Product processing equipment, product processing system, and computer program

Abstract

To promote sales of articles sold by weight by allowing discounts on the articles sold by weight.SOLUTION: A POS terminal 1B includes: a first determination processor that determines whether or not a predetermined weighable article for which a discount condition is set based on a combination of multiple weighable articles and a total weight of one or more weighable articles in the combination is registered as an article to be purchased; a second determination processor that determines whether or not the total weight, which is the total weight of the weighable articles for which the predetermined discount conditions are set and which are registered as articles to be purchased, exceeds the predetermined weight; and an accounting processor that discounts the sales price of the specified articles for sale by weight when the total weight exceeds the predetermined weight specified in the predetermined discount conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a product processing apparatus for discounting weighed products.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, sales promotions based on the number of products have been carried out, such as mix - match that offers discounts for the purchase of a certain number of products among specific products, or set - match that offers discounts for specific combinations of products. On the other hand, recently, the weighed sales shown in the example of Patent Document 1 has been re - examined, and new sales promotion methods are required even in weighed sales.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to promote the sales of weighed products by enabling the discounting of weighed products.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above objective, the product processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first determination processing unit that determines whether a predetermined bulk product, for which discount conditions are set based on a combination of bulk products and the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of one or more bulk products in the combination, has been registered as a product eligible for purchase; a second determination processing unit that determines whether the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of the bulk products for which the predetermined discount conditions are set and which have been registered as a product eligible for purchase exceeds a predetermined weight; and an accounting processing unit that, if the total weight exceeds the predetermined weight, performs a discount on the sales price of the predetermined bulk product. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the POS system and POS terminal that constitute the product processing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the external configuration of a POS terminal, and includes (a) an oblique view, (b) a front view, (c) a rear view, (d) a top view, (e) a bottom view, (f) a right side view, and (g) a left side view. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of discount conditions. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of how discounts are applied. [Figure 5] This diagram shows another example of discount conditions. [Figure 6] This diagram shows an example of how discounts are applied. [Figure 7] This is an example of a receipt issued after payment for goods. [Figure 8] This is a processing flow diagram showing the steps involved in registering products at a POS terminal. [Figure 9] This diagram shows an example of a screen displayed on a POS terminal. [Figure 10] This diagram shows an example of a screen displayed on a POS terminal. [Figure 11]This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the POS system and label issuing device that constitute the product processing device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a total number of labels issued by a label issuing device. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of a price label issued by a label issuing device. [Figure 14] This is a processing flow diagram showing the label issuance process in a label issuing device. [Figure 15] This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the POS system and POS terminal that constitute the product processing device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Figure 16] This is a processing flow diagram showing the steps involved in registering products at a POS terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] ● Overview Hereinafter, a product processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. The product processing device according to this embodiment is a device that, in the sale of products sold by weight, applies a discount based on the total weight obtained by summing the weights of multiple products sold by weight.

[0008] This product processing device is ideally suited for selling bulk products such as dried fruits, nuts, and beans. However, this does not prevent the handling of products that are not sold by weight.

[0009] Furthermore, in the sale of bulk goods, when bulk goods are packed into containers and provided to customers, the containers used may be those given to the customer along with the bulk goods, those lent to the customer, or those owned by the customer (sometimes referred to as "personal containers"). When weighing the product weight of weighed goods, tare subtraction is performed by subtracting the container weight. The tare subtraction can be performed, for example, by registering the tare weight of the container in a weighing device in advance and subtracting it from the weighed value of the weighed goods, or by weighing the tare weight of the container each time and subtracting it from the weighed value of the goods. Also, an RFID tag recording the tare weight, a label printed with a coded symbol code (such as a barcode), etc. can be attached to the container, and the tare weight of the container can be obtained by reading the RFID tag, the symbol code, etc.

Example

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the network configuration and functional configuration of the POS system 1A according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The POS system 1A includes a POS terminal 1B and a store controller SC (also referred to as a store computer or a management device), and they are communicably connected via a LAN or a dedicated line.

[0011] Here, the POS system 1A or the POS terminal 1B constitutes a product processing device according to the present invention. That is, the POS system 1A is realized as a system in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are distributed and held in the store controller SC and the POS terminal 1B, and the POS terminal 1B is realized as a device in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are aggregated.

[0012] The POS terminal 1B is a device that registers various purchased target products including weighed goods and executes the accounting of the registered purchased target products as described later. The POS terminal 1B according to the present embodiment is a so-called POS terminal with a weighing function, and for the weighed goods placed in a container or the like, it can perform tare subtraction processing by itself, calculate the price according to the product weight, and register the weighed goods.

[0013] The store controller SC is a higher-level device responsible for core operations such as customer management and order management. This store controller SC may be composed of a plurality of server devices according to each operation, or may be configured as a cloud server. Also, the store controller SC referred to here can be configured by any other server such as a store server regardless of its name.

[0014] For example, when having a store controller SC as the POS system 1A as in this embodiment, the store controller SC manages a product master, a special sale master, etc. to be described later, and the POS terminal 1B can execute product registration processing by referring to the product master of the store controller SC. On the other hand, when there is no store controller SC, for example, a plurality of POS terminals 1B are provided, one POS terminal 1B is equipped with the functions of the store controller SC, and the POS terminal 1B兼任 the functions of the store controller SC executes master management and is data-linked with other POS terminals 1B. Also, in other examples, each POS terminal 1B can be operated to perform master management individually.

