DE102011076909A1 - Method for processing multiple flattened mails i.e. flattened mails, involves performing orientation of surface with character relative to transportation path and/or measured parameter value of subject matter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for processing and sorting of various types of objects, in particular flat mailpieces of different format classes. A sorting system has a first discharge device with at least one first output unit and a second discharge device with a plurality of output units. From each object to be processed is an image ( . ), which shows a character (Add). On a surface of the article with the sign a print is applied. It is decided whether the item belongs to a first item type or item type. The first outfeed device (Gb-AE) discharges an object of the first article type into a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-AE.2,...), The second outfeed device (Sb-AE ) an object of the second object type into a second output unit (Sb-AE.1, Sb-AE.2, ...). An object of the second article type is transported past the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) to the second outfeed device (Sb-AE). The at least one sign (add) on the surface of the article is deciphered. Depending on the deciphering result, the object is ejected into a previously selected second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ...).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for processing and sorting of various types of objects, in particular flat mailpieces of different format classes.

In DE 10146842 A1 For example, a method and apparatus for printing flat mail is described. 1 shows the transport of a mail piece 10 from right to left. A first camera 30 captures graphical features from a surface of the mailpiece 10 , For example, an image of a postage stamp is compared to reference images in a database. Sub-format postal items are rejected. A rotating device 40 can do a mailing 10 to turn and / or to turn. A second camera 50 detects positions of graphic elements on the surface of the mailpiece 10 , A printing facility 60 imprinted the mailpiece 10 and uses measurement results from the second camera 50 to position the print. Subsequently, the mail item is forwarded in one of the directions "Reject", large letter ("GBf-Maxi") and small letter ("KBf"), cf. 1 ,

In EP 1872867 A1 becomes a sorting plant 2 for sorting flat postal items. A presorting device 4 sorts all postal items 24 out, which are not standard letters. A singler 6 singulates the mailpieces so that the mailpieces 24 spaced apart and in an upright position the sorting system 2 run through. A transport strand 26 with two drives 44 . 54 transports the mail to an alignment unit 10 showing the upright postal items 24 aligned at their lower edges, and then to a reader 30 , This reader 30 reads the address and / or a barcode on the mailing 24 , An image capture device 32 generated from both surfaces of the mailing 24 one computer-accessible image each. Subsequently, the mailings 24 in a plant operating mode in a transport sub-string 36 directed. This transport sub-string 36 leads to an alignment tool 12 which postal items 24 into a uniform orientation, z. B. so that the stamp is placed in front and upside down. A module 14 canceled the stamp. All mail 24 arrive on a transport strand 26 to a 50 m long delay transport route 16 which is used to allow enough time to decipher the address on the mail piece. A module 18 prints a barcode on mail 24 with addresses that are not completely machine-readable. A module 20 If necessary, prints a sticker with a forwarding address. A splitting device 22 distributes the mail 24 according to their addresses on containers, e.g. B. 100 postal codes per container.

In another plant operating mode in EP 1872867 A1 be prepared mailings 24 by means of a second singler 8th the sorting plant 2 fed. These prepared mail items are already aligned uniformly and each provided with a fee stamp. These prepared mailings 24 are then using a switch 34 in a bypass 36 with a transport sub-string 38 diverted. This bypass 36 leads to the transport section 42 with the modules 12 . 14 over and ends in front of the delay transport route 16 back in the transport line 26 one. In one embodiment, two sort runs are performed. In the second sorting run, the mailpieces 24 uniformly aligned and oriented to the sorting system 2 fed again. Therefore, in the second sorting run the mail items 24 by means of a second switch 46 on a second bypass 48 with a transport sub-string 50 directed. This transport sub-string 50 leads from the reader 30 directly to the splitting device 22 ,

In DE 3821106 A1 a device is described which is able to turn and stamp mailpieces. The mail 1 be by means of a task device 7 from a magazine 6 removed and in a horizontal position on detectors 9a . 9b passed, which the upper and the lower side of a mailing 1 scan. A switch 10 steers a mailing 1 either on a train 12 where the mail item is turned or on a web 11 where the mailing 1 not turned. On a train 13 into which the tracks 11 . 12 In the end, the mailing becomes 1 on a stamp unit 14 with two stamping devices 14a . 14b past. The stamped mail 1 be by means of a switch 15 on two stack facilities 16a . 16b distributed. The detector 9 Detects the position and the writing direction of address blocks. The mailpieces are turned on or off depending on the location of the address blocks and depending on this location on the two stacking devices 16a . 16b divided up.

In DE 10 2008 056 904 A1 For example, a method and apparatus for printing a mail item are described. A conveyor clamps each to be printed mail in an upright position between two endless conveyor belts 3 . 4 one. This leaves an upper area on the surface of the mail item above the endless conveyor belts 3 . 4 and a lower area below the endless conveyor belts 3 . 4 free. A first printer 1 can imprint on the upper part of the surface print, a second printer 2 an imprint on the lower area. As a result, the mail piece can be provided with two imprints in a single transport process.

In FR 2915013 A1 and US 2010/0231626 A1 A device is described for devaluing postal items ("appareil d'obliteration"). A mail piece is printed while being transported upright. 2 shows an arrangement with several superposed conveyor belts ("courroies 5A . 5D "), The four strip-shaped free zones 9A to 9B define. Four printheads ("tête d'impression 6A - 6D ") Can imprints in these free zones 9A - 9D be printed. Before printing, a camera ("caméra numérique 3") takes an image, and a sensor ("capteur de passage 4") takes an image of the mailpiece.

In EP 0654309 B1 a "mail accumulating device" is described. This device pushes mail together so that the mail at least partially overlap.

In US 5,959,288 a sorting system is described, which is able to sort mail items of various sizes. These mail items pass through the sorting system as a sequence of spaced-apart mailpieces. The sorting system distributes the mailpieces to different output units.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for processing various articles which reduce the risk of damage to an article of the first article type during processing and which also enable an article of the second article type to sort.

The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

According to the solution, various articles are processed, distinguishing at least two types of objects, namely a first article type and a second article type. Each item to be sorted belongs to exactly one item type. The type of article to which an article belongs depends on at least one physical parameter of the objects, each of which assumes a value for each object to be processed, e.g. From a dimension, weight or surface finish of the article.

Each item has at least two surfaces. One of these surfaces is provided with at least one character.

The solution according to the sorting system has for each item type each a discharge device, ie a first discharge device for objects of the first article type and a second discharge device for articles of the second article type. The first ejection device has at least one first output unit, preferably a plurality of first output units. The second ejection device has a plurality of second output units.

Each first output unit is capable of accommodating several items of the first item type. Each second output unit is capable of accommodating several items of the second item type. The first ejection device is able to eject an article of the first article type into a previously selected first output device. The second ejection device is capable of ejecting an object of the second article type into a previously selected second output device. If only a second output unit is present, each object of the second article type to be processed is ejected into this second output unit.

• – ein Bildaufnahmegerät,
• – eine Orientierungs-Entscheidungseinheit,
• – ein Gegenstands-Art-Entscheidungsgerät,
• – eine Entzifferungseinheit und
• – eine Ausgabeeinheit-Auswahleinheit.

The solution according sorting plant further comprises

• An image capture device,
• An orientation decision unit,
• An object type decision device,
• - a deciphering unit and
• An output unit selection unit.

Each article is transported in a transport direction along a transport path within the sorting system. It is possible that the transport direction changes during transport. This step performs the sorting system according to the solution for objects of both types of objects.

For each item to be sorted, at least the following steps are performed:
The item type decider decides which item type the item is. For this purpose, it is measured, which value assumes a given parameter for this object. The decision is made automatically and depending on the measured parameter value.

• – von der Orientierung der Oberfläche mit dem mindestens einen Zeichen relativ zum Transportweg und/oder
• – von dem gemessenen Wert, den der Parameter für diesen Gegenstand annimmt,

ab. Nach Durchführung dieses Verarbeitungsschritts schleust die erste Ausschleus-Einrichtung den Gegenstand der ersten Ausgabeeinheit aus.If the item is of the first item type, at least one processing step is performed for that item. This processing step depends

• From the orientation of the surface with the at least one character relative to the transport path and / or
• From the measured value that the parameter assumes for this item,

from. After performing this processing step, the first ejection means discharges the object of the first output unit.

At least when the article is of the first article type, the image capture device generates at least one computer-accessible image of each of the at least two surfaces, ie a total of at least two computer-available images, of which at least one image shows the surface with the at least one character.

