EP0462256B1 - Process for distributing packets or the like - Google Patents

Process for distributing packets or the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0462256B1
EP0462256B1 EP91902168A EP91902168A EP0462256B1 EP 0462256 B1 EP0462256 B1 EP 0462256B1 EP 91902168 A EP91902168 A EP 91902168A EP 91902168 A EP91902168 A EP 91902168A EP 0462256 B1 EP0462256 B1 EP 0462256B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
address information
images
scanning
surface portions
parcels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP91902168A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0462256A1 (en
Inventor
Siegmar Malow
Michael Pausinger
Albert Glade
Hubert Gitschier
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Siemens AG
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Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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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
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/342—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
    • B07C5/3422—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour using video scanning devices, e.g. TV-cameras
    • 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
    • B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
    • B07C3/14—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination using light-responsive detecting means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/939—Video scanning

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for distributing packets or the like. corresponding to signs applied to their surface.
  • a sorting system for mail parcels and the like with an inlet conveyor and a sorting station is already known from DE-AS 20 55 837.
  • the parcels are brought to the sorting place in a disordered manner according to this document, there they are visually checked by operators and, depending on the result of the check, distributed in a suitable manner, i.e. handed over to appropriate transport facilities.
  • Carrying out the visual inspection in this known sorting system requires that the respective package is manually turned and rotated until the surface with the applied address has been found. For further distribution, the address must then be read by the operators and the zip code or delivery area determined for each package.
  • Disadvantages of this sorting system are, in particular, the multiple, time-consuming, manual turning and turning of the parcels until the address can be read, as well as the cumbersome further processing of the address information obtained.
  • the disadvantage of a system with automatic turning and rotating of the packages for positioning the address is the high design and control effort required for this.
  • the disadvantage here is that only two of the six partial surfaces of the packets are examined, so that movement or positioning of the packets is necessary in the case of a completely disordered stream of packets.
  • the package surface is only scanned with a predetermined image resolution, irrespective of whether address information is on the respective scanned surface or not.
  • EP 0281007 and 0298769 Devices for distinguishing between printed and handwritten address information are known from EP 0281007 and 0298769, in which a partial surface of a program is selected for fine scanning. However, with these devices, only two surfaces of the goods to be transported can be scanned.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve the prior art, in particular the specification of a method and a device for distributing packets or the like, in which the address information is largely automatically recorded and the packets only little when the address information is obtained must be positioned or moved, and which enables easier further processing of the obtained address information.
  • the solution of the task according to the invention makes it possible to record address information from previously separated packets without these packets having to be specially positioned for this purpose. If there is an area on the image of a partial surface of a package that contains address information, this surface is further evaluated. This can be done by obtaining an image of higher resolution from a corresponding partial area of the relevant surface (recording field) and feeding it to an automatic character recognition device and / or a video coding device, or - if the resolution of the image mentioned is high enough - feeding it to the devices mentioned becomes.
  • the recognized addresses are given a distribution code for further distribution and sorting, e.g. a zip code assigned that controls the subsequent distribution of the packets.
  • Figure 1 shows schematically a device for determining the Area containing address information and for scanning the address on a packet.
  • the device according to FIG. 1 makes it possible to obtain address information from characters applied to the package surface without the packages having to be positioned or moved after they have been separated and aligned beforehand.
  • the separation of the packages from the package stream and the alignment along an edge, so that a defined alignment with respect to the transport direction is achieved, can be carried out by suitable mechanical components, such as e.g. Vibrating belts, combinations of conveyor belts with different speeds and the discharge over edges.
  • suitable mechanical components such as e.g. Vibrating belts, combinations of conveyor belts with different speeds and the discharge over edges.
  • the parcels are preferably aligned along an edge parallel to the transport direction.
  • a package 1 is moved along a conveyor line 2, a gap 3 being provided in the conveyor line which is dimensioned so small that the transport of the package over it is not impaired.
  • the package is scanned from six spatial directions by the cameras 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60, the camera 50 preferably being designed as a line camera which scans the downward-facing partial surface of the package, while the remaining five cameras which as standard area scan cameras, scan the exposed five sides of the package.
  • the images recorded by the cameras are simultaneously displayed on a monitor 65 with six partial image areas.
  • An operator can evaluate the six images of a package at the same time, ie the position of the address area identify and mark on one of the sub-monitors.
  • the image can also be displayed successively on a simple monitor.
  • solution 1 has the advantage that the operator only works on the screen and not on an additional surface and does not have to use any instrument, but suffers from the disadvantage of a relatively imprecise positioning of the address field.
  • solutions 2 and 3 offer the possibility of finer positioning.
  • the section of the packet surface is determined by the recording field, from which an image of fine lateral resolution is obtained, which is evaluated for the character recognition.
  • Cameras 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 are provided for this purpose, which also allow the entire package to be captured without it having to be positioned or moved.
  • the recording windows of these cameras can be positioned as desired within the respective surface of the package by means of optomechanics, the resolution of these cameras being selected to be suitable for automatic font recognition.
  • the package is transported by the conveyor into the area of fine scanning.
  • the rough scanning can be performed by the Slot 3 used line scan camera to scan the underside of the package so that it detects the entire width of the package at a resolution sufficient for font recognition.
  • the compressed image of the camera can thus be used to evaluate the coarse scan, while a section of this image in full resolution can be used for automatic font recognition. This enables the saving of a camera for fine scanning.
  • a further slit and an additional camera are provided for the fine scanning of the underside of the package.
  • the position of the address area determined from the coarse scanning controls the selection of one of the six cameras and the positioning of its recording window.
  • the evaluation of the six images of the coarse scanning is carried out manually in the embodiment of the device shown above, in a further embodiment this evaluation can also take place automatically. All that is required for this is to examine all six images of the coarse scanning for areas which, in a selection of features, match the model of an address label or an address area on a package.
  • Features of this type are, for example, the color contrast of a surface to the environment, gray value contrast of a surface to the environment, shape of this surface, type and number of blackening areas within the surface, position in relation to other striking objects and in relation to the contour of the package.
  • the one from the images of the coarse scanning can be selected automatically that most likely has an address area and then a fine scanning of this area can be carried out.
  • the images can already be fed to an automatic character recognition device; a fine scan takes place then only if the images of the coarse scan are rejected by the character recognition.
  • the evaluation of the images of the fine scan can, in addition or as an alternative to the above-mentioned character recognition device, be carried out by one or more video coding devices. This is particularly advantageous when there is a mixed volume of packets with differently readable addresses, so that rejected (non-machine-readable) addresses can be supplied with corrective coding.
  • a distribution code is assigned by known methods, which is also applied to the packets and which controls the further distribution in sorting devices (not shown here).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Image Processing (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
  • Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
  • Character Discrimination (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Battery Electrode And Active Subsutance (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Sheet Steel (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
  • Stacking Of Articles And Auxiliary Devices (AREA)
  • Character Input (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP90/02234 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 23, 1991 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 23, 1991 PCT Filed Dec. 19, 1990 PCT Pub. No. WO91/09688 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 11, 1991.In a method of distributing packages according to addresses, headings or the like applied to their surfaces by means of a separating and conveying device, it is provided that along a conveying path all surface portions of each previously separated package are scanned optically, for each package images are obtained from the surface portions of the package and, for further evaluation, the images are displayed simultaneously or approximately simultaneously. For each package, one or a plurality of the images are selected, and each selected image is assigned a sorting information for the distribution of the package corresponding to that image.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Verteilen von Paketen o.ä. entsprechend von auf ihrer Oberfläche aufgebrachten Zeichen.The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for distributing packets or the like. corresponding to signs applied to their surface.

