KR101230565B1 - Postal charges automatic calculating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically calculating postage is disclosed. The disclosed device comprises a body; A metering plate installed on the outside of the body to which mail is seated; A weighing unit for measuring a weight of the mail seated on the weighing plate; A standard measuring unit installed on the weighing plate to measure the width and thickness of the mail; And a control unit for calculating a postage fee by referring to a postal rate database stored in advance on the weight data and the standard data transmitted from the weighing unit and the standard measuring unit.

Description

Postage automatic calculation device {POSTAL CHARGES AUTOMATIC CALCULATING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a postage automatic calculating device, and more particularly, to a postal automatic calculating device for calculating the added charge by measuring the volume and weight of the mail.

At the post office's postal reception counter, the mail (letters and parcels) you want to send is the data required by the teller based on the postage charges (for example, the use of standard and non-standard envelopes in the case of letters and the weight and parcel of the letter). In the case of volume and weight), the charge is measured after the letter or parcel is measured using a direct instrument.

In this case, a separate tool was used, such as a tool for measuring letters or parcels, a scale for weighing weights, and a calculator for calculating bills using measured values.

By the way, in the conventional postage calculation method, the use of standard envelopes and the volume of parcels are calculated through the general grasp of the counter staff's naked eye without using a separate measuring tool.

As a result, the postage was not calculated based on accurate criteria, and the application was not stopped. In addition, when many customers gathered at once, it was inconvenient to wait for a long time because it was difficult to settle the fare quickly.

The present invention measures the weight of the letter in the mail with the determination of the standard and non-standard, and in the case of parcels by measuring the volume and weight of the postage automatic calculation of the charge automatically according to the pre-set postage calculation criteria The purpose is to provide a calculating device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a body; A metering plate installed on the outside of the body to which mail is seated; A weighing unit for measuring a weight of the mail seated on the weighing plate; A standard measuring unit installed on the weighing plate to measure the width and thickness of the mail; And a control unit for calculating a postage rate by referring to a postal rate database stored in the weight data and the standard data transmitted from the weighing unit and the standard measuring unit in advance.

The standard measuring unit is formed on the metering plate inclined groove in which the letter is settled in the mail; A plurality of width detecting sensors installed on the bottom surface of the inclined groove; And a plurality of thickness sensing sensors installed on at least one sidewall of the inclined grooves facing each other.

The plurality of width detecting sensors are formed of at least first to seventh width detecting sensors, and the first to fourth width detecting sensors are disposed at respective corners of the virtual rectangle corresponding to the minimum width of the standard envelope, The width detecting sensor and the fifth to seventh width detecting sensors are disposed at each corner of the virtual rectangle corresponding to the maximum width of the standard bag, and the control unit has a letter seated on the inclined groove for the first to fourth width detecting sensors. If it is detected by and not detected by the fifth to seventh width sensor may be determined as a standard envelope.

The plurality of thickness detecting sensors are preferably set at the same height from the bottom surface of the inclined groove.

The present invention may further include a volume measuring unit for measuring the height of the parcel in the upper portion of the body, wherein the control unit pre-stored the weight data and volume data of the parcel transmitted from the weighing unit and the volume measuring unit The postal fee can be calculated by referring to the fee database.

The volume measuring unit is a horizontal measuring unit disposed to correspond to the horizontal side of the weighing plate; A vertical measuring unit disposed to correspond to the vertical side of the weighing plate; And it may include a height measuring unit is installed at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the metering plate.

The horizontal measuring unit preferably includes a plurality of sensors arranged in a row at the same interval, the vertical measuring unit preferably includes a plurality of sensors arranged in a row at the same interval.

The plurality of sensors of the horizontal measuring unit is disposed to face the bottom of the parcel, the vertical measuring unit is preferably disposed to face the side of the parcel.

The height measuring unit is a vertical member; A horizontal member having one end fixed to an upper end of the vertical member; And a height sensor fixed to the other end of the horizontal member and directed toward the upper surface of the parcel.

The vertical member is preferably installed to be movable along the longitudinal side of the metering plate.

