EP2077531A1 - Frankiersystem mit integriertem Bildsensor - Google Patents

Frankiersystem mit integriertem Bildsensor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2077531A1
EP2077531A1 EP08173105A EP08173105A EP2077531A1 EP 2077531 A1 EP2077531 A1 EP 2077531A1 EP 08173105 A EP08173105 A EP 08173105A EP 08173105 A EP08173105 A EP 08173105A EP 2077531 A1 EP2077531 A1 EP 2077531A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
axis
support
sensor
mail
franking
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08173105A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Audeon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP2077531A1 publication Critical patent/EP2077531A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00709—Scanning mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a postage system of which one of the modules constituting it, such as the mail item feeding module (feeder), the weighing module of mail items (postal scale), the print module of these mail items (franking machine itself), the folding and inserting module (folder / inserter) or any other independent module, includes a integrated images.
  • the modules constituting it such as the mail item feeding module (feeder), the weighing module of mail items (postal scale), the print module of these mail items (franking machine itself), the folding and inserting module (folder / inserter) or any other independent module, includes a integrated images.
  • CIS Contact Image Sensor
  • the upper face of the mail items is not always flat, differences in thickness due to the contents of the mail piece or defects in shape due to conveying through the system can alter the quality of the digitization .
  • the digitized area is relatively large, typically greater than 30 cm. Indeed, depending on the format of the mail item, the position of the address of the recipient is different and it is desirable to be able to scan not only this destination address but also the other visible information on the mail item (amount postage, address of the sender, etc.).
  • This device gives overall satisfaction particularly for low or medium franking rates.
  • it suffers from certain disadvantages coming mainly from the amplitude of the displacement of the sensor, which can then be a few tens of mm. Indeed, this sensor must move vertically by a value equal to the thickness of the mail piece (which can vary from 0.2 mm to more than 20 mm). But if the rates Postage and therefore scanning are important - they can go up to 5 articles per second - a rapid vertical displacement of the sensor causes vibrations which, besides being unfavorable to a good quality of digitization, can damage it. In addition, at high speed, when passing a mail item of large thickness (more than 15 mm) followed by a smaller thickness (a few mm), the sensor does not have time to return to its rest position to scan the second mail item.
  • the present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by installing a so-called CIS sensor in a franking system that allows a correct scanning of the entire surface of the mail items, regardless of the format (business card format up to 'in the largest format) and the thickness of this mail item.
  • An object of the invention is to allow this sensor to adapt to displacements and surface defects of the mail article, while allowing a digitization of sufficient quality to be able to use a character recognition software analyzing the images. digitized.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to control the distance between the sensor and the article of pledge of a good quality of digitization.
  • Another object of the invention is also to propose a feeding device which does not require a redefinition of its general architecture.
  • the senor can move both vertically and rotationally along its longitudinal and transverse axes, which allows it to adapt to all thicknesses of mail items and to automatically scan mail items during their displacement.
  • said movable fixing means comprises two suspension arms articulated at one end on a common axis integral with said structural part and at another end on a pivot axis fixed to said support, said pivoting about said axis transversal being provided by a set of connecting said first end.
  • said movable fixing means comprises a suspension arm articulated at one end on a common axis integral with said structural part and at another end on a ball joint secured to said support, so as to allow through said ball joint said pivoting both around said transverse axis and about said longitudinal axis, stops being further provided to prevent rotation during said vertical movement of said support.
  • it further comprises a damping device for damping said vertical displacement of said support.
  • Said damping device may be constituted by a single spring.
  • the said contact image sensor is formed of an integrated module comprising adjacent semiconductor detection cells, a collimation optics and a lighting system.
  • the scanning device can be mounted in an independent subset of the franking system or in one of the following subsystems of the franking system: feeder, postal scale, franking machine, folder / inserter .
  • the invention also relates to any element of a postage system comprising such a digitizing device and wherein said mail items are applied against said digitizing system by a pressing member arranged in the right of said digitizing system.
  • Said pressure member is preferably mounted on springs or any other similar system for applying pressure on the mail piece.
  • the invention is based on the use of a qualified system of high reference in which the upper face of the mail piece, that is to say the face that is desired digitized, is always located in the same position that is the thickness of this mail item and therefore always goes to the same place in the system.
  • the so-called CIS sensor is fixed on a mobile support which follows the deformations and displacements of the upper face of the mailpiece.
