JP3133285B2 - Weighing and pricing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a weighing device, and more particularly to a method for measuring the weight of a product, calculating the price of the product from the weight value and price data per unit weight of the product, and printing the value on a label or the like. Mounting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional weighing and pricing apparatus, the tare weight of a product is stored in advance in correspondence with a product number together with price data per unit weight, a product name, and the like. The data is called up, the tare weight called out by inputting the product number is subtracted from the measured weight, the net weight of the product is calculated, and pricing is performed based on the net weight.

[0003]

However, in this method, the operation of memorizing the tare weight is troublesome and easy to make an error, and if the mistake is made, an accurate price cannot be calculated. If the tare weight is different), if the tare weight is different, the part number must be different, and the entry of the part number is troublesome. To change the tare weight, the user must key in the tare weight. And other issues.

[0004] The present invention has been made under such a background, the tare weight is determined by detecting the size of the tray to be used, the product weight is automatically calculated from the measured total weight, the product unit price It is an object of the present invention to provide a weighing / pricing device that can automatically price by multiplying by (1).

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weighing means for weighing goods stored in a tray, a setting means for setting price data per unit weight of the goods, Detecting means for detecting the size of the tray accommodating the product, tray weight determining means for determining the weight of the tray from the detected tray size, weighing results of the weighing means and determined by the tray weight determining means A price calculating means for calculating the price of the product based on the tray weight and the price data per unit weight of the product, wherein the weighting device
Is used in combination with a packaging device, and the size of the tray is
Means for detecting the size of the object to be packaged in the packaging apparatus.
Provided is a weighing / pricing apparatus characterized in that it also serves as a sensor .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the weighing and pricing apparatus is used in combination with a packaging apparatus, and the commodity price calculating means includes a weighing result of the weighing means, the tray weight, and the product. 2. The valuation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the price of the product is calculated based on the weight of the film in which the product is wrapped and the price data per unit weight of the product.

[0007]

[0008] invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein the tray weight determining means, according to claim 1, characterized in that a tray weight table that stores the relationship between the size and weight of the tray or
Or a weighing and weighing device according to item 2 .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the tray weight determining means includes a plurality of types of tray weight tables for storing a relationship between the size and weight of the tray, and one of the tables according to the type of tray to be used. 3. A weighing and valuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weighing and weighing apparatus is configured to be selectable.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the weighing and pricing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the tray weight determining means corrects the weight based on tray shape pattern recognition data. .

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a weighing and pricing apparatus combined with a packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
Is a packaging machine, and goods 3 carried in from the carry-in conveyor 2
Is packed by a stretch film, and the packed product 3 is carried out to a carry-out conveyor 4. The carry-in conveyor 2
Is a conveyor for carrying the goods 3 (packaged goods) into the packaging machine 1, and a sensor s1 for detecting the length (L) of the goods 3
(Configured by s1a and s1b), a sensor s2 (configured by s2a and s2b) that detects the width (W) of the product 3, and a sensor s3 (configured by s3a and s3b) that detects the height (H) of the product 3 Is configured).

As the sensors s1, s2 and s3, reflection type or pass type sensors are used. The reflection-type sensor includes a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device in one housing, and the light emitted from the light-emitting device is received by the light-receiving device to receive light reflected by the detection object. The pass-through sensor places the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device at two points separated from each other, and when the detection target is between the two points, the light emitted from the light-emitting device emits light from the detection target. This is a sensor that detects the detection target object by being blocked by an object and not reaching the light receiver.

In the case of this embodiment, the length (L) is detected by moving the two reflective sensors s1a and s1b in the directions of arrows M1 and M2 which are separated from each other, and the outputs of the sensors s1a and s1b are changed. It is obtained from the moving distance until the state changes from ON to OFF. In addition, each sensor s
Needless to say, the specific configuration of 1, s2, and s3 is not limited to the method of the embodiment.

In the detection of the width (W), the output of a pair of passing sensors s2 constituted by s2a and s2b is OF
It is measured by the travel distance of the drive conveyor 2 calculated from the drive count number of the stepping motor that drives the carry-in conveyor 2 during the period F. The detection of height (H)
A plurality of pairs of pass-type sensors s3 arranged at equal heights in the height direction on the conveyor 2 (a plurality of pairs of sensors constituted by s3a and s3b are arranged at different heights). Is measured by the number of OFF when passing through the product 3.
In the data of the length (L), width (W) and height (H), L, W, and H are used for controlling the packaging machine 1 described later, and L and W are weights of the tare weight described later. Used for measurement.

