JPH0717264B2 - Method and apparatus for automatically sorting article bundle including standard bundle and fractional bundle - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically sorting a bundle of articles, such as newspapers and magazines, which are bundled with different quantities according to their destinations,
Specifically, the present invention relates to a sorting technique for preventing erroneous detection of a fractional bundle other than the standard number of standard bundles.

Conventional Technology For example, newspapers have different numbers of copies depending on the destination, but conventionally,
While the newspapers for each destination are bundled into the required number of standard bundles with a standard number and one fractional bundle, and each of these newspaper bundles is attached with an addressing sheet with a sorting code and transported by a sorting conveyor. The sorting code has been read for automatic sorting, or the sorting method disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho 60-2112 has been used as an improved method.

However, the former sorting method is uneconomical because the address sheet is attached even to a standard bundle that does not require a sorting code, and the latter sorting method improves this point and attaches the address sheet to a fractional bundle. Although it is omitted for the standard bundle, there is a problem that the sorting code may not be read if the address sheet is folded, and thus the fractional bundle is mistakenly recognized as the standard bundle.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the sorting method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 60-2112 and enables reliable sorting, and is capable of automatically transferring a bundle of articles including a standard bundle and a fractional bundle. An object is to provide a sorting method and apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides articles into a standard number standard bundle and a fractional number bundle for each quantity classified by destination, and binds the articles in a laminated state by a sorting conveyor. When sorting automatically by destination, the fractional bundles are divided into those with less than the standard number and those with a little more than the standard number, and each color sheet is attached with an address sheet with a sorting code, and these are transferred by a sorting conveyor. An automatic sorting code reader installed on the way, a color detector for the address sheet, a standard bundle, and a fractional bundle slightly exceeding the standard number are detected by the height detector, and the fractional bundles are individually transferred to the sorting conveyor by reading the sorting code. The standard bundle is sorted according to the standard bundle discharge number signal specified for the sorting outlet of the sorting conveyor by the logical product signal of the height detection signal, the sorting code unreadable signal and the color non-detection signal. An automatic sorting method and an apparatus for automatically discharging the sorting destinations.

Action Since the sorting code is read and sorting is automatically performed by the sorting conveyor, when sorting is performed automatically by using a shift register that shifts the sorting code reading signal in synchronization with the sorting conveyor, conventionally, the sorting code is written only on the fractional bundle. Sheets are attached and the standard bundle is not attached with an address sheet, but the standard bundle is ejected from the assortment outlet according to the emission number signal determined for each assortment.In that case, if the address sheet is folded back, Since the sorting code cannot be read, it may be mistaken for a standard bundle without an address sheet.However, if the address sheet and color sheet are used for color detection, it is clear that the bundle is a fractional bundle even if folded. Therefore, the above misidentification can be prevented.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the present invention, in addition to the fractional bundle A (first fractional bundle) which is less than the standard number, even when the number of copies for each shipping destination slightly exceeds the standard number, this is bundled into one bundle and the fractional bundle B (second
The first and second fraction bundles A and B are color sheets (excluding yellow and orange due to the illumination lamp) and the address bar code and other necessary matters are printed in black. Sheets D are attached and standard bundles S without the address sheet D are placed and transferred one by one at a predetermined position of the sorting conveyor 1.

An automatic reader 2 for optically reading an address bar code as a sorting code is provided on one side of the conveyor 1, and an optical height detector 3 having a height H slightly lower than the height of the standard bundle S is provided in the vicinity thereof. . The height H is the light source 4 of the height detector 3.
Of the standard bundle S and the fractional bundle B are blocked (see Fig. 2a,
c), the fractional bundle A has a height that does not block light (FIG. 2B), and the detection signal m of the detector 3 is 1 when it is blocked and 0 when it is not blocked. Further, a color detector 5 is provided above the conveyor 1 following the optical automatic reader 2. The color detector 5 illuminates the address paper D with a halogen lamp and detects the presence or absence of the address paper D, and outputs a signal of 1 if the address sheet D is present and 0 if it is not present.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the sorting control device used in the present invention. The reading signal of the automatic reader 2 is sent to the automatic reading controller 6, and when the automatic reading device 2 reads the sorting code. The data signal d is written in the shift register 8 via the OR gate 7, and when the assortment code is not read, the read disable signal n (= 1) is output. The detection signal m, the unreadable signal n, and the symbol i are input to the AND gate 9. If both signals m, n are 1 and the signal i is 0, the standard bundle S is obtained. The discriminating circuit 10 operates to output the standard bundle signal e to the OR gate 7.
Write to the shift register 8 via.

