JPH04205689A - Automatic mail reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute a high speed processing by means of the lateral transportation of a postal card by setting the length of a read window, namely, the scan area of a line sensor so that the length of the longitudinal direction of the postal card can wholly be scanned. CONSTITUTION:The line sensor 5 executes scan itself from the read window 3 in a line direction through an optical system 4 and transports the mail at constant speed, whereby it outputs picture on the surface of a mail to an address recognition part. The length S of the read window 3 is a value corresponding to the length of the longitudinal direction of the postal card K (150mm) and the line sensor 5 can read the width of 150mm from a transportation reference side 2 through the optical system 4. Thus, the high speed read processing by the lateral transportation of the postal card can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention reads address information written on the surface of a mail item to be transported, and uses the read address information to send the mail item. The present invention relates to a mail sorting device that reads address information written on the surface of a mail piece by optically scanning the surface of the mail piece.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of automatic mail reader reads destination information (zip code, address information) on the surface of a mail piece by conveying the mail piece in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as longitudinal conveyance). , a CCD type line sensor is installed perpendicular to the line sensor, and the entire surface of the mail is optically scanned and an image is collected using the self-scanning of this line sensor and the constant speed of transport of the mail. I was doing it.

By the way, 70% of the mail on boat fishing is small mail called regular mail, with a maximum size of 1.20 mm.
x 235 mm sealed letter and 100m 100mm x 15
There are two types of 0 mail. In both cases, consistent conveyance is carried out using longitudinal conveyance. In addition, mail processing is performed at high speed, so the transport speed is extremely high compared to office automation, and it is used at the limit of line sensor drive speed. Moreover, since the maximum dimension in the longitudinal direction is 235+n+n for a sealed letter and 150+nm for a postcard 5, there is a difference of about 85non between a sealed letter and a postcard. Therefore, in the case of only postcards, by shortening the conveyance pitch, the reading process can be performed faster than in the case of mixed envelopes.

This state will be explained below using figures. FIG. 12 shows the conveyance state and the position of the reading unit when standard-sized mail items such as sealed letters and postcards are read and classified without being distinguished by size. In other words, the seal as a postal item @B.

The postcards K are conveyed along the conveyance reference side 2 at regular intervals in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, with a conveyance pitch P1 between the respective tips. The reading unit 1 reads mail B.

By optically scanning in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the mail items,
Postal code or address information written on the front of
It is configured by a slit-shaped reading window 3, an optical system 4 such as a lens, a line sensor 5, etc. The line sensor 5 is connected to the reading window 3 via the optical system 4.
The mail self-scans in the line direction from the beginning, and while the mail is conveyed at a constant speed, an image of the surface of the mail is output to a recognition unit (not shown).

In addition, since the maximum width W of a standard mail item is determined to be 120 mm, the line sensor 5
+n+n width is read.

Further, the gap G1 between the mail items is set to a minimum value of 65+nm or more, which is necessary for classification of the maximum number of consecutive mail items. Furthermore, the conveyance pitch P1 is 300 mm due to the maximum longitudinal dimension of the mail item of 235 mm and the minimum secured value of 65 mm.
It becomes mm. This is the conveyance and reading of mixed mail.

FIG. 13 shows an example of conveying and reading New Year's cards at the end of the year and beginning of the year, or postcards from users with a specific population. In this case, since it is limited to postcards K, the dimensions are constant, and the gap G2 between mail items is the minimum guaranteed value of 65.
mm is sufficient. Therefore, the conveyance pitch P2 is 150 mm, which is the longitudinal dimension L1 of the postcard K.
This is 2' 1.5 mm, which is the sum of 2' 65 mm.

In this way, in the postcard-only mode, the 10th
Compared to the case of mixed mail in the figure, if the transport speed is V, the reading time of the line sensor 5 per mail is P
+/V becomes P2/V, and due to the relationship P,>P2, the speed of the reading process can be increased by reducing the conveyance pitch.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventionally, as described above, all regular-sized mail items were processed in an integrated manner by longitudinal conveyance. However, in order to increase the reading speed, the line sensor of the reading section must be made faster, which increases the cost. In addition, particularly in the case of postal mail, there are many cases of bulk use such as New Year's cards and O-Royusa, and there has been a strong demand for faster processing of such mail than ever before.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic mail reading device that can particularly read postcards at a higher speed.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The automatic mail reading device according to the first invention optically scans the surface on which address information of the mail to be transported exists and performs photoelectric conversion. comprises a photoelectric conversion means for outputting an electrical image signal, and a recognition means for recognizing address information present on the surface of the mail piece by processing the image signal output from the photoelectric conversion means. , the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion means is set so as to be able to scan the entire length of the postcard in the longitudinal direction;
= It is characterized by.