Next, the carry-out conveyor 4 carries out the goods 3 packaged by the packing machine 1 to a subsequent weighing / valuing apparatus, and also functions as a carry-in conveyor to the weighing / valuing apparatus. . The weighing conveyor 5 is a conveyor that measures the weight (Wt) of the product 3 during transportation. The label printing affixing section 6 calculates the weight of the product 3 (Wt) to the tare weight (Wt).
f) is subtracted to calculate the net weight (Wo) of the product 3, and the price of the product is calculated from the weight (Wo) and the price data per unit weight of the product 3, and the calculated price, product name, The label 7 is printed on the label 7 together with the net weight, the effective date, and the like. When the product 3 reaches a predetermined position, the printed label 7 is attached to the product. The sticking method includes, for example, a spraying method using an air jet or a pressure contact method using an effect of holding the label holding surface.

The sticking conveyor 8 is a conveyor on which the label 7 is stuck to the product 3, and a label printing sticking section is arranged at an upper portion thereof (a lower portion in the case of bottom sticking).
Further, a product detection sensor s4 for detecting that the product 3 has reached a predetermined position is provided. This sensor s4 is O
A label is attached after a lapse of a predetermined time after the FF has been formed.
By changing the predetermined time, the label sticking position can be changed.

Next, the configuration of the control unit of the weighing and pricing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, reference symbol A indicates a weighing section, and reference symbol B indicates a packaging machine section. The weighing section A is configured around a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that executes and controls programs, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 in which various programs executed by the CPU 10 are stored. R for storing a work area, a register, a flag, and a result file for storing process result data used when executing a program
An AM (random access memory) 12 is connected to the CPU 10 via a bus. Also, this RAM1
2, a product file-tare weight conversion table and the like, which will be described later, are also stored here.

Further, the CPU 10 has a weighing section 13 for weighing the goods on the weighing conveyor 5, a display operation section (console) 14 for inputting and setting various data and displaying various data and messages, and a packaging machine section. A communication interface INF15 for communicating with B, a control unit 16 for controlling the weighing conveyor 5 and the adhering conveyor 8, a product name, price, weight, etc. are printed on a label, and the label is sucked and held in a label issuing port. A label printing unit 17, a label affixing unit 18 for affixing the suction-held label to the product by spraying or crimping of an air jet, and a product detecting unit 19 by a product detecting sensor s4 in the affixing conveyor 8 are connected via a bus. Have been.

The packaging machine section B is a CPU for controlling.
INF2, which is a communication interface configured to communicate with the weighing section A,
Reference numeral 1 denotes various status data, and in the present embodiment, the C
The length (L) and width (W) data detected by the sensors s1 and s2 are transmitted from the PU 20 side to the CPU 10 side. Various programs executed by the CPU 20 are stored in the ROM 22. RAM 23 is the CPU
Reference numeral 20 denotes a memory for storing a work area, a register, and a flag used when executing a program, and a control mechanism based on data of length (L), width (W), and height (H) of the product. A table for determining various control data for controlling the units is also stored here. (The memory used here may be a ROM, but a RAM is used so that it can be changed, and it is preferable to use a nonvolatile RAM so that data is protected even when the power is turned off.)

The display operation section 24 is a console (display operation section) of the packaging machine section B, and inputs a tray type and the like to be described later. The packaging machine control unit 25 is a packaging mechanism control unit that controls each operating unit based on the length (L), width (W), and height (H) of the product, and also controls the carry-in conveyor 2 and the carry-out conveyor 4. Do it here. The length detector 26 is a sensor s
1, the width detecting unit 27 detects the length of the product.
2, the height of the product is detected by the sensor s.
3 is used to detect the height of the product. A product size detection unit C is configured by these three detection units.

Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and a flowchart of the operation.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the packaging machine unit B. In this figure, the processing routine of the packaging machine section B is started by placing the product 3 at a predetermined position on the carry-in conveyor 2. Hereinafter, the operation will be described in order from step sp10 (hereinafter, referred to as sp10 and the like).

First, at sp10, the carry-in conveyor 2
Before the product 3 is loaded into the packaging machine 1
1. Each size of the length (L), width (W) and height (H) of the product 3 is detected by the sensor s2 and the sensor s3. sp11... Sends L and W among the detected sizes and the type data of the tray on which the product is placed to the weighing section A. In this embodiment, since the control of the packaging machine differs depending on the tray type, the tray type data (standard tray T1 or soft tray T2) is input in advance by the display operation unit 24, and this data is sent to the weighing unit A.

