JPH03267180A - Mail classifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make improvement in the efficiency of handling the mails by automatically detecting the mark for the fare to be paid by the recipient in the specific position on the mail and discriminating this mail from ordinary mail. CONSTITUTION:The image on the mail 21 is photoelectrically converted in a photoelectric conversion section 2 to obtain an image signal. The size of the mail 21 is then measured from the image signal obtd. by the photoelectric conversion section 2 in a mail measuring section 4. A projection pattern 24 is formed from a specific region 25 corresponding to the size of the mail 21 measured by the measuring section 4 in a region setting section 6 in succession to the above measurement. Further, the projection pattern formed in the setting section 6 is binarized to obtain characteristic data in a binarization section 8. The mark 24 for the fare to be paid by the recipient is detected by comparing the characteristic data obtd. in the binarization section 8 and previously set reference data in an arithmetic processing section 9. Consequently, the mark for the fare to be paid by the recipient is automatically detected and is discriminated from the ordinary mail, by which the efficiency of handling the mails is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a mail sorting device for detecting and sorting payee marks on mail pieces.

(Prior art) Conventionally, mail is sorted by automatically reading the postal code at the post office in the sender's area, and then being delivered to the local post office corresponding to the postal code. At post offices in Japan, addresses were read by humans and manually sorted by delivery area.

However, recently, the manual sorting of mail has been automatically done by machines.
A mail sorting device has been developed that reads the recipient's address and automatically sorts the mail.

By the way, numerically speaking, mail is mailed in the form of a stamped postcard or sealed letter with a stamp affixed to it, with the postage paid in advance.

On the other hand, for postcards and sealed letters that indicate that the fee is to be paid by the recipient, the recipient pays the fee. Therefore, it is necessary for the mail sorting device to take some measures regarding mail items for which the fee is paid by the recipient.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, when automating the delivery classification, which conventionally relied on manual labor, for postal items that were paid for by the recipient, humans could recognize the recipient's pay mark and Since personal mail was separated from regular mail, there was a problem in that mail processing efficiency was significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mail sorting device that can automatically detect the payee mark to distinguish mail from regular mail and improve processing efficiency of mail.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is a mail sorting device that detects and sorts postal payee marks on mail, which converts images on the mail by photoelectric conversion. A photoelectric conversion means for obtaining an image signal, a measuring means for measuring the size of the mail from the image signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion means, and a measuring means for measuring the size of the mail from a specific area corresponding to the size of the mail measured by the measuring means. A projection pattern generation means for generating a projection pattern, a means for binarizing the projection pattern generated by the projection pattern generation means to obtain feature data, and a feature data obtained by this means and preset reference data. and detecting means for detecting the toll payee mark by comparison.

(Function) By detecting, for example, three bars, which are the payee mark, at a specific position on the mail, it is possible to distinguish it from normal mail, and improve the processing efficiency of the mail.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of mail items to be processed according to the present invention. That is, 21 is a postal item (for example, a letter), 22 is a postal code frame, 23 is a postal code frame detection area,
Reference numeral 24 denotes a fee recipient payment mark, and 25 represents a fee recipient payment mark detection area.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mail sorting device according to the present invention. That is, numeral 1 denotes a mail input unit, which conveys the supplied mail 21 along the edge 26 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, with the postal code frame 22 at the beginning. The image on the surface of the mail 21 being transported is converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 2, and becomes an image signal. This image signal is
The coordinate values (xs, ys) are stored in the two-dimensional image memory 3 as a starting point, and at the same time, the length of the mailpiece 21 in the X direction is calculated in the mailpiece measuring section 4 based on the image signal stored in the image memory 3. Measure xl.

On the other hand, in the postal code frame coordinate detection section 5, the image memory 3
The coordinate value (X
The postal code frame projection pattern 27, which is a projection in the X direction within the postal code frame detection area 23, and the y
Find a postal code frame projection pattern 28 that is a projection of the direction,
The end point coordinate value of the postal code frame 22 (xf
, yf).

