JPH08206608A - Dividing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a dividing system in which the efficiency and accuracy of dividing function is realized and a miniaturization of a device can be attained by forming a code system for carrying out the efficient and accurate coding while being backed up by the light burden to an operator. CONSTITUTION: When re-coding or the like is performed by an operator for a mail 300, the address of which is not recognized by an image, the code of the mail 300 on which the code or the like is printed or a customer code thereof is utilized by a pre-reading section 400 and address recognition and division can be carried out while utilizing the codes, and the processing time can be shortened to improve the dividing efficiency by the arrangement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting system, and more particularly to a sorting system having a coding system capable of efficiently and accurately sorting mail and the like in a short processing time. The present invention relates to a sorting system, such as a mail sorting system, which realizes a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a sorting system equipped with a video coding desk has been developed in a field such as a sorting system for postal matter, and has been introduced for sorting mails.

In such a postal matter classification processing system, a so-called address book such as an address or a postal code written on a postal matter is optically read by an optical reader or the like, and then the image thereof is converted into data. Then, the image data is collated with the recognition reference data set in the sorting system in advance, and the mail is sorted by the delivery area corresponding to the address book. If the delivery area corresponding to the address cannot be recognized from the image data of the address, the optically read whole image is displayed on the display device of the video coding desk, and the operator displays it. By visually observing and inputting (addressing) an address book that could not be recognized mechanically, the mail piece classification is completed.

As described above, in the conventional classification processing system, the address book which is not recognized by the recognition system in the system is
The operator supplements (manually) the manual (manually) to fill the limit of machine classification.

By the way, in the conventional system, it is possible to print a code or the like on the mail ID or code already printed on the mail or the customer code already written on the user side. In order to prevent this, it is common to provide a pre-reading unit called a pre-mail ID reading unit or a pre-code reading unit for reading the already printed mail ID or code. The same applies to the customer code reader. These pre-reading sections were arranged inline with the mail-reading section and the code-printing section in the subsequent steps of the optical reading apparatus and inline with them, along the conveying system.

[0006]

However, in such a system configuration, a postal item on which a code is already printed is manually recoded when the postal item could not be recognized by the image of the address book. There is a problem that the code and customer code are not used, the processing time is long and the efficiency is not improved.

Further, as described above, since the length of the conveying system (that is, the distance from the reading system to the printing system) for obtaining the time corresponding to the time required for reading the customer code etc. is required, the conventional system is used. In that case, a path called a delayed transfer system is purposely detoured for a long time, or a transfer system with a long application line is used. Therefore, there is a problem in that the size of the physical structure of the system also increases.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to efficiently perform backup in a sorting processing system used for sorting mails, etc., while being backed up with a light burden of an operator. Another object of the present invention is to provide a partitioning processing system that includes a coding system capable of performing accurate coding, realizes an efficient and accurate partitioning function, and can be downsized as a device.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the classification processing system of the present invention is configured such that when a plurality of objects to be classified in which classification information recognized by different recognition methods are respectively described are input. Reading means for reading the division information of the division target object, recognition means for recognizing the division information according to a recognition method corresponding to the read division information, and the division target object based on the division information. In a sorting system including a sorting unit that sorts, an optical reading unit that optically reads the sorting information described on the object to be sorted as an image, and the sorting information described on the object to be sorted. Of the ID number for recognizing the object to be classified and / or a code for classification processing corresponding to the classification information, which is read before the optical reading means. Means, recognition means for recognizing the division information read by the pre-reading means, and detecting whether or not the division information can be recognized, and an object to be divided having the division information that cannot be recognized, The image including the classification information is converted into data and captured as image information, and the classification of the recognition method corresponding to the classification information is regarded as an attribute, and the information of the attribute is also included in the image information and the ID number of the classified object. An image accumulating means for accumulating together, a display means for displaying the image information as an image that can be visually confirmed by an operator, the image information is sorted according to the attribute information, and each of the attributes of the display means Image information distribution means for respectively distributing the classified image information to corresponding display means, and the attribute of the object to be sorted is erroneously recognized, When the image information of the object to be sorted is distributed to the display means corresponding to the different attribute, the worker adds the information of the correct attribute to the image information to store the image information in the image storage means. Attribute correction means to be newly stored in, an ID number reading means for reading the ID number after reading by the optical reading means, and a code reading means for reading the code after reading by the optical reading means, If the ID number and the code are not read by the pre-reading unit, the I that can be read on the object to be sorted
An ID number writing means for newly writing the D number and also for giving the ID number to the image information of the object to be sorted corresponding thereto, and the ID number and the code were not read by the pre-reading section. When the operator visually confirms and inputs the division information of the division target object corresponding to the image based on the image displayed on the display means, a code for the division processing corresponding to the division information is input. Code writing means for newly writing to the object to be sorted after reading by the optical reading means, and the object to be sorted are sorted based on the code read by the code reading means, and finally And a sorting means for sorting the sorted object whose code is not read by the code reading means separately from the sorted object for which the code is recognized.

