JP2006198498A - Letter processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a letter processing apparatus constituted so as to accurately detect the charge seals of letters. <P>SOLUTION: The letter processing apparatus is equipped with a feed passage 8 for feeding mails having charge seals, a first reading means 13 for irradiating both sides of the mails fed on the feed passage 8 with exciting light 26a to read the reflected lights from both sides of the mails as first two-dimensional image data, the second reading means 14 provided on the downstream side in the letter feed direction of the first reading means 13 and irradiating both sides of the mails with visible light different from the exciting light 26a to read the reflected lights from both sides of the mails as second two-dimensional image data and an image processing part 34 for detecting the charge seals on the mails on the basis of the first and second two-dimensional image data read by the first and second reading means 13 and 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a letter processing apparatus that processes letters such as mail.

In this type of letter processing apparatus, there is an apparatus that detects and demarks a fee stamp on the surface of a postal item, and arranges the direction in a stacking unit. In this mail processing apparatus, a sensor such as a photomultiplier tube (photomultiplier) is arranged so as to face the detection target range, and the postal matter is conveyed to capture one-dimensional data by the sensor. For example, bar information The postage amount mark is detected based on the presence or absence of output (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-30785

   However, in the conventional method, if a bar pattern with the same pitch is erroneously detected as a fee indicator, or if a fee indicator with a phosphorescent bar is printed sideways, the light emission output There is a problem that it cannot be detected correctly because of the low.

   The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a letter processing apparatus capable of accurately detecting a charge amount stamp of a letter.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a conveying means for conveying a letter with a fee stamp, and a first light is applied to both sides of the letter conveyed by the conveying means, and the letter A first reading unit that reads light reflected from both sides of the first reading unit as first two-dimensional image information; and a first reading unit that is provided downstream of the first reading unit in the letter conveying direction, and the first light is provided on both sides of the letter. The second reading means that irradiates the second light different from the light and that reflects the light reflected from both sides of the letter as the second two-dimensional image information, and is read by the first and second reading means. Detecting means for detecting a fee stamp on the letter based on the first and second two-dimensional image information.

  According to the present invention, both sides of a letter are read as a two-dimensional image, and the fee stamp is detected based on the read two-dimensional image. Therefore, the accuracy of detecting the fee stamp can be improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a mail processing machine as a letter processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper as an input unit. In the hopper 1, a mail as a letter taken out from a mail bag collected from a post in the city is input. The postal items put into the hopper 1 are a mixture of standard postal items that can be machine-processed and non-standard-size postal items that cannot be mechanically processed.

  A thickness sorting unit 2a and a width sorting unit 2b are connected to the hopper 1. The thickness sorting unit 2a and the width sorting unit 2b exclude mail pieces having a predetermined thickness or more and non-standard-size mail pieces having a predetermined width or more, and allow only the regular mail pieces to pass therethrough.

  The thickness sorting section 2a and the width sorting section 2b are connected to a shifting section 3 for shifting the stacked mail pieces, and the shifting section 3 is connected to a single pick-up section 4 for picking up mail pieces one by one. Yes. A buffer feeder section 5 is connected to the single extraction section 4 for collecting and supplying mail. The buffer feeder unit 5 is connected to a local feeder unit 7 for additionally loading fixed-size mail items arranged by human hands.

  The buffer feeder unit 5 takes out the standard mail one by one and sends it in a standing state to the transport path 8 as a transport means. In the transport path 8, a posture control unit 10 that corrects the posture of the mail piece is provided, and a post unit whose posture has not been corrected is excluded on the mail sending side of the posture control unit 10. Is provided.

  Further, first and second reading means 13 and 14 according to the present invention, which will be described in detail later, are disposed in the mail conveyance direction. The postal matter that has not been excluded by the exclusion unit 11 is read by the first reading unit 13 and then the second reading unit 14 reads the front and back images.

  Connected to the carry-out side of the second reading means 14 is a switchback unit 16 for aligning the direction of the mail piece based on the type and position information of the fee stamp on the mail piece. On the carry-out side of the switchback unit 16 are connected a reverse control unit 17 that reverses the mail piece upside down, a normal rotation control unit 18, and a postmark unit 20 as a postmarking unit that unmarks the charge stamp on the mail piece. Yes.

  A plurality of stacking units 22 are connected to the carry-out side of the postmarking unit 20, and postal items are stacked in the stacking unit 22 set in advance by a control unit described later.

  Next, the processing operation of the mail processing machine described above will be described using the system flow diagram of FIG.

