JP4387513B2 - Paper sheet sorting apparatus and paper sheet sorting method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper sheet sorting apparatus that reads an image of a paper sheet such as a postal letter such as a sealed letter or a postcard, discriminates a sorting destination, and sorts and accumulates the classified sorting destination, and a paper sheet sorting method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a paper sheet sorting apparatus, a supply unit that supplies a plurality of paper sheets, a take-out unit that takes out the supplied paper sheets one by one, a reading unit that reads an image of the taken-out paper sheets, and a read image From the above, there is known a discriminating unit for discriminating the sorting destination of the paper sheet and a sorting and accumulating unit for sorting and accumulating the paper sheet according to the discrimination result in the discriminating unit.
[0003]
The discriminating unit controls the image data sent from the reading unit to selectively recognize the sorting destination of the paper sheet and the image data sent from the reading unit to the plurality of recognizing units. Has a part.
[0004]
When the image data is sent to the control unit, an assignment table that determines the order in which the image data is assigned to the plurality of recognition units is referred to, and the image data is sent to a predetermined recognition unit. Upon receiving the image data, the recognizing unit refers to the database regarding the paper sheet sorting destination, recognizes the paper sheet sorting destination, and transmits the recognition result to the control unit. The control unit determines the sorting destination of the paper sheet based on the transmitted recognition result.
[0005]
At this time, in the control unit, the recognition unit that has transmitted the recognition result is registered again at the end of the allocation table.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, since the recognition unit that has transmitted the recognition result is re-registered at the end of the allocation table in order, even a recognition unit whose recognition rate is reduced due to a substrate failure or the like is regarded as a normal recognition unit. Assigned in the same way. For this reason, if there is a recognition unit with a reduced recognition rate, the reduction in the recognition rate has an effect on the entire apparatus, and there is a problem that the recognition rate is lowered as the entire sorting apparatus.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve a paper sheet sorting destination recognition rate and improve paper sheet processing efficiency, and paper. It is to provide a leaf classification method.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention recognizes the sorting destination of each paper sheet by processing a reading unit that reads an image of a plurality of paper sheets and processing the image read by the reading unit. A plurality of recognizing units, a control unit that assigns an image read by the reading unit to one of the plurality of recognizing units, and the paper sheets that are classified by the plurality of recognizing units. The control means is configured to prioritize image allocation to a recognition unit whose recognition rate of the classification destination is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined percentage or more. demoted, if it can not allocate the images to another recognition unit separate from the recognition unit lowered this allocation priority, and allocates an image recognition unit for lowering the allocation priority.
[0009]
Further, the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention includes a reading unit that reads an image of a plurality of paper sheets, a determination unit that processes an image read by the reading unit and determines a sorting destination of each paper sheet, A sorting and accumulating unit for sorting and accumulating each paper sheet at the sorting destination discriminated by the discriminating unit, and the discriminating unit processes the image read by the reading unit to recognize the sorting destination of each paper sheet. A first table in which a plurality of recognition units, a recognition unit having a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination exceeding a predetermined level among the plurality of recognition units, and a paper sheet among the plurality of recognition units A second table in which a recognition unit whose classification destination recognition rate is equal to or lower than the predetermined level is registered, and the image read by the reading unit has priority over the recognition unit registered in the second table; While assigning to the recognition unit registered in the first table, Based from the recognition unit to receiving the recognition results for sorting destination of the paper sheet, the recognition rate of the recognition unit which has transmitted this recognition result is determined, the recognition recognition rate of the recognition unit of the plurality of recognition units And a control unit that registers the recognition unit in the second table when the rate is lower than the average by a predetermined rate or more.
[0010]
According to the above-described invention, when the recognition unit registers a recognition unit whose recognition rate is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined rate or more in the second table, the control unit has already registered the second table. If there is another recognition unit, the recognition rates of these recognition units are compared and registered in descending order of recognition rate.
[0011]
Further, the paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads an image of a plurality of paper sheets, a determination unit that processes an image read by the reading unit and determines a sorting destination of the paper sheet. And a sorting and accumulating unit for sorting and accumulating the paper sheets at the sorting destination determined by the discriminating unit, and the discriminating unit processes the image read by the reading unit to sort the paper sheets. A first table in which a plurality of recognition units for recognizing a recognition unit, a recognition unit having a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination exceeding a predetermined level among the plurality of recognition units, and a paper sheet among the plurality of recognition units A second table in which recognition units whose classification destinations have a recognition rate equal to or lower than the predetermined level are registered, and a third table in which the number of image processing times of each recognition unit is stored. Prior to the recognition unit registered in the second table above The number of processings of the image of the recognition unit that has transmitted the recognition result is assigned to the recognition unit registered in the first table and the recognition result regarding the paper sheet sorting destination is received from each recognition unit. Acquired from the third table, the recognition rate of the recognition unit is determined on the condition that the number of processing times exceeds a predetermined number, and the recognition rate of the recognition unit is predetermined from the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units And a control unit that registers the recognition unit in the second table when the ratio is lower than the ratio.
