JP6656034B2 - Mail receiving device, control method and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail receiving device, a control method, and a control program, and more particularly, to a mail receiving device, a control method, and a control program for notifying when a post is posted.

  In recent years, the number of users who use services such as online shopping and online auctions has increased. Generally, a product purchased by such a service is delivered to a user's house using a home delivery service or the like, but may be delivered when the user is absent. In that case, the absence slip is posted in the mailbox, but when the user returns home and recognizes that the absence slip has been posted in the mailbox, the home delivery service for that day has ended, and the goods will be delivered within that day. You may not be able to receive it.

  A mailbox with a mailing port is disclosed. This mailbox has the length of the long axis and the length of the short axis of the image data obtained by reading the image of the object passing through the mailing port, and character strings, graphics, photographs, etc., indicating the type of the mailed object are described. It is determined whether or not the posted object corresponds to the registered absence notice based on the part that is present. If so, the postbox extracts the address information from the image data, and notifies the destination corresponding to the extracted address information of posting information indicating that the absence notification has been posted (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-75563 A

  In a device for notifying that a non-existent slip has been posted to a postal mailbox, it is desired to more accurately determine whether or not the posted item posted to the postal mailbox is a non-existent slip.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mail receiving apparatus, a control method, and a control program that can more accurately determine whether or not a mailed item posted to a mail box is an absence slip.

  The mail receiving device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a mail port, a mail box main body that stores the mail posted from the mail port, and a mail box provided inside the mail box main body, the weight of the mail posted from the mail box is reduced. A holding unit that holds the object to be posted if the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a detection unit that detects the object held by the holding unit, an imaging unit that captures an image of the object held by the holding unit, A storage unit that stores the address of the terminal, a determination unit that determines whether or not the posting is an absent vote based on an image captured by the imaging unit. And a notifying unit for notifying information to the address.

  The control method according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a mailing port, a mailbox main body that stores the mail posted from the mailing port, a holding unit provided inside the mailbox main body, a detection unit, and an imaging unit. And a storage unit, wherein the storage unit stores the address of the user's terminal, and posts the mail if the weight of the mailed item posted from the mailing port is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The object is held by the holding unit, the object held by the holding unit is detected by the detecting unit, the image of the object held by the holding unit is imaged by the imaging unit, and the image is captured based on the image taken by the imaging unit. And determining whether the posted item is an absent slip and, if the posted item is an absent slip, notifying predetermined addresses to an address.

  A control program according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a mailing port, a mailbox main body that stores a mailed item posted from the mailing port, a holding unit provided inside the mailbox main body, a detection unit, and an imaging unit. A control program to be executed by the mail receiving device having the storage unit, wherein the storage unit stores the address of the user's terminal, and the weight of the object posted from the port is not more than a predetermined value. Is to cause the object to be held by the holding unit, cause the detecting unit to detect the object held by the holding unit, cause the image capturing unit to image the image of the object held by the holding unit, Then, the mail receiving apparatus determines whether or not the mailed article is an absent slip, and if the mailed article is an absent slip, notifies the address to the predetermined information.

  According to the present invention, the mail receiving device determines whether or not the mailed item is an absent slip based on the weight and the image of the mailed item posted to the mail box. The determination can be made with higher accuracy.

It is a figure showing the mail receiving system 1 concerning an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mail receiving device 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the mail box main body 101. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holding unit 110 taken along line A-A ′. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holding unit 110 taken along line A-A ′. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the holding unit 110. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the mail receiving device 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a storage device 140 and a CPU 150. It is a flowchart which shows the example of operation | movement of an absent slip notification process. It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of another mail receiving device 200. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a processing circuit 260. FIG. 14 is a line sectional view of another holding unit 310. It is the figure which looked at another holding part 310 from the left side of Drawing 11A. It is a figure for explaining the structure of other mail receiving devices 400.

  Hereinafter, a mail receiving device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mail receiving system 1 according to the embodiment.

  The mail receiving system 1 includes a mail receiving device 100, an access point 2, the Internet 3, a mobile phone network 4, a base station 5, a mobile terminal 6, and the like.

