JP6157835B2 - Weighing device - Google Patents

Description

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

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

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

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

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

  The weighing device according to the present invention is a device for weighing an object to be weighed in which a product is put in a container selected from a plurality of containers. This weighing device includes a weighing pan, a weighing unit, a camera, and a container specifying unit. The weighing pan has a placing portion on which the container is placed and a peripheral portion located around the placing portion. The weighing unit measures the weight of the object to be weighed. The camera takes an image of the shooting area including the weighing pan from above the weighing pan. A container specific | specification part specifies a container using the image taken with the camera. The peripheral part of the weighing pan is formed such that a virtual intersection where a predetermined first virtual straight line from the camera toward the container intersects the peripheral part is closer to the mounting part than the outer edge of the peripheral part. The first virtual straight line is a predetermined virtual straight line from the camera to the container. When the first container having the largest height dimension among the plurality of containers is placed at the end of the mounting portion, the first virtual straight line is Among the virtual straight lines extending to each part of one container, the virtual intersection is a virtual straight line at the position farthest from the placement unit. In other words, the first imaginary straight line extends from the camera to each part of the first container when the first container having the largest height among the plurality of containers is placed on the end of the placement unit. Of these, the virtual straight line is at the highest position.

  In this weighing device, the container is specified using the image taken by the camera, so that the operation burden on the user is reduced. And the virtual intersection which is the intersection of the 1st virtual straight line in the highest position among the virtual straight lines which go to a container from a camera, and the peripheral part of a weighing pan is closer to the placing part of a weighing pan than the outer edge of a peripheral part Because of the position, in the image of the weighing pan taken by the camera, the container is present inside the outer edge of the peripheral portion of the weighing pan. Since such an image is obtained, the container in the image is surrounded by the color of the weighing pan, and a specification error when performing the container specifying process using the image is suppressed.

  For example, if the container protrudes from the weighing pan in the image, the background other than the weighing pan appears in part of the periphery of the protruding portion, and the background color is close to the color of the container. Is likely to occur. However, in the weighing device according to the present invention, since the image around the container is entirely the background of the color of the weighing dish, the specific accuracy of the container is increased.

  In addition, the 1st angle which is an angle with respect to the horizontal surface of the mounting part in the vicinity of the boundary between the mounting part and the peripheral part, and the second angle which is an angle with respect to the horizontal surface of the peripheral part in the vicinity of the boundary between the mounting part and the peripheral part. Regarding the relationship with the angle, the second angle is preferably larger than the first angle. When such a configuration is adopted, when the container is not placed only on the placement portion but placed across the placement portion and the peripheral portion, the container slides on the peripheral portion and is placed only on the placement portion. It can be expected that Furthermore, it can also be expected that the boundary between the placement portion and the peripheral portion functions as a stopper for a user who places a container (object to be weighed) on the placement portion.

  When making the 2nd angle larger than the 1st angle, it is preferred that the 2nd angle is 10 degrees-90 degrees. This is because if the second angle of the peripheral edge is large, the user will hesitate to place a container on the peripheral edge, and even if the container is placed on the peripheral edge, the user slides down to the mounting portion. When it is assumed that the container is placed at the peripheral edge, it is more preferable that the second angle is 30 ° or more.

  The weighing apparatus preferably further includes a camera support member that supports the camera behind the weighing pan. At this time, the peripheral part of the weighing pan includes a rear peripheral part on the camera support member side and a front peripheral part on the front side, and the angle of the rear peripheral part with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the angle of the front peripheral part with respect to the horizontal plane. Larger is preferred. If the angle of the peripheral edge of the back surface is large, the placement part of the weighing pan is positioned on the front side, and it is separated from the camera or the depth dimension of the weighing device becomes large.

  The color of the weighing pan is preferably different from the color of the container. For example, when the container is white, it is assumed that the accuracy of the container specifying process based on the image decreases when the weighing pan is white or silver. However, if a black color is adopted as the color of the weighing pan for a white container, the container specifying accuracy is increased.