In addition, the height measuring unit is a vision camera which is arranged at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the weighing plate to photograph the upper surface of the parcel; A pair of distance measuring sensors disposed at one side of the vision camera to measure the height of the parcel; A transmitter for transmitting image data photographed by the vision camera and height data of the parcel measured by the pair of distance measuring sensors; And a receiving device for receiving the image data and the height data transmitted from the transmitting device and transmitting the received image data and the height data to the control unit.

As described above, in the present invention, since the postage is accurately and quickly calculated by placing the postal matter on the weighing plate, it is possible to solve the problem of postage and prevent the customer from waiting for a long time. have.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an automatic postage calculating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a front view showing an automatic postage calculating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a plan view showing a postage automatic calculation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
4A is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a letter is recognized as a standard envelope by a plurality of width sensors;
4B to 4F are schematic views showing various examples in which letters are recognized as non-standard envelopes by a plurality of width sensors;
Figure 5 is a side view showing an automatic postage calculation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention
6 to 8 is a front view, a plan view and a side view showing a postage automatic calculation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
9 is a side view showing a postage automatic calculation apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in sequence the configuration of the automatic postage calculation device according to the first to third embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, the postage automatic calculation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a body 110, a weight measuring unit 130, a standard measuring unit 150, a display unit 170, and a control unit. 190.

2 and 3, the body 110 is provided with a weight measuring unit 130, a standard measuring unit 150, a speaker 171, and a controller 190 inside. The body 110 also includes a conventional communication interface 113 for connecting to a personal computer (PC) 180, for example a serial communication (e.g., RS232) interface or other communication interface.

The weighing unit 130 is a weighing plate 111 installed on the body 110 to seat the mail, a weighing device (not shown) installed inside the body 110, for example a load cell, and the weight An AD converter (not shown) converts the analog signal obtained through the measuring device into a digital signal. In this case, the weighing element and the AD converter correspond to the configuration used for a normal electronic balance.

The weighing plate 111 is elastically installed to be movable up and down, and supports 112a and 112b for transferring the weight of the mail seated on the weighing plate 111 to the weighing element are formed below.

The standard measuring unit 150 is installed on the metering plate 111, and includes an inclined groove 151, a plurality of width detecting sensors 153a to 153g, and a plurality of thickness detecting sensors 155a and 155b.

The inclined groove 151 is for seating the letter is made in a substantially rectangular shape is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle to one side. The inclined groove 151 is usually arranged in the inclined direction to the customer side in consideration of the mail reception is performed in the state where the counter staff and the customer face the counter staff to draw a letter from the inclined groove 151 after the postage calculation The action is natural.

Such inclined groove 151 is preferably made of at least a width corresponding to the standard envelope of the largest area of the standard envelope of the letter.

The plurality of width detecting sensors 153a to 153g are used to detect whether the standard and non-standard bags are included and include at least first to seventh width detecting sensors 153a to 153g, and the bottom surface of the inclined groove 151. It is installed in 151a. The first to fourth width detecting sensors 153a to 153d are disposed at each corner of the virtual rectangle corresponding to the minimum width of the standard bag (for example, 140 mm x 90 mm), and the first width detecting sensor ( 153a) and the fifth to seventh width detection sensors 153e-153g are disposed at each corner of the imaginary rectangle corresponding to the maximum width of the standard bag (for example, 235 mm x 130 mm).

When the letter seated on the inclined groove 151 is recognized as a standard bag through the plurality of width detecting sensors 153a to 153g, the letter is the first to fourth width detecting sensors 153a to 153d as shown in FIG. 4A. This is a case where it is sensed by) and not by the fifth to seventh width sensor 153e-153g.

In addition, the case of recognizing the letter as a non-standard envelope corresponds to a case where the condition of recognizing the standard envelope is not satisfied as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4F.

The plurality of thickness detecting sensors 155a to 155d are installed in the inclined groove 151 and are preferably arranged in a line at predetermined intervals on both side walls 151b and 151c facing each other. The plurality of thickness detection sensors 155a-155d are set at a distance corresponding to approximately 5 mm from the bottom surface 151a of the inclined groove 151 as shown in FIG. 5, in which case the separation distance is a predetermined letter. Preferably, the thickness is set to about 5.1 mm in order to determine whether the thickness standard (maximum thickness 5 mm) is exceeded. As such, it is preferable to determine a proper position in consideration of the thickness standard of the letter for the distance from the bottom surface 151a of the plurality of thickness sensors 155a to 155d.