  The mail receiving device 100 is installed at the entrance of a house 7 where the user lives, and is connected to the Internet 3 via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access point 2 arranged in the house 7. In addition, the place where the mail receiving device 100 and the access point 2 are arranged is not limited to a house, but may be an apartment such as an apartment. The Internet 3 is connected to a mobile phone network 4 via a gateway (not shown), and further connected to a mobile terminal 6 used by a user via a base station 5. The mobile terminal 6 is, for example, a mobile phone.

  Note that the mail receiving apparatus 100 is not directly connected to the mobile terminal 6 via the access point 2 but is directly connected to a mobile phone base station, and connected to the mobile terminal 6 via the mobile phone network 4 and the base station 5. It may be connected.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mail receiving device 100.

  The mail receiving device 100 includes a mail receiving main body 101, a cover member 102, and the like.

  The mailbox main body 101 is provided with a mailing port 103 on the upper surface, and the mailbox main body 101 stores articles posted from the mailbox 103. Further, the mail receiving main body 101 is provided with a take-out port 104 on the side surface, and the user can open the take-out port 104 to take out the posted articles.

  The lid member 102 is engaged with the upper surface of the mail receiving main body 101 by a hinge 105 so as to be rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow A1. When the cover member 102 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 102 covers the mail port 103 and prevents rain, snow, and the like from entering the mail box main body 101 from the mail port 103. A handle member 106 is provided on the lid member 102, and the mailer can post a mail from the mail port 103 by grasping the handle member 106 and opening the lid member 102.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the mail box main body 101.

  The mailbox main body 101 includes a holding unit 110, an opening / closing detection sensor 121, a first imaging device 122a, a second imaging device 122b, a light emitting device 123a, a light receiving device 123b, a processing module 130, and the like.

  The holding unit 110 is provided inside the mail box main body 101, and holds the mail D when the weight of the mail D sent from the mail port 103 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and when the weight of the mail exceeds the predetermined value. Drops the mailed item into the mail box main body 101. The holding unit 110 is formed of transparent plastic, glass, or the like so that the held object D can be imaged by the first imaging device 122a and the second imaging device 122b. Details of the holding unit 110 will be described later.

  The opening / closing detection sensor 121 is, for example, a contact detection sensor arranged on the hinge 105, and detects whether the lid member 102 is open or closed. The open / close detection sensor 121 generates an open / close detection signal whose signal value changes depending on whether the cover member 102 is open or closed, and outputs the signal to the processing module 130.

  The first imaging device 122a and the second imaging device 122b are arranged to face each other with the holding unit 110 interposed therebetween.

  The first imaging device 122a includes a reduction optical system type imaging sensor having an imaging element of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) arranged in one or two dimensions, and an A / D converter. An image of the held posting D is captured. The image sensor generates an analog image signal of one surface of the postal matter D held by the holding unit 110 and outputs the signal to the A / D converter. The A / D converter converts the output analog image signal from analog to digital to generate digital image data, and outputs the digital image data to the processing module 130.

  Similarly, the second imaging device 122b includes a reduction optical system type imaging sensor having an imaging element of a one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arranged CCD, and an A / D converter, and is held by the holding unit 110. An image of the mailed object D is taken. The image sensor generates an analog image signal of the other surface of the postal matter D held by the holding unit 110 and outputs the image signal to the A / D converter. The A / D converter converts the output analog image signal from analog to digital to generate digital image data, and outputs the digital image data to the processing module 130.

  Instead of the CCD, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) of the same magnification optical system type having an image sensor of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) may be used. Hereinafter, the first imaging device 122a and the second imaging device 122b may be collectively referred to as an imaging device 122. Digital image data captured and output by the imaging device 122 may be referred to as a read image.

  The light emitter 123a and the light receiver 123b are arranged below the holding unit 110 so as to face each other with the holding unit 110 interposed therebetween. The light emitter 123a emits light toward the light receiver 123b. The light receiver 123b detects light emitted from the light emitter 123a, and generates and outputs a postal object detection signal that is an electric signal corresponding to the detected light. In other words, the object detection signal is a signal whose signal value changes between a state where the object exists and a state where the object does not exist between the light emitter 123a and the light receiver 123b, that is, the holding unit 110. Hereinafter, the light emitting device 123a and the light receiving device 123b may be collectively referred to as a postal object detection sensor 123. The postal matter detection sensor 123 is an example of a detection unit that detects the postal matter D held by the holding unit 110.

