JP2002019755A - Merchandise label printing device and merchandise label - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise label and a merchandise label printing device for printing the merchandise label which can save a space for displaying the processing time of a merchandise. SOLUTION: The processing time period of an objective merchandise is divided into a plurality of partial processing time periods beforehand to prepare a conversion table for each partial processing time period corresponding to different time period codes TC. The codes TC has a display length which is shorter than a time display. A time period code TC is determined corresponding to a partial processing time period, to which the processing time of an objective merchandise belongs. Then, the determined time period code TC is printed on a merchandise label.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product label for displaying product information and a product label printing apparatus for printing the product label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, products handled in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores are often provided with a product label. Generally, product information such as the product name and price of the product is displayed on the product label. Such a product label has a function of providing information necessary for product purchase to general consumers and a function of providing information for product management to the store side.

[0003]

By the way, when the target product is a food product, usually, the processing date and the expiration date of the food product are also displayed on the product label as product information. In particular, food products that require freshness, such as sold-out products on the day (for example, sashimi and prepared foods), require stricter expiration date management. Therefore, not only the processing date and expiration date but also the processing time of the product is displayed. Is preferred.

However, in recent years, the display items such as the place of origin, genetically modified information, and the like tend to increase, but the display space of the entire product label is limited. There was no space. If the processing time is forcibly displayed, it is necessary to reduce the display of other product information and write it in small characters, and the visibility of the product information has to be reduced. As a result, there is a problem that it is difficult for general consumers to grasp the product information, and that the store side also has a problem in product management.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a product label capable of saving space for displaying the processing time of a product and a product label printing apparatus for printing the product label. The purpose is to:

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product label printing apparatus for printing a product label for displaying product information, the product information about a target product to which a product label is to be attached. Product information storage means for storing, the code conversion means for converting the processing time of the target product into a code having a display length shorter than the time display, and a printing means for printing the code and the product information on a product label , Is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the product label printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the code converting means divides a product processing time zone into a plurality of partial processing time zones, The processing time is converted into a code according to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time belongs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise label printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the code converting means converts the plurality of partial processing time zones and the plurality of codes into correspondence with each other. A table holding unit that holds a table; and a code determination unit that determines a code corresponding to the processing time of the target product based on the conversion table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise label printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the code is constituted by a single numeral, symbol or character.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the product label printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
The code is attached to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and printed on the product label.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product label printing apparatus for printing a product label displaying product information, a product information storage means for storing product information on a target product to which the product label is to be attached, A table holding unit that divides a time zone into a plurality of partial processing time zones and holds a conversion table in which the plurality of partial processing time zones and a plurality of display colors are associated with each other, based on the conversion table, A display color determining means for determining a display color corresponding to the processing time of the target product, and a printing means for printing a part or all of the product information on the product label with the determined display color.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a product label attached to a target product and displaying product information of the target product, the product processing time zone is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones. The code corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the product processing time belongs is printed with a display length shorter than the time display.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the product label according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the code is constituted by one character number, symbol or character.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the product label according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the code is attached to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and printed.

Here, the processing time means a time at which processing such as processing, transportation, and disposal of the target product is performed, which will be further described later.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product label printing apparatus according to the present invention. The product label printing device 1 has a function of measuring a target product and printing a product label to be attached to the target product.

The product label printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a weighing section 10, an operation panel 20, and a label issuing section 30. The weighing unit 10 weighs the weight of the product placed on the upper surface by a load cell (not shown).

The operation panel 20 includes an input key 21 and a liquid crystal display screen 22 having a function as a touch panel. The operator can input necessary data and commands to the product label printing apparatus 1 through the input keys 21 and the display screen 22 as a touch panel while checking the content displayed on the display screen 22.

The label issuing section 30 is provided inside the product label printing apparatus 1 and includes a label issuing port 31, a printing section 32, a transport section 33, and a label storage section 34.
In the label storage section 34, a label mount to which a plurality of product labels are attached is wound and stored in a roll shape.
The transport unit 33 includes a motor (not shown) and a plurality of feeding rolls, and transports the label mount stored in the label storage unit 34 to the label issuing port 31.
The printing unit 32 prints necessary contents on a product label (strictly, a product label attached to a label mount) in the middle of being transported to the label issuing port 31 by the transport unit 33.
The label mount conveyed by the conveying section 33 is sent out of the apparatus from the label issuing port 31, and the operator can peel off the printed product label from the sent label mount and use it.

