JPH0433510B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a paper processing system comprising, for example, an automatic sorting machine that sorts mail and a conveyance device that conveys the accumulated mail discharged from this machine to the next process. Regarding leaf processing systems.

[Technical background of the invention]

Generally, in a paper sheet processing system, such as a mail processing device, the postal code of the mail is automatically read by an automatic sorting machine, and the mail is sorted and stacked based on the read information. When the sorted and accumulated mail reaches a predetermined amount, it is delivered to a transport tray by a delivery device, and is transported by the transport device, thereby being supplied to the destination card adding device and bundling device in the next process. It's becoming like that.

[Problems with background technology]

However, in the above-mentioned mail processing apparatus, jams and the like occur in the sorting machine, and this occurrence often causes the sorting machine to stop. In this case, since the conveyance device was not stopped, there was a problem that post-processing of the jam could not be done safely.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
The purpose of this is to be able to stop the sorting machine and conveyance device, which are operated by separate control systems, when a conveyance abnormality such as a jam occurs in the sorting machine, and to ensure safe post-processing of the conveyance abnormality. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing system that can perform the following tasks.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a sorting machine that sorts and stacks paper sheets into a plurality of stacking sections based on sorting information written on the paper sheets, and a sorting machine that sorts and stacks paper sheets into a plurality of stacking sections based on sorting information written on the paper sheets, and a paper sheet discharged from the stacking section of this sorting machine that transfers the paper sheets to the next process. It consists of a transport device that transports the
In systems where the control system of the sorting machine and the control system of the conveying device are different, when a conveying abnormality such as a jam occurs in the sorting machine, the sorting machine is stopped and the conveying device is also notified of the jam. , the conveying device is also stopped.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the main body of the sorting machine that sorts and accumulates mail pieces A, which are paper sheets whose sorting information has been read by the reader 2, based on the sorting information; This is a temporary stacking section in which mail items A, such as those that cannot be sent, are stacked in advance without being transported to the sorting machine main body 1 side.

The sorting machine main body 1 includes a plurality of sorting machine units 4.
It has a configuration in which horizontally connected stacking boxes (accumulating parts) groups 5a..., 5b..., 5c..., 5d... are arranged vertically in four stages, and each stacking box When an appropriate amount of mail A... is accumulated in 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, the mail group is automatically
An automatic extrusion mechanism (not shown) for extruding A' to the rear side of the sorting machine main body 1 is provided.

Further, a conveying device 6 is installed in parallel to the sorting machine body 1 to automatically convey the sorted and accumulated mail A to the next process in each of the collection boxes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. This conveying device 6 is connected to the sorting machine unit 4...
A first conveyance mechanism 8 constituted by a plurality of transverse feed units 7 provided on the back side corresponding to the above-mentioned transverse feed units 7; A merging mechanism 10 installed in the lifter unit 9, a distributing mechanism 12 installed in the ascending lifter unit 11 connected to the other end of the lateral feed unit 7..., and a mailpiece connecting mechanism 12 connected to the descending lifter unit 9. A second transport mechanism 14 built into the transfer unit 13 and the lateral transport unit 7
. . , a third conveyance mechanism 15 constituted by a descending lifter unit 9, an ascending lifter unit 11, and a mail transfer unit 13.

The first conveyance mechanism 8 is a group of mails A'... pushed out from each collection box 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of the collection box groups 5a..., 5b..., 5c..., 5d... of the sorter main body 1. A tray horizontal conveyance path 17 that intermittently conveys trays 16 that receive trays in the horizontal direction so as to face the adjacent stacking boxes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d.
a, 17b, 17c, and 17d.

The merging mechanism 10 includes the tray horizontal transport paths 17a, 17b, 17c, 1 of the first transport mechanism 8.
It receives and merges the trays 16 sent out from the trays 7d, and the tray horizontal conveyance paths 17a,
Merging transfer conveyance paths 18a, 18b, provided corresponding to the respective terminal ends of 7b, 17c, 17d,
18c, 18d, and the above-mentioned merging transfer conveyance path 18
Tray 16 sent out from a, 18b, 18c
... are lowered to the same position as the merging transfer conveyance path 18d, and in this state, the descending elevators 19a, 19b, which send the trays 16 sent out from the merging transfer conveyance path 18d to the second conveyance mechanism 14,
19c.

