Name matching system

Abstract

We will disclose a new technology for merging target documents. [Solution] The name matching system 100A of this embodiment has a name matching list file F corresponding to a group of documents G to be matched, in which an unspecified number of documents P are stacked for each destination, and compares the information in a QR code (registered trademark) I read from a document P to be sent, which is pulled out one by one from one end of the group of documents G to be matched and transported, with a QR code attribute 50 in the name matching list file F, and identifies a record 54 in which the information in the read QR code I matches the information indicated by the QR code attribute 50 as the most recently read record. Then, for a group of documents P to be sent, which are transported in ascending order of the number in the destination number attribute 53 in the name matching list file F, it is determined whether the destination of the document P has been changed from that of the previous document P based on whether the number in the destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record is "1."

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which an unspecified number of documents to be sent are stacked for each destination. [Background technology]

[0002] As a name matching system of this kind, there is known one that performs name matching based on OMR marks attached to documents sent to be matched (for example, see 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] In response to this, we will disclose a new technology for merging target documents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above-described problems, a first aspect of the present disclosure is a name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which an unspecified number of documents to be sent are stacked for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, wherein a different QR code (registered trademark) is assigned to each of the plurality of documents to be sent, the name matching list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of documents to be sent, and the records each include a QR code attribute indicating information about the QR code and an end attribute indicating whether the document to be sent is at one end of an order for each destination, and the system includes a file acquisition unit that reads the name matching list file, and a file acquisition unit that reads the name matching list file ... The name matching system includes a conveying device that extracts and conveys documents to be sent, a QR code reader that reads the QR code information of the documents being conveyed, a record identification means that identifies the record whose QR code attribute matches the latest QR code information read by the QR code reader as the most recently read record, a destination change detection means that detects, as a destination change, when the one end attribute of the most recently read record has changed to the other end, or when it has changed from the other end to the other end, and a sorting device that is positioned downstream of the QR code reader on the conveying device and that groups the documents being conveyed up to the point just before the destination change.

[0006] A second aspect of the present disclosure is a name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which an unspecified number of documents to be sent are stacked for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, wherein a different QR code is assigned to each of the plurality of documents to be sent, the name matching list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of documents to be sent, and the records have a QR code attribute indicating information about the QR code and an in-destination serial number attribute indicating a serial number assigned to the documents to be sent in the order of arrangement for each destination, and the system includes a file acquisition unit that reads the name matching list file, and a file extraction unit that extracts the documents to be matched from one end of the group of documents to be matched. a QR code reader that reads the QR code information of the documents being delivered; a record identification means that identifies the record whose QR code attribute matches the information of the latest QR code read by the QR code reader as the most recently read record; a destination change detection means that detects, as a destination change, that the destination internal number attribute of the most recently read record has changed to a leading number that means the beginning of the number numbers; and a sorting device that is positioned downstream of the QR code reader on the delivery device and that groups the documents being delivered up to the point just before the destination change.

[0007] A third aspect of the present disclosure is a name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which an unspecified number of documents to be sent are stacked for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, wherein a different QR code is assigned to each of the documents to be sent, the name matching list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the documents to be sent, and the records have a QR code attribute indicating information about the QR code and a destination attribute indicating the destination, and the system includes a file acquisition unit that reads the name matching list file, and a file extraction unit that extracts the documents to be sent from one end of the group of documents to be matched. a QR code reader that reads the QR code information of the documents being delivered; a record specifying means that specifies the record whose QR code attribute matches the information of the latest QR code read by the QR code reader as the most recently read record; a destination change detection means that detects a change in the destination attribute of the most recently read record as a destination change; and a sorting device that is arranged downstream of the QR code reader on the delivery device and that sorts the documents being delivered up to the point just before the destination change. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the name matching systems of the first to third aspects of the present disclosure, a group of documents to be matched can be matched using a new, previously unseen technology, which is to match documents based on QR codes attached to documents to be sent. Furthermore, QR codes are not exclusively used for name matching like OMR marks, and can contain significantly more information than barcodes, so they can also be used, for example, as a means of recording and transmitting information related to documents to be sent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a name matching system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an example of the document to be sent. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a list file for name identification. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side view of the first conveyor. [Figure 5] FIG. 5A is a side view of the second conveyor in a stopped state, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the second conveyor in a driven state. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a block diagram of the control device. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the flowchart of the destination sorting program. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of a second conveyor according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a block diagram of the control device. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a flowchart of the abnormal number inspection program. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the alignment abnormality inspection process. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a flowchart of the destination determination program. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a side view of a first conveyor according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, a name merging system 100A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. First, a document to be sent P and a document group G to be merged by the name merging system 100A of this embodiment will be described.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows an example of a document P. This document P is, for example, a payment slip for public funds such as taxes and utility charges issued by a local government, such as a national or local government, and is issued to multiple recipients within the jurisdiction of the local government. As shown in the figure, each document P is affixed with a QR code I (registered trademark). The information stored in the QR code I (hereinafter simply referred to as "QR code I information") is different for each document P. Specifically, the information in the QR code I includes, for example, the recipient's name, address, utility charge amount, payment deadline, etc. Furthermore, the number of documents P per recipient is not fixed; for example, some recipients have only one document P, while others have multiple documents P. Furthermore, multiple documents P for the same recipient are assigned a serial number. In other words, there are recipients to which only the document P with the first serial number is sent, and recipients to which documents P with multiple serial numbers are sent.

