WO2014060167A1

WO2014060167A1 - Device and method for processing flat mailed items

Info

Publication number: WO2014060167A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/069228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Holger Schererz
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2012-10-17
Filing date: 2013-09-17
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Also published as: DE102012218951A1

Abstract

The device comprises a sensor unit (11), by means of which at least one flat side (15a, 15b) of a mailed item (3) can be detected, an evaluation unit (12), which is connected to the sensor unit (11) and which can detect a first or second side feature (S₁, S₂) that is representative of one or the other flat side (15a, 15b) of the mailed item on which a stamp sign (19) is placed, a transport device (4), by means of which the mailed item (3) can be transported in a transport direction (T), a plurality of output trays (6) for receiving a plurality of mailed items (3) that are stacked in line in the transport direction (T), a sorting device (5), which distributes the mailed items (3) to different output trays (6) during operation, and a computation unit (13), which is connected by signal to the evaluation unit (12) and which assigns one or a plurality of output trays (6) to each mailed item (3) on the basis of the first or second side feature (S₁, S₂) detected. In order to provide an alternative to the known solutions, the evaluation unit (12) can detect length features (L₁, L₂, L₃, L_n) that are representative of different lengths (L) or length classes of the mailed items (3), and the computational unit (13) is designed so as to assign one or a plurality of output trays (3) to mailed items (3) with the first side feature (S₁) independently of the length features (L₁, L₂, L₃, L_n), and so as to assign one or a plurality of output trays (6) to mailed items with the second side feature (S₂) on the basis of the different length features (L₁, L₂, L₃, L_n).

Description

description

Apparatus and method for processing flat mailings

The invention relates to a device for processing flat items, comprising a sensor unit, by means of which at least one flat side of the items can be detected, with an evaluation unit connected to the sensor unit, by means of which a first or second side feature can be determined, that for a franking mark on one or other flat side of the consignment is representative, with a transport device through which the consignments are transportable in a transport direction, with a plurality of output compartments for receiving a plurality of aligned stacked consignments, with a sorting device which distributes the broadcasts in operation on assigned output compartments, with a the evaluation unit connected computing unit that assigns each shipment on the basis of the determined first or second page feature one or more output trays.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for processing flat items, in which at least one flat side of each flat item is detected and from which a first or second page feature representative of a franking mark on one or the other flat side is determined, the items in a transport direction transported and sorted together in dependence on the first or second side feature and aligned with a leading edge.

Devices and methods of the above type are known in the art. By them are set up, isolated flat items, such as postcards, letters or large letters, sorted so that the franking mark, such as a stamp or a postmark of a franking machine, in an output stack is always on the same page. The flat shipments will be in for different output bins sorted out and aligned in each output bin at the leading edge of the mailing. The thus-sorted stacks of flat items with the same side feature, ie the franking mark on the same flat side, are subsequently removed from the output compartments by an operator. The operator now takes a stack with the second page feature and rotates the stack about a vertical axis so that the franking mark is on the same side as the stack with the first page feature. Now he puts together the piles, which now all have the franking mark on the same page. The assembled stack can now be fed to a sorting machine for automatic further processing, for example a sequence sorting. In the described processing in the prior art, there is the problem that by manually rotating the one stack, the unoriented following edge of the mail is placed on the aligned leading edge of the mail of the other stack. As a result, the leading edges of the composite stack are only partially aligned.

This can lead to a poor sorting result or disturbances of the subsequent sorting, for example due to uneven intervals of successive mailings. One solution to this problem is provided by vertical rotating devices that can rotate mail items around their vertical axis prior to dispensing into the output trays. As a result, the broadcasts have the franking mark on the same page even before alignment. These vertical turning devices, however, are expensive and require much additional Aufsteilfläche. A vertical rotary device is described for example in DE 10 2004 026 362 B3.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention therefore have the object to provide a device and a method of the type mentioned, which is inexpensive and requires little Aufsteilfläche. The device according to the invention solves the problem in that length characteristics can be determined by the evaluation unit, which are representative of different lengths or lengths of the programs, and that the arithmetic unit is configured so that it broadcasts with the first page feature one or more output compartments, regardless of the Length features, assigns and that the arithmetic unit transmits programs with the second page feature one or more output compartments depending on the different length characteristics.

