Document sorting program and document sorting system

Abstract

A technology is disclosed that enables the recipient or issuer of documents to classify documents by effectively utilizing characters and designs that can be used by the recipient or issuer of the documents. [Solution] The document sorting system 100A of this embodiment determines whether multiple documents P passing in front of a camera 40 are consecutively transported with the same destination or have been switched to a document P with a different destination, based on the serial number M2 printed on each document P captured by the camera 40. The serial number M2 is printed on each document P with the same destination so that they are transported in ascending order, and the above determination is made by obtaining serial number image data D1 indicating the serial number M2 from the captured data and determining whether it matches the leading image data D2 indicating the leading serial number M2. In other words, the serial number M2, which can be used by the recipient or issuer of the document P from characters, designs, etc. on the document P, can be used to make a determination for sorting the document P, thereby making effective use of the serial number M2.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a document sorting program for sorting documents to be sent by destination, and a document sorting system for sorting and collecting documents to be sent by destination based on the determination results of the document sorting program. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, issuers of documents such as tax notices and credit card statements bundle multiple documents addressed to multiple destinations into a pre-sorting document group and hand them over to a document sorting company. The number of documents varies for each destination, and when the pre-sorting document group is viewed sequentially from one end, the number of consecutive documents addressed to the same destination changes randomly, for example, three documents addressed to one destination followed by four documents addressed to the next destination. In contrast, document sorting systems used by document sorting companies separate pre-sorting document groups into documents addressed to the same destination by pulling out each document from one end of the pre-sorting document group, capturing an image with a camera, and then processing the image to determine whether the documents are addressed to the same destination or have been replaced. Conventional document sorting systems capture an image of the OMR mark printed on each document to determine whether the document has been replaced (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-208563 (paragraph

[0002]

[0004] , Figure 4) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the OMR mark is only used to distinguish documents and has no useful value after the documents are separated. Therefore, this application discloses a technology that enables documents to be separated by effectively utilizing characters and designs that can be used by the recipient or issuer of the documents among the characters and designs printed on the documents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present disclosure is a document sorting program that is executed by a computer that captures image data of multiple documents being transported in front of a camera and imaged, and causes the computer to function as a determination device that determines whether documents for the same destination are transported consecutively or whether documents for a different destination are transported consecutively.The document sorting program causes the computer to function as a serial number image acquisition unit that acquires image data of the serial number printed on each document as serial number image data, in ascending order of transport for each document for the same destination; a leading image data storage unit that stores leading image data, which is the image data of the leading serial number; and a switching determination unit that determines that a document for a different destination has been sent if the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit matches the leading image data, and determines that documents for the same destination are sent consecutively if they do not match.

[0006] A second aspect of the present disclosure is a document sorting program that is executed by a computer that captures image data of multiple documents being transported and imaged as they pass in front of a camera sequentially, and causes the computer to function as a determination device that determines whether documents to the same destination are transported consecutively or whether documents to a different destination are transported sequentially.The document sorting program causes the computer to function as a serial number image acquisition unit that acquires image data of the serial number printed on each document as serial number image data, in descending order of transport for each document to the same destination; a leading image data storage unit that stores leading image data, which is the image data of the leading serial number; and a switching determination unit that determines that the next document will be switched to a document to a different destination if the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit matches the leading image data, and determines that documents to the same destination are continuing if they do not match. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The document sorting program of the first and second aspects of the present disclosure is executed by a computer that captures image data of multiple documents that are conveyed and imaged as they pass in front of a camera. The computer then determines whether documents for the same destination are conveyed consecutively, or whether documents for different destinations are being switched, based on the serial numbers printed on the documents. Specifically, serial numbers are printed on each document for the same destination in ascending or descending order of conveyance, and the determination is made based on whether the serial number image data captured by the camera matches the image data of the first serial number stored in advance. Furthermore, the serial numbers can be used by the recipient of the documents to check whether there are gaps in the documents or whether the same documents have been mixed in, and by the issuer to distinguish the enclosed documents in the document's description. In other words, according to the document sorting program disclosed herein, the above-mentioned judgment for sorting documents can be made by effectively utilizing the serial number that can be used by the recipient or issuer of the document from among the characters, designs, etc. printed on the document, thereby enabling effective use of the information (serial number) printed on the document. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a document sorting system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the first conveyor section. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a bottom view of the first conveyor section. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a side view of the second conveyor unit in a stopped state, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the second conveyor unit in a driven state. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram of the control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6A is a flowchart of the discrimination program, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart of the separation processing program. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of the second conveyor of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a block diagram of the control device. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a flowchart of the number extraction program. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a flowchart of the first inspection program. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12A is a flowchart of the destination extraction program, and FIG. 12B is a flowchart of the separation processing program. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the second inspection program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [First embodiment] A document sorting system 100A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. First, a document to be sent P and a group of documents before sorting G to be sorted by the document sorting system 100A of this embodiment will be described.

[0010] Examples of documents P include tax notices and credit card statements. The issuer of the documents P bundles together multiple documents P addressed to multiple residences and delivers them to a document sorting company as a pre-sorting document group G (see FIG. 1). The number of documents P to be sent varies depending on the destination. In this specification, the "number of documents P" refers to the number of separated documents, and "one document P" includes a "single-sheet document P" consisting of a single piece of paper and a "booklet-structured document P" consisting of multiple pieces of paper organized into a booklet. Therefore, the number of documents P and the number of pieces of paper that make up the documents P may be different or the same. Hereinafter, each piece of paper included in the documents P will be referred to as a "piece of paper P1."

[0011] An identification information display section M shown in Fig. 3 is printed on the surface (front side) of each delivery slip P1. The printing position of the identification information display section M is arbitrary for the second and subsequent delivery slips P1 of a booklet-structured delivery document P, but for other delivery slips P1, i.e., delivery slips P1 of a single-sheet delivery document P and delivery slips P1 of the top page of a booklet-structured delivery document P, the identification information display section M is printed in a fixed position that is common to all delivery slips P.

[0012] The identification information display section M includes a destination number M1 and a serial number M2. The destination number M1 is, for example, a number linked to a membership number or account number used by the issuer of the document P to identify the recipient, and is indicated, for example, by a multi-digit number and the symbol "#." The destination number M1 is a consecutive number that differs for each destination. For example, when the documents P are viewed in the order in the pre-sorting document group G, the same destination number M1 continues for the same destination. When the destination changes, the destination number M1 is changed to a destination number M1 that is incremented by one from the destination number M1 of the previous destination. That is, in this embodiment, the destination number M1 differs for each destination and is printed in ascending order relative to the order in the pre-sorting document group G of the documents P. Note that the destination number M1 may differ for each destination and be printed in descending order relative to the order in the pre-sorting document group G of the documents P.

