JP5716277B2 - Label issuing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label issuing device that is used in a backyard of a supermarket, a processing center for fresh food, and the like, and particularly suitable for issuing a plurality of types of labels at an appropriate timing. Regarding the issuing device.

  Conventional label issuing apparatuses of this type include one having a single printing apparatus for printing and issuing a label, or one having a plurality of printing apparatuses. The label issuing device having one printing device calls a product for each product, and repeats the label printing operation alternately with label printing of the called product. It will take a lot of time to complete. Moreover, the label issuing device provided with the plurality of printing devices can issue a plurality of types of labels at a suitable timing for one product by appropriately using the plurality of printing devices as appropriate. is there. Further, in the label issuing device provided with the plurality of printing devices, various ways of using the plurality of printing devices are expected. As for how to use it, the operator selectively switches the appropriate printing device when issuing a label, or uses two printing devices, for example, one issues a measurement label (valued label), On the other hand, a label issuing device that issues a POP label (product advertising label) to be attached to the product, and a plurality of printing devices are automatically selected and used in order to eliminate the burden on the operator when issuing the label. It was a label issuing device that can.

  In addition, the label issued from the label issuing device is information issued based on a food labeling system, and the information displayed on the issued label is used to determine the quality and content of the product purchased by the customer, Or it plays an important role in selecting products. In addition, since the label shows the handling and storage method after the customer purchases the product, it is an important information source for the customer. Therefore, when the label is issued by the label issuing device, various information to be displayed on the label is displayed in advance on the screen of the label issuing device so that the operator can visually confirm the label. Label issuance.

JP-A-63-294339 Japanese Patent Publication No. 08-000585

  However, all of the above conventional label issuing devices issue labels for one product from any printing device or a plurality of printing devices for a product called by an operator for each product. In recent years, with the enhancement of the food labeling system, the information that must be displayed on the label has increased, and of course, the information that is displayed on the screen of the label issuing device has increased. The information displayed on the display unit of the apparatus is often limited.

  Further, in the above label issuing device, since one worker occupies one label issuing device, there is a problem that if a label issuing device is prepared in accordance with the number of workers, a limited work space is narrowed. . In addition, because labels are issued for each product according to the work order, investing because preparing label issuing devices for workers during the busy season, when earning, increases the number of label issuing devices that do not operate in spare time. There is a problem in terms of effectiveness (economic).

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points. A label issuing device capable of displaying a plurality of pieces of product information at a time with a single label issuing device and performing a plurality of types of label issuing operations in parallel. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention for solving the aforementioned problem, to display product information on the display unit, in the label issuing apparatus having multiple label printing mechanism to print the label, the display unit to display the product information individually A first display area capable of securing an individual display area, and an individual display area corresponding to the number of the plurality of label issuing mechanisms in the first display area, and for each secured individual display area A display means for displaying at least a label issue product information display area for displaying product information , an operation button display area having an operation button for operating label issuance and stop, and a plurality of label issuing mechanisms for each individual display area Instructing label issuance by operating the operation buttons in the operation button display area displayed for each individual display area Comprising an instruction unit that, the, the label printing by the instruction means is instructed, the control means, the other label issuing mechanism from the label issuing mechanism corresponding to each individual display area has been specified label printing In addition, when a label issuance operation is performed by operating the operation button in the operation button display area for each individual display area, other than the operation button display area in the operated individual display area. The operation prohibition is canceled, and when the label issuance is stopped by the operation of the operation button, the operation prohibition is canceled.

