JP3732549B2 - Form classification processing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a form classification processing method for receiving a form such as a slip, reading characters written therein, classifying it into a large number of pockets, and sorting and storing it.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in voucher processing at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide, mail order invoice processing, merchandise delivery work, mail delivery processing, etc., it is required to categorize, distribute and aggregate a large number of vouchers. Is done. Specifically, a form in which certain items are described is issued, collected, sorted by destination, and sent to the destination of the form. In the case of a slip or the like, in this case, an operation of summing up the amount of money or the like described therein is accompanied. Such an operation usually requires a large amount of personnel and is very time consuming for processing. For this reason, in general, a large number of specialized personnel are assigned to the slip processing work. In order to automate this type of processing, a system that eliminates the slip itself and directly inputs and exchanges data using a computer terminal is also widely used.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional form processing system as described above has the following problems to be solved.
When a large number of forms are mechanically classified and sorted and stored in a large number of prepared pockets, the required number of pockets is insufficient when there are many forms to be classified. Accordingly, a method is adopted in which the pockets are once sorted into large classifications, and the forms accommodated in the pockets are further subdivided into small classifications and reclassified in stages. However, when such a process is performed, the form is set in the apparatus many times, so that the form is damaged or the number of times of sorting is increased, which requires complicated work. Therefore, it has been desired to develop a method that can efficiently sort at high speed.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above-mentioned point.
The present invention is a classification process in which classification data is sequentially read from a large number of forms in which the same billing amount is written from the sender, and the form having the corresponding classification data is stored in each pocket corresponding to each classification data. in the form classification processing method repeating, at least one or more specific pockets classification data the determination together with the frequency from the classification result data of the sender is rather large, and to determine at least one or more classification data indicating the subclassification Correspondingly, a form having the same classification data as the determined classification data is selected from the large number of forms, the selected form is stored in the specific pocket , and the billed amount is calculated from each selected form. Read and output the total value of the read billing amount .
[0005]
In the above invention, the determined classification data indicates a destination, and the selected form is stored in the specific pocket during the first classification process.
[0006]
Furthermore, in the above invention, the character classification data read from the form during the first classification process is converted into barcode classification data and printed on the form, and the barcode classification data is read from the form during the second and subsequent classification processes. Read and classify.
[0007]
[Action]
Assume that there are N forms that should be classified and sorted. At this time, a classification that is expected to be included in a large amount from past performance data is first specified, and this is first distinguished from other forms and sorted. In this way, if a large number of forms are excluded from the classification and sorting target at an early stage, even if the remaining portion is repeatedly sub-classified, the process can be completed in a relatively short time. In the case of a classification in which one pocket cannot be taken out due to the capacity of the sorting pockets, two pockets are used alternately, and the other is used when one becomes full. In this way, it is possible to sort a large amount of forms without stopping the classification operation of the apparatus. When any of the pockets becomes full, it is preferable to immediately stop the operation of the apparatus and resume the operation once the form is removed from the pocket, so that the smooth sorting operation can proceed.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the method of the present invention.
(A) of the figure schematically shows the method of the present invention, and (b) shows a simple front view of the system used in the method of the present invention.
The specific configuration of the system will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings. However, generally, a predetermined amount of the form 1 is sent to the apparatus main body 3 via the hopper 2 and the characters written on the form are displayed. Are recognized, classified, and sorted into the pockets 4.
[0009]
In this case, for example, about 20 to 36 pockets 4 are provided. The forms are classified into about 300 as a whole, and are first classified according to the large classification, and then classified according to the classification destination in the order of middle classification and small classification. However, in such a case, it is troublesome to set a large amount of forms in the apparatus many times. Therefore, a method as shown in FIG. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. In this case, past classification result data 30 obtained by processing such a form is extracted. For example, if the past record data is classified for each destination, the past performance data is the number of cases per 100 destinations.
[0010]
In this example, there are 30 cases for the destination B1, 20 cases for the destination B2, 15 cases for the destination B3, and 10 cases for the destination B4. It is stored as data whether the number of cases was for each destination. This is also the case for new forms. Therefore, in this case, classification destinations with a high appearance frequency are first individually assigned to specific pockets. Since an example in which there are many pockets will be complicated, an example in which there are four pockets will be described here.
[0011]
In this case, one pocket is the destination B1, the next pocket is the destination B2, the third pocket is the destination B3, the fourth pocket is something other than the destinations B1, B2, B3. Sort. As a result, the forms for the destinations B1, B2, and B3 are determined and excluded from the whole by the first sorting. Therefore, in the previous example, when this is added, approximately 55% of the total is excluded from the target of fine classification at a time. As for other forms, if there are various destinations, they are set in the apparatus many times and sorted in order using a limited pocket. In this case, since the number of objects to be classified is sufficiently reduced, the operation time is short, handling is easy, and the rate of damage to the form is reduced.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an explanatory diagram of form processing by the system of the present invention.
