WO2016129165A1 - Allergen output method, label printing device, and label - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an allergen output method which is capable of completely outputting allergens which are included in a subject product and which should be presented to consumers, etc. This allergen output method comprises a read-out step (S2), an extraction step (S3), a candidate presentation step (S4), determination acceptance steps (S5, S6, S7), and an output step (S12). In the read-out step, ingredient information for the product which is stored in a database is read out. In the extraction step, allergen candidates included in the product are extracted on the basis of the ingredient information. In the candidate presentation step, the extracted allergen candidates are presented to a user. In the determination acceptance steps, a determination by the user of the allergens to be outputted is accepted. In the output step, the allergens which are determined to be outputted are outputted.

Description

Allergen output method, label printing device, label

The present invention relates to an allergen output method, and more specifically to a method for outputting an allergen contained in a target article. The present invention also relates to a label printing apparatus that prints out allergens on a label using the allergen output method, and a label printed out using the label printing apparatus.

Demands for food safety and security are increasing, and there is an increasing demand to accurately show consumers whether allergic substances that affect health and life are contained in articles.

In Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-361194), a computer determines whether or not an allergic substance is contained in the target article from the raw material name of the target article, and the target article contains the allergic substance. If it is determined that the allergen is contained, it is printed on the label.

However, simply judging whether the target article contains allergic substances from the name of the raw material of the target article, for example, depending on the name of the raw material, the characteristics of the raw material used for the target article, etc. There is a possibility that the computer may erroneously determine whether or not allergic substances are contained.

An object of the present invention is to provide an allergic substance output method capable of outputting allergic substances to be presented to consumers and the like contained in the target article without omission, a label printing apparatus for printing out allergens on a label using the method, And providing a label printed out using the label printing apparatus.

The allergen output method according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a reading step, an extraction step, a candidate presentation step, a decision reception step, and an output step. In the reading step, the raw material information of the target article stored in the database is read. In the extraction step, candidates for allergens contained in the target article are extracted based on the raw material information. In the candidate presentation step, the extracted allergen candidate is presented to the user. In the determination reception step, determination of allergens to be output by the user is received. In the output step, the determined allergen to be output is output.

In the allergen output method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the allergen candidate extracted based on the raw material information is once presented to the user (person), and the user is determined based on the presented allergen candidate Allergic substances to be output. Therefore, even when an allergen contained in the target article is erroneously extracted from the raw material information, it can be checked by human eyes and the allergen can be output without omission.

The allergen output method according to the second aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to the first aspect, and in the extraction step, the allergy substance output method is based on a character string search of the raw material name of the target article included in the raw material information. Substance candidates are extracted.

In the allergen output method according to the second aspect of the present invention, allergen candidates included in the target article can be extracted without preparing special information as raw material information in the database.

The allergen output method according to the third aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to the first or second aspect, and the determination reception step includes an addition reception step and / or a deletion reception step. In the additional reception step, the user's correction operation for adding allergens not included in the allergen candidate to the allergens to be output is received. In the deletion acceptance step, a user's correction operation for removing at least one allergen contained in the allergen candidate from the allergen to be output is accepted.

In the allergen output method according to the third aspect of the present invention, if the allergen actually contained in the target article is erroneously determined not to be included in the target article in the extraction step, it is missing from the candidates. The user adds allergens that are present as allergens to be output, so that allergens contained in the target article can be output without omission. In addition, when it is erroneously determined that an allergen that is not actually included in the target article is included in the target article in the extraction step, the user deletes the allergen from the allergen to be output. Thus, it is possible to prevent a business opportunity from being lost by presenting incorrect information to consumers.

The allergen output method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to the third aspect, and the decision receiving step further includes a useful information presentation step. In the useful information presentation step, useful information related to the correction operation is presented when the user performs the correction operation.

In the allergen output method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the user performs a correction operation for adding / deleting allergic substances, useful information related to the correction operation is presented. It is possible to prevent accidental deletion / addition of substances.

The allergen output method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to any of the first to fourth aspects, and the database is an external database.

In the allergic substance output method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when handling various types of articles, the candidate for allergens contained in the target article is extracted without having an enormous amount of data as an internal database. Can do.

The allergen output method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to any of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising an information accumulation step. In the information accumulation step, the determined allergens to be output are accumulated as information.

In the allergen output method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the information of allergens to be output is accumulated, what is output as allergens for each target article is tracked as necessary. It is easy to conduct a survey.

The allergen output method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the allergen output method according to any of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising a learning step. In the learning step, learning is performed based on the determined allergen to be output. In the extraction step, candidates for allergens are further extracted based on the learning result in the learning step.

In the allergen output method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, allergen candidates are further extracted using the learning result based on the user's decision. The situation where the same operation must be avoided can be avoided.

A label printing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes a print output unit that prints on a label and a control unit that controls the print output unit, and the allergic substance according to any one of the first to seventh aspects. It is a label printing apparatus using an output method. In the output step, the control unit controls the print output unit so that the print output unit prints out the allergic substances to be output received in the determination receiving step on the label.

In the label printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, allergens contained in the target substance can be printed on the label without omission.

The label according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is a label on which allergic substances are printed out by the label printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect.

In the label according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, allergic substances contained in the target substance can be presented to the person (such as the purchaser of the target substance) who sees the label without omission.

In the allergen output method according to the present invention, the allergen candidate extracted based on the raw material information is once presented to the user (person), and the allergen determined by the user based on the presented allergen candidate Output to the output means. Therefore, even when an allergen contained in the target article is erroneously extracted from the raw material information, it can be checked by human eyes and the allergen can be output without omission.