Next, in the area setting section 6, the length xj of the mail piece 21 determined as described above? A payee payment mark detection area 25 is set from the coordinate value xf of the end point of the postal code frame 22. Next, in the first projection detection section 7, the area setting section 6
A local area in the image memory 3 corresponding to the payee payment mark detection area 25 set in is scanned to obtain projection data. Here, FIG. 3(a) is an image within the payee payment mark detection area 25 set by the area setting section 6, and FIG. 3(b) is an image obtained by the first projective inspection section 7. This is projection data within the fee payee payment mark detection area 25. The projection data of FIG. 3(b) obtained in this way is binarized by a threshold value TH in the first binarization section 8, and the projection data of FIG. 3(c) is
Obtain binarized data as shown in .

The binarized data in FIG. 3(C) is sent to the first arithmetic processing section 9. The first arithmetic processing unit 9 inspects the width Il of the black portion detected at the beginning of the binarized data, confirms that the width 11 is within a predetermined range, and then width fi2. l) Check whether 3 is also within the predetermined width.

As a result of this test, ill, 12. If f13 is within the predetermined width range, the length L between the center of j71 and the center of 12
l, and j! The length L2 between the center of 2 and the center of fI3 is inspected, and if it is within a predetermined width range, it is detected as three bars of the payee payment mark 24.

On the other hand, among one image signal obtained from the photoelectric conversion unit 2, only the red image signal detected by a red filter (not shown) is stored in the red image memory 10. Then, according to the image signal in the red image memory 10, as described in FIG. 3 above,
Three bars are passed through the second projection detection section 11, the second binarization section 12, the second calculation processing section, and the processing section 13 for the specific area of the mail piece 21 set by the area setting section 6. Detection is performed.

Then, based on the results of the first arithmetic processing unit 9 and the second arithmetic processing unit 13, it is determined whether or not it is the charge payee mark 24. That is, the AND gate 14
When the arithmetic processing unit 9 detects three bars and the second arithmetic processing unit 13 does not detect three bars, it outputs a signal to classify the mail as postage paid by the recipient. When the arithmetic processing unit 13 detects three bars, it outputs a signal to classify it as a regular mail item based on the destination address.

In this way, by detecting the three bars, which are the payee mark, at a specific position on the mail item, it is possible to distinguish the mail item from normal mail items, thereby improving the processing efficiency of the mail item.

In addition, three bars are detected in both the normal image and the red-only image at a specific position on the mail item, and depending on whether they are detected in the normal image only or in both images, the fee is received. Since the personal payment mark is determined, the payee payment mark can be accurately detected. That is, in the local area where the payee's pay mark is usually printed, there is a payee's pay mark, such as three bars on the mark of the toll meter or the separate postal stamp mark on mail sent from the post office. Three bars similar to this may be printed. Therefore, there is a risk that the three bars may be erroneously detected as the payee mark.

However, if the detection method as described in this embodiment is used,
Such erroneous detection can be prevented and the payee mark can be accurately detected.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the payee mark to distinguish mail from ordinary mail, thereby improving mail processing efficiency. Can provide sorting equipment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mail sorting device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mail sorting device according to the present invention. FIG. 3, which is a diagram illustrating an example, is a diagram illustrating the detection operation of the fee payee mark. 1... Mail input section, 2... Photoelectric conversion section, 3...
Image memory, 4... Mail measurement section, 5... Postal code frame coordinate detection section, 6... Area setting section, 10... Red image memory, 7.11... Projection detection section, 8 .12...
Binarization unit, 9.13... Arithmetic processing unit, 14... AND gate. X direction diagram 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A mail sorting device that detects and sorts postage payee marks on mail, comprising a photoelectric conversion means for photoelectrically converting an image on the mail to obtain an image signal, and an image obtained by the photoelectric conversion means. a measuring means for measuring the size of the mail piece from the signal; a projection pattern generating means for generating a projection pattern from a specific area corresponding to the size of the mail piece measured by the measuring means; and a detection means for detecting a payee mark by comparing the feature data obtained by this means with preset reference data. A mail sorting device featuring this feature.