JP2014092493A - Measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measuring instrument that reduces an operation burden.SOLUTION: A measuring instrument 100 comprises: a measuring mechanism 17 that weighs a weight of a measuring tray having a container loaded; a camera 12 that captures an image of the measuring tray; an HDD20; a container identification part 37; and a base image update part 36. The HDD20 stores an image in which the container is not loaded as a measuring tray base image 23. The container identification part 37 identifies the container, using the image captured by the camera 12 and having the container loaded and the measuring tray base image 23. The update part acquires an image of a measuring tray in which the container is not loaded from the camera and updates the measuring tray base image 23.

Description

  The present invention relates to a weighing device, and more particularly to a weighing device for weighing an object to be weighed in which a product is placed in a container (tare).

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, merchandise sales are sometimes performed at grocery stores in department stores and supermarkets. When selling products, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-107957), in addition to the function of weighing products, a label indicating the price corresponding to the weight of the product is issued. A weighing device having a function to perform is used.

  In recent years, the purchase style of products has been diversified, and there is a so-called self-type purchase style in which a customer himself selects the desired container from a plurality of types of containers and puts the product into the container. In this style, since the customer himself / herself uses the weighing device, it is required to simplify the operation of the weighing device.

  For example, in the weighing device of Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-107957), an operation of pressing a key corresponding to a container to select a specific container from a plurality of types of containers on a touch screen is performed. Necessary. However, if such an operation can be omitted, the operational burden on the customer is reduced.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the weighing | measuring device which can reduce an operation burden.

  The weighing device according to the present invention is a device for weighing an object to be weighed in which a product is put in a container selected from a plurality of containers. The weighing device includes a weighing pan, a weighing unit, a camera, a storage unit, a container specifying unit, and an updating unit. The weighing pan is a member on which the container is placed. The weighing unit weighs the weighing pan. The camera takes an image of the weighing pan. The storage unit stores an image of the weighing pan on which no container is placed as a base image. A container specific | specification part specifies a container using the image and the base image which the container image | photographed with the camera was mounted. The update unit obtains an image of the weighing pan on which the container is not placed from the camera, and updates the base image.

  In this weighing device, the container is specified using the image taken by the camera, so that the operation burden on the user is reduced. In addition to the image on which the container is taken by the camera, the container is specified using a base image that is an image of a weighing pan on which the container is not placed. For this reason, even if the weighing pan is soiled or the light is reflected on a part of the black weighing pan and the white portion is reflected in the image, those adverse effects are caused by the process for identifying the container. It can be removed by using the base image. As a result, erroneous detection of the outline of the container and the like is suppressed, the accuracy of specifying the container is increased, and it is possible to prevent the user from being specified and placing an operational burden on the user.

  For the update unit, based on the measurement value of the weighing unit, the time when the container is not continuously placed on the weighing pan is obtained as the non-mounting time, and the base image is displayed when the non-loading time exceeds the threshold value. Is preferably updated. In this case, it is assumed that there is no user around the weighing device, and there is little possibility that a container or a user's hand enters the weighing pan at the moment of taking the base image.

  In addition, when the weighing pan can be detached from the weighing unit and the weighing pan can be attached to the weighing unit, the updating unit can update the base image when the weighing pan is mounted on the weighing unit. preferable. When the weighing pan is attached to the weighing unit, there is a possibility that the weighing pan has changed or the weighing pan has been washed. Therefore, it is preferable to update the base image here.

  In addition, in the case of a weighing device that further includes a so-called zero point adjustment unit that performs a zero point adjustment process to measure the weight of a weighing pan on which no container is placed and recognize the weight as zero, the update unit is When the zero point adjustment process is performed, it is preferable to cause the camera to take an image of the weighing pan and store the image in the storage unit as the updated base image. This zero point adjustment process is often performed when the weighing pan is changed or the weighing pan is washed. By updating the base image at that timing, a container identification error caused by using the old base image is performed. Can be suppressed.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the update unit determine whether or not to update the base image based on the image of the weighing pan obtained from the camera. When the update unit determines to update the base image, it is preferable to store the updated base image in the storage unit. Even if an image of the weighing pan is acquired from the camera when the base image is updated, if an image other than the weighing pan appears in the image, it should not be used as a new updated base image. In view of this, it is preferable to determine whether or not the image is suitable for the base image before the base image is stored in the storage unit. More preferably, the update unit obtains a plurality of images of the weighing pan from the camera and determines whether or not to update the base image based on the plurality of images.