In the label printing apparatus according to the present invention, allergen contained in the target substance can be printed on the label without omission.

In the label of the present invention, allergic substances contained in the target substance can be presented without omission to the person who sees the label (such as the purchaser of the target substance).

1 is an external perspective view of a weighing printer that uses an allergic substance output method according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing printer in FIG. 1. It is an example of the label printed out by the measurement printer of FIG. It is a flowchart of the label issuing process of the measurement printer of FIG. It is a block diagram of a measurement printer concerning modification 1C. It is the schematic of the radio | wireless display system using the allergen output method which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the display of the wireless indicator contained in the wireless display system of FIG. 7 is a flowchart of display processing of a wireless display device in the wireless display system of FIG. 6.

Embodiments of the present invention are shown below. The following embodiments are merely specific examples and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
A weighing printer 10 that uses an allergic substance output method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The weighing printer 10 is an example of a label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

(1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of the weighing printer 10.

The weighing printer 10 is a device that prints and issues a label to be attached to a product (target product) such as food. Specifically, the weighing printer 10 measures the weight of a product, prints information on the product based on various information and measurement values, and issues a printed label L (see FIG. 3). It is a device to do. The weighing printer 10 is configured to print out an allergic substance (information that can identify the type of allergic substance) contained in the product on a label L to be attached to the product containing the allergic substance. For example, the weighing printer 10 is installed in a store such as a supermarket.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the weighing printer 10 mainly includes a communication unit 20, a weighing unit 30, a liquid crystal monitor 40, an operation panel 50, a label issuing unit 60, and a control unit 70. .

(2) Detailed Configuration The communication unit 20, the weighing unit 30, the liquid crystal monitor 40, the operation panel 50, the label issuing unit 60, and the control unit 70 of the weighing printer 10 will be described in detail.

(2-1) Communication Unit The communication unit 20 is a communication interface that enables mutual communication between the weighing printer 10 and a store server 80 (see FIG. 2) described later. The communication unit 20 and the store server 80 are connected by a communication line such as the Internet or a dedicated line, for example. In FIG. 2, the store server 80 is connected to only one weighing printer 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. The store server 80 may be connected to a plurality of weighing printers 10.

The store server 80 has a database 81 that stores product information (various information related to products) used when the weighing printer 10 prints out the label L. The store server 80 is installed in the same store as the store where the weighing printer 10 is installed, for example. In the database 81 of the store server 80, product information is stored for each product (by product code). The product information includes raw material information. The raw material information includes a character string of the name of the raw material of the product. In addition to raw material information, the product information may further include, for example, the name of the product, the unit price of the product, a list of food additives contained in the product, the name of the seller of the product, the name of the producer of the product, etc. Good. However, the product information is not limited to these pieces of information, and other information may be included instead of or in addition to a part of these pieces of information.

The store server 80 is connected to the weighing printer 10 in a communicable manner, and is also connected to a higher-level central server 90 via a communication line such as the Internet or a dedicated line (see FIG. 2). The central server 90 is usually installed at a location different from the store server 80. In FIG. 2, the central server 90 is connected to only one store server 80, but is not limited to this. The central server 90 is normally connected to a store server 80 installed in each of a plurality of stores. The contents of the database 81 of the store server 80 are updated regularly (for example, once a day) by the central server 90 in accordance with addition / deletion of products handled in the store and changes in product information.

(2-2) Weighing unit The weighing unit 30 is an electronic scale for measuring the weight of a product. The weighing unit 30 is provided on the front side of the weighing printer 10 (see FIG. 1). The measuring unit 30 measures the weight of the product to be affixed with the issued label L. The weighing unit 30 measures the weight of a product placed on the weighing pan 30a (see FIG. 1) by a user of the weighing printer 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a user) and sends the measured value to the control unit 70. Send.

(2-3) Liquid Crystal Monitor The liquid crystal monitor 40 is a touch panel monitor. The liquid crystal monitor 40 is attached to the upper part of the weighing printer 10 (see FIG. 1).

The liquid crystal monitor 40 functions as an information presentation unit. Various information for the user is displayed (presented) on the liquid crystal monitor 40. Specifically, the liquid crystal monitor 40 has, for example, candidates for allergens contained in the product for which the label L is issued, which is extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a of the control unit 71 of the control unit 70 described later. Is displayed. The liquid crystal monitor 40 displays various screens for prompting the user to perform an operation, for example.

The liquid crystal monitor 40 also functions as an input unit. Specifically, the liquid crystal monitor 40 accepts various operations by the user as input.

(2-4) Operation Panel The operation panel 50 functions as an input unit. The operation panel 50 is a key for receiving various operations by the user of the weighing printer 10 as input. The operation panel 50 is disposed on the upper surface of the weighing printer 10 (see FIG. 1).

Specifically, the operation panel 50 designates a product by touching, for example, a call key for calling information on the selected product, a numeric keypad for selecting a product to be issued with the label L, and the product. A PLU (Price Look Up) key for calling information on However, the types of keys on the operation panel 50 are examples, and are not limited to these.

(2-5) Label Issuing Unit The label issuing unit 60 prints out a predetermined content on the label L for the product to which the label L is affixed, and issues the printed label L. The label issuing unit 60 is an example of a print output unit that prints on the label L. The printed label L is issued from a label issuing port 60 a provided on the front surface of the weighing printer 10.

The printing method of the label issuing unit 60 is a direct thermal type here. However, the printing method of the label issuing unit 60 is an example, and various printing methods such as a thermal transfer method and an ink jet method can be used.

