JP2000317404A - Mail sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the elimination of mail containing metal matter to improve sorting efficiency and also to improve reliability. SOLUTION: In the case selection is made by a selector switch so that the detection results of a metal matter detection sensor 1 are made effective, when mail containing metal matter is continuously detected by the metal matter detection sensor 1, or when frequency of the detection of the mail containing metal matter is high, information for furthering the operation of the selector switch so that detection results information and the detection results are cancelled is indicated on a display panel. On the contrary, in the case selection is made so that the detection results of the sensor 1 are cancelled, in the case continuous detection is not made, or when frequency of non-detection is high, information for furthering the operation of the selector switch so that the detection results are made effective is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail handling device such as a mail sorting device, which detects a metal object such as a coin or a key when the number of mails is large. A mail sorting apparatus that improves the sorting efficiency by ignoring the results, and when the number of mails containing metal objects decreases, the results of the metal detector are made valid again to improve the reliability. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional mail sorting apparatus, when a mail containing metal objects such as coins and keys is conveyed, a jam occurs or the metal objects inside the mail jump out and fall. Could be Jams can damage mail or temporarily stop the equipment before it can be recovered, reducing the operating time of the equipment and reducing efficiency. In addition, the reliability of the device is reduced if the mail is damaged or the metal object inside jumps out and falls. Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, for example, JP-A-8-24350
There is a mail processing apparatus provided with a metal object detection means as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0-205. In the device of the above publication, a plurality of metal sensors for detecting a metal object inherent in the mail,
There are provided a pressing roller for pressing these metal sensors to facilitate detection, and a gate section for removing postal matter detected by the metal sensors from the transport path. As described above, the mail sorting apparatus provided with the metal object detecting means detects the presence or absence of the metal object in the mail near the separation section, and if the mail has the metal inside, the sorting gate. To remove the postal matter into the rejection bin. By this operation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam, shorten the time for stopping and restoring the apparatus due to the jam, and improve the operation rate of the apparatus. Further, it is possible to prevent the postal matter in which the metal object is present from being damaged or to prevent the metal object from jumping out and falling, and to improve the reliability of the apparatus.

[0003]

However, recently,
Many mail items are packaged with metal films, for example, enclosed with cosmetics, bath salt samples, and the like.
When these are sorted, these samples have low rigidity, so there is no problem with jams, breakage of mail, or pop-outs. It is detected and removed by the rejection bin. Such contents are often included in direct mail, which has a large distribution volume and is highly likely to be sorted at the same time, and thus may be continuously removed in the removal stacking box. These rejected mails have no special characteristics when viewed from the appearance of the mails, and the reasons for the rejection are unknown. It is sometimes misunderstood. Mail that has been rejected in large quantities without knowing the reason for rejection will be manually sorted by a clerk later, thus reducing the efficiency of the machine.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems, minimize the exclusion in the exclusion bin, and eliminate postal items having metallic contents which do not hinder transportation. An object of the present invention is to provide a mail sorting apparatus capable of sorting and collecting, improving sorting efficiency and improving reliability.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the mail sorting apparatus of the present invention has the following features. (1) A mail containing a metal object is continuously detected, and the detected mail is detected. In the case of exclusion in the exclusion stack, the detection result of the metal detection means is displayed on the information display means, and a display prompting the attendant to judge whether or not mechanical processing of the sealed letter is possible is performed. Further, information for prompting operation of the switching means to invalidate the detection result of the metal detection means is displayed. (2) When processing postcards and envelopes that do not contain metal objects, the information display means should be enabled with the metal detection means.
The information which prompts the attendant to operate the switching means is displayed. Further, when the frequency is high, the metal detection means is automatically switched to be effective. (3) When the mail is not processed, the presence / absence of a metal can be displayed on the information display by bringing the mail close to the metal object detecting means. Further, the second metal object detection means is arranged at a position other than on the transport path, and the presence of the metal object is detected by arbitrarily bringing the mail object close to the mail object. By the above operation, the elimination of the mail containing metal objects is minimized, and both the sorting efficiency and the reliability are improved.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a mail sorting / accumulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing exchange of signal data between the metal detector and the control unit, the display panel, and the operation panel. FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram of the operation panel and the display panel connected to the control unit in FIG. . In FIG. 6, when the attendant presses the operation start button 12 in the operation panel 10, the signal S10 is input to the control unit 32 as shown in FIG.
Then, the controller 32 controls the controller 8 of the transport motor 80.
By outputting the signal S80 to 0 ', the transport paths 60 to 63 shown in FIG. 1 start driving. Subsequently, when the attendant presses the supply start button 13 in the operation panel 10,
Similarly, the signal S10 is input to the control unit 32. Then, the controller 32 controls the controller 8 of the supply motor 81.
1 'to output the signal S81 to supply the motor 8
1 starts driving, and supplies mail to the transport path 60 one by one from a bundle 85 of mail placed on the hopper 3 in FIG. Conveyance path 6
The metal detector 1 arranged at the beginning of 0 determines the presence or absence of a metal object in the mail, and outputs the detection result S1 to the control unit 32 (see FIG. 3). As an operation principle of the metal detector, for example, an eddy current is applied to determine whether or not the detector is a metal.

