Label printing device and computer program

Abstract

This device provides a mechanism to prevent misprinting of labels by effectively utilizing not only visual information but also audio information. [Solution] A label issuing device 1 comprises a printing means 74 for printing product information on a label, and an audio output means 77 for outputting predetermined items from the label's printing items as audio output information, wherein the audio output means outputs a portion of the audio output information in a manner different from the manner of audio output of other audio output information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a label issuing device and a computer program.

Background Art

[0002] In a label issuing device such as a label printer, since a misprint in the printed content becomes a credit problem of the store, a confirmation operation is required before issuance. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for confirming the correctness of the character size and font arrangement.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 relied on vision to prevent misissuance of labels.

[0005] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a device that can prevent misissuance of labels by effectively using not only visual information but also voice information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a label issuing device according to the present invention includes a printing unit that prints information on a label regarding a product, and a voice output unit that outputs, as voice output information, a predetermined item among the printed items of the label, and the voice output unit outputs a part of the voice output information in a mode different from the voice output mode of other voice output information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a label issuing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows the hardware configuration of the label issuing device described above. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the label issuing device described above. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of product data in the label issuing device described above. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the printing items in the label issuing device described above. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a settings screen displayed in the label issuing device described above. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a label issuing screen displayed in the label issuing device described above. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a label image confirmation screen displayed in the label issuing device described above. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed in the label issuing device described above, which is used to configure settings related to voice reading when confirming the printed image of the label. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed in the label issuing device described above, which is used to configure settings related to voice reading when confirming the printed image of the label. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed in the label issuing device described above, which allows setting whether or not touching the screen is required when confirming the printed image of the label. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed in the label issuing device described above, which is used to configure settings related to the audio reading items when displaying product images. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed in the label issuing device described above, which displays a product image associated with a product in the product master. [Figure 14]A diagram showing an example of a label image confirmation screen, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 15] A diagram showing (a) the first example and (b) the second example of a product image confirmation screen, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 16] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting comments associated with a product, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 17] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting the reading aloud of date and time, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 18] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting the reading aloud of unset items, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 19] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting voice reading sentences, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 20] A diagram showing an example of a registration screen for voice reading sentences, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 21] A diagram showing an example of a registration screen for voice reading sentences, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 22] A process flow diagram showing the flow of processing executed by the above label issuing device. [Figure 23] A block diagram showing the software configuration of a label issuing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting multiple voice output locations, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device. [Figure 25] A diagram showing an example of a screen for setting multiple voice output locations, which is a screen displayed on the above label issuing device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] <First Embodiment> ● Overview of the Label Issuing Device 1 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a label issuing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The label issuing device 1 is a device that stores product data and executes processing of the product data, and has at least a function of printing and issuing a label based on the product data. Regardless of its name, it includes devices such as a packaging machine, a pricing machine, and a weighing device. Note that the present invention can also be configured as a label issuing instruction device that generates a label issuing instruction for a label issuing device connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0009] The label issuing device 1 is, for example, installed in the backyard of a store and is a device that issues labels to be attached to various products or product containers. An operation display unit 31 and a key operation unit 32 are installed on the upper surface of the base unit 10, and a pair of label issuing ports 11 and 12 are installed on the front surface of the base unit 10. Further, a weighing unit 50 for product weighing is connected by a cable (wireless is also possible).

[0010] ● Hardware Configuration of the Label Issuing Device 1 FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration included in the label issuing device 1 according to the present embodiment. The label issuing device 1 has an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 and storage devices such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, and is connected to an operation unit 30, an audio output unit 40, a weighing unit 50, and a printing unit 60 via an interface circuit I / O. Note that the label issuing device 1 may also include a handy scanner or a CCD camera that reads symbol codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes.

[0011] The CPU 21 is a central arithmetic processing unit that reads out a control program stored in the ROM 23 and various information stored in the RAM 22, and controls each unit based on the read control program and various information. Also, the CPU 21 stores necessary information in the RAM 22.

[0012] RAM22 is a read-and-write memory that serves as a temporary storage area for information used by the CPU21. RAM22 also stores values ​​entered (set) by the user and various files.

[0013] ROM23 is a read-only memory that stores various types of information used by the CPU21, including control programs.

[0014] The operation unit 30 includes an operation display unit 31 (31a, 31b) and a key operation unit 32, and the operator can use this operation unit 30 to edit print data and perform label printing operations. The operation display unit 31 has a structure in which a touch panel 31b is stacked on top of a liquid crystal display 31a, allowing for both data display and input on the same surface. The liquid crystal display 31a displays various data, such as a label image confirmation screen, based on print data and format information stored in the RAM 22. When the operator's finger touches the touch panel 31b, it detects the touch position and accepts input corresponding to the detected position. The key operation unit 32 includes a numeric keypad and printing keys. For example, the numeric keypad accepts numerical input, and the printing keys accept printing instruction input. This key operation unit 32 can, for example, accept the specification of a touched printing item on the label image confirmation screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 31a in response to a touch operation on the label image confirmation screen.

[0015] The audio output unit 40 is equipped with a speaker 41 and outputs predetermined print items as audio when editing or confirming the print items on a label. The speaker 41 may be provided by the label issuing device 1 or may be connected externally. Alternatively, multiple speakers 41 may be provided, or multiple speakers may be connected externally.

[0016] The weighing unit 50 is equipped with a load cell 51 to weigh the product. In detail, the load cell 51 consists of a weight detection unit and an A / D converter, and the A / D converter converts the analog signal input from the weight detection unit into a digital signal. This allows for, for example, weighing the product weight, as well as determining the product weight for products in containers by referring to a reference value for the tare weight and performing a tare subtraction process from the weighing result.

[0017] The printing unit 60 has first and second printing mechanisms 61 and 62. Both of these first and second printing mechanisms 61 and 62 print labels and discharge the printed labels from the label dispensers 11 and 12.

[0018] ● Software configuration of label issuing device 1 Figure 3 shows an example of the software configuration of the label issuing device 1 according to this embodiment. The label issuing device 1 includes an information storage unit 71, a weight information acquisition unit 72, a setting processing unit 73, a printing processing unit 74, a display processing unit 75, an input processing unit 76, and an audio output processing unit 77.

[0019] Furthermore, part of the software configuration may be implemented on a cloud server configured to communicate via the internet or the like. For example, data stored in the information storage unit 71 may be registered on the cloud server, and the label issuing device 1 may be configured to receive this data as appropriate. Alternatively, the input processing unit 76 may transmit the received information to the cloud server, and the content determined by the cloud server may be received and output by the display processing unit 75 or the audio output processing unit 77. In other words, the present invention can also be configured as a display operation instruction device comprising a printing processing unit 74, a display processing unit 75, an input processing unit 76, and an audio output processing unit 77, and connected to the above-mentioned cloud server. Furthermore, the present invention can also be configured as a label issuing instruction device comprising a display processing unit 75, an input processing unit 76, and an audio output processing unit 77, which generates label issuing instructions to be transmitted to a label issuing device connected by wire or wireless.

[0020] The information storage unit 71 is a storage unit that stores information related to various products, and this information includes, for example, product data, performance data, printing data, setting data, and voice reading data.

[0021] Product data is data related to a product, and as shown in the example in Figure 4, it consists of information such as the product number, product name, unit price, processing date, expiration date, and country of origin, which are all associated with each other. In addition, product data includes the product's weight classification. Weight classifications include, for example, variable weight products (where the selling price is determined based on the unit price per unit weight and the measured value), fixed weight products (where the selling price is determined based on the unit price per unit quantity and the sales quantity calculated from the unit weight), and fixed-price products (where the selling price is determined based on the unit price per unit quantity and the sales quantity). The price calculation method differs depending on the weight classification of the product.

[0022] The performance data is data related to label issuance performance and consists of information about the labels issued. From this label issuance performance, it is possible to understand the contents and quantity of the products for which labels were issued, as well as the printed content.

[0023] Print data is the data printed on the label and consists of the items to be printed and their content. Figure 5 shows an example of print items, in which the print items include product number, unit price, date and time, advertisement text, place of origin, image, net weight / unit of net weight, upper and lower weight limits, comments, storage temperature, individual identification number / lot number, additives, barcode, store name, manufacturer, tare weight, product name, processing date and time, best before date and time (expiration date), etc. Furthermore, the print data may include not only print items but also information related to the print content, such as label format, as well as information related to packaging conditions and settings. In addition, the print data may be editable by the operator, and a flag may be set to indicate when editing has been done.

[0024] The configuration data is data related to the settings for outputting printed items as audio. For example, the configuration data includes which printed items on the label should be output as audio, the order in which the printed items should be output as audio, the phonetic spelling of the printed items, and the output method.

