JP4160567B2 - Mail processing and operation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to processing performed for the purpose of receiving a reduction in charge when a large amount of mail is sent to a post office, and more particularly to an operation system that performs processing for satisfying various conditions as postal special mail.

Conventionally, the following processing methods are known for such processing.
For example, in order to manufacture 1 million mail items and send them to the post office, a data check is performed to check whether special mail items in the postal district can be applied before the address is printed. If 200,000 mails of 20% can be applied, make them separate groups and print the specified [Special in the postal ward] in the address printing area margin, and if it does not print, it is called [Special in the postal ward] Manufactures mail using a separate printed envelope. That is, data sorting is performed in advance, and two systems of corresponding products and non-corresponding products are produced.

  According to the current regulations, postal items that have the same shape, weight, and handling from the same sender, and that are undertaken and delivered only within the same postal district, are treated as special postal items within the postal district. Special rate discounts are available. Summarizing one of the application examples, omitting the details of the stipulated conditions and fee structure, if there are more than 1000 mail pieces in the same post office and you send directly to that station, you can receive a large discount . However, in that case, it is necessary to clearly indicate that it is [Special in Postal Zone]. It is the contents.

As a result, the 1 million examples can be reduced in cost by 20% of the total amount due to the cost increase factor of producing two systems. However, when five brands of similar mail items (for example, card companies) are integrated into the paperwork, the only way to reduce costs is to rely on a great deal of manual work or to produce two systems as usual. Is the actual situation.
The reason is that the database of each of the five integrated stocks is built with its own management system. To build a new system for centrally managing them, excessive risks and enormous costs are required. It becomes.

Needless to say, with the two-line production system in which data is sorted for each brand, if the percentage of special mail within the city is 20% for each brand, the percentage of the total amount will be 20%. However, according to the rule that the number of mails sent simultaneously to one post office is 1000 or more, even if there are only 1 brand and 250 mails, if 5 brands are combined, the total will be 1250 mails, which will be treated as special mail within the city. Can do. In other words, there is a characteristic that the corresponding ratio increases dramatically as the amount increases.
Therefore, the present invention is not the conventional two-system production processing method described above, but first, the production is performed as usual, and then the whole quantity is classified and reprinted as [Special in the postal ward]. It aims to achieve the best cost reduction, and provides an innovative processing operation system incorporating a new feeding device and image processing technology.

That is, the mail processing and operation system according to the present invention includes a step of grouping a large number of pieces of mail according to delivery destination codes, a step of feeding the sorted pieces of mail one by one into a transport line, The process of reading the destination code such as the zip code and customer barcode written in the address section, the process of checking the read code against the special mail code in the postal ward previously stored in the database, and not applicable based on the result of verification Along with the process of automatically discharging the product from the transport line, then the reprinting process for stamping or printing on the corresponding product, the process of counting the number of reprints by group, the corresponding code of the totals or the converted post office name It consists of the process of printing out the total number of mails. The processed postal matter is packed with the printed paper and sent to the post office. That step, is composed of the above steps, in the step of feeding one by one copy of the mail piece in the conveying line, and a mailpiece arranged overlapped in forward descending inclined feed conveyor provided with the feeding means positioned for supplying the most forward position , Using a feeding device comprising a suction feeding mechanism that engages and transports the mail in the forefront position on the supply conveyor, and the suction feeding mechanism includes a rotating drum that is rotatably supported by the machine body, A suction drive shaft provided in parallel with the center of rotation at an eccentric position of the rotary drum, and fixing an external gear meshing with an internal gear fixed to the machine body to one end of the suction drive shaft, A plurality of suction pads are provided radially at the other end of the suction drive shaft, and only in a predetermined stroke section in the movement trajectory of the suction pads formed as the rotary drum rotates. The wear pad sucked actuated, comprising the valve mechanism to enable the suction conveyance of the postal matter.

In addition, the mail processing and operation system according to the present invention relates to a process of automatically discharging non-corresponding goods from the conveyance line, and includes a process of discharging defective mail such as no address, defective address portion printing, and reading error. It is characterized by being systematized, and achieves improved operational availability.
Also, in the process of sending mails one by one to the transport line, a dummy is inserted at the switching of mails that have been grouped in advance, the dummy is automatically detected, and the special mail in the postal ward that is read first after the dummy The corresponding product code is used as the group code, and the postal code verification process identifies the mixed mail, and the automatic discharge process for non-applicable products is added to achieve continuous system operation.

