WO2009037290A1

WO2009037290A1 - Method and device for transporting and handling a plurality of articles

Info

Publication number: WO2009037290A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/062392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gisbert Berger; Jörg-Andreas ILLMAIER; Ulrich Weissgerber
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2007-09-18
Filing date: 2008-09-17
Publication date: 2009-03-26
Also published as: DE102008003775A1; DE102008017185A1; US20090074543A1; AU2008300590A1; EP2190596A1; CA2699700A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for transporting a plurality of articles, especially postal items. Every article runs through a first handling system (Anl-1) and then through at least one second handling system (Anl-2, Anl-3). The first handling system (Anl-1) measures a respective handling attribute and two values that two given features assume for the article and generates a data record for the article. Data records of articles that are to be handled by the second handling system (Anl-2, Anl-3) are selected. The second handling system (Anl-2, Anl-3) measures, at a first point in time, the respective value that the first feature assumes for an article and later on the value of the other feature. It searches for a selected data record and uses the feature value that was measured first. When the handling system finds said data record, it subjects the relevant article to the given handling. Using the two feature values, it searches the stored data record for every article and handles the article depending on the handling attribute value in said data record.

Description

description

Method and device for transporting and processing multiple objects

The invention relates to a method and a device for transporting and processing a plurality of articles, in particular postal items.

A mail item typically passes at least twice through a sorting system and is then transported to the respective predetermined delivery address. During the first pass, the delivery address of the mailpiece is read. On the second pass, the read delivery address is determined again. The mailpiece is then transported to the determined delivery address.

Traditionally, during the first pass, an encoding of the destination address is printed on the mailpiece. This encoding is read on the second pass. In order to avoid the printing of mailpieces, it is proposed in DE 4000603 C2 to measure a feature vector of the mail item during the first pass and store it together with the read target address. On the second pass, the mail item is measured again. As a result, a further feature vector is generated. This further feature vector is compared with the stored feature vectors to find the stored feature vector of the same item. The destination address, which is stored together with the found feature vector, is used as the destination address to which the item of mail is to be transported.

A method having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of the preamble of claim 10 is known from EP 1222037 Bl. The

Items are there also mail items that pass through at least once a sorting machine. A problem that can occur in the method known from EP 1222037 Bl, results from the fact that the second processing facility on some items, eg. As mail, must attach a processing note early, z. B. a changed delivery address before it has measured the entire feature vector and compared with the stored records.

The object of the invention is to provide a method having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a device having the features of the preamble of claim 10, in which the second processing system can already carry out a treatment of a passing article before the determination of the Record for this item using the two feature values.

The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

Several items are processed and transported. Each article passes through a first processing plant and then at least a second processing plant. It is possible for an object to pass through the same processing plant twice, thus functioning as the first and the second processing plant.

At least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable characteristics are specified.

The first processing unit carries out the following steps for each item:

- It measures what value the edit attribute for the item takes.

- It measures two values that assume the two given characteristics for the item. - It creates a record for the item and saves it. This data set comprises the two measured characteristic values and an encoding of the measured processing attribute value.

At least one record is selected among the stored records. Each selected data set has been generated for each such item to be subjected to a given treatment by the second processing unit.

The second processing unit carries out the following steps for each item:

- At a first point in time, it measures the value that one of the two features assumes for the item.

- It searches for a selected data record and uses the characteristic value for the search, which it uses for the first search

Measured time.

- Then, if it finds such a record, it subjects that item from which the found record originates to the prescribed treatment.

- She measures at a subsequent second time the

Value that the other feature takes on the item.

- It determines the data record that the first processing system for this object has generated and saved - even if this data record is not a selected data record. For this determination, the second processing system uses the two characteristic values measured during the renewed measurement.

- It edits the item depending on the edit attribute value in this record.

Thanks to the invention, the second processing plant can already start the predetermined treatment after it has measured the value of the first feature at the first time. It is not necessary to wait until the second time for the measurement of the other feature.