  According to the present invention, since the container is specified using the image, the operation burden on the user is reduced, and the positional relationship between the peripheral part of the weighing pan, the camera, and the container is devised, so that the container specifying process is performed. The accuracy in is increased.

The external appearance perspective view of a measuring device. The side view of a weighing device. The figure which shows the state in which the server and the cash register terminal were connected to the measuring apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the weighing device. The external appearance perspective view of a weighing pan. The figure which shows the positional relationship of a weighing pan, the container mounted in the edge of the mounting part, and a camera. An example of a container image taken by a camera. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. The example of a screen displayed on a touch panel in guidance of a purchase procedure. An example of a container image taken by a camera. The figure which shows an example of the label issued by a label issuing mechanism. The conceptual diagram of a container information table. The figure which shows the time chart of a container specific process and a weight confirmation process. The figure which shows the positional relationship of the weighing pan of the modification A, the container mounted in the edge of the mounting part, and a camera. The figure which shows the positional relationship of the weighing pan of the modification B, the container mounted on the edge of the mounting part, and a camera. Selection screen for discount sales settings for store employees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2-1) Weighing pan The weighing pan 11 is a metal part for placing an item to be weighed after a customer puts a product such as a prepared dish in the container and put the lid on the container. As shown in FIG. 5, the weighing pan 11 has a horizontal placement part PA1 on which a container for an object to be weighed is placed, and four peripheral parts positioned around the horizontal placement part PA1. The four peripheral portions are a front peripheral portion PA2 on the front side, a left peripheral portion PA3 on the left side, a right peripheral portion PA4 on the right side, and a back peripheral portion PA5 on the back side. The horizontal placement portion PA1 has a horizontal upper surface, and the angle of the horizontal placement portion PA1 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 0 °. The front peripheral edge PA2, the left peripheral edge PA3, and the right peripheral edge PA4 have an inclination of about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA1. That is, the angle of the front peripheral edge PA2, the left peripheral edge PA3, and the right peripheral edge PA4 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 45 ° (see angle A2 in FIG. 6). On the other hand, the rear peripheral edge PA5 has an inclination of about 90 ° with respect to the horizontal placement part PA1. That is, the angle of the back peripheral edge PA5 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 90 ° (see angle A5 in FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the weighing pan 11 is located below the camera 12 and when the container TR having the largest height dimension H2 among the containers assumed to be used is placed at the end of the horizontal placement portion PA1. In addition, the shape and size are designed so that a desired image can be obtained from the camera 12. Specifically, the camera 12 is installed at a position higher than the upper surface of the horizontal placement part PA1 of the weighing pan 11 by a height H1. And each peripheral part is such that the virtual intersection PI where the predetermined first virtual straight line VLN1 from the camera 12 toward the container TR intersects the peripheral part is closer to the horizontal placement part PA1 than the outer edge of the peripheral part. Is formed. Taking the front peripheral edge PA2 as an example, the first virtual straight line VLN1 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, in which the container TR having the largest height dimension among the plurality of containers is connected to the front peripheral edge PA2 of the horizontal placement section PA1. It is the virtual straight line at the highest position among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR when placed at the adjacent end (boundary Bo). In other words, among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR, the first virtual straight line VLN1 is most horizontally placed at the virtual intersection point PI with the front peripheral edge PA2. This is a virtual straight line located far from the part PA1. Then, the size or horizontal of the front peripheral edge PA2 is such that the virtual intersection point PI between the first virtual straight line VLN1 and the front peripheral edge PA2 is closer to the horizontal placement part PA1 than the outer edge Ed2 of the front peripheral edge PA2. An inclination angle with respect to the mounting portion PA1 is determined. Similarly, in the sizes of the left peripheral edge PA3, the right peripheral edge PA4, and the back peripheral edge PA5 and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA1, the virtual intersection point PI is on the inner side than the respective outer edges Ed3, Ed4, Ed5 (see FIG. 7). It is decided to come to.

