JP3491537B2 - Label printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer, and more particularly to a label printer having a plurality of printing units for issuing different types of labels. 2. Description of the Related Art For example, a perishable food product sold in a supermarket is attached with a price label on which the product name, unit price, net amount, price, etc. are printed. In addition to the label, it has a layout that is relatively free to attract attention, such as promotional characters and illustrations such as "advertisement goods" and "bargain products", or discount prices for discounted products, and 2 If it is cheaper to buy a pack, part 2
In many cases, a yellow or red label called a so-called pop label for sales promotion in which a discount price for a pack or the like is largely displayed is separately attached. [0003] In this case, these priced labels (normal labels) and pop labels (temporary labels) are conventionally
JP-A-63-294339 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-585
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H10-209, each is separately issued using a label printer having two printing mechanisms (printing units). That is, when only normal data such as a product name and a normal price is displayed on a product, a normal label is issued using only one of the printing sections, while temporary data such as promotional characters and discount prices are displayed. When the label is also displayed on the product, the temporary label is also issued together with the normal label by using the other printing unit. [0005] However, since the normal label and the temporary label are separately printed and issued as described above, the label must be attached twice when attaching the label to the product. There was a problem that it was troublesome. In the case where the temporary label displays a discount price, it is better to stick the temporary label as close as possible to the normal label on which the normal price is displayed. In some cases, printed characters cannot be read because they overlap each other. Therefore, the present invention issues not only a normal label on which normal data such as a product name and a normal price is printed but also a temporary label on which temporary data such as a discount price different from the normal data is printed. In this case, it is an object to provide a label printer which can make the temporary data stand out and can issue a label so that the sticking operation can be simplified. [0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that it is specified as follows. That is, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention.
Akira is a label printer that prints data such as product names and prices on labels, and issues at least a value using a normal label printing unit that issues a normal label printed with normal data and a label paper that has a colored portion. Including discount price
Temporary label printing unit that issues a temporary label with temporary data printed, and product specification to specify the product to be labeled
Means and normal data as data to be printed on the label.
Print data that stores the discount price as time data for each product
Data storage means and a product designated by the designation means.
In the print data stored in the storage means, a discount price is included.
Is not included, the normal label is issued.
Select only the normal label printing section and print only normal data
Issued regular label, including discount price
Sometimes, only the temporary label printing section that issues the temporary label is selected , and the discount price and the normal data are matched.
Selecting means for issuing a temporary label printed by the temporary label printing unit, the temporary label printing unit, when issuing the temporary label, the discount price is printed on a colored portion of the label paper with characters larger than the normal data. Thus, each data is printed. According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The discount price is included in the print data stored in the storage device
If not , a normal label is printed using only the normal data using the normal label printing unit, whereas if the print data contains a discount price ,
Use the temporary label printing unit, a temporary label that is printed together is and the discount price and the normal data is issued. That is, conventionally, in the latter case,
Two different labels were issued with normal data printed on a priced label and temporary data printed separately on a pop label, but one temporary label printed with normal data and temporary data together Will only be issued. As a result, both the normal data and the temporary data can be displayed on the product only by sticking one temporary label on the product, and it is not necessary to separately apply two different labels as in the conventional case. In addition, labels do not overlap with each other due to a sticking error. [0013] Then, in the temporary label print unit, together with the label sheet having a colored portion is used, since the data is printed so discount price is printed on the colored portion, said discount price The label is printed on the colored portion of the label and is naturally displayed close to the normal data , so that the effect of the present invention is further enhanced. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, when a product (not shown) is placed on a weighing pan 11, a label printer 1 according to this embodiment calculates a net amount and a price of the product from the weighed value. A printer with a weighing value that prints these values on a label together with a product name and the like and issues the
And a sub-printer 3. The printers 2 and 3 are respectively provided with printing units 21 and
31 is provided, predetermined data is printed on the labels Ls... Ls, Lp. The main printer 2 is provided with operation units 22... 22 on which numeric keys and function keys are arranged and a display unit 23. The key operation of the operation units 22. Are set, and print data and operation messages at that time are displayed on the display unit 23. Each of the weighing printers 1 includes a microcomputer as shown in FIG.