The orientation decision unit determines, at least when the article is of the first article type, how the surface having the at least one character is oriented relative to the transport path and viewed in the transport direction. The orientation of the object includes the information from which viewing direction of the surface with the character is recognizable and in which writing direction this character is written on the surface. This surface with the sign is located - seen in the direction of transport - to the left or right of the transport path or points up or down. The orientation decision unit evaluates at least one image, preferably both images, from the surfaces of the article.

• – Der Gegenstand wird durch die erste Ausgabeeinheit hindurch oder an der ersten Ausschleus-Einrichtung vorbei zur zweiten Ausschleus-Einrichtung transportiert. Die zweite Ausschleus-Einrichtung ist flussabwärts von der ersten Ausschleus-Einrichtung angeordnet.
• – Die Entzifferungseinheit entziffert das mindestens eine Zeichen auf der einen Oberfläche des Gegenstands. Hierfür wertet die Entzifferungseinheit das Abbild von der Oberfläche mit dem einen Zeichen aus. Dieses Abbild zeigt das mindestens eine Zeichen.
• – Die Ausgabeeinheit-Auswahleinheit wählt eine zweite Ausgabeeinheit aus. Hierzu verwendet die Ausgabeeinheit-Auswahleinheit das Entzifferungsergebnis von der Entzifferungseinheit und trifft die Auswahl automatisch und abhängig vom Entzifferungsergebnis.
• – Die zweite Ausschleus-Einrichtung schleust den Gegenstand der zweiten Gegenstands-Art in die dergestalt ausgewählte zweite Ausgabeeinheit aus.

If the item is of the second item type, then the following additional steps are performed:

• The article is transported through the first dispensing unit or past the first dispensing device to the second dispensing device. The second discharge device is arranged downstream of the first discharge device.
• - The deciphering unit deciphers the at least one sign on the one surface of the object. For this purpose, the deciphering unit evaluates the image of the surface with the one character. This image shows the at least one character.
• The output unit selection unit selects a second output unit. For this purpose, the output unit selection unit uses the deciphering result from the deciphering unit and makes the selection automatically depending on the deciphering result.
• The second ejection device discharges the object of the second article type into the second output unit selected in this way.

In one embodiment, it is thus decided for each object how the surface is oriented with the at least one character. The processing step for an article of the first article type is performed depending on this detected orientation. In another embodiment, it is decided only for each object of the second object type, as the surface is oriented with the at least one character. The processing step for an article of the first article type is then performed depending on the measured parameter value.

The invention makes it possible to process several different types of objects by means of the same sorting system, namely a plurality of articles of the first article type and a plurality of articles of the second article type. It is possible to supply a quantity of objects to a sorting system according to the invention, this quantity comprising objects of both types of articles in any desired sequence. It is not necessary to separate these items in advance or to sort them in advance in any other way. The supplied articles can vary in terms of their dimensions, their weight, their surface condition or other properties and are nevertheless all processed by the sorting system.

The objects to be processed can be mixed as desired to reach the solution sorting system. The sorting system according to the invention does not need to be adapted to different numerical ratios of objects of the first article type to articles of the second article type become. It is not necessary to operate the sorting system successively in different operating modes in order to successively process the various types of objects. Rather, thanks to the invention, the various articles can be processed without having to switch the sorting system from one operating mode to another operating mode during processing.

The invention makes it possible, but does not require, that a sign on a surface is also decoded from an article of the first article type. Therefore, the invention eliminates the need to produce such an image of an object of the first article type that can be decoded by evaluating this image, the at least one character on the surface of this article of the first article type.

Thanks to the invention, the various objects are sorted and distributed by sorting on the output units. Objects of the first article type arrive in a first output unit, objects of the second article type in a second output unit. The at least one first output unit can be adapted to the objects of the first article type with respect to their dimensions and / or their load capacity and / or environmental conditions. The at least two second output units can be adapted accordingly to the objects of the second article type.

Because different dispensing units are provided, the need to provide at least one universal dispensing unit suitable for articles of both types of articles is avoided. Furthermore, the need is avoided to use a possibly more expensive or larger first output unit predominantly or exclusively to eject items of the second item type in this larger first output unit. Several such universal dispensers would result in an unnecessarily large or expensive sorting system. Thus, the invention saves space ("footprint").

The invention shortens the transport path over which an article of the first item type has to be transported through the sorting system to an output unit. Such an article need only be transported to the first outfeed means, but not to the second outfeed means located downstream from the first outfeed means. The shorter transport path reduces the risk of damaging an item of the first item type during processing. In particular, when items of the first item type are larger than items of the second item type, this danger exists precisely for items of the first item type.

Thanks to the shorter transport path for objects of the first article type, a mechanically simpler sorting system can also be realized because the transport of the objects of the first article type often requires more and / or more mechanically complicated components than the transport of the objects of the second article type. These more elaborate components are required to ensure that the items of the first item type are not damaged during shipping.

Conversely, the invention allows the sorter to decipher the at least one character on the one surface of each item of the second item type. According to the solution, at least one character on the surface of an item to be sorted is deciphered at least when the item belongs to the second item type. For this deciphering, the entire period is available in which the object is transported to the second discharge facility. For deciphering, that period of time is completely available within which the object is transported by the image acquisition device, which generates the computer-accessible image from the surface with the character, as far as the second discharge device. This transport needs a certain amount of time anyway. This period of time can be used both for the transport of the object of the second article type and for the decoding of the at least one character. The invention thus enables parallel processing. If necessary, the time can be extended, z. B. to have enough time to evaluate the character available.

The invention makes it possible to process articles of the first article type and articles of the second article type such that a stream of articles passes through the sorting system and this stream consists of randomly mixed articles of the first article type and the second article type. The second dispensing units for the articles of the second article type are arranged downstream of the at least one first dispensing unit for the articles of the first article type. Because the objects of the first object type are ejected into the first output units, There are gaps between the remaining objects of the second object type. These gaps can be used to sort the items of the second item type.

It is possible that the deciphering unit also uses the period of time in which an object of the first article type is transported to the first ejection device. If this period of time is sufficient to decipher the at least one character, a first output unit is selected depending on this deciphering result. Otherwise, the item is discharged without the presence of a deciphering result, z. B. in a first output unit for items without deciphering result.

