JP2011042122A - Label issuing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label issuing apparatus configured to, in a bargain sale, clearly present a specially reduced price and the time, etc., to customers, without requiring any special work. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 20 is configured to set the bargain sale period and the specially reduced price information of specific items in a bargain sale file stored in a RAM 30 when receiving the input from the operator. The CPU 20 is configured to, upon issuing labels for the items, when the items are set in the bargain sale file, print the bargain period and the specially reduced price information side by side on each of the labels so as to be visible, and also, print the labels using a machine-readable GS1 barcode system. Besides, the CPU 20 is configured to, in the case where a plurality of bargain sale periods and pieces of specially reduced price information are set for the item, print and record the plurality of bargain sale periods and pieces of specially reduced cost information on each of the labels. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a label issuing device, and more particularly to a label issuing device used in a backyard of a retail store such as a supermarket.

  In stores such as supermarkets, the price of each product is printed in the backyard in advance so that it can be visually checked, and a label recorded with a machine-readable bar code is issued and affixed to the product for display. They are sold on shelves. When a customer brings a product he / she wants to purchase to a cash register or the like, a store clerk reads the label with a bar code reader at the cash register and settles it.

  By the way, merchandise, particularly fresh food, has a shelf life, a consumption expiration, and the like, and if it is unsold, it must be discarded, resulting in a waste (decrease in sales). For this reason, it is necessary to sell out within the expiration date or the expiration date. Therefore, in the above-described stores, products whose expiration dates or expiry dates are approaching may be sold at a discount to be sold out within the same day.

  Conventionally, when performing such discounting, a label issuing device that reissues a label that records a new price after discounting for a displayed product is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the store, the label issuing device re-issued the label that recorded the new price after the discount, and the re-issued label was pasted from the label already attached to the product to be discounted. .

JP 2001-48143 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, the label issuance itself is simplified, but it is necessary to apply a label while checking whether the displayed product is a discount target product one by one. As a result, there was a problem that the workload was heavy. Further, it is necessary to clearly indicate to the customer which product is what special price, but there is also a problem that this point will be lost if the above work is eliminated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can eliminate the need for label issuance and sticking work at the time of special sale, and which products have special prices for customers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label issuing device that can clearly indicate the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, a label issuing device according to one aspect of the present invention prints a product name, a price, etc. on a label affixed to a product such as fresh food, and also records a price in a machine-readable manner. In the issuing device, in the case of a product for which special sale time and special price information are set by the setting means for a specific product, and the special sale time and special price information are set by the setting unit, the special sale is displayed on the label. Control means for printing the time and the special price information side by side so as to be visible and recording them so as to be machine-readable.

  Further, in the present invention, in the above invention, in the case where the control means is a product for which a plurality of special sales times and special price information is set by the setting means, the plurality of special sales times and special price information are displayed on the label. It is characterized by printing and recording on the top.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the control means prints the sale time and the special price information on the label in a GS1 barcode format.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the control means prints and records the special price information on the label for a product determined to be a product with a shelf life.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the normal price on the label at the time of the initial issuance, the special sale time and the special price information are printed side by side so as to be visible and recorded so as to be machine-readable. In addition, it is possible to clearly indicate to the customer which product is what special price and what special price, without any additional work.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of customers who wait until the end of sales by setting a plurality of special sales and displaying information that can be gradually reduced on the label.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily cope with the commodity registration apparatus by printing the record on the label of the special sale time and the special price information in the GS1 barcode format which is being spread or spread.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically prevent a parting discount from being performed on a non-target product.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the control part of the label printer in this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is the figure which showed the data structure of the goods file which RAM memorize | stores. In this embodiment, it is the figure which showed the data structure of the sale file which RAM memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the example of a label printed by the label printer in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of barcode data. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure which the label printer in this embodiment operate | moves. In this embodiment, it is the figure which showed the data structure of the parting file which RAM memorize | stores. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure which the label printer in this embodiment operate | moves.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a label printer according to a first embodiment. In the illustrated example, the label printer includes a main body 1, a scale 2, and an image scanner 14. The main body 1 is a main body of the label printer. The scale 2 measures the weight of the product. The image scanner 14 reads image data.

