JPH06166409A - Electronic balance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply operate an emergent warehousing/delivery work by squeezing emergent warehousing/delivery data input from an operation means next to the reserved data of parts already taken out from shelves, when the device is changed to an emergent warehousing/delivery mode stored in a take-out part memory means. CONSTITUTION:A stock control device is provided with an automatic warehouse 1 in which parts are taken out from the shelves of a plurality of part storing boxes 41-49 so as to be in stand-by on a conveyor 5, during a warehousing/ delivery work following to an operation reservation function. When the device is changed to an emergent warehousing/delivery mode, emergent warehousing/ delivery data input from an operation part 14 are squeezed next to the reserved data of the part storing boxes 46-49 already taken out from the shelves received in a reservation file by means of a CPU 9. In this way, the emergent warehousing/delivery work can be simply operated, and after completing the emergent warehousing/delivery work, the warehousing/delivery work following to the operation resevation function once intercepted is continously reopened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic weighing device such as an electronic counting scale which measures the total weight of parts, calculates the number of parts from the total weight and unit weight, and displays the result. The present invention relates to an electronic weighing device equipped with an automatic warehouse that automatically removes a stored component storage box from a shelf and returns it to the shelf.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant first integrated an electronic weighing device with a carousel (automatic warehouse), the electronic weighing device controls the carousel, and the loading and unloading of various kinds of parts by the electronic weighing device. An inventory management device for performing work and inventory management has been proposed (for example, see the specification and drawings attached to the respective applications of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-225548 and 1-284629).

In this inventory management device, when a part code, which is identification data of a part to be put in and taken out, is input from the operation part of the electronic weighing device, the unit weight of the part, the part code, etc. are read from the internal storage part. And the storage position data (shelf number) indicating the storage position of the component in the carousel is transmitted to the carousel.
As a result, the carousel rotates the shelf on which the component storage box storing the component is placed based on the shelf number to a predetermined position and turns on the display lamp indicating the storage position. Therefore, the worker takes out the parts storage box from the shelf, then takes out the parts from the parts storage box, and counts the desired number with the electronic weighing device to perform the shipping operation, or counts with the electronic weighing device. It is possible to store a number of parts in the parts storage box and carry out the warehousing operation.

The above-mentioned stock management device has a work reservation (work program) function in order to efficiently carry out the warehousing / delivery work. This work reservation function stores the warehousing / discharging data (part codes of the parts to be warehousing / discharging) in advance in a storage unit inside the electronic weighing device, and reads them in order at the time of warehousing / discharging work. By 1
This function eliminates the need to input the part code from the operation unit for each work of the part.

Further, the above-mentioned stock management apparatus reads out from the storage section of the storage data so that the movement time of each shelf of the carousel is minimized in order to minimize the wasteful time during the storage operation. It has a sort function to sort the order. Further, some of the above-described inventory management devices have an emergency loading / unloading function that interrupts the loading / unloading work based on the reservation data to perform the loading / unloading work in consideration of the case of emergency loading / unloading. This emergency loading / unloading function temporarily suspends the loading / unloading work based on the reservation data, performs the emergency loading / unloading work by keying in the part code of the component to be loaded / unloaded in the emergency from the operation unit of the electronic weighing device. It is a function to restart the loading and unloading work based on the original reservation data after the end.

By the way, there are various types of automatic warehouses, ranging from popular types having only basic functions to highly functional types having various functions. For example,
Rather than taking out the parts storage box from the shelf by rotating the shelf to move it to a predetermined position like the carousel described above, the parts storage box is automatically taken out from the shelf and placed at the predetermined position. There is an automatic warehouse in which the parts storage box is automatically returned to the shelf when the work is finished (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-98506).

In this type of automated warehouse, in consideration of work efficiency, when carrying out the warehousing work by the work reservation, a plurality of (for example, a maximum of 9) parts storage boxes are taken out in advance according to the order of the reservation data. I try to keep it on the conveyor. By doing this,
It is possible to reduce wasteful time due to taking out the component storage box from the shelf.