The predetermined content printed on the label L includes an indication of allergic substances (when the product to which the label L is attached contains allergic substances) (see FIG. 3). Here, among the allergens, the label issuing unit 60 applies allergies to the label L of products containing seven kinds of allergens (shrimp, crab, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanuts) called specific raw materials. A mark M in which a character representing the substance (name of the allergic substance) and a graphic representing the allergic substance are combined is printed out (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, among allergens, 20 types of allergens that are called specific raw materials (abalone, squid, how much, orange, cashew nuts, kiwifruit, beef, walnuts, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybeans, chicken, banana, pork , Matsutake, peach, yam, apple, gelatin), the label issuing unit 60 prints out the letter A (allergen name) representing the allergen (see FIG. 3). .

However, such a method for displaying allergens is merely an example, and for example, all allergens may be printed out with a mark in which letters and figures representing allergens are combined. Further, for example, the label issuing unit 60 may be set not to print out a part or all of the 20 kinds of allergens called equivalent to specific raw materials.

The predetermined content printed on the label L includes, for example, the name of the product, the unit price of the product (price per unit weight), the weight of the product, the price of the product, as shown in FIG. The name of the raw material of the product, the name of the food additive used in the product, the name of the seller of the product, etc. are included. However, the predetermined content printed on the label L is not limited to these items, and includes other items in place of or in addition to some of these items. Also good.

(2-6) Control Unit The control unit 70 is electrically connected to the communication unit 20, the weighing unit 30, the liquid crystal monitor 40, the operation panel 50, and the label issuing unit 60 (see FIG. 2). The control unit 70 receives various information from each configuration of the connected weighing printer 10 and controls the operation of each configuration.

The control unit 70 includes a control unit 71 mainly composed of a CPU and a storage unit 72 mainly composed of ROM, RAM and the like. The control unit 71 controls each unit of the weighing printer 10 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 72. The storage unit 72 stores various types of information in addition to a program to be executed by the control unit 71.

The control unit 71 includes a candidate extraction unit 71a, a print content generation unit 71b, a print substance determination unit 71c, a determination learning unit 71d, and a label issuance control unit 71e as functional units related to the print output of the label L.

(2-6-1) Candidate Extraction Unit The candidate extraction unit 71a extracts allergic substance candidates (hereinafter sometimes referred to as allergic substance candidates) contained in the product and displays them on the liquid crystal monitor 40. The allergen candidate displayed (presented) on the liquid crystal monitor 40 is used when the user of the weighing printer 10 determines an allergen to be printed on the label L (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a printout allergen). Refer to.

The candidate extraction unit 71a extracts candidates for allergens contained in the product based on the raw material information of the product read from the database 81 of the store server 80. Specifically, the candidate extraction unit 71a determines the allergen contained in the target article based on a character string search of the raw material name of the product included in the raw material information of the product read from the database 81 of the store server 80. Extract candidates.

Processing will be described with specific examples. In the storage unit 72, names of allergic substances such as “shrimp / shrimp”, “crab / crab”, “wheat”, “soba / soba”, etc. are stored in advance. The candidate extraction unit 71a performs a character string search to determine whether the name of the allergen contained in the storage unit 72 is included in the raw material name of the product included in the raw material information of the product read from the database 81. For example, if the raw material name includes a character string “Soba”, the candidate extraction unit 71a extracts “Soba” as an allergic substance candidate. The candidate extraction unit 71a performs a process of extracting allergic substance candidates contained in the product for all 27 types of allergic substances.

In addition, when the learning result of the determination learning part 71d mentioned later is memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 72, the candidate extraction part 71a is further based on the learning result memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 72 in addition to said process. Extract allergen candidates in the product. A process executed by the candidate extraction unit 71a when the learning result is stored in the storage unit 72 will be described later.

(2-6-2) Print Content Generation Unit The print content generation unit 71b is the product information read from the database 81 of the store server 80, the measurement value of the measurement unit 30, and the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or Based on the determination of allergic substances to be printed on the label L input to the operation panel 50), the printed content to be printed on the label L is generated.

(2-6-3) Print substance determination section The print substance determination section 71c receives allergic substances to be printed on the label L (print output allergy substance) received by the input section (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50). Based on the determination, the allergen for printing is determined. The input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50) specifically accepts a user's approval operation and correction operation as the determination of the print output allergen. The print substance determination unit 71c determines the print output allergen based on the user's approval operation and correction operation.

* The correction operation includes an addition correction operation and a deletion correction operation. The additional correction operation is an operation in which the user adds allergens that are not included in the allergen candidate to the printout allergens based on the allergen candidates extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a. The reduction correction operation is a correction operation in which the user deletes at least one allergen included in the allergen candidate from the print output allergen based on the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a. Note that the printing substance determination unit 71c presents advice related to the correction operation when the correction operation is received. Advice related to the correction operation will be described later.

The approval operation is an operation performed when the user approves that the allergic substance candidate presented by the candidate extraction unit 71a is used as the printout allergen as it is. Further, the approval operation is performed by the user after adding the allergen candidate to the corrected allergen candidate (allergen candidate presented by the candidate extraction unit 71a and / or after the correction operation for the allergen candidate presented by the candidate extraction unit 71a. (Or deleted ones) is an operation performed when approving that allergens are printed out.

(2-6-4) Decision Learning Unit The decision learning unit 71d performs learning based on the allergen (printed output allergen) to be printed on the determined label L. Specifically, the determination learning unit 71d determines that the print output allergen is determined through the user's correction operation (the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a for a certain product and the print substance determination unit 71c When the determined printout allergen is different), learning is performed based on the printout allergen. The learning result by the decision learning unit 71d is stored in the storage unit 72.

