JPH11188317A - Apparatus for classifying and processing mail and method for classifying and processing mail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for classifying and processing mails and a method for classifying and processing mail matters wherein the numbers of the building and the room can be read by performing skip processing even when the name of a multiple dwelling house written on the mail matter can not be recognized. SOLUTION: In a recognition unit 15 of an apparatus for classifying and processing mails, after the name of the town of a mail P is recognized by a town name recognition part 39, recognition on the number of the street and the section is performed by an answer editing part 43. When the name of the multiple dwelling house is written after the number of the street and the section, recognition processing of the name of the multiple dwelling house is performed by referring to a data base on the names of the multiple dwelling houses and by a big user's name recognition part 45. When the name of the multiple dwelling house is not recognized, recognition processing on the number of the building and the room is performed by skip processing in the answer editing part 43.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail sorting apparatus and a mail sorting method for sorting mail by recognizing an address written on the mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional mail sorting apparatus, an address written on a mail is recognized as follows. That is, the surface on which the address of the mail is described is captured as image data, and a line related to the address is cut out from the captured image data, and detection / cut-out is performed in units of one character. Next, character recognition is performed based on the cut-out character-based image data, and the recognized characters are compared with information on addresses stored in an address dictionary. Is being recognized. Note that the block recognition processing is performed sequentially from the end point of the town name recognized by the town name recognition processing toward the rear, and ends when recognition becomes impossible. As shown in FIG. 1, block (number)
If the name of an apartment complex such as "Yanagi Apartment" is written in the mail between "70" and the ridge room number "101", it is only after the name of the apartment complex can be recognized. The number could be read.

[0003]

The process of recognizing the name of an apartment house is performed by matching with a character string of the apartment house name registered in advance in the apartment house database in the address dictionary. Therefore, it is necessary to register in the apartment house name database all of the described patterns of the apartment house name that are considered to be described in the mail. However, for example, when the apartment name is "Yanagi apartment", there are a very large number of variations in the description pattern of the apartment name such as "Yanagi apartment" and "Apartment willow". It is practically difficult to register a description pattern.

In particular, in a mail sorting apparatus corresponding to a seven-digit postal code, mails are sorted in the order in which they are delivered, so that it is necessary to recognize all the blocks described in the mails. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the ridge room number that is often described immediately after the apartment house name after the block number, and therefore, it is necessary to improve the reading rate of the ridge room number.