The method according to the invention achieves the object by determining a length feature of each item, which is representative of a length or length class, which sorts items with the first side feature, irrespective of the length feature, and the items with the second side feature, depending on different length features , to be sorted separately. The solution according to the invention has the advantage that it can be realized without great effort and therefore is particularly cost-effective. It can be integrated into existing systems and therefore requires very little or no additional installation space.

The separately sorted by the method according to the invention or in the apparatus according to the invention stack with shipments with the second side feature all have approximately the same lengths. Therefore, the following edge of the mailings of each stack is aligned, the leading edge in the output trays are aligned and the lengths are equal. Now, as these stacks are rotated and packed together with the second side feature to place the franking mark on the same side as the stack of items with the first page feature, the leading edge of the entire stack remains aligned. The stack thus assembled can be further processed reliably and leads to a good sorting result and fewer failures. The solution according to the invention can be further developed by various mutually independent advantageous embodiments, which are described below.

Thus, the device according to the invention may comprise a horizontal turning device by which the mail items about its horizontal axis can be turned in response to a first or second height feature representative of franking marks in an upper or lower position. This has the advantage that the items can be additionally issued so that all the franking marks are in an upper or a lower position. In the corresponding further development of the method according to the invention, the programs can be rotated around their horizontal axis as a function of a first or second height feature which is representative of a franking mark in an upper or lower position on the program.

Of course, other features of the programs, such as the height of the area, can be used for the assignment of the output trays. The said developments of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention can be combined with one another as desired.

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for processing flat items; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the Vorrich device of Figure 1 in a plan view;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of stacks flat

Consignments as provided in the prior art;

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of stacks flatter

Consignments as provided by the invention.

First, the flat-type processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 1 comprises a supply unit 2, in which large quantities of flat items 3 can be provided and which are formed in a known manner and are not shown in detail here for the sake of simplicity. The device 1 furthermore has a transport device 4 coupled to the delivery unit 2, a sorting device 5 and a plurality of receiving compartments 6.

The exemplary transport device 4 in Figure 2 comprises a plurality of vertical belt drives 7, which are arranged on both sides of a transport path 8 of the flat items 3. The transport device 4 is shown here merely by way of example and can be designed in any manner known from the prior art. The belt drives 7 are arranged and designed so that a flat shipment 3 is held in operation on both sides of the belt drives 7 and can be moved in a transport direction T.

Opposite of the delivery unit 2, the transport device 4 is connected to the sorting device 5. The sorter 5 has a plurality of switches 9. Each receiving compartment 6a to 6i is associated with a switch 9a to 9i of the sorting device 5, through which a flat sensor tion 3 deflected from the transport direction T and can be injected into the associated Aufnähmefach 6. The sorting device 5 is also shown here by way of example only and can be configured in any manner known from the prior art.