  First, a postal matter is taken out from a mail bag collected from a post in the city and put into the hopper 1 (step ST1). The postal items put into the hopper 1 are sent to the thickness and width sorting sections 2a and 2b, and the thickness and width are sorted (step ST2). As a result, mail pieces having a predetermined thickness or more and non-standard-size mail pieces having a predetermined width or more are excluded, and only the fixed-size mail pieces pass. If the standard mails are overlapped, they are shifted by the shifting unit 3 (step ST3) and then taken out one by one by the single extraction unit 4 (step ST4). The taken-out mail is supplied to the buffer feeder unit 5. If there is an additional mail piece, the mail is supplied from the local feeder section 7 to the buffer feeder section 5 (step ST5).

  Thereafter, the standard mail is taken out one by one from the buffer feeder unit 5 and supplied to the transport path 8 (step ST6). The standard mails supplied to the transport path 8 are corrected to the correct transport posture by passing through the posture control unit 10 (step ST7).

  Note that mails whose postures are not corrected correctly are rejected by the reject stacker (step ST8). As will be described in detail later, the front and back images of the postal items that are not excluded are read by the first reading unit 13 (step ST9), and then the second reading unit 14 reads the front and back images. (Step ST10).

  After that, based on the above-described read information, the mail is switched back by the switchback unit 16 for aligning the direction (step ST11) or conveyed without being switched back, and then reversed by the reversing unit 17. (Step ST12) or passes through the forward rotation portion 18 (Step ST13). As a result, the positions of the fee stamps on the postal items are aligned, and the fee stamps are postmarked by the postmarking unit 20 (step ST14). Then, after this erasure, the postal matter is conveyed and accumulated in the accumulation unit 22 set by the control unit (step ST15).

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the first and second reading means 13 and 14 described above.

  The first and second reading means 13 and 14 are arranged along the transport path 8. The first reading unit 13 includes a reading unit 13 a located on one side of the conveyance path 8 and a reading unit 13 b located on the other side.

  The reading units 13a and 13b include a light source 26 that irradiates postal matter with excitation light 26a as first light, and a light receiving unit 27 that receives light reflected from the postal matter. A light shielding unit 28 is disposed opposite to the reading units 13 a and 13 b via the conveyance path 8.

  The second reading unit 14 includes a reading unit 14 a located on one side of the conveyance path 8 and a reading unit 14 b located on the other side.

  The reading units 14a and 14b include a light source 30 that irradiates the postal matter with visible light 30a as second light, and a light receiving unit 31 that receives light reflected from the postal matter.

  The light receiving units 13b and 14b of the first and second reading units 13 and 14 are respectively connected to an image processing unit 34 as a detecting unit via a transmission circuit, and set to the image processing unit 34 via a control circuit. A control unit 36 as means is connected.

  Next, the reading operation of the first and second reading means 13 and 14 will be described.

  When the postal matter transported one by one along the transporting path 8 reaches the first reading means 13, the excitation light 26a is applied to the entire front and back surfaces of the postal matter by the light source 26 of the reading units 13a and 13b. Is irradiated. At this time, the excitation light 26 a is also irradiated to a stamp that emits light with a fee stamp, and the light emission output of the excited fee stamp is stored as two-dimensional image information in the light receiving unit 27.

  After that, the postal matter is sent to the second reading means 14, and the visible light 30a different from the excitation light is irradiated on the entire front and back surfaces of the postal matter by the light source 30 of the reading units 14a and 14b. Visible light reflected from the postal matter is similarly stored as two-dimensional image information in the light receiving unit 31.

  The two-dimensional image information stored in the first and second reading means 13 and 14 is transmitted to the image processing unit 34 and subjected to image processing to determine the position and type of the fee stamp on the mail piece.

  Specifically, for example, a case where a postage stamp 39 is affixed to the mail piece 38 as shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The image information 40 obtained by the first reading means 13 is a postage stamp having a light emission characteristic. In 39, as shown in the figure, the information is that only a part of the stamp 39 emits light in a bar shape. Therefore, the address information on the postal matter 38 and other information having no light emission characteristics disappear.

  In FIG. 4, the position information of the fee stamp with one bar having the light emission characteristic is obtained by using diagonal coordinates (x2, y2) and (x21) of the lower left and upper right of the light emitting bar, where the left end of the postal matter 38 is the origin. , Y21).

  By using the first reading unit 13 as a detection unit that detects a detection target that emits light, it is possible to simplify the obtained two-dimensional image information and to obtain an effect of shortening the time required for determination. .

  In FIG. 4, the light emitting portion shows one bar, but a plurality of bars may be used in order to classify the types of stamps. In this case, there are only a plurality of diagonal coordinates.

  In the image processing unit 34, based on the two-dimensional two-dimensional image information acquired by the first reading unit 13, information such as which is the front and back, the position of the fee stamp, the number of bars, and the like are obtained.

