JP2000097755A - Pick-up balance and weighing/selling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically weigh/process the kind and amount of a article which a customer picked up for purchase by providing a recording means wherein the price, etc., of the picked up article, based on measured data, are recorded as purchase data. SOLUTION: A weighing part weighs an amount picked-up from a single kind article which is placed in advance and a storage means stores either a weighing part number, article number, or unit price per weight of article according to the weighting part. When an intended amount of the article is picked up, a recording means records either the price based on the weighing data for a picked-amount or that based on a unit price per weight as well as either the weighing part number or the article number as purchase data. In short, to a computer part 24, a load cell 25 for measuring a picked-up weight is connected through an A/D conversion circuit 26. Further, at a printer part 30, the data are printed on a shopping card while it is displayed on a liquid-crystal display device 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scale for measuring the amount of goods purchased by a customer at a retail store, a tenant, or the like, and a measuring and selling system using the scale. Regarding the system to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-149.
No. 799 discloses a method. In this publication,
Without placing clerks in the product display area, only the weighing scale is placed, and the customer weighs the weighed product by the amount desired by the weighing scale, issues a price label, and inserts the product. A system is described in which the label is attached to a bag and the payment is made at a checkout site. Also, in this system, the customer first presses a desired product key from among a plurality of preset keys, then takes out the desired product from the product display floor, weighs it on a scale, and presses the print key to print the label. The operation of issuing is also described.

[0003]

However, in the above-described method, even if there is a mismatch between the actually purchased product and the operated preset key or the product and the label attached thereto, the cashier is operated. There is a problem that there is no countermeasure except for the operator to find out, and the burden imposed on the operator is large, and the solution has been an issue. The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a take-off weigher and a weighing and selling system capable of automatically weighing the type and quantity of a product purchased by a customer.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weighing unit for weighing an amount taken down from one kind of an appropriate amount of goods placed in advance, and at least a weighing unit number, a product number, Alternatively, storage means for storing any of the unit prices per unit weight of the product corresponding to the weighing unit, and when the removal of the intended quantity of the product is completed, the weighing data or unit price per unit weight of the removed unit. , And recording means for recording either the weighing unit number or the product number as purchase data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shopping card detecting means disposed around the weighing section for detecting the presence or absence of a shopping card for distinguishing customers, and the recording means is provided for each shopping card. 2. A take-out weigher according to claim 1, wherein purchase data is recorded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a product is taken off in a state where a shopping card is not detected as a function of the shopping card detecting means, the fact is notified. Provide a take-off weigher.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weighing unit provided for each type of product, in which an appropriate amount of the product is placed in advance, and when the product is removed, the measuring unit measures the amount removed.
A storage unit for storing at least one of the weighing unit number, the product number, and the unit price per product weight for each of the weighing units, and detecting the presence or absence of a shopping card arranged around the weighing unit to distinguish customers. Shopping card detection means,
Recording means for recording, for each shopping card, either one of the weighing data of the quantity of the removed goods or the price based on the unit price per weight, and either the weighing number or the product number as purchase data; A metering / sales system is provided, which comprises a cash register for displaying and paying the total purchase amount of a customer based on data recorded by the recording means when a card is read.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the recording means converts the data taken off each time into a bar code for each product and prints and records it on a shopping card. Provide a metering and sales system.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a layout of a sales floor of a self-service side dish restaurant in which a take-off weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed and a weighing and selling system is adopted. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a sales area of a self-service side dish shop, a shopping card receiving area where a customer receives shopping cards 3 one by one near an entrance 2, and a plurality of containers and a plurality of containers for the customer to put goods in and take home. There is provided a container and a tray place on which a tray 4 for placing the goods and moving in the store is placed.

[0010] There is a weighing goods display area 5 at the back of the store, a take-off scale 6 for a plurality of kinds of goods is placed on a long table, and a bat on which different kinds of goods (for example, prepared foods) are put. It is placed. A cash register 8 is provided in a checkout area 7 near the exit 9, and a wand scanner (a hand-held bar code scanner) for reading bar codes one by one is provided.

At the upper end of the cash register 8, there is provided a customer display having a touch panel for an operator in the center. When the bar code is read, data in which the amount column of the bar code and the check digit column are replaced with zero or Using the product number as a key, data such as the product name and unit price are read from the stored product file, and the product name and barcode price are displayed on the display unit, and printed on the receipt to register the product and make payment. It has become. Further in the back is a cooking area 10 for making products (prepared dishes).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state of the taking-down weigher 6 placed in the above-mentioned weighing goods display area 5, in which a plurality of taking-down weighers are placed for each type of goods. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the unloading weigher 6, a liquid crystal display 11 displaying weight, unit price and price on the front, a product description notation 12 at the lower left, a completion key 13, and a shopping card insertion slot 14.
There is a weighing dish 15 in the upper rear part.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the unloading weigher 6. A computer unit 24 including a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23 has an A / A load cell 25 for measuring the weight removed.
It is connected via a D conversion circuit 26. The computer unit 24 is further provided with a unit price setting switch 27, a product number setting switch 28, and a completion key 29. The printer unit 30 prints data on a shopping card and displays the data on the liquid crystal display 31. The buzzer 32 has a function to sound when there is a decrease in the weighing data when the shopping card is not inserted.

