JP2012164055A - Article management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article management apparatus which completes freshness management on sales floors by grasping articles, in real time, which are to reach their open dates without visiting the sales floors, and performs discount management, demand analysis, etc., of respective articles without adding solid identifiers to the respective articles.SOLUTION: The article management apparatus includes: a label printer which prints and issues labels with in-store marking, period information, and information associated with discounts, on respective articles; a POS register which reads label print information out of labels stuck on articles and performs check-out processing on the articles; and a server which registers label print information sent from the label printer as actual production results of the respective articles, collates the registration data with the label print information sent from the POS register so as to specify registration data on articles having been sold, and changes statuses of the specified registration data into sold statuses.

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise management apparatus capable of grasping in real time the sales situation of processed foods for which notation such as expiry date and expiration date is required, and quickly performing appropriate production management, freshness management, sales analysis, and the like.

  For foods such as snacks and cup noodles that can retain their quality even after the expiration date, the shelf life expires, such as lunch boxes, sandwiches, and noodles. Foods are required to have an expiration date. However, at food stores such as retail stores and supermarkets that sell such processed foods, information on the deadlines attached to these processed foods (hereinafter referred to as products). Based on the above, it is important to thoroughly manage the freshness and production of each product.

  Against such a background, in Patent Document 1 below, in order to avoid the risk of selling a product whose sales deadline has passed to a customer, the deadline information is printed with a barcode on each product label along with price information. The POS terminal device that reads the information and performs the clearing process is equipped with an internal clock that outputs the current time, and the time limit information read by the POS terminal device is compared with the current time, and the product whose time limit is approaching If so, the product is sold at a discount, and if the product has expired, the product is not collected and sold.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to thoroughly manage the freshness of products at the food department, in addition to the deadline information of Patent Document 1, production date / time information is printed on the product label, and the displayed product is viewed. In addition, if a product with an expiring deadline is found, a discount label is attached to the product, and if it is still unsold, it is recovered from the product shelf and discarded. In addition, in order to grasp the loss due to discount, the sales price data for each production date / time category is totaled based on the normal price of each product read by the POS register (clearing processing device), information on the discount, and production date / time information, The result of the aggregation is compared with production performance data aggregated for each production date / time category, and unsold data is calculated for each production date / time category.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, in order to perform individual product management and sales analysis, the time limit information of each product is stored in a database in association with a solid identifier for identifying each product, and is attached to a label attached to each product. Prints a solid identifier instead of deadline information. Then, when the solid identifier is read by the POS register (clearing processing measure), the expiration date information of the product is read from the database based on the identifier, and it is compared with the current time, and if it is expired, it is collected without selling it. However, if it is time to close, it sells it at a reduced price.

JP-A-5-054211 Japanese Patent No. 3578033 Japanese Patent No. 4007908

  In Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is not possible to determine whether or not the product is an expired product unless the POS terminal device at the checkout corner has read the term information of each product. As a result, the product could not be sold at a reduced price before it expired.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, since a discount label is affixed to a product whose deadline is approaching by looking around the sales floor, the problem as in Patent Document 1 does not occur. However, the method of Patent Document 2 has a problem that it is not possible to know whether there is a product with an expiring deadline unless the operator looks around the sales floor. In addition, there is a problem that unsold data cannot be calculated unless sales data for each production date / time segment is aggregated with a POS register (clearing processor).

  On the other hand, in Patent Literature 3, the production date and time information of each product is registered in the database, and the sales performance is also registered in the database every time it occurs, so that even if the operator does not look around the sales floor, There is a merit that it is possible to grasp the product that is about to expire by simply accessing the database. However, in order to do so, a label printed with a solid identifier (serial number) must be affixed to each product. For example, when a label is misprinted and a solid identifier is reissued, it is issued first. There is a problem that it is necessary to take measures such as deleting the solid identifier. Further, when the same type of product is sorted and printed with a plurality of label issuing devices, there is also the inconvenience that the individual identifiers of each product must be managed so as not to overlap. Further, similarly to Patent Document 1, since discount processing can be performed only by a POS register that performs product clearing processing, there is a problem in that a discount label cannot be attached to a product that is about to expire.

