JPH1159643A - Portable price tag issuing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain the number of equal price tags continuously issued for reducing labor load in changing a selling price. SOLUTION: The portable price tag issuing machine 1 which is separate from a personal computer 2 activates a printer 1b when a single item code set on an article whose price tag is to be issued, sum data regarding the price tag of the article and the number of price tags to be issued are input from a scanner 1e or a keyboard 1c, to issue the specified number of price tags of a value based on the input sum. In addition, the number of issued price tags is stored together with the input single article code and sum data. When it is connected to the personal computer 2, respective data of the number of issued price tags, the article code and the sum are transmitted and output to the computer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable price tag issuing machine for issuing a price tag printed with a changed sales price or a discount price of a product whose selling price is changed by close-out sales or the like in a retail store such as a supermarket or a convenience store. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional portable price tag issuing machine prints predetermined amount data on a sticker on a mount set on a printer every time an issue button is pressed, and uses this sticker as a price tag. It was issued one by one.

[0003] Then, when a sales person in charge of a supermarket or the like suddenly changes the selling price due to close-out sales or the like, he / she goes to the sales floor of the product with a portable price tag issuing machine and finds the number of remaining products whose selling price is changed. And set the changed selling price or discount amount of the product in the portable price tag issuing machine. Thereafter, when the issue button is pressed for the remaining number of the product and the price tag sticker is issued, the work of attaching the price tag sticker to the product one by one has been performed.

[0004] When the sales floor clerk finishes the work of attaching the price tag sticker, he returns to the backyard of the store, and puts a single item code of the product whose selling price has been changed and a computer code such as a personal computer before the change on a computer terminal such as a personal computer installed in the backyard. Data such as the selling price, the selling price after the change, the discount amount, the quantity of the product whose selling price has been changed, and the like were input. The data input to the computer terminal is automatically collected by a store computer functioning as a host device via a communication line. Then, in the store computer, a selling price change list 90 as shown in FIG. 9 is timely created based on the data collected from the computer terminal, and is printed or displayed. By checking the selling price change list 90, the store manager can easily manage the product name, selling price change amount, changed quantity, and the like of the product whose selling price has been changed during business hours due to close-out sales or the like.

[0005]

However, conventionally,
Since the sales floor staff manually issued the price tag sticker attached to the product whose sales price was changed at the sales floor and manually entered the data on the product whose sales price was changed at the backyard into the computer terminal, , The burden on the sales floor staff was heavy. In particular, the number of products whose selling price is to be changed is counted, the number of the products is recorded in a memo, etc., and then the user must return to the backyard and manually input the data into the computer terminal. .

In order to solve such a problem, since the number of products whose selling prices are changed matches the number of identical price tags issued by the portable price tag issuing machine, the same It is only necessary that the number of price tags can be automatically acquired. Further, it is only necessary that the number of issued same price tags acquired by the portable price tag issuing machine can be automatically transmitted and output to the computer terminal. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable price tag issuing machine capable of easily acquiring the number of issued identical price tags issued consecutively and reducing the work load associated with a change in selling price.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a portable price tag issuing machine having a price tag printing means for printing and issuing a price tag, a single item code set for a product to be issued a price tag and an amount related to the price tag of the product. Input means for inputting data and the number of issued price tags, and when the data of the single item code, the amount of money and the number of issued sheets are input by the input means, the price tag printing means is operated to set a price tag based on the input amount. Price tag issue control means for issuing the number of issued price tags, issue price data storage means for storing the issued number of price tags issued under the control of the price tag issue control means together with the single item code and the amount data input by the input means, Issued result data output means for outputting each data of the number of price tags issued, single item code and amount stored in the issued result data storage means. That.

Further, when an additional issue key is provided and this additional issue key is input after the price tag is issued under the control of the price tag issue control means, the same price tag as that issued by the control of the price tag issue control means is issued. While issuing a predetermined number,
If a function of adding the number of issued sheets stored by the issuance result data storage means by a predetermined number is added, it is not necessary to accurately count the number of products for which price tags are to be issued in advance, which is convenient. Preferably, the issuance result data output means is a means for transmitting and outputting to the computer each data of the number of price tags issued, the single item code and the amount stored in the issuance result data storage means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a store system using a portable price tag issuing machine 1.
With the portable price tag issuing machine 1 according to the present invention,
A personal computer 2 as a computer terminal having a connector 2a detachably connected to a connector 1a of the portable price tag issuing machine 1, and a store computer 3 functioning as a host device of the personal computer
And a printing device 4 that prints and issues the selling price change list 90 and the like. The personal computer 2, the store computer 3, and the printing device 4 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network).
This is constructed by connecting with a communication line 5 such as k).
The number of portable price tag issuing machines 1 may be one or plural.

