JP2003137238A - Label printer, and electric weighing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label printer and an electronic weighing device in which the changing work procedure of label sheets can be correctly recognized, and the setting work of label sheets can be facilitated. SOLUTION: A label printer is informed of the label sheets changing work procedure (Step S3) on the direction that the change of the label sheets is declared when changing the label sheets (Y in Step S2). The user can easily change the label sheets if the user only follows the label sheet changing work procedure which he or she is informed of. In addition, it is unnecessary to affix a sticker with a simple illustration indicating the label sheets changing work procedure printed thereon on a label printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a label printer and an electronic weighing device for printing a product name and a price on a label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a roll-shaped label sheet having a label attached to a label attaching surface of a mount is conveyed while being pulled out, predetermined items are printed on the label during the conveying process, and the mount is bent and guided at an acute angle. As a result, label printers having a structure in which a label after printing is peeled and issued from a mount and the mount with the peeled label is wound and collected is widely used.

[0003]

By the way, in the label printer as described above, only the mount of the label paper is bent at an acute angle and is guided and conveyed, whereby the label after printing is peeled from the mount and is issued. Since the peeled backing sheet is wound up and collected, the sheet conveying path of the label sheet is complicated. Therefore, when the label paper is replaced, the user can set the roll-shaped label paper on the label printer, and take up the platen and the label used for printing after passing through the label peeling plate for peeling the label from the mount. It sometimes took time to set the mount on the shaft.

Therefore, conventionally, a sticker on which a simple illustration showing the procedure for replacing label paper is printed is attached to a label printer, and the user performs the replacement work of label paper while looking at the sticker. ing.

However, when sticking a sticker on which a simple illustration describing the procedure of such label paper replacement is attached to the label printer, the label printer needs a space for sticking the sticker. However, it is not always possible to secure sufficient space. For example, a so-called built-in type printer is mainly used in a label printer or the like having a structure to issue a label by being incorporated in an electronic scale device. Since the volume of the label printer greatly affects the space, further miniaturization and thinning are desired. That is, in the case where a space for sticking a sticker cannot be secured as in such a miniaturized and thinned label printer, the sticker must be miniaturized and the label paper printed on the sticker must be replaced. The work procedure also becomes difficult to see.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a label printer and an electronic weighing device which can accurately recognize the procedure for replacing label paper and facilitate the work of setting label paper.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a label printer in which a roll-shaped label sheet is pulled out and conveyed, and a predetermined matter is printed on the surface of the label sheet during the conveying step, the label sheet is replaced. And a work procedure notification means for notifying the procedure of the label paper replacement work when the label replacement declaration means declares the replacement of the label paper. .

Therefore, when replacing the label paper,
The procedure for the label paper replacement work is notified on condition that the label paper is replaced. As a result, the user can easily replace the label paper by following the procedure of the label paper replacement work. In addition, it is not necessary to attach a sticker, which is printed with a simple illustration showing the procedure for replacing the label paper, to the label printer.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, as a label printer, for example, an operator who is a store clerk and a customer face each other through a showcase, and a side dish or a butcher shop that sells side dishes and meat displayed in the showcase. An example of application to a printer provided in a face-to-face electronic weighing device that is placed on a showcase for use is shown.

Here, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the electronic weighing device 1 of the present embodiment from the operator side. As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic weighing device 1 has a weighing pan 3 on the entire upper surface of a housing 2 in the shape of a flat housing, on which a product to be weighed is placed, and a touch panel is provided on the left side of the operator's front side. Four
A display 5 (display device with a touch panel) having a printer unit 6 is provided on the right side of the operator's front side. In addition, inside the housing 2 and below the weighing pan 3, a load cell unit 16 (see FIG. 7) that functions as a weighing unit that outputs the weight of an item as an electrical signal.
Is provided.

The display 5 is a thin LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) and can be tilted. Therefore, from the state shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to tilt the display 5 so that its lower edge extends below the lower surface of the housing 2. This is in consideration of a usage mode in which the installation part 7 of the housing 2 is placed on the upper surface of a showcase (not shown) to install the electronic weighing device 1, and the display 5 is positioned below the upper surface of the showcase. Is the structure of.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Accommodates a printer 17 (see FIG. 2) which is a so-called built-in type cassette label printer, and has an issuing port 6a for issuing a label or a receipt on the front surface of the housing 2. The issuing port 6a is formed by an upper cover 2a and a lower cover 2b that form a part of the housing 2.