[0013] Here, in the above explanation, the phrase "looking at the documents P in the order they are arranged in the pre-sorting document group G" means "looking at the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G in order from the top with the printed side of the identification information display section M of the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G facing up" or "looking at the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G in order from the bottom with the printed side of the identification information display section M of the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G facing down". The same applies to the following explanation.

[0014] The serial number M2 is, for example, a consecutive number that enables the distinguishing of delivery slips P1 to the same destination. Specifically, the serial number M2 is, for example, indicated as a fraction enclosed in a pair of parentheses, where the denominator indicates the total number of delivery slips P1 to be delivered to the same destination, and the numerator indicates the ordinal number of the delivery slip P1 out of the total number (the serial number of each delivery slip P1). Therefore, for example, if the total number of delivery documents P to be delivered to the same destination is three and they are all single-sheet delivery documents P, when these delivery documents P are viewed in the order in which they are arranged in the pre-sorting document group G, the serial number M2 of the first delivery document P will be (1 / 3), the serial number M2 of the second delivery document P will be (2 / 3), and the serial number M2 of the third delivery document P will be (3 / 3). Also, for example, if the total number of sheets of documents P sent to the same destination is three, and the first document P is a four-sheet booklet, and the second and third documents P are single-sheet documents, when looking at the order of the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G, the number M2 of the first document P will be (1 / 6), the number M2 of the second document P will be (5 / 6), and the number M2 of the third document P will be (6 / 6). In this manner, in this embodiment, the number M2 may not be evenly spaced relative to the order of the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G, but is printed in ascending order. Note that the number M2 may also be printed in descending order relative to the order of the documents P in the pre-sorting document group G.

[0015] This concludes the explanation of the documents to be sent P and the pre-sorting document group G. Next, the configuration of each part of the document sorting system 100A will be described. The document sorting system 100A performs a sorting process to sort multiple documents to be sent P included in the pre-sorting document group G into documents with the same destination. The documents to be sent P that have been sorted by the document sorting system 100A are then inserted into envelopes E by the inserting device 101 shown in FIG. 1 and sealed by the sealing device 102 to become sealed letters. In order to perform the above sorting process, the document sorting system 100A is equipped with a conveying device 10, a control device 20, and a camera 40 shown in FIG. 1. Below, these components of the document sorting system 100A will be described.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying device 10 has a supply unit 11, a first conveyor unit 12, and a second conveyor unit 13. The supply unit 11 is provided with a document support unit 11T on which a pre-sorting document group G is placed with the printed side of the identification information display unit M of the document P facing downward. The supply unit 11 pulls out the document P from the pre-sorting document group G from the document support unit 11T one by one from the bottom end and supplies them to the first conveyor unit 12 so that they are lined up at regular intervals. As a result, the document P is supplied to the first conveyor unit 12 starting with the document P whose numerator of the serial number M2 for each destination is "1".

[0017] The first conveyor unit 12 is, for example, a roller conveyor that includes multiple pairs of drive rollers 12A arranged above and below and rotating symmetrically, and vertically sandwiches the documents P to be sent and transports them from the supply unit 11 to the second conveyor unit 13. The pair of drive rollers 12A at the downstream end of the first conveyor unit 12 has a smaller diameter than the other drive rollers 12A, and the distance between the drive rollers 12A at the downstream end and the one just before it is wider than the distance between the drive rollers 12A in other parts.

[0018] The second conveyor unit 13 corresponds to the "sorting device" according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the second conveyor unit 13 is located below the first conveyor unit 12, and as shown in FIG. 1, it transports documents P in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the first conveyor unit 12. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second conveyor unit 13 is, for example, a belt conveyor and includes a plurality of fins 13F spaced at equal intervals. The space between adjacent fins 13F forms a stacking section 14, and the second conveyor unit 13 stops to receive documents P from the first conveyor unit 12 into the stacking section 14, and then rotates to one side to discharge the documents P accumulated in the stacking section 14 into the inserting device 101.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the second conveyor section 13 is provided with an abutment wall 13W against which the tip of the document P discharged from the first conveyor section 12 can abut, thereby allowing the document P to be stacked on the accumulation section 14 with both end edges in the discharge direction aligned.

[0020] 2, the camera 40 is disposed below the downstream end of the first conveyor unit 12 and the portion between the drive rollers 12A just before that. Then, for example, when a sensor (not shown) detects that the document P is positioned in front of the camera 40 (in this embodiment, the top of the camera 40 corresponds to the front of the camera 40), the camera 40 is activated to capture an image of the document P and output the image data to the control device 20. As a result, image data of the identification information display portion M of the document P just before it is discharged from the first conveyor unit 12 to the second conveyor unit 13 is provided to the control device 20.

[0021] The control device 20 corresponds to a computer according to the present disclosure and includes a CPU 20A and a storage unit 20B. The storage unit 20B stores a determination program PG1, a separation processing program PG2, and the like, which will be described in detail later. When the CPU 20A executes the determination program PG1, the separation processing program PG2, and the like, the control device 20 functions as the determination device 21 and the second conveyor control unit 33 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5. The determination program PG1 and the separation processing program PG2 correspond to the "document sorting program" in the claims.

[0022] The storage unit 20B may be any type, such as an SSM, an HMM, a flash memory, a CM-ROM, a USB memory, or a combination thereof.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, the determination device 21 includes a data acquisition unit 30, a serial number image cutting unit 31, a switching determination unit 32, and a comparison data storage unit 20C.

[0024] The data acquisition unit 30 acquires image data of the identification information display unit M provided by the camera 40 as original image data.

[0025] The serial number image cutting unit 31 operates each time the data acquisition unit 30 acquires original image data, and cuts out image data of the serial number M2 from the original image data. Specifically, the comparison data storage unit 20C pre-stores, as first template data, image data of one of the parentheses "(" and the slash symbol " / " in the serial number M2, as well as the number of pixels representing the distance between these pieces of image data. The serial number image cutting unit 31 identifies a portion of the original image data that matches the first template data. Then, the serial number image cutting unit 31 cuts out image data consisting of the "(", " / ", and the number between them from the original image data as serial number image data D1. The serial number image cutting unit 31 in this embodiment corresponds to the "serial number image acquisition unit" in the claims.

[0026] The switching determination unit 32 determines whether the common number imaging data D1 is an image in which the numerator of the common number M2 is 1 or not. 40。 English: Specifically, the comparison data storage unit 20C stores image data of "(1 / ", which is a horizontal arrangement of a parenthetical symbol "(", a number "1", and a slash symbol " / ", as the leading image data D2. In other words, in this embodiment, the comparison data storage unit 20C corresponds to the "leading image data storage unit" in the claims. The switching determination unit 32 determines through image processing whether the serial number image data D1 matches the leading image data D2. Herein, in this embodiment, documents P to be sent to the same destination are extracted from the unsorted document group G with the document whose numerator of the serial number M2 is 1 as the leading document and imaged by the camera 40, so the fact that the serial number image data D1 matches the leading image data D2 means that the document P to be sent that passed in front of the camera 40 has been switched to a document P to be sent to a new destination. Hereinafter, a document P to be sent whose serial number image data D1 matches the leading image data D2 will be referred to as the "leading document" as appropriate, and a document P to be sent that does not match will be referred to as the "non-leading document" as appropriate.