According to the invention described in claim 1, calls the different product information for each individual display area of the first display area, since displaying the product information of the plurality of operator each individual product information at a time It can be visually confirmed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the label issuing mechanism unit is associated with each individual display area, and one or more label issuing mechanism units are provided by the instruction unit that issues a label for each individual display area. Since label issuance can be controlled asynchronously, the label can be issued in parallel with a single label issuing device, so that different products can be issued in parallel. Good. Further, since one unit can serve as a plurality of label issuing devices, a merit of return on investment can be obtained. Further, since the installation area of the label issuing device is reduced, the work space such as a space for placing the product before the price can be widened, so that the work efficiency is improved.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the operation is prohibited so that the setting of the product information displayed in the individual display area where the label is issued cannot be changed, and the operation prohibition is canceled when the label issuance is stopped. Operator errors can be eliminated.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance structural example of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the control part of the label issuing apparatus of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the display area of the liquid crystal display of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a menu display screen of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the issuing mode display screen of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a label issue display screen of the label issue apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the label issuing process flow of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The gist of the present invention is to display on a single screen a display area for displaying a plurality of product information on a label issuing device and a display area for displaying information related to the plurality of product information to be displayed in a single screen. The display area to be set can be set and operated in parallel, and the label can be issued in parallel without being affected by other display areas for each display area.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an external configuration example of a label issuing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a control unit of the label issuing apparatus. The main body 1 of the label issuing device is provided with a first label printing mechanism 17 and a second label printing mechanism 18 and an operation unit 16.

  The first label printing mechanism 17 and the second label printing mechanism 18 can print arbitrary characters, numbers, symbols, and images in dot units.

  The first label printing mechanism 17 and the second label printing mechanism 18 are loaded with different label printing papers. The first label printing mechanism 17 and the second label printing mechanism 18 are connected in parallel ( (In parallel) each can print on the label paper that suits the purpose. For example, as will be described in detail later, a label paper for a normal price label is attached to the first label printing mechanism section 17, for example, a price label for a product A is printed, and the second label printing mechanism section 18. The label paper for priced labels of different sizes is mounted so that a priced label of, for example, B product different from A product can be printed. The label issuing device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of rear portions of the printing press. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the rear portion of the printing press may be a single label issuing device.

  A display (display unit) 15 ′ of the operation / display unit 15 is provided at the upper front of the main body 1 of the label issuing device, a numeric keypad 16 ′ of the key operation unit 16 is provided at the lower part thereof, and a first label issuing mechanism unit is provided at the lower part thereof. The label 17 of the 17 label issuing port 17 ′ and the label of the second label issuing mechanism section 18 are provided with an issuing port 18 ′, and further, a power switch 27 is arranged at the lower part thereof. The numeric keypad 16 ′ of the key operation unit 16 is provided with a numeric keypad and a product number key. A display (display unit) 15 ′ of the operation / display unit 15 has a structure in which a touch panel 14 is laminated on the upper surface of a liquid crystal display 13 (see FIG. 2). The display 15 'can be tilted as shown by an arrow A by a tilt mechanism (not shown), and the operator can work by tilting the tilt angle of the display surface of the display 15' to an easy-to-see angle. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit of the main body 1 of the label issuing apparatus includes a CPU (central processing unit) 10 that controls each unit of the apparatus and performs processing. Specifically, the CPU 10 controls input processing for processing various input data such as input data input from the key operation unit 16, and printing operations of the first label printing mechanism unit 17 and the second label printing mechanism unit 18. Print processing, display processing for outputting various information to the liquid crystal display 13, and print data creation processing for operating print data are performed. In addition, the CPU 10 menus the operation mode of the main body 1 of the label issuing device, such as an issue mode for printing a label and issuing a priced label, a registration mode for setting contents to be printed, and a management mode for performing maintenance of the main body 1. The switching operation is performed according to the selection from the screen (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first label printing mechanism unit 17, the second label printing mechanism unit 18, the liquid crystal display 13, the touch panel 14, the key operation unit 16, and the auxiliary storage unit 20 are respectively connected to the printing control unit 21, The display control unit 22, the operation control unit 23, the communication control unit 24, and the storage control unit 25 are connected to each control unit, and each control unit is connected to the CPU 10 via the bus 26. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 stores various processing control programs for processing control of the CPU 10, that is, an input processing program, a print processing program, a display processing program, a print data creation processing program, and the like.

  A RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 stores contents such as flags, registers, and counters used when executing the above programs, and also includes numbers, alphabets, kana, kanji, commas, symbols, and the like. A font file storing a plurality of types of font data of each character is stored, and this font file includes a plurality of different font data even if the same character, that is, the character code is the same. Each character is classified as a font for each character type and character typeface, and a font number is assigned to each font. A working area for temporarily storing data read from various files and a storage area for storing a product file, a raw material table, a specific substance table, and the like are provided. Each storage area is backed up by a battery so that the contents (data) stored in the product file and the like are not lost even when the power source of the main body 1 of the label issuing device is cut off.

