JPH08323300A - Information card issuing apparatus and article sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To heighten the reliability of the information to be written in information a card by producing the data of the set sequence number of articles to be sorted, the data of individual specified types common in articles to be introduced in sorting cases based on the written information, and the data of the quantity of the articles to be introduced in the sorting cases and printing respective data on paper sheets. CONSTITUTION: To carry out a process to issue information cards, address information 9, which is written information, is read out in a memory means 7 of an information card issuing apparatus 1 and then for one bundle of bundles of sorted postal matter, the date of the set sequence numbers to be set in a postal matter sorting apparatus is read out. Next, based on the address information 9 and the read out information 10 including the data of the set sequence numbers, the data for individual specified types and the data of quantity are produced. After that, the data of the individual specified types and the data of quantity are laid out as the variable data in prescribed positions by a printing process routine 15 and combined with other fixed data (e.g. specific discount) to produce the printing information. A label printer 5 is then driven to carry out a printing process on information cards based on the printing information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a device for issuing an information tag which is used with a device for sorting and stacking articles such as mail and certificates and attached to a bundle of sorted articles, and a device for issuing the same. The present invention relates to an article sorting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei.
No. 54172, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-67231, and the like, the address of a mail piece is read and the mail piece is classified by destination. Regarding the technology related to the information tag, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-142
It is known from Japanese Patent No. 837, Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-9559, and the like, and according to these publications, an information tag in which address information and the like are described is attached to a mail item classified by address.

[0003]

However, in the conventional information tag issuing device, the information tag is issued so that the information tag is attached to the article bundle in conjunction with the article sorting device. The information itself written on the information tag is not written based on the original address information or the address information written on the article. Therefore, the reliability of the information written on the information tag is low. In particular, if the information to be written on the information tag is not what was written at the stage of using the information tag, the bundle of goods and the information tag that are classified as the information tag being out of order will be exactly the same. Disappear. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information tag issuing device in which the reliability of the information written on the information tag is highly guaranteed, and an article sorting device having the information tag issuing device.

[0004]

The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention provides unique type data common to the articles to be introduced into the sorting case based on the set number data of the articles to be sorted and the description information of the sorting target article, and the quantity data of the articles to be introduced into the sorting case. An information tag issuing device comprising: a generation unit that generates the number data; and a printing unit that prints the quantity data and the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format. Further, the present invention is, reading means for reading the unique type data common to the articles introduced into the sorting case, and the count value data at the time of completion of introduction of the articles introduced into the sorting case, the count value data, and An information tag issuing device having a printing unit for printing the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format. Further, the present invention is the information tag issuing device, wherein the printing means is a color printer.

Further, the present invention is an article sorting apparatus having an information tag issuing device, wherein the information tag issuing device has a reading means and a printing means, and the reading means is common to the articles introduced in the sorting case. Read the unique type data and the count value data at the time of completion of introduction of the article introduced into the sorting case, and the printing means prints the count value data and the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format. An article sorting device, which is characterized by performing the following.

[0006]

According to the information tag issuing device of the present invention, the common type data common to the articles to be introduced into the sorting case based on the set serial number data of the articles to be sorted by the generating means and the description information of the sorting target article, and the sorting The quantity data of the article to be introduced into the case is generated, and the quantity data and the unique type data are printed on the paper in a predetermined format by the printing means. Further, according to the information tag issuing device of the present invention, the reading means reads the unique type data common to the articles introduced into the specific sorting case and the count value data at the time of completion of the introduction of the articles introduced into the sorting case. The printing unit prints the count value data and the unique type data on the paper in a predetermined format. Further, according to the information tag issuing device of the present invention, the printing means is a color printer. Therefore, it is possible to print in the designated color. For example, the "special discount" indicating that the discount system under the Postal Law is applicable can be printed in red characters.