The second transport mechanism 14 has a merging tray transport path 20 that transports the trays 16 merged by the merging mechanism 10 in the horizontal direction. In addition, a tray 1 is provided near the end of this converging tray conveyance path 20.
A mail transfer device 22 is arranged to transfer the mail group A'... in 6... to a bundle pin line 21 in which a destination card attaching device (not shown) and a binding device (not shown) are arranged as the next process. has been done. Furthermore, at the end of the merge tray conveyance path 20, the empty trays 16 to which the mail A has been transferred by the mail transfer device 22 are transferred to the empty tray conveyance path 23 of the third conveyance mechanism 15, which will be described later. A first empty tray transfer device 24 is arranged. In addition, 25 is a grouping unit that collects postal items A... having the same sorting information stored in different trays 16 into the same tray 16 to a predetermined number or more, and 26 is a postal item A to be excluded.
This is the reject part.

The third conveyance mechanism 15 has an empty tray conveyance path 23 that receives the empty tray 16 from the second conveyance mechanism 14 and returns it to the starting end side of the horizontal tray conveyance paths 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d. There is. Furthermore, a second empty tray transfer device 28 for transferring the empty trays 16 from the empty tray transfer path 23 to the distribution mechanism 12 is arranged at the end of the empty tray transfer path 23.

The distribution mechanism 12 distributes and supplies empty trays 16 returned by the third transport mechanism 15 to the starting ends of the horizontal tray transport paths 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d.
Transfer conveyance paths 29a, 2 for distribution provided corresponding to the respective starting ends of a, 17b, 17c, 17d
9b, 29c, 29d, and distribution transfer conveyance path 29
The distribution transfer conveyance path 2 is located at the same position as d.
9d as well as the trays 16 transferred by the second empty tray transfer device 28, the elevators 30a, 30b, and 30c are provided to receive the trays 16 and the trays 16 transferred by the second empty tray transfer device 28, and supply them to the distribution transfer conveyance paths 29a, 29b, and 29c.

In addition, the transfer mechanisms 8, 14, 15 and the ascending/descending elevators 30a, 30b, 30 of the above 1 to 3
c, 19a, 19b, and 19c are an endless conveyor belt for horizontally conveying the tray 16, a stopper mechanism for sliding the tray 16 on the conveyor belt and stopping it at a predetermined position, and a conveyance detector 31 for detecting the conveyance position of each tray 16. It is configured with

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the conveyance detectors 31 . . .
c, the above-mentioned stopper mechanism (not shown) on 17d.
The tray 16 is provided with a micro switch that is turned on at the bottom plate 16a of the tray 16 conveyed by the conveyor belt 32.

Therefore, each collection box 5a, 5 of the sorting machine main body 1
When an appropriate amount of mail A... is accumulated in boxes 5a..., 5c, 5d, the automatic extrusion mechanism operates to push it out to the back side, and the mail pieces A... Tray horizontal conveyance path 1 of transfer mechanism 8 of 1
Empty tray 16 in 7a, 17b, 17c, 17d
Mail group A'... is transferred to....

On the other hand, tray horizontal conveyance paths 17a, 17b, 17
The trays 16 of c, 17d... are successively stacked in the adjacent collection box 5.
A, 5b, 5c, 5d are moved one pitch at a time, and the tray 16 located at the terminal end is connected to the merging transfer conveyance path 18a, 18b, of the merging mechanism 10.
18c and 18d, respectively, and the trays 16 of the merging transfer conveyance paths 18a, 18b, 18c...
Further, descending elevators 19a, 19b, 19
The descending elevator 19 is moved to c.
Due to the downward movement of a, 19b, and 19c, they are positioned at the same position as the tray 16 on the merging transfer conveyance path 18d. These trays 16... are connected to a merging tray conveyance path 2 which is a common conveyance path for these trays 16...
sent to 0.

Tray 1 fed into the merging tray conveyance path 20
6..., the mail A is transferred to the bundle pin line 21 by the mail transfer device 22. Then, the empty trays 16 to which the mail A has been transferred are transferred to the empty tray conveyance path 23 by the first empty tray transfer device 24, and are transferred to the tray horizontal conveyance paths 17a, 17b, 1.
It is returned to the starting end side of 7c and 17d.

