JP3359607B2 - Mail sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail sorting machine for automatically sorting postcards and envelopes, and more particularly to a mail sorting machine which can be installed without taking up a large space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Postal sorting machines sort mail based on postal codes written on postcards and envelopes, read the postal code directly from the postal matter, and sort the mail according to the identified postal code. A method has been developed in which a barcode corresponding to a zip code is read in advance from a postal matter on which a barcode corresponding to the zip code is printed and classified.

[0003] The bar code in the latter method is a case where a sender visually prints a postal matter to be transmitted or a case where a postal code of a postal matter is read at a post office and a bar code (a stealth bar code) which is invisible to the postal matter. ) May be printed, and the sorting machine is equipped with a reader that reads a visible barcode and a reader that reads a stealth barcode by irradiating ultraviolet rays to read the postal code. I have.

[0004] Sorted mails are conveyed one by one in a sorting machine by being sandwiched between belts. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, one belt 11 is suspended by a driving wheel (drive pulley) 13 and a plurality of pulleys (pulleys) 15, and the other belt 12 is driven by a driving wheel 14 and a plurality of pulleys. Suspended at 16. The belt 11 and the belt 12 are in contact with each other in a part of the section, and the section in contact with the belt 11 and the belt 12 serve as a mail transportation route.
The belt 11 is driven by a driving wheel 13, and the belt 12 is driven by a driving wheel 14
As a result, the mail is driven so that the movement directions in the conveyance path are the same, and the mail is conveyed while being sandwiched between the belts 11 and 12.

[0005] The postal matter conveyed along the belt 11 and the belt 12 is then conveyed along a belt 18 and a belt 19 as shown in FIG.
At this time, when the traveling direction is changed by the sorting means 17, the sheet is conveyed on the conveying path formed by the belt 11 and the belt 10.

[0006] As described above, mail items are successively transferred along the transport path formed by the belt and move in the sorting machine. In the course of the transportation, envelopes containing metal or the like and envelopes having a thickness greater than a specified value are eliminated, and barcodes of normal mail items other than those are read. And the mail is
On the basis of the identified barcode, it is sorted to the corresponding mouth of the stacking unit having a plurality of sorting mouths.

[0007]

However, since the conventional mail sorting machine is a large-sized apparatus having a total length of 8 m, it cannot be installed unless a large-scale post office having a large space is prepared. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a special transfer means for carrying in the parts, and to input many workers for assembly and adjustment.

In addition, since this apparatus transports mail at an extremely high speed, there is a high level of noise, and there is a risk of injury if a hand or the like accidentally touches the inside of the apparatus during operation. For this reason, the conventional apparatus requires a large installation space separated from the surroundings.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is easy to carry in and assemble parts, and can be installed in a small or medium-sized post office having no large installation space. An object of the present invention is to provide a mail sorting machine with low noise and high safety.

[0010]

Therefore, in the mail sorting machine according to the present invention, the main body of the mail sorting machine is provided with bar code identification means for mail.
The control module in which is located and the identified mail
Elevator in which elevator parts to be sorted into multiple stages are arranged
Data module and multiple units that distinguish the identified mail
And a stacking section module in which a section opening is arranged , and each of the modules is combined with an arm.
Attach the base to which the means for transporting mail is fixed to the frame
Composed and fixed on the frame of the elevator module
The transport means constitutes a horizontal transport path for mail.
Diagonal transfer of mail by fixed transfer means
The base that constitutes the road is mounted in multiple stages,
The diagonal transport path is horizontal transport one step below the horizontal transport path.
It is configured to convey postal items to the route .

[0011] The collecting section is covered with a transparent cover that can be opened and closed.

[0012]

Therefore, it is easy to carry in and assemble the device to the installation place. Further, noise can be reduced by the cover, and safety can be ensured .

[0014]

1 (a) shows a top view of a mail sorting machine according to an embodiment, FIG. 1 (b) shows a front view, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view. .