[0015] ● Hardware configuration of the POS terminal 1B (product processing device) FIG. 2 shows an example of the POS terminal 1B. The POS terminal 1B includes a store employee side display unit 11 for the store employee to input and output information, a customer side display unit 12 for the customer to input and output (or only output) information, a code reading unit 13, a tag reading unit 14, and a weighing unit 15. This POS terminal 1B is configured as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped compact device in appearance and can be placed on a counter in the store by legs provided at the four corners of the back surface.

[0016] Furthermore, the staff-side display unit 11 and the customer-side display unit 12 face in opposite directions, allowing staff to stand facing customers while assisting them. Both the staff-side display unit 11 and the customer-side display unit 12 screens are angled diagonally upwards, making them easily visible to staff and customers when viewed from above. However, the touch panel screen of the staff-side display unit 11 is angled even further upwards than the screen of the customer-side display unit 12, making it easier for staff to operate using the touch panel.

[0017] The POS terminal 1B can be connected to a code reading unit 13, which is implemented by a scanner or camera that reads symbolic codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, and a tag reading unit 14 that reads information stored in RFID tags. These code reading units 13 and tag reading units 14 are connected depending on the store's operation. In this embodiment, the case in which the POS terminal 1B is equipped with such code reading units 13 and tag reading units 14 is described as an example, but in this embodiment, these code reading units 13 and tag reading units 14 are not required.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the POS terminal 1B has a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, and storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 and ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, and is connected to the employee-side display unit 11, the customer-side display unit 12, the code reading unit 13, the tag reading unit 14, and the weighing unit 15 via the interface circuit 104.

[0019] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the POS terminal 1B by reading and executing various programs stored in the ROM 102. ROM102 is read-only memory that stores various types of information used by the CPU101, including programs. RAM103 is a read-and-write memory that stores various types of information. For example, RAM103 stores information obtained from external sources (for example, product master data obtained from the store controller SC if the store controller SC holds such data) and information generated during processing. This information includes, for example, registration information (registration data) generated during the registration process to register products, and settlement information generated during the settlement process to settle (pay for) registered purchased products.

[0020] The employee-side display unit 11 consists of a touch panel display and comprises an input means for the employee to input various information and an output means for outputting information. Using this employee-side display unit 11, the employee can check the registration status of items to be purchased and perform the registration operation for items to be purchased. Regardless of this embodiment, the employee-side display unit 11 may also incorporate input means such as physical mechanical keys or switches, or the input means and output means may be configured separately, such as a physical mechanical key and a liquid crystal display.

[0021] The customer-side display unit 12 consists of a touch panel display and comprises an input means for customers to input various information and an output means for outputting information. Through this customer-side display unit 12, customers can confirm registered products and, if necessary, perform approval operations for products to be purchased. Furthermore, if it is not necessary to require the customer to input information, the customer-side display unit 12 may be configured with a liquid crystal panel or the like that is only capable of outputting information. Furthermore, the customer-side display unit 12, like the employee-side display unit 11, may also be equipped with physical input means such as mechanical keys or switches, or the input means and output means may be configured separately, such as a physical mechanical key and an LCD display.

[0022] The code reading unit 13 is a functional unit for reading various data from identifiers encoded in symbol codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, and is implemented by a handheld scanner, a CCD camera, or the like. In the example in Figure 2, the code reading unit 13 is not shown, but it can be connected by a predetermined cable or integrated into a predetermined part of the housing. This code reading unit 13 can, for example, read the symbol code on a price label issued for a product and obtain the coded information. Furthermore, if the code reading unit 13 is implemented using a CCD camera, object scanning is also possible.

[0023] The tag reading unit 14 is a functional unit that acquires information stored in an RFID tag when an RFID tag is attached to a container used for bulk-sold goods. Such an RFID tag may store information such as the tare weight of the container or information related to the container type, which will be described later. Although the tag reading unit 14 is not shown in the example in Figure 2, as with the code reading unit 13, it can be connected by a predetermined cable or integrated into a predetermined part of the housing.

[0024] The weighing unit 15 is located between the employee-side display unit 11 and the customer-side display unit 12, and weighs the weight of items to be weighed, such as weighed goods or containers, that are placed on a designated placement surface. The weighing unit 15 weighs the object to be weighed placed on the surface, for example, using a weight detection method with a load cell. Specifically, the weighing unit 15 consists of a weight detection unit and an A / D converter, where the A / D converter converts the analog signal input from the weight detection unit into a digital signal. This allows the weighing unit to perform a tare subtraction process on the weighing result by referencing a reference value for the tare weight of a weighed product in a container, and to display the weight of the weighed product on the staff-side display unit 11 and the customer-side display unit 12.

[0025] ● Software configuration of POS terminal 1B (product processing device) The POS terminal 1B consists of a functional block comprising, as software resources executed by the control unit 100, at least a member master, product master, special sale master, registration processing unit, reception processing unit, weight information acquisition unit, determination processing unit, accounting processing unit, display processing unit, and notification processing unit.

[0026] The computer program executed by the control unit 100 can be provided by downloading it via a network such as the Internet, or by recording it on various computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROMs. Furthermore, if the product processing device according to this embodiment is implemented as a POS system 1A, each functional unit may be distributed and provided on multiple hardware resources that constitute the POS system 1A.

[0027] The member master is a memory unit that stores information about member customers. The data items stored in this member master include, for example, a member number to identify the customer, and personal information such as the customer's name and contact information. A membership number is an example of customer identification information used to identify a member customer. This membership number is displayed to the store through a membership card or application software installed on the customer's mobile device. The membership number can consist of various characters or combinations thereof, such as alphanumeric characters and symbols, as long as it is configured to uniquely identify the customer.

[0028] The product master data stores information about products. The data items stored in this product master include, for example, product identification information such as a JAN code, product name, weighing category, unit price, and unit weight.