  • the sensor is thus not arranged in a fixed position because the conveyance of mail items in the machine is not perfect, the upper face of these mail items is not always rigorously flat. It is therefore necessary to allow the sensor to move and rotate while keeping a small fixed distance between the sensor and the upper face of the mailpiece that is to be digitized because the depth of field of such a sensor is limited.
  • the figure 1 illustrates a franking system of mail items having, as is known and arranged upstream downstream in the direction of advancement of mail items 10: a module 12 for supplying mail items intended to receive a mail item; stack of mail items typically in bulk (ie of different sizes and weights) each having a destination address 10A and, in the illustrated example, an identifier 10B relating to a value added postal service; possibly a module 14 for selection and transport one by one of these mail items when the power module does not directly perform this individual selection; preferably a dynamic weighing module 16 for determining the weight and possibly the dimensions of each selected mailpiece and a printing module 18 for printing a postal imprint on each of the mail items thus selected one by one and weighed.
  • the printing module is preferably, as is also known, connected to a server (not shown) of a dealer of this franking system itself connected to a server of a postal administration or a carrier private sector providing mail delivery (not shown).
  • the franking system further comprises an independent optical reading module 20 comprising a sensor 20A advantageously linear type called "contact", arranged upstream of the dynamic weighing module (but a provision other is also possible), to acquire a digital image of the mail article 10 and extract at least the identifier 10B relating to the value-added service desired for this mail item and the address of the recipient 10A worn on the mail item.
  • this image sensor is associated with barcode recognition and OCR recognition software.
  • the printing module furthermore comprises an improved user interface 18A with a keyboard allowing the display on a screen 18B of all or part of the image of the article of mail thus digitized and, if necessary, the correction of the postal data. extracted from this image.
  • the keyboard can be a physical keyboard interacting with a virtual keyboard screen 18B which is then advantageously tactile type or be replaced purely and simply by this touch screen.
  • the printing module may also include storage means (not shown) of the database type for storing the image of the envelope thus digitized.
  • the figure 2 shows, in a first embodiment, a detail of the optical reading module 20 and in particular transport rollers formed for example of two adjacent sets of superimposed front transport rollers 22A, 22B and rear 24A, 24B for conveying mail items through the module.
  • the lower rollers 22A, 24A of these two assemblies are mounted idle and movable vertically about axes of rotation 22C, 24C to adapt to the different thicknesses of the mail items and the upper rollers 22B, 24B are motorized and synchronously actuated by various known means of control and control necessary for their operation and that it is therefore unnecessary to describe in more detail.
  • a movable optical reading assembly 26 comprising the sensor 20A and allowing in connection with a processing means 28 scanning and automatic recognition of information carried by these mail items.
  • This set will be mobile to follow the upper surface of the mail item that is not uniform and thus ensure by its movement and its privileged position in the system, an optimal scanning quality regardless of the thickness of mail items , especially in the presence of thick envelopes.
  • the triggering of the digitization and the processing of the data by the processing means 28 can be advantageously synchronized from a detector (not shown) of a front of each of the mail items. This digitization can also be carried out continuously, the synchronization then taking place by a detection of change of gray level or change of color appearing systematically when moving from one envelope to another.
  • FIG. 3 shows more precisely the movable optical reading assembly 26 comprising the sensor 20A mounted in a support 30 in the form of a bridge, having a longitudinal axis (Y axis) and a transverse axis (X axis) and having at the base of its two walls longitudinal 32, 34 respectively an upstream deflector 32A and a downstream baffle 34A.
  • the sensor is fixed to the support for example by two screws 36A, 36B each passing through two lateral flanges 38A, 38B themselves fixed by screws 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D on the upper wall 42 of the support 30.
  • the lower surface of the sensor is maintained in alignment with the baffles to provide plane contact with the upper surface of the mailpieces.
  • the upstream deflector has an inclined leading edge 32A to allow a progressive support of the mail item on the support and the downstream baffle has a heel 34A which maintains a desired distance between the mail item and the mailpiece. sensor.
  • the sensor / deflector assembly is supported by two suspension arms 44A, 44B each articulated at a first end on an individual pivot axis 46A, 46B mounted between two lugs 48A, 48B; 50A, 50B extending from the upstream longitudinal wall 32 of the support and at a second end on a common hinge pin 54 integral with the module frame.
  • the senor can adapt to the shape of the mail piece (and in particular a variable thickness according to its width) as shown by the two positions of the figure 4 , one having been rotated about the X axis about 10 ° relative to the other, which is particularly advantageous when one wants to scan a document of great width.
  • the movable support can be linked to the module frame by any other mechanical connection that the two suspension arms described above subject to leaving a degree of freedom of vertical movement.
  • a device comprising simply two springs (or two damping devices) suspended from the frame and retaining the upper wall of the support is also perfectly suitable.
  • the sensor is advantageously a linear-type contact image sensor (CIS) the length of which is intended to scan at least one width of a mail item covering the postal fingerprint and the destination address, whatever the format of this mail article.