[0027] The switching determination unit 32 outputs a determination signal according to the determination result. Specifically, when the switching determination unit 32 determines that the serial number image data D1 matches the leading image data D2, that is, when the switching determination unit 32 determines that the document P that passed in front of the camera 40 is the leading document, it outputs a determination signal indicating that. When the switching determination unit 32 determines that the serial number image data D1 does not match the leading image data D2, that is, when the switching determination unit 32 determines that the document P that passed in front of the camera 40 is a non-leading document, it outputs a determination signal indicating that. Note that, hereinafter, a determination signal indicating that the document is the leading document will be referred to as a "leading determination signal," and one that does not will be referred to as a "non-leading determination signal." Furthermore, when there is no need to distinguish between these signals, they will simply be referred to as a determination signal from the switching determination unit 32.

[0028] The second conveyor control unit 33 controls the second conveyor unit 13 upon receiving the determination signal output by the switching determination unit 32. Specifically, when the second conveyor control unit 33 receives a non-leading determination signal from the switching determination unit 32, it stops the second conveyor unit 13 and puts it on standby. As a result, the document P to be sent, which is a non-leading document, is discharged from the first conveyor unit 12 to the accumulation unit 14 of the second conveyor unit 13 and piled up.

[0029] On the other hand, when the second conveyor control unit 33 receives a leading determination signal from the switching determination unit 32, after the sending document P immediately before the leading document P is discharged from the first conveyor unit 12 to the stacking unit 14 of the second conveyor unit 13 and before the leading document P is discharged to the stacking unit 14, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second conveyor unit 13 is operated to discharge the sending document P from the stacking unit 14 to the inserting device 101, and another empty stacking unit 14 is positioned below the second conveyor unit 13 and stopped. As a result, the pre-sorting document group G is separated into sending documents P for the same destination, and if there are multiple sending documents P for the same destination, the multiple sending documents P are stacked from bottom to top in order of the lowest serial number M2, and are discharged from the document sorting system 100A to the inserting device 101.

[0030] As described above, the inserting device 101 inserts the document P to be sent, which is discharged from the document sorting system 100A, into an envelope E, and discharges the envelope E to the sealing device 102. The sealing device 102 seals the envelope E.

[0031] In this embodiment, the camera 40 captures an image of the document P immediately before it is discharged from the first conveyor unit 12 to the second conveyor unit 13. However, the camera 40 may also capture an image of an earlier document P. For example, the camera 40 may capture an image of the document P N units prior to the document P discharged from the first conveyor unit 12 to the second conveyor unit 13. In this case, the second conveyor control unit 33 may temporarily store the most recent N determination signals in the memory unit 20B and control the second conveyor unit 13 to operate in the same manner as described above using these N determination signals in order from oldest to newest. In addition, in this embodiment, the first conveyor unit 12 is configured to continuously discharge the document P from the stacking unit 14 to the inserting device 101. However, the first conveyor unit 12 may be stopped and wait when the second conveyor unit 13 discharges the document P from the stacking unit 14 to the inserting device 101.

[0032] 6A shows an example of the aforementioned determination program PG1. The determination program PG1 is executed by the CPU 20A each time the camera 40 captures an image of the identification information display section M of the document P to be sent. When the determination program PG1 is executed, first, an image capture process of step S11 is executed, and the image data captured by the camera 40 is captured as original image data into the control device 20. In other words, when the CPU 20A is executing step S11, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "data capture unit 30."

[0033] Next, an image cutting process of step S12 is executed, and the serial number image data D1 is cut out from the original image data. That is, when the CPU 20A is executing step S12, the control device 20 functions as the above-mentioned "serial number image cutting unit 31."

[0034] Next, it is determined whether the serial number image data D1 matches the head image data D2, which is "(1 / " (S13). If the serial number image data D1 matches the head image data D2 (YES in S13), the head determination flag FL1 is set to "1" (S14) and the determination program PG1 is exited. If they do not match (NO in S13), the head determination flag FL1 is set to "0" (S15) and the determination program PG1 is exited. In other words, when the CPU 20A is executing steps S13 to S15, the control device 20 functions as the above-mentioned "switching determination unit 32." Furthermore, setting the head determination flag FL1 to "1" corresponds to the switching determination unit 32 outputting a head determination signal, and resetting the head determination flag FL1 to "0" corresponds to the switching determination unit 32 outputting a non-head determination signal.

[0035] FIG. 6B shows an example of the separation processing program PG2. The separation processing program PG2 is executed by the CPU 20A after the determination program PG1 is executed. When the separation processing program PG2 is executed, it is checked whether the leading determination flag FL1 is "1" (S21). If the leading determination flag FL1 is not "1" (NO in S21), the separation processing program PG2 is terminated (NO in S21). If the leading determination flag FL1 is "1" (YES in S21), the conveyor drive process (S22) is executed, and the separation processing program PG2 is terminated. When the conveyor drive process (S22) is executed, the second conveyor unit 13 is driven a predetermined conveyance length and then stopped. As a result, only when the document P passing in front of the camera 40 is the leading document, the second conveyor unit 13 is driven and the document P in the stacking unit 14 is discharged to the inserting device 101 and emptied. That is, when the CPU 20A is executing the sorting and consolidation program, the control device 20 functions as the above-mentioned "second conveyor control unit 33."

[0036] This completes the description of the configuration of this embodiment. Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. The document sorting system 100A of this embodiment determines whether multiple documents P conveyed in front of the camera 40 are consecutively conveyed with the same destination or have been switched to a document P with a different destination, based on the serial number M2 printed on the identification information display M of each document P captured by the camera 40. The serial number M2 is printed in ascending order for each document P with the same destination in the order of conveyance. In this embodiment, serial number image data D1 indicating the serial number M2 is obtained from the image data captured by the camera 40, and the determination is made based on whether the serial number image data D1 matches the pre-stored leading image data D2 indicating the leading serial number M2. Furthermore, the serial number M2 can be used by the recipient of the document P to determine whether there are missing documents P or whether the same document P has been mixed in. The issuer can also use the serial number M2 to distinguish enclosed documents P in the description of the document P. In other words, according to the document sorting system 100A of this embodiment, the above-mentioned judgment for sorting the document P can be made by effectively utilizing the serial number M2, which is available to the recipient or issuer of the document P, from the characters, designs, etc. printed on the document P, thereby making effective use of the information printed on the document P (serial number M2).

