JPH0741243A - Piled letter processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a piled letter processing device which can detect the full condition of a device without difficulty, and preliminarily avoid the generation of jammed conditions. CONSTITUTION:A piled letter processing device 1 which is provided with a loading plate 21 to load letters on the bottom side in a vertically movable manner, provide with a letter pressing member 22 to the upper part of this loading plate 21, and executes the processing of the piled condition of this letter (P) by putting the letter (P) into the body 13 where the storing region 23 is formed between the loading plate 21 and the letter pressing member 22 is provided with a distance sensor 25 to measure the distance between the loading plate 21 and the bottom of the body 13, and a full condition judging means 36 to transmit the full condition signal when the measured value of this distance sensor 25 is within the specified range. This constitution detects the full condition of this body even when foreign matter such as a name plate and a book are arranged in the body 13, and preliminarily avoid the generation of jammed conditions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a letter collecting and processing apparatus, and more particularly to a letter collecting and processing apparatus suitable for application to a mail sorting box in a mail handling apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a letter accumulation processing apparatus applied to a mail sorting box in a mail processing apparatus, those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are conventionally known.

A letter accumulating apparatus 50 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Includes a main body 51 whose entire shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped and whose front and side surfaces are open, and a bottom of the main body 51 is provided with a stacking plate 52 for vertically stacking letters P such as envelopes and postcards. . Further, a letter pressing member 53 is provided above the stacking plate 52.
Rotatably, the stacking plate 52 and the letter pressing member 5
A housing area 54 between the housing 3 and the housing 3 is formed.

Then, a contact type lower full detection section 5 such as a micro switch extends over the projecting portion 52a of the stacking plate 52 from the main body 51 and the bottom projecting portion 51a of the main body 51.
7 is provided, and an upper full detector 58 for detecting upward rotation of the contact type letter press member 53 such as a micro switch is provided on the side of the letter press member 53, and a detection signal of the lower full detector 57 is provided. And the detection signal of the upper full detection section 58 are ANDed to obtain the accommodation area 5 in the main body 51.
The full state of the letter P inserted in 4 is detected, and an alarm means (not shown) issues an alarm.

[0005]

However, in the case of the letter collecting apparatus 50 described above, for example, the stacking plate 5 is used.
If a foreign object 60 such as a name tag or a book indicating a customer is placed between the bottom surface of the main body 51 and the body 2, even if the stacking plate 52 tries to descend due to the weight of a large number of letters P. As a result of being blocked by the foreign matter 60, as a result, the lower full-fill detector 57
However, there is a problem that the detection signal is not sent out even though the main body 51 is full, and if left unattended, the transport system (not shown) of the letter P becomes jammed and becomes jammed.

In view of the above, the present invention improves the configuration and can detect the full state of the main body even if foreign matter such as a name tag or a book is placed on the main body, and can prevent the occurrence of a jam condition in advance. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0007]

A letter stacking apparatus according to the present invention comprises a stacking plate for stacking letters on the bottom side, which is vertically movable, and a letter pressing member above the stacking plate. In a letter stacking and processing apparatus for stacking and processing letters by inserting the letters into a main body having a storage area formed between the stacking plate and the bottom of the main body, a distance sensor for measuring the distance between the stacking plate and the bottom of the main body. A full state determination means for sending a full state signal when the measured value of the distance sensor is within a certain range.

The full state signal from the full state determination means is used for full detection of the main body together with the detection signal of the upper limit detection sensor provided on the side of the letter pressing member for detecting the upper limit position of the letter pressing member. .

The main body is a postal matter sorting box in a postal matter processing apparatus, and the letter is a postal matter to be put into the postal matter sorting box.

[0010]

According to the letter stacking / processing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the distance sensor measures the distance between the bottom of the main body and the loading plate provided on the bottom side of the main body so as to be movable up and down, and the full state determining means detects the distance. When the measured value of the sensor is within a certain range, the full state signal is sent out, so even if foreign matter is placed between the bottom of the main unit and the loading plate, the distance between the loading plate and the bottom of the main unit is constant. If it is within the range, it can detect the full state of this body,
It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a jam condition.

The full state signal from the full state determination means is used for full detection of the main body together with the detection signal of the upper limit detection sensor provided on the side of the letter pressing member for detecting the upper limit position of the letter pressing member. The full state of the main body can be reliably detected.

By detecting the full state of the mail sorting box in the mail processing device by using the main body as a mail sorting box in the mail processing device and the letter as a mail to be put into the mail sorting box. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a jam condition of the mail processing device.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

First, an outline of a mail processing device 30 incorporating the letter stacking processing device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

This postal matter processing apparatus 30 is provided with a supply section 3 so that a large number of postal matter P, such as postcards and envelopes, can be loaded on the supply section 3 all together in a standing position. Has become.

The postal matter P from the supply unit 3 is taken out one by one by the take-out unit 5 and conveyed to the take-in convey path 7. The take-in conveyance path 7 is configured by using a belt,
The belt P holds and conveys the postal matter P, and sends it to the reading unit 9 provided downstream thereof.

The reading unit 9 is composed of an optical system and a discriminating unit, and reads the information such as the postal code and address written on the postal matter P.

Each postal matter P that has passed through the reading section 9 is conveyed to a large rectangular parallelepiped sorting section 11.

The sorting unit 11 is constructed by arranging a plurality of main bodies (postal sorting boxes) 13 constituting the letter accumulation processing apparatus 1 which are divided and arranged for each postal code or address, for example, from the reading unit 9 to each main body. The sorting and transporting of each postal matter P to 13 is performed by sorting and transporting paths 15a to 15 which are connected to the above-mentioned pick-up and transporting path 7.
g is performed according to the reading result of the reading unit 9.

