JPH08161496A - Mail processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily detect even a postal matter with a light fluorescent color or without any fluorescent color. CONSTITUTION: An analog red image and an analog image in other colors than red obtained by reading a carried mail by a color sensor 32 are converted into digital images at A/D converters 41, 42, a histogram circuit 45 obtains a histogram in each direction from the converted images in red and other colors, a background color of the mail is defined by obtaining a most frequent value from the histograms of each direction, a coordinate transformation circuit 46 transforms coordinates of the image based on the defined background color, a binary circuit 47 binarizes a red area from the image subject to coordinate transformation, an image processing section 48 applies image processing to the binarized image and a CPU 30 discriminates a postal matter (in red image) from the image subject to image processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail processing apparatus such as a mail automatic sorting and arranging and stamping machine for automatically selecting, arranging, stamping and sorting mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mail processing apparatus as an automatic mail sorting and arranging and stamping machine for automatically selecting, arranging, stamping and sorting mail has been put into practical use. This mail processing device has an automatic sorting unit, an automatic reading unit, and a paper sheet stacking unit. The automatic sorting unit automatically sorts and arranges the postal items, the automatic reading unit reads and stamps the information of the postal items, and then sorts them. The paper sheet stacking unit collects the sorted postal items.

Conventionally, in such a postal matter processing apparatus, the detection of the postage mark of a postal letter is performed by a stamp of a fixed position, color and size, a color detection circuit for detecting the fee, a phosphor phosphor coated on the stamp. There is a fluorescent phosphorescence detection circuit that detects the emission of light.

However, most of the fee meters stamped on a postal letter contain fluorescent paint, but there are some fee meters which have a low fluorescence or no fluorescence, and thus fluorescent phosphorescence is present. The detection circuit could not detect such a toll meter.

[0005]

As described above, most of the fee meters stamped on a postal letter contain a fluorescent paint, but some of them have low fluorescence or no fluorescence at all. There is also a charge meter that does not exist, and there is a problem that such a charge meter cannot be detected by the fluorescent phosphorescence detection circuit.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mail processing apparatus which can easily detect even a fee meter which does not contain fluorescence or does not contain fluorescence at all.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A mail processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reading means for reading an image on the surface of a conveyed mail and a detecting means for detecting an image of a desired color from the image read by the reading means. And determining means for determining necessary information from the image detected by the detecting means.

The mail processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading means for reading an image on the surface of a conveyed mail, a detecting means for detecting the background color of the mail from the image read by the reading means, and this detecting means. Coordinate conversion means for performing the coordinate conversion of the image based on the background color detected by, the detection means for detecting the image of the desired color from the image coordinate-converted by this coordinate conversion means, and the detection means It is composed of a judging means for judging necessary information from the image.

The mail processing apparatus of the present invention is a reading means for reading an image on the surface of a conveyed mail, a detecting means for detecting the background color of the mail from the image read by the reading means, and this detecting means. Coordinate conversion means for performing coordinate conversion of the image based on the background color detected in step 2, and binarization means for binarizing a desired color area from the image coordinate-converted by the coordinate conversion means; The image processing means includes image processing means for performing image processing on the image binarized by the value-forming means, and determination means for determining necessary information from the image processed by the image processing means.

The mail processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reading means for reading a red image and a non-red image on the surface of the conveyed mail, and a red image and a non-red image read by the reading means. Histogram means for taking a histogram of the direction, detection means for detecting the most frequent value from the histograms of the respective directions taken by the histogram means, and detecting the background color of the mail, and the background color detected by the detection means Coordinate conversion means for performing image coordinate conversion based on
Binarizing means for binarizing the red region from the image coordinate-converted by the coordinate converting means, image processing means for image-processing the image binarized by the binarizing means, and this image The processing unit includes a determination unit that determines necessary information from the image processed by the processing unit.

The postal matter processing apparatus of the present invention includes a color sensor for reading a red image and a non-red image on the surface of a conveyed postal matter, and an analog red image and a non-red image read by the color sensor. The analog-to-digital converter that converts to, the histogram circuit that takes the histogram of each direction from the red image and the image other than red that are digitally converted by this analog-to-digital converter, and the histogram circuit of each direction taken by this histogram circuit. Detecting means for detecting the most frequent value from the histogram to detect the background color of the mail, a coordinate conversion circuit for performing coordinate conversion of the image based on the background color detected by the detection means, and coordinates by this coordinate conversion circuit. A binarization circuit that binarizes a red area from the converted image, and an image processing unit that performs image processing of the binarized image by the binarization circuit. , And a determination unit configured to necessary information from the processed image by the image processing unit.