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the serial number image cutting unit 31 acquires, from the image data captured by the camera 40, one of the parentheses, the slash, and the numerical portion of the serial number M2 as serial number image data D1, and determines whether it is the leading document based on whether this matches the leading image data D2 of "(1 / ". Here, it is conceivable to extract only the numerical characters of the serial number M2 necessary for determining whether it is the leading document from the image data of the camera 40 and use this as the serial number image data D1, but if only numerical characters are used, there is a risk of erroneously extracting numbers unrelated to the serial number M2. In contrast, in this embodiment, the numerical characters necessary for determining whether it is the leading document are extracted by searching the original image data using the image data of "( / " as a marker, so that the serial number M2 can be extracted more accurately and easily than a configuration that searches for only numerical characters from the original image data.

[0038] [Second embodiment] The document sorting system 100B of this embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9 will be described below only in terms of the configuration that differs from the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the second conveyor unit 13V of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, for example, the second conveyor unit 13V has a length such that two stacking units 14 are lined up in the conveying direction of the upper surface. When the second conveyor unit 13V is stopped, only the upstream stacking unit 14 receives documents P from the first conveyor unit 12. When the second conveyor unit 13V starts operating, the upstream stacking unit 14 that was receiving documents P moves next to it and becomes the downstream stacking unit 14, and the empty stacking unit 14 becomes the new upstream stacking unit 14.

[0039] A distance sensor 70 is provided above the downstream stacking unit 14 to measure the thickness of the documents P on the stacking unit 14. The distance sensor 70 has, for example, a rod 70A that can move up and down, and is configured so that the rod 70A can be pressed from above against the documents P in the downstream stacking unit 14. A support member 71 that receives the pressing force of the rod 70A is provided inside the second conveyor unit 13V. Immediately after the second conveyor unit 13V operates and the downstream stacking unit 14 is replaced, the rod 70A descends and is pressed against the documents P, and at a position where the rod 70A can no longer descend, the distance sensor 70 outputs the distance traveled by the rod 70A as a substitute for the number of pieces of paper P1 included in the documents P.

[0040] The distance sensor 70 may be of a non-contact type. Specifically, for example, a pressing device that presses the group of documents P from above and an optical distance sensor 70 may be provided, and the optical distance sensor 70 may measure the distance to the top surface of the group of documents P in a state pressed by the pressing device. Also, instead of the distance sensor 70, a thickness measuring device that sandwiches the group of documents P and measures the thickness may be provided.

[0041] The memory unit 20B of the control device 20 stores a sheet number extraction program PG3 (see FIG. 9) and a first inspection program PG4 (see FIG. 10), and by executing these programs with the CPU 20A, the control device 20 functions as the first inspection device 60 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8, and also functions as the abnormality processing unit 50 shown in FIG. 8 by executing an abnormality processing program (not shown). The first inspection device 60 and the abnormality processing unit 50 of this embodiment correspond to the "thickness determination device" in the claims.

[0042] The first inspection device 60 includes an image number cutting unit 61, a numerical information extraction unit 62, a data conversion unit 63, a number match determination unit 64, a data stock unit 65, and a comparison data storage unit 20D.

[0043] The number image cropping unit 61 operates each time the switching determination unit 32 outputs a leading determination signal, and crops out the image data of the denominator of the number number M2 from the original image data. Specifically, the comparison data storage unit 20D pre-stores, as second template data, image data of the slash symbol " / " in the number number M2, the other parentheses symbol ")", and the number of pixels representing the distance between these two pieces of image data. The number image cropping unit 61 identifies a portion of the original image data that matches the second template data. The number image cropping unit 61 then crops out the image data of the " / ", "(", and the numbers between them from the original image data as number image data. As a result, the image data of the numbers indicating the total number of tickets P1 to be sent to the same destination is cropped out as number image data.

[0044] Based on the number image data, the numerical information extraction unit 62 generates read number data D3 corresponding to the thickness of the group of documents P for each destination. Specifically, the numerical information extraction unit 62 uses image recognition processing to extract "information on the number of pieces of paper P1 to be sent" that the numbers represent from the "numbers as images" included in the number image data, and temporarily stores this in the data storage unit 65 as read number data D3.

[0045] The data conversion unit 63 generates actual number data D4 of the tickets to be sent P1 included in the group of documents P on the stacker 14 from the measurement results of the distance sensor 70. Specifically, the comparison data storage unit 20D stores a data table that associates the measurement results of the distance sensor 70 with the number of tickets to be sent P1. When the data conversion unit 63 acquires the measurement results of the distance sensor 70, it identifies the number of tickets to be sent P1 corresponding to the measurement results of the distance sensor 70 from the data table and outputs this as number-of-sheets data D4.

[0046] The number match determination unit 64 operates each time the data conversion unit 63 outputs the mounted number data D4, retrieves the read number data D3 corresponding to the actual number data D4 from the data storage unit 65, and determines whether the actual number data D4 and the read number data D3 match. If they match, the unit outputs a determination result that there is no abnormality, and if they do not match, the unit outputs a determination result that there is an abnormality. In addition, the read number data D3 used in the determination by the number match determination unit 64 is erased from the data storage unit 65.

[0047] The group of documents P whose actual number of sheets is determined using the distance sensor 70 is the group of documents P that was determined by the switching determination unit 32 before the group of documents P whose destination the latest document P belongs to determined by the switching determination unit 32. The read sheet count data D3 temporarily stored in the data stock unit 65 is retrieved by the sheet count match determination unit 64 and deleted from the data stock unit 65. Therefore, the oldest of the read sheet count data D3 temporarily stored in the data stock unit 65 becomes the read sheet count data D3 corresponding to the actual sheet count data D4. Therefore, the sheet count match determination unit 64 compares the oldest of the read sheet count data D3 temporarily stored in the data stock unit 65 with the read sheet count data D3.

[0048] When the sheet count match determination unit 64 outputs a determination result indicating an abnormality, the abnormality processing unit 50 performs abnormality processing such as outputting an error message from a message output unit (not shown) to notify an administrator or the like, and forcibly stopping the supply unit 11, the first conveyor unit 12, and the second conveyor unit 13V. As a result, the transport of the documents P to be sent is stopped before the enclosing device 101.

[0049] FIG. 9 shows an example of the number extraction program PG3. The number extraction program PG3 is executed by the CPU 20A after the determination program PG1 is completed and before the separation processing program PG2 is executed. When the number extraction program PG3 is executed, it is first checked whether the leading determination flag FL1 is "1" (S30). If the leading determination flag FL1 is not "1" (NO in S30), the number extraction program PG3 is immediately terminated. If the leading determination flag FL1 is "1" (YES in S30), an image cropping process (S31) is executed to crop the number image data from the original image data captured by the image processing (S11) of the determination program PG1. Then, a numerical information extraction process (S32) is executed to extract the numerical information contained in the number image data and generate read number data D3. The read number data D3 is then stored in a plurality of data storage registers R1 provided in the memory space of the storage unit 20B (S33), and the number extraction program PG3 is terminated. That is, when the CPU 20A is executing step 31, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "number image cutting unit 61," and when the CPU 20A is executing steps 32 and 33, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "numerical information extraction unit 62."

