Product processing equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a product processing device that allows the operator to confirm product information that is read aloud while viewing the displayed product information. [Solution] The product processing device 1 is configured such that when product information for a product is displayed on the display unit 5 by a product retrieval operation, the product information is read aloud by the voice output device 15A. The product processing device 1 comprises a display unit 5 that displays product information and a control unit 10 that controls the voice output device 15A. If pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 are displayed on the display screen SC1 of the product information displayed on the display unit 5 in a way that overlaps them, the control unit 10 waits for the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 to disappear before having the voice output device 15A read aloud the product information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a merchandise processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In a supermarket backyard, for example, a label issuing device that prints product information on a label is used to issue a label to be attached to a product, and the issued label is attached to the product. For example, in the label issuing device (merchandise processing apparatus) disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent incorrect product information from being printed on the label, the product information of the label to be printed and issued is displayed on a display screen and the content is read out. In such a label issuing device, the operator can be made to confirm whether the product information of the label to be printed and issued matches the product information of the label to be printed and issued, so that the possibility of incorrect product information being printed can be reduced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a merchandise processing apparatus, a pop-up screen may be displayed on the display screen that shows, for example, a message guiding the next operation content or a message notifying an error that has occurred in the apparatus. However, when such a pop-up screen is displayed at the time of calling a product, it is displayed so as to overlap the display screen on which the product information is displayed. Therefore, even if the product information is read out by the voice output device, the operator cannot confirm whether the content matches the content displayed on the display screen.

[0005] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a product processing device that allows the operator to confirm the product information being read aloud while the displayed product information is shown to the operator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A product processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a product processing device configured such that when product information of a product is displayed on a display unit by a product calling operation, the product information is read aloud by an audio output device, comprising a display unit for displaying product information and a control unit for controlling an audio output device, wherein if a pop-up screen is displayed on the display screen of product information displayed on the display unit, the control unit waits for the pop-up screen to disappear before having the audio output device read aloud the product information.

[0007] In this configuration of product processing device, even if a pop-up screen appears overlapping the product information, the pop-up screen disappears, revealing the product information screen that was hidden behind it. At that moment, the voice output device reads out the displayed product information. This allows the operator to see the displayed product information while simultaneously confirming the product information being read aloud.

[0008] (2) In the product processing device described in (1) above, the pop-up screen may be a screen that displays a message guiding the user through the operation or a message notifying the user of an error that has occurred in the product processing device. In this configuration, even if a pop-up screen displaying a message guiding the user through the operation or a message notifying the user of an error that has occurred in the product processing device is displayed on the display unit, the user can confirm the displayed product information by reading the product information aloud from the moment the pop-up screen disappears.

[0009] (3) In the product processing device described in (1) or (2) above, the control unit may, upon detecting that an operation to hide the pop-up screen has been performed, have the voice output device read out the product information. In this configuration, it is easy to confirm that the pop-up screen is no longer displayed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the operator can confirm the product information that is read aloud while viewing the displayed product information. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a label issuing device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the label issuing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3(A) is an example of a product information management screen. Figure 3(B) is an example of a printed label. [Figure 4] Figure 4(A) is an example of a pop-up screen showing an operation guide. Figure 4(B) is an example of a pop-up screen showing a message. Figure 4(C) is an example of a pop-up screen showing an error message. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example where the pop-up screen shown in Figure 4(A) is superimposed on the product information management screen shown in Figure 3(A). [Figure 6] Figure 6(A) is a perspective view showing a weighing and packaging labeling device including a label issuing device according to a modified example. Figure 6(B) is a perspective view showing a face-to-face label issuing device according to a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, a label issuing device (product processing device) 1 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Furthermore, in this specification, "A or B" means that either A or B is included, and does not exclude the inclusion of both A and B.

[0013] The label issuing device 1 has the function of weighing the weight of a product and issuing a printed label LC (see Figure 3(B)) to be attached to the weighed product. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the label issuing device 1 comprises a main body case 3, a fixed key 4, a display unit 5, a speaker (sound output device) 6, a weighing unit 7, a printing unit 9, and a controller (control unit) 10.

