JPH0830785A - Stamp detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stamp detector surely detecting a stamp having no color frame and a stamp having no light emitting afterglow characteristic, etc. CONSTITUTION:This device has a charge amount face of seal recognition part 10 detecting the feature of the charge amount face of a seal based on the image data of postal matter which is decomposed into plural wavelengths and for which a photoelectric conversion is performed, a perforation recognition part 11 detecting the perforation of the stamp based on the image data of at least a wavelength area, a phosphorescence/fluorescence recognition part 12 detecting the light emitting afterglow that the stamp/the charge amount face of the seal have and a final decision part 13 recognizing the classifications and locations, etc., of the stamp/the charge amount face of the seal on postal matter based the detection results in the charge amount face of seal recognition part 10, the perforation recognition part 11 and the phosphorescence/fluorescene recognition part 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stamp detecting device for detecting the type and position of a stamp, a stamp face, or the like pasted or printed on a mail item.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional stamp detecting device is disclosed in JP-A-59-9.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1341 gazette, there is provided a means for detecting a stamp whose peripheral portion is printed in a uniform chromatic color and a means for detecting a stamp provided with a luminescent substance.

The structure of this conventional stamp detecting device will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, the white light sources 1 provided above and below the conveyance path 21 irradiate the white light 14 onto the postal matter 20 conveyed on the conveyance path 21. The image input unit 4 wavelength-separates the reflected light 17 obtained by reflecting the white light 14 on the postal matter 20 into three colors of R, G, and B, and photoelectrically converts each light. Photoelectric sensors 7 provided above and below the transport path 21 detect the transport position of the postal matter 20, and determine the timing at which the image input unit 4 captures the reflected light 17 based on the detection result. The color frame recognition unit 51 recognizes the color frame on the postal matter 20 based on the data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 4, and recognizes features such as a stamp and a fee stamp surface. The ultraviolet light sources 3 provided above and below the transport path 21 irradiate the postal matter 20 transported on the transport path 21 with the ultraviolet light 16. The image input unit 6 photoelectrically converts the emission afterglow component of the reflected light 19 obtained by reflecting the ultraviolet light 16 excited on the mail 20. Photoelectric sensors 9 provided above and below the transport path 21
Detects the transport position of the postal matter 20, and determines the timing at which the image input unit 6 takes in the reflected light 19 based on the detection result. The phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 12 is
Based on the data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 6, the presence / absence of afterglow light emission and the color type of the afterglow light emission are recognized in the postal matter 20. The final determination unit 52 uses the color frame recognition unit 51.
Based on the recognition result in the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 12, the presence or absence and the type of a stamp, a postage stamp, or the like on the postal matter 20 is detected.

Next, the operation of the stamp detecting device will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the white light 14 radiated on both sides of the postal matter 20 on the transport path 21 is reflected on the postal matter 20 to obtain the reflected light 17 which is reflected by the image input unit 4 into three colors R, G and B. Wavelength is decomposed into colors and each light is photoelectrically converted. Here, the timing of taking in the reflected light 17 in the image input unit 4 is determined based on the transport position of the postal matter 20 detected by the photoelectric sensor 7. Then, the color frame recognizing unit 51 recognizes the color frame on the postal matter 20 based on the data output from the image input unit 4.

Next, in the image input section 6, the conveying path 21
An emission afterglow component is extracted from the reflected light 19 excited on the mail item 20 by the ultraviolet light 16 applied to both surfaces of the upper mail item 20, and the light emission afterglow component is photoelectrically converted. Here, the timing at which the reflected light 19 is taken in by the image input unit 6 is determined based on the transport position of the postal matter 20 detected by the photoelectric sensor 9. Then, the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 12 recognizes the presence / absence of afterglow light emission and the color type of the afterglow light emission on the postal matter 20 based on the data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 6.