A large number of mails to be sorted are arranged in the supply unit 20 shown in FIG. 2, are sequentially transferred to the left side of the drawing, are partially taken into the apparatus, and are conveyed through the apparatus by a belt. . The dotted lines in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) schematically show the transport route of mail. The postal matter taken into the apparatus is first upwardly conveyed, and in the course of this upward conveyance, a letter containing metal or a letter with a thickness exceeding a specified value is detected and removed.

Next, the postal matter is switched to horizontal conveyance by a twist mechanism shown as 64 in FIG. The postal matter which has shifted to the horizontal transport turns and passes in front of the barcode reader 21 for the visible code and the barcode reader 22 for the stealth, and the barcode is read. Next, after being lowered to the section to be divided in the elevator section 23 having a conveying path descending spirally, the sheet is conveyed to the stacking section 24.

The stacking section 24 is divided into three stages, and in the example of FIG. 1, each stage has 11 division ports. The stacking unit 24 includes three modules each having three stages × three division ports.
It is configured by arranging one module having three stages × 2 divided ports. By changing the number of installed modules, the total number of division ports can be changed as appropriate.

The mail moving in the stacking section 24 is sorted to each of the sorting ports based on the result of reading the barcode, and collected there.

FIG. 3 shows a housing structure of the mail sorting machine from which a cover, a door, an outer wall, legs and the like are removed. The casing of the sorting machine is configured by combining a plurality of modules. That is, the control unit module 26 which is a housing of the barcode readers 21 and 22 and various control devices 29, the elevator unit 23
The elevator module 27, which is a housing of the above, and an integrated module 28 having a divided port are combined. As described above, the integrated module 28 is composed of three modules having 3 sections × 3 divided ports. One module having 3 sections × 2 sections is combined. The ascending transport unit 25 that ascends and transports the supplied mail is fixed to the control unit module 26.

In each module, mechanical strength is maintained by a frame body combined with an arm, and a base on which a pulley or a driving wheel is mounted is fixed to the frame body.

As shown in FIG. 4, a base 30 to which a pulley, a driving vehicle, and the like of the ascending transport unit 25 are attached to the control unit module 26 so as to have a 15-degree inclination. This inclination is provided in order to bring the bottom side of the postal matter sandwiched between the belts and conveyed upwardly into contact with the base 30 to stabilize the posture of the postal matter with respect to the belt.

FIG. 5 shows the base 30 removed from the frame. On one side of the base 30, the driving vehicles 13, 14 and the pulley 1
In addition to 5 and 16, a metal detector 31 for detecting metal enclosed in a sealed letter, a thickness detector 32 for detecting the thickness of the sealed letter, a sorting unit 17 for switching a mail conveyance path, and a metal mixed Hood that accepts mail items that are too thick or too thick
33 and are installed. A drive motor 34 is provided on the other surface of the base 30, and the driving force of the motor 34 is transmitted by a belt or the like to the rotating shafts of the driving wheels 13, 14 projecting toward the other surface of the base 30. .

As shown in FIG. 6, a hole 35 is formed at a position of the base 30 which is covered with the hood 33. After being led to 33, it falls from this hole 35 and is collected in a tray.

As described above, the base is unitized, and at the time of assembly, the unitized base is fixed to the frame.

FIG. 7 shows a base 30 for mounting the ascending transport unit 25.
Also, a state is shown in which a base 36 for attaching a barcode reader, a base 37 for attaching a pressing pulley to which a pushing pulley 38 is attached, and the like are fixed to the controller module 26. The pressing pulley 38 has a function of pressing a mail passing in front of the barcode readers 21 and 22 against the barcode readers 21 and 22.

FIG. 8 shows the bar code reader mounting base 36 removed from the control section module 26, and FIG.
The pressing pulley mounting base 37 removed from the control module 26 is shown.

Further, the elevator module 27 has a structure shown in FIG.
0, a base 39 for transporting the mail horizontally,
An inclined base 40 for transferring the mail to the lower stage is fixed to the frame. FIG. 11 shows the inclined base 40 removed from the frame of the elevator module 27.

