BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a mail processing device and a mail processing method.
Particularly, the present invention relates to a mail processing device which transports
mail one by one and a mail processing method.
Description of Related Art
[0002] Mail processing companies such as post offices use a mail processing device in which
when collected mail is inserted, non-standard shape mail unsuitable for automatic
processing is selectively excluded, and standard shape mail which is not excluded
is automatically picked up one by one to be transported in a stabilized supply amount
to a processing device such as a reader and a sorting machine in the subsequent steps.
[0003] As such a mail processing device, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application,
First Publication, (JP-A) No.
2000-271543 discloses a mail processing device which supplies mail to a transport path on the
downstream from a selecting portion and in which a buffer portion is provided between
the selecting portion and the transport path on the downstream and a transport belt
of the buffer portion is stopped when an amount detecting lever and a sensor provided
on the transport path on the downstream of the buffer portion detect that the supply
amount of mail is too large.
[0004] In recent years, for further mail processing efficiency, there is a demand from mail
processing companies for a processing device having an expanded processing target
coverage including standard shape mail with the same or higher processing speed. An
expansion in the processing target coverage in the mail processing device means that
the mail sizes, thicknesses and weights become varied. In a processing device using
the machine described in
JP-A-2000-271543, for example, there is concern that the sending of mail to a one-mail-piece sending
portion may be interrupted when thick mail is continuously supplied.
[0005] US 2008/0000814 A1 discloses a sorting system for flat mail items includes a process controller and
at least three storage modules connected in a parallel arrangement. Each of the at
least three storage modules has a storage area and an infeed function to transfer
mail items from a mail item stream into the storage area, and an extraction function
to extract mail items from the storage area for generating an improved mail item stream.
One of the at least three storage modules is operable in the infeed function, another
one of the at least three storage modules operable in the extraction function, and
at least one further module of the at least three storage modules is operable in a
halt status. Address information is added to the mail items by the process controller
for the mail items contained in the storage area of the storage module operated in
the halt status.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of at least one embodiment is to provide a mail processing device which
can solve the above-described problem and uninterruptedly transport and process mail
having various sizes, thicknesses and weights one by one, and a mail processing method.
[0007] A mail processing device according to an aspect of the invention has: a mail processing
device comprising: a one-mail-piece sending portion which sends mail one by one; first
to n-th buffers which are continuously arranged, where n is an integer greater than
or equal to 2; a first sensor which detects the full state of the one-mail-piece sending
portion; second to n-th sensors (15a, 15b, 15n) which detect the full states of the
first to (n-1)-th buffers (3 - 10); a first transporting portion (12b) which transports
the mail in the first buffer to the one-mail-piece sending portion; second to n-th
transporting portions which transport the mail in the second to n-th buffers to the
first to (n-1)-th buffers; and a transport control portion which controls the first
to n-th transporting portions; wherein when the first sensor does not detect the full
state of the one-mail-piece sending portion, the transport control portion is arranged
to prompt the first transporting portion to transport mail to the one-mail-piece sending
portion, and when the i-th sensor does not detect the full state of the i-1-th buffer,
the transport control portion is arranged to prompt the i-th transporting portion
to transport mail to the (i-1)-th buffer, where i is an integer of 2 to n; and wherein
the transport control portion has a timer which measures a time during which the i-th
sensor continuously detects the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer, and when the time
reaches a predetermined time, the transport control portion is arranged to stop the
i-th transporting portion.
[0008] In addition, a mail processing method according to another aspect of the invention
of a mail processing method of a mail processing device having a one-mail-piece sending
portion which sends mail one by one, first to n-th buffers which are continuously
arranged, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, a first sensor which detects
the full state of the one-mail-piece sending portion, second to n-th sensors which
detect the full states of the first to (n-1)-th buffers, a first transporting portion
which transports the mail in the first buffer to the one-mail-piece sending portion,
second to n-th transporting portions which transport the mail in the second to n-th
buffers to the first to (n-1)-th buffers, and a timer which measures a time during
which the i-th sensor continuously detects the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer,
where i is an integer of 2 to n; the method comprising: prompting the first transporting
portion to transport the mail to the one-mail-piece sending portion when the first
sensor does not detect the full state of the one-mail-piece sending portion; prompting
the i-th transporting portion to transport the mail to the (i-1)-th buffer when the
i-th sensor does not detect the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer; and stopping, when
the time measured by the timer reaches a predetermined time, the i-th transporting
portion.