Sp12: The control data of the packaging machine is determined based on the detected sizes L, W and H of the product 3 and the tray type T. The control data includes the film cut length, the amount of film pre-stretch, the position at which the product 3 is loaded onto the elevator head, the operation timing of the folding plate, and the like. sp13 ... Each of the operating units is controlled based on the control data determined in the above-described sp12, and the packaging operation is performed. sp14: The packed product 3 is carried out to the carry-out conveyor 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the weighing section A. The operation of the weighing section A will be described with reference to FIG. First, the product number (product number) of the product to be processed as the tare weight value is input from the display operation unit 14 in sp20. The RAM 12 stores a product file in a format as shown in Table 1.

[Table 1] By inputting the product number, the product data stored corresponding to the product number input from the product file is read and stored in each register of the RAM 12. For example, by inputting the product number "1234", data of pork (frame) valid for four days from the processing date for 150 yen per 100 grams is stored.

Sp21... The weight (Wt... Gross weight) of the product 3 carried into the weighing conveyor 5 is measured. sp22... The tray weight (tare weight) is determined based on the L, W, and H data sent from the CPU 20 in sp11. This determination is made based on the tray size-tare weight (Wf) conversion table stored in the RAM 12. This conversion table is provided for each tray type (standard tray... T1, soft tray... T2). Table 2 shows an example of a tray size-tare weight (Wf) conversion table for each tray type.

[Table 2] In this embodiment, the tare weight includes the packaged film in addition to the tray which is the container for the product.
The weight in consideration of the film weight is stored as a tare weight (Wf).

Sp23: From the weight (W) of the product, the tare weight (Wf) and the price data per unit weight (UP), the price (P) of the product is calculated by the following equations (1) and (2). calculate. Wo = W−Wf (1) P = (Wo / 100) × UP (2) Note that the decimal part of the price (P) is rounded down, Since the price data per unit weight (UP) is a numerical value per 100 grams, the weight value is divided by 100. sp24: Price, product name, net weight (Wo), effective date, etc. are printed on a label and sent to the issuing port. sp25: The presence of a product is detected by the product detection sensor s4, and a label is attached after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Since the above embodiment is a packaging weighing / pricing apparatus, the tare weight is the sum of the tray weight and the film weight, and the data table stores the numerical value in consideration of the film weight. Of course, weighing / packaging pricing device (when weighing device is incorporated in the conveyor after packing)
Is the tare weight, and the data table must store the tray weight.

Next, as a second embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which the tare weight and the film weight are distinguished as the tare weight when the same tray number is different in the tare weight. That is, as shown in Table 3, the total value of the tray weight (Wf1) and the film weight (Wf2) is stored, and when the weighing is performed after packaging, the total value of the tray weight (Wf1) and the film weight (Wf2) is stored. The value is the tare weight. When weighing is performed before packaging, the weight of the tray (Wf1) is defined as the tare weight.

[Table 3]

Next, a third embodiment will be described.
Although the film weight is slightly different depending on the length (L) of the product, the difference is negligible with respect to the tray weight. Therefore, the film weight (Wf ') is separately stored in the RAM, and is shown in Table 4. In the conversion table shown, only the tray weight (Wf) is stored as the tare weight. When the weighing is performed after packaging, the sum of the tray weight (Wf) and the film weight (Wf ′) is defined as the tare weight. When the weighing is performed before packaging, the tray weight (Wf) is defined as the tare weight. Here, whether the weighing is performed after packaging or before packaging is input from the operation unit.

[Table 4]

Finally, a fourth embodiment will be described. As a modification of the third embodiment, as shown in Table 5, the film weight (Wf ′) is stored for each film cut length, and the film weight (Wf ′) is stored according to the film length.
f ′) may be changed, and the data of the film length is received from the CPU 20 of the packaging machine.

[Table 5] The operation of one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which a packaging machine is combined is described.
This is because the size (L, W, H) of the product is detected and the packaging control data is automatically recognized according to the size of the product, so that the detected data can be used as it is, which is convenient. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a similar effect can be obtained even when a product size detection sensor is provided on the transport conveyor of the weighing and pricing apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the tare weight (tray weight) is limited only by the length (L) and width (W) data, and the height (H) data is not used. This is because, in the case of height data, the sensor of the embodiment cannot measure the height of the tray accurately when the height of the product is higher than the height of the tray. This is because it is considered that almost no users use trays having the same value but different heights (H). Therefore, the height of the tray is detected by some means, and the height (H) data is added. The same effect can be obtained even if the tray weight is determined by the method.