Further, according to the article sorting apparatus of the present invention, the article sorting apparatus has an information tag issuing apparatus, and the information tag issuing apparatus has a reading means and a printing means, and the reading means introduces the article into the sorting case. The unique type data common to the sorted articles and the count value data at the time of completion of the introduction of the articles introduced into the sorting case are read, and the printing means prints the count value data and the unique type data in a predetermined format. Is printed on.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on preferred examples. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configurations of an information tag issuing device and an article sorting device of the present invention. The article in this case is a mail item. In FIG. 1, 1 is the information tag issuing device of the present invention, 2
Is an input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, 3 is an output means such as a display and a printer, 4 is a sorting machine body of an article sorting apparatus, 5 is a label printer for printing and issuing an information tag, 6 is a LAN such as Ethernet (Local Area Netwo
rk). The information tag generation device 1 is further configured in detail, 7 is a storage device, and 8 is a calculation means. The information tag generator 1 is realized by a computer such as a board computer, a personal computer, a workstation. When the information tag generator 1 also serves as the console of the sorter main body 4, it can be realized by a programmable sequencer and peripheral devices, a dedicated pattern discrimination processing device, and data and software.

In the storage means 7, 9 is address information which is description information when the article to be sorted is a mail item, 10 is read information such as unique type data and count value data read from the article when sorting, 11 Is print information output to the label printer 5. Further, in the computing means 8, 12 is a sorting processing routine for performing processing relating to sorting of articles when the information tag generator 1 also functions as a console of the sorting machine body 4, and 13 is a set number of articles to be sorted. A generation processing routine that performs processing for generating unique type data common to the articles to be introduced into the division case and quantity data of the articles to be introduced into the division case based on the data and the description information of the division target article, and 14 is a division case The reading processing routine for reading the unique type data common to the articles introduced in the above and the count value data at the time of completion of the introduction of the articles introduced in the sorting case from the sorting machine body 4 or the like, 15 is the predetermined type data or the like Is a print processing routine for performing a process of printing on a sheet such as a label in the format of.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of a process of issuing an information tag according to the present invention. A processing process in the information tag issuing device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the address information 9 which is described information is stored in the storage means 7.
Read by. The original address information is information created in another system for printing an address on a mail piece that is an article. The address information is stored in a database system or the like, and the address information is stored in the storage means of the information tag issuing device 1 through the LAN 6 or offline using a storage medium such as an FD (floppy disk) or MO (magneto-optical disk). 7 is read (S1). Next, the set communication number data is read. The set number data is data on the number of mail pieces for one bundle of sorted mail pieces, which is data set in the article (mail piece) sorting device. That is, the set serial number data is read from the article sorting device into the storage means 7 of the information tag issuing device 1. The set number data is included in the read information 10 in FIG. 1 (S2).

Based on the address information 9 and the read information 10, the generation processing routine 13 generates unique type data and quantity data. When the article is a postal matter, the unique type data is a destination, that is, a postal code. Since the address information 9 is the data from which the address is printed on the mail as described above, it includes data regarding the address of a series of mail, and the order of addresses in the address information 9 and the address on the mail. The order of is exactly the same (usually not) unless something out of order is done. Further, in the address information 9, the data of the same destination (postal code) is continuously stored as a group.

Therefore, if there are S addresses of the same postal code AAA and the set number data of the read information 10 is c,
There is a relationship shown by the following formula 1.

[Equation 1] S = n × c + d where n; the number of bundles in which the number of mail pieces is set d; the number of mail pieces included in the residual bundle As is apparent from the relationship of this number 1, the number of unique type data is AAA. The set data of data c is generated n times,
Subsequently, group data having unique type data of AAA and quantity data of d is generated once. Next, unique type data and quantity data of different postal codes are generated (S3, S
4).

Then, the print processing routine 15 lays out the above-mentioned unique type data and quantity data as variable data at predetermined locations and synthesizes them with other fixed data (for example, "special discount") to generate print information. The printing process is performed by driving the label printer. This printing process can be performed before or after the articles are sorted by the article sorting device. However, by sequentially counting the sorted articles, printing is sequentially performed in synchronization with the progress of sorting the articles. It is also possible. Further, in the case of sequential printing, the printing can be performed while reading the description information of the article and confirming whether it is normal or not (S5).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing another example of the process of issuing the information tag according to the present invention. 1 and 3
The processing steps in the information tag issuing device 1 of the present invention will be described based on FIG. First, articles (for example, postal items) to be sorted are set in the supply section of the sorting machine body 4. When the sorting operation of the article sorting apparatus is started, articles are fed one by one from the feeding section, the reading information of the reading section of the sorting machine body 4 is read, and the number of read articles is counted. This data is processed by the article sorting apparatus to identify the unique type data (for example, zip code) from the described information, and the number of articles introduced into the sorting case is also calculated to obtain count value data. In the article sorting apparatus, the count value data is compared with the set number data, and when the count value reaches the set number, articles are introduced into another sorting case from the next time. Further, even if the unique type data is changed, the article including the article is introduced into another division case from the next time. In that case, the number of articles in the immediately preceding sorted case is obtained as count value data.