• – Die Sortieranlage besitzt keine Wendeeinrichtung und vermag daher einen Gegenstand nicht zu wenden und auch nicht zu drehen. Daher vermag die Sortieranlage auch nicht automatisch eine gewünschte Orientierung der Oberfläche mit dem mindestens einen Zeichen herzustellen. Die Sortieranlage besitzt mindestens zwei erste Ausgabeeinheiten und schleust jeden Gegenstand der ersten Gegenstands-Art abhängig davon aus, wie die Oberfläche mit dem mindestens einen Zeichen relativ zum Transportweg positioniert und/oder orientiert ist. Vorzugsweise besitzt die Sortieranlage vier erste Ausgabeeinheiten, nämlich je zwei Ausgabeeinheiten für Gegenstände, bei denen das Zeichen auf der linken Oberfläche aufgebracht ist und für Gegenstände, bei denen das Zeichen auf der rechten Oberfläche aufgebracht ist, jeweils gesehen in die Transportrichtung. Zwei erste Ausgabeeinheiten sind für Gegenstände mit einem aufrecht stehenden Zeichen vorgesehen, zwei weitere erste Ausgabeeinheiten für Gegenstände mit einem auf dem Kopf stehenden Zeichen. Die Gegenstände der zweiten Gegenstands-Art werden ebenfalls abhängig von der Orientierung der Oberfläche mit dem Zeichen auf die zweiten Ausgabeeinheiten aufgeteilt.
• – Die Sortieranlage besitzt eine Wendeeinrichtung und vermag einen Gegenstand um eine Gegenstands-Achse zu drehen. Die Sortieranlage besitzt mindestens zwei erste Ausgabeeinheiten. In die erste Ausgabeeinheit werden alle Gegenstände der ersten Gegenstands-Art ausgeschleust, bei denen die Oberfläche mit dem mindestens einen Zeichen nach links zeigt. In die andere erste Ausgabeeinheit werden alle Gegenstände ausgeschleust, bei denen die Oberfläche mit dem einen Zeichen nach rechts zeigt. Auch die Gegenstände der zweiten Gegenstands-Art werden auf verschiedene zweite Ausgabeeinheiten abhängig von der Orientierung dieser Oberfläche ausgeschleust.
• – Die Sortieranlage besitzt eine Aufdruck-Einrichtung und keine Wendeeinrichtung. Diese Aufdruck-Einrichtung besitzt einen Druckkopf, der auf der einen Seite des Transportwegs angeordnet ist. Die Aufdruck-Einrichtung vermag einen Aufdruck auf einen bestimmten Druck-Teilbereich einer Oberfläche eines Gegenstands aufzubringen. Falls ein Gegenstand so orientiert ist, dass die Oberfläche mit dem Zeichen zum Druckkopf zeigt und eine zu bedruckende Stelle der Oberfläche in dem vom Druckkopf erreichbaren Druck-Teilbereich liegt, so bedruckt der Druckkopf die Oberfläche des Gegenstands. Ansonsten vermag der Druckkopf diesen Gegenstand nicht zu bedrucken. Die Sortieranlage hat wiederum vorzugsweise mindestens vier erste Ausgabeeinheiten. In einer ersten Ausgabeeinheit werden die bedruckten Gegenstände der ersten Gegenstands-Art ausgeschleust. In allen ersten Ausgabeeinheiten werden gleich orientierte Gegenstände ausgeschleust. Im statistischen Mitteln vermag die Sortieranlage ein Viertel der Gegenstände zu bedrucken, wenn die Gegenstände der Sortieranlage zufällig zugeführt werden. Die Gegenstände aus einer ersten Ausgabeeinheit, die nicht bedruckt werden konnten, lassen sich der ersten Ausgabeeinheit entnehmen, außerhalb der Sortieranlage wenden oder drehen und anschließend richtig orientiert wieder der Sortieranlage zuführen. Diese Gegenstände durchlaufen dann erneut die Sortieranlage in einem weiteren Sortierlauf. Die Sortieranlage führt beim weiteren Sortierlauf die oben beschriebenen Schritte erneut durch und bedruckt im erneuten Durchlauf die Gegenstände – oder entscheidet, dass ein Bedrucken immer noch nicht möglich ist. Das entsprechende geschieht mit den Gegenständen der zweiten Gegenstands-Art.
• – Die Sortieranlage besitzt eine Aufdruck-Einrichtung und zusätzlich eine Wendeeinrichtung. Die Sortieranlage stellt fest, welche Oberfläche die Oberfläche mit dem mindestens einen Zeichen ist. Ein Gegenstand, bei dem die Oberfläche mit dem Zeichen bereits richtig orientiert ist, wird an der Wendeeinrichtung vorbei geführt. Die übrigen Gegenstände werden von der Wendeeinrichtung gewendet. Weil der vom Drucker erreichbare Druck-Teilbereich in der Regel kleiner ist als die gesamte Oberfläche, vermag die Sortieranlage trotzdem nur einen Teil der Gegenstände zu bedrucken. Die Sortieranlage besitzt mindestens zwei erste Ausgabeeinheiten, nämlich eine erste Ausgabeeinheit für bereits bedruckte Gegenstände und eine weitere erste Ausgabeeinheit für noch zu bedruckende Gegenstände. Die noch zu bedruckenden Gegenstände lassen sich der weiteren ersten Ausgabeeinheit entnehmen, außerhalb der Sortieranlage wenden und richtig orientiert wieder der Sortieranlage für einen erneuten Durchlauf zuführen.
• – Die Sortieranlage besitzt eine Aufdruck-Einrichtung und zusätzlich zwei Wendeeinrichtungen. Jede Wendeeinrichtung vermag einen Gegenstand um jeweils eine Drehachse zu wenden und/oder zu drehen, wobei diese beiden Drehachsen vorzugsweise senkrecht aufeinander stehen und im Falle von flachen Gegenständen beide Drehachsen in der Gegenstands-Ebene eines zu sortierenden flachen Gegenstands liegen. Die Sortieranlage vermag jeden Gegenstand so zu orientieren, dass die Oberfläche mit dem Zeichen zum Druckkopf zeigt und die zu bedruckende Stelle im erreichbaren Druck-Teilbereich liegt. Die Aufdruck-Einrichtung besitzt einen Druckkopf. Der Druckkopf bedruckt die Oberfläche an der vorgegebenen Stelle.

The invention makes it possible to use a sorting system according to the invention in at least one of the following configurations, which is advantageous in particular for flat objects:

• - The sorting system has no turning device and therefore can not turn an object and not to turn. Therefore, the sorting system can not automatically produce a desired orientation of the surface with the at least one character. The sorting system has at least two first output units and discharges each article of the first article type depending on how the surface with the at least one character is positioned and / or oriented relative to the transport path. Preferably, the sorting system has four first output units, namely two output units for objects in which the mark is applied to the left surface and for articles in which the mark is applied to the right surface, as seen in the transport direction. Two first output units are provided for objects with an upright character, two more first output units for items with an upside down character. The articles of the second article type are also divided into the second output units depending on the orientation of the surface with the character.
• - The sorting system has a turning device and is able to rotate an object about an object axis. The sorting system has at least two first output units. In the first output unit all objects of the first article type are discharged, in which the surface with the at least one character pointing to the left. In the other first output unit all objects are ejected, in which the surface with the one character points to the right. The objects of the second article type are also discharged to different second output units depending on the orientation of this surface.
• - The sorting system has a printing device and no turning device. This printing device has a print head which is arranged on one side of the transport path. The imprinting device is capable of applying a print to a specific print subregion of a surface of an article. If an article is oriented such that the surface with the mark faces the print head and a printable area of the surface is within the printable range achievable by the print head, the print head prints the surface of the article. Otherwise, the printhead will not be able to print this item. The sorting system in turn preferably has at least four first output units. In a first output unit, the printed objects of the first article type are discharged. In all first output units the same oriented objects are rejected. In statistical terms, the sorting system can print a quarter of the items when the items are randomly fed to the sorting system. The items from a first output unit, which could not be printed, can be found in the first output unit, turn outside the sorting system or rotate and then correctly oriented to return to the sorting system. These items then go through the sorting system again in a further sorting pass. During the further sorting run, the sorting system carries out the steps described above again and prints the objects in the next run - or decides that printing is still not possible. The corresponding happens with the objects of the second object kind.
• - The sorting system has an imprinting device and in addition a turning device. The sorting system determines which surface is the surface with the at least one character. An article in which the surface with the mark is already correctly oriented is guided past the turning device. The remaining items are turned by the turning device. Because the print area that can be reached by the printer is generally smaller than the entire surface, the sorting system can nevertheless only print on a part of the objects. The sorting system has at least two first output units, namely a first output unit for already printed objects and a further first output unit for still to be printed objects. The still to be printed objects can be found in the other first output unit, turn outside of the sorting system and properly oriented again perform the sorting system for a new run.
• - The sorting system has an imprinting device and two additional turning devices. Each turning device is capable of turning and / or rotating an object about a respective rotation axis, these two rotation axes preferably being perpendicular to one another and, in the case of flat surfaces Both objects lie in the object plane of a flat object to be sorted. The sorting system is capable of orienting each object so that the surface with the mark points to the print head and the point to be printed is within the reachable print partial area. The imprinting device has a printhead. The print head imprints the surface at the specified location.

According to the solution, a processing step is carried out for each article of the first article type, which depends on the orientation of the surfaces with the at least one character or on the value that the parameter assumes for this article. This processing step is preferably one of the following steps:
A turning device of the sorting system rotates the article about an axis of rotation or turns the article in a different manner and thereby alters the orientation of the surface so that this surface is oriented in a predetermined desired direction after turning. This turning depends on the orientation of the surface with the at least one character before turning. If the surface is already properly oriented then no turning of the article is required.

The first discharge device discharges the article into one of a plurality of first output units. In which first output unit the object is ejected depends on the orientation of the surface.

An imprint device imprints the surface with the at least one character, but only if this surface is already oriented as desired.

When the orientation decision unit compares both images, a particularly safe and rapid decision is possible as to which surface of the object has the at least one character. It is not necessary to have a prior knowledge of where the at least one character is and whether only one surface has at least one character.

The invention can be used in an arrangement which comprises the sorting plant according to the solution and a further sorting system. The further sorting apparatus is capable of sorting items of the first item type depending on characters on the surface of an item of the first item type. Each article of the first article type passes through the sorting system according to the solution and is discharged into a first discharge unit. Subsequently, the further sorting system sorts the objects from the first output unit. These items are already uniformly oriented, which is why the second sorting system need not have any components that change orientations.

Preferably, a processing step is also carried out for each article of the second article type, which depends on the orientation of the surface with the at least one character. If desired, each article of the second article type is also preferably rotated or turned in such a way that the surface with the character has the desired orientation.

Preferably, the sorting system is designed so that it can be switched from one configuration to another configuration during operation or in a pause in operation. This embodiment is particularly useful when a component has failed during operation, z. B. a turning device has failed or the printing device has failed. This design ensures that processing is still possible, even if a component is temporarily unable to work and is being repaired.

