JPH09253585A - Postal items sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a postal items sorter and sorting method which do not require useless encoding and printing of information and further manual input of useless information. SOLUTION: This sorter has a supplying section 12 to which the postal items are supplied, a reading section 14 which reads the address information of the postal items, a bar code printing section 20 which prints the postal items with bar codes, a bar code reading section 22 which reads the bar codes of the postal items, a sorting section 24 which sorts the postal items according to the addressee information read by this reading section 14 and a collection section 26 which previously collects the sorted postal items. A control section 30 for controlling the respective sections described above includes a recognition section 32 which recognizes the address information read by the reading section 14 and a judgment section 34 which judges whether the post office corresponding to the postal code numbers of the addressee information recognized by this recognition section 32 are the office equipped with the sorter or not. The bar codes with which the postal items are to be printed are formed in accordance with the addressee information when this post office is the office equipped with the sorter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting device for sorting and accumulating mail items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sorting devices known at present generally include a feeding / removing section, a reading section, a conveying section, a sorting section, a stacking section,
It is composed of a recognition unit that recognizes the information captured by the reading unit, a printing unit that prints the recognized result on a sheet or the like, and a control unit that controls the entire sorting apparatus.

The postal items are taken out one by one from the supply / extraction unit and conveyed, and the sorting information is read by the reading unit. The information read by the reading unit is recognized and coded by the recognition unit. If the recognition unit cannot recognize the information, the information is manually re-input by video coding and coded. The coded information is printed on the mail piece. The mail pieces on which the coded information is printed are then sorted in the sorting section based on the information read by the reading section, and are collected in the stacking section for each section.

The mail pieces collected in the stacking section for each section are then sent to the post office corresponding to the section, where the mail pieces are further sorted according to the address. If a sorting device is installed at this post office, the mail piece is sorted by the sorting device based on the coded information.

[0005]

In the conventional sorting apparatus, information is coded and printed on all mail items. However, the printing of coded information is useful when the sorting device is installed in the post office of the area where the mail is addressed, but the sorting device is installed in the post office of the area where the mail is addressed. If it is not done, it is completely wasted.

That is, in the past, unnecessary information was coded and printed, and unnecessary information was manually input for those whose information could not be recognized.
It puts an extra burden.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to classify and print useless information, and to eliminate useless input of information, and a mail sorting device. And to provide a classification method.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mail sorting device for reading address information from a mail attached with the address information, converting the address information into a code and printing the code on the mail. If the post office in the area indicated by the information does not have a sorting device, the printing process of the code is stopped.

According to the present invention, in the mail sorting device for reading the address information from the mail with the address information attached thereto by the reading means, converting the address information into a code and printing the code on the mail, the reading means is provided. Based on the reading result, when the address information is a mail piece indicating a specific area, a determination means for stopping the printing of the code on the mail piece is provided.

According to the present invention, a supply means for supplying a postal matter with address information, a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means, and a postal matter conveyed by the conveying means A reading unit for reading the address information, a code assigning unit for assigning a code corresponding to the address information read by the reading unit to the mail item, and a mail item for which the address information is read by the reading unit are classified. Category to accumulate
A mail sorting device comprising a stacking means, further comprising:
Based on the reading result by the reading means, when the address information is a mail piece indicating a specific area, it has a judging means for stopping the addition of the code to the mail piece by the code giving means. Characterize.

The mail sorting device according to the present invention includes a supply means for supplying mail with address information including a postal code and an address, and a conveying means for conveying the mail supplied by the supply means. , A reading means for reading the address information from the mail carried by the carrying means, a recognizing means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and at least a zip code recognized by the recognizing means, Judgment means for deciding whether or not the bar code can be printed based on this postal code, and the bar code corresponding to the address information is printed on the postal matter judged to be printable based on the judgment result by this judgment means. It comprises a bar code printing means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail pieces whose address information has been read by the reading means.