(2-6-5) Label Issuance Control Unit The label issuance control unit 71e is an example of a print control unit. The label issuance control unit 71e issues a label issuance so that the label issuance unit 60 prints out the print content generated by the print content generation unit 71b on the label L and issues the label L after the print output from the label issuance port 60a. The unit 60 is controlled.

(3) Flow of Label Issuance Processing The flow of label L issuance processing of the weighing printer 10 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. Note that step S2 described below is an example of a reading step. Step S3 is an example of an extraction step. Step S4 is an example of a candidate presentation step. Steps S5 to S7 are an example of a decision receiving step. In particular, the reception of the additional correction operation / deletion correction operation in step S5 is an example of each of the additional reception step / deletion reception step. Step S6 is an example of a useful information presentation step. Step S9 is an example of a learning step. Step S11 is an example of an information accumulation step. Step S12 is an example of an output step.

Note that the processing described here is processing performed when a certain product is selected as a label L issuance target and the first label L is issued after selection. When the label L is continuously issued for the same type of product, the print content generation unit 71b changes the print content for the product weight and the product price based on the measurement value of the weighing unit 30; Processing related to the determination (processing such as extraction and presentation of allergic substance candidates, determination of print output allergens, learning based on user determination, storage of print output allergens, etc.) is not executed. The process related to the determination of the print output allergen is executed only when the product for which the label L is issued is changed and the first label L is issued after the change.

However, the execution timing of the process related to the determination of the print allergen is not limited to this, and may be executed every time the label L is issued, for example. In addition, if the process related to the determination of the print allergen is executed once for a certain product, even if the label L is issued for another product and the product is selected as the label L issuance target again, it is predetermined. During the period (for example, during the same day), the processing related to the determination of the print output allergen may be omitted.

When trying to issue a label L for a certain product, the user of the weighing printer 10 selects a target product to be issued the label L via the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50). (Step S1).

When the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50) accepts a product selection operation in step S1, the control unit 71 receives product information (for the product) from the database 81 of the store server 80 via the communication unit 20. (Including raw material information) is read (step S2).

In step S3, the candidate extraction unit 71a extracts candidates for allergens contained in the product to be issued label L based on the raw material information of the product read from the database 81 in step S2. Specifically, when the candidate extraction unit 71a includes the name of the allergic substance included in the storage unit 72 based on the character string search of the raw material name of the commodity included in the raw material information of the commodity, Allergens are extracted as candidates for allergens contained in products. In addition, when the learning result of the decision learning unit 71 d is stored in the storage unit 72, the candidate extraction unit 71 a determines the allergen contained in the product based on the learning result stored in the storage unit 72. Extract candidates. The allergen candidate extraction process based on the learning result stored in the storage unit 72 will be described later together with the description of the learning process by the decision learning unit 71d.

In step S4, the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40. That is, in step S4, the allergic substance candidates extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a are presented to the user of the weighing printer 10. If the candidate extraction unit 71a does not extract any allergen, no allergen candidate is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40. Alternatively, when the candidate extraction unit 71a does not extract any allergen, a display indicating that no allergen candidate has been extracted may be presented on the liquid crystal monitor 40. In step S4, for example, the name of the raw material that is the basis for extracting the allergic substance candidate is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40 together with the allergic substance candidate.

In addition, the display of the allergen candidate on the liquid crystal monitor 40 may be performed as follows, for example. When the candidate extraction unit 71a extracts the allergen candidate in step S3, it is temporarily determined that the allergen candidate is an allergen to be printed on the label L. The print content generating unit 71b generates the print content of the label L including the display of allergic substances based on the provisional determination. Then, the print content generated by the print content generation unit 71b (including the print layout and the same content as that printed on the label L) is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40. With this configuration, the user can check whether there are any errors in the printed content other than allergic substances in step S4. It should be noted that here, the description of the confirmation and correction processes for the printing contents other than allergens is omitted.

In response to the allergen candidate in step S4, the user is prompted to determine allergens for printout. Specifically, the user is prompted to perform an approval operation or a correction operation. In step S5, the print substance determination unit 71c receives an approval operation or a correction operation performed by the user via the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50). If it is determined in step S5 that the print substance determination unit 71c has received a correction operation, the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if the print substance determination unit 71c accepts the approval operation in step S5, the process proceeds to step S10. The correction operation accepted in step S5 may be either an additional correction operation or a deletion correction operation, or may be both an additional correction operation and a deletion correction operation.

A case where an additional correction operation or a deletion correction operation is necessary will be described with a specific example.

Suppose, for example, that the name “mayonnaise” is temporarily included in the raw material name of a product. In this case, even if the character string search is executed, the character string “mayonnaise” does not include the same character string as the above-mentioned 27 kinds of allergic substance names. There is a risk that it is determined that is not included. However, since eggs are used for “mayonnaise”, it is necessary to include eggs in allergen candidates for implementation. In such a case, an additional correction operation is required. For example, it is assumed that the letters “soy milk” are temporarily included as a raw material included in a certain product. When the character string search is performed, since the character string “soy milk” includes the allergen name “milk”, the candidate extraction unit 71a does not include “milk” in this product. May be judged to be included in allergic substances. In such a case, a deletion correction operation is necessary. Note that the cases given here are only specific examples, and cases where an additional correction operation or a deletion correction operation is necessary are not limited to the above situation.

In step S6, the printed substance determination unit 71c presents useful information related to the correction operation performed by the user in step S5 to the liquid crystal monitor 40 as advice.

