JPH1099790A - Paper sheets sorting device and paper sheets sorting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve working efficiency by adopting the constitution to prevent the useless information input operation by an operator in case of a reading failure of ID codes and executing sorting processing by utilizing the ID codes previously applied to the postal items. SOLUTION: This device has a reading section 6 which reads sorting information from supplied postal items and a scanning section 6d which reads image information and sorts and collects the postal items in accordance with the read information. In case the read sorting information and image information fail to be recognized by an address recognizing section 36, the postal items are printed with the ID codes by a mail ID printing section 9a and the sorting information recognizable by a video coding disk 44 is inputted. The postal items are sorted and collected according to the printed ID codes and the inputted sorting information. In case of the reading failure of the printed ID codes, the postal items are expelled without executing the sorting information input operation by the video coding disk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper sheet for reading destination information from a postal matter in which destination information such as an address or a zip code is described, and sorting the postal matter based on the read destination information. It relates to a sorting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a sorting apparatus has been put to practical use for reading the address or zip code of a mail and sorting the mail based on the read address or zip code.

Such a sorting apparatus mainly comprises a supply / removal unit, a reading unit, a transporting unit, a sorting unit, an accumulating unit, a recognizing unit for recognizing information taken in by a reading unit, and a sorting destination determined from the recognized result. A collating unit, a data storage unit storing data to be collated by the collating unit, a printing unit for printing on paper sheets, and a control unit for controlling the entire sorting apparatus.

[0004] In the sorting apparatus having the above configuration, when sorting mail, first, the mail stored in the supply unit is taken out by the take-out unit, conveyed to the reading unit via the conveyance path, and the mail is sent to the reading unit. Reads destination information from an object. A bar code corresponding to the destination information is printed on the mail from which the destination information has been read by the printing unit. Thereafter, the barcodes are read from the mail, and the mails are sorted and collected in a predetermined sorting unit based on the read result.

[0005] For mail items whose destination information could not be read,
An ID code for specifying the mail is printed, and is temporarily accumulated in the designated exclusion accumulation section. At the same time, the postal image whose destination information could not be read is sent to the video coding system together with the ID code, and the operator inputs the postal code and address corresponding to the postal image.

After the input of the information is completed, the postal matter accumulated in the rejection stacking unit is supplied again, the ID code is read, and the information inputted corresponding to the ID card is converted into a bar code and printed on the postal matter. I do. Then, the barcode is read from the postal matter, and the postal matter is sorted and collected in a predetermined sorting part according to the reading result.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional mail sorting device, the destination information of the mail is read by an optical character reading device (OCR). The barcode is added to the mail and the subsequent sorting process is performed. If the destination information is partially unreadable or completely unreadable, the ID code is printed on the mail and the image information of the mail is transmitted to an information input terminal such as a video coding system. Then, the operator inputs destination information according to the transmitted image information.

However, when processing a mail on which an ID code is printed before being supplied to the sorting apparatus or a mail on which an ID code is printed by the sorting apparatus, the ID code may not be read. is there. For example, if the ID code is printed overlapping the destination,
In the case where an ID code is printed on an envelope having a window in a state where the ID code is hung over the window, for example, an ID
It becomes difficult to read the code. Then, the postal matter whose ID code could not be read at the time of resupply is treated as a rejected postal matter, and is accumulated in a predetermined rejection accumulation unit.

[0009] Conventionally, for mail items for which the ID code could not be read, information input was performed by the information input terminal based on the image information of the mail items, as in the case of other mail items. , Causing a reduction in efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet sorting apparatus and a paper sheet sorting method which eliminate waste of information input work and are excellent in work efficiency. is there.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet sorting apparatus for feeding sheets on which sorting information is described. Reading means for reading the sorting information from the read sheets, information recognizing means for recognizing the sorting information read by the reading means, and identifying the sheets on the sheets for which the sorting information cannot be recognized. I to print the ID code of
D code printing means, ID code confirmation reading means for reading the printed ID code, temporary accumulating means for temporarily accumulating the sheets on which the ID code is printed, and accumulating in the temporary accumulating means When the paper sheet is supplied again by the supply unit, when the ID code reading unit that reads the printed ID code and the sorting information read by the reading unit cannot be recognized by the information recognition unit, An adjusting unit that takes in the sorting information read by the reading unit, adjusts and inputs the recognizable sorting information, and sorts and accumulates the sheets based on the sorting information recognized by the information recognizing unit; The re-supplied sheets are sorted by the sorting information input by the adjusting means and the ID read by the ID reading means.
Sorting / accumulating means for sorting and accumulating based on a code; exclusion / accumulating means for accumulating by excluding sheets which cannot read the ID code by the ID code confirmation / reading means; And control means for stopping the input operation of the sorting information in the adjusting means for the paper sheet from which the code cannot be read.

