JPH1164081A - Commodity processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deal with a variety of systems at low cost by designating a port among a verity of displayed ports an then designating the type of a signal selectively, thereby setting the type of a signal being handled at the designated port. SOLUTION: An input signal first set screen 3a is displayed on a touch screen 12 and an input port for setting/changing the type of a signal is designated by touching a port select button (input port number 30 and the type 31 of input signal), while an input signal second set screen 3b is displayed by opening a small window 3c. Since a part of the type of input signal is listed on the screen 3b for constituting an input signal select button (set means) 2, the type of input signal is selected by touching the button 32 and registered as the signal of a designated input port 30. This screen 3b is the first page screen, a second page is presented by touching a lower page feed key 33, and other types of input signal can be listed up.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a counting scale,
The present invention relates to a merchandise processing device such as a charge scale or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a counting scale for calculating the number of articles (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6 (1994)) by dividing the total weight of many articles (for example, screws) by the single weight (single weight) of the articles. And a toll scale that calculates the price by multiplying the weight of the article by the unit price. In addition to the case where the weighing device itself is used alone, there are cases where an automatic weighing system is configured by electrically connecting various external devices to an input / output port of the device.

[0003] The types of input / output signals for such a weighing device vary depending on the external device connected thereto, but there are currently about 30 types of input / output signals. Providing a large number of input / output ports complicates the configuration of the printed circuit board of the weighing device, leading to an increase in cost. Therefore, in the past, several to about 10 input / output ports or less were provided, and the manufacturer changed the microcomputer program each time to determine what kind of signal to input / output to each port according to the user's specifications. I corresponded.

[0004]

However, in such a method, it is necessary to change (design) a program each time for each user or for each system specification, which causes a cost increase and a long delivery time. Become. In addition, when the automatic weighing system is changed, it is necessary to replace the ROM with a design change, so the system flexibility is low, and the user cannot freely change the system after delivery. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a commodity processing apparatus which is low-cost and can easily cope with various automatic commodity processing systems.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

To achieve the above object, a commodity processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: first display means for displaying each of input / output ports and the type of signal assigned to each of the ports in correspondence with each other; Second display means for displaying a list of the types of signals to be assigned to the port when any of the specified ports is specified, and displaying the type of the specified signal when the type of the signals displayed in the list is selectively specified. Setting means for setting and registering the type of signal handled by the port.

In the present invention, after specifying a port from the type of port displayed on the first display means, the type of signal displayed on the second display means is selectively specified, and the specified port is displayed. Set the type of signal to be handled.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A shows a case where the commodity processing apparatus is constituted by a counting scale A in this embodiment. In the counting scale A, a weighing unit 10, a label printer 11, a touch screen 12, and a stroke key unit 13 for converting an output of a load cell into a weight and outputting the weight are connected to a microcomputer (microcomputer) 1 via an interface (not shown). ing. The weighing means 10 includes:
The weight of the product or tare placed on the weighing dish 14 in FIG. 1B is converted into a digital signal and output. The CPU 15 of the microcomputer 1 shown in FIG. 1A stores the weight of a large number of products,
The number of products such as screws is counted based on the unit weight (single weight) of the products stored in the ROM 6 and the ROM 17 and a predetermined arithmetic expression. The label printer 1
Fig. 1 shows the number of goods counted and the name of goods printed
The label L of (b) is issued. The touch screen (display unit) 12 is a device that displays various information and menus on a display such as a liquid crystal display device and performs input by touching a part of the display with a finger. The stroke key unit 13 includes a numeric keypad, a call key, a tare key, and the like.

In FIG. 1 (a), the counting scale A has
A pair of connectors 18 and 19 provided with a plurality of input ports (terminal pins) and output ports (terminal pins) are provided. In these connectors 18 and 19, the relay box 5 includes a multi-core coaxial cable 50. Connected through. The relay box 5 has a large number of input terminals 51.
An output terminal 52 is provided, and a controller (sequencer) 61 of a transport device 60 constituting the external device B is connected to these terminals 51 and 52 via a signal line 62. That is, the controller 61 of the transport device 60
Is electrically connected to the microcomputer 1 of the counting scale A via the relay box 5, the coaxial cable 50, the connectors 18, 19 and the like.