  4A, 4B, and 5 are diagrams for explaining the structure of the holding unit 110. FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the holding unit 110 taken along the line A-A 'shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the holding unit 110. In FIG. 5, in order to facilitate understanding of the structure, the side wall 114b of the side wall 114a of the holding unit 110 facing the first imaging device 122a and the side wall 114b of the holding unit 110 facing the second imaging device 122b is Omitted. Similarly, in FIG. 5, of the side walls 114c and the side wall 114c orthogonal to the side wall 114b and the side wall facing the side wall 114c (the side wall on the near side in FIG. 5), the side wall on the near side is also omitted.

  The holding unit 110 has a shielding member 111a, a bottom member 112a, a motor 113a, and the like.

  The shielding member 111a is provided at the mail port 103 so as to be openable and closable. The shielding member 111a is engaged with the upper surface 111c of the holding portion 110 by a hinge 111b so as to be rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow A2. A force directed upward (in the direction opposite to the arrow A2) is applied to the shielding member 111a by a spring 111d attached to the side wall 114b of the holding unit 110. Thereby, the shielding member 111a is normally pressed against the upper surface 111c of the holding part 110, and is locked in a closed state as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when a downward force (in the direction of arrow A2) is applied by the mailer, the shielding member 111a is opened as shown in FIG. 4B, and the mailer can post the mail.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a gap 111e having a predetermined width is provided in the outlet 103 with the shielding member 111a closed. The predetermined width is set to, for example, the thickness of one general absence card. Thus, when posting a thick mailing item such as a letter or a newspaper, the mailer opens and blocks the shielding member 111a. On the other hand, when posting a plurality of thin postings such as absent slips, the postingr does not post them all at once, but tries to post them one by one with the shielding member 111a closed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a plurality of absence votes from being posted collectively and dropped without being held by the holding unit 110.

  The bottom member 112a is provided below the holding unit 110 so as to be openable and closable. The bottom member 112a is engaged with the lower end 112c of the side wall 114a of the holder 110 by the hinge 112b so as to be rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow A3. A force directed upward (in a direction opposite to the arrow A3) is applied to the bottom member 112a by a spring 112d attached to the fixing member 112e. Thereby, the front end 112f of the bottom member 112a is normally pressed against the lower end 112g of the side wall 114b of the holding part 110 and locked in a closed state as shown in FIG. 4A. On the other hand, when a postage having a weight exceeding the predetermined value is posted, a downward force (in the direction of arrow A3) is applied to the bottom member 112a due to the weight of the postage, and the bottom member 112a is shown in FIG. 4B. Open state.

  The hinge 112b, the spring 112d, the fixing member 112e, and the like, the bottom member 112a holds the object when the weight of the object is less than a predetermined value, and the bottom member 112a opens when the weight of the object exceeds the predetermined value. And functions as a support mechanism for dropping a mailing object into the mailbox main body 101.

  The weight of a general non-existent postcard is 1 to 4 [g], the weight of a normal postcard is 2 to 6 [g], the weight of a reciprocating postcard is 4 to 12 [g], The weight of the item is 6 to 50 [g], and the weight of the non-standard-size mail is 18 to 4000 [g]. For example, the support mechanism such as the hinge 112b, the spring 112d, and the fixing member 112e is designed so that the predetermined value is 10 [g] so that the holding unit 110 can hold up to two absent slips. Alternatively, the supporting mechanism such as the hinge 112b, the spring 112d, and the fixing member 112e may be designed so that the predetermined value is 4 [g] so that the holding unit 110 can hold only one absence slip. In this case, the holding unit 110 can surely hold one non-existent slip and drop the fixed mail and the non-standard mail into the mail box main body 101 without fail.

  A roller 113d is engaged with a rotating shaft 113b of the motor 113a via a transmission member 113c. Note that the above-described spring 112d may be arranged so as to be wound around the rotation shaft 113b. When the motor 113a rotates forward, a force in the direction of arrow A3 is applied to the transmission member 113c by the driving force of the motor 113a. In this case, the transmission member 113c rotates in the direction of arrow A3, and the bottom member 112a is pushed down by the roller 113d to be in an open state as shown in FIG. 4B.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the mail receiving device 100.

  The processing module 130 of the mail receiving device 100 includes a communication device 131, a storage device 140, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 150, and the like.