[0050] An example of the first inspection program PG4 is shown in Figure 10. The first inspection program PG4 is executed by the CPU 20A when the second conveyor unit 13V stops after operating. When the first inspection program PG4 is executed, an actual measurement process (S41) is first performed, and an activation command is given to the distance sensor 70, and then the measurement results from the distance sensor 70 are acquired. Next, a data conversion process (S42) is performed, and the aforementioned actual measurement number data D4 is generated from the measurement results from the distance sensor 70. Next, a corresponding data extraction process (S43) is performed, and the read number data D3 is extracted from the aforementioned data storage register R1. Then, it is determined whether the read sheet number data D3 and the actual sheet number data D4 match (S44), and if they do not match (NO in S44), the first abnormality determination flag FL2 is set to "1" (S45) and the first inspection program PG4 is terminated, and if they match (YES in S44), the first abnormality determination flag FL2 is set to "0" (S46) and the first inspection program PG4 is terminated. That is, in this embodiment, the control device 20 functions as the data conversion unit 63 described above when the CPU 20A is executing step S43, and functions as the sheet number match determination unit 64 described above when the CPU 20A is executing steps S44 to S46.

[0051] If the first abnormality determination flag FL2 is "1," the abnormality processing described above is executed. Then, when the abnormality is resolved and a safety confirmation button (not shown) of the control device 20 is operated, the first abnormality determination flag FL2 is reset to "0."

[0052] With the above configuration, the document sorting system 100B of this embodiment sorts and collects documents P for each destination based on whether the documents P being transported sequentially indicate the leading document for each destination, and then determines whether there are any missing documents P by reading the denominator of the serial number M2, which indicates the total number of documents P being sent to the same destination. In other words, the document sorting system 100B of this embodiment can improve the accuracy of sorting documents P, which are sorted only based on whether they are the leading document, while making more effective use of the information (serial number M2) printed on the documents P.

[0053] [Third embodiment] 11 to 13, the document sorting system 100C of this embodiment is obtained by adding functions to the control device 20 of the document sorting system 100B of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, only the configuration of this embodiment that differs from the first and second embodiments will be described.

[0054] In this embodiment, the storage unit 20B of the control device 20 stores a destination extraction program PG5 (see FIG. 12A) and a second inspection program PG6 (see FIG. 13), and when the CPU 20A executes these programs, the control device 20 functions as the second inspection device 36 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11. The destination extraction program PG5 and the second inspection program PG6 correspond to the "document sorting program" in the claims.

[0055] The second inspection device 36 includes a destination image cropping unit 34, a destination information extraction unit 35, a destination determination unit 37, a first number storage unit 81, a second number storage unit 82, and a comparison data storage unit 20E.

[0056] The destination image cropping unit 34 operates each time the data capturing unit 30 captures original image data, and crops out image data of destination number M1 from the original image data. Specifically, the comparison data storage unit 20E pre-stores, for example, image data of "#" from destination number M1 and pixel coordinates indicating the position of "#" in the original image data as third template data. The destination image cropping unit 34 identifies the "#" in the original image data based on the third template data, and crops out image data consisting of numbers from the "#" to a position a predetermined number of pixels to the left as destination image data from the original image data. Note that the destination image cropping unit 34 in this embodiment corresponds to the "destination image acquisition unit" in the claims.

[0057] The destination information extraction unit 35 uses image recognition processing to extract "numerical information" that the numbers represent from the "numbers as images" included in the destination image data as destination number data D5, and writes it into the first number storage unit 81. The destination information extraction unit 35 corresponds to the "character and number data extraction unit" in the claims, and the destination number data D5 corresponds to the "character and number data" in the claims.

[0058] The first number storage unit 81 and the second number storage unit 82 store destination number data D5. The destination number data D5 in the first number storage unit 81 is updated by the destination information extraction unit 35. The destination number data D5 in the second number storage unit 82 is updated by the destination determination unit 37, which will be described next.

[0059] The destination determination unit 37 acquires the determination signal from the switching determination unit 32 and the destination number data D5 from the destination information extraction unit 35. The destination determination unit 37 also includes a number succession determination unit 37A and a destination match determination unit 37B, and the number succession determination unit 37A operates in response to the leading determination signal output from the switching determination unit 32, while the destination match determination unit 37B operates in response to the non-leading determination signal output from the switching determination unit 32.

[0060] When the destination determination unit 37 receives a leading determination signal from the switching determination unit 32 immediately after the start of the document sorting system 100C, the number continuity determination unit 37A copies the destination number data D5 in the first number storage unit 81 to the second number storage unit 82. At times other than the special timing, the number continuity determination unit 37A performs a first numerical determination to determine whether the value of the destination number data D5 in the first number storage unit 81 matches the value of the destination number data D5 in the second number storage unit 82 incremented by one (i.e., the value obtained by adding one to the destination number data D5). When the result of the first numerical determination is "match," the number continuity determination unit 37A copies the destination number data D5 in the first number storage unit 81 to the second number storage unit 82 and outputs a no-abnormal signal to the second conveyor control unit 33V. When the result of the first numerical determination is "mismatch," the number continuity determination unit 37A issues an abnormality signal to the abnormality processing unit 50. The second number storage unit 82 of this embodiment corresponds to the "destination image data primary storage unit" in the claims, and the number consecutiveness determination unit 37A corresponds to the "destination consecutiveness determination unit" in the claims.

[0061] The destination match determination unit 37B performs a second numerical determination to determine whether the numerical value of the destination number data D5 in the first number storage unit 81 matches the numerical value of the destination number data D5 in the second number storage unit 82. If the determination result of the second numerical determination is "match", nothing is done, but if the determination result of the second numerical determination is "mismatch", an abnormality signal is sent to the abnormality processing unit 50.

[0062] In this embodiment, the second conveyor control unit 33 operates on the conditions that the determination signal from the switching determination unit 32 is a "head determination signal" and that a no-abnormality signal has been received from the destination determination unit 37, and operates the second conveyor unit 13V as described in the first embodiment. When an abnormality signal has been received from the destination determination unit 37, the abnormality processing unit 50 performs the same abnormality processing as when an abnormality signal has been received from the first inspection device 60.