[0008]

By the way, in the conventional automatic warehouse disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-98506, a plurality of component storage boxes according to the order of the reservation data are always on the conveyor. Since it is on standby, the emergency loading / unloading work cannot be performed by the same method as the emergency loading / unloading function of the inventory management device described above, and the following procedure is followed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the work based on the reservation data is interrupted (procedure 1), first, the loading / unloading work of the components in the plurality of component storage boxes already waiting on the conveyor is performed ( Procedure 2) Then, the key code (procedure 3) of the component code of the component to be put in and out urgently is input from the operation unit of the electronic weighing device. As a result, the emergency loading / unloading work is performed (procedure 4), and after the work is completed, the work based on the reservation data is restarted (procedure 5).

In the above-mentioned emergency loading / unloading procedure, procedure 2
Between Step 3 and Step 3, and between Step 4 and Step 5, there is no standby component storage box on the conveyor, so there is an empty time, and the work is extremely wasteful. Becomes For this reason, there is a drawback that the work efficiency is significantly reduced when the emergency storage and retrieval work frequently occurs. The present invention has been made under such a background, and during the loading / unloading work according to the work reservation function, a plurality of parts are taken out from the shelves in advance according to a predetermined work order and kept waiting on the conveyor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic weighing device that can easily carry out an emergency loading / unloading operation.

[0011]

The present invention is provided with an automatic warehouse for automatically taking out parts from a shelf and returning them to the shelf, and a part code and a stocking which are identification data of parts to be put in and taken out. A plurality of reservation data such as numbers is stored in advance in the storage means, and has a work reservation function for reading out the plurality of reservation data according to a predetermined work order at the time of loading and unloading work, and the automatic warehouse has the work reservation function. During the loading and unloading work according to, according to the predetermined work order in advance a plurality of parts from the shelf,
In an electronic weighing device that makes the conveyor on which the parts are conveyed stand by, a take-out part that stores which part of the plurality of parts corresponding to the plurality of reservation data is currently taken out from the shelf Storage means, mode switching means for switching to an urgent storage / receipt mode for urgent storage / receipt from storage / receipt work in accordance with the work reservation function, and operation when the mode is switched to the emergency storage / receipt mode. The emergency entry / exit data, which includes the part code for emergency entry / exit and the number of entry / exit, which is input from the means, is stored in the unloading part storage means, and is already stored in the shelf when the emergency entry / exit mode is switched. Control means for interrupting the reservation data of the component taken out from the next.

[0012]

According to the above construction, when the worker switches to the emergency loading / unloading mode by the mode switching means, the control means stores the emergency loading / unloading data input from the operating means in the removal component storage means. The reservation data of the parts already taken out of the shelf when the mode is switched to the emergency loading / unloading mode is interrupted. This makes it possible to easily perform the emergency loading / unloading work, and after this work is completed, the loading / unloading work according to the temporarily suspended work reservation function is continuously resumed, so that the loading / unloading work can be performed efficiently. It can be carried out.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an external configuration of an inventory management device to which an electronic weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 1 is an automatic warehouse having a function of automatically taking out component storage boxes. For details of this automatic warehouse, refer to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-98506.

The electronic weighing device 3 placed on the workbench 2 reads out the reservation data of the parts to be worked from the internal storage section, and stores the shelf number of the shelf storing the parts of the reservation data in the automatic warehouse 1. Send. As a result, the automated warehouse 1
The component storage box 4 of the corresponding component is taken out from the shelf of the shelf number and placed on the conveyor 5 which is rotating in the m direction in the figure. Electronic weighing device 3, when the sensor 6 detects the take-out completion of parts storage box 4 ₉ reads the part of the reservation data to be next work from the inside of the storage unit, and transmits the shelf number in the automated warehouse 1.