In the system of the present invention, the form is processed in this procedure as a whole.
First, the sender A1 fills in a number of forms 1 with the destination, the billing amount, and other items. This form 1 is created for various destinations, and this form A1 is sent collectively to the sorting center. The sorting center is equipped with a form classification processing system as shown in FIG. In step S1, the form 1 is read one by one, and the data is recognized. In step S2, the forms are classified by destination. In this example, the forms created by the sender A1 are classified in the order of destinations B1, B2, and B3. These forms are finally sent to the destination as they are. At this time, the billing amount is totaled for each destination. The billing amount is also described in the form and is recognized by the character recognition unit. Therefore, the following procedure is adopted to tabulate the recognition results and confirm the results.
[0013]
First, in step S3, the form addressed to the destination B1 is divided into 50 sheets. Then, 50 sheets are taken out and the reading results are totaled (steps S3 and S4). These are automatically executed by the computer, and a subtotal of the billing amount is printed every 50 sheets (step S5).
[0014]
On the other hand, the image of the read character portion is converted into image data for 50 forms. Then, the necessary portion is once printed on the sheet (step S6). That is, the billing amount necessary for tabulating the form is arranged and printed on the paper as image data. This is tabulated by the operator in step S7. The totaling by the operator may actually be performed using 50 forms themselves. However, for example, 50 forms may include data relating to privacy such as personal data. In such a case, a portion unnecessary for such tabulation is excluded, and only a necessary portion is once printed on paper and sent to tabulation. This enables privacy protection.
[0015]
Also, the work of counting a large number of forms at hand is relatively complicated and prone to errors. Therefore, if only necessary portions of each form are edited and printed so as to be easily aggregated as image data, the processing becomes efficient. Because of these various advantages, in this example, the main part of the read image is once printed on a sheet of paper, and tabulation is performed by the operator. Then, the summation result and the result summed up in step S5 are matched in step S8. If the two match, the result of recognition and processing of the characters in the form is the same as the result of the operator's calculation by actually looking at the form. In this case, the process proceeds to step S9, and the billing amount for 50 sheets is determined. On the other hand, if the matching results do not match, the operator compares the read and recognized data with the image, checks for recognition errors, etc., and corrects the data.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a system schematic block diagram of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the system of the present invention receives a form 1 in a hopper 2 and recognizes characters written on the form by reading the image of the form with the main unit 3 while being conveyed by a conveying means (not shown). Sorting based on the result. For this sorting, a large number of pockets 4 are provided for storing forms according to classification. A console 5 is provided for controlling the apparatus, and a printer 6 is provided for printing out necessary data.
[0017]
Some functional blocks provided in the main body 3 are shown on the lower side of this figure.
As shown in the figure, the main body unit 3 is provided with a reading unit 11 that reads an image of the form 1 and recognizes characters, and a character recognition unit 12. Further, in the present invention, in order to convert the result of such character recognition once into a barcode and print it in the margin of the form 1, a barcode converting unit 13 and a barcode printing unit 14 are provided. . This apparatus further includes a transport unit that transports the forms 1 one by one, recognizes characters written on the form 1, and sorts the forms into the corresponding pockets 4 according to the recognition result. However, the number of pockets 4 is specifically set to 36, for example. When the classification of the form 1 is about 300, it is necessary to set the form 1 in this system several times and repeat the classification and sorting.
[0018]
In such a case, if the character is recognized each time, the recognition process may take time, and a recognition error is likely to occur. Therefore, in the present invention, a bar code that can be reliably read and hardly causes a reading error is used. Therefore, the bar code reading unit 15 shown in the drawing reads the bar code and uses the result for the second and subsequent classification processing. Since the first time uses the result of character recognition for sorting, and the second and subsequent times use the output of the barcode reading unit, both output signals are input to the sorting storage control unit 16. .
[0019]
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the image reading portion of the form.
As shown in the figure, the above-mentioned forms are input from the hopper 2 and sorted and stored in the pocket 4 through a character recognition process and the like. The figure shows four pockets. The other pockets are not shown here.
In this embodiment, a reading unit 23 is provided in order to recognize the characters written on the form.
[0020]
With the above configuration, the characters of the form conveyed on the conveyance path from the hopper 2 are recognized, and various processes are executed. If characters and frames are described in various colors on the form, an arbitrary number of reading units are provided according to the colors of the characters and frames. Specifically, it is necessary to recognize all characters written on the form, convert necessary ones into bar codes, print the bar codes, and then sort and store them in the pockets.