[0029] Measurement classifications are categories related to measurement, and include classifications such as variable weight, fixed weight, and fixed price. For products classified as variable weight (products sold by weight), the selling price is determined based on a predetermined unit price per unit weight (e.g., "100g") and the weight (measured value) being sold. For products classified under a fixed weight weighing category, the selling price is determined based on a predetermined unit price per unit quantity (e.g., "1 piece") and the sales quantity calculated from the unit weight. For products classified under a fixed weight weighing category, weighing is necessary because the quantity of the product is calculated from the unit weight (weight of one unit) and the weighed value, and the selling price is determined from the calculated quantity of the product and the unit price per unit quantity. For products classified under a fixed-price weighing category, the selling price is determined based on a pre-set unit price (e.g., "1 piece") and the sales quantity entered as the number of units to be placed. For products in the fixed-price weighing category, the sales quantity is determined by the number of units placed, regardless of weight, so weighing is not required.

[0030] The special offer master data stores pre-registered discount conditions for specific bulk-sold products. The discount conditions are the conditions for applying a discount from the regular selling price to a specified bulk product. In this embodiment, these discount conditions consist of a combination of one or more bulk products (variable weight products) and the total weight obtained by summing the weights of each bulk product that makes up the combination. In the following explanation, bulk-sold items with discount conditions may be referred to as "discounted items."

[0031] Specifically, as shown in the example in Figure 3, a promotion code is set for weight-based value discounts in mix-match or set-match. For each promotion code, a mix-match or set-match (category) is determined, and then the product code (PLU code) of the target product is set. The purchase weight, which is the condition for the weight-based value discount, and the value discount to be applied when purchasing more than that purchase weight are also set. The discount can be set as appropriate, for example, a specific amount such as 100 yen, or a discount rate such as a 20% discount. Furthermore, multiple promotions can be registered in the special sale master. In addition, regardless of the example in Figure 3, the applicable period for each promotion can also be registered. Also, regardless of the illustrated example, a single discount condition can consist of only one product, and the discount condition can be composed solely of the weight of that single product.

[0032] • Discount conditions and examples of application <Example where the same discount rate is set for each item sold by weight> Here, we will explain the discount conditions and an example of when the discount will be applied based on those conditions, referring to Figures 3 and 4. The example in Figure 3 shows a discount condition where a 20% discount is applied when the total weight of products exceeds 800g through a mix-and-match combination of several specific products (Food A, Food C, Food F).

[0033] In the diagram, "Category" indicates whether it is a mix match or a set match. A mix match offers a discount for purchasing a certain number of specific products, while a set match offers a discount for purchasing specific combinations of products. The "product number" and "product name" are identifying information for products that are eligible for mix-match or set-match. In the case of mix-match, if multiple eligible products are registered as purchase items, the quantity can be any number (e.g., 2 or 3 items), and the types of products can be the same or different. In the case of set-match, the discount applies when all eligible products are registered as purchase items. The "price per gram" may differ for each item, or it may be the same for all items. "Weight" refers to the total weight of the bulk items eligible for the discount; a discount is available if the total weight exceeds a specified weight. "Discount" indicates the discount rate applied to the regular total price of bulk-sold items when the discount conditions are met.

[0034] Figure 4 shows an example of a case where the discount conditions shown in Figure 3 apply. In the example of Pattern 1 shown in Figure 4(a), three types of food items, Food A, Food C, and Food F, which qualify for the Mix & Match offer, are purchased, and the total weight of these items is exactly 800g. As a result, the discount conditions are met, and a 20% discount is applied to the price of each food item. The regular selling price would be "1,031 yen," but the actual selling price after the discount is "825 yen."

[0035] In the example of Pattern 2 shown in Figure 4(b), two types of food, Food A and Food F, which qualify for the Mix & Match program, are purchased, and the combined weight of the two products is 800g. As a result, the discount conditions are met, and a 20% discount is applied to the price of each food item. The regular selling price would be "884 yen," but the actual selling price after the discount is "708 yen." Note that in the example in Figure 4, the decimal part is truncated when calculating the price, but this can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the application.

[0036] <Example of a discount rate set for each item sold by weight> The example in Figure 5 shows a discount condition in which, when a mix-and-match combination of several specific products (Food A, Food C, Food F) results in a total weight of weighed products exceeding 800g, a discount is applied according to a predetermined discount rate for each weighed product (10% off for Food A, 10% off for Food C, and 15% off for Food F).

[0037] In the diagram, the items "Category," "Product Number," "Product Name," "Price per gram," and "Weight" are the same as described above, as shown in Figure 3. "Discount" indicates the discount rate applied to the selling price of each bulk item when the discount conditions are met. The discount rate for bulk items may differ or be the same for each bulk item.

[0038] Figure 6 shows an example of a case where the discount conditions shown in Figure 5 apply. In the example of Pattern 3 shown in Figure 6(a), three types of food items, Food A, Food C, and Food F, which qualify for the Mix & Match offer, are purchased, and the total weight of each item is exactly 800g. As a result, the discount conditions are met, and Food A receives a 10% discount, Food C receives a 10% discount, and Food F receives a 15% discount. The regular selling price would be "1,031 yen," but the actual selling price after the discount is "897 yen."

[0039] In the example of Pattern 4 shown in Figure 6(b), two types of food, Food A and Food F, which qualify for the Mix & Match program, are purchased, and the combined weight of the two products is 900g. As a result, the discount conditions are met, and Food A receives a 10% discount and Food F receives a 15% discount. The regular selling price would be "1,252 yen," but the actual selling price after the discount is "1,090 yen." In the example in Figure 6, the decimal part is truncated when calculating the price, but this can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the application.