There is a possibility that a mail containing a metal object may cause a jam on the transport path or the mail itself may be damaged. Therefore, when these mails pass through the gate timing sensor 53 of FIG. 1, the controller 32 starts the signal S53 from the gate timing sensor 53 as shown in FIG. The control signal S40 is output to the sorting gate 40 '.
Is switched to a reject box 20 for collecting mails that cannot be handled by the apparatus. In FIG. 1, a foreign substance and a hard object detector 4 arranged next to the metal detector 1 measure the hardness of the mail and output the hardness information to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 determines whether there is a possibility of causing a jam on the transport path due to the hardness being too hard or damaging the mail itself, and sending the mail determined not to be transported to the control signal as before. S40 is output, the distribution gate 40 is switched, and is excluded in the exclusion box 20. Note that, as an operation principle of the hard object detector 4, for example, a curve is formed in the conveyance path 60, and when the conveyed mail does not bend, it is determined that the hardness is too hard.

[0008] A thickness detector 5 disposed next to the hard object detector 4 measures the thickness of the postal matter, and outputs the measured thickness data to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 determines whether there is a possibility of causing a jam on the transport path because the thickness of the mail is too thick or damaging the mail itself. Similarly, sorting gate 40
Is switched to the exclusion box 20. The principle of operation of the thickness detector 5 is to measure the thickness dimension when no mail passes and the thickness dimension when a mail item passes, and compare the two to determine whether the limit is exceeded. Determine.