[0025] The printed items to be output by voice may consist of items arbitrarily selected and set by the operator from among the printed items to be printed on the label, or they may be predetermined. Furthermore, the printed items to be output by voice may differ for each product or product category.

[0026] Furthermore, for printed items that are output by voice, the content of the voice output may be configured in detail for certain printed items. For example, for printed items related to the price of a product, it may be possible to register a setting for either excluding tax or including tax, and the price excluding tax or including tax may be output by voice depending on the setting. Similarly, for printed items related to the price of a product, depending on the weighing classification of the product, the price may be output by voice for fixed-weight products and the unit price for variable-weight products.

[0027] The order in which printed items are output as audio applies when there are multiple printed items to be output as audio. This order may be arbitrarily set by the operator, or it may be based on a predetermined ranking.

[0028] The phonetic readings for printed items are the phonetic readings of the product names written in kanji, English letters, etc. When outputting audio, for printed items where phonetic readings are set, the audio based on those set phonetic readings will be output preferentially. Furthermore, the phonetic readings of the printed items may also be considered part of the product data.

[0029] The output modes include, for example, volume, pitch, output speed, type of sound, sound quality, and whether or not sound is output. These output modes can be arbitrarily set based on, for example, product data, print items, or predetermined conditions. This allows for settings such as the following:

[0030] In other words, in the first example, the printed items for a given product can be output audibly in a different manner than other products, based on the product data. For example, the printed items for products classified as "fresh food" may be output audibly at a lower and slower speed than for other products, or the printed items for products classified into a given product category may be output audibly in a different manner than those for products in other product categories. Similarly, the printed items for specific products, such as sale items, may be output audibly in a different manner than other products. Furthermore, depending on the weighing classification of the product, the printed items related to the weight of fixed-weight products may be output audibly, while the printed items related to the weight of variable-weight products may not be output audibly.

[0031] In the second example, only certain printed items can be output as audio in a different manner than other printed items. For example, only the printed items related to price may be output as audio at a slower output speed compared to other printed items.

[0032] In the third example, the output mode can be changed depending on whether or not certain conditions are met. For example, the printed items may be output as voice in a different output mode than usual, based on conditions such as the product's weight exceeding a predetermined threshold, the period until the expiration date being longer or shorter than a predetermined period, the content of the printed items being changed since the last label issuance (the change can be determined based on actual data), or the printed items being edited. Alternatively, for example, the system may identify the operator, such as an employee, and output voice at a preset output speed according to the operator. The operator's identification information can be identified, for example, by requiring the user to log in using an employee code when transitioning from the menu screen to the label printing mode. With such a configuration, errors can be further prevented by setting the output speed to be slower than usual for new employees or employees who speak foreign languages, or by setting the output speed according to their skill level.

[0033] The types of voices include, for example, male, female, or voices representing emotions such as joy, anger, sadness, and happiness.

[0034] Speech data is data referenced when converting text to speech output, and is, for example, dictionary data. Alternatively, speech data may be pre-recorded and stored audio data linked to the text. In this case, the system may be configured to download and register audio data from a cloud server when a product is added to the product master. The audio data may be data obtained from an external device, or it may be synthesized speech data generated by software when the product master is created, etc.

[0035] In addition, the information storage unit 71 appropriately stores information that can be used when issuing labels or outputting audio, such as sound sources for audio output, tax rates necessary for calculating product prices, and store information of the stores where the label issuing device 1 is installed.

[0036] The weight information acquisition unit 72 shown in Figure 3 acquires the weighing value from the weighing unit 50 as the product weight. Furthermore, when acquiring weighing values, these values ​​can be obtained not only from the weighing unit 50 built into the label issuing device 1 itself, but also from an external weighing device connected to the label issuing device 1 via a network or the like. Product weight can also be acquired by inputting the number of items placed.

[0037] The setting processing unit 73 registers the settings for label printing items and audio output received from the operator into the setting data of the information storage unit 71, thereby reflecting the settings. Furthermore, audio output settings can be configured for all products at once, or for each product individually. Even when configuring all products at once, the type of audio output and the printed items to be output can be appropriately set according to the product classification and content.

[0038] The printing processing unit 74 controls the printing unit 60 to print product information onto a label and execute the label issuance process. The printing processing unit 74 may differentiate the printing method between test printing and actual printing. For example, during test printing, the printing processing unit 74 may print words that are output multiple times by the voice output processing unit 77 (described later) with more emphasis than words that are output only once.

[0039] The display processing unit 75 controls the operation display unit 31 to perform data display processing. This display processing unit 75 displays, for example, the label issuance screen G10 (see Figure 7) which is displayed in response to product retrieval processing such as product number input, and the confirmation screen G20 (see Figure 8) which is displayed after pressing the issuance key on the key operation unit 32 but before the label issuance process, on the operation display unit 31, and displays the label image and print items of the label to be issued. Examples of screens will be described later.

[0040] The input processing unit 76 controls the operation unit 30 to perform data input processing. This input processing unit 76 can, for example, receive input from the operator regarding print items, audio output settings, and label issuance instructions. Details of the information received by the input processing unit 76 will be described later, along with screen examples.

[0041] The audio output processing unit 77 controls the audio output unit 40 to output the printed items on the label to be issued as audio output information. The audio output processing unit 77 refers to the setting data and the voice reading data and outputs the printed items as audio based on the setting data and the voice reading data. In other words, the audio output processing unit 77 outputs the voice reading data as audio according to the settings included in the setting data. A configuration that provides audio output of the printed items allows for confirmation of the printed content not only visually but also aurally, further ensuring accurate label issuance. Furthermore, because the audio output is audible to other workers performing different tasks nearby, it enables verification by multiple individuals.

[0042] The audio output processing unit 77 outputs a portion of the audio output information in a manner different from the audio output manner of other audio output information. The output manner includes, for example, volume, pitch, output speed, type of sound, sound quality, or number of outputs, as described above. The audio output processing unit 77 outputs a portion of the audio output information in a manner that is emphasized more than other audio output information. For example, this portion is played at a louder volume than other audio output information. This configuration ensures that the worker's attention is more reliably directed to this portion of the audio, thereby further guaranteeing accurate label issuance. The audio output processing unit 77 may, for example, output a portion of the printed item multiple times as an example of different output patterns. For example, if the product name in the first product information example is "Karaage (small)" and is read as "Karaage sho," the word "sho" will be output multiple times. That is, in the case where a portion is output twice, the audio will be "Karaage sho sho." Also, if the product name in the second product information example is "Karaage (large)" and is read as "Karaage dai," the audio will be "Karaage dai dai." In this way, in a situation where the first and second product information share the phrase "Karaage," but the phrases "small" and "large" are different, the common information "Karaage" is output once, while the non-common information "small" and "large" are each output multiple times. In the following explanation, we will describe an example in which a portion of the audio output information is output multiple times. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, the output mode of a portion of the audio output information also includes configurations in which the volume, pitch, output speed, type of sound, sound quality, etc., are different from other audio output information.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the speech-to-speech data may contain multiple instances of the wording included in the printed item that is output aloud. That is, if the speech-to-speech data is text data, the text data will have different content than when the printed item is read aloud as is, and will contain multiple instances of the wording of the printed item. For example, when the printed item is read aloud as is, it will be "karaage shou", while the text data for speech-to-speech will be "karaage shou shou". Similarly, if the speech-to-speech data is recorded data, the recorded data will have different content than when the printed item is read aloud as is, and when the printed item is read aloud as is, it will be "karaage shou", while the recorded data will be "karaage shou shou".

[0044] Furthermore, the audio output processing unit 77 may be configured to read aloud multiple times the text within a specified range if the audio reading data is text data and the text data includes a range defined in a predetermined manner. The display processing unit 75 displays information that is output as audio in a different output manner than other audio output information in a different display manner than that other audio output information. That is, for example, the display processing unit 75 displays information that is output multiple times in a different display manner than information that is output as audio once.

[0045] The range to be output multiple times may be enclosed in a pair of appropriate symbols that define a start and end point, for example, double quotation marks. In this case, if the text data is "karaage 'sho'", the speech output processing unit 77 will read aloud "sho" specified in the double quotation marks twice, and the voice will be "karaage sho sho". The symbols that define the start and end points may also be blacked-out parentheses. Furthermore, the range to be output multiple times may be displayed in bolder than the range to be output once. In addition, one of the ranges to be output multiple times can be set as the beginning or end of a sentence. In this case, the range to be output multiple times may be from the beginning of the sentence to a predetermined symbol, or from the predetermined symbol to the end of the sentence. The predetermined symbol may be a space, for example, and the range to be output multiple times may be from the space in the speech-to-speech text to the end of the sentence. Furthermore, when accepting the specification of a range to be output multiple times, it is possible to restrict specifying the entire range of text data as the range to be output multiple times. Specifically, if the entire range of text data is specified, an error may be notified and the setting may be denied.

