JP2001121755A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label printer in which a single bar code can be employed when a bar code label affixed to a discounted article is read out by means of a scanner at a POS terminal of register without discriminating the original bar code of the article between PLU and NON-PLU. SOLUTION: In the inventive label printer, the bar code of CODE 128 is printed on a discount label if the bar code of an article read out by means of a scanner is JAN, PLU and the bar code of JAN, NON-PLU is printed on the discount label if the original bar code is JAN, NON-PLU.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer that prints barcodes of merchandise information such as merchandise prices on a label. And a label printer that reads a bar code and prints a bar code at a reduced price.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in time sales (discount sales by time zone) in each section of fresh foods such as supermarkets and daily goods, when bargain prices are changed, bar codes of old prices are read by a scanner or the like. A label printer that converts a new price obtained by performing a discount calculation into a bar code and prints the bar code on a label is used. The bar code label is attached to a discounted product, and the cash register reads the bar code label at a new price with a scanner.

[0003]

By the way, a bar code attached to a product includes a
At the manufacturing stage or shipping stage, JAN codes are printed or affixed to products or their packaging in advance and delivered to stores, and source marking is performed at retail stores by attaching JAN code labels to individual products or their packaging. There is store marking. For example, fresh foods, foodstuffs sold by weight, etc. are marked in-store.

[0004] The JAN code of the source marking itself does not have a meaning such as a product name or a price.
PLU inside OS system (Generally POS terminal)
From the (Price Look Up) table, JAN for each item
A PLU method is employed for searching for a price, a product name, a department code, a tax category, and the like corresponding to the code.

On the other hand, in the case of the in-store marking, unlike the source marking, a company code may be used, and a bar code including the price can be obtained. In this case, the same JAN symbol is used, but the NON-PLU system is used.

[0006] Therefore, there are a product with a bar code (NON-PLU) containing price information and a product with a bar code (PLU) without price information in the same store. Making it difficult.

[0007] (i) In the case of discounting a product to which a PLU bar code is previously attached; a POS terminal of a cash register is a bar code of a maker code and an item code as shown at 100 in FIG. Two barcodes, that is, a barcode) and a barcode with a reduced price printed on a label as indicated by 101 in FIG. 13 (that is, a NON-PLU barcode) must be input by an optical reader or the like. If only the former is entered, the discount will be forgotten.

Therefore, when attaching a label with a reduced price, it is necessary to consider a certain direction and interval so that two bar codes can be optically read.

(Ii) In the case of discounting from a product previously attached with a barcode label of the NON-PLU system; since both the new price and the old price are barcode-labeled, the cash register POS terminal is surely new. You have to read the price barcode. For this reason, when affixing the label with the reduced price, the barcode label with the new price is superimposed on the barcode label with the old price.

As described above, in a discount operation using a conventional label printer, even when a discount label is attached,
Even when a barcode label is read by a scanner at a cash register, there is a risk of erroneous operation, and there has been a problem that discounted products are not properly discounted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the present invention is applicable not only when a discount label is attached to a product to be discounted, but also when a bar code label is scanned by a POS terminal at a cash register. An object of the present invention is to provide a label printer which can handle one barcode label without being aware of whether a barcode attached to a product in advance is a PLU system or a NON-PLU system.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a label printer according to the present invention is provided with a central processing unit and a product connected to the central processing unit. Product information input means for inputting the first price information, first storage means for storing the first price information input from the product information input means, and the first processing means connected to the central processing unit. Price change information input means for inputting change information relating to the price reduction of the price information, and whether or not the information from the product information input means is a PLU system, and in the case of "YES", a product for prompting the input of the original selling price Information determining means; new price creating means for changing the first price information based on the change information input from the price change information input means to create second price information; Sa And second storage means for storing the second price information, the determination of the product information judging means is "YES", on the basis of the second price information,
The new product information is created with a CODE128, NON-PLU barcode, and if "NO", the new product information is JAN, NON-PLU based on the second price information.
A new product information creating means for creating a new product information using a bar code of a system, and an output means for outputting the new product information created by the new product information creating means to the printing mechanism. In addition, it is preferable to further include a transmission unit for transmitting the first and second price information.