Then, in the final judgment section 52, based on the recognition results of the color frame recognition section 51 and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition section 12, presence or absence and the type of a stamp or a fee stamp surface on the postal matter 20 are detected. .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this conventional stamp detecting device, a plurality of pieces of postal matter are provided with a postage stamp printed in a uniform chromatic color at the periphery and a postage stamp provided with a luminescent substance. Even if the postal matter provided is mixed, the stamp can be surely detected.

However, since the color frame is not printed,
In addition, when a stamp having no emission afterglow characteristic, for example, a commemorative stamp is attached to the mail, the commemorative stamp cannot be detected.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the stamp detecting device of the present invention is affixed or printed on a mail piece based on the image data of the mail piece decomposed into a plurality of wavelengths. To detect the characteristics of stamps and fees stamped
Detecting means, second detecting means for detecting perforations of a stamp attached to the mail based on image data of the mail in at least one or more wavelength regions, and the stamp / charge. The stamp / fee amount stamp face based on the third detection means for detecting the characteristic of the emission afterglow characteristic of the stamp surface, and the detection results of the first detection means, the second detection means and the third detection means. And a unit for recognizing the type and position of the stamp and detecting the stamp / fee stamp face.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. The white light sources 1 provided above and below the conveying path 21 are postal items 20 conveyed on the conveying path 21.
The white light 14 is irradiated on the top. The image input unit 4 uses white light 1
The reflected light 17 from the light beam No. 4 has a plurality of wavelengths, for example, R, G, and B.
The wavelengths are decomposed into three colors, and each light is photoelectrically converted. The photoelectric sensors 7 provided above and below the transport path 21 are
The transport position of 0 is detected, and the timing at which the image input unit 4 captures the reflected light 17 is determined based on the detection result. The charge amount stamp face recognition unit 10 is based on the image data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 4, and is based on the image data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 4. The stamp / charge amount stamp face color frame, character pattern (numbers, etc.), pattern ( Recognize features such as stamps, stamps, etc. by recognizing pictures) and their types. Here, as a method of recognizing a character pattern or a pattern printed on a stamp / fee amount stamp surface, for example, a standard pattern of a stamp / fee amount stamp surface including a character pattern and a pattern is registered in a memory in advance. Every time, the recognition is performed by comparing and collating the obtained image data with the standard pattern registered in the memory.

White light sources 2 provided above and below the transport path 21.
Illuminates the white light 15 onto the postal matter 20 conveyed on the conveying path 21. The image input unit 5 photoelectrically converts the reflected light 18 of the white light 15. The image input unit 5 does not necessarily have to separate the reflected light 18 into R, G, and B wavelengths. The photoelectric sensors 8 provided above and below the transport path 21 detect the transport position of the postal matter 20, and determine the timing at which the image input unit 5 captures the reflected light 18 based on the detection result. The perforation recognition unit 11 includes the image input unit 5
The perforation of the stamp attached to the postal matter 20 is recognized based on the image data output from. As a method for detecting this perforation, for example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-131968 may be used.

An ultraviolet light source 3 provided above and below the transport path 21.
Irradiates the postal matter 20 conveyed on the conveying path 21 with the ultraviolet light 16. The image input unit 6 photoelectrically converts the afterglow emission component of the reflected light 19 excited by the ultraviolet light 16. The photoelectric sensors 9 provided above and below the transport path 21 are
The transport position of the postal matter 20 is detected, and the timing at which the image input unit 6 captures the reflected light 19 is determined based on the detection result. The phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 12 recognizes the presence or absence of the afterglow emission and the color type of the afterglow emission in the postal matter 20 based on the data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 6.