  The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and it is possible to grasp a product that is about to expire in real time without going to the sales floor, and to thoroughly manage the freshness of the sales floor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new product management apparatus that can perform discount management, sales analysis, etc. of each product without adding a mark.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a label printer that prints and issues information on in-store marking, deadline information, and discounts for individual products (hereinafter collectively referred to as label printing information) on a label, and a product. The POS register that reads the label printing information from the affixed label and performs the clearing process of the product, and the label printing information sent from the label printer are registered as the production results of each product, and the registration data and the It is characterized by comprising a server that collates the label print information sent from the POS register, identifies the registered data of the sold product, and changes the status of the identified registered data to sales.

  The in-store marking printed on the label includes a Non-PLU code and a PLU code, and the time limit information includes a consumption time limit, a best-before date, or a sales time limit determined uniquely by the store. In addition, the information on discounts includes notation without discounts, instead of “% discount” to reduce a certain percentage from the normal price, “yen discount” to reduce a certain amount from the normal price, and the price after price reduction. Any notation of “Price after reduction” is included.

  Each time a label is issued, the label printer reads the date and time from the built-in calendar clock as the processing date and time, calculates the expiration date information such as the expiration date and the expiration date from the processing date and generates label printing information Then, the label printing information and the processing date and time are stored in the memory as production results of the product. At this time, in order to represent the current state of each product, “production or display” is added to the production performance of each product as status information. The data stored in this way becomes log data in the order of production and transmits it to the server as it is. Alternatively, they are collected and transmitted. This is because the label printing information is the same, and when the processing date and time is recorded in minutes or hours, the processing date and time of multiple products will be the same. is there.

The server registers the log data transmitted from the label printer as the production record of each product. When aggregated data is transmitted from the label printer, it is disassembled and registered into production results of individual commodities.
FIG. 1 shows an example when the aggregated data sent from the label printer is disassembled into individual products and registered. Here, the aggregated data with a quantity of 3 is disassembled into 3 commodities. An example is shown. Thereby, even if there are a plurality of products having the same production record, when registering, it becomes the production record of each product. At that time, it is preferable to add a serial number to the registration data of each product. For example, in FIG. 1, information relating to in-store marking, time limit information, and discounting, which is label printing information, is registered as a 26-digit label code, but serial numbers 1, 2, and 3 are added to the end of the code. .

  The POS register reads the printing information on the label affixed to the merchandise and performs a clearing process. The label affixed to the merchandise includes a normal label on which only a normal price is printed. Some discount labels are overlaid. In the present invention, since information relating to in-store marking, time limit information, and discounting of each product is printed on any label, the read information is transmitted to the server.

  The server compares the label printing information transmitted from the POS register with the label printing information of each registered product, identifies the registered data of the sold product, and displays the status of the identified registered data. Change from “production or display” to “sales”.

FIG. 2 exemplifies identification of a sold product and rewriting of its status. Label printing information is registered as a label code, but the label code sent from the POS register includes Since the rewritten “information about discount” is included, the in-store marking and the time limit information part excluding this part are collated. As a result of matching, in the example of FIG. 2, three products correspond, but since the status of the first product has already been rewritten to “sales” in the first matching, The second product with the smallest serial number is selected from the remaining products excluding the first product, and the status of the product is rewritten from “production or display” to “sale”.
By accessing the server and looking at the status of each product, there are how many products are unsold, which of them are nearing expiry date and which products need additional production. Can be easily grasped.

  According to the invention of claim 1, the status of each product is recorded in the server, and when any product is sold, the status of the product is rewritten from “production or display” to “sale”. If you access the server and look at the registration details, you can see how many items are due to expire. Therefore, even if you do not look around the sales floor, you can immediately start the discount work, and you can quickly collect expired products. In addition, additional production can be performed before the product is sold out to reduce opportunity loss due to missed sales.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to assign a solid identifier to each product, individual product management and discount management are simplified, and development to other stores is facilitated.