The returned empty trays 16 are transferred to the ascending elevators 30a, 30 by the second empty tray transfer device 28.
b, 30c and distribution transfer conveyance path 29d, and ascending elevators 30a, 30b, 30c.
The trays 16 . . . which have been transferred to the trays 16 . And distribution transfer conveyance path 29
Trays 16 on a, 29b, 29c, 29d... are tray horizontal conveyance paths 17a, 17b, 17c, 17
d is supplied to each starting end.

Note that the empty tray transport path 2 of the third transport mechanism 15
The operation of returning the empty trays 16 in step 3 may be an intermittent feeding operation, but it may also be a constant operation to speed up the return of the empty trays 16.
6... can be reduced in number.

FIG. 5 shows the main part of the electrical circuit of the sorting machine 1, which is configured as follows, for example. That is, 41 is a photocell input circuit that reads a detection signal from a photocell (not shown) in the sorting machine 1. 42 is a jam detection circuit;
This is a circuit that detects a jam in response to a detection signal from the photocell input circuit 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a mail piece leading edge detection circuit, which detects the leading edge of the mail piece A in response to a detection signal from the photocell input circuit 41. 44 is the CPU (central
This is a processing unit that controls the entire sorting machine 1, and outputs a drive signal in response to a detection signal from the mail end detection circuit 43, or outputs a drive signal in response to a detection signal from the mail piece leading edge detection circuit 43, or
5 outputs control signals, postal codes, etc. to the CPU 51 in the conveyance device 6, which will be described later.
46 is a command register, which is used by CPU4
This is to store the drive signal from 4. A motor control circuit 47 operates a motor (not shown) by driving a drive circuit 48 with a drive signal from the command register 46 in response to a detection signal from the jam detection circuit 42.

FIG. 6 shows the main part of the electric circuit of the transport device 6, which is configured as follows, for example.
That is, 51 is a CPU that controls the whole, 52 is a ROM (read only memory) in which a control program is stored, 53 is a ROM in which an operation table is stored, and 54 is an interrupt control for interrupt control when an abnormality is detected. 55 is an interrupt controller for interrupt control during a single function, 56 is an interrupt controller that controls communication with the interface 45 in the sorting machine 1 through the interface 57, and 58 is a bundle (not shown) Interface with the device, 59 is a timer, for example 500
It is designed to output a signal every msec.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a detector interface that stores signals from the transport detectors 31 . The drive circuit 62 operates on each of the transport paths 17a and 17 in response to a drive signal from the command register 61.
b, 17c, 17b, 18a, 18b, 18c,
18d, 20, 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d
A motor (not shown) that drives the elevators 19a, 19b, 19c, 30a, 30b, 3
It outputs a drive signal to a lifter (not shown) that drives 0c. Reference numerals 63 to 66 indicate a floppy disk device 67, a printer 68, a keyboard 69, a CRT display device 70, and a reader 7 provided on an operation panel (not shown), respectively.
1 and the CPU 51.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained. For example, if the start switch on the operation panel (not shown) of the sorting machine 1 is turned on,
The objects A are sequentially taken out from the supply section and transported. As a result, the mail item A
A detection signal is output from a photocell (not shown) by the conveyance of the photocell. Based on this detection signal, the leading edge of the mail piece A is detected by the mail piece leading edge detection circuit 43. Then, the CPU 44 causes the command register 46 to store the corresponding drive signal based on the detection signal. As a result, the motor control circuit 47 drives the drive circuit 48 in accordance with the output signal of the command register 46, thereby driving a motor (not shown), and the mail A is conveyed and sorted.
Also, when the above start switch is turned on, the above
The CPU 44 sends the start signal to the interface 4.
5, 57 to the CPU 51 of the transport device 6. Thereby, the CPU 51 starts the operation of the timer 59, and stores the corresponding drive signal in the command register 61 every time a signal from the timer 59 is supplied. As a result, the drive circuit 62
corresponds to the output signal of the command register 61, each of the transport paths 17a..., 18a..., 20, 29a
..., motor (not shown) and elevator 1
9a..., 30a... lifters (not shown) are driven. Thereafter, the CPU 51 receives the tray position detection signal from the detector interface 60 and the timer 5.
The process is determined according to the signal from 9, a drive signal corresponding to the result of this determination is stored in the command register 61, and the drive of each empty conveyance path and the elevator is controlled according to the output of this command register 61. .