  Two supporting columns 10a and 10b that support the camera 12 and the touch panel 16 are located behind the weighing pan 11, but unlike the other peripheral portions PA2, PA3, and PA4, Since the angle with respect to the horizontal plane is 90 °, the weighing pan 11 can be brought close to the columns 10a and 10b.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  On the other hand, even when the camera 12 is used, the container cannot be specified when the size of the container of the object to be weighed cannot be detected or because the detected container size applies to two or more types of containers. In such a case, the screen sc4 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the touch panel 16 between the procedure 1 and the procedure 2. The screen sc4 is a screen in which the customer himself / herself inputs the container selected by the customer. The container TR having the largest height is not currently used in this store and is not included in the options on the screen sc4, but may be included in options if the sales product changes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2-10) HDD
The HDD 20 mainly stores a container information table 22. The container information table 22 is a table used for container specific operation described later and for calculating the weight of the product itself described later. In the container information table 22, as shown in FIG. 15, a tare name (container name) 22a, size-related information 22b, and a tare weight (container weight) 22c are associated with each other. The size-related information 22b includes the size of the container as well as the shape of the container when viewed from above.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2-11-2) Container Specifying Unit The container specifying unit 37 specifies the container selected by the customer using the image taken by the camera 12. For example, when the front end of the container TR placed on the weighing pan 11 is in contact with the corner portion of the boundary Bo between the horizontal placement portion PA1 and the front peripheral edge PA2 as shown in FIG. The obtained image becomes an image IM as shown in FIG. Like the image IM shown in FIG. 7, the image taken by the camera 12 is such that the peripheral edges PA2, PA3, PA4, PA5 of the weighing pan 11 are the outer edges Ed2, Ed3, Ed4, Ed5 of the container TR. It will be located outside. That is, for example, in the image shown in FIG. 7, a part PA2a of the image portion of the front peripheral portion PA2 exists between the image portion of the container TR and the outer edge Ed2 of the front peripheral portion PA2, and the image portion of the container TR and the right A part PA4a of the image portion of the right peripheral edge PA4 exists between the outer edge Ed4 of the peripheral edge PA4. Since these PA2a and PA4a are present in the image as black strips, the contour of the container TR can be easily extracted in the image analysis for identifying the container using this image, and the contour of the container TR is erroneously recognized. The risk of doing so is reduced. That is, the accuracy of container identification is increased. In the image of FIG. 7, the background SU is reflected on the outside of the container TR, and the background part SU1 close to white of the container TR is reflected in the upper left part of FIG. However, as described above, since the strip-like PA2a and PA4a exist between the two TRs and SU1, there is no problem in identifying the container.

  Next, a process when the container is placed not only on the horizontal placement part PA1 of the weighing pan 11 but across the horizontal placement part PA1 and the peripheral part will be described. Even if the container TR shown in FIG. 6 is placed so as to slightly extend over the front peripheral edge PA2, the lower left corner of the container TR slides down on the front peripheral edge PA2, and the container TR is moved horizontally. A transition is made to the state where only PA1 is placed. This is because the front peripheral edge PA2 has an inclination of about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA1. However, if the lower surface of the container TR is placed on the outer edge Ed2 of the front peripheral edge PA2, the image of the camera 12 becomes an image IM as shown in FIG. In the image IM shown in FIG. 13, the image portion of the container TR and the background portion SU1 close to white of the container TR are in a continuous state, and it is difficult to accurately extract the contour of the container TR by image processing. . When such an image is obtained and the container cannot be specified, the container specifying unit 37 displays the screen sc5 shown in FIG. 12 on the touch panel 16, and outputs the contents of the pop-up displayed message sc5a through the speaker 18. .