The arranged in front of the sorter 5 receiving compartments 6 are rectangular in plan view in Figure 2 and arranged parallel to each other. The receiving compartments 6 have, in the transporting direction T, an aligning surface 20, on which the leading edge 21 of the flat mailings 3 aligns when the mailpieces 3 are inserted into the receiving compartments 6. The device 1 further comprises a controller 10, which is technically connected to the transport device 4, the sorting device 5 and the receiving compartments 6. The controller 10 is, for example, a PLC controller and controls the entire apparatus 1, including the transport device 4, the sorting device 5 and the receiving compartments 6.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a sensor unit 11, an evaluation unit 12 and a computing unit 13 integrated in the controller 10.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 11 has two sensors, in this case cameras 14, which are arranged on both sides of the transport path 8 of the flat mailings 3. The cameras 14a, 14b are positioned and aligned so that they can pick up an image of the respective flat side 15a, 15b of the flat mailings 3 during operation. The cameras 14a, 14b are in each case signal-connected to the evaluation unit 12 in order to transmit image data to each item 3. The evaluation unit 12 is in turn connected to the arithmetic unit 13 and thus to the controller 10 by signal technology. Alternatively, other sensors may be used. The device 1 further comprises a horizontal turning unit 17, in which further belt drives (not shown) are arranged so that flat items 3 can be rotated during transport by 180 ° about its horizontal axis. From the horizontal turning unit 17, an additional switch 18 is arranged, with the flat shipments 3 can be redirected to the horizontal turning unit 17 around. So these broadcasts 3 are not turned, but left in their orientation. The horizontal turning unit 17 and the switch 18 are connected to the controller 10 signal technology.

The following describes the processing of flat mailings 3 in the device 1 according to the invention by the method according to the invention.

First, many flat mailings 3 are provided in the delivery unit 2, for example, a mail sack with mailings 3 is tipped into it. These are separated by the supply unit 2 and placed on one of the two longitudinal edges 16 (Figure 3) of the shipments 3. The mail items 3 are now spaced from each other and are substantially perpendicular to one of their longitudinal edges 16. In this orientation, the mail items 3 are transported by the transport device 4 in the transport direction T to the sensor unit 11. When transporting the broadcasts 3 are each taken from the belt drives 7 on both flat sides 15 a, 15 b and can be moved safely.

In the sensor unit 11, an image of the flat sides 15a, 15b of the transmissions 3 is taken by the cameras 14a, 14b respectively - camera 14a from the flat side 15b and camera 14b from the flat side 15a. Usually, the images are taken while the flat mailings 3 are transported by the transport device 4 through the sensor unit 11. Alternatively, the programs 3 can of course also in the sensor unit stopped or slowed down, for example, to increase the image quality.

Alternatively, the sensor unit 11 may also have only one camera 14a or 14b, which makes an image of only one flat side 15a or 15b.

The image data recorded by the camera or cameras 14a, 14b are transmitted electronically to the evaluation unit 12. In the evaluation unit 12, the image data are evaluated in order to determine the position and the presence of a franking mark 19 (FIG. 3), such as, for example, a postage stamp or a stamp of a postage meter machine. The evaluation unit 12 determines on which flat side 15a, 15b the franking mark 19 is present. This is determined in known manner from the image data. When using only one camera 14a, 14b, the evaluation unit 12 determines the flat side 15a, 15b with franking marks in a connection method. If no franking marks were recognized in the image data, it is assumed that it is located on the other flat side not read by the camera. The use of two cameras 14a, 14b has the advantage that it is detected when there is no franking mark on the mailpiece 3. Thereafter, the evaluation unit 12 for the presence of the franking mark 19 representative first or second side feature Si, S ₂ to the arithmetic unit 13 on. Thus, for example, the first side feature Si is determined and forwarded to the arithmetic unit 13 when the presence of a franking mark has been determined on the flat side 15b from the image data of the camera 14a or in the exclusion method. If the franking mark 19 on the other flat side 15b, the second page feature S _{2 is issued} to the arithmetic unit 13.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit 12 determines from the image data a first or second height feature Hi, H ₂ , which for an upper or a lower position of the franking mark on the Flat side 15 is representative. If, for example, the franking mark is arranged on the top right, as shown for example in FIG. 3, the first height feature Hi for the flat mailing 3 is forwarded to the arithmetic unit 13. The second height feature H ₂ would be issued if the franking mark 19 is located at the bottom left.

The display and transmission of the page, height and length features can be done binary coded, as indicated in Figure 4.