In order to drive the transport means on each floor of the elevator module 27, as shown in FIG. 12, a drive motor 50 is attached to the lower surface of the first floor, and a shaft unit 51 comprising a bearing and a shaft is mounted on each floor. The drive motor 50 is fixed on an extension of the shaft, and these are connected via a coupling 52.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the drive motor 50 and the shaft unit 51 on the first floor are connected by the coupling 52.

By having such a drive system transmission mechanism, one drive motor 50 can cover the drive source for the transport path in units of modules.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the accumulating unit module 28 having three stages × 3 sectioned ports as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the accumulating unit module 28 as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. On the front side of the stacking section module 28, 3 × 3 stacking tray units 41 are fixed to the frame of the stacking section module 28, and on the rear side of each stage of the stacking section module 28, mail is transported and sorted. A distribution mechanism mounting base 42 to which the mechanism is mounted is fixed to the frame.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing one stage of the integrated module 28, and FIG. 17 is a top view thereof.

FIG. 18 shows the distribution mechanism mounting base 42 detached from the frame of the stacking module 28.

The sorting mechanism mounting base 42 includes, in addition to the belt transport mechanism, a sorting unit 17 for selectively switching the traveling direction of the mail, a pusher unit 45 for pressing the mail arriving at the sorting port forward, and a stacking unit. An auger screw 47 for adjusting the direction of the mail to be sent is attached. The sorting unit 17 selectively switches the traveling direction of the mail conveyed by the belt in the longitudinal direction of the base 42 to the direction of the branch path 48 based on an instruction from the control unit. When the mail is sent through the branch path 48, the pusher unit 45 pulls the pusher lever backward to receive the mail, and then pushes the pusher lever forward to press the accumulated mail. At this time, auger screw 47
Rotates to send the bottom side of the postal matter to the side of the collecting tray 41, and changes the direction of the postal matter so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the collecting tray 41.

The stacking tray unit 41 includes a stacking tray 41 on which stacked mails are arranged, a scraping plate 49 which moves forward when taking out the stacked mails, and a pressure plate 48 which supports the stacked mails. I have.

The scraping plate 49 is in the initial state as shown in FIG.
In the position. When the postal matter sent at the fork 48 enters, the pusher unit 45 pulls the pusher lever backward when entering, so that the tip of the postal matter sent at a high speed advances to the front of the scraping plate 49. At this time, the auger screw
The mail is parallel to the pressure plate 48 as 47 sends the bottom of the mail forward. Pusher unit 45 once retracted
Pusher lever is inverted and presses the mail from behind, and the mail is clamped between the pressure plate 48 and the pusher lever. When the number of mails to be held increases, the pressure plate 48 is pushed and moves forward on the collecting tray 41 in the downward direction in FIG.

When the accumulated mail is taken out of the accumulation tray 41, the scraping plate 49 slides forward, and accordingly, the accumulated mail and the pressure plate 48 advance on the accumulation tray 41. The pressure plate 48 moved to the end of the accumulation tray 41,
As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG.
The postal matter can be taken out of the stacking tray 41 because it can be an extension surface of the post 41.

The drive transmission mechanism of the integrated module 28 is the same as that of the elevator module 27. A drive motor is mounted on the lower surface of the first floor, and a shaft unit is provided on each floor on an extension of the rotation axis of the drive motor. Fix them and connect them sequentially by coupling. Therefore, each stack module 28
Can independently have a drive source for belt conveyance in units of modules, and the drive source can be covered by one drive motor.

However, the transport belt 53 extends over the pulleys of the adjacent modules so that the mail can be smoothly transported across the modules.

The control module 26 constituting the main body of the apparatus,
Each of the elevator module 27 and the accumulation unit module 28 determines the outer dimensions of the elevator module 27 and the stacking module 28 by the depth dimension 235 of the carry-in elevator.
It is set to less than 0 mm. Therefore, even if the place where the mail sorting machine is installed is above or below the floor of a building, each module can be carried to the installation floor by the carry-in elevator and assembled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mail sorting machine has transparent covers 54 and 55 for covering the collecting section.
This cover comprises two upper covers 54 and two lower covers 55. FIG. 19 shows a top view (a) and a side view (b) of the sorting machine. Here, one of the upper covers 54 is moved to the left to open a part of the stacking section. 11 shows a state in which the lower cover 55 and the lower cover 55 are overlapped.