The invention can be z. B. for the processing and sorting of mail, baggage of travelers or containers or other items,

The processing attribute is, for example, an identification of a destination address to which the object is to be transported, an identification of the respective owner of the object or a dimension or the weight of the object. The destination is z. B. a delivery address for a mail or a production line of a factory or a destination station or destination port or destination airport for a piece of luggage or freight. The edit attribute may also be the result of an evaluation of a fare with which the item is provided.

In the following, the invention will be shown with reference to an embodiment. Showing:

Fig. 1 shows a network with three processing systems;

2 shows a diagram of the time sequence during the processing of mailpieces.

In the figures, material flows are shown by solid lines, data flows by dashed lines.

Fig. 1 shows a network with three processing systems AnI-I, Anl-2 and Anl-3. These three processing plants are designed as sorting plants. Each sorting installation has a feeder in the form of a feeder, a reading device and a large number of output compartments, mailpieces being fed to the material input of such a sorting system isolated mail items then pass through the sorting system. The reader generates an image of the mail piece. Using the image, the sorting system determines the delivery address and discharges the mail item into one of the output bins depending on the recognized delivery address. Each of the three sorting systems AnI-I, Anl-2, Anl-3 is connected to a central database DB and has read and write access to this database DB.

In the example of FIG. 1, first mailpieces of the material inlets ZE-I are fed to the sorting installation AnI-I. The sorting system AnI-I generates a digital image of each mail item and determines the delivery address by evaluating the image. Initially, the AnI-I sorting system attempts to automatically determine the delivery address by "Optical Character Recognition" (OCR), but if unsuccessful, the image is sent to a video coding station and an operator manually enters the delivery address - or at least the postal code. Depending on the respectively determined delivery address, the sorting system AnI-I discharges the mail item into one of the output compartments.

In the example of FIG. 1, three output compartments Af-I.1, Af-I.2 and Af-I.3 of the sorting installation AnI-I are shown. The mail items which the sorting system AnI-I has discharged into the delivery compartment Af-I.1 are moved in the example of FIG. 1 into a container Beh-1. The container Beh-1 with these mail items is again transported to the material input ZE-I of the sorting system AnI-I. The mail items from the container Beh-1 are separated from the material input ZE-I and go through again the sorting system AnI-I.

Each possible delivery address is assigned to a delivery area. All mail items to the same delivery area are ejected into the same output bin each time they pass. It is possible that mail items are sent to different delivery areas in the same output tray. It is possible for a mail item to pass through the same sorting system several times, for example because the number of output bins is different. ringer than the number of predefined delivery areas. In this case, an "n-pass sequencing" is preferably carried out Such a method is known from EP 948416 Bl After the first pass, the mail items which the sorting system has discharged into an output tray are brought into a container the feeding device of the second sorting system transported, and the mail items are fed to the sorting system for the second pass.

In the example of Figure 1, the mail items from the output tray Af-I.1 fed to the feeder ZE-I and run through again the system AnI-I. One reason for this may be that n-pass sequencing is being performed, as just described, and it is also possible that individual mailboxes pass through the Ani-I sorting system several times because off-line video coding is performed. During the first pass, a digital image of the mailpiece is generated. It is not possible to automatically detect the address in this image, so that the image is transmitted to a video coding station. There, the address is entered manually. After this has been done, the mail item again passes through the sorting system and is discharged into an output tray depending on the entered address.

The mail items which the sorting system AnI-I has discharged into the output tray Af-I.2 are in the example of

Fig. 1 spent in a container Beh-2. The container Beh-1 with these postal items is transported to the material input ZE-2 of the second sorting system Anl-2. The mail items from container Beh-2 are cleared by the material input ZE-2 and pass through the sorting system Anl-2. The corresponding happens with the mail items that the first sorting system AnI-I has discharged into the output tray Af-I.3. These are transported in container Beh-3 for substance input ZE-3 of the third sorting plant Anl-3. The two remaining sorting systems Anl-2 and Anl-3 again use the reading result that the sorting system AnI-I has achieved. Therefore, the sorting system AnI-I generates a data record for each mail item that passes through the sorting system AnI-I and stores it in the central database DB. This record includes

an internal identification of the mailing as well

an identifier for the delivery address which the first sorting system AnI-1 has read.