  According to the mail processing and operation system according to the present invention, a special mail piece in a postal ward to which a large discount is applied is picked up and a required display is performed in a series of steps for a mail piece to be sent in large quantities. Can be done. Further, it is possible to eliminate mistakes such as mixing of products with different numbers or errors in the display and the actual number, and the quality can be greatly improved as compared with the manual construction method. Therefore, it is clear that a significant cost reduction can be achieved and it can contribute to the industry.

Hereinafter, the system of the present application will be described based on the explanatory diagrams illustrated in the drawings.
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in FIG. 1, 3 indicates a mail piece, and the one placed on the supply conveyor 1 is the leading one in the suction conveyance mechanism 2 connected to the dry pump 2 c which is a suction source. Are sequentially fed onto the transfer table 5 one by one. The sent postal matter 3 is pushed on the table 5 by the fingers of the chain conveyor 4 and sequentially conveyed leftward on the paper surface.

  The postal items 3 set on the supply conveyor 1 are grouped in advance according to the postal code. This is because the postal matter captured for each predetermined number of mails in the previous stage of this process is classified by the unit as it is. In the present application, this is called a group division process, and at least if it corresponds to the special postal matter in the city that can be grasped from the data, for example, if it is shipped in 400 cardboard boxes, it is close to each number. Each group is divided into groups, the grasp is released for each group, and the sheets are sequentially set on the supply conveyor 1.

The mail 3 sent on the transport path formed by the transport table 5 and the chain conveyor 4 is first imaged at the address portion by the image input device 6 having the camera 6a and the illumination 6b for capturing the address portion. The image is input to the PC.
Further, on the downstream side, there are provided two sets of reject devices 7 comprising a reject cylinder 7a provided at the lower part of the transport table 5 and a pair of transport belts installed above it, and are activated as required. Based on the discharge signal, the target mail is automatically discharged during its transport. For example, a postal code that does not correspond to a special mail in the postal ward, or a postal code that is different from the group that is currently in progress, or that does not have a specific description in the address section, or that cannot be recognized by OCR processing after image input For the read defective products and the like, the operation mechanism of each reject device 7 is activated based on the yes determination of the category (1) and the category (2) in FIG.

  Specifically, the rod of the reject cylinder 7a protrudes in a timely manner and is conveyed while being pushed by the fingers of the chain conveyor 4 and is guided between the pair of belts by the inclined rod. The postal items once held are discharged into the discharge pocket. In the figure, 3a indicates the excluded mail piece.

Then, the postal matter 3 from which the defective product and the mixed product have been removed is continuously conveyed, passes through the next stamping device 15 and is additionally printed with the characters “Special in the postal district”. Of course, the additional printing of the characters can be replaced by any means such as a known ink jet printer.
4A and 4B illustrate detailed views of the stamping device 15. FIG. The apparatus includes an ink roll 16 in which ink is impregnated, a stamp backup bracket 17 that rotates in synchronization with the chain conveyor 4 at the bottom of the postal matter 3, and a rubber stamp 16a at the top of the postal matter. A stamp bracket 16a is provided which is provided at two places and abuts against the ink roll 16 while rotating synchronously with the backup bracket 17 and compensates the rubber stamp 16b with ink.

  Although not shown in the drawings when passing through the stamping device, OCR recognition is performed based on a detection signal of a work sensor that detects a mail piece 3 that is passing through and input information from an image pickup means comprising the image input device 6. Count the number of mails while associating them with the postal codes. In other words, not the number sent by the feeding device 2 but the total number corresponding to the special mail within the ward is automatically counted for each group. Accordingly, when the group to be processed changes, it is reset to zero and a new counting is started. Then, as shown at 12 in the figure, the total number is printed out together with the postal code of the group or the post office name corresponding to the postal code. If the printed paper is a label, the paper is pasted and packed in a box packed with processed mail, and if it is a paper for packing, it is packed together with the processed mail.

  Next, as for the postal stamped postal matter 3, as shown in the figure, the conveyance is continued and it is carried out to the carry-out conveyor 8 after passing through the kicker installation point indicated by the next 9. The kicker 9 is activated as necessary, and when the postal items are kicked from the upper side to the lower side (see FIG. 2), when the postal items are arranged on the carry-out conveyor 8, only a kicked item is visible. If it demonstrates concretely, it will be the structure which makes the kicker 9 protrude only for a predetermined short time by the determination of classification (3) yes, and classifies only the applicable goods in an irregular posture. That is, the determination of the category (3) is “yes” every time the preset number of mails is reached, for example, every 20 mails, and when necessary, at the group switching, etc., on the discharge conveyor 8 It collects the processed mail from, and assists them in packing and packing them with rubber bands.