[0014] The main unit case 3 is equipped with a fixed key 4, a display unit 5, a speaker 6, a printing unit 9, and a controller 10. The main unit case 3 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape. The front of the main unit case 3 is provided with an opening / closing door. When the opening / closing door is opened, the printing unit 9 located inside the main unit case 3 is exposed.

[0015] Fixed key 4 is located on the main unit case 3. Fixed key 4 is the part that receives various operations from the operator. Fixed key 4 includes keys necessary for a price scale, such as the "unit price" key, "fixed amount" key, "tare" key, "print" key, and "call" key, as well as numeric keys.

[0016] The display unit 5 displays various information such as the status of the label issuing device 1, the operation of the label issuing device 1, information about the product to be weighed (product information), and pop-up screens for operation guides or error messages. The display unit 5 may also include a touch panel. In this case, it will function to accept various operations from the operator, similar to the fixed keys 4.

[0017] The speaker 6 is provided near the display unit 5. Note that the speaker 6 may be provided at other positions or may be provided as an external speaker separate from the main body case 3. When, for example, product information of a product is displayed on the display unit 5 by a call operation of the product, the speaker 6 outputs at least part of the information including the product name included in the product information as voice. The speaker 6 is controlled by the controller 10 in terms of the timing of voice output, output content, volume, voice quality, reading speed, etc. Here, the output content means, for example, the content emitted from the speaker 6 such as the product name. Also, the voice quality here refers to the voice quality of the voice. The voice quality output from the speaker 6 is configured to be selectively switchable, for example, between a male voice, a female voice, a child's voice, etc.

[0018] The weighing unit 7 is configured as a separate body from the main body case 3. The weighing unit 7 mainly has a weighing pan 7A, a load cell (not shown), a signal processing circuit, and a transmission module. The load cell is provided under the weighing pan 7A and supports the weighing pan 7A, and converts the mechanical strain generated when the object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan 7A into an electric signal and outputs it. The signal processing circuit amplifies the electric signal output from the load cell and converts it into a digital signal. The transmission module transmits the digital signal to the controller 10 in the main body case 3 wirelessly or by wire.

[0019] The printing unit 9 is housed in the main body case 3 and includes a cassette (not shown), a printing unit, and a cutter unit. The cassette detachably supports a label roll. The label roll is formed in a roll shape by winding a strip-shaped label without a backing paper around a paper tube. The label without a backing paper (hereinafter simply referred to as "label") has an adhesive applied to the back surface of the base material paper, a heat-sensitive agent that develops color by heat applied to the front surface, and further a silicone resin as a peeling agent applied thereon. The label roll is wound around the paper tube with the back surface (adhesive surface) of the label facing inward. In this embodiment, instead of the label without a backing paper, a label roll wound with a label with a backing paper may be used. The printing unit 9 prints product information on the label and issues it as a printed label LC.

[0020] The printing unit includes a printing head and a platen roller, and prints product information on the surface of the label. The printing head is composed of a thermal printing head. The printing head is controlled by a controller 10 to be described in detail later. The platen roller presses from the back side of the label to press the surface of the label against the printing head. The cutter unit cuts off the label sent out from the printing unit as a printed label LC of a predetermined length (see FIG. 3(B)). That is, the cutter unit issues the portion printed by the printing head as the printed label LC. Note that the printing method of the printing unit 9 is an example, and various printing methods such as thermal transfer type and inkjet type can be used.

[0021] The controller 10 is a part that controls various operations in the label issuing device 1. The CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory) are interconnected via bus lines such as address buses and data buses. The controller 10 executes various control processes in the label issuing device 1. The controller 10 can be configured as software in which, for example, a program stored in the ROM is loaded onto the RAM and executed by the CPU. The controller 10 may be configured as hardware such as an electronic circuit.

[0022] The storage unit 12 stores various information. The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, a RAM, an SSD (Solid State Drive), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The storage unit 12 stores product information. Also, the stored content of the storage unit 12 is displayed on the display unit 5 at a predetermined timing. The content displayed on the pop-up screen PS1 as shown in FIG. 4(A) is displayed on the display unit 5 when some error is detected. Also, messages as shown in FIGS. 4(B) and 4(C) are stored as the content to be displayed on the pop-up screen PS2.

