JPH03256835A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit the item number of an article to be inputted, simplify input operation, improve operational efficiency and reduce erroneous inputs by keying for input of the number of a tray on which articles are placed. CONSTITUTION:Each time the packaging of an article is complete, a reserve key 44 for a keyboard 5a on a remote keyboard device 5 is operated to input the number of a tray 2 for the article and the item number thereof. The tray and item numbers thus inputted are stored in a reserve memory 54 of RAM24 in a label printer 4. When the tray 2 is carried in and the person 11 in charge of label issue selects an access mode by an access key 45 on the keyboard 7 of the printer body 4 and keys for input of the number of the tray 2, the item number corresponding to the tray number is called from the reserve memory 54, the corresponding item data is read out from an item number file 25, the articles is weighed at a weighing part 10 and a label is issued from a label issue opening 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a label printer used in supermarkets and the like for pricing products.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, a weighing label printer equipped with a scale,
It has a product number file with preset product number data such as product name, unit price, expiration date, etc. corresponding to each product number.
When the product number is input from the keyboard, the product number data corresponding to the input product number is read from the product number file, the weight value of the product is taken from the scale, and the price is calculated from the weight value and unit price. Generally, a printing unit prints product information such as the product name, unit price/weight value, price, date of processing, and expiration date (validity date) on label paper before issuing the label. Such a weighing label printer is used, for example, in a supermarket, etc., when pricing fresh products such as meat and vegetables. In other words, the person in charge of the pricing process recognizes the product number attached to the product from the product name of the product, which has been packaged in appropriate quantities in advance, and inputs the corresponding product number from the keyboard of the weighing label printer. Place the product on the scale and weigh it. By doing this, a label with the relevant product information printed on it will be automatically issued, and the label will be affixed to the product.

By the way, the inefficient work of pricing mentioned above is the work of inputting the product number of the target product. usually,
To do this, prepare a list of correspondence between product names and product numbers for each product, have the person in charge search for the corresponding product number from this correspondence table, and input it by operating keys on the keyboard. For this reason, it takes time to find the product number, and a different product number may be entered due to a reading error or operational error.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, in conventional weighing label printers, the product number of the product to be labeled is entered by key input operations on the keyboard, which makes the product number entry process inefficient, making it difficult to enter the product number. It was also easy to make mistakes.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to input the product number by simply inputting the unique number of the tray/f on which the product to be labeled is placed, which simplifies the product number input process and improves work efficiency. The purpose of this invention is to provide a label printer that can reduce the number of product number input errors.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The label printer of the present invention has a product number file in which product number data such as the product name and unit price of each product is preset corresponding to the product number, and a product number read from this product number file. A label issuing means for printing and issuing a label based on data, a product number input means, and a tray number input means for inputting a unique number assigned to each of a plurality of trays on which products to be labeled are placed. , reserved memory where tray numbers and product numbers are accumulated and stored, and label issuing mode.

A mode switching means for switching between a reservation mode and a calling mode is provided, and when a product number is input by the product number input means with the label issuing mode selected by the mode switching device, the product number data corresponding to the input product number is stored in the product number file. When the tray number and product number are input using the tray number input means and product number input means with the reservation mode selected, the tray number and product number are stored in the reservation memory, and the label is issued in the recall mode. When a tray number is input using the tray number input means with is selected, the product number corresponding to the input tray number is called from the reservation memory, and the product number data corresponding to this product number is read from the product number file to issue a label. It is something to tighten.

[Operation] With a label printer configured like this, when placing products on a plate, wrapping them, and placing them on a tray, enter the unique number of the tray and the product number with the reservation mode selected. Then, the input tray number and product number are stored in the reservation memory. In this state, if you select the recall mode and enter the relevant tray number, the product number corresponding to that tray number will be recalled from the reservation memory above, and the product number data or product number file corresponding to the product number will be read out and the label will be printed. publish.

Therefore, the person in charge of label issuance work can issue a desired label simply by inputting the tray number of the tray on which the product for which the label is to be issued is placed. In other words, the present invention becomes very effective when a skilled person who is familiar with the item number of the item is in charge of placing the item on a plate and packaging it. By doing so, it becomes possible to hire new clerks or part-time workers to be in charge of label issuance work.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a weighing label printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a person in charge of arranging and packaging products, and this person 1 is in charge of meat.

The process of placing appropriate amounts of fresh food such as fish on plates, wrapping them in plastic wrap, and placing them on tray 2 is repeated. Tray 2
A plurality of products are prepared, and it is determined that a plurality of products are not mixedly placed on one tray 2. A unique tray number is set for each tray 2, and for example, as shown in the figure, a tag 3 on which the corresponding tray number is printed is fixed to the front right corner of the tray 2. The person in charge 1 also has a remote keyboard device 5 that can operate the weighing label printer main body 4. This remote keyboard device 5 is provided with a keyboard 5a on the top surface, and has a built-in wireless circuit. Key signals generated by key operations on the keyboard 5a are wirelessly transmitted by the wireless circuit and received by the weighing label printer main body 4.