The product label printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus therein. FIG.
3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit of the product label printing device 1. FIG. Control unit 4 of product label printing device 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a computer, which has a CPU 41 as a main body thereof and an R as a read-only memory.
OM42 and RAM43 which is a readable and writable memory
And a timer 44 having a timekeeping function, and a magnetic disk 45 for storing control software, data, and the like. CPU 41, timer 44 and magnetic disk 45
And the like are electrically connected via a bus line 49. The operation panel 20, the weighing unit 10, and the printing unit 3 of the product label printing apparatus 1 are connected to the bus line 49 of the control unit 40.
2 etc. are also electrically connected.

The control unit 40 performs predetermined processing in response to an input from the operation panel 20 and controls the operation of the weighing unit 10 and the printing unit 32 based on the processing software in the magnetic disk 45. The processing contents of the control unit 40 will be further described later. In the present embodiment, the CPU 41 corresponds to a code determination unit and a display color determination unit, and the magnetic disk 45 corresponds to a table holding unit and a product information storage unit.

Next, processing contents in the commodity label printing apparatus 1 will be described. The outline of the main processing in the product label printing apparatus 1 is to measure the target product placed on the weighing unit 10 and to print product information on a product label to be attached to the target product. The product information to be printed on the product label includes the weight of the target product measured by the weighing unit 10, the price according to the weight, the product name, the expiration date, and the like. In the product label printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the processing time of the target product is converted into a code (time zone code) and printed on the product label in addition to the product information. In this specification, the term “product information” simply means product attribute information other than the processing time at which processing such as processing is performed on a target product. Hereinafter, a technique of printing the processing time of a target product as a time zone code on a product label will be described.

When the weight of a target product is weighed by the product label printing device 1 and a product label is issued, an operator performs various inputs through an operation panel 20 including a display screen 22. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen 22. Here, a case where live suzuki sashimi requiring freshness is a target product will be described as an example.

First, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed when the operator inputs a call number for "Katsuzuki (sashimi)". That is, the product name and its attribute information (for example, the unit price per 100 g) and the call number are stored in the magnetic disk 45 in association with each other in advance, and the operator inputs the call number of “Katsuzuki (sashimi)” 3 by the control unit 40.
Is displayed on the display screen 22.

Next, the operator puts the active Suzuki sashimi on a predetermined tray and places it on the measuring section 10,
Enter product information such as the expiration date. The weighing result by the weighing unit 10 is displayed as it is on the display screen 22, and at the same time, the value obtained by multiplying the weighing result by the unit price of the weight, that is, the selling price of the target product (live suzuki sashimi) is also determined by the control unit 40 in a predetermined area Will be displayed. Product information such as the processing date and the expiration date is input by an operator from input keys 21 or a display screen 22 as a touch panel.
(See FIG. 3). As a result, all the product information necessary for issuing the product label is displayed in a predetermined area of the display screen 22, and the product information is stored on the magnetic disk 45. The product information may be stored in the RAM 43 instead of the magnetic disk 45.

At this time, the operator inputs the processing time of the target product together with the product information, for example, the time when sashimi is used as the sashimi by the input key 21 or the display screen 2 as a touch panel.
Input from 2. The input processing time is displayed in the processing time display area 22A of the display screen 22. In FIG.
"11:52" is displayed in the processing time display area 22A as the processing time.
Minutes "is displayed.

The input processing time is displayed on the display screen 22, and is converted by the control unit 40 into a time zone code having a display length shorter than the time display. Specifically, the CPU 41 divides the entire processing time zone of the target product into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and converts the processing time into a time zone code according to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs. ing. In the present embodiment, the above-described code conversion is realized by holding a conversion table in the magnetic disk 45 in which a plurality of partial processing time zones and a plurality of time zone codes correspond to each other.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the conversion table stored in the magnetic disk 45. Here, it is assumed that the processing of live Suzuki sashimi is performed at any time from 8:00 to 12:59, and the live Suzuki sashimi is processed from 8:00 to 12:59. Is the processing time zone. In the example of FIG. 4, the processing time zone of live suzuki sashimi is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, that is, the first time zone from 8:00 to 9:59, from 10:00 to 10:00.
Second time until 10:59 and 11: 00-1
It is divided into three partial processing time zones of a third time zone up to 2:59. Then, the first time zone from 8:00 to 9:59 is set to the time zone code “1” and from 10:00 to 1
The second time zone until 0:59 is set to the time zone code “2”,
The third time zone from 11:00 to 12:59 is made to correspond to the time zone code “3”, and a conversion table TT describing the correspondence is stored in the magnetic disk 45. Note that such a conversion table TT is created in advance and stored on the magnetic disk 45.