According to the above-mentioned structure, in the first aspect of the present invention, the product to which the PLU system bar code is added does not include the original selling price but includes only the product information (the maker code and the item code). Will prompt you to enter the original selling price. Next, based on the original selling price entered by the operator, the new price creating means creates the second price information. Then, the new merchandise information creating means creates new merchandise information including the second price information and the original merchandise information using a CODE128 barcode, and prints it on a label from a printing mechanism. On the other hand, NO
Since the product to which the N-PLU barcode is attached includes the original selling price, the new price creating means creates the second price information based on the original selling price. Then, the new product information creating means converts the new product information including the second price information and the original product information into JAN,
A bar code of the NON-PLU system is created and printed on a label from a printing mechanism.

Since the price reduction label issued as described above contains the product information of the original label and the second new price information, when the price reduction is made, this one label is superimposed on the original bar code of the product. The single label may be read by a scanner or the like at a cash register. According to the second aspect of the present invention, data relating to the old price before the change and the new price after the change can be stored and transmitted to a host computer such as a store controller.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the label printer according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a label printer main body, on which a display unit 2 composed of an LCD and an operation unit 3 composed of a keyboard are provided. Display 2
A predetermined signal is sent to a control unit 4 described later by an input operation of the operation unit 3 by an operator, and a product code, a product price, an operation command to the operator, and the like are displayed by a predetermined command signal of the control unit 4. It is.

The operation unit 3 functions as price change information input means. As shown in FIG.
Numerical keys 5 for entering price data, numerical data, and the like, a registration key 6 for setting and storing various types of driving data, and a key for shifting the driving data to a transmission mode. A transmission key 7, a setting key 8 indicating transfer of a series of business processes to a menu screen, a call key 9 for calling a previous screen on the display unit 2 during execution of various jobs, and a predetermined screen on the display unit 2. Is selected, and a left shift key 10 and a right shift key 11 for shifting the cursor left and right when entering a number, and a label 23
Paper feed key 12 for idle feed without printing
An issue key 13 for printing and issuing a label 23;
A clear key 14 for initializing a display screen on the display unit 2 and various other function keys are arranged.

On the side of the label printer body 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, a scanner mounting section 1 to which a scanner 15 as product information input means is detachably mounted.
6, and a cable R for detachably attaching a cable for transmitting predetermined data to a host computer (not shown).
An external device connection unit 17 having S232C is provided. Reference numeral 18 denotes a label issuing port provided at the front of the label printer main body 1, and 19 denotes a power switch.

Further, inside the label printer body 1,
A printing mechanism 20 is provided.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, reference numeral 21 denotes a roll-shaped label continuum in which a label 23 of a predetermined size is detachably coupled to a band-shaped backing sheet 22. The roll-shaped label continuum 21 is located at a predetermined position of the label printer main body 1. It is rotatably held, and its tip is wound around a winding unit (not shown) between the thermal head 24 and the platen 25, a peeling pin 26, and a pair of rotating rollers 27. I have. The continuous label body is transported in the direction of the arrow by the drive of a drive motor (not shown). With this transport, a desired bar code is printed on the label 23 between the thermal head 24 and the platen 25, and the printed label is printed. The label 23 is peeled off from the band-shaped backing paper 22 by the peeling pins 26, and labels are issued one by one from a label issuing port 18 provided in the front part of the label printer main body 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control unit 4 of the label printer which is a main part of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 28 denotes a central processing unit (C
PU), the CPU 28 includes a display unit 2, an operation unit 3, a ROM 30 (read only memory), a RAM 31 (random access memory),
The display unit 2, the operation unit 3, and R are connected to the scanner control unit 32, the transmission control unit 33, and the printing mechanism control unit 34, respectively.
The OM 30, the RAM 31, the scanner control unit 32, the transmission control unit 33, and the printing mechanism control unit 34 are respectively controlled. A scanner 15 for reading a barcode of a label is detachably attached to the scanner control unit 32 via the scanner attachment unit 16.

The transmission control section 33 is connected to the external device connection section 17, and the printing mechanism control section 34 is connected to the printing mechanism 20.

