JP2551356B2 - Paper sorting device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper sheet sorting apparatus which sorts and sorts paper sheets in a predetermined order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus for rearranging paper sheets such as postal items in a certain order has been performed by using various sorting methods as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a paper sheet sorting apparatus using the radix sheet method.

In the case of the radix sort, as shown in FIG. 3, the reading unit 102 reads the sorting information added to the paper sheet from the feeding and accumulating apparatus 101, compares the sorting information with a predetermined order table, and the first digit is read. According to the information, the first supply integration device 1
11 to the n-th supply / integration device 112. Then, after the first supply is completed, the supply integration device 101 is sequentially supplied from the first supply integration device 111 via the supply mechanism.
Return to. The second supply is performed in the same manner as the first supply.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a paper sheet sorting apparatus using merge sort.

[0006] The merge sort is a method of lengthening a part of the array which is partially correct in order. In the case of this merge sort, as shown in FIG.
The reading units 205 and 206 read the sorting information of the two sheets fed from the sheet Nos. 1 and 202, respectively, and collate them with the order table. The leading two sheets are stacked in the sheet stacking unit 203 in ascending order. Let First two
If the size of the communication is smaller than that of the supply integration device 203, the other integration device 204 is integrated. When the first two sheets are smaller than those of the supply and collection device 204 again, they are stacked on the previous supply and collection device 203. When this procedure is repeated and the first supply integration devices 201 and 202 are lost, the supply integration devices 201 and 202 are replaced by the supply integration devices 203 and 20.
Transfer 4 and repeat again from the beginning. Eventually, when the number of supply and integration units becomes one, the process ends.

[0007]

However, in the case of the radix sort shown in FIG. 3, in order to perform supply-sorting over several times, it is necessary depending on the number of bins to be sorted by the stacking unit which waits for stacking in the middle. Therefore, there is a problem that the device becomes large.

Further, in the case of the merge sort shown in FIG. 4, since it is necessary to re-supply until the sorting is completed several times with the configuration of at least two supply units and two stacking units, the supply function is provided to all the stacking units. However, there is a problem that the device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is an intermediate stacking stacker for stacking paper sheets in a fixed order regardless of the number of partitions. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet sorting apparatus that can be miniaturized by minimizing the number of sets.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first stage having a stacking mechanism for stacking paper sheets and a supply mechanism for feeding the paper sheets stacked in the stacking mechanism one by one. A supply stacking unit, a reading unit for reading the sorting information added to the paper sheets supplied from the first-stage supply stacking unit, a stacking order in which the paper sheets should be finally rearranged, and a classification corresponding to the stacking order. A stacking order table for storing information, a final stacking unit for finally stacking paper sheets, and intermediate stacking of paper sheets for waiting the stacking order before being stacked in the final stacking unit. An intermediate supply stacking unit having a stacking mechanism and a second supply mechanism for supplying the intermediately stacked paper sheets one by one, and a sheet supplied from the first-stage supply stacking unit and passed through the reading unit. The paper sheets are fed to the intermediate supply accumulation unit and the final supply unit. A first branching mechanism for branching to either of the stacking section, and a second branching mechanism for branching the paper sheets supplied from the intermediate supply stacking section into either of the first-stage stacking section and the final-stage stacking section, When the paper sheets are sorted by the first or second branching mechanism into one of the first-stage supply stacking unit, the intermediate supply stacking unit, and the final-stage stacking unit, the paper sheets stacked in each stacking unit are A memory unit that stores the sorting information and a stacking order corresponding to the sorting information at any time, a collation result of the sorting information and the stacking order table added to the paper sheets read by the reading unit, and the memory unit. And a control unit for performing sorting control based on the stored contents stored therein. The control unit, in the first branching mechanism, only terminates the paper sheets supplied according to the stacking order table. Branch to the stacking unit Paper sheets having a stacking order different from the stacking order to be stacked next in the final stacking unit are controlled to be branched to the intermediate stacking supply unit, and the second branching mechanism should stack next sheets in the final stacking unit. Only the sheets in the stacking order are branched to the final stacking section, and the other sheets are branched to the initial supply stacking section. Then, as the paper sheets, postal items are used, and
The information is the name and address required to classify the mail.
It is preferably coded information.

[0011]

In the present invention configured as described above, when the paper sheets accumulated in the first-stage supply accumulating section are sent out one by one by the supply mechanism, the reading section reads the sorting information added to the paper sheets. Then, the control unit collates the paper sheets with the stacking order table to be rearranged finally, and based on this collation result, the paper sheets that have passed through the reading unit are
If it corresponds to the determined stacking order, it is distributed to the final-stage stacking unit, and if different, it is distributed to the intermediate supply stacking unit. At this time, the control unit causes the memory unit to store the sorting information of the sheets in the intermediate supply stacking unit and the final stacking unit and the stacking order corresponding to the sorting information as needed.