[0040] Furthermore, if containers are provided to customers for bulk-sold products, a management master may be established to manage the tare weight of such containers. In this case, the management master stores, for example, the tare weight and container type, which are referenced in the tare process, associated with a management number that identifies the container. It should be noted that not all of these items, particularly the information related to the tare weight and container type, necessarily need to be stored in the management master; it is also possible to operate by simply attaching some or all of these items to the container in the form of barcodes or RFID tags. In this case, the tag reader 14 or code reader 13 of the POS terminal 1B can be used as appropriate, or the information can be obtained from the container by store staff or customers visually inspecting it.

[0041] The registration processing unit performs the registration process for products to be sold to customers. The registration processing unit registers all items to be settled within a single transaction as items to be purchased, and the registered data serves as reference data during the settlement process. The registration processing unit can also accept cancellation requests for registered purchased items, in which case the corresponding items will be deleted from the registration data.

[0042] The reception processing unit receives various types of information from the store clerk via a predetermined input screen displayed on the store clerk's display unit 11. This reception processing unit accepts operations such as selecting product types and performing accounting operations.

[0043] The weight information acquisition unit acquires the weight of the purchased weighed goods as the weight information of the purchased goods. In this embodiment, the acquisition of weight information can take the following forms depending on the sales method of the weighed goods.

[0044] • Example of obtaining weight information <First embodiment: Example of acquiring weighing values ​​by the weighing unit 15 (first weight information acquisition unit)> In this example, the weighing unit 15 of the POS terminal 1B weighs the bulk-sold items and obtains the weighed value as the product weight of the bulk-sold items. In this example, the measured value can be obtained not only from the weighing unit 15 built into the POS terminal 1B itself, but also from a weighing unit (weighing device) externally connected to the POS terminal 1B via a network or the like.

[0045] <Second embodiment: Example of acquisition by inputting the number of units (second weight information acquisition unit)> In this example, the weight of the weighed items is input as the quantity to be placed, via the employee-side display unit 11, the customer-side display unit 12, or a separately provided mechanical key, thereby obtaining the weight of the items. In addition to the individual weights of each weighed product, the total weight (the sum of the individual weights) can also be obtained by inputting the quantity, provided that the price per gram of each weighed product is the same.

[0046] The determination processing unit performs a determination process to determine whether the discount conditions are met based on the type and weight of the purchased items. This determination processing unit consists of a first determination processing unit that determines whether a specific bulk item specified in the discount conditions has been registered as a purchase item, and a second determination processing unit that determines whether the total weight of the bulk items that are discounted and registered as purchase items exceeds a predetermined weight.

[0047] The accounting processing unit performs the accounting processing for the purchased goods. Specifically, the accounting processing unit, as its first accounting step, calculates the total amount for the purchased items registered by the registration processing unit, and then adds consumption tax and other taxes to calculate the total accounting amount. In this case, if the purchased items are sold by weight, the selling price of those items is calculated based on the weight of the items obtained as measured values. Furthermore, as a second accounting process, the accounting processing unit, if the weighed goods meet the predetermined discount conditions as a result of the determination processing by the determination processing unit, applies the predetermined discount to the selling price of the weighed goods and calculates the total amount of purchased goods based on the discounted selling price. In this embodiment, if the registered purchased items meet the discount conditions, the accounting processing unit will apply a predetermined discount to the bulk-sold items. However, regardless of this, when calculating the accounting amount, the POS terminal 1B may notify that the discount conditions have been met, and a store employee or other staff member may apply the discount by manually entering a predetermined discount rate or discount amount.

[0048] The display processing unit displays various information, such as product registration data, to the employee-side display unit 11 and the customer-side display unit 12, and also displays a reception screen for accepting product input. For example, when a store employee requests input of the product type, a reception screen for accepting input of the product type is displayed on the employee-side display unit 11. In addition, the registration status of all purchased items is displayed on the customer-side display unit 12.

[0049] The notification processing unit, when registering items to be purchased, refers to the product master and notifies the customer of the status of the fulfillment of the discount conditions if a specific bulk item that is eligible for a discount upon meeting certain discount conditions is registered. Specifically, if the discount conditions are met by registering a specified bulk item, a notification is sent indicating that the discount conditions have been met. Furthermore, if a bulk item with discount conditions has been registered but the discount conditions have not yet been met, the notification will provide information such as the discount conditions set for the registered bulk item, the weight required to meet the discount conditions (total weight or remaining weight required to reach the total weight), the type of items to be purchased, and the discount rate or amount when the discount conditions are met. This information may be provided individually, in any combination, or all of it, and can be operated as desired. The notification processing unit updates and notifies the customer of the information necessary to meet the discount conditions each time a part of the discount conditions is met. This allows customers and store staff to know when they are eligible for a discount, and the bulk items and weights required for the discount, depending on the registration status of the items to be purchased.

[0050] The method of notification by the notification processing unit is not particularly limited, but may include, for example, a display for customers or store staff using text or icons on the screen of POS terminal 1B, an audio announcement, or the illumination of a separately provided lamp, as long as it is a notification or alert that allows the customer to understand the discount status according to the product registration status. Furthermore, notifications from the notification processing unit, such as messages on the screen, can be displayed from the time of product registration until the next customer's product registration process is executed, as long as there are registered bulk products with discount conditions set and there is content to be notified as a result.

[0051] Once the accounting amount is determined at POS terminal 1B, settlement processing is performed based on the accounting information. Settlement processing may be performed by POS terminal 1B itself if it has a mechanism or function for settlement (regardless of whether it is physically integrated or separate), or it may be performed by another device that has a mechanism or function for settlement and has acquired accounting information from POS terminal 1B. The mechanism or function for settlement consists of a cash payment, a payment using a predetermined payment medium or code, and a printing unit that issues receipts.