[0063] An example of a destination extraction program PG5 is shown in Fig. 12A. The destination extraction program PG5 is executed after the determination program PG1 shown in Fig. 1 ends and before the separation processing program PG2 is executed. Note that the separation processing program PG2 of this embodiment (see Fig. 14) is partially different from the separation processing program PG2 of the first embodiment, and this will be explained later.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 12A, when the destination extraction program PG5 is executed, an image cropping process (S51) is performed to crop image data of destination number M1 from the original image data captured by the image processing (S11) of the determination program PG1. Next, a destination information extraction process (S52) is executed to extract, from the "numbers as images" contained in the image data of destination number M1, the "numerical information" represented by the numbers as destination number data D5. The destination number data D5 is then stored in a first comparison register R3 provided in the memory space of storage unit 20B (S53), and the destination extraction program PG5 is terminated. That is, when CPU 20A is executing step S51, control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "destination image cropping unit 34," and when executing steps S52 and S53, it functions as the "destination information extraction unit 35."

[0065] An example of the second inspection program PG6 is shown in FIG. 13. The second inspection program PG6 is executed after the destination extraction program PG5 is completed. As shown in FIG. 13, when the second inspection program PG6 is executed, it checks whether the leading judgment flag FL1, which indicates the judgment result by the judgment program PG1, is "1" (S61). If the leading judgment flag FL1 is "1" (YES in S61), it is determined whether the document sorting system 100C has just been started (S62). If the document sorting system 100C has just been started (YES in S62), the destination number data D5 stored in the first comparison register R3 is copied to the second comparison register R4 provided in the memory space of the storage unit 20B (S63), and then the second inspection program PG6 is exited.

[0066] If it is not immediately after startup (NO in S62), it is determined whether the destination number data D5 in the first comparison register R3 matches the value obtained by adding 1 to the destination number data D5 in the second comparison register R4 (S64), and if they match (YES in S64), the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is set to "0" (S65) and the second inspection program PG6 is exited. On the other hand, if they do not match (NO in S64), the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is set to "1" (S66) and the second inspection program PG6 is exited.

[0067] If the leading determination flag FL1 is "0" (NO in S61), it is determined whether the destination number data D5 in the first comparison register R3 matches the destination number data D5 in the second comparison register R4 (S67), and if they match (YES in S67), the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is set to "0" (S68) and the second inspection program PG6 is exited. On the other hand, if they do not match (NO in S67), the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is set to "1" (S69) and the second inspection program PG6 is exited.

[0068] That is, in this embodiment, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "destination determination unit 37" when the CPU 20A is executing the second inspection program PG6, functions as the aforementioned "number succession determination unit 37A" when executing steps S62 to S66 of the second inspection program PG6, and functions as the aforementioned "destination match determination unit 37B" when executing steps S67 to S69.

[0069] 12B shows the separation processing program PG2 of this embodiment. This separation processing program PG2 is obtained by adding step S23 to the separation processing program PG2 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 6B), and when the leading edge determination flag FL1 is "1" (YES in S21), it is determined whether the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is "1" (S23). When the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is "1", the separation processing program PG2 is exited, and when the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is not "1" (NO in S23), the conveyor drive processing (S22) is executed before the separation processing program PG2 is exited.

[0070] When the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is "1," the abnormality processing described above is executed in the same manner as when the first abnormality determination flag FL2 is "1." Then, when the abnormality is resolved and a safety confirmation button (not shown) of the control device 20 is operated, the second abnormality determination flag FL3 is reset to "0."

[0071] In this embodiment, after determining whether the sequentially transported documents P indicate the leading documents for each destination, for those determined to be the leading documents, it is determined whether the destination number M1 of the documents P determined to be the leading document is incremented by 1 from the destination number M1 of the document P transported previously, among the documents P of this embodiment, which are transported in ascending order of destination number M1. Furthermore, for those determined to be non-leading documents, it is determined whether the destination number M1 of the document P previously determined to be the leading document matches. In other words, the document sorting system 100C of this embodiment makes more effective use of the information printed on the documents P (the serial number M2 and the destination number M1), and these determination processes make it possible to detect defects such as incorrect insertion order of documents P or incorrect transport order of destinations, thereby improving the accuracy of sorting documents P.

[0072] Also in this embodiment, the destination image cutting unit 34 that reads the destination number M1 searches the original image data captured by the camera 40 using the image data of "#" as a landmark to extract the numbers of the destination number M1, so that the destination number M1 can be read more accurately and easily than in a configuration that searches only for numbers from the original image data.

[0073] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, the serial number image cropping unit 31 acquired the serial number image data D1 from the image data captured by the camera 40, including one parenthetical symbol, a slash, and the portion of the serial number M2 between them. However, the portion cropped together with the number does not have to be both the parenthetical symbol and the slash, but may be only one parenthetical symbol or the slash. Furthermore, the portion cropped together with the number is not limited to the parenthetical symbol or the slash, but may also be other symbols, characters, or lines printed near the number. In this case, it is preferable that the other symbols, characters, or lines are printed in a consistent position across all delivery documents P on the delivery slips P1 of single-sheet delivery documents P and on the top page of booklet delivery documents P. Furthermore, the other symbols, characters, or lines may not be limited to symbols, characters, or lines, but may also be a specific corner or edge of each delivery slip P1. In this case, the number of pixels representing the distance between the number and the corner or edge is pre-stored as template data.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the destination number M1 was a consecutive number that differed for each destination in the image recognition process from the destination image data, but it does not have to be a number and may be, for example, consecutive characters such as the alphabet.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the destination matching determination unit 37B determined whether the numbers in the destination number M1 matched using the destination number data D5 in which "numerical information" was extracted by image recognition processing from "numbers as images" included in the destination image data, but like the switching determination unit 32, it may also determine whether the destination number M1 matched using destination image data that has not been subjected to image recognition processing.

[0076] <Additional Notes> The following describes the features extracted from the above embodiment, while indicating, as necessary, the effects, etc. Note that, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above embodiment are indicated in parentheses as appropriate below, but these features are not limited to the specific configurations indicated in parentheses.

[0077] [Feature 1] A document sorting program (PG1) is executed by a computer (20) that captures image data of a plurality of documents (P) that are conveyed so as to pass in front of a camera (40) in sequence and are imaged, and causes the computer (20) to function as a determination device (21) that determines whether documents (P) for the same destination have been conveyed consecutively or whether documents (P) for a different destination have been conveyed, The computer (20), a serial number image acquisition unit (31) that acquires image data of the serial number (M2) printed on each document (P) as serial number image data (D1) so that the documents (P) to be sent to the same destination are in ascending order of conveyance; a leading image data storage unit (20C) for storing leading image data (D2) which is image data of the leading serial number (M2); a switching determination unit (32) that determines that a document (P) for sending has been switched to a document for a different destination when the serial number image data (D1) acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit (31) matches the leading image data (D2), and that a document (P) for sending to the same destination continues when they do not match; A document sorting program (PG1) that functions as a