The reading section 31 shown in FIG. 1 reads information such as the address, address, and postal code of a postal matter determined to be transportable by the detectors 1, 4, and 5 and recognizes the read information. And performs address and postal code recognition processing. The double feed detector 6 determines whether or not mail items overlap. As an operation principle of the double feed detection, the entire length is measured to determine whether or not the length is equal to or more than one copy, or scanning is performed to detect that there is a step in the middle of the two sheets.
When it is determined that the postal matter overlaps, the distribution gate 41 is operated at the time when the postal matter passes the distribution gate timing sensor 54, and the postal matter is removed to the exclusion box 21 in which the double letter is accumulated. In FIG. 3, the detectors 4, 5, 6, and the distribution gate 41 other than the metal detector 1 are not described.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a sorting port of the mail sorting apparatus shown in FIG. Thus, a bar code corresponding to the information of the recognizing unit 33 is generated only for the normal mail that has not been eliminated by the sorting gate 41 in FIG. 1, and this bar code is printed on the surface of the mail by the printing device 35. You. Thereafter, the postal matter is conveyed to the step path conveying path 70, and is sorted to each step of the sorting section 51 arranged in a matrix. After the mail is sorted into each stage,
As shown in the figure, when the postal matter passes through the sorting gate timing sensor 55 arranged on the transport path 63,
The sorting is performed by operating the sorting gate 42 only when the sorting should be performed to the target sorting port 52. The postal matter whose transporting state has become defective in the course of transporting is removed to the rejection box 22 at the final position of the sorting section 51 in FIG. 1 without operating the sorting gate 42. In the case where the conveyance state is defective, for example, if the gap of the sorting gate 42 shown in FIG. 2 is too narrow, when two mails are continuously conveyed to the same sorting port, the subsequent mail The sheet is not sorted to the sorting port, and the conveyance state is poor.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where a mail containing metal objects is processed. During normal operation of the device, as shown in the display panel 11 of FIG. 6, the metal detector 1 has the metal detector changeover switch 14 turned on and the metal detector status indicator 15 turned on. At this time, the detection result of the metal detector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is valid. In this case, the clerk sets the mail 85 on the hopper 3 in FIG. 1, then presses the operation start button 12 in the operation panel 10 in FIG. 6 (step 100), and then presses the supply start button 13. Then (Step 10
1), the signal S10 is input to the control unit 32 shown in FIG. The control unit 32 supplies the mails one by one by outputting the signals S80 and S81 to the controllers 80 'and 81' of the transport motor 80 and the supply motor 81, respectively.

As described above, for example, when mail items enclosing cosmetics packed with a metal film and a sample of a bath agent are continuously supplied, the metal detector 1 is continuously supplied.
Is the number of times P1 is stored in the storage device 34 in advance.
If the number of times has exceeded the number of times (step 102), the supply of mail is stopped by outputting a signal S81 to the controller 81 'of the supply motor 81 shown in FIG. 3 (step 10).
3). That is, for example, when the number of times stored in advance is 20 times, the supply of the mail 85 to the hopper 3 shown in FIG. Is stopped. After that, the control unit 32 outputs a signal S11 to the display panel 11, and asks a staff member to confirm whether or not the postal matter 85 set in the hopper 3 can be transported. Information for urging the user to turn off the metal detector switch 14 is displayed (step 104). An example of this display content is shown in FIG.
Is shown in In other words, "We are continuously detecting mail containing metal objects. ], "Turn off the metal detection sensor switch if mail of the same type continues and does not interfere with transport." Is displayed.

According to the information, the attendant examines the postal matter set in the hopper 3 and judges that the postal matter which does not hinder the transportation is continuous because the rigidity of the metal object present therein is low and does not hinder the conveyance. 6 when the metal detector changeover switch 14 in the operation panel 10 is turned off (step 10).
5), as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 32 outputs the signal S10
Is detected, and the detection result S1 of the metal detector 1 for the mail supplied after this time is invalidated (step 10).
6). When invalid, the control unit 32 outputs a signal S11 to the display panel 11, and the metal detector status indicator 15
Turn off the light. Next, when the attendant presses the supply start button 13 (step 108), the supply of the mail is restarted by the signal S81 (step 109). Step 10
In the supply after 9, even if a mail containing a sample or the like packed with a metal film is supplied, the metal detector 1
Since the metal detector changeover switch 14 is turned off so that the detection result S1 is invalidated, it is not excluded in the exclusion box 20 and the sorting is normally performed and the sorting rate is improved.
If the attendant does not turn off the switch 14 (step 105) and presses only the supply start button 13 (step 107), the supply of the mail is resumed (step 109). In this case, the staff examines the remaining mail items set in the hopper 3 according to the information displayed on the display panel 11, and determines that the rigidity of the metal object is high and hinders the conveyance. When it is determined that the remaining mails set to 3 include few metallic objects, only the supply start button 13 is pressed down while the metal detector changeover switch 14 is kept on. .