[0012]

According to the present invention, an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed is read, an image of a desired color is detected from the read image, and necessary information is determined from the detected image.

According to the present invention, an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed is read, the background color of the mail is detected from the read image, the image is subjected to coordinate conversion based on the detected background color, and the coordinate is converted. An image of a desired color is detected from the recorded image, and necessary information is determined from the detected image.

According to the present invention, an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed is read, the background color of the mail is detected from the read image, the coordinates of the image are converted based on the detected background color, and the coordinates are converted. A desired color region is binarized from the image, the binarized image is image-processed, and necessary information is determined from the image-processed image.

According to the present invention, a red image and a non-red image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed are read, histograms of respective directions are taken from the read red image and the image other than red, and the respective taken directions are taken. The most frequent value is calculated from the histogram of the above to detect the background color of the mail, the image is subjected to coordinate conversion based on the detected background color, and the red area is binarized from the coordinate-converted image. Image processing is performed on a binarized image, and necessary information is determined from the image-processed image.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 and 3 schematically show a mail sorting and arranging and stamping machine 1 as a mail processing apparatus according to the present invention.

That is, the mail sorting and arranging stamp 1 is
The supply unit 2 that supplies the postal letter P, and the first selection unit 3 that selects the postal letter P supplied to the supply unit 2 into the postal letter P having a fixed thickness and the postal letter P having a non-standard thickness. , This first
A conveyor (not shown) that conveys the postal letters P having a standard thickness selected by the sorting section 3 of the above, the postal letter P from this conveyor is placed in an upright position, and the postal letter P is a postal letter P having a standard size. From the second sorting unit 5, a second sorting unit 5 that sorts the letter letter P having a non-standard size and aligns the vertical and horizontal directions of the letter letter P (aligns the physical orientation). Of the regular letter P is conveyed one by one, the sorting destination is read, the direction of the letter P is determined by the stamp detection, and the upper and lower sides of the letter P are aligned according to the determination content,
It comprises an arranging and stamping section 6 for stamping a postmark, and a sorting and accumulating section 7 for categorizing and accumulating the postal letters P from the arranging and stamping section 6 based on the contents read by the sorting destination.

An operation panel 8 is provided near the center of the mail sorting and arranging and imprinting machine 1, that is, in the vicinity of the arranging and imprinting section 6, for instructing various operations and displaying an operation mode and an abnormality display. .

The supply unit 2 receives a plurality of postal letters P, ... Collectively and receives the postal letters P from the receiving unit 11, and conveys the postal letters P obliquely upward to smooth the postal letters P.
It consists of two.

The supply unit 2 is installed at a position parallel to the second selection unit 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the supply unit 2 is moved together with the first selection unit 3 so that the second selection unit 5 is moved. It can be installed at any position where it is rotated approximately 360 degrees, such as a direction orthogonal to the section 5 or a direction in which it is in series with the second selection unit 5 (a direction in which it is in a straight line).

Therefore, the degree of freedom in the layout for installing the device is high. The letter P having a fixed thickness selected by the first sorting unit 3 is dropped onto a conveyor (not shown) via a downhill (not shown), and the letter P having a thickness other than the fixed thickness is rejected by the reject unit. (Not shown)
It is supposed to be repelled by.

The second sorting unit 5 conveys the postal letter P sent from the conveyor by a standing position conversion unit 13 which puts the postal letter P in an upright position, and the postal letter P which is put up by the standing position conversion unit 13. The path 14, sorting sections 15a, 15b, 15c for sorting the letter P having a non-standard size with respect to the letter P conveyed by the conveying path 14, and the letter P are taken out to the buffer unit 17 one by one. One-take-out section 1 to supply
It is composed of 5d.

The non-standard-sized postal letter P sorted by the sorting sections 15a, 15b, and 15c is repelled by the reject section via an exclusion conveyance path and a shooter (not shown).