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

(2-11-3) Relationship Between Container Identification Process and Weight Determination Process FIG. 16 shows the time between the main process for container identification by the container identification unit 37 and the main process for weight calculation by the weight determination unit 31. A basic relationship. When the container is placed on the weighing pan 11 in step S1, the container specifying unit 37 does not wait for the measurement value to stabilize, that is, ignores the degree of stability of the container on the weighing pan 11 and immediately takes the camera 12 An image is acquired from (Step S2), and container specifying processing including image processing for container outline recognition is performed (Step S3). Since the processes in steps S2 and S3 are performed in about 300 msec, this is a time zone in which the measurement value is still waiting to be stabilized. Usually, it takes about 1000 msec for the measured value to stabilize. When it is confirmed that the measured value is stable (step S4), the weight determining unit 31 determines the measured value and calculates the product weight.

  If the container identification process in step S3 fails, the container identification unit 37 acquires an image from the camera 12 again after the measurement value stability confirmation in step S4 (step S5), and performs the container identification process (step S6). ). In this case, since the container specifying process needs to be completed in the calculation of the product weight by the weight determination unit 31, the comparison exceeding 1300 msec after the container is placed on the weighing pan 11 until the calculation of the product weight is completed. Long time is required.

  On the other hand, if the container specifying process is successful in step S3, the product weight calculation is completed in a relatively short time of about 1000 msec.

(2-11-4) Label information generation unit The label information generation unit 38 generates information written on the label by the label issuing mechanism 14. That is, the label information generation unit 38, like the label L1 shown in FIG. 14, the expiry date L2, the unit price L3 of the product, the net amount L4 that is the weight of the product itself calculated by the weight determination unit 31, and the price L5 of the product , And a bar code L6 representing the price.

(2-11-5) Notification Control Unit The notification control unit 39 performs generation of information notified on the touch panel 16 and the speaker 18, display control, and audio output control. In particular, the notification control unit 39 performs audio output control of the speaker 18 according to the detection result of the human sensor 13.

  The notification control unit 39 performs audio output by the above-described several speakers 18. For example, when the screen sc1 before the operation of the customer shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, the message sc1e “Please place the product on the weighing pan” is output by voice through the speaker 18. The sound volume is high when it is determined from the detection result of the human sensor 13 that there is no person in front of the weighing device 100, and is relatively low when it is determined that there is a person.

  In addition, the notification control unit 39 performs discount voice control for notifying the customer of discount sales, in addition to the voice output from the several speakers 18 described above. Hereinafter, discount voice control and related control will be described.

  The store employee changes the setting of the weighing device 100 when the closing time approaches, when the store closes, or when discount sales are performed at a lower price than usual, such as before the end of the year-end special sale. For example, the touch screen 16 is operated to call the setting screen sc11 shown in FIG. 19, and the corresponding sales mode is selected from the normal sales sc11a, the initial time sale sales sc11b, the final time sale sales sc11c, and the limited time special sale sc11d. To do.

  The touch panel 16 determines that there is no object to be weighed on the weighing pan 11 from the measured value, and the state in which it is determined from the detection result of the human sensor 13 that there is no one in front of the weighing device 100 is a predetermined time. If it continues, the standby screen is displayed. When this standby screen is displayed, discount voice control starts. In discount voice control, the fact that discount sales are being carried out is repeatedly output by voice. For example, voices such as “Now, time sale is in progress” and “Now, final time sale is in progress” are repeatedly heard. The frequency (time interval) of this repetition varies depending on, for example, whether the initial time sale sale is selected or the final time sale sale is selected. In the former case, voice messages are issued at long time intervals, and in the latter case, voice messages are issued at short time intervals. Also, the volume is relatively low in the former case and higher than that in the latter case.