These unique type data and count value data are read from the article sorting device by the information tag issuing device 1 and stored as read information 10 in the storage means 7 (S11, S).
12). Next, the print processing routine 21 lays out the above-mentioned unique type data and count value data as variable data at a predetermined location, and synthesizes them with other fixed data (for example, "special discount") to generate print information, and the label printer The printing process is performed by driving. This printing process can be performed after the articles have been sorted by the article sorting device, but it is also possible to print sequentially in synchronization with the progress of sorting the articles by counting the sorted articles. Is. Further, in the case of sequential printing, the printing can be performed while reading the description information of the article and confirming whether it is normal or not (S13).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the article sorting apparatus and its peripheral equipment of the present invention. The articles in FIG. 4 are postal items. In FIG. 4, 16 is an address information creation system, 17 is a data store system, 18 is a printed matter classification system, 19 is an information tag issuing system, and 20
Is a LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet for data communication between these systems. The address information creation system 16 uses the customer name and the customer ID when, for example, a bill is mailed to the customer.
Based on the customer list data in which (identification), address, etc. are registered and the sales record data in which sales date, sales item, price, sales destination (customer ID), etc. are registered, the destination and the billing contents are extracted. Generate transaction data. At the time of creating this transaction data, the customer data is sorted in ascending order by postal code so that it is easy to create a sorted bundle of postal items. Further, print image data is generated from the transaction data, and finally the printed mail is created. A zip code, an address, a customer name, and a sequence number (record number) in the transaction data are attached to the transaction data. Also, data such as the number of mail pieces that belong to the postal code is extracted from the transaction data.

The data store system 17 is a database management system for storing and managing address information such as transaction data created by the address information creating system 16 or original customer list data as a database. For example, if a postal item is returned due to unknown destination etc., the postal information of the postal item will be invalidated and the next postal item will not be issued and will be subject to investigation, or the postal information will be displayed. A process of updating the database such as correction is performed.

The printed matter sorting system 18 is a system according to the present invention for sorting the printed matters on which the address information is printed, for each destination, and has address information processing means, counting means, inspection means, serial number sorting means, and the like. The address information processing means determines a sorting case, which is a destination of the postal matter, based on the postal code and the serial number data which are input in advance based on the addressing information. Further, the counting means counts the postal matter from the output signal of the postal matter detection device provided in the postal matter transfer path. By counting, the postal matter of the same postal code is further grouped for each set number (predetermined number) to create a postal bundle. Further, the inspection means reads the address information such as the postal code and the sequence number, and inspects whether or not the enclosure in which the address is printed out is correctly enclosed. The serial number classification means reads both the postal code and the sequence number, classifies the destination by the postal code, and classifies the set serial number by the sequence number.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process of processing a mail item by the article sorting apparatus and its peripheral device (see FIG. 4) of the present invention. First, the address information creation system 16 creates address information. As described above, the transaction data of the address information is created from the customer list data and the sales record data. Alternatively, it is created by a method such as inputting based on a list. Address information is zip code, address, name,
A record, which is data that is described in the destination of one mail consisting of field data such as a sequence number, is formed by collecting a number of records corresponding to a plurality of mails (S10).
1). Next, the address information is stored in the data store system 17
Is stored as a database (S102).