  • This linear image sensor is typically an integrated module having adjacent CCD or CMOS semiconductor detection cells, a collimating optics, and a lighting system that when activated illuminates the surface on which the sensor is positioned. and delivers back to each of the sensor cells a signal proportional to the light reflected from the surface of the mailpiece.
  • FIGS. 5A to 5C show the moving optical reading unit in three successive advancement positions of a mail article (the visual effects are deliberately exaggerated to facilitate comprehension).
  • the mobile set of optical reading 26 is at rest, the sensor then passing through the transport path of the mail items (note that this crossing can be advantageously limited by the addition of a stop).
  • the mail item advanced in this transport path came into contact with the leading edge of the upstream baffle that it raised slightly to take the illustrated position.
  • the mail piece has further moved downstream and has engaged the front transport rollers 22A, 22B.
  • the sensor 20A has been constantly in contact with it, which has enabled it to acquire line by line an image of the surface of the mail item. This acquisition is performed from a start signal delivered by the detector of the front of the mail article or by an automatic recognition and under the control of the processing means 28.
  • the signals collected by this processing means may be analog or digital depending on the nature of the sensor and will therefore be digitized and standardized if necessary at a programmable circuit (for example an FPGA) before being stored in a data RAM.
  • a programmable circuit for example an FPGA
  • a digital processing of this image at the level of a microprocessor of the module will then, depending on the application implemented and available in a program ROM, an interpretation of this image, that is to say an OCR recognition by example of the recipient address and, when present on the mail item, a barcode recognition.
  • the recognition of these address or code data printed on the mail items will, as is known, from these data and possibly postal data entered. by the operator, the creation of a database of addresses and tracking of mail items.
  • the figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the mobile optical reading assembly 26 in which a device for applying to the sensor a force in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the mail article, is added to both promote the sensor support on the mail item and also to ensure that the sensor returns quickly enough to the scanning position when passing mail items at a high rate. Without this device, the sensor could, when passing a mail item, be projected upward, and not have enough time to return to position before the passage of the next mail article. More particularly, such a device is formed by a damping device 60 or any other similar system responsible for pressing the upper face of the support.
  • the senor and its movable support may advantageously be coupled to a pressing member 62 arranged at the sensor's right under the transport path of the mailpieces and which pushes the mailpiece at its lower face, in order to flatten its upper part against the sensor.
  • This pressing member makes it possible to ensure that the article of mail will be in contact uniformly at the level of the sensor, thus avoiding the formation of waves on the surface of the mailpiece. It can be mounted on springs or any other similar system to apply pressure on the mail piece.
  • the damping system mounted on the sensor and the springs located on the presser allow to apply pressure on both sides of the mail piece. Careful adjustment is necessary in order to find a preferential position that allows for optimal quality scanning. Too much pressure low will not sufficiently squeeze the mail item and the quality of the scan will be degraded. Pressures too strong will cause a slowing of the mail item, or even its blocking, and thus a scan that will also be of poor quality.
  • the inventor has found that the scanning is optimal for a force of the pressing member equal to twice the force applied on the support by the damping system.
  • the pressure member can also provide the aforementioned abutment function of the sensor in its rest position.
  • the figure 7 illustrates in perspective and in section another exemplary embodiment of the mobile optical reading assembly 26.
  • its CIS sensor 20A mounted in the bridge-shaped support with its upper wall 42 and its two longitudinal walls 32, 34, to the base of which are arranged the upstream deflectors 32A and downstream 34A.
  • the fixing and pivoting of the support are provided by a ball joint 64 fixed to the end of a single suspension arm 44, so as to allow in addition to the vertical displacement along the Z axis, the rotations about the X and Y axes.
  • the rotation about the Z axis is prohibited by two stops 66 disposed at both ends of the longitudinal wall 34 and intended to come into contact with a structural part of the machine.
  • this configuration with a ball joint can also be implemented with the two suspension arms 44A, 44B (the two ball joints (one per arm) then advantageously replacing the existing clearance at the attachment of these two arms with the frame) .
  • the mobile optical reading assembly is mounted in an independent module, it is of course obvious, that because of its particular compactness, it can be arranged in each of the modules of the franking system, that is to say both in its module 14 for selecting mail items, and in its module 16 for weighing mail items, in its module 18 for printing these mail items or in a folding and insertion module when it exists.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
EP08173105A 2008-01-04 2008-12-30 Frankiersystem mit integriertem Bildsensor Withdrawn EP2077531A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0850043A FR2926180A1 (fr) 2008-01-04 2008-01-04 Systeme d'affranchissement a capteur d'images integre.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2077531A1 true EP2077531A1 (de) 2009-07-08