In one embodiment, when determining the orientation, it is merely determined from which viewing direction the surface with the mark is visible. If z. B. is ensured on the basis of a previous processing step that the character on a - seen in the transport direction - lateral surface is applied, so in the simplest case, only decided whether the surface with the character pointing to the left or to the right. In a further embodiment, the writing direction of this character is determined in the image from the surface with the character in order to obtain a more accurate information about the orientation. In one embodiment, it is ensured by a preceding processing step that the writing direction is horizontal (in the case of characters of a Far Eastern written language: vertical), so that it is checked exclusively whether the character is upright or upside down.

Preferably, an imprint is created on the one surface of the article with the indicia while the article is being conveyed past an imprinting device. The surface with the at least one character points to a print head of the imprinting device. If necessary, then, if the surface with the character points in a different direction, the object is turned. Because in front of the walls, the imprint can not be applied to the correct place. This step is performed no matter what item type the item is. This configuration makes it possible to use the same printhead for objects of both types of objects. It is not necessary to have multiple printheads for differently oriented or different objects.

The sorting system according to the invention preferably has a plurality of first output units for articles of the first article type. The objects of the first article type are in one embodiment, depending on at least one physical parameter divided among these first output units. For example, in a first dispensing unit, all articles of the first article type are thinner than 15 mm and lighter than 500 g. A subsequent sorting system is able to sort items of the first item type when the value of the at least one physical parameter falls within a predetermined range, otherwise not. These objects are discharged into certain first output units of the sorting plant according to the solution and are transported from there to the further downstream sorting system, which then sorts these matching articles of the first article type. This embodiment can be combined with the embodiment just described, in which the sorting system is able to print on any item to be sorted.

It is also possible that the sorting system distributes objects of the first article type to a plurality of first output units depending on how the surface with the at least one character is oriented relative to the transport path and viewed in the transport direction. This embodiment of the sorting system according to the invention can be combined with a subsequent sorting system which is able to process correctly oriented objects. The items from a first output unit are turned outside of the sorting system according to the solution if necessary and fed correctly oriented to the subsequent sorting system.

In solution, the object type decision device decides which object type the object is. In one embodiment, the object type decision device for the decision evaluates at least one image from the image capture device. In another embodiment, another measuring device measures which value at least one physical parameter assumes for an object to be processed. The item type deciding apparatus judges from which item type the item is based on this parameter value.

In one embodiment, at least one respective computer-accessible image is taken of each object and of both surfaces of this object. In any case, if the item belongs to the second item type, at least one copy of that item will show the character. On the other hand, if the item belongs to the first item type, then the case may arise that no image of the item shows at least one character, e.g. Because the surface with the characters is too large for the imaging device used to produce an image of the entire surface. Therefore, in an item of the first item type, it is checked whether an image shows the at least one character. If this is the case, then the orientation of each item is determined, for which the images are used. A processing step is performed, which depends on the detected surface of the article. This embodiment makes it possible to use a plurality of stationary image pickup devices, which may not necessarily produce an image of the complete surface of an article of the first article type.

In a development of this embodiment, an object of the first article type, if its orientation can not be determined, is processed depending on the measured parameter value. In another embodiment of the embodiment, the orientation of the object outside the sorting system is changed, and the object passes through the sorting system in the changed orientation again.

In an embodiment, it is measured for each object to be processed which value the physical parameter assumes for this object. In another embodiment, a subregion of the value range of this parameter is specified. It is checked whether the value that the parameter assumes for this item falls within the range of values or not. Then, when the parameter value falls within the partial range, it is judged that the item belongs to the second item type. This configuration eliminates the need to accurately measure the parameter. All that is required is to measure the parameter so accurately that it is possible to decide whether the parameter value falls within the subrange or not.

In one embodiment, the character is a value document provided with a surface of the object. The value document is z. B. a franking mark of a mail or a document of value on a piece of luggage or a freight item. Deciphering the character involves at least one of the steps to check whether the character is actually a value document, whether the value document is valid and whether this value document is genuine, ie not fake. For example, an image from the value document is compared with a reference library with images of valid value documents.

Preferably, the one surface is provided with a string, e.g. B. with an identification of a destination to which the object is to be transported. This identifier may be an alphanumeric string or a machine-readable encoding. The at least one character can also be a franking mark or another value document, and the imprint invalidates this value document. The imprint generated by the sorting system may also be a machine-readable identifier of the destination, for. B. a bar pattern. This identifier is read at least once in the course of sorting.

In one embodiment, the at least one character on the one surface of an object to be processed belongs to a destination marking with which this surface is provided. The object is to be transported to this destination. The further transport of the item, if the item belongs to the second item type, will continue depending on in which issue unit the item was removed.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment. Showing:

1 schematically the components of a sorting plant according to the invention;

2 a modification in which a large letter is then transported past the processing facility if its orientation could not be determined;

3 another variation, with each large letter on the image recording equipment and the processing facility is transported past.

In the exemplary embodiment, flat mail items (letters, postcards, catalogs, etc.) are processed and thereby partially sorted. Each mail item extends in an object plane and has two surfaces. On a surface of the mailing details for the respective destination address are printed, to which the mail item is to be transported. On this surface also a franking mark is applied. The franking mark is z. As a stamp, a postage meter, a bar code or a matrix code. It is possible that a mail piece is wrapped in a foil, which makes it difficult to print the mailing directly. In this case, a printed label is preferably adhered to the film.

In the exemplary embodiment, a distinction is made between two types of postal items, namely standard letters (in the USA: "letters") and large letters (in the USA: "flats"). A letter is a standard letter if each dimension (length, height, thickness) of the letter is below a respective dimensional barrier, otherwise a large letter. The sorting system can process both types of letters and also sort standard letters according to their destination addresses. In the exemplary embodiment, the large letters function as the objects of the first article type and the standard letters as the objects of the second article type.

1 schematically shows the components of a solution sorting plant. This sorting system is able to work in a configuration that is in 1 is shown, each object to turn around two axes of rotation, each axis of rotation is in the object plane of a flat and sorted mailpiece and the two axes of rotation are perpendicular to each other. One axis of rotation is the longitudinal axis, the other axis of rotation is the vertical axis of the flat mail item. Therefore, the sorting system is capable of printing each mail item, regardless of whether this mail item belongs to the first article type or to the second article type.

Material flows are shown in the figures with solid arrows, data flows with dashed arrows.

The sorting system has two groups of sorting outputs, namely a large letter output unit group of large letter sorting outputs and a standard letter output unit group of standard letter sorting outputs. The sorting system generates a stack of mailpieces in each sorting output by sorting. These mail items are z. B. upright on a base. Or the pile is made in a container. The large letters issue units group belongs to a large letter "Flats sorter", the standard letter mailing unit group to a letter letter sorter.

The mailpieces are fed in random order to a feeder of the sorting system. Some mail items arrive in stacks to the sorting system, other mail items are poured from bags or pallets on a conveyor belt of the sorting system. The flat mailpieces are erected so that each mail item stands on one edge. A separator ("singulator") of the sorting system separates the mailpieces and generates a stream of isolated and spaced mailpieces. It is possible that two feeder devices, each with a separator, work in parallel, which increases the throughput.

In this sequence occurs between a leading and a subsequent mail each a gap. This stream of mail passes through the sorting system. A tilting device ensures that each flat mail item is transported upright on a longitudinal edge through the sorting system, not on a transverse edge or a raised edge. Because the flat mail pieces are transported upright, debris and particles rubbed off conveyor belts fall down perpendicularly past the flat mail pieces and are not carried along.

The upright mail items are transported on a transport path in a transport direction TR through the sorting system. In 1 schematically a straight transport path is shown. This transport path can also be shaped like a mander

In one embodiment, the mail item is temporarily trapped during the entire transport through the sorting system between in each case two endless conveyor belts of a cover belt system ("pinch belt system"). These endless conveyor belts move in the same direction at the same speed. It is possible, but not necessary, for the mail items to slide with their lower edges over a base. Preferably, the mail items are transported so that a gap occurs between the lower edge of a mail item and the base.

In a sorting facility Aso, mail items that are not machine-processable and items that are not mail items are removed from the stream of items to be processed. For example, all objects are transported into the interior of a rotating drum with slots in the lateral surface, and only the machinable mail items fall through a slot.

This sorting device Aso is arranged upstream of the at least one separator Ver. The machine-processable mail items that have passed through the sorting station then pass through a righting and aligning device, which brings each flat mail item into a position in which the mail item stands upright on a longitudinal edge.

A format measuring device FME measures the dimensions of each mail item. This format measuring device FMF functions in the embodiment as the object type decision device.