According to the present invention, a supply means for supplying a postal matter with address information, a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means, and a postal matter conveyed by the conveying means Reading means for reading the address information, and recognition means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means;
Based on the recognition result by the recognition means, the bar code printing means for printing the bar code corresponding to the address information on the mail piece and the mail piece for which the address information is read by the reading means are sorted and accumulated. A mail sorting device comprising sorting / collecting means, further determining whether the post office in the area indicated by the address information recognized by the recognizing means is the deploying station of the sorting device, When the station is not the station where the sorting device is provided, the station further comprises a judging means for stopping the printing of the bar code to the post office by the bar code printing means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a supply means for supplying a postal matter having address information including a postal code and an address, and a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supply means. A reading means for reading the address information from the mail conveyed by the conveying means, a recognition means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and the address information not recognized by the recognizing means. In this case, a code corresponding to the address information is given to the mail item based on the information input means for inputting the address information of the mail item and the input result of the information input means or the recognition result of the recognition means. A mail sorting device comprising a code assigning means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail whose address information has been read by the reading means, which is further recognized by the recognition means. When the name information or the address information input by the information input means is a mail piece indicating a specific area, it has a judgment means for stopping the addition of the code to the mail piece by the code addition means. And

In this structure, preferably, the address information is input by the information input means by inputting the zip code first, and the determining means determines that the zip code indicates a specific area when the zip code is input. If it is shown, it is notified that the address need not be input in the address information.

According to the present invention, a supply means for supplying a postal matter to which address information including a postal code and an address is attached, and a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supply means,
If the reading means for reading the address information from the mail conveyed by the conveying means, the recognizing means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and the recognizing means cannot recognize the address information, Information input means for inputting address information of the mail, and a bar for printing a bar code corresponding to the address information on the mail based on the input result of the information input means or the recognition result of the recognition means. A mail sorting device comprising a code printing means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail whose address information has been read by the reading means, further comprising the address information recognized by the recognition means or It is determined whether or not the post office in the area indicated by the address information input by the information input means is the sorting station of the sorting apparatus, and if the mail is not the sorting station of the sorting apparatus, It characterized by having a determining means which allowed to cancel the bar code printing on the mailpiece by the keycode printing means.

[0016] In this configuration, preferably, the address information is input by the information input means by inputting the zip code first, and the determining means determines the area indicated by the zip code when the zip code is input. If the post office is not the station for deploying the sorting device, it is notified that the address need not be input in the address information.

According to the present invention, there is provided a supply means for supplying a mail piece having address information including a postal code and an address, a conveying means for conveying the mail piece supplied by the supply means, and this conveying means. Reading means for reading the address information from the conveyed mail, recognizing means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and if the recognizing means is capable of recognizing the address information, the mail out of the address information Judgment means for judging whether or not the post office in the area indicated by the number is the distribution station of the sorting apparatus, and when this judgment means is the distribution station of the sorting apparatus, the bar code corresponding to the address information. And a bar code printing means for printing on the mail, and an ID code printing means for printing a management number on the mail if the address information cannot be recognized by the recognition means.
Information input means for inputting the address information of the mail on which the management number is printed by the D code printing means, and the judgment information by the judging means, and the address information and the judging means inputted by the information input means. Storage means for associating the determination result information when the determination processing is performed with the management number printed by the ID code printing means with each other, and a mail piece for which the address information is read by the reading means. A mail sorting device comprising a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting,
Further, it has an ID code reading means for reading the management number printed by the ID code printing means, and when the mail article on which the management number is printed is thrown into the mail sorting device, this ID code reading means is used. Based on the read control number,
It is characterized in that the address information and the judgment result information corresponding to the management number are read from the storage means, and the bar code printing is executed by the bar code printing means based on the judgment result information.