According to the paper sheet sorting apparatus having the above configuration, the sorting information is read from the supplied paper sheet, and the paper sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the read information. If the read section information cannot be recognized, the ID code is printed on the sheet, and the recognizable section information is input by the adjusting means, and the sheet is printed according to the printed ID code and the input section information. Sort and accumulate. Further, when the printed ID code cannot be read, paper sheets are eliminated without performing an input operation by the adjusting means. Thereby, unnecessary information input work is omitted.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet sorting apparatus for supplying a sheet on which sorting information is described, and a reading unit for reading the sorting information from the supplied sheet. Means, an ID code reading means for detecting the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied paper sheet and reading the ID code, an information recognizing means for recognizing the sort information read by the reading means, and the sort information Is unrecognizable, and the ID code reading means for printing an ID code for specifying the paper sheet on a paper sheet for which the ID code is not detected by the ID code reading means, and the ID code read by the reading means. If the sorting information cannot be recognized by the information recognizing means, the sorting information read by the reading means is fetched, adjusted to recognizable sorting information and input. Adjusting means, a sheet on which the ID information is unrecognizable and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means, and a paper sheet on which the sort information is unrecognizable and the ID coat is read by the ID code reading means. Temporary accumulation means for temporarily accumulating leaves, exclusion accumulation means for accumulating by excluding paper sheets having an ID code whose classification information is unrecognizable and which is not readable by the ID code reading means, The paper sheets whose sorting information has been recognized by the recognizing means are sorted and accumulated in accordance with the sorting information, and when the sheets stacked in the temporary stacking means are supplied again by the feeding means, the paper sheets are Means for sorting and accumulating the information based on the sorting information input by the adjusting means; and reading by the ID code reading means when the sorting information is unrecognizable and the ID code reading means. For paper sheet having a capacity of ID codes, it is characterized by and a control means for stopping the capture operation of the sorting information in the adjusting means.

According to the sorting apparatus having the above configuration, sorting information is read from the supplied sheets, and the sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the read information. If the read section information cannot be recognized and the sheet does not have an ID code in advance, the ID code is printed on the sheet and the section information recognizable by the adjusting means is input. ,
The sheets are sorted and accumulated according to the printed ID code and the input sorting information. Further, when the read sorting information cannot be recognized, and when an ID code is previously assigned to the paper sheet, when the ID code is read, it is used as the read ID information to perform sorting and accumulation. Conversely, if the ID code previously assigned to the sheet cannot be read, the sheet is removed without performing the input operation by the adjusting means. Thereby, unnecessary information input work is omitted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention, comprising: a supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described; and a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets. Detecting the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied paper sheet and reading the ID code
Code reading means, information recognizing means for recognizing the section information read by the reading means, code generating means for generating an internal code, and the section information cannot be recognized and the ID code is read by the ID code reading means. An ID for identifying the paper sheet according to the internal code generated by the code generation means, on the paper sheet where no is detected.
ID code printing means for printing a code, and the ID information cannot be recognized by the ID code reading means.
Control means for replacing the read ID code with the internal code generated by the code generation means for the paper sheet from which the D code is read, and sorting information read by the reading means being recognized by the information recognition means If it is not possible, the sorting information read by the reading means is taken in, the adjusting means for adjusting and inputting to the recognizable sorting information, and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means because the sorting information is not recognizable. A temporary stacking means for temporarily stacking the paper sheets and the paper sheets whose sorting information is unrecognizable and whose ID code is read by the ID code reading means, and the sorting information is recognized by the recognition means. The paper sheets are sorted and stacked according to the sort information, and the sheets stacked in the temporary stacking means are again supplied to the feeding means. Thus when supplied, and the paper sheet is characterized by comprising, a sorting and stacking unit for sorting and stacking on the basis of the sorting information and the ID code input by the adjusting means.

According to the paper sheet sorting apparatus having the above configuration, the sorting information is read from the supplied paper sheet, and the paper sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the read information. If the read section information cannot be recognized and the sheet does not have an ID code in advance, the ID code is printed on the sheet based on the internal code of the apparatus, and the sheet is recognized by the adjusting unit. Possible sorting information is input, and sheets are sorted and accumulated according to the printed ID code and the input sorting information. Further, when the read section information cannot be recognized, and when an ID code is previously assigned to the sheet, the ID code is replaced with an internal code and used.
Perform sectional accumulation.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper sheet sorting method according to the present invention, wherein the paper sheet in which the sorting information is described is sorted to a predetermined sorting destination in accordance with the sorting information. To take out the sheets one by one, read the sorting information from the taken out sheets, recognize the sorting information, and specify the sheets to which the sorting information cannot be recognized. The ID code is printed, the printed ID code is confirmed and read, the paper sheets on which the ID code is printed are temporarily accumulated, and the accumulated paper sheets are again supplied to the temporary accumulation means. ID printed above
If the code is read and the read section information is not recognizable, the read section information is taken in, adjusted to recognizable section information and input, and the sheets are set based on the recognized section information. Sorts and accumulates, sorts and accumulates the re-supplied sheets based on the input sorting information and the read ID code, and the printed ID code is unreadable. Eliminates
The input operation of the sorting information is stopped for paper sheets on which the printed ID code cannot be read.

According to the sheet sorting method configured as described above, sorting information is read from the supplied sheets, and the sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the read information. If the read section information cannot be recognized, an ID code is printed on the sheet, the recognizable section information is input, and the sheets are sorted and accumulated according to the printed ID code and the input section information. . Further, when the printed ID code cannot be read, paper sheets are eliminated without performing the input operation of the sorting information. Thereby, unnecessary information input work is omitted.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mail sorting apparatus will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mail sorting apparatus 1 has address information (sort information) such as a zip code and a destination address written or printed on a first surface. A supply unit 2 (supply means) for accommodating a plurality of mails in a standing position with their rear ends aligned so that the first surface faces in the same direction, and sequentially supplies these mails to a predetermined take-out position. It has. A take-out unit (take-out means) 4 is provided at the take-out position for taking out the mail supplied by the supply unit 2 one by one along the main transport path 3. In addition,
The postal matter accommodated in the supply unit 2 is arranged so that the postal code is located above and the first surface faces the extraction unit 4 when supplied to the extraction position.

The mail supplied through the supply unit 2 includes:
In addition to the text information (postal code, address, address, etc.) described on the first page as the destination information, as shown in FIG. (Hereinafter referred to as a customer code) or a postal address code and a postal code determined according to the postal address (town name, signature, number, number, etc.) as shown in FIG. Zip code determined according to the
Alternatively, a mail ID code or the like assigned to a mail whose address information cannot be recognized by an address recognition unit described later is described.