For example, a light barrier in the transport path of the mail piece measures how long a mail item interrupts this light barrier in each case, while the Possendung is transported upright. The transport speed of the mail item is known or measured. The product of measured time span and transport speed delivers the length of a mail item as a dimension in the transport direction TR. Several photocells arranged one above the other measure the height of the upright postal items. The thickness of the mail piece is also measured. The format measuring device automatically decides whether a letter is a large letter or a standard letter.

An image acquisition device of the sorting system generates at least one computer-accessible image of each surface of each mail item. In the exemplary embodiment, the mail items are transported through between two individual stationary image recording devices. Each image capture device Bag.1, Bag.2 generates a computer-accessible image . every surface of the mail. At least one image . shows the destination address and the franking mark of the mailing. By evaluation of the two images . it is automatically decided which surface of the mailing is the front side with the destination address information and the franking mark and which surface is the back side.

In addition, it is decided in which direction of writing the destination address information is written on the surface of the mailpiece. Because the mail items are transported standing on one longitudinal edge and are flat, the surface with the destination address indication can only point to the right or to the left as viewed in a transport direction TR, and the destination address information stands upright or upside down. In order to determine the orientation of a mail item, a decision has to be made between four different alternatives.

These steps and these decisions are automatically performed by an image evaluation unit BAE, which supplies a result Ori. The result Ori is a computer-accessible information about the orientation of the mailpiece. In the exemplary embodiment, the image evaluation unit BAE delivers a result Ori for each flat mail item, also for each large letter.

It is possible that the format measuring device FME downstream of the image pickup device Bag.1, Bag.2 is arranged and at least one image . evaluates an item of mail to measure the length and height of the item of mail.

The sorting system has a deciphering unit with at least one OCR unit OCR and at least one video coding station VCS. The OCR unit OCR evaluates the image . a standard letter and decipher the destination address. This OCR unit OCR has read access to an address database Add-DB with valid destination addresses. If the OCR unit OCR is unable to decipher a destination automatically, the computer-accessible image will become . the surface of the mail piece, which shows the destination address information displayed on a screen of the video coding VCS. An editor at least partially enters the destination address in an input device. The deciphering unit OCR, VCS supplies the deciphered destination address Add of a standard letter.

It is possible that the image of a letter is additionally evaluated with the aim of measuring the dimensions of the mail item in the object plane (height, length). This measurement is also carried out for a large letter.

In the exemplary embodiment, the standard letters are sorted according to their destination addresses. A standard letter output unit selection unit A-A of the sorting system applies a computer-available sorting plan Spl to sort the standard letters. This computer-accessible sorting plan Spl assigns to each possible destination address of a letter a standard letter sorting output Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, .... The standard letter output unit selection unit A-A has read access to a data storage DS in which the computer-available sorting plan Spl is stored. The standard letters pass through the standard letter rejection device Sb-AE. This letter sorter Sb-AE discharges each standard letter into the standard letter sorting output Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2,... That the sorting plan Spl in the data memory DS of the destination address of the Therefore, the default letter output unit selection unit AA has selected for this standard letter.

The sorting system also preferably searches for a franking mark on a mailpiece and, if necessary, invalidates this franking mark. This applies to standard letters as well as large letters. For this search, the sorting system turns that image, which shows the destination address, ie the image of the front of the mailpiece. As a rule, the franking mark is applied - if at all - to the front of a mailpiece. On the back there may be a label of a sender address.

The mail items which leave the singler Ver ("singulator") standing upright are oriented and aligned differently. The destination address of a mailpiece can be on the - as seen in the transport direction TR - left-facing or on the right-facing surface of the mail items, and the destination address can be shown upright or upside down.

The sorting system then prints each mail piece with an imprint devaluing the franking mark and in one embodiment with an advertising imprint and / or with a machine-readable identifier which codes the destination address ("sorting code") or identifies the mailpiece ("ID code"). This step is performed by an imprinting device.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting system determines the respective destination address only from the standard letters and in one embodiment prints the destination address coding. On the large letters is also one printed on the canceling imprint, and the large letter is aligned and oriented. It is possible that each large letter is provided with a unique identifier ("ID code").

Various light barriers control the transport of a mail item through the sorting system. A mail item interrupts such a light barrier. In addition, the transport speed at which the mail item is transported, measured or maintained exactly. As a result, a control device SE "knows" at each point in time which item of mail is where in the sorting system.

The sorting system has a turning section Wst for rotating a mail item about the longitudinal axis and a turning path bypass Wst-By configured parallel to the turning section. Each mail item that is to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, passes through the turning path. Each other mail item is guided around the turning course on the turning distance bypass Wst-By. A diverter W-Wst directs each mail item to either the turnaround Wst or the turnaround bypass Wst-By.

Downstream of the turning distance Wst, in one embodiment, at least one head station Kbf ("switch-back unit") is arranged, optionally a plurality of head stations connected in parallel, and a head station bypass Kbf-By parallel to the head stations Kbf. Each mail item that is to be rotated about its vertical axis is transported by the or a head station Kbf. The front edge of the mail item, which is previously in the direction of transport, becomes the rear edge by turning in the head station Kbf and vice versa. As a result, a head station Kbf uses a mail item about its vertical axis, that is to say about a vertical axis which is also perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the rectangular mailpiece. Each mail item that can not be rotated about its vertical axis passes through the head-end station bypass Kbf-By around the terminal stations. An exemplary device with terminal stations and terminus bypass is in US 5,449,166 described. A soft W-Kbf directs each mail item either in the head station Kbf or in the head station bypass Kbf-By a mail item about its vertical axis, ie about a vertical axis, which is also perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the Reckeckigen mailing.

The mailpieces are transported to a printing device Dru. This imprinting device Dru has at least one printhead Dru-Ko and at least one printhead Dru-Ku. It is possible that the printing device Dru has a plurality of vertically or obliquely arranged one above the other printheads. Depending on where the item is to be printed, one of the printheads will be activated. It is possible that several printheads print the same mail item at different locations.

After a mail item has passed the turning distance Wst or the turning distance bypass Wst-By and the at least one head station Kbf or the head-end bypass Kbf-By, the mailpiece is oriented and aligned. The oriented and aligned mail items are passed upright between the printhead Dru-Ko and the print gate Dru-Ku. The print head Dru-Ko prints the mail. Preferably, the printhead is designed as a long-distance printer, so that the printhead is able to print on mailpieces of different heights. For example, depending on the height of the mail item, an area of the wide-area printer is activated in each case and prints on an area below the top edge of the mailpieces.

In one embodiment, the oriented mail piece is printed with the aim of invalidating a franking mark. Both a large letter and a standard letter will be printed in this way. In another embodiment, it is decided beforehand whether the franking mark needs to be canceled by printing at all. A postage stamp is to be canceled by imprint, a franking mark in the form of a postage stamp or a bar pattern (barcode) or matrix codes usually not. Furthermore, it is decided whether the mail piece can be printed directly or is packed in a foil, so that it can not be printed directly. In this case, a label ("label") is preferably applied to the mail piece. It is possible that in addition an advertising imprint or an indication of the processing sorting system or the processing sorting center is printed on a mailpiece.

Subsequently, each mail item passes through a drying section TSE in which the printing ink of the print dries. Because the imprint always points to the same side, it is possible to shorten the drying by a blower, the blower acting from one side onto the upright mail piece.

The upright mailpiece is transported between the at least one printhead Dru-Ko and the print gate Dru-Ku. In order for the mail item to be printed on the correct page and the correct location or locations, it is necessary to orient and align the mailpieces in the same direction, so that the surface with the address and the indicia to the print head Dru-Ko shows and the address information is upright. A differently oriented and differently oriented mail item is thus previously rotated about the longitudinal axis and / or about the vertical axis as described above. These two axes run in the object plane.

In one embodiment, some or all of the mailpieces are weighed prior to printing. For example, all large letters are weighed. Therefore, at least one scale Waa connects with the turning distance Wst and the head station Kbf with Waa-By parallel-connected balance bypass. The balance Waa has a weighing module or several weighing modules connected in parallel. Parallel weighing modules are z. In US 6,107,579 described. A piece of mail to be weighed is transported via one of these weighing modules. The weighing module weighs the mail piece without the mail piece being stopped for weighing.

A mail item that is not to be weighed is transported past the weighing bypass Waa-By on the weighing modules.

A diverter W-Waa directs each item of mail either to a transport line to Waa scale or Waa-By scale bypass.

• – das Signal Ori von der Bildauswerteeinheit BAE,
• – ein Signal von der Standardbrief-Ausgabeeinheit-Auswahleinheit A-A, welches die ausgewählte zweite Ausgabeeinheit (Standardbrief-Sortierausgang) bezeichnet,
• – ein Signal von der Großbrief-Ausgabeeinheit-Auswahleinheit A-A-Gb, welches die ausgewählte erste Ausgabeeinheit (Großbrief-Sortieranlage) bezeichnet, und
• – Signale von den Lichtschranken.