Next, the output database 10 and the input database 11 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
First, as for the output database 10, it goes without saying that information such as the number of items relating to defective or mixed products and various information such as the number of items relating to processed products are sequentially recorded as operation records. . On the other hand, the input database 11 stores information related to a zip code that can be a special postal matter in the postal ward. For example, from the initial data for creating postal items, the number of mails sent to the same post office is 1000 or more, or a slightly larger value is set in consideration of the safety factor, and more postal codes are sorted. Stores postal code list data as a basis for verification.

  Further, regarding OCR recognition, the camera 6a of the image input device 6 is used to capture an image by using a postal code written in numbers or a customer bar code written together, and the ID of the addressee. It is also possible to perform OCR recognition using a number or work sequence number. In such a case, conversion is performed via a postal code database associated with each relevant number, and the postal code is recognized.

The above is the details of the mail processing operation system of the present invention. Next, a method for improving the operation efficiency as much as possible will be described based on FIG.
In the figure, 3c is a postal dummy, and 14 is a sensor for detecting the postal dummy 3c. For example, if a postal dummy 3c in which a metal piece is enclosed in an envelope is used, the sensor 14 is a proximity switch sensor that detects the metal piece. Further, a combination of an envelope having a color different from the postal matter 3 to be processed and a color sensor for detecting the color may be used. Alternatively, it is possible to recognize that the envelope is a dummy by printing a specific postal code that does not exist without using the sensor 14 and performing OCR recognition based on an input from the camera 6a.

  In any case, if the dummy 3c is inserted at the switching of the mail group to be processed, the processing can be continuously performed without interrupting the operation. That is, after passing through the dummy, the postal code that is recognized first and corresponds to the special mail in the ward is used as the postal code of this group, and then this number is used as the verification source until the dummy is detected. is there.

Next, the most preferable mail delivery device used in the mail processing of the present application will be described with reference to FIG.
That is, the illustrated apparatus is composed of the supply conveyor 1 and the suction feeding mechanism 2, and the postal matter 3 placed on the supply conveyor 1 is supplied to the transfer table 5 one by one as described above. . The supply conveyor 1 includes a conveyor belt 1a, and the suction feeding mechanism 2 includes a suction pad 2a. The four suction pads 2a are provided radially, and are sucked and conveyed while being engaged with the foremost postal items one after another during operation.

  It should be noted here that the mail piece 3 is placed. In the present application, it is expressed that they are stacked in a forward and downward inclination. However, this arrangement is very simple in the replenishment work of the postal matter 3, and the buffer amount required for high-speed operation is the transport area of the conveyor belt 1a. There is an advantage that can be secured over the entire area. For example, there is a feature that the next postal matter can be continuously replenished at both 1 m and 2 m, and the weight load of the postal matter itself does not reach the frontmost postal matter.

  6 and 7, the foremost part of the mail items 3 arranged on the supply conveyor is illustrated. In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a reflection type optical sensor that detects the lower edge of the front mail piece. Although not shown, the conveyor belt of the supply conveyor 1 is controlled based on the detection signal of the reflective optical sensor 26. For example, when the postal item 3 being detected is carried out and is in a non-detection state, the mail piece 3 is activated until the next one is detected, and the front one is always controlled to be at the same position.

  Similarly, in the case of FIG. 7, an example in which the transmissive optical sensor 27 is used, and a state in which some of the frontmost portions overlap each other is illustrated. This is an example of the case where the front end is positioned by providing a stopper 28 and forming a state in which some are intentionally raised. Of course, there are many types of sensors, and they are appropriately selected from capacitive proximity switches and distance measurement sensors, etc., and at the same time, equipped with the presence / absence and shape of the stopper installed. In addition, although it is simple to comprise the supply conveyor 1 by providing the conveyor belt 1a, it is also possible to substitute with the corresponding feeding means.

  FIG. 9 illustrates an example different from the example of FIG. 5 with respect to the position where the suction pad 2a engages with the frontmost envelope. That is, as compared with the example of FIG. 5 engaged at the lower end near the conveyor belt 1a, the suction pad 2a is engaged at the middle position of the mail piece 3 in this example. Of course, both are preferable devices, but if the positioning reference of the supply conveyor is the lower end, it is configured to match the lower end, and if the center part in the middle is the positioning point, the engagement position is also adjusted to that. desirable.

  Further, FIG. 8 illustrates the inclination of the mail piece 3. In the figure, 29 indicates an angle with respect to the conveyor belt, but about 15 to 60 °, especially about 25 to 40 ° is appropriate. The apparatus of the present application is configured in consideration of the fact that some angle change is involved in the work practice. For example, it is preferable that the pad 2a has a bellows structure so that the suction surface thereof is angularly driven with respect to the mail piece 3. The material of the pad 2a is generally an elastic body such as rubber, and the postal matter itself can be easily deformed, so that the engagement relationship is not necessarily strict.

Next, the suction feeding mechanism 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 10, 32 is a rotating drum provided with a timing pulley 33 driven from a prime mover (not shown), and 30 is a mechanism body (housing). The rotating drum 32 is rotatably supported via a bearing 34. Further, a suction drive shaft 40 having a center line extending in parallel with the drum 32 at an eccentric position in the drum 32 is provided via a needle bearing 45. Further, an external gear 39 is provided at the right end of the suction drive shaft 40 and meshes with the internal gear 31 fixed to the body 30 as shown in FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 46 denotes a thrust bearing that regulates the thrust load of the suction drive shaft 40.

  On the other hand, a cross-shaped pad holder 47 is provided at the left end of the suction drive shaft 40, and four suction pads 2a are provided radially at one place. That is, two pad pieces 49 are provided in one pad pin 48, and the suction pad 2a is attached to each piece to form a pore path for suction as shown in FIG. It connects with the valve mechanism mentioned later via the secondary side tube 50. FIG.

In the present example, the valve mechanism is a mechanical type. In other words, the stator 41 and the rotor 43 constitute a switching valve (valve). The stator 41 is provided on the drive shaft 40 via a bearing, and is not rotated by a rotation stop rod 44. . In other words, the rotation of the rotation stop rod 44 is restrained and held by the housing 35 fixed to the machine body 30 via the bearing 36 and the slide bearing 37, thereby restricting the rotation of the stator 41. Also the primary side tube 42 in the stator 41 is a pipe, is connected to the suction pump via a solenoid valve if necessary.

  On the other hand, the rotor 43 is fixed on the shaft so as to rotate together with the drive shaft 40, and one end of the secondary tube 50 is connected to the other end, and the other end is connected to the four pad pins 48 described above. That is, the pores of the rotor 43 with respect to the stator 41 are appropriately designed, and the suction operation to the suction pad 2a is mechanically defined. The valve mechanism can be appropriately configured by a known means such as an electric control type other than this example. In short, it is designed so that each suction pad 2a performs a suction operation in the section of points 38a to 38b in the movement locus 38 of the pad 2a shown in FIGS.

  Further, adjustment may be made such that the suction is started from a position slightly before reaching the point 38a, or started somewhat later. Similarly, the position at which suction of the suction pad 2a is finished is 38b in this example, but it can be freely extended before or after that or to the points 38c to 38d as necessary. In order to open the postal matter 3 adsorbed from the suction pad 2a at the suction end position, the concept called vacuum break may be provided. In other words, not only blocking the pore path from the vacuum source, but also allowing the atmosphere to flow in at the same time as switching off or switching to pressurized air, so that the adsorbing and releasing of mails can be completed instantaneously. . Moreover, in order to ensure the sliding surface sealing degree of the stator 41 and the rotor 43, the structure which presses both with a spring is also illustrated.

  Next, the movement trajectory of the suction pad 2a in these examples will be described in detail. In the case of the embodiment apparatus of FIG. 5, the movement locus of the suction pad 2 a is as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and this locus is defined by the gear ratio of the external gear 39 and the internal gear 31. What is illustrated is a ratio of 4: 5, and its locus is a curve indicated by 38. In other words, it is a circular trajectory with a central angle of 72 ° and a pentagonal curve. In addition, the valve mechanism is designed and configured so that the section of points 38a to 38b becomes the section for sending the postal matter 3.

  In the present invention device, the gear ratio can be set to 3: 4. In this case, although not shown in the figure, the movement locus of the pad 2a is a circular locus with a central angle of 90 degrees and becomes a quadrangular curve, the pad holder extends in three directions, and the pads 2a to be mounted radially are at three locations. It becomes the device of. Similarly, when the gear ratio is 5: 6, it becomes a hexagonal shape with a central angle of 60 °, and the pad 2a is attached at five locations, and when it is 6: 7, a hexagonal shape with a central angle of 51.428 °. The pad 2a can be attached to form 6 devices. In any case, it is sufficient to determine which section of the movement locus is used as the transport section of the mail item 3 by designing the valve mechanism.

  As described above, the details of the mail processing operation system according to the present invention have been described. However, there is a possibility that the contents of the special postal mail in the postal district or the corresponding requirements may be changed due to the revision of the rules. For example, the current number of messages is defined as 1000 or more, and more than that, but the number may be multi-staged according to the discount rate, or the name change, display change, and other requirements May be changed.

In addition, the current industry scheme, such as a change in the name of the current post office, a private courier mail service, a proxy by a posting company, etc., is extremely chaotic, and it is possible that the wording used in this application will change. In view of the technical idea of the invention, it should be clearly stated that what implements the present construction method is included in the present invention.
Similarly, the present invention can be applied to non-standard-size mails without being limited to fixed-size mails, and can be implemented even in an era when the concept of non-standard / non-standard-size disappears. In essence, it is based on the economic principle that the quantity is discounted, and whether it is a post office or a private company, the significance of implementing the present invention does not change.

Explanatory drawing for demonstrating this application system. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating this application system. Explanatory drawing when operating the system with a dummy interposed. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating a reprint apparatus. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating a sending-in apparatus. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for explaining in detail the configuration of the suction feeding mechanism. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the sending locus | trajectory by the pad of a sending mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

1 .... Supply conveyor, 2 .... Suction feed mechanism, 2a ... Suction pad, 2c ... Dry pump, 3 .... Mail, 4.Chain conveyor, 5 .... Conveyance table, 6 .... Image input device , 7 .. Rejection device, 8 .. Unloading conveyor, 9 .. Kicker, 10 .. Output data base, 11 .. Input data base, 12 .. Printing means, 13 .. Stamping section, 14. .., 26 .. Reflection type optical sensor, 27 .. Transmission type optical sensor, 28 .... Front stopper, 30 ... Airframe, 31 ... Internal gear, 32 ... Rotary drum, 33 ... Timing pulley, 34 ... Bearing , 36 .. Bearing, 37 .. Slide bearing, 38 .. Movement locus, 39 .. External gear, 40 .. Adsorption drive shaft, 41 .. Mechanical valve stator, 42. , 43 ..Mechanical valve rotor, 44 ..Mechanical valve rotation stop rod, 45 ..Needle bearing, 46 ..Thrust bearing, 47 ..Suction pad holder, 48 ..Pad pin, 49 ..Pad piece, 50. Secondary tube.

Claims (3)

The process of grouping a large number of mail items by destination code, the process of sending the sorted mail items one by one into the transport line, the postal code described in the address part of the sent mail items, the customer barcode, etc. A step of reading a destination code, a step of collating the read code with a postal special mail code stored in the database in advance, a step of automatically discharging a non-corresponding product from the transport line based on the collation result, and a corresponding product Reprinting process for stamping or printing on, printing the number of reprints for each group, printing the total number of mails together with the corresponding code or converted post office name, processed postal items Is packed with the printed paper and sent to the relevant post office .
In the process of sending the postal items one by one to the transport line,
A feed conveyor provided with feeding means for positioning and feeding the postal items stacked at a forward and downward inclination to the foremost position; and an adsorption feeding mechanism for engaging and conveying the postal items at the forefront position on the supply conveyor; The suction feeding mechanism includes a rotary drum that is rotatably supported by the machine body, and a suction drive shaft that is provided in parallel with the center of rotation at an eccentric position of the rotary drum. An external gear meshing within an internal gear fixed to the airframe is fixed to one end of the drive shaft, while a plurality of suction pads are provided radially to the other end of the suction drive shaft, and the rotation drum rotates. to wherein with a valve mechanism for enabling suction conveyance of the mail matter and sucked operating said suction pads only a predetermined stroke section at the moving path of the suction pad formed Te Handling system of mail.   2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the process of automatically discharging non-corresponding products from the transport line includes a process of discharging defective mail items such as no address, address portion printing defect and reading error. Mail processing and operation system. In the process of sending postal items one by one to the transport line, a dummy is inserted at the switching of mail items that have been grouped in advance, and the dummy is automatically detected. 3. The mail processing / operation system according to claim 1, wherein the mail is identified and processed in the collation process of the reading code by using the code as a code of the group.

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