The above-mentioned address / address code and postal code are collectively referred to as an intra-office barcode. The mail ID code for specifying a mail includes date and time information, a post office name, a machine number, and a mail number. And
Each of these codes is printed on the first side of the mail as bar coded information.

The postal matter taken out by the take-out section 4 is conveyed through a main conveying path 3 (conveying means) having a conveying belt running at a constant speed. On the main transport path 3, a foreign matter / hardness detecting unit 5 is provided for detecting foreign matter in the mail when the mail contains foreign matter and also detecting the hardness of the mail itself. The main transport path 3 is located downstream of the foreign matter / hardness detector 5.
An exclusion / stacking unit 5a is provided on the transport path branched from the unit, for eliminating postal matter that is determined to be impossible to machine by the detection of the foreign matter / hardness detection unit 5.

Foreign matter / hardness detector 5 on main transport path 3
A reading unit 6 functioning as a reading unit is provided on the downstream side of. The reading section 6 includes a mail ID reading section 6a as ID code reading means for reading a mail ID code given to the first surface of the mail, and a bar as address information given in advance to the first surface of the mail. Bar code reading section 6b for reading codes (postal code and address code)
And a customer code reading unit 6c for reading a customer code as destination information previously assigned to the first surface of the mail.
And a scanning unit 6d (image reading unit) that optically scans the first surface of the postal matter on which the destination information is recorded, in order to read the image (address image) of the first surface. .

On the upstream side of the reading section 6, there is provided an exclusion / accumulation section 5b for exclusion / accumulation of postal matters in which a conveyance posture defect such as skew, double-sheet pick-up or the like is detected.

On the main transport path 3 on the downstream side of the reading section 6, a positioning section 8 for positioning the mail in the transport direction is provided.
A mail ID printing unit 9a as ID code printing means for printing a mail ID code on the first surface of the mail as needed, and a mail ID for confirming and reading the printed mail ID code are provided downstream of the positioning unit 8. A mail ID processing unit 9 having a confirmation reading unit (ID code confirmation reading unit) 9b;
A barcode printing unit 10a for printing an intra-office barcode corresponding to the destination information on the first side of the mail, and a barcode confirmation reading unit 10 for confirming and reading the printed intraoffice barcode.
and a barcode processing unit 10 having a b.

The main transport path 3 on the downstream side of the bar code processing section 10 includes a mail ID printing section 9a and a bar code printing section 1.
0a, a delay transport path 3a elongated to dry the printed ink is formed, and at the end of the delay transport path 3a, a mail is sorted into a predetermined sorting pocket (sort destination) and collected. The accumulating unit 14 is connected.

The sorting / accumulating section 14 functioning as the sorting means, the temporary accumulating means, and the eliminating means has a large number of sorting pockets 15 divided into a plurality of steps and a plurality of rows. For example, 200 section pockets 1 in 8 rows and 25 rows
5. And each division pocket 15
Is assigned a predetermined pocket number. Further, as described later, a plurality of VCS elimination pockets 17a for accumulating mails for resupply are provided in the left end row of the sorting / accumulating unit 14,
A plurality of rejected mail accumulation pockets 17b are provided for accumulating postal matter that has not been read because the mail ID code cannot be read.

A not-shown section gate is provided above each of the section pockets 15 and each of the accumulation pockets 17a and 17b, and mail is taken into the section pocket 15 and accumulated by selectively switching the section gates. In addition, the section stacking section 14 has a plurality of step pass sections 16 extending in the horizontal direction above the section pockets 15 of each step.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of switching gates 1 provided near the right end of each stage path section 16 of the sorting / stacking section 14 are provided near the end of the delay transport path 3a toward the sorting / stacking section 14.
8 are provided. By selectively switching the switching gates 18, the main transport path 3 is selectively connected to the step path section 16 of any one of the steps.

The main transport path 3 is branched right below the sorting / stacking section 14 in the drawing, and is connected to a short-circuit transport path 3b for short-circuiting the main transport path 3 to the sorting / stacking section 14. At this branch position, a gate 22 for selectively switching the main transport path 3 to the short-circuit transport path 3b is provided. The short conveyance path 3b is provided to short-circuit the main conveyance path 3 to the sorting / stacking section 14 when it is not necessary to supply mail to the mail ID processing section 9 and the bar code processing section 10.

Further, an operation panel 25 on which various input operations are performed by a staff member is provided on the front left side of the mail sorting apparatus 1 in the figure, and the operation panel 25 of the mail sorting apparatus 1 is provided on the right side of the mail sorting apparatus 1 in the figure. A control unit 30 for controlling the sorting operation is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, a mail ID reading section 6a, a bar code reading section 6b, and a customer code reading section 6c are connected to the control section 30 of the mail sorting apparatus 1, and the reading sections 6a, 6b , 6c are input to the control unit 30.

A mail ID processing unit 9 and a bar code processing unit 10 are connected to the control unit 30.
Controls the processing operations of the processing units 9 and 10. Further, the control unit 30 includes a sorting designation control unit 32 functioning as sorting destination designating means for designating the sorting destination of the mail in the sorting stacking unit 14, that is, the sorting pocket 15.
An operation panel 25 is connected.