[0009] According to a mail processing device and a mail processing method of the invention,
it is possible to uninterruptedly transport and process mail having various sizes,
thicknesses and weights one by one.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a first embodiment
of a mail processing device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the buffer
portion 10 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration from the buffer portion
9 to the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configurations of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a modified example of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a view showing the concept of the transport control in the insertion portion
1 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Next, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire schematic configuration of a first
embodiment of a mail processing device.
[0013] The mail processing device has an insertion portion 1 into which mail is inserted,
buffer portions 2 to 10 for accumulating mail, and a one-mail-piece sending portion
11 having a function of sending mail one by one. The buffers 2 to 10 are continuously
arranged.
[0014] Mail P sent from the insertion portion 1 is supplied to the buffer portion 2 in a
state of being arranged in the longitudinal direction of the mail with regard to the
transport direction. The mail P is transported to the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 through the continuous buffer portions 2 to 10. The mail P is accumulated or stacked
in the buffer portions in order of the buffer portion 10 on the lowermost-stream,
the buffer portion 9, the buffer portion 8, ..., the buffer 2.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the buffer
portion 10 of the mail processing device. The other buffer portions 2 to 9 have the
same configuration.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, mail P is transported from the upstream so that a wide surface
is parallel to a side-mounted transport belt 12b and one side of the mail is held
by a bottom-mounted transport belt 13b. When the mail P is accumulated in the buffer
portion 10, mail P transported from the upstream collides with the mail P in the buffer
portion 10. At this time, there is concern that the mail P may be damaged and folding
may occur when the bottom transport belt 13b strongly pushes the mail P into the buffer
portion 10. Accordingly, as the bottom transport belt 13b, a belt is used which has
a lower friction coefficient than the side transport belt. This friction coefficient
is at a level at which the mail P slides on the bottom transport belt 13b when the
transported mail P collides with the accumulated mail P and the bottom transport belt
13b does not strongly push the mail P. In this manner, folding or damage to the mail
P can be reduced.
[0017] An amount detecting lever 14b is, for example, a lever which is rotatably supported
around a rotation axis parallel to the side-mounted transport belt 12b and perpendicular
to the transport direction. By a spring 16b, an end portion of the lever is pressed
against the uppermost mail. The amount detecting lever 14b rotates in accordance with
a total thickness of the mail pushed between the side-mounted transport belt 12b and
the end portion of the lever by the side-mounted transport belt 12b and the bottom
transport belt 13b. An amount detecting lever 14c of the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 also may have the same configuration.
[0018] An amount detecting sensor 15b outputs whether the buffer 10 is full or not by the
rotation angle of the amount detecting lever 14b. For example, the amount detecting
sensor 15b may be configured to have an output circuit and a light-receiving element
which are shielded from the light from a light source (not shown) in accordance with
the rotation angle by the detecting lever 14b. In addition, a rotation angle θ1 of
the detecting lever 14b at which the output of the amount detecting sensor 15b shifts
to non-detection from the detection of the full state is set to be different from
a rotation angle θ2 of the detecting lever 14b at which the output shifts to the detection
from the non-detection of the full state. θ1 is preferably smaller than θ2.
[0019] The rotation angle θ2 of the detecting lever 14c may not be set to an angle at which
there is no space to put mail into the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 and may be
appropriately set to be a rotation angle at which the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 is almost full, but there is space to put mail. An amount detecting sensor 15c
of the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 also may have the same configuration.
[0020] FIG 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a portion from the
buffer portion 9 to the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 of FIG 1. FIG 4 is a block
diagram of FIG 3.