In this configuration, preferably, the address information is input by the information input means by inputting the zip code first, and the determining means determines the area indicated by the zip code when the zip code is input. If the post office is not the station for deploying the sorting device, it is notified that the address need not be input in the address information.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 12. Although defined in advance, the address information described below includes a zip code and an address.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting device has a transporting means (not shown) for transporting the postal matter, and along the transporting path, the supply unit 12 for supplying the postal matter and the mail. Reading unit 14 such as OCR for reading the address information of the object, reading unit 14
After recognizing the address information read by the recognition unit, which will be described later, based on the recognition result, the barcode converted into the same information as the address information is printed on the bar code printing unit 20, the bar code of the mail. Bar code reading unit 2 for reading
2. A sorting unit 24 that sorts mail items according to the address information read by the reading unit 14 and a stacking unit 26 that stacks the sorted mail items, and further includes a control unit 30 that controls these units. have. The control unit 30 includes the reading unit 14
The recognition unit 32 that recognizes the address information read by the user, and the recognition unit 3
The determination unit 34 includes a determination unit 34 that determines whether the post office corresponding to the postal code of the address information recognized in 2 is the distribution station of the sorting apparatus. The control unit 30 also performs conversion processing from the address information to the corresponding bar code. Furthermore, the sorting device
The reading unit 14 has a reject unit 28 for accumulating postal items whose address information could not be read. Here, the determination unit 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

The determination unit 34 is provided with a table 35A for preliminarily associating the distribution station of the sorting apparatus with the postal code and storing them, and a collation unit 35B. In the table 35A, for example, the flag of the deploying station is associated with the information indicating that the postal code is "210" (the information indicating that the postal code is "210" and the information indicating that the deploying station is "1". Information is stored in association with). That is, it indicates that a sorting device is installed at a local post office handling postal items having a postal code "210".

Similarly, since the information indicating that the postal code is "176" and the information indicating that the information of the deploying station is "0" are stored in association with each other, the mail whose postal code is "176" is stored. It indicates that the local post offices handling goods do not have sorting equipment.

In the judging section 34, when the recognition result (postal code information) in the recognizing section 32 is input, the collating section 35B retrieves and collates the flag of the deployed station in the table 35A to determine whether bar code printing is possible. Information (printability information)
Is output.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the flow of sorting / collecting mail by the sorting apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described. The mail items supplied to the supply unit 12 are sent to the reading unit 14 one by one, and the address information is read there (1S1). The control unit 30 recognizes the address information read by the reading unit 14 by the recognition unit 32, and determines whether the post office corresponding to the postal code of the address information recognized by the recognition unit 32 is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus. The unit 34 makes a determination (1S2). When the postal code information is input to the determination unit 34, the collation unit 35B causes the table 35 to be displayed.
A is searched and collated, and printability information is output as the collation result. Based on this printability information, only when the post office is the deployment station of the sorting device, the control unit 30 sets the corresponding bar code (the details of which are shown in FIG. 4) based on the recognition result of the address information. A command to generate and print this is issued to the barcode printing unit 20. On the contrary, if the post office is not the station of the sorting apparatus, the control unit 30 does not generate the bar code.

The bar code printing section 20 selectively prints a bar code on the sent mail in accordance with a command from the control section 30 (1S3). FIG. 3 shows an example of the mail piece 60 on which the barcode 64 is printed. As shown in FIG. 3, the bar code 64 is printed at a fixed position along the longitudinal direction of the mail piece 60. Also, FIG. 4 shows the barcode 6.
4 shows an example of the breakdown of No. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the bar code 64 includes a bar code indicating a postal code, a bar code indicating an address display number, and a check code.

The postal matter on which the bar code is printed is sent to the bar code reading section 22, where the bar code is read,
The contents are confirmed. Thereafter, the mail pieces are sent to the sorting section 24 and sorted based on the address information read by the reading section 14, and then the sorted mail pieces are sent to the stacking section 26 where they are stacked and sorted. (1S4).

The postal items whose address information cannot be read by the reading unit 14 are sorted by the sorting unit 24 and sent to the reject unit 28. The mail items accumulated in the reject unit 28 are manually sorted.