[0046] Furthermore, in an embodiment in which some printed items are output as audio multiple times, the display area and heading of the printed items may be different from those of printed items that are output only once.

[0047] If the text-to-speech data is recorded data and the recorded data includes a predetermined timestamp, the system may be configured to play back the data within the range specified by the timestamp multiple times. The timestamp may include, for example, the start and end times of playback. In this case, when generating the recorded data as speech synthesis data in software, setting the timestamp is easy because the text data and the recorded data correspond character by character.

[0048] Furthermore, when reading aloud multiple printed items, the voice output processing unit 77 may output some of the printed items multiple times. For example, when reading aloud "Shrimp Fry," which indicates the product name, and "3 pieces," which indicates the quantity, the word indicating the quantity will be output multiple times. That is, the output will be "Shrimp Fry 3 Pieces 3 Pieces." In this case, the printed items to be output multiple times are set. The printed items to be output multiple times may be items that are prone to errors, such as "Place of Origin" or "Quantity," or they may be items where error prevention is particularly necessary, such as "Individual Identification Number." In this manner as well, the voice output processing unit 77 will output some of the multiple printed items to be output multiple times.

[0049] In this embodiment, the number of readings is described as two, but it may also be three or more readings, or the number of readings may vary depending on the target words or printed items. Furthermore, the number of readings may be set by the operator or other user.

[0050] The timing of the audio output for the print items can be arbitrary, but it is performed, for example, when product data is retrieved by calling the part number, when print items are edited on the label issuance screen G10 (see Figure 7), when a request for audio output of print items is received through manual operation, or when the label confirmation screen G20 (see Figure 8) is displayed. In addition, audio output of the print items displayed in the area where the operation was received may be performed in response to touch or click operations on the label confirmation screen G20. Furthermore, audio output may be performed each time a label is issued, or when the first label is issued after a part number call operation.

[0051] The audio output processing unit 77 may output sound from an externally connected speaker. The externally connected speaker can be, for example, the speaker of a portable terminal such as a smartphone held by the operator, or it can be a larger speaker capable of outputting at a higher volume. In this case, the audio output processing unit 77 can output sound to the speaker via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth® or communication via a network. With this configuration, even in situations where there is a lot of noise in the work area and it is difficult to hear the sound from the label issuing device 1, the sound can be heard clearly. In addition, since an administrator located away from the label issuing device 1 can hear the sound output, printing errors can be further reduced.

[0052] Furthermore, the label issuing device 1 may be equipped with a human presence sensor (or a function that detects when a mobile device is connected via short-range communication), and the speaker used for output may be switched depending on whether or not an operator is near the label issuing device 1. For example, when it is determined that an operator is near the label issuing device 1, the speaker 41 provided in the label issuing device 1 may be used for audio output, and when there is no operator near the label issuing device 1, the audio output may be used from an externally connected large speaker 41 or from a speaker 41 provided in the operator's mobile device such as a smartphone.

[0053] Furthermore, the system may be configured to accept volume settings from control devices provided on the externally connected speaker itself, allowing for volume adjustment.

[0054] Regarding volume, the volume for outputting print items and the volume for other operation sounds may be set to the same setting, or they may be set separately. If they are set separately, it is advisable to provide separate volume adjustment screens for operation sounds and print item audio output, along with separate volume adjustment buttons.

[0055] Furthermore, when multiple speakers are connected, the speaker used for output may differ depending on the type of sound being output. For example, the sound output for print items may be provided by an external speaker, while other sound outputs such as operation sounds other than print items may be provided by the label issuing device 1. Alternatively, the sound output after accepting a change in print content may be provided by an external speaker, while other sound outputs may be provided by the label issuing device 1. With this configuration, only operations that differ from normal operations, such as changing print content, or so-called irregular operations, can be confirmed by other workers or managers, thereby reducing the burden of confirmation and further reducing work errors.

[0056] Furthermore, when the audio output processing unit 77 is outputting audio, the display processing unit 75 may display a mark indicating that audio is being output, a message such as "Speaking," or a waveform corresponding to the volume, etc. The content and timing of output from the audio output processing unit 77 will be described later, along with a screen example.

[0057] ●Screen example ● Product Master Settings Screen Figure 6 shows an example of the product master settings screen G1, where product information is registered in the product master. As shown in the figure, the product master contains product information such as product name, weighing category, tare weight, unit price, text-to-speech, net weight, net weight unit, processing date and time, expiration date, and barcode information, all linked to a product code that can identify the product. The text-to-speech is an example of text data used as text-to-speech data. Subcodes may also be attached to product codes, and product information may be linked to the product code and its attached subcode. For example, if only a part of the product information differs from one another, the same product code may be assigned to products with different subcodes. Selecting the subcode button on the product master settings screen G1 displays a list of product information set for the same product code using that subcode.

[0058] In the example shown in the figure, the setting is such that if the text to be read aloud contains a range defined by double quotation marks, that range of text will be read aloud multiple times. Also, "karaage 'sho'" is registered as the text to be read aloud. As a result, the audio output processing unit 77 reads "sho" specified by the double quotation marks twice, and outputs the audio "karaage sho sho".

[0059] Furthermore, the text-to-speech entries are not limited to hiragana only; any format is acceptable. For example, entries including kanji, such as "Karaage 'Small'", are also acceptable.

[0060] ● Label printing screen Figure 7 shows an example of the label printing screen G10 for a given product. The printing data for a specified product is included, for example, in the product information. The product information is retrieved from the information storage unit 71 based on a product number that can identify the specified product. Alternatively, instead of or in addition to product number input, the product information may be retrieved by having an attached camera perform image recognition to identify the product and retrieve the printing data for that product. Appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be used for image recognition. In addition to the label printing screen G10, the image captured by the attached camera used for image recognition may be displayed separately on the operation display unit 31 for confirmation, and the voice output processing unit 77 may output a predetermined sound when this image is displayed. The predetermined sound may be a predetermined printing item, a specific message corresponding to the product, or a sound corresponding to the model of the label printing device 1 or the tray used for the product.

[0061] Furthermore, the actual product image captured by the camera may be displayed on the same screen as the product image G28 (see Figures 15(a) and 15(b)). Additionally, the camera may accept touch input on the actual product image, prompting the operator to confirm. In this case, the product image may be displayed in a manner similar to, or at least partially similar to, the printed items that require confirmation on the label, for example, by superimposing a double circle.

[0062] Furthermore, any method can be used to read the product information. In addition to the above, this may include input from a list or reading barcodes printed on instruction sheets, etc.

[0063] On the label printing screen G10, the print items that make up the print data for a specified product (in the illustrated example, "fried shrimp" with a content of 3 pieces) are displayed in an editable format. In addition, a label image G11 that reflects the content of each print item is displayed. This allows for an intuitive understanding of what kind of label will be issued. Furthermore, each item, including the place of origin, is editable on the label issuance screen G10. For example, the place of origin item may display a pull-down box, allowing selection from options such as prefecture, domestic, or foreign. Similarly, the brand name may be displayed as selectable via a pull-down box, or it may be configured to accept direct input. Items not registered in the product master can also be set on the label issuance screen G10 each time a product is called up. Items that are set each time a label is issued are items that change frequently, such as the place of origin for fresh fish or fruit. The voice output processing unit 77 may output items whose content has been changed or newly set on the label issuance screen G10 in a different output manner from other items, for example, by outputting them multiple times. With such a configuration, the operator can be reliably made to confirm items whose content has been changed or newly set on the label issuance screen G10. Information edited on the label issuance screen G10 is not reflected in the product master, and the changes are deleted once label issuance is complete.

[0064] The voice output processing unit 77 may output predetermined print items as voice when product information is retrieved and the label printing screen G10 is displayed. The print items to be output as voice are, for example, the product name. The print items to be output as voice may be the same as or different from the target items in the confirmation screen G20 described later. In addition, the voice output processing unit 77 may output predetermined print items as voice when any of the print items or the print items that are the target of voice output are changed in the settings. When printed items are output as audio, the configuration data is referenced, and the audio is output according to the configured order and output method. When the label issuance screen G10 shown in Figure 7 is displayed, pressing the "Issue" key on the key operation unit 32, for example, will transition to the confirmation screen G20 shown in Figure 8.

[0065] ● Audio output on the label image confirmation screen Figure 8 shows the label confirmation screen G20, where the label image G21 is displayed and the printing items can be checked. The confirmation screen G20 is equipped with buttons to enlarge the display, buttons to reduce the display, and a cancel button to stop issuing the label, allowing the label image G21 to be enlarged or reduced as needed to check its contents.

[0066] On this confirmation screen G20, the audio output processing unit 77 outputs the set predetermined print items as audio. For example, items that need to be checked when issuing a label, i.e., items to be checked, are pre-set as items that are set to be read aloud. The display processing unit 75 displays the items that are set to be read aloud in a different manner than the items that are not set to be read aloud. For example, the display processing unit 75 displays the items to be checked by shading the display area G22a with orange and surrounding it with a frame, and overlays a circular mark G22b on the display area. It also displays a message prompting the user to check the items to be checked, such as "Please check the label image. Touch all the target areas marked with a circle."