[0052] Example of a receipt An example of a receipt issued after payment is shown in Figure 7. The receipt shown in Figure 7 is an example of a receipt where a discount was applied to a bulk-sold item. The receipt includes the names and prices of the purchased items, the total number of items purchased, and the total amount. In this receipt, the bulk-sold items met the discount conditions and were discounted. Therefore, the words "M-weight discount" indicating the discount was applied and the discount amount "¥113" (reduced by applying the prescribed discount rate) are printed below the bulk-sold items.

[0053] ● Processing flow using POS terminal 1B Next, the process of selling products using the POS terminal 1B that constitutes the product processing apparatus according to this embodiment, along with the processes executed by the POS terminal 1B, will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Furthermore, customer membership numbers can be entered by various methods before, during, or after product registration. For example, the barcode printed on the membership card provided to the member, or the membership number encoded as a barcode on the application software installed on the member's mobile device, can be read by the code reader 13. The membership number can also be entered directly into the POS terminal 1B. Alternatively, the system may be configured to enable closing operations in response to the input of the membership number.

[0054] When the customer places the item they wish to purchase on the weighing unit 15, the weight information acquisition unit acquires the weighed value as the item weight (S101). In addition, tare is performed depending on the type of item when acquiring the item weight. Product registration is performed on POS terminal 1B (S102). Specifically, product registration is performed by accepting product specification input such as a preset key or product number. Furthermore, POS terminal 1B can, in response to product registration, appropriately refer to the product master and extract necessary information, and display the product information on the terminal. In addition, POS terminal 1B can calculate the selling price based on the product information in the product master, the unit price information of the product, and the weight of the tare-deducted product only, and display the selling price.

[0055] When a bulk product is registered during this product registration process, if it is determined by referring to the special sale master that a discount condition has been set for the bulk product (S103), the notification processing unit notifies the status of the fulfillment of the discount condition (S104). Specifically, the determination processing unit refers to the discount condition of the registered bulk product and determines whether a discount applies based on the weight of the registered bulk product and the information of already registered bulk products. That is, it determines whether a bulk product that satisfies the discount condition has been registered, and whether the total weight of the target bulk products exceeds a predetermined weight. Based on this result, the notification processing unit notifies whether the discount condition has been met, and if not, what kind of bulk products and in what weight need to be purchased to fulfill the discount condition.

[0056] The system repeatedly registers all items to be purchased, and once all items have been registered (S105), it accepts a closing operation, such as pressing the subtotal key (S106). In response, the judgment processing unit, based on the content of the registered items, refers to the discount conditions to determine whether a discount is applicable, and if so, which items are discounted and by how much (S107). The accounting processing unit applies the discount to the sales price if a discount is applicable, calculates and finalizes the accounting amount for the registered items to be purchased (S108). While the final accounting amount is determined during the closing process, the accounting processing unit calculates and displays the total amount of registered products and any applicable consumption tax as products are registered.

[0057] Once the closing operation is complete, accounting information is generated in POS terminal 1B, and settlement processing based on this accounting information can be performed (S109). Once the payment process is complete, a receipt will be issued, and the entire process will be finished.

[0058] ●Example screen of POS terminal 1B Figure 9 shows an example of a screen displayed on POS terminal 1B after a subtotal operation. In the diagram, the left side of the diagram shows a product display area G11 that displays a list of registered purchase items. In this product display area G11, items are added from top to bottom in the order they were registered, and each item displays its product name, quantity, weight, unit price, etc. In the upper right of the diagram, there is a display field G12 that shows the subtotal and total amounts of the registered products. Below the amount display field G12 on the right side of the diagram, there is a purchase quantity display field G13 that shows the number of items purchased. The lower part of the diagram shows a preset key display area G14, which displays preset keys for performing accounting operations.

[0059] If a discounted product that is eligible for a discount upon meeting the discount conditions is registered, the notification processing unit will display window G15, which notifies the user of the information necessary to fulfill the discount conditions. Window G15 displays the products to be purchased, their weight (total weight and weight deficit), and the discount rate when the conditions are met. Note that, regardless of the illustrated example, the specific discount amount when the conditions are met may also be calculated and displayed within window G15. Regardless of this embodiment, a row displaying the same content as in window G15 may be provided in the product display field G11. Furthermore, the product display field G11 may display the details of the registered products and the numbers assigned to each product so that it is clear which products from the registered products displayed therein will result in a discount. After calculating the subtotal, if you have gathered the necessary information to meet the discount conditions and wish to register the products required to receive the discount, you can return to the product registration screen and register the products.

[0060] Figure 10 shows an example of a screen that appears when additional products are added to the screen shown in Figure 9 and the predetermined discount conditions are met. In the diagram, in product display section G11, the discount details are displayed below the product information for products that meet the discount conditions. In the example shown, the discount details include the product name of the product that meets the discount conditions, the "M-discount" indication that the discount has been applied, and the discount amount. In addition, in the example shown in Figure 10, a window similar to window G15 shown in Figure 9 may be provided, and it may be indicated in that window that the discount conditions have been met.

[0061] Notwithstanding the screen examples in Figures 9 and 10, discounted items among registered products may be displayed in a different manner from other products. This different manner can be achieved through various examples such as color, font, design, and annotations, as long as it allows the user to identify the discounted item.

[0062] According to the POS terminal 1B or POS system 1A comprising the product processing device of this embodiment, it becomes possible to offer discounts on bulk-sold products, thereby promoting sales of bulk-sold products. In particular, it is possible to acquire the weight of products in accordance with various sales methods for bulk-sold products and apply discounts according to the weight of the products.