[0078] [Feature 2] A document sorting program (PG1) is executed by a computer (20) that captures image data of a plurality of documents (P) that are conveyed so as to pass in front of a camera (40) in sequence and are imaged, and causes the computer (20) to function as a determination device (21) that determines whether documents (P) for the same destination have been conveyed consecutively or whether documents (P) for a different destination have been conveyed, The computer (20), a serial number image acquisition unit (31) that acquires image data of the serial number (M2) printed on each document (P) as serial number image data (D1) so that the documents (P) to be sent to the same destination are in descending order of conveyance; a leading image data storage unit (20C) for storing leading image data (D2) which is image data of the leading serial number (M2); a switching determination unit (32) that determines that the next document to be sent (P) is to be sent to a different destination when the serial number image data (D1) acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit (31) matches the leading image data (D2), and determines that the next document to be sent (P) is to be sent to the same destination when they do not match; A document sorting program (PG1) that functions as a

[0079] [Feature 3] A symbol, a letter, or a line is printed near the serial number (M2), The document assortment program (PG1) according to feature 1 or 2, wherein the head image data (D2) is image data including the symbol, the character, or the line drawing and the number 1.

[0080] [Feature 4] The serial number (M2) is written between a pair of parentheses, The document assortment program (PG1) according to any one of Features 1 to 3, wherein the head image data (D2) is image data including one parenthetical symbol and the number 1.

[0081] [Feature 5] The document (P) to be sent includes a booklet of a plurality of pieces of paper (P1), and the serial number (M2) is printed on each piece of paper (P1), The serial number (M2) is expressed as a fraction with the total number of the slips (P1) of the sending document (P) for the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each slip (P1) as the numerator, A document sorting program (PG1) according to any one of features 1 to 4, wherein the leading image data (D2) is image data including the number 1 and a slash mark separating the numerator and denominator of a fraction.

[0082] [Feature 6] a destination image acquisition unit (34) that acquires, as destination image data, image data of destination information notation that is printed on all delivery documents (P) and that differs for each destination; a destination image data temporary storage unit (82) in which the destination image data is updated and stored each time the sending document (P) for a different destination is switched; a destination match determination unit (37B) that, when the serial number image data (D1) acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit (31) does not match the header image data (D2), determines whether the destination image data corresponding to the serial number image data (D1) matches the destination image data in the destination image data primary storage unit (82), and notifies an abnormality when they do not match; The document sorting program (PG5, PG6) according to any one of Features 1 to 5, which causes the computer (20) to function as follows:

[0083] [Feature 7] All documents (P) are printed with a destination number (M1) as destination information that differs for each destination. the destination number (M1) contains characters that are consecutive in the order in which the documents (P) for the different destinations pass in front of the camera (40); a destination image acquisition unit (34) that acquires imaging data of the destination number (M1) as destination imaging data; a character / numeric data extraction unit (35) for extracting character information or numeric information included in the destination number (M1) from the destination image data as character / numeric data (D5); a destination image data primary storage unit (82) in which the character and number data (D5) is updated and stored each time the sending document (P) for a different destination is switched; a destination continuity determination unit (37A) for determining whether or not there is continuity between the character and number data (D5) of the destination image data corresponding to the serial number image data (D1) and the character and number data (D5) stored in the destination image data primary storage unit (82) when the serial number image data (D1) acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit (31) matches the head image data (D2), and for reporting an abnormality when there is no continuity; The document sorting program (PG5, PG6) according to any one of Features 1 to 6, which causes the computer (20) to function as follows.

[0084] [Feature 8] The document (P) to be sent includes a booklet of a plurality of pieces of paper (P1), and the serial number (M2) is printed on each piece of paper (P1), The serial number (M2) is expressed as a fraction with the total number of the slips (P1) of the sending document (P) for the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each slip (P1) as the numerator, The document sorting program (PG3, PG4) according to any one of features 1 to 7, which causes the computer (20) to function as a numerical information extraction unit (62) that extracts and outputs numerical information of the denominator of the serial number (M2) as numerical data (D3) based on the imaging data.

[0085] [Feature 9] A control device (20) including a computer (20) capable of executing the document sorting program (PG1 to PG6) according to any one of features 1 to 8; a sorting device (13, 13V) controlled by the control device (20) for sorting and collecting documents (P) for delivery according to the same destination; A document sorting system (100A~100C) equipped with the above.

[0086] [Feature 10] A control device (20) including a computer (20) capable of executing the document sorting program (PG3, PG4) described in feature 8; a sorting device (13, 13V) controlled by the control device (20) for sorting and collecting documents (P) for delivery according to the same destination; a thickness determination device (50, 60) that measures the thickness of the documents (P) sorted and collected by the sorting device (13, 13V) for each destination, determines whether the measurement result matches the thickness calculated from the numerical data (D3) output from the numerical information extraction unit (62), and reports an abnormality if they do not match; A document sorting system (100A~100C) equipped with the above.

[0087] The document sorting programs of Features 1 and 2 are executed by a computer that captures image data of multiple documents that are conveyed and imaged as they pass in front of a camera. The computer then determines whether documents for the same destination are being conveyed consecutively or whether documents for different destinations are being switched or switched based on the serial numbers printed on the documents. Specifically, serial numbers are printed on each document for the same destination in ascending or descending order of conveyance, and the determination is made based on whether the serial number image data captured by the camera matches the image data of the first serial number stored in advance. This allows documents to be sorted and grouped by destination (Feature 9). Furthermore, the serial numbers can be used by the recipient of the documents to determine whether documents are missing or whether the same documents have been mixed together, and by the issuer to distinguish enclosed documents in the document's description. In other words, according to the document sorting program disclosed herein, the above-mentioned judgment for sorting documents can be made by effectively utilizing the serial number that can be used by the recipient or issuer of the document from among the characters, designs, etc. printed on the document, thereby enabling effective use of the information (serial number) printed on the document.

[0088] Here, for example, if the serial number indicating the beginning is the number "1," a configuration is conceivable in which the beginning image data is set to "1," and the serial number image acquisition unit acquires the digits of the serial number from the imaging data as serial number imaging data, and determines whether or not they match. However, when extracting only the digits from the imaging data as serial number imaging data in this way, there is a risk that a digit unrelated to the serial number may be mistakenly extracted as the serial number. In contrast to this, as in Features 3 to 5, if the first serial number, for example "1", and the symbols, letters, or lines nearby are collected together as the first image data (for example, if the serial number is a fraction enclosed in a pair of parentheses with the total number of pieces of paper in the document to be sent to the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each piece of paper as the numerator, the first image data is "(1 / ")), and the serial number image acquisition unit acquires the numbers of the serial number and the symbols, letters, or lines nearby as serial number image data, it becomes possible to extract the serial number more accurately and easily than a configuration in which only the numbers of the serial number are extracted from the image data.