[0012] There are various types of QR codes, such as Model 1, Model 2, Micro QR, and rMQR, but any type of QR code may be used. Furthermore, the content of the QR code information may be any, as long as it differs between documents P. The issuer of document P is not limited to local governments, but may also be a company or individual. Furthermore, a person may print document P themselves, or may request a printing company to print document P and issue it. The same applies to the creation of document group G to be merged and name merge list file F, which will be described later.

[0013] The issuer of the document P stacks multiple documents P for each destination to create a group of documents to be merged G. At this time, the documents P are stacked so that the order of the serial numbers of multiple documents P for the same destination in the group of documents to be merged G is unified, either all in ascending order or all in descending order, when viewed from one side of the group of documents to be merged G.

[0014] The issuer of the document P to be sent creates a name matching list file F corresponding to the document group G to be matched. As conceptually illustrated in Figure 3, the name matching list file F includes multiple records 54 that correspond one-to-one to all of the documents P to be sent in the document group G to be matched. Each record 54 also includes an overall serial number attribute 51 indicating the serial numbers assigned to multiple documents P from one end of the document group G to be matched, a QR code attribute 50 indicating information about the QR code I, a destination attribute 52 indicating the destination of the document P to be sent, and an intra-destination serial number attribute 53 indicating the serial number of the document P to be sent for each destination.

[0015] In the example shown in Figure 3, the QR code attribute 50 displays the information of the QR code I in decimal format, but it may also be displayed as binary data, English letters, kanji, katakana, hiragana, symbols, etc., or even the QR code I itself.

[0016] The serial numbers of the total serial number attribute 51 and the intra-destination serial number attribute 53 are arranged in ascending order in the same direction, but the ascending order of the total serial number attribute 51 and the intra-destination serial number attribute 53 may be different. Also, the multiple records 54 in the name identification list file F are sorted in ascending order of the serial numbers of the total serial number attribute 51, but the arrangement of the multiple records 54 may be random.

[0017] The name matching list file F may be created based on the name matching target document group G, or the name matching list file F or a list file including the name matching list file F may be created in advance, and the name matching target document group G may be created based on the name matching list file F. In this embodiment, the local government creates the name matching list file F, and a printing company prints the documents P to be sent based on the name matching list file F, thereby creating the name matching target document group G.

[0018] The group of documents G to be merged is provided to the document sorting company along with the name merge list file F. Then, the document sorting company performs a name merge process using the name merge system 100A shown in FIG. 1, in which multiple documents P to be sent from the group of documents G to be merged are sorted and grouped by destination. Note that in the name merge system 100A of this embodiment, the documents P grouped by destination through the name merge process are inserted into envelopes E by the inserting device 101, and then sealed by the sealing device 102 to form sealed letters; however, the name merge system 100A may perform only the name merge process.

[0019] To perform the name matching process, the name matching system 100A includes a conveying device 10, a control device 20, and a QR code reader 41. The conveying device 10 includes a supply unit 11, a first conveyor 12, and a second conveyor 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the supply unit 11 includes a document support unit 11T on which a group of documents G to be matched is placed with the printed side of the QR code I on the documents P facing downward. The supply unit 11 pulls out the documents P from the group of documents G to be matched from the document support unit 11T one by one from the bottom and supplies them to the first conveyor 12 so that they are lined up at regular intervals. As a result, in this embodiment, the documents P are supplied to the first conveyor 12 in ascending order of the serial numbers in the total serial number attribute 51 of the name matching list file F, and multiple documents P to be sent to the same destination are lined up on the first conveyor 12 in ascending order of the serial numbers in the destination serial number attribute 53.

[0020] The first conveyor 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 section 11 to the second conveyor 13. The pair of drive rollers 12A at the downstream end of the first conveyor 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 sections.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, the second conveyor 13 is positioned below the first conveyor 12, and as shown in Fig. 1, it conveys documents P in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the first conveyor 12. Also, as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the second conveyor 13 is, for example, a belt conveyor and is provided with a plurality of fins 13F at equal intervals. The space between adjacent fins 13F forms a stacking section 14, and the second conveyor 13 stops to receive documents P from the first conveyor 12 into the stacking section 14, and then rotates in one direction to discharge the documents P accumulated in the stacking section 14 into the inserting device 101.

[0022] 4, the second conveyor 13 is provided with a contact wall 13W against which the leading edge of the document P discharged from the first conveyor 12 can contact, thereby allowing the document P to be stacked on the stacking section 14 with both edges in the discharge direction aligned. In addition, in this embodiment, the "sorting device" of the present disclosure includes the second conveyor 13 and a conveyor control section 32, which will be described later.