After that, judging from the stored contents stored in the memory unit, when the sheets to be next stacked in the final stacking unit are stacked in the intermediate supply stacking unit, the intermediate supply is performed using the supply mechanism. The sheet is sent out from the stacking unit until just before the relevant paper sheet is supplied to the first-stage supply stacking unit. Next, when the paper sheets to be stacked next to the final stacking section are sent out from the supply mechanism, the paper sheets are transported to the final stacking section using the second branching mechanism. Judging from the contents stored in the memory section, if the sheets to be stacked next in the final stacking section are in the first-stage supply stacking section, they are sent out by the supply mechanism, and the first branching mechanism is used to finish. It is transported to the stacking unit.

Subsequently, it is judged whether the paper sheet to be next stacked in the final stacking unit exists in the first supply stacking unit or the intermediate supply stacking unit based on the stored contents of the memory unit, and the corresponding paper sheet. Are fed and circulated by using the feeding mechanism until either is fed, and when the relevant paper sheets are fed, they are accumulated in the final stage accumulating section by using the first branching mechanism and the second branching mechanism. As a result, paper sheets in a predetermined fixed order are stacked in the final stacking unit.

[0014]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the paper sheet sorting apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper sheet sorting apparatus of this embodiment includes a stacking mechanism for stacking paper sheets 2 such as mail and a stack of paper sheets 2 stacked on the stacking mechanism. First-stage supply stacking unit 1 having first supply mechanism 3 for supplying one by one
A reading unit 4 for reading the classification information (machine code or the like) added to the paper sheets 2 supplied from the first-stage supply stacking unit 1; and a stacking order by which the paper sheets 2 should be finally rearranged. A stacking order table 10 for storing sorting information corresponding to the stacking order, a final stacking unit 8 for finally stacking the paper sheets 2, and a stacking order waiting before being stacked in the final stacking unit 8. An intermediate feeding and accumulating unit 6 having a stacking mechanism for intermediately stacking the paper sheets 2 and a second supply mechanism 7 for feeding the intermediately stacked paper sheets 2 one by one,
The reading unit 4 is supplied from the first-stage supply integration unit 1 and
The first branching mechanism 5 for branching the paper sheet 2 that has passed through the intermediate supply stacking unit 6 and the final stage stacking unit 8 and the paper sheet 2 supplied from the intermediate supply stacking unit 6 A second branching mechanism 9 for branching to either the first-stage supply stacking unit 1 or the final-stage stacking unit 8; the first branching mechanism 5 or the second branching mechanism 9;
When the paper sheets 2 are distributed by the branching mechanism 9 to any of the first-stage supply stacking unit 1, the intermediate supply stacking unit 6, and the final-stage stacking unit 8, the paper sheets 2 stacked in each stacking unit are The memory unit 11 stores the division information and the accumulation order corresponding to the division information as needed.

Further, the above-mentioned paper sheet sorting apparatus is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first-stage supply stacking unit 1 is based on the collation result of the sorting information added to the paper sheet 2 read by the reading unit 4 and the stacking order table 10 and the storage content stored in the memory unit 11. , First branching mechanism 5, second
Branching mechanism 9, intermediate supply stacking unit 6, and final-stage stacking unit 8
The control unit 12 is provided for controlling supply, branching, integration, and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment based on the control unit 12 will be described in detail.

The paper sheets 2 accumulated in the first-stage supply accumulating section 1 are sent out one by one by the first supply mechanism 3, and are read by the reading section 4.
At, the sorting information added to the paper sheet 2 is read. The control unit 12 collates the pre-created paper sheets 2 with the stacking order table 10 that should be finally rearranged, and based on this collation result, the paper sheets 2 that have passed through the reading unit 4 have a first branching mechanism. 5, if the stacking order is applicable, it is distributed to the final-stage stacking unit 8, and if different, it is distributed to the intermediate supply stacking unit 6. That is, the sheet 2 that is first stacked in the final stacking unit 8 from the start of supply is the first stacking order table 10.

At this time, the control section 12 collects the sheets 2 stacked last in the final stacking section 8 and the sorting information of the sheets 2 stacked in the intermediate supply stacking section 6. The stacking order corresponding to this classification information is stored in the memory unit 11 at any time by referring to the stacking table 10. That is, the memory section 11 stores the stacking place, the stacking order of the paper sheets 2 at the stacking place, and the sorting information corresponding to the stacking order at any time.