The weighing value signal from the load cell (LC) 12 that generates a distortion signal (weighing value signal) corresponding to the load applied to the weighing pan 11 and the key operation signal from the operation units 22. And a central control unit 4 for outputting a data signal and a message signal to be displayed to the main printer 2, connected to the central control unit 4 by an independent line 5a, and receiving a print signal output from the central control unit 4. The main printer control unit 5 for controlling the operation of the printing unit 21 is connected to the central control unit 4 by an independent line 6a.
A sub-printer control unit 6 for controlling the operation of the printer 1 is built in, and the entire operation of the printer 1 with the weighing value is totally controlled by the three control units 4, 5, and 6. A memory 41 is stored in the central control unit 4, and as shown in FIG. 3, a product name b and a call number (call number) used when a product is specified and called, as shown in FIG. No) A product master in which various data such as a or unit price c is laid out is registered. When a call number is inputted by key operation of the operation units 22... 22, the central control unit 4 calls up the registration data relating to the product and displays the registration data on the display unit 23. Calculate the net amount and price from the weighing value signal, and extract or edit the print data to be printed on the label based on the registered data. 3
A print signal is transmitted to any one of the control units 5 and 6 to cause the printing unit 21 or 31 to issue the label Ls or Lp. Next, the control with the weighing value performed by the printer with weighing value 1 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the operator sets a label issuing mode by key input using the operation units 22... 22 (step S).
1) The central control unit 4 displays an operation message of "product designation" on the display unit 23 (step S2), and then the worker follows the product call number (the worker has a separate call number list for each product). Is input by the operation unit 22... 22 (step S3), the registration data relating to the designated product is displayed on the display unit 23, and an operation message of “weighing” is also displayed (step S4). ). Then, the operator places the product on the weighing pan 11 in accordance with it and when the weighed value is stabilized (step S5), subtracts the packaging tare (not shown in FIG. 3) in the registered data from the weighed value. A net amount is calculated, and a price is calculated by multiplying the net amount by the unit price c (step S6). The registered data of the product master shown in FIG. 3 can be changed as appropriate by operating the keys of the operation units 22... 22. In the example shown in FIG. However, when a predetermined weight value is registered in advance in this item e, the weight value e is regarded as a net amount.
In the same way, in the product master, the calling number is “00”.
When a predetermined amount is registered in advance in the fixed amount f item such as a product of “09” or “0012”, the amount f
Is the display price as it is. Therefore, the unit price c is not registered for these products. Next, the central control unit 4 extracts print data to be printed on a label from the registered data (step S7). In this case, the central control unit 4 transmits the normal data to be printed on the normal priced label (normal label) Ls as shown in FIG. 5, that is, the product section code i (not shown in FIG. 3), the product Name b, product identification barcode j (registered as "POS code" in the product master but not shown in FIG. 3), unit price c, and net amount k and price m calculated above, or constant weight Each data such as e and fixed amount f is extracted as print data. Next, the central controller 4 determines whether or not the sub printer 3 is present (step S8). This determination is YES when the sub-printer 3 is installed, the control unit 6 is connected to the central control unit 4, and the printing unit 31 can issue labels. As a result, when it is determined that the sub printer 3 exists, the central control unit 4 determines whether or not a pop number (POP No) d exists in the registered data (step S9). This determination is YES if the item of the pop number d of the product master is not “0”. As a result, if it is determined that the pop number d is present, the central control unit 4 next sets M
It is determined whether there is a special price g (step S10).