The plurality of thickness detecting sensors 155a recognizes the standard envelope when the letter is not detected in the state in which the letter is seated on the inclined groove 151 and, on the contrary, recognizes the non-standard envelope when the letter is detected.

As described above, the standard measuring unit 150 detects the width and thickness of the inclined groove 151 through a plurality of width detecting sensors 153a-153g and a plurality of thickness detecting sensors 155a-155d, and controls the control unit ( 190) and transmits a detection signal.

The display unit 170 is electrically connected to the control unit 190, and displays measurement data (for example, width, thickness, weight, and specification / non-standard display) and fee information of the letter calculated by the control unit 190. do. The display unit 170 may be manufactured as a touch screen so that a user may directly input payment information (such as a payment means and a password input at the time of payment).

The controller 190 is preferably installed inside the body 110, and in some cases, may be installed on one side of the body 190. The controller 190 receives the weight signal of the letter measured by the weight measuring unit 130 when the customer puts the letter on the inclined groove 151, the width of the letter from the measured by the standard measuring unit 150 And receiving the thickness signal, referring to a preset postage database (not shown) stored in the controller 190, and transmitting the measurement information and the charge information of the letter to the display unit 170. In addition, the controller 190 may inform the customer of the calculated postage through the speaker 171 installed in the body 110.

In addition, the controller 190 transmits the customer's payment information input through the display unit 170 to the PC 180, and when the payment is made with a credit card other than cash, the PC 180 passes through the Internet network. Information about postage can be sent to the payment institution.

The automatic postal charge calculation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can quickly and accurately calculate the rate of mail (letter) of the customer.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the automatic postage calculation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Wherein the first embodiment is to calculate the charge for the mail automatically, whereas the second embodiment further includes a volume measuring unit 210, it is possible to calculate the charge of the parcel as well as the letter. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used to designate the second embodiment, which is the same as the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

6 and 7, the postage automatic calculation device 100a of the second embodiment of the present invention further includes a volume measurement unit 200 in addition to the configuration of the postage automatic calculation device 100 of the first embodiment. Included. The volume measuring unit 200 includes a horizontal measuring unit 210, a vertical measuring unit 230, and a height measuring unit 250, each of which is electrically connected to the controller 190 to transmit a signal to the controller 190. Connected.

7, the horizontal measuring unit 210 is installed along the horizontal side end of the body 110 to be disposed on the horizontal side of the weighing plate 111, and has the same distance (for example, 5 mm or 10 mm). It includes a plurality of object detection sensor 211 arranged in the. In this case, the plurality of object detection sensors 211 are disposed upward so as to face the bottom of the parcel 3 placed on the weighing plate 111. In addition, the horizontal measuring unit 210 is preferably formed longer than the horizontal length of the metering plate 111 so that the horizontal length of the parcel 3 seated on the metering plate 111 can be sufficiently measured.

8, referring to FIG. 8, one side of the body 110 is preferably disposed along a side end of the housing 110a of the PC 170 disposed on the longitudinal side of the metering plate 111. . The vertical measuring unit 230 is set at a position higher than the weighing plate 111 and is disposed in a direction toward the side of the parcel.

In addition, the vertical measurement unit 230 includes a plurality of object detection sensors 231 arranged at the same interval (for example, 5 mm or 10 mm) like the horizontal measurement unit 210. In addition, the longitudinal measurement unit 230 is preferably formed longer than the longitudinal length of the weighing plate 111, which is the longitudinal length of the parcel 3 seated on the weighing plate 111 like the horizontal measuring unit 210 It is to measure enough.

On the other hand, the weighing plate 111 is a reference jaw (111a) protrudes along the longitudinal side of the weighing plate 111 adjacent to the vertical measuring unit 230 in order to align the parcel (3) to the measuring position on the weighing plate (111) Is formed.

When the parcel measuring unit 210 and the vertical measuring unit 230 are seated in an aligned state on the weighing plate 111, the controller 190 detects an object among the plurality of object detecting sensors 211 and 231. By grasping the sensors, the transverse and longitudinal lengths of the parcel 3 can be measured.

Referring to FIG. 6, the height measuring unit 250 includes a vertical member 251, a horizontal member 253, and a distance sensor 255.