  The communication device 131 includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, and a wireless communication interface circuit for transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless communication line according to a specific wireless communication standard. The wireless communication standard is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) defined by IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11. The communication device 131 is connected to the user's portable terminal 6 via the access point 2 arranged in a house where the user lives, and transmits and receives various images and information. The wireless communication standard may be a mobile phone communication standard such as a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system. In that case, the communication device 131 connects to the user's mobile phone 6 via the mobile phone base station.

  The storage device 140 includes a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), a fixed disk device such as a hard disk, or a portable storage device such as a flexible disk and an optical disk. Further, the storage device 140 stores computer programs, databases, tables, and the like used for various processes of the mail receiving device 100. The computer program may be installed in the storage device 140 from a computer-readable portable recording medium using a known setup program or the like. The portable recording medium is, for example, a CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory), a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk read only memory), or the like. Further, the storage device 140 stores the read image.

  The storage device 140 stores the address of the mobile terminal 6. The stored address is, for example, an e-mail address, a telephone number, or the like. The address of the mobile terminal 6 is registered in advance by the user using the mobile terminal 6 or the like.

  Further, the storage device 140 stores a term (keyword) described in a general absence card. The keywords are, for example, "absence", "contact", "delivery", and the like. Further, the storage device 140 may store an image (mark) to be printed on a general absence card. The mark is, for example, a logo of a post office, a home delivery company, or the like. Each term and image are registered in advance at the time of product shipment. Further, each term and image may be registered by the user using the mobile terminal 6 or the like in addition to the information registered at the time of product shipment.

  CPU 150 operates based on a program stored in storage device 140 in advance. Note that a DSP (digital signal processor), an LSI (large scale integration), or the like may be used instead of the CPU 150. Further, instead of the CPU 150, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programming Gate Array), or the like may be used.

  The CPU 150 is connected to the opening / closing detection sensor 121, the imaging device 122, the object detection sensor 123, the motor 113a, and the like, and controls these components. The CPU 150 performs imaging control of the imaging device 122, drive control of the motor 113a, and the like.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the storage device 140 and the CPU 150.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the storage device 140 stores programs such as a determination program 141, an extraction program 142, a notification program 143, and a control program 144. Each of these programs is a functional module implemented by software operating on the processor. The CPU 150 reads the programs stored in the storage device 140 and operates according to the read programs, thereby functioning as the determination unit 151, the extraction unit 152, the notification unit 153, and the control unit 154.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the absence notification process performed by the mail receiving device 100.

  Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the absence notification process performed by the mail receiving device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. The flow of operation described below is mainly executed by the CPU 150 in cooperation with each element of the mail receiving device 100 based on a program stored in the storage device 140 in advance. It is assumed that, at the start of the absence notification process, the imaging device 122 has not been activated but has been stopped.

  First, the determination unit 151 receives an open / close detection signal from the open / close detection sensor 121 (step S101).

  Next, the determination unit 151 determines whether or not the lid member 102 is open based on the received open / close detection signal (Step S102).

  When the lid member 102 is closed, the determining unit 151 returns the processing to step S101 and repeats the processing of steps S101 to S102.

  On the other hand, when the lid member 102 is open, the determination unit 151 activates the imaging device 122 (Step S103). If the imaging device 122 has already been activated, the processing in step S103 is omitted.

  Next, the determination unit 151 waits for a predetermined time (step S104). The predetermined time is the time required from when the mailer opens the cover member 102 to when the mail is posted to the mail port 103, and when the mail whose weight exceeds a predetermined value is mailed, the mail is stored in the holding unit 110. Is set to the total sum of the time required to pass through and fall into the interior of the mail box main body 101. For example, the predetermined time is set to one minute.

  Next, the determination unit 151 receives a posted object detection signal from the posted object detection sensor 123 (Step S105).

  Next, the determining unit 151 determines whether or not the stored object is held in the holding unit 110 based on the received detected object detection signal (Step S106).

  When the object is not held in the holding unit 110, the determination unit 151 determines that the weight of the object is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, and the object has dropped from the holding unit 110, that is, the object is not an absent slip. Then (step S107), the process proceeds to step S115.

  On the other hand, when the object is held in the holding unit 110, the determination unit 151 determines that the weight of the object is less than the predetermined value, and causes the imaging device 122 to image the object held in the holding unit 110. Then, a read image is obtained (step S108).