  According to the present invention, since the identification of the container is performed using the image, the operation burden on the user is reduced, and the adverse effect in the identification of the container, such as a dirt on the weighing pan, is specified. This can be removed by using the base image in the process.

The external appearance perspective view of a measuring device. The side view of a weighing device. The figure which shows the state in which the server and the cash register terminal were connected to the measuring apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the weighing device. The external appearance perspective view of a weighing pan. The figure which shows the base image of a weighing pan. An example of a container image taken by a camera. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The figure which shows the base image of the weighing pan after an update. An example of the container image taken by the camera after the update. The figure which shows an example of the label issued by a label issuing mechanism. The conceptual diagram of a container information table. The figure which shows the flow of a base image update.

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

(1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is an external view of a weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the weighing device 100 viewed from the lateral direction (specifically, the right side). It is. The weighing device 100 is installed, for example, in a grocery store (specifically, a side dish corner) of a department store or a supermarket. The weighing device 100 is a self-measuring / label issuing device, and measures a product (hereinafter referred to as an object to be weighed) in which a customer is a desired container (tare) such as a favorite dish. In particular, in the weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment, the customer himself / herself performs an operation of inputting the selected container into the weighing device, regardless of which container the customer selects from among a plurality of types of containers and putting the product into the container However, it is possible to measure the weight of only the product contained in the container and to output a label indicating the price according to the measurement result. The output label is attached to the upper lid of the container by the customer.

  Here, in this embodiment, a case where the unit price of each product is the same in the sales mode in which a customer freely puts a favorite product into a container among a plurality of types of products will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the weighing device 100 mainly includes a main body 10, a weighing pan 11, and a touch panel 16 in terms of appearance. The main body 10 includes the main part of the measuring mechanism 17, the control unit 30, the HDD 20, and the like. The weighing pan 11 is disposed on the pan mounting portion 17a of the weighing mechanism 17 protruding upward from the main body portion 10. Specifically, the weighing pan 11 is detachably mounted on the tray mounting portion 17a. The touch panel 16 is supported above the main body 10 by two support columns 10 a and 10 b extending in the vertical direction on the back side of the main body 10. The touch panel 16 is provided mainly for the customer to see and operate. When the store employee performs various setting operations, the store employee sees and operates the touch panel 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the weighing device 100 is communicably connected to the store server 150 and the cash register terminals 160a, 160b,. Store server 150 has memorized various information about goods. The cashier terminals 160a, 160b,... Calculate the amount charged to the customer, calculate change for payment by the customer, and the like. .. And the store server 150 are also communicably connected. The store server 150 receives information (specifically, the price of the product, the product number, etc.) regarding the product input to the cashier terminals 160a, 160b,... And stores the information.

(2) Detailed Configuration As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the weighing apparatus 100 mainly includes a weighing pan 11, a weighing mechanism 17, a camera 12, a human sensor 13, a label issuing mechanism 14, a touch panel 16, and a speaker. 18, the store side radio | wireless part 19a, the communication part 19b, HDD20, and the control part 30 are provided. Among these components, other components except the weighing pan 11, the camera 12, the human sensor 13, the touch panel 16 and the speaker 18 are accommodated in the main body 10 in FIG. 1.

(2-1) Weighing pan The weighing pan 11 is a metal part for placing an item to be weighed after a customer puts a product such as a prepared dish in the container and put the lid on the container. As shown in FIG. 5, the weighing pan 11 has a horizontal placement part PA1 on which a container for an object to be weighed is placed, and four peripheral parts positioned around the horizontal placement part PA1. The four peripheral portions are a front peripheral portion PA2 on the front side, a left peripheral portion PA3 on the left side, a right peripheral portion PA4 on the right side, and a back peripheral portion PA5 on the back side. The horizontal placement portion PA1 has a horizontal upper surface. The front peripheral edge PA2, the left peripheral edge PA3, and the right peripheral edge PA4 have an inclination of about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA1. On the other hand, the rear peripheral edge PA5 has an inclination of about 90 ° with respect to the horizontal placement part PA1.

  In addition, in consideration of the fact that the container this time is white, black is adopted as the color of the weighing pan 11 instead of white or silver.