[0021] As shown in FIG 3, the mail P transported from the buffer portion 10 is accumulated
in the one-mail-piece sending portion 11. The amount detecting lever 14c rotates in
accordance with the amount of the mail P which is accumulated in the one-mail-piece
sending portion 11. The amount detecting sensor 15c outputs whether the one-mail-piece
sending portion 11 is full or not by the rotation angle of the amount detecting lever
14c.
[0022] The buffer portion 10 has the side transport belt 12b, the bottom transport belt
13b, the amount detecting lever 14b, and the amount detecting sensor 15b. The side-mounted
transport belt 12b and the bottom-mounted transport belt 13b are provided with a motor
17b and a motor 18b, respectively, and driven by a transport control portion 19.
[0023] When the amount detecting sensor 15c detects that the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 is full, the transport control portion 19 stops the motors 17b and 18b which drive
the side belt 12b and the bottom belt 13b of the buffer portion 10 on the upstream
of the one-mail-piece sending portion 11. Therefore, the mail P is stored in the buffer
portion 10.
[0024] When the amount of mail P of the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 on the downstream
is reduced and the amount detecting sensor 15c of the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 detects that the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 is not full, the transport control
portion 19 drives the motors 17b and 18b which drive the side transport belt 12b and
the bottom transport belt 13b of the buffer portion 10 to supply mail P to the one-mail-piece
sending portion 11 on the downstream from the buffer portion 10.
[0025] In addition, when the amount detecting sensor 15b detects that the buffer portion
10 is full, the transport control portion stops motors 17a and 18a which drive a side
belt 12a and a bottom belt 13a of the buffer portion 9 on the upstream of the buffer
portion 10. Therefore, the mail P is stored in the buffer portion 9. An amount detecting
lever 14a rotates in accordance with the amount of the mail P accumulated in the buffer
portion 9. An amount detecting sensor 15a outputs whether the buffer portion 9 is
full or not by the rotation angle of the amount detecting lever 14a.
[0026] When the amount of mail P of the buffer portion 10 on the downstream is reduced and
the amount detecting sensor 15b detects that the buffer portion 10 is not full, the
transport control portion 19 drives the motors 17a and 18a which drive the side transport
belt 12a and the bottom transport belt 13a of the buffer portion 9 to supply mail
P to the buffer portion 10 on the downstream from the buffer portion 9.
[0027] Furthermore, as shown in FIG 1, a plurality of buffer portions operating in the same
manner as the buffer portion 9 may be provided on the upstream of the buffer portion
9. The transport control portion 19 estimates the amount of mail in the buffer portion
on the downstream from the state of the amount detecting lever of the buffer portion
on the downstream. When the amount of mail P in the buffer portion on the downstream
is reduced and the amount detecting sensor detects that the buffer portion on the
downstream is not full, the transport control portion 19 drives the motors which drive
the side transport belt and the bottom transport belt of the buffer portion on the
upstream to supply mail P to the buffer portion on the downstream from the buffer
portion on the upstream.
[0028] Next, a modified example of the buffer portion 9 and 10 will be described.
[0029] This configuration may be applied to another buffer portion. FIG 5 is a plan view
showing a modified example of FIG 3.
[0030] A point that is different in this modified example compared to the example of FIG
3 is the addition of smoothing mechanisms 22a and 22b.
[0031] The plurality of smoothing mechanisms 22a and 22b are arranged in the buffer portion
10 immediately before the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 on the downstream, and
if necessary, in the buffer portion 9 on the upstream side thereof to make the flow
of mail to the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 smoother. A gap between the smoothing
mechanism 22b and the side belt 12b is narrower than a gap between the smoothing mechanism
22a on the upstream and the side belt 12a. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an
effect of making the flow of the mail stored in the buffer portion to the one-mail-piece
sending portion 11 smoother.
[0032] Next, a modified example of the transport control portion will be described.