[0012]
According to the above-described invention, when the recognition unit registers a recognition unit whose recognition rate is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined rate or more in the second table, the control unit has already registered the second table. If there is another recognition unit, the recognition rates of these recognition units are compared and registered in descending order of recognition rate.
[0013]
Furthermore, according to the paper sheet classification method of the present invention, images of a plurality of paper sheets are read, the read image is assigned to one recognition unit among the plurality of recognition units , and the image assigned by each recognition unit is assigned. A method of processing and recognizing corresponding paper sheet classification destinations, and sorting and accumulating paper sheets in the recognized classification destinations, wherein among the plurality of recognition units, the classification destination recognition rate is the plurality of recognition units. If the image allocation priority for a recognition unit lower than the average of the recognition rate is lower than a predetermined ratio and the image cannot be allocated to another recognition unit different from the recognition unit whose allocation priority is lowered , the allocation priority is determined. An image is assigned to a recognition unit whose rank is lowered.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a paper sheet sorting apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a sorting apparatus 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
The sorting apparatus 1 stores a plurality of paper sheets each containing information related to a sorting destination in a standing position with one end aligned, and sequentially supplies these paper sheets to a predetermined take-out position. It has.
[0017]
At the take-out position of the paper sheets located at the right end of the supply unit 2 in the drawing, a take-out unit 4 for taking out the paper sheets supplied by the supply unit 2 one by one on the main transport path 3 is provided. Yes.
[0018]
On the main transport path 3 on the downstream side of the take-out section 4, a positioning section 5 is provided for positioning the transporting posture of the paper sheets. On the transport path branched from the main transport path 3 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the positioning unit 5, there is a reject stacking unit (not shown) that excludes paper sheets whose transport posture is detected by a sensor (not shown). Is provided.
[0019]
On the main conveyance path 3 on the downstream side of the alignment unit 5 in the conveyance direction, a reading unit 6 that reads an image of a surface on which information relating to a paper sheet sorting destination is described is provided.
[0020]
On the main conveyance path 3 further downstream in the conveyance direction of the reading unit 6, a printing unit 8 is provided that prints a barcode related to the sorting destination of the sheet on the sheet as necessary.
[0021]
The main transport path 3 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the printing unit 8 is extended for a relatively long time to dry the ink on which the barcode is printed. A sorting and accumulating unit 14 for sorting and accumulating is connected.
[0022]
The sorting and accumulating unit 14 has a plurality of sorting pockets 15 partitioned into a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows. The sorting / stacking unit 14 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, 52 sorting pockets 15 in four stages and 13 rows. A sorting gate (not shown) is provided above each sorting pocket 15, and paper sheets are sorted and accumulated in a predetermined sorting pocket 15 by selectively switching these sorting gates. .
[0023]
A plurality of switching gates (not shown) corresponding to the respective stage path portions 16 of the sorting / stacking unit 14 are provided near the end of the main transport path 3 toward the sorting / stacking unit 14, and by selectively switching each switching gate, The main transport path 3 is selectively connected to one of a plurality of stages through each stage path unit 16.
[0024]
Further, an operation panel 18 for receiving various input operations by an operator is provided on the right front surface of the sorting apparatus 1 in the drawing.
[0025]
Thus, the plurality of sheets fed through the supply unit 2 are sequentially taken out one by one through the take-out unit 4 and conveyed through the main conveyance path 3. The sheet conveyed through the main conveyance path 3 is read when the sheet passes through the reading unit 6. The read image is processed by a determination unit (described later) connected to the reading unit 6, and the determination unit determines the sorting destination of the paper sheet. The paper sheets that have passed through the reading unit 6 are sorted and accumulated in a predetermined sorting pocket 15 according to the discrimination result in the discrimination unit.
[0026]
Next, the above-described determination unit will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the determination unit 20 includes a plurality of database units 21 that store data related to the sorting destination of the paper sheets, and refers to the data registered in these database units 21 to read the reading unit. 6 has a plurality of recognition units 22 for processing the image data sent from 6 and recognizing the sorting destination of the paper sheet. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 20 includes 24 recognition units 22.