On the other hand, when the sensor 7 detects the finished parts storage box 4 ₁ in the automatic warehouse 1, the parts storage box 4 ₁ is returned to the original shelf. Operator 8, from the part storage box 4 ₅ which is carried in front of you, the electronic weighing device 3 of the display unit an instruction number that is displayed also on the display unit is taken out of parts displayed part code only electronic weighing device The counting operation is carried out by counting 3 and the counting operation is carried out, or the counting operation is carried out by storing the parts counted by the electronic weighing device 3 in the indicated number displayed on the display unit in the parts storage box. In Figure 1, parts storage box ₄₁ to ₄ parts storage box work is completed, parts storage box 4 ₅ parts storage box during operation, parts storage box 4 _{6-4 9} has not finished working parts It is a storage box. The control of the conveyor 5 is performed even when the worker 8 turns on / off a dedicated switch, or
You may interlock with the key operation of the operation part of the electronic weighing device 3.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the inventory management apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external construction of the electronic weighing apparatus 3. In these figures, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIGS. 2 and 3, 9 is a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling each unit of the apparatus, and 10 and 11 are scales, respectively, which constitute a weighing unit 12, which are respectively selected according to the weighing result. Weighing signal is C
Transfer to PU9.

Reference numeral 13 is a display unit including a plasma display or the like, which displays data such as weight and unit weight, and displays various states such as tare weight cancellation. Reference numeral 14 denotes an operation unit, which is a touch panel 14a arranged on the display unit 13.
, A numeric keypad and a function key 14b, and an alphabet key 14c. Of these, the touch panel 14a, when the operator 8 touches the key top notation displayed on the display screen of the display 13,
Items of the relevant part are input.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a ROM, which is composed of a control program area for controlling weighing processing, printing processing, display processing, data writing processing, and the like, and a table for storing character patterns. Reference numeral 16 denotes a RAM, a working area in which various flags and registers are secured, a component file 16a (see FIG. 4) for storing component data, a total data file for storing total data, and a reservation data. A reservation file 16b (see FIG. 5) for storing the data, an emergency loading / unloading file 16c (see FIG. 6) for storing emergency loading / unloading data, and a work performance data file for storing work performance data, It is composed of an insertion position counter C which stores the insertion position of the emergency storage / receipt data.

The component file 16a stores a component name, a unit weight, and a shelf number for each component code.
The worker 8 operates the ten keys of the operation unit 14 and the function keys 14b to input the component code, so that the component data is read. In addition, by the operator 8 operating the ten keys of the operation unit 14 and the keys for setting the reservation mode of the function keys 14b,
After the inventory management device is set to the reservation mode, the ten keys and the function keys 14b are operated to input the reservation data, whereby the reservation data including the part code and the designated number is stored in the reservation file 16b. The reservation data is sorted based on the shelf number.

Then, the worker 8 operates the ten keys of the operation unit 14 and the keys for setting the entry / exit mode of the function keys 14b to set the inventory management apparatus in the entry / exit mode, and then the operation unit 14 The reservation data stored at the head of the reservation file 16b is read out every time the ten keys of the keypad and the [NEXT] key of the function key 14b are operated.

In the reservation file 16b and the emergency loading / unloading file 16c, the take-out flag indicates the automatic warehouse 1
Is a flag indicating whether or not the component storage box 4 in which the component of the component code is stored is taken out from the predetermined shelf of No. 1. If set to "1", it means that it is taken out. If it is reset to "0", it means that it has not been taken out. Further, the emergency entry / exit file 16c is configured to store a maximum of 10 items.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 17 denotes a printing unit, and when the worker 8 presses one of the ten keys and the print key such as the function key 14b, the warehousing / reading read from the RAM 16 by the CPU 9 is performed. Print information such as information on labels and receipts.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a communication interface, and the CPU 9 exchanges data with the automated warehouse 1 through the communication interface 18.

