DE2908500A1 - Automatic letter sorting installation - permits complete sorting process using only one sorting machine working on binary principle with photoelectric or magnetic operation - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic letter sorting for a sorting office is carried out by a simple type of machine. The installation enables the whole distribution of letters in a post office to be carried out automatically using a sorting machine fitted with 4 distribution compartments equivalent to 2 bits, 3 reading heads and 3 distribution points thus using only the smallest possible amount of machinery. The reading heads are capable of recognising binary codings operating either photoelectrically or magnetically and to control the positioning of distribution points to ensure the correct routing of the sorted letters.

Description

Device and method for the entire automatic

table distribution of letters at Swiss Post using a single type of distribution machine.

Field of application: The invention relates to automation the mail distribution ## at the post office.

Post's letter distribution service (BVD) is very labor-intensive The entire letter service at the post office is due to high personnel costs at many post offices deficit.

Perhaps only the letter distribution service can do it in an economical way be automated.

(Compare P 27 54 469.o) Purpose: In addition to cost savings, the mail distribution service is intended also be made more humane, because these services predominantly take place in the evening and after-hours and have to be done in the early hours of the morning.

State of the art: It has been shown that the automation of the BB throughtis possible.

But automation is extremely complicated, and it turns out that At the present time automation is uneconomical because of the high costs (Appendix 1) If large automatic sorting machines are used for the BVD , the machine effort is much too great. (Appendix 1) The German Federal Post Office and many other postal administrations have introduced postcodes (PLZ).

Implementation of BVD postcodes (postcodes).

These postcodes are 4-digit or 5-digit and from the postcode the The routing zone, the routing room, the routing area, the delivery office and other data can also be used for smaller postal units in the postcode.

DSe PIEZn of the Deutsche Bundespost e.g. have 4 digits and contain no data on the local distribution.

The zip code 8000, for example, applies to the entire city of Munich.

After a press issue in the Süddeutsche Zeitung on December 15th, 78 (Annex 2) one of the most modern letter distribution systems in Commissioned. This machine is able to process 60,000 letters per hour.

This application uses an address reader, i.e.

a central computer that converts the zip code into a sorting code and this code enables the letters to be sent using a complicated process computer to direct into the correct distribution boxes.

The system 2 does not show how many distribution compartments the sorting machine It can be assumed that this system will have more than 100 distribution boxes because Otherwise the huge amount of computer work would not be possible.

The address reader can even do things that are not necessary compares the postcode with the place name and can identify incorrect postcodes.

But the address reader cannot and also cannot read handwriting Not all typescripts. Only 3/4 of all addresses are suitable for the address reader.

A full automatic mail distribution is therefore not possible. Unfortunately System 2 does not show how the local distribution is to be automated and whether this is possible with the address reader.

The postcodes of the Deutsche Bundespost do not contain any data on the local distribution.

The letters must therefore first be sent manually to collection and delivery offices be distributed.

Then they have to be distributed 2-3 times at the office they are finally with the deliverer or in the collection box.

The automation of the local distribution service is just as important as the automation of the delivery.

The Deutsche Bundespost has had the local distribution numbers for a long time announced but not yet announced. The large sorting machines are suitable not for local distribution.

But if the local distribution cannot be automated kana and if If the address reader cannot read all the postal addresses, this is only one Unsatisfactory solution Task: The task consists in following one as possible simple solution to all problems that arise when automating the BVD to search.

The automation of the BVD only makes sense and is economical if Not only the outgoing letters but also the incoming letters and the local distribution are automated can be.

Tone of particular importance is that the entire automation with simple machines and with one carried out on a single machine type which is suitable for all sorting programs.

This is just as important as the requirement that it be coded only once must be and; to be sure, for the dispatch of the letter, both for the letter and for the letter the local distribution.

In addition, the method should be suitable for all postcode systems.

The automation of the BVD with large computers and process computers is possible, but very complicated and very expensive if it is easier and cheaper is better, if even more is achieved than with the complicated one Computer technology, then this would be even better.

For the tasks and problems see: P 27 54 469.o You can do the Transport decimal postcodes without a computer in an optimal binary code.

In this sense, optimal means that dLe PLZn with the greatest frequency get a short binary code, the postcodes that do not occur that often or rarely a longer binary code ..

The local distribution numbers can also be based on the frequency and encode binary.

Just like the optimal coding can be done without a computer, you can also sort the binary code automatically in a very simple way and do it without process calculators.

A small sorting machine with 4 distribution compartments is used for this = 2 bit.

The sorting machine has 3 reading heads: one reading head for bit 1 and ### 2 reading heads for bit 2. Each reading head controls a distribution gate.

the tfe ' are able to recognize the binary coding (photoelectric or magnetic) and control a switch.

This makes it possible to sort with 2 bits in 3 distribution areas.

The binary characters can be placed on the letter so clearly that no process computer is necessary for sorting.

The first two Numbers of the rLZ must be optimally coded in binary using a special device. The 3rd, 4th and every further decimal digit of the postcode or OVZ can easily be coded in binary. It is recommended to use a special sorting code (Anl3 and 4).

It goes without saying that you can use these little sorting machines has to sort several times.

But you can use it to run all of the the Automation of the Bw occur, optimal, i.e.

with the least amount of effort.

The 2-bit machine can be implemented in such a way that one for each bit uses its own read head or that the read heads are placed in the way that 2 other bits can be read or that the read heads does not change but shows the letters in such a way that always 2 other bits are read will.

Advantages: 1. You don't need a computer for coding and sorting.

2. the procedure is suitable for all PLZn systems 3. one can do all of them Carry out sorting programs with a single machine type.

4. The process is suitable for all company sizes and one can in particular, decentralize and relocate the final distribution to the delivery office machine effort is very low.

6. Also the address reader, in case he should have all the addresses will have to output an optimal binary code and one will be small Sorting machines must be used.

7. IAn can do the sorting at city post offices already in the rail mail car embarrassed.

Patent claims: Appendix 4 Calculation of the sorting performance a 2-bit distribution machine to 10 distribution boxes with the same frequency of lo Decimal numbers: sorting speed = 60,000 letters per hour = 1,000 letters in the minute 1st sorting quantities A + B + C + D = 60,000 = 60 minutes 2nd sorting Quantity B = 24,000 = 24 III. Sorting Quantity D = 24,000 = 24 "108 minutes The quantities A + C are eliminated from the first sorting.

If the sorting speed is slower, you need more time or several 2-bit sorting machines, as well as if you want to distribute to loo compartments.

Encoding of the decimal postcodes (digits) without B @@ taking into account the frequency decimal binary sorting code = 4 bit binary 2 times 2 bit 0 0000 00 1 0001 0100 2 0010 0101 3 0011 0110 4 0100 0111 5 0101 10 6 0110 1100 7 0111 1101 8 1000 1110 9 1301 1111

Claims (1)

Claims: Arrangement and method characterized in that the entire automatic letter distribution at Swiss Post with a single type of sorter machine can be carried out, namely with a sorting machine with 4 distribution compartments = 2 bit, 3 reading heads and 3 distribution switches and with the least amount of machine effort.