The sorting designation control unit 32 performs sorting on the sorting destination database 34 based on the destination information input from the control unit 30.
(Storage means) is searched, and the sorting destination of the mail, that is, the sorting pocket 15 in which the mail is sorted and collected is designated. In addition,
In the sorting destination database 34, a sorting data table (not shown) in which delivery zones for each mail, destination information (address) of mail, and sorting pocket numbers are recorded in advance is stored. Then, the delivery section and the section pocket number corresponding to the destination information of the mail are read from the section data table.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 30
An address recognizing unit 36 for recognizing destination information of a mail based on the address image read by the scanning unit 6d functioning as a reading unit is connected. The address recognition unit 36 returns to the control unit 30 whether or not the destination information can be recognized.

A sorting destination database 34 is connected to the address recognizing unit 36. When a sorting pocket for mail is specified based on the destination information recognized by the address recognizing unit 36,
Data communication is performed between the address recognition unit 36 and the sorting destination database 34. On the other hand, when the sorting pocket 15 of the mail is specified based on the code information read by the bar code reading unit 6b or the customer code reading unit 6c, the sorting specification control unit 32 and the sorting destination database 34 as described above. The data is exchanged with the data, and the sorting designation control unit 32 designates the sorting pocket of the mail.

Furthermore, a video coding system 40 (hereinafter, referred to as VCS) is connected to the control unit 30. The VCS 40 functions as an adjusting means for coding an address image read by the scanning unit 6d and determined by the control unit 30 as being unrecognizable by the address recognition unit 36 and incapable of recognizing the destination information by an operator's operation. I do.

When the address recognition unit 36 cannot recognize the address information of the mail, the VCS 40 stores the address image of the mail read by the scanning unit 6d,
Mail I for mail items whose destination information could not be recognized
It has an image storage / distribution device 42 as a storage unit for storing the mail ID code given by the D printing unit 9a, storing the address image and the mail ID code to some extent, and then distributing it to a plurality of coding desks 44. .

Each of the coding desks 44 functions as information input means, displays a display unit (not shown) for displaying an address image supplied from the image storage / distribution device 42 to an operator, and based on the image information. The operator has an operation unit (not shown) for keying in destination information,
The input destination information is returned to the image storage / distribution device 42 together with the mail ID code. The destination information and the mail ID code returned from each coding desk 44 to the image storage / distribution device 42 are stored here or returned to the control unit 30.

Next, a mail sorting operation in the mail sorting apparatus 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, a case will be described in which a predetermined number of mails are supplied to the mail sorting apparatus 1 once and mails are sorted and collected for each sorting destination.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the sorting process,
First, a number of mails are supplied to the supply unit 2 by the attendant (step 1), and the mails supplied to the take-out position are taken out one by one onto the main transport path 3 by the take-out unit 4 (step 2). It is determined whether the extracted postal matter can be mechanically processed by the foreign matter / hardness detecting unit 5 (step 3).
Here, the postal matter determined to be impossible to mechanically process is removed to the rejection stacking unit 5a via the rejected transport path (step 4), and then to the rejected postal hand processing area (not shown). It is transferred (step 5), and after the sorting process is completed, it is sorted by hand sorting (step 6).

On the other hand, if the foreign matter / hardness detecting section 5 determines that mechanical processing is possible, the postal matter is picked up, two sheets are conveyed, and a skew, interval jam, etc. are detected (step 7). The postal matter for which a defect has been detected is sent to the reject stacking unit 5b
(Step 8), and after the first sorting process for other mails is completed, the mail is supplied again from the supply unit 2. The normally conveyed mail is conveyed as it is via the main conveyance path 3 and supplied to the reading unit 6.

The mail supplied to the reading unit 6 is the mail I
The mail ID code is read by the D reading unit 6a (Step 9), the bar code is read by the bar code reading unit 6b (Step 10), and the customer code is read by the customer code reading unit 6c (Step 11). Further, the first surface is optically scanned by the scanning unit 6d to read the address image (step 12). And mail ID
The reading results obtained by the reading unit 6a, the bar code reading unit 6b, and the customer code reading unit 6c are supplied to the control unit 30, and the address image read by the scanning unit 6d is read by the address recognition unit 3.
6.

The control unit 30 determines the presence or absence of a bar code and a customer code in the mail according to the result of reading by the reading unit 6 (step 13). It is determined whether the bar code is completely readable (step 14). The postal matter whose bar code or customer code has been completely read by the reading unit 6 is confirmed and read by the bar code processing unit 10 in step 18 described later, and the sorting / accumulating unit 14 according to the read bar code or catama code. Supplied to

Further, when neither the bar code nor the customer code is added to the mail supplied to the reading unit 6, and when the bar code and / or the customer code is added but cannot be completely read. The address recognition unit 36, to which the address image is input from the scanning unit 6d, analyzes the address image to recognize the postal code and address of the postal matter, that is, the destination information. If only a part of the code is provided (only part of the code can be read), the control unit 3
A bar code or a customer code is obtained through the address 0, the address image is analyzed with reference to the code information, and the address information of the mail is recognized (step 15).

For example, if a bar code (a part of the destination information previously assigned by the shipping post office, for example, a zip code) is assigned to the mail supplied to the reading unit 6 in advance, the address recognition unit 36 narrows down the destination information of the postal matter to a narrow area based on the barcode, analyzes the address image limited to this area, and recognizes a deep part of the address from the address image. Thereby, the recognition of the destination information becomes easy and smooth, and the recognition accuracy of the destination information is improved. Similarly, when the customer code is previously assigned to the mail supplied to the reading unit 6, the destination information can be recognized with reference to the customer code.

The address recognition unit 36 inputs the destination information recognized based on the address image read by the scanning unit 6d to the control unit 30, and determines whether the destination information has been recognized (destination information). Is input to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 determines whether or not the destination information can be recognized according to the input signal (step 16).

When it is determined in step 16 that the destination information can be recognized, the destination information recognized by the address recognizing unit 36 is input to the control unit 30, where the destination information is coded and the intra-office barcode is converted. It is prepared and input to the barcode printing unit 10a. Then, the mail is sent to the barcode printing unit 1.
When the mail passes through Oa, an in-office barcode corresponding to the address image is printed on the mail (step 17).

Then, the printed intra-office bar code is confirmed and read by the bar code confirmation reading unit 10b (step 18), and is input to the sorting designation control unit 32 via the control unit 30 (step 19).

In step S18, processing such as confirmation reading is performed together with the customer code pre-printed on the mail.

The sorting designation control unit 32 searches the sorting destination database 34 based on the input barcode or customer code (address information) and designates the sorting pocket 15 for mail (step 20). Then, the mails are sorted and collected by the sorting and stacking unit 14 into the designated predetermined sorting pocket 15 (step 21).

On the other hand, for mail items for which it has been determined in step 16 that the destination information cannot be recognized, as shown in FIG.
First, the control unit 30 generates an internal code (step 22), and determines whether or not the supplied mail has a mail ID code according to the read result from the mail ID reading unit 6a (step 23). ).

If there is no mail ID code, the control unit 30
Prepares a mail ID code based on the generated internal code and inputs it to the mail ID printing unit 9a. Then, the mail ID code is printed by the mail ID printing unit 9a on the postal matter whose address image could not be recognized (step 24). Further, an image transmission signal is output from the control unit 30 to the scanning unit 6d, and the address image read by the scanning unit 6d is transmitted to the image storage / distribution device 42 (step 25).

Mail ID prepared by control unit 30
The code is input from the control unit 30 to the image storage / distribution device 42 (step 26). The mail ID code printed on the mail is read and confirmed by the mail ID confirmation reading unit 9b (step 27), and the control unit 30 determines whether the printed mail ID code is completely readable. (Step 28). If read completely,
The postal matter on which the mail ID code is printed is accumulated in the VCS exclusion pocket 17a (step 29).

If it is determined in step 27 that the mail ID code confirmed and read cannot be read in step 28, the control unit 30 sets the image storage / distribution device 4
For 2, the input of stopping the transmission of the address image to the video coding desk 44 is input (step 30). Therefore, the address image of the mail is not sent to the video coding desk 44, and no information input operation is performed by the operator on the mail. If the mail ID code is determined to be unreadable, the mail is sent to the sorting / accumulating unit 1.
The mail is sent to the reject mail pocket 17b by step 4 (step 31), and after the sorting process is completed, the staff member manually sorts (step 32).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 23 that there is a mail ID code,
It is determined whether or not the mail ID code has been completely read in accordance with the reading result of the reading unit 6a (step 33).
If it is completely read, the control unit 30 replaces the generated internal code with the read mail ID code (step 34), and subsequently, the control unit 30 generates an image capture signal to the image storage / distribution device 42, The address image read by the scanning unit 6d is transmitted to the image storage / distribution device 42 (step 35). Thereafter, steps 26 to 29 are executed.

In step 33, the mail ID
If it is determined that the code cannot be read, the control unit 30
Outputs an instruction to the scanning unit 6d to stop transmitting the address image to the image storage / distribution device 42 (step 36). Therefore, the address image of the mail is not sent to the video coding desk 44 via the image storage / distribution device 42, and no information input operation is performed by the operator on the mail.

The postal matter for which it is determined that the mail ID code cannot be read is sent to the reject postal pocket 17b by the sorting / stacking section 14 (step 31), and after the sorting process is completed, the staff member manually sorts the mail (step 3).
2).

As shown in FIG. 8, postal matter which cannot be recognized as destination information, is given a mail ID code, and is accumulated in the VCS exclusion pocket 17a, is subjected to manual operation by a staff member after the division in step 21 described above. Is again supplied to the supply unit 2 of the mail sorting apparatus 1 (step 3
7). The postal matter supplied to the supply unit 2 is extracted on the main transport path 3 by the extraction unit 4 (Step 38), and is supplied to the reading unit 6. The mail supplied to the reading unit 6 has a mail ID
The reading unit 6a reads the mail ID code (step 39), and the result of the determination is supplied to the sorting designation control unit 32 (step 40).

On the other hand, the image storage / distribution device 42 distributes the address image fetched in step 24 or 34 and the mail ID code input in step 28 to any one of the coding desks 44 (step 41). ). At each coding desk 44, an address image is displayed on the display unit, and the operator codes the address image via the input unit, that is, inputs a zip code and a destination address corresponding to the address image, and codes the address image ( Step 42).

Then, the intra-office bar code coded at each coding desk 44 corresponds to the corresponding mail I
It is input to the control unit 30 via the image storage / distribution device 42 together with the D code (step 43). Alternatively, the intra-office barcode input from each coding desk 44 is stored in the image storage / distribution device 42 together with the mail ID code.
And may be read out under the control of the control unit 30.

The control unit 30 determines in step 39 that the mail I
The mail ID code of the mail read by the D reading unit 6a and the mail ID code input from the image storage / distribution device 42 in step 43 are referred to, and the intra-office barcode as the destination information of the mail is checked. Recognize (Step 4
4). When the in-station barcode is recognized by the control unit 30,
The intra-office barcode is printed when the mail supplied again passes through the barcode printing unit 10a (step 45). The printed intra-office barcode is confirmed and read by the barcode confirmation reading section 10b (step 46), and the read intra-office barcode is input to the section designation control section 32 (step 47).

The sorting designation control unit 32 searches the sorting destination database 34 based on the intra-office barcode input from the barcode processing unit 10 in step 47, and designates the sorting pocket 15 for mail (step 48). ). Then, the mail items are sorted and accumulated in the designated predetermined sorting pocket 15 (step 49).