With such a configuration, the operation of the worker 8 and the processing of the CPU 14 in the emergency entry / exit data input processing will be described with reference to the processing diagram of FIG. If it is necessary to make an emergency entry / exit during the entry / exit operation based on the work reservation, the worker 8 operates the ten keys of the operation unit 14 and the keys for setting the emergency entry / exit mode of the function key 14b. Put the inventory management device in emergency storage mode. As a result, the processing diagram shown in FIG. 7 starts.

First, in step SA1, the worker 8
Is the numeric keypad and function key 1 of the operation unit 14.
Operate 4b to input the emergency storage / receipt data. Up to 10 items can be input as the emergency storage data. As a result, the CPU 9 proceeds to the processing of step SA2, and the components storage boxes 4 ₆ to 4 ₉ which have been already taken out from the shelves of the automated warehouse 1 and placed on the conveyor 5 but have not completed the work yet. The number ("4" in this example)
After setting to the insertion position counter C of the RAM 16 as the number of items to be processed prior to the emergency loading / unloading work described later, the process proceeds to step SA3. In step SA3, CP
The U9 stores the emergency entry / exit data entered by the worker 8 in the process of step SA1 in the emergency entry / exit file 16c of the RAM 16, and then ends the emergency entry / exit data input process.

Next, the data communication processing of the CPU 9 with the automatic warehouse 1 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. When the sensor 6 detects the take-out completion of parts storage box 4 _9, data communication processing shown in FIG. 8 is started. CP
The U9 first proceeds to the process of step SB1, and determines whether or not the emergency entry / exit data is stored in the emergency entry / exit file 16c. If the result of this determination is "YES", then the operation proceeds to step SB2.

In step SB2, it is determined whether or not there is untransmitted emergency entry / exit data for the automated warehouse 1. This judgment is made by judging whether the contents of the take-out flag of the emergency loading / unloading file 16c shown in FIG. 6, that is, whether or not it is set to "1". If the result of this determination is "YES", then the operation proceeds to step SB3. In step SB3, the first emergency storage / receipt data (parts in the example of FIG. 6) of the plurality of untransmitted emergency storage / receipt data (the extraction flag is reset to “0”) stored in the emergency storage / receipt file 16c. The shelf number of the emergency entry / exit data of code KN1) is transferred via the communication interface 18. This shelf number is read from the parts file 16a shown in FIG. 4 based on the parts code of the above-mentioned head emergency entry / exit data. Next, the take-out flag of the relevant emergency entry / exit data in the emergency entry / exit file 16c is set to "1". And C
The PU 9 ends this data communication process.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step SB1 is "NO", that is, if the emergency entry / exit data is not stored in the emergency entry / exit file 16c, the operation proceeds to step SB4. In addition, if the determination result of step SB2 is "NO", that is, if there is no untransmitted emergency entry / exit data, the process proceeds to step SB4.

In step SB4, the reservation file 16b
The shelf number of the head reservation data (reservation data of the part code N5 in the example of FIG. 5) of the plurality of untransmitted reservation data (those whose take-out flag is reset to “0”) stored in the communication interface Transfer via 18 This shelf number is read from the component file 16a shown in FIG. 4 based on the component code of the head reservation data. Next, the extraction flag of the corresponding reservation data in the reservation file 16b is set to "1". Then, the CPU 9 ends this data communication process.

As described above, the CP of the electronic balance device 3
Every time the sensor 6 detects that the parts storage box 4 ₉ has been taken out, the U 9 sends the reservation data to be worked next or the shelf number of the emergency storage / receipt data to the automatic warehouse 1. If the parts storage box 4 is full and the parts storage box 4 cannot be carried in on the conveyor 5, the automated warehouse 1 does not take out the parts storage box 4 from the shelf.