This determination is YES if the item of the M special price g of the product master is not “0”. The above three steps S8 to S10
If all are YES, the central controller 4 next determines whether or not the pop number d is equal to or greater than "38" (step S11). If YES, the M special price g is equal to the amount (net amount). And the unit price c, the normal price or the normal price registered in advance in the fixed price f. The same applies hereinafter.) After confirming that the value is larger (step S12), the print data is edited (step S12). If NO in step S13, after confirming that the M special price g is smaller than the amount (step S16), the print data is edited similarly (step S17). In this case, in the memory 41 of the central control unit 4, in addition to the commodity master, image data n for each pop number d is registered as shown in FIG. When the pop number d is 38 or more and the process proceeds to step S13, the print data (normal data) extracted in step S7 to be printed on the normal label
The image data n and M special price g (temporary data) corresponding to the pop number d are added to the edited data, and a print signal obtained by adding a print command to the edited print data is sent to the control unit 6 of the sub printer 3. Output via the independent line 6a (step S14). As shown in FIG. 6, sales promotion characters for displaying discounts on a plurality of products are registered in the image data n when the pop number d is "38" or more. The sub-printer 3 receives the print signal and, as shown in FIG. 7, the sales promotion character n and the discount price g () of the discount display of a plurality of products conventionally displayed on a so-called pop label. A label (temporary label) Lp having a structure in which the temporary data is displayed along with the normal label is issued (step S15). At this time, the sub printer 3
A label which is longer and shorter than the normal label and whose upper part is colored yellow or red is set, and the temporary data n and g have no normal data such as the product name b and the normal price m in the colored portion. Each is printed on a colored portion. It should be noted that the label shown in FIG.
Is a temporary label issued when the product of "0014" is processed according to the registration data of FIG. In the registration data of FIG. 3, the mode h is fixed,
M special price g is fixed at, for example, 500 (yen) (call number 000
1 in the case of one product), and in addition, for example, 75
(Yen) discount (in the case of product with call number 0011), 21
(%) Discount (in the case of the product having the call number 0012). On the other hand, the central control unit 4 determines that the pop number d is 3
If the number is less than 8 and the process proceeds to step S17, the image data n and the M special price g (temporary data) corresponding to the pop number d are added to the print data (normal data) extracted as to be printed on the normal label in step S7. In addition to editing, the normal price m in the print data
Is erased with two horizontal bars, and a print signal in which a print command is added to the edited print data is output to the control unit 6 of the sub printer 3 via the independent line 6a (step S18). The sub-printer 3 receives the print signal, and as shown in FIG. 8, the sales promotion character n and the discount price g (extraordinary price) of the discount display of one item conventionally displayed on a so-called pop label. The data (data) is displayed along with the normal label, and a label (temporary label) Lp having a configuration in which the normal price m is invalidated is issued (step S19). Note that the label shown in FIG.
Regarding the product with "0014", in the registration data of FIG.
This is a temporary label issued when the pop number d is 36, the M special price g is 310, and the mode h is fixed. As described above, in this embodiment,
Pop number d is 38 or more discount for multiple items, 3
If the pop number d is determined to be 38 or more in the above step S11, the M special price g (total price in the case of purchasing a plurality of products) is determined in the next step S12 since the price of less than 8 is regarded as a discount for one product. Is smaller than the normal price (the price when only one item is purchased), or when it is determined in step S11 that the pop number d is less than 38, the M special price g (one item discount price) is usually set in the next step S16. If the price is larger than the price (one item regular price), it is irrational, so that an error is determined, and an error occurrence message is displayed on the display unit 23 (step S20). On the other hand, if any of the above steps S8 to S10 is NO, that is, if the pop number d or the M special price g is registered as 0 and the sub printer 3 is not necessary, the central control unit 4 Outputs a print signal obtained by adding a print command to print data (normal data) extracted as data to be printed on a normal label in step S7 to the control unit 5 of the main printer 2 via the independent line 5a (step S21). The main printer 2 receives the print signal and, as shown in FIG. 5 described above, changes the normal priced label (normal label) Ls on which only the normal data such as the product name b and the normal price m is printed. Issue (Step S2
2). Note that the label shown in FIG.
Regarding the product with "0014", in the registration data of FIG.