Explanatory drawing that expands the aggregated data collected into the registration data of each product Explanatory diagram of rewriting the status of individual products registered on the server Illustration of the barcode system used in the present invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the goods management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the store system in the said merchandise management system Explanatory drawing showing the work process from processing of meat etc. to display The block diagram which shows the structure of the weighing packaging price attaching apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the said weighing packaging price attaching apparatus. The figure which shows one Embodiment of the label issued with the said weighing packaging price apparatus. The block diagram which shows the structure of the label printer with a measuring device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the operation flow of the label printer with the measuring instrument The figure which shows one Embodiment of the label issued with the said label printer with a measuring device. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing the operation flow of the label printer The figure which shows one Embodiment of the label issued with the said label printer The block diagram which shows the structure of the POS register which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the operation flow of the above-mentioned POS register The figure which shows one Embodiment of the screen displayed by the handy terminal The figure which shows one Embodiment of another screen displayed with the handy terminal The figure which shows one Embodiment of the other screen displayed on the handy terminal The figure which shows one Embodiment of the collection goods screen displayed on the handy terminal The figure which shows one Embodiment of the other screen displayed on the handy terminal 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a label printer for discount labels according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows one Embodiment of a discount label The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the label printer for the said discount labels

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, in this embodiment, since it is assumed that fresh food such as meat and fresh fish and cooked food such as side dish are printed on the label with a barcode with in-store marking, deadline information and information on discounts. First, the barcode system will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the bar code system. This bar code is composed of a 26-digit code, and an in-store marking is assigned to the front 13 digits of the 26 digits, and the rear 13 digits are Time limit information (MMDDHH), a time limit check flag (F1), information on discount (F2DDDD), and a check digit (C / D), which will be described later, are allocated.

For in-store marking, a 13-digit Non-PLU code or a PLU code is used, but an 8-digit shortened code may be used. In that case, the head prefix (F) is set to “0”.
FIG. 3 (a) shows an example of a Non-PLU code. A prefix (FF) is added to the first two digits, followed by a product code (IIIIII), a price (PPPP), and a check for preventing misreading. Digit (C / D) is assigned.
FIG. 3B shows a code system of the last 13 digits, and the “time limit information” (MMDDHH) digit displays the “expiration date” or “expiration date” information of the best-before date. Month (MM), day (DD), and time (HH) are assigned. Further, a processing date and time is attached to a product for which the expiration date or the like is not displayed, for example, a cabbage ball divided into two. In addition, as the deadline check flag (F1),
If there is a month / date of expiry date, “0” is assigned. If there is no expiry date, “1” is assigned. If there is no expiry date, “9” is assigned.
In addition, as a flag (F2) in “information about discount” (F2DDDD),
If the regular price is not discounted, set “0”.
In the case of “% discount” to reduce a certain percentage from the normal price, set “1”
In the case of “yen discount” to reduce a certain amount from the normal price, set “2”
In the case of “Price after price reduction”, which represents the price after price reduction, “3” is added, followed by a numerical value as data (DDDD).
The last first digit represents the entire check digit.

  Such information is converted into a barcode and printed on a label. The code is the label code shown in FIGS. Therefore, in the server, when the sold product is identified by comparing the label print information transmitted from the label printer with the label print information transmitted from the POS register, the “ The upper 20-digit codes, excluding “information about discounts”, are compared.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a merchandise management system installed in a supermarket or the like. The server 100 and a plurality of store systems 200 are connected by a network 300 to constitute a merchandise management system as a whole. .
The server 100 is installed in the headquarters and registers production results and sales results sent from each store system 200. Then, the sales analysis and profit analysis of each store are performed based on the sales results registered for each store, and the sales trend of the important product or the best-selling product to be sold is extracted. In addition, production plans, sales targets, and the like of each store are drawn up based on production results, sales results, the number of customers, and the like of each store, which are transmitted to each store system 200 via the network 300.
On the other hand, each store produces fresh food and cooked food based on the production plan sent from the headquarters while looking at the sales situation at that time. The generated sales results are transmitted from each store system 200 to the server 100 via the network 300.

  The server 100 is provided with a product file in which non-PLU codes, PLU codes, etc. of all products are registered, and for each store, a production result file, a sales result file, a customer number file, and the like are provided. In addition, data such as calling code, product code, product name, additive name, unit price per 100 g, tare, fixed-price product price, minimum number of displays, sales expiration date, expiration date, special price at promotion, display location, etc. for each product It is registered. The log data of the server shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows a part of the production result file provided for each store, but it can be used as a sales result file by adding status information thereto. I am doing so.