Next, the worker 8 operates the ten keys of the operation unit 14 and the keys for setting the entry / exit mode of the function keys 14b to set the inventory management device in the entry / exit mode, and then the operation unit. The data reading process of the CPU 9 when the ten-key pad 14 and the [NEXT] key of the function key 14b are operated will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Worker 8 [NEX
When the [T] key is operated, the CPU 9 first proceeds to the process of step SC1 of FIG. 9 and determines whether or not the emergency entry / exit data is stored in the emergency entry / exit file 16c.
If the result of this determination is "YES", then step SC2
Go to.

At step SC2, it is determined whether or not the emergency entry / exit data is read from the emergency entry / exit file 16c. This judgment is made by judging whether or not the value of the insertion position counter C of the RAM 16 is 0. In the insertion position counter C, the number of items to be processed prior to the emergency loading / unloading work in the above-mentioned emergency loading / unloading data input process (the process of step SA2 in FIG. 7) (“4” in this embodiment).
Is set. When the result of the determination in step SC is "NO", that is, the value of the insertion position counter C is not "0", the emergency entry / exit data is stored in the emergency entry / exit file 16c.
If not read from step SC3, the process proceeds to step SC3.

At step SC3, the insertion position counter C
Decrement by 1 from the value of. As a result, a place for inserting the urgent storage / receipt data in the normal reservation data for the work reservation is secured. And CPU9
Proceeds to step SC4. Also, when the result of the determination in step SC1 is “NO”, that is, when the emergency storage / reception data is not stored in the emergency storage / receipt file 16c, the process proceeds to step SC4.

At step SC4, the reservation data stored at the head address of the plurality of reservation data stored in the reservation file 16b shown in FIG. 5 is read out.
The reservation file 16b is updated. That is, by the first-in first-out method, the reservation data stored at the next address is overwritten at the address of the reservation data just read, and so on.
At a certain address, the reserved data stored at an address one larger than that address is sequentially overwritten. Then, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SC6.

On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step SC2 is "YES", that is, when the value of the insertion position counter C is "0", and when the emergency entry / exit data is read from the emergency entry / exit file 16c, the step is executed. Proceed to SC5. In step SC5, the emergency entry / exit data 16c shown in FIG. 6 is read out from the emergency entry / exit data stored in the head address, and then the emergency entry / exit file 16c is updated. To do. That is, like the reservation file 16b, the first-in
By the first-out method, the emergency entry / exit data stored at the next address is overwritten at the emergency entry / exit data address that has just been read, and the same is applied to a certain address by one greater than that address. The emergency entry / exit data stored in the address is sequentially overwritten. Then, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SC6.

At step SC6, the above-mentioned step S is performed.
The component file 16a shown in FIG. 4 is created based on the component code of each of the reservation data read out in the process of C4 or step SC5 or the emergency warehousing / leaving data.
After reading the component data from the data, the data is stored in the corresponding register of the work area of the RAM 16 together with the reservation data or the emergency entry / exit data, and the data is displayed in a predetermined display area of the display unit 13, and then the data reading process is terminated. .

[0036] Thus, the operator 8, from the part storage box 4 ₅ which is carried in front of you, the display unit 13 of the electronic scale device 3
Of the component code displayed in the predetermined area of the display unit 13 and the counting operation is performed by the electronic weighing device 3 for the designated number similarly displayed in the predetermined area of the display unit 13, or the display operation of the display unit 13 is performed. Parts counted by the electronic weighing device 3 in the indicated number displayed in the predetermined area are stored in the parts storage box 4 ₅
Store in and carry out work.

Although the control of the conveyor 5 is not described in the above description, the following control method of the conveyor 5 is considered. (1) The conveyor 5 is temporarily stopped during loading and unloading work,
(In FIG. 1, m in the direction) to the downstream by hand parts storage box 4 ₅ worker 8 work has been completed when pushing, this sensor detecting is turned on the conveyor 5 is operated, the following components The storage box 4 ₄ is conveyed to the front of the worker 8.