(2-2) Weighing mechanism When the container is placed on the weighing pan 11 on the pan mounting portion 17a, the weighing mechanism 17 measures the weight of the weighing pan. Although the detailed configuration of the measuring mechanism 17 is well known and will not be described, the measured weight value (measured value) is sent from the measuring mechanism 17 to the control unit 30.

(2-3) Camera As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera 12 is attached to a support member 12 a provided across the two columns 10 a and 10 b in the vicinity of the lower end of the touch panel 16. . The camera 12 is installed from above the weighing pan 11 so that the weighing pan 11 and the periphery thereof are an imaging region. That is, the camera 12 takes an image of the shooting area including the weighing pan 11 from above the weighing pan 11. When an image of the weighing pan 11 on which the container TR is placed is taken, the image becomes an image as shown in FIG.

(2-4) Human Sensor The human sensor 13 is attached to the support member 12a as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The human sensor 13 is provided on each of the left side and the right side of the camera 12. The human sensor 13 is installed so that the detection part faces the front side of the weighing device 100. The human sensor 13 is composed of, for example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic distance sensor, and detects the presence or absence of a customer in the space on the front side of the weighing device 100 and its neighboring space. The detection result by the human sensor 13 is used as a trigger for starting the guidance of the purchase procedure described later.

(2-5) Label issuing mechanism The label issuing mechanism 14 includes a label cassette and a plurality of sensors. The label issuing mechanism 14 prints the price of the product based on the weight of the product on a blank label fed out from the label cassette, and issues a label to be attached to the container by the customer. As the white paper used for the label, only the back side is sticky.

  FIG. 14 shows a label L1 as an example of a label issued by the label issuing mechanism 14. The label L1 in FIG. 14 is printed with an expiration date L2, a unit price L3 per 100 g of the product, a net amount L4 which is the weight of the product, a price L5 corresponding to the weight of the product, and a barcode L6 representing the price L5. .

  Examples of the sensor include a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of blank paper rolls contained in the label cassette, a sensor for detecting that the issued label is taken by the customer, and the like.

(2-6) Touch Panel The touch panel 16 displays various screens for customers. In particular, when the human sensor 13 detects the presence of the customer because the customer approaches the weighing device 100, the touch panel 16 is a screen sc1 which is one of the purchase procedure guidance screens (see FIG. 8). Start displaying. After the screen sc1 is displayed, the touch panel 16 subsequently displays screens sc2 and sc3 which are other screens for purchasing procedure guidance.

Here, the purchase procedure referred to in the present embodiment includes an issuing operation for causing the label issuing mechanism 14 to issue a label and an attaching operation in which the customer attaches the label to the container. More specifically, the purchase procedure includes the following three procedures.
Procedure 1: The customer is prompted to place the object to be weighed on the horizontal placement part PA1 of the weighing pan 11 (screen sc1 in FIG. 8).
Procedure 2: The customer is prompted to press the issue button sc2c on the screen sc2 displayed on the touch panel 16 in order to issue a label including a price corresponding to the weight of the product (screen sc2 in FIG. 9).
Procedure 3: The customer is prompted to attach the label issued by pressing the issue button sc2c (or the SC2a may be pressed) to the container of the object to be weighed (screen sc3 in FIG. 10).

  As shown in steps 1 to 3 above, the basic purchase procedure according to the present embodiment does not basically include a procedure for the customer to input which container the customer has selected. This is because when the object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 11 by the customer, the size of the container of the object to be weighed is detected by the camera 12 and the container specifying unit 37 of the control unit 30, and which container is used. This is because it is automatically identified.

  On the other hand, even when the camera 12 is used, the container cannot be specified when the size of the container of the object to be weighed cannot be detected or because the detected container size applies to two or more types of containers. In such a case, the screen sc4 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the touch panel 16 between the procedure 1 and the procedure 2. The screen sc4 is a screen in which the customer himself / herself inputs the container selected by the customer.

  Here, information included in the various screens sc1 to sc4 will be briefly described. On the screen sc1, the weight of the container sc1a, the weight of the object to be weighed (or the weight of the product itself) sc1b, the unit price sc1c per 100 g of the product, the price of the product sc1d, and the object to be weighed are placed on the weighing pan 11 A message sc1e indicating that the measurement is to be performed and a moving image sc1f for placing an object to be weighed on the weighing pan 11 are included. Here, a still image or an animation image may be used instead of the moving image sc1f. The screen sc1 is displayed on the touch panel 16 from when the customer approaches the weighing device 100 until the object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 11 or for a predetermined time after the customer approaches the weighing device 100. You can continue. The container weight sc1a, the weight sc1b of the object to be weighed, the unit price sc1c per 100 g of the product, and the price sc1d of the product are information displayed in common on the other screens sc2 to sc4.