Then, based on the conversion table TT, the CPU 41 determines a time zone code corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs. For example, in the example of the present specification, since the processing time of live suzuki is "11:52", the CPU 41 refers to the conversion table TT and selects and determines "3" as the time zone code. .

When the operator presses a print key (one of the keys constituting the input key 21 in FIG. 1), the label issuing section 30 performs a label issuing process based on an instruction from the control section 40 and prints. The unit 32 prints on the label the product information on the target product and the time zone code corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time belongs. For example, in the above example, the product information (product name, expiration date,
Processing date, storage temperature, price, etc.) and its processing time “11
Time zone code "3" corresponding to "hour 52 minutes"
Prints on the product label. The worker attaches the issued product label to the target product and ends the process in the product label printing device 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the issued product label. On the product label TL, “3” is printed as the time zone code TC in addition to the product information on the target product (Katsuzuki Sashimi).

In this embodiment, the time zone code TC is 1
Since this is a character number and has a display length significantly shorter than the time display of the processing time of the target product as it is, it is possible to save space for displaying the processing time of the target product. As a result, there is no need to reduce the display of other product information printed on the product label TL, and the visibility of the entire product label TL is improved.

Further, since the processing time of the target product is converted into a simple time zone code TC and displayed, the product management becomes easy. That is, if the processing time of the target product is printed as it is (for example, “12:15”), it may be confused with the expiration date or the processing date, but it is converted into a simple time zone code TC and displayed. Such confusion can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the time zone code TC is printed at the end of a bar code BC different from the time zone code TC on the product label TL. The barcode BC itself is a product attribute identification code for indicating other product information irrelevant to the processing time, but by printing the time zone code TC at the end of the barcode BC, the barcode BC is printed. The processing time can be displayed adjacent to the space for the product label TL, and the space use efficiency of the entire product label TL can be improved. Further, since the barcode BC and the time zone code TC are printed continuously, the product label TL
You can also maintain the beauty.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example.
For example, in the above embodiment, the time zone code TC is a one-character number, but the present invention is not limited to this. The time zone code TC has a display length shorter than the time display of the processing time of the target product as it is. What is necessary is just to have. By printing the time zone code TC having a display length shorter than the time display of the processing time of the target product as it is, it is possible to save space for displaying the processing time of the target product.

However, the time zone code TC is 1
Numbers, symbols or letters of the characters (eg the symbols "#", "
* ","! And the characters “A”, “B”, “C”, etc.) If it is a single character, a symbol or a character, the space for displaying the processing time of the target product is minimized. This is because it can be suppressed to the minimum.

Further, in the above embodiment, the processing time zone of the target product is divided into three partial processing time zones. However, this division is not limited to three, but may be two or more. It goes without saying that the time width of the partial processing time zone is arbitrary.

It is not always necessary to divide the processing time zone of the target product into a plurality of partial processing time zones and use the conversion table TT indicating the time zone code TC corresponding to each partial processing time zone. The processing time of the product may be converted into a time zone code TC having a display length shorter than the time display by a predetermined formula.

In the above embodiment, the processing time of the target product is converted into the time zone code TC and displayed. However, instead of this, the product information is displayed in a display color corresponding to the processing time of the target product. A part or the whole may be printed on the product label. More specifically, a conversion table (for example, in the above example, in which the processing time zone of the target product is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and the plurality of partial processing time zones and the plurality of display colors correspond to each other. Display color of first time zone "
A table that associates the black with the second time zone with the display color “blue” and the third time zone with the display color “red” is created and stored in the magnetic disk 45. Then, the CPU 41 based on the conversion table. Determines the display color corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs (in the above example, the display color “red” is determined). The determined display color is printed on the product label.