Note that the above-mentioned minimum number of displays represents the minimum amount or number when displaying the product, and is managed using the handy terminal 600 of FIG. 4 so as not to be smaller than this value. The sales deadline is the number of days or hours from the date and time of processing. For example, in the case of cooked foods such as bento and side dishes, the numerical value such as 6 hours or 8 hours It is set according to the season. Therefore, for example, when the sales deadline is set as 6 hours, the display deadline for sushi packs manufactured at 8:00 am will be 2:00 pm on the day, and if it is not sold by then, a discount label will be affixed It is sent to discount sales. On the other hand, the expiration date is a reference when calculating the expiration date or the expiration date. In the case of a lunch box, for example, if it is set as 12 hours, the expiration date of the lunch box manufactured at 8 am Although it is 20 o'clock on the day, it is considered as the day due to business hours, and time is omitted. In addition, depending on the item, the expiration date may be set to the number of days within 3 days. For such item, the value obtained by adding the effective date to the processing date is used as the expiration date.
The handy terminal 600 in FIG. 4 will be described later.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the store system 200. The system 200 includes a backyard network 400 provided in the backyard and an in-store network 500 provided in the sales floor. Is connected to a weighing and packaging pricing apparatus 10, a label printer 20 with a measuring instrument, and a label printer 30. The in-store network 500 includes a plurality of POS registers 40, a store controller 50, and a collection computer 60. The router 70 is connected.
Further, the backyard network 400 and the in-store network 500 are connected directly or via the repeater 80. The repeater 80 smoothly connects different networks.

The store controller 50 communicates with the POS register 40 via the network 500 and manages the sales of the products handled there. The product file 51 connected thereto stores the product names, call codes, The product code, selling price information, deadline information (sales deadline and expiration date), and the like are registered, and the registered data is transmitted in response to a request from the POS register 40. Further, from each POS register 40, data including label printing information of each sold product is transmitted to the store controller 50 as a sales record and stored as log data.
Further, the store controller 50 collects registration data of all necessary products from the server 100 via the router 70 and accumulates them in the product file 51.

The collection computer 60 is provided to reduce the load on the store controller 50. The collection computer 60 communicates with the weighing and packaging price attaching device 10, the label printer 20 with the measuring instrument, and the label printer 30, and the production results from these devices. Collect and accumulate. Further, the sales performance of each POS register 40 is collected from the store controller 50 and accumulated. The accumulated production results and sales results are transmitted to the server 100 via the router 70.
When the store controller 50 has a margin, the store controller 50 can have the function of the collection computer 60. Further, when the merchandise management is completed in a retailer that does not have a plurality of stores or in one store, the collection computer 60 becomes the server 100.

Next, label issuance for managing merchandise and registration of production results that accompany it will be described based on the method in the supermarket.
FIG. 6 shows an operation process from processing of meat and the like to display, and the weighing / packaging apparatus 10 is used in this process.
In the backyard, first, raw materials such as meat are cut (a) and placed in a tray (b). The arranged trays are placed on a wagon or a conveyor and are carried into the weighing and packaging price attaching device 10, where they are weighed (c), packaged (d), and a label is affixed thereon (v). The weighing packaging price attaching apparatus 10 having such a function is well known, and thus the description of the apparatus structure is omitted. However, the label printer P mounted on the apparatus 10 is a constituent part of the present invention, so An example is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, a label printer P includes a label issuing unit 11 that issues labels, a display operation unit 12 that displays various screens on a touch panel to input / output data, and a product file that stores registration data of each product. 13 and a calendar clock 14 for outputting the current date and time, and a control means 15 for accessing these to generate information to be printed on a label, converting a part thereof into a bar code and setting it in the label issuing means 11 Is provided.
The control means 15 is also connected to a control means 18 for controlling the measuring device 16 and the packaging machine 17, and inputs the weight and price of the weighed goods from the control means 18 and prints them on a label. When a packaging completion signal is output from the control means 18 in addition to the information, a print command is output to the label issuing means 11 to issue a label L.
The label L thus issued is transferred to the label sticking means 19, and when the wrapped product reaches a predetermined position, the label L is stuck on the product.
The weighing / packaging apparatus 10 includes the label printer P, a weighing device 16, a packaging machine 17, a control unit 18, and a label attaching unit 10.