The printer 17 will now be described in detail. First, the schematic structure of the printer 17 is shown in FIGS.
It will be described based on. 2 to 5 show the printer 17
2 is a perspective view showing a state where both the cassette 203 and the cassette holding portion 202 are housed, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the cassette holding portion 202 is pulled out to the maximum pulling-out position, and FIG. Is a perspective view showing a state where the cassette 203 is further pulled out, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the right side surface of the cassette 203.

The printer 17 has, as its schematic structure, a main body case 2 which is a printer main body formed of sheet metal.
01, the cassette holder 202 is retractably housed, and the cassette 203 is retractably housed in the cassette holder 202. Cassette holder 20
2 is a line thermal head unit 20 as a print head
4 is capable of jumping up (see FIGS. 3 to 5) and has a cutter 205 having a fixed blade structure (see FIG. 2). Cassette 203
Is a paper storage unit 2 for storing and holding roll-shaped label paper (not shown) having a label attached to the label attaching surface of the mount.
06, a platen 207, a label peeling plate 208 for peeling the label of the label paper from the mount, and a mount winding shaft 209 for winding the mount peeled by the label peeling plate 208 (FIG. 3). (See FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 6, the cassette 203 includes:
The platen 207, the label peeling plate 208, and the mount paper winding shaft 209 are provided in a cantilevered state, and the cassette 203 has an open portion 211 on the side facing the mounting wall 210 that cantilevers these. Further, one side fence 212 formed by resin molding is slidably attached to the paper storage unit 206 of the cassette 203. That is, in the paper storage unit 206, two metal support shafts 213 are erected from the mounting wall 210 of the cassette 203, and these support shafts 213 are fitted into two fitting holes formed in the side fence 212. It is fitted. As a result, the side fence 212 is slidably supported by the two support shafts 213, and by sliding the side fence 212, the width of the roll-shaped label paper that can be stored and held in the paper storage unit 206 is regulated.

With such a configuration, in the printer 17, the paper storage unit 206 is provided when the cassette 203 is pulled out or pulled out from the cassette holding unit 202.
It is possible to perform the work of setting the roll-shaped label paper on the paper, and the work of setting the mount on the mount winding shaft 209 via the platen 207 and the label peeling plate 208.

In addition, the main body case 201 of the printer 17
In addition, the sensor 8 (FIG. 7) as a detection unit that detects that the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201
(See) is provided. The sensor 8 is, for example, an optical sensor such as a transmissive sensor or a reflective sensor, or a mechanical sensor such as a microswitch.

Next, the electrical connection of each part incorporated in the electronic weighing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the electronic weighing device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing U) that executes various arithmetic processes and the like to centrally control each unit.
nit) 10 is provided. This CPU 10 has a Flash ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing fixed data.
11 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used to store rewritable variable data as a work area, etc.
12 and 12 are connected via a system bus 13. Fl
The ashROM 11 stores a control program and various files described later.

The CPU 10 has a system bus 13
An I / O port 14 is connected via the I / O port 14, and a load cell unit 16 is connected to the I / O port 14 via an A / D conversion unit 15. This load cell unit 16
Is composed of a load cell or the like, and has a structure for weighing the article placed on the weighing pan 3 and outputting the weighing value data. The output from such a load cell unit 16 is an analog output, and this analog output is an A / D.
The data is converted into digital data by the conversion unit 15 and input to the I / O port 14. Therefore, the CPU 10 refers to the control programs and files stored in the FlashROM 11 based on the output data from the load cell unit 16 input to the I / O port 14, and uses the RAM 12 as a work area to measure the weighing pan. It is possible to obtain the weight of the article placed on the item 3 by calculation.

In addition, the CPU 10 includes a printer controller 18 for driving and controlling the thermal head 17a and the pulse motor 17b of the printer 17 housed in the printer unit 6, a display controller 19 for driving and controlling the display 5, and a touch panel 4. The touch panel controller 21 for driving and controlling the I / O port 9 and the I / O port 9 for fetching signals from the sensor 8 are also connected via the system bus 13.