Specifically, for example, the printed substance determination unit 71c makes it easy to see on the liquid crystal monitor 40 the name of the raw material that the candidate extraction unit 71a has determined that the user includes an allergen to be deleted from the allergen candidate (for example, Display). In addition, for example, the printed substance determination unit 71c displays a warning or the like on the liquid crystal monitor 40 informing that the user is considered that the allergic substance to be added to the print output allergy is not included in the product. Also good. In addition, the print substance determination unit 71c is a past learning of the determination learning unit 71d that, for example, the allergic substance that the user is trying to add to the printout allergic substance or the user is to delete from the printout allergic substance. When the allergic substance candidate is added based on the result (the learning result stored in the storage unit 72), the past learning result of the decision learning unit 71d may be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40.

Next, in step S7, the user determines whether or not the allergen candidate for which the correction operation has been performed can be confirmed as a printout allergen with reference to the advice displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40. In step S7, when the user performs an approval operation via the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50) and the print substance determination unit 71c accepts the approval operation, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if the user performs an operation of not approving via the input unit (the liquid crystal monitor 40 and / or the operation panel 50) in step S7, the process returns to step S5.

In step S8, the printing substance determination unit 71c determines the printing output allergic substance (allergic substance candidate subjected to the correction operation) determined by the user as the printing output allergic substance. Depending on the product, it may be determined that there is no printed output allergen. Further, in step S8, the print content generation unit 71b generates print content based on the determined print output allergen, the measurement value of the measurement unit 30, and the product information read in step S2.

Next, in step S9, the determination learning unit 71d learns the print output allergen determined by the user (print output allergen determined by the print material determination unit 71c).

Specifically, for example, the decision learning unit 71d associates with the product (product code), what is added to the allergic substance candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a, and / or what is It learns whether it has been deleted or stores it in the storage unit 72.

Further, for example, the determination learning unit 71d may learn the printout allergen determined by the user as follows. Here, it is assumed that the correction operation performed in step S5 is the following operation. In the correction operation, when an allergic substance is added, the user associates the allergic substance to be added with the raw material name. If a specific example is given and demonstrated, the additional correction operation performed at step S5 will link an allergic substance and the raw material name "mayonnaise", for example, when adding "egg" to an allergic substance. With this configuration, the decision learning unit 71d learns the operation content (for example, “mayonnaise” includes the allergic substance “egg”) and stores it in the storage unit 72 in step S8.

At the time of the label L issuance process after the next time, the candidate extracting unit 71a further extracts allergic substance candidates based on the learning result stored in the storage unit 72 in step S3, and used in step S5. It is possible to save the user from having to perform the same correction operation every time.

When step S9 ends, the process proceeds to step S11.

Here, the process (step S10) when the printing substance determination unit 71c accepts the approval operation in step S5 will be described. In step S10, the print substance determination unit 71c determines the print output allergen determined by the user (the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 71a) as the print output allergen. The print content generation unit 71b generates the print content based on the confirmed print output allergen, the measurement value from the measurement unit 30, and the product information read in step S2. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, the printout allergic substance determined in step S8 or step S10 (allergic substance to be printed out determined by the user) is stored in the storage unit 72 as information associated with the product (product code). The In step S11, the name of the user who made the determination of the print output allergen and the date and time of the determination may be stored in association with the print output allergic substance and the product.

Next, in step S12, the label issue control unit 71e gives the label issue unit 60 the print content generated by the print content generation unit 71b in step S8 or step S10 (the print output allergen determined in step S8 or step S10). Are printed on the label L, and the label L after printing is instructed to be issued. As a result, the printed label L is issued from the label issuing port 60a.

Note that the learning result stored in the storage unit 72 in step S9 is preferably used in other weighing printers 10 used in the store, and accordingly (for example, every time the learning result is stored in the storage unit 72). Or periodically) is preferably sent to the store server 80. Further, when there is another weighing printer 10 used in the store, the store server is configured so that the learning result transmitted to the store server 80 is also stored in the storage unit 72 of the other weighing printer 10 in the store. 80 preferably transmits the learning result to the weighing printer 10 as appropriate. In addition, the learning result transmitted to the store server 80 may be configured to be transmitted to a higher-level central server 90.

Also, it is preferable that the printout allergen associated with the product stored in the storage unit 72 in step S11 is appropriately transmitted to the store server 80 in order to collectively manage the information. In addition, the printout allergen associated with the product transmitted to the store server 80 may be configured to be transmitted to the higher-level central server 90.

(4) Features (4-1)
The allergen output method according to the embodiment includes a reading step (step S2), an extraction step (step S3), a candidate presentation step (step S4), a decision receiving step (steps S5 to S7), and an output step ( Step S12). In the reading step, the raw material information of the product (an example of the target article) stored in the database 81 of the store server 80 is read. In the extraction step, candidates for allergens contained in the product are extracted based on the raw material information. In the candidate presentation step, the extracted allergen candidate is presented to the user. In the determination reception step, determination of allergens to be output by the user is received. In the output step, the determined allergen to be output is output (printed output).

Here, the allergen candidate extracted based on the raw material information is once presented to the user of the weighing printer 10 (user of the allergen output method), and the user determines based on the presented allergen candidate. Allergic substances are printed on the label L. Therefore, even when an allergen contained in a product is erroneously extracted from the raw material information, it can be checked by human eyes and the allergen can be output without omission.

(4-2)
In the allergen output method according to the above embodiment, in the extraction step (step S3), allergen candidates are extracted based on the character string search of the raw material names of products included in the raw material information.