The automatic mail reading device according to the second invention includes a photoelectric conversion means that outputs an electrical image signal by optically scanning the surface of the transported mail on which address information is present and photoelectrically converting the surface. By processing the image signal output from the first stage of photoelectric conversion, the image present on the surface of the mail piece (1:
and scanning area moving means for moving the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion unit in accordance with the size of the mail item.

(Function) According to the automatic mail reading device according to the first invention, the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion means that optically scans the surface on which the destination information of the mail to be conveyed is located on the long surface of the postcard. By setting so that the entire surface can be scanned over the length in the direction, it is possible to perform high-speed reading processing, especially when transporting postcards in the short direction.

According to the automatic mail reading device according to the second aspect of the invention, the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion means that optically scans the surface on which the destination information of the mail being conveyed is adjusted according to the size of the mail. In particular, by moving the postcard in the short direction, high-speed reading processing can be performed, especially when the postcard is conveyed in the short direction.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same parts as in FIGS. 12 and 13 will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, a first example will be described.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an automatic mail reader according to a first embodiment. That is, the envelope B and postcard () as mail items are conveyed along the conveyance reference side 2 at a conveyance pitch P at regular intervals in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The reading unit 1 is provided on the transport path of the mail item B, and reads the postal code written on the surface of the mail item B by performing optical scanning in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the mail item. It reads D1 or address information D2, and is composed of a slit-shaped reading window 3, an optical system 4 such as a lens, a line sensor 5, and the like. The line sensor 5 self-scans in the line direction from the reading window 3 via the optical system 4,
In addition to transporting the mail at a constant speed, an image of the surface of the mail is output to a destination recognition unit, which will be described later. Here, the length S of the reading window 3 is 1 m (1 m) corresponding to the length of the postcard K in the longitudinal direction.
, 50 mm), and the line sensor 5 has a reading window 3 . 150+n+++ from conveyance reference side 2 via optical system 4
It is possible to read the width of

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the reading section 1 in detail. That is, the mail card K being conveyed is illuminated by the illumination light sources 21 and 22 through the reading window 3, and the reflected light is imaged by the optical system 4 on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 5.

The line sensor 5 reads the surface image of the mail item by self-scanning and transporting the mail item, and converts it into an electrical signal. The line sensor 5 also includes a processing section 24 for generating a sensor drive timing signal and performing analog shaping processing on the sensor output, and outputs an image signal to a destination recognition section to be described later. The optical system 4, line sensor 5, illumination light source 21, 22, and processing section 24 are housed together in a dark box 8.

FIG. 3 shows the storage state of the image memory in which images from the line sensor 5, where n is the main scanning address and m is the sub-scanning address, are manually generated. FIG. 3(a) shows an image input state of a postcard K in the case of longitudinal conveyance. Third
Figure (b) shows the image input state of the postcard K in the case of conveyance in the transverse direction (hereinafter referred to as short conveyance). The image position is rotated 90 degrees. Figure 3(c)
3 shows the image input state of the postcard K in the case of short conveyance, and the image position is rotated 270 degrees clockwise with respect to the longitudinal conveyance image in FIG. 3(a).

FIG. 4 shows the main part of the electric circuit, and a mode signal from the mode switching unit 30 is input to the destination recognition unit 31 using a mode switching switch on an operation panel (not shown). The destination recognition unit 31 has a reading format set according to the input mode signal, thereby clarifying the address of the acquired image on the memory, and reading (recognizing) the correct postal code or address information. The mode signals from the mode switching section 30 include mode signals for switching between long and short transport, and for switching between mixed mail, regular postcards, and New Year's postcards. Further, the reading format that should be prepared includes a postal code approximate writing position, address information writing area, etc.