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EP08173105A Withdrawn EP2077531A1 (de) 2008-01-04 2008-12-30 Frankiersystem mit integriertem Bildsensor

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US (1) US20090177312A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2077531A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2926180A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2920567B1 (fr) * 2007-08-31 2009-12-18 Neopost Tech Dispositif d'alimentation en articles de courrier a capteur d'images integre
GB2470925A (en) * 2009-06-09 2010-12-15 Neopost Technologies Automatically Adjusting Scanner Carrier Apparatus

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3924757A1 (de) * 1988-07-27 1990-02-08 Ricoh Kk Dokumentleseeinrichtung
US5125047A (en) * 1989-10-20 1992-06-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Original-reading device with a movable reading unit
US5171980A (en) * 1991-08-01 1992-12-15 Pitney Bowes Inc. Self adjusting scanner apparatus maintaining scan distance
DE19654749A1 (de) * 1995-12-31 1997-07-03 Daewoo Telecom Ltd Kontaktbildsensor-Baugruppe zur Verwendung in einem Telefax-Gerät
US20030231360A1 (en) * 2002-05-31 2003-12-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Contact image sensor fixing device
EP1467553A2 (de) * 2003-04-07 2004-10-13 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Dokumentabtastvorrichtung mit Weissreferenz

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3905952A1 (de) * 1989-02-25 1990-08-30 Kugelfischer G Schaefer & Co Mehrkoordinatenmesstaster
JPH07256214A (ja) * 1994-03-22 1995-10-09 Toshiba Corp 郵便物の宛名読取装置および郵便物の宛名領域判別装置および郵便物の宛名印刷装置
FR2830649B1 (fr) * 2001-10-05 2004-01-23 Neopost Ind Machine a affranchir munie d'un dispostif de controle de conformite de l'empreinte postale
TW536081U (en) * 2001-10-22 2003-06-01 Creative Sensor Inc Assembling structure of contact-type image sensor
JP4397632B2 (ja) * 2003-06-30 2010-01-13 ブラザー工業株式会社 原稿搬送装置
US7504651B2 (en) * 2006-08-21 2009-03-17 Carestream Health, Inc. Sheet scanning apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3924757A1 (de) * 1988-07-27 1990-02-08 Ricoh Kk Dokumentleseeinrichtung
US5125047A (en) * 1989-10-20 1992-06-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Original-reading device with a movable reading unit
US5171980A (en) * 1991-08-01 1992-12-15 Pitney Bowes Inc. Self adjusting scanner apparatus maintaining scan distance
DE19654749A1 (de) * 1995-12-31 1997-07-03 Daewoo Telecom Ltd Kontaktbildsensor-Baugruppe zur Verwendung in einem Telefax-Gerät
US20030231360A1 (en) * 2002-05-31 2003-12-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Contact image sensor fixing device
EP1467553A2 (de) * 2003-04-07 2004-10-13 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Dokumentabtastvorrichtung mit Weissreferenz

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Publication number Publication date
US20090177312A1 (en) 2009-07-09
FR2926180A1 (fr) 2009-07-10

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