The vertical member 251 has a predetermined height and has a lower end installed in the housing 110a and disposed in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the metering plate 111. In this case, the vertical member 251 may be installed to move along the longitudinal direction of the weighing plate 111 on the housing 110a so that the lower end of the vertical member 251 may be set to change the position of the distance sensor 255. have.

The horizontal member 253 has one end fixedly installed on the upper end of the vertical member 251 and is disposed substantially parallel to the metering plate 111.

The height sensor 255 is installed at the other end of the horizontal member 253 and is disposed toward the upper surface of the metering plate 111. When the height of the parcel 3 is measured, the height detecting sensor 255 measures the first distance from the weighing plate 111 to the height detecting sensor 253 in advance before the parcel 3 is seated on the weighing plate 111. D1) detects and transmits to the control unit 190, when the parcel 3 is seated on the weighing plate 111 detects the second distance (D2) from the upper surface of the parcel (3) to the height sensor 253, The control unit 190 transmits. In this case, the controller 190 calculates the difference between the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 to calculate the height of the parcel 3.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the postage can be calculated even if the postal matter is a letter or a parcel. Therefore, the type of the postal matter placed on the weighing plate 111 before the postal rate of the postal matter is calculated. It is desirable to go through the process of choosing me. As such, the type of mail may be selected by the customer from any one of letters and parcels displayed on the display unit 170 including a touch screen. Also, a general remote controller may be connected to the control unit 190 by wire or wirelessly. It is also possible to select the type of mail through (not shown).

Meanwhile, in the second embodiment, various payment means, for example, a 2D barcode reader unit R1, a non-contact card reader unit R2, and a magnetic card reader unit R3 may be provided for payment. (See FIG. 6).

The 2D barcode reader R1 is disposed in the housing 110a and is connected to the PC 180 by serial communication or other communication methods. The 2D barcode reader unit R1 operates when a “internet stamp” is touched among the menus displayed on the display unit 170, and reads the 2D barcode of the internet stamp and transmits it to the PC 180.

The contactless card reader unit R2 and the magnetic card reader unit R3 are installed in the body 110 and are connected to the PC 180 by serial communication or other communication methods, respectively. The contactless card reader unit R2 transmits a payment signal to the PC 180 when a 'traffic card' is selected from the payment menu displayed on the display unit 170 to perform a payment process. The magnetic card reader R3 transmits a payment signal to the PC 180 when a 'credit card' is selected from the payment menu displayed on the display unit 170 to perform payment processing.

In the present embodiment, the installation positions of the 2D barcode reader unit R1, the non-contact card reader unit R2, and the magnetic card reader unit R3 have been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is separated from the body 110 and the housing 110a. In addition, the reader units R1, R2, and R3 are not connected to the PC 180, but are connected to the controller 190, so that the payment signal is transmitted to the PC 180 via the controller 190. It is possible.

Meanwhile, FIG. 9 shows an automatic postage calculating device 100b according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment has the same configuration as the second embodiment, except that the volume measuring unit 300 is different. That is, the volume measuring unit 300 of the third embodiment is separated from the body 110 and the housing 110a, unlike the volume measuring unit 200 of the second embodiment, at a height spaced a predetermined distance from the upper side of the body 110. It is fixedly installed.

The volume measurement unit 300 includes a vision camera 310 capable of capturing the parcel 3, a pair of distance measuring sensors 331 and 333 for distance measurement, and a conventional wireless transmission capable of wireless communication with the controller 190. The apparatus 350 is installed.

The vision camera 210 photographs the parcel 3 and transmits the captured image to the controller 190 through the wireless transmitter 350. The controller 190 calculates the horizontal and vertical lengths of the parcel 3 through a conventional image discrimination program stored in advance.

The pair of distance measuring sensors 331 and 333 measure the height of the parcel 3 and transmit a height signal to the controller 190 by taking an image of the height signal through the wireless transmitter 350. The controller 190 receives a signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter 370 through the wireless receiver 370 installed in the housing 110a. The installation position of the wireless transmitter 370 is not limited and may be installed at any one of the body 110 and the housing 110a.

In this case, the wireless transmitter 350 and the wireless receiver 370 may be used in place of a wired transmitter and a wired receiver in some cases.