Thereafter, the postal matter on which the bar code is printed is read and recognized by the sorting apparatus of another post office, and the sorting processing based on the bar code is performed.
Further, the postal matter on which the bar code is not printed has the address information read by other post offices, and is subjected to classification processing based on the recognition result (postal code or address) of the address information.

<Second Embodiment> A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the sorting device has a transporting means (not shown) for transporting the postal matter, and along the transporting route, the supply unit 12 to which the postal matter is supplied, the address of the postal matter. OCR to read information
After the address information read by the reading unit 14 and the reading unit 14 is recognized by the recognition unit described later, the address information is converted into the same information as the address information based on the recognition result or the input result of the information input device 50 described later. A bar code printing unit 20 for printing the selected bar code on the mail, a bar code reading unit 22 for reading the bar code of the mail, a partitioning unit 24 for partitioning the mail according to the address information read by the reader 14, It has a stacking unit 26 for stacking mail items, and further has a control unit 30 for controlling each of these units.
The control unit 30 includes a recognition unit 32 that recognizes the address information read by the reading unit 14 and a determination unit 34 that determines whether or not the post office corresponding to the postal code is the deployment station of the sorting device. The control unit 30 also performs conversion processing from the address information to the corresponding bar code. Further, the sorting device has a reject unit 28 for accumulating postal items whose address information could not be read by the reading unit 14. The determination unit 34 is as described with reference to FIG. 12 in the first embodiment.

The above configuration is the same as the sorting apparatus described in the first embodiment, but the sorting apparatus of the present embodiment is
In addition to the above configuration, an information input device 50 for an operator to input address information based on the address information read by the reading unit 14 for a mail piece whose address information cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 32 is provided. Have This information input device 50
Consists of a monitor and a keyboard. Although not shown in the figure, the reading unit 14 and the bar code printing unit 20 are also provided.
In between, a delay conveyance path is provided to bypass the mail whose address information could not be recognized by the recognition unit 32, delay the mail for a predetermined time, and then supply it to the barcode printing unit 20. The device 50 gains time to enter information. As described above, an operation of inputting information via the information input device 50 while a mail piece passes through the delayed conveyance path is called an online operation.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the flow of sorting / collecting mail by the sorting apparatus of FIG. 5 will be described. The mail items supplied to the supply unit 12 are sent to the reading unit 14 one by one, and the address information is read there (2S1). The address information read by the reading unit 14 is sent to the recognition unit 32 in the control unit 30 and it is determined whether or not the address information can be recognized (2
S2).

The address information read by the reading unit 14 recognizes the address information.
If 2 is recognized, it is determined whether the post office corresponding to the postal code of the address information is the sorting station of the sorting device or not.
(2S3). When the postal code information is input to the determination unit 34, the collation unit 35B causes the table 35A
The flag of the deployment station is searched and collated, and printability information is output as the collation result. If the post office is the deployment station of the sorting device based on the printability information, the control unit 3
0 generates a barcode based on the recognition result of the address information, and issues a command to print the barcode to the barcode printing unit 20. On the contrary, if the post office is not the station of the sorting apparatus, the control unit 30 does not generate the bar code.

On the other hand, when the recognizing unit 32 cannot recognize the address information read by the reading unit 14, the postal matter is sent to the delay conveyance path (not shown). While the mail is passing through the delayed conveyance path, in the information input device 50, the address information read by the reading unit 14 is displayed on a monitor such as a CRT, and the operator visually checks the monitor based on the display screen and the keyboard. Address information is input from.

When inputting the address information, the necessary postal code is first input, and it is determined whether the post office of the postal code is the deploying station. Depending on the result, input of the remaining information is continued or aborted. Whether to do it is decided by the operator.

That is, when the required postal code is input (2S5), the determination unit 34 determines whether or not the post office corresponding to the input postal code is the station for deploying the sorting device (2S6). ). The determination method by the determination unit 34 is as described above. When the post office is not the station for deploying the sorting device, the control unit 30 displays it on the monitor of the information input device 50 or generates a specific sound,
The operator is visually or audibly notified of the fact. In this case, it is useless to enter any more information.
Normally, input is canceled at the operator's discretion (2S
7). On the contrary, when the post office is the station for deploying the sorting device, the control unit 30 puts the information input device 50 into the input waiting state. In this case, the remaining information is input manually by the operator (2S8). At this time, the fact may be displayed on the monitor of the information input device 50 or a specific sound may be generated to notify the operator.

Therefore, the operator immediately knows whether or not the post office corresponding to the postal code is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus immediately after entering the postal code necessary for determining the presence or absence of the deploying station of the sorting apparatus. If the post office is the distribution station of the sorting device, the remaining address information is continuously input. On the other hand, if the post office is not the station for deploying the sorting device, no further information input is necessary, so the information input can be stopped here.

When the post office of the input zip code is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus, the control unit 30 is based on the address input information (the input zip code and the rest of the information input subsequently). Generates a barcode, and issues a command to print the barcode to the barcode printing unit 20. On the contrary, if the post office of the input zip code is not the station of the sorting device, the bar code is not generated.

Among the mail items sent from the reading unit 14 to the bar code printing unit 20 directly or via the delay conveyance path, the recognition unit is the mail item whose post office has the sorting device. The bar code is printed by the bar code printing unit 20 both on the basis of the postal code of the address information recognized in 32 and on the basis of the postal code input to the information input device 50. Done (2
S4).

The postal matter on which the bar code is printed is sent to the bar code reading section 22, where the bar code is read,
The contents are confirmed. Thereafter, the mail pieces are sent to the sorting section 24 and sorted based on the address information read by the reading section 14, and then the sorted mail pieces are sent to the stacking section 26 where they are stacked and sorted. (2S9).

Thereafter, the postal matter on which the bar code is printed is read and recognized by the sorting apparatus of another post office, and the sorting processing and the like based on the bar code are performed.
Further, the postal matter on which the bar code is not printed has the address information read by other post offices, and is subjected to classification processing based on the recognition result (postal code or address) of the address information.

<Third Embodiment> A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the sorting device has a transporting means (not shown) for transporting the postal matter, and along the transporting route, the supply unit 12 to which the postal matter is supplied, the address of the postal matter. OCR to read information
Etc., a reading unit 14, an ID code printing unit 16 that prints an ID code as a management number on the mail, an ID code reading unit 18 that reads the ID code of the mail, and a bar code corresponding to the address information on the mail. The bar code printing unit 20, the bar code reading unit 22 for reading the bar code of the mail, the sorting unit 24 for sorting the mail according to the address information read by the reading unit 14, and the stacking unit 26 for storing the sorted mail.
And a control unit 30 for controlling each of these units. The control unit 30 includes a recognition unit 32 that recognizes the address information read by the reading unit 14 and a determination unit 34 that determines whether or not the post office corresponding to the postal code is the deployment station of the sorting device. The control unit 30 also performs conversion processing from the address information to the corresponding bar code.

Furthermore, the sorting device is for the operator to input the address information based on the address information read by the reading unit 14 for the mail whose address information cannot be recognized by the recognizing unit 32. An information input device 50 including a keyboard and a reject unit 28 for temporarily accumulating mail items whose address information cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 32. The determination unit 34 is as described with reference to FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. In the apparatus of the present embodiment, the postal items whose address information cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 32 are temporarily accumulated in the reject unit 28, and after inputting the address information in the information input device 50, the supply unit 1
2 is supplied again. Such an operation is called an offline operation.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, FIG.
The flow of sorting / collecting mail by the sorting device will be described. The mail items supplied to the supply unit 12 are sent to the reading unit 14 one by one, and the address information is read there (3S
1). The address information read by the reading unit 14 is sent to the recognition unit 32 in the control unit 30. The recognition unit determines whether the address information read by the reading unit 14 has been recognized (3S).
2).