Furthermore, in the evaluation unit 12, the length L of the transmissions 3 is determined from the image data of at least one flat side 15a, 15b, and a length characteristic Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n representative of the length L is determined and forwarded to the arithmetic unit 13. The actual lengths L of the mailings 3 are different. However, there are standard sizes for letters and flat mailings, such as C4, which are common. The determined actual different lengths L of the flat mailings 3 are assigned by the evaluation unit 12 to different predetermined length classes. The evaluation unit 12 determines the length class of a flat transmission 3 and outputs a length feature Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n representative of the length L or the length class to the computing unit 13. Any number of (n, in FIG. 4) length classes can be formed. It is advantageous if each standard size is divided into its own length class and thus has its own assigned length feature. The length classes are assigned such that the differences in length within a length class are less than 15 mm, preferably less than 10 mm.

From the sensor unit 11, the flat shipments are transported by the transport device 4 further in the transport direction T to the horizontal turning unit 17.

In the horizontal turning unit 17 are the broadcasts 3, for which the evaluation unit 12, the second height feature H ₂ ermit- telt and has passed on to the arithmetic unit 13, rotated about its horizontal axis H by 180 °. Thus, all programs 3 are oriented so that the franking marks are arranged in an upper position on the flat side 15. This has the advantage that a validator unit (not shown) for stamping the franking mark only has to be arranged in a region of the flat mailings 3. The side features Si, S ₂ which are changed by the rotation in the turning unit 17 are automatically adapted by the arithmetic unit 13 to the new orientation. Shipments 3 having the first height feature are passed around the turnout unit 17 by the switch 18 and are not rotated.

The device 1 according to the invention can also be designed without a horizontal turning unit 17.

The flat consignments 3 are then forwarded to the sorting device 5, which distributes the consignments 3 to the receiving compartments 6 assigned to the arithmetic unit 13. For this purpose, the switch 9a to 9i associated with the corresponding receiving compartment 6a to 6i is controlled by the controller 10 in such a way that the item 3 is deflected out of the transport direction T and injected into the assigned receiving compartment 6a to 6i - ie moved in. The broadcasts 3 are stopped in their movement by the alignment surfaces 20 and thus their leading edges 21 aligned.

In the following it will be described how the arithmetic unit 13 assigns the flat consignments 3 the corresponding receiving compartments 6 by means of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the determined height features Hi, H ₂ , side features Si, S ₂ and the length features Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n . The stacks are each designated by the output compartments 6a, 6c, 6d, 6f of Figure 2, from which they originate.

For the sake of simplicity, in FIG. 4 the stacks are overwritten with the reference symbol of the output tray. The stacks are shown in side and top view. Existing Characteristics are given in binary with 1, none with 0.

The broadcasts 3 in the stack 6a on the left side of FIG. 4 all have the first height feature Hi and the first side feature Si. The length features Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n are not shown in this stack of flat mailings 3, because different length features are present. The next stack 6c of flat programs 3 in FIG. 4 has the first height feature Hi, the second side feature S ₂ and the first length feature Li. The broadcasts 3 of the next stack 6d all have the first height feature Hi, the second side feature S ₂ and the second length feature L ₂ . The following stack 6f has the first height feature Hi, the second side feature S ₂ and the third length feature L ₃ .

The arithmetic unit 13 assigns to all mail items 3 with the first page feature Si a common output bin 6a, 6b. As in the case of the embodiment in FIG. 2, this can be a plurality of output compartments 6a, 6b so that programs 3 can continue to be output, even if an output compartment 6a is already full. Consignments 3, which have the second side feature S2 whose franking mark 19 is thus arranged on the other flat side 15b, depending on their length characteristics Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _{n distributed} to different output compartments 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f. Each length feature Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n is assigned at least one separate output compartment 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f. For example, the different stacks 6c, 6d, 6f in FIG. 4 are associated with the output compartments 6c, 6d and 6f, as shown in FIG. 4 by the reference number of the output compartments 6 above the stack.