The CPU 10 drives and controls the printer controller 18 based on the print data while using a partial area of the RAM 12 as a print buffer. This allows
The thermal head 17a and the pulse motor 17b in the printer 17 are driven to perform the printing operation. In the case of the present embodiment, the printer 17 has a structure for performing a printing operation on the label of the label paper, and the label after printing is released from the backing paper and issued from the issuing port 6a.
Specifically, the platen 207 driven by the pulse motor 17b conveys the roll-shaped label paper in the paper storage unit 206 while pulling it out, and in the course of the conveyance, the thermal head 17a of the line thermal head unit 204 applies a predetermined item to the label. By printing, the label peeling plate 208 bends the mount to an acute angle, and guides and conveys it, the label after printing is peeled from the mount and issued from the issuing port 6a, and the mount from which the label is peeled is driven by the pulse motor 17b. It is adapted to be wound up and collected by the mount paper winding shaft 209.

Further, the CPU 10 drives and controls the display controller 19 based on the image data stored in the Flash ROM 11 or synthesized in the image memory while utilizing the image memory provided as the RAM 12. As a result, a large number of liquid crystal shutters provided in the display 5 in a matrix are selectively opened and closed,
An image based on the image data is displayed and output on the display 5.

Further, the CPU 10 drives and controls the touch panel controller 21, recognizes the position of the XY coordinates on the touch panel 4 touched by the operator, and acquires coordinate data. Accordingly, by synchronizing the positional relationship between the buttons and the like displayed on the display 5 and the coordinates of the touch panel 4, the combination of the touch panel 4 and the display 5 has the same function as the keyboard.

Next, various files stored in the FlashROM 11 will be described. Figure 8 shows PLU (Pric
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of the information file.
The FlashROM 11 functions as a storage unit and stores various files in a rewritable and storable state.
In this embodiment, a PLU file 101 and an information file 102 are provided as a part of the files stored in the Flash ROM 11.

The PLU file 101 shown in FIG. 8 is conceptually a product code 112, a product name 113, a unit price 114, and a PLU key displayed on the operator-side display 5 described later for each product number 111 of the product. A (Fig. 11
This is a file that stores various types of information, such as a key number 115 for positioning (refer to), in association with each other. That is, the PLU file 101 has at least a file structure that stores the product number 111 that functions as product identification data for identifying the product and the unit price 114 of the product per unit weight in association with each other.

The information file 102 shown in FIG. 9 is a file for storing the image data 103 relating to the label paper replacement work. That is, the information file 102 includes the image data 10 for recognizing the procedure of the label paper replacement work.
3 and image No. 3 that functions as image specifying data for specifying the image data 103. It is provided with a file structure that stores 104 and 104 in association with each other. The content of the image data 103 is digital data capable of visually recognizing the procedure of label paper replacement work, for example, by digital photo data or illustrations. Image data 1
The label paper replacement work procedure represented by 03 is
It may simply be one action of the operator or a combination of some actions.

Next, the processing executed by the CPU 10 according to the control program stored in the FlashROM 11 will be described. In the present embodiment, description of the same processing as the processing performed by the conventional electronic weighing device will be omitted. Here, the replacement procedure display process will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of the replacement procedure display processing by the CPU 10 after the power is turned on. After the power is turned on, the initial screen is displayed on the display 5 (step S1).

FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of the initial screen displayed on the display 5. As shown in FIG. 11, in the initial screen displayed on the display 5, the PLU key A for specifying the PLU (Price Look Up), the department key B, the product code, the amount of money, etc. are input in the product sales process. Numerical keys C and the like from "0" to "9" are displayed, and each of them functions as a touch key K1 having the same function as the key of the keyboard through the touch panel 4. The PLU key A is the PLU
It is determined based on the key number 115 for positioning the PLU key A in the file 101, and the corresponding product name 113 of the PLU file 101 is displayed.

Then, the main body case 201 to the cassette 2
When the signal indicating that 03 is pulled out is output from the sensor 8 (Y in step S2: sheet replacement declaration means), the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201 for label paper replacement work. As a result, the label paper replacement procedure is displayed on the display 5 (step S3: work procedure notification means).

