address is verified. After verification, the broadcast is automatically mixed under the programs in the feeder.
Selbstverständlich wird die zunächst als Ausschusssendung markierte Sendung von der Fehlermeldung befreit, sobald die korrekte Adresse in den Datensatz geschrieben wurde. Diese Befreiung kann wiederum entweder per Software erfolgen, wobei dabei der nunmehr überarbeitete Datensatz als korrekt anerkannt wird. Die Sendung durchläuft dann das Verfahren ohne nochmals aussortiert zu werden. Bei der Hardwarelösung kann das entsprechende Zeichen überschrieben werden, so dass der nachfolgende Detektor die Sendung als unproblematisch anerkennt.Of course, the first marked as a broadcast program broadcast is freed from the error message as soon as the correct address was written to the record. This exemption can again be done either by software, whereby the now revised data set is recognized as correct. The shipment then goes through the process without being sorted out again. In the case of the hardware solution, the corresponding character can be overwritten so that the subsequent detector recognizes the program as unproblematic.
In einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens wird jede von dem Sortierer bearbeitete Sendung eingescannt und das aufgenommene Bild zusammen mit der eindeutigen Identifikationsmarkierung gespeichert. Die Identifikationsmarkierung wird ebenfalls auf die Sendung gedruckt und zur Identifikation in nachfolgenden Durchgängen benutzt. Wenn eine Sendung bereits eine Identifikationsmarkierung aufweist, wird diese gelesen und mit den in der Datenbank vorhandene Markierungen verglichen. Sendungen, die bereits von der OCR gelesen und einem Bestimmungsort zugeordnet worden sind, werden, je nach dem, welches Sortierschema ausgewählt wurde, automatisch in den korrekten Sortereinzug einsortiert. Poststücke, die nicht durch die OCR erkannt werden können, werden an einen dafür vorgesehenen Einzug weitergeleitet, um auf das Ergebnis der Verifikation zu warten, bevor sie wieder dem Verfahren zu geführt werden.In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, each shipment processed by the sorter is scanned and the recorded image is stored together with the unique identification mark. The identification mark is also printed on the mailpiece and used for identification in subsequent passes. If a shipment already has an identification mark, it is read and compared with the markers present in the database. Shipments that have already been read by the OCR and assigned to a destination will, depending automatically sorted into the correct sort feeder according to which sorting scheme was selected. Mail pieces that can not be recognized by the OCR will be forwarded to a dedicated tray to wait for the result of the verification before returning to the process.
Eine besondere Ausführungsform der Erfindung ist in der Figur dargestellt und wird nachfolgend näher beschrieben:A particular embodiment of the invention is shown in the figure and is described in more detail below:
In der Figur schematisch gezeigt ist das Verfahren zum automatischen Sortieren weiterzuleitender Briefe 1 mittels einer Sortiermaschine, wobei die Briefe in einem kontinuierlichen Hauptstrom entlang dem Pfeil A bearbeitet werden. Die Maschine weist einen Einzug 2 auf, über den ein Stapel 8 adressierter Briefe zugeführt wird. In einem Vereilzeler 3 wird der Stapel vereinzelt und die vereinzelten Briefe von einer nachfolgenden Markierungseinrichtung 4 mit einer individualisierenden Kennung markiert. Der Kennung ist jeweils ein Datensatz einer Datei zugeordnet. Mit einer Video-Leseeinrichtung 5 werden die Briefe nachfolgend photographiert, wobei mit einem Übersetzungsprogramm versucht wird, aus dem Bild eines Briefes 1 automatisch die darauf vorhandene Adresse feststellen zu können. Wenn die Adresse von einem Erkennungsmodul entziffert werden konnte, wird sie in einen dem Brief 1 zugeordneten Datensatz geschrieben. Falls die Übersetzung nicht erfolgreich war, wird dem Brief 1 eine entsprechende Fehlerinformation zugeordnet. Ein Brief 1 mit zugeordneter Fehlerinformation wird als Ausschusssendung 6 aus dem Hauptstrom aussortiert und in einem Puffer 7 abgelegt.Shown schematically in the figure is the method for automatically sorting letters 1 to be forwarded by means of a sorting machine, the letters being processed in a continuous main flow along the arrow A. The machine has a feeder 2, via which a stack 8 of addressed letters is fed. In an agglomerator 3, the stack is separated and the individual letters marked by a
Nachdem die Adresse verifiziert und in den Datensatz geschrieben wurde, wird eine Ausschusssendung 6 zusammen mit den unsortierten Briefen auf den Stapel 8 gelegt und erneut dem Einzug zugeführt. Die erneut zugeführte Ausschusssendung wird automatisch als solche erkannt und von der Markierung mit einer weiteren Kennung ausgenommen.After the address has been verified and written to the record, a
In diesem Beispiel wird die erneut zugeführte Ausschusssendung von einem vor der Markierungseinrichtung befindlichen einfachen Detektor 9 anhand der vorhandenen Markierung als solche erkannt.In this example, the re-supplied reject broadcast is recognized as such by a