By the sorting process described above, mails are sorted and accumulated in the predetermined sorting pockets 15 for each destination. Thereafter, the mail is taken out of each sorting pocket 15 and delivered to the delivery person.

The mail sorting apparatus 1 configured as described above
According to the sorting method, when the destination information of the postal matter cannot be read by the reading unit 6, the presence or absence of a mail ID code is checked. When the mail ID code is not printed, the mail ID processing unit 9 checks the mail ID code. After printing and confirming the ID code, the address image read by the scanning unit 6d is transmitted to the VCS. here,
When the mail ID code cannot be read, the transmission of the address image is stopped, so that a wasteful information input operation by the operator can be omitted.

Similarly, in the case where another station processes a mail to which a mail ID code is assigned, when the mail ID code cannot be read, the transmission of the address image to the VCS is stopped, thereby allowing the operator to operate. Useless information input work can be omitted.

When the mail ID code assigned by another station can be read, the mail ID code is replaced with the internal code of the apparatus and is used to perform sorting processing, so that printing of a new mail ID code is unnecessary. And the efficiency of the sorting process can be improved.

[0069]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a useless information input operation by an operator when an ID code cannot be read.
Since the sorting process can be performed using the ID code assigned to the mail in advance, it is possible to provide a sheet sorting apparatus and a sheet sorting method which are excellent in work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a mail sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view showing mails input to the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view showing mails input to the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a sorting processing operation in the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a sorting process operation in the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a sorting processing operation in the mail sorting apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a sorting processing operation in the mail sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mail sorting apparatus 2 ... Supply part 3 ... Main conveyance path 4 ... Extraction part 6 ... Reading part 6a ... Mail ID reading part 6b ... Barcode reading part 6c ... Customer code reading part 6d ... Scanning part 9 ... Mail ID processing Unit 9a ... Mail ID printing unit 9b ... Mail ID confirmation reading unit 10 ... Bar code processing unit 10a ... Bar code printing unit 10b ... Bar code confirmation reading unit 11 ... Mail sorting system 14 ... Segment stacking unit 15 ... Segment pocket 30 ... Control unit 32 ... Segment designation control unit 34 ... Segmentation destination database 36 ... Address recognition unit 40 ... Video coding system 42 ... Image storage / distribution device 44 ... Coding desk