Each additional sorting system, which passes through the mailpiece, recognizes this mail item again. Therefore, several features are given that are optically measurable. Examples of such features are:

Dimensions of the item of mail,

The distribution of gray values and / or hues on a surface of the mail piece,

- the location and dimensions of the franking mark,

- the location and size of the address block and / or details of the sender and

- Characteristics of the delivery address, z. For example, the postcode.

The first sorting installation AnI-I determines, for each mail item which the sorting installation AnI-I passes through, what value the predefined features assume in this mailpiece. As a result, the first sorting system AnI-I generates a feature vector, which consists of n feature values given n characteristics. The data record for the mailing is supplemented by the first sorting system AnI-I by the feature vector, d. H. an identification of the n characteristic values.

The second sorting system Anl-2 also measures for each postal item that passes through the sorting system Anl-2, which value assumes each predetermined characteristic for this item of mail. As a result, the second sorting system Anl-2 also generates one Feature vector with N feature values. The second sorting system Anl-2 performs a read access to the central database DB. The feature vectors of stored data sets are compared with the currently measured feature vector. As a result, the data record which originates from the mail item currently to be examined is determined. This ascertained data record includes the delivery address of the mail item which the first sorting system AnI-1 has read.

Each mail item is provided with a delivery address. However, the case may occur that the item of mail is not to be transported to the delivery address ZA-I that is specified on the item of mail but to another delivery address ZA-2. For example, the recipient of the mailing has submitted a request for forwarding and requested that all mail items that are provided with the delivery address ZA-I should actually be redirected to the new delivery address ZA-2 and transported to ZA-2. Often, the sender of the mail item that has attached the old delivery address ZA-1 to the mailpiece is not informed of the change of address. In order for a deliverer to correctly deliver the mail piece, it is necessary that the mail piece is provided with the new delivery address ZA-2. It is also possible that subsequently a delivery note should be attached to the mailpiece.

In the exemplary embodiment, these subsequent changes are not necessarily present at the time at which the postal item in question passes through the first sorting installation AnI-I, but only when it passes through the second sorting installation Anl-2. This allows the operator of the sorting systems to react quickly to changes in address. Therefore, however, only the second sorting system Anl-2 can provide the mailpiece with corresponding notes. Only individual mail items from the stream of mail items that pass through the second sorting system Anl-2, each with a note to be provided, for. B. with a new delivery address ZA-2. the usual To be transported to the delivery address that is printed.

2 shows the time sequence during the processing of mailpieces by the second sorting system Anl-2.

A selection unit 1 searches the central database DB for records of such mail items that

- go through the second sorting system Anl-2 within a certain period of time and

- Be subsequently provided with an endorsement by the second sorting system Anl-2. The note with notes is the default treatment of some objects in the embodiment.

The selection unit 1 determines such data records and transmits the selected data records in the form of a message Aus to the second sorting installation Anl-2. To a fast

Access to these selected data records To ensure that the second sorting system Anl-2 stores these selected data records preferably locally.

FIG. 2 shows a stream of mail items which passes through the second sorting system Anl-2 in a conveying direction F. These mail items are numbered consecutively for the purpose of illustration in FIG. 2, namely - as seen in the conveying direction F - descending.

The second sorting system Anl-2 has a reading device with a camera 2 and a printer 3. The reading device with the camera 2 is designed to generate from each continuous mailpiece a digital image Abb of that surface of the mailpiece which contains the printed delivery address. The printer 3 is designed to generate a print according to a set Dru of print commands on a mail item passed past the printer 3. It is possible that the printer 3 directly prints the mail piece. It is also possible that the printer 3 prints a self-adhesive label and attaches this label on the mailpiece. According to the invention, the predetermined set of features is divided into a first set of Nl features and a second set of N2 features. Each of these two sentences contains at least one feature, ie Nl> = 1 and N2> = 1. N = Nl + N2.