The control device SE receives the following signals:

• The signal Ori from the image evaluation unit BAE,
• A signal from the standard letter output unit selecting unit AA indicating the selected second output unit (standard letter sorting output),
• A signal from the large letter output unit selecting unit AA-Gb denoting the selected first output unit (large letter sorting unit), and
• - Signals from the photocells.

• – die Weiche W-Wst, die eine Postsendung entweder in die Wendestrecke Wst oder in den Wendestrecken-Bypass Wst-By leitet,
• – die Weiche W-Kbf, die eine Postsendung entweder in den Kopfbahnhof Kbf oder in den Kopfbahnhof-Bypass Kbf-By leitet,
• – die Weiche W-Waa, die eine Postsendung entweder in eine Transportstrecke zur Waage Waa oder in den Waagen-Bypass Waa-By leitet,
• – den Druckkopf Dru-Ko,
• – den Sortiercode-Drucker SCD,
• – die Großbrief-Ausschleus-Einrichtung Gb-AE,
• – die Standardbrief-Ausschleus-Einrichtung Sb-AE.

The control unit SE controls the following components of the sorting system:

• The switch W-Wst, which directs a mail item either into the turning section Wst or into the turning section bypass Wst-By,
• The switch W-Kbf, which directs a mail item either to the terminus station Kbf or to the terminus bypass Kbf-By,
• The diverter W-Waa, which directs a mail piece either into a transport path to the balance Waa or into the balance bypass Waa-By,
• The printhead Dru-Ko,
• The sorting code printer SCD,
• The large letter rejection facility Gb-AE,
• The standard letter rejection device Sb-AE.

• – die Zuführ-Einrichtung („feeder”) mit dem Vereinzeler Ver („singulator”),
• – die Aussortiereinrichtung Aso, in der nicht maschinell verarbeitbare Gegenstände aussortiert werden,
• – die Aufricht- und Ausrichtvorrichtung Auf,
• – den Vereinzeler („singulator”) Ver, der die aufrecht stehenden und ausgerichteten Postsendungen vereinzelt,
• – die Formatmess-Einrichtung FME, welche die Abmessungen der aufrecht stehenden und vereinzelten Postsendungen misst,
• – das mindestens eine Bildaufnahmegerät Bag.1, Bag.2, ..., welches ein rechnerverfügbares Abbild , von der Postsendung erzeugt,
• – die Wendestrecke Wst, welche die Postsendungen um die Längsachse dreht, oder einen Wendestrecken-Bypass Wst-By um die Wendestrecke Wst herum,
• – die mindestens einem Kopfbahnhof Kbf, der die Postsendung um die Hochachse dreht, oder den Kopfbahnhof-Bypass Kbf-By um den Kopfbahnhof Kbf herum,
• – die Waage Waa, die die Postsendung wiegt, oder den Waagen-Bypass Waa-By an der Waage Waa vorbei,
• – die Aufdruck-Einrichtung Dru mit mindestens einem Druckkopf Dru-Ko und der Druck-Kulisse Dru-Ku und
• – die Trockenstrecke Tst.

Each mail item - both large letter and standard letter - has thus gone through the following components in the exemplary embodiment on their previous path:

• The feeding device ("feeder") with the singler Ver ("singulator"),
• - the sorting facility Aso, in which non-machine-processable items are sorted out,
• - the righting and alignment device,
• - the singulator Ver, who separates the upright and oriented mailpieces,
• The format measuring device FME, which measures the dimensions of the upright and separated mailpieces,
• - The at least one image capture device Bag.1, Bag.2, ..., which is a computer-accessible image . produced by the mailpiece,
• The turning section Wst, which rotates the mailpieces about the longitudinal axis, or a turning path bypass Wst-By around the turning section Wst,
• The at least one head station Kbf, which rotates the mail item about the vertical axis, or the head station bypass Kbf-By around the head station Kbf,
• The balance Waa, which weighs the mail item, or the balance bypass Waa-By, past the scale Waa,
• - The printing device Dru with at least one printhead Dru-Ko and the printing backdrop Dru-Ku and
• - the drying section Tst.

Now all mailings go through the large letter rejection facility ("flats sorter") Gb-AE. In an alternative embodiment, the standard letters are transported past the large letter rejection device Gb-AE, and only the large letters pass through the large letter rejection device Gb-AE.

This Großbrief-Ausschleusungseinrichtung Gb-AE has a main transport path and per large letter sorting output Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... each have a switch and a connection path from this switch to the large letter sorting output Gb-AE.1 , Gb-AE.2 .... It is possible that two parallel main transport paths lead through the large letter rejection device Gb-AE. Each large letter is redirected from a main switch path to a connection path and transported along the connection path to a large letter sorting exit. It is possible that several large letters overlap temporarily and at least partially during this release ("shingling").

In one embodiment, the sorting outputs Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... are arranged for large letters in at least one row or arranged in a plurality of superimposed rows. In each large letter sorting exit Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... a stack of upright large letters is generated in each case. As a result of the rejection, in each large-letter sorting exit Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2,..., One stack each grows in a stacking direction. A large letter output unit selection unit A-A-Gb selects for each large letter each a large letter sorting output Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... from.

In a particularly simple embodiment, the large letters are not sorted. For example, the large letters are ejected into the first large-letter sorting output Gb-Ae.1 until this sorting output Gb-Ae.11 is filled to such an extent that a predetermined fill level is reached. The next large letters are ejected into the second large letter sorting exit Gb-Ae.2 until it is filled, and so on. In another embodiment, the large letters are equally divided into the large letter sorting outputs Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ....

This simple embodiment without sorting is preferably used when the sorting system has both a turning device Wst, Wst-By and at least one head station Kbf, Kbf-By and therefore is able to turn each mail item both about its longitudinal axis and about its vertical axis. This allows the sorting system to orient each mail piece so that the print head Dru-Ko of the printing device Dru can print every mail item in the correct position. In each sorting output, a stack of oriented mailpieces is generated in each case. This applies to large letter sorting exits as well as to standard letter sorting exits. The front of each mail item points in the same direction, the destination address is upright for all mailpieces or upside down for all mailpieces, and the franking mark is always approximately at the same location, e.g. B. always top right or always right bottom.

In another embodiment, the sorting system own sorting outputs for such large letters, which are underfranked. The sorting system measures the charge-relevant parameters of each mail item, eg. Dimensions and weight, and determines the value of an indicium on the mailpiece. If a lower franking is suspected, a large letter is rejected in a special sorting exit.

In a further embodiment, the sorting system has no head station Kbf and / or no turning section Wst. Therefore, the sorting system can not turn the mail item about its vertical axis or not about its longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, different sorting outputs are used for the differently oriented mailpieces. For example, all the large letters where destination address information is upright are placed in a first group of large letter sorting outputs, and all the large letters with upside down destination address information in a second group. Or all large letters in which the franking mark is applied on the left in the direction of transport surface, get into a first group and all large letters with franking marks on the right in a second group. It is possible that the sorting system is able to rotate standard letters around the longitudinal axis and around the vertical axis, but not all large letters both around the longitudinal axis and around the vertical axis. The corresponding applies to all standard letters.

In a further embodiment, the large letters are sorted by a physical parameter, for. B. according to a dimension, in particular the thickness, or by weight. Each sorting output is assigned to a subrange of the value range of a parameter, eg. As the range "thickness of mail over 15 mm".

In one embodiment, the solution sorting system is used for presorting. Several subsequent sorting systems sort a part of the large letters, z. B. all large letters that are thinner than 15 mm and lighter than 500 g. All thicker and all heavier large letters are z. B. sorted manually. The sorting system according to the solution provides oriented and oriented large letters which can be sorted by the respective subsequent sorting system.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting system does not sort the large letters according to their destination addresses. Therefore, the transport distance from the image acquisition device Bag.1, Bag.2 to the large letter rejection device Gb-AE does not need to be so long that the reader with the OCR unit OCR has deciphered the address of a large letter until the large letter reaches the uppercase letter. Outfeed facility Gb-AE has reached. The shorter transport route to the large letter rejection device Gb-AE leads to a lower mechanical load. In each - or in most - large-letter sorting outputs Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... a stack of aligned and oriented large letters is generated in each case.

Alternatively, the reader also attempts to automatically detect the respective destination of each large letter. However, only a shorter time span is available for this. If, in this shorter time period, the OCR unit OCR succeeds in deciphering the destination address of the large letter, then a first sorting exit Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2,... Is selected depending on the destination address that has been deciphered, and the large letter is entered in This selected sorting output is rejected. If this is not possible for the OCR unit OCR in the available time span, then the large letter is ejected into a further first sorting output which is reserved for large letters with non-automatically decipherable destination addresses.