[0033] A point that is different in this modified example compared to the example of the
above-described transport control portion is a timer which is provided to measure
a time during which the amount detecting sensor 15b continuously detects the full
state.
[0034] At the time when the amount detecting sensor 15b detects that the buffer portion
10 is full, the transport control portion does not stop the motors 17a and 18a which
drive the side transport belt 12a and the bottom transport belt 13a of the buffer
portion 9 on the upstream side thereof, but reduces the speeds of the motors 17a and
18a from the working state. Accordingly, the supply amount of the mail P to the buffer
portion 10 is reduced.
[0035] The transport control portion is provided with a timer which measures a time during
which the amount detecting sensor 15b of the buffer portion 10 continuously detects
the full state as described above. When the full state is continuously detected by
the amount detecting sensor 15b of the buffer portion 10 for a predetermined time
or longer, the transport control portion stops the motors 17a and 18a which drive
the side transport belt 12a and the bottom transport belt 13a of the buffer portion
9.
[0036] When the amount of mail P of the buffer portion 10 on the downstream is reduced and
the amount detecting sensor 15b of the buffer portion 10 detects that the buffer portion
10 is not full, the transport control portion drives the motors 17a and 18a which
drive the side transport belt 12a and the bottom transport belt 13a of the buffer
portion 9 to supply mail P to the buffer portion 10 on the downstream from the buffer
portion 9.
[0037] In regards to the control of the speeds of the motors 17a and 18a which drive the
side transport belt 12a and the bottom transport belt 13a, the speeds may be reduced
to other degrees in accordance with a time during which the full state is continuously
detected, and then the motors 17a and 18a may be stopped.
[0038] In addition, when the timer measures a time during which the amount detecting sensor
of not only the buffer portion 10 but also of another buffer portion continuously
detects the full state, and the state in which the full state is continuously detected
continues for a predetermined time or longer, the motors which drive the side transport
belt and the bottom transport belt of the buffer portion on the upstream side thereof
may be stopped. In addition, the speeds of the motors may be reduced to other degrees
in accordance with the time during which the full state is continuously detected,
and then the motors may be stopped.
[0039] Next, the transport control in the insertion portion 1 will be described. FIG 6 is
a view showing the concept of the transport control in the insertion portion 1 of
the mail processing device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
the mail processing device.
[0040] An insertion portion transport control portion 21 which controls an insertion portion
transporting portion 20 from the insertion portion 1 to the buffer portion 2 on the
uppermost-stream estimates the amount of the mail P in the buffer portion 2 on the
downstream from the output of an amount detecting sensor 15n which outputs whether
the buffer portion 2 is full or not by the rotation angle of an amount detecting lever
14n of the buffer portion 2 on the downstream as the above-described transport control
portion of the buffer portion 10, and controls the transport amount of the mail P
to the buffer portion 2.
[0041] Furthermore, the insertion portion transport control portion 21 may estimate and
consider the total mail amount in the buffer portions 2 to 10 from the outputs of
the amount detecting sensors of the buffer portions 2 to 10 as shown in FIG. 6 to
feedback to the control of the transport amount of the mail P to the buffer portion
2 on the uppermost-stream from the insertion portion 1.
[0042] For example, the insertion portion transport control portion 21 estimates the amount
of the mail P of all of the buffer portions by the number of times of detection of
the full state by the amount detecting sensors 15 of the respective buffer portions,
and controls the speed of the insertion portion transporting portion 20 in accordance
with the estimated amount of the mail P of all of the buffer portions. That is, by
controlling the insertion portion transporting portion 20, the transport amount of
the mail P from the insertion portion 1 is adjusted to be larger than the standard
value when the amount of the mail P of all of the buffer portions is small, and the
transport amount of the mail P from the insertion portion 1 is adjusted to be smaller
than the standard value when the amount of the mail P of all of the buffer portions
is large.
[0043] In addition, when the thickness of each piece of mail stored in the buffer portion
is large, the number of pieces of the mail P stored in the buffer portion is also
reduced.