The unit price setting switch 27 is a dip switch placed at a position where the customer cannot operate, and sets a unit price per weight. The part number setting switch 28
Is set with the identification number of the product to be placed. The card sensor 33 of the printer unit 30 detects whether or not the shopping card has been inserted into the insertion slot.
In order to determine the printing position of the barcode newly printed on the shopping card by the thermal head 35, the printing position mark 45 already printed on the shopping card is detected. The print position sensor 34 is composed of a reflection type optical sensor, and is provided above the shopping card passing position of the mark. (Not shown) The motor 36 drives the platen roller to take in and discharge the shopping card.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the shape and printing pattern of a shopping card used in the metering and selling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The shopping card 3 is a paper card in which the insertion direction is printed in advance, and NONPLU (comprising a product code and price data) bar codes 43, 44,.
. Can be printed in seven columns, and the readable characters and the product price 46 are printed below the barcode. A printing position mark 45 is printed on the right side of the bar codes 43, 44,... To serve as a guide for printing the next data.

The operation flow of such a sales system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a flow relating to the operation of the customer, and FIG. 7 shows a flow relating to the operation of the cashier operator. First, in step S11 of FIG. 6 (hereinafter, abbreviated as S11, etc.),
The visitor receives the shopping card 3 and the tray 4,
After deciding the product to be purchased, the shopping card 3 is inserted into the card insertion slot 14 of the take-off weigher 6 on which the product is placed (S1).
2) The product is transferred to the tray 4 by a desired amount (S1).
3) Press the complete key 13 (S14). By this operation, the barcode of the purchased product is printed on the shopping card 3, and the barcode is discharged from the card insertion slot of the unloading scale 6 (S15). When shopping is continued, the process returns to S12 and the same operation is repeated. When shopping is completed, the merchandise and the shopping card 3 are brought to the cash register (S17).

In S21 of FIG. 7, the cashier operator receives a shopping card from a customer and scans the barcode of the shopping card with a wand scanner (S2).
2). At this time, each time the barcode is scanned, the cashier displays the product name and price on the customer's display,
The sales weight and the amount of money of the corresponding product are accumulated, and the result management of the single item becomes possible. If there is a product other than the shopping card, the product is registered (S23). A packaging / accounting process is performed (S24).

Next, the operation of the unloading weigher will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In S31, the current weight placed on the plate is measured. In S32,
It is determined whether or not the card sensor has detected a shopping card, and if [NO], the process proceeds to S39 and [YE
If "S", the process proceeds to S33. In S33, R
The current weight value is subtracted from the previous weight value stored in the AM to obtain the weighing data taken down this time. Then, the unit price set by the unit price setting switch is read out, multiplied by the weighing data to calculate the price, and this price is displayed on the display unit. In S34, it is determined whether or not the completion key has been pressed. If [NO], the process returns to S31, and [YES].
If so, the process proceeds to S5.

In S35, the platen roller is rotated to match the position of the shopping card to be printed with the position of the thermal head based on the signal of the print position sensor. S
At 36, the NONPLU barcode and the printing position mark are printed based on the product number and the price data calculated in S33, and the readable characters and the price are printed. In S37, the shopping card is discharged by rotating the platen roller in the reverse direction. In S38, the current weight value is written in the previous weight value provided on the RAM, the display of weight and price is set to zero, the balance is reset to zero, and the process returns to S31.

In step S39, the current weight value is subtracted from the previous weight value in the same manner as in step S33 to determine whether or not the take-off of the minimum display unit (for example, 5 g) has been performed.
If “YES”, the process proceeds to S40, and if “NO”, the process returns to S31. In S40, since the removal of the merchandise has been performed without inserting a shopping card, a guidance display of "Please insert a shopping card!" Is displayed. In S41, the buzzer is sounded for a predetermined time to notify that the take-off has been performed without inserting a shopping card. Then, the process returns to S31.

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 a design change or the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is also included in the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to the following modifications.

A. The recording means may record the weighing data as the amount taken down instead of the price. In this case, at the cash register, when reading out the record data, the corresponding unit price of the product file is read from the product number recorded together, and the price may be calculated by multiplying by the weighing data.

B. Even in a system that does not use a shopping card, for example, a customer's fingerprint can be read by a balance, this data can be read by another balance or cash register, weighing data is recorded for each data, and payment is made at the cash register. You may be able to. Further, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-149799, a non-PLU bar code may be printed and recorded on a sheet or a label and read at a cash register.

C. Connect each balance and cash register so that they can be updated,
When a shopping card with an ID code recorded on a scale is read, a file is provided in a storage means that can be read and written by any device, and a purchase information area is created and written there using the card number as a key. If you take the product off with another scale, add it to this area and write it in. At the cash register, read the shopping card at the time of production and read the data from the corresponding purchase information area and settle it. May be deleted.