The personal computer 2 has a function of communicating commands and data by optical communication with the portable price tag issuing machine 1 connected to the connector 2a. Note that a wireless device may be connected in place of the connector 2a, and a wireless circuit may be mounted on the portable price tag issuing device 1, so that commands and data may be communicated with the portable price tag issuing device 1 by wireless communication. .

On the other hand, the store computer 3 is a conventionally well-known computer having a keyboard 3a, a display 3b, and the like. The store computer 3 creates a selling price change list 90 based on data collected from the personal computer 2 via the communication line 5. It has a function of controlling the printing device 4 to print out the sales price change list 90.

The portable price tag issuing machine 1 comprises the connector 1a
In addition, a printer 1b, a keyboard 1c, and a display 1d are provided. Also, a handy type barcode scanner 1e can be connected. Although not shown, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 includes a battery as a driving power source.

The printer 1b is, for example, a thermal dot printer, which prints money amount data on a price tag sticker 7 affixed to a mount 6 on roll paper at equal intervals and issues it as a price tag. In this embodiment, the price tag sticker 7 includes a seal 7a for printing a discounted price as shown in FIG. 2 (a) and a seal 7b for printing a discount price as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Two types are prepared and can be properly used by the user. By the way, each seal 7a,
7b, the comments in the upper and lower areas are preprinted, and the printer 1 is placed in the central area when the price tag is issued.
The price tag is printed by printing the amount data (the selling price after the discount in the case of the sticker 7a, the discount amount in the case of the sticker 7b).

As shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard 1c includes, in addition to a numeric keypad K1 including a decimal point key and a clear key, an entry key K2 for declaring registration of numeric data by the numeric keypad K1, a cancel key K3, an additional issue key K4, An end key K5 or the like is provided, and functions as input means for inputting the before-change selling price, the after-change selling price, the number of issued price tags, and the like of the product to be issued a price tag.

The display 1d is a liquid crystal display capable of displaying, for example, English, numeric and kana characters, and displays a menu screen, key-input data, and the like. Barcode scanner 1
“e” optically reads a barcode (single item code) attached to a product, and functions as an input unit for inputting a single item code set for a product to be issued a price tag. The single item code can also be input using the ten keys K1 and entry keys K2 of the keyboard 1c.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control circuit unit mounted on the portable price tag issuing machine 1. As shown, the portable price tag issuing device 1 has a CPU as a control unit main body.
(Central Processing Unit) 11. A ROM (Read Only Memory) is supplied to the CPU 11 via a bus line 12 such as an address bus and a data bus.
13 and a storage unit of the RAM 14, a communication circuit 15 for communicating with the personal computer 2 connected via the connector 1a, a scanner controller 16 which takes in a bar code read by the scanner 1e and gives it to the CPU 11, and a keyboard. Capture key signal from 1c
A keyboard controller 17 to be provided to the PU 1; a display controller 18 to control the display 1d to display data instructed by the CPU 11; a printer to control the printer 1b to print data instructed by the CPU 11 on the price tag sticker 7. A controller 19 and the like are connected to form a control circuit unit.

The portable price tag issuing machine 1 has a RAM
14, as shown in FIG. 5, a setting memory M1 for storing data of an issue date, a person-in-charge code and a price tag type flag.
And an issue result memory M2 for storing price tag issue result data including a single item code, a selling price before change, a sell price after change, a discount amount, and the number of issued sheets, and a work memory M3 for temporarily storing the price tag issue result data. doing. Here, the price tag type flag stored in the setting memory M1 is reset to "0" when the price tag sticker 7a for printing the discount price is used as the price tag sticker, and when the price tag sticker 7b for the discount tag printing is used. Shall be set to "1".

Thus, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 has the RO
The processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 8 is executed by a program stored in advance in M13.
That is, the CPU 11 starts the price tag issuing process shown in FIG. 6 in a state where the computer device such as the personal computer 2 is not connected to the connector 1a.

First, as ST (step) 1, the work memory M3 is cleared. Further, each data set in the setting memory M1 as ST2, that is, the issue date (y
y-mm-dd), the person-in-charge code (nnnn) and the price tag type flag (0 or 1) are displayed on the display 1d. In this state, if a key for declaring the change of the setting data, for example, a cancel key K3, is input as ST3, an issue date, a person in charge code, and a price tag type flag are set in ST4 according to the input of the ten key K1 and the entry key K2. Each data of the setting memory M1 is changed in order, and the changed data is displayed again.