  Next, it is stored in each storage area of the RAM 12, and in addition to items such as a product code, a product name, and a unit price, a raw material number is set in a product file (not shown), and a label An instruction file (not shown) for instructing the issuing work is received from the upper management apparatus and stored. The instruction file can be registered in the registration mode of the label issuing device. The instruction file is stored in the order in which products are processed, manufactured and shipped for each delivery destination, delivery date, delivery destination code (chain code), flight number (track shipping flight sequence number), product code, barcode Instruction data for performing label issuing work such as product name, content, unit, price, and number of processing instructions is stored.

  Next, a display area for displaying on the liquid crystal display 13 of the operation / display unit 15 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the display area of the display unit (display 15 ′) of the liquid crystal display 13. A base display area (first display area) 13-0 and a stator display area (second display area) 13-5 are secured in the display unit of the liquid crystal display 13. Further, the base display area (first display area) 13-0 includes label issue product information display areas 13-1, 13-1, issue state display areas 13-2, 13-2, operation button display area 13-. 3, 13-3, function button display areas 13-4, 13-4 are arranged. When the power switch 27 in FIG. 1 is turned on and the power is turned on, the menu screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in the base display area 13-0. As shown in the figure, a main menu A, an issue key B, a registration key C, a management key D, a maintenance key E, a system end key F, and the like are displayed on the menu screen.

  The status display in the status display area (second display area) includes system date / time display section G, machine number display section H, screen number display section I, DB access destination display section J, A message display unit K for displaying a common message is provided.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display screen example in the issue mode. When the issue mode is selected by touching (operating) the issue key B on the menu screen of FIG. 4, the display screen of the issue mode shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit of the liquid crystal display 13. On the display screen of the issue mode, the base display area (first display area) 13-0 includes “issue mode manufacture date / flight designation” and “production date (September 20, 2009, yesterday, today, next day)”. , And "Flight (1)" are displayed, and keys such as "Change Labeler", "Flight List", and "Confirm" are displayed on the right side. The stator display area (second display area) 13-5 includes “worker mode (worker A mode)” A, “system date / time (September 20 13:57)” B, “machine No. .00 ”C,“ screen number (screen No.) ”D,“ DB access destination (server) ”E,“ common message area (normal issue) ”F, and the like are displayed. The date of production (September 20, 2009 in the figure) is displayed as the production date for confirmation of the production date. Normally, the date of manufacture does not change, but in the case of a product that has been aged for several days after being manufactured, such as `` salted salt, '' etc. The display unit is touched (operated), the past date of manufacture is input, and the setting is changed.

  Next, based on the message “Specify flight”, the user inputs the flight number. When the flight number is designated, the flight number of the corresponding instruction data is retrieved from the instruction file stored in the RAM 12, the instruction data of the corresponding flight number is called, and the flight number ("1" in FIG. 5) is displayed on the "flight" display section. Is displayed. At this time, as many display areas as the number corresponding to the printing mechanism section (two in the figure) are secured in the base display area (first display area) 13-0, and the label issue product information display area 13-1 is provided for each. As shown in FIG. 6, the issuance status display area 13-2, the operation button display area 13-3, and the function button display area 13-4 are displayed so that they can be set and operated in parallel.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the status display in the status display area (second display area) includes a display section A for the person in charge at the time of login and the operation authority, a display section B for the system date / time, and a machine number. Display unit C, screen number display unit D, DB access destination display unit E, and common sage display unit F for displaying a common message. Here, each of the display units includes “worker A mode”, “September 20 13:57” “Machine No. 00”, “Screen No.”, “Server”, and “Normal Issue” are displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a label issue screen. In this label issuance screen, the label issuance product information display area 13-1 on the left side has a flight number: “01”, a chain number: “01”, a product name: “recommended shochu”, a product code: “123”, and a barcode. : "0200123005504", expiration date: "2009.9.26", date of manufacture: "2009.9.20", content: "18", unit: "pieces", price: "550 yen" is displayed Yes. In the label issue product information display area 13-1 on the right side, the flight number: “01”, the chain number “: 01”, the product name: “delicious gyoza”, the product code: “896”, the bar code: “0200896003806” ", Expiration date:" 2009.9.26 ", manufacturing date:" 2009.9.20 ", content volume:" 20 ", unit: piece, price:" 380 yen "are displayed. In the issue state display area 13-2 on the left side, the number of processing instructions: “150 (remaining number of sheets: 150 + issued number of sheets: 0)” is displayed as “issue stop”, and the issue state display area 13-2 on the right side. In “Issuing”, the number of processing instructions: “300 (number of remaining sheets: 58 + number of issued sheets: 242)” is displayed.

