JP2630256B2 - Label printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer for printing a label to be attached to a product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a label printer worker has issued a label for each type of product and affixed the label to the product as follows. The operator inputs a product number consisting of 3 to 4 digits using a numeric keypad or the like from the operation unit of the label printer, and subsequently presses a product number key to input the product number to the label printer. Complete the input. Next, the label printer calls up the corresponding product data from the pre-registered product file area based on the input product number, sets it in the work area, and then displays the product name and unit price data on the display unit. To be displayed. When an operator places a product on the weighing pan, the label printer automatically starts weighing. When the weighing is completed, the label printer calculates the price of the product obtained by multiplying the weighing value and the unit price, sends the product data and the like set in the work area to the printing unit together with the price, and prints the product data. And issue a label. The operator attaches the issued label to a predetermined position of the product. Steps (1) to (4) are repeated for the same kind of product. When the operation on the product is completed, the same operation is repeated for another product.

[0003]

By the way, when a conventional label printer is used, for example, an operator determines that all labels of a certain type of product (for example, product A) have been printed. It is assumed that the user inputs the product number of another type of product (for example, product B), calls that product data, and attempts to print a label. Here, it is assumed that the worker has noticed that the last product (product A) for which label printing has not yet been completed remains.
In this case, the operator inputs the product number of the product A again, then prints the label of the product A, and then again inputs the product number of the product B.
The label of the product B must be printed.

[0004] That is, in the conventional label printer, if it is necessary to recall the product data of the product due to forgetting to print on the product on which the work has been performed before, etc. Even if the product was being worked on, the product number had to be re-entered. Therefore, there is a problem that the operator feels such a double input operation of the product number very troublesome.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a label printer which can reduce the troublesomeness caused by a double input operation of a product number.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A plurality of product data such as a product number, a product name, and a product unit price are stored in advance, and one product data is called out from the stored plurality of product data, or the product data is input to the work area. In a label printer, comprising: first setting means for setting, and printing means for printing on a label based on the product data set in the work area, the label printer includes: A call record buffer for storing a part or all of the product data set in the work area; a previous call operation means; and the product data stored in the call record buffer in response to the operation of the previous call operation means. And second setting means for setting one product data based on a part or the whole of the product area in the work area. It is a printer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of merchandise data such as a merchandise number, a merchandise name, and a merchandise unit price are stored in advance, and one of the stored plurality of merchandise data is called, or A label printer comprising: first setting means for inputting product data and setting the work area; and printing means for printing on a label based on the product data set in the work area. A call record buffer for storing a plurality or a part of the product data set in the area in accordance with the set order, a previous call operation means, and a call record buffer for storing the last call operation means in response to the operation of the previous call operation means. And selecting one of the plurality of data stored in the work area and setting one product data based on the selected data in the work area. A setting unit, a label printer, characterized in that a.

[0008]

In the label printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the product data which has been called in the past is recorded in the call recording buffer, so that the previous call can be made without inputting the product number again. By operating the operation means, the data stored in the call recording buffer can be called, and a label can be printed based on the target product data. Therefore, double entry of the same product number can be avoided.