The shift register 8 shifts a memory signal by a shift pulse p generated each time the conveyor 1 moves by a predetermined stacking pitch of newspaper bundles, and the memory signal corresponds to a plurality of sorting destination discharge ports provided along the conveyor 1. When it is shifted to the bit position to be matched and coincides with the sorting destination sorting code signal, the discharging device of the discharging port is activated to discharge the fractional bundle A or B.

The standard bundle S is discharged from the discharge port by the matching of the sorting code signals in the same manner as described above according to the number signal designated for each discharge port.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, it is made clear that it is a fractional bundle as a color sheet with an addressing sheet attached only to the fractional bundles, by binding the articles by assortment into a standard bundle and a fractional bundle. Even if the address sheet is folded back and the sorting code cannot be read, it is possible to reliably prevent this fractional bundle from being misidentified as a standard bundle without an address sheet, and to perform sorting accurately. There is an effect that the dispatcher who loads the bundle of articles discharged from the vehicle into the vehicle can save the labor of visually inspecting the bundle of articles to prevent misdelivery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic sorting apparatus, and FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c are standard bundles and first and second bundles, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a relational arrangement of height detectors with respect to a fractional bundle of s, and FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of an automatic sorting control device. 1 ... sorting conveyor, 2 ... sorting code reader 3 ... height detector, 5 ... color detector 6,9,10 ... control device A ... first fractional bundle, B ... second Fractional bundle of D ... Addressing sheet

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic sorting method in which articles are divided into standard bundles of a standard number and fractional bundles for each quantity according to assortment and bound in a laminated form, wherein the fractional bundle is a first fractional bundle of less than the standard number. The second bundle of fractions slightly exceeding the standard number is divided, and an address sheet with a classification code is attached to the color sheet is attached to the outer surface of each fraction bundle to separate the standard bundle from the first and second fraction bundles. During the transfer by the sorting conveyor having the first discharge port, the sorting code is automatically read, the address sheet is automatically detected in color, the standard bundle and the second fraction are automatically detected in height, and the first and second fractions are detected. The bundle is automatically ejected from the relevant sorting outlet by the sorting code reading signal, and the standard is designated as the sorting outlet by the logical product signal of the height detection signal, sorting code unreadable signal and color non-detection signal. The sorting destination is discharged according to the bundle discharge signal Standard bundle and a fractional flux and automatic sorting method article bundle comprising characterized by automatic ejection from. 2. The automatic sorting method according to claim 1, wherein a color sheet excluding yellow and orange is used as the address sheet. 3. An automatic sorting device for articles, which are divided into standard bundles of a standard number and fractional bundles for each quantity classified by destination and are bound in a laminated form, wherein the fractional bundle is a first fraction less than the standard number. A bundle and a second fractional bundle that slightly exceeds the standard number are divided, and an addressing sheet with a color code as a sorting code is attached to the outer surface of each fractional bundle, and the standard bundle and the first and second fractional bundles are attached. A sorting code reader, a color detector for an address sheet, and a height detector for detecting a standard bundle and a second fractional bundle are provided on the way of transferring the sheet by a sorting conveyor having a sorting destination discharge port. Control device for selectively opening the sorting outlet of the sorting conveyor by a logical product signal of the reading signal of the reader or the unreadable signal of the sorting code reader, the non-detection signal of the color detector and the detection signal of the height detector Standard bundle and fractional bundle Automatic sorting device for a continuously goods bundles.