The data stored in the data store system 17 is updated by adding / deleting data as needed. For example, it is confirmed whether or not there is return information regarding the returned mail item whose delivery destination is unknown (S103), and if there is return information, return processing (see the description of FIG. 4) is performed (S104). As described above, the data store system 1
After checking whether the data stored in 7 is proper and performing appropriate processing, print image data is generated based on the address information and is printed out by a print system (not shown), A postal item is created by enclosing and enclosing it with other printed matter. The created postal matter is set in the supply unit of the printed matter sorting system 18 to produce a postal bundle (sorted bundle) sorted by the postal code and the mailing destination. On the other hand, the printed matter classification system 18 reads the above-mentioned address information (S105).

In the printed matter sorting system 18, the set mail pieces are supplied one by one on the transfer path, and the address information printed out of the mail pieces is read and the number of mail pieces is counted. The address information printed out is read by the CCD line sensor camera or the like provided on the transfer path as image data as a result of main scanning by the line sensor camera and sub-scanning by transfer. Then, the postal code, the sequence number, the address, etc. in the address information are discriminated by the pattern discriminating process to obtain the code data. Of course, other image input device in which a shutter mechanism or a stroboscopic light emitting device and an image sensor are combined may be used. Further, the count of the postal matter is detected by a sensor for timing adjustment to read in as image data, that is, a sensor configured to detect an edge of the postal matter, which is composed of a light-projecting head and a light-receiving head (S10
6).

Next, whether the mail piece is manufactured correctly,
It is inspected whether the mail is supplied in the order of address information. For example, it is determined whether or not a postal code, a sequence number, an address, etc. are described in the printed out address information column. By this inspection, it is determined whether the enclosed material is properly enclosed or is incorrectly enclosed by mistakenly lining up the front and back. Further, it is determined whether or not the address information obtained as the code data and the address information read from the data store system 17 are consistent. For example, a match between the total number of mails delivered and the sequence number,
This is, for example, the coincidence between the count value of the postal matter of a certain postal code and the number of mails in the address information of the postal code (S107). If the result of the inspection is a defective mail item (S108), an abnormality process is performed according to the content of the defect. For example, bad mail is collected in a particular fixed sorting case. If a large number of defective postal items are generated, for example, an alarm is issued and the system is stopped (S109). And S1
Return to 06.

If the result of the inspection is a non-defective item (S1
08), the mail piece is placed in the sorting case to which it belongs. To determine which classification case the mail belongs to, either the address information obtained as code data or the address information read from the data store system 17,
Alternatively, it is performed based on the information of both parties. Normally, the order of the address information of the data store system 17 is the order of printing in the printing system, and is retained as the order of the mail even when the printed out mail is set in the supply section of the printed material sorting system 18. When it is determined which sorting case the mail belongs to, the mail is transferred while controlling the transfer route, and the mail reaches the sorting case. Open and mail will be introduced into the sorting case. At that time, at the same time, the number of mail items introduced into the sorting case is counted. (S110).

If a set number of mail pieces are introduced into a specific sorting case and the count value data output from the counting device matches the set number of mails, the printed matter sorting system 18
The count value comparing means (not shown) detects the fact and outputs a coincidence output signal (generates coincidence data), and the coincidence output signal causes a measure such as turning on an indicator of a display or a division case. It is carried out, and it is displayed to the operator etc. that the number of divided cases has reached a predetermined number. Furthermore, the sorting case switching means (not shown) of the printed matter sorting system 18 switches the sorting case that guides the mail to another sorting case by the coincidence output signal (coincidence data), and the succeeding mail having the same postal code is displayed. Control is performed so as to lead to the switched case.

Further, the printed matter sorting system 18 transfers the data (number of letters, sorting case ID, zip code) related to the coincidence output signal to the information tag issuing system 19, and the information tag issuing system 19 issues the information tag. The number and zip code are printed on the information tag. The data printed on this information tag may be based on the read data as described above, or the address information of the data store system 17 may be entered in advance in the information tag issuing system 19 and based on that data. You may go (S111). Next, the postal items are taken out from the sorting case into which the set number of postal items have been introduced and are bundled together with the information tag (S112). If there is the remaining postal matter set in the printed matter sorting system 18, the process returns to S106 and the above operation is repeated. If there is no postal matter, the process ends (S113).