[0067] The circular mark G22b may be displayed in the center of the area where the item to be checked is displayed, specifically in the portion of the area where information that is output multiple times is displayed. For example, as shown in Figure 8, in the display area G22a which displays "Aomori Prefecture Karaage (small)", if the setting is to output the "small" part multiple times, the circular mark G22b will be displayed approximately in the center of the portion where "small" is displayed. With this configuration, when the item to be checked is touched, the part of the item that particularly requires confirmation can be more reliably seen and confirmed by the operator. Furthermore, the system may be configured to accept a setting for whether or not to include the place of origin in the product name. In the example shown in the figure, an example is shown where the setting to include the place of origin in the product name is enabled, and the place of origin is read aloud along with the product name. In this case, the place of origin may also be output multiple times on the confirmation screen G20.

[0068] When an operator touches an item on a label image G21 that has been displayed in a predetermined manner, the operator may indicate that the item has been confirmed by changing the color of its display area G22a or by removing the circular mark G22b. Furthermore, the audio output processing unit 77 may also output audio that reads aloud the contents of printed items that are not set to be read aloud, when the display area of ​​the printed item is touched.

[0069] Once all target items have been confirmed, for example, by touching them, the issue icon will appear on the confirmation screen G20, indicating that label issuance is permitted. When the issuance icon is selected on the confirmation screen G20, labels are issued from label issuing slots 11 and 12.

[0070] The label issuing device 1 may also be equipped with a label sensor that detects when an operator removes a label that has extended from the label issuing slots 11 and 12. When issuing a label, if the label sensor detects that a previous label remains in the label issuing slots 11 and 12, a voice message may be output to inform the operator that a label remains.

[0071] Furthermore, when the voice output processing unit 77 detects that the label issued by the label sensor has been removed, it may output predetermined printed items as voice. The printed items output as voice at this point may be the same as or different from the printed items output as voice on the label confirmation screen G20. For example, the voice output processing unit 77 may read out the product name and selling price. With the above configuration, it is possible to assist in confirming the contents of the label currently being held.

[0072] Furthermore, in a configuration where voice output is generated in response to detection by a label sensor, if multiple labels for the same product are issued consecutively, the system may be configured to output voice only when the first label is issued, and not when subsequent labels are issued. Alternatively, voice output may be generated at predetermined intervals. Additionally, voice output may be generated if the product remains untouched and unpicked for a predetermined period of time.

[0073] Furthermore, when a label is issued, or when it is detected that a label has been picked up, the operation display unit 31 may display both or at least one of the label image and / or product image of the label being issued. In the case of continuous issuance, the label image or product image may be displayed only when the first label is issued, and the image may not be displayed for subsequent labels. The image may also be displayed at predetermined intervals. In addition, the image may be displayed if the label has not been removed or picked up for a predetermined period of time. In this case, audio may also be output.

[0074] ● Voice reading settings on the label image confirmation screen Figure 9 shows screen G30, which allows you to change settings related to text-to-speech. Screen G30 displays settings such as "Voice reading when confirming label print image" (G31), "Reading timing" (G32), "Touch item during reading" (G33), "Reading product image" (G34), "Items to read from product image" (G35), and "Final confirmation comments" (G36).

[0075] The "Voice Reading During Label Print Image Confirmation" setting area G31 is for setting whether or not to output voice text on the label confirmation screen G20. If this item is set to "Yes," voice text will be output for the items being confirmed when the label confirmation screen G20 is displayed. If "Price," "Product Number," and "Expiration Date" are among the items being confirmed, you can set it to output the name of the printed item before the item content, such as "Price 108 yen," "Product Number 1," and "Expiration Date January 26, 2024." Furthermore, the items to be read aloud may be configurable according to the product category. For example, the place of origin may be set for ingredients such as vegetables, while the place of origin is often not set for prepared products. In this regard, the above configuration makes it possible to output voice information for items that correspond to the product category. If the "Voice reading when checking label print image" option is set to "None," voice output for the items being checked will not be performed.

[0076] The "Read Aloud Timing" setting area G32 is where you set the timing of audio output on the label confirmation screen G20. When the display in this setting area G32 is set to "When Item is Touched," the content of the item displayed in the touched area will be output as audio based on the operator's touch.

[0077] When the display in the "Read-Aloud Timing" setting area G32 is set to "Automatic," the behavior will differ depending on whether or not the setting to accept user touch is configured, as detailed in the explanation in Figure 10. If the display in the setting area G32 is set to "Automatic" and the system is configured to accept touch confirmation from the operator, the label confirmation screen G20 will be displayed, and then the audio for one of the items to be read aloud will be output. When a touch is received for the outputted item, the audio for one of the unconfirmed items among the items to be read aloud will be output. This process will be repeated until a touch has been made for all of the items to be read aloud. Furthermore, touch operations on the target items may be accepted only if they are in the same order as the audio output, or they may be accepted regardless of the order of the audio output.

[0078] If the "Reading Timing" setting area G32 is set to "Automatic" and the setting does not accept touch confirmation from the operator, the label confirmation screen G20 will be displayed, and then all items to be read aloud will be output sequentially.

[0079] The audio output processing unit 77 may determine the order in which audio is output according to its position on the label image G21. For example, the audio output processing unit 77 outputs audio from the top left to the bottom right of the label image G21. The rules for the audio output order are not limited to this, and the rules may be changeable. For example, in the illustrated example, if the "reading timing" item is set to "automatic" and the setting does not accept touch confirmation from the operator, and the printed items "price," "product number," and "expiration date" are to be output in this order, then the audio will output in the order of "price 108 yen, product number 1, expiration date January 26, 2024." In this case as well, as described above, the name of the printed item is added before the item content when outputting audio.

[0080] In this case, once all items to be read aloud have been output, the confirmation process on confirmation screen G20 is considered complete. That is, once the audio output is complete, an issue icon will appear on confirmation screen G20, and the instruction to issue the label will be entered. By configuring the system to output the items to be read aloud sequentially, and considering the confirmation process on confirmation screen G20 complete once all items have been output, hygiene can be ensured even in environments where hands are likely to get dirty. Furthermore, by configuring the system to not accept operator input while the items to be read aloud are being output, the confirmation time can be emphasized by not allowing the operator to do anything while the audio is being confirmed, thereby more reliably ensuring that the operator confirms the printed content.

[0081] The "Touch Item While Reading" setting area G33 is an item that sets whether or not to accept touch operations on the target item while audio output is in progress. If this item is set to "Yes", touch operations will be accepted while audio output is in progress. If this item is set to "No", touch operations will be disabled while audio output is in progress and the item cannot be marked as confirmed. In this case, if a touch operation is performed while audio output is in progress, the label issuing device 1 may operate in a manner different from when confirmation is possible, for example, by notifying an error with a beep sound.

[0082] In either embodiment, the issue button is displayed and the issue instruction is accepted only after all the audio for the items to be read aloud has been output. The system does not accept an issue instruction before all the audio for the items to be read aloud has been output. In other words, the operator cannot issue a label until they have heard all the audio for the items to be read aloud. This configuration ensures that the operator can reliably confirm the audio for the target items, thereby preventing errors in label issuance.

[0083] Furthermore, the following settings are possible for audio output configuration: For example, on the confirmation screen G20, the voice output processing unit 77 may output some of the predetermined print items that have been set to be read aloud. For example, on the label issuance screen G10, only the items whose content has been changed may be output aloud. Also, if there are any changed items, the confirmation screen G20 may output a message that includes the name of the changed item. For example, if the place of origin has been changed, a message such as "The place of origin has been changed" may be output.

[0084] Furthermore, the audio output processing unit 77 may output some of the text of the printed item as audio. For example, in the case of long texts such as additive labels, only a predetermined number of characters may be output as audio from the beginning. Rules that specify which parts will be output when audio is used may be set in advance. For example, if a printed item spans multiple lines, the rule may stipulate that only the first line will be output as audio.

[0085] Regardless of the settings, items in the displayed area when the display is enlarged may be output as audio. Furthermore, the items that are output as audio when the display is enlarged may be predetermined. For example, when the additive information is enlarged, allergens may be output as audio. More specifically, if peanuts are included as allergens, "Allergens: Peanuts" may be output, and if there are no allergens, "Allergens: None" may be output. In configurations where it is necessary to transition to a screen that displays the additive information in enlargement for confirmation, audio prompting the user to transition to the additive information screen may be output.

[0086] The read-aloud settings may differ depending on how the product information is retrieved, i.e., whether it is by entering a product number, image recognition, list selection, or barcode reading. Furthermore, the order in which the read-aloud settings are output may differ depending on how the product information is retrieved.

