JPS61174977A - Automatic sorter for mail - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic mail sorting machine that sorts mail into corresponding pockets according to a postal code as sorting data written on the mail.

[Technical background of the invention (problems)] Conventionally, in automatic mail sorting machines, reasons such as preventing damage to the machine, especially damage to the reading window glass, which has high added value, and preventing jamming, etc. Therefore, a foreign object and hardness detection device is grounded between the mail supply/retrieval section and the reading section to eliminate mail unsuitable for mechanical processing in advance.

In addition, the detection signal from the foreign object/hardness detection device directly controls the diverter of the mail collection section to determine if the foreign object/hardness detecting device contains foreign objects. It was led to the paste collection section as a mail collection section. For this reason, in bulk acceptance, foreign objects,
When processing mail that can barely be detected by a hardness detection device (which has been increasing recently), there is an inconvenience that about half of the mail is rejected to the reject collection section, even though there is no particular problem in practice.

・[Objective of the Invention] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances. 1. The purpose of this invention is to process foreign objects and mail that are barely detected by a hardness detection device. The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic mail sorting machine that can improve processing capacity and efficiency.

[Summary of the invention 1 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention
The hardness is detected by a detection means, and depending on the detection result, foreign objects,
Alternatively, in an apparatus for conveying hard mail to a reject section, a switch is used to change over whether or not to convey foreign objects or hard mail to the reject section according to the detection result by the detection means.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic mail sorting machine according to the present invention, which has the following configuration. In other words, postal items A, such as postcards and envelopes, are set in the supply unit 1 in a standing position.
- is a foreign object that is taken out one by one by the take-out unit 2 starting from the frontmost mail piece A and is placed in the middle of the take-in conveyance path 3;
The hardness detection device 11 detects a mail item A1 having a foreign object or a hard mail item A, and depending on the detection result, the diverter 12 removes the mail item A and accumulates it in the reject accumulation section 13. There is. The foreign matter and hardness detection device 11 includes a pair of rollers 14.14 provided oppositely on the intake conveyance path 3 and a pair of rollers 14.
The thickness detector 16 consists of a micro switch 15 that is turned on by the movement of the mailpiece A, and the thickness detector 16 is switched on according to the detection results of the thickness detector 16 provided on the take-in conveyance path 3, and the hard mail A is rejected by its impact force. The distribution to the accumulation section 13 is constituted by a diverter 12 serving as a gate. Further, the postal code (classification designation data) given to the mail piece A is read by the reading unit 4 disposed downstream of the intake conveyance path 3. The reading section 4 is a photoelectric conversion section 4 that photoelectrically converts the postal code on the mail A! , and a discrimination section 42 that discriminates the postal code by recognizing character patterns according to the output of the photoelectric conversion section 41.

Next, the postal items A are transported through divided conveyance paths 5a, 5b, and 5c provided in multiple stages in the vertical direction by a gate mechanism (not shown).
, 5d, the deafness can be selectively classified based on the reading results.

A plurality of pockets 6 are arranged below the divided conveyance paths 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d along the lower surface thereof, and the divided conveyance paths 5a, 5b.

The mails A sent into the mailboxes 5c and 5d are sorted and accumulated in predetermined pockets 6 based on the reading results of the reading section 4.

Further, an operation panel 7 serving as an operator panel or a maintenance panel is provided at the bottom of the supply section 1. The operation panel 7 is provided with a changeover switch 8 that turns off the detection results of the foreign object and hardness detection device 11.

Furthermore, above the conveyance paths 3, 5a, . . . , there is a conveyance detector group 10 for detecting the conveyance of mail A on the conveyance path.
... is provided.

FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit, in which the control section 21 causes the corresponding postal item A to be conveyed to the pocket 6 of the postal code according to the postal code supplied from the reading section 4. For example, by outputting a sorting gate control signal in response to a conveyance detection signal from the conveyance detector 10...
The driver 22 is used to control the gates 23 . Further, when the switch 8 is off, the control section 21 drives the diverter 12 by exciting the solenoid 25 in response to a detection signal supplied from the foreign object/hardness detection device 11 via the AND circuit 24. The mail A having a thickness (foreign matter) that is being conveyed is sorted into the reject stacking section 13. Further, when a hard piece of mail A is conveyed, when it meets the diverter 12, the diverter 12 is pushed by the impact force of the piece of mail A, so that the piece of mail A is sorted to the reject stacking section 13. . Further, when the switch 8 is on, the control section 21 stops the diverter 12 because no detection signal is supplied from the foreign object/hardness detection device 11, and detects the thick mail A or the hard mail being conveyed. Mail A is conveyed as is to the subsequent stage.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained.

For example, a case will now be described in which the switch 8 is turned off. In this case, a "1" signal is supplied to the AND circuit 24, and the gate is open. In this state, the mail items A accumulated in the supply section 1 are taken out one by one by the take-out section 2 and conveyed through the take-out conveyance path 3. During this transportation, the thickness of the mail A is detected by the thickness detector 16.

Based on this detection result, a detection signal is output from the thickness detector 16 and is supplied to the control section 21 via the AND circuit 24. Then, the control unit 21 excites the solenoid 25,
Switch the diverter 12. As a result, the mail item A
is sorted through a diverter 12 to a reject accumulation section 13. In addition, when a hard piece of mail A hits the diverter 12, the impact force of the piece of mail A causes the diverter 12 to move.
is pressed, and the mail A is sorted to the eject accumulation section 13.

The mail item A for which the above-mentioned foreign matter and hardness are not detected is taken out and conveyed as it is through the conveyance path 3, and during the conveyance, the mail item A
The upper postal code is read by the reading section 4. Then, the control unit 21 controls the transport of the mail A according to the postal code.

Then, by controlling the sorting gates 23 in response to detection signals from the transport detectors 10, the mail A is accumulated in the pocket 6 corresponding to the postal code.

In this way, other mail items A are also accumulated in the corresponding pockets 6 one after another.

Next, a case where the switch 8 is on will be explained. In this case, the "○" signal is supplied to the AND circuit 24,
The gate is closed. In this state, the mail items A accumulated in the supply section 1 are taken out one by one by the take-out section 2 and conveyed through the take-out conveyance path 3. During this transportation, the thickness of the mail A is detected by the thickness detector 16. Based on this detection result, a detection signal is output from the thickness detector 16, but is not supplied to the control unit 21 via the AND circuit 24. Therefore, the diverter 12- is stopped, and the thick mail item A or the hard mail item A being conveyed is taken out and conveyed through the conveyance path 3. During the conveyance, the postal code on the mail item A is read by the reading unit 4. It is read with. Then,
The control unit 21 controls the transport of the mail A according to the postal code. Then, by controlling the sorting gates 23 in response to the detection signals from the transport detectors 1o, the mail A is accumulated in the pocket 6 corresponding to the postal code.

In this way, other mail items A are also accumulated in the corresponding pockets 6 one after another.

In the case of mail that is barely enough to be processed, depending on the operator's judgment, mail that can be passed through the machine may be
Conventionally, nearly half of the waste was rejected by the reject collection section, but now it can be machine processed, significantly improving processing capacity and efficiency.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, when processing a foreign object or a mail piece that is on the edge of being detected by a hardness detection device,
It is possible to provide an automatic mail sorting machine that can process these mails mechanically and improve processing capacity and efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the overall structure, and FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an electric circuit. 1... Supply section, A... Mail, 2... Retrieval section, 3
...Take-out conveyance path, 4...Reading section, 5...Keyboard, 6...Pocket, 7...Operation panel, 8...
Switch, 11... Foreign object, hardness detection device, 12...
Diverter, 14... Division gate, 24... AND circuit, 25... Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic mail sorting machine that sorts and accumulates mail in a stacking section according to sorting designation data on the mail, there is a detecting means for detecting foreign objects and hardness of the mail, and a detecting means for detecting foreign objects and hardness of the mail, and a detecting means for detecting foreign objects and hardness of the mail, and a detecting means for detecting foreign objects and hardness of the mail. Alternatively, an automatic mail sorting machine comprising means for conveying hard mail to a reject section and a switch for switching whether or not to perform detection by the detection means.