The mail group A' sorted and accumulated by the sorting machine 1 is delivered to the tray 16 by the delivery mechanism for each sorting box and conveyed. Then, once the mail has been conveyed a predetermined distance, it is temporarily stopped, and the transfer device 22 transfers the group of mail to the pin line 21 for the next process.
A′ is transposed. Thereafter, a card with destination information printed thereon is attached to the mail group A' by a destination card attaching device, and then the mail group A' is bundled by a bundler.

Suppose that in such a state, while the sorting machine 1 is carrying out sorting, mail A becomes jammed on the conveyance path. At this time, the jam detection circuit 42 detects a jam based on a signal from the photocell. In response to the jam detection signal from the jam detection circuit 42, the motor control circuit 47 stops each motor. At this time, CPU44
outputs a jam signal to the CPU 51 of the transport device 6. As a result, the conveying device 6 stops conveying the mail A due to the jam of the sorting machine 1.

As described above, the CPU 41 of the sorting machine 1 and the CPU 61 of the conveying device 6 communicate with each other to perform synchronized operations with each other, and when the start switch on the operator panel of the sorting machine 1 is turned on, the sorting machine 1 and the conveying device 6 are activated. Both will start and stop by turning on the stop switch. Further, when a jam occurs on the sorting machine 1 side, the sorting machine 1 is stopped in order to dispose of the jam, and the conveyance device 6 is also stopped, so that the jam can be disposed of safely.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the present invention, when a conveyance abnormality such as a jam occurs in the sorting machine, it is possible to stop the sorting machine and the conveyance device, which are operated by separate control systems, and prevent the conveyance error from occurring. It is possible to provide a paper sheet processing system that can safely perform post-processing of paper sheets.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the automatic mail processing device.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the state of the tray in the transport device, Fig. 4 is a diagram to explain the relationship between the detector and the tray, Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the electric circuit of the sorting machine, and Fig. 6 is the transport FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the device. 1... Sorting machine, 5a~, 5b~, 5c~, 5d~
... Collecting box (accumulating section), 6... Conveying device, A... Mail,
16... Tray, 31... Conveyance detector, 42... Jam detection circuit, 44... CPU, 51... CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sorting machine that sorts and stacks paper sheets into a plurality of stacking sections based on sorting information written on the paper sheets, and paper sheets that are discharged from the stacking sections of this sorting machine. A paper sheet processing system comprising: a conveying device for conveying paper sheets to the next process; and a first conveying means for conveying paper sheets to the sorting machine; a reading means for reading the sorting information described in the first conveying means; a stacking unit for sorting and accumulating the paper sheets conveyed by the first conveying means according to the sorting information; a first position detection means for detecting the conveyance position of paper sheets, an abnormality detection means for detecting a conveyance abnormality such as a jam in the paper sheets conveyed by the first conveyance means, and an operation of each of the above means. an instruction means for instructing a start; and in response to an instruction from the instruction means, the first conveyance means starts conveying the paper sheets, and the detection result of the first position detection means and the reading means are read. a first control means for sorting and stacking paper sheets in a plurality of stacking units according to the sorting information and outputting a start signal to the conveying device; a second control means for stopping the conveyance of paper sheets by the first conveying means and outputting an abnormality detection signal to the conveying device; a second conveyance means for moving and conveying paper sheets from the stacking section; a second position detection means for detecting the conveyance position of the paper sheets conveyed by the second conveyance means; and the sorting machine. a timer that starts operation in response to the start signal received by the acceptance means; and a timer that starts operation in response to the timer output of the timer and the detection result of the second position detection means. an output means for outputting a command, a third control means for controlling the second transport means to transport paper sheets according to the command output by the output means, and an abnormality received by the receiving means. A paper sheet processing system comprising: a fourth control means for stopping the conveyance of paper sheets by the second conveyance means in response to a detection signal.