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention and a third embodiment will be described.
An example will be described. As a second embodiment of the present invention, in steps 103 and 104 in FIG. 4, information can be displayed without stopping the supply of mail. That is, since the control system can operate the metal detector changeover switch 14 while the supply of mail is continued, the process can be continued without stopping the apparatus, so that an improvement in efficiency can be expected. In the flow of the second embodiment, the step 103 in FIG. 4 is deleted, and if the mail detector 1 detects a mail containing a metal object continuously by the metal detector 1 in step 102, the switch 14 is immediately turned on in step 104. Information to prompt the user to turn off is displayed. Accordingly, pressing of the supply start button 13 (steps 108 and 107) in FIG. 4 is also deleted. Further, as a third embodiment of the present invention, in step 102 of FIG.
The control unit 32 monitors the ratio of the number R1 detected by the metal detector 1 out of the number Q1 of mails supplied, and the ratio R1 / Q1 is calculated based on T1 stored in the storage device 34 in advance. It is possible to adopt a control method of displaying information when it exceeds the limit. For example, the ratio T1 = R1 / Q1 = 80% is stored, and when 16 of the 20 Q1 = 20 are detected by the metal detector 1, the supply is stopped (step 103). Then, information prompting the user to turn off the switch 14 is displayed on the display panel 11 (step 104). In this way, even if a normal envelope or postcard is mixed in a mail group in which a sample or the like packed with a metal film is enclosed, the mail is set on the hopper 3 by information display. Since the staff can be given an opportunity to investigate the type of mail group, the number of mails to be eliminated is reduced, and the sorting rate can be improved.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a mail sorting apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The basic operation of the fourth embodiment is as follows. After performing a process of invalidating a mail group in which a sample or the like packed with a metal film is embedded, a mail such as an envelope or a postcard without a metal object is removed. This is a control method for processing. For example, it is convenient if the present invention is applied to a case where ordinary postcards and mails that do not include metal objects continuously pass after a mail group of direct mail containing a sample or the like packed with a metal film passes. . In this state, the metal detector changeover switch 14 in FIG. 6 is turned off so as not to exclude the mail to the exclusion box 20 even when the metal detector 1 detects a metal object.
The metal detector status indicator 15 is off.
In FIG. 5, after the clerk sets the bundle 85 of mails on the hopper 3, presses the operation start button 12 in the operation panel 10 (step 200) and presses the supply start button 13 (step 201). As shown in FIG.
2, the signal S10 is input to the control unit 3 as described above.
2 outputs signals S80 and S81 to the controllers 80 'and 81' of the transport motor 80 and the supply motor 81, respectively, so that mail is supplied one by one. Here, when mails containing no metal objects are continuously supplied, and when the number of mails exceeds P2 times previously set in the storage device 34 (step 202), a signal S81 is sent to the controller 81 '.
Output, and the supply of mail is stopped (step 203).

In FIG. 3, after that, a signal S11 is output from the control unit 32 to the display panel 11, thereby prompting a staff member to investigate mail items set in the hopper 3;
Then, information for urging the user to turn on the metal detector changeover switch 14 is displayed (step 204). The attendant examines the postal matter set in the hopper 3 according to the information, determines that the processing in which the metal detection function must be turned off is completed, and that the normal sorting processing can be started, and the metal detector Turn on the changeover switch 14 (step 20)
5) Enable the detection of the metal detector 1 (step 20)
6). When it is enabled, the control unit 32 outputs the signal S11 to the display panel 11, whereby the metal detector status indicator 15 is turned on to display the status of the metal detector 1. Subsequently, when the attendant presses the supply start button 13 (step 208), the supply of the mail is restarted by the signal S81 (step 209). After this operation, even if a postal matter containing a metal such as a key or a coin is supplied while being mixed with a postal matter such as a postcard or an envelope, the metal detector changeover switch 14 is set so that the metal detector 1 is effective. Since the mail is turned on, only the mail can be excluded in the exclusion box 20. As described above, even when the detection result S1 of the metal detector 1 is invalid, an operation of enabling the metal detector 1 according to the type of mail set in the hopper 3 is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent jams and damage to mail pieces during transportation without overlooking mail articles containing metal objects that need to be removed.