In the label printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, the call recording buffer stores a plurality of merchandise data which have been called in the past according to the calling order, so that the previous call operation means is operated. As a result, it is possible to select and call one of a plurality of items of product data for which a calling operation has been performed recently. Thereby, it is possible to improve the trouble of double inputting the product number when recalling the product data.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a weighing unit, which is composed of a plate-shaped weighing dish and a load cell as shown in FIG. 2, and which is provided on a main body 3 (see FIG. 2) with a weight signal for the weight of the article. The data is supplied to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 via a bus 9.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a printing unit, which is a bus 9 from the CPU 10.
Based on a print signal supplied via the printer, arbitrary printing of characters, symbols, bar codes, and the like is performed by thermal dot printing on a label attached to a band-shaped backing paper.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit, as shown in FIG. 3, a message area 5-1, a weight display area 5-2, a price display area 5-3, a part number display area 5-4, and a tare amount display area 5-5. , A unit price display area 5-6, a pack number display area 5-7, a date display area 5-8, etc., each of which is formed by a liquid crystal dot display, and supplied from the CPU 10 via the bus 9. Any display of numbers, characters, symbols, etc. is performed by the display signal.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an operation unit, as shown in FIG.
A flat keyboard section 6-1 comprising function keys such as a numeric keypad 6-1a, a product number key 6-1b, and a previous call key 6-1c, and key switches 6-2, 6 for switching the operation mode of the label printer. -3, and its output signal is supplied to the CPU 10 via the bus 9.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 20 stores a control program for the CPU 10 and data such as various character patterns.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a RAM (random access memory)
As shown in FIG. 4A, a flag register area 34, which is an area for flags and registers required for various operations of the CPU 10, and a product data buffer provided for storing one item of product data. 35 and product number data as 1
Product number buffer 36 provided to store data
And a call recording buffer 32, and a product file area 33 provided in advance for storing a plurality of product data. In this product file area 33, FIG.
As shown in (b), the name, unit price,
A plurality of product data including each element data such as a tare is stored. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the call recording buffer 32 is divided into N stages of areas, and stores one item of product number data in each stage. The product data buffer 35 and the product number buffer 36 are included in an area called a work area.

The label outlet 7 shown in FIG.
A reflective label sensor 7a is attached to detect whether or not the printed label has been taken out.

Next, the operation of the label printer having the above configuration will be described. First, after the power of the label printer is turned on, when the key switch 6-2 shown in FIG. 3 is set to the setting mode, the product file area 33 shown in FIGS.
Then, it becomes possible to write product data such as a product number, a name, and a unit price. The writing of the product data is performed using various keys provided on the operation unit 6 shown in FIG. Now, for example, it is assumed that a plurality of pieces of product data including two product data corresponding to product numbers “0100” and “0120” have been written in the product file area 33 as shown in FIG.

Next, when the key switch 6-2 is switched to the registration mode, an arbitrary item data is called from the item file area 33, and a label can be printed based on the called item data. Registration mode is set. Hereinafter, the CPU in the registration mode
The operation of each unit under the control of 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When set to the registration mode, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not a product number has been input. The product number is entered and the judgment result is "YE
If "S", the process proceeds to step S2, while the determination result is "N".
If "O", the process proceeds to step S7. The product number is input by inputting a four-digit number using the numeric keypad 6-1a and the subsequent product number key 6-1b. The input product number is stored in the product number buffer 36. . Now
For example, if the numeric keypad 6-1a is pressed as "0", "1", "0", "0", and subsequently the "article number" key 6-1b is pressed and the product number "0100" is input, The merchandise number “0100” is stored in the merchandise number buffer 36, and in this case, the determination result is “YES”, so that the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, in this example, product data such as name data "beef thigh" and unit price data "300" corresponding to the product number "0100" is read from the product file area 33, and The data is written to the data buffer 35. The display unit 5 displays the product number, name data, unit price data, and the like, respectively, in a product number display area 5-4,
It is displayed in message display area 5-1 and unit price display area 5-6.

Next, when the operation proceeds to step S3, the contents stored in each of the N stages of call recording buffers 32 shown in FIG. 4C are shifted upward by one stage. That is,
The product number data stored in the (n-1) th stage is shifted to the nth stage in order from the (N-1) th stage.
The product number data in the first row is moved to the second row, and shifts in all the rows are completed. The product number data stored in the N-th row is overwritten and deleted by the product number data stored in the (N-1) -th row. Next, the product number data stored in the product number buffer 36 is 1
It is written in the column. Here, after the shift of each stage is completed, the product number “0100” is written in the first stage of the call recording buffer 32.

Next, the process proceeds to step S4. Here, for example, assuming that the operator places a product (“beef leg meat”) on a weighing dish provided in the weighing unit 1, the weighing unit starts weighing the product. When the weighing is completed, the CPU 10 sets the product data stored in the product data buffer 35,
The price of the product is calculated based on the unit price data “300” and the measurement result, and the calculation result is displayed in the price display area 5-3. The weighing result is displayed in the weight display area 5-2.

Next, the process proceeds to step S5. Step S5
Then, the merchandise data stored in the merchandise data buffer 35 and the data such as the weighing result and the price of the merchandise obtained in step S4 are sent to the printing unit 4 and printed on the label, and the label is issued. Then, the worker attaches the printed label to the product.