On the main transport path, which leads through the sorting system and thereby through the subsystems described above, are located downstream of the large letter rejection device Gb-AE only standard letters, because the large letter rejection device Gb-AE has ejected all large letters , These standard letters are to be sorted by the sorting system according to their destination addresses. Therefore, the reader with the OCR unit OCR and the video coding station VCS must have deciphered the respective destination address of each standard letter until the standard letter reaches the standard letter rejection facility Sb-AE. At an earlier date, the deciphering result need not be present.

The destination address Add of a standard letter is usually deciphered quickly if the OCR unit OCR can decipher the destination address automatically by evaluating the computer-accessible image. If, on the other hand, this image is displayed on a video display device of a video coding station VCS and an editor enters a part of the destination address, the decoding takes much longer. In order to avoid having to eject many standard letters until the input from the video coding station VCS is present, a sufficiently long period of time is required for deciphering and also made available.

Therefore, the standard letters after the large letter drop-out device Gb-AE go through a delay line Vst ("delay line"). Each standard letter remains in this delay line Vst for a period of time to provide the reader with the OCR unit OCR and the video coding station VCS sufficient computing time to decipher the destination address by evaluating the computer-available image, even if a manual input to the video coding station VCS must be captured and evaluated to decipher the destination address on a mailpiece.

The standard letters are to reach the standard letter-out device Sb-AE so that between two consecutive standard letters a gap occurs that is greater than or equal to a minimum gap, and on the other hand as small as possible. Therefore, after the delay line Vst, the standard letters pass through a gap correction module LKM, which in each case produces a desired gap between two successive standard letters. Because the Großbrief-Ausschleus-device Gb-AE has ejected the large letters from the stream of mail, now larger gaps between each two successive standard letters have arisen, d. H. Gaps larger than the minimum gap. In order to reduce such a gap, preferably the gap correction module LKM delays the leading standard letter. This will allow more time for the reader to decipher the address.

After the gap correction module LKM, the standard letters in one embodiment pass through a sorting code printer SCD. This sorting code printer SCD prints machine-readable sorting information on each standard letter. This sorting information encodes the destination address that the reader has deciphered. The reader thus has the time that the standard letter requires for its path from the image acquisition device Bag.1, Bag.2 to the sorting code printer SCD.

After the sorting code printer SCD has printed the sorting information, the standard letter passes through a further drying section Tst-Sb in which the printed sorting information dries. This further drying section Tst-Sb only dries standard letters. Subsequently, the standard letter reaches the standard letter rejection device Sb-AE. The output unit selecting unit AA applies the above-mentioned computer-available sorting plan Spl to determine the sorting output Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ... which is assigned to the destination address of the standard letter. The standard letter reject facility Sb-AE exports the standard letter to the assigned sorting output Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Aqe.2, .... This results in each sorting output Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ... each a stack of upright, flat standard letters.

In 1 a processing device VE is shown, which processes flat postal items depending on the respectively determined orientation of a mail item. This processing device VE comprises the turning section WST, the head station KBF, the scale Waa and the imprinting device Dru. Furthermore, in 1 a sorter So shown for standard letters. This sorter So includes the delay line VSC, the gap correction module LKM, the sort code printer SCD, the further drying section T-Sb and the standard letter-out device STB-AE. In 1 In addition, a Gb-VE large letters processing facility is shown. This includes the large letter rejection facility Gb-AE and the large letter sorting exits Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...

In the exemplary embodiment just described, the image recording devices Bag.1, Bag.2 of each mail item were able to produce one image per surface of the mailpiece. This image shows the complete surface. Therefore, the image evaluation unit BAE of each mail item could determine its orientation and deliver the result Ori. In a modification of the embodiment described above, simpler image recording devices Bag.1, Bag.2 are used. Or an existing sorting system for standard letters should now also be able to sort large letters. The image capture devices Bag. 1, Bag. 2 of the modification are capable of generating from each surface of each standard letter a respective computer-accessible image showing the entire surface of the standard letter, and also a replica of each surface of a large letter. However, there may be the case that none of the images from the surface of a large letter show the destination address information. The orientation of this large letter can therefore not be determined.

In this modification, a switch W-Ori removes the large letter, whose orientation could not be determined, to a bypass VE-By, which passes the processing device VE and returns to the main letter before the large letter drop-out device Gb-AE. Transport path opens. 2 shows this variation. A large letter whose orientation could not be determined, is discharged into a special large letter sorting output. It is possible that there are several special large letter sorting exits for large letters whose orientations could not be determined. The large letters from this at least one special large letter sorting output are returned to the sorting system.

In a further modification, all large letters are also transported past the image recording devices Bag.1, Bag.2, so that no image is generated by any large letter and its orientation is determined. The format measuring device FME decides whether a mailpiece is a standard letter or a large letter, and controls a switch W-Gb. This switch W-Gb leaves each standard letter in the main transport path, which leads through the two image pickup devices Bag.1, Bag.2 to the processing device VE. On the other hand, the diverter W-Gb directs each large letter into a bypass bag-by, which leads around the image pick-up devices Bag.1, Bag.2 and around the processing device VE and back to the main letter before the large-letter rejection device Gb-AE Transport path leads. 3 shows this further modification.

In one embodiment of this modification, different format classes for large letters are specified. The format measuring device FME measures every large letter and decides to which format class this large letter belongs. The large letter selection unit AA-Gb selects a large letter sorting output Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, depending on the determined format class. The Großbrief-Ausschleus-device Gb-AE ejects the large letter in the selected large letter sorting output. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS reference numeral importance AA Standard Letter Output Unit Selection Unit selects a standard letter output unit Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ... AA-Gb Large letter output unit selecting unit selects a large letter output unit Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ... Fig. 1, Fig. 2 computer-accessible images of the two surfaces of a flat postal item Add Destination address of a standard letter that has been deciphered by the deciphering unit OCR, VCS Add-DB Address database with valid destination addresses On Erecting and alignment device Aso sorting-out BAE Image evaluation unit, acts as an orientation decision unit and as an imprint decision facility Bag.1 Image pick-up device to the right of the transport route Bag.2 Imaging device to the left of the transport path Bag-By Bypass for large letters, passes the image-capture devices Bag.1, Bag.2 and the processing facility VE. DL Delay line ("delay line") DS Data storage in which the computer-available sorting plan Spl is stored Dru Printing device with printhead Dru-Ko and printing set Dru-Ku Dru-Ko Print head of the printing device Dru Dru-Ku Printing backdrop of the printing device Dru FME Format measuring device, acts as an article type decision device Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ... Sorting exits for large letters Gb-AE Large letter Ausschleus facility Gb-VE Large letters processing facility comprising the large letter rejection facility Gb-AE and the large letter sorting outlets Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ... kbf terminus Kbf-By Railhead bypass LKM Gap correction module OCR OCR unit Ori Information from the image evaluation unit BAE, as the surface is oriented with the at least one character Sb-AE Standard letter Ausschleus facility Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ... Sorting outputs for standard letters SCD Sort code printer So The standard letter sorter includes the delay line VSt, the gap correction module LKM, the sort code printer SCD, the further drying section (TSt-Sb), and the standard letter ejection device Stb-AE Spl computer-available sorting plan in the data storage DS IR transport direction is Drying section, dries the depreciating imprint Actual Sb further drying section, dries the sort code VCS video coding VE Processing equipment, includes the turning section WSt, the head station Kbf, the scale Waa and the printing device Dru VE-By Bypass for large letters, leads past the processing facility VE. Ver Singulator vst delay path W-Gb Soft, leaves a mailing on the main transport path or directs the mailing in the bypass bag-by W-Kbf Weiche, directs a mail item either in a transport route to the main station Kbf or in the main station bypass Kbf-By W Ori Soft, leaves a mailing on the main transport path or directs the mailing in the bypass VE-By W-Waa Weiche, forwards a mail item either to a transport line to the Waa scale or to the Waa-By scale bypass Waa Libra Waa-By Scales bypass W-Wst Weiche, directs a mail item either in the turning distance Wst or in the turning distance bypass Wst-By Wst turning line Wst-By Turn routes bypass

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10146842 A1 [0002]
• EP 1872867 A1 [0003, 0004]
• DE 3821106 A1 [0005]
• DE 102008056904 A1 [0006]
• FR 2915013 A1 [0007]
• US 2010/0231626 A1 [0007]
• EP 0654309 B1 [0008]
• US 5959288 [0009]
• US 5449166 [0083]
• US 6107579 [0089]

Claims (11)