[0023] The QR code reader 41 is a typical one that reads the QR code I of the document P, and as shown in Fig. 4, is disposed below the portion between the downstream end of the first conveyor 12 and the drive roller 12A just before it. Then, for example, when a sensor (not shown) detects that the document P is positioned in front of the QR code reader 41 (in this embodiment, the top of the QR code reader 41 corresponds to the front of the QR code reader 41), the QR code reader 41 operates to read the information of the QR code I and provide it to the control device 20. As a result, the information of the QR code I of the document P just before it is discharged from the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 13 is provided to the control device 20.

[0024] The control device 20 includes a CPU and a storage unit (not shown). The storage unit stores a file acquisition processing program (not shown), a destination classification program PG1 (described later), and the like. The CPU executes the file acquisition processing program, the destination classification program PG1, and the like, causing the control device 20 to function as a file acquisition unit 33, a record identification unit 30, a destination change detection unit 31, a conveyor control unit 32, and the like, all of which are shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6.

[0025] The storage unit may be any type, such as an SSM, an HMM, a flash memory, a CM-ROM, a USB memory, or a combination thereof.

[0026] The file acquisition unit 33 performs a file acquisition process of reading the name matching list file F and saving the read name matching list file F in the name matching list file storage unit 20C (see FIG. 6). Note that the name matching list file F may be read, for example, via a communication network, or may be read from a medium such as a USB memory, or may be printed on a document and read from the document using OCR.

[0027] The record identification unit 30 compares the information of the latest QR code I read by the QR code reader 41 with the QR code attribute 50 in the name identification list file F, and identifies, as the most recently read record, a record 54 in which the information of the latest QR code I matches the information indicated by the QR code attribute 50. The record identification unit 30 corresponds to the "record identification means" in this disclosure.

[0028] The destination change detection unit 31 compares the serial number in the destination serial number attribute 53 of the latest read record with the serial number in the destination serial number attribute 53 of the most recently read record and determines whether the serial number in the destination serial number attribute 53 of the most recently read record has changed from a value other than "1," which indicates one end of the serial number, to "1," or whether it has changed from "1" to "1" again. If either of these conditions is met, the unit determines that the destination of the document P whose QR code I was read by the QR code reader 41 has changed from the destination of the document P whose QR code I was read by the QR code reader 41 immediately before, and determines that a "destination change" has been detected. If neither of these conditions is met, the unit determines that a "destination change" has not been detected. This detects whether the destination of the document P immediately before it is discharged from the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 13 has been changed to a different one. The destination change detection unit 31 corresponds to the "destination change detection means" in this disclosure.

[0029] The conveyor control unit 32 acquires the detection result of the destination change by the destination change detection unit 31, and controls the stopping and starting of the second conveyor 13 in response to the detection of the destination change so that the documents P falling from the first conveyor 12 are piled up and gathered on the second conveyor 13 until the destination change occurs. Specifically, the second conveyor 13 is stopped until the destination change is detected, and the documents P are received in the stacking unit 14 directly below the first conveyor 12. Then, when the destination change is detected, the second conveyor 13 is rotated in one direction to discharge the documents P accumulated in the stacking unit 14 to the enclosing device 101, and the second conveyor 13 is controlled so that another empty stacking unit 14 is positioned directly below the first conveyor 12.

[0030] As a result, the group of documents G to be merged is divided into documents P to be sent to the same destination (i.e., the documents are merged), and if there are multiple documents P to be sent to the same destination, the multiple documents P to be sent are stacked from bottom to top in ascending order of the destination number attribute 53 and discharged to the insertion device 101.

[0031] As described above, the inserting device 101 inserts the document P delivered from the second conveyor control unit 32 into an envelope E, and delivers the envelope E to the sealing device 102. The sealing device 102 seals the envelope E.

[0032] This concludes the description of the configuration of the name matching system 100A of this embodiment. According to the name matching system 100A of this embodiment, name matching can be performed using a new, previously unseen technology that matches a group of documents G to be matched based on a QR code I attached to a document P to be sent. Furthermore, the QR code I is not dedicated to name matching like an OMR mark, and can contain significantly more information than a barcode, so it can also be used, for example, as a means of recording or transmitting information related to the document P to be sent.

[0033] Specifically, the name matching system 100A has a name matching list file F corresponding to a group of documents G to be matched, and compares the information of the QR code I read by the QR code reader 41 with the QR code attribute 50 in the name matching list file F, and identifies the record 54 in which the information of the read QR code I matches the information indicated by the QR code attribute 50 as the most recently read record. Then, for a group of documents P to be sent that are transported in ascending order of the number in the destination number attribute 53, it is determined whether the destination of the document P has been changed from that of the previous document P to be sent, based on whether the number in the destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record is "1."