Further, in the above-mentioned classification processing system,
When the sorted object having the unrecognized sorting information is re-input, the ID given to the sorted object
Corresponding to the number, the distribution device reads the image information to which the correct attribute is added from the image storage means, and redistributes the image information to the display means corresponding to the correct attribute,
It is characterized in that it is displayed on the display means.

Further, in the above division processing system,
The pre-reading means, the ID number writing means, and the I
The D-number reading means, the code writing means, and the code reading / writing means are arranged on both sides of the sorting means with the sorting means interposed therebetween, and a space between them is connected by a transport system, and the transport system is used to sort the objects to be sorted. Characterized by the fact that objects are transported.

Further, in the above-mentioned classification processing system,
The transport system has a transport path length corresponding to a time including a processing time of the code writing unit from the insertion of the object to be sorted into the pre-reading unit to the end of the code reading process by the code reading unit. It is characterized by a transport system.

Further, in the sorting system according to any one of the above, the sorting target object is a mail ID number assigned to each mail item as classification information recognized by the different recognition method, and the mail item. A mail piece in which classification information including at least one of a machine-readable code by the recognition means and a handwritten address book assigned corresponding to classification information indicating a classification is described, The attribute of the object to be sorted is an attribute for distinguishing whether the address writing of the mail is handwritten or printed, and the sorting means is a mail sorting / collecting means for sorting the mail. I am trying.

[0014]

In the conventional classification processing system, as shown in the outline of FIG. 5, a reading / printing system 501 for codes and the like is arranged on the downstream side of the scanning unit 502, and the addressing unit is read as an image by the scanning unit 502. Since the code reading process and the printing process were performed later, there was the above problem.

Further, in terms of the physical arrangement of the reading / printing system 501, the scanning unit 502, etc. in the system, as shown in FIG. Since I was intentionally arranging it as a long distance delayed transfer system to match the long processing time,
There was no choice but to increase the size of the entire system.

However, according to the present invention, particularly in a sorting system used for sorting mails, among the sorting objects (sorted objects) that cannot be mechanically recognized by the system, the attributes are different. When an item is distributed to an operator's desk or the like in charge of an attribute different from that, the operator need only input the attribute that is not correct and the correct attribute. Therefore, efficient and accurate coding can be performed while being backed up with a light burden on the operator.

The partitioning process according to the present invention can perform efficient and accurate partitioning by having such a coding system.

Further, according to the present invention, the code of the mail or the customer code on which the code has already been printed, such as when manually recoding the mail that could not be recognized by the image of the address book. Since the address recognition processing and the classification processing can be executed by making the best use of this, the processing time can be shortened and the efficiency of the classification processing can be improved.

Moreover, the time itself required for reading the customer code and the like can be shortened, and the length of the carrier system for obtaining the time can be shortened due to the physical structure of the system. The physical size of can be reduced.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a mail sorting system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the outline of the configuration of a mail sorting system according to the present invention.

The general construction of the mail sorting system is a reading sorting device 100 and a video coding device 2.
00 and 00.

The reading / sorting device 100 reads a so-called address book such as an address and a postal code on the mail 300, recognizes the address and the postal code from the read contents, and
Postcode recognition result or video coding device 2
Mail 3 by address and zip code read from 00
This is a sorting device for finally sorting 00 into another sorting box (sorting shelf), which prints a bar code corresponding to the information of the recognition result of the address and the postal code on each mail 300.

The reading / sorting apparatus 100, for example, when various mail items 300 having addresses and the like written in handwriting or printed characters are set in a mixed state, a supply unit 10 that supplies the mail items 300 one by one, Scanning unit 11 which is a reading unit equipped with a CCD image sensor for reading the entire image of the mail 300 supplied by the supply unit 10 one by one, and the image of the mail 300 passing through the scanning unit 11 And the time and mail required to recognize the address, postal code, etc. 3
00 to the next processing step in order to match the timing of feeding the postal matter 300 to the next processing step, the conveyance section 12 that conveys the postal matter 300 while controlling the conveyance time, and the postal matter 3 passing through the conveyance section 12
00, a mail ID reading unit 13a that reads a bar code indicating the address and zip code, a mail ID printing unit 13b that prints such a bar code, a code printing unit 13c that prints an identification code, and a code reading unit 13d. And a postal code 300 that has passed through the bar code processing section 13, the address, the recognition result of the postal code, or the address from the video coding device 200.
The address and the postal code are recognized from the images from the CCD image pickup device of the division accumulating unit 14 and the scanning unit 11 which divides into corresponding division boxes based on the predetermined division information (section box number) corresponding to the postal code input result. A main part of the address recognition unit 15 and a control unit 16 that controls the operation of the above-described parts including the address recognition unit 15 are configured.

The transport unit 12 is a video coding apparatus 200 for inputting an address and a zip code corresponding to the rejected mail item 300 which cannot be recognized by the address recognition unit 15.
The route is set to have a length sufficient to secure a sufficient time (delay time; for example, 8 to 12 seconds in the present embodiment) with respect to the time until the information is obtained.

On the other hand, in the video coding device 200, the address recognition unit 15 detects the address of the mail 300 based on the position and shape of the reading target area from the image read by the CCD image pickup device (not shown) of the scanning unit 11. Detects the area containing the address and zip code, detects the character line containing the address and zip code in the detected area, and further detects the characters (that is, zip code and address) of the character line. Detects one character at a time and compares each character with a reference pattern in a fixed direction stored in advance in a ROM and a reference pattern in a direction rotated 90 degrees, and character recognition is performed by a pattern matching method, etc. In addition, the reject attribute, that is, the distinction between handwriting and print type / information on the character that caused the rejection / characters (and words) that can be read and recognized Recognition result and sends to the control unit 16 generates a reject data corresponding to the recognition result.

The address recognition unit 15 also uses the mail 300.
Whether the above address or zip code is handwritten or printed,
It also determines the writing direction (vertical writing or horizontal writing) of the address or postal code on the postal matter 300. Regarding such a discrimination method itself, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-14682, the characteristic parameters (character height, position, line spacing, line Angle, etc.) and compare and contrast this parameter with a reference value.

As for the writing direction of the address or the postal code, the writing direction can be discriminated depending on which of the two reference patterns stored in advance has been recognized. .

The control unit 16 selects the corresponding postal item 300 from the code printing unit 1 as the postal item 300 whose classification information can be recognized.
When passing through 3c, the code corresponding to the classification information is printed on the postal matter 300. On the other hand, an ID number is printed by the mail ID printing unit 13b on the unrecognized mail item 300 when passing through the mail ID printing unit 13b.

The code printed on the postal matter 300 is read by the code reading section 13d, and the sorting and accumulating section 14 sorts the postal matter 300 according to the section indicated by the code.

Although not shown in the figure, the sorted mail items 300 are taken out from the sorting shelves of the sorting and accumulating unit 14 and sent to the shipping and delivery processes.

The video coding device 200 comprises a distribution device 3, an image storage unit 4, and a coding desk 5 as its main components.

The image data and the attribute information of the mail 300 on which the mail ID is printed because the classification information cannot be recognized are
The image storage unit 4 and the distribution device 3 together with the mail ID
Sent to

The distribution device 3 sets reject data sent from the control unit 16 as a set of reject attribute, image data (data obtained by converting an optical image into a signal), and recognition result information as a set. Is distributed to the coding desks 5 for handwriting or print type corresponding to the above.

That is, the reject attribute and the recognition result of the reject data attached to the supplied image data are compared and compared with a preset distribution rule table (not shown) and the image data is handwritten or It determines which of the coding desks 5 for print type to distribute to and executes it.

A plurality of coding desks 5 arranged
Each include a display unit using a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display panel and an input unit such as a keyboard, and based on the image data distributed and sent by the distribution device 3, An image is displayed in a state where the recognized part of the address and the postal code and the unrecognized part of the unrecognized part can be distinguished by the presence or absence of an underline.

Operators (not shown) having assigned attributes are assigned to the coding desk 5, and an operator hand-writes an address book to a terminal in charge of the operator to classify the mail 300. Another operator inputs a shortage of work and recognition information, and another operator inputs a shortage of work and recognition information for sorting the mail 300 whose address book is printed in print type toward the terminal in charge. .

That is, of the address and the postal code, the portion displayed as not recognized is input by the operator.

The recognition information of the unrecognized address and postal code is input from the coding desk 5 and is followed up.

Here, if an image of the mail 300 other than the attribute that the desk is in charge of comes, the operator of the desk inputs only the type information of the attribute of the mail 300. For example, if a handwritten image accidentally arrives at the desk in charge of print type, the operator at that desk presses a preset key for inputting the attribute of the print type, and inputs it easily and quickly. be able to.

The entered classification information is returned to the image storage unit 4 via the distribution device 3 together with the mail ID, or is temporarily stored in the distribution device 3 and the mail I described later is sent.
When D is read, the control unit 16 sends the mail ID together with the read command to the distribution device 3 to inquire about the classification information.

Next, when the operator completes the key input of the sorting information in the above, when the postal matter 300 sorted in the sorting stacking unit 14 as being unrecognizable is thrown into the feeding unit 10 again, The mail ID on the mail item 300 is read by the mail ID reading unit 13a.

The read mail ID is the control unit 16
The control section 16 retrieves the classification information corresponding to the mail ID stored in the distribution device 3 or the image storage section 4.

Then, the control unit 16 controls the code printing unit 13c so that the corresponding postal matter 300 can be processed by the code printing unit 13c.
When passing through, the code corresponding to the classification information is printed on the postal matter 300.

The code reading unit 13d reads the code printed on the mail item 300 in this way, and the sorting unit 14 sorts the mail item 300 according to the classification indicated by the code. In such a mail sorting system,
The pre-reading unit 400 is arranged in the process before the scanning unit 11 on the process of transporting the postal matter. Then, the pre-reading unit 400 performs the above-described code processing of the bar code processing unit 13 before the mail is put in and the address book is optically read by the scanning unit 11.

Then, the bar code processing section 13 carries out the above code processing after the scanning section 11. In other words, the mail ID pre-reading unit 401 performs the above-mentioned code reading process of the mail ID reading unit 13a, and the code pre-reading unit 402 and the customer code pre-reading unit 403 perform the above-mentioned code reading process, respectively. The writing is performed before being optically read by the scanning unit 11.

At this time, the bar code processing unit 13
Reads the code of the inserted postal matter 300 if it has already been printed, and suppresses the new printing of the code overlaid on it.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the pre-reading unit 400 is arranged before the scanning unit 11, the pre-reading unit is first used in the sorting system particularly used for sorting the mail 300. At 400, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mail ID, the code, the customer code, etc., which are already printed (written), can be read mechanically and accurately.

Here, FIG. 3 shows address division information necessary for delivery such as a town name and an address printed by a shipping station or a delivery station in which address writing (character information) such as handwriting or printing is described. Corresponding bar code, bar code of information corresponding to postal code printed at the shipping station, and mail ID code printed when address information cannot be recognized in order to manage each mail item It is a figure which shows an example of the document of the postal matter 300 which was carried out. In the figure, when the address book is so-called horizontal writing, a code corresponding to the information necessary for delivery such as the town name is displayed in the lower blank part on the address writing document of the mail, for example, in the lower left as shown in the figure. , A code corresponding to information such as a postal code is printed on the right of the code, and a mail ID code is printed on the code. Such an arrangement is not limited to this embodiment, but unifying the standard to the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 of this embodiment enables more reliable and accurate processing during mechanical reading. Therefore, it goes without saying that it is desirable.

Further, FIG. 4 shows a mailing 300 in which an address is written as character information, and an address information code called a customer code is already written on the side of the mail user (that is, the sender of the mail). It is a figure which shows an example of the document. In the figure, when the address book is so-called horizontal writing, the customer code is printed on the lower blank part on the addressing document surface of the mail, for example, as shown in the figure. Such an arrangement is not limited to this embodiment, but unifying the standard to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 of this embodiment enables more reliable and accurate processing during mechanical reading. Therefore, it goes without saying that it is desirable. 3 and 4 both show an example of the case where the address book is written horizontally, but when the address book is written vertically, similarly, for example, it is arranged in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the character string of the address book. Needless to say, it is desirable to standardize the method such that a barcode or the like is printed on the blank portion of the address document.

Of the mail items 300, which are the objects to be sorted, which cannot be mechanically recognized, those having different attributes are distributed to the desk 5 of the operator in charge of those having different attributes. The operator then only has to do that the attribute is incorrect and enter the correct attribute.

Therefore, it is possible to perform efficient and accurate coding while being backed up with a light burden on the operator. The classification processing according to the present invention can perform efficient and accurate classification by including such a coding system.

Further, according to the present invention, when the operator re-codes the mail 300 that could not be recognized by the image of the address book, the code of the mail 300 already printed with the code or the like. Since the address recognition processing and the classification processing can be executed while utilizing the customer code and the customer code by the pre-reading unit 400, the processing time can be shortened and the efficiency of the classification processing can be improved.

Moreover, the time itself required for reading the customer code and the like can be shortened, and the length of the carrying section 12 for obtaining the time can be shortened according to the physical structure of the system as shown in FIG. Since it can be shortened, the physical size of the system can be reduced.

That is, the layout structure of the mail sorting system according to the present invention includes a mail ID pre-reading unit 401, a code pre-reading unit 402, and a customer code pre-reading unit 403, as shown in the outline in FIG. Pre-reading unit 40
0 and the bar code processing unit 13 are separately arranged on both sides of the sorting and accumulating unit 14, and the space between them is inserted into the pre-reading unit 401 and then the bar code processing unit 13 performs the code reading process. It is connected by a short transport unit 12 having a transport path length corresponding to the processing time including the code writing processing time until the end, and the mail unit 300 is arranged to be transported by this transport unit 12. There is.

Therefore, as described above, the processing time required for the address recognition processing can be shortened, and the transport path length can be greatly shortened as compared with the conventional one. Therefore, the physical scale of the entire system is shown in FIG. It can be significantly downsized compared to conventional systems as shown.

In the above embodiment, an example of the case of a postal matter is shown as the sorting object, but it goes without saying that the application of the present invention is not limited to this.

In addition to the postal matter as the sorting object, for example, a system for sorting the courier service, or a sorting for sorting the handwritten report circulated in the company and the printed report. It goes without saying that it can also be applied to a processing system or the like.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, particularly in a sorting system used for sorting mails, efficient and accurate coding can be performed while being backed up with a light burden on the operator. It is possible to provide a partitioning processing system that is equipped with a coding system capable of performing a partitioning process and that realizes an efficient and accurate partitioning function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of a configuration of a mail sorting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an arrangement structure of a mail-piece sorting system capable of miniaturization according to the present invention.

[FIG. 3] Mail I written (printed) on a mail item
It is a figure which shows an example of D and a code.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a customer code written on a mail piece.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a conventional mail sorting system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of an arrangement structure of a conventional mail sorting system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Supplying unit 11 ... Scanning unit 12 ... Conveying unit 13 ... Bar code processing unit 13a ... Mail ID reading unit 13b ... Mail ID printing unit 13c ... Code printing unit 13d ... Code reading unit 14 ... Sorting stacking unit 15 ... Address recognition unit 16 ... Control unit 100 ... Reading sorting device 200 ... Video coding device 300 ... Mail 400 ... Pre-reading unit 401 ... Mail ID pre-reading unit 401 402 ... Code pre-reading unit 403 ... Customer code pre-reading section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. When a plurality of objects to be sorted, each of which is recorded with classification information recognized by a different recognition method, is input, a reading unit that reads the classification information of the objects to be sorted, and the reading unit. A classification processing system comprising a recognition means for recognizing the classification information according to a recognition method corresponding to the classification information and a classification means for classifying the classification target object based on the classification information, wherein the classification target object is described. An optical reading unit that optically reads the classified information as an image, and an ID number and / or its classification information for recognizing the classified object among the classified information described in the classified object. Pre-reading means for reading the code for the corresponding classification processing before the optical reading means, and recognition of the classification information read by the pre-reading means are performed. In the recognition means for detecting whether or not the classification information can be recognized, and the object to be classified having the classification information that could not be recognized, data of the image including the classification information is taken in as image information, Image accumulating means for accumulating the type of recognition method corresponding to the classification information as an attribute and accumulating the information of the attribute together with the image information and the ID number of the object to be classified, and visually working the image information. Display means for displaying as an image that can be confirmed by a person, the image information is sorted according to the attribute information, and the sorted image information is distributed to the display means corresponding to each attribute of the display means. The image information distribution unit and the attribute of the divided object are erroneously recognized, and the image information of the divided object is distributed to the display unit corresponding to the erroneous attribute. In the case of the above, the operator adds the correct attribute information to the image information and newly stores the image information in the image storage means, and the attribute correction means after the reading by the optical reading means. ID number reading means for reading an ID number, code reading means for reading the code after the reading by the optical reading means, and the divided section when the ID number and the code are not read by the pre-reading section ID number writing means for newly writing the readable ID number on the object and also for giving the ID number to the image information of the divided object corresponding to the ID number, the ID number and the code Based on the image which is not read by the pre-reading unit but is displayed on the display means, the classification information of the classification target object corresponding to the image is visually When the operator confirms and inputs the code, the code writing means for newly writing the code on the object to be sorted after the reading by the optical reading means for the sorting processing corresponding to the sorting information; The divided object is divided based on the code read by the reading means, and finally the divided object whose code is not read by the code reading means is defined as the divided object whose code is recognized. And a sorting means for separately sorting. 2. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein when the sorting target having the unrecognized sorting information is re-input, the ID given to the sorting target.
Corresponding to the number, the distribution device reads the image information to which the correct attribute is added from the image storage means, and redistributes the image information to the display means corresponding to the correct attribute,
A classification processing system characterized by displaying on said display means. 3. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-reading unit, the ID number writing unit, and the I
The D-number reading means, the code writing means, and the code reading / writing means are arranged on both sides of the sorting means with the sorting means interposed therebetween, and a space between them is connected by a transport system, and the transport system is used to sort the objects to be sorted. A sorting system characterized in that objects are transported. 4. The code writing system according to claim 3, wherein the transport system writes the code from the time when the object to be sorted is put into the pre-reading unit to the time when the code reading process by the code reading unit is completed. A sorting system comprising a transport system having a transport path length corresponding to a time including a processing time of the means. 5. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting target object is a mail ID number assigned to each mail piece as sorting information recognized by the different recognition method, and A mail piece in which classification information including at least one of a machine-readable code by the recognition means and a handwritten address book assigned corresponding to classification information indicating the classification of a mail piece is described. Yes, the attribute of the object to be sorted is a distinction of whether the address writing of the mail is handwritten or printed, and the classification means is a mail classification / collection means for classifying the mail. A distinctive processing system.