  The main body 1 includes first and second label printing mechanism units 3 and 4 (control means) and an operation unit 5 on the front surface. The label printing mechanisms 3 and 4 print the label and discharge the printed label. The second printing mechanism is removable from the main body 1. The printing mechanisms 3 and 4 include a thermal head that performs dot printing, a shift register that accumulates data for one dot line and supplies the data to the thermal head, and a stepping motor that moves the label one dot line at a time. Print any letters, numbers, and images.

  The operation unit 5 (setting means) includes a key operation unit 7 and an operation display unit 9. The key operation unit includes a numeric keypad and a print key. The numeric keypad accepts numeric input. The print key accepts input of a print instruction. The operation display unit 9 has a touch panel 9a laminated on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 9b, and can display and input data on the same surface.

  The liquid crystal display 9b displays various data by dot display of 480 × 200 dots. The touch panel 9a is a transparent panel and is provided on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 9b. When the operator's finger touches the touch panel 9a, the touch panel 9a detects the touched position and receives an input corresponding to the detected position.

  The operation unit 5 is attached to the main body 1 by an angle adjusting bellows 6, and the operator can adjust the angle of the operation unit 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the control unit of the label printer. The control unit 100 includes a CPU 20 (Central Processing Unit), a load cell control unit 21, a print control unit 22, a scanner control unit 23, an operation control unit 24, a display control unit 25, and a RAM 30 ( Random Access Memory (Random Access Memory) and ROM 40 (Read Only Memory). The CPU 20 is connected to each unit included in the control unit 100 via a bus in a state where data can be input and output.

  The CPU 20 (control means) reads the control program stored in the ROM 40 and various information stored in the RAM 30, and controls each unit based on the read control program and various information. Further, the CPU 20 stores necessary information in the RAM 30. The load cell control unit 21 controls the load cell 2 a included in the scale 2. The print control unit 22 controls the first printing mechanism unit 3 and the second printing mechanism unit 4. The scanner control unit 23 controls the image scanner 14. The operation control unit 24 controls the key operation unit 7 and the touch panel 9a. The display control unit 25 controls the liquid crystal display 9b. The RAM 30 is a temporary storage area that stores information used by the CPU 20. The RAM 30 stores a product file and a special sale file. The ROM 40 stores a control program.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a product file stored in the RAM 30. The product file has data items of a product number, a product name, a price, and an expiration date (day). The product number is a number that uniquely identifies the type of product. The product name is the name of the product. The price is a unit price per product. The expiration date (days) is the number of days that the product can be used after production.

  In the example shown in the figure, the product name “1001” is “tuna sashimi”, the unit price is “1300 (yen)”, and the expiration date is “1 (day)”. The product name “2002” is “potato fried”, the unit price is “200 (yen)”, and the expiration date is “4 (day)”. Note that the product file increases the amount of information stored according to the type of product handled. Moreover, the data item which is not shown in figure may be included.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of a special sale file stored in the RAM 30. The sale file has data items such as a start date and time, an end date and time, a product number, a sale price, and a type. The start date and time is the date and time when the sale starts. The end date and time is the date and time when the special sale ends. The product number is a number that uniquely identifies the type of product. The special sale price is a special sale price for the corresponding product. The type indicates a special sale type.

  In the illustrated example, the product with the product number “1001” has a sale period from the start date and time “July 15th, 17:00” to the end date and time “July 15th, 19:00”, and the sale price “1200”. (Yen) "indicates that it will be sold. The product with the product number “1001” has a special sale period from the start date and time “July 15th, 19:00” to the end date and time “July 15th and 20:00”, and the special sale price “900 (yen)”. ”Indicates that it will be sold. That is, the product is sold in two stages. Further, the product with the product number “2002” has a special sale period from the type “daily”, the start date and time “13:00” to the end date and time “14:00”, and is sold at the special price “150 (yen)”. It is shown that. Note that the sale data whose end date has passed is deleted.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating examples of label printing by a label printer. The label includes a product name, an expiration date, special sales information (special sales time, special price information), a normal price, a store name, and a bar code that can machine-read the information. In FIG. 5A, a plurality of sets are printed by arranging the start date and time and the sale price at that time in pairs so that the sale information is visible. The barcode is printed in two stages in the GS1 format. In the example shown in the figure, since the store is closed at 20:00, it is planned that the price will be greatly reduced from 19:00 and sold out in one hour. In addition, by slightly reducing the price from 17:00, it is an example that is intended to give the customer a sense of satisfaction (a bargain) without having to wait until 19:00 and reduce the decrease in sales of the store.