D. Instead of printing and recording on the card, a storage means capable of reading and writing the card may be provided. For example, as a magnetic card or an IC card, each scale may write and record the data taken down in the storage means of the card. . In this case, a device that reads and writes a card corresponds to a card detection unit. The cashier reads out the stored information, adjusts the payment, and clears it.

E. Not only those that weigh the weight of the removed product, such as "croquette" and "
In the case of products sold in quantities, the unit price may be set to the unit weight and the number may be counted by dividing the weight. In the balance in this case, a new setting switch is provided, and when the switch is turned “ON” or “OFF”, the register sets the same flag in the product data and switches the processing of weight and number.

F. In a tenant that occupies one corner of a large sales area such as a supermarket, only one product may be handled with only one scale. g. The barcode reading device of the cash register is not limited to the wand scanner, and a device that can simultaneously read a plurality of barcodes with a fixed scanner may be used.

H. One weighing unit may be provided with a plurality of weighing units. i. If the weighing unit number and the product number correspond to each other, the weighing unit number may be set in the product number setting switch.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a drop-off type weighing section on which articles are placed in advance and information on the articles stored corresponding to the weighing section are used. Since the purchase data is recorded, inconsistency between the actually purchased product and the recorded purchase data can be eliminated. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the burden on the operator at the checkout place in the self-service store can be reduced.

According to the second aspect, since the purchase data is recorded for each shopping card for distinguishing customers,
The customer and the purchase data can always be dealt with, and the effect of eliminating the possibility that data of other customers is mixed is obtained.

Further, according to the third aspect, since the removal of the commodity is always performed when the shopping card is detected, the omission of the settlement of the commodity can be effectively prevented. Is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect, since the purchase data is recorded based on the weighing section of the taking-down type in which the goods are placed in advance and the information on the goods stored corresponding to the weighing section, the actually purchased goods are recorded. Inconsistency with the recorded purchase data can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the operator's burden on the operator at the checkout place in the self-service store, and furthermore, since the purchase data is recorded for each shopping card for distinguishing the customer, the customer and the purchase data must be Therefore, there is no risk that data of other customers will be mixed, and the self-service sales of weighed goods can be smoothly operated.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the shopping card only needs to be able to print a predetermined bar code.
The effect that the cost of a card can be reduced is obtained. In addition, since the purchase data is recorded by barcode printing, it is possible to use an existing cash register with a barcode scanner, and furthermore, it is possible to operate without connecting each balance and the cash register in an updatable manner, The effect that a cheaper system can be constructed is also obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a counter of a prepared food shop in which a take-off weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed and a weighing and selling system is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state of a take-off weigher placed in a weighing goods display area.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a take-off weigher.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of a take-off weigher.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the shape and printing pattern of a shopping card.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to customer operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to an operation of a cashier operator.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the unloading scale.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Prepared food store 2 Entrance 3 Shopping card 4 Container, tray 5 Weighing goods display area 6 Take-out scale 7 Check-out area 8 Cash register 9 Exit 10 Cooking place 11 LCD display 12 Product description notation 13 Complete key 14 Shopping card insertion slot 15 Weighing pan 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 Computer unit 25 Load cell 26 A / D conversion circuit 27 Unit price setting switch 28 Part number setting switch 29 Complete key 30 Printer unit 31 Liquid crystal display 32 Buzzer 33 Card sensor 34 Print position sensor 35 Thermal head 36 Motor 43 NONPLU barcode (first stage) 44 NONPLU barcode (second stage) 45 Printing position mark 46 Price

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A weighing unit for weighing an amount taken down from one kind of an appropriate amount of goods placed in advance, and weighing at least one of a weighing part number, a goods number, and a unit price per weight of the goods. Storage means for storing corresponding to the unit, when withdrawal of the intended quantity of the product is completed,
Recording means for recording either one of the weighing data taken off or a price based on the unit price per weight, and either the weighing unit number or the product number as purchase data. And take off scale. 2. A shopping card detecting means arranged around the weighing unit for detecting the presence or absence of a shopping card for distinguishing a customer, wherein the recording means records purchase data for each shopping card. 2. The take-off weigher according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The unloading weigher according to claim 2, wherein the shopping card detecting means has a function of notifying the user of the removal of the merchandise in a state where the shopping card is not detected. 4. A weighing unit provided for each type of product, in which an appropriate amount of product is placed in advance, and when the product is taken off, a weighing unit for measuring the amount taken off, at least a weighing unit number, a product number, Alternatively, storage means for storing one of the unit prices per product weight for each of the weighing units; shopping card detection means arranged around the weighing unit and detecting the presence or absence of a shopping card for distinguishing customers; Recording means for recording, for each shopping card, either one of the weighing data of the quantity of the product obtained or the price based on the unit price per weight, and either the weighing number or the product number as purchase data; and And a cash register for displaying and paying the total purchase amount of the customer based on the data recorded by the recording means when reading. The amount sales system. 5. The metering and selling system according to claim 4, wherein said recording means converts the data taken off each time into a bar code for each product and prints and records it on a shopping card.