[0044] Accordingly, in the case in which the number of pieces of the mail P which are sent
from the one-mail-piece sending portion 11 per hour is set to be constant, when the
number of thick mail pieces is large, the number of pieces of the mail in the buffer
portion is reduced in comparison to when the number of thin mail pieces is large,
whereby the amount detecting sensor of each buffer portion frequently repeats the
detection of full state and non-detection on a short cycle. Therefore, the insertion
portion transport control portion 21 may control the insertion portion transporting
portion 20 in consideration of the frequency of the operation of the amount detecting
sensor of each buffer portion.
[0045] For example, when determining that the amount detecting sensor of each buffer portion
operates on a short cycle, it is estimated that the number of thick mail pieces is
large in the buffer portion, and the amount of the mail P from the insertion portion
1 is controlled so as to supply a larger amount of the mail P even with the same number
of times of detection of the full state.
[0046] In the above-described first embodiment, since the plurality of buffer portions are
provided, the mail can be constantly supplied in an uninterrupted manner to the one-mail-piece
sending portion 11 even when the processing target mail coverage is expanded. In addition,
since the plurality of buffer portions are provided and each has the amount detecting
lever, it is possible to estimate the total mail amount in the buffer portions and
perform feedback control to the upstream process. Furthermore, since the plurality
of buffer portions are provided and each has the amount detecting lever, it is possible
to estimate the thickness of the mail in the buffer portion from the ON/OFF frequency
information of the amount detecting lever and perform feedback control to the upstream
process.
[0047] Accordingly, it is possible to constantly send the mail so that the supply of the
mail to the one-mail-piece sending portion is not interrupted even in the mail processing
device in which the size and the thickness always vary. For example, in the configuration
in which the nine buffers 2 to 10 are continuously arranged as shown in FIG. 1, mail
having a size of up to the C4 size (229 mmx324 mm), a thickness of up to 8 mm and
a weight of up to about 300 g can be supplied to the one-mail-piece sending portion
11 at a rate of 50,000 pieces per hour.
[0048] The invention is not limited only to the configurations of the above-described embodiments,
and various changes can be made. For example, the number of the buffer portions may
be increased or reduced in accordance with the processing target mail or processing
speed.
[0049] The invention can be used in mail processing devices which are used in the organization
of mail.
[0050] While preferred embodiments have been described and illustrated above, it should
be understood that these are examples and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions,
omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from
the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered
as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of
the appended claims.
1. A mail processing device comprising:
a one-mail-piece sending portion (11) which sends mail one by one;
first to n-th buffers (2 - 10) which are continuously arranged, where n is an integer
greater than or equal to 2;
a first sensor (15c) which detects the full state of the one-mail-piece sending portion
(11);
second to n-th sensors (15a, 15b, 15n) which detect the full states of the first to
(n-1)-th buffers (3 - 10);
a first transporting portion (12b) which transports the mail in the first buffer to
the one-mail-piece sending portion (11);
second to n-th transporting portions (12a, 12n) which transport the mail in the second
to n-th buffers (2 - 9) to the first to (n-1)-th buffers (3 - 10); and
a transport control portion (19) which controls the first to n-th transporting portions
(12a, 12b, 12n);
wherein when the first sensor (15c) does not detect the full state of the one-mail-piece
sending portion (11), the transport control portion (19) is arranged to prompt the
first transporting portion (12b) to transport mail to the one-mail-piece sending portion
(11), and when the i-th sensor does not detect the full state of the i-1-th buffer,
the transport control portion (19) is arranged to prompt the i-th transporting portion
to transport mail to the (i-1)-th buffer, where i is an integer of 2 to n; and
wherein the transport control portion (19) has a timer which measures a time during
which the i-th sensor continuously detects the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer,
and when the time reaches a predetermined time, the transport control portion (19)
is arranged to stop the i-th transporting portion.
2. The mail processing device according to Claim 1,
wherein when the i-th sensor detects the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer, the transport
control portion (19) is arranged to reduce the speed of the i-th transporting portion.