Next, the process proceeds to step S6. Step S6
Then, it is determined whether or not the weighing of the product having the product number has been completed. That is, depending on the operator, the part number key
If 6-1b is operated and a new product number is input, or if the previous call key 6-1c is operated, the result of the determination in step S6 is "YES" and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, when the weighing object is placed on the weighing pan by the operator, the determination result in step S6 is “NO”, and the process returns to step S4. Here, assuming that the operator places another package of the same product "beef thigh meat" on the weighing dish, the process returns to step S4, and the processes of step S4, step S5, and step S6 are executed again.

On the other hand, when the operator determines that all the operations on the product have been completed, the operator inputs the product number of the next product. Here, the operator operates the numeric keypad 6-1a of the operation unit 6.
To enter "0120" (product name "pork loin meat"), and then press the part number key 6-1b. in this case,
Returning to step S1, the result of determination in step S1 is
It becomes "YES" and proceeds to step S2. Thereafter, as in the case described above, the processing of steps S2 to S5 is performed.
At this time, in step S3, the storage content of each row of the call recording buffer 32 is shifted upward by one row, and then the product number “0120” is stored in the first row, and The product number “0100” called last time is written.

Next, the process proceeds to step S6. Step S6
It is assumed that the operator determines that all the operations on the same product (“pork loin meat”) have been completed, and inputs, for example, the product number “0090” of the next product. in this case,
Since this is the same as the case described above, the process returns to step S1, the result of the determination in step S1 is "YES", the process proceeds to step S2, and the processes in steps S2 to S6 are performed thereafter. In this case, in step S3, after the shift of each stage of the call recording buffer 32 is executed, FIG.
As shown in the figure, “0090” is in the first row and “0” is in the second row.
120 ", and" 0100 "is written in the third row.

Next, it is assumed that the worker has noticed that there is a product for which it has been determined that all the weighing has already been completed, to which a label has not yet been applied. At this time, by pressing the previous call key 6-1c a predetermined number of times, the operator can recall the product data that has been called before. This last call key 6-
The number of times 1c is pressed is, for example, once for a product that has been working the previous time, twice for a product that has been working twice before, and so on. It increases every time. Here, temporarily, the worker,
“Beef thigh meat” (product number “010”
Suppose that the call key 6-1c was previously pressed twice to call "0").

When the previous call key 6-1c is pressed, the result of the determination in step S6 is "YES", and the process returns to step S1. Since the result of the determination in step S1 is "NO", the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the previous call key 6-1c was pressed. If the result of the determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step S8, while if the result of the determination is "NO", the flow returns to step S1. Here, the determination result is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step S8.

Next, at step S8, the previous call key 6-
Call recording buffer 32 according to the number n of times 1c is pressed
The product number stored in the (n + 1) -th stage is called and written into the product number buffer 36. Here, since the previous call key 6-1c was pressed twice, the product number data “0100” stored in the third row of the call recording buffer 32 shown in FIG. Buffer 36
Is written to.

The number of times the previous call key 6-1c was pressed in step S8 is detected, for example, by using the last call key 6-1c.
It can be performed by counting the number of times 6-1c is repeatedly pressed until a predetermined time elapses after the first press. Next, the process proceeds to step S2.
Thereafter, steps S2 to S5 are performed in the same manner as described above.
Is performed.

In this case, as described above, the worker
The product data of the product "beef peach meat" which has been operated two times before can be called by pressing the call key 6-1c twice last time without re-entering the product number.

In the above embodiment, the last call key 6-1c
The number of times the key has been pressed determines in which order the product number stored in the call recording buffer 32 is read out. However, N number of call keys are provided last time, and the corresponding product number data is stored in N. It is also possible to call from the call recording buffer 32 of the stage. In this case, although the number of necessary previous call keys increases, a target product number can be selected from a plurality of product numbers called in the past by a key operation with a small number of times.