[0034] That is, in this embodiment, the serial number indicated by the destination serial number attribute 53 is used only to determine whether it is "1." Therefore, the same effect can be achieved by changing the destination serial number attribute 53 to a "first end attribute" indicating whether the document P is at one end of the destination sequence. Specifically, instead of the destination serial number attribute 53, the record 54 may include a "first end attribute" that distinguishes a document P that is at one end (either the first or last) of the destination sequence, for example, by "X," and other attributes by "Y." Furthermore, in this embodiment, the name identification process uses only the QR code attribute 50 and the destination serial number attribute 53 in the name identification list file F, so the total serial number attribute 51 and the destination attribute 52 may not be included. Note that the destination serial number attribute 53 in this embodiment also serves as the above-mentioned "first end attribute" due to its usage.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the QR code reader 41 is configured to read the QR code I of the document P immediately before it is discharged from the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 13. However, the QR code reader 41 may also be configured to read the QR code I of the document P before that. For example, the QR code reader 41 may read the QR code I of the document P N sheets before it is discharged from the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 13. In this case, the conveyor control unit 32 temporarily stores the most recent N determination signals in a memory unit and controls the second conveyor 13 to operate in the same manner as described above using these N determination signals in order from oldest to newest. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first conveyor 12 is configured to continue discharging the document P from the stacking unit 14 to the inserting device 101 without stopping, but the first conveyor 12 may stop and wait when the second conveyor 13 discharges the document P from the stacking unit 14 to the inserting device 101.

[0036] An example of the destination classification program PG1 described above is shown in Fig. 7. The destination classification program PG1 is executed by the CPU every time the QR code reader 41 reads the QR code I of a document P. Before the destination classification program PG1 is executed, the file acquisition processing program performs file acquisition processing, and the name identification list file F is stored in the name identification list file storage unit 20C (see Fig. 6).

[0037] When the destination sorting program PG1 is executed, first, a record identification process (S11) is executed, in which the information of the latest QR code I read by the QR code reader 41 is compared with the name identification list file F stored in the name identification list file storage unit 20C, and the record 54 in which the information of the latest QR code I matches the information indicated by the QR code attribute 50 is identified as the most recently read record. In other words, when the CPU is executing the record identification process (S11), the control device 20 functions as the above-mentioned "record identification unit 30."

[0038] Next, it is determined whether a "change in destination" has been detected based on whether the number in the destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record is "1" (S12). If a "change in destination" has not been detected (NO in S12), the destination sorting program PG1 is exited. If a "change in destination" has been detected (YES in S12), the conveyor drive process (S13) is executed and then the destination sorting program PG1 is exited. When the conveyor drive process (S13) is executed, the second conveyor 13 is driven and then stopped. As a result, only when a change in destination of the document P read by the QR code reader 41 is detected, the second conveyor 13 is driven and the document P accumulated in the stacking unit 14 is discharged to the inserting device 101 and emptied, and another empty stacking unit 14 is positioned directly below the first conveyor 12.

[0039] In addition, when the CPU is executing step S12, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "destination change detection unit 31", and when the CPU is executing the conveyor drive process (S13), the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "conveyor control unit 32".

[0040] [Second embodiment] The following describes the name-collating system 100B of this embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10, focusing only on the differences from the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the second conveyor 13V of this embodiment has a length such that two stacking sections 14 are aligned in the conveying direction of the upper surface. When the second conveyor 13V is stopped, only the upstream stacking section 14 receives documents P from the first conveyor 12. When the second conveyor 13V starts operating, the upstream stacking section 14 that was receiving documents P moves to the adjacent section and becomes the downstream stacking section 14, and the empty stacking section 14 becomes the new upstream stacking section 14. The documents P that were placed in the downstream stacking section 14 before the second conveyor 13V started operating are discharged to the inserting device 101.

[0041] A thickness measuring device 70 is provided above the downstream stacking unit 14 to measure the thickness of the documents P on the stacking unit 14. The thickness measuring device 70 is, for example, a distance sensor, and has a rod 70A that can move up and down, and is configured to press the rod 70A 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 13V. Immediately after the second conveyor 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 traveled by the rod 70A is output as the thickness of the documents P included in the documents P.

[0042] The distance sensor may be a non-contact type. Specifically, for example, a pressing device that presses the group of documents P from above and an optical distance sensor may be provided, and the distance to the top surface of the group of documents P pressed by the pressing device may be measured. Also, instead of the distance sensor, the thickness of the group of documents P may be measured by clamping it.

[0043] A sheet count abnormality inspection program PG2 (see FIG. 10) and an abnormality processing program (not shown) are stored in the storage unit of the control device 20. The CPU executes the sheet count abnormality inspection program PG2 and the abnormality processing program, causing the control device 20 to function as a sheet count data extraction unit 62, an actual measurement data generation unit 63, an abnormality determination unit 64, a converted data storage unit 20D, an abnormality processing unit 71, and the like, all of which are shown in the block diagram of FIG.

[0044] The number data extraction unit 62 operates every time a "change in destination" is detected by the destination change detection unit 31, and extracts, as number data D3, the number number of the destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record immediately before the most recently read record in which the "change in destination" was detected, from the name identification list file F. In other words, the number data extraction unit 62 extracts, as number data D3, information on the total number of documents P to be sent to the destination before the "change in destination" was detected.