[0087] ● Confirmation settings before label printing Figure 10 shows screen G40, which is used to configure settings related to the confirmation operation before label issuance. Screen G40 displays the following settings: G41 for "Confirming the label print image before issuing the label," G42 for "Confirming the target item by touch," G43 for "Confirming the product image by touch," and G44 for "Confirming the product image by touch."

[0088] If the "Confirm label print image before label issuance" setting area G41 is set to "Yes", the confirmation screen G20 will be displayed after pressing the issuance key on the key operation unit 32, which is the instruction to print a label, while the label issuance screen G10 is displayed, but before the label is printed.

[0089] When the "Touch confirmation of target item" setting area G42 is selected on screen G40, the pop-up screen G50 shown in Figure 11 is displayed superimposed on screen G40. Screen G50 is used to configure whether touch operation is required for the target items. On screen G50, you can select one of the following settings: no touch confirmation is required; touch confirmation is required for specified target items on all labels issued; touch confirmation is required only for the first label issued at startup or when the print content is changed; or touch confirmation is required for all items on all labels issued.

[0090] Furthermore, the label image confirmation screen G20 and the product image confirmation screen G27 may accept multiple different operations on the label image G21 and product image G28. For example, a single tap may accept a confirmation operation, while a double tap or long tap (touch and hold) may transition to a screen for modifying the relevant print item.

[0091] ● Audio output settings on the product image confirmation screen In the screen G30 shown in Figure 9, by setting the "Read Product Image Aloud" setting area G34 to "Yes," the audio output processing unit 77 will output a predetermined item aloud when a product image is displayed. In other words, the input processing unit 76 accepts whether or not to output a predetermined item aloud when a product image is displayed. The product image is an image linked to the product identification information in the product master.

[0092] The print items to be set for reading aloud can be selected by operating the "Product Image Reading Items" setting area G35 on screen G30, as shown in Figure 9, to choose one or more print items. When the "Product Image Reading Items" setting area G35 is selected, screen G60, as shown in Figure 12, is displayed.

[0093] Figure 12 shows screen G60, where settings are pre-configured for the items to be read aloud when the product image G28 is displayed. On screen G60, one or more items can be set as read-aloud items. Items set as read-aloud items may be displayed in a different manner from other items, for example, with a different background color. Screen G60 also displays an initial value button to reset the read-aloud items to their pre-configured initial state. The initial state may be, for example, a state where the product name, unit price / price, net weight, expiration date, and expiration time are set as read-aloud items, but this may be in any manner appropriate to the user.

[0094] Figure 13 shows screen G70, which displays the product image G72 on the label printing screen G10. This screen G70 is displayed along with product information referenced from the product master, such as product identification information, product name, net weight, net weight unit, and price. In this case, the label printing screen G10 may be composed of multiple tabs G71, and some of the displayed content may be switched within the label printing screen G10. When the screen G70 displaying the product image G72 is displayed, the audio of the reading setting item associated with the product image may be output.

[0095] Furthermore, by setting the "Confirm Product Image" setting area G43 to "Yes" in screen G40 shown in Figure 10, the product image will be displayed after the label printing instruction is entered but before the label is printed.

[0096] Figure 14 shows the label confirmation screen G25 when the "Confirm Product Image" setting area G43 is set to "Yes" in screen G40 shown in Figure 10. On this label confirmation screen G25, a tab G26 labeled "Image" is displayed in the lower left corner. Selecting this tab G26 switches from the label confirmation screen G25 to the product image confirmation screen G27, which displays the product image G28 shown in Figure 15(a). With this configuration, the contents of the product for which a label is to be issued can be visually grasped before the label is printed. Even for products like the "Shrimp Fry" in the same figure, where the net weight is printed on the label or the price varies depending on the net weight, it is easy to understand from the product image G28 that the net weight is 3 pieces. Furthermore, for products with different subcodes associated with the product master's product number, the differences, such as differences in net weight, are likely to be minor. Even in such cases, checking the product image allows for more reliable confirmation of the label contents.

[0097] Furthermore, if the product image G28 shows the serving tray or included accessories, it is easy to check for errors in the serving tray or missing accessories. Accessories include, for example, wasabi in sushi.

[0098] The audio output processing unit 77, when the product image confirmation screen G27, which includes the product image G28, is displayed, performs audio output of pre-set print items for the product image G28. With this configuration, the operator can listen to the audio while viewing the product image G28, allowing them to more reliably confirm the contents of the product indicated by the label.

[0099] Furthermore, as a method for determining whether or not to output audio, the audio output processing unit 77 may, in addition to outputting audio when the called product number changes, or alternatively, output audio when the subcode changes.

[0100] In the example shown in the figure, when a label issuance instruction is entered on the label issuance screen G10, the label confirmation screen G25 is displayed first. However, instead, the screen G27, which includes a product image, may be displayed first.

[0101] Furthermore, in a configuration where confirmation screen G25 is displayed in response to a label issuance instruction, screen G27 may be automatically displayed when a predetermined process on the label confirmation screen G25 is completed. The predetermined process is an appropriate confirmation process that represents confirmation on the label confirmation screen G25, and depending on the settings, it indicates the completion of receiving touches or outputting audio for all items to be confirmed. With this configuration, the number of times the display needs to be touched can be reduced, making operation easy and ensuring the hygiene of the label issuing device 1. In addition, by having the operator view the product image confirmation screen G27, the operator can intuitively understand that it is necessary to confirm the product image G28.

[0102] Furthermore, when screen G40 shown in Figure 10 is displayed, the input processing unit 76 accepts the setting of whether or not a touch operation is required for the product image G28 on the confirmation screen G27. If the "Touch confirmation of product image" setting area G43 is set to "None", confirmation is considered complete without performing a touch operation on the product image G28.

[0103] Furthermore, if the "Touch confirmation of product image" option is selected, the display of the product image on the confirmation screen will be similar to that of the printed items that need to be confirmed on the label, at least partially, as shown in screen G27a in Figure 15(b). In the example shown in the figure, a double circle mark G29 is superimposed on the product image G28. Also, in the product image G28, the frame and the triangles along the four corners are displayed in the same color as the frames of the confirmation items on the label. With this display method, the user can immediately understand that it is necessary to tap the product image G28. Furthermore, the settings in the "Read Aloud Timing" setting area G32 and the "Touch Item During Reading" setting area G33 displayed on the settings screen G30 in Figure 9 also affect the settings for the product image G28. In other words, the timing of touch and audio output is set according to the setting in the "Read Aloud Timing" setting area G32. Also, according to the setting in the "Touch Item During Reading" setting area G33, it is set whether or not touch operations on the product image G28 are accepted during audio output.

[0104] ● Setting the final confirmation comment In the settings screen shown in Figure 9, the input processing unit 76 accepts the setting of a comment that will be output audibly when all confirmations on the confirmation screen are completed, also known as a final confirmation comment. Selecting the "Final Confirmation Comment" setting area G36 will transition to the comment setting screen G80 shown in Figure 16.

[0105] As shown in Figure 16, one or more comments can be entered as final confirmation comments. In other words, the final confirmation comments are pre-registered phrases separate from the print items printed on the label. The final confirmation comments may be selectable from pre-registered comments. In the example in the figure, the phrase "Please consume as soon as possible" is registered as the final confirmation comment. Therefore, the voice output processing unit 77 outputs the above phrase as voice after the confirmation process on the label confirmation screen G20 is completed. Furthermore, if the voice output processing unit 77 is set to read aloud the items to be confirmed, it outputs the above phrase as voice after the voice output of the print items set to be read aloud is completed.

[0106] The final confirmation comment may be an appropriate message to the label issuer, such as "You can issue the label" indicating that the label is ready for issuance.

[0107] The final confirmation comment may be set uniformly regardless of the product identification information for which the label is issued, or it may differ depending on the product. The final confirmation comment may differ depending on the characteristics of the product, such as the product identification information, product classification, product category, etc., and may be determined based on the characteristics of the product. If there is a conflict between individual settings for product identification information and settings for classification, the individual settings may be applied in the order of priority. Furthermore, if product classifications are set in stages such as major classification, medium classification, and minor classification, and the final confirmation comment can be set for each stage, the individual settings, settings for minor classification, settings for medium classification, and settings for major classification may be applied in that order of priority. Furthermore, the final confirmation comment may have different content depending on the time the label is issued. Such a configuration is useful, for example, when the printed content differs depending on the time of manufacture. That is, for example, in a configuration where the message "Made after 3 PM" is printed on a product manufactured after 3 PM, if the label is issued after 3 PM, the final confirmation comment "Manufactured after 3 PM. Please check the label." will be read aloud. With such a configuration, the read-aloud of the final confirmation comment can be used as a trigger to check whether the printed message is appropriate for the time, thereby further reducing errors in selecting the label design.