The arranging and imprinting section 6 has a conveying path 16 for conveying the fixed letter P from the second sorting section 5, a buffer section 17 for accumulating the letter P delivered by the conveying path 16, A buffer take-out unit 18 that takes out the mail letters P accumulated in the buffer unit 17 one by one, an auxiliary supply unit 19 that is supplied with a fixed-sized mail letter P when the alignment stamp unit 6 is used alone, and this auxiliary supply unit 19 is supplied. The pick-up unit 20 that picks up the individual mail letters P one by one, the mail letter P that is picked up from the buffer unit 17 by the buffer pick-up unit 18, or the mail letter P that is picked up from the auxiliary supply unit 19 by the pick-up unit 20 is conveyed. A conveyance path 21, first and second detection units 22 that detect stamps of postal letters P conveyed through the conveyance path 21 and read classification information,
23, a reversing section 24 for reversing in order to align the top and bottom of the letter P conveyed by the conveying path 21, the second detecting section 23
Stamp part 2 for stamping the postmark on the letter P that has passed through
It is composed of 5.

The first and second detectors 22 and 23 are each composed of a stamp detector, a charge meter, and a payee detector, which are not shown. The classification stacking unit 7 is
The gates 26 driven in accordance with the sorting information read by the first and second detectors 22 and 23, and the postal letters P sorted by these gates 26 are accumulated 6
.., 27f. , 27f are given stacker numbers 1, ..., 6 respectively.

The operation panel 8 has a display section 8a for displaying jam positions, operation guides, etc., an interlock switch 8b for instructing that this device and a sorting machine connected to this device move in an interlocking manner, and this device. Only the single-action switch 8c for instructing that only one moves.

FIG. 1 shows a control system of the mail sorting and arranging and stamping machine 1, which reads a CPU 30 for controlling the whole, a program memory 31 for storing programs such as parameter calculation, and an image of a letter P. Color sensor 32,
A limited color detection circuit (detection means) 40 for extracting and identifying only a specific color from an image from the color sensor 32 to detect and detect a fee mark such as a charge meter, and a letter P provided immediately before the color sensor 32 and conveyed. Photocell sensor 34 for detecting the conveyance of paper, a control circuit 35 for controlling various operations by signals from various sensors including the photocell sensor 34, and a bus 3.
6 is comprised.

The limited color detection circuit 40 includes an A / D converter 41 for analog / digital (A / D) conversion of the red image (R image) from the color sensor (reading means) 32, and other than red color from the color sensor 32. A / D converter 42 for analog / digital (A / D) conversion of the image (S image), multi-valued memory 43 for storing the digital image (R image) from the A / D converter 41, A / D conversion Digital image (S
Multivalued memory 44 for storing images), and simultaneously digital images (R images) from A / D converter 41 and A / D converter 42
Histogram circuit (histogram means) 4 for creating a histogram by inputting a digital image (S image) from
5. Coordinate conversion circuit (coordinate conversion means) 46 and coordinate conversion circuit 46 for converting the coordinates between the image (R image) stored in the multi-valued memory 43 and the image (S image) stored in the multi-valued memory 44. A binarization circuit (binarization means) 47 that performs binarization in the X and Y directions whose coordinates have been converted by the image processing unit, and an image processing unit that performs image processing using the binary data from the binarization circuit 47 (image processing Means) 48.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the histogram circuit 45, which is composed of a 24 × 1024 bit RAM 50 and an adder 51. FIG. 5 shows the coordinate conversion circuit 4
6 shows an example of the configuration of No. 6, and multipliers 53, 54, 55, 5
6 and adders 57 and 58.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the binarization circuit 47, which includes comparators 60, 61 and 62, a switch 63,
It is composed of 64, 65 and an adder 66. FIG. 7 shows an example of a letter P, in which the background color is white L,
It consists of several lines of addresses, a black part M of the character part where the name is written, and a red part N where the stamp of the charge meter is stamped.

Next, the reading operation of the postal letter P in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the mail letter P blocks the photocell sensor 34 installed in front of the color sensor 32 for image reading (step ST1), the image of the mail letter P from the color sensor 32 is a red image (R image) and other than red. Image (S image) is captured (step ST2).

The captured image is subjected to analog-digital conversion by the A / D converters 41 and 42 for the R image and the S image respectively (step ST3), and the multi-valued memories 43 and 44, respectively.
(Step ST4).

FIG. 9 shows a two-dimensional distribution of the brightness of the R image and the S image at this time. The background color L is distributed around F1, black M is around F2, and red N is F3. It is distributed around the area.

At the same time as the image is loaded into the multi-valued memories 43 and 44, the brightness histograms in the R and S directions are taken (step ST5). FIG. 10 shows a histogram of lightness in each of the R and S directions. R direction, S
The frequency of the histogram is high in the vicinity (F1) where the white color which is the background color is distributed in both directions.

In the histogram circuit 45, the RAM 5
The brightness of the image data is input to the address 0. Then, according to the WR signal, the data of the address is read from "OUT" of the RAM 50, "1" is incremented by the adder 51, and the data of the read address is written from "IN" of the RAM 50.

FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the address, the WR signal and the data. For example, when the address 17H at the time point a (that is, the brightness 17H) is input from the address line, the data value "0" of the address 17H is read from OUT of the RAM 50 when the WR signal is "1".
Then, "1" is added by the adder 51, and the WR signal becomes "1".
When it becomes "0", the data value of address 17H is "0" from IN.
+ 1 = 1 ”is written.

Next, the brightness 17H at the time point b is the RAM
When input to the address of 50, the data value "1" of the previous address 17H is read by the WR signal "1", and the adder 5
When "1" is added by 1 and the WR signal becomes "0", it becomes "1".
+ 1 = 2 "is written in the data value at address 17H.
By repeating this many times and repeating for the number of pixels of the captured image, the histogram of the brightness of the image can be obtained.
Based on the obtained histogram, the most frequent value is obtained in each of the R direction and the S direction.

The histogram result obtained by the histogram circuit 45 is sent to the CPU 30 via the bus 36,
The most frequent value is obtained in each of the R direction and the S direction. Then, this intersection is defined as Ug (Mhr, Mhs), and since this point has the largest number of pixels in the image, it is defined as the background color of the letter P (step ST6).

Coordinate conversion is performed by the coordinate conversion circuit 46 as a pre-processing for binarizing the image based on the base color (step ST9). By performing this coordinate conversion, it is possible to easily perform binarization in the binarization circuit 47, which is the next process. Coordinate conversion is based on the background color Ug (Mh
Rotation conversion is performed so that the straight line connecting r, Mhs) and the origin overlaps the R axis.

As shown in FIG. 12, the new coordinates are X-axis and Y-axis.
When the axis is used as an axis, the conversion formula for rotating the angle θ around the origin is θ, where θ is the angle formed by the straight line connecting the background color Ug (Mhr, Mhs) and the origin and θ.

[0041]

[Equation 1]

That is, the above-mentioned configuration of the coordinate conversion circuit 46 is a hardware version of the above equation. The sum of the product of R and A and the product of S and B is X, and R and C are The product of the multiplication and the product of S and D is added to Y. A, B, C, and D correspond to each other as in the following equation.

[0043]

[Equation 2]

As can be seen from this equation, A, B, C, D
Is determined by the background color Ug (Mhr, Mhs).
Therefore, the background color of the letter P differs from one letter to another, and the rotation conversion parameters A, B, C, and D have different values for each letter. That is, the rotation conversion adapted to each letter is performed. The parameters A, B, C and D are calculated by the CPU 30 according to a program stored in the program memory 31, and the CPU 3 calculates each postal letter.
The multipliers 53, 54, 55 and 56 are set from 0 (step ST7).

Next, binarization is performed in order to cut out the color region of interest in this embodiment (step ST10). In FIG. 13, in the two-dimensional distribution diagram of the coordinate-converted brightness, the color around the background color having a high frequency in the histogram is F on the X axis.
Distributed around 1. In addition, a low-brightness color (black) such as characters is also distributed around F2 on the X axis. From this, a first threshold (THRA) is provided to separate the color around the background color and the black image from other colors. THRA is set by the following equation. THRA = Cs ₁ × Cv × (Mhs + (Mhr-Mh
s) × Cc ₁ / Mhr where Cs ₁ is a constant, Cv is a value determined by the distance from the origin to the background color, and Cc ₁ is a value determined by the slope of a straight line from the origin to the background color.

Then, the colors are separated according to the difference in the density values of the colors. The second and third thresholds therefor are THR
B, THRC. These two values are constant multiples of the distance from the origin to the background color Ug (Mhr, Mhs).

The calculation formulas for THRA, THRB, and THRC are programmed in the program memory 31 of the CPU 30. The values of THRA, THRB, and THRC are output from the CPU 30 to the comparators 60 and 6 for each mail letter.
It is set to 1, 62 (step ST8).

THRA and THR sent from the CPU 30
The values of B and THRC are the comparators 60 and 6 respectively.
1, 62 is compared with the image data. Then, the AGB and ALB output from the comparators 60, 61 and 62 are set to CP.
Select from U30 and select three comparators 60, 61, 6
The sum of the outputs of 2 is taken by the adder 66 to be binarized data (step ST10). This makes it possible to cut out various areas of the two-dimensional distribution map.