[0045] The actual measurement data generation unit 63 generates actual measurement data D4 indicating the total number of sheets of the group of documents P on the downstream stacking unit 14 from the measurement results of the thickness measurement device 70. Specifically, the conversion data storage unit 20D stores a data table that associates the measurement results of the thickness measurement device 70 with the number of sheets of the documents P. When the actual measurement data generation unit 63 acquires the measurement results of the thickness measurement device 70, it identifies the number of sheets of the documents P that corresponds to the measurement results of the thickness measurement device 70 from the data table and outputs it as actual measurement data D4.

[0046] The anomaly determination unit 64 operates each time the sheet count data D3 and the actual measurement data D4 are output, and detects an anomaly in the number of sheets, where the actual measurement data D4 and the sheet count data D3 do not match. If they match, the determination result is that there is no anomaly, and if they do not match, the determination result is that there is an anomaly. The thickness measurement device 70 and the anomaly determination unit 64 of this embodiment correspond to the "anomaly in number of sheets detection device" in the claims.

[0047] When the abnormality determination unit 64 outputs a determination result indicating that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality processing unit 71 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 12, and the second conveyor 13V. As a result, the transport of the document P to be sent is stopped before the enclosing device 101.

[0048] In the name matching system 100B of this embodiment, the documents P to be sent, which are transported one by one from the group of documents G to be matched, are sorted and compiled by the same destination using the QR code I attached to the document P and the name matching list file F, and then these are used to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the number of sheets in the group of documents P to be sent. In other words, the name matching system 100B of this embodiment makes more effective use of the QR code I attached to the document P to determine whether there are any missing documents in the group of documents P to the same destination, and can improve the accuracy of name matching of the document P to be sent compared to sorting only based on whether the destination has been changed.

[0049] In this embodiment, the number data D3 indicating the total number of documents P to be sent to the destination before the "change in destination" was detected is obtained based on the number in the destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record immediately before the most recently read record in which the "change in destination" was detected, but it may also be configured such that each record 54 of the name identification list file F has a number data attribute indicating information on the total number of documents for each destination, and the number data D3 is obtained based on the information indicated by the number data attribute. Also, for example, the information on the total number may be obtained by counting the number of determinations made by the destination change detection unit 31 (the number of documents P to be sent whose QR code I has been read) from the time a "change in destination" is detected until the next "change in destination" is detected.

[0050] 10 shows an example of the aforementioned abnormal sheet count inspection program PG2. The abnormal sheet count inspection program PG2 is executed by the CPU when a "change in destination" is detected in step S12 in the destination sorting program PG1 and the conveyor drive process (S13) is executed. When the abnormal sheet count inspection program PG2 is executed, a sheet count data extraction process (S21) is first executed, and the number number of the in-destination number attribute 53 of the most recently read record immediately before the most recently read record in which the "change in destination" was detected in the name identification list file F is extracted as the number data D3. In other words, when the CPU is executing step 21, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned "number data extraction unit 62."

[0051] Next, an actual measurement data generation process (S22) is executed, and actual measurement data D4 indicating the total number of sheets in the group of documents P on the downstream stacker 14 is obtained from the measurement results of the thickness measurement device 70. Then, it is determined whether the sheet count data D3 and the actual measurement data D4 match, i.e., whether an "abnormal sheet count" has been detected (S23). If an "abnormal sheet count" has been detected (NO in S23), the sheet count abnormality determination flag FLG1 is set to "1" (S25), and the abnormal sheet count inspection program PG2 is terminated. If an "abnormal sheet count" has not been detected (YES in S23), the sheet count abnormality determination flag FLG1 is set to "0" (S24), and the abnormal sheet count inspection program PG2 is terminated. That is, in this embodiment, when the CPU is executing the actual measurement data generation process (S22), the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned actual measurement data generation unit 63, and when steps S23 to S25 are executed, the control device 20 functions as the aforementioned abnormality determination unit 64.

[0052] If the sheet count abnormality determination flag FLG1 is "1," the abnormality processing program executes the abnormality processing described above. Then, when the abnormality is resolved and a safety confirmation button (not shown) on the control device 20 is operated, the sheet count abnormality determination flag FLG1 is reset to "0."

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

[0054] The memory unit of the control device 20 of this embodiment stores an alignment abnormality inspection process (see FIG. 12), and the CPU executes this process, causing the control device 20 to function as the counting unit 34, alignment abnormality detection unit 35, etc., shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11.

[0055] The counting unit 34 operates and increments the counter T1 each time the record identification unit 30 identifies the latest read record. That is, it counts the number of documents P that have been conveyed. Note that immediately after the name identification system 100C is started, the counter T1 is reset to "0."

[0056] The sequence abnormality detection unit 35 detects a sequence abnormality where the serial number in the total serial number attribute 51 of the most recently read record does not match the value of the counter T1. 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. The sequence abnormality detection unit 35 corresponds to the "sequence abnormality detection means" in the claims.

[0057] When the alignment abnormality detection unit 35 outputs a determination result that there is no abnormality, the destination change detection unit 31 described above is then executed to determine whether the destination of the document P has been switched to another one, and sort the document P. On the other hand, when the alignment abnormality detection unit 35 outputs a determination result that there is an abnormality, the abnormality processing unit 71 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 12, and the second conveyors 13, 13V. As a result, the transport of the document P is stopped before the insertion device 101.