The weighing label printer main body 4 is provided with a keyboard 7, a display 8, and a label issuing port 9 on the front surface of a housing 6, and a weighing section 10 consisting of a load cell or the like is attached below. This weighing label printer main body 4 is operated by a person 11 in charge of label issuing work.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing label printer main body 4. As shown in FIG. 21 is a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the control unit
1, which controls the storage section and the controller section via the pass line 22.

Here, the storage unit includes a ROM 23 for storing program data, character generator data, etc., a RAM 24 in which various memories used for arithmetic processing, etc. are formed;
Corresponding to the product number assigned to each product, a product number file 25 is provided in which product number data such as the product name, unit price, and expiration date of the product are preset. On the other hand, the controller section drives and controls the remote key controller 26 that receives key signals from the remote keyboard device 5, the keyboard controller 27 that receives key signals from the main body keyboard 8, and the main body display 8. A display controller 28 and two print controllers 30 are provided, including a printing section (label issuing means) for printing label data on a predetermined sheet of paper and issuing a label from the label issuing port 9.

Further, the CPU 21 controls the clock circuit 3 at a predetermined timing.
In addition to taking in current date and time data from 1, count data is also taken in from an A/D converter 32 for converting the output of the weighing section 10 into a digital count value.

As shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard 5a of the remote keyboard device 5 and the keyboard 7 of the weighing label printer main body 4 have numeric keys 41 of "0" to "9", and numerical data entered on the numeric keys 41. Product number key 42 (product number input means) indicating that is the product number, the above-mentioned numeric keypad 4
* key 43 (tray number input means) indicating that the numerical data entered at 1 is the tray number, reservation key 44 for switching the weighing label printer main body 4 to reservation mode, and also for switching to call mode. A call key 45, etc. are provided respectively.

Note that the normal label issuing mode of the weighing label printer main body 4 is selected. In this state, when the reservation key 44 is inputted, the mode is switched to the reservation mode, and when the reservation key 44 is inputted again, the mode returns to the label issuing mode. Further, when the call key 45 is inputted in the label issue mode, the mode is switched to the call mode, and when the call key 45 is inputted again, the mode returns to the label issue mode.

That is, the reservation key 44 and the call key 45 function as mode switching means.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 24 includes a print buffer 51 and a display buffer 52 in which print data and display data are respectively stored, as well as product number data that stores product number data read from a product number file 25. A memory 53, a reservation memory 56 capable of storing and storing a plurality of tray numbers and product numbers, an area 55 for a calling flag F, an area 56 for a reservation pointer P, and the like are formed.

The CPU 21 is program-controlled to execute the processing shown in FIG. That is, the main body 4
When the product number key 42 is entered from the keyboard 7 or the keyboard 5a of the remote keyboard device 5, the number data entered immediately before using the numeric keypad 41 is determined to be the product number, and the product number data ( Product number 2 Product name.

unit price, validity period, etc.) are read from the product number file 25. Then, the read product number data is displayed on the display 8 and stored in the product number data memory 53. Next, when the scale section 10 detects that weighing has been performed, the count data is taken in from the A/D converter 32, and the count data is converted into a weight value measured by the scale section 10. Then, the price is calculated by multiplying this weight value by the unit price in the product number data memory 53, and the weight value and price are stored in the product number data memory 53 and displayed on the display 8.

Furthermore, the printer printing unit 29 is driven and controlled to print the data in the product number data memory 53, that is, the product number 1 product name, on the label paper in a predetermined format.

Label is issued by sequentially printing unit price 9 weight value, price, etc. (label issue control means).

On the other hand, when the reserved key 44 is input from the keyboard 7 of the main body 4 or the keyboard 5a of the remote keyboard device 5, the reserved key process shown in FIG. 6 is executed. That is, after the reservation key 44 is input, each time the tray number and product number are input, the tray number and product number are sequentially stored in the address position indicated by the reservation pointer P in the reservation memory 54 and displayed on the display (reservation control means). Note that the reservation pointer P is set to "
It is initialized to ``1'', and thereafter it is initialized to ``1'' every time data is stored.
+1" increments. Then, if the reservation key 44 is input again and the reservation mode is canceled, the reservation memory 5
After displaying a list of the contents of 4 on the display 8, this process is ended and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the call key 45 is input from the keyboard 7 of the main body 4 or the keyboard 5a of the remote keyboard device 5, the call key process shown in FIG. 7 is executed. That is, when a tray number is inputted after inputting the call key 45, it is checked whether or not the corresponding tray number exists in the reservation memory 54. If the tray number does not exist, inputting the tray number is treated as an error. If the tray number exists, the product number corresponding to the tray number is called from the reservation memory 54, and a calling flag F is set.