[0028]
The determination unit 20 includes three control units 24 a to 24 c that assign the image data sequentially sent from the reading unit 6 to the plurality of recognition units 22. Of these three control units, the control unit 24a that receives image data from the reading unit 6 functions as a master unit and controls the other subunits 24b and 24c.
[0029]
Further, the determination unit 20 includes a plurality of image display units 26 that display images being processed by the respective recognition units 22 and transmit / receive various data to / from a video coding system (VCS) (not shown). The VCS receives the image data that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 22 together with the processing number of the paper sheet, and returns the data encoded by the operator together with the processing number.
[0030]
The control unit 24a functioning as a master unit stores the allocation order of the recognition units 22 having a normal level recognition rate, for example, the first table as shown in FIG. 3, and the recognition unit 22 having only a recognition rate below a certain level. For example, the second table as shown in FIG. 4 storing the allocation order, the number of image data supplied to each recognition unit 22, the number of recognitions that can recognize the classification destination, the recognition rate, etc. are stored for each unit. A recognition rate table as shown in FIG.
[0031]
Next, the determination operation in the determination unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0032]
When the control unit 24a of the determination unit 20 receives the image data sent from the reading unit 6 together with the processing number of the paper sheet (step 1; YES), the control unit 24a displays the first table as shown in FIG. , It is determined whether or not image data can be assigned to any of the recognition units 22 registered in the first table (step 2). As a result of this determination, when the image data can be assigned to the recognition unit 22 registered in the first table (step 2; YES), the control unit 24a is included in the recognition units 22 registered in the first table. Image data is assigned to the recognition unit 22 having the highest assignment order together with the processing number of the paper sheet (step 3).
[0033]
On the other hand, if all the recognition units 22 registered in the first table are busy as a result of the determination in step 2 and image data cannot be assigned to these recognition units 22 (step 2; NO), The control unit 24a assigns the image data to the recognition unit 22 having the highest assignment order among the recognition units 22 registered in the second table (step 4).
[0034]
In any case, the recognition unit 22 to which the image data is assigned by the control unit 24a refers to the database 21 and recognizes the sorting destination of the paper sheet (step 5). The recognition result by the recognition unit 22 in step 5, that is, the data related to the sorting destination of the paper sheet is returned to the control unit 24a together with the processing number of the paper sheet (step 6).
[0035]
At this time, the control unit 24a sends the data relating to the sorting destination returned in step 6 to the control unit (not shown) of the sorting apparatus 1 together with the processing number of the sheet, and refers to the recognition rate table illustrated in FIG. The number of processing of the image data by the recognition unit 22 that has returned the answer, that is, the number of supply of the image data supplied to the recognition unit 22 is determined to determine whether the supply number is, for example, 100 times or more ( Step 7). As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the number of times image data has been processed is 100 or more (step 7; YES), the recognition rate of the recognition unit is compared with the average of the recognition rates of all recognition units, It is determined whether or not the recognition rate of the recognition unit is, for example, 30% or more lower than the average (step 8). As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the recognition rate of the recognition unit 22 is lower than the average by 30% or more (step 8 YES), the recognition unit 22 is registered in the second table illustrated in FIG. 4 (step 9). . At this time, when another recognition unit 22 is already registered in the second table, recognition units having a lower recognition rate are registered in a lower order.
[0036]
In this way, the recognition unit 22 registered in the second table is assigned image data only when all the recognition units 22 registered in the first table are in a busy state, otherwise, Image data is sequentially assigned to the recognition units 22 stored in the first table.
[0037]
On the other hand, it is determined in step 7 that the number of times image data is processed by the recognition unit 22 is less than 100, or in step 8, the difference between the recognition rate of the recognition unit 22 and the average recognition rate is less than 30%, for example. (Step 7; NO or Step 8; NO), the recognition unit 22 is registered at the lowest position of the first table (Step 10).
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first table in which the recognition units having a relatively high recognition rate among the plurality of recognition units 22 of the determination unit 20 that determines the sorting destination of the paper sheet are registered. And a second table in which units having a relatively low recognition rate are registered. In normal processing, image data is assigned to recognition units registered in the first table, and all recognitions registered in the first table are assigned. Only when the unit is busy, the image data is assigned to the recognition unit registered in the second table. For this reason, when the recognition rate of a specific recognition unit among a plurality of recognition units is reduced, the recognition unit with the reduced recognition rate can be registered in the second table having a low priority. It is possible to minimize the influence of a decrease in recognition rate. As a result, the sorting apparatus 1 as a whole can suppress a decrease in the recognition rate, can increase the recognition rate of the entire apparatus, and can increase the processing efficiency of paper sheets.
[0039]
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the scope of this invention.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, it is possible to increase the recognition rate of the paper sheet sorting destination, and to process the paper sheets. Efficiency can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a paper sheet sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a determination unit incorporated in the paper sheet sorting apparatus in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first table of a control unit in the determination unit of FIG. 2;
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second table of a control unit in the determination unit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a recognition rate table of a control unit in the determination unit in FIG. 2;
6 is a flowchart for explaining a discrimination operation in the discrimination unit of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Paper sheet sorting device,
2 ... supply section,
3 ... main transport path,
4 ... Extraction part,
5 ... Positioning part,
6 ... reading unit,
8 ... Printing section,
14 ... division accumulation part,
15 ... Division pocket,
16: Step pass section,
18 ... Control panel,
20: Discriminator,
21 ... Database unit,
22: Recognition unit,
24a to 24c: control unit,
26: Image display unit.

Claims (6)

Reading means for reading an image of a plurality of paper sheets;
A plurality of recognizing units that process the image read by the reading unit and recognize the sorting destination of each paper sheet;
The image read by the reading means and control means for allocating the one recognition unit among the plurality of recognition units,
Sorting and accumulating means for sorting and accumulating the paper sheet at the sorting destination recognized by the plurality of recognition units,
The control means lowers the allocation priority of the image to the recognition unit whose recognition rate of the classification destination is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined percentage or more, and lowers the allocation priority. A paper sheet sorting apparatus , wherein when an image cannot be assigned to another recognition unit different from the recognition unit, the image is assigned to a recognition unit whose assignment priority is lowered. Reading means for reading an image of a plurality of paper sheets;
A discriminating unit for processing an image read by the reading unit to discriminate a sorting destination of each paper sheet;
A sorting and accumulating means for sorting and accumulating each paper sheet at the sorting destination determined by the determining means;
The discrimination means is
A plurality of recognition units for processing the image read by the reading means and recognizing the sorting destination of each paper sheet;
A first table in which a recognition unit having a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination exceeding a predetermined level among the plurality of recognition units is registered, and a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination among the plurality of recognition units is A second table in which a recognition unit having a level equal to or lower than the predetermined level is registered, and an image read by the reading unit is registered in the first table in preference to the recognition unit registered in the second table; And the recognition rate of the recognition unit that has transmitted the recognition result is determined based on the recognition result regarding the paper sheet classification destination from each recognition unit. And a control unit that registers the recognition unit in the second table when the rate is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined rate or more. When the control unit registers a recognition unit whose recognition rate is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined rate or more in the second table, another recognition unit already registered in the second table The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in some cases, the recognition rates of these recognition units are compared and registered in descending order of recognition rate. Reading means for reading an image of a plurality of paper sheets;
A discriminating means for processing the image read by the reading means to discriminate the sorting destination of the paper sheet;
A sorting and accumulating means for sorting and accumulating the paper sheet at the sorting destination determined by the determining means;
The discrimination means is
A plurality of recognition units for processing the image read by the reading means and recognizing the sorting destination of each paper sheet;
A first table in which a recognition unit having a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination exceeding a predetermined level among the plurality of recognition units is registered, and a recognition rate of a paper sheet classification destination among the plurality of recognition units is It has a second table that registers recognition units that are below a predetermined level, and a third table that stores the number of times the image processing of each recognition unit has been performed, and registers the images read by the reading means in the second table The recognition unit is assigned to the recognition unit registered in the first table in preference to the recognized recognition unit, and the recognition result is transmitted based on the recognition result regarding the paper sheet sorting destination from each recognition unit. the processing times of the recognition of the image acquired from the third table, the number of treatments to determine the recognition rate of the recognition unit on condition that it exceeds the predetermined number, the multiple recognition rate of the recognition section Average recognition rate And a control unit to be registered in the second table the recognition unit when a predetermined proportion or more low Ri,
A paper sheet sorting apparatus comprising: When the control unit registers a recognition unit whose recognition rate is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined rate or more in the second table, another recognition unit already registered in the second table 5. The paper sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if there is, the recognition rates of these recognition units are compared and registered in descending order of recognition rate. Reads images of multiple sheets of paper, assigns the read images to one of the recognition units , processes the images assigned by each of the recognition units, and recognizes the classification destination of the corresponding paper sheet In the paper sheet sorting method for sorting and accumulating paper sheets at the recognized sorting destination,
What is a recognition unit that lowers the allocation priority of an image to a recognition unit whose recognition rate of the classification destination is lower than the average of the recognition rates of the plurality of recognition units by a predetermined percentage or more and reduces the allocation priority? If you can not image assigned to another alternative recognition unit, the sheet sorting method characterized by assigning an image recognition unit for lowering the allocation priority.

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