Die Briefe werden von einer im Hauptstrom hinter der Leseeinrichtung 5 angeordneten Schreibeinrichtung 10 mit einem Barcode-Zeichen versehen, das vermittels der Leseeinrichtung 5 gewonnene Information, insbesondere die Fehlerinformation, kodiert. Die dem Brief zugeordnete Fehlermeldung wird anhand des Barcodes von einem nachgeordneten Lese-Detektor 11 erkannt und mittels einer von dem Detektor 11 gesteuerten Weiche 12 automatisch aus dem Hauptstrom A aussortiert und im Puffer 7 abgelegt. Dort verbleibt sie bis die Adresse verifiziert ist, wobei die Ausschusssendung 6 nach der Verifikation automatisch über den Weg (Pfeil B) unter die im Einzug 2 gestapelten Briefe gemischt wird.The letters are provided by a
Claims (9)
- Method for automatically sorting mail (1) to be forwarded by means of a sorting machine, which processes the mail (1) in a continuous main stream (A), the sorting machine comprising an intake (2), via which a plurality of addressed items of mail (1) are fed into the system, the separated items of mail (1) being tagged by a subsequent tagging device (4) with an individualizing identifier to which one respective data set of a database is assigned, addresses on the items of mail (1) being detected by a subsequent reading device (5), a detected address being deciphered by a recognition module, and written into the assigned data set, corresponding error information being assigned to the item of mail (1) if the address is not able to be deciphered and an item of mail with the assigned error information being rejected from the main stream as reject mail (6), characterized in that the reject mail (6) together with the unsorted mail (1) is fed back into the intake (2), after the address thereof is verified and written into the appropriate data set, reject mail (6), which is fed back into the system, being automatically recognised as such.
- Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the items of mail are letters which are delivered in stacks (8) and separated by a decollator (3) assigned to the intake (2).
- Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reject mail (6), which is fed back into the system, is exempt from tagging with a further identifier.
- Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the reject mail (6), which is fed back into the system, is recognised by a detector (9) located before the tagging device (4) via the existing tagging.
- Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the error information is encoded in the data set, the encoding being in particular in the explicit description of the data set or in the incompletion of fields which have to be completed.
- Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the reject mail (6) provided with error information is detected using the identifier assigned thereto and the data set assigned to the identifier and is automatically rejected from the main stream (A) by means of a switch (12) controlled by the detector (11).
- Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an item of mail (1) is provided with a mark, in particular a bar code, by a writing device (10) arranged in the main stream after the reading device (5), which encodes information obtained by means of the reading device (5), in particular the error information.
- Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that the error message assigned to the reject mail (6) is recognised by a downstream detector (11) by means of the mark and is automatically rejected from the main stream (A) by means of a switch (12) controlled by the detector (11).
- Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rejected item of mail (6) is fed into a buffer (7) via a secondary stream (B) diverted from the main stream (A), and in which it remains until the address is verified, the reject mail (6) automatically being added to the mail (1) located in the intake (2), after verification.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10326145A DE10326145A1 (en) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-06-06 | Method of sorting letters |
| DE10326145 | 2003-06-06 |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1484117A1 EP1484117A1 (en) | 2004-12-08 |
| EP1484117B1 true EP1484117B1 (en) | 2007-09-05 |
| EP1484117B2 EP1484117B2 (en) | 2012-12-12 |
Family
ID=33154603
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP04011618A Expired - Lifetime EP1484117B2 (en) | 2003-06-06 | 2004-05-15 | Method for sorting letters |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US7394914B2 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1484117B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE372175T1 (en) |
| DE (2) | DE10326145A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2293120T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7103438B2 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2006-09-05 | Cummins-Allison Corp. | System and method for searching and verifying documents in a document processing device |
| US20060167877A1 (en) * | 2004-11-23 | 2006-07-27 | Bowe Bell + Howell Company | Inbound link incoming mail stream |
| JP2007080217A (en) * | 2005-09-16 | 2007-03-29 | Toshiba Corp | Paper sheet processor |
| US7820932B2 (en) | 2006-07-13 | 2010-10-26 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Mail sorter, method, and software product for a two-step and one-pass sorting algorithm |
| US7527261B2 (en) * | 2006-07-13 | 2009-05-05 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Mailpiece container for stacking mixed mail and method for stacking mail therein |