Next, the product number data (product number 2) corresponding to the called product number is
(product name, unit price, validity period, etc.) is read out from the product number file 25, and this product number data is displayed on the display 8 and stored in the product number data memory 53. Next, the weighing section 1
When it is detected that weighing has been performed at 0, count data is taken in from the A/D converter 32, and the count data is converted into a weight value measured by the weighing section 10. and,
This weight value is multiplied by the unit price in the product number data memory 53 to calculate the price, and the weight value and price are stored in the product number data memory 53 and displayed on the display 8. Furthermore, the printer print unit 29 is driven and controlled to print the data in the product number data memory 53 on the label paper in a predetermined format.
That is, the label is issued by sequentially printing the product number, product name, unit price, weight value, price, etc. (call control means). Thereafter, the same process is repeated every time a tray number is inputted by key.

Then, when the call key 45 is input again to cancel the call mode, the calling flag F is reset, and then this process is ended and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

In this embodiment configured as described above, the person in charge of arranging and packaging the products arranges the packaged products on the tray 2, but at this time, one tray 2 contains multiple types of products. Be careful not to mix them. And for example 1
Remote keyboard device 5 every time the packaging of the product is completed.
After selecting the reservation mode by operating the reservation key 44 provided on the keyboard 5a, the user inputs the number of the tray 2 on which the packaged product is placed and the product number of the product. Here, the person in charge 1 is generally an experienced person who is familiar with the product number, etc., so there is no need to take time to enter the product number. The tray number and product number entered in this way are stored in the RAM 24 in the label printer main body 4.
It is accumulated and stored in the reservation memory 54 of .

On the other hand, the person in charge of label issuing work 11 operates the call key 45 provided on the keyboard 7 of the main body 4 to switch to the call mode when the tray 2 with the target product for pricing is brought in. After selecting, key-in the tray 2 number. Then, the product number corresponding to the input tray number is read from the reservation memory 54, and product number data corresponding to this product number is read from the product number file 25. When the weighing unit 10 weighs the products on the tray 2, a label with a price tag is issued from the label issuing port 9.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by key-inputting the tray number of the tray 2 on which the product for which the label is to be issued is placed during the label issuing operation, the product number data of the corresponding product is read out from the product number file 25. , a label will be issued based on that.

Therefore, even if a part-time clerk or a new employee is assigned as person in charge 11, the work time is shortened because the conventional effort of searching for the product number from the correspondence table between product names and product numbers is saved, and errors in inputting product numbers can be made. This prevents incorrect labels from being issued and prevents wastage of labels.

Note that the tray number and product number may be input in the reservation mode from the keyboard 7 on the main body 4 side, and the product number may be input in the call mode from the keyboard 5a on the remote keyboard device 5 side. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a flat rate label printer that does not have a weighing section.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input the product number by simply inputting the unique number of the tray on which the product to be labeled is placed. It is possible to provide a label printer that simplifies work, improves work efficiency, and reduces product number input errors.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall schematic structure, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a weighing label printer, Fig. 3 is a key arrangement diagram of a keyboard,
Figure 4 is the main memory configuration diagram of RAM, Figure 5 is the CPU
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the CPU's reservation key processing, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the CPU's call key processing. 2... Tray, 4... Weighing label printer body, 5
...Remote keyboard device, 9...Label issuing port, 10...Weighing section, 21...CPU, 25...Product number file, 29...Printing section (label issuing means), 42
...Product number key (product number input means), 43...* key (
tray number input means), 44... reservation key (mode switching means), 45... call key (mode switching means), 5
4... Reserved memory.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A product number file in which product number data such as product name, unit price, etc. of the product is preset corresponding to the product number of each product, and a label is printed and issued based on the product number data read from this product number file. a means for inputting the product number; a tray number input means for inputting a unique number assigned to each of a plurality of trays on which products to be labeled are placed; and storage and storage of the tray number and product number. mode switching means for switching between a label issuing mode, a reservation mode and a calling mode; when a product number is input by the product number inputting means with the label issuing mode being selected by the mode switching means;
a label issuing control means that reads product number data corresponding to the input product number from the product number file and issues a label; and a tray number input means and the product number input means that input the tray number and the product number with the reservation mode selected by the mode switching means. When a product number is input, a reservation control means stores the tray number and product number in the reservation memory; and when a tray number is input by the tray number input means with the call mode selected by the mode switching means. A label printer characterized in that it is equipped with a call control means for calling a product number corresponding to an input tray number from the reservation memory, further reading product number data corresponding to this product number from the product number file and issuing a label.