3. The mail processing device according to any one of Claims 1 or 2,
wherein the i-th transporting portion has a side transport belt and a bottom transport
belt, and a friction coefficient of the bottom transport belt is lower than that of
the side transport belt.
4. The mail processing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
an estimating portion which estimates the amount of the mail in the first to n-th
buffers (2 - 10) from the number of times of detection of the full state in the first
to n-th sensors (15a, 15b, 15c, 15n);
an upstream transporting portion which transports mail on the upstream of the n-th
buffer; and
an upstream transport control portion (19) which controls the upstream transporting
portion in accordance with the estimated mail amount of the estimating portion.
5. The mail processing device according to Claim 4,
wherein the upstream transport control portion (19) is arranged to control the transport
amount of the upstream transporting portion in consideration of the frequency of change
in the detection content between the full state and the non-full state in the first
to n-th sensors (15a, 15b, 15c, 15n).
6. A mail processing method of a mail processing device having a one-mail-piece sending
portion (11) which sends mail one by one, first to n-th buffers (2 - 10) which are
continuously arranged, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, a first sensor
(15c) which detects the full state of the one-mail-piece sending portion (11), second
to n-th sensors (15a, 15b, 15n) which detect the full states of the first to (n-1)-th
buffers (3 - 10), a first transporting portion (12b) which transports the mail in
the first buffer to the one-mail-piece sending portion (11), second to n-th transporting
portions (12a, 12n) which transport the mail in the second to n-th buffers (2 - 9)
to the first to (n-1)-th buffers (3 - 10), and a timer which measures a time during
which the i-th sensor continuously detects the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer,
where i is an integer of 2 to n; the method comprising:
prompting the first transporting portion (12b) to transport the mail to the one-mail-piece
sending portion (11) when the first sensor (15c) does not detect the full state of
the one-mail-piece sending portion (11);
prompting the i-th transporting portion to transport the mail to the (i-1)-th buffer
when the i-th sensor does not detect the full state of the (i-1)-th buffer; and
stopping, when the time measured by the timer reaches a predetermined time, the i-th
transporting portion.
1. Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung, die aufweist:
einen Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt (11), der Sendungen einzeln nacheinander sendet;
erste bis n-te Puffer (2-10), die fortlaufend angeordnet sind, wobei n eine ganze
Zahl größer oder gleich 2 ist;
einen ersten Sensor (15c), der den Voll-Zustand des Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitts
(11) erfasst;
zweite bis n-te Sensoren (15a, 15b, 15n), welche die Voll-Zustände der ersten bis
(n-1)-ten Puffer (3-10) erfassen;
einen ersten Transportabschnitt (12b), der die Sendung im ersten Puffer zu dem Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt
(11) transportiert;
zweite bis n-te Transportabschnitte (12a, 12n), welche die Sendung in den zweiten
bis n-ten Puffern (2-9) zu den ersten bis (n-1)-ten Puffern (3-10) transportieren;
und
einen Transportsteuerungsabschnitt (19), der die ersten bis n-ten Transportabschnitte
(12a, 12b, 12n) steuert;
wobei, wenn der erste Sensor (15c) den Voll-Zustand des Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitts
(11) nicht erfasst, der Transportsteuerungsabschnitt (19) so eingerichtet ist, dass
er den ersten Transportabschnitt (12b) veranlasst, Post zu dem Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt
(11) zu transportieren, und wenn der i-te Sensor den Voll-Zustand des (i-1)-ten Puffers
nicht erfasst, der Transportsteuerungsabschnitt (19) so eingerichtet ist, dass er
den i-ten Transportabschnitt veranlasst, Post zu dem (i-1)-ten Puffer zu transportieren,
wobei i eine ganze Zahl von 2 bis n ist; und
wobei der Transportsteuerungsabschnitt (19) einen Zeitgeber aufweist, der eine Zeit
misst, während welcher der i-te Sensor kontinuierlich den Voll-Zustand der (i-1)-ten
Puffers erfasst, und wenn die Zeit einen vorgegebenen Zeitpunkt erreicht, der Transportsteuerungsabschnitt
(19) so eingerichtet ist, dass er den i-ten Transportabschnitt anhält.
2. Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1,
wobei, wenn der i-te Sensor den Voll-Zustand des (i-1)-ten Puffers erfasst, der Transportsteuerungsabschnitt
(19) so eingerichtet ist, dass er die Geschwindigkeit des i-ten Transportabschnitts
reduziert.
3. Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2
wobei der i-te Transportabschnitt ein seitliches Transportband und ein unteres Transportband
aufweist und ein Reibungskoeffizient des unteren Transportbands niedriger ist als
der des seitlichen Transportbands.
4. Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, die ferner aufweist:
einen Schätzabschnitt, der die Menge der Postsendungen in den ersten bis n-ten Puffern
(2-10) aus der Anzahl der Erfassungen des Voll-Zustands in den ersten bis n-ten Sensoren
(15a, 15b, 15c, 15n) schätzt;
einen Stromaufwärtstransportabschnitt, der Postsendungen vom n-ten Puffer stromaufwärts
transportiert; und
einen Stromaufwärtstransportsteuerungsabschnitt (19), der den Stromaufwärtstransportabschnitt
entsprechend der durch den Schätzabschnitt geschätzten Postsendungsmenge steuert.
5. Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4,
wobei der Stromaufwärtstransportsteuerungsabschnitt (19) so eingerichtet ist, dass
er die Transportmenge des Stromaufwärtstransportabschnitts unter Berücksichtigung
der Änderungshäufigkeit des Erfassungsinhalts zwischen dem Voll-Zustand und dem Nicht-Voll-Zustand
in den ersten bis n-ten Sensoren (15a, 15b, 15c, 15n) steuert.
6. Postverarbeitungsverfahren einer Postverarbeitungsvorrichtung mit einem Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt
(11), der Sendungen einzeln nacheinander sendet; ersten bis n-ten Puffern (2-10),
die fortlaufend angeordnet sind, wobei n eine ganze Zahl größer oder gleich 2 ist;
einem ersten Sensor (15c), der den Voll-Zustand des Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitts
(11) erfasst; zweiten bis n-ten Sensoren (15a, 15b, 15n), welche die Voll-Zustände
der ersten bis (n-1)-ten Puffer (3-10) erfassen; einem ersten Transportabschnitt (12b),
der die Sendung im ersten Puffer zu dem Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt (11) transportiert;
zweiten bis n-ten Transportabschnitten (12a, 12n), welche die Sendung in den zweiten
bis n-ten Puffern (2-9) zu den ersten bis (n-1)-ten Puffern (3-10) transportieren;
und einem Zeitgeber, der eine Zeit misst, während welcher der i-te Sensor den Voll-Zustand
des (i-1)-ten Puffers kontinuierlich erfasst, wobei i eine ganze Zahl von 2 bis n
ist; wobei das Verfahren aufweist:
Veranlassen des ersten Transportabschnitts (12b), die Postsendung zu dem Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitt
(11) zu transportieren, wenn der erste Sensor (15c) den Voll-Zustand des Einzelsendungs-Sendeabschnitts
(11) nicht erfasst:
Veranlassen des i-ten Transportabschnitts, die Postsendung zu dem (i-1)-ten Puffer
zu transportieren, wenn der i-te Sensor den Voll-Zustand des (i-1)-ten Puffers nicht
erfasst; und
Anhalten des i-ten Transportabschnitts, wenn die durch den Zeitgeber gemessene Zeit
einen vorgegebenen Zeitpunkt erreicht.