  Here, the delivery number is displayed as the flight number, the company number of each delivery destination is displayed as the chain number, and the name of the product printed on the label is displayed as the product name. Further, the product code is input and displayed as a product call number, and by touching (operating) this portion, the product code is input and a screen is displayed. The expiry date is the expiry date and the expiry date of the called product, the content is the content of the called product, and the unit is the product unit (sheets, pieces, books, bundles, Kg, g, etc.), a bar code printed on the label, a date of manufacture indicating the date of manufacture of the called product, and a price indicating the price of the called product.

  In addition, the instruction data displayed in the notation area on the left side indicates that label issuance is stopped, the number of labels to be effective (150 in the figure) is displayed as the remaining number, and the number of issued labels is displayed as 0. It represents the state. The instruction data in the display area on the right side indicates that the label is being issued, 242 labels have already been issued, and the remaining work number 58 is displayed. Here, when the issuance is stopped and the “▽” display is in effect, the indicated number is subtracted, and when it becomes zero, the label indicates that the issuance is stopped. Further, in the case of “Δ” display (not shown), it indicates that the label is continuously issued until the stop button is pressed regardless of the number of instructions.

  In addition, the function button display area 13-4 on the left has “price”, “date”, “addition”, “check label”, “△”, “▽” function buttons, and the operation button display area 13-3. “Adjust” and “Start issuing” operation buttons, “Add”, “△” and “▽” function buttons in the right function button display area 13-4, and “Issuance” in the operation button display area 13-3 Each of the “Stop” operation buttons is displayed. By touching (operating) the “Adjust” operation button, the screen will change to the label issuance (print position adjustment) screen, label issuance stop position adjustment, label printing on the left, right, top and bottom will be adjusted. This button is used to return to, etc. The “issue” operation button is a button for starting label issuance by touching (operating). The “issue stop” operation button is a button for stopping the label issue by touching (operating).

  Further, when the “price” operation button is touched (operated) when issuance is stopped, the label issuance (price change) screen is displayed, and the price to be printed on the label is set. Further, when the “addition” operation button is touched (operated) when the issuance is stopped, a transition is made to the label issuance (aggregation method change) screen, and designation is made to aggregate the issued results. Further, when the “date” operation button is touched (operated) when the issuance is stopped, the screen is switched to a label issuance (date change) screen, and sales date, best (or consumption) date, production date, etc. are set. Further, when the operation button of “check label” is touched (operated) when the issuance is stopped, a transition is made to a label issuance (check label issuance) screen, and a check label printed with a date and time and a barcode is issued. Although not shown, operation buttons for “scanning”, “issue label”, “content”, “subtotal”, and “test label” are displayed when issue is stopped.

  When the “scanning” operation button is touched (operated), the screen shifts to a label issuance (scan check) screen, and the master bar code and the printed bar code are scanned by the scanner to check whether or not it is OK. When the operation button of “issue label” is touched (operated), a transition is made to a label issue (issue label selection) screen, and a print unit (print mechanism) for issuing a label is designated. Touching (operating) the “Internal capacity” operation button changes to the label issuance (change internal capacity) screen, and changes and selects the internal capacity and unit. Touching the “subtotal” operation button issues a subtotal label, prints out the contents printed on the issued label, and issues a test label when touching (operating) the “test label” operation button.

