Label printing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a label issuing device that, when configured to read out product information, reduces the possibility that an operator might overlook changes made since the last time a product label was issued. [Solution] The label issuing device 1 issues a product label LC on which product information about the product is printed. The label issuing device 1 includes a storage unit 12 that stores product information consisting of multiple product items for each product, a determination unit 10A that determines whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit 12 has changed since the last time a product for which a product label LC is to be issued is called up, and an audio output unit 15A that outputs an audio message that identifies the changed product item when the determination unit 10A determines that at least one of the product items has changed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a label issuing device.

Background Art

[0002] In the backyard of a supermarket, an operator issues product labels to be attached to products using a label issuing device, and attaches the issued product labels to the products. In the label issuing device, for example, when the product name or product ID to be issued is input, a display screen on which product information of the product to be issued is displayed is shown, and a desired product label is issued by pressing, for example, a label issuing button on the display screen.

[0003] A label issuing device for issuing such product labels is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the label issuing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent incorrect product information from being printed on the product label, the product information of the label to be printed and issued is read out. In this label issuing device, since the operator can be made to confirm whether the product information of the product label to be printed and issued matches the product information of the product label to be printed, the possibility of incorrect product information being printed on the label can be reduced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in such workplaces, product descriptions can change even for the same product, due to factors such as price changes for special sales or changes in the place of origin due to changes in suppliers. And because these changed product descriptions tend to be easily misunderstood, there is a demand to have workers confirm whether the product information has changed since the last time the product label was issued.

[0006] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a label issuing device that reduces the possibility of an operator overlooking changes made since the last time a product label was issued, in a configuration where product information is read aloud. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A label issuing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a label issuing device that issues product labels on which product information relating to a product is printed, comprising: a storage unit that stores product information consisting of multiple product items for each product; a determination unit that determines whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit has been changed since the last time a product for which a product label is to be issued is called up on the display screen; and a voice output unit that, when the determination unit determines that at least one of the product items has been changed, outputs a voice message that can identify the changed product item.

[0008] In this configuration, when a product to be issued is called up on the display screen, if at least one of the product items has changed since the last call, a message that identifies the changed product item is output by the voice output unit, thus reducing the possibility that the operator may overlook the content of the changed product item.

[0009] (2) In the label issuing device described in (1) above, the storage unit stores a message to draw attention to each product item, and the voice output unit may read a message from the storage unit corresponding to the product item that the judgment unit has determined to have been changed and output it as a voice. In this configuration, the voice output unit outputs a pre-stored message for each product item that the judgment unit has determined to have been changed, so that the operator can recognize which product item has been changed.

[0010] (3) In the label issuing device described in (1) above, the storage unit manages the old and new product information when the product information is changed, and the determination unit may compare the old and new product information to determine whether or not the product information of the product called up on the display screen has been changed. With this configuration, it is possible to easily determine whether or not at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit has been changed since the last call.

[0011] (4) In any of the label issuing devices described in (1) to (3) above, the voice output unit may read aloud the product item and its contents before the change, and the product item and its contents after the change, as a message. This configuration allows the operator to recognize which product item contents have changed and how they have changed before and after the change. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, even when the system is configured to read out product information, the possibility of the operator overlooking changes made since the last time the product label was issued can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a label issuing device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the label issuing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3]Figure 3(A) is an example of a product information display screen. Figure 3(B) is an example of a product label. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the structure of a product master. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of a product information registration screen. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of how the product information display screen looks when the product information is changed. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a label issuing and attaching apparatus, including a label issuing device. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a face-to-face label issuing device according to a further modification. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, a label issuing device 1 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Furthermore, in this specification, "A or B" means that either A or B is included, and does not exclude the inclusion of both A and B.

[0015] The label issuing device 1 has the function of weighing the product and issuing a product label LC (see Figure 3(B)) to be attached to the weighed product. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the label issuing device 1 comprises a main body case 3, a fixed key 4, a display unit 5, a speaker 6, a weighing unit 7, a printing unit 9, and a controller (decision unit) 10.

[0016] The main unit case 3 is equipped with a fixed key 4, a display unit 5, a speaker 6, a printing unit 9, and a controller 10. The main unit case 3 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape. The front of the main unit case 3 is provided with an opening / closing door. When the opening / closing door is opened, the printing unit 9 located inside the main unit case 3 is exposed.

[0017] The fixed keys 4 are provided on the main body case 3. The fixed keys 4 are parts that receive various operations from the operator. The fixed keys 4 include keys such as the "unit price" key, "fixed amount" key, " tare weight" key, "print" key, and "call" key required for the price scale, as well as numeric keys.

[0018] The display unit 5 displays various information such as the state of the label issuing device 1, the operations of the label issuing device 1, and information regarding the merchandise to be weighed. The display unit 5 may include a touch panel. In this case, similar to the fixed keys 4, it exhibits the function of receiving various operations from the operator.

[0019] The speaker 6 is provided near the display unit 5. Note that the speaker 6 may be provided at other positions or may be provided as an external speaker separate from the main body case 3. The speaker 6 outputs at least a part of the merchandise information including the merchandise name (hereinafter referred to as "voice output target information") as voice. The speaker 6 is controlled by the controller 10 with respect to the timing of voice output, output content, volume, voice quality, reading speed, etc. Here, the output content means the content emitted from the speaker 6, such as the merchandise name. Also, the voice quality here refers to the voice quality of the voice. The voice quality output from the speaker 6 is configured to be selectively switchable, for example, between a male voice, a female voice, a child's voice, etc.

[0020] The weighing unit 7 is configured as a separate body from the main body case 3. The weighing unit 7 mainly includes a weighing pan 7A, a load cell (not shown), a signal processing circuit, and a transmission module. The load cell is provided under the weighing pan 7A and supports the weighing pan 7A, and converts the mechanical strain generated when the object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 7A into an electrical signal and outputs it. The signal processing circuit amplifies the electrical signal output from the load cell and converts it into a digital signal. The transmission module transmits the digital signal to the controller 10 in the main body case 3 wirelessly or by wire.

[0021] The printing unit 9 is housed in the main body case 3 and includes a cassette (not shown), a printing unit, and a cutter unit. The cassette detachably supports the label roll. The label roll is formed by winding strip-shaped backing-less labels around a paper tube. Backing-less labels (hereinafter simply referred to as "labels") have an adhesive applied to the back of the paper base material, a heat-sensitive agent that changes color with heat applied to the surface, and a silicone resin as a release agent applied on top of that. The label roll is wound around the paper tube with the back side (adhesive side) of the label facing inward. In this embodiment, a label roll with labels attached to a backing sheet may be used instead of backing-less labels. The printing unit 9 prints product information on the labels and issues them as product labels LC.

[0022] The printing unit comprises a print head and a platen roller, and prints product information on the surface of the label. The print head is a thermal print head. The print head is controlled by a controller 10, which will be described in detail later. The platen roller presses the back side of the label against the print head. The cutter unit cuts the label fed out from the printing unit into product labels LC (see Figure 3(B)) of a predetermined length. In other words, the cutter unit issues the portion printed by the print head as a product label LC. Note that the printing method of the printing unit 9 is an example, and various printing methods such as thermal transfer and inkjet can be used.

[0023] The controller 10 is the part that controls various operations in the label issuing device 1. The CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory) are interconnected via bus lines such as an address bus and a data bus. The controller 10 executes various control processes in the label issuing device 1. The controller 10 can be configured as software, for example, in which a program stored in ROM is loaded onto RAM and executed by the CPU. The controller 10 may also be configured as hardware, such as an electronic circuit.

[0024] The controller 10 displays the product information display screen (display screen) SC1 and the product information registration screen SC2, which will be described later, on the display unit 5. The controller 10 also controls the speaker 6 to read out the product information based on various predetermined reading patterns.