[0089] Furthermore, the document sorting program of Feature 6 determines whether the destination image data obtained from the image data of the destination information inscription matches the destination image data updated and stored when the document is switched to a different destination when the serial number image data does not match the leading image data, i.e., when documents for the same destination are subsequently transported. Furthermore, the document sorting program of Feature 7 extracts character or numeric information as character and numeric data from the destination number, which is destination information that differs for each destination and includes characters that have a continuity in the order in which they pass in front of the camera, when the document is switched to a different destination when the serial number image data matches the leading image data, i.e., when documents for a different destination are subsequently transported. The program determines whether there is a continuity in the order in which the documents pass in front of the camera between the extracted character or numeric data and the updated and stored when the document is switched to a different destination. These configurations enable more effective use of the information (serial number and destination number) printed on the documents, while detecting defects such as incorrect insertion order of documents or incorrect transport order of destinations, thereby improving the accuracy of document sorting.

[0090] Furthermore, by expressing the serial number as a fraction with the total number of sheets of paper for the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each sheet as the numerator, and extracting the numerical information of the denominator of the serial number from the image data as numerical data, and determining whether this matches the measured value of the thickness of the documents after sorting and bundling the documents for the same destination, it is possible to detect defects such as whether the same documents have been mixed in (Features 8 and 10).This makes it possible to further improve the accuracy of sorting documents while making more effective use of the information (serial number) printed on the documents.

[0091] Although the present specification and drawings disclose specific examples of the technology included in the scope of the claims, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but also includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples, and also includes parts of the specific examples taken out alone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 20 Control device (computer) 20C Comparison data storage unit (head image data storage unit) 13, 13V Second conveyor section (sorting device) 21 Judgment device 31 Serial number image cutting unit (serial number image acquisition unit) 32 Switching determination unit 34 Destination image cutout unit (destination image acquisition unit) 35 Destination information extraction unit (character and numeric data extraction unit) 37A Number continuity determination part (destination continuity determination part) 37B Destination Matching Determination Unit 40 Camera 50 Abnormality processing unit (thickness determination device) 60 First inspection device (thickness determination device) 62 Numerical Information Extraction Unit 82 Second number storage unit (destination image data primary storage unit) 100A~100C Document sorting system D1 Serial number image data D2 Top image data D3 Number of sheets read (numeric data) D5 Destination number data (character and numeric data) M1 Destination Number M2 serial number P Documents to be sent P1 Paper slip (sentment slip) PG1 Document sorting program (Document sorting program) PG2 Separation processing program (document sorting program) PG3 Number extraction program (document sorting program) PG4 First inspection program (document sorting program) PG5 Address extraction program (document sorting program) PG6 Second inspection program (document sorting program)

Claims

1. A document sorting program that is executed by a computer that captures image data of a plurality of documents that are conveyed so as to pass in front of a camera in sequence and are imaged, and that causes the computer to function as a determination device that determines whether documents for the same destination have been conveyed in succession or whether documents for a different destination have been conveyed, The computer a serial number image acquisition unit that acquires image data of the serial number printed on each document as serial number image data so that the documents to be sent to the same destination are in ascending order of conveyance; a leading image data storage unit for storing leading image data, which is image data with a leading serial number; a switching determination unit that determines that a document has been sent to a different destination when the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit matches the leading image data, and determines that a document has been sent to the same destination when the serial number image data do not match; A document sorting program that functions as a

2. A document sorting program that is executed by a computer that captures image data of a plurality of documents that are conveyed so as to pass in front of a camera in sequence and are imaged, and that causes the computer to function as a determination device that determines whether documents for the same destination have been conveyed in succession or whether documents for a different destination have been conveyed, The computer a serial number image acquisition unit that acquires image data of the serial number printed on each document as serial number image data so that the documents to be sent to the same destination are in descending order of conveyance; a leading image data storage unit for storing leading image data, which is image data with a leading serial number; a switching determination unit that determines that the next document to be sent is to be switched to a document for a different destination when the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit matches the top image data, and determines that the next document to be sent is to be a document for the same destination when they do not match; A document sorting program that functions as a

3. A symbol, a letter, or a diagram is printed near the serial number, 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the leading image data is image data including the symbol, the character, or the line drawing and the number 1.

4. The serial number is written between a pair of parentheses, 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the leading image data is image data including one parenthesis symbol and the number 1.

5. The document to be sent includes a booklet of multiple sheets of paper, and the serial number is printed on each sheet of paper, The serial number is expressed as a fraction with the total number of the slips of paper of the document to be sent to the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each slip as the numerator, 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the leading image data is image data including the numeral 1 and a slash mark separating the numerator and denominator of a fraction.

6. a destination image acquisition unit that acquires, as destination image data, image data of destination information notation that is printed on all documents to be sent and that differs for each destination; a destination image data primary storage unit in which the destination image data is updated and stored each time the document for delivery is switched to a different destination; a destination matching determination unit that, when the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit does not match the head image data, determines whether the destination image data corresponding to the serial number image data matches the destination image data in the destination image data primary storage unit, and notifies an abnormality when they do not match; 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the program causes the computer to function as a document sorting program.

7. All documents are printed with a destination number as destination information that differs for each destination. the destination number includes characters having a sequence in the order in which the documents for the different destinations pass in front of the camera; a destination image acquisition unit that acquires image data of the destination number as destination image data; a character / numeric data extraction unit that extracts character information or number information included in the destination number from the destination image data as character / numeric data; a destination image data primary storage unit in which the character and numeric data is updated and stored each time the document for delivery is switched to a different destination; a destination continuity determination unit that, when the serial number image data acquired by the serial number image acquisition unit matches the leading image data, determines whether or not there is continuity between the character / numeric data of the destination image data corresponding to the serial number image data and the character / numeric data stored in the destination image data primary storage unit, and notifies an abnormality when there is no continuity; 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the program causes the computer to function as a document sorting program.

8. The document to be sent includes a booklet of multiple sheets of paper, and the serial number is printed on each sheet of paper, The serial number is expressed as a fraction with the total number of the slips of paper of the document to be sent to the same destination as the denominator and the serial number of each slip as the numerator, 3. The document sorting program according to claim 1, wherein the computer is caused to function as a numerical information extraction unit that extracts and outputs numerical information of the denominator of the serial number as numerical data based on the image data.

9. a control device including a computer capable of executing the document sorting program according to claim 1 or 2; A sorting device that is controlled by the control device and sorts and collects documents to be sent according to the same destination; A document sorting system equipped with:

10. a control device including a computer capable of executing the document sorting program according to claim 8; A sorting device that is controlled by the control device and sorts and collects documents to be sent according to the same destination; a thickness determination device that measures the thickness of documents sorted and collected by the sorting device for each of the same destinations, determines whether the measurement result matches the thickness calculated from the numerical data output from the numerical information extraction unit, and notifies an abnormality if they do not match; A document sorting system equipped with:

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