Thereafter, judging from the stored contents stored in the memory section 11, if the sheets 2 to be stacked next in the final stacking section 8 are stacked in the intermediate supply stacking section 6,
The feeding mechanism 7 is used to feed the paper sheets 2 from the intermediate feeding and accumulating unit 6 to the first-stage feeding and accumulating unit 1 until just before the relevant sheets 2 are fed. Next, when the sheets 2 to be stacked next to the final stacking unit 1 are supplied from the second supply mechanism 7, they are transported to the final stacking unit 8 using the second branching mechanism 9. Memory unit 11
If the paper sheets 2 to be stacked next in the final stacking unit 8 are in the first-stage supply stacking unit 1 according to the stored contents of
Is supplied using the supply mechanism 3 and is conveyed to the final stage stacking unit 8 using the first branching mechanism 5.

Subsequently, it is judged from the stored contents of the memory unit 11 whether the paper sheets 2 to be stacked next in the final stacking unit 8 are present in the initial supply stacking unit 1 or the intermediate supply stacking unit 6, Until the relevant paper sheet 2 is supplied, it is supplied from either of the first supply mechanism 3 and the second supply mechanism 7, and the final stage stacking unit is formed by using the first branch mechanism 5 and the second branch mechanism 8. Accumulate to 8.

By repeating the transportation of the paper sheets in a loop as described above, the number of stacking units that play an intermediate role in the rearranging work can be minimized, and the paper sheets to which the sorting information is added are provided. Class 2 can be accumulated according to the accumulation order table created in advance.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the paper sheets to which the classification information is added are supplied from the first-stage supply stacking unit,
According to the stacking order table created in advance, the sheets are sorted into the intermediate supply stacking section and the final stacking section, and the sorting information corresponding to the sorting information and the sorting information of the paper sheets at the stacking location at the sorting are stored in the memory. The sheet is to be stored at any time in the unit, and based on the stored content, it is determined whether the paper sheet to be stacked next in the final stacking unit exists in the first supply stacking unit or the intermediate supply stacking unit. The paper is supplied and circulated between the first-stage supply stacking unit and the intermediate supply stacking unit until the paper is supplied, and when the corresponding paper is supplied, the first branching mechanism and the second branching mechanism are used to finish. By configuring the stacking unit to stack in a fixed order, it is possible to minimize the number of intermediate stacking units that wait in the stacking order during rearranging work, and the final stacking unit has a supply function as in the past. You don't need it. As a result, the size of the entire device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a paper sheet sorting apparatus using a radix sort method.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sheet sorting apparatus using a merge sorting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st stage | paragraph supply collection part 2 paper sheet 3 1st supply mechanism 4 reading part 5 1st branch mechanism 6 intermediate | middle supply collection part 7 2nd supply mechanism 8 final stage collection part 9 1st branch mechanism

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first-stage supply stacking unit having a stacking mechanism for stacking paper sheets and a supply mechanism for supplying the paper sheets stacked on the stacking mechanism one by one, and the paper supplied from the first-stage supply stacking unit. A reading unit for reading the sorting information added to the leaves, a stacking order table for storing the sorting order and the sorting information corresponding to the stacking order for finally sorting the sheets, and A final stacking unit, a stacking mechanism for intermediately stacking paper sheets for waiting the stacking order before being stacked in the final stacking unit, and a paper sheet intermediately stacked on the stacking mechanism An intermediate supply stacking unit having a second supply mechanism for supplying sheets one by one, and sheets fed from the initial supply stacking unit and having passed through the reading unit, the intermediate supply stacking unit and the final stacking unit A first branching mechanism for branching into either A second branching mechanism for branching the paper sheets supplied from the intermediate supply stacking section into either the first-stage supply stacking section or the final-stage stacking section, and the first-stage supply stacking section by the first or second branching mechanism. Section, intermediate supply stacking section, and final stacking section, when the sheets are distributed, the sorting information of the sheets stacked in each of the stacking sections and the stacking order corresponding to the sorting information are stored as needed. Control for performing sorting control based on the memory unit, the collation result of the sorting information added to the paper sheets read by the reading unit and the stacking order table, and the storage content stored in the memory unit. And a control unit, in the first branching mechanism, branches only the paper sheets supplied according to the stacking order table to the final stacking unit,
Paper sheets having a different stacking order to be stacked next to the final stacking unit are controlled to be branched to the intermediate stacking supply unit, and are stacked next to the final stacking unit in the second branching mechanism. A paper sheet sorting apparatus, wherein only the paper sheets in the power stacking order are branched to the final stacking section, and the other sheets are branched to the first-stage supply stacking section. 2. The postal matter is a postal matter, and the sorting information is used.
The information is the name and address required to classify the mail.
Claims characterized by being coded information
The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to 1.