Next, fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described. The fifth embodiment is a method of displaying information without stopping supply in steps 203 and 204 in the flow of FIG. That is, while continuing to supply mail, the metal detector switch 14
Since the control method allows the user to operate the device, the process can be continued without stopping the apparatus, thereby improving efficiency. Further, as a sixth embodiment, in step 202 in the flow of FIG. 5, the control unit 32 monitors the ratio of the number of mails R2 containing no metal objects to the number of mails Q2 supplied. This is a control method of displaying information when the ratio R2 / Q2 exceeds T2 set in the storage device 34 in advance. That is, in FIG. 5 (fourth embodiment), the supply of the mail is stopped only when the metal detector 1 continuously detects mails containing no metal objects (step 202). However, in the sixth embodiment, for example, T = R2 /
When Q2 = 80% is set in the storage device 34 in advance, if 16 out of 20 messages do not include a metal object even if they are not consecutive, supply of mail is stopped. In this case, even if postcards and mail containing metal objects are mixed in the group of envelopes that do not contain metal objects, the hopper 3 is displayed by the information display.
The staff can be given an opportunity to investigate the type of mail group that has been set in the box, so that it is possible to reliably reduce jams and damage to mail items due to oversight while the metal detector 1 is turned off. .

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the seventh embodiment, in the flow of FIG.
03, In step 204, the detection result is displayed on the display panel 11 without stopping the supply, and the metal detector 1
Is a method of automatically enabling. That is, in the flow of FIG. 5, step 203 is deleted, and the display operation on the display panel 11 in step 204 only needs to display the detection result alone. In this embodiment, the metal detector 1 can be automatically returned to the valid state without stopping the supply of the mail, so that the jam and the damage to the mail can be overlooked while the metal detector 1 remains disabled. Can be prevented.

Next, control methods according to eighth, ninth, and tenth embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the above-described first to seventh embodiments, as a control method, mails containing metal objects are continuously processed (in the third and sixth embodiments, a fixed ratio or more).
On the other hand, the present control method is applied to a case where a postal matter containing a key, a coin and the like is mixed and supplied to a normal postal matter. In other words, unless the presence of metal objects is detected continuously, or if a certain percentage or more is detected, it is applied when the inside of metal objects and ordinary mails pass alternately. You. That is, in the control method according to the eighth embodiment, when the metal detector 1 detects the mail while the mail is being supplied, the display panel 11 can display information indicating that the mail containing the metal has been detected. it can. In other words, if a metal object is detected even once, the fact is displayed on the display panel 11.

In the ninth embodiment, when a postal matter is brought close to the metal detector 1 when the postal matter is not supplied, the presence or absence of the metallic substance in the postal matter is displayed on the display panel 11. Can be. That is, when the transport path is stopped and the feeling of contact with the hand is likely to be present inside the metal object, the mail is displayed on the display panel 11 by bringing the mail close to the metal detector 1. Therefore, it can be determined that a metal object is included. Further, in the tenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the second metal detector 2 is arranged at a position not on the transport path near the hopper, and a staff member brings the mail close even during the supply of the mail.
The presence or absence of a metal object in the mail can be displayed on the display panel 11. As a result, when a postal matter containing a metal object is detected by the metal detector 1, this result is displayed on the display panel 11, so that these are the first metal detector 1 or the second metal detector. 2, the presence or absence of a metal object can be determined. In other words, it is possible to determine a postal matter contained in a metal object that cannot be determined from the external appearance, and to process the postal matter without misunderstanding that it is a foreign substance, a failure of the hard detector 4 or the thickness detector 5 or a false detection. .