Method for processing a plurality of articles, each object to be processed - extending in an object plane and - having at least two surfaces, at least one surface of each article being provided with at least one character (add), a sorting system having - a first ejection device ( Gb-AE) and - a second ejection device (Sb-AE) is used, the first ejection device (Gb-AE) at least a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...) and the second ejection device (Sb-AE) comprises a plurality of second output units (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2,...), and the method comprises the automatically performed steps of each object being moved along a transport path into one Transport direction (TR), for each object - is measured, which value assumes a given physical parameter for this object, and - decided depending on the measured parameter value whether the item belongs to a first predetermined item type or a second predetermined item item, at least when the item belongs to the second item type, the steps are additionally carried out such that - at least one computer-accessible image ( . ) is generated by the at least two surfaces of the object, - by evaluating at least one of the images ( . ), which one of the at least two surfaces is the surface with the at least one character (Add), is determined using the decision result, like the surface having the at least one character (Add) relative to the transport path and seen in the transport direction (TR), the object - is then discharged from the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) into a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...) if the object is to the first Article type, and - is then discharged from the second outfeed device (Sb-AE) into a second output unit (Sb-AE.1, Sb-AE.2, ...) if the object is moved to the second object Art belongs, and for each object of the second object type in addition, the steps are performed, that - the object through the first discharge device (Gb-AE) or past the first discharge device (Gb-AE) to the second Device (Sb-AE) - by evaluating the image ( . ) from the surface with the at least one character (add) the at least one character (add) on the one surface of the object is deciphered, - depending on the deciphering result one of the second output units (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2,. ..) is selected and - the object is ejected into the selected second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ...), and for each article of the first article type before the rejection additionally at least one processing step This processing step depends on the orientation of the surface with the at least one character (add) relative to the transport path and / or on the measured parameter value of this object. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that - At least one print is produced on the surface with the at least one character (Add) or - it is decided that the object can not be brought into a position in which a print on the surface with the at least one sign (Add) can be produced. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of printing on the surface is carried out, while the article is being conveyed past a print head (Dru-Ko) of an imprinting device (Dru), the surface having the mark (Add) faces the print head (Dru-Ko), before producing the imprint using at least one the images ( . ), as the surface is positioned with the at least one character (Add) relative to the printhead (Dru-Ko), and the article is positioned as needed so that the surface with the character (Add) at the latest to the printhead (Dru -Ko) indicates when the article reaches the imprinting device (Dru-Ko). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a partial range of the value range of the predetermined physical parameter can be specified and for every item - When measuring the parameter, it is checked whether the value that the parameter for the object assumes falls within the value range or not, and If the parameter falls within the range of values, it is decided that the item belongs to the second item type. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) comprises a plurality of first output units (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...) and the items of the first item type are distributed to these multiple first items according to at least one of the following criteria: According to the respective value assumed by a given physical parameter for an item to be processed of the first item type, According to the result of the decision which of the at least two surfaces of the object is the surface with the at least one sign (Add), According to the result of the test, how the surface with the at least one character (add) is oriented relative to the transport path and viewed in the transport direction (TR), According to the result of the decision as to whether an imprint on the surface can be generated with the character (Add) or not, From the result of the evaluation of a value document, wherein a surface of the object is provided with this value document. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for each article of the first article type in each case at least one computer-available image ( . ) is generated from the at least two surfaces of the object, it is checked whether one of these images ( . ) that shows at least one character (add) or not, then, if one of the image ( . ) shows the sign (Add), - determines how the surface is oriented with the characters (Add), and - the processing step performed depends on the determined orientation of the surface. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) comprises a plurality of first output units (Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ...) and for each item of the first item type of processing step performed for that item comprises the steps of Depending on the measured parameter value of this object, to select a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2,...) And - to eject the object into this selected output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...). Sorting plant for processing a plurality of articles, each article to be processed extending in an object plane and having at least two surfaces, at least one surface of each object to be processed is provided with at least one character (add), the sorting system - an article type decision device (FME), - an image acquisition device (Bag.1, Bag.2), - a decipherment unit (OCR , VCS), an orientation decision unit (BAE), an output unit selection unit (AA), a first discharge unit (Gb-AE) and a second discharge unit (Sb-AE), the first discharge Means (Gb-AE) comprises at least a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...), the second ejection means (Sb-AE) comprises a plurality of second output units (Sb-AE.1, Sb-AE.2, ...), the sorting system is designed to transport the items to be sorted along a transport path in a transport direction (TR), the image pickup device (Bag.1, Bag.2) is designed to, respectively at least one computer-accessible image ( . ) from the at least two surfaces of an object to be processed, the object type decision device (FME) is designed to measure, for an object to be processed, what value a given physical parameter will assume for that article; measured parameter value, whether the object belongs to a first predetermined object type or to a given second object type, the orientation decision unit (BAE) is designed for each object to be sorted - by evaluating at least one image ( . ) to decide which of the at least two surfaces is the surface with the at least one character (Add) and, using the decision result, to determine how the surface having the at least one character (Add) relative to the transport path and seen in the Transport direction (TR) is oriented, the deciphering unit (OCR, VCS) is designed using the image ( . ) from the surface having the at least one character (add) to decode the at least one character (add) on the surface, the output unit selection unit (AA) is adapted to, depending on a deciphering result of the deciphering unit (OCR, VCS), a second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ...), the first outfeed means (Gb-AE) is adapted to put each item of the first item type into one of the first output units (Gb-Ae. 1, Gb-Ae.2, ...), the second outfeed device (Sb-AE) is adapted to transfer each item of the second item type into one of the second output units (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae .2, ...), the sorting system is designed to automatically perform for each item to be sorted the steps that - the item-type decision device (FME) decides whether the item is the first item type or the second item -Art belongs, - the picture taking device (Bag.1, Bag.2) at least when the object belongs to the second object type, at least one computer-accessible image ( . ) is generated by the at least two surfaces of the object, - the orientation decision unit (BAE) by evaluating at least one of the images ( . ) determines, at least when the article belongs to the second article type, how the surface with the at least one character (add.) is oriented relative to the transport path and viewed in the transport direction (TR), then when the article is closed the first article type involves performing at least one processing step on that article, this processing step depending on the orientation of the surface having the at least one character relative to the transport path and / or the measured value that the parameter assumes for that article, If the object belongs to the first object type, the reject device (Gb-AE) ejects the object into a first output unit (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...), and when the article belongs to the second article type, the second ejection device (Sb-AE) ejects the article into a second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ...), wherein the So Furthermore, the animal facility is configured to additionally carry out the steps for each object of the second article type to be processed, that the device passes the article through the first ejection device (Gb-AE) or at the first ejection device (Gb-AE ) transported over to the second discharge device (Sb-AE), The deciphering unit (OCR, VCS) by evaluation of the image ( . ) from the surface with the at least one character (add) that decodes at least one character (Add), - the output unit selection unit (AA), depending on the deciphering result of the deciphering unit (OCR, VCS), a second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb -Ae.2, ...) and - the second outfeed device (Sb-AE) ejects the object into the selected second output unit (Sb-Ae.1, Sb-Ae.2, ...). Sorting plant according to claim 8, characterized in that the device in addition An imprint decision facility (BAE) and - a printing device (Dru-Ko) includes, the imprint decision device (BAE) is adapted to decide whether the article is in a position or can be brought into a position in which the imprinting device (Dru-Ko) has printed on the surface with the mark (Add ), the imprinting device (Dru-Ko) is designed to produce at least one imprint on the surface with the at least one character (add), and the device is designed to automatically perform for each item to be sorted the steps that The imprint decision device (BAE) decides whether the article is in a position or can be brought into a position in which the imprinting device (Dru-Ko) imprinted on the surface with the at least one character (Add) can generate, and The imprinting device (Dru-Ko) then, when it has been decided that an imprint can be produced, generates an imprint on the surface with the at least one character (Add). Sorting plant according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) comprises a plurality of first output units (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...) and the device is designed to distribute the articles of the first type depending on the first output units (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...), how the surface with one character (Add) is oriented relative to the transport path. Sorting plant according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the first outfeed device (Gb-AE) comprises a plurality of first output units (Gb-Ae.1, Gb-Ae.2, ...) and the sorting system additionally comprises a further output unit selection unit (A-A-Gb), the further output unit selection unit (A-A-Gb) is configured to for a subject of the first object type, to select a first output unit (Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2,...) depending on the measured parameter value of that object, and the sorting system is designed to carry out the steps for each article of the first article type as a processing step, To select by means of the further output unit selection unit (A-A-Gb) a first output unit (Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, - to eject the object into the selected first output unit (Gb-AE.1, Gb-AE.2, ...).

Images