The stream of mail passes through the second sorting system Anl-2 at an adjustable speed. The reading device with the camera 2 generates a digital image from each continuous mail item. The computing unit 4 is supplied with this digital image P 1 and determines for each given feature the feature value that the feature assumes for this mailpiece. For this purpose, it uses the digital image Abb and in one embodiment, further measured values, eg. B. the length measured in the conveying direction F or the height or the thickness or the weight of each mail item.

The measurement and calculation of all feature values requires time. Therefore, according to the invention, the arithmetic unit 4 initially calculates only a part of the feature values, namely the values for those N1 features contained in the first set. Only then does it calculate the values for the N2 features of the second set.

In the example of FIG. 2, the computing unit 4 calculates for the mail item n those Nl values which assume the N1 characteristics of the first record for the mail item n. As soon as the

Mailing n has reached the position Pos-1, the calculation of the Nl values for the first set of features is completed. The arithmetic unit 4 searches in the selected data records Aus for a data record in which the N1 features of the first set assume the same values as the N1 values just measured. "The same value" of a feature means: The two values match up to a specified tolerance.

If no such selected data set is found in the quantity Aus, then nothing is to be investigated Print on mail. If a selected data record with matching Nl feature values is found, the data record additionally determines what is to be affixed to the mailpiece. The arithmetic unit 4 evaluates the found data record and generates printer commands Dru. These printer commands Dru are transmitted to the printer 3. The printer 3 imprints the mail piece with the note or generates a label which is attached to the mailpiece.

In the example of FIG. 2, the printer 3 applies this note to the mail item n as soon as the mail item n has reached the position which in FIG. 2 has the mail item n-1.

The mail items continue to pass through the second sorting system Anl-2. As soon as the mail item n has reached the second position Pos-2, the arithmetic unit 4 has completed the measurement and calculation of the remaining N2 feature values. On the basis of the total N = Nl + N2 feature values, a correction unit 5 of the second sorting system Anl-2 checks whether the selected data set which was found on the basis of the first Nl feature values actually originates from the mail item n or if an erroneous interpretation was present. If the Nl feature values led to a misinterpretation, then the mail item n was wrongly marked or given a false note. In this case, the correction unit 5 causes the mail item n to be discharged into a correction output tray Af-2.k. The mailpiece is then subjected to manual post-processing.

All other mail items, ie those which have not been discharged into the correction output tray Af-2.k, continue to pass through the second sorting system Anl-2. As soon as the mail item n has reached a third position Pos-3, the arithmetic unit 4 has completed the calculation of the sorting specifications. Depending on this calculation, the second sorting system Anl-2 discharges the mail item into one of its output compartments. In Fig. 2, the three output compartments Af-2.1, Af-2.2 and Af-2.3 are shown. The steps just described have been described for the second sorting system Anl-2. The further sorting system Anl-3 carries out the corresponding steps for the throughgoing mail items.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Claims

claims

1. A method for transporting and processing of multiple objects, wherein

at least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable characteristics are specified,

each article passes through a first processing plant (AnI-I) and then at least one second processing plant (Anl-2, Anl-3),

the first processing facility (AnI-I) for each item

- measures what value the edit attribute for the item takes,

- for each given feature measures what value this feature assumes for the item,

- Creates and stores a record for the item, the record

- the two measured characteristic values and

- the measured processing attribute value

includes,

the second processing facility (Anl-2, Anl-3) for each item

Again measures, for each given feature, what value that feature assumes for the item; using the two feature values measured upon remeasurement, determines the data record that the first processing unit (AnI-I) has generated and stored for that item, and - processed the object depending on the editing attribute value in the determined data record,

characterized in that

at least one record (off) generated for such an item to be subjected to a predetermined treatment by the second processing equipment (Anl-2, Anl-3) is selected;

the second processing facility (Anl-2, Anl-3) for each item

at a first point in time (pos. 1) measures the value which one of the two features assumes for the article,

At a subsequent second time (Pos-2) measures the value which the other characteristic assumes for the object,

- searches for a selected record with the feature value measured at the first time, and

- when it finds such a record, subjecting the subject to the prescribed treatment.