  FIG. 5B shows an example in which the purpose of the special sale is not to reduce unsold sales but to increase the number of customers in the time when the store is relatively vacant to alleviate evening congestion. Every day, by displaying on the display product in this way, it is possible to increase the number of customers during the sale time.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of barcode data. The barcode data shown corresponds to the barcode printed on the label shown in FIG. The bar code is in the GS1 data bar format, and the digit position is “1” from the left. The A1 code of the first digit and the second digit is data representing the type of the next data. The same applies to other A1 codes.

  The 3rd to 15th digits mean product identification data called GTIN, which is also a JAN code, and is NONPLLU, and the 11th to 14th digits are “price (normal) Price) ”.

  The 18th to 23rd digits are the first start date and time corresponding to the “start date and time” of the sale set in the first line of the sale file. The 26th to 29th digits are the first special price information corresponding to the “sale price” set in the first line of the sale file. The 32nd to 37th digits are the second start date and time corresponding to the “start date and time” of the sale set in the second line of the sale file. The 26th to 29th digits are the second special price information corresponding to the “sale price” set in the second line of the sale file.

  A POS terminal (not shown) reads this barcode, and if the current date does not correspond to the sale start date and time, the product registration is performed at the price indicated in the 11th to 14th digits, and the current date corresponds to the sale start date and time. For example, a sale corresponding to the closest date and time is selected and product registration is performed.

  Next, the operation of the label printer 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the label printer 1 according to the first embodiment.

  (Step S10) The operator inputs a product number from the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a. The CPU 20 determines whether the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a has received an input of a product number via the operation control unit 24.

  (Step S11) When the CPU 20 determines that the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a has received the input of the product number, the CPU 20 searches the product file stored in the RAM 30 with the input product number, and the corresponding product data (product name, price, Read the expiration date.

  (Step S12) The CPU 20 determines whether or not the input product number is set in a sale file stored in the RAM 30. If the corresponding product number is set as a special sale in the special sale file, the process proceeds to step S13. If the corresponding product number is not set as a special sale, the process proceeds to step S15.

  (Step S13) The CPU 20 reads out the sale data (start date / time, end date / time, sale price, type) specified by the inputted product number from the sale file stored in the RAM 30.

  (Step S14) The CPU 20 prints and issues a label as shown in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B from the read product data and sale data. Then, the label issue for one product is finished.

  (Step S15) The CPU 20 prints and issues a normal label (without special sale data) based only on the product data. Then, the label issue for one product is finished.

  According to the first embodiment described above, if sale data is registered for the product designated by the operator, the start, end date and time of sale, the sale price, etc. are printed in a visible manner in addition to the normal price information. At the same time, the machine-readable GS1 barcode is printed and issued, eliminating the need for label issuance and pasting work at the time of special sale, and which products are priced at what price. It can be realized without adding work.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, a plurality of special sales are set, and information that can be gradually reduced is written on the label, so that it is possible to reduce the number of customers who wait until the end of sales.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, the record on the label of the special sale time and the special price information is printed in the GS1 barcode format which is being spread or spread, thereby easily supporting the product registration apparatus. it can.

  Moreover, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to automatically prevent the parting discount from being performed on the non-target product.

B. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the appearance and configuration of the label printer 1 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The second embodiment is characterized by more reliably realizing close-out sales (sales that are surely sold before closing) by changing the discount rate for the normal price of the product according to the time before closing. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a parting file in which the time before closing and the discount rate for the normal price of the product are set is used instead of the special sales file of the first embodiment. The parting file is stored in the RAM 30.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the data structure of the parting file stored in the RAM 30. The close-out file has a time before closing and a discount rate. The time before closing indicates the remaining time (H) until the closing time of the store, and the discount rate indicates a discount rate (%) with respect to the normal price in the remaining time zone. In the example shown in the figure, the discount rate is 40% when the time before closing is 1 hour, i.e., 1 hour before closing, and the discount rate is 20% when the time before closing is 2 hours, i.e. 2 hours before closing. When the time before closing is 3 hours, that is, when there are 2 hours before closing, the discount rate is 10%. That is, by approaching the closing time, the discount rate is increased, thereby making it possible to more reliably, automatically, and easily realize close-out sales (sales that are surely sold before closing).

Next, the operation of the label printer 1 in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the label printer 1 in the second embodiment.