The final judgment unit 13 is the charge stamp recognition unit 1
0, based on the recognition results of the perforation recognizing unit 11 and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognizing unit 12, the presence / absence and the type of a stamp / fee stamp face, etc. on the postal matter 20 are detected.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the reflected light 17 from the white light 14 applied to both sides of the postal matter 20 on the transport path 21 is reflected by the image input section 4.
The wavelength is decomposed into three colors of R, G and B, and each light is photoelectrically converted. Here, the reflected light 1 at the image input unit 4
The timing of capturing 7 is determined based on the transport position of the postal matter 20 detected by the photoelectric sensor 7. And
In the fee stamp face recognizing unit 10, the color frame, character pattern (number), pattern and the like of the stamp / fee stamp face pasted or printed on the postal matter 20 based on the image data output from the image input unit 4. The type is recognized, and the characteristics of the stamp / fee stamp face are recognized.

Next, the reflected light 18 from the white light 15 applied to both sides of the postal matter 20 on the transport path 21 is reflected by the image input section 5.
Photoelectric conversion with. Here, the timing of capturing the reflected light 18 in the image input unit 5 is determined based on the transport position of the postal matter 20 detected by the photoelectric sensor 8. Then, the perforation recognizing unit 11 recognizes the perforation of the stamp attached to the postal matter 20 based on the data output from the image input unit 5.

Next, the afterglow component of the light emission of the reflected light 19 excited by the ultraviolet light 16 applied to both sides of the postal matter 20 on the conveying path 21 is photoelectrically converted by the image input section 6. Here, the timing of capturing the reflected light 19 in the image input unit 6 is determined based on the transport position of the postal matter 20 detected by the photoelectric sensor 9. And the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 1
At 2, the presence / absence of afterglow light emission and the color type of the afterglow light emission on the stamp / fee stamp face pasted or printed on the postal matter 20 are recognized based on the data photoelectrically converted by the image input unit 6.

Then, in the final judgment section 13, the postal matter 20 based on the recognition results of the fee stamp face recognition section 10, the perforation recognition section 11 and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition section 12.
The presence and type of stamps and fee stamps above are detected.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to.

Since the structure of the second embodiment is almost the same as the structure of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description of the overlapping parts will be omitted.

The perforation recognizing unit 11 detects, from the image data output from the image input unit 4, the light of at least one wavelength region of each wavelength region wavelength-decomposed into three colors of R, G, and B. Perforation of a stamp is recognized based on the obtained image data.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the white light source 2, the image input section 5 and the photoelectric sensor 8 can be omitted as compared with the first embodiment described above.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment. The white light source 31 is carried on the carrying path 21 in accordance with the white light source control signal 301 output from the control section 34. White light is irradiated onto the mail 20. The ultraviolet light source 32 irradiates the postal matter 20 with ultraviolet light in accordance with the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 output from the control unit 34. The image input unit 33 inputs the reflected light 39 (including the excited light emission afterglow component) due to the white light and the ultraviolet light at the timing determined by the photoelectric sensor 35. Then, the image input unit 33 outputs the reflected light 39 to R,
The light is wavelength-decomposed into three colors of G and B to photoelectrically convert each light, and the excited afterglow component of light emission is photoelectrically converted. The control unit 34 outputs the white light source control signal 301 to the white light source 31, the fee stamp face recognition unit 36, and the perforation recognition unit 37, and outputs the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 to the ultraviolet light source 32 and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 38. To do. Fee seal face recognition unit 3
6 is a white light source control signal 30 output from the control unit 34.
1, the color frame, the character pattern, and the pattern of the stamp / fee stamp face on the postal matter 20 based on the image data wavelength-separated into three colors of R, G, and B output from the image input unit 33. And recognize features such as type. The perforation recognition unit 37, according to the white light source control unit 301, based on image data obtained from light in at least one wavelength region of each wavelength region decomposed into three colors in the image input unit 33, Recognize the perforations on the stamp on the mail 20. The phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 38 attaches or prints on the mail 20 according to the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 output from the control unit 34, based on the data of the afterglow component of light emission photoelectrically converted in the image input unit 33. Recognize the presence or absence of afterglow and the color type of afterglow on the stamp / fee stamp face. The final determination unit 13 is the fee stamp recognition unit 3
6. Based on the recognition results of the perforation recognizing unit 37 and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognizing unit 38, the presence or absence and the type of a stamp, a fee stamp, etc. on the postal matter 20 are detected.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the third embodiment based on the white light source control signal 301 and the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 output from the control section 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, white light or ultraviolet light is emitted from the white light source 31 and the ultraviolet light source 32 onto the mail 20 according to the white light source control signal 301 or the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 output from the controller 34. Is irradiated intermittently.