[0063] In this embodiment, the POS terminal 1B constitutes a product processing device according to the present invention. However, if the functions for settlement processing are omitted from the POS terminal 1B, which is a POS terminal with a weighing function, and the device is configured to consist only of the part related to the weighing function, then the device constitutes a weighing device according to the present invention. [Examples]

[0064] Figure 11 shows the network configuration and functional configuration of POS system 2A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. POS system 2A includes a POS terminal 2B, a store controller SC (also called a store computer or management device), and a label issuing device 2C, each of which is connected via LAN or a dedicated line for communication.

[0065] Here, the POS system 2A or the label issuing device 2C constitutes the product processing device according to the present invention. Specifically, the POS system 2A is implemented as a system in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are distributed and held in the store controller SC, the POS terminal 2B, and the label issuing device 2C, while the label issuing device 2C is implemented as a device in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are integrated.

[0066] POS terminal 2B is a device that registers bulk-sold items and performs payment for the registered items. The POS terminal 2B in this embodiment only needs to have the function of acquiring information such as product name and product weight based on information printed on the accounting medium issued by the label issuing device 2C, and performing product registration processing. Various types of POS terminals are applicable, regardless of type, including fully self-service POS terminals where customers register and pay for products themselves, and semi-self-service POS terminals where store employees register products using a registration machine and customers pay using a payment machine.

[0067] As described below, the label issuing device 2C weighs the bulk goods purchased by the customer and issues an accounting medium for each product according to the weighed value and product information; it is also called a weighing and pricing machine. The POS terminal 2B registers the products based on the accounting medium issued by the label issuing device 2C.

[0068] The Store Controller SC, as in Example 1, is a higher-level device that handles core business operations such as customer management and order management. This Store Controller SC may consist of multiple server devices depending on the specific business operation, or it may be configured as a cloud server. Furthermore, the Store Controller SC referred to here can be composed of any other server, such as a store server, regardless of its name.

[0069] In this embodiment, where the POS system 10B includes a store controller SC, for example, the store controller SC manages a product master (described later), and the POS terminal 2B and label issuing device 2C can refer to the product master in the store controller SC to perform product registration and label issuing processes. On the other hand, if there is no store controller SC, for example, one or more POS terminals 2B can be equipped with the functions of a store controller SC, and the POS terminals 2B that also perform the functions of a store controller SC can be made to perform master data management and link data with other POS terminals 2B and label issuing devices 2C. In another example, each POS terminal 2B and label issuing device 2C can be operated to perform master data management individually.

[0070] ● Hardware configuration of label printing device 2C As shown in Figure 11, the label issuing device 2C has a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 and storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) 202 and ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, and is connected to the display unit 21, issuing unit 22, and weighing unit 23 via an interface circuit 204.

[0071] The functional configuration of CPU201, ROM202, and RAM203 is the same as that of CPU101, ROM102, and RAM103 in the above-described embodiment 1. Furthermore, similar to the POS terminal 1B, the label issuing device 2C can be connected to a code reading unit, which is implemented using a scanner or camera to read symbolic codes such as barcodes and 2D codes, and a tag reading unit, which reads information stored in RFID tags, depending on how it is used in the store.

[0072] The display unit 21 consists of a touch panel display and comprises an input means for store staff or customers to input various information and an output means for outputting information. From this display unit 21, for example, it is possible to accept input for selecting weighed items to be measured, register items to be purchased, and check the registration status of items to be purchased.

[0073] Regardless of this embodiment, the display unit 21 may also incorporate input means such as physical mechanical keys or switches, or the input means and output means may be configured separately, such as a physical mechanical key and a liquid crystal display. Furthermore, the selection of the type of bulk product to be weighed can be performed in the same manner as in the POS terminal 1B of the above-described embodiment 1. That is, the label issuing device 2C and the storage container containing the bulk product can be linked via data, and when the storage container detects that a bulk product has been removed, the label issuing device 2C can acquire information from the storage container regarding the type of bulk product that has been removed. If the storage container is equipped with a weighing mechanism, information regarding the weight of the bulk product, along with the type of bulk product that has been removed, can also be supplied from the storage container to the label issuing device 2C.

[0074] The issuing unit 22 issues labels with information printed on them for selling the bulk products provided to customers, which are used as accounting media. The accounting medium may be a receipt or a label that can be attached to a container for bulk-sold goods. If an attachable label is used, it should be designed to be easily removable after being attached to the container and after payment.

[0075] The weighing unit 23 weighs the weight of the object to be weighed, such as bulk goods or containers, that is placed on a designated surface. The weighing unit 23 weighs the object to be weighed placed on the surface, for example, using a weight detection method with a load cell. Specifically, the weighing unit 23 consists of a weight detection unit and an A / D converter, where the A / D converter converts the analog signal input from the weight detection unit into a digital signal. This allows the weighing unit 21 to display the weight of the weighed product, which is the contents of a container, by referencing a reference value for the tare weight and performing a tare subtraction process from the weighing result.

[0076] Notwithstanding the configuration of this embodiment described above, the POS terminal 1B according to Embodiment 1 may also be equipped with a functional unit corresponding to the code reading unit 13 and tag reading unit 14.

[0077] ● Software configuration of label printing device 2C The label issuing device 2C comprises a functional block consisting of at least a product master, a special sale master, a registration processing unit, a reception processing unit, a weight information acquisition unit, a determination processing unit, an accounting processing unit, a display processing unit, a notification processing unit, and an issuance processing unit, as software resources executed by the control unit 200. In addition to these functional units, it may also include a member master.