| FR2905613B1 (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2008-11-14 | Veolia Proprete Sa | SEQUENTIAL SELECTIVE SORTING METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION |
| FR2909360B1 (en) | 2006-11-30 | 2010-01-15 | Mag Systemes | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF FILLING OF A CONTAINER IN FULL ENVELOPES |
| JP4544315B2 (en) * | 2008-02-29 | 2010-09-15 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Paper document processing apparatus and program |
| US20090223872A1 (en) * | 2008-03-07 | 2009-09-10 | Ronald Robbins | System and method for sorting items |
| US8245933B2 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2012-08-21 | Bell And Howell, Llc | Method and system for applying a postal authority barcode on a document processing system |
| KR101128507B1 (en) * | 2008-12-17 | 2012-03-28 | 한국전자통신연구원 | Multilingual mail acceptance information processing method and system based on image recognition |
| EP2216282B1 (en) * | 2009-02-09 | 2012-07-04 | Neopost Technologies | Method and apparatus for preparing mail pieces |
| US8669486B2 (en) | 2009-08-05 | 2014-03-11 | Gregory L Ward | Portable mail sorting and consolodating method and machine |
| JP6239262B2 (en) * | 2013-05-09 | 2017-11-29 | 株式会社東芝 | Classification system and classification method |
| US9878825B1 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2018-01-30 | Ecoenvelopes, Llc | Reusable top flap envelope with dual opposing seal flaps |
Family Cites Families (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0716654B2 (en) * | 1988-04-21 | 1995-03-01 | 日本電気株式会社 | Video coding equipment |
| US4992649A (en) * | 1988-09-30 | 1991-02-12 | United States Postal Service | Remote video scanning automated sorting system |
| US5190210A (en) * | 1989-09-13 | 1993-03-02 | Walz Postal Solutions, Inc. | Continuous mailing forms and mailing preparation system |
| US5031223A (en) * | 1989-10-24 | 1991-07-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for deferred processing of OCR scanned mail |
| US5703783A (en) * | 1992-04-06 | 1997-12-30 | Electrocom Automation, L.P. | Apparatus for intercepting and forwarding incorrectly addressed postal mail |
| EP0589119A1 (en) * | 1992-09-25 | 1994-03-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for improving processing of OCR scanned mail |
| JP2581411B2 (en) | 1993-09-14 | 1997-02-12 | 日本電気株式会社 | Semiconductor memory circuit device and method of manufacturing the same |
| JPH0788437A (en) * | 1993-09-22 | 1995-04-04 | Toshiba Corp | Handling device for paper leaf |
| DE19644163A1 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 1998-05-07 | Siemens Ag | Method and device for online processing of mail items to be forwarded |
| DE19748702C1 (en) * | 1997-11-04 | 1998-11-05 | Siemens Ag | Distributed transmission information pattern recognition method |
| DE19911116C1 (en) * | 1999-03-12 | 2000-05-31 | Siemens Ag | Method of sorting sequences of transmissions with two-part addresses |
| US6977353B1 (en) * | 1999-08-31 | 2005-12-20 | United States Postal Service | Apparatus and methods for identifying and processing mail using an identification code |
| US6674038B1 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2004-01-06 | Siemens Dematic Postal Automation, L.P. | Information based network process for mail sorting/distribution |
| US6303889B1 (en) * | 2000-02-15 | 2001-10-16 | Opex Corporation | Method and apparatus for sorting documents into a pre-defined sequence |
| DE10010241C1 (en) * | 2000-03-02 | 2001-03-01 | Siemens Ag | Shipment addresses reading method |
| JP2001270983A (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2001-10-02 | Teijin Chem Ltd | Flame retardant polycarbonate resin composition |
| EP1409161B1 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2008-11-19 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for sorting postal articles on automatic sorting devices |
| DE10150560A1 (en) * | 2001-10-15 | 2003-04-24 | Deutsche Post Ag | Method for automatic processing of postal items in which after address details have been automatically read in they are compared with existing details in a database and if necessary a new complete and accurate address applied |
| US6610955B2 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2003-08-26 | Steven W. Lopez | Method and apparatus for multi-task processing and sorting of mixed and non-machinable mailpieces and related methods |
-
2003
- 2003-06-06 DE DE10326145A patent/DE10326145A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2004
- 2004-05-15 AT AT04011618T patent/ATE372175T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-05-15 DE DE502004004844T patent/DE502004004844D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-05-15 ES ES04011618T patent/ES2293120T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-05-15 EP EP04011618A patent/EP1484117B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-06-01 US US10/857,182 patent/US7394914B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATE372175T1 (en) | 2007-09-15 |
| EP1484117A1 (en) | 2004-12-08 |
| US7394914B2 (en) | 2008-07-01 |
| ES2293120T3 (en) | 2008-03-16 |
| DE502004004844D1 (en) | 2007-10-18 |
| EP1484117B2 (en) | 2012-12-12 |
| US20050025340A1 (en) | 2005-02-03 |
| DE10326145A1 (en) | 2004-12-23 |
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