  Further, in the status display area (second display area) 13-5, a system date / time display section A, a machine number display section B, a DB access destination display section C, and a common message display. A message display area D and an end button display portion E for displaying an end button are provided. Here, “2009.09.13 13:57”, “machine No. 00”, “server”, “common” are displayed on the respective display portions. “Message” and “End button” are displayed. When the end button of the end button display section E is touched (operated), the menu screen of FIG. 4 is restored.

  Here, when the “issue issuance” operation button displayed on the left side is touched (operated), the label issue operation is performed asynchronously with the issue operation that is displayed on the right side and is already issuing a label.

  In this way, settings and operations are performed in parallel in the display areas of the label issue product information display area 13-1, the issue state display area 13-2, the operation button display area 13-3, and the function button display area 13-4. It can be done. Therefore, an error display associated with an operation in each display area is immediately displayed in the corresponding display area without waiting for processing in another display area.

  The CPU 10 controls the operation control unit 23 and the display control unit 22 so that settings and operations can be performed in parallel as described above, and the printing operations of the first label printing mechanism unit 17 and the second label printing mechanism unit 18 are performed in parallel. The print control unit 21 is controlled to operate. This will be described in the multithread and multitask described later.

  In addition, as described above, the information related to the operation of each control unit of the communication control unit 24 and the storage control unit 25 and the operation of the main body 1 (the precautions related to the work or the information related to the delivery destination), the timekeeping information, etc. 2 in the display area (stator display area) 13-5. This display is displayed as information relating to the first display area (base display area) 13-0. In the above display example, communication is performed with the upper management apparatus (server), the instruction file is fetched, and the label is issued. The time and date information (system date / time) of the main body 1, the machine number, and the common message display area ( An area (D) in which a message from the upper management apparatus, precautions related to work, information on a delivery destination, and the like are displayed.

  Next, multithreading and multitasking operating in the label issuing apparatus will be briefly described below. A program executed on the label issuing apparatus is called a process. For example, a plurality of programs (processes) for issuing labels are activated (in this embodiment, the programs (processes) are called and executed in each of the individual display areas displayed in the first display area 13-0.

  The label issuing program (one process) is further composed of a plurality of small execution units called threads. For example, in a label issuing program, an input from the key operation unit 16 or the touch panel 14 is acquired and an operation / display unit is obtained. 15 threads displayed on the display unit, threads that receive data from the upper management device and store the data in a predetermined area of the RAM 12, threads that display error messages as necessary, individual display areas (label issue product information display areas) 13-1, labeling mechanism (first label printing mechanism 17, first label printing mechanism 17) based on instruction data displayed in the issue state display area 13-2, operation button display area 13-3, and function button display area 13-4. 2 Thread that controls the label printing mechanism 18) to control label issuance and stop, status display area (second display area) ) 13-5 thread or the like to display a message or the like is performed in parallel.

  Since there are many threads in one process, the CPU 10 schedules each thread and performs execution management. Here, “scheduling” refers to each process so that the load of the CPU 10 is fairly distributed to each process, and the CPU 10 is not monopolized for all processes, or conversely, nothing is assigned to a certain process. Is to be executed equally.

  In the embodiment of the label issuing apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of threads exist in one process (label issuing program) and operate in a multi-thread that performs processing in parallel. The label issuing operation, setting, and printing control are performed by a multi-process that processes the above processes (in this embodiment, two label issuing programs) in parallel. Therefore, the label issuing apparatus according to the present invention operates by multitasking in which a plurality of processes having a plurality of threads are processed in parallel.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a process flow of label issuance in the label issuance apparatus according to the present invention. First, in step ST1, a shared information display process for displaying information in the common message display area D (see FIG. 6) is performed. The information display process in the common message display area D is performed in a separate task while synchronizing with other programs. A RAM (memory mapped file) 12 is read and information (message / error information, hardware information, communication information, etc.) is displayed in a shared display area in real time.