[0005] For example, a building number is described immediately after a block like "XX town 1-2-3-101", or "XX town 1-2-3 △△ apartment 101". If the name of the apartment complex is listed between the block and the ridge room number, and the name of the apartment complex of the mail can be recognized, the ward room number can be read and recognized even with the conventional mail sorting machine. It is possible. However, if the name of the apartment complex of the postal matter (郵 便 apartment) described as “1-2-3 △△ apartment 101” cannot be recognized, the conventional postal mail sorting apparatus does not recognize the building. It was impossible to read the room number.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it impossible to recognize the name of an apartment house in a mail in which the name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mail sorting apparatus and a mail sorting method capable of improving the reading rate of the mail room number by reading the building number even in such a case.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 recognizes an address of a postal matter in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number. In the postal matter sorting apparatus for sorting the postal matter,
After recognizing the block number, if the apartment house name cannot be recognized, a means for recognizing the ridge room number is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to a second aspect of the present invention recognizes an address of a postal matter in which a name of a condominium is described between a block number and a ridge room number. In the mail sorting apparatus for sorting articles, there is provided means for recognizing the block number and then recognizing the ridge room number without recognizing the apartment house name.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a postal mail sorting apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention. Image acquisition means for acquiring, a storage means for storing the name of the apartment complex in advance, and a detection means for detecting the name of the apartment complex from the image of the postal matter acquired by the image acquisition means,
Recognition processing of the apartment house name detected by the detecting means with reference to the apartment house name stored in the storage means in advance, and when the apartment house name described in the mail cannot be recognized, the building It is characterized by comprising recognition processing means for recognizing a room number, and sorting means for sorting the mail based on the recognition result of the recognition processing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail sorting apparatus, wherein an image of a postal matter in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number. Image acquisition means for acquiring, a storage means for storing the name of the apartment complex in advance, and a detection means for detecting the name of the apartment complex from the image of the postal matter acquired by the image acquisition means,
Recognition processing of the apartment house name detected by the detecting means with reference to the apartment house name stored in advance in the storage means, and if the apartment house name described in the mail cannot be recognized, the block Recognition processing means for determining whether the character string described after the number constitutes a number string while shifting back one character at a time, and recognizing the ridge room number based on the determination result; Sorting means for sorting the mail based on the recognition result of the processing means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a mail sorting apparatus according to the present invention has an image of a postal matter in which an apartment house name is described between a block number and a ridge room number. Image acquiring means for acquiring, and a detecting means for detecting a block number from the image of the postal matter obtained by the image obtaining means, and after performing a recognition processing of the block number detected by the detecting means, after this block number A recognition processing means for recognizing the ridge room number without recognizing a listed apartment house name; and a classification means for classifying the mail based on a recognition result of the recognition processing means. It is characterized by.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the mail sorting apparatus according to the present invention has an image of a postal matter in which an apartment house name is described between a block number and a ridge room number. Image acquiring means for acquiring, and a detecting means for detecting a block number from the image of the postal matter obtained by the image obtaining means, and after performing a recognition processing of the block number detected by the detecting means, after this block number A recognition processing unit that determines whether or not the described character string forms a numeral string while shifting back one character at a time, and based on a result of the determination, recognizes the ridge room number; And a sorting means for sorting the mail based on the recognition result.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the mail is recognized by recognizing an address of a postal matter in which the name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a building room number. In the mail sorting processing method for sorting articles, after recognizing the block number, if the name of the apartment house cannot be recognized, the building number is recognized.

[0014] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 8 recognizes the address of a mail in which the name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number and recognizes the mail. In the mail sorting processing method for sorting articles, after the block number is recognized, the ridge room number is recognized without performing the recognition processing on the apartment house name.

[0015] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 9 is a method for recognizing an address of a mail in which the name of a condominium is described between a block number and a ridge room number. In the mail sorting method for sorting articles, an image of the mail is acquired, a name of the apartment is detected from the acquired image of the mail, and the apartment detected by referring to the apartment name stored in advance is detected. The method is characterized by recognizing a house name, and recognizing the building number if the name of the apartment house described in the mail cannot be recognized.

[0016] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 10 recognizes the address of a postal matter in which the name of an apartment complex is described between a block number and a building room number, and In the mail sorting method for sorting articles, an image of the mail is acquired, a name of the apartment is detected from the acquired image of the mail, and the apartment detected by referring to the apartment name stored in advance is detected. Recognize the house name and, if the name of the collective house described in the postal matter cannot be recognized, determine whether the character string described after the block number constitutes a numeric string, one character at a time. It is characterized in that the judgment is made while shifting, and the ridge room number is recognized based on the judgment result.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that the mail is recognized by recognizing an address of a postal matter in which the name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a building room number. In the mail sorting processing method for sorting objects, an image of the mail is obtained, a block number is detected from the obtained image of the mail, a detected block number is recognized, and a block number is recognized. Thereafter, the ridge room number is recognized without performing the recognition process on the apartment house name described after the block number.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention recognizes the address of a postal matter in which the name of a condominium is described between a block number and a ridge room number. In the mail sorting processing method for sorting objects, an image of the mail is obtained, a block number is detected from the obtained image of the mail, a detected block number is recognized, and a block number is recognized. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the character string described after the block number constitutes a numeric string while shifting backward one character at a time, and the ridge room number is recognized based on the determination result. And

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In the first embodiment of the present invention, a case is not recognized in the recognition processing of the name of an apartment house described between a block of a mail address and a ridge / room number. Is performed to recognize the ridge room number described after the apartment name.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The mail sorting apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention reads a postal code, a town name, a block, etc., described in a mail P, and reads a postal code, a town name, a block, etc. from the read contents. Is recognized, and the mail P is classified based on the recognition result. Further, the mail sorting apparatus 1 prints a barcode corresponding to the recognition result on each mail P.