FIG. 3 shows the result of a prior art machining method in which the mailpieces 3 are merely stacked in different output pockets 6 by means of the side feature Si, S ₂ . In order to provide the items 3 thus provided in the two stacks for further processing, for example in a sequence sorting machine. len, the stack shipments 3 are packed together manually. In this case, one of the two stacks is rotated by 180 ° about a vertical axis V, so that the franking marks in the united stack are always on the same flat side 15 of the mailing 3. As shown in Figure 3, are in the United

Stack on the right side of the leading edges 21 of the shipments 3 no longer aligned, which can lead to problems in further processing. In the stacking according to the inventive method, which is shown in Figure 4, this problem does not occur. In the method according to the invention, the stacks sorted according to the length L are taken out of the delivery compartments 6c, 6d, 6f and are rotated by 180 ° about the vertical axis V in each case onto the stack from the output compartment 6a. As shown in Figure 4 on the right hand side, all the packages 3 of the stacked stack have an aligned leading edge 21. This is due to the fact that the stacks from the output compartments 6c, 6d, 6f are sorted by length and thereby not only the leading edge 21, but also a following edge 22 is aligned. After rotation of the stacks, the aligned following edge 22 becomes the leading edge 21. Thus, the method according to the invention assembles the items 3 so that they can be processed well.

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for processing flat items (3), with a sensor unit (11) through which at least one flat side (15a, 15b) of the items (3) can be detected, with an evaluation unit connected to the sensor unit (11)

(12), by which a first or second side feature (Si,

S ₂ ) can be determined, which is representative of a franking mark (19) on one or the other flat side (15a, 15b) of the mail item (3), with a transport device (4) through which the mail items (3) in a transport direction (T) are transportable, with a plurality of output compartments (6) for receiving a plurality of aligned stacked items (3), with a sorting device (5), which distributes the items (3) in operation on each assigned output compartments (6), with a Computing unit connected to the evaluation unit (12)

(13) assigning one or more output compartments (6) to each mail item (3) on the basis of the determined first or second page feature (Si, S ₂ ),

d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that

Length characteristics (Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ) can be determined by the evaluation unit (12), which are representative of different lengths (L) or length classes of the transmissions (3), and in that the arithmetic unit (13) is designed such that It assigns one or more output compartments to programs (3) having the first page feature (Si), irrespective of the length features (Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ), and to record programs with the second page feature (S ₂ ) or several output compartments (6) depending on the different length characteristics (Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ) assigns.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,

d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that

a first or second height feature (Hi, H ₂ ) can be determined by the evaluation unit (12), which is representative of an upper or lower position of the franking mark, and in that the device (1) comprises a horizontal turning unit (17), through which the broadcasts (3) to their horizontal Axis (H) can be turned in response to a first or second Höhenmerkmal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that

the sensor unit (11) has two sensors (14a, 14b), by means of which two flat sides (15a, 15b) of the mail item (3) can be detected.

4. A method for processing flat items (3), in which at least one flat side (15a, 15b) of each flat mail item (3) is detected and from which a first or second page feature (Si, S ₂ ) is determined that for a franking mark is represented on one or the other flat side (15a, 15b), transports the mail items (3) in a transport direction (T) and sorted together as a function of the first or second page feature (Si, S ₂ ) and with a leading edge (FIG. 21) are aligned in alignment,

d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that

determining a length feature (Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ) of each item (3) which is representative of a length (L) or length class, the items (3) having the first side feature (Si) independent of the length characteristic ( Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ), sorted together and the broadcasts (3) with the second side feature (S ₂ ) as a function of different length features (Li, L ₂ , L ₃ , L _n ) are sorted separately.

5. The method according to claim 4,

d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that

a first or second altitude feature (Hi, H ₂ ) each broadcast

(3) which is representative of franking marks (19) in an upper or a lower position, and that the mail items (3) are displaced around their horizontal axis (H) as a function of the first or second height feature (Hi, H ₂ ) to be turned around.