FIG. 8 shows an operation flow of the weighing package pricing apparatus 10.
When a product placed on a tray is carried into the weighing and packaging pricing apparatus 10, first, the display operation means 12 is operated to input a calling code for the product (step 110). Then, the control means 15 reads the registration data relating to the product from the product file 13, writes it in the working area of the internal memory, and sets the unit price per 100 g, the tare of the tray, the packaging conditions, etc. included in the read registration data. It outputs to the control means 18 (step 120).
The control means 18 sets the input packaging conditions in the packaging machine 17, and when a weight signal is output from the measuring instrument 16 (step 130), the tare is subtracted from the weight to calculate the net weight, and the unit price is calculated as the net weight. To calculate the price and output the calculated price together with the net weight to the control means 15 (step 140).
On the other hand, the control means 15 inputs the current date and time from the calendar-equipped clock 14, stores it as the processing date and time, calculates the expiration date by adding the expiration date to the date and time, and displays it (step 150). The expiration date and the processing date and time thus obtained are added to the information to be printed on the label together with the weight and price input from the control means 18, developed into an image including a barcode, and the image data is sent to the label issuing means 11. It is set (step 160).

On the other hand, when the weighed tray is carried into the packaging machine 17, the packaging machine 17 wraps the tray with a film based on the set packaging conditions, and outputs a packaging completion signal to the control means 18 when the packaging is completed. (Step 170). When the completion signal is input from the control means 18 to the control means 15, the control means 15 outputs a print command to the label issuing means 11 to issue a label L (step 180), and then prints on the label. Information is registered in the internal memory as a production record (step 190).
FIG. 9 shows an example of the label L thus issued. As shown in the label L, the barcode B consisting of 26 digits includes “in-store marking” including the product code and price, “expiration date information” such as the expiration date, and “without discount”. "Information" is displayed.
In this embodiment, the control unit 15 of the label printer P is separated from the control unit 18 of the weighing device 16 and the packaging machine 17, but these may be integrated into one.

  In the above embodiment, meat or the like is placed on a tray and packaged. However, not only such products are handled, but in the case of prepared foods, some are stored in a transparent container. Such products are sometimes measured and affixed with labels, and some products such as lunch boxes and sandwiches are affixed with flat-rate labels without being measured.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of a label printer 20 with a measuring instrument that weighs merchandise and attaches a label, and the label printer P used here is also a component of the present invention.
In FIG. 10, the label printer 20 with a measuring instrument includes a label issuing unit 21, a display operation unit 22, a product file 23, a calendar clock 24, and information to be accessed and printed on the label. And a control unit 25 for issuing a label after being set to a measuring device.

FIG. 11 shows an operation flow of the label printer 20 with a measuring instrument.
When using the label printer 20 with the measuring instrument, first, the display operation means 22 is operated to input the calling code of the product to be packaged (step 210).
Then, the control means 25 reads the registration data relating to the product from the product file 23 and writes it in the working area of the memory, and outputs the registration data to the display operation means 22 so that the product name, product code, The unit price per 100 g and the tare are displayed (step 220).
Further, after inputting the current date and time from the calendar-equipped clock 24 and storing it as the processing date and time, the expiration date is calculated by adding the expiration date to the processing date and time, and the expiration date and the processing date and time are displayed and operated. Is output and displayed (step 230). Subsequently, when a product is loaded on the measuring instrument 26 and a weight signal is output (step 240), the control means 25 calculates the net weight by subtracting the tare from the weight, and multiplies the net weight by the unit price to calculate the price. And the result is output to the display operation means 22 and displayed together with the net weight. Subsequently, the weight, price, processing date and time, and expiration date are developed into image data including a barcode in addition to the read registration data, and set as information to be printed on the label in the label issuing means 21 (step 250). . Next, when the label issuance key displayed on the display operation unit 22 is pressed (step 260), a print command is output to the label issuing unit 21 to issue a label L (step 270). Subsequently, the information printed on the label is registered in the internal memory as a production record (step 280).
FIG. 12 shows an example of the label L thus issued.
Note that the label L may be automatically issued when the image data is set in the label issuing means 21 without operating the label issuing key.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of a label printer 30 that issues a fixed amount label, and this label printer 30 is also a component of the present invention.
The label printer 30 sets the label issuance means 31, display operation means 32, product file 33, calendar clock 34, and information to be accessed and printed on the label issuance means 31. Control means 35 for issuing and a counter 36 are provided.