  By installing the first reading means 13 on the upstream side of the second reading means 14 in the post section transport direction, the postal matter is transported to a mechanism that changes the direction of the postal matter or forwards / reverses the postal matter in the subsequent stage. You will be able to get an answer to judge in a short time before being done.

  FIG. 5 shows an image obtained by the second reading unit 14. This image is an image of the entire mail piece by visible light illumination, and address information written on the surface of the mail piece and a fee stamp are also taken together as two-dimensional image information.

  When a postal matter with a light emitting stamp attached thereto is detected by the first reading means 13, the postal processor can postmark the postage only with that information.

  However, when ink having afterglow characteristics such as a nocturnal paint or a seal or the like is present on a mail piece, there is a possibility that the ink or the seal or the like may be erroneously detected as a fee stamp.

  Therefore, the stamp position information obtained from the read image information of the second reading means 14 in the same visual field range as the first reading means 13 and the stamp position information obtained from the read image information of the first reading means 13 are collated. In order to discriminate the stamp position by matching, the stamp detection is performed more accurately to prevent erroneous detection.

  Specifically, the position information (diagonal coordinates) of the light emission bar obtained by the first reading means 13 is obtained from the visible image obtained by the second reading means 14 such as position information (diagonal coordinates (x1) , Y1) and (x11, y11)) from the right, it is determined that they are matched.

  Further, when there is no possibility of erroneous detection, the processing capability (classification rate) can be increased by taking the sum of the reading information of the first reading unit 13 and the reading information of the second reading unit 14.

  Further, as a modified example, a fee meter that emits fluorescence, which is generally one of the fee signs, similarly emits a two-dimensional image emitted by the excitation light source of the first reading unit 13 and the second reading unit 14. It is also possible to detect a fee stamp using information with a two-dimensional image by a visible light source.

  Normally, afterglow stamps and charge meters are classified by afterglow detection and fluorescence meters, but the intensity of the excitation light source, the intensity of the fluorescence emission, and the emission intensity of the afterglow stamp are in a relative relationship, and postal items By installing an image reading unit at a position where the S / N ratio between the light emission signal output and the background signal can be taken with respect to the background, the fluorescent fee meter and the afterglow stamp It can be detected by the same reading means.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the fee stamp is detected based on the first and second two-dimensional image information read by the first and second reading means 13 and 14, Thus, the detection accuracy can be improved as compared with the case where the fee stamp is detected based on the one-dimensional image information.

In addition, when the first and second two-dimensional image information read by the first and second reading means 13 and 14 are partially compared and matched, the fee is determined to be a fee stamp. Further, the first reading means 13 for reading the luminescent image is installed on the upstream side of the second reading means 14 for reading the visible image in the mail transport direction, so that the first reading means 13 can be improved. The distance to the switchback portion 16 can be shortened by the amount that is positioned upstream.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a letter processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the processing operation of the letter processing apparatus. The block diagram which shows the 1st and 2nd reading means of the letter. The figure which shows the positional information on the stamp light emission bar read by the said 1st reading means. The figure which shows the stamp position information read by the said 2nd reading means.

Explanation of symbols

    8 ... conveying path (conveying means), 13 ... first reading means, 14 ... second reading means, 20 ... postmarking part (marking means), 22 ... stacking part, 26a ... excitation light (first light), 30a ... Visible light (second light), 28 ... Shading part, 34 ... Image processing part (detection means), 36 ... Control part, 38 ... Mail (letter), 39 ... Stamp (fee stamp).

Claims (6)

A conveying means for conveying a letter with a fee stamp;
First reading means for irradiating both surfaces of the letter conveyed by the conveying means with first light and reading light reflected from both sides of the letter as first two-dimensional image information;
Provided on the downstream side of the first reading means in the letter conveying direction, the second light different from the first light is applied to both sides of the letter, and the light reflected from both sides of the letter is second Second reading means for reading as two-dimensional image information;
A letter processing apparatus comprising: a detecting means for detecting a fee stamp on the letter based on the first and second two-dimensional image information read by the first and second reading means. . The letter processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first light is excitation light, and the second light is visible light. 2. The letter processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a postmarking unit that unmarks the fee stamp based on the fee stamp detection information of the detection unit. A setting unit that sets a classification destination of the letter based on the fee stamp detection information of the detection unit, and a plurality of stacking units that classify and collect the letter set by the setting unit. The letter processing apparatus according to claim 1. The letter processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first reading unit includes a light shielding unit for preventing light from the outside. The detecting means determines whether or not the position of the fee stamp matches based on the first and second two-dimensional image information read by the first and second reading means. The letter processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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