FIG. 6 is a view showing a mail piece as an example of articles sorted by the article sorting apparatus of the present invention and an example of an information tag issued by the information tag issuing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 6A, 21 is a zip code, 22 is a sequence number, and address information (address and name are omitted in FIG. 6 because it is not necessary to read them) is stored in an envelope. It is printed out on paper (address card) and can be read through the transparent window of the envelope. In addition, in FIG.
3 is a postal code as variable data, 25 is also a serial number as variable data, and 24 is a "special discount" which indicates that the item is a special discounted item according to the Postal Law and is a red character. Is printed with. If the information tag printing device is a color printer, this fixed data is "Special Discount"
Can also be printed with other variable data,
There is no need to provide a separate "special discount" printing process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a breakdown of mail items sorted by the article sorting apparatus of the present invention. Figure 7
(A) is a breakdown of the postal items before being sorted and processed. The total number of processed items is 12345 and the postal item with a postal code of 100 is 20.
23, 1574 with zip code 101, 986 with zip code 102, 2431 with zip code 103, 31 with zip code 104
There are 25 mails and 2206 mails with zip code 105. In addition, the set classification number is 50. FIG. 7B is a breakdown of the postal items after the sorting processing. For the postal item with a postal code of 100, 40 bundles of 50 in number and 1 bundle of 23 in number are 2 bundles.
There will be 023 letters and 41 information tags will be issued. In addition, the postal code of 101 is 31 and the bundle of 50 is 24 and the number of 24 is 24.
A bundle of 1 will be 1574 and 32 information tags, and a postal item with a postal code of 102 will have a bundle of 50 and a bundle of 19 and 36.
One bundle of 986 is 986 and the number of information tags is 20. For the mail with the postal code 103, the number 50 is 48 and the number 31 is 241, and 2431 is 49. The postal code with the postal code 104 is 62 in the bundle of 50 and the bundle with the 25 in number is 1125, which is 3125. A bundle of 6 bundles and 6 bundles is 2206, and 45 information tags are issued.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the unique tag data common to the articles and the quantity data of the articles introduced into the classification case and printed on the information tag are issued to the information tag issuing apparatus and the article. A sorting device is provided. Further, the reliability of the information written on the information tag is highly guaranteed. When a color printer is used as the printing means, printing can be performed with a designated color. For example, the "special discount" indicating that the discount system under the Postal Law is applicable can be printed in red characters.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing configurations of an information tag issuing device and an article sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of issuing an information tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another example of the process of issuing an information tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an article sorting apparatus of the present invention and its peripheral devices.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of processing a mail item by the article sorting apparatus and its peripheral device (see FIG. 4) of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mail piece as an example of articles sorted by the article sorting apparatus of the present invention and an example of an information tag issued by the information tag issuing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a breakdown of mail items sorted by the article sorting apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Information Tag Issuing Device 2 Input Means 3 Output Means 4 Sorting Machine Main Body 5 Label Printer 6 LAN 7 Storage Means 8 Computing Means 9 Address Information 10 Reading Information 11 Printing Information 12 Sorting Processing 13 Reading Processing 15 Printing Processing 16 Address Information Creation system 17 Data store system 18 Printed material sorting system 19 Information tag issuing system 20 LAN 21, 23 Zip code 22 Sequence number 24 "Special discount" display 25 Number of copies

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Unique type data common to articles to be introduced into a sorting case and quantity data of articles to be introduced into the sorting case are generated based on set number data of articles to be sorted and description information of articles to be sorted. An information tag issuing device, comprising: a generating unit for generating the quantity data; and a printing unit for printing the quantity data and the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format. 2. A reading unit for reading the unique type data common to the articles introduced into the sorting case and the count value data of the articles introduced into the sorting case at the time of completion of introduction, the count value data, and An information tag issuing device, comprising: a printing unit that prints the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format. 3. The information tag issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing means is a color printer. 4. An article sorting apparatus having an information tag issuing device, wherein the information tag issuing device has a reading means and a printing means, and the reading means is a unique type common to the articles introduced in the sorting case. The data and the count value data at the time of completion of introduction of the article introduced into the sorting case are read, and the printing unit prints the count value data and the unique type data on a sheet in a predetermined format, An article sorting device characterized by the above.