As described above, in this embodiment, the attendant can check the type of mail set in the hopper with reference to the information on the display panel, and can turn off the metal detector. Therefore, since it is possible to sort the postal matter in which the contents packed with the metal film do not hinder the transport without excluding the postal matter, it is possible to realize a device having high sorting efficiency (first to third embodiments). In addition, when the detection result of the metal detector is invalid, when it is determined that there is no metal at a certain ratio, the attendant refers to the information on the display panel and determines the type of mail set in the hopper. Investigate
Since the on-operation of the metal detector can be performed, the mail detector including the metal object which should be originally excluded is not missed while the metal detector remains disabled, and a highly reliable device can be provided ( Fourth to seventh embodiments). In addition, when a postal matter containing a metal object is removed by a metal detector, the detection result is displayed on a display panel. Therefore, by bringing the postal matter close to the metal detector, it is difficult to see from the appearance. The presence or absence of metal can be displayed, the reason for exclusion becomes clear, and a highly reliable device can be realized without being misunderstood as a device failure (eighth to tenth embodiments).

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Minimizing the exclusion in the exclusion bins, it is possible to sort and accumulate mail without excluding postal items with metallic content that does not hinder transportation, while improving sorting efficiency.
The reliability can be improved because it can be restored if necessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a mail sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a sorting port of the mail sorting apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing exchange of signal data between a metal detector and a control unit, a display panel, and an operation panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart in the case of processing a mail containing a metallic object according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flow chart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a case where processing of a postal matter in which a metal object is present is completed and a mail object in which a metal object is not present is processed.

FIG. 6 is a display and layout diagram of a display panel and an operation panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st metal detector, 2 ... 2nd metal detector, 3 ... Hopper, 4 ... Foreign matter, hard object detector, 5 ... Thickness detector, 6 ... Double feed detector, 10 ... Operation panel, 11 display panel, 12
... Operation start button, 13 ... Supply start button, 14 ... Metal detector changeover switch, 15 ... Metal detector status indicator, 20, 21, 22 ... Exclusion box, 31 ... Reading unit, 3
2 ... Control unit, 33 ... Recognition unit, 34 ... Storage device, 35 ... Printing device, 40, 41, 42 ... Distribution gate, 40 '...
Controller, 51: division section, 52: division port, 53, 5
4, 55 ... distribution gate timing sensor, 60, 6
3: conveying path, 70: step path conveying path, 80: conveying motor,
80 ': controller of the transport motor, 81: supply motor, 81': controller of the supply motor, 85: bundle of mail.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A separating section for separating mail pieces one by one, a plurality of sorting ports for stacking mail pieces, transport means for transporting mail pieces from the separating section to the sorting ports, A mail sorting device having a metal object detecting means for detecting whether or not metal is present in the postal matter, wherein the metal object detecting means continuously detects postal matter in which a metal object is present; Or, when the frequency of detecting postal matter containing a metal object is high, information display means for displaying information of the detection result of the metal object detection means, and information prompting an operation to invalidate the detection result, Switching means for selecting and switching whether the detection result of the metal object detection means is invalid or valid. 2. The mail sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the switching means selects the detection result of the metal object detection means to be invalid, the metal object is detected by the metal object detection means. When consecutively detecting non-intrinsic postal matter, or when frequently detecting non-intrinsic postal matter, the information of the detection result of the metal object detecting means and the above-mentioned method for validating the detection result It has information display means for displaying information prompting the operation of the switching means, or when the metal object detection means continuously detects postal matter without a metallic object, or detects postal matter without a metallic object. Control means operable to automatically validate the detection result of the metal object detection means when the frequency is high. 3. The mail sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metal object detection unit is configured to display the information display unit when a mail object is approached during or when the mail object is not being supplied. In addition to displaying the detection result, a second metal object detection unit different from the metal object detection unit is arranged at a position near the separation unit and not on the transport path, and the second metal object detection unit is close to a mail object. The mail sorting apparatus displays a detection result on the information display means when the information is displayed.