[0021]
The form is conveyed with the conveyance path shown in FIG. 4 facing down. The barcode printed on the back surface is read by the reading head 15 </ b> A of the barcode reading unit 15. The recognition result by each reading unit is converted into a barcode and printed by the print head 14A of the barcode printing unit 14. As already described, once the character recognition is completed, only the barcode reading unit 15 reads the classification of the form and controls the sorting process into the pockets 4 thereafter.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining specific data reading operations.
As shown in the figure, when the form 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, the reading unit 23 takes in the image of the form as image data. Thereafter, the character frame 24 is recognized, and the characters 25 therein are cut out one by one. In this way, a series of processes such as recognizing each character, converting it into a barcode, and printing the barcode is performed.
[0023]
FIG. 6 shows an operational flowchart of the method of the present invention.
In the example shown in FIG. 1 described above, the description has been made on the assumption that all the destinations can be stored in one pocket. However, when processing a large amount of forms, there is a case where one type of destination cannot be accommodated in one pocket. In general, there are several pockets in such a sorter, and when one of the pockets becomes full with a form, it becomes difficult to store the next form at that time, so the operation is performed. Stop. Therefore, in the example as shown in FIG. 1, two or three pockets for accommodating forms that are considered to exist in large quantities as a whole, such as destinations B1 and B2, are provided. When it becomes full, it is preferable to switch the storage destination to another pocket and execute the classification process non-stop.
[0024]
In addition, when a large number of pockets are provided in one classification, pockets for other classifications are reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, a maximum of two pockets are prepared for one classification and used alternately. That is, first, in step S1, the barcode printed on the back side of the form as described above is read, and in step S2, it is determined whether the pocket corresponding to the classification is full. If not full, the process moves to step S3, and the form is stored in the corresponding pocket. On the other hand, if the pocket is full, it is determined whether there is an alternative pocket. If there is an alternative pocket, the form is stored in the alternative pocket.
[0025]
If both of the two prepared pockets are full, the process moves to step S6, and the form is stored in the reject pocket. Also, if one of the two prepared pockets is full and the other contains a form, and the form is taken out of the full pocket, the original pocket will be restored again when the alternative pocket is full. Can be used. By such a method, a large number of forms can be efficiently and quickly stored in one of the pockets and sorted. Even if there is only one pocket, when the device is full and the sorting process is stopped, the form is immediately removed from the pocket and activated by pressing the restart button. Thus, it is possible to proceed with the classification and sorting process of the form relatively quickly.
[0026]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In the above embodiment, one past result data is prepared, and a classification destination having a high appearance frequency is assigned based on this data. However, the assignment method may be arbitrary, and the past result data may be a form type or the like. Various types may be prepared depending on the situation. Further, when a form that occupies a large proportion in the first sorting is taken out, the form is not necessarily finally classified. For example, the destination is B1 and B2, and the destination is B3 and B4. It is also possible to distribute some of them in a mixed state. Even in such a case, it is preferable to select the procedure so that the number of subsequent sets is minimized. Of course, the second and subsequent sorting processes may use past performance data.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the form classification processing method of the present invention described above, when the characters described on the form to be classified are recognized and sorted and stored in the pocket based on the recognized content, the classification results for the same kind of form Since data was prepared and an arbitrary classification destination with a high frequency of occurrence was assigned to a single pocket and many forms were excluded from the target of classification processing at an early stage, when sorting a large number of forms Therefore, the number of sheets set in the apparatus can be reduced, and the processing efficiency and the processing speed can be improved.
In addition, if you assign an arbitrary classification destination with a high frequency of appearance to multiple pockets and one of them becomes full, use the other and use the pockets alternately to sort the forms. Forms of the same classification destination can be processed smoothly and efficiently. Also, when any pocket becomes full, if the sorting and storing process for all pockets is temporarily suspended and the form can be resumed after taking out the form from the pocket, a large number of forms Efficient processing is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of form processing by the system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image reading portion of a form.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific reading operation.
FIG. 6 is an operational flowchart of the method of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Form 3 Body 4 Pocket B1-B8

Claims (3)

Sequentially reads out the classification data from a large number of forms with the same billing amount from the sender, and repeats the classification process to store the form with the corresponding classification data in each pocket corresponding to each classification data In the processing method,
The frequency of occurrence from the classification result data of the sender is rather large, and made to correspond to at least one or more specific pockets classification data the determination as to determine at least one or more classification data indicating the subdivision,
A form having the same classification data as the determined classification data is selected from the large number of forms, the selected form is stored in the specific pocket , and the billing amount is read from each selected form. Output the total value of the read billing amount,
A form classification processing method characterized by that.   2. The form classification processing method according to claim 1, wherein the determined classification data indicates a destination, and the selected form is stored in the specific pocket during the first classification process. Character classification data read from the form during the first classification process is converted into barcode classification data and printed on the form.
The form classification processing method according to claim 1, wherein the classification process is performed by reading the barcode classification data from the form during the second and subsequent classification processes.

Images