When the white light source 31 irradiates the postal matter 20 with white light, the control unit 34 outputs the white light source control signal 301 to the fee stamp face recognition unit 36 and the perforation recognition unit 37. The image input unit 33 captures the reflected light of the white light, and the stamp / fee stamp face recognition unit 3
6 and the perforation recognizing unit 37 recognize the features of the stamp / payment stamp face and perforations.

When the ultraviolet light source 32 irradiates the postal matter 20 with ultraviolet light, the control unit 34 outputs the ultraviolet light source control signal 302 to the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 38, which emits ultraviolet light. The image input unit 33 takes in the luminescence afterglow generated by the irradiation, and the phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 38 recognizes the presence and type of the luminescence afterglow.

[0033]

As described above, in the stamp detecting device of the present invention, three or more types of stamp detecting means, for example, stamps
By providing a stamp detecting means by recognizing image data of the fee stamp surface, a stamp detecting means by recognizing perforations, and a stamp detecting means by recognizing emission afterglow, a color frame, an emission afterglow characteristic, etc. It is possible to reliably detect stamps and fee stamp surfaces such as commemorative stamps that do not have or a fee meter printed on postal matter, which cannot be detected by only one or two kinds of stamp detecting means. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional stamp detector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 White light source 3 Ultraviolet light source 4, 5, 6 Image input unit 7, 8, 9 Photoelectric sensor 10 Fee amount stamp face recognition unit 11 Perforation recognition unit 12 Phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition unit 13 Final judgment unit 14, 15 White light 16 Ultraviolet light 17, 18, 19 Reflected light 20 Mail 21 Conveyance path 31 White light source 32 Ultraviolet light source 33 Image input section 34 Image control section 34 Control section 35 Photoelectric sensor 36 Price frame recognition section 37 Perforation recognition section 38 Phosphorescence / fluorescence recognition section 39 Reflection Light / emission afterglow