[0023] When the label issuing device 1 issues a printed label LC (see Figure 3(B)) for a product to be weighed, the operator uses the fixed key 4 to input the product number or call number corresponding to the product to be weighed. At this time, the operator may retrieve product information by scanning a call barcode, or select the product to be weighed from the product list selection screen displayed on the display unit 5 by searching or by work instruction. Alternatively, the operator may select from the product list retrieved by using a preset key. When the operator inputs a call number, the product information display screen SC1 (product information display screen) shown in Figure 3(A) is displayed, and the product information displayed on the product information display screen SC1 (call number R1, product name R2, and unit price R3 of the product to be weighed) is read aloud by the voice output device 15A. The voice output device 15A consists of a controller 10 and a speaker 6.

[0024] The label issuing device 1 of this embodiment has a guide function that guides the operator on how to operate the device at a timely moment. Specifically, the controller 10 receives a call number corresponding to the product to be weighed and displays a product information display screen SC1 on the display unit 5 that shows the product information corresponding to the entered call number. Almost simultaneously, if the device is set to request confirmation of the called product name, it displays a pop-up screen PS1, for example, as shown in Figure 4(A). At this time, the controller 10 displays the pop-up screen PS1 overlaid on the product information display screen SC1, as shown in Figure 5.

[0025] The pop-up screen PS1 is a screen that confirms whether the product displayed on the display unit 5 is the product intended by the operator. The pop-up screen PS1 displays a message confirming whether the selected product name is indeed domestic beef tenderloin steak. When the controller 10 detects that the OK button B1 displayed on the pop-up screen PS1 has been pressed, it hides the pop-up screen PS1. As a result, only the product information display screen SC1 is displayed on the display unit 5.

[0026] As described above, in the label issuing device 1 of this embodiment, when a call number is entered by the operator, a product information display screen SC1 as shown in Figure 3(A) is displayed, and the product information displayed on the product information display screen SC1, in particular the product name R2 and unit price R3, is read aloud by the voice output device 15A. This is to allow the operator to confirm whether the content of the product information to be printed on the label is correct. However, as shown in Figure 5, when the product information display screen SC1 is displayed on the display unit 5, if the pop-up screen PS1 described above is displayed overlapping the product information display screen SC1, and the product information is read aloud by the voice output device 15A, then even if the product information is read aloud by the voice output device 15A, the operator cannot confirm whether the content matches the content displayed on the product information display screen SC1.

[0027] Therefore, in this embodiment, if the pop-up screen PS1 is displayed on the product information display screen SC1 displayed on the display unit 5, the controller 10 waits for the pop-up screen PS1 to disappear before having the voice output device 15A read out the product information. For example, when the controller 10 detects that the pop-up screen PS1 has been hidden, i.e., that the OK button B1 has been pressed, it has the voice output device 15A read out the product information. If the pop-up screen PS1 is set to disappear automatically after a predetermined time has elapsed since it was displayed on the display unit 5, the controller 10 may have the voice output device 15A read out the product information after the pop-up screen PS1 has disappeared, i.e., after the pop-up screen PS1 has been displayed on the display unit 5 and a predetermined time has elapsed. The controller 10 may also output the content of the message displayed on the pop-up screen PS1 as an audio.

[0028] Furthermore, the label issuing device 1 of this embodiment may also display messages to be announced to the operator on a pop-up screen, or messages to notify the device of errors that have occurred on a pop-up screen. For example, if the product name of the product corresponding to the call number has been changed, the controller 10 may display an announcement message on the display unit 5 as a pop-up screen PS2 indicating that the information has been changed since the last call, as shown in Figure 4(B), or an error message on the display unit 5 as a pop-up screen PS3 indicating that the label roll is not attached, as shown in Figure 4(C).

[0029] Similarly in this case, the controller 10 waits for the PS2 or PS3 pop-up screen to disappear before having the audio output device 15A read out the product information.