[0078] Furthermore, the computer program executed by the control unit 200 can be provided by downloading it via a network such as the Internet, or by recording it on various computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROMs. Furthermore, if the product processing device according to this embodiment is implemented as a POS system 2A, each functional unit may be distributed and provided on multiple hardware resources that constitute the POS system 2A.

[0079] In this embodiment, the product master, special sale master, reception processing unit, weight information acquisition unit, determination processing unit, accounting processing unit, display processing unit, and notification processing unit each perform the same functions on the label issuing device 2C as the corresponding functions in the POS terminal 1B according to Embodiment 1 described above.

[0080] However, in this embodiment, the registration processing unit provided by the label issuing device 2C registers bulk-sold products as the target for issuing accounting media, and the registration data serves as reference data when the label issuing processing unit performs label issuing. Furthermore, when the weight information acquisition unit acquires the weighed value as the product weight, it can acquire the weighed value from the weighing unit 23 of the label issuing device 2C or from a weighing unit (weighing device) externally connected to the label issuing device 2C via a network or the like.

[0081] The issuing processing unit issues accounting media based on the information of the weighed goods registered by the registration processing unit. The accounting media is printed with the product information required when registering products on the POS terminal 2B. Accounting media include, for example, price labels issued for each bulk item, total labels issued for multiple bulk items bundled together, correction labels for correcting the sales price and other information on price labels and total labels, and discount labels for applying discounts to the sales prices shown on price labels and total labels. Product information includes, for example, product name, selling price, unit price, and product weight, and this information is appropriately coded using symbol codes, etc. Furthermore, if a discount is applied to a bulk product, the discounted price can be used as the selling price for accounting purposes.

[0082] Examples of accounting media issuance patterns <Issuance Pattern 1> In this example, no separate accounting label is issued for each individual bulk item. Instead, once the weighing operation is complete for all bulk items purchased by a customer that require weighing and the issuance of an accounting label, a total label displaying all weighed bulk items is issued as the accounting label.

[0083] An example of the total label issued in this example is shown in Figure 12. This total label has information printed on it about individually registered bulk items, such as product name, unit price, weight, quantity, and selling price. In addition, information that will be referenced during accounting is printed as needed, such as the subtotal amount, sales plan name (e.g., weight MM (Mix Match), weight SM (Set Match), etc.), discount amount (total discount amount), combined barcode for departmental accounting, total quantity (number of packs), expiration date, total amount, and store name. Furthermore, of this information, at least the total amount necessary for accounting (or the discounted amount if applicable) is encoded as a barcode, and POS terminal 2B performs the accounting by reading this barcode.

[0084] <Issuance Pattern 2> In this example, for regular bulk-sold items without discount conditions, a price label is issued as a separate accounting medium each time the item is weighed.

[0085] Here, Figure 13 shows an example of a price label issued individually for a single item sold by weight. Price labels have product information printed on them, such as the product name, processing date, and selling price. The selling price is calculated based on the weighed value and unit price. This information is coded into barcodes as appropriate. However, if price labels are not used for accounting, such as by issuing a separate total label for accounting and using only the total label for accounting, it is not necessary to print barcodes on the price labels. In this case, individual labels for each weighed product may be issued, with product information printed on them but without barcodes. In addition to the above, product information may also include, depending on the implementation, the price per 100g, product weight (net weight), tax amount, etc., and this information can also be encoded into the barcode and included.

[0086] On the other hand, in the case of discounted items, price labels are not issued directly at the weighing stage for each item. Instead, price labels are issued depending on whether the customer wishes to purchase the bulk items that constitute the discount conditions. Specifically, when a discounted item is weighed, a message such as "This item is eligible for a combined discount. Would you like to purchase other items as well?" is displayed, informing the customer that there are other bulk items that can be purchased together to qualify for the discount. If the customer wishes to purchase these other discounted items, a preset button for the discounted items only, along with the discount conditions and / or the conditions necessary to meet the discount conditions, are displayed. At this time, the screen may display, for example, a preset button for the discounted items, a cancel button, and a hold button.

[0087] When the preset button for a discounted item is pressed, the system moves to the weighing screen that displays that discounted item. When other discounted items are weighed from the weighing screen, those other weighed discounted items are registered as items to be purchased. For each discounted item registered here, once the weighing of all bulk items is complete, it is checked again whether the discount conditions are met. If the discount conditions are met, a price label based on the discounted selling price is issued.

[0088] When the "Cancel" button is pressed, the system will assume that the purchase request for other items has been canceled and will issue a price label for the last item weighed (discounted item). Pressing the hold button will pause label issuance and return to the weighing screen. The weighing screen in the hold state will indicate that there are price labels whose issuance is pending. If the user indicates that they do not wish to purchase other discounted items from this state, the price labels will be issued. On the other hand, unless the user indicates that they do not wish to purchase other discounted items, price labels will be issued for all discounted items once all discounted items have been weighed. Furthermore, pressing the hold button may display the weighing results screen and the label issuance screen. In this case, a number may be displayed to indicate which item was weighed, or in other words, which item was weighed and registered. When the weighing of all bulk-sold items is complete, price labels for discounted items may be issued all at once in response to the registration completion operation.

[0089] If, after weighing one discounted item, the customer indicates that they do not wish to purchase other discounted items for which discount conditions have been set, a price label will be issued for that discounted item at that stage. However, if a discount is applied in a later operation, a correction label will be issued. The correction label may be a replacement for one that has already been issued, or it may be a special discount label to be used in conjunction with one that has already been issued.