  The screen sc2 includes a container name sc2b, an issue button sc2c, and a return button sc2d in addition to a message sc2a that prompts the user to press the issue button sc2c. When the return button sc2d is pressed, the screen sc1 is displayed again on the touch panel 16.

  The screen sc3 includes a message sc3a that prompts the user to attach the issued label to the container, and a moving image sc3b that attaches the label to the container while the object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 11. This screen sc3 is displayed while at least one of the label and the object to be weighed (container) remains on the weighing pan, until the customer moves away from the weighing device 100, or for a predetermined time after the screen sc3 is displayed. The display continues on the touch panel 16.

  The screen sc4 includes various information sc4b, sc4c, sc4d, and sc4e related to selectable containers, in addition to a message sc4a that prompts the customer to select a container selected by the customer. Various information sc4b to sc4e related to the container is displayed so that any one can be selected. This screen sc4 continues to be displayed on the touch panel 16 until the customer selects any one of the various pieces of information sc4b to sc4e regarding the container, or for a predetermined time after the screen sc4 is displayed.

  In addition, when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the various screens sc1 to sc4 are displayed and the customer is not in the vicinity of the weighing device 100, it is determined that the customer has left the purchase procedure in the middle. Even when the guidance is in progress, the touch panel 16 ends the display of the various screens sc1 to sc4.

  If the screen sc3 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed but the issued label remains without being removed, when the next object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 11 in that state, it has already been issued. The weighing device 100 is in a standby state until the existing label is removed. When the issued label is removed, the next object to be weighed is automatically detected, and the screen sc2 is displayed, so that the next label can be issued.

(2-7) Speaker Similarly to the camera 12 and the human sensor 13, the speaker 18 is built in the support member 12a shown in FIGS. The speaker 18 outputs various information for customers by voice. In particular, when the customer approaches the weighing device 100 and the presence sensor 13 detects the presence of the customer, the speaker 18 displays various screens in conjunction with the various screens sc1 to sc4 displayed on the touch panel 16. Messages sc1e, sc2a, sc3a, and sc4a on sc1 to sc4 are output by voice. For example, the speaker 18 outputs a message sc1e when the screen sc1 is displayed on the touch panel 16 and a message sc2a when the screen sc2 is displayed.

(2-8) Store-side wireless unit The store-side wireless unit 19a is for performing wireless communication with a mobile terminal (not shown) possessed by a store employee.

  When the human sensor 13 continuously detects the presence of the customer for a predetermined time or longer, the store-side wireless unit 19a notifies the store employee's mobile terminal of that fact. In this case, since the customer has continued for a relatively long time near the weighing device 100, it can be determined that the customer is confused for some reason. Therefore, the store employee who has been informed of the content in the vicinity of the weighing device 100 for a predetermined time or longer can rush to the customer and provide a better service to the customer.

  In addition, the store-side radio unit 19a stores the contents when the remaining amount of the blank paper roll in the label issuing mechanism 14 is less than a predetermined amount or when the number of unused containers is less than the predetermined number. You may transmit to the portable terminal which an employee has.

(2-9) Communication Unit The communication unit 19b can communicate with the store server 150 and the cash register terminals 160a, 160b,... Shown in FIG. Especially the communication part 19b which concerns on this embodiment transmits the information regarding the label which the label issuing mechanism 14 issued to the shop server 150 and cash register terminal 160a, 160b, .... Examples of the information on the label include the price of the product described on the label (L5 in FIG. 14), the time when the label is issued, and the like.

(2-10) HDD
The HDD 20 mainly stores a container information table 22, a weighing pan base image 23, and zero point weight data 24.

  The container information table 22 is a table used for container specific operation described later and for calculating the weight of the product itself described later. In the container information table 22, as shown in FIG. 15, a tare name (container name) 22a, size-related information 22b, and a tare weight (container weight) 22c are associated with each other. The size-related information 22b includes the size of the container as well as the shape of the container when viewed from above.

  Note that the size of the container is shown to have a predetermined width as shown in FIG. The predetermined width is given in consideration of the detection error of the camera 12 that automatically detects the size of the container.