[0058] The name matching system 100C of this embodiment determines whether the documents P being sent, which are sent one by one from the document group G to be matched, are being sent in accordance with the order of the total serial number attribute 51 in the name matching list file F. This makes it possible to detect defects such as missing documents P, the inclusion of documents P sent for other destinations, and incorrect transport order of documents P sent for the same destination. In other words, the name matching system 100C of this embodiment can further improve the accuracy of name matching of documents P being sent, while making more effective use of the QR codes I attached to the documents P.

[0059] In this embodiment, the configuration is such that it is determined whether the documents P are being transported in accordance with the order of the total serial number attribute 51 in the name identification list file F, but it may also be such that it is determined whether the documents P are being transported in accordance with the order of the intra-destination serial number attribute 53. In this case, for example, when a "change in destination" is detected, the counting unit 34 sets the counter T1 to 1 and counts the number of determinations made by the destination change detection unit 31 (the number of documents P whose QR code I has been read) until the next "change in destination" is detected, and the alignment abnormality detection unit 35 determines whether the value of this counter T1 matches the serial number in the intra-destination serial number attribute 53 of the most recently read record.

[0060] An example of the alignment abnormality inspection process is shown in Fig. 12. The alignment abnormality inspection process is executed when the record identification process in step S11 of the destination classification program PG1 (see Fig. 7) shown in Fig. 1 is executed and the most recently read record is identified. The destination classification program PG1V of this embodiment will also be described later (see Fig. 13).

[0061] 12, when the alignment abnormality inspection process is executed, first, it is determined whether or not the name identification system 100C has just been started up (S31). If it has just been started up (YES in S31), the counter T1 is reset to "0" (S32) and then incremented by 1 (S33), and if it has not just been started up (NO in S31), the counter T1 is simply incremented by 1 (S33).

[0062] Then, it is determined whether the serial number in the total serial number attribute 51 of the most recently read record matches the value of the counter T1, i.e., whether an "arrangement abnormality" has been detected (S34), and if an "arrangement abnormality" has been detected (NO in S34), the arrangement abnormality determination flag FLG2 is set to "1" (S36) and the arrangement abnormality inspection process is terminated. On the other hand, if an "arrangement abnormality" has not been detected (NO in S34), the arrangement abnormality determination flag FLG2 is set to "0" (S35) and the arrangement abnormality inspection process is terminated.

[0063] That is, in this embodiment, the control device 20 functions as the counting unit 34 described above when the CPU is executing steps S31 to S33, and functions as the alignment abnormality detection unit 35 described above when the CPU is executing steps S34 to S36.

[0064] FIG. 13 shows the destination sorting program PG1V of this embodiment. This destination sorting program PG1V is the destination sorting program PG1 shown in FIG. 7 with steps S14 to S16 added. First, after the most recently read record is identified in the record identification process (S11), the aforementioned alignment abnormality inspection process (S14) is executed to determine whether the alignment abnormality determination flag FLG2 is "1" (S15). Then, if the alignment abnormality determination flag FLG2 is not "1" (NO in S15), it is determined whether a "destination change" has been detected (S12), as in the first embodiment. If a "destination change" has not been detected (NO in S12), the destination sorting program PG1V is exited. If a "destination change" has been detected (YES in S12), the conveyor drive process (S13) is executed, and then the destination sorting program PG1V is exited.

[0065] On the other hand, if the alignment abnormality determination flag FLG2 is "1" (YES in S15), abnormality processing is performed (S16) and then the destination sorting program PG1V is exited. Then, when the abnormality is resolved and a safety confirmation button (not shown) on the control device 20 is operated, the alignment abnormality determination flag FLG2 is reset to "0."

[0066] [Fourth embodiment] In a name identification system 100D of this embodiment, the configuration of a first conveyor 12D is different from that of the first conveyor 12 of the first to third embodiments.

[0067] 14, in the first conveyor 12D of this embodiment, the pair of drive rollers 12A at the downstream end have substantially the same diameter as the other drive rollers 12A. Furthermore, of the drive rollers 12A other than the downstream end, adjacent rollers 12A in the conveyance direction are connected by a flat belt to form a connecting unit 12U. The distance between the upstream connecting unit 12U and the adjacent connecting unit 12U is wider than the distance between the downstream drive roller 12A and the connecting unit 12U immediately before it, and a QR code reader 41 is disposed below the connecting unit 12U.

[0068] [Other embodiments] In the first embodiment, the destination change detection unit 31 was configured to detect whether the destination of the document P has been switched to another one based on whether the serial number in the destination serial number attribute 53 of the latest read record has become "1", which means one end of the serial number, but it may also be configured to detect whether the destination of the document P has been switched to another one based on whether the destination attribute 52 of the latest read record has changed from the destination attribute 52 of the previous latest read record.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the QR code I was attached to the document P for use by the issuer or recipient of the document P, but it may also be attached solely for the purpose of sorting the document P.

[0070] <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.