This is a normal label issued when the pop number d or the M special price g is set to 0. For reference, FIG. 9 shows a temporary label Lp issued for a product having a call number "0009" when the processing is performed in accordance with the registration data shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows the temporary labels Lp issued for the product “0012”. As described above, in this label printer 1,
When only one of the main printer 2 and the sub-printer 3 operates at all times and the commodity is not discounted, the regular label Ls on which only the regular data such as the commodity name b and the regular prices m and f are printed is the main label. When the commodity is sold by the printer 2 at a discount, a temporary label Lp printed with temporary data such as a promotional character n of a discount display and a discount price g together with such normal data is printed. Printer 3
Will be issued only one. As a result, conventionally, in the latter case, in the latter case, a label with a value on which only normal data is printed and a pop label on which only temporary data is printed are separately printed from the two printers in total of two sheets. In order to be issued, one of the labels, especially the pop label, has been forgotten or forgotten, and the label must be applied twice,
At this time, the label printer 1 was liable to cause a sticking error such as concealing the characters below by overlapping, but the use of the label printer 1 solved all the problems. It is sufficient only to stick the temporary label Lp to the product, so that there is no sticking error, and the discount price and the normal price are displayed close to each other easily. As described above, the registration data of the merchandise master shown in FIG. 3 can be appropriately changed by operating the keys of the operation units 22...
In the case of the product of “0011” or “0011”, if the processing is performed in accordance with the registration data shown in FIG. 3, the normal label Ls is issued from the main printer 2. After the change, the temporary label Lp indicating the one-item discount is issued from the sub printer 3 thereafter. On the other hand, for example, in the case of a product with a call number a of “0016” or “0022”, if the processing is performed according to the registration data shown in FIG. It is issued, but by updating the merchandise master and changing the pop number d to “0” or the M special price g to “0”, the main printer 2 thereafter issues the normal label Ls. Further, the pop number d less than “38” is changed to “38”.
By making the above change or vice versa and updating the M special price g accordingly, the discount display for one product can be changed to the discount display for multiple products, or the discount display for multiple products can be changed to the discount display for one product. Can be converted to each other. Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the above-described embodiment, and a repeated description is omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, in the label printer 1 according to this embodiment, two printer control units 5, 6
Are not connected to the central control unit 4 by independent lines, but are connected by a single common line 4a branched on the way. Therefore, a print signal composed of print data and a print command transmitted from the central control unit 4 is input to both printer control units 5 and 6 via the common line 4a. In this embodiment, the destination (address) is registered in each of the printer control units 5 and 6, and the central control unit 4 transmits one of the address codes ( For example, the main printer control unit 5 is “A1”, the sub printer control unit 6 is “A2”, etc.)
The printer control unit 5 or 6 recognizes a print signal addressed to itself only when its own address is given and takes in the print signal. As shown in FIG. 12, when transmitting the print signal in step S14 ', S18' or S21 ', the central control unit 4 executes step S14' or S18.
At 18 ', the print signal is transmitted with the address of the sub printer control unit 6, and at step S21', the address is transmitted with the address of the main printer control unit 5. As a result, in the label printer 1, the print signal transmitted from the central control unit 4 is always input to both printer control units 5, 6 without distinction between main and sub. Since one of the address codes is attached, the printer control units 5 and 6 identify which of the printer control units 5 and 6 the print signal is sent to. If there is no data, only the main printer 2 operates to issue the normal label Ls (step S22 '). If there is temporary data, only the sub printer 3 operates and the temporary label Lp is issued.
Is issued (steps S15 'and S1).
9 '). Further, as described above, the two printer control units 5, 6 are connected to the central control unit 4 by one common line 4a, and a signal from the central control unit 4 is transmitted to both the printer control units 5, 6, , The following configuration may be adopted. That is, each of the printer control units 5 and 6 is configured not only to control the respective printing units 21 and 31 but also to perform data processing and calculations like the central control unit 4. The central control unit 4 includes the load cell 1
After the weighing value signal from the printer 2 is stabilized, the weighing value, the registered data, and the like are used as they are in the printer control units 5 and 6.
, And the printer control units 5 and 6 receiving these inputs calculate the net amount and price of the product, and extract and edit the print data. The control flowchart in this case is shown in FIG.
become that way. Although omitted in the figure, steps T1 to T5 are the same as steps S1 to S5 in the above-described flowchart, and are executed by the central control unit 4. The central control unit 4
When the weighing value signal is stabilized (Step T5), the weighing value signal and the weighing value do not perform data processing such as the following calculation.