Next, details of the letter stacking processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The letter accumulation processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS.
A main body 13 having an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape and an open front and side surfaces is provided, and a bottom plate of the main body 13 is provided with a stacking plate 21 on which a letter P such as an envelope or a postcard can be vertically moved. Further, a letter pressing member 22 is provided above the stacking plate 21 so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction shown in FIG.
An accommodating area 23 is formed between 1 and the letter pressing member 22.

A letter P is conveyed from the upper right side in FIG.

A distance sensor 25 for measuring the distance between the stacking plate 21 and the bottom projection 13a of the main body 13 is provided on the projection 21a of the main body 13 and the distance according to the distance between the two is provided. It is designed to send out signals.

Further, a contact type upper limit detection sensor 26 such as a micro switch for detecting the upward rotation of the letter holding member 22 is provided on the side of the letter holding member 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distance sensor 25 includes a light emitting element 31, a first condenser lens 32, a second condenser lens 33, and a second condenser lens 33 which are arranged on the lower surface side of the projecting portion 21a of the stacking plate 21. A line sensor 34 using a CCD is provided,
The light from the light emitting element 31 is applied to the bottom protruding portion 13a of the main body 13 via the first condenser lens 32, and the reflected light is condensed by the second condenser lens 33 on the line sensor 34 to form a line. It corresponds to incident positions a and b of reflected light which is incident on the sensor 34 and changes according to the distance L1 or L2 between the projecting portion 21a of the stacking plate 21 and the bottom projecting portion 13a, that is, the distance L1 or L2. The distance signal corresponding to is transmitted.

FIG. 4 shows a control system of the letter accumulating and processing apparatus 1, which is provided with a control means 35 for controlling the whole, and the control means 35 has a constant range of measured values by the distance sensor 25. Of the upper limit detection sensor 26, the upper limit detection sensor 26, the upper limit detection sensor 26, and the upper limit detection sensor unit 26. Judgment means 37 for sending a full detection signal by taking the logical product with the detection signal
And an alarm means 40 including an alarm lamp 38 and a buzzer 39 for emitting an alarm by light and sound indicating that the mail P is full in the main body 13 based on the determination result of the determination means 37,
It is connected to a counter 41 that measures the measurement operation time of the distance sensor 25.

Next, the fullness detecting operation of the letter stacking processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

A large number of postal matter P are successively carried into the accommodation area between the stacking plate 21 and the letter pressing member 22 of the main body 13 from the sorting and conveying path 15a, and the stacking plate 21 is lowered by its weight. Then, when the letter pressing member 22 rotates upward, the upper limit detection sensor 26 sends a detection signal (ST1), and the distance sensor 25 also sends a distance signal (ST2), the counter 41 moves the distance. Counting is started based on the distance signal from the sensor 25 (ST
3). While the count of the counter 41 continues to count and the fixed time elapses, the full state determination means 36 outputs the full state signal when the measured value of the distance sensor 25 is within a certain range, for example, within a range from zero to several cm. Is sent (ST
4).

The determination means 37 determines the logical product of the detection signal from the upper limit detection sensor 26 and the full state signal from the full state determination means 36 to determine the detection signal,
When both full state signals are present, a full detection signal indicating that the main body 13 is full is transmitted.

As a result, the alarm lamp 38 and the buzzer 39 are operated under the control of the control means 35, and light and sound are emitted to notify the operator that the main body 13 is full.

By the above operation, even if a foreign object 60 having a thickness of several mm to several cm, such as a name tag or a book, is arranged between the bottom of each main body 13 and the stacking plate 21, the mail processing apparatus 30 can be operated. The full state of each main body 13 can be detected without any trouble, and the occurrence of the jam state of the postal matter processing device 30 can be avoided in advance.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

[0033]

According to the present invention described in detail above, since it has the above-mentioned structure, even if a foreign matter is placed between the bottom of the main body and the stacking plate, the space between the stacking plate and the bottom of the main body is reduced. If the distance is within a certain range, it is possible to provide a letter accumulation processing apparatus capable of detecting the full state of the main body and avoiding the occurrence of a jammed state.

Further, the full state signal from the full state determining means is used for full detection of the main body together with the detection signal of the upper limit detection sensor provided on the side of the letter pressing member for detecting the upper limit position of the letter pressing member. Thus, it is possible to provide a letter accumulation processing device capable of reliably detecting the full state of the main body.

Further, the main body is a postal matter sorting box in the postal matter processing device, and the letter is a postal matter put in the postal matter sorting box, so that the postal matter sorting box in the postal matter processing device is full. Thus, it is possible to provide a letter stacking processing apparatus capable of detecting the occurrence of jam and preventing the occurrence of a jammed state in the mail processing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a distance sensor in a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a mail processing device to which the device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional device.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Letter Integrated Processing Device 13 Main Body 21 Loading Plate 22 Letter Pressing Member 23 Storage Area 25 Distance Sensor 26 Upper Limit Detection Sensor 36 Full State Judgment Means 40 Warning Means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bottom plate is provided with a stacking plate for stacking letters, which can be moved up and down, and a letter pressing member is provided above the stacking plate to form a storage area between the stacking plate and the letter pressing member. In a letter stacking processing device for throwing letters into the main body and processing the letters, when a distance sensor for measuring the distance between the stacking plate and the bottom of the main body and a measured value of the distance sensor is within a certain range. A letter accumulation processing apparatus, comprising: a full state determination means for transmitting a full state signal. 2. The full state signal from the full state determination means is used for full detection of the main body together with a detection signal of an upper limit detection sensor provided on the side of the letter pressing member for detecting an upper limit position of the letter pressing member. The letter accumulation processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is a thing. 3. The letter collecting and processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is a postal matter sorting box in the postal matter handling apparatus, and the letter is a postal matter put in the postal matter sorting box.