[0071] [Feature 1] A name matching system (100A to 100C) that matches a group of documents to be matched (G), in which a plurality of documents to be sent (P) are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file (F) that is assigned in advance, A different QR code (registered trademark) (I) is attached to each of the plurality of documents (P), The name identification list file (F) includes a plurality of records (54) corresponding to the plurality of documents (P), and each record (54) has a QR code attribute (50) indicating information about the QR code (I) and an end attribute (53) indicating whether the document (P) is at one end of an order for each destination, a file acquisition unit (33) that reads the name identification list file (F); A conveying device (10) that pulls out the document (P) from one end of the document group (G) to be sent and conveys it; a QR code reader (41) for reading the information of the QR code (I) of the document (P) being conveyed; a record specifying means (30) for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record (54) whose QR code attribute (50) matches the information of the most recently read QR code (I) read by the QR code reader (41); a destination change detection means (31) for detecting, as a destination change, that the one end attribute (53) of the latest read record has changed to the one end or has changed from the one end to the one end; a sorting device (13, 32) arranged downstream of the QR code reader (41) in the conveying device (10) and sorting the conveyed documents (P) up to the destination change; A name matching system (100A to 100C) with the above.

[0072] [Feature 2] A name matching system (100A to 100C) that matches a group of documents to be matched (G), in which a plurality of documents to be sent (P) are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file (F) that is assigned in advance, A different QR code (I) is attached to each of the plurality of documents (P), The name identification list file (F) includes a plurality of records (54) corresponding to the plurality of documents (P), and each record (54) has a QR code attribute (50) indicating information on the QR code (I) and a destination serial number attribute (53) indicating a serial number assigned to the documents (P) for each destination in the order in which they are arranged. a file acquisition unit (33) that reads the name identification list file (F); A conveying device (10) that pulls out the document (P) from one end of the document group (G) to be sent and conveys it; a QR code reader (41) for reading the information of the QR code (I) of the document (P) being conveyed; a record specifying means (30) for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record (54) whose QR code attribute (50) matches the information of the most recently read QR code (I) read by the QR code reader (41); a destination change detection means (31) for detecting, as a destination change, that the destination number attribute (53) of the latest read record has changed to a leading number which means the beginning of the number; a sorting device (13, 32) arranged downstream of the QR code reader (41) in the conveying device (10) and sorting the conveyed documents (P) up to the destination change; A name matching system (100A to 100C) with the above.

[0073] [Feature 3] A name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched (G), in which a plurality of documents to be sent (P) are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file (F) that is assigned in advance, A different QR code (I) is attached to each of the plurality of documents (P), The name identification list file (F) includes a plurality of records (54) corresponding to the plurality of documents (P), and each record (54) has a QR code attribute (50) indicating information about the QR code (I) and a destination attribute (52) indicating the destination, a file acquisition unit (33) that reads the name identification list file (F); A conveying device (10) that pulls out the document (P) from one end of the document group (G) to be sent and conveys it; a QR code reader (41) for reading the information of the QR code (I) of the document (P) being conveyed; a record specifying means (30) for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record (54) whose QR code attribute (50) matches the information of the most recently read QR code (I) read by the QR code reader (41); a destination change detection means (31) for detecting a change in the destination attribute (52) of the latest read record as a destination change; a sorting device (13, 32) arranged downstream of the QR code reader (41) in the conveying device (10) and sorting the conveyed documents (P) up to the destination change; A name matching system with

[0074] [Feature 4] The conveying device (10) a first conveyor (12) for conveying the documents (P) in a line; a second conveyor (13, 13V) capable of receiving and transporting the documents (P) sequentially falling from the end of the first conveyor (12); a conveyor control unit (32) for controlling the stopping and starting of the second conveyor (13, 13V) in response to detection of the change in destination so that the documents (P) falling from the first conveyor (12) are piled up and gathered on the second conveyor (13, 13V) every time before the change in destination; The name identification system (100A to 100C) according to any one of Features 1 to 3, wherein the sorting device (13, 13V, 32) includes the second conveyor (13, 13V) and the conveyor control unit (32).

[0075] [Feature 5] The name identification list file (F) includes number data (D3) indicating the number of sheets of the documents (P) sent for each destination, A name matching system (100B) according to any one of features 1 to 4, comprising a sheet count abnormality detection device (70, 64) for detecting a sheet count abnormality where the thickness of the documents (P) grouped by destination by the sorting device (13V, 32) does not match the sheet count data (D3).

[0076] [Feature 6] The sheet count abnormality detection device (70, 64) a thickness measuring device (70) for measuring the total thickness of the documents (P) sorted by destination by the sorting device (13V, 32); The name matching system (100B) according to feature 5 further comprises an abnormality determination unit (64) that detects the number abnormality based on whether the thickness measured by the thickness measurement device (70) corresponds to the number of sheets according to the sheet count data (D3).

[0077] [Feature 7] Each record (54) of the name matching list file (F) is provided with an overall serial number attribute (51) indicating a serial number assigned to the document (P) in the order of arrangement in the document group (G) to be matched; A name matching system (100C) according to any one of features 1 to 6, comprising an order anomaly detection means (35) for detecting an order anomaly where the change in the total serial number attribute (51) of the latest read record is not in ascending or descending order.