The ROM 30 has a main processing program memory 35 in which a main processing program for controlling each section is stored, and a reading program in which a reading program for analyzing bar code data read by the scanner 15 is stored. A memory 36, a print control program memory 37 storing a print control program for controlling a printing operation of the printing mechanism 20 via the printing mechanism control unit 34, and predetermined transmission data based on upload transmission data. A communication program memory 38 in which a communication program for creating and controlling transmission is stored.
And is composed of

The RAM 31 has a display memory 39 for storing data to be displayed on the display unit 2, a read memory 40 for storing bar code data read by the scanner 15, and a bar read by the scanner 15. An old price memory 41 for storing old price data of a product in code data, a price reduction section memory 42 for storing data relating to a price reduction processing category input from the operation unit 3, and a product input from the operation unit 3 And an arithmetic logic register 47 for storing an arithmetic logical expression relating to the price reduction processing category, and an arithmetic processing based on the old price data of the old price memory 41 and the data relating to the price reduction processing category of the price reduction category memory 42, and the new price of the product. The operation in the operation work memory 43 used to calculate the Result, i.e. the calculation result memory 44 for storing the new price of the product, the bar code generating memory 45 the bar code data of the new price data of the operation result memory 44 product information having a new price is transferred is generated
And a print data buffer 48 for temporarily storing the bar code data having the new price product information when transferring the bar code data having the new price product information in the bar code generation memory 45 to the printing mechanism control unit 34. And a transmission data memory 46 for storing data to be transmitted to a host computer such as a store controller or a workstation.

FIG. 5 shows a label 23a affixed to the product before the price reduction process.
In a, product data such as a product code and a product price displayed in 13 digits of JAN and NON-PLU are displayed as a barcode, and a display that the price of the product is 800 yen is readable to humans. It is displayed in characters (not shown, but in the following description, the product label 2 before price reduction processing)
3a is JAN or PLU).

FIG. 6 shows a label 23b after price reduction issued by the label printer according to the present embodiment. The label 23b has a product code represented by 13 digits of JAN and NON-PLU, a new product price, and the like. Is displayed as a barcode, and a display that the new price of the product is 720 yen is displayed in human-readable characters. FIG. 7 shows a label 23c after price reduction issued by the label printer of the present embodiment.
The product data such as the product code and the new product price displayed by the ODE 128 are displayed in a bar code, and the display that the new price of the product is 720 yen is displayed in human-readable characters. This CODE128 label 23c
Is issued when the bar code attached to the product before the discount is PLU as described later, and the bar code configuration is reduced to the bar code attached to the original product as shown in FIG. The price and the like are included.

Next, an operation for issuing a price reduction label of the label printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an apparatus related to the price reduction label issuing process, and FIG. 9 is a flow chart related to the operation.

First, when the power of the printer main body 1 is turned on, the CPU 28 performs processing in accordance with the main processing program of the ROM 30, and in step 1 (FIG. 9), the display memory 39 stores the data relating to the price reduction processing, Will be displayed.

At step 2, the operator selects a desired price reduction processing division job by a key input operation on the operation unit 3. The price reduction classification services include fixed price reductions that reduce a certain amount from the old price, percentage price reductions that reduce a certain rate from the old price, and new price reductions that set a new reduction price for the old price. In addition, although it is not the price reduction process of the product itself, there is a case where the product is discarded, and this product disposal is also included in the category of the product price reduction process referred to in the present invention. In the present embodiment, the following description will be made on the assumption that the operator has selected the fixed price reduction. If you choose this fixed price reduction, the data will be stored in RAM
The data is stored in the price reduction division memory 31 and the data is analyzed and transferred to the data transmission memory 46.

Next, at step 3, the numeric key 5 of the operation unit 3
When a desired fixed amount price reduction amount, 80 yen in the present embodiment, is input by operating the above operation, this data is stored in the arithmetic logic register 47 as an operation expression for the fixed amount reduction.

Next, when the bar code of the label 23a shown in FIG. 5 is scanned using the scanner 15 in step 4, the bar code data read by the scanner 15 is analyzed in accordance with the read data program of the ROM 30 and read by the RAM 31. Stored in the memory 40.
In the analysis processing, it is determined whether or not the barcode is of the PLU system (for example, in the case of the JAN and PLU systems, the head is the country code, so it is determined whether or not the country code is 45, 49 in Japan; step 5). ). In the case of "YES", a message is displayed on the display unit 2 to prompt the operator to input the original selling price. In step 6, the operator inputs the original selling price by operating the numeric keys 5 or the like of the operation unit 3. The original selling price is stored in the old price memory 41 of the RAM 31 as the old price data of the product in the bar code data of the reading memory 40.