The main body 1a of the mail sorting apparatus 1 includes a supply unit 10 for setting a plurality of mails P in batches or rejected mails, and for supplying the set mails P one by one. A scanner unit 11 for reading the entire image of the surface on which the postal code and address of the postal matter P supplied one by one from the supply unit 10 onto the transport path 19a, and a mail passing through the scanner unit 11 An ID code reading unit 12 for reading a barcode attached to the article P, and a barcode printer unit for printing a barcode corresponding to a postal code or address written on the postal matter P passing through the ID code reading unit 12 13 and the barcode printer unit 1
The postal matter P that has passed through 3 is recognized as a postal code, town name, block, or the like, or a video coding system (not shown) (V).
Classification based on predetermined classification information corresponding to postal code, town name, block, etc. input from CS), and classification for postal matter P not recognized or input, such as postal code, town name, block, etc. Recognize zip code, town name, block, etc. from the unit 14 and the image read by the scanner unit 11,
A recognition unit 15 for recognizing the bar code read by the ID code reading unit 12, a transport control unit 19 for controlling the transport of the mail P on the transport path 19a,
The operation panel 18 displays the read result of the postal code, town name, block, etc., and selects a processing mode according to the type of the postal matter P. The control unit 16 controls the operation of each unit of the postal matter sorting apparatus 1. And a reject data control unit 17 that manages reject data and the like relating to the postal matter P for which the postal code, town name, block, etc. could not be recognized by the recognition unit 15.

The sorting unit 14 receives the recognized mail P
And a plurality of sorting box groups 14B for storing the sorted mail items P.

The recognition unit 15, as shown in FIG.
Based on the image of the postal matter P supplied from the scanner unit 11 having the photoelectric conversion unit 11a for converting the entire surface on which the address of the postal matter P is described into image data, the postal code, the town name, the block, etc. are described. Region detection unit 31 for detecting each of the regions, and a line detection for detecting and cutting out character lines on the area detected by the region detection unit 31 such as a postal code, a town name, and a block in units of one line. A character detection unit 33 that converts multivalued image data such as characters of a character line detected and cut out by the line detection unit 32 into binary image data, and detects and cuts out one character unit at a time; Character detector 33
A postal code detecting unit 34 for detecting a number corresponding to a postal code from characters and the like extracted and extracted, and a postal code recognition process by referring to a postal code dictionary 36 based on the numbers detected by the postal code detecting unit 34 Zip code recognition unit 35,
A character recognizing unit 37 for recognizing a character or the like detected and cut out by the character detecting unit 33 with reference to the character dictionary 37A;
With reference to the address dictionary 38, a town name recognizing unit 39 for recognizing and processing a town name by combining characters recognized by the character recognizing unit 37, and a street number and an address described after the town name recognized and processed by the town name recognizing unit 39. A block character detection unit 40 for detecting and cutting out block characters in units of one character, and a block character for recognizing and processing block characters by referring to a block character dictionary 42 based on the block characters detected and cut out by the block character detection unit 40. A recognizing unit 41, a sorting designation table 44 for storing sorting information and the like necessary for sorting the postal matter P in order to associate postal codes and addresses with each sorting box of the sorting box group 14B, and a set in the address dictionary 38 A set that refers to the house name database 38a and the large name database 38b and combines the block characters recognized and processed by the block character recognition unit 41 to recognize and process collective house names and large names. The block is recognized by combining the house name / large name recognition unit 45 and the block character recognized and processed by the block character recognition unit 41, and the postal matter P is recognized based on the recognition result of the zip code, the town name, the block, and the like. It comprises an answer editing unit 43 for judging a destination and a storage unit 46 for storing necessary information such as the recognition result of the zip code, town name, block, etc.

The control unit 16 controls the drive of the transport control unit 19 based on the result of the determination by the answer editing unit 43, and moves the mail P on the transport path 19a to one of the sorting boxes in the sorting box group 14B. Let it.

[0027] The reject data control unit 17 rejects data or mail P in accordance with the recognition result of the mail P.
Is output to the video coding system.

Next, the operation of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the recognition processing by the recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the recognition processing after the street name in the mail address is recognized. ing.

After the street name described in the postal matter P is recognized, in step A1, the process of recognizing the street number is performed to the rear of the recognized street name. The process of recognizing the block number is performed in units of one layer. When the recognition process becomes impossible, the process shifts to the process of recognizing the apartment house name shown in step A2. In addition, the recognition processing of the block number in the unit of one layer means, for example, when the postal matter P is described as “XX town 1-2-3”, it is described after “XX town”. 1 ”,“ 2 ”, and“ 3 ”are recognized one by one.

In step A2, the collective house name / large name recognizing section 45 performs a process of recognizing the collective house name described after the block number. The process of recognizing the apartment house name is performed by referring to the apartment house name stored in the apartment house database 38a in the address dictionary 38 and matching the character string recognized by the block character recognition unit 41.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the stored contents of the apartment house name database provided in the address dictionary of the recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the apartment house name database 3
8a is composed of an address and the name of an apartment house.

In the conventional mail sorting apparatus, if the name of an apartment complex is described between the block and the building number in the postal matter P, it is necessary to recognize and process the name of the apartment complex. This was a necessary condition for recognition processing of the ridge room number described after the name. That is, if the name of the apartment house cannot be recognized, the ridge room number is not recognized.

Therefore, in order to recognize the name of an apartment house,
It is necessary to register in the apartment house name database 38a all the description patterns of the apartment house names that are considered to be described in the mail P. However, since there are very many variations in the description pattern of the apartment house name, it is practically difficult to register all the description patterns.

Therefore, in step A3, step A2
Regardless of the presence or absence of the recognition result by the recognition processing of the apartment house name, the recognition processing of the ridge room number described after the apartment house name is performed.

In step A4, if a large name such as a company name is described in the mail P, the recognition process is performed. The process of recognizing large names is performed with reference to large names stored in the large name database 38b in the address dictionary 38.

According to the above recognition processing, the building room number can be read even when the name of the apartment house described in the mail P cannot be recognized, so that the reading rate of the building room number of the mail P can be improved. Can be.

Here, a specific description will be given, with reference to FIG. 7, of a case in which, when the name of the apartment house described in the postal matter P cannot be recognized, the skip processing is performed and the ridge room number is recognized.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an address described in a mail to be recognized and processed by the recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, when the mail P describes “Yanagi-cho, Room No. 101, Yanagicho, Kawasaki-shi”, the town name recognition unit 39
After recognizing even the town name "Yanagimachi, Kawasaki-shi", the block character detection unit 40 detects and cuts out the character after the town name in units of one character (13 characters are cut out in FIG. 7), and the block character recognition unit. At 41, character recognition is performed in units of one character, and the answer editing unit 43 recognizes the block number.

First, after the answer editing unit 43 recognizes “No. 70” composed of (1), (2), and (3) as the block number, the number corresponding to the block number cannot be recognized. The process ends. Next, an apartment house name / large name recognition unit 4 performs an apartment house name recognition process. Here, it is assumed that “Yanagi apartment” composed of (4) to (8) could not be recognized. In this case, the recognition processing of the ward room number is performed by performing the skip processing as shown in FIG. 8 without terminating the recognition processing unlike the conventional mail sorting processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the skip processing of the answer editing unit of the recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this skip process,
Until a number string can be created as a character string combining the characters following the recognized block number, the leading character of the character string is shifted backward by one character at a time to perform the ridge room number detection processing. As a result, the ridge room number is recognized.

In FIG. 8, in step B1, a combination of characters after the block number is performed. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7, since the recognition has been completed up to the “number” of (3),
First, a character string is formed by combining characters with “Yanagi” as the first character in (4).

In step B2, it is determined whether or not a character string can be created from the character string combined in step B1. In the case where a character string is formed with “Yanagi” as the first character in (4), it is determined that a numeric string cannot be created.

On the other hand, if the number string has been created in step B2, the number string corresponds to the ridge room number, and the ridge room number detection processing ends.

In step B3, it is determined whether there is a character behind. When there is no character behind, it is determined that the ridge room number is not described in the mail P, and the ridge room number detection processing ends.