As shown in FIG. 20, the upper cover 54 and the lower cover 55 are made of a transparent acrylic resin and are formed in a cross-section in the shape of "U".
A guide roller 57 is mounted via a roller mounting plate 56.

On the other hand, guides 58 for guiding the guide rollers 57 are separately provided for the upper cover and the lower cover on the top plate and the front plate on the stacking unit side. Therefore, the upper cover 54 can move the stacking unit front surface left and right without colliding with the lower cover 55, and the lower cover 55
Can move left and right without colliding with 54. In addition, the side of the accumulation part is covered with a transparent acrylic flat plate or a sheet metal processing plate.

During operation of the sorting machine, as shown in FIG.
The upper and lower covers 54 and 55 are arranged so as not to overlap. In this way, noise during operation can be cut off. The state of mail transport in the apparatus can be monitored through the transparent covers 54 and 55 as they are.

When performing maintenance on the collecting section, as shown in FIG. 19, the upper cover 54 or the lower cover 55 is used.
Move to open the repair location.

Although the number of covers is four in this example, the number of covers can be changed according to the ease of maintenance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a door cover 59 is provided on the front of the elevator section 23, and a lift cover
60 are provided. The door cover 59 opens like a door when the handle provided on the right or left is pulled toward the user. Further, when the front cover 60 is pulled upward, the front cover 60 rotates about the rear side and opens. A transparent acrylic plate is fitted into a part of the door cover 59 and a part of the pull-up cover 60, so that the inside state can be monitored while the cover is closed. Door cover
59 is opened when repairing the inclined base 40 of the elevator section 23, and the lifting cover 60 is opened when repairing the top floor of the elevator section 23. In addition, a lifting cover 60 is also provided above the supply unit 20, so that the top floor of the control unit module 26 can be repaired.

In the vicinity of these covers 54 and 55, the door cover 59 and the lifting cover 60, sensors for detecting the condition of the covers are provided. When these covers are opened,
The sensor senses and the entire drive system is forcibly stopped.

Also, as shown in FIG.
Fluorescent lamps 61 are installed in the center and at various places in the accumulation section 24. These fluorescent lamps 61 are the fluorescent lamp switches of the central control unit.
The light is turned on / off by turning on / off 62, and is automatically turned on when one of a plurality of jam sensors installed along the transport path is operated to detect a postal matter deviating from the transport route.

When the covers 54 and 55 are opened to scrape the mail collected on the collecting tray 41 of the collecting section 24, the fluorescent lamp 61 provided on the collecting section 24 is automatically turned on. The automatically turned on fluorescent light 61 is turned off by turning off the reset switch 63 and the fluorescent light switch 62 of the central control unit.

[0051]

As is apparent from the above description, the mail sorting machine of the present invention has a modularized housing structure, so that it can be transported in units of modules and can be easily carried into the installation site. is there. Also, since this module unit is set to a size that can be mounted on the carry-in elevator,
It can be easily transported upstairs or underground.

Further, since the sorting machine is assembled by combining the modules, installation work on site is easy.

Further, since the module is constituted by fixing the unitized base to the module frame, the module can be easily assembled.

In a module having a multi-layered base, the driving force of the drive motor is transmitted to each layer by coupling, so that a single drive motor can provide an independent drive source for each module.

Further, since the cover for covering the apparatus is provided, noise can be cut off, and an accident that a person accidentally touches the movable portion can be prevented.