  Next, the determination unit 151 extracts a character string described in the read image using a known OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technique. Then, the determination unit 151 determines whether or not the extracted character string includes a term (keyword) registered in the storage device 140 in advance (Step S109). Note that the determination unit 151 may determine whether the read image includes an image (mark) registered in the storage device 140 in advance by using a known pattern matching technique.

  If the keyword or mark is not included in the read image, the determination unit 151 determines that the postal matter is not an absent slip (step S110), and shifts the processing to step S114.

  On the other hand, when the read image includes the keyword or the mark, the determination unit 151 determines that the posted object is an absent slip (step S111).

  As described above, the determination unit 151 determines whether or not the posted object is an absent slip based on the weight of the posted object and the read image captured by the imaging device 122.

  Next, the extracting unit 152 extracts notification information for notifying the user from the read image using a known OCR technique (Step S112). The notification information is information based on the read image, and is, for example, a contact address to a mailer (post office, parcel delivery company, or the like) who posted the mail. The contact information is, for example, a telephone number, an e-mail address, an Internet URL (Uniform Resource Locator), or the like. Further, the notification information may further include an identification number for identifying the posted item, a procedure for contacting the posted person, and the like.

  Next, the notification unit 153 notifies the notification information extracted by the extraction unit 152 to an address registered in advance in the storage device 140 via the communication device 131 (step S113). For example, the notification unit 153 notifies the notification information using an e-mail or a service such as SMS (Short Message Service). Note that the notification unit 153 may call a telephone number registered in advance and notify the notification information as voice information.

  When the extracting unit 152 cannot extract the notification information, the notifying unit 153 may notify only that the absence notification has been posted as the notification information. Thereby, even when the mailing object is mailed in a bent state and the contact information is not included in the read image, the user can at least recognize that the absence notification has been mailed.

  The notification unit 153 may notify the read image itself captured by the imaging device 122 as notification information. Thus, even when the mailed item is mailed in a bent state and the contact information is not shown in the read image, the user can specify the mailer (delivery company) who has reported the absence and contact the mailer.

  In addition, the notification unit 153 notifies only the image including the contact information to the mailer among the read image captured by the first image capturing device 122a and the read image captured by the second image capturing device 122b as notification information. Is also good. As a result, the user can reliably acquire various information including the contact information for the mailer while suppressing an increase in the communication amount.

  In addition, the notification unit 153 may determine whether or not the postal matter is included in the read image, and may not notify the read image if the postal matter is not included in the read image. This prevents an inappropriate read image from being transmitted when a post is not imaged due to some kind of trouble, thereby suppressing an increase in processing load and an increase in communication volume.

  Next, the control unit 154 drives the motor 113a to rotate forward by a fixed amount, rotates the transmission member 113c, pushes down the bottom member 112a, and drops the mail held by the holding unit 110. The holding unit 110 is controlled (step S114). Further, the control unit 154 drives the motor 113a to rotate forward by a fixed amount to drop the object, and then drives the motor 113a to rotate backward by the same amount to move the bottom member 112a to the original position. Return to the state (state of FIG. 4A).

  As described above, when each piece of information is notified by the notification unit 153, the control unit 154 controls the holding unit 110 to drop the notified mailings held by the holding unit 110. Thereby, when a new mailing object is posted, the holding unit 110 cannot hold a plurality of mailing objects, and it is possible to prevent the newly posted mail object from falling without being notified. .

  Note that the control unit 154 may control the holding unit 110 to drop the mail held by the holding unit 110 when the image of the mailed object is captured by the imaging device 122, that is, in step S108. Good. Thereby, it is possible to drop the postal matter at an earlier timing, and it is possible to reduce the possibility that the holding part 110 holds a plurality of postal matter.

  Next, the determination unit 151 stops the imaging device 122 (Step S115), and returns the processing to Step S101. By stopping the imaging device 122 every time the processing of the mailed object is completed, the power consumption of the mail receiving device 100 can be reduced.

  In addition, when the open / close detection sensor 121 detects that the cover member 102 is closed for a certain period of time or more, all the modules other than the open / close detection sensor 121 may be stopped. In that case, when the open / close detection sensor 121 detects that the cover member 102 has been opened, the mail receiving device 100 activates each module. Thereby, the mail receiving device 100 can further reduce power consumption.