FIG. 14 shows an operation flow of the label printer 30.
Since this label printer 30 is frequently used when issuing fixed amount labels continuously, this case will be described.
In FIG. 14, first, the display operation means 32 is operated to input a product call code (step 310).
Then, the control means 35 reads the registration data regarding the said goods from the goods file 33, writes it in the working area of a memory, outputs to the display operation means 32, and displays it.
Further, after inputting the current date and time from the clock with calendar 34 and storing it as the processing date and time, the expiration date is calculated by adding the expiration date to the processing date and time, and the expiration date and the processing date and time are displayed and operated. (Step 320).
Subsequently, the expiration date and the processing date / time are added to the read registration data, which is expanded into image data including a barcode, and is set in the label issuing means 31 as information to be printed on a label (step 330).
Next, when the label issuance number is input from the display operation unit 32 (step 340), the control unit 35 sets the issuance number in the counter 36.
When the label issuing key displayed on the display operation means 32 is pressed (step 350), a print command is output to the label issuing means 31 to issue one label L (step 360). Is reduced by one (step 370).
In this way, every time a label is issued, the value of the counter is decremented, and the label L is continuously issued until the value of the counter 36 becomes zero (step 360 to step 380).
Subsequently, the information printed on the label is registered in the internal memory as a production record (step 390).
FIG. 15 shows an example of the label L thus issued.
Thus, the continuously issued labels are separated one by one and attached to a container such as a lunch box or a sandwich.

The store controller 50 communicates with the headquarters server 100 to obtain registration data for all products in advance and register them in the product file 51.
Prior to operation, each device 10, 20, 30 also communicates with the headquarters server 100 to obtain registration data for all products related to the production schedule for that day and register them in the respective product files 13, 23, 33. However, instead of this, the registration data of the product may be obtained from the headquarters server 100 each time a call code for the product is input. If it does so, the merchandise file 13, 23, 33 of each apparatus will become unnecessary.

  FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of the POS register 40. The POS register 40 includes a bar code scanner 41 that reads a bar code printed on a label, and a display operation unit 42 that inputs a call code and a numerical value of a product. The customer display means 43 for displaying the read commodity price and the settlement result, the clock with calendar 44, the cash drawer 45 for storing and withdrawing cash, the receipt printer 46 for issuing the settlement receipt, and the POS controller 47 With.

FIG. 17 shows an operation flow of the POS register 40.
The store clerk first reads the barcode on the label attached to each product using the barcode scanner 41, and the read barcode information is input to the POS controller 47 (step 401).
The POS controller 47 compares the “time limit information” in the input barcode information with the current date and time input from the calendar-equipped clock 44 (step 402) to determine whether the expiration date or the expiration date has expired. Judgment is made (step 403), and if it is expired, a warning is issued to prompt the collection and exchange of the product (step 404).
If not expired, it is next determined whether or not the “in-store marking” in the barcode is a PLU code (405).

If it is a PLU code, it is sent to the store controller 50 to inquire about the price. The store controller 50 reads information such as the price of the corresponding product and the sales deadline from the received PLU code from the product file 51 and sends it back to the POS controller 40 (step 406).
The POS controller 47 that has received the price determines whether it is a normal sale or a discount sale from “information about discount” included in the barcode (step 407). If it is a normal sale, the received price is totaled (step 409). If it is discount sales, the received price is discounted (step 408), and the results are totaled (step 409).

If it is a Non-PLU code, since the bar code includes “price”, the process proceeds to step 407 without inquiring the store controller 50 for the price.
Until the total key displayed on the display operation unit 42 is operated in this way, the above processing from step 401 to step 410 is repeated. If the total key is pressed (step step 410), the total results so far are totaled. Process (step 411) and issue a receipt (step 412). Subsequently, the total processed sales data is transmitted to the store controller 50 as a sales record (413).
After registering the received sales record, the store controller 50 transmits it to the collection computer 60 in real time or periodically.
Alternatively, in response to a request from the collection computer 60, sales results are sent to the collection computer 60 in batches.
The collection computer 60 periodically sends the stored sales record to the server 100, and the server 100 rewrites the production record into the sales record based on this.

  In the above embodiment, the normal price is printed on the label and attached to the product, and is read by the POS register 40. Next, the product management process and the product whose deadline is approaching in that process A mode in which discount labels are attached to will be described.

Returning to FIG. 4, the handy terminal 600 is configured as a wireless tablet-type information terminal, and by operating various keys displayed on the screen, the handy terminal 600 communicates with the server 100 and records the production results registered in the server. In addition to sales results, sales status of various products created by the server 100 can be monitored.
Therefore, if this handy terminal 600 is carried, it is possible to grasp the sales situation of each product and perform additional production or collect unsold products in a timely manner without looking around the sales floor. You can try to maintain the freshness of the sales floor.
It should be noted that an information terminal can be connected to the backyard network 400 so as to be able to communicate with the server 100, and the sales situation of each product can be monitored from the terminal.

FIG. 18 shows, as an example of such a screen, the sales situation at 13:00 of the important product to be sold.
This screen is displayed by specifying the priority products in the meat sector, but each line graph shows the number of items displayed per hour, with the number on the vertical axis and the business hours on the horizontal axis. And cumulative sales.
In these graphs, for example, in the case of “Domestic beef”, the upper horizontal line 601 represents the “number of production plans” for the day, and the lower horizontal line 602 represents the “minimum number of displays”. The broken line 603 that rises and falls represents the “number of displays”, and the broken line 604 that rises to the right represents the “total number of sales”. Therefore, if “domestic beef steak” among the six products displayed on this screen is seen, it can be seen that the number of displays has reached the “minimum number of displays” at 13:00. If this is left unattended, sales opportunities are lost and lost, so this product is immediately subject to additional production.
In this screen, the mark 605 represents the first place with the highest sales volume on the day, the mark 606 represents the second place, and the mark 607 represents the third place. A pie chart 608 displayed at the upper left part of each graph represents the freshness value of each product, and a pie chart 609 displayed at the upper left part of the screen represents the freshness value of the whole meat sector. In addition, this freshness value represents that freshness improves, so that a numerical value is large.

Next, when the store clerk touches the “domestic beef steak” graph, a screen for additionally producing the product appears.
FIG. 19 shows an example of the screen. The bar graph 610 drawn at the left end of the line graph represents the number of production so far, and the bar graph 611 on the right side represents the number of sales by time zone. Yes. Moreover, the bar graph 612 directly below the number of visitors to the store and the number of visitors to the food department are shown by time zone. Also, the rightmost bar graph 613 represents the number of displays for each expiration date at 13:30. In this bar graph 613, the vertical axis represents the number, and the horizontal axis represents “day”.
From this graph, it can be seen that there are 8 products with a one-day allowance remaining and 4 products with a 2-day allowance. Also, looking at the number of visitors by time zone, the number of visitors at lunch time is almost converged, and next time you can expect guests at dinner time, so how many `` domestic beef steaks '' should be produced at what timing? It can be used as a judgment material.

Such a screen is also prepared for other meat, fresh fish, side dishes, and the like.
FIG. 20 shows, as an example of such a screen, the number of displays 603 and the cumulative number of sales 604 for each sushi pack product in a line graph.
From this figure, it can be seen that at 13:30, “Chirashi Sushi” and “Tai Roll” have reached the “Minimum Display Number”. However, it is important to produce this type of product so that it is not cut in small quantities, and the sales deadline is set to a short time, so the “collected product list” key 614 at the top of the screen is displayed before additional production. Manipulate. Then, as shown in FIG. 21, a list of products whose sales deadline expires is displayed. This sales deadline is a deadline decided by the store and is set shorter than the expiration date. Therefore, if these products remain unsold after 14 o'clock, they are collected and sent for discount sales.

  FIG. 22 shows the number of displays and the cumulative number of sales of each sushi pack product at 16:00 when it is additionally produced. From these graphs, “Assorted sushi”, “Chirashi sushi”, “Nigiri sushi”, and “Takimaki” products have increased in number after 14:00, so these products will be added after 14:00. You can see that it was produced.