[0056]

Therefore, the mail sorting machine of the present invention can be installed in a small or medium-sized post office having no large installation space, and can suppress noise even when installed in a limited space. Since the security can be ensured, there is no risk of impairing the surrounding office environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view (a) and a front view (b) of a mail sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mail sorting machine of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a module connection diagram of the mail sorting machine of the embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control unit module of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a mounting base of an ascending transport unit of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a mounting base excluding a belt of the ascending transport unit;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the control unit module excluding a barcode reader;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a mounting base of a bar code reader of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a mounting base of a pressing pulley of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an elevator module of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an inclined base of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a driving force transmission mechanism of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an attached state of a drive motor of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an accumulation unit module of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the accumulation unit module;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the structure of each stage of the integrated module;

FIG. 17 is a top view of each stage of the integrated module;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a sorting mechanism mounting base of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a top view (a) and a front view (b) showing a cover attached state of the mail sorting machine of the embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state where a cover is attached to the accumulation unit;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a fluorescent lamp mounted state of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a belt transport path.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a twist mechanism of the mail sorting machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 53 Belt 13, 14 Drive vehicle (drive pulley) 15, 16 Pulley (pulley) 17 Sorting unit 20 Supply unit 21 Barcode reader 22 Stealth barcode reader 23 Elevator unit 24 Stacking unit 25 Ascending transport unit 26 Control unit module 27 Elevator unit module 28 Stacking unit module 29 Control device 30 Base for mounting the ascending transport unit 31 Metal detector 32 Thickness detector 33 Hood 34, 50 Drive motor 35 hole 36 Barcode reader mounting base 37 Pressing pulley mounting base 38 Pressing pulley 39 Horizontal transport base 40 Inclined base 41 Stacking tray unit 42 Distribution mechanism mounting base 45 Pusher unit 46 Pressure plate 47 Auger screw 48 Branch passage 49 Scraper plate 51 Axis unit 52 Coupling 54 Cover 55 Lower cover 56 Roller mounting plate 57 Guide roller 58 Guide 59 Door cover 60 Pull Lower cover 61 fluorescent lamps 62 fluorescent lamp switch 63 the reset switch 64 twist mechanism

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Inoue 4-1-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (3-1) Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeo Komizo 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. JP, A) JP-A-7-182268 (JP, A) JP-A-9-132350 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B07C 3/02-3/08

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] identifies the barcode attached on the postal matter in the process of conveying the mailpieces in mail sorting machine sorts mails based on the identification result, the apparatus main body, the bar code of the mail Identification means are arranged
The control module and the identified mail are distributed to multiple stages.
Elevator module in which elevator parts to be separated are arranged
And multiple sorting ports for sorting identified mail items.
It is constructed by combining an integrated unit modules location, each of said modules, a frame which is a combination of arm
The frame body provided with a means for transporting postal matter fixed thereto
Attached to the frame of the elevator module,
A base that forms a horizontal transport path for mail using transport means
And the diagonal transfer of the mail by the fixed transfer means.
The bases that make up the road are
The diagonal transport path is one step from the horizontal transport path.
A mail sorting machine for transferring mail to a lower horizontal transfer path . 2. A postal machine according to claim 2, wherein
A bay with fixed transport means for selectively transporting objects to the sorting port
And a collection of mails collected at each port.
2. The mail sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein the stacking tray units are mounted in multiple stages . 3. The integrated unit module has the same number of stages.
The number of ports in each stage is the same or different.
Joule, each type to configure the device body
One or more of the integrated unit modules are combined
The mail sorting machine according to claim 2 , wherein: 4. The elevator module and the stacking unit.
One as a drive source for the transfer means in each stage of the module
And a rotation axis of the drive motor and each stage.
And the axis unit fixed on the vertical line, and
The connection is made by a next driving force transmission means.
The mail sorting machine according to 1, 2, or 3 . 5. The integrated module of claim 5 , wherein the integrated module comprises :
Is covered with a transparent cover that can be opened and closed.
The mail sorting machine according to claim 3 , wherein 6. The transparent cover includes one or more upper covers.
A bar and one or more lower covers,
And the lower cover are guided by different guides.
And the lower cover can move without colliding with each other.
The mail sorting machine according to claim 5 , wherein