On the other hand, if there is a character behind in step B3, the leading character is shifted backward by one character (step B4), and a combination of character strings in which "A" is the new leading character in (5) is performed. To form a character string (step B1).

However, also in the case of combining characters with "A" as the first character in (5), it is determined that a digit string cannot be created. Accordingly, steps B1 to B4 are performed until a numeric string corresponding to the ridge room number is created.
Is repeated.

In the above-mentioned repetition processing, when a character is combined with "1" as the first character in (9), a numeral string can be formed, so that a numeral string "101" can be created.
The ridge room number detection processing ends. Therefore, the ridge room number “Room 101” can be recognized.

With the above-described processing, the ridge room number is read even when the name of the multiple dwelling house is described between the block and the ridge room number in the mail P, but the name of the multiple dwelling house cannot be recognized. It becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reading rate of the mail room number of the mail,
It is possible to understand the address written on the mail in more detail.

(Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment of the present invention, the name of the apartment house described between the block of the mail address and the building number is skipped without recognition processing. The ridge room number is recognized. The mail sorting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the recognition processing by the recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the recognition processing after the street name in the mail address is recognized. ing.

After the street name described in the postal matter P is recognized, in step C1, block number recognition processing is performed toward the rear of the recognized street name. The process of recognizing the block number is performed in units of one layer. When the recognition process becomes impossible, the process shifts to the building room number recognition process shown in step C2.

In step C2, even when the name of the apartment complex is described in the postal matter P, the skip process shown in FIG. 8 is performed without performing the process of recognizing the apartment complex name, and the ridge room number is identified. .

In step C3, if a large name such as a company name is described in the mail P, the recognition process is performed.

According to the above-described processing, the building is recognized without recognizing the apartment house name described between the block and the ridge room number in the mail P (that is, skipping the recognition processing of the apartment house name). It becomes possible to read the room number. Therefore, the reading rate of the mail room number can be improved, and the address written on the mail can be grasped in more detail.