In this way, no special space is required for displaying the processing time, and the product label TL
The overall visibility is further improved. Further, since the processing time of the target product can be grasped at a glance by color, product management can be made easier.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing time of the product is subjected to the code conversion. However, the present invention is not limited to the processing time. It may be a target. “Transportation time” is the time at which the target product should be transported. Further, the "discard time" is a time at which the target product should be discarded, and is used particularly for a product such as sashimi that requires strict management of the expiration date. By converting the processing time of the target product to the time zone code TC or the display color and displaying the converted time, it is possible to save space for displaying the processing time of the target product, as in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the operator inputs the processing time of the target product. However, the processing time may be automatically measured by the timer 44 depending on the definition of the processing time. . That is, for example, for a product that can be processed at the time of weighing the target product, the time at the time of weighing can be measured by the timer 44 and the result of the measurement can be used as the processing time.

Further, although the commodity label printing apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment has the measuring section 10 and can measure the target commodity, the measuring section 10 is not essential. In other words, the device according to the present invention can be applied to any device that prints at least the necessary product information and the processing time of the target product on the product label, such as a product label printer having only a printing function. The technology according to the present invention can also be applied.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the processing time of the target product is converted into a code having a display length shorter than the time display and printed on the product label. Space for displaying the processing time can be saved, and product management can be facilitated.

According to the invention of claim 2, the product processing time zone is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and the processing time is converted into a code according to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs. Therefore, the code conversion operation can be facilitated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a code corresponding to a processing time of a target product is determined based on a conversion table in which a plurality of partial processing time zones and a plurality of codes are mutually associated. Therefore, the code conversion operation can be further facilitated.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the code is constituted by one character number, symbol or character, the space required for displaying the processing time can be minimized.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the code is attached to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and is printed on the product label. The processing time can be displayed adjacent to the space for the product, and the space use efficiency of the entire product label can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 6, the product processing time zone is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and a plurality of partial processing time zones and a plurality of display colors are associated with each other in a conversion table. The display color corresponding to the processing time of the target product is determined based on this, and a part or all of the product information is printed on the product label with the determined display color. No space is required at all.

According to the invention of claim 7, the product processing time zone is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and a code corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs is defined as
Since printing is performed with a display length shorter than the time display, a space for displaying the processing time can be saved, and product management can be facilitated.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the code is composed of one character number, symbol or character, the space required for displaying the processing time can be minimized.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the code is attached to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and printed, a space for the other product attribute identification code is provided. Can be displayed adjacent to the product label, and the space use efficiency of the entire product label can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit of the product label printing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the product label printing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conversion table stored in a magnetic disk.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an issued product label.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Merchandise label printer 10 Weighing unit 20 Operation panel 22 Display screen 30 Label issuing unit 32 Printing unit 40 Control unit 45 Magnetic disk TC Time zone code TL Product label TT conversion table

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A product label printing apparatus for printing a product label for displaying product information, comprising: product information storage means for storing product information on a target product to which a product label is to be attached; A product label printing device comprising: code conversion means for converting a code having a display length shorter than time display; and printing means for printing the code and the product information on a product label. 2. The product label printing device according to claim 1, wherein the code conversion unit divides the product processing time zone into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and converts the product processing time zone into a partial processing time zone to which the processing time of the target product belongs. A product label printing apparatus, wherein the processing time is converted into a code in response to the processing time. 3. The product label printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the code conversion unit holds a conversion table in which the plurality of partial processing time zones and a plurality of codes are associated with each other; Code determination means for determining a code corresponding to the processing time of the target product based on the conversion table. 4. The merchandise label printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the code is constituted by a single numeral, symbol, or character. 5. The product label printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing means adds the code to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and prints the code on the product label. Product label printing device. 6. A product label printing apparatus for printing a product label for displaying product information, comprising: product information storage means for storing product information on a target product to which a product label is to be attached; Table holding means for holding a conversion table that is divided into partial processing time zones and that associates the plurality of partial processing time zones with a plurality of display colors; and a processing time of the target product based on the conversion table. A display color determining means for determining a display color corresponding to the product label; and a printing means for printing a part or all of the product information on a product label with the determined display color. apparatus. 7. A product label attached to a target product and displaying product information of the target product, wherein the product processing time zone is divided into a plurality of partial processing time zones, and the processing time of the target product is A product label, wherein a code corresponding to the partial processing time zone to which the code belongs is printed with a display length shorter than the time display. 8. The merchandise label according to claim 7, wherein the code is composed of one character number, symbol or character. 9. The product label according to claim 8, wherein the code is attached to the end of another product attribute identification code different from the code and printed.