As described above, in the present invention, since the postage is accurately and quickly calculated by placing the postal matter on the weighing plate 111, it is possible to solve the problem of postage and prevent the customer from waiting for a long time. .

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

110: body 111: weighing plate
112a, 112b: support 113: communication interface
130: weight measuring unit 150: standard measuring unit
151: inclined groove 151a: bottom surface
151b, 151c: Sidewalls 153a-153g: Width Sensor
155a and 155b: thickness sensor 170: display unit
180: PC 190: control unit
200,300: volume measuring unit 210: horizontal measuring unit
230: vertical measuring unit 250: height measuring unit
251: vertical member 253: horizontal member
255: distance sensor 310: vision camera
331,333: distance measuring sensor 350: wireless transmission device
370: wireless receiving device

Claims (11)

Body;
A metering plate installed on the outside of the body to which the mail is seated;
A weighing unit for measuring a weight of the mail seated on the weighing plate;
A standard measuring unit installed on the weighing plate to measure the width and thickness of the mail;
A volume measuring unit for measuring a height of the parcel on the upper portion of the body; And
It includes a control unit for calculating the postage by referring to the pre-stored postage database of the weight data and standard data transmitted from the weighing unit and the standard measuring unit,
The controller calculates postage by referring to a postage database in which the weight data and the volume data of the parcel transmitted from the weighing unit and the volume measuring unit are stored in advance.
The volume measuring unit, the horizontal measuring unit disposed to correspond to the horizontal side of the weighing plate; A vertical measuring unit disposed to correspond to the vertical side of the weighing plate; And a height measuring unit installed at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the weighing plate,
The height measuring unit, the vertical member is installed to be movable along the longitudinal side of the weighing plate; A horizontal member having one end fixed to an upper end of the vertical member; And a height sensor which is fixed to the other end of the horizontal member and faces the upper surface of the parcel. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard measuring unit
An inclined groove formed on the metering plate to receive letters from the mail;
A plurality of width detecting sensors installed on the bottom surface of the inclined groove; And
And a plurality of thickness detection sensors installed on at least one of the side walls of the inclined grooves facing each other. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of width detecting sensors are formed of at least first to seventh width detecting sensors,
The first to fourth width sensor are disposed at each corner of the virtual rectangle corresponding to the minimum width of the standard bag, the first width sensor and the fifth to seventh width sensor to the maximum width of the standard bag Placed at each corner of the corresponding virtual rectangle,
The control unit automatically calculates the postal rate, characterized in that it is determined by the standard envelope if the letter seated on the inclined groove is detected by the first to fourth width sensor and the fifth to seven width sensor. The postage automatic calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of thickness sensors are set at the same height from the bottom surface of the inclined groove. delete delete According to claim 1, wherein the horizontal measuring unit includes a plurality of sensors arranged in a row at the same interval, the vertical measuring unit comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a row at the same interval automatic postage Output device. 8. The automatic postage calculating device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of sensors of the horizontal measuring unit are disposed to face the bottom surface of the parcel, and the vertical measuring unit is disposed to face the side of the parcel. delete delete Body;
A metering plate installed on the outside of the body to which the mail is seated;
A weighing unit for measuring a weight of the mail seated on the weighing plate;
A standard measuring unit installed on the weighing plate to measure the width and thickness of the mail;
A volume measuring unit for measuring a height of the parcel on the upper portion of the body; And
It includes a control unit for calculating the postage by referring to the pre-stored postage database of the weight data and standard data transmitted from the weighing unit and the standard measuring unit,
The controller calculates postage by referring to a postage database in which the weight data and the volume data of the parcel transmitted from the weighing unit and the volume measuring unit are stored in advance.
The volume measuring unit, the horizontal measuring unit disposed to correspond to the horizontal side of the weighing plate; A vertical measuring unit disposed to correspond to the vertical side of the weighing plate; And a height measuring unit installed at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the weighing plate,
The height measuring unit, the vision camera is arranged at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the weighing plate to photograph the upper surface of the parcel; A pair of distance measuring sensors disposed at one side of the vision camera to measure the height of the parcel; A transmitter for transmitting image data photographed by the vision camera and height data of the parcel measured by the pair of distance measuring sensors; And a receiving device for receiving the image data and the height data transmitted from the transmitting device and transmitting the received image data and the height data to the control unit.

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