The recognition unit 3 recognizes the address information read by the reading unit 14.
When 2 is recognized, the determining unit 34 determines whether or not the post office corresponding to the postal code of the address information is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus (3S3). When the postal code information is input to the determination unit 34, the collation unit 35B retrieves and collates the flag of the deployed station in the table 35A, and outputs the printability information as the collation result. Based on this printability information, when the post office of the postal code of the address information is not the deploying station of the sorting apparatus, the postal matter is sent to the sorting unit 24 as it is.

When the post office of the postal code of the address information is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus, the control unit 30 generates a bar code based on the recognition result of the address information and issues a command to print the bar code. Output to the code printing unit 20. A barcode is printed on the mail by the barcode printing unit 20 (3S
4) After the contents of the barcode are confirmed by the barcode reading unit 22, the mail is sent to the sorting unit 24.

On the other hand, when the recognition unit 32 cannot recognize the address information read by the reading unit 14, the ID code of the mail piece is printed by the ID code printing unit 16 (3S5) and then sent to the reject unit 28. It is temporarily accumulated there (3S6).

FIG. 10 shows an example of the mail piece 60 on which the bar code 64 and the ID code 62 are printed. As shown in FIG. 10, the ID code 62 is printed at a fixed position (near the name) along the longitudinal direction of the mail piece 60. Further, FIG. 11 shows an example of the details of the ID code 62. As shown in FIG. 11, the ID code 62 is the date and time information indicating the date and time when the ID code is printed, the station name where the ID code is printed, the machine No. of the sorting device that has processed, and the serial number (mail No.) automatically issued. ) And information.

While the mail items are temporarily accumulated in the reject unit 28, the reading unit 1 is used in the information input device 50.
The address information read by 4 is displayed on a monitor such as a CRT, and the operator visually checks the monitor based on the display screen and inputs the address information from the keyboard (3S
7).

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the address information is input by first inputting the postal code required for the determination (3S7A). When the postal code is entered, the determination unit 34
At, it is determined whether or not the post office corresponding to the input postal code is the distribution station of the sorting apparatus (3S7B).
The determination method by the determination unit 34 is as described above.

When the post office of the input zip code is not the station of the sorting device, the control unit 30 displays the fact on the monitor of the information input device 50 or makes a specific sound, Inform operators of the facts visually or audibly. In response to this, the operator notices that no further information input is necessary, and normally stops inputting information here (3S7C).

When the post office of the input zip code is the distribution station of the sorting device, the control unit 30 puts the information input device 50 into the input waiting state. At this time, the fact may be displayed on the monitor of the information input device 50 or a specific sound may be generated to notify the operator. In response, the operator inputs the remaining information (3S7
D).

Therefore, the operator can know whether or not the post office corresponding to the postal code is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus immediately after inputting the postal code required for the judgment. Continue to enter the remaining address information in
If the station is not the deploying station, no further information input is necessary, so information input can be stopped here.

After the information input device 50 finishes the input of the information, the input address information and the determination result information as to whether or not it is the deploying station of the sorting device based on the determination result of the determination unit 34 are ID. The mail items associated with the code are temporarily stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the control unit 30, and the mail items temporarily stored in the reject unit 28 are supplied again to the supply unit 12 (3S8). . The mail items re-supplied to the supply unit 12 are taken out one by one and are conveyed.
The ID code is read by the D code reading unit 18 (3
S9), corresponding determination result information is read based on the ID code, and it is determined whether or not the post office of the postal code of the postal matter is the disposing station of the sorting apparatus (3S10). At this time, it is not necessary to check the zip code because it has already been judged at the time of inputting the information as to whether the post office of the postal code of the postal matter is the deploying station of the sorting apparatus or not.
It is only necessary to read the judgment result information based on the D code.

If the post office is not the station of the sorting device, the mail is sent to the sorting section 24 as it is. If the post office is the deployment station of the sorting apparatus, the address information corresponding to the ID code is read from the control unit 30, the control unit 30 generates a bar code based on this address information, and a command to print this. Is output to the barcode printing section 20. The bar code is printed by the bar code printing unit 20, and the contents of the bar code are confirmed by the bar code reading unit 22, and the mail is sent to the sorting unit 24. FIG. 10 shows an example of the mail piece 60 on which the ID code 62 and the bar code 64 are printed in this way.

The postal matter sent to the sorting section 24 is recognized by the recognition section 3
If 2 can recognize the address information, it is classified based on the address information, and if the recognition unit 32 cannot recognize the address information, it is classified based on the address input information input to the information input device 50. . After that, the sorted mail items are sent to the stacking unit 26, and are sorted and sorted for each sort (3S11).

After this, the mail on which the barcode is printed is read and recognized by the sorting device of another post office, and the sorting processing based on the barcode is performed. Further, the postal matter on which the bar code is not printed has its address information read by another post office and subjected to a classification process or the like based on the recognition result (postal code or address) of this address information.

In the above-described embodiments, the barcode and ID code may be printed by directly printing the code on the mail item, but it is also applicable to materials that are not suitable for printing. Alternatively, the code may be printed on a sticker and then attached to a mail piece.

[0058]