  The weighing dish base image 23 is an image of a weighing dish on which no container is placed, and is an image as shown in FIG. The weighing pan base image 23 is first acquired from the camera 12 by an image acquisition unit 35 (to be described later) in the initial setting and stored in the HDD when the weighing apparatus 100 starts to be used. Further, the weighing dish base image 23 is frequently updated by a base image update unit 36 described later.

  The zero point weight data 24 is weight data when a zero point adjustment unit 33 described later remeasures the weight of the weighing pan 11 on which no container is placed. This zero point weight data 24 is also updated every time the zero point is adjusted.

(2-11) Control Unit The control unit 30 is a microcomputer configured with a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and is connected to various components that configure the weighing device 100. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the weighing device 100. The CPU controls the weighing device 100 based on a control program stored in the ROM. The RAM functions as a so-called work memory when the CPU executes a control program stored in the ROM.

  In particular, the control unit 30 according to the present embodiment performs container specific operation, product price calculation operation, guidance control of purchase procedure based on the detection result of the human sensor 13, and the like. In order to realize such an operation, the control unit 30, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a weight determination unit 31, a zero point adjustment unit 33, an image acquisition unit 35, a base image update unit 36, a container identification unit 37, label information. It functions as the generation unit 38 and the notification control unit 39.

  In the following, for convenience of explanation, the main body of the operation performed by the control unit 30 is assumed to be performed by each functional unit of the control unit 30, and the name of each functional unit (specifically, the weight determination unit 31 or the like). Let's express.

(2-11-1) Weight Determination Unit The weight determination unit 31 monitors the measurement value (weight value) sent from the measurement mechanism 17 and stabilizes the measurement value after the container is placed on the weighing pan 11. By the way, the measurement value is determined to determine the weight of the product.

  After determining the measurement value, the weight determination unit 31 extracts information on the container specified by the container specifying unit 37 described later from the container information table 22 and extracts the weight of the container. If the container is “container b”, the weight determination unit 31 extracts “9 g” as the container weight. Next, the weight determination unit 31 calculates the weight of the product by subtracting the extracted weight of the container from the measured value of the object to be weighed by the weighing pan 11. That is, since the weight value of the object to be weighed includes not only the weight of the product but also the weight of the container in which the product is placed, the weight determination unit 31 uses the weight of the extracted container, The weight of the product itself is determined. For example, when the weight value of the object to be weighed in the “container b” is 600 g, the weight of the product itself is 591 g (600 g−9 g = 591 g). Further, the weight determination unit 31 calculates the price of the product by multiplying the weight of the product itself by the unit price of the product. The weight of the container used to calculate the weight of the product itself, the weight of the object to be weighed or the weight of the product, the unit price of the product, and the calculated price of the product itself are displayed on the touch panel 16 although illustration is omitted. .

(2-11-2) Zero point adjustment unit When a manual zero point adjustment operation is performed or when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the zero point adjustment unit 33 measures the weight of the weighing pan 11, A correction value (zero point weight data 24) for replacing the weight value when the object to be weighed is not placed with zero is obtained. The zero point weight data 24 is used when the weight of the product is calculated by the weight determination unit, and is stored in the HDD 20 and also in the RAM. The zero point adjustment process is normally performed in a state where nothing is placed on the weighing pan 11.

(2-11-3) Image Acquisition Unit The image acquisition unit 35 acquires an image of the camera 12 in response to a command from a base image update unit 36 described later. Further, the image of the camera 12 is overwritten on the HDD 20 as the weighing pan base image 23 in response to a command from the base image update unit 36.

(2-11-4) Base Image Update Unit The base image update unit 36 obtains an image of the weighing pan 11 on which no container is placed from the camera via the image acquisition unit 35, and updates the weighing pan base image 23. . Hereinafter, the update of the weighing pan base image 23 will be described based on the flow shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the weighing pan 11 is mounted on the tray mounting portion 17 a of the weighing mechanism 17. If YES in step S1, the process proceeds to step S4, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, it is determined whether it is immediately after the zero point adjustment process. If YES in step S2, the process proceeds to step S4, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the non-mounting time of the container has exceeded the upper limit threshold value. The non-mounting time of the container is a continuation time in a state where an object to be weighed is not placed on the weighing pan 11, and is always counted by monitoring a measured value detected by the weighing mechanism 17. If the non-mounting time of the container exceeds, for example, 40 seconds which is the upper limit threshold, the determination in step S3 is YES and the process proceeds to step S4. If judgment of step S3 is NO, it will return to step S1 again.