[0078] The name matching system with features 1 to 7 described above allows for name matching using a new, never-before-seen technology that matches a group of documents to be matched based on QR codes attached to documents being sent. Furthermore, unlike OMR marks, QR codes are not exclusively for name matching, and can contain significantly more information than barcodes, so they can also be used, for example, as a means of recording and transmitting information related to documents being sent.

[0079] 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]

[0080] 10. Conveyor 12 First conveyor 13,13V Second conveyor (sorting device) 30 Record identification unit (record identification means) 31 Destination change detection unit (destination change detection means) 32 Conveyor control unit (sorting device) 33 File Acquisition Section 35 Linear abnormality detection unit (linear abnormality detection means) 41 QR Code Reader 50 QR Code Attributes 51 Total serial number attribute 52 Destination Attributes 53 Destination number attribute (end attribute) 54 Records 64 Abnormality discrimination unit (number abnormality detection device) 70 Thickness measurement device (number of sheets abnormality detection device) 100A~100C Name matching system D3 Quantity data F Name matching list file G Nayoro Documents I QR Code P Documents to be sent

Claims

1. A name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which multiple documents to be sent are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, A different QR code (registered trademark) is attached to each of the plurality of documents to be sent, the name identification list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of documents to be sent, and each record has a QR code attribute indicating information about the QR code and an end attribute indicating whether the document to be sent is at an end of an order for each destination; a file acquisition unit that reads the name identification list file; a conveying device that pulls out the document to be sent from one end of the group of documents to be named and conveys it; a QR code reader that reads the information of the QR code on the document being delivered; a record specifying means for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record whose QR code attribute matches the information of the most recently read QR code by the QR code reader; a destination change detection means for detecting, as a destination change, that the one end attribute of the latest read record has changed to the one end or that the one end has changed from the one end to the other end; a sorting device that is disposed downstream of the QR code reader in the conveying device and that sorts the conveyed documents up to the destination change; A name matching system with

2. A name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which multiple documents to be sent are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, A different QR code is attached to each of the plurality of documents to be sent, the name identification list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of documents to be sent, and each record has a QR code attribute indicating information on the QR code and a destination serial number attribute indicating a serial number assigned to the documents to be sent in the order of their arrangement for each destination; a file acquisition unit that reads the name identification list file; a conveying device that pulls out the document to be sent from one end of the group of documents to be named and conveys it; a QR code reader that reads the information of the QR code on the document being delivered; a record specifying means for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record whose QR code attribute matches the information of the most recently read QR code by the QR code reader; a destination change detection means for detecting, as a destination change, that the destination internal number attribute of the latest read record has changed to a leading number which means the beginning of the number; a sorting device that is disposed downstream of the QR code reader in the conveying device and that sorts the conveyed documents up to the destination change; A name matching system with

3. A name matching system that matches a group of documents to be matched, in which multiple documents to be sent are stacked in an unspecified number for each destination, based on a name matching list file that is assigned in advance, A different QR code is attached to each of the plurality of documents to be sent, the name identification list file includes a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of documents to be sent, and each record has a QR code attribute indicating information about the QR code and a destination attribute indicating a destination; a file acquisition unit that reads the name identification list file; a conveying device that pulls out the document to be sent from one end of the group of documents to be named and conveys it; a QR code reader that reads the information of the QR code on the document being delivered; a record specifying means for specifying, as a most recently read record, the record whose QR code attribute matches the information of the most recently read QR code by the QR code reader; a destination change detection means for detecting a change in the destination attribute of the most recently read record as a destination change; a sorting device that is disposed downstream of the QR code reader in the conveying device and that sorts the conveyed documents up to the destination change; A name matching system with

4. The conveying device is a first conveyor that conveys the documents in a line; a second conveyor capable of receiving and transporting the documents sequentially dropping from the end of the first conveyor; a conveyor control unit that controls the stopping and starting of the second conveyor in response to detection of the change in destination so that the documents falling from the first conveyor are piled up and gathered on the second conveyor every time the change in destination occurs; The name matching system according to claim 1 , wherein the sorting device includes the second conveyor and the conveyor control unit.

5. The name identification list file includes data on the number of sheets indicating the number of sheets of the documents to be sent for each destination, A name matching system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a sheet count abnormality detection device for detecting a sheet count abnormality in which the thickness of documents sorted by destination by the sorting device does not match the sheet count data.

6. The sheet count abnormality detection device a thickness measuring device that measures the overall thickness of the documents sorted by destination by the sorting device; The name matching system according to claim 5 , further comprising an abnormality determination unit that detects the number abnormality by determining whether the thickness measured by the thickness measurement device corresponds to the number of sheets according to the sheet count data.

7. each record in the list file for name identification has an overall serial number attribute indicating a serial number assigned to the document in the order of arrangement of the document to be sent in the document group for name identification; 4. The name identification system according to claim 1, further comprising an order anomaly detection means for detecting an order anomaly in which the change in the total serial number attribute of the latest read record is not in ascending order or descending order.

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