Bereits bekannt aus der DE-AS 20 55 837 ist eine Sortieranlage für Postpakete und dergleichen mit einem Zulaufförderer und einem Sortierplatz. ZUr Sortierung und Verteilung der Postpakete nach verschiedenen Adreß-Angaben werden nach dieser Druckschrift die Pakete ungeordnet dem Sortierplatz zugeführt, dort von Bedienkräften visuell geprüft und je nach Ergebnis der Prüfung in geeigneter Weise verteilt, d.h. an entsprechende Transporteinrichtungen übergeben. Die Durchführung der visuellen Prüfung in dieser bekannten Sortieranlage erfordert, daß das jeweilige Paket manuell solange gewendet und gedreht wird, bis die Oberfläche mit der aufgebrachten Adresse gefunden ist. Für die weitere Verteilung muß anschließend die Adresse von den Bedienkräften gelesen und für jedes Paket die Postleitzahl bzw. der Zustellbezirk ermittelt werden.A sorting system for mail parcels and the like with an inlet conveyor and a sorting station is already known from DE-AS 20 55 837. For the sorting and distribution of the postal parcels according to different address details, the parcels are brought to the sorting place in a disordered manner according to this document, there they are visually checked by operators and, depending on the result of the check, distributed in a suitable manner, i.e. handed over to appropriate transport facilities. Carrying out the visual inspection in this known sorting system requires that the respective package is manually turned and rotated until the surface with the applied address has been found. For further distribution, the address must then be read by the operators and the zip code or delivery area determined for each package.