According to the present invention, the coded information is printed on the postal matter only when the sorting device is provided at the post office corresponding to the postal code of the postal matter, so that useless information is printed. Since the steps of encoding and printing are eliminated, high-speed processing and cost reduction are realized. Furthermore, useless information input by humans is eliminated, and the burden on the information input person is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sorting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a work flow in the sorting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a mail piece on which a barcode is printed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a breakdown of a barcode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sorting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a work flow in the sorting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sorting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart showing a work flow in the sorting apparatus of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of information input in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mail piece on which an ID code and a bar code are printed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a breakdown of an ID code.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a determination unit 34.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Supplying unit, 14 ... Reading unit, 20 ... Bar code printing unit, 24 ... Sorting unit, 26 ... Stacking unit, 30 ... Control unit, 32
... recognition unit, 34 ... determination unit.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A mail sorting device that reads address information from a mail item to which address information is attached, converts the address information into a code, and prints the code on the mail item, wherein a post office in the area indicated by the address information is used. A mail sorting device, wherein the code printing process is stopped when the sorting device is not provided. 2. A mail sorting device for reading address information from a mail item having address information attached thereto by a reading means, converting the address information into a code and printing the code on the mail item, the reading result by the reading means. Based on the above, when the address information is a postal matter indicating a specific area, there is provided a judgment means for stopping the printing of the code on the postal matter, and a postal matter sorting apparatus. 3. A supply means for supplying a postal matter to which address information is attached, a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means, and a destination from the postal matter conveyed by the conveying means. Reading means for reading information, code giving means for giving a code corresponding to the address information read by the reading means to the mail piece, and sorting and accumulating the mail piece having the address information read by the reading means A mail sorting device comprising sorting / collecting means, further comprising the code assigning means when the address information is a mail showing a specific area based on the reading result by the reading means. And a determining means for stopping the assignment of the code to the mail item by the mail item sorting device. 4. A supply means for supplying a mail piece having address information including a postal code and an address, a conveying means for conveying the mail piece supplied by the supplying means, and a conveying means for conveying the mail piece. A reading means for reading the address information from the mail, a recognition means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and a case where at least the zip code can be recognized by the recognition means,
Judgment means for deciding whether or not the bar code can be printed based on the postal code, and the bar code corresponding to the address information is printed on the postal matter judged to be printable based on the judgment result by the judgment means. A mail sorting device comprising a bar code printing means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail whose address information has been read by the reading means. 5. A supply means for supplying a postal matter to which address information is attached, a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means, and a destination from the postal matter conveyed by the conveying means. A reading unit for reading information, a recognition unit for recognizing the address information read by the reading unit, and a bar for printing a bar code corresponding to the address information on the mail based on the recognition result by the recognition unit. A mail sorting device comprising a code printing means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail whose address information has been read by the reading means, further comprising the address recognized by the recognition means. It is determined whether or not the post office in the area indicated by the information is the deploying station of the sorting device, and if the post office is not the deploying station of the sorting device, the barcode of the barcode to the post office by the barcode printing means is displayed. A mail sorting device having a judgment means for stopping printing. 6. A supply means for supplying a postal matter having address information including a postal code and an address, and a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means. A reading unit that reads the address information from the mail carried by the carrying unit, a recognition unit that recognizes the address information read by the reading unit, and a case where the address information cannot be recognized by the recognition unit,
Information input means for inputting address information of the mail, and a code assignment for applying a code corresponding to the address information to the mail based on the input result of the information input means or the recognition result of the recognition means. A mail sorting device for sorting and stacking mail pieces whose address information has been read by the reading means, further comprising: address information recognized by the recognizing means, or When the address information input by the information input means is a postal matter indicating a specific area, the postal matter is characterized by having a judging means for stopping the addition of the code to the postal matter by the code giving means. Sorting equipment. 7. The zip code is input first when the address information is input by the information input means, and the determining means determines that the zip code indicates a specific area when the zip code is input. The mail sorting device according to claim 7, wherein the mailing information notifies that inputting of the mailing address is unnecessary. 8. A supply means for supplying a postal matter to which address information including a postal code and an address is attached, a conveying means for conveying the postal matter supplied by the supplying means, and a conveying means for conveying the postal matter. And a reading means for reading the address information from the mail, a recognition means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and a case in which the address information cannot be recognized by the recognition means,
Information input means for inputting address information of the mail, and a bar for printing a bar code corresponding to the address information on the mail based on the input result of the information input means or the recognition result of the recognition means. A mail sorting device comprising a code printing means and a sorting / collecting means for sorting / collecting the mail whose address information has been read by the reading means, further comprising the address information recognized by the recognizing means. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the post office in the area indicated by the address information input by the information input means is the sorting station of the sorting apparatus, and if the mail is not the sorting station of the sorting apparatus, the bar code printing means. And a determining unit for stopping the printing of the bar code on the mail by the mail sorting apparatus. 9. A postal code is input first when the address information is input by the information inputting means, and the determining means is a post office in the area indicated by the postal code when the postal code is input. 9. The mail sorting device according to claim 8, wherein if the address is not the deploying station, it is notified that the address need not be input in the address information. 10. A supply means for supplying a mail piece having address information including a postal code and an address, a conveying means for conveying the mail piece supplied by the supplying means, and a conveying means for conveying the mail piece. A reading means for reading the address information from the mail, a recognition means for recognizing the address information read by the reading means, and a zip code of the address information when the address information can be recognized by the recognition means. If the post office in the area indicated is a sorting device deploying station, and if this determining means is the sorting device deploying station, the bar code corresponding to the address information is Bar code printing means for printing on mail, ID code printing means for printing a management number on the mail when the address information cannot be recognized by the recognizing means, and this ID code printing means The information input means for inputting the address information of the mail on which the physical number is printed and used for the determination processing by the determination means, and the address information input by the information input means and the determination processing by the determination means Judgment result information at the time of going and the ID
A mail piece comprising a storage means for storing the management number printed by the code printing means in association with each other, and a sorting / stacking means for sorting / stacking the mail pieces whose address information has been read by the reading means. A sorting device, further comprising an ID code reading means for reading the management number printed by the ID code printing means, and when the mail item on which the management number is printed is thrown into the mail sorting device, Based on the management number read by the ID code reading means, the address information and the judgment result information corresponding to the management number are read from the storage means, and the bar code is printed by the bar code printing means based on the judgment result information. A mail sorting device characterized by executing. 11. When the address information is input by the information input unit, a postal code is first input, and the determination unit is a postal device in the area indicated by the postal code when the postal code is input. 11. The mail sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the mail sorting device notifies that input of the address is unnecessary in the address information when the station is not the deployment station.