Next, such a configuration will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the longitudinal conveyance of mixed mail including envelopes B and postcards K and the reading of destination information as the first mode of the first embodiment. In other words, postal card K
The gap G3 between the letter B and the previous envelope B requires a minimum interval of 65 m+n so that even if the largest mail pieces are consecutive, they can be separated. Therefore, the conveyance pitch P3 between the tips of the envelope B and the postcard K is 235 mm, which is the maximum dimension in the longitudinal direction of the envelope B, and the minimum distance of the gap G3 is 6.
It is set to 300 mm, which is the sum of 5+n+n. Also, postcard = 11 − gap G between postcard K and later envelope B
4 is the longitudinal dimension of the postcard K, which is 150 mm, and the conveyance pitch P3 is set to 300 + n + n, so it is 150 mm. Since this mode is longitudinal conveyance, the reading format of the destination recognition unit 31 is set for longitudinal conveyance. That is, the destination recognition unit 31
In response to a mode signal from the mode switching section 30, a reading (recognition) format for longitudinal conveyance is set. in this case,
For example, when the image of the postcard K from the line sensor 5 is manually stored in the image memory, the image memory is stored in the manually stored state as shown in FIG. 3(a), and the destination recognition unit 31
Recognition processing is performed using this image data. That is,
The destination recognition unit 31 extracts only the image data in the postal code area or address information area from the image data in the image memory in order to use the set reading format,
This extracted image data is used to recognize the postal code or address information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the short transport of the postcard K and the reading of destination information as the second mode of the first embodiment.

In other words, the conveyance pitches P and I in the case of short-side conveyance are as follows:
1 65, which is the sum of 100 mm, which is the transverse dimension L2 of the postcard, and the minimum secured value of 65 mm, which is the conveyance gap G5.
mm will suffice. The conveyance pitch P2 of the conventional longitudinal conveyance in FIG. 13 is 215 mm, and when the short conveyance is used,
The conveyance pitch can be reduced by approximately 25% compared to the conventional conveyance pitch.

Naturally, the number of items to be processed per unit time (m) increases due to the shortened conveyance pitch even if the conveyance speed remains the same. In this case, the transport width of the postcard K is 15On+m of the longitudinal dimension W1, but since the reading scanning area of the line sensor 5 is set to 150 mm in this embodiment, the postcard K is transported in the same manner as when transporting the postcard K in the longitudinal direction. The entire surface image of the pencil K can be read.

Since this mode is short conveyance, the destination recognition unit 3
The reading format No. 1 is set for short conveyance. That is, the destination recognition unit 31 is set to the reading format for short-side conveyance according to the mode signal from the mode switching unit 30. In this case, the storage state of the image memory when the image of the postcard K from the line sensor 5 is input is as follows.
The image input state is as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 3(b) shows the postcard in FIG.
2 is the image input state, and the image position is rotated 90 degrees clockwise with reference to the longitudinal conveyance image in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 3(C) shows the image input state of postcard 3 in FIG. . In this way, even if the postcards are transported in the same short direction, the state in which they are stored in the image memory is reversed by 90 degrees or 27o0 and 1800 degrees depending on the transport orientation. Therefore, in FIG. 6, 1.
The conveyance postures of 2 and 3 are 180° for explanation purposes.
Although they are different, the feeding posture during actual transportation is the same and the reading format is set. In other words, postcard K
By setting the reading format to "90° conversion" or "270° conversion" while maintaining the same feeding posture, it is possible to eliminate "ambiguities" for ensuring recognition accuracy of destination information. That is, the destination recognition unit 31 extracts only the image data in the postal code area or address information area from the image data in the image memory according to the set reading format, and uses this extracted image data to determine the postal code. Or recognize address information.

As explained above, according to the first embodiment, by setting the length 81 of the reading window 3, that is, the scanning area of the line sensor 5, so that the entire length of the postcard in the longitudinal direction can be scanned, High-speed reading processing is possible by transporting postcards in the short direction.

In addition, this short conveyance is especially suitable for processing large amounts of postcards, and although it is basically long conveyance of standard-sized mail items, it is also suitable for handling bulk postcards, New Year's postcards, and large Loyusa postcards. It has a remarkable effect on high-speed processing.