In step ST5, the barcode scanner 1 is used.
If the product barcode is read by e, the single item code of the item for which the selling price is to be changed is input in the form of a barcode, so that the product barcode is converted into a single item code (zzz... It is stored in the memory M3.

Next, as ST7, the process waits for the before-change selling price A and the after-change selling price B of the above-mentioned selling price change target product to be inputted in order, and the ten-key K1 inputs the before-change selling price A and the after-change selling price B in order. If it has been done, the selling price A before the change and the selling price B after the change are compared in ST8.
Then, if the changed selling price B is lower than the changed selling price A (A> B), then as ST9, “discount amount C = changed selling price B−changed selling price A” is calculated, and the changed selling price A is changed. ,
The changed selling price B and the discount amount C are stored in the work memory M3, respectively.
To be stored. If the selling price B after the change has not been reduced from the selling price A before the change in ST8, the process returns to ST7, and the selling price A before the change and the selling price B after the change are input again.

Next, the CPU 11 waits for the number of issued price tags D to be inputted as ST10, and if the number of issued cards D is inputted by the ten keys K1, the inputted number of issued cards D is inputted as ST11. It is stored in the work memory M3. Thereafter, as ST12, the price tag type flag in the setting memory M1 is checked. If the price tag type flag is "0", that is, if the use of the seal 7a for printing the discount price is set, the printer 1b is set as ST13.
Thus, the price tag sticker 7 in which the changed selling price B in the work memory M3 is printed as the amount data is continuously issued for the number of issued sheets D in the work memory M3. On the other hand, when the price tag type flag is “1”, that is, when the use of the seal for discount 7b is set, the price tag in which the discount C in the work memory M3 is printed as the amount data by the printer 1b in ST14. The seals 7 are continuously issued for the number of issued sheets D in the work memory M3 (price tag issuing control means).

Thereafter, as ST15, the process proceeds to a key input process specifically shown in FIG. That is, the process waits for a key input from the keyboard 1c as ST16. And ST1
When the key input of the additional issuance key K4 is detected as 7, the additional issuance of the same discount sticker 7 is instructed.
As ST18, the issued number data D in the work memory M3
Is incremented by one.

Thereafter, as ST19, the setting memory M1
Check the price tag type flag in. If the price tag type flag is "0", that is, if the use of the seal 7a for printing the discount price after sale is set, the printer 1
b, only one price tag sticker 7 in which the changed selling price B in the work memory M3 is printed as amount data is issued. On the other hand, if the price tag type flag is “1”, that is, if the use of the seal for discount 7b is set, ST21
The printer 1b issues only one price tag sticker 7 in which the discount C in the work memory M3 is printed as the amount data. Thereafter, the process returns to ST16 to wait for the next key input.

In this key input standby state, S
When the input of the end key K5 is detected as T22,
Since the end of the issuance of the discount sticker 7 was instructed,
23 as a single item code (z
zz... zz), the before-change selling price A, the after-change selling price B, the discount amount C, and the number of issued sheets D are additionally stored in the issuance record memory M2 as price tag issuance record data (issuance record data storage means). Thereafter, the process returns to the start of the price tag issuing process.

When the personal computer 2 is connected to the connector 1a, the CPU 11 starts the result transmitting process shown in FIG. First, as ST1, the process stands by to receive a command for collecting price tag issue result data from the personal computer 2. Then, when the collection command is received, it is determined at ST2 whether or not price tag issuance result data is stored in the issuance result memory M2. If it is not stored, an error response is sent to the personal computer 2 in ST3, and the process returns to the start of the result transmission process.

If the price tag issuance result data is stored in the issuance result memory M2 in ST2, the price tag issuance result data is collectively read from the issuance result memory M2 in ST4. Then, this price tag issuance result data is used as a detailed record, and a transmission message is created by adding a header record including each data of the issue date, the person in charge code and the price tag type flag in the setting memory M1. Thereafter, the transmission message is transmitted to the personal computer 2 in ST5.

Thereafter, if it is confirmed in ST6 that the transmission of the transmission message has been completed, it is determined in ST7 whether the transmission message has been normally transmitted to the personal computer 2. Then, if it is confirmed from the response message from the personal computer 2 that the transmission was successful,
At T8, the issue result memory M2 is cleared, and the process returns to the start of the result transmission process. If the transmission was not successful, the process returns to the start of the result transmission process without clearing the issue result memory M2.