Next, the old price data is subjected to arithmetic processing in the arithmetic work memory 43 together with the fixed price reduction arithmetic expression of the arithmetic logic register 47 to create new price data whose price has been reduced (step 7). In the present embodiment, the new price data is 720 yen lower than the old price of 800 yen by 80 yen.

The new price data is stored in the calculation result memory 44 and transferred to the bar code generation memory 45 in step 8, and the bar code generation memory 45 adds the product code data and the like to the new price product. Bar code data is generated by the CODE 128 (step 8).

The bar code data of the new price product is transferred to the print data buffer 48. After the operator designates a predetermined number of prints to be issued (step 9) and depresses the issue key 13 of the operation unit 3, the bar code data is issued. The data of the number of sheets is set in the print data buffer 48, and the data in the print data buffer 48 is output to the print mechanism 20 via the print control unit in accordance with the print control program in the ROM 30, and the bar code printing of the label 23 is performed. Done, Figure 7
A predetermined number of labels 23c indicating the reduced new price of 720 yen are issued (step 10). Since the barcode label issued in this manner is a barcode that can encode the largest amount of characters and numbers as a characteristic of CODE128, it is necessary to include both the product information included in the original PLU code and the discount new price information. (See “C set” in FIG. 12). On the other hand, step 5
Bar code is not PLU system in process ("NO")
In the case of, the barcode data read by the scanner 15 is stored in the old price memory 41 of the RAM 31 as old price data of the product.

Next, the old price data is subjected to arithmetic processing in the arithmetic work memory 43 together with the fixed price reduction arithmetic expression of the arithmetic logic register 47 to create new price data whose price has been reduced (step 11).

The new price data is stored in the calculation result memory 44
, And transferred to the barcode generation memory 45. The barcode data of the new price product is added to the barcode data in the barcode generation memory 45 by JA.
N, generated by the NON-PLU method (step 12).
The barcode data of the new price product is transferred to the print data buffer 48 and merges with the step 9 described above. However, in this case, what is printed and issued is a bar code label of the JAN, NON-PLU system as shown in FIGS.

The bar code labels issued through the above steps 5 to 12, 9, and 10 are changed only in price compared to the original bar code labels, so that JAN, N
The number of digits of the ON-PLU system is sufficient. In the case of the above-mentioned CODE 128, JAN, and NON-PLU systems, the new label is superimposed on the original label because it contains necessary information even after the discount existing in the original bar code. You only need to stick it, and the cashier only needs to scan the new label.

Next, the new price data in the operation result memory 44 is transferred to the transmission data memory 46. In the transmission data memory 46, the old price data transferred from the old price memory 41, the read barcode data transferred from the read memory 40 through the bar type analysis processing, and the print issue transferred from the print data buffer 48. STX, ETX, and BCC are added according to the communication program in the ROM 30 based on the data on the number of sheets and the price reduction section data transferred from the price reduction section memory 42 to create transmission data for upload. FIG.
0 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of transmission data for one price reduction process.

In the column of price reduction in FIG. 10, data for discriminating fixed price reduction, percentage price reduction, new price reduction, and the like are stored. In the bar type column, in-store 02 and in-store 2 are stored.
0, JAN 13 digits, JAN 8 digits, etc., data for distinguishing the types of bar codes, the bar code data of the old price read by the scanner 15 in the read bar code column, and the bar code data of the old price product in the old price column. The data related to the old price transferred from the old price memory 41 is transferred to the new price column, the data related to the new price transferred from the calculation result memory 44, and the number of issued sheets is transferred via the print data buffer 48. The data on the number of labels issued is described in a predetermined format.

In the column of STX, STARTOFTE
The column of XT, ETX indicates ENDOFTEXT, the column of BCC indicates BLOCKCHECKCHARACTER,
Further, in the dummy column, data for setting the number of digits from STX to BCC to a predetermined number is described.

Next, a data transmission operation in the label printer will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the operator turns on the power (step 21), the CPU 28 checks the transmission data memory 46 of the RAM 31 and stores the data to be transmitted in the transmission data memory 46, that is, the data which has undergone the price reduction before the power is turned on. Is stored (step 2).
2). If the transmission data is stored in step 22, the process proceeds to step 23, where the CPU 28 displays a message "Please transmit" on the display unit 2 and stores the transmission data to be transmitted to the operator. And the process proceeds to step 24.