The transport device 60 places (supplies) a tare (container) or an article (screw, etc.) on the weighing pan 14, and removes the tare or the article from the weighing pan 14 after counting the articles (unloading). To do). The input port and the output port input and output a timing signal, an operation command, and the like for interlocking the balance A with the transport device 60.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show screens of the touch screen 12. FIG. 2A shows a menu screen 2a of the operation mode of the counting scale A. The menu screen 2a is
Displayed when the power is turned on. Various data, function keys, and the like are displayed on the touch screen 12, and at the same time, what kind of signals are input to and output from the input / output port can be set on the touch screen 12.

Next, a description will be given of a function of setting what kind of signal is to be input / output to / from the input / output port on the touch screen 12. FIG. 2B shows a setting menu screen 2b.
This is displayed by touching the “setting mode” button 21 in FIG. By touching the “relay box setting” button 22 in FIG. 2B, the input signal first setting screen (first display means) 3a shown in FIG.
Is displayed.

The input signal first setting screen 3a displays a plurality of input port numbers 30 and types 31 of input signals (set and registered) assigned to the input port numbers 30 in correspondence with each other. I do. Input port number 30 and input signal type 3 on the input signal first setting screen 3a
The portion displaying 1 constitutes a port selection button,
By touching the port selection button 30 (31), an input port for setting or changing the type of signal is designated, and a small window 3c opens as shown in FIG. The screen (second display means) 3b is displayed.

The input signal second setting screen 3b displays a list of some of the selectable input signal types 32. The portion displaying these types of input signals constitutes an input signal selection button (setting means) 32. By touching the input signal selection button 32, the type of the input signal is selected from the display, and Specified input port 30
Is registered as a signal. The input signal second setting screen 3b shown in FIG. 3B is the screen of the first page, and the input signal second setting screen 3b is changed to the second page by touching the lower page feed key 33 and input. List other types of signals. On the other hand, by touching the page return key 34 of the input signal second setting screen 3b of the second page (not shown), the input signal second setting screen 3b of the first page of FIG. 3B is displayed. By touching the “return” button 35 at the upper right, the input signal first setting screen 3 shown in FIG.
a is displayed.

By touching the "output setting" button 36 on the input signal first setting screen 3a, an output signal first setting screen (first display means) 4a shown in FIG. 4A is displayed. Hereinafter, the screen configuration of the output setting will be described.

The first output signal setting screen 4a displays a plurality of output port numbers 40 and types 41 of output signals assigned (set and registered) to the output port numbers 40 in correspondence with each other. I do. Output port number 40 and output signal type 4 of the output signal first setting screen 4a
The portion displaying 1 constitutes a port selection button,
By touching the port selection button 40 (41), an output port for setting or changing the type of signal is designated, and a small window 4c is opened as shown in FIG. The screen (second display means) 4b is displayed. FIG. 4B shows the input signal second setting screen 4b.
Is shown on the third page, but the first page is actually displayed.

The output signal second setting screen 4b displays a list of some of the selectable output signal types 42. The portion displaying these types of output signals constitutes an output signal selection button (setting means) 42. By touching the output signal selection button 42, the type of output signal is selected from the display, and Output port 40 specified
Is registered as a signal. The output signal second setting screen 4b shown in FIG. 4B is the screen of the third page. When the lower page feed key 43 is touched, the output signal second setting screen 4b becomes the fourth page and is output. List other types of signals. On the other hand, when the user touches the page return key 44 of the output signal second setting screen 4b for the third page, the output signal shown in FIG.
A second output signal setting screen 4b for the second page is displayed.
By touching the "return" button 45 on the upper right, the output signal first setting screen 4a of FIG. 4A is displayed.

Generally, the input / output signals assigned to the input / output ports shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the types of selectable input / output signals are stored in the non-volatile RAM of the RAM 16 in FIG. Remember.

Next, a method of registering and changing an input signal to be assigned will be described. First, on the menu screen 2a shown in FIG.
Touching 1 causes the setting menu screen 2b shown in FIG.
Is displayed. Next, when the button 22 of “relay box setting” is touched, an input signal first setting screen 3a shown in FIG. 3A is displayed. When an input port to be set or changed from the display of the input signal first setting screen 3a is designated by touching the button 30 (or 31), the input signal second setting screen shown in FIG. 3b appears. Thereafter, when one of the input signal types 32 on the input signal second setting screen 3b is selected and specified by touching, the input signal is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 16 as an input signal of the specified input port. You.

For example, the user touches the button 30 (or 31) of the input port number "0" in FIG.
By touching “Tare” in the display of the input signal second setting screen 3b of (b), the column of the input port number “0” in the input signal first setting screen 3a of FIG. The display content changes from "no processing" to "tare", and "tare" is registered as an input signal of the "0" -th input port.