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhisa Tanaka 2-31-25 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Within NEC Electric Techno-Rex Co., Ltd. (72) Minor Ito 5-7 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 1 NEC Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first detection means for detecting a characteristic of a stamp / fee stamp face attached or printed on the mail based on image data of the mail decomposed into a plurality of wavelengths, and at least 1. Second detecting means for detecting perforations of a stamp attached to the mail based on image data of the mail in one or more wavelength regions; and luminescence afterglow characteristic of the stamp / forehead stamp surface Of the stamp / fee stamp face based on the detection results of the third detection means for detecting the characteristics of the stamp and the first detection means, the second detection means and the third detection means. , A stamp detecting device having means for detecting the stamp / fee stamp surface. 2. The first detecting means is provided above and below a conveyance path of a postal matter, and the first detection means is provided on the postal matter.
Of the first light source for irradiating the first light and the first reflected light obtained by reflecting the first light on the postal matter are taken in, and the reflected light is decomposed into a plurality of wavelengths. A first image input unit that photoelectrically converts light in a wavelength region and outputs it as image data; and a first image input unit that detects the transport position of the mail and based on the detection result. First photoelectric sensor that determines the timing of capturing reflected light of the stamp, and a fee for detecting the characteristics of the stamp / fee stamp face based on the image data of a plurality of wavelength regions output from the first image input unit. A stamp surface detecting means, wherein the second detecting means is provided above and below a conveyance path of the postal matter, and emits the first light onto the postal matter; and the first light. Is obtained by reflecting on the mail piece A second image input unit that captures the emitted light and performs photoelectric conversion, and a timing at which the second image input unit captures the second reflected light based on the detection result while detecting the conveyance position of the mail. A second photoelectric sensor for determining, and based on image data photoelectrically converted by the second image input unit, a perforation detecting unit for detecting perforations of a stamp attached to the mail, The third detection means is provided above and below the conveyance path, and a third light source for irradiating the postal matter with a second light; and the second light for irradiating the postal matter. And a third image input unit that captures the third reflected light excited by the light and photoelectrically converts and outputs the emission afterglow component of the third reflected light; and detects the transport position of the mail. Based on the detection result, the third A third photoelectric sensor that determines the timing at which the image input unit takes in the third reflected light, and phosphorescence that recognizes the characteristics of the afterglow light emission based on the data output from the third image input unit. The stamp detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising a fluorescence detecting unit. 3. The first detection means is provided above and below a conveyance path of a mail item, and is provided on the mail item.
Of the first light source for irradiating the first light and the first reflected light obtained by reflecting the first light on the postal matter are taken in, and the reflected light is decomposed into a plurality of wavelengths. A first image input unit that photoelectrically converts light in a wavelength region and outputs it as image data; and a first image input unit that detects the transport position of the mail and based on the detection result. First photoelectric sensor that determines the timing of capturing reflected light of the stamp, and a fee for detecting the characteristics of the stamp / fee stamp face based on the image data of a plurality of wavelength regions output from the first image input unit. A stamp surface detecting means, wherein the second detecting means is based on image data of at least one wavelength region among image data of a plurality of wavelength regions output from the first image input unit, Stamp attached to mail The perforation detecting means for detecting the perforations and the third detecting means are provided above and below the conveyance path, and the third light source for irradiating the postal matter with the second light, and the second A third image input unit for taking in a third reflected light that is excited by irradiating the mail on the postal matter, and photoelectrically converting and outputting an emission afterglow component of the third reflected light; A third photoelectric sensor that detects the conveyance position of the mail, and determines the timing at which the third image input unit captures the third reflected light based on the detection result; and the third image input. The stamp detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a phosphorescence / fluorescence detection unit that recognizes the characteristics of the afterglow of light emission based on data output from the unit. 4. A white light source which is provided above and below a conveyance path of the postal matter and which illuminates white light onto the postal matter, and an ultraviolet light which is provided above and below the conveyance path of the postal matter and which illuminates the postal matter with ultraviolet light. And an ultraviolet light source to decompose the first reflected light obtained by reflecting the white light on the postal matter into a plurality of wavelengths, photoelectrically converting each light to output, and the ultraviolet light is An image input unit that photoelectrically converts and outputs a light emission afterglow component of the third reflected light that is excited by being irradiated on the mail, and detects the conveyance position of the mail and based on the detection result. A stamp / material based on image data of a plurality of wavelength regions output from the image input unit, and a photoelectric sensor that determines the timing at which the image input unit captures the first reflected light and the third reflected light. Detect the features of the forehead Based on the forehead seal face detecting means and the image data of at least one wavelength region among the image data of a plurality of wavelength regions output from the image input unit, the perforations of the stamp attached to the mail piece are detected. Perforation detection means, phosphorescence / fluorescence detection means for detecting the characteristics of the afterglow light emission based on the data of the afterglow light emission component output from the image input section, the forehead seal face detection means, the perforation detection means And phosphorescence
Based on the detection result in the fluorescence detection means, the type of stamp / fee stamp face on the mail, and a determination means for detecting the sticking position, together with the white light and ultraviolet light is emitted intermittently, When the white light is emitted, the fee stamp face detecting means and the perforation recognizing means are operated, and when the ultraviolet light is emitted, the phosphorescence / fluorescence detecting means is operated. Stamp detection device.