In step 24, a confirmation message as to whether or not the transmission data is to be transmitted to the host computer is displayed on the display unit 2. When the operator selects “transmit”, in step 25 a predetermined message in the transmission data memory 46 is stored. Is transmitted to the host computer via the transmission control unit 33.

In step 22, the CPU
If it is determined that the transmission data is not stored in the transmission data memory 46, the process proceeds to step 26. In step 26, the above-mentioned price reduction label issuing processing operation is performed. When the operator presses down the transmission key 7 in step 27 after the price reduction label issuing operation is completed, the process proceeds to step 23, and then the transmission of the data in the transmission data memory 46 is sequentially performed through step 24 and step 25. Done.

In step 24, when the operator selects "not transmit" the data, step 2 is executed.
Move to the price reduction label issuance processing business of No. 6.

As described above, the transmission data is stored in the data transmission memory when the power is turned on, and the transmission data is not stored in the data transmission memory when the power is turned on. Data transmission to the host computer when stored in the transmission data memory 46 can be realized.

Note that the scanner 15 in the above-described embodiment is
May be a pen scanner, may be a touch scanner, may be another bar code reading device, as the product information input means of the present invention,
Any means can be used as long as it can input product information printed with a barcode.

Although the fixed price reduction has been disclosed as price change information, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. The price may be reduced, and the merchandise may be discarded. This merchandise disposal is also included in the price change information according to the present invention.

Further, as a printing mechanism 20 for printing on the label 23, the label 23 is
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is configured so that the label is continuously released from the label issuing port 18 together with the band-shaped mount 22 without being separated from the band-shaped mount 22. Other configurations may be variously changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the label printer of the present invention, regardless of whether the bar code for indicating the old price before the price reduction is PLU of source marking or NON-PLU of in-store marking, The bar code attached to the item can be input by the product information input means, and the new product information on the reduced product can be printed on a single label with a bar code. Just stick the barcode label of
At the cash register, the new price information can be read from the label using an optical reader, so that there is no longer one or more bar codes to be optically read at the cash register as in the past, and the input work involved As a result, it is possible to quickly input the new priced goods and to avoid congestion at the cash register.

Further, according to the present invention, the first price information as the old price of the product and the second price information as the reduction price can be stored and can be transmitted. By transmitting the second price information to the host computer and processing the data, the processing of selling price change slips in the backyard of the supermarket becomes unnecessary, and the entry of the price reduction amount in the slip, the counting work, and the entry and counting are performed. Errors can be eliminated, the work can be simplified, and each staff member can quickly and reliably grasp how the budget for reducing the price of the product is used up.
It is possible to perform detailed product management without unnecessary inventory remaining.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a label printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a label on which an old price is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a label on which a new price is displayed.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a label on which a new price is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a device related to a price reduction label issuing process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart related to an operation of a price reduction label issuing process.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of transmission data for one price reduction process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a barcode configuration of CODE128.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing products to which PLU source marking and discount in-store marking are added.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 operation unit 15 scanner 28 CPU 30 ROM 31 RAM 40 read memory 41 old price memory 42 price reduction section memory 43 operation work memory 44 operation result memory 45 barcode generation memory 46 transmission data memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A label printer that prints barcodes on merchandise information, such as merchandise prices, on labels via a printing mechanism, comprising: a central processing unit; and a barcode connected to the central processing unit and attached to the merchandise. Product information input means for inputting the type information of the product and the price information of the product, first storage means for storing the first price information input from the product information input means, A price change information input means for inputting change information relating to a reduction in the price of the first price information, and whether or not the information from the commodity information input means is a PLU system is determined.
In the case of "S", product information determination means for prompting the input of the original selling price;
A new price creating means for creating the second price information by changing the first price information based on the change information input from the price change information inputting means, and a second price created by the new price creating means. If the second storage means for storing the price information and the product information determination means determines "YES", the new product information is COD based on the second price information.
E128, created with NON-PLU barcode,
In the case of "NO", new product information creating means for creating new product information with a bar code of JAN, NON-PLU system based on the second price information, and new product information creating means created by the new product information creating means An output unit for outputting new product information to the printing mechanism. 2. The label printer according to claim 1, further comprising transmission means for transmitting said first and second price information.