A touch panel is provided on the display unit 5,
It is also possible to display data corresponding to the contents stored in the call recording buffer 32 as described above on the touch panel portion, and use the portion where the data on the touch panel is displayed as the previous call key. In this case, the operability of the previous call key can be improved. Also, a screen such as a CRT (Car Sword Ray Tube) is provided on the display unit 5, a message indicating the previous call is displayed on the screen, and the portion is designated by a cursor or the like, so that the call record buffer 32 can be used. The data call may be executed, that is, the operation means for instructing the execution of the call is not limited to directly operating the previous call key.

Also, once the merchandise number data stored in the call recording buffer 32 is recalled by the previous operation of the call key 6-1c, the merchandise data of the merchandise data is stored. Call storage buffer 32
It is also possible to prohibit rewriting to the. By doing so, the contents of the call recording buffer 32 do not change by the operation of the previous call key 6-1c. For example, each time the previous call key 6-1c is pressed once,
.., N, 1, 2 for the number of stages for calling the product number data in the call recording buffer 32.
… ”, The last call key 6-
By the operation of 1c, it becomes possible to confirm the stored contents of each stage.

The call recording buffer of the above embodiment
32, as shown in FIG.
It can be replaced with a call recording buffer 32a having a storage area for the product number data of the row. When the call record buffer 32a is used and the last call key 6-1c is operated, the product number data stored in the second row of the call record buffer 32a is always read. The effect of the previous call key 6-1c of the present invention can be obtained while minimizing the storage area required for the key. Further, when the product data is called, the data of the work area may be recorded in the call recording buffer, and then the new product data may be written in the work area.
It's just a step.

In the above embodiment, the call record buffer 32 stores the product number data, that is, a part of the product data. However, the entirety of the product data may be stored. In this case, for example, work on the same product was previously performed twice, and at that time, some product data such as unit prices were changed and set each time. In such a case, by the key operation of the previous call key, two types of product data, some of which are different from each other, even if those product numbers are the same,
It can be called again as it is. Further, data having the same content as that of the work area may be set directly in the call recording buffer 32 from the product file area 33, for example. In addition, when a quick product is interrupted while working on a large number of products, the operation can be easily restored by using the previous call key.

Although the above-described embodiment of the present invention is a label printer with a weighing machine, the present invention provides a label printer without a weighing machine, a label printer with a function of storing a plurality of product data in advance, and an automatic label sticker. The present invention can also be applied to a mounting device, a packaging machine, an electronic balance, and the like.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the product data that has been called in the past can be recalled without inputting the product number again. By operating the operation means, it is possible to print a label based on the target product data. Therefore, double entry of the same product number can be avoided.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the commodity number is not input again, by operating the previous call operation means, one of the plurality of commodity data for which the call operation has been performed is selected. Since the merchandise data can be selected and called, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the same merchandise number again for the merchandise data that has been called recently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of a display unit and an operation unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a RAM 30;
(B) is the configuration of the product file area 33, (c) is the configuration of the call recording buffer 32, and (d) is the entire configuration of the RAM 30.
An example of the operation state of the call recording buffer 32, (e) shows the configuration of the call recording buffer 32a according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the label printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Print section, 5 Display section, 6 Operation section, 10 C
PU, 20 ROM, 30 RAM, 6-1c Previous key, 32, 32a Call recording buffer, 33 Product file area, 35 Product data buffer, 36 Product number buffer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of product data such as a product number, a product name, and a product unit price are stored in advance, and one product data is called out of the stored plurality of product data, or
A label printer comprising: first setting means for inputting product data and setting the work area; and printing means for printing on a label based on the product data set in the work area. A call record buffer that stores a part or all of the product data already set in the work area before setting the work area, a previous call operation means, and in response to the operation of the last call operation means, A second setting means for setting, in the work area, one product data based on a part or all of the product data stored in the call recording buffer. 2. A plurality of product data such as a product number, a product name, and a product unit price are stored in advance, and one product data is called out of the stored plurality of product data, or
A label printer comprising: first setting means for inputting product data and setting the work area; and printing means for printing on a label based on the product data set in the work area. A call record buffer for storing a plurality or a part of all of the product data set in the call record buffer in accordance with the set order; a previous call operation means; and a call record buffer in response to the operation of the last call operation means. And third setting means for selecting one of the plurality of stored data and setting one product data based on the selected data in the work area. Label printer.