[0108] The final confirmation comment may include information indicating that the product has previously had a label mislabeled. This configuration allows the user to be prompted to perform a final confirmation before pressing the label issuance icon. The final confirmation comment may also include information indicating that the product is on sale.

[0109] Furthermore, the final confirmation comments may include notes regarding post-labeling procedures. These notes may include, for example, information regarding the label placement, the display method on the shelf after labeling, or a statement that the product will be discounted after a specified time has passed since display. This configuration ensures that important notes are reliably communicated to the operator before labeling, thereby improving the accuracy of post-labeling procedures.

[0110] Furthermore, the audio output processing unit 77 may, in lieu of or in addition to the final confirmation comment described above, first read a fixed confirmation comment or a confirmation comment based on product identification information or product characteristics after displaying the label image or product image. That is, the audio output processing unit 77 may output the comment before the audio output of the printed items set to be read aloud, while the label image or product image is displayed. Either the final confirmation comment or the first confirmation comment may be set, or both may be set.

[0111] ●Settings for reading printed content aloud The voice output processing unit 77 may, when outputting information from the product master as voice, convert the information based on predetermined conversion rules and output it as voice. In this case, the input processing unit 76 accepts whether or not to apply the conversion rules, or to select which conversion rules to apply. The applicability of the conversion rules may be defined for each item in the product master.

[0112] Conversion rules include, for example, rules for reading out the time. Figure 17 shows an example of screen G90 for setting the date and time to be read aloud. On screen G90, you can set whether to use the 12-hour or 24-hour time system as the rule for reading the time aloud. If the rules differ between the product master and the printed content, the voice output processing unit 77 calculates a predetermined value on the value registered in the product master and outputs it as voice. With this configuration, for example, even if the product master is registered in 24-hour format but the label is printed in 12-hour format, the time can be converted and output as voice by setting it to the same 12-hour format as the label, so that the voice output conforms to the content written on the label.

[0113] Furthermore, the conversion rule may also be a rule for reading out the price. In this case, the input processing unit 76 may accept a setting for the manner in which the price is output aloud. This allows the user to choose whether to output the price aloud as the tax-inclusive price or the tax-exclusive price. Even in this case, if the rules differ between the product master and the printed content, the voice output processing unit 77 calculates a predetermined value for the price registered in the product master and outputs it aloud. With such a configuration, for example, even if the price is registered as the tax-exclusive price in the product master, but printed as the tax-inclusive price on the label, voice output in accordance with the content on the label is possible. Furthermore, regarding the rules for reading prices aloud, it may be possible to select a conversion rule that reads multi-digit prices as one digit at a time. If this conversion rule is selected, for example, instead of reading "350 yen" as "sanbyaku gojuuen," it would be read as "san, go, zero, en." With such a configuration, even foreign language speakers who are unfamiliar with listening to multi-digit numbers can easily check the price. Furthermore, regarding the rules for reading out product numbers, it may be possible to select a rule that reads out multi-digit product numbers one digit at a time. If this rule is selected, for example, instead of reading "product number 123" as "product number one hundred twenty-three," it would be read as "product number one, two, three." With such a configuration, foreign language speakers who are unfamiliar with listening to multi-digit numbers can easily confirm the product number.

[0114] ● Audio output settings for unconfigured items Here, not all printable items are necessarily filled in; some items may not have content set depending on the product. For example, for cooked products like "fried shrimp," the place of origin is not set, while for ingredients such as vegetables, the place of origin is set. Therefore, we will explain the audio output when an item with no content set, i.e., an unset item, is the item to be read aloud.

[0115] Figure 18 shows screen G100, where settings are made for reading out unset items. For unset items, the text registered in the "Read Aloud Text" field (in the example shown in the figure, "Not Set") is output aloud along with the name of the print item. That is, if the "Advertisement Text" field is unset and "Advertisement Text" is included in the items to be read aloud, "Advertisement Text Not Set" will be read aloud. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably confirm through voice that no content has been set for that item. Furthermore, by outputting the text aloud along with the name of the print item, it becomes clear through voice that items with no content have been set, making confirmation even easier.

[0116] ● Dictionary registration settings Figures 19 to 21 illustrate the process of registering text-to-speech data, which is referenced when converting text to speech output. The label issuing device 1 has a large amount of pre-registered text-to-speech data, and the audio output processing unit 77 converts text into audio files according to this text-to-speech data. The text-to-speech data contains multiple dictionary data that associate target words and phrases with their pronunciations.

[0117] Figure 19 shows screen G110, where new dictionary data to be referenced as text-to-speech data is registered. Each dictionary data is assigned a different identification number. Screen G110 shows the state when an identification number for which no dictionary data has been registered has been called up. Screen G110 accepts registration of reading, pronunciation, part of speech, multi-level classification, accent, and priority for the target word or phrase. The priority setting defines the order in which dictionary data registered for the same word or phrase are applied; in this embodiment, a smaller priority value indicates a higher priority. Screen G110 also displays a word search icon G112, a priority setting icon G113, and a test icon G114. The behavior when each icon is selected will be described later.

[0118] On screen G110, area G111 is the area where, for example, the word to be registered and the registration number associated with that word are displayed. By entering the registration number, the word displayed on screen G110 can also be retrieved. In the example in Figure 19, area G111 is blank, and new word registration is accepted. In this case, the displayed registration number is the number after the already registered registration number, and is a number that is not associated with a word. On screen G110, tapping area G111 transitions to screen G120 shown in Figure 20. Figure 20 is screen G120, where the word to be registered in the dictionary data is entered.

[0119] Figure 21 shows screen G130, which appears when the word "city" is entered in screen G110 shown in Figure 19 and the word search icon G112 is selected.

[0120] Furthermore, in the screen G130 shown in Figure 21, pressing icon G131 displays the words already registered in the dictionary data that include the word to be registered. When attempting to register a new word to be registered in the dictionary data, it is conceivable that the word may not be properly output as speech due to other dictionary data. With this configuration, it is possible to easily check the dictionary data referenced for the speech conversion of the word to be registered, which can be used as a reference for new registrations. This configuration ensures accurate voice output for specified terms. Furthermore, since registration for each product master is unnecessary, the operational effort is reduced compared to configurations that require setting up each product individually.

[0121] In Figure 19, selecting the priority setting icon G113 automatically calculates the priority of the target word displayed in area G111, and reflects the calculated priority in the priority field G115. More specifically, it refers to the priority of the words that include the target word and sets it to be higher than that priority. In this embodiment, the priority of the target word is determined to be a value smaller than the minimum priority of the words that include the target word. With this configuration, the system can automatically set the target word to be referenced with higher priority than existing dictionary data, making it easy to achieve the desired reading aloud.

[0122] Furthermore, priority can be set for each printing item. In this case, for example, for the word "city," it may be possible to set it so that "shi" takes priority in the place of origin printing item, and "ichi" takes priority in the product name printing item. Since there may be some tendency in how kanji are read for each printing item, this configuration allows for more accurate reading in accordance with the tendency for each printing item.

[0123] In Figure 19, selecting the test icon G114 outputs the audio of the word displayed in area G111 being read aloud with the current settings. This configuration allows for easy verification of whether the dictionary data for the word, including its priority, is set appropriately. In particular, the configuration in which the test icon G114 is placed on screen G110, which accepts priority settings, and which accepts audio output commands while screen G110 is displayed, is highly convenient because even if the wrong dictionary data is referenced due to an error in the priority setting, the priority can be adjusted on the same screen.

[0124] ●Processing flow Figure 22 shows an example of the processing flow performed by the label issuing device 1. The example in this figure shows the processing when the "reading timing" is set to automatic and touch confirmation of the target item is required. The label issuance screen G10 (see Figure 7) is displayed by calling the product number (S101). When the issuance key on the key operation unit 32 is pressed while the label issuance screen G10 is displayed, the process proceeds to step S103. If a touch confirmation history is stored for the product called on the label issuance screen G10 (Y in step S103), the process proceeds to step S110, which will be described in detail later, and the label is issued. If no touch confirmation history is stored in step S103 (N in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the confirmation screen G20 (see Figure 8) is displayed, and the voice output processing unit 77 reads the setting data by referring to the information storage unit 71 (S104).

[0125] The voice output processing unit 77 outputs the items to be read aloud based on the setting data (S105). The type of voice and volume are also output according to the settings. Items and phrases that are set to be output multiple times are output multiple times, while items and phrases that are not set are output once each. Next, it waits for a touch on the target item (S106). When a touch on the target item is received (Y in S106), another item to be read aloud is output aloud, and this is repeated until touches are received for all target items. Once touches for all target items are received, a history indicating that the touch confirmation has been completed is temporarily stored (step S107), and an issue button is displayed on the confirmation screen G20 (S108).

[0126] When the operator selects the issue button on the confirmation screen G20 and the label issuance request is accepted (Y in step S109), the label issuing device 1 issues the label using the printing processing unit 74 (S110). At this time, the touch confirmation history may be deleted. On the other hand, if the user selects to cancel issuance after the issue button is displayed (N in S111), the system returns to the label issuance screen G10.

[0127] If the option to cancel the issuance is selected, a history of the completion of the touch confirmation in step S107 is retained. Therefore, when performing the series of label issuance processes from step S101, the result in step S103 is Y, and the touch confirmation can be omitted, allowing the process to proceed to step S110. The conditions for retaining the history may be set as appropriate, and the history may be deleted or not referenced when the conditions are no longer met. For example, the conditions for retaining the history may be that the time from canceling the issuance in step S111 to pressing the issuance key again in step S102 is less than or equal to a predetermined time, and the history may be deleted or otherwise executed after the predetermined time has elapsed. Alternatively, the conditions for retaining the history may be that the number of times the issuance cancellation operation in step S111 is less than a predetermined number, and the system may be configured so that a touch confirmation is required if the number of issuance cancellations exceeds a predetermined number.

[0128] In addition to the cancellation performed in step S111, there may also be irregular cancellations that are forcibly executed due to various abnormalities. In the case of an irregular cancellation, a different process from the cancellation performed in step S111 may be executed. Specifically, in the case of an irregular cancellation, the history temporarily stored in the preceding step S107 may be deleted, and the previous confirmation operation may not be valid.

[0129] This allows the label to be issued only after the specified printing items have been confirmed by voice. Alternatively, if the cancellation of issuance is selected in step S111, the system may return to step S104 regardless of the touch confirmation results. Alternatively, instead of the above configuration, if cancellation of issuance is selected in step S111 and there is a touch confirmation history in step S103 (Y in step S103), the process may proceed to step S109, where a label issuance request may be accepted before label issuance in step S110.

[0130] Furthermore, in this embodiment, audio output is performed when the confirmation screen G20 is displayed. However, instead, the system may be configured such that when the issuance key on the key operation unit 32 is pressed while the label issuance screen G10 is displayed, or when the measured value stabilizes, a predetermined print item is output audibly, and the label is issued when the audio output is complete. In other words, the label is not issued until the audio output is complete. Even with such a configuration, the operator can listen to the audio while viewing the information on the label issuance screen G10, and thus confirm the content. In the configuration where voice output is provided when the label printing screen G10 is displayed, the area that accepts editing input for a predetermined printing item may be highlighted while that item is being voice-outputted. For example, while the place of origin information is being voice-outputted, the area that accepts editing input for the place of origin is highlighted. With such a configuration, if an error is detected by voice, the area that should be selected is intuitively easy to understand.

[0131] <Second Embodiment> The label issuing device 101 of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the parts that differ from the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 23, the label issuing device 101 differs from the first embodiment in that it includes an audio output setting unit 78 for setting audio reading data. In the following description, components the same as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted. Note that the audio output setting unit 78 may be located in an appropriate higher-level server connected to the label issuing device 101, and the label issuing device 101 may be configured to acquire the audio reading data set by the audio output setting unit 78 of the higher-level server.

[0132] The voice output setting unit 78 sets the voice reading data for the associated product by generating or appropriately editing the voice reading data stored in the information storage unit 71. For example, the voice output setting unit 78 adds the voice reading data for a phrase that is to be voice-output multiple times, i.e., the target phrase, to the voice reading data. The voice output setting unit 78 may also add the voice reading text of the target phrase to the initial voice reading text. The voice output setting unit 78 extracts the target phrase from the initial voice reading text and adds the voice reading text of the target phrase immediately before or after the target phrase. Alternatively, the voice output setting unit 78 may be configured to add the voice reading text of the target phrase to the end of the initial voice reading text.

[0133] Furthermore, the audio output setting unit 78 may define a range to be read multiple times in the text to be read aloud linked to the product master in a predetermined manner. The predetermined manner may be any appropriate manner such as double quotation marks or square brackets. In this case, the audio output processing unit 77 is configured to output the defined range multiple times.

[0134] The voice output setting unit 78, for example, determines whether the product name contains a target phrase to be output multiple times, and if it does, decides to output that phrase multiple times. The target phrases are pre-registered in, for example, the information storage unit 71. Furthermore, the target phrases may be added, edited, or deleted by the operator or administrator. A product name is composed of, for example, an essential part that indicates the content of the product, such as "fried chicken," and a combination of phrases that incidentally indicate the nature of the product, such as "large," "small," "large portion," and "single item." However, the incidentally indicating phrases are difficult to distinguish from the appearance of the product, and there is a risk of issuing the wrong label. Also, phrases that incidentally indicate the nature of the product are included in many different product names. Therefore, with a configuration that sets appropriate phrases as target phrases to be output multiple times, it is unnecessary to register the part to be output multiple times for each product, and multiple voice outputs can be easily set.

[0135] The voice output setting unit 78 may perform a suffix match search for the product name. Alternatively, the voice output setting unit 78 may search from the end of the word to the beginning of the word. Since phrases that incidentally indicate the nature of a product are often included at the end of the product name, a configuration that searches for target phrases using suffix match search or search from the end of the word can ensure search accuracy and reduce the processing burden of the search.

[0136] The voice output setting unit 78 may compare multiple product information stored in the information storage unit 71 and extract product names that are similar to each other. Similar product names refer to those in which, for example, part of the product name matches. That is, the voice output setting unit 78 determines that product names are similar to each other if, for example, there is a predetermined number of matching characters or if the number of matching characters relative to the total number of characters, i.e., the matching ratio, is above a predetermined level. The voice output setting unit 78 may extract common information that matches each other and non-common information that differs from each other. In this case, it can be said that a certain product information has common information with other product information and non-common information that does not share common information with that other product information. The voice output setting unit 78 decides to output the non-common information at least multiple times. The voice output setting unit 78 may decide to output the common information once, while outputting the non-common information multiple times.

[0137] Furthermore, common and non-common information may include items in the product information as well as parts of the product name. The voice output setting unit 78 may compare the product information item by item and decide to output items with common content once as common information, while outputting items with different content multiple times as non-common information. Furthermore, for example, if there is non-common information such as different origins, it may be decided to output the origin as non-common information multiple times. In this case, the audio output may be multiple times by concatenating the non-common information with predetermined common information. For example, if the product names are the same but the origins are different, the origin and product name may be output consecutively multiple times.

[0138] The audio output setting unit 78 may determine whether there are any excluded words to be excluded from the items to be output multiple times, and if there are any excluded words, it may decide to output those words only once. Alternatively, the audio output setting unit 78 may decide not to output any excluded words. Furthermore, if there are excluded words, the audio output setting unit 78 may decide to output words other than the excluded words multiple times.

[0139] The audio output setting unit 78 may be set to read aloud the text within a specified range multiple times if that range is included in a specified manner for a specified item. The range to be output multiple times may be enclosed by a pair of appropriate symbols that define a start and end point, such as double quotation marks or square brackets. Alternatively, the range to be output multiple times may be from the beginning of the sentence to a specified symbol, or from a specified symbol to the end of the sentence. The specified symbol may be a space, for example, and audio data may be set to output multiple times from a space in the product name to the end of the sentence.

[0140] When multiple conditions are set for outputting audio multiple times or for excluding items from outputting audio multiple times, the priority order of the applicable conditions may be set in advance. When multiple conditions for outputting audio multiple times or for excluding items from outputting audio multiple times are set in parallel, the audio output setting unit 78 determines the number of times each word or phrase will be output by referring to the priority order of the applicable conditions.

[0141] The voice output setting unit 78 searches for target terms, for example, at the time of product retrieval processing such as product number input. Alternatively, the voice output setting unit 78 may also search for target terms when registering products in the product master. The detected target terms are stored in the product master, linked to product information. The voice output processing unit 77 performs voice output processing by referring to the target terms linked in the product master, without searching for target terms each time output is performed.

[0142] Figure 24 shows an example of the settings screen G140, which allows you to set target words to be output multiple times in the product name and exclusion words to be excluded from being output multiple times. In this example, the keywords (large) and (small) are registered as target words to be read twice in the product name. In addition, the keywords "karaage" and "potato salad" are registered as exclusion words to be excluded from being read twice in the product name.

[0143] Figure 25 shows an example of the setting screen G150, which configures the method for extracting ranges to be read aloud multiple times for a given item. In this example, the screen accepts settings for the strings that will be the start and end positions of the range to be read twice in the product name. The start and end positions are set in pairs, and in the first to third lines of the figure, black brackets, double quotation marks, and parentheses are registered, respectively. In the fourth line, an asterisk is used as the start string, and the end string is not set. In this case, the range from the asterisk to the end of the word in the product name will be read twice. This configuration eliminates the need to register parts that are output multiple times for each product, making it easy to set up multiple audio outputs.