  As described in detail above, the mail receiving device 100 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 to determine whether or not the mailed item is an absent slip based on the weight and image of the mailed item posted to the mail box. I do. This makes it possible for the mail receiving device 100 to more accurately determine whether or not the mailed item posted to the mail box is an absent slip. In particular, the mail receiving device 100 uses the weight of the mailed item to determine whether or not it is an absent slip. Even in the case of posting, it has become possible to determine with high accuracy whether or not the posted item is an absent vote.

  As a result, the user can recognize in real time that the absence slip has been posted in the mail box, and can request the courier to redistribute the courier in accordance with a desired time such as a return time. , You can receive home delivery early.

  In addition, the mail receiving apparatus 100 captures and analyzes the read image only when the weight of the mail is less than the predetermined value, so that it is possible to reduce power consumption.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a mail receiving device 200 according to another embodiment.

  The mail receiving device 200 includes a processing module 230 instead of the processing module 130 included in the mail receiving device 100. The processing module 230 has a processing circuit 260 in addition to the components of the processing module 130. The processing circuit 260 is a DSP, an LSI, an ASIC, an FPGA, or the like, and executes the absence notification process instead of the CPU 150.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the processing circuit 260. The processing circuit 260 includes a determination circuit 261, an extraction circuit 262, a notification circuit 263, a control circuit 264, and the like. Each of these units may be configured by an independent integrated circuit, microprocessor, firmware, or the like.

  The determination circuit 261 is an example of a determination unit. The determination circuit 261 receives an opening / closing detection signal from the opening / closing detection sensor 121, a posting detection signal from the posting detection sensor 123, and a read image from the imaging device 122, respectively. The determination circuit 261 determines whether or not the posting is an absent slip based on the read image when the holding is held by the holding unit 110, and outputs the determination result to the extraction circuit 262. Further, when receiving the read image, the determination circuit 261 outputs the imaging result to the control circuit 264.

  The extraction circuit 262 is an example of an extraction unit. The extraction circuit 262 receives a determination result from the determination circuit 261 and a read image from the imaging device 122, respectively. The extraction circuit 262 extracts the notification information from the read image and outputs the notification information to the notification circuit 263 when the posting is an absent slip.

  The notification circuit 263 is an example of a notification unit. The notification circuit 263 receives the notification information from the extraction circuit 262 and reads out a pre-registered address from the storage device 140. The notification circuit 263 notifies the notification information to the address via the communication device 131, and outputs a notification result to the control circuit 264.

  The control circuit 264 is an example of a control unit. The control circuit 264 receives the imaging result from the determination circuit 261 or the notification result from the notification circuit 263. When receiving the imaging result or the notification result, the control circuit 264 outputs a control signal to the motor 113a and controls the holding unit 110 to drop the mail held by the holding unit 110. I do.

  As described above in detail, in the mail receiving device 200, similarly to the mail receiving device 100, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the mailed item posted in the mail box is an absent slip.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the structure of the holding unit 310 according to another embodiment.

  11A is a cross-sectional view of the holding unit 310 taken along the line A-A ′ shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 11B is a diagram of the holding unit 310 as viewed from the left side of FIG. 11A.

  The holding unit 310 is used instead of the holding unit 110. The holding unit 310 is provided inside the mail box main body 101, and holds the object when the weight of the object posted from the port 103 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The object is dropped into the main body 101 of the mailbox. The holding unit 110 is formed of transparent plastic, glass, or the like so that the held mailing object can be imaged by the first imaging device 122a and the second imaging device 122b.

  The holding section 310 has a shielding member 111a, a fan 312a, and the like. Since the structure of the shielding member 111a is the same as that of the shielding member 111a of the holding unit 110, a detailed description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the fan 312a is attached to the side wall 312b of the holding unit 310. A plurality of ventilation holes 312c are provided in the side wall 312b, and the fan 312a sucks air inside the holding unit 310 through at least a part of the ventilation holes 312c. The suction force of the fan 312a is set to such a strength that the objects having a weight of not more than the predetermined value are adsorbed on the side wall 312b, and the objects having a weight exceeding the predetermined value are not adsorbed on the side wall 312b. The holding member 310 is not provided with a bottom member. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B, the postal matter D whose weight is equal to or less than the predetermined value adsorbs to the side wall 312b, but the postal matter whose weight exceeds the predetermined value falls into the mail box main body 101 without being adsorbed to the side wall 312b. .

