EP0578859A1 - Method and device for sorting and classifying reviews to be returned - Google Patents

Abstract

The method and the device for sorting and classifying magazine return flows are characterised by an optical reading device which is intended for registering the magazine, is effectively connected to a computer and emits, via the data signals emitted by the reading device, by means of the computer, control signals to the drive devices of conveyor belts, to an identification device, and to deflector apparatuses, for the actuation thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for sorting and classifying magazine returns.

It is known that magazines and daily newspapers are distributed to specialized retailers, e.g. to kiosks and newsagents to be offered for sale for a certain period of time.

After a certain period of time, e.g. one day for daily newspapers, one week for weekly magazines and one month for monthly magazines, the magazines, e.g. after the new edition appears, returned to the distributor.

This determines the number of returned magazines and allocates the return to a certain final distributor for whom a credit is booked.

At the same time, the magazines must be exempted from the attached giveaways.

The returned magazine is to be marked as a return by means of a punching process and the magazines are then sorted by issue and title in order to enable the publisher to return or the magazines to be sent directly to a waste paper processor.

The sorting processes for backward journals described so far are still carried out by hand.

This means that a not inconsiderable amount of processing costs for this activity must be taken into account. Furthermore, due to the absolutely necessary data acquisition, which is still carried out manually and in list form, the publisher does not immediately have the statistical data they require, and furthermore the final billing with the magazine sales department is delayed in an undesirable manner.

It is the object of the above invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to propose a method and a system with which it is possible to automate the classification, sorting and data acquisition of the magazine return.

The method according to the invention for sorting and Classification of magazine returns is characterized by the fact that the characteristics of the magazines are optically recorded and forwarded to a computer as a data signal, that the computer makes a comparison between recorded data and stored setpoints and then control signals from the computer for the optional, controlled drive of the conveyor belts , Devices and switches are delivered.

The device for carrying out the method is characterized in that an optical reading device for detecting the magazine and forming a magazine-dependent data signal is assigned to a transport device for conveying the magazine, and the outputs of the reading device are connected to a data processing system and the transport device is assigned a further conveyor track , which is equipped with controllable switches for the selected deflection of the movement current of the magazines and in accordance with each switch another conveyor belt is provided.

It has proven to be advantageous to provide, at the end of the conveyor device which cooperates with the reading device, a receptacle box for storing magazines which are provided with an insert which can be removed by hand.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous to use a device for marking the magazine return, e.g. to provide a punching device.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous to provide a controllable deflection device (switch) for the requested magazine flow at the outlet of the reading device.

It is particularly advantageous to match the conveyor belt in accordance with the selection tracks arranged at right angles to it with controllable deflection devices, such as Turnouts, sliders or deflection rails for the magazine flow from the conveyor belt to a specific selection belt.

The subject of the invention will now be described in more detail and shown in the drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht der erfindungsgemaessen Anlage;
• Fig. 2 schematisch die Einrichtungen zum Erfassen und Selektieren der ruecklaufenden Zeitschrift; und
• Fig. 3 ein Blockschaltbild zur Erlaeuterung des erfindungsgemaessen Verfahrens.

Show it:

• 1 shows a top view of the system according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 shows schematically the devices for detecting and selecting the rewinding magazine; and
• 3 shows a block diagram for explaining the method according to the invention.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the system identified by 1 consists of a driven conveyor belt 2, to which a detection device 3 (optical reader) is assigned, that of the conveyor belt 2 and the one on it stored magazines.

At the end of the conveyor belt 2, a receptacle 4 is advantageously provided, in which those magazines 5 are stored, if necessary, which e.g. are welded into a transparent casing and also hold a sample of goods, a giveaway or a small toy that must be removed later in a separate, manual operation.

A further conveyor belt 6 is provided perpendicular to the path 2 between the detection and reading device 3 and the receiving container 4, and can be extended as desired at the end 6 '.

In front of the conveyor belt 6, the conveyor device 2 has a controllable switch 30.

At the beginning of the volume 6, a further device 7 is provided, which is passed through by the magazines Z.

The device 7 is equipped with a cancellation device, e.g. a punching device, equipped and allows the magazines Z to be identified by means of a punching process in order to be recognized as a return. As a result, re-posting of the magazine Z as a return is excluded.

Sorting tracks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided perpendicular to the transport track 6, to which magazines of the same genus are delivered, for example a certain edition of a monthly magazine or all the retiring copies of a certain monthly magazine.

At the end of the sorting lanes 8 to 14, operators P have the task of reading the requested magazines, e.g. on tables, not shown, which are arranged at the outlets of the webs 8-14, to be stacked and tied into packages.

The possibly Automatic tying devices used are known from the prior art and are not part of the invention.