[0038] (2) Goods Movement work leave off the conveyor 5, after the goods movements work on one part storage box 4 ₅ has been completed, when the operator 8 to turn on the conveyor 5 , The conveyor 5 operates, and the next parts storage box 4 ₄
Are conveyed in front of the worker 8. (3) The conveyor 5 is temporarily stopped during loading and unloading work,
When the worker 8 operates the ten keys of the operation unit and the [NEXT] key of the function keys after the loading / unloading work of one component storage box 4 ₅ is completed, the conveyor 5 is activated and the next component storage box 4 ₄ is operated. Are conveyed in front of the worker 8.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the emergency entry / exit file 16c is provided separately from the reservation file 16b, and the reservation data and the emergency entry / exit data are stored separately, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the emergency entry / exit data may be inserted into the reservation file 16b. Further, the automated warehouse 1 may have any structure as long as the parts storage box 4 is automatically taken out from the shelf and returned to the shelf.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the shelf number is transmitted from the electronic weighing device 3 to the automatic warehouse 1 has been shown. However, the part code is transmitted from the electronic weighing device 3 to the automatic warehouse 1. Good. However, in this case, it is necessary for the automated warehouse 1 side to have a file that stores the relationship between the part code and the shelf number. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the worker 8 inputs the reservation data by operating the ten keys and the function keys 14b of the operation unit 14 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reservation data may be stored in advance in a floppy disk, a hard disk, or the like in a personal computer or the like, and may be supplied to the electronic weighing device 3 on the floppy disk or online.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, during the loading and unloading work according to the work reservation function, a plurality of parts are taken out from the shelves in advance according to a predetermined work order and made to stand by on the conveyor. In the electronic balance device
Since the emergency storage / receipt data input from the operation unit is interrupted next to the reservation data of the parts already taken out from the shelf, there is an effect that the emergency storage / receipt work can be easily performed. Further, after the warehousing and unloading work is completed, the warehousing and unloading work according to the temporarily reserved work reservation function is continuously restarted, so that the warehousing and unloading work can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an external configuration of an inventory management device to which an electronic weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the inventory management device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic weighing device 3.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a parts file 16a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a reservation file 16b.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an emergency loading / unloading file 16c.

FIG. 7 is a processing diagram showing the operation of the worker 8 and the processing of the CPU 9 in the emergency entry / exit data input processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a data communication process of the automatic warehouse 1 of the CPU 9.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a data reading process of CPU 9.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a work procedure at the time of emergency loading / unloading work in a conventional automated warehouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic Warehouse 3 Electronic Scale Device 4 ₁ to 4 ₉ Parts Storage Box 5 Conveyor 6, 7 Sensor 8 Worker 9 CPU 10, 11 Scale 12 Weighing Section 13 Display Section 14 Operation Section 14a Touch Panel 14b Numeric Keypad and Function Keys 14c Alphabet Keys 15 ROM 16 RAM 16a Parts file 16b Reserved file 16c Emergency entry / exit file 17 Printing section 18 Communication interface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reservation data including an automatic warehouse for automatically taking out components and returning them to the shelves, and including a component code as the identification data of the components to be put in and out and the number of puts in and out. Is stored in advance in the storage means, and has a work reservation function for reading out the plurality of reservation data according to a predetermined work order at the time of loading and unloading work, and the automatic warehouse is provided during the loading and unloading work according to the work reservation function. , In an electronic weighing device that takes out a plurality of parts from the shelf in advance according to the predetermined work order and makes them stand by on a conveyor on which the parts are conveyed, among a plurality of parts corresponding to the plurality of reservation data, A picked-out parts storage means for storing which parts have been taken out from the shelves at present, and an urgent request from the loading / unloading work according to the work reservation function. It comprises a mode switching means for switching to an emergency loading / unloading mode for exiting and an emergency loading / unloading part code input from the operating means when the mode switching means switches to the emergency loading / unloading mode. And a control means for interrupting the emergency storage / receipt data next to the reservation data of the parts stored in the extraction / removal part storage means and already taken out of the shelf when the emergency storage / receipt mode is switched to. An electronic balance device characterized by: