Label issuance device

Abstract

To automatically set a discount rate depending on a residual time until sellout even without considering the discount rate, and to apply closeout labels to all goods if the goods belong to a same field.SOLUTION: In a label issuance device 10, a control part 15 calculates a residual time on the basis of a consumption time limit of goods acquired by an interface part 11 and a current date and time measured by a time measuring part 12, acquires discount information associated with the calculated residual time and identification information of a field to which the goods acquired by the interface part 11 belong from a storge part 13, and transmits the acquired discount information to a closeout label issuance part as information to be printed on the closeout labels.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a label issuing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when prepared foods and boxed lunches sold at supermarkets and convenience stores are approaching closing time or expiration dates, discount labels are affixed to the products to eliminate unsold stock.

[0003] In actual operation, the user reads the barcode of the original price on the product label, sets a discount rate according to the remaining time, issues a discount level, and then affixes the issued discount label so as to cover the barcode of the original price on the product label. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5293103 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional operations have had the problem of requiring a lot of manpower and effort.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a label issuing device that can automatically set a discount rate according to the time remaining until the sale ends without considering the discount rate, and can also affix clearance labels to any products that belong to the same department. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one embodiment, the label issuing device comprises an interface unit that acquires, from a product label affixed to the product, identification information of the department to which the product belongs and the expiration date of the product; a timing unit that measures the current date and time; a memory unit that stores, for each department, the time remaining until the expiration date of the product and discount information in association with each other; a clearance label issuing unit that issues clearance labels to be affixed to the product; and a control unit that sends information to be printed on the clearance label to the clearance label issuing unit.The control unit calculates the remaining time based on the expiration date of the product acquired by the interface unit and the current date and time measured by the timing unit, acquires from the memory unit the discount information associated with the calculated remaining time and the identification information of the department to which the product belongs acquired by the interface unit, and sends the acquired discount information to the clearance label issuing unit as information to be printed on the clearance label. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a label issuing device can be provided which can automatically set a discount rate according to the time remaining until the sale ends without considering the discount rate, and can also affix clearance labels to any merchandise belonging to the same department. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a management system including a label issuing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the label issuing device 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the product label 4. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the storage unit 13 of the label issuing device 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the parting label 3 issued by the parting label issuing unit 14 of the label issuing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are designated by identical or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the dimensional ratios and the like may differ from those of the actual parts. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined with reference to the following description. Furthermore, parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] (First embodiment) A label issuing apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a management system including the label issuing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the label issuing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a product label 4, Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of content stored by the memory unit 13 of the label issuing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a parting label 3 issued by the parting label issuing unit 14 of the label issuing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 according to this embodiment includes a store server 20 and a plurality of label issuing devices 10.

[0013] The store server 20 is configured to manage discount information for products for each department in the store where the management system 1 is installed.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of label issuing devices 10 includes an interface unit 11, a timer unit 12, a memory unit 13, a parting label issuing unit 14, a control unit 15, and a communication unit 16.

[0015] The interface unit 11 is configured to acquire the identification information of the department to which the product belongs and the expiration date of the product from the product label 4 (see FIG. 3) attached to the product.

[0016] For example, the interface unit 11 is configured to include a barcode scanner, and is configured to read the barcode 4A printed on the product label shown in Figure 3, and obtain the identification information of the department to which the product belongs and the product's expiration date contained in the barcode.

[0017] The clock unit 12 is configured to clock the current date and time.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 13 is configured to store, for each department, the time remaining until the expiration date of each product and discount information in association with each other.

[0019] Here, the storage unit 13 is configured to store, for each department, the time remaining until the expiration date of the product and discount information in association with each other, based on the information acquired from the store server 20.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the clearance label issuing unit 14 is configured to issue clearance labels 3 (see FIG. 5) to be affixed to products.

[0021] The control unit 15 is configured to send information to be printed on the parting label 3 to the parting label issuing unit 14.

[0022] An example of the operation of issuing the parting label 3 by the label issuing device 10 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0023] First, the control unit 15 calculates the remaining time until the expiration date of the product based on the expiration date of the product acquired by the interface unit 11 and the current date and time measured by the timing unit 12.

[0024] Secondly, the control unit 15 acquires from the storage unit 13 the discount information associated with the calculated remaining time and the identification information of the department to which the product belongs acquired by the interface unit 11.

[0025] For example, if the memory unit 13 stores the table shown in Figure 4, the calculated remaining time is 4 hours, and the identification information of the department to which the product belongs acquired by the interface unit 11 indicates prepared food, the control unit 15 acquires a discount rate of 10% as discount information.

[0026] Thirdly, the control unit 15 transmits the acquired discount information to the clearance label issuing unit 14 as information to be printed on the clearance label 3.

[0027] Fourth, as shown in FIG. 5, the clearance label issuing unit 14 issues a clearance label 3 on which non-barcoded discount information 3A, the pre-markdown price 3B, and the post-markdown price 3C are printed based on the discount information sent by the control unit 15, and the user (store clerk) attaches the clearance label 3 to the clearance item.

[0028] 5, discount information 3A indicates a discount rate of 30% (30% off), pre-markdown price 3B is 780 yen, and post-markdown price 3C is 546 yen. Here, a barcode does not need to be printed on clearance label 3.

[0029] According to this embodiment, it is possible to issue a clearance label 3 with a discount rate according to the time remaining until the expiration date of the product, without considering the discount rate.

[0030] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since no barcode is printed, there is no need to affix the parting label 3 over the barcode 4A of the product label 4, which improves workability.

[0031] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the user can scan the barcode 4A, which includes the expiration date of the product, printed on the product label 4, to automatically calculate the discount rate and issue the clearance label 3.

[0032] Normally, when registering the discounted price at the cash register, it is necessary to attach a clearance label 3 in a way that hides the barcode 4A containing the pre-discount price printed on the product label 4. However, according to this embodiment, the POS can automatically calculate the discount rate for the product by scanning the barcode 4A containing information related to the expiration date printed on the product label 4, thereby eliminating the need to attach a clearance label 3 in a way that hides the barcode 4A.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and explanatory and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Management system 3...Clearance label 4...Product label 10...Label issuing device 11...Interface section 12...Timekeeping section 13...Storage section 14...Clearance Label Issuance Department 15...Control unit 16…Communications Department

Claims

1. an interface unit that acquires, from a product label attached to a product, identification information of the department to which the product belongs and the expiration date of the product; a timekeeping unit that keeps track of the current date and time; a storage unit that stores, for each department, the remaining time until the expiration date of the product and discount information in association with each other; a clearance label issuing unit that issues clearance labels to be affixed to the products; a control unit that transmits information to be printed on the trimming label to the trimming label issuing unit, The control unit calculating the remaining time based on the expiration date of the product acquired by the interface unit and the current date and time measured by the timing unit; acquires, from the storage unit, the discount information associated with the calculated remaining time and the identification information of the department to which the product belongs acquired by the interface unit; The label issuing device transmits the acquired discount information to the cut-off label issuing unit as information to be printed on the cut-off label.

2. 2. The label issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the discount information, the pre-markdown price, and the post-markdown price are printed on the clearance label without being barcoded.

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