At the inlet of tracks 8 to 14, the conveyor track 6 has controllable switches, slides or slides 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. With these devices 15-21, it is possible to convey the magazines either in a straight line in the direction of the arrow f on the track 6 or a controlled deflection in the direction of the arrows f onto the desired sorting track 8,9,10,11,12,13, 14 to make.

FIG. 2 shows the devices for recognizing and sorting the magazines Z and for identifying the magazine as a return of goods.

In the recognition device 3 (optical reader), which is arranged above the web 2 for the transport of the magazine Z, there is a first optical reader 22, which is used, for example, for recognizing the bar code BC on the Serves magazine.

Furthermore, a further reader 23 is arranged in the device 3, which recognizes the magazine as such via the graphic content of the title page, even without the presence of a bar code.

The data 22 ′ recorded in the reader 22 and the data 23 ′ recorded in the reader 23 are forwarded to an EDP system 24.

To operate the computer 24, a screen terminal 25 and a keyboard 26 are connected to it.

The computer 24 is programmed in such a way that, after recognizing a certain magazine, it can determine exactly which path Z has to travel on the web 2 or the web 6.

In addition to capturing a specific magazine Z, the computer also has the option of carrying out counting operations, and there is also the possibility of crediting the magazine return of a specific sales organization.

Since the sales organization in question can usually not be recorded using the bar code or the Z magazine, but certain lot sizes of the magazine returns can be assigned to a specific sales organization, it is possible to use the missing data for the accounting recording of the returns Keypad 26 feed into the calculator.

The operation of the device can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the block diagram of FIG. 3.

The magazines Z of a certain final distributor are placed on the driven conveyor belt 2.

The tape 2 conveys the magazines into the recognition device 3, in which the bar code 22 'is recorded via an optical reader 22 and corresponding information is passed on to the data processing system 24.

The appearance 23 'of the magazine Z is recorded by the optical reader 23 and the corresponding data are likewise forwarded to the computer 24.

The data 22 'and 23' are compared with stored setpoints using a predetermined program.

If the magazine is accompanied by a supplement to be discarded, the magazine Z is sorted out into a container 4 which is provided at the end of the volume 2. The supplements are removed by hand from the magazine Z, then the magazines Z are again placed on the tape 2 in order to run through the recognition device 3 again.

If the magazine Z is a product without an insert, the magazine is recognized by the detection device 22 and 23 and is data-based recorded, furthermore the magazine Z is shifted to tape 6 via the switch 30.

When the punching device 7 passes through, a stamping or punching process is carried out with which the magazine is identified as a return, which prevents the magazine Z from being repeatedly delivered as a return.

After passing through the device 7, the magazine Z reaches the deflection stations (switches) 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 via the driven belt, which are shown schematically with dashed lines.

These known deflection stations can consist of controllable switches, slides or sliding devices, which opens up the possibility of relocating the magazine Z to the corresponding sorting belt 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 on the basis of a control command from the EDP system 24.

At the end of the individual webs 8 to 14, the sorted magazines Z are deposited on tables (not shown) and tied into packages by operators P to enable the packages to be delivered to a cellulose or paper mill or to send the sorted magazines back to the publisher in a targeted manner enable.

The advantage of the above invention can be seen in the fact that a method and a device are proposed which make it possible to use simple means to automate the sorting process of the magazine return previously carried out by hand and to reduce the processing times for these sorting and classification processes considerably and to reduce the necessary costs.

Claims (6)

Method for sorting and classifying magazine returns, characterized in that the characteristic data of the magazine (Z) are recorded optically and forwarded to a computer (24) as a data signal, that the computer (24) compares the recorded data (22 ' , 23 ') and stored target values, and then emits control signals from the computer (24) for optional, controlled drive of the conveyor belts (2, 6, 8 - 14), the devices (7) and the switches (30, 15 - 21) will. Device (1) for carrying out the method for sorting and classifying magazine returns, characterized in that a transport device (2) for conveying the magazine (Z) has an optical reading device (3, 22, 23) for detecting the magazine and forming a is assigned to magazine-dependent data signals (22 ', 23'), and the outputs of the reading device (3) are connected to a data processing system (24), and the transport device (2) is assigned a further conveyor track (6) which is operated with controlled switches (15 - 21) for selecting and redirecting the movement flow of the magazines (Z) and a further conveyor belt (9 - 14) is arranged in accordance with each switch (15 - 21) is provided. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a container (4) for storing magazines (5) is provided at the end of the conveyor device (2) which interacts with the reading device (3). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a conveyor device (6) is assigned a device (7), such as a punching or embossing device, for identifying the magazine return. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a controllable deflection device (30) (switch) for the magazine stream (Z) is provided at the outlet of the reading device (3). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that in accordance with the selection tracks (9 - 14) arranged vertically to the conveyor track (6) controllable deflection devices (15 - 21) (switches) are provided for deflecting the magazine stream 5Z).

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