Next, a method of registering and changing the setting of the output signal to be allocated will be described. When the “output setting” button 36 in FIG. 3A is touched, an output signal first setting screen 4a in FIG. 4A is displayed. When an output port to be set or changed from the display of the output signal first setting screen 4a is designated by touching the button 40 (or 41), the output signal second setting screen shown in FIG. 4b appears. Thereafter, when one of the output signal types 42 on the output signal second setting screen 4b is selected and specified by touching, the output signal is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 16 as the output signal of the specified output port. You.

For example, the user touches the button 40 (or 41) of the output port number "4" in FIG.
By touching “Tare signal during tare subtraction” in the display of the output signal second setting screen 4b of (b), the column of the output port number “4” in the output signal first setting screen 4a of FIG. Changes the display content from "not used" to "during tare signal" and registers "destination signal" as the output signal of the "4" th output port.

As described above, in the counting scale A, the types of input / output signals assigned to each input / output port can be freely set and registered. Therefore, the program is changed for each system or user specification. No need. Therefore, the cost can be reduced, and the delivery time can be shortened. After delivery, the input / output signals assigned by the user can be changed.

In the above embodiment, the port numbers of the input / output ports and the input / output signals are displayed on the touch screen 12, so that the operability is good.

However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to use a touch screen. For example, a port number of an input / output port, an input / output signal and a cursor are displayed on a display, and the cursor is operated by operating the stroke key unit 13. It may be moved to select and specify a port number or an input / output signal.

In the above embodiment, input / output signals can be set using the plurality of setting screens 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b. However, depending on the size (resolution) of the touch screen 12, these screens may be used. May be combined on one screen. For example, in the embodiment, the input signal first setting screen 3a of FIG.
Although the output signal first setting screen 4a of (a) is a separate screen, they may be displayed on one screen. In the embodiment, the input signal first setting screen 3 shown in FIG.
a and the input signal second setting screen 3b in FIG. 3B are separate screens, but they may be displayed on one screen.

In the above embodiment, both the input and output signals can be set and registered. However, either the input signal (control signal) for controlling the product processing device or the output signal (control signal) for controlling the external device can be used. Only one of them may be set and registered. For example, in the case of the counting scale A, 19 kinds of output signals are assumed, whereas about 10 kinds of input signals are provided. If 10 input ports are provided, only the output signals are set and registered. It should be possible to do so.

In the present invention, a CRT display may be used as the display means in addition to the liquid crystal display. In addition, the present invention, in addition to the counting scale, a rate scale that displays the price of a product based on the weight of the product, a printer such as a label printer that prints and issues a label, or affixed a printed label. It can be applied to label issuing and pasting machines. Further, the present invention may be an apparatus including a combination of two or more of the counting scale, the electronic fee scale or the printer, and the label issuing and pasting machine. In the present invention, it is not always necessary to provide the label printer 11 and the stroke key unit 13.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
After specifying the port displayed on the display means, the type of input / output signal can be selectively specified, and the type of input / output signal handled by the port can be set. Therefore, it is possible to freely set and register the types of input / output signals assigned to each input / output port without changing the program each time for each system or user specification. As a result, the cost and delivery time of the product processing apparatus can be reduced.
Moreover, after delivery, the input / output signals assigned by the user can be changed, thereby increasing the flexibility of the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic counting system using a counting scale according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a perspective view of the counting scale.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a menu screen and a setting menu screen.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an input signal first setting screen and an input signal second setting screen.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an output signal first setting screen and an output signal second setting screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3a: input signal first setting screen (first display means) 3b: input signal second setting screen (second display means) 4a: output signal first setting screen (first display means) 4b: output signal second setting screen (Second display means) 32, 42: setting means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A commodity processing apparatus electrically connectable to various external devices via input / output ports, wherein each of the input / output ports is associated with a type of signal assigned to each port. First display means for displaying the selected signal, second display means for displaying a list of the types of signals to be assigned to the port when any of the displayed ports are specified, and selectively specifying the type of the signals displayed in the list And a setting means for setting and registering the designated signal type as the signal type handled by the port. 2. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article processing apparatus is a counting scale for calculating the number of articles by dividing a total weight of the articles by a single weight of the articles. apparatus. 3. The product processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of the signal is a control signal for controlling the product processing apparatus. 4. The product processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of the signal is a control signal for controlling an external device. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display means are touch screens.
A product processing apparatus according to item 1.