Here, without preparing special information as raw material information in the database 81, allergic substance candidates contained in the product can be extracted.

(4-3)
In the allergen output method according to the above embodiment, the decision receiving step (step S5) includes an additional receiving step (adding correction operation receiving step) and a deleting receiving step (deleting correction operation receiving step). In the additional reception step, the user's correction operation for adding an allergen that is not included in the allergen candidate to the allergen to be output is accepted. In the deletion acceptance step, a user's correction operation for removing at least one allergen contained in the allergen candidate from the allergen to be output is accepted.

Here, when it is erroneously determined that the allergen actually contained in the product is not included in the product in the extraction step, the allergen missing from the candidate is used as the allergen to be output. By adding, allergic substances contained in products can be output without omission. In addition, if it is erroneously determined that an allergen that is not actually included in the product is included in the product in the extraction step, the user can delete the allergen from the allergen to be output. , Business opportunities are lost by presenting incorrect information to consumers, etc. (Consumers do not purchase the product because they are printed on the label L by mistake when they contain certain allergic substances) State) can be prevented.

(4-4)
In the allergen output method according to the embodiment, the decision receiving step further includes a useful information presentation step (step S6). In the useful information presentation step, useful information related to the correction operation is presented as advice when the user performs the correction operation.

Here, when the user performs a correction operation for adding / deleting allergic substances, useful information related to the correction operation is presented as advice. Therefore, the user erroneously deletes / adds allergens. Can be prevented.

(4-5)
The allergen output method according to the embodiment further includes an information accumulation step (step S11). In the information accumulation step, the determined allergen to be output is accumulated in the storage unit 72 as information.

Here, since information on allergens to be output is accumulated, it is easy to follow up what is output as allergens for each product as necessary.

(4-6)
The allergen output method according to the embodiment further includes a learning step (step S9). In the learning step, learning is performed based on the determined allergen to be output. In the extraction step (step S3), allergic substance candidates are extracted based on the learning result in the learning step.

Here, allergic substance candidates are extracted by further using the learning result based on the user's decision, so that the user performs the same operation (specifically, additional correction operation) every time the allergic substance to be output is determined. Or a deletion / correction operation) can be avoided.

(4-7)
The weighing printer 10 as an example of the label printing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a label issuing unit 60 as an example of a print output unit that prints on a label L, and a label issuance as an example of a control unit that controls the label issuing unit 60. And a control unit 71e. The weighing printer 10 uses an allergen output method having the characteristics (4-1) to (4-6). In the output step (step S12), the label issuance control unit 71e causes the label issuance unit 60 to print and output the allergens to be output received in the determination receiving step (steps S5 and S7) on the label L. The issuing unit 60 is controlled.

The weighing printer 10 can print out allergens contained in the product on the label L without omission.

(4-8)
The label L according to the above embodiment is a label on which allergens are printed out by the weighing printer 10 having the feature (4-7).

The label L can present allergic substances contained in the product to the person who sees the label (such as the purchaser of the product) without omission.

(5) Modification A modification of the above embodiment is shown below. Note that a plurality of modified examples may be combined within a consistent range.

(5-1) Modification 1A
In the above embodiment, the label issuing unit 60 prints out the mark M composed of characters and figures representing allergens contained in the product and the characters A representing allergens. However, the printing output method is not limited to this. For example, the label used in the label issuing unit 60 is pre-printed with the name of the allergen, and the label issuing unit 60 labels the allergen by labeling the allergen contained in the product with a circle or the like. May be output.

(5-2) Modification 1B
In the above embodiment, product information is stored in the database 81 of the store server 80. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the storage unit 72 of the weighing printer 10 has the same information as the database 81 according to the above embodiment. May be stored. In this case, the weighing printer 10 may be an independent device that is not connected to the store server 80.

However, when there is a large amount of information or when a plurality of weighing printers 10 are used in a store or the like, it is preferable that the information is stored not in each weighing printer 10 but in the store server 80 that manages the information.

(5-3) Modification 1C
In the above embodiment, the raw material information is stored as part of the product information in the database 81 of the store server 80, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the raw material information is stored in one or a plurality of external databases 81a, 81b,... 81k, and the metering printer 10 is connected to the external databases 81a, 81b,. It may be connected. With this configuration, allergic substances can always be printed on the label L based on the latest raw material information. Further, even when handling various types of products, it is not necessary to have a huge amount of data as an internal database.

(5-4) Modification 1D
In the above embodiment, the weighing printer 10 is shown as an example of the label printing apparatus, but the label printing apparatus is not limited to the weighing printer. For example, the label printing apparatus using the allergen output method of the above embodiment includes a label printer that does not have a weighing unit, a face-to-face scale (a face-to-face scale type printer) used in a food department, a product weighing / packaging / value attaching It may be a weighing packaging price attaching device or the like.

(5-5) Modification 1E
In the above-described embodiment, the reading step, the extracting step, the candidate presenting step, the decision receiving step, the information accumulating step, the learning step, and the outputting step are all performed by the weighing printer 10 among the steps of the allergen output method. It is not limited.

For example, in the store server 80, a reading step, an extraction step, a candidate presentation step, a decision receiving step, an information accumulation step, and a learning step are executed, and the weighing printer 10 executes only an output step (printing of the label L). It may be configured as follows.

Second Embodiment
A wireless display system 100 using an allergen output method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely specific examples and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

(1) Overall Configuration The wireless display system 100 is used in, for example, a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wireless display system 100 mainly includes a server 110, an access point 200, and a wireless display 300. The number of access points 200 and wireless displays 300 included in the wireless display system 100 is not limited to the numbers shown in FIG.