(3) Features (3-1)
In the weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment, the container specifying unit 37 uses the image taken by the camera 12 to specify the container, so that the operation burden on the customer (the user of the weighing device 100) is reduced. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, at the intersection of the first virtual straight line VLN1 at the highest position among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, and VLN4 from the camera 12 toward the container TR, and the peripheral edge PA2 of the weighing pan 11 Since a certain virtual intersection point PI is closer to the horizontal placement portion PA1 of the weighing pan 11 than the outer edge Ed2 of the peripheral portion PA2, in the image of the weighing pan 11 taken by the camera 12, the peripheral portion PA2 of the weighing pan 11 The container TR comes to exist inside the outer edges Ed2, Ed3, Ed4, Ed5 of PA3, PA4, PA5 (see FIG. 7). Since such an image is obtained, the white container TR in the image is surrounded by the black of the weighing pan 11, and the container is specified using the image (including image processing for recognizing the outline of the container). Specific mistakes when performing are suppressed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the container TR protrudes from the outer edges Ed2, Ed3, Ed4, Ed5 of the weighing pan 11 in the image, the background SU other than the weighing pan 11 is reflected in a part around the protruding portion. If the background SU color is close to the color of the container TR, mistakes are likely to occur in image processing. However, in the weighing device 100, as shown in FIG. 7, since the image around the white container TR is the black background of the weighing dish 11 is obtained, the specific accuracy of the container is high.

(3-2)
In the weighing pan 11 of the weighing apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 6, it is an angle with respect to the horizontal plane HL of the horizontal mounting portion PA1 in the vicinity of the boundary Bo between the horizontal mounting portion PA1 and the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4, PA5. The first angle is 0 °, and the second angle that is the angle with respect to the horizontal plane HL of the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4 in the vicinity of the boundary Bo between the horizontal placement portion PA1 and the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4 is 45 °. is there. That is, the second angle is larger than the first angle. Since such a configuration is adopted, even when the container is placed not only on the horizontal placement part PA1 but across the horizontal placement part PA1 and the peripheral parts PA2, PA3, PA4, the container is also provided at the peripheral part. It can be expected to slide on PA2, PA3, and PA4 so as to be placed only on the horizontal platform PA1. Further, the boundary Bo between the horizontal placement part PA1 and PA2, PA3, PA4, PA5 functions as a container stopper or a guide for placing the container (object to be weighed) on the horizontal placement part PA1. To do.

(3-3)
In the weighing device 100, since the columns 10a and 10b supporting the camera 12 and the touch panel 16 are set up behind the weighing pan 11, depending on the shape of the weighing pan, the depth dimension (front-rear length) of the main body 10 must be increased. I must. However, here, the angle of the front peripheral edge PA2 of the weighing pan 11 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 45 °, while the angle of the rear peripheral edge PA5 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 90 °. For this reason, the trouble that the horizontal placement part PA1 of the weighing pan 11 is removed from the space directly under the camera 12 or the depth dimension of the weighing device 100 is increased is eliminated.

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

(1) Modification A
Instead of the weighing pan 11 of the above embodiment, a weighing pan 811 shown in FIG. 17 may be adopted.