[0030] The effects and advantages of the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment will now be explained. In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, even if pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 are displayed overlapping the product information of the product, the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 disappear, and the product information display screen SC1, which was hidden behind the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3, appears. At that time, the voice output device 15A reads out the displayed product information. This allows the operator to confirm the product information being read out while looking at the product information display screen SC1.

[0031] In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 are screens that display messages guiding the user through the operation or messages notifying the label issuing device 1 of an error. In this way, even when the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3, which display messages guiding the user through the next operation or messages notifying the label issuing device 1 of an error, are displayed on the display unit 5, the user can still confirm the product information that is read aloud while looking at the product information display screen SC1.

[0032] In the label issuing device 1 of the above embodiment, when the controller 10 detects that an operation has been performed to hide the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3, it may cause the voice output device 15A to read out the product information. With this configuration, it is easy to confirm that the pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 are no longer displayed.

[0033] Although one embodiment has been described above, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0034] In the above embodiment, an example was given of a pop-up screen displayed on top of the product information display screen SC1 that shows a message guiding the user through the operation or a message notifying the user of an error that occurred in the product processing device. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0035] In the above embodiments and modifications, an example of applying one aspect of the present invention to a label issuing device 1 as shown in Figure 1 was described. However, it may also be applied to a weighing, packaging, and labeling device (product processing device) 101 as shown in Figure 6(A), which weighs a product, packages the product, and then issues a printed label LC on which product information about the product is printed and affixed to the product. As shown in Figure 6, the weighing, packaging, and labeling device 101 includes a weighing unit 102, a packaging unit 103, a printing unit 104, an affixing unit 105, a display operation unit 106 configured as a touch panel, a speaker (audio output device) 107, a controller (control unit) 110, and a storage unit 112. The audio output device 15A is configured to include the speaker 107 and the controller 110.

[0036] In the above embodiments and modifications, an example of applying one aspect of the present invention to a label issuing device 1 as shown in Figure 1 was described, but it may also be applied to a face-to-face electronic scale 201 (product processing device) equipped with a store clerk-side operation unit 205A and a customer-side operation unit 205B, as shown in Figure 6(B). The electronic scale 201 shown in Figure 6(B) comprises a main body case 203, a store clerk-side operation unit 205A and a customer-side operation unit 205B composed of touch panels, a speaker (voice output device) 206, a weighing unit 207 having a weighing pan 207A, a printing unit 209 that issues printed labels LC, a controller (control unit) 210, and a storage unit 212. The voice output device 15A is composed of the speaker 206 and the controller 210.

[0037] Even in a weighing, packaging, and labeling device 101 and electronic scale 201 with this configuration, if pop-up screens PS1, PS2, and PS3 are displayed overlapping the product information of the product, these pop-up screens disappear, and the product information display screen SC1, which was hidden behind them, becomes visible. At that moment, the voice output device 15A reads out the displayed product information. This allows the operator to confirm the product information being read out while looking at the product information display screen SC1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1...Label printing device (product processing device), 5...Display unit, 6...Speaker (audio output device), 10...Controller (control unit), 15A...Audio output device, 101...Weighing, packaging, and labeling device (product processing device), 106...Display operation unit, 107...Speaker (audio output device), 110...Controller (control unit), 201...Electronic scale (product processing device), 206...Speaker (audio output device), 210...Controller (control unit), PS1, PS2, PS3...Pop-up screen, SC1...Product information display screen (product information display screen).

Claims

1. A product processing device is configured such that when product information for a product is displayed on the display unit by a product retrieval operation, the product information is read aloud by an audio output device, A display unit that displays the aforementioned product information, The system comprises a control unit for controlling the aforementioned audio output device, The control unit, when a pop-up screen is displayed on the display screen of the product information shown on the display unit, waits for the pop-up screen to disappear before having the voice output device read out the product information, as a product processing device.

2. The product processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pop-up screen is a screen displaying a message guiding the user through the operation or a message notifying the product processing apparatus of an error that has occurred.

3. The product processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit, upon detecting that an operation to hide the pop-up screen has been performed, causes the voice output device to read aloud the product information.

Images