The wireless display device 300 is a portable device, and is a display device arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of products (target articles) handled in a store. The wireless display device 300 is arranged in the vicinity of a corresponding product at a store in the store, and displays predetermined information about the corresponding product transmitted from the server 110 on a display unit 310 such as an electronic paper or a liquid crystal display (see FIG. 7). The predetermined information regarding the product displayed on the display unit 310 includes allergic substances (information that can specify the type of allergic substances) contained in the corresponding product of the wireless display 300 (see FIG. 7). Moreover, the predetermined information regarding the product displayed on the display unit 310 further includes, for example, the name of the product, the selling price of the product, and the like (see FIG. 7).

The server 110 is a general computer that centrally manages information on a plurality of products handled in a store. The server 110 is arranged, for example, in a store backyard. The server 110 is connected to the wireless display device 300 via the access point 200 that is a transmission / reception device so that each wireless display device 300 displays predetermined information on the product corresponding to the wireless display device 300 on the display unit 310. On the other hand, predetermined information regarding the product is transmitted as necessary.

(2) Detailed Configuration Details of the server 110 will be described.

The server 110 mainly includes a communication unit 120, a display unit 140, an input unit 150, a control unit 171, and a storage unit 172.

(2-1) Communication Unit The communication unit 120 is a communication interface for enabling communication between the server 110 and the access point 200. The server 110 is also configured to be able to communicate with devices outside the wireless display system 100 (for example, a POS system server and store controller installed together with the wireless display system 100 in a store) via the communication unit 120. Predetermined information relating to a product to be displayed on the wireless display 300 sent from the communication unit 120 to the access point 200 is transmitted from the access point 200 to the wireless display 300.

(2-2) Display Unit The display unit 140 is a liquid crystal display. The display unit 140 functions as an information presentation unit. Various information related to the wireless display system 100 can be displayed on the display unit 140.

Various information for the user of the server 110 is displayed (presented) on the display unit 140. Specifically, the display unit 140 displays, for example, candidates for allergens contained in the product to be displayed on the wireless display 300, extracted by the candidate extraction unit 171a of the control unit 171 described later. The The display unit 140 displays various screens for prompting the user to perform an operation, for example.

(2-3) Input Unit The input unit 150 is a mouse and a keyboard. Various operations and various information on the server 110 can be input via the input unit 150. For example, the input unit 150 receives, as an input, a determination (an approval operation and a correction operation) related to an allergen (display output allergen) to be displayed and output on the wireless display device 300. The approval operation and the correction operation here are the same as the approval operation and the correction operation in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(2-4) Storage Unit The storage unit 172 is mainly configured by a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 172 stores various programs executed by the control unit 171 described later. The storage unit 172 stores various types of information in addition to the program executed by the control unit 171.

The storage unit 172 includes a database 172a that stores product information similar to the database 81 of the store server 80 in the first embodiment. Although not depicted in FIG. 6, the server 110 is configured to be able to communicate with an upper server (corresponding to the central server 90 of the first embodiment), and the contents of the database 172a are updated as appropriate by the upper server. It may be configured as follows.

(2-5) Control Unit The control unit 171 performs various processes by executing a program stored in the storage unit 172.

The control unit 171 displays and outputs the predetermined information about the product on a certain wireless display 300 (including when the display is updated) from the communication unit 120 to the access point 200. Predetermined information (specifically, image data) related to the product to be transmitted is transmitted. The access point 200 that has received the predetermined information regarding the product from the communication unit 120 transmits the information to the wireless display device 300.

The control unit 71 includes a candidate extraction unit 171a, a display content generation unit 171b, a display substance determination unit 171c, and a determination learning unit 171d as functional units for causing the wireless display device 300 to display and output predetermined information about the product.

(2-5-1) Candidate Extraction Unit The candidate extraction unit 171a extracts allergic substance candidates (allergic substance candidates) contained in the product and causes the display unit 140 to display them. Since the process performed by the candidate extraction unit 171a is the same as the candidate extraction unit 71a in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

(2-5-2) Display Content Generation Unit The display content generation unit 171b determines product information read from the database 172a and allergens to be displayed and output on the wireless display 300 input to the input unit 150. Based on the above, the display content displayed on the wireless display device 300 is generated.

(2-5-3) Display substance determination unit The display substance determination unit 171c accepts the display output allergy based on the determination of allergic substances (display output allergens) to be displayed and output on the wireless display 300, which is accepted by the input unit 150. Confirm the substance. Moreover, the display substance determination part 171c presents the advice relevant to correction operation, when correction operation is received. Since the display substance determination unit 171c is the same as the printing substance determination unit 71c in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(2-5-4) Decision Learning Unit The decision learning unit 171d performs learning based on allergens (display output allergens) to be displayed and output on the wireless display device 300. Since the decision learning unit 171d is the same as the decision learning unit 71d in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(3) Flow of Display Processing of Wireless Display A flow of display processing of the wireless display 300 executed in the wireless display system 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Since the display processing of the wireless display 300 of the wireless display system 100 has many points similar to the label L issuance processing of the weighing printer 10 of the first embodiment, the differences will be mainly described.

Note that the main difference between the wireless display system 100 and the weighing printer 10 is that in the wireless display system 100, information that can specify the type of allergen contained in the product is not displayed on the label L but on the wireless display 300. Is output. In the wireless display system 100, the measured value of the product is not used for displaying the predetermined information on the wireless display device 300.

When displaying predetermined information about a certain product on the wireless display 300, the user of the wireless display system 100 selects a target product to be displayed on the wireless display 300 via the input unit 150 (step S101). ).

When the input unit 150 receives a product selection operation in step S101, the control unit 171 reads product information (including raw material information) related to the product from the database 172a of the storage unit 172 (step S102).

In step S103, the candidate extraction unit 171a extracts candidates for allergic substances contained in the display target product of the wireless display 300 based on the raw material information of the product read from the database 172a in step S102. Since the process performed by the candidate extraction unit 171a is the same as the process performed by the candidate extraction unit 71a of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

In step S104, the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 171a is displayed on the display unit 140. That is, in step S104, the allergic substance candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 171a is presented to the user of the server 110. Since the allergen candidate is displayed on the display unit 140 in the same manner as the allergen candidate is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 40 in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

The user of the server 110 is prompted to determine the display output allergen for the allergen candidate in step S104. In step S <b> 105, the display substance determination unit 171 c receives an approval operation or a correction operation performed by the user via the input unit 150. If the display substance determination unit 171c accepts a correction operation in step S105, the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the display substance determination unit 171c receives an approval operation in step S105, the process proceeds to step S110. Since the approval operation and the correction operation are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

In step S106, the display substance determination unit 171c presents useful information related to the correction operation performed by the user in step S105 on the display unit 140 as advice. Since step S106 is the same as step S6 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

In step S107, the user determines whether or not the allergen candidate for which the correction operation has been performed may be confirmed as the display output allergen with reference to the advice displayed on the display unit 140. In step S107, when the user performs an approval operation via the input unit 150 and the display substance determination unit 171c receives the approval operation, the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the user performs an operation not to approve via the input unit 150 in step S107, the process returns to step S105.

In step S108, the display substance determination unit 171c determines the display output allergen (the allergen candidate that has been corrected) determined by the user as the display output allergen. Further, in step S108, the display content generation unit 171b generates display content based on the determined display output allergen and the product information read in step S102.

Next, in step S109, the determination learning unit 171d learns the display output allergen determined by the user (the display output allergen determined by the display material determination unit 171c). Since the process performed in step S109 is the same as the process performed in step S9 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

When step S109 ends, the process proceeds to step S111.

Here, the process (step S110) when the display substance determination unit 171c receives an approval operation in step S105 will be described. In step S110, the display substance determination unit 171c determines the display output allergen determined by the user (the allergen candidate extracted by the candidate extraction unit 171a) as the display output allergen. The display content generation unit 171b generates display content based on the determined display output allergen and the product information read in step S102. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S111.

In step S111, the display output allergic substance determined in step S108 or step S110 (allergic substance to be displayed and output determined by the user) is stored in the storage unit 172 as information associated with the product (product code). The Details are the same as step S11 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, in step S112, the control unit 171 generates the display content generation unit 171b in step S108 or step S110 for the wireless display device 300 that displays predetermined information (via the communication unit 120 and the access point 200). The display content (including the display output allergen determined in step S108 or step S110) and a command for displaying the content on the wireless display 300 are transmitted. As a result, predetermined information related to the product is displayed on the wireless display device 300.

(4) Features The allergen output method according to the second embodiment has the same features as the allergen output method according to the first embodiment.

(5) Modification The modification of the first embodiment may be applied to the wireless display system 100 according to the second embodiment within a consistent range.

The allergen output method according to the present invention is useful as an allergen output method that can output allergic substances to be presented to consumers and the like contained in the target article without omission.

10 Weighing printer (label printing device)
20 Communication unit 40 LCD monitor 50 Operation panel 60 Label issuing unit (print output unit)
71a Candidate extraction unit 71c Print substance determination unit 71d Determination learning unit 71e Label issuance control unit (control unit)
72 storage unit 80 store server 81 database 100 wireless display system 110 server 120 communication unit 140 display unit 150 input unit 171a candidate extraction unit 171c display substance determination unit 171d determination learning unit 172 storage unit 172a database 300 wireless display L label

JP 2002-361194 A

Claims (9)

1. Reading out the raw material information of the target article stored in the database;
   Based on the raw material information, extracting the allergen candidate contained in the target article, an extraction step;
   A candidate presentation step of presenting the extracted candidate for the allergic substance to the user;
   A determination receiving step of receiving the determination of the allergen to be output by the user;
   Outputting the determined allergen to be output, and an output step;
   A method for outputting allergens.
2. In the extraction step, the allergen candidate is extracted based on a character string search of the raw material name of the target article included in the raw material information.
   The method for outputting allergic substances according to claim 1.
3. The decision receiving step includes
   Adding the allergic substance not included in the allergic substance candidate to the allergic substance to be output, accepting the user's correction operation, an additional receiving step;
   And / or
   Deleting the at least one allergic substance contained in the allergic substance candidate from the allergic substance to be output, receiving a correction operation of the user, a deletion receiving step,
   including,
   The allergic substance output method according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The determination receiving step further includes a useful information presentation step of presenting useful information related to the correction operation at the time of the user's correction operation.
   The allergen output method according to claim 3.
5. The database is an external database;
   The method for outputting allergic substances according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. An information storage step of storing the determined allergen to be output as information;
   The method for outputting allergic substances according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. A learning step of learning based on the determined allergen to be output;
   In the extraction step, based on the learning result in the learning step, the candidate for the allergen is extracted.
   The allergic substance output method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A label printing apparatus using the allergen output method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a print output unit for printing on a label, and a control unit for controlling the print output unit,
   In the output step, the control unit controls the print output unit so that the print output unit prints out the allergic substance to be output received in the determination reception step on a label.
   Label printing device.
9. The allergen was printed out by the label printing apparatus according to claim 8,
   label.

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