  The RAM (memory mapped file) 12 is shared by a plurality of applications. In order to synchronize access from processes executed by a plurality of programs, exclusive control is performed by “synchronous objects” such as semaphores and mutexes. Here, exclusive control refers to processing for preventing memory-mapped files and certain operations from being simultaneously accessed or executed by a plurality of programs. In multitasking, a plurality of threads are processed in parallel. A thread represents a software execution unit on an OS (operation system), and one program has at least one thread. Threads belonging to the same program share resources such as memory mapped files. A plurality of threads can be executed simultaneously by alternately occupying the CPU 10. Therefore, when a plurality of threads share one resource, it is necessary to perform exclusive control processing so as not to compete.

  When there is a dependency in the order of thread processing, it is necessary to synchronize in order to control the timing. These processes are performed by a “synchronization object”, which is a synchronization object such as “critical section”, “semaphore”, “mutics”, and “event”. A semaphore generally performs exclusive control between threads of a plurality of programs. Since global variables cannot be used to perform exclusive control between processes, the semaphore uses something like a global flag provided by the OS, and even if there are multiple processes that have the flag, From this, it is possible to limit the number of processes from which execution permission is obtained to one.

A method (operation) for exclusive control of a shared memory using a semaphore is generally performed in the following steps 1 to 4.
1. Create a semaphore.
2. Semaphore initialization.
3. Exclusive control of shared memory.
4). Remove semaphore.
The semaphore operation function can handle multiple semaphores at the same time, but here, for example, considering that only one semaphore is handled, the semaphore plays a major role in the information that the semaphore has. This value has a role as a flag. For example, if the initial value of this value is 2, it means that up to two programs can be exclusively controlled and can access the memory-mapped file.

  Mutics generally refers to performing exclusive control between processes of a plurality of programs. In addition, a process generally means an instance in which a program is operating in information processing, and includes all variables and other states. An instance represents an operation (for example, an object called “cursor indicating an input area”) that moves up and down, left and right, and enables input at a touched location, and is called “file”. For objects, operations such as storage, rewriting, and deletion correspond to this, and substantially all of the display and input operations related to label issuance are targets).

  In general, when multiple memory threads access a memory file, multiple threads simultaneously write to the same memory area, or when writing from one thread and simultaneously reading from another thread, collision / competition between threads occurs. The problem arises. In order to resolve the conflict, etc., an exclusion (synchronization) process must be taken. Therefore, exclusive control of critical sections, mutics, events, etc., which are synchronous objects, is used.

  Mutics is a function to synchronize threads in order to prevent multiple threads from accessing the same space (for example, the same address in shared memory) at the same time so that only one thread can access them. It is. Specifically, when a mutex is owned by a thread, it goes non-signaled, so another thread waits for the mutics to be signaled in the kernel object, and the thread that owned the mutic Abandon it and wait for ownership again. Since the mutices are signaled, the waiting thread owns the mutices. After processing, abandon the mutices you own. In other words, the process waits until the mutice can be owned, performs the process by owning it, and repeats the wait, thereby performing exclusive control between the processes of the plurality of programs.

  In step ST2, the issue key B on the menu screen in FIG. 4 is touched (operated), and the process proceeds to step ST3. In addition to the issuance key B, a registration key C, a management key D, a maintenance key E, etc. are displayed on the menu screen. The issuance key B is a key for issuing a label by displaying and operating data for issuing a label. The registration key C is a key for changing the registration of data for issuing a label. By touching (operating) the key, supplier (shipping destination) information (data), product information (data), work instructions Register or change information (data). The management key D is a key for changing settings such as date and time, network settings, label format, and label size of the label issuing device. The maintenance key E is a key for performing setting adjustment of a detection value of a sensor (not shown) for detecting a label, setting of a label gap, and the like.