Next, a second example will be described.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the configuration of an automatic mail reader according to a second embodiment. That is, = 15 - Envelope B1 as a postal item, Postal card K is transport reference side 2
It is conveyed at regular intervals in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure with a conveyance pitch P along. The reading unit 1 is provided on the transport path of the mail item B, and reads the postal code written on the surface of the mail item B by performing optical scanning in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the mail item. D1 or address information D1, and includes a slit-shaped reading window 3, an optical system 4 such as a lens,
It is composed of a line sensor 5 and the like.

The line sensor 5 performs self-scanning in the line direction from the reading window 3 via the optical system 4, and outputs an image of the surface of the mail to a destination recognition unit, which will be described later, while conveying the mail at a constant speed. The length S of the reading window 3 is one line (150 mm) corresponding to the length of the postcard K in the longitudinal direction, but the line sensor 5
The reading scanning area is the reading window 3. 1.2 via optical system 4
The width is 0 +n+++.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the reading section 1 in detail. That is, the mail card I being conveyed is illuminated by the illumination light sources 21 and 22 through the reading window 3, and the reflected light is imaged by the optical system 4 on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 5. The line sensor 5 reads the surface image of the mail item by self-scanning and transporting the mail item, and converts it into an electrical signal.

The line sensor 5 also includes a processing section 24 for generating a sensor drive timing signal and performing analog shaping processing on the sensor output, and outputs an image signal to the destination recognition section 31. Then, optical system 4, line sensor 5
, the illumination light sources 21 and 22, and the processing section 24 are housed together in a dark box 8.

The reading unit 1 configured in this manner is movable within a predetermined range in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the mail. That is, the reading unit 1 is operated by moving the dark box 8, so that the reading scanning area of the line sensor 5 covers the range of the length S (150 mm) of the reading window 3. , will be moved to fit the size of . Note that the dark box 8 is moved by moving a roller (not shown) provided on the dark box 8 on a rail (not shown). Here, Fig. 17-8 (C) shows the reading position of the line sensor 5 in Fig. 8 (b) moved by 30 mm from the conveyance reference side 2. In other words, FIG. 8(C) is similar to FIG. 8(b).
The dark box 8 shown in FIG.

Next, such a configuration will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the longitudinal conveyance of mixed mail including envelopes B and postcards K and the reading of address information as the first mode of the second embodiment. In other words, postcard K
The gap G3 between the letter B and the previous envelope B requires a minimum interval of 65 m so that even if the largest mail pieces are consecutive, they can be separated. Therefore, the conveyance pitch P between the leading edges of the envelope B and the postcard K is 235 + nm, which is the maximum distance in the longitudinal direction of the envelope B, and the minimum distance of the gap G3 is 6.
It is set to 300 ++++n with 5mm added. In addition, the gap G4 between the postcard K and the subsequent envelope B is such that the longitudinal dimension L1 of the postcard K is 150.
Since the conveyance pitch P3 is set to 300 mm, it becomes 150+n+++. Since this mode is longitudinal conveyance, the reading format of the destination recognition unit 31 is set for longitudinal conveyance. That is, the destination recognition unit 31 is set to the reading format for longitudinal conveyance in accordance with the mode signal from the mode switching unit 30. in this case,
For example, the storage state of the image memory in which the image of the postcard K from the line sensor 5 is input is the image input state as shown in FIG. 3(a), and the destination recognition unit 31
Recognition processing is performed using this image data.

That is, the destination recognition unit 31 extracts only the image data in the postal code area or address information area from the image data in the image memory according to the set reading format, and uses this extracted image data to determine the postal code. Or recognize address information. Further, in this mode, the reading section 1 is set at the position shown in FIG. 8(b). Thereby, the reading scanning area of the line sensor 5 is located at a distance of 1.20 mm from the mulberry side 2 of the transport base. Therefore, the maximum width W of the mail item B, which is conveyed along the conveyance base chain 2, is 12
Since it is 0 mm, the entire surface of the mail can be read.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating short-side conveyance of a postcard K and reading of address information as the second mode of the second embodiment. That is, as explained in FIG. 6, the conveyance pitch P,1 in the short direction conveyance of the postcard K is 165 mm. As shown in the first embodiment, the advantage of short-side conveyance is that it is possible to increase throughput by about 25% compared to the conventional method.

Here, as shown in Fig. 11, the area for writing address information on a postal card K is generally 150++ on in the horizontal direction, and a p mark frame is printed as the writing area for the postal code D1 in the part 30mm from the top. has been done. Therefore, since the address information D2 is never written in this area, in order to read the address information, it is necessary to
It can be seen that it is necessary and sufficient to read the remaining 120m+n portion after removing mm. Therefore, by moving the reading scanning area of the line sensor 5 to a position 30 m+ away from the conveyance reference side 2 and reading -20-, only the address information writing area excluding the postal code writing area can be read. In this mode, the reading section 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 8(C). That is, the postcard K is conveyed along the conveyance reference side 2, but since it is conveyed on the short side, the length W1 in the longitudinal direction is the conveyance width, which is 150+++ m. In this case, since the reading unit 1, that is, the dark box 8, has moved 30++m in the direction of the arrow perpendicular to the transport direction, the reading scanning area of the line sensor 5 is at a position 30 mm away from the transport reference side 2, and the mail Only the address information writing area of postcard K is read.

As explained above, according to the second embodiment, by moving the reading field of the reading unit, that is, the scanning area of the line sensor 5 within a predetermined range according to the size of the mail, It is possible to read postcards at high speed by transporting them in a short direction. Therefore, when reading address information on postcards, the scanning area (1, 20 mm) of the conventional line sensor can be used as is, and there is no restriction on writing address information, and the conventional longitudinal conveyance of postcards can be carried out. It is possible to improve the read processing capacity by about 25% compared to the previous version. Furthermore, without changing the speed of the transport mechanism section (not shown) or the driving capacity of the line sensor, it is possible to obtain the necessary and sufficient read images with the same characteristics as in the past, thereby improving the processing capacity.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic mail reading device that can particularly read postcards at a higher speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 are for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an automatic mail reading device, and FIG. 2 (a) is a reading unit. FIG. 2(b) is a longitudinal side view showing the schematic configuration of
3(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams showing the storage state of the image memory with images from the "y" section as input, and FIG. 4 shows the main parts of the electric circuit. 5 is a diagram for explaining the longitudinal conveyance and reading of mixed mail, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the short conveyance and reading of postcards, and FIGS. 7 to 11. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an automatic mail reading device, and FIG. 8(a) is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the schematic configuration of the reading section. 8(b) is a sectional view taken along the Y-Y arrow in FIG. 8(a), FIG. 8(C) is a diagram showing the dark box moved 30 mm in FIG. 8(b), and FIG. Figure 10 is a diagram to explain the longitudinal conveyance and reading of mixed mail, Figure 10 is a diagram to explain the short conveyance and reading of postcards, and Figure 11 is a diagram to explain the reading position of postcards. 12 are diagrams for explaining the conventional longitudinal conveyance and reading of mixed mail items, and FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the conventional longitudinal conveyance and reading of postcards. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Reading part, 2... Transport reference side, 3... Reading window, 4... Optical system, 5... Line sensor, 8... Dark box, 21
゜22...Illumination light source, 24...Processing section, 30...
Mode switching unit, 3]...Destination recognition unit, B...Envelope,
K... Postcard, Dl... Postal code, D2...
Address information. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 1 wholesaler (a)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A photoelectric conversion means that outputs an electrical image signal by optically scanning and photoelectrically converting the surface on which the destination information of the mail being transported exists, and an image output from this photoelectric conversion means. recognition means for recognizing address information present on the surface of the postal item by processing a signal, and the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion means covers the entire length of the postcard in the longitudinal direction. An automatic mail reading device characterized by being set to be able to scan mail. (2) A photoelectric conversion means that outputs an electrical image signal by optically scanning and photoelectrically converting the surface on which the destination information of the mail being transported exists, and an image output from this photoelectric conversion means. recognition means for recognizing destination information present on the surface of the mail piece by processing a signal; scanning area moving means for moving the optical scanning area of the photoelectric conversion means according to the size of the mail piece; An automatic mail reading device characterized by comprising the following.