  The weighing pan 811 has a horizontal placement portion PA81 on which a container of an object to be weighed is placed, and four peripheral portions positioned around the horizontal placement portion PA81. The four peripheral portions are a front peripheral portion PA82 on the front side, a left peripheral portion on the left side, a right peripheral portion on the right side, and a back peripheral portion PA85 on the back side. The horizontal mounting portion PA81 has a horizontal upper surface, and the angle of the horizontal mounting portion PA81 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 0 °. The front peripheral edge PA82, the left peripheral edge, and the right peripheral edge have a level difference with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA81, and the height position of each horizontal upper surface is slightly higher than the upper surface of the horizontal placement portion PA81. It is in. That is, there is a step at the boundary Bo between the horizontal placement part PA81, the front peripheral part PA82, the left peripheral part, and the right peripheral part. This level difference functions as a stopper for the container or a guide for placing the container for the customer who places the container on the horizontal placement part PA81.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the weighing pan 811 is positioned below the camera 12, and when the container TR having the largest height dimension H <b> 2 is placed at the end of the horizontal placement portion PA <b> 81 among the containers assumed to be used. In addition, the shape and size are designed so that a desired image can be obtained from the camera 12. Specifically, each of the virtual intersections PI8 where the predetermined first virtual straight line VLN1 from the camera 12 toward the container TR intersects with the peripheral portion is located closer to the horizontal placement portion PA81 than the outer edge of the peripheral portion. A peripheral edge is formed. Taking the front peripheral edge PA82 as an example, the first virtual straight line VLN1 will be described with reference to the front peripheral edge PA82 of the horizontal placement section PA81. It is the virtual straight line at the highest position among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR when placed at the adjacent end (boundary Bo). In other words, the first virtual straight line VLN1 is placed most horizontally at the virtual intersection point PI8 with the front peripheral edge PA82 among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR. This is a virtual straight line located far from the part PA81. Then, the size or horizontal of the front peripheral edge PA82 is such that the virtual intersection PI8 between the first virtual straight line VLN1 and the front peripheral edge PA82 is closer to the horizontal placement part PA81 than the outer edge Ed82 of the front peripheral edge PA82. The height of the step with respect to the mounting portion PA81 is determined. Similarly, the sizes of the left peripheral edge, the right peripheral edge, and the back peripheral edge PA85 are determined so that the virtual intersection point PI8 is located on the inner side than the respective outer edges.

  Even when this weighing pan 811 is employed, an image in which the surroundings of the white container TR are all black background of the weighing dish 811 as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained, and the specific accuracy of the container is high.

(2) Modification B
Instead of the weighing pan 11 of the above embodiment, a weighing pan 911 shown in FIG. 18 may be adopted.

  The weighing pan 911 has a horizontal placement part PA91 on which a container of an object to be weighed is placed, and four peripheral parts positioned around the horizontal placement part PA91. The four peripheral portions are a front peripheral portion PA92 on the front side, a left peripheral portion on the left side, a right peripheral portion on the right side, and a back peripheral portion PA95 on the back side. The horizontal placement portion PA91 has a horizontal upper surface, and the angle of the horizontal placement portion PA91 with respect to the horizontal plane HL is 0 °. The front peripheral edge PA92, the left peripheral edge, and the right peripheral edge have a level difference with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA91, and the height position of each horizontal upper surface is slightly lower than the upper surface of the horizontal placement portion PA91. It is in. That is, there is a step at the boundary Bo between the horizontal placement portion PA91 and the front peripheral edge PA92, the left peripheral edge, and the right peripheral edge. This level difference functions as a guide for placing the container on the customer who places the container on the horizontal placement part PA81.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the weighing pan 911 is located below the camera 12 and when the container TR having the largest height dimension H2 among the containers assumed to be used is placed at the end of the horizontal placement portion PA91. In addition, the shape and size are designed so that a desired image can be obtained from the camera 12. Specifically, each of the virtual intersection points PI9 where the predetermined first virtual straight line VLN1 from the camera 12 toward the container TR intersects with the peripheral portion is located closer to the horizontal placement portion PA91 than the outer edge of the peripheral portion. A peripheral edge is formed. Taking the front peripheral edge PA92 as an example, with reference to FIG. 18, the first virtual straight line VLN1 is such that the container TR having the largest height dimension among the plurality of containers is placed on the front peripheral edge PA92 of the horizontal placement section PA91. It is the virtual straight line at the highest position among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR when placed at the adjacent end (boundary Bo). In other words, the first virtual straight line VLN1 has the virtual intersection PI9 with the front peripheral edge PA92 most horizontally placed among the virtual straight lines VLN1, VLN2, VLN3, VLN4,... Extending from the camera 12 to each part of the container TR. This is a virtual straight line located far from the part PA91. Then, the size or horizontal of the front peripheral edge PA92 is such that the virtual intersection PI9 between the first virtual straight line VLN1 and the front peripheral edge PA82 is closer to the horizontal placement part PA91 than the outer edge Ed92 of the front peripheral edge PA92. The height of the step with respect to the mounting portion PA91 is determined. Similarly, the size of the left peripheral edge portion, the right peripheral edge portion, and the back peripheral edge portion PA95 is determined so that the virtual intersection point PI9 is located on the inner side than the respective outer edges.