Note that, in the second embodiment of the present invention, compared with the case of the first embodiment of the present invention, the process of recognizing the name of the apartment house described in the mail is not performed.
It becomes possible to read the building room number more quickly. In addition, since the process of recognizing the apartment house name is not performed, it is not necessary to provide the apartment house name database in the address dictionary.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of cases in which the building number cannot be read due to the inability to recognize the name of the apartment house described in the mail in the mail sorting apparatus. That is, the reading rate of the ridge room number can be improved. In particular, in a mail sorting apparatus that sorts mail having a seven-digit postal code, the readout rate of the dormitory number is improved, so that the mail is sorted quickly and efficiently in the order in which more mails are delivered. It is possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a description example of a mailing address;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mail sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recognition unit of the mail sorting processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a recognition process performed by a recognition unit of the mail sorting processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the storage contents of an apartment house name database provided in the address dictionary of the recognition unit of the mail sorting processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an address described in a mail recognized by the recognition unit of the mail sorting processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating skip processing of an answer editing unit of the recognition unit of the mail sorting processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a recognition process performed by a recognition unit of the mail sorting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Mail 1 Mail sorting processing device 10 Supply unit 11 Scanner unit 11a Photoelectric conversion unit 12 ID code reading unit 13 Barcode printer unit 14 Sorting unit 14A Sorting unit 14B Sorting box group 15 Recognition unit 16 Control unit 17 Reject data control unit 18 Operation Panel 19 Transport Control Unit 19a Transport Path 31 Area Detector 32 Line Detector 33 Character Detector 34 Postal Code Detector 35 Postal Code Recognition Unit 36 Postal Code Dictionary 37 Character Recognition Unit 37A Character Dictionary 38 Address Dictionary 38a Apartment House Name Database 38b Large name database 39 Street name recognition unit 40 Block character detection unit 41 Block character recognition unit 42 Block character dictionary 43 Answer editing unit 44 Division designation table 45 Apartment name / large name recognition unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A mail sorting apparatus for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment complex is described between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the mail, wherein the block number is recognized. And a means for recognizing and processing the building room number when the name of the apartment complex cannot be recognized. 2. A mail sorting apparatus for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number and separating the mail, wherein the block number is recognized. And a means for recognizing the ridge room number without recognizing the apartment house name. 3. An image acquiring means for acquiring an image of a mail in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number; a storage means for preliminarily storing the name of an apartment house; Detecting means for detecting the name of the apartment complex from the image of the postal matter obtained by the post-processing, and recognizing the apartment name detected by the detecting means with reference to the apartment name stored in advance in the storage means, A recognition processing means for recognizing and processing the ridge room number when the name of the apartment house described in the mail cannot be recognized; a classification means for classifying the mail based on a recognition result of the recognition processing means And a mail sorting apparatus. 4. An image acquiring means for acquiring an image of a mail having a name of an apartment house between a block number and a ridge room number; a storage means for preliminarily storing the name of an apartment house; Detecting means for detecting the name of the apartment complex from the image of the postal matter obtained by the post-processing, and recognizing the apartment name detected by the detecting means with reference to the apartment name stored in advance in the storage means, When the name of the apartment house described in the postal matter cannot be recognized, it is determined whether or not the character string described after the block number constitutes a numeric string while shifting backward by one character at a time. A mail processing system comprising: recognition processing means for recognizing the ridge room number based on a result; and classification means for classifying the mail based on the recognition result of the recognition processing means. apparatus 5. An image acquiring means for acquiring an image of a postal matter in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge / room number, and a block based on the image of the postal matter acquired by the image acquiring means. Detection means for detecting a number; and recognition processing for recognizing the block number detected by the detection means, and then recognizing the ridge room number without recognizing the apartment house name described after the block number. Means for sorting mails based on the recognition result of the recognition processing means. 6. An image acquiring means for acquiring an image of a postal matter in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number, and a block from the image of the postal matter acquired by the image acquiring means. Detecting means for detecting a number; and, after recognizing and processing the block number detected by the detecting means, determining whether a character string described after the block number forms a numeric string by shifting one character at a time backward. Recognition processing means for recognizing and processing the ridge room number based on the result of the determination; and classification means for separating the mail based on the recognition result of the recognition processing means. Mail sorting equipment. 7. A mail sorting method for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment complex is described between a block number and a ridge / room number and classifying the postal matter, wherein the block number is recognized. Thereafter, if the name of the apartment building cannot be recognized, the ridge room number is recognized and processed. 8. A mail sorting processing method for recognizing an address of a postal matter having a name of an apartment house between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the postal matter, wherein the block number is recognized. Thereafter, the ridge room number is recognized and processed without recognizing the apartment house name. 9. A postal matter sorting method for recognizing an address of a postal matter having a name of an apartment house between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the postal matter, Acquisition, detecting the name of the apartment complex from the acquired image of the postal matter, recognizing and processing the detected apartment name with reference to the pre-stored apartment name, the apartment house described in the postal matter If the name cannot be recognized, the ward room number is recognized and processed. 10. A mail sorting method for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the mail, wherein the image of the mail is Acquisition, detecting the name of the apartment complex from the acquired image of the postal matter, recognizing and processing the detected apartment name with reference to the pre-stored apartment name, the apartment house described in the postal matter If the name cannot be recognized, it is determined whether or not the character string described after the block number constitutes a numeric string while shifting backward by one character at a time, and the building room number is determined based on the determination result. A mail sorting processing method characterized by performing recognition processing. 11. A mail sorting method for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the mail is provided. Obtaining, detecting a block number from the obtained image of the mail, recognizing the detected block number, recognizing the block number, and recognizing the apartment house name described after the block number A mail sorting processing method characterized by recognizing and processing the ward room number without performing. 12. A mail sorting method for recognizing an address of a mail in which a name of an apartment house is described between a block number and a ridge room number and classifying the mail, wherein the image of the mail is Obtaining, detecting the block number from the obtained image of the postal matter, performing recognition processing of the detected block number, and performing recognition processing of the block number, a character string described after the block number is a numeral string. A postal matter sorting method characterized by determining whether or not to compose one character at a time while shifting backward, and recognizing the ward room number based on the result of the determination.