  In step ST3, the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and the flight number is input or selected. From the numeric keypad 16 'of the key operation unit 16 of the main body 1 of the label issuing device, the number of the flight number which is the label issuance target is entered and set. In this selection, the flight numbers set in all work instruction data are retrieved and displayed in a list, and the flight number targeted by the operator is touched (operated) with the finger from the displayed flight numbers. A flight number can be set. When the flight number is set, the process proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST4, a plurality of screens for issuing labels are activated, that is, multitasking is activated, and the process proceeds to step ST5. In this embodiment, two label issue screens are displayed as shown in FIG. In step ST5, product information is called up and displayed for each label issuing screen. Specifically, the product code is input and displayed on the screen by touching (operating) the display area of the product code on the label issuing screen of FIG. Using the numeric keypad 16 ′ of the main body 1, a product code that is a label issuance target is input. Since each label issuing screen can be operated in parallel, the operator can issue labels by operating two screens. Each label issuing screen shares message information provided in the common message display area (area) D.

  For example, in order to call product information, a product call code (for example, 123) is input from the key operation unit 16 (mechanical key), and a product in an individual display area to be input among a plurality of displayed individual display areas. The “product code” (for example, the area displayed as the product code in the individual display area on the left side shown in FIG. 6) displayed in the detailed information display area is touch-selected with a finger. Then, the product code 123 is input to the product code field selected by touching, and the CPU 10 refers to the instruction file (or product file) stored in the RAM 12 based on the product code (123) whose input is confirmed, and inputs the product code. The instruction data (or product data) corresponding to the product code (123) is called, and product information is displayed on the left side of the label issue product information display area 13-1. Similarly, the product information is displayed on the right side of the label issue product information display area 13-1 with reference to the instruction file (or product file) common to the above.

  The target product code is a list of the product codes that are set in the flight number set in the work instruction data and displayed as a list, and the operator selects the target product code from the displayed product codes. It is also possible to set the call by touching. When the product code is correctly set and can be called, the instruction data is displayed on the calling issuance screen. When the “issue” button displayed on the label issue screen is touched (operated), the process proceeds to step ST6. Note that the instruction file (or product file or the like) may not be stored in the RAM 12, and the corresponding instruction data or product data may be received from a higher-level management device (not shown) each time. As a result, the limited capacity of the RAM 12 included in the label issuing device is not compressed. For example, when the product code (123) is input, the CPU 10 inquires through the communication control unit 24 whether or not the corresponding instruction data or product data is stored in the upper management device (not shown). When instruction data or product data is stored in the host management device, it is received via the communication control unit 24, temporarily stored in the work area of the RAM 12, and a label is issued based on the received instruction data (or product data). Product information is displayed on the left or right side of the product information display area 13-1. In such a case, for example, when a problem occurs in the communication control unit 24 and communication with a higher-level management apparatus (not shown) is impossible, the connection destination (for example, a higher-level not shown) is connected to C in the common message display area (area). The name of the management device, etc.) is displayed, and message information indicating why the connection cannot be made is displayed in D. When the label issuing device is equipped with a hard disk (HDD) (not shown) and stores instruction data (or product files, etc.), the connection destination (for example, label) is displayed in C of the common message display area (area). The hard disk abbreviation name (HDD) of the issuing device is displayed, and message information on why connection is not possible to D (for example, an error occurred when reading data from the HDD, possibly a sector failure) Etc.) are displayed. Thereby, the operator can grasp | ascertain exactly the reason of the malfunction etc. which cannot call data, and can perform the response quickly.

  In step ST6, the label of the work instruction data displayed by touching (operating) the “issue issuance” button displayed in the label issue screen is issued. The label issuance is asynchronous with the other label issuance screens, and the label is issued from the label issuance port of the label issuance mechanism (in this embodiment, the label issuance port 17 'in FIG. 1 or the label is the issuance port 18'). .

  In subsequent step ST7, it is determined whether or not the label issuance is completed. If No, the process proceeds to step 8. In the case of Yes, the label is displayed on the right side of the common message display area D in FIG. When the “stop” button E is touched, all the screens are closed and the screen returns to the menu issuing screen of FIG. In step 8, it is determined whether or not the flight number is changed. If not changed (No), the process returns to step ST3, and if changed (Yes), the process returns to each label issuing screen in step ST3.

  In this embodiment, the label issuing device including two label printing mechanism units (the first label printing mechanism unit 17 and the second label printing mechanism unit 18) is shown and described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it may be used as a label issuing device for applying a label after printing a label at a plurality of locations on the upper and lower surfaces (the product front and back surfaces) of the product conveyed on the belt conveyor.

In addition, the label issuing device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of printing mechanism units . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of printing mechanism units may be one. In this case, the label of the product displayed in the label issue product information display area 13-1 is alternately issued from one printing mechanism , or the product displayed on the left side of the label issue product information display area 13-1. After the label issuance is completed, the label of the product displayed on the right side may be issued. As a result, the product that should be label-issued next to the product displayed in the label-issued product information display area 13-1 for which label has been issued is called to the label-issued product information display area 13-1, and the next label issue Therefore, it is possible to make preparations, and work efficiency is good. In such a case, in the issue state display area 13-2, when the left issue state display area 13-2 is being issued, the right issue state display area 13-2 is set to a stopped display. This makes it easy for the operator to visually confirm which product is currently being issued, so that even if there is only one printing mechanism , the label issuing operation and the preparation for label issuance of the next product to be issued Can be performed in parallel while issuing labels.

In the case of a label issuing device that attaches labels to a plurality of locations of a product as described above, a method in which a plurality of upper-pasting printing mechanisms and a plurality of lower-pasting printing mechanisms are set in a vertical combination may be used. . Moreover, you may use for the electronic device scale apparatus and label issuing apparatus for facing sales used for the facing provided with the scale part.
On the label issue screen, if the same product code is entered simultaneously on the left and right sides of the individual display areas, an error is reported.
In addition, on the label issuance screen, the same date as the date displayed in the second display area is displayed once on the details of the manufacturing date in the left and right individual display areas, and this can be changed by touch input. Yes.
In this embodiment, the screen is used for delivery on a truck or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a product code used in a store's backyard or the like is input and product data is called and printed on a label. The present invention can also be applied to a general-purpose label printer.
Further, in this embodiment, after inputting from the numeric keypad, touching any one of the left and right details of the label issuing screen to perform selection and input at a time is not limited to this. It is also possible to input data on either the left or right side of the label issuing screen by touching the details first and then inputting with the numeric keypad.

  The present invention calls different product information for each individual display area of the first display area, displays the plurality of product information, and shares information related to the displayed plurality of product information in the second display area Because it is displayed, the operator can visually confirm each individual product information and common information at a time, and since the common information is shared and displayed on the display unit, the operator's visibility is high and individual Display area can be secured widely, and more product information can be displayed. Thereby, it can utilize for the label issuing apparatus which can make the limited display area surface of the display part with which a label issuing apparatus is provided be used effectively.

1 Main body of label issuing device 10 CPU (central processing unit)
11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Liquid Crystal Display 14 Touch Panel 15 Operation / Display Unit 15 'Display (Display Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Operation part 16 'Ten key part 17 1st label printing mechanism 17' Label issuing slot 18 2nd label printing mechanism 18 'Label issuing slot 19 Communication part 20 Auxiliary storage part 21 Print control part 22 Display control part 23 Operation control part 24 Communication Control unit 25 Storage control unit 26 Bus 27 Power switch

Claims (1)

To display the product information on the display unit, in the label issuing apparatus having multiple label printing mechanism to print the label,
A first display area capable of securing an individual display area for individually displaying the product information on the display unit;
A label-issuing product that secures the number of the individual display areas corresponding to the number of the plurality of label issuing mechanisms in the first display area, and displays at least the product information for each of the secured individual display areas. Display means for displaying an information display area and an operation button display area having operation buttons for operating label issuance and stop;
Setting means for associating the plurality of label issuing mechanisms for each individual display area;
Control means for asynchronously controlling label issuance from the plurality of label issuing mechanisms;
Instructing means to issue the label by operating the operation button in the operation button display area displayed for each individual display area ,
When the issuing of the label is instructed by the instruction means, the control means causes the label issuing mechanism section corresponding to each individual display area instructed to issue the label to issue a label asynchronously with other label issuing mechanism sections. ,
Further, when the label issuance operation is performed by operating the operation button in the operation button display area for each individual display area, operations other than the operation button display area in the operated individual display area are prohibited. When the label issuance is stopped by the operation of the operation button, the operation prohibition is canceled.

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