  The fan 312a, the side wall 312b, the ventilation port 312c, and the like function as an adsorption mechanism that adsorbs only a postal matter having a weight of a predetermined value or less. The predetermined value is set to a value similar to the predetermined value for holding section 110.

  Note that, of the vents 312c, vents other than the vent that the fan 312a sucks air, that is, the vent that faces the fan 312a may be omitted. Thereby, the suction force by the fan 312a can be increased.

  The general configuration of the mail receiving device when the holding unit 310 is used instead of the holding unit 110 is the same as the general configuration of the mail receiving device 100 shown in FIG. 6 or the general configuration of the mail receiving device 200 shown in FIG. Further, the schematic configuration of the processing circuit in that case is the same as the schematic configuration of the processing circuit 260 shown in FIG. However, the CPU 150 or the processing circuit 260 is connected to the fan 312a instead of the motor 113a, and controls the drive of the fan 312a.

  Further, in this case, the control unit 154 stops the fan 312a for a certain period of time instead of driving the motor 113a in step S114 in FIG. The holding unit 310 is controlled. Note that the control unit 154 does not always drive the fan 312a, but drives the fan 312a together with the activation of the imaging device 122 in step S103, and stops the fan 312a together with the stop of the imaging device 122 in step S115. Good. Thereby, the mail receiving device can reduce power consumption.

  As described above in detail, even when the holding unit having the suction mechanism is used, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the mailed item posted in the mail box is an absent slip.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a mail receiving device 400 according to another embodiment.

  In the mail receiving device 400, unlike the mail receiving device 100, a mail port 403 is provided on a side surface. By providing the mailing port 403 on the side surface instead of the top surface, it is possible to prevent rain, snow, and the like from entering the mail box main body 101 from the mailing port 403. Thereby, in the mail receiving device 400, the cover member 102 can be omitted, and the device size and the device cost can be reduced.

  The mail receiving device 400 has a second light emitter 421a and a second light receiver 421b. The second light-emitting device 421a and the second light-receiving device 421b are arranged near the port 403 so as to face each other across the passage of the object. The second light emitter 421a emits light toward the second light receiver 421b. The second light receiver 421b detects the light radiated from the second light emitter 421a, and generates and outputs a second object detection signal that is an electric signal corresponding to the detected light. That is, the second object detection signal is a signal whose signal value changes between the second light emitter 421a and the second light receiver 421b, that is, the state where the object exists in the passage of the object and the state where the object does not exist. It is. The second object detection signal is used in place of the open / close detection signal in step S101 of FIG. 8, and when the object passes through the passage of the object, the processing of step S103 and thereafter is executed.

  As described in detail above, in the mail receiving device 400, similarly to the mail receiving device 100, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the mailed item posted in the mail box is an absent slip. And it became possible to reduce apparatus cost.

100, 200, 400 Mail receiving device 101, 401 Mail receiving main body 103, 403 Mailing port 110, 310 Holding section 111a Shielding member 112a Bottom member 123 Mailed object detection sensor 122 Image pickup device 140 Storage device 151 Judgment unit 152 Extraction unit 153 Notification unit 154 Control Department

Claims (10)