[0025] The storage unit 12 stores various types of information. The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, RAM, SSD (Solid State Drive), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The storage unit 12 stores product information consisting of multiple product items for each product. Specifically, for each product, the storage unit 12 stores a product master MS (see Figure 4) which mainly associates product information including product number and product items such as product name information, price information, place of origin information, and remarks information.

[0026] The product master MS stored in the memory unit 12 can be modified (rewritten) by an operator through the product information registration screen SC2, as shown in Figure 5. The product information registration screen SC2 allows the operator to modify product items such as product name information, price information, place of origin information, and remarks information stored in the product master MS. For example, to change the product name information in the product master MS, the operator displays the product name stored in the product master MS in the editing area A11 of the product information registration screen SC2, edits the product name by operating the input key B2, and then operates the registration button B3. Through such operations on the product information registration screen SC2, each product item of the product master MS stored in the memory unit 12 is modified.

[0027] Furthermore, the storage unit 12 may be configured to communicate with the head office server 95 or the store server 91 located in the store via the network N, and the product master MS may be configured to be updated periodically or irregularly by the head office server 95 or the store server 91. Communication between the storage unit 12 of the label issuing device 1 and the head office server 95 (or store server 91) is performed via a communication device that serves as the external interface 8. In addition, the product master MS can also be modified (rewritten) by acquiring data in a predetermined format stored in a portable storage device M, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, via the USB port that serves as the external interface 8.

[0028] When issuing a product label LC (see Figure 3(B)) for a product to be weighed using the label issuing device 1, the operator inputs the product number corresponding to the product to be weighed by operating the fixed key 4. At this time, the operator may also select the product to be weighed from the selection screen displayed on the display unit 5. Once the operator has entered the product number, the product information display screen SC1 shown in Figure 3(A) is displayed. The product information displayed on the product information display screen SC1 (the characters in the product number display portion R1, the product information display portion R2, and the unit price display portion R3) is retrieved from the product master MS stored in the storage unit 12. In the label issuing device 1 of this embodiment, when the product information display screen SC1 shown in Figure 3(A) is displayed, the product items displayed on the product information display screen SC1 (the characters in the product number display portion R1, the product information display portion R2, and the unit price display portion R3) are read aloud by the voice output unit 15A. The voice output unit 15A consists of a controller 10 and a speaker 6. The audio output unit 15A reads out the product information display section R2 based on various predetermined reading patterns.

[0029] In the controller 10, a determination unit 10A is formed through the cooperation of hardware such as the CPU and main memory, and software such as programs. When a product for which a product label LC is to be issued is called up to the product information display screen SC1, the determination unit 10A determines whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit 12 has changed since the last call. More specifically, for example, when a product number for which a product label LC is to be issued is called up on the product information display screen SC1 displayed on the display unit 5, the determination unit 10A determines whether at least one of the product items corresponding to the product of the product number to be called, stored in the storage unit 12, has changed since the last call on the product information display screen SC1.

[0030] The storage unit 12 manages the old and new product items (product information) when the product items (product information) in the product master MS are changed. For example, the storage unit 12 stores the update history of the product items for each product, that is, the product items before the change and the product items after the change in the product master MS. The storage unit 12 also manages the call history when the product number to which the product label LC is to be issued is called on the product information display screen SC1 displayed on the display unit 5. Based on this update history and call history, the determination unit 10A determines whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit 12 has changed since the last call.

[0031] Furthermore, the update history managed by the memory unit 12 can be managed not only by storing the product items before and after the change in the product master MS described above, but also by using known methods such as setting a change flag for each product item and storing whether or not the product number was called on the product information display screen SC1 after the change flag was turned ON.

[0032] The memory unit 12 stores a message to alert the user for each product item. For example, messages stored corresponding to a product name include: "The product name has been changed." (Example of the first message), "The product name has been changed to ○○." (Example of the second message), and "The product name has been changed from ×× to ○○." (Example of the third message). For the second message example, a program is used to output the changed product name obtained from the memory unit 12 to the audio output unit 15A in the ○○ portion. Similarly, for the third message example, a program is used to output the original product name in the ×× portion to the audio output unit 15A, and the changed product name in the ○○ portion to the audio output unit 15A.

[0033] When the determination unit 10A determines that at least one of the product items of the product master MS stored in the storage unit 12 has been changed since the last call, the voice output unit 15A outputs a message that identifies the changed product item. The voice output unit 15A reads a message from the storage unit 12 corresponding to the product item that the determination unit 10A has determined to have been changed and outputs it as a voice. The voice output unit 15A reads a message from the storage unit 12 corresponding to the product item that the determination unit 10A has determined to have been changed and outputs a message such as "The product name has been changed" from the speaker 6.

[0034] The audio output unit 15A may read aloud the product item and its contents before the change, and the product item and its contents after the change, as a message. Specifically, the audio output unit 15A may read a message from the storage unit 12 corresponding to the product item that the determination unit 10A has determined to have changed, and output a message from the speaker 6 such as, for example, "The product name has been changed to ○○," or "The product name has been changed from ×× to ○○."

[0035] The effects and advantages of the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment will now be explained. In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, when a product to be issued is called up on the product information display screen SC1, if at least one of the product items has changed since the last call, a message that identifies the changed product item is output by the voice output unit 15A. This reduces the possibility that the operator may overlook the content of the changed product item.

[0036] In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, the storage unit 12 stores a message to draw attention to each product item, and the voice output unit reads the message corresponding to the product item that the judgment unit 10A has determined to have been changed from the storage unit 12 and outputs it as voice. As a result, the voice output unit 15A outputs a pre-stored message for each product item that the judgment unit 10A has determined to have been changed, so that the operator can recognize which product item has been changed.

[0037] In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, the storage unit 12 manages the old and new product information when product information is changed, and the determination unit 10A compares the old and new product information to determine whether the product information of the product called up on the product information display screen SC1 has been changed. This makes it possible to easily determine whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit 12 has been changed since the last call.

[0038] In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, the voice output unit 15A reads out a message containing the product item and its contents before the change, and the product item and its contents after the change, when the product information has been modified. This allows the operator to understand which product item contents have been changed and how.

[0039] Although one embodiment has been described above, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0040] In the above embodiment of the label issuing device 1, the operation was described using the case where the product name has changed since the last call as an example, but it is not limited to this. For example, even if the place of origin information (place of origin name), price information (unit price), and remarks information of the product master MS shown in Figure 4 have changed since the last call, the label issuing device 1 should be configured so that a message that can identify the changed product items (i.e., place of origin name, unit price, and remarks information) is output by the voice output unit 15A.

[0041] In the above embodiment and the modified version of the label issuing device 1, the operation was described using the example of when one of the product items has changed since the last call when a product to be issued is called up on the product information display screen SC1, but the device is not limited to this. Even if two or more product items have changed since the last call, the label issuing device 1 should be configured so that a message that can identify all of the changed product items is output by the voice output unit 15A.

[0042] In the above embodiment and the above modified version of the label issuing device 1, when a product to be issued is called up on the product information display screen SC1, if at least one of the product items has changed since the last call, a message that identifies the changed product item is output by the voice output unit 15A as an example. In addition to this configuration, the label issuing device 1 may be configured to display the changed product item on the product information display screen SC1 in a way that makes it identifiable. For example, if the unit price, which is one of the product items, has changed since the last call, the label issuing device 1 may display the unit price display part R3 in inverted black and white, as shown in Figure 6, to let the operator know that the unit price has changed since the last call.

[0043] In this modified configuration, in addition to the voice output unit outputting a message that identifies the changed product item, the changed product item on the product information display screen SC1 is highlighted in a black and white inverted state, thus more reliably reducing the possibility that the worker may overlook the content of the changed product item.

[0044] In addition to the black and white inversion display described above, the method of displaying changed product items on the product information display screen SC1 may also be to display characters that are normally displayed in black in a color other than black, such as red or blue. The changed product item field may also be colored differently from the surrounding item fields, or the text may be made to blink. A different font or weight may also be used than the normal display font. Furthermore, when the controller 10 displays the product information display screen SC1 on the display unit 5, it may display a pop-up so that the changes can be recognized by the operator.

[0045] Furthermore, in addition to or instead of this modified configuration, speakers may be installed in the back room or sales area of ​​the store where the label issuing device 1 is located, and the voice output unit 15A may output a message from these speakers that identifies the product items that have been changed since the last call. In this modified configuration, workers or store employees can be made aware that changes to product advertisements, etc., in the sales area are necessary due to changes in product labels. This prevents product advertisements, etc., in the sales area from remaining in their previous specifications.

[0046] In the above embodiments and modifications, an example of applying one aspect of the present invention to a label issuing device 1 as shown in Figure 1 was described. However, it may also be applied to a weighing, packaging, and labeling device (label issuing device) 101 as shown in Figure 7, which weighs a product, packages the product, and then issues a product label LC on which product information about the product is printed and affixed to the product. As shown in Figure 7, the weighing, packaging, and labeling device 101 includes a weighing unit 102, a packaging unit 103, a printing unit 104, an affixing unit 105, a display operation unit 106 configured as a touch panel, a speaker 107, a controller (decision unit) 110, and a storage unit 112. The audio output unit 15A includes the speaker 107 and the controller 110. The controller 110 also has the function of the decision unit 10A.

[0047] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention may be applied to a face-to-face electronic scale (label issuing device) 201 equipped with a store clerk-side operation unit 205A and a customer-side operation unit 205B, as shown in Figure 8. The electronic scale 201 shown in Figure 8 comprises a main body case 203, a store clerk-side operation unit 205A and a customer-side operation unit 205B, both consisting of touch panels, a speaker 206, a weighing unit 207 having a weighing pan 207A, a printing unit 209 for issuing product labels LC, a controller (decision unit) 210, and a storage unit 212. The audio output unit 15A is composed of the speaker 206 and the controller 210. The controller 210 also has the function of the decision unit 10A.

[0048] In a weighing and packaging labeling device 101 and electronic scale 201 with this configuration, similar to the label issuing device 1 in the above embodiment, the possibility of an operator overlooking changes made since the last time a product label was issued can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...Label issuing device, 5...Display unit, 6...Speaker, 7...Weighing unit, 8...External interface, 9...Printing unit, 10...Controller (decision unit), 10A...Decision unit, 12...Storage unit, 15A...Audio output unit, 101...Weighing and packaging labeling device (label issuing device), 102...Weighing unit, 103...Packaging unit, 104...Printing unit, 106...Display operation unit, 107...Speaker, 110...Controller (decision unit), 112...Storage unit, 201...Electronic scale (label issuing device), 206...Speaker, 207...Weighing unit, 210...Controller (decision unit), 212...Storage unit, LC...Product label, MS...Product master, SC1...Product information display screen (display screen), SC2...Product information registration screen.

Claims

1. A label issuing device that issues product labels on which product information about the product is printed, A storage unit that stores the product information consisting of multiple product items for each of the aforementioned products, A determination unit that, when the product to which the product label is to be issued is called up on the display screen, determines whether at least one of the product items stored in the storage unit has changed since the last time it was called up, A label issuing device comprising: an audio output unit that, when the determination unit determines that at least one of the product items has been changed, outputs an audio message that can identify the changed product item.

2. The memory unit stores a message to draw attention to each of the product items. The label issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the voice output unit reads from the storage unit the message corresponding to the product item that the determination unit has determined to have been changed and outputs it as voice.

3. The storage unit manages the old and new product information when the product information is changed. The label issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit compares the old and new product information to determine whether or not the product information of the product called up on the display screen has been changed.

4. The label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the voice output unit reads out the product item and its contents before the change and the product item and its contents after the change as the message when the product information is changed.

Images