Nachteile dieser Sortieranlage sind insbesondere das im Durchschnitt erforderliche mehrfache zeitaufwendige manuelle Wenden und Drehen der PAkete bis die Adresse gelesen werden kann, sowie eine umständliche Weiterverarbeitung der gewonnenen Adreß-Information. Nachteil einer Anlage mit automatischem Wenden und Drehen der Pakete zum Positionieren der Adresse ist der hierfür erforderliche hohe konstruktive und Steuerungsaufwand.Disadvantages of this sorting system are, in particular, the multiple, time-consuming, manual turning and turning of the parcels until the address can be read, as well as the cumbersome further processing of the address information obtained. The disadvantage of a system with automatic turning and rotating of the packages for positioning the address is the high design and control effort required for this.

Bereits bekannt ist aus der US-PS 4,776,464 ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Erkennen von Tags, die an Gepäckstücken befestigt sind, wobei von jedem Gepäckstück Bilder von den Paketteiloberflächen gewonnen und zur weiteren Auswertung eine gleichzeitige Darstellung der Bilder erfolgt. Dies setzt voraus, daß speziell markierte Tags eingesetzt werden. Darüberhinaus erfolgt keine Abtastung der Gesamtheit aller Teiloberflächen der Gepäckstücke, so daß im allgemeinen eine Bewegung bzw. Positionierung der Transportgegenstände erforderlich ist. Weiterhin ist aus der US-PS 3,868,478 bekannt, Pakete von einer oberhalb und einer unterhalb eines Transportweges angeordneten Videokamera aufzunehmen und die gewonnenen Bilder gleichzeitig darzustellen um auch die Adreß-Information in einem Strom nicht orientierter oder teilweise orientierter Pakete betrachten zu können. Hierbei besteht der Nachteil, daß nur zwei der sechs Teiloberflächen der Pakete untersucht werden, so daß eine Bewegung oder Positionierung der Pakete bei einem gänzlich ungeordneten Strom von Paketen erforderlich ist. Darüberhinaus erfolgt nach dem insoweit bekannten Stand der Technik nur eine Abtastung der Paketoberfläche mit einer vorgegebenen Bildauflösung, unabhängig davon, ob sich auf der jeweils abgetasteten Oberfläche Adreß-Information befindet oder nicht.From US Pat. No. 4,776,464 it is already known a method and a device for recognizing tags which are attached to items of luggage, images of each item of luggage being obtained from the surfaces of the package parts and simultaneous display of the images for further evaluation. This sets ahead that specially marked tags are used. In addition, all of the partial surfaces of the items of luggage are not scanned, so that movement or positioning of the items to be transported is generally required. Furthermore, it is known from US Pat. No. 3,868,478 to record packets from a video camera arranged above and below a transport path and to display the images obtained at the same time in order to also be able to view the address information in a stream of unoriented or partially oriented packets. The disadvantage here is that only two of the six partial surfaces of the packets are examined, so that movement or positioning of the packets is necessary in the case of a completely disordered stream of packets. In addition, according to the state of the art known so far, the package surface is only scanned with a predetermined image resolution, irrespective of whether address information is on the respective scanned surface or not.

Aus den EP 0281007 und 0298769 sind Vorrichtungen zur Unterscheidung von gedruckter und handgeschriebener Adreß-Information bekannt, bei denen eine Auswahl einer Teiloberfläche einer Sendung zur Feinabtastung erfolgt. Jedoch können bei diesen Vorrichtungen lediglich zwei Oberflächen des Transportguts abgetastet werden.Devices for distinguishing between printed and handwritten address information are known from EP 0281007 and 0298769, in which a partial surface of a program is selected for fine scanning. However, with these devices, only two surfaces of the goods to be transported can be scanned.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die Verbesserung des Standes der Technik, insbesondere die Angabe eines Verfahrens und einer Vorrichtung zur Verteilung von Paketen o.ä., bei dem die Adreß-Information weitgehend automatisch aufgenommen und die Pakete bei der Gewinnung der Adreß-Information nur wenig positioniert oder bewegt werden müssen, und die eine einfachere Weiterverarbeitung der gewonnenen Adreß-Information ermöglicht.The object of the present invention is to improve the prior art, in particular the specification of a method and a device for distributing packets or the like, in which the address information is largely automatically recorded and the packets only little when the address information is obtained must be positioned or moved, and which enables easier further processing of the obtained address information.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die Merkmale der Ansprüche 1 und 8 gelöst. Ausgehend von dem bekannten Verfahren zum Verteilen von Paketen, bei dem jedes vereinzelte Paket entlang einer Förderstrecke optisch abgetastet wird, Bilder von Teiloberflächen der Pakete gewonnen werden darauf basierend der gelesenen Adreß-Information eine Sortierinformation für die Verteilung des Paketes zugeordnet wird, geht die Erfindung von der Idee aus, daß folgende Schritte ausgeführt werden: Es erfolgt eine optische Abtastung der Gesamtheit aller Teiloberflächen, wobei die Paketunterseite durch einen Spalt in der Förderstrecke abgetastet wird; es werden Bilder aller Teiloberflächen gewonnen; es wird für jedes Bild jeder Teiloberfläche ermittelt, ob es Adreß-Information enthält und wenn ein Bild Adreß-Information enthält; es erfolgt eine Auswahl der entsprechenden Teiloberfläche zur Feinabtastung eines Adreß-Information enthaltenen Bereichs zum Lesen der Adreß-Information.According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 8. Based on the known method for distributing packets, in which each If individual packages are optically scanned along a conveyor line, images of partial surfaces of the packages are obtained, and based on the read address information, sorting information for the distribution of the package is assigned, the invention is based on the idea that the following steps are carried out: optical scanning of the entirety of all partial surfaces, the underside of the package being scanned by a gap in the conveyor line; images of all partial surfaces are obtained; it is determined for each image of each partial surface whether it contains address information and if an image contains address information; a selection is made of the corresponding partial surface for fine scanning of an area containing address information for reading the address information.

Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung der Aufgabe ermöglicht es, Adreß-Information von vorher vereinzelten Paketen aufzunehmen, ohne daß diese Pakete hierzu besonders positioniert werden müssen. Wenn auf dem Bild einer Teiloberfläche eines Pakets ein Bereich enthalten ist, der Adreß-Information enthält, wird diese Oberfläche weiter ausgewertet. Dies kann dadurch geschehen, daß von einem entsprechenden Teilbereich der betreffenden Oberfläche (Aufnahmefeld) ein Bild höherer Auflösung gewonnen und einer automatischen Zeichenerkennungsvorrichtung und/oder einer Videocodiereinrichtung zugeführt wird, oder - falls die Auflösung des erwähnten Bildes hoch genug ist - dieses den erwähnten Einrichtungen zugeführt wird. Den erkannten Adressen wird für die weitere Verteilung und Sortierung ein Verteilcode, z.B. eine Postleitzahl, zugeordnet der die darauffolgende Verteilung der Pakete steuert. Weitere vorteilhafte Ausführungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen und der Beschreibung angegeben.The solution of the task according to the invention makes it possible to record address information from previously separated packets without these packets having to be specially positioned for this purpose. If there is an area on the image of a partial surface of a package that contains address information, this surface is further evaluated. This can be done by obtaining an image of higher resolution from a corresponding partial area of the relevant surface (recording field) and feeding it to an automatic character recognition device and / or a video coding device, or - if the resolution of the image mentioned is high enough - feeding it to the devices mentioned becomes. The recognized addresses are given a distribution code for further distribution and sorting, e.g. a zip code assigned that controls the subsequent distribution of the packets. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the description.

Im folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung genauer erläutert:The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing:

Figur 1 zeigt schematisch eine Vorrichtung zur Ermittlung des Adreß-Informationen enthaltenden Bereichs und zur Abtastung der Adresse auf einem Paket.Figure 1 shows schematically a device for determining the Area containing address information and for scanning the address on a packet.

Die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 ermöglicht es, aus auf der Paketoberfläche aufgebrachten Zeichen Adreß-Informationen zu gewinnen, ohne daß die Pakete, nachdem sie vorher vereinzelt und ausgerichtet worden sind, positioniert oder bewegt werden müssen.The device according to FIG. 1 makes it possible to obtain address information from characters applied to the package surface without the packages having to be positioned or moved after they have been separated and aligned beforehand.

Die Vereinzelung der Pakete aus dem Paketstrom und die Ausrichtung entlang einer Kante, so daß eine definierte Ausrichtung in Bezug auf die Transportrichtung erreicht wird, kann dabei durch geeignete mechanische Bauelemente erfolgen, wie z.B. Rüttelbänder, Kombinationen von Transportbändern mit unterschiedlichen Geschwindigkeiten und den Abwurf über Kanten. Vorzugsweise erfolgt die Ausrichtung der Pakete entlang einer Kante parallel zur Transportrichtung.The separation of the packages from the package stream and the alignment along an edge, so that a defined alignment with respect to the transport direction is achieved, can be carried out by suitable mechanical components, such as e.g. Vibrating belts, combinations of conveyor belts with different speeds and the discharge over edges. The parcels are preferably aligned along an edge parallel to the transport direction.

Bei der in Figur 1 illustrierten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung wird ein Paket 1 entlang einer Förderstrecke 2 bewegt, wobei ein Spalt 3 in der Förderstrecke vorgesehen ist, der so klein dimensioniert ist, daß der Transport des Paketes über ihn nicht beeinträchtigt wird. Die Abtastung des Paketes aus sechs Raumrichtungen erfolgt durch die Kameras 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 und 60, wobei die Kamera 50 vorzugsweise als Zeilenkamera ausgebildet ist, die die nach unten gerichtete Teiloberfläche des Paketes abtastet, während die verbleibenden fünf Kameras, die als Standardflächenkameras ausgeführt werden können, die offenliegenden fünf Seiten des Paketes abtasten.In the device according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, a package 1 is moved along a conveyor line 2, a gap 3 being provided in the conveyor line which is dimensioned so small that the transport of the package over it is not impaired. The package is scanned from six spatial directions by the cameras 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60, the camera 50 preferably being designed as a line camera which scans the downward-facing partial surface of the package, while the remaining five cameras which as standard area scan cameras, scan the exposed five sides of the package.

Eine gleichzeitige Darstellung der von den Kameras aufgenommenen Bilder erfolgt auf einem Monitor 65 mit sechs Teilbildbereichen. Eine Bedienkraft kann die sechs Bilder eines Paketes gleichzeitig auswerten, d.h. die Position des Adreß-Bereichs auf einem der Teilmonitore identifizieren und markieren. Bei Verwendung einer Bildspeichereinrichtung kann die Bilddarstellung auch sukzessive auf einem einfachen Monitor erfolgen.The images recorded by the cameras are simultaneously displayed on a monitor 65 with six partial image areas. An operator can evaluate the six images of a package at the same time, ie the position of the address area identify and mark on one of the sub-monitors. When using an image storage device, the image can also be displayed successively on a simple monitor.

Für die weitere Verarbeitung der Pakete ist folgendes zu berücksichtigen. Für die Bestimmung der Adreß-Position benötigt man nur Bilder geringer Auflösung, die dafür allerdings jeweils die gesamte Paketoberfläche abdecken müssen. Andererseits erfordert die automatische Erkennung von Adressen, die in Schriftzeichen in der Größe von Schreibmaschinenschriften vorliegen, eine Auflösung von ca. acht bis 10 Bildpunkten pro Millimeter. Die Größe der zu sortierenden Pakete von maximal ca. 600/600/1000 mm (B/H/L) würde daher Bilder mit einer Anzahl von 6000 x 10000 Bildpunkten erfordern, wollte man für die automatische Schrifterkennung das gleiche Bild verwenden, das für die Ermitttlung der Adreß-Position verwendet wurde. Abgesehen von Zeilenkameras, die wegen der Vibrationen der Pakete auf dem Transportweg nur sehr beschränkt eingesetzt werden können, stehen Bildaufnehmer dieser Größe zur Zeit zu einem vertretbaren Preis nicht zur Verfügung. Die Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 verwendet deshalb eine zweistufige Aufnahme von Bildern unterschiedlicher Auflösung, obwohl auch die einstufige Verarbeitung der Pakete bei Einsatz von Kameras geeigneter Auflösung möglich ist. Hierbei wird zunächst mit den Kameras 10 bis 60 ein Bild grober lateraler Auflösung (Grobabtastung), das das gesamte Paket erfaßt, gewonnen und zur Ermittlung der Position der Adresse ausgewertet, wie oben beschrieben. Die Auswertung kann erfolgen durch:

1.
Fingerzeig auf einem touch-screen,
2.
Lichtstift auf einem Bildschirm,
3.
Maus und Digitalisierungstablett oder ähnliche pointing device.
The following must be taken into account for the further processing of the packets. To determine the address position, only low-resolution images are required, which, however, must cover the entire package surface. On the other hand, the automatic recognition of addresses that are in characters the size of typewriter fonts requires a resolution of approximately eight to 10 pixels per millimeter. The size of the packages to be sorted of a maximum of approx. 600/600/1000 mm (W / H / L) would therefore require images with a number of 6000 x 10000 pixels if one wanted to use the same image for automatic font recognition as for the Determination of the address position was used. Apart from line scan cameras, which can only be used to a very limited extent due to the vibrations of the parcels on the transport route, image recorders of this size are currently not available at a reasonable price. The device according to FIG. 1 therefore uses a two-stage recording of images of different resolutions, although the one-stage processing of the packages is also possible when using cameras of suitable resolution. Here, an image of coarse lateral resolution (coarse scanning), which captures the entire packet, is first obtained with cameras 10 to 60 and evaluated to determine the position of the address, as described above. The evaluation can be done by:
1.
Pointing finger on a touch screen,
2nd
Light pen on a screen,
3rd
Mouse and digitizing tablet or similar pointing device.

Hierbei hat die Lösung 1. den Vorteil, daß der Bediener nur auf dem Bildschirm und nicht auf einer zusätzlichen Fläche arbeitet und keinerlei Instrument benutzen muß, leidet allerdings unter dem Nachteil einer relativ ungenauen Positionierung des Adreß-Feldes. Die Lösungen 2. und 3. bieten demgegenüber die Möglichkeit einer feineren Positionierung.Here, the solution 1. has the advantage that the operator only works on the screen and not on an additional surface and does not have to use any instrument, but suffers from the disadvantage of a relatively imprecise positioning of the address field. In contrast, solutions 2 and 3 offer the possibility of finer positioning.

Die Markierung der Adresse und Bestimmung des Aufnahmefeldes nach 2. und 3. kann in folgenden Modi erfolgen:

  • Markierung der Mitte des Aufnahmefeldes, wobei eine Rückmeldung durch eine Anzeige des ausgewählten Aufnahmefeldes vor einem Monitor möglich ist.
  • Markierung von zwei Ecken des Aufnahmefeldes, wobei das Aufnahmefeld variable Größe und Form haben kann.
  • Positionierung eines Symbols auf dem Anschriftenfeld, das in Größe in Form mit dem Aufnahmefeld übereinstimmt.
The marking of the address and determination of the recording field according to 2nd and 3rd can be done in the following modes:
  • Marking the center of the recording field, whereby feedback is possible by displaying the selected recording field in front of a monitor.
  • Marking of two corners of the recording field, whereby the recording field can have variable size and shape.
  • Positioning of a symbol on the address field, the size of which corresponds to the recording field.

Durch das Aufnahmefeld wird der Ausschnitt der Paketoberfläche bestimmt, von dem ein Bild feiner lateraler Auflösung gewonnen wird, das für die Schrifterkennung ausgewertet wird. Hierfür sind Kameras 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 vorgesehen, die auch hier eine Bildaufnahme des gesamten Pakets, ohne daß es positioniert oder bewegt werden müßte, ermöglichen. Die Aufnahmefenster dieser Kameras können mittels einer Optomechanik innerhalb der jeweiligen Oberfläche des Pakets beliebig positioniert werden, wobei die Auflösung dieser Kameras für die automatische Schrifterkennung geeignet gewählt ist.The section of the packet surface is determined by the recording field, from which an image of fine lateral resolution is obtained, which is evaluated for the character recognition. Cameras 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 are provided for this purpose, which also allow the entire package to be captured without it having to be positioned or moved. The recording windows of these cameras can be positioned as desired within the respective surface of the package by means of optomechanics, the resolution of these cameras being selected to be suitable for automatic font recognition.

Nach der Grobabtastung wird das Paket von der Fördereinrichtung in den Bereich der Feinabtastung transportiert. Bei der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 kann die zur Grobabtastung durch den Schlitz 3 verwendete Zeilenkamera zur Abtastung der Paketunterseite so ausgewählt werden, daß sie bei einer zur Schrifterkennung ausreichenden Auflösung die gesamte Breite des Pakets erfaßt. Damit kann das komprimierte Bild der Kamera zur Auswertung der Grobabtastung herangezogen werden, während ein Ausschnitt dieses Bildes in voller Auflösung zur automatischen Schrifterkennung genutzt werden. Dies ermöglicht die Einsparung einer Kamera für die Feinabtastung. In einer anderen, hier nicht dargestellten Ausführungsform der Erfindung, ist ein weiterer Spalt und eine zusätzliche Kamera für die Feinabtastung der Paketunterseite vorgesehen. In jedem Fall steuert die aus der Grobabtastung ermittelte Position des Adreß-Bereichs die Auswahl einer der sechs Kameras und die Positionierung ihres Aufnahmefensters.After the coarse scanning, the package is transported by the conveyor into the area of fine scanning. In the device according to FIG. 1, the rough scanning can be performed by the Slot 3 used line scan camera to scan the underside of the package so that it detects the entire width of the package at a resolution sufficient for font recognition. The compressed image of the camera can thus be used to evaluate the coarse scan, while a section of this image in full resolution can be used for automatic font recognition. This enables the saving of a camera for fine scanning. In another embodiment of the invention, not shown here, a further slit and an additional camera are provided for the fine scanning of the underside of the package. In any case, the position of the address area determined from the coarse scanning controls the selection of one of the six cameras and the positioning of its recording window.

Während in der oben dargestellten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung die Auswertung der sechs Bilder der Grobabtastung manuell erfolgt, kann in einer weiteren Ausführungsform diese Auswertung auch automatisch erfolgen. Hierzu ist lediglich erforderlich, alle sechs Bilder der Grobabtastung auf Gebiete zu untersuchen, die in einer Auswahl von Merkmalen mit dem Modell eines Adreß-Aufklebers bzw. eines Adreß-Bereichs auf einem Paket übereinstimmen. Merkmale dieser Art sind z.B. der Farbkontrast einer Fläche zur Umgebung, Grauwertkontrast einer Fläche zur Umgebung, Form dieser Fläche, Art und Anzahl der Schwärzungsgebiete innerhalb der Fläche, Lage im Bezug auf andere markante Objekte und im Bezug auf die Kontur des Paketes. Nach bekannten Verfahren der Bilderkennung kann aus den Bildern der Grobabtastung automatisch dasjenige ausgewählt werden, das mit höchster Wahrscheinlichkeit einen Adreß-Bereich aufweist und daraufhin eine Feinabtastung dieses Bereichs vorgenommen werden. In dieser ersten Stufe können die Bilder auch bereits einer automatischen Zeichenerkennungsvorrichtung zugeführt werden; eine Feinabtastung erfolgt dann nur, wenn die Bilder der Grobabtastung von der Zeichenerkennung zurückgewiesen werden. Die Auswertung der Bilder der Feinabtastung kann, zusätzlich oder alternativ zu der oben erwähnten Zeichenerkennungsvorrichtung, durch eine oder mehrere Videocodiereinrichtungen erfolgen. Dies ist insbesondere dann vorteilhaft, wenn ein gemischtes Aufkommen von Paketen mit unterschiedlich lesbaren Anschriften vorliegt, so daß zurückgewiesene (nicht-maschinenlesbare) Adressen einer korrigierenden Codierung zugeführt werden können.While the evaluation of the six images of the coarse scanning is carried out manually in the embodiment of the device shown above, in a further embodiment this evaluation can also take place automatically. All that is required for this is to examine all six images of the coarse scanning for areas which, in a selection of features, match the model of an address label or an address area on a package. Features of this type are, for example, the color contrast of a surface to the environment, gray value contrast of a surface to the environment, shape of this surface, type and number of blackening areas within the surface, position in relation to other striking objects and in relation to the contour of the package. According to known methods of image recognition, the one from the images of the coarse scanning can be selected automatically that most likely has an address area and then a fine scanning of this area can be carried out. In this first stage, the images can already be fed to an automatic character recognition device; a fine scan takes place then only if the images of the coarse scan are rejected by the character recognition. The evaluation of the images of the fine scan can, in addition or as an alternative to the above-mentioned character recognition device, be carried out by one or more video coding devices. This is particularly advantageous when there is a mixed volume of packets with differently readable addresses, so that rejected (non-machine-readable) addresses can be supplied with corrective coding.

Nach der Auswertung der Bilder der Feinabtastung, d.h. Erkennung der Adressen, erfolgt durch bekannte Verfahren eine Zuordnung eines Verteilcodes, der auch auf die Pakete aufgebracht wird und die die weitere Verteilung in hier nicht näher dargestellten Sortiereinrichtungen steuert.After evaluating the images of the fine scan, i.e. Recognition of the addresses, a distribution code is assigned by known methods, which is also applied to the packets and which controls the further distribution in sorting devices (not shown here).

Claims (13)

  1. Method of distributing parcels according to address information applied to their surface, wherein each singled parcel is optically scanned along a conveying path, images of surface portions of the parcels are obtained and based thereon a sorting information for the distribution of the parcel is allocated to the read address information, characterised thereby that the following steps are undertaken:
    - optical scanning of the totality of all surface portions, wherein the parcel underside is scanned through a gap in the conveying path and at least a surface portion is coarsely scanned,
    - obtaining of images of all surface portions,
    - then it is determined for the image of each surface portion whether it contains items of address information and
    - if an image containers address information, a selection of the corresponding surface portion is effected for the fine scanning of region, which contains address information, for reading of the address information.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby that stationary or moved images of the coarse scanning are used.
  3. Method according to claims 1 to 3, characterised thereby that the image of the finely scanned surface is fed to an automatic character recognition device.
  4. Method according to claim 3, characterised thereby that images rejected by the automatic character recognition device are supplied to one or more video coding devices for the input of correct address information.
  5. Method according to claims 1 to 4, characterised thereby that for ascertaining of the images containing address information a representation of the images of all surface portions is effected simultaneously or successively on one or more monitors.
  6. Method according to claim 5, characterised thereby that the selection is effected by means of a pointer on a touch screen, light pencil on a sensor screen or mouse or similar means.
  7. Method according to claims 1 to 6, characterised thereby that a code corresponding to the sorting information is applied to the parcel.
  8. Device for distributing parcels according to address information applied to their surface, comprising means for singling the parcels and for optical scanning along a conveying path, means for obtaining images of the scanned parcels and for identifying and reading address information represented in the images as well as for the allocation of sorting information for the distribution of the parcels to the address information, characterised thereby that following means are provided,
    - means for optical scanning of the totality of all surface portions, especially such for scanning through a gap in the conveying path as well as for coarse scanning of at least a surface portion,
    - means for obtaining images of all surface portions as well as
    - means for fine scanning of a region, which contains address information, of a surface portion and obtaining an image of this region of predetermined resolution.
  9. Device according to claim 8, characterised thereby that one or more monitors are provided for simultaneous representation of all surface portions.
  10. Device according to claim 8, characterised thereby that six cameras are provided for optical scanning of all surface portions.
  11. Device according to claim 8, characterised theeby that a line scanning camera of high resolution is provided for scanning the parcel underside.
  12. Device according to claims 8 to 11, characterised thereby that automatic character recognition means are provided for the allocation of distribution codes to the address, labels or the like.
  13. Device according to claims 8 to 12, characterised thereby that a number of video devices are provided for the allocation of distribution codes to the addresses, labels or the like.
EP91902168A 1989-12-23 1990-12-19 Process for distributing packets or the like Expired - Lifetime EP0462256B1 (en)

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DE3942932A DE3942932A1 (en) 1989-12-23 1989-12-23 METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING PACKAGES O. AE.
DE3942932 1989-12-23
PCT/EP1990/002234 WO1991009688A1 (en) 1989-12-23 1990-12-19 Process for distributing packets or the like

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US5311999A (en) 1994-05-17
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EP0462256A1 (en) 1991-12-27
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CA2045694A1 (en) 1991-06-24

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