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and recognizing the sorting information read by the reading unit. Information recognizing means, ID code printing means for printing an ID code for specifying the paper sheet on the paper sheet on which the sorting information cannot be recognized, ID code confirmation reading means for reading the printed ID code, A temporary stacking unit for temporarily stacking the sheets on which the ID code is printed, and the printed ID when the sheets stacked on the temporary stacking unit are supplied again by the supply unit. ID code reading means for reading a code; and if the sorting information read by the reading means cannot be recognized by the information recognizing means, the sorting information read by the reading means. Adjusting means for taking in the information, adjusting the information into recognizable sorting information, and inputting the information; sorting and accumulating the sheets based on the sorting information recognized by the information recognizing means; Sorting and stacking means based on the sorting information input by the adjusting means and the ID code read by the ID reading means, and a sheet in which the ID code cannot be read by the ID code confirmation reading means. And a control unit for stopping the input operation of the sorting information in the adjusting unit with respect to the paper sheet in which the ID code cannot be read by the ID code confirmation reading unit. A paper sheet sorting apparatus, characterized in that: 2. A supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and recognizing the sorting information read by the reading unit. An information recognizing unit, and an adjusting unit that, when the sorting information read by the reading unit cannot be recognized by the information recognizing unit, captures the sorting information read by the reading unit, and adjusts and inputs the recognizable sorting information. Means, an ID code printing means for printing an ID code for specifying the paper sheet on a paper sheet on which the sorting information cannot be recognized, and input by the sorting information recognized by the information recognition means and the adjusting means. Bar code printing means for converting the divided information into code information and printing the same on the paper sheet; reading the printed ID code and bar code Code checking and reading means, temporary accumulating means for temporarily accumulating the paper sheets on which the ID code is printed, and when the paper sheets accumulated in the temporary accumulating means are supplied again by the supplying means, ID code reading means for reading the printed ID code, sorting and stacking means for sorting and accumulating sheets based on the code information read by the bar code confirmation reading means, Stopping the input operation of the sorting information in the adjusting means for the paper rejecting / stacking means for rejecting and accumulating the paper sheets in which the ID code cannot be read, and for the paper sheets incapable of reading the ID code by the bar code confirmation reading means. A paper sheet sorting apparatus comprising: 3. A supply means for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, code reading means for reading code-like sorting information from the supplied sheets, and sorting from the supplied sheets. Image reading means for reading information as image information; information recognizing means for recognizing the image information read by the image reading means; if the image information read by the image reading means cannot be recognized by the information recognizing means; Adjusting means for taking in the image information read by the image reading means, adjusting the information into recognizable division information, and inputting the information, and an ID for identifying the paper sheet to which the image information cannot be recognized. ID code printing means for printing a code, image information recognized by the information recognizing means, and classification information input by the adjusting means are code information Bar code printing means for converting and printing on the paper sheet; code confirmation reading means for reading the printed ID code and bar code; and temporary storage for temporarily stacking the paper sheet having the ID code printed thereon. Stacking means, ID code reading means for reading the printed ID code when the paper sheets stacked on the temporary stacking means are supplied again by the supply means, and a bar read by the code confirmation reading means Sorting / accumulating means for sorting and accumulating sheets based on a code; exclusion / accumulating means for accumulating by excluding sheets whose ID code cannot be read by the barcode confirmation / reading means; Control means for stopping the input operation of the sorting information in the adjusting means for a paper sheet in which the ID code cannot be read by the reading means. Sheet sorting apparatus characterized by. 4. A supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied sheets. ID code reading means for detecting the ID code and detecting the ID code; information recognizing means for recognizing the section information read by the reading means; and wherein the section information cannot be recognized and the ID code is read by the ID code reading means. ID code printing means for printing an ID code for identifying the paper sheet on a paper sheet on which no is detected, and when the sorting information read by the reading means cannot be recognized by the information recognition means, the reading is performed. Adjusting means for taking in the sorting information read by the means, adjusting and inputting it into recognizable sorting information, and Paper sheets printed ID code by D code printing means, and said classification information is the unrecognizable and I by the ID code reading means
A temporary stacking unit for temporarily stacking the sheets read from the D coat; and a stacking unit that excludes sheets having an ID code whose classification information cannot be recognized and cannot be read by the ID code reading unit. The rejection stacking means, and the sheets on which the sorting information has been recognized by the recognizing means are sorted and stacked according to the sorting information, and the sheets stacked on the temporary stacking means are supplied again by the feeding means. A sorting / stacking means for sorting and stacking the paper sheets based on the sorting information input by the adjusting means; and a sheet having an ID code which cannot be recognized by the sorting information and which cannot be read by the ID code reading means. Control means for stopping the operation of taking in the sorting information in the adjusting means for the leaves, a paper sheet sorting apparatus comprising: 5. A supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied sheets. ID code reading means for detecting the ID code and detecting the ID code; information recognizing means for recognizing the section information read by the reading means; and wherein the section information cannot be recognized and the ID code is read by the ID code reading means. ID code printing means for printing an ID code for identifying the paper sheet on a paper sheet on which no is detected, and when the sorting information read by the reading means cannot be recognized by the information recognition means, the reading is performed. Means for taking in the section information read by the means, adjusting and inputting the information into recognizable section information; Bar code printing means for converting the sorted information and the sorted information input by the adjusting means into code information and printing the code information on the paper sheet; The printed sheets and the sort information cannot be recognized and the
A temporary stacking unit for temporarily stacking the sheets from which the D code has been read, and stacking by excluding sheets having an ID code whose classification information cannot be recognized and which cannot be read by the ID code reading unit. Means for rejecting and accumulating the sheets, the sheets of which the sorting information has been recognized by the recognizing means are sorted and accumulated in accordance with the printed code information, and the sheets accumulated in the temporary accumulating means are again supplied by the supplying means. A sorting / accumulating means for sorting / accumulating based on the printed code information when supplied; and a sheet having an ID code in which the sorting information cannot be recognized and cannot be read by the ID code reading means. Control means for stopping the operation of taking in the sorting information in the adjusting means. 6. A supply means for supplying paper sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading means for reading image information of the supplied paper sheets, an ID code and a bar in the supplied paper sheets. Code reading means for detecting presence / absence of a code and reading the ID code and bar code; information recognition means for recognizing image information read by the reading means; and ID code and bar code detected by the code reading means. ID code printing means for printing an ID code for specifying the paper sheet on a paper sheet in which the image information cannot be recognized, and a bar code is not detected by the code reading means, and If the image information read by the reading means cannot be recognized by the information recognizing means, the image read by the reading means Adjusting means for fetching the information, adjusting and inputting the information into recognizable sorting information, converting the image information recognized by the information recognizing means and the sorting information input by the adjusting means into code information, A bar code printing means for printing on the paper sheet, a sheet on which the image information is unrecognizable and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means, and an image code on which the image information is not recognizable and the code reading means is read A barcode is not detected by the temporary stacking means for temporarily stacking the collected sheets, and the code reading means,
An elimination stacking unit that eliminates and accumulates a sheet having an ID code whose image information is unrecognizable and cannot be read by the code reading unit; a sheet whose barcode is read by the code reading unit; and When the paper sheets whose sorting information has been recognized by the information recognizing means are sorted and stacked according to the printed code information, and when the paper sheets stacked in the temporary stacking means are supplied again by the feeding means. A sorting / accumulating means for sorting / accumulating based on barcode information printed by the code printing means; and a sheet having an ID code in which the sorting information cannot be recognized and which cannot be read by the ID code reading means. Control means for stopping the image information taking-in operation in the adjustment means. 7. A supply means for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading means for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied sheets. ID code reading means for detecting the ID code and detecting the ID code; information recognizing means for recognizing the section information read by the reading means; code generating means for generating an internal code; ID code printing means for printing an ID code for specifying a paper sheet on a paper sheet for which no ID code is detected by the ID code reading means in accordance with the internal code generated by the code generation means. And for the paper sheet whose classification information is not recognizable and whose ID code is read by the ID code reading means,
A control unit that replaces the read ID code with an internal code generated by the code generation unit; and a unit that is read by the reading unit when the classification information read by the reading unit cannot be recognized by the information recognition unit. Adjusting means for taking in the sort information, adjusting the sort information into recognizable sort information, and inputting the sort information; paper sheets on which the sort information is not recognizable and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means; And the ID code reading means
A temporary stacking means for temporarily stacking the paper sheets from which the D coat has been read; a sheet stacking means for sorting the paper sheets whose sorting information has been recognized by the recognizing means in accordance with the sorting information; And a sorting / stacking means for sorting and stacking the paper sheets based on the sorting information and the ID code input by the adjusting means when the paper sheets accumulated in the feeding section are supplied again by the supply means. A paper sheet sorting apparatus characterized by the following. 8. A supply unit for supplying sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading sorting information from the supplied sheets, and the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied sheets. ID code reading means for detecting the ID code and detecting the ID code; information recognizing means for recognizing the section information read by the reading means; code generating means for generating an internal code; ID code printing means for printing an ID code for specifying a paper sheet on a paper sheet for which no ID code is detected by the ID code reading means in accordance with the internal code generated by the code generation means. And for the paper sheet whose classification information is not recognizable and whose ID code is read by the ID code reading means,
A control unit that replaces the read ID code with an internal code generated by the code generation unit; and a unit that is read by the reading unit when the classification information read by the reading unit cannot be recognized by the information recognition unit. Adjusting means for taking in the sorting information, adjusting and inputting it into recognizable sorting information, converting the sorting information recognized by the information recognizing means and the sorting information input by the adjusting means into code information, A bar code printing means for printing on a class, a paper sheet on which the classification information is not recognizable and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means, and a paper sheet on which the classification information is not recognizable and the ID code reading means
A temporary stacking unit for temporarily stacking the sheets on which the D coat has been read, and a sheet stack in which the sorting information is recognized by the recognition unit according to the printed code information. Paper stacking means for sorting and stacking based on the printed code information and ID code when the paper sheets accumulated in the temporary accumulation means are supplied again by the supply means. Leaf sorter. 9. A supply unit for supplying paper sheets on which sorting information is described, a reading unit for reading image information of the supplied paper sheets, an ID code and a bar in the supplied paper sheets. Code reading means for detecting the presence or absence of a code and reading the ID code and bar code; information recognizing means for recognizing image information read by the reading means; code generating means for generating an internal code; An ID for identifying the paper sheet according to the internal code generated by the code generation means, on the paper sheet on which the ID code and the barcode are not detected by the means and the image information cannot be recognized. ID code printing means for printing a code, a bar code is not detected by the code reading means, the image information is unrecognizable, and Control means for replacing the read ID code with the internal code generated by the code generation means for the paper sheet from which the ID code is read by the ID code reading means; and image information read by the reading means. An adjusting means for taking in the image information read by the reading means when the information cannot be recognized by the information recognizing means, adjusting the information into recognizable classification information and inputting the information, and an image information recognized by the information recognizing means and the adjustment Bar code printing means for converting the classification information input by the means into code information and printing it on the paper sheet; paper sheets on which the classification information is unrecognizable and the ID code is printed by the ID code printing means; And the classification information is unrecognizable and the ID code reading means
A temporary stacking unit for temporarily stacking the sheets on which the D coat has been read, and a sheet stack in which the sorting information is recognized by the recognition unit according to the printed code information. Paper stacking means for sorting and stacking based on the printed code information and ID code when the paper sheets accumulated in the temporary accumulation means are supplied again by the supply means. Leaf sorter. 10. A sheet sorting method for sorting sheets on which sorting information is described into predetermined sorting destinations in accordance with the sorting information, wherein the fed sheets are taken out one by one. Reading the sorting information from the collected sheets, recognizing the sorting information, printing an ID code for identifying the sheets on the sheet for which the sorting information cannot be recognized, and printing the ID code. The paper sheet on which the ID code is printed is temporarily accumulated, the accumulated paper sheet is supplied again to the temporary accumulating means, the printed ID code is read, and the read is read. If the sorting information is not recognizable, the read sorting information is fetched, adjusted and input into recognizable sorting information, and the sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the recognized sorting information, and the re-printing is performed. Offering The printed sheets are sorted and accumulated based on the input sorting information and the read ID code, the printed ID code is excluded from unreadable sheets, and the printed ID is printed. A sheet sorting method, wherein the input operation of the sorting information is stopped for a sheet whose code cannot be read. 11. A sheet sorting method for sorting sheets on which sorting information is described into predetermined destinations according to the sorting information, wherein the sheets on which sorting information is described are supplied one by one. Reading the sorting information from the supplied paper sheet, detecting the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied paper sheet, reading the ID code, recognizing the read sorting information, An ID code for identifying the sheet is printed on a sheet that cannot be recognized and the ID code is not detected. If the read section information is not recognizable, the read section information is printed. Adjust the input into the recognizable and recognizable classification information and input it. The classification information is unrecognizable, the paper sheet on which the ID code is printed, and the classification information is unrecognizable and read by the ID coat The collected sheets are temporarily accumulated, and the sheets having the ID information in which the sorting information is unrecognizable and unreadable are removed and accumulated, and the sheets in which the sorting information is recognized are collected as described above. In addition to sorting and accumulating according to the sorting information, the paper sheets stacked in the temporary stacking means are supplied again, and sorting and stacking are performed based on the input sorting information, and the sorting information is unrecognizable and unreadable. A method for sorting sheets according to claim 1, wherein the operation of taking in and inputting the sort information is stopped for sheets having an ID code. 12. A sheet sorting method for sorting sheets on which sorting information is described into predetermined sorting destinations according to the sorting information, wherein the sheets on which sorting information is described are supplied one by one. Reading the sorting information from the supplied sheet, detecting the presence or absence of an ID code in the supplied sheet, reading the ID code, recognizing the read sorting information, and generating an internal code. Then, in accordance with the generated internal code, a paper sheet in which the classification information cannot be recognized and the ID code is not detected,
An ID code for identifying the paper sheet is printed, and for the paper sheet whose classification information is unrecognizable and the ID code is read, the read ID code is replaced with an internal code and used. If the read section information is not recognizable, the read section information is fetched, adjusted to recognizable section information and input, and the sheet information on which the section information is not recognizable and the ID code is printed is read. And temporarily accumulate the sheets on which the classification information is unrecognizable and the ID coat is read, and accumulate the sheets on which the classification information is recognized according to the classification information, A sheet sorting method, wherein the temporarily stacked sheets are supplied again to sort and stack the sheets based on the input sorting information and ID code.