For example, when it is desired to cut out the shaded area in FIG. 13, the CPU 30 causes the comparator 60 to switch 63.
The ALB may be selected via the switch 61, the comparator 61 may select the AGB via the switch 64, and the comparator 62 may select the ALB via the switch 65. Since the shaded area in FIG. 13 corresponds to the toll meter (red image) shown in N in FIG. 7, only the imprint of the toll meter can be taken out.

It is possible to extract not only the red image but also other colors by changing the threshold value or changing the selection of the outputs of the comparators 60, 61 and 62. For example, if X <THRB and Y <| THRA | in FIG. 13, black characters can be extracted, and X> THRC and Y <| T
With HRA |, the background color can be extracted.

The binarized data thus cut out is sent to the image processing unit 48. Then, the data processed by the image processing unit 48 is sent to the CPU 30 via the bus 36 and the charge amount mark is judged (step ST11).

As described above, according to the above embodiment,
You can find the background color of the letter for each letter, coordinate conversion for binarization suitable for the letter, and set the threshold, so no matter what the background color is, the difference between the fee mark and a certain amount of color If there is, it becomes possible to detect the fee mark. Further, since the fee mark is extracted by cutting out the area of the two-dimensional distribution of color brightness, it is possible to easily detect it.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a mail processing apparatus that can easily detect even a fee meter that has a low fluorescence or does not contain any fluorescence.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a mail sorting and arranging and stamping machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the mail sorting and arranging stamp of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mail sorting and arranging stamp of FIG. 1 seen from above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a histogram circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a coordinate conversion circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a binarization circuit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a mail letter.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a mail letter reading operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional distribution of brightness of an R image and an S image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a histogram of brightness in each of the R and S directions.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between an address, a WR signal, and data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional distribution when new coordinates are X-axis and Y-axis.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a threshold value in a two-dimensional distribution of coordinate-converted brightness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mail sorting / sorting / imprinting machine 30 ... CPU 32 ... Color sensor 40 ... Limited color detection circuit 41, 42 ... A / D converter 43, 44 ... Multi-valued memory 45 ... Histogram circuit 46 ... Coordinate conversion circuit 47 ... Binary value Circuit 48 ... Image processing unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/60 1/46 H04N 1/40 D 1/46 Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed, a detecting unit for detecting an image of a desired color from the image read by the reading unit, and a necessary unit for the image detected by the detecting unit. A mail processing apparatus comprising: a judging unit for judging information. 2. A reading means for reading an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed, a detecting means for detecting a background color of the mail from the image read by the reading means, and a background color detected by the detecting means. Coordinate conversion means for performing coordinate conversion of the image based on the above; detection means for detecting an image of a desired color from the image subjected to coordinate conversion by this coordinate conversion means; and necessary information determined from the image detected by this detection means A mail processing device, comprising: 3. A reading unit for reading an image on the surface of a mail to be conveyed, a detecting unit for detecting a background color of the mail from the image read by the reading unit, and a background color detected by the detecting unit. Coordinate conversion means for performing coordinate conversion of the image based on the above, binarization means for binarizing a desired color region from the image coordinate-converted by this coordinate conversion means, and binarization by this binarization means A mail processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that performs image processing of the formed image; and a determination unit that determines necessary information from the image processed by the image processing unit. 4. A reading means for reading a red image and a non-red image on the surface of the conveyed mail, and a histogram means for taking a histogram in each direction from the red image and the non-red image read by the reading means. A detecting means for detecting the most frequent value from the histograms of the respective directions taken by the histogram means to detect the background color of the mail; and the coordinate conversion of the image based on the background color detected by the detecting means. And a binarizing means for binarizing the red area from the image coordinate-converted by the coordinate converting means, and image processing of the binarized image by the binarizing means. A mail processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit; and a determination unit that determines necessary information from an image processed by the image processing unit. 5. A color sensor for reading the red image and the image other than red on the surface of the mail to be conveyed, and an analog-digital converter for converting the analog red image and the image other than red read by the color sensor into digital. And a histogram circuit that takes a histogram in each direction from the red image and the image other than red that are digitally converted by this analog-digital converter, and find the most frequent value from the histogram in each direction taken by this histogram circuit. Detecting means for detecting the background color of the mail, a coordinate conversion circuit for performing coordinate conversion of the image based on the background color detected by the detecting means, and a red color converted from the image coordinate-converted by the coordinate conversion circuit. A binarization circuit for binarizing an area, an image processing unit for performing image processing of an image binarized by the binarization circuit, and an image processing unit for image processing. Mail processing device comprising a determination unit configured to necessary information from the processed image, by comprising a.