  Even when this weighing pan 911 is adopted, an image in which the surroundings of the white container TR are all black backgrounds of the weighing dish 911 as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained, and the specific accuracy of the container is high.

(3) Modification C
In the weighing pan 11 of the above embodiment, the front peripheral edge PA2 has an inclination of about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal placement section PA1, and the container TR shown in FIG. 6 is placed so as to straddle the front peripheral edge PA2 only slightly. Even if it is, the lower left corner of the container TR slides down on the front peripheral edge PA2, and the state shifts to a state where the container TR is placed only on the horizontal placement part PA1.

  The inclination angle of the front peripheral edge PA2 with respect to the horizontal placement part PA1 is not limited to 45 °, and may be in the range of 10 ° to 90 °. If the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4, and PA5 have a large inclination with respect to the horizontal plane, customers will hesitate to place containers on the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4, and PA5, and the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4, and PA5. This is because even if the container is placed on the horizontal slide part PA1, the container slides down. However, when the container is made of a material that is difficult to slip, it is preferable that the angle of the peripheral portions PA2, PA3, PA4, and PA5 with respect to the horizontal placement portion PA1 is 30 ° or more and 90 ° or less.

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

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

10a, 10b Post (camera support member)
11 Weighing pan 12 Camera 17 Weighing mechanism (weighing unit)
37 Container specifying unit 100 Weighing device 811 Weighing pan 911 Weighing pan PA1 Horizontal placing portion (mounting portion)
PA2 Front edge (periphery)
PA3 Left edge (edge)
PA4 Right edge (edge)
PA5 Rear edge (periphery)
Bo Boundary TR Container with the largest height (first container)
Ed2, Ed3, Ed4, Ed5 Outer edge VLN1 of the peripheral edge First virtual straight line PI Virtual intersection

JP 2007-107957 A

Claims (5)

A weighing device that measures an object to be weighed in a container selected from a plurality of containers that are tared .
A mounting portion mounting the said vessel, possess a peripheral portion located around the the mounting table, the boundary between the placing part the periphery, wherein before the stopper, or the container of the container A weighing pan that functions as a guide for placing on the table ,
A weighing unit for weighing the object to be weighed;
A camera for taking an image of a shooting area including the weighing pan from above the weighing pan; and
A container information table including information related to the sizes of the plurality of containers;
Recognizing the outline and size of the container from the image taken by the camera, and specifying the container using the container information table ;
With
The peripheral portion is formed such that a virtual intersection where a predetermined first virtual line from the camera toward the container intersects with the peripheral portion is located closer to the mounting portion than the outer edge of the peripheral portion,
The first virtual straight line extends from the camera to each part of the first container when the first container having the largest height among the plurality of containers is placed at the end of the placement unit. Among these, the virtual intersection is a virtual straight line at a position farthest from the placement part,
Weighing device. More than the 1st angle which is an angle with respect to the horizontal surface of the said mounting part in the vicinity of the boundary of the said mounting part and the said peripheral part with respect to the horizontal surface of the said peripheral part in the vicinity of the boundary of the said mounting part and the said peripheral part. The second angle that is the angle is larger,
The weighing device according to claim 1. The second angle is 10 ° to 90 °.
The weighing device according to claim 2. A camera support member for supporting the camera behind the weighing pan;
The peripheral part of the weighing pan includes a rear peripheral part on the camera support member side and a front peripheral part on the front side,
The angle of the back peripheral edge with respect to the horizontal plane is greater than the angle of the front peripheral edge with respect to the horizontal plane.
The weighing device according to claim 2 or 3. The color of the weighing pan is different from the color of the container.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images