A mailbox main body that is provided with a mailing port and stores a mailed item posted from the mailing port,
Provided inside the mailbox body, and a bottom member, when the weight of the mailing object that is posted from the posting port is less than the predetermined value holds the bottom member is posting material, the weight of the mailing object is the predetermined value If it exceeds, a holding mechanism having a support mechanism for opening the bottom member and dropping the mailed item into the mail receiving body ,
A detection unit that detects the postal matter held by the holding unit,
An imaging unit that captures an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
A storage unit for storing an address of a user terminal;
Based on the image captured by the imaging unit, a determination unit that determines whether the post is absent slip,
When the posting is an absent slip, a notification unit that notifies the address of predetermined information,
A mail receiving device comprising: A mailbox main body that is provided with a mailing port and stores a mailed item posted from the mailing port,
Provided inside the mailbox body weight has an adsorption mechanism of adsorbing only posting product is below the predetermined value, if the weight of the mailing has been posted material from the posting port is less than the predetermined value the mailing thereof A holding unit for holding,
A detection unit that detects the postal matter held by the holding unit,
An imaging unit that captures an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
A storage unit for storing an address of a user terminal;
Based on the image captured by the imaging unit, a determination unit that determines whether the post is absent slip,
When the posting is an absent slip, a notification unit that notifies the address of predetermined information,
A mail receiving device comprising: 3. The mail receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to control the holding unit so that the mail held by the holding unit is dropped when the image of the mailed object is captured by the imaging unit. 4. . From the image captured by the imaging unit, further comprising an extraction unit that extracts contact information to the submitter who posted the posting,
The mail receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the notifying unit notifies the contact information as the predetermined information. The imaging unit has a first imaging unit that captures one surface of the posting as a first image, and a second imaging unit that captures the other surface of the posting as a second image,
The notification unit as the predetermined information, among the first image and the second image, and notifies the image containing contact to mailing who posted the posting was any one of claims 1 to 3 The mail receiving device according to the paragraph. Furthermore, it has a shielding member provided to be able to open and close the posting port,
The mail receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a gap having a predetermined width is provided in the mailing port when the shielding member is closed. A mail receiving apparatus provided with a mail receiving port, the mail receiving apparatus including: a mail receiving body that stores articles to be posted from the mail receiving port; a holding unit provided inside the mail receiving body; a detecting unit; an imaging unit; and a storage unit. Control method,
The storage unit stores an address of a user terminal,
The holding portion comprises a bottom member, said case the weight of the mailing has been posted material from posting port is less than the predetermined value the bottom member posting was retained, if the weight of the posting thereof exceeds a predetermined value Has a support mechanism for opening the bottom member and dropping the mailed item into the mail box main body ,
Let the detection unit detect the postal matter held by the holding unit,
Causing the imaging unit to capture an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
Based on the image picked up by the image pickup unit, determine whether the post is absent,
When the mailed item is an absent slip, the predetermined information is notified to the address,
A control method characterized by including: A mail receiving apparatus provided with a mail receiving port, the mail receiving apparatus including: a mail receiving body that stores articles to be posted from the mail receiving port; a holding unit provided inside the mail receiving body; a detecting unit; an imaging unit; and a storage unit. Control method,
The storage unit stores an address of a user terminal,
The holding portion, the weight has a suction mechanism to adsorb only posting product is below the predetermined value, if the weight of the mailing has been posted material from the posting port is less than the predetermined value the posting was retained ,
Let the detection unit detect the postal matter held by the holding unit,
Causing the imaging unit to capture an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
Based on the image picked up by the image pickup unit, determine whether the post is absent,
When the mailed item is an absent slip, the predetermined information is notified to the address,
A control method characterized by including: A mail receiving apparatus provided with a mail receiving port, the mail receiving apparatus including: a mail receiving body that stores articles to be posted from the mail receiving port; a holding unit provided inside the mail receiving body; a detecting unit; an imaging unit; and a storage unit. A control program to be executed by
The storage unit stores an address of a user terminal,
The holding portion comprises a bottom member, said case the weight of the mailing has been posted material from posting port is less than the predetermined value the bottom member posting was retained, if the weight of the posting thereof exceeds a predetermined value Has a support mechanism for opening the bottom member and dropping the mailed item into the mail box main body ,
Let the detection unit detect the postal matter held by the holding unit,
Causing the imaging unit to capture an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
Based on the image picked up by the image pickup unit, determine whether the post is absent,
When the mailed item is an absent slip, the predetermined information is notified to the address,
A control program for causing the mail receiving device to execute the above. A mail receiving apparatus provided with a mail receiving port, the mail receiving apparatus including: a mail receiving body that stores articles to be posted from the mail receiving port; a holding unit provided inside the mail receiving body; a detecting unit; an imaging unit; and a storage unit. A control program to be executed by
The storage unit stores an address of a user terminal,
The holding portion, the weight has a suction mechanism to adsorb only posting product is below the predetermined value, if the weight of the mailing has been posted material from the posting port is less than the predetermined value the posting was retained ,
Let the detection unit detect the postal matter held by the holding unit,
Causing the imaging unit to capture an image of the mailing object held by the holding unit,
Based on the image picked up by the image pickup unit, determine whether the post is absent,
When the mailed item is an absent slip, the predetermined information is notified to the address,
A control program for causing the mail receiving device to execute the above.