1. Dispositif de traitement de courrier comprenant :
une partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) qui envoie le courrier un par un ;
des premier à énième tampons (2-10) qui sont agencés en continu, où n est un entier
supérieur ou égal à 2 ;
un premier capteur (15c) qui détecte l'état plein de la partie d'envoi d'une pièce
de courrier (11) ;
des deuxième à énième capteurs (15a, 15b, 15n) qui détectent les états pleins des
premier à (n-1)ième tampons (3-10) ;
une première partie de transport (12b) qui transporte le courrier dans le premier
tampon vers la partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) ;
des deuxième à énième parties de transport (12a, 12n) qui transportent le courrier
dans les deuxième à énième tampons (2-9) vers les premier à (n-1)ième tampons (3-10) ; et
une partie de commande de transport (19) qui commande les première à énième parties
de transport (12a, 12b, 12n) ;
dans lequel, quand le premier capteur (15c) ne détecte pas l'état plein de la partie
d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11), la partie de commande de transport (19) est
agencée pour demander à la première partie de transport (12b) de transporter du courrier
vers la partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) et quand l'ième capteur ne détecte pas l'état plein du i-1ième tampon, la partie de commande de transport (19) est agencée pour demander à l'ième partie de transport de transporter du courrier vers le (i-1)ième tampon, où i est un entier de 2 à n ; et
dans lequel la partie de commande de transport (19) a un compteur de temps qui mesure
un temps durant lequel l'ième capteur détecte continuellement l'état plein du (i-1)ième tampon et, quand le temps atteint un temps prédéterminé, la partie de commande de
transport (19) est agencée pour arrêter l'ième partie de transport.
2. Dispositif de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1,
dans lequel l'ième capteur détecte l'état plein du (i-1)ième tampon, la partie de commande de transport (19) est agencée pour réduire la vitesse
de l'ième partie de transport.
3. Dispositif de traitement de courrier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou
2,
dans lequel l'ième partie de transport a une courroie de transport latérale et une courroie de transport
inférieure, et un coefficient de frottement de la courroie de transport inférieure
est inférieur à celui de la courroie de transport latérale.
4. Dispositif de traitement de courrier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à
3, comprenant en outre :
une partie d'estimation qui estime la quantité du courrier dans les premier à énième
tampons (2-10) à partir du nombre d'occurrences de détection de l'état plein dans
les premier à énième capteurs (15a, 15b, 15c, 15n) ;
une partie de transport en amont qui transporte du courrier en amont du énième tampon
; et
une partie de commande de transport en amont (19) qui commande la partie de transport
en amont en fonction de la quantité de courrier estimée de la partie d'estimation.
5. Dispositif de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 4,
dans lequel la partie de commande de transport en amont (19) est agencée pour commander
la quantité de transport de la partie de transport en amont en considération de la
fréquence de changement dans le contenu de détection entre l'état plein et l'état
non plein dans les premier à énième capteurs (15a, 15b, 15c, 15n).
6. Procédé de traitement de courrier pour un dispositif de traitement de courrier comportant
une partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) qui envoie le courrier un par un,
des premier à énième tampons (2-10) qui sont agencés en continu, où n est un entier
supérieur ou égal à 2, un premier capteur (15c) qui détecte l'état plein de la partie
d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11), des deuxième à énième capteurs (15a, 15b, 15n)
qui détectent les états pleins des premier à (n-1)
ième tampons (3-10), une première partie de transport (12b) qui transporte le courrier
dans le premier tampon vers la partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11), des deuxième
à énième parties de transport (12a, 12n) qui transportent le courrier dans les deuxième
à énième tampons (2-9) vers les premier à (n-1)
ième tampons (3-10), et un compteur de temps qui mesure un temps durant lequel l'i
ème capteur détecte continuellement l'état plein du (i-1)
ième tampon, où i est un entier de 2 à n ; le procédé comprenant :
la demande à la première partie de transport (12b) de transporter du courrier à la
partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) quand le premier capteur (15c) ne détecte
pas l'état plein de la partie d'envoi d'une pièce de courrier (11) ;
la demande à l'ième partie de transport de transporter le courrier au (i -1)ième tampon quand l'ième capteur ne détecte pas l'état plein du (i-1)ième tampon ; et
l'arrêt, quand le temps mesuré par le compteur de temps atteint un temps prédéterminé,
de l'ième partie de transport.