Although the processing for storing the tray weight in the above-described table has not been described, the storage of the tray weight is performed, for example, by setting the weighing / valuation apparatus to the setting mode, flowing an empty tray, and detecting the weight. Length (L),
Tray number (input) width (W) and measured weight
It can be performed by storing the information together with the information.

In the embodiment, two types of trays, "standard" and "soft", have been described, but the present invention is not limited to these two types.

In the embodiment, the length (L) and the width (W)
Is detected to detect the tray weight, but the length (L),
The method for detecting the width (W) is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and recently, a deformed tray such as a round or trapezoid may be used, so that a video image obtained from a TV camera is subjected to pattern recognition. It is also possible to use a method. Further, the tray weight determined based on the length (L) and the width (W) may be corrected using the tray-shaped pattern recognition data.

Further, in the embodiment, tare data is not stored in the product file. However, since the conventional product file has a storage area for the tare data, when the product file is used, the tare data is stored in the product file. Only when not stored (in the case of 0 g), the tare data determined from the tray size can be used, and the latest tare data determined from the length (L) and the width (W) are stored in the tare data area of the product file. It is also possible to store the tare data at all times and to select whether to use the tare data of the product file or the tare data determined from the length (L) and width (W).

In the embodiment, the measured length (L),
In the above example, the width (W) is measured and priced, but there are multiple products (four in the case of the figure) between the size detection unit and the measurement unit.
In some cases, after setting the length (L) and width (W) data,
It is a matter of course that the information is stored in the IFO (first in first out).

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided: Since the tare weight is automatically determined by detecting the size of the tray to be used, it is not necessary to store the weight in advance corresponding to the product number, and there is no problem of an incorrect price due to an incorrect tare weight. 2. 2. If only the tare weight of the same product is different, there is no need to change the product number as in the past. 3. The operator does not need to input the tare weight even when changing the tray to be used. 4. Since the conventional size detection sensor for the packaged object is also used, there is no need to separately provide a detection means. An effect is obtained that it is possible to easily cope with a change in the type of tray or a user who uses a different type of tray.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a weighing and pricing apparatus combined with a packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the weighing and pricing apparatus combined with the packaging machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the packaging machine unit B according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the weighing section A according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 packaging device (packing machine) 2 carry-in conveyor 3 goods 4 carry-out conveyor 5 weighing conveyor 6 label printing sticking part 7 label 8 sticking conveyor 10 CPU 11 ROM 12 RAM 13 measuring part 14 display operation part 15 INF 16 conveyor control part 17 label printing Unit 18 Label sticking unit 19 Commodity detection unit (s4) 20 CPU 21 INF 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 Display operation unit 25 Packaging machine control unit 26 Length detection unit (s1) 27 Width detection unit (s2) 28 Height detection unit ( s3) A weighing section B packaging machine section C product size detection section s1 (s1a, s1b) sensor s2 (s2a, s2b) sensor s3 (s3a, s3b) sensor s4 (s4a, s4b) sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01G 19/414 G01G 23 / 14,23 / 16 G01G 23/42

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A weighing unit for weighing a product stored in a tray, a setting unit for setting price data per unit weight of the product, and a detecting unit for detecting a size of the tray storing the product. Tray weight determining means for determining the weight of the tray from the detected tray size; the weighing result of the weighing means, the tray weight determined by the tray weight determining means, and the price data per unit weight of the product And a price calculating means for calculating the price of the product based on the weighing and pricing device, wherein the weighing and pricing device is used in combination with a packaging device.
The means for detecting the size of the tray is provided in the packaging device.
Characterized by also serving as a package size detection sensor
Weighing pricing system that. 2. The weighing / pricing device is used in combination with a packaging device, and the commodity price calculating means includes a weighing result of the weighing means, the tray weight, and a weight of a film wrapping the commodity. The valuation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the price of the product is calculated based on price data per unit weight of the product. Wherein said tray weight determining means, weighing pricing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a tray weight table that stores the relationship between the size and weight of the tray. 4. The tray weight determining means is provided with a plurality of types of tray weight tables for storing the relationship between the size and weight of a tray, and is configured to be able to select one of the tables according to the type of tray to be used. 3. The weighing and pricing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Wherein said tray weight determining means, weighing pricing device according to claim 1 or 2 by the pattern recognition data of the tray shape and corrects the weight.