  (Step S20) The operator sets a parting data (time before closing, discount rate) in the parting file from the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a.

  (Step S21) The operator inputs a product number from the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a. The CPU 20 determines whether the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a has received an input of a product number via the operation control unit 24.

  (Step S22) When the CPU 20 determines that the key operation unit 7 or the touch panel 9a has received the input of the product number, the CPU 20 searches the product file stored in the RAM 30 with the input product number, and the corresponding product data (product name, price, Read the expiration date.

  (Step S <b> 23) The CPU 20 determines whether or not there is valid data in the best-before period in which the read-out product data indicates that the product has a best-before date. If there is valid data in the best period, the process proceeds to step S24. If there is no valid data in the best period, the process proceeds to step S25.

  (Step S24) The CPU 20 calculates the sale price for each pre-closing time from the closing file stored in the RAM 30 and the price of the product data, and calculates the pre-closing time from the closing time for each pre-closing time. Then, as in the first embodiment, the CPU 20 prints and issues a label as shown in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B from the read product data and the special sale price for each time before closing.

  (Step S25) The CPU 20 prints and issues a normal (no special sale data) label based only on the product data.

  (Step S26) The CPU 20 determines whether or not the operator has performed an operation for ending the parting mode. If the operation for ending the parting mode is not performed, the process returns to step S21, and the above-described operation is repeated for the next product number. On the other hand, when the operator performs an operation for ending the parting mode, label issuance in the parting mode is ended.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the discount rate with respect to the normal price of the product is changed according to the time before closing, and the information indicating that the price gradually decreases is displayed on the label. (Sale that sells by the time it is closed).

  In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is provided with a conveyor that conveys a product and an automatic label affixing device, reads a barcode printed on a label affixed to the product that is conveyed by the conveyor, and calculates the current time Based on the previous time, a parting label pasting operation may be automatically performed on the product. Thereby, workability | operativity can be improved further.

  The machine-readable record may be a JAN code 128 or a 3D code instead of the GS1 data bar. Alternatively, an RFID may be embedded in the label and stored in the RFID.

  Further, the special price information may be printed or recorded using discounts or discount data.

  In addition, it can be said that the label including the closing data according to the second embodiment described above also includes special sale information in that a special price is printed in a certain time zone. Further, the printing and recording of the special sale information is not limited to one or two stages on the label, but may be four or five stages. Further, the special sale time is not limited to the date and time, and may be a date or time.

  In the second embodiment, closing data (pre-closing time and discount rate) may be set in advance, and may be recalled and set in the closing file when necessary.

  In the second embodiment, the sale start time may be set instead of the closing time of the closing data. In this case, there is no need to be affected by the change in the closing time.

  Also, a program for executing each process of the label printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed. Accordingly, the above-described various processes related to each process of the label printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be performed. Here, the “computer system” may include an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used. The “computer-readable recording medium” means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk built in a computer system, etc. This is a storage device.

  Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” means a volatile memory (for example, DRAM (Dynamic DRAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Random Access Memory)), etc., which hold programs for a certain period of time. The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body, 2 ... Scale 2a ... Load cell, 3 ... 1st label printing mechanism part, 4 ... 2nd label printing mechanism part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... bellows, 7 ... key operation unit, 9 ... operation display unit, 9a ... touch panel, 9b ... liquid crystal display, 14 ... image scanner, 20 ... CPU, 21 ..Load cell control unit, 22 ... print control unit, 23 ... scanner control unit, 24 ... operation control unit, 25 ... display control unit, 30 ... RAM, 40 ... ROM, 100: Control unit

Claims (4)

In a label issuing device that prints the product name, price, etc. on a label affixed to a product such as fresh food, and records the price in a machine-readable manner,
Setting means for setting special sales time and special price information for a specific product,
In the case of a product for which the special sale time and special price information are set by the setting means, the special sale time and the special price information are visibly arranged and printed on the label, and the control means records the machine readable data. A label issuing device comprising: The control means includes
2. In the case of a product for which a plurality of special sales times and special price information is set by the setting means, the plurality of special sales times and special price information are printed and recorded on the label. The label issuing device described. The control means includes
The label issuing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the special sale time and the special price information are printed on the label in a GS1 barcode format. The control means includes
The label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the special price information is printed and recorded on the label for a product determined to be a product with a shelf life. Issuing device.

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