[0144] ●Audio output characteristics In the above embodiment, audio output of the print items is performed when issuing labels or editing print items. However, in other embodiments, audio may be output to announce the progress or completion of the label issuance or printing process before, during, or after the printing process, in order to inform the operator of the printing status. For example, before printing, different voice messages may be output depending on the type of label issuing device 1. Label issuing devices 1 include not only so-called label printers that only have a printer function, but also, for example, film packaging machines, tray sealing packaging machines, band wrapping packaging machines, label printers with weighing functions, and counter scales with printers. For example, in the case of label issuing devices 1 that have a packaging function, voice messages may be output that correspond to the type of tray. Comments corresponding to the type of tray may include, for example, comments that warn about the placement location and placement method of the tray. In addition, depending on the type of label issuing device 1, products or trays that cannot be printed may be stored in advance, and if a specific product or tray is selected, a voice message may be output indicating that the device cannot print labels.

[0145] More specifically, the system outputs audio corresponding to the following situations: when the system reaches a certain number of labels before the printing process is complete; when the printing process is complete; when a certain number of labels have been printed since the start; and when the progress of the printing process reaches a certain percentage of the total. This allows the operator to be notified of the label issuance status and to be aware of the situation. In particular, when the number of labels issued exceeds a certain value, or when the number of labels issued exceeds a predetermined set value (predetermined length) in continuous issuance, the operator may move away from the label issuing device 1. By outputting sound, the situation can be reliably notified to the operator even when they are far away. Furthermore, in cases of specific errors that require immediate attention even when the operator is far away, or when labels run out, the system may output a voice message indicating that the specific error has occurred or that labels have run out. Furthermore, the voice announcements regarding the status of label issuance may be presented in a different manner than other voice announcements. Additionally, such voice announcements may be output from a terminal separate from the label issuing device 1, for example, a portable device such as a smartphone held by the operator, which is connected to the label issuing device 1 in a communication-enabled manner.

[0146] Furthermore, to accommodate situations where the operator is a foreigner who has difficulty understanding the standard language, the system may automatically translate only certain printed items into voice, or it may store data for various languages ​​to support diverse languages, and the voice may switch to the designated language depending on the operator. In addition, depending on the language setting, or if the product name is clearly in a different language, the software for voice output itself may be able to be changed to the appropriate language.

[0147] Furthermore, if a voice output function is implemented as a feature to prevent pricing errors, the functionality will be limited depending on the module used; for example, a Japanese voice output module cannot speak in English, and an English voice output module cannot speak in Japanese. Therefore, the label issuing device 1 may be equipped with multiple voice output modules and switched according to the display language. For example, the device can switch to the Japanese voice output module when the display is in Japanese, and to the English voice output module when the display is in English. Note that the content to be spoken (words in each language, etc.) must be registered for each module. This will enable appropriate voice output and is expected to prevent pricing errors.

[0148] Furthermore, the label issuing device 1 may be equipped with an audio input means such as a microphone and configured to recognize the input audio. By providing this audio input means, after the audio output processing unit 77 outputs audio, the operator may be notified by voice or display to prompt them to speak the same content into the microphone, and the voice spoken by the operator may be collected by the microphone, and if the content matches through voice recognition, a determination of successful confirmation may be made. In this case, when changing the data of the print item, the change may be considered complete when the content matches, but the change may not be considered complete until the content matches. Also, when issuing a label for the first time, the label issuance may be considered complete when the content matches, but issuance may be prohibited until the content matches. Note that the voice recognition processing may be performed by the label issuing device 1, or it may be performed by another device such as a server connected to the label issuing device 1.

[0149] Furthermore, while this embodiment focuses on labels printed with product information in retail stores such as supermarkets, the present invention is applicable to other embodiments where labels need to be affixed to specific objects, such as in logistics.

[0150] Furthermore, the software resources possessed by the label issuing device 1 described above can be distributed or consolidated across any hardware resources through appropriate design, and the hardware resources can also be configured as a physically integrated device or as separate devices. For example, some or all of the software resources can be configured to reside in a centralized higher-level device or controller, or in an external server connected by a predetermined network. Also, the printer that actually issues the labels and the display operation unit for instructing issuance can be separate devices, and these may be located close together or far apart, and the speaker that outputs sound (including the microphone if present) may be installed within earshot of the operation display unit 31.

[0151] Alternatively, the label issuing device 1 may perform the above-described processing by recording a program for realizing the functions of the label issuing device 1 on a computer-readable recording medium, and then loading and executing the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system. Here, "loading and executing the program recorded on the recording medium into a computer system" includes installing the program into the computer system. Here, "computer system" includes hardware such as the OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer system" may include multiple computer devices connected via a network including communication lines such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and dedicated lines. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into the computer system. Thus, the recording medium on which the program is stored may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0152] Furthermore, the recording medium includes internal or external recording media accessible from the distribution server for distributing the program. The program code stored on the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the program code in an executable format on the terminal device. In other words, the format in which it is stored on the distribution server is irrelevant as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in an executable format on the terminal device. It is also acceptable for the program to be divided into multiple parts, downloaded at different times, and then combined on the terminal device, and for each of the divided programs to be distributed by a different distribution server. Moreover, "computer-readable recording medium" includes volatile memory (RAM) within computer systems that act as servers or clients when a program is transmitted over a network, which retains the program for a certain period of time. Furthermore, the program may be intended to implement only a part of the functions described above. In addition, it may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0153] ●Summary of Embodiments This invention relates to a label issuing device and a computer program.

[0154] In label printing devices such as label printers, errors in printed content can affect the store's credibility, so verification is required before printing. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-130868 describes a technique for verifying the correctness of character size and font placement.

[0155] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 relied on visual cues to prevent misissuance of labels.

[0156] Therefore, one of the objectives of this invention is to provide a device that can prevent the misissuance of labels by effectively utilizing not only visual information but also audio information.

[0157] To achieve the above objective, a label issuing device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a printing means for printing product information on a label, and an audio output means for outputting predetermined items from the printed items of the label as audio output information, wherein the audio output means outputs a part of the audio output information in a manner different from the manner of audio output of other audio output information.

[0158] The system includes a storage unit for storing information relating to the aforementioned products, the storage unit storing at least first product information relating to a first product and second product information relating to a second product different from the first product, the first product information having common information common to the second product information and non-common information not common to the second product information, and the voice output means may output the non-common information multiple times when outputting the first product information as voice.

[0159] The first product information may further include a setting unit that sets the non-common information to be output multiple times as audio output information, or excludes the common information from the multiple audio output information.

[0160] The system further includes a display unit for displaying information about the product, and the display unit may display information about the product that is output aloud multiple times in a different display manner than information that is output aloud only once.

[0161] To achieve the above objective, a computer program according to another aspect of the present invention is a computer program that controls a label issuing device for printing information on a label, and causes the computer to execute a print command for printing information relating to a product on the label, and a voice output command for outputting a predetermined item from the print items of the label as voice output information, wherein the voice output command outputs a part of the voice output information in a manner different from the manner of voice output of other voice output information.

[0162] According to the label issuing device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the issuance of incorrect labels by effectively using audio information. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0163] 1: Label printing device 30:Operation unit 31: Operation display section 32: Key operation section 40: Audio output section 41: Speaker 50:Measuring part 51: Load cell 60: Printing section 61: 1st printing mechanism section 62:Second printing mechanism section 71: Information storage section 72: Weight information acquisition section 73: Configuration Processing Unit 74: Printing Processing Unit 75: Display Processing Unit 76: Input Processing Unit 77: Audio output processing unit 78: Audio output setting section

Claims

1. A printing method for printing product information onto a label, A voice output means that outputs a predetermined item from the printed items of the label as voice output information, Equipped with, The audio output means outputs a portion of the audio output information in a manner different from the manner of audio output of other audio output information. Label printing device.

2. It includes a storage unit that stores information about the aforementioned product, The storage unit stores at least first product information relating to the first product and second product information relating to a second product different from the first product. The first product information includes common information that is common to the second product information and non-common information that is not common to the second product information. When the audio output means outputs the first product information by voice, the non-common information is output multiple times by voice. The label issuing device according to claim 1.

3. The first product information further includes a setting unit that sets the non-common information to be output multiple times as audio output information, or excludes the common information from the audio output information. The label issuing device according to claim 2.

4. The system further includes a display unit that displays information about the aforementioned product, The display unit displays information related to the product that is output audibly multiple times in a different display manner than information that is output audibly only once. A label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A computer program that controls a label issuing device that prints information on labels, A print command to print product information on the label, The computer is instructed to execute an audio output command that outputs a predetermined item from the printed items of the label as audio output information. In the aforementioned audio output command, a portion of the audio output information is output as audio in a manner different from the manner of audio output of other audio output information. Computer program.

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