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the second processing facility (Anl-2, Anl-3), when it has found a selected data set having the feature value measured at the first time (Pos-1), starts the treatment of the subject matter before the second time point (Pos-2).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2,

characterized in that

the items pass through each processing unit (AnI-I, Anl-2, Anl-3) in one order,

determining in which order the objects pass through the first processing unit (AnI-I),

determining, using the ascertained sequence, a desired sequence in which the articles are to pass through the at least one second processing installation (Anl-2, Anl-3), and

the second processing equipment (Anl-2, Anl-3) uses the target order of the items in the search for a selected record with the measured at the first time item value.

4. The method according to claim 3,

characterized in that

from the target order of the items and the records

a set order of records is derived and used in the search.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that

the second processing equipment (Anl-2, Anl-3) for each passing article

- ever an image (fig) of the object produced and

- measures both features by evaluating the image (fig.) and is used as the respective time of measurement of the feature value of that time,

where the respective evaluation is completed.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that

the second processing facility (Anl-2, Anl-3) for at least one record found using the first feature value,

Checks whether the value that the other feature takes on the object in the measurement at the second time,

matches the value of the other feature included in the found record, and

If the item is not in conformity with the item which it has subjected to the prescribed treatment on the basis of the characteristic value measured at the time and the finding of the dataset, performs a correction operation.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that

the predetermined treatment of an item by the second processing unit (Anl-2, Anl-3)

From the first feature value measured at the first time and / or

- from the machining attribute value measured at the first pass

depends on the object.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized in that

the selection of the at least one data set is performed using the processing attribute values measured on the first pass of the articles

processing an item from which a selected data set is obtained, found using the feature value measured at the first time, comprising the step of

the second processing installation (Anl-2, Anl-3) attaches at least one character to the object, depending on the value that the processing attribute for this object assumes.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

characterized in that

for at least one item

the processing attribute value which the first processing installation (AnI-I) measures is an identification of a destination to which the object is to be transported and with which the object is provided,

the at least one character which attaches the second processing installation to the object as a function of the measured processing attribute value,

another requirement for the transport of the object, in particular another destination, is.

10. An apparatus for transporting and processing of multiple objects, wherein the device

a first processing plant (AnI-I),

- A second processing facility (Anl-2, Anl-3) and

a database (DB) connected to both processing plants (AnI-I, Anl-2, Anl-3)

includes,

the first processing facility (AnI-I) is designed for each item

to measure the value that a given processing attribute for the item assumes,

to measure two values assuming two given characteristics for the object, and

to generate a data record for the object and store it in the database (DB),

where the record

- the two measured characteristic values and

- the measured processing attribute value

includes,

the second processing equipment (Anl-2, Anl-3) is designed for each item

to measure two values assuming the two characteristics for the object,

to determine the data record which the first processing installation (AnI-I) has generated and stored for this object using the two characteristic values measured during the renewed measurement, and

- edit the item depending on the edit attribute value in this record, characterized in that

the device is configured to select at least one record (Aus) generated for such an item to be subjected to a predetermined treatment by the second processing unit (Anl-2, Anl-3),

the second processing equipment (Anl-2, Anl-3) is configured for each item

- at a first point in time (Pos-1), to measure the value that one of the two characteristics assumes for the article,

To measure, at a subsequent second time (Pos-2), the value that the other feature assumes for the item,

To search for a selected data set with the feature value measured at the first time (Pos-1), and

- if it finds such a record, subjecting the subject to the prescribed treatment.