As described above, when the sensor 8 which is the detection means detects that the paper storage unit 206 of the cassette 203 has been removed from the main body case 201 which is the printer main body, it is determined that the replacement of the label paper has been declared. This is because the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201 almost at the time of exchanging the label paper. That is, since the declaration that the label paper is replaced is made unknowingly, the usability can be improved.

The display of the label paper replacement procedure on the display 5 is performed by the information file 10 in this embodiment.
The image data 103 for recognizing the procedure of the replacement work of the label paper stored in No. 2 is sequentially displayed, and the image No. associated with the image data 103 is displayed. 1
04 are sequentially displayed (for example, image No. 10).
4 in ascending order). Here, when five image data 103 are stored in the information file 102 (see FIG. 9), the CPU 10 automatically sets each of the five image data 103 at fixed time intervals as shown in FIG. Shall be switched and displayed.

The display of the label paper replacement procedure on the display 5 is continued until the signal indicating that the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201 is no longer output from the sensor 8 (Y in step S4), that is, the label paper is replaced. The process is continued until the work is completed and the cassette 203 is housed in the main body case 201.

Here, when the label paper is replaced, the procedure of the label paper replacement work is notified, provided that the label paper is replaced. This allows
The user can easily replace the label paper by following the procedure of the label paper replacement work. In addition, it is not necessary to attach a sticker, which is printed with a simple illustration showing the procedure for replacing the label paper, to the label printer.

Further, by displaying the image for recognizing the procedure of the label paper replacement work on the display 5 which is a display device, the label paper replacement work is easier than in the case of notifying by voice or the like. Can be done.

Further, since the image displayed on the display 5 as the display device is switched for each procedure of the label paper replacement work, the procedure can be recognized step by step, which makes the procedure easier to understand. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the five image data 103 are automatically switched at fixed time intervals and displayed on the display 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the display on the display 5 is not limited to this. Each time the user touches the touch panel 4, the five image data 103 may be sequentially switched to be displayed on the display 5, or the five image data 103 may be displayed on the same screen.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the signal indicating that the cassette 203 is pulled out from the main body case 201 is output from the sensor 8 (step S2).
Y: paper replacement declaration means), it is assumed that the label paper is to be replaced, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user touches a predetermined position on the touch panel 4 on the display 5 (a so-called key). Operation), it may be declared that the label paper will be replaced.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately recognize the procedure for exchanging label sheets, and it is possible to facilitate the setting operation of label sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an electronic weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention from the operator side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which both a cassette and a cassette holder are housed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cassette holding unit is pulled out to a maximum pull-out position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cassette is further pulled out.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the cassette is pulled out from the main body case.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a right side surface of the cassette.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of each unit incorporated in the electronic scale device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of a PLU file.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of an information file.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of a replacement procedure display process.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of an initial screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing, in chronological order, a procedure for replacing the label paper displayed on the display.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Electronic weighing device, 5 ... Display device, 8 ... Detecting means, 16 ...
Measuring unit, 17 ... Label printer, 201 ... Printer body, 206 ... Paper storage unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a label printer that pulls out and conveys a roll of label paper and prints a predetermined matter on the surface of the label paper in the process of conveyance, a paper exchange declaration means for declaring that the label paper is to be replaced. A label printer, comprising: a work procedure notification unit that notifies a procedure of the replacement work of the label paper when the paper replacement declaration unit declares the replacement of the label paper. 2. A paper storage unit that is detachable from the printer body and stores and holds the label paper; and a detection unit that detects that the paper storage unit is detached from the printer body. The sheet replacement declaration unit determines that the replacement of the label sheet is declared when the detection unit detects that the sheet storage unit is removed from the printer body. Label printer. 3. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the work procedure notifying unit displays an image for recognizing the procedure of the replacement work of the label paper on a display device. 4. For each procedure of the label paper replacement work,
The label printer according to claim 3, wherein the image displayed on the display device is switched. 5. An electronic weighing apparatus having a weighing section for weighing the weight of an item and outputting weighing value data, and calculating the amount of money of the item weighed based on the weighing value data. An electronic scale device comprising the label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein predetermined items including the amount of money are printed on the label paper.