  In step S <b> 4, a plurality of images of the camera 12 are acquired via the image acquisition unit 35. For example, several images are acquired in 0.5 seconds. In step S5, it is confirmed that there is no significant difference between the plurality of images. If the determination in step S5 is YES, the process moves to step S6, and the acquired image is stored (overwritten) in the HDD 20 as the weighing pan base image 23 via the image acquisition unit 35. On the other hand, if a situation occurs in which a container or a human hand enters the weighing pan 11 when acquiring a plurality of images and the determination in step S5 is NO, the non-mounting time of the container is reset in step S7, and again Return to step S1.

(2-11-5) Container Identification Unit The container identification unit 37 identifies the container selected by the customer using the image of the object to be weighed including the container taken by the camera 12 and the weighing dish base image 23. When the weighing pan base image 23 is the image IMb shown in FIG. 6 and the container image taken by the camera 12 is the image IM shown in FIG. Since there is no illumination reflection portion, the outline of the container TR is extracted based only on the image IM shown in FIG. 7, and the container is specified from the image processing. In addition, although the background SU is reflected on the outside of the container TR in both the image IMb shown in FIG. 6 and the image IM shown in FIG. 7, the weighing dish so that the container TR fits inside the weighing dish 11 on the image. Since the size and shape of 11 are determined, container contour extraction and specific processing are performed satisfactorily.

  On the other hand, when the weighing pan base image 23 is the image IMb1 shown in FIG. 12 and the image of the container taken by the camera 12 is the image IM1 shown in FIG. 13, it stands out in the weighing pan 11 portion of the weighing pan base image 23. The illumination reflection part RL is shown. In this case, if image analysis is performed only with the image IM1 shown in FIG. 13, it is difficult to extract the contour of the container TR, and the container may not be specified. Therefore, when such a dirt or illumination reflection part RL is present in the weighing dish base image 23, a process of removing the illumination reflection part RL recognized in the weighing dish base image 23 from the image IM1 shown in FIG. First done. By this illumination reflection portion removal processing, an image from which the illumination reflection portion RL is removed as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained from the image IM1 shown in FIG. Using this image, the container specifying unit 37 finally specifies the container.

  Recognizing the outline and size of the container from the image, the container specifying unit 37 applies the result to “size related information 22b” in the container information table 22 of FIG. 15, and specifies the container selected by the customer. For example, if the detection result by the camera 12 is “circular” and “diameter is 140 mm”, the container specifying unit 37 specifies that the container selected by the customer is “container b”.

(2-11-6) Label information generation unit The label information generation unit 38 generates information written on the label by the label issuing mechanism 14. That is, the label information generation unit 38, like the label L1 shown in FIG. 14, the expiry date L2, the unit price L3 of the product, the net amount L4 that is the weight of the product itself calculated by the weight determination unit 31, and the price L5 of the product , And a bar code L6 representing the price.

(2-11-7) Notification Control Unit The notification control unit 39 performs generation of information notified on the touch panel 16 and the speaker 18, display control, and audio output control. In particular, the notification control unit 39 performs audio output control of the speaker 18 according to the detection result of the human sensor 13.

(3) Features (3-1)
In the weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment, the container specifying unit 37 uses the image taken by the camera 12 to specify the container, so that the operation burden on the customer (the user of the weighing device 100) is reduced. Further, in addition to the image on which the container taken by the camera 12 is placed, the container is specified using a weighing pan base image 23 which is an image of the weighing pan 11 on which no container is placed. For this reason, even when the weighing pan 11 is dirty, or when the illumination is reflected on a part of the black weighing pan 11 and a white portion (see the illumination reflection portion RL in FIG. 13) is reflected in the image, These adverse effects can be eliminated by using the weighing pan base image 23 in the process for identifying the container. As a result, erroneous detection of the outline of the container and the like is suppressed, the accuracy of specifying the container is increased, and it is suppressed that the container cannot be specified and an operation burden is imposed on the customer.