The registration data relating to the product called and displayed on the display unit 23 at step T4 is transmitted to the printer control units 5 and 6 (step T6). Then, based on these input signals, each of the printer controllers 5 and 6 calculates a net amount and a price (step T7), and extracts normal data which is the basis of label printing (step T8). Further, it is determined whether or not the registration data includes the pop number d (step T9) and whether or not the M special price g is present (step T10).
These steps are executed by both printer control units 5 and 6 in parallel. Then, the above-mentioned steps T9 and T
If all of the determinations in step 10 are YES, that is, if the discount sale of the product is set, the main printer control unit 5 that issues the normal label Ls does not need to issue the normal label Ls. Here, the data processing is stopped (step T11), and only the sub printer control unit 6 executes the following steps T12 to T19 to execute the temporary label L.
p is issued (steps T15 and T18). On the other hand, if the determination in step T9 or T10 is NO, that is, if the discount sale of the product is not set, there is no need to issue the temporary label Lp. The sub printer controller 6 that issues the temporary label Lp stops the data processing here (step T20), and only the main printer controller 5 executes the next step T21 to execute the normal label Ls.
Issue In this case, since it is assumed that the sub printer control unit 6 is connected to the central control unit 4 and is in a state in which the temporary label Lp can be issued, it corresponds to step S8 in the above-described flowchart. Steps are not included in this flowchart. In each of the cases described above, whether the temporary label Lp relates to the multiple item discount display or the single item discount display as in step S11 of FIG. 4 or FIG. 12 or step T12 of FIG. Is determined based on whether or not the pop number is 38 or more.
As in step U11, the determination may be made based on the magnitude relationship between the normal price (amount) at the time of purchasing one item and the M special price g in the registration data. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, it is not necessary to register the image data n relating to the one-item discount display and the image data n relating to the multiple-item discount display by distinguishing them by the pop number d. As described above, the label printer of the present invention can store normal data such as a product name and a normal price and temporary data.
Since temporary labels are printed with the discount price as data and printed on one sheet, it is possible to display both normal data and the discount price on the product just by attaching this temporary label once. it can. Moreover, in the label printer of the present invention, in addition to the normal label printing section that issues the normal label on which only the normal data is printed, a label paper having a colored portion is used, and a discount price is applied to the colored portion. Since a temporary label printing unit that is designed to print is provided,
As an extraordinary label, a label will be issued in which the discount price is conspicuous and conspicuous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control system diagram of the label printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a product master registered in a central control unit. FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of the label printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a normal label with a price issued by a main printer. FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of image data registered in a central control unit. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a temporary label displaying a discount on a plurality of products issued by a sub printer. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a temporary label displaying a discount on one product issued by a sub printer. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a temporary label relating to another product. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a temporary label for another product. FIG. 11 is a control system diagram of a label printer according to a second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a part of a control flow of the label printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is another control flowchart of the label printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a modified example applicable to each of the above control flows. [Description of Signs] 1 Label printer (printer with weighing value) 2 Main printer 3 Sub printer 4 Central control unit 5 Main printer control unit 6 Sub printer control unit Lp Temporary label Ls Normal label

Continuation of front page       (56) References JP-A-63-294340 (JP, A)                 JP-A-63-273173 (JP, A)                 JP-A-61-192568 (JP, A)                 JP-A-62-119573 (JP, A)                 JP-A-1-216215 (JP, A)                 Actual opening Hei 6-23774 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] In a label printer that prints and issues data such as a product name and a price on a label, a normal label printing unit that issues a normal label printed with normal data, At least value using label paper with colored parts
Specify the temporary label printing unit that issues temporary labels that print temporary data including discount prices, and specify the product to which the label is to be attached.
Product specification means and data to be printed on the label
Data and discount prices as temporary data are stored for each product
Print data storage means for performing
In the print data stored in the storage means for the product
If the discount price is not included in the
Select only the normal label printing section that issues the
Issue a regular label with only
If it is included , select only the temporary label printing section that issues the temporary label, and
Selecting means for issuing a temporary label printed together with the temporary label, wherein the temporary label printing unit is configured to issue the temporary discount label to a colored portion of the label paper when issuing the temporary label.
A label printer, wherein each data is printed such that a case is printed in characters larger than the normal data .