In a supermarket or the like employing the store system according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when a commodity whose selling price is suddenly changed due to close-out sales or the like is generated, a salesperson in charge holds the portable price tag issuing machine 1. Go to the store for that product. Then, first, each data of the issue date, the person in charge code and the price tag type flag displayed on the display 1d is confirmed.

Here, for example, when the issuance date is not today's date, or when the person in charge code is not its own code, or when the price tag sticker 7 on the mount 6 set on the printer 1b of the portable price tag issuing machine 1 is displayed. The price tag type flag is reset to "0" despite being a seal 7b for printing a discount, or the price tag type flag is set to "1" despite being a seal 7a for printing a discount price. If it is set, it is corrected to a correct value using the numeric keypad K1 and entry key K2 of the keyboard 1c.

Next, the person in charge of the sales floor reads the bar code attached to the product to be changed in selling price with the bar code scanner 1e and sends the single item code (zzz... Zz) of the product to be changed in selling price to the portable price tag issuing machine 1. At the same time, the pre-change price A and the post-change price B of the selling price change target product are input to the portable price tag issuing machine 1 using the numeric keypad K1 and entry key K2 of the keyboard 1c. Further, the sales floor clerk estimates the approximate remaining number of the selling price change target products to be relatively small, and inputs the remaining number to the portable price tag issuing machine 1 using the numeric keypad K1 and the entry key K2 as the issued number D.

By performing such an operation, when the backing paper 6 on which the sticker 7a for printing the discounted price is printed is set on the printer 1b, the changed selling price B is printed on the sticker 7a. When the price tag sticker 7 is continuously issued by the number of issued sheets D and the mount 6 on which the sticker 7b for discount printing is attached is set, the selling price B before the change and the selling price B after the change are set on the sticker 7b. The price tag sticker 7 on which the discount amount C calculated by subtraction is printed is continuously issued by the issued number D.

Therefore, the sales floor staff sticks the issued price tag stickers 7 one by one to the selling price change target product. If the price tag seal 7 is insufficient, the additional issue key K4
Press. Then, the same price tag stickers 7 are issued as many as the number of times the price tag issuance key K4 is pressed, so that the price tag stickers 7 are attached to the selling price change target products. At this time,
The number of times the price tag issuance key K4 is pressed is added to the number of issuances D stored in the work memory M3.

When the price tag stickers 7 have been applied to all of the one kind of sale price change target product, the sales floor clerk presses the end key K5. Then, the issue record memory M
2, the single item code (zzz ...
.. Zz), the selling price A before the change, the selling price B after the change, the discount amount C, and the number of issued sheets D are additionally stored.

After that, if there is any other commodity whose price is to be changed, the sales floor clerk performs the same operation as that after the barcode reading operation on the commodity. By doing so, the price tag issue result data is stored in the issue result memory M2 for each sale price change target product.

When the operation of attaching the price tag stickers 7 has been completed for all the products whose price is to be changed in this way, the sales floor clerk goes to the backyard of the store with the portable price tag issuing machine 1 and is installed in this backyard. The connector 1a of the portable price tag issuing machine 1 is connected to the connector 2a of the personal computer 2. Then, the personal computer 2 is operated to start the collection of price tag issuance result data.

In this way, the personal computer 2 transmits a collection command of price tag issuing result data to the portable price tag issuing machine 1, and in response to this, the portable price tag issuing device 1 issues the issuing result data to the personal computer 2. The price tag issue result data stored in the memory M2 is transmitted.

Thus, the personal computer 2
The price tag issuing result data collected from the portable price tag issuing machine 1 is transmitted to the store computer 3 via the LAN line 5 as it is. Thereby, the store computer 3 manages the price tag issue result data collected from the portable price tag issuer 1. And, for example, the store computer 3
Is instructed to output a selling price change list from the menu screen on the display 3b, a selling price change list 90 as shown in FIG. 9 is created based on the price tag issuance result data, and is printed by the printing device 4. Is output.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 manages the number of issued price tags D for the same price tag sticker 7 issued for one type of price tag issue target product, and Has the function of outputting the single item code and price data (price before change A, price B after change and discount C) of the price tag, so that the person in charge of the sales floor can check the remaining number of the products whose price is to be changed, that is, the price tag sticker. It is no longer necessary to accurately count the number of issued 7's and write them down in memos, etc., and in this respect, the effect of greatly reducing the work load is achieved.