(3-2)
In the weighing device 100, based on the measurement value of the weighing mechanism 17, the time when the container is not continuously placed on the weighing pan 11 is obtained as the non-loading time, and the weighing is performed when the non-loading time exceeds the upper limit threshold. The dish base image 23 is updated (see steps S3 to S6 in FIG. 16). This is because if the container has not been placed on the weighing pan 11 for a long time, there is no customer around the weighing device 100, and the container enters the weighing pan 11 at the moment of taking an image for updating. This is because there is a small possibility that a customer's hand will come in.

(3-3)
In the weighing device 100, the weighing pan base image 23 is updated when the weighing pan 11 is mounted on the tray mounting portion 17a of the weighing mechanism 17 (see steps S1, S4 to S6 in FIG. 16). When the weighing pan 11 is attached, there is a high possibility that the weighing pan 11 has changed or the weighing pan 11 has been washed. Therefore, the weighing pan base image 23 is updated, and the container specifying unit 37 thereafter. By trying to increase the specific accuracy of the container.

(3-4)
In the weighing apparatus 100, when the zero point adjustment processing is performed, the camera 12 takes an image of the weighing pan 11, and the image is stored in the HDD 20 as the updated weighing pan base image 23 (see FIG. 16). Steps S2, S4 to S6). The zero-point adjustment process is often performed when the weighing pan 11 is changed or the weighing pan 11 is washed. By updating the weighing pan base image 23 at that timing, the old weighing pan base image 23 is deleted. The specific mistake of the container by using can be suppressed.

(3-5)
The weighing apparatus 100 determines whether or not to update the weighing dish base image 23 based on the image of the weighing dish 11 obtained from the camera 12 (see step S5 in FIG. 16). Then, when it is determined that the weighing pan base image 23 is to be updated, the base image update unit 36 stores the updated weighing pan base image 23 in the HDD 20 (see step S6 in FIG. 16). This is because, even when the weighing pan base image 23 is updated, even if an image of the weighing pan 11 is acquired from the camera 12, if something other than the weighing pan 11 is shown in the image, it is updated after the update. This is because the weighing pan base image 23 should not be used. In view of this, the base image update unit 36 obtains a plurality of images of the weighing pan 11 from the camera 12 and determines whether or not to update the weighing pan base image 23 based on the plurality of images. Yes.

<Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention. For example, the following modifications can be considered.

(1) Modification A
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the unit prices of a plurality of products are the same has been described. However, the unit price of each product may be different. In this case, the touch panel 16 displays a screen for a customer to directly input a product to the weighing device 100.

(2) Modification B
In the embodiment described above, the case where the customer detects the presence or absence of the customer in the vicinity of the weighing device 100 by the human sensor 13 has been described. However, the presence / absence of the customer may be detected by imaging with a camera instead of the human sensor 13.

11 Weighing pan 12 Camera 17 Weighing mechanism (weighing unit)
20 HDD (storage unit)
23 Weighing pan base image (base image)
33 Zero point adjustment unit 36 Base image update unit (update unit)
37 Container identification unit 100 Weighing device

JP 2007-107957 A

Claims (6)

A weighing device for weighing an object to be weighed in a container selected from a plurality of containers,
A weighing pan on which the container is placed;
A weighing unit for weighing the weighing pan;
A camera for taking an image of the weighing pan;
A storage unit for storing an image of the weighing pan on which the container is not placed as a base image;
A container identifying unit that identifies the container using an image of the container taken by the camera and the base image; and
An update unit that obtains an image of the weighing pan on which the container is not placed from the camera, and updates the base image;
Weighing device equipped with. Based on the measurement value of the weighing unit, the update unit obtains a time when the container is not continuously placed on the weighing pan as a non-mounting time, and when the non-loading time exceeds a threshold, Updating the base image;
The weighing device according to claim 1. The weighing pan can be detached from the weighing unit and attached to the weighing unit,
The update unit updates the base image when the weighing pan is attached to the weighing unit.
The weighing device according to claim 1 or 2. Further comprising a zero point adjustment unit for performing a zero point adjustment process for measuring the weight of the weighing pan on which the container is not placed and recognizing the weight as zero;
When the zero point adjustment process is performed, the update unit causes the camera to take an image of the weighing pan, and stores the image as an updated base image in the storage unit.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The update unit determines whether or not to update the base image based on the image of the weighing pan obtained from the camera, and determines that the base image is to be updated. Storing an image in the storage unit;
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The update unit obtains a plurality of images of the weighing pan from the camera, and determines whether or not to update the base image based on the plurality of images.
The weighing device according to claim 5.

Images