Next, a case where a discount label is attached to the collected product will be described.
FIG. 23 shows an example of the configuration of a label printer 90 that issues a discount label. This label printer 90 inputs a label issuing means 91 that issues a discount label, a numerical value related to specification of a discount mode, a discount, and the like. Display operation unit 92, discount file 93 storing four types of print patterns under three types of discount modes, bar code scanner 94 for reading a bar code printed on a normal label, and control unit for controlling these 95 and a counter 96 in which the number of discount labels to be issued is set.
The label printer 90 is also a component of the present invention.

As the discount mode,
"% Discount" mode to reduce a certain percentage from the normal price "Yen discount" mode to reduce a certain amount from the normal price There are three types of "price after price reduction" mode to display the price after the price reduction, Four types of print patterns are prepared under the mode.
FIG. 24 exemplifies these three kinds of discount modes and four kinds of print patterns in each mode. The line (a) shows the print patterns in the “% discount” mode, and (b) The line (2) shows the print pattern in the “yen discount” mode, and the line (c) shows the print pattern in the “price after reduction” mode.

FIG. 25 shows an operation flow of the label printer 90.
First, the store clerk operates the display operation unit 92 to specify the discount mode and the print pattern for the collected goods. Then, the control means 95 reads the designated mode print pattern from the discount file 92 and stores it in the internal memory (step 901).
Next, for example, when 30 of 30% discount is input as a numerical value for discounting, the control means stores it in the internal memory (step 902).
Subsequently, when the store clerk scans the barcode attached to the collected product with the barcode scanner 94 and reads the label code (step 903), the control means 95 reads “IN” in the read 26-digit label code. The “store marking” part and the “time limit information” part are used as they are, and “new information relating to discount” is added thereto to generate a new label code. For example, when 30% discount is set, “1” is set in the “information regarding discount” (F2), and the subsequent data (DDDD) is set to “0030” to be a new label code. When the label code is generated in this way, it is developed into image data including a bar code in accordance with the set print pattern, which is set in the label issuing means 91 as print information (step 904).
Next, when the label issuance number is input from the display operation unit 92, the control unit 95 sets the number in the counter 96 (step 905).
When the label issuing key displayed on the display operation unit 92 is pressed (step 906), the control unit 95 outputs a print command to the label issuing unit 91 to issue one discount label (step 907). At the same time, the count value of the counter 96 is decremented by 1 (step 908). In this way, every time a label is issued, the discounted label is continuously issued until the value of the counter 96 becomes zero while the counter value is decremented (step 909).
Note that when the number of issued sheets is not input, the count value of the counter 96 is set to “1”, so that the process immediately ends when one label is issued.
FIG. 24 exemplifies the discount label issued in this way. This discount label is overlaid on the normal label of the collected goods. The reason for overlaying is to hide the barcode of the normal price displayed on the normal label.

  In this way, when the product with the discount label attached is brought into the checkout corner and the barcode is read by the barcode scanner 41 of the POS register 40, the POS controller 47 usually reads from the “information regarding discount” included in the barcode. Whether it is sales or discount sales (step 407), if it is discount sales, discount processing is performed based on the code of the flag (F2) (step 408), and the results are totaled (step 409).

However, if the product remains unsold after the price reduction, the product is discarded. Before that, the store clerk connects the barcode scanner to the nearest device 10, 20, 30 or the POS register 40. The label code of the product is read and transmitted to the server 100.
Then, the server 100 searches for the product from the label code, and rewrites “production or display” as the status of the product to “discard”.
The data surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 indicates the status of the product thus discarded.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a product that is discounted by connecting a label printer 90 that issues a discount label to the backyard network 400 is provided. Information on which and how many discounts may be sent to the server. Further, when the collecting computer 60 is used as a server, various kinds of information obtained by the handy terminal 600 from the information terminal of the computer 60 may be output.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Weighing packaging price device 20 Label printer with measuring device 30 Label printer 40 POS register 50 Store controller 60 Collection computer 90 Handy terminal 100 Server
P Label printer

Claims (1)

A label printer that prints and issues information on in-store marking, deadline information, and discounts on individual products on a label; a POS register that reads the label printing information from a label affixed to the product and performs a checkout process for the product; Registering the label printing information sent from the label printer as the production results of each product, and checking the registered data against the label printing information sent from the POS register to register the sold product A product management apparatus comprising: a server that identifies data and changes the status of the identified registered data to sales.