Further, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 has a function of transmitting the number D of issued price tags 7 to the personal computer 2 together with the single item code of the product and the price data relating to the price tag. There is no need to manually input these data to the personal computer 2 at the backyard. As a result, the effect of greatly reducing the work load can be achieved from this point as well, there is no erroneous data input, and the reliability of the data managed by the store computer 3 can be improved.

Further, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 of the present embodiment
After issuing one type of price tag sticker 7 continuously for the specified number of issued sheets D, each time the additional issue key K4 is pressed, the same type of price tag sticker 7 is issued the number of times the additional issue key K4 is pressed. ing. Therefore, the number of issued sheets D to be specified first may be a rough value. After the price tag sticker 7 issued by the issued number of sheets D is affixed to the selling price change target product, the shortage is added one by one by pressing the additional issuing key K4. Since it is sufficient to issue the price tag, the sales floor clerk does not need to be aware of the exact remaining number of the selling price change target products, and can efficiently attach the price tag sticker 7.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a seal 7a for printing a discount price and a seal 7b for printing a discount amount are used.
Although the portable price tag issuing machine 1 which can be properly used has been described, the present invention can be applied to a portable price tag issuing machine 1 using either type of seal. Further, it goes without saying that the printing and issuing method of the price tag sticker 7 is not limited to that of the present embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the portable price tag issuing machine 1 waits for a collection command from the personal computer 2 when transmitting the actual price tag issuance data to the personal computer 2. Machine 1
A transmission key is provided on the keyboard 1c of the personal computer 2, and when the CPU 11 of the portable price tag issuing machine 1 detects a key input of the transmission key with the start of the result transmission processing, the personal computer 2
Sends a transmission request command to the
It is also possible to transmit the price tag issue result data in the issue result memory M2 to the personal computer 2.

In the above embodiment, when the relationship between the before-change selling price A and the after-change selling price B input in ST7 of the price tag issuing process shown in FIG. 6 is A> B, the input is validated. , The price reduction rate x = (A / B) × 100%, and when the price reduction rate x is within a preset allowable range (for example, 50% or more), the input may be made valid. By doing so, it is possible to prohibit the issuance of the price tag sticker 7 that has been discounted at a price reduction rate that is not less than the allowable range.
In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0045]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a portable price tag issuing machine capable of easily acquiring the number of issued identical price tags issued consecutively and reducing the work load associated with a change in selling price. More specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is no need to accurately count the number of issued price tags and keep a memo. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to be aware of the exact remaining number of the selling price change target products, and the work of attaching the price tag sticker 7 can be performed efficiently. Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to manually input the price tag issuance result data to the computer terminal, and it is possible to prevent erroneous input. In addition, there is an effect that the price tag issuance result data can always be accurately managed by the computer terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a store system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view showing a price tag sticker issued in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary plan view showing a keyboard of the portable price tag issuing machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of the portable price tag issuing machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main memory area formed in a RAM of the portable price tag issuing machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a price tag issuing process executed by a CPU of the portable price tag issuing machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart specifically showing key input processing in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a result transmission process executed by the CPU of the portable price tag issuing machine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of issuing a selling price change list.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable price tag issuing machine 1a ... Connector 1b ... Printer 1c ... Keyboard K4 ... Additional issue key 1e ... Barcode scanner 2 ... Personal computer 2a ... Connector 3 ... Store computer 4 ... Printing device 7 ... Price tag seal 11 ... CPU 13 ... RAM M2: Issuance record memory 15: Communication circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable price tag issuing machine having a price tag printing means for printing and issuing a price tag, comprising: a single item code set for a product to be issued a price tag; And input means for inputting the data of the single item code, the amount, and the number of issued cards. By operating the price tag printing means, the price tag of the value based on the input amount is issued for the number of issued cards. Price tag issuance control means; issuance result data storage means for storing the number of issued price tags issued under the control of the price tag issue control means together with the single item code and the amount data input by the input means; Issue data output means for outputting each data of the number of issued price tags, the single item code and the amount of money stored by That portable price tag issuing machine. 2. An additional issuance key is provided, and when the additional issuance key is input after a price tag is issued under the control of the price tag issuance control means, the same price tag as that issued by the control of the price tag issuance control means is provided. Issue a predetermined number of
2. The portable price tag issuing machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of issued cards stored by the issuance record data storage unit is added by the predetermined number. 3. The issuing result data output means is means for transmitting and outputting to the computer each data of the number of issued price tags, the single item code and the amount stored in the issuing result data storage means. Portable price tag issuing machine.