EP1417044B1 - Method for sorting mail according to the distribution addresses - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for sorting consignments according to their distribution addresses according to the generic term of the Claim 1. Such sorting machines are well known.

With the help of an image pickup device, a broadcasting surface becomes each broadcast and an image evaluation unit fed, in which it is determined whether the with the addresses and the fee stamps or imprints on the the image pickup device facing side in the right Orientation is located. If the right situation, is tries to read the distribution address (recipient details) and after a successful read a corresponding Sorting.

The shipments, the wrong orientation or a location have addresses facing away from the image recording device, are each directed to a special subject. From these Special programs are then the shipments position and orientation corrected fed back to the sorting machine, i. they arrive at the substance input together with new shipments the isolation. Could then the direct reading process the distribution address are started, it happens that the read operation can not be completed successfully. In this case, the programs are also in a special subject then they often ask for a new reading attempt be fed to the sorting machine.

In the new sorting runs, it happens that shipments be sorted out again in terms of location and orientation, although they have already been corrected from the special subjects or the read attempt was also unsuccessful. This can be done several times in a row, so that these shipments can be damaged in the circulation and the throughput is reduced.

The specified in claim 1 invention is the task to create a method with which a further Sorting of in a sorting machine as unreadable sorted into special compartments for re-listing and after the second entry into the sorting machine with corrections if necessary of location and orientation again in these special subjects assorted shipments is avoided.

According to the invention by the additional marking of Shipment batch from the special compartments not to be reused readable programs in the re-reading process after entering and singling, whether the concerned, still unreadable program from one of the special subjects comes to re-origin. If this is the case, the shipment will sorted into an additional special section from which they are not again in the reading and sorting process of the sorting machine is entered. Have the consignments to be delivered a not suitable for reading situation or orientation, so they are returned to the correct position and orientation. This is the uncontrolled multiple passes the reading and sorting process avoided.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the subclaims shown.

So it is beneficial to start and end of a shipment stack from a special subject to be re-introduced by upstream and downstream, from the sorting machine recognizable separation card which are advantageous with machine-readable identifiers can be provided.

It is also advantageous, beginning and end of a stack of mail from a special tray for re-marking by marking the first and last shipment with lightly adherent and residue-free mark removable stamps, which also for better identification with a machine-readable identifier can be provided.

To the image pickup device and the image evaluation unit to relieve and thus shorten the reading process, it is advantageous to recognize the marked beginning and end of the respective stack a special reader who also for other tasks is available to use.

The invention will be described below in one embodiment illustrated in detail with reference to the drawing.

FIG 1

eine schematische Darstellung des verfahrensmäßigen Ablaufs in einer Aufstellmaschine.

It shows

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of the procedural sequence in a Aufstellmaschine.

In the schematically illustrated, semi-automatic, so-called Aufstellmaschine is with a known, and therefore not shown, image recording device after the singulation recorded a broadcast surface of each broadcast, in a likewise known image evaluation unit evaluated and according to the evaluation result distributed. The singulation, image acquisition and image analysis is indicated by the arrow 7.

Was found in the image analysis that the question Shipment has a location at which the addresses and fee stamps or -aufdrucke the image pickup device facing away are, they will be in a special subject 4 for reversed Shipments passed through appropriate switching facilities. Broadcasts whose address pages, although the image pickup device are facing, but the wrong orientation have (for example, standing upside down) become a special subject 3 for misdirected shipments. From Shipments with the right location and orientation will be the Read addresses (at least the postcodes). Subsequently they will after successful reading in certain address areas assigned sorting bins 2 distributed. Be addresses in spite of the correct position and orientation not automatically often read them into another special subject 5 sorted. The distribution process in the compartments 2,3,4,5 means Switch device is indicated by an arrow 8.

If the sorting compartments 2 are filled, they are emptied manually and sent to the relevant address areas. The shipment stack from the special subject 4 for reversed shipments is also removed manually and corrected on location the material input 6 of the sorting / Aufstellmaschine 1 provided. To mark this stack will be in front of the first Shipment and after the last shipment of this batch Separation cards 9a, b inserted. These separation cards 9a, b must from the sorting machine / Aufstellmaschine 1 be identifiable, e.g. by a printed machine-readable code.

So far, it was without the marking of the stack that the Evaluation software for detecting the position of a shipment for some Shipments always "backward position" (regardless of the actual Location) so that these shipments always be fed back to this special subject 4. This is especially true with continuous deduction of new shipments, since about half of all shipments in this special subject 4 for reversed position and thus the number of shipments in this subject 4 does not become smaller. This can be a Operator does not recognize, if only shipments in this special compartment 4 are already reversed as shipments Location were identified. The same is true for the Programs with incorrect orientation or incorrect reading result. This unwanted repeated running through the Marking the stacks from the special compartments 3,4,5 avoided. If the beginning of such a stack by a first Separation card 9a detected, then the machine control in brought a state in which shipments with despite correction detected faulty position or orientation or twice unsuccessfully read address into an additional special subject 11 be sorted.

In the erection machine 1 according to FIG 1, the penultimate compartment configured on the right as special compartment 4 for reversed shipments. When re-feeding, these programs are turned over, what is indicated by the dark arrow 10, and between the separation cards 9a, b placed on the material input 6. As You can display more of these marked consignment stacks occur on the substance input 6. At a recognized Misorientation or position of a consignment out of the marked ones It will stack in the further special compartment 11 completely left, from which the broadcasts no longer the material input 6 are supplied. This control state becomes leave again as soon as a separation card 9b is detected, the marked the end of this shipment batch and shipments with reversed position, the first time through the machine run, go as usual in the designated special subject 4th

The broadcasts whose addresses despite proper location and orientation will not be read automatically without correction once again on the substance input 6, hoping that the second reading attempt succeeds, then what can also occur.

In order to avoid repeated running in this case, the consignment stacks will also be out of this special box characterized.

Claims (6)

1. Method for sorting mail according to its distribution addresses in a sorting machine (1), having an image recording device for recording a surface of an item of mail and an image evaluation unit for determining and reading the addresses and the franking and imprints, illegible items of mail being sorted into special compartments (3, 4, 5) in accordance with various causes for the non-reading and supplied to the input of the sorting machine (1) again in the position and orientation which can be evaluated,
   characterized in that the start and end of the stack of mail from the respective special compartment (3, 4, 5) for re-supply to the sorting machine (1) is identified legibly and the identified stack of mail is supplied to the material input (6) of the sorting machine (1) again in the position and orientation which can be evaluated, and in that, in the event of a repeated failed read attempt in the case of an item of mail from an identified stack of mail from one of the special compartments (3, 4, 5) for re-supply, this item of mail is sorted into an additional special compartment (11), from which it is no longer supplied to the sorting machine (1).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the start and end of a stack of mail from one of the special compartments (3, 4, 5) for re-supply is identified by means of a dividing card (9a, b) which is arranged upstream and downstream and can be detected by the sorting machine (1).
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the dividing cards (9a, b) are provided with machine-readable identifiers.
4. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, to identify the start and end of a stack of mail from one of the special compartments (3, 4, 5) for re-supply, the first and last items of mail are marked with a sticker which can be detected, adheres easily and can be detached without residue.
5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the stickers are provided with machine-readable codes.
6. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order to detect an identified stack in the sorting machine (1), an additional reading device is used.

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