[0090] <Issuance Pattern 3> This example is a variation of label issuance pattern 2 described above. During operation, the system notifies (displays) other potential discounted items necessary to meet the discount conditions. A price label is then issued for each discounted item at the end of the weighing process. The price label issued at the weighing stage for each item shows the regular (pre-discount) selling price. If the discount conditions are met later, a special discount label is issued to apply the discount to the total amount. The special discount label has a symbol code, such as a barcode, printed on it, which encodes information including the amount discounted due to the fulfillment of the discount conditions. POS terminal 2B retrieves the selling price of each item from the price label and then applies the discount according to the discount conditions using the special discount label.

[0091] <Issuance Pattern 4> In this example, for regular bulk-sold items that do not have discount conditions set, an individual price label is issued each time after weighing is completed. On the other hand, for discounted items, regardless of whether the discount conditions are met or not, price labels will not be issued until the weighing of all bulk items is completed. Once the weighing of all bulk items is complete, price labels will be issued for the discounted items. At this time, for discounted items for which the discount conditions were met, the discount amount will be apportioned according to the quantity or weight ratio of the discounted items, and price labels reflecting the apportioned discount amount will be issued for each discounted item.

[0092] <Issuance Pattern 5> In this example, similar to label issuance pattern 4, for regular bulk items that do not have discount conditions set, an individual price label is issued after each weighing is completed. Also, for discounted items, a price label is not issued until the weighing operation for all bulk items is completed. In this example, once all bulk items have been weighed, a price label is issued for each discounted item, and for discounted items where the discount conditions were met, a total label is issued showing only the discounted items at their final selling price.

[0093] <Issuance Pattern 6> In this example, a price label is issued each time an item is weighed, regardless of whether it is a regular weighed item without discount conditions or a discounted item. No barcode is printed on the price label. The price label is simply an individual label attached to the product. Once the weighing and registration of the purchased items are complete, a total label for accounting is issued, regardless of whether the discount conditions are met or not. The reason for not printing a barcode on the price label is to prevent accidental duplicate registrations in the POS system. The total label reflects the discounted selling price if the discount conditions were met, allowing POS terminal 2B to perform accounting based on the discounted selling price.

[0094] ● Processing flow by label issuing device 2C The flow of the accounting medium issuance process performed in the label issuing device 2C will be explained using issuance pattern 6 as an example, with reference to Figure 14. First, when the customer places the item they wish to purchase on the weighing unit 23, the weight information acquisition unit acquires the weighed value as the item weight (S201). In addition, tare weight is calculated depending on the type of item when acquiring the item weight.

[0095] From the label issuing device 2C, the operation to register the products for which price labels will be issued is performed (S202). Specifically, product registration is performed by accepting product specification input operations such as preset key input or product number input. When a bulk-sold product is registered during this product registration process, if it is determined by referring to the special sale master that a discount condition has been set for the bulk-sold product (S203), the notification processing unit will notify the status of the fulfillment of the discount condition (S204). The specific content of the notification is the same as in Example 1.

[0096] When the system receives a request to issue a price label for a weighed item sold by weight (S205), the issuing processing unit issues a price label using the issuing unit 22 (S206).

[0097] The weighing and price label issuance process is repeated for all bulk items that the customer wishes to purchase. Once price labels have been issued for all bulk items, the system accepts the request to issue a total label (S207). In response, the determination processing unit, based on the registered product details, refers to the discount conditions to determine whether a discount applies, and if so, which items are discounted and by how much (S208). The accounting processing unit applies the discount if applicable and calculates the total amount (S209). Once the total amount for all purchased items for which price labels have been issued has been calculated and finalized, the issuance processing unit issues a total label based on the discounted total amount (S210).

[0098] When a total label for accounting is issued by the label issuing device 2C, the POS terminal 2B reads the barcode on the total label to obtain product information for the weighed goods and registers the products. Once accounting information is generated in the POS terminal 2B and the settlement process based on this accounting information is completed, a receipt is issued, and the series of steps is finished.

[0099] Here, we have explained the processing flow in issuance pattern 6 with reference to Figure 14, but in other issuance patterns as well, a process is executed to determine whether the discount conditions are met for each registered bulk product, and a notification is issued according to the result of the determination. In addition, in issuance pattern 3, after price labels are issued for all bulk items, a special discount label is issued in place of the total label, and the selling price is discounted based on this special discount label.

[0100] The label issuing device 2C or POS system 2A, which constitute the product processing apparatus according to this embodiment, also enable discounts on bulk-sold products, thereby promoting sales of bulk-sold products. In particular, it is possible to acquire the weight of products in accordance with various sales methods for bulk-sold products and issue price labels with discounts corresponding to the weight of the products. [Examples]

[0101] Figure 15 shows the network configuration and functional configuration of a POS system 3A according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The POS system 3A comprises a POS terminal 3B, a store controller SC (also referred to as a store computer or management device), and a label issuing device 3C, each of which is connected to communicate via a LAN or dedicated line.

[0102] Here, the POS system 3A or the POS terminal 3B constitutes the product processing device according to the present invention. Specifically, the POS system 3A is implemented as a system in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are distributed and held in the store controller SC, the POS terminal 3B, and the label issuing device 3C, while the POS terminal 3B is implemented as a device in which the functional units necessary for executing the functions of the product processing device according to the present invention are integrated.

[0103] ●Configuration of POS terminal 3B POS terminal 3B is a device that registers bulk-sold items and performs accounting for the registered items. The POS terminal 3B in this embodiment can perform product registration processing based on information printed on the accounting medium issued by the label issuing device 3C, and can also determine whether or not a discount should be applied and perform discount processing.

[0104] Unlike the POS terminal 1B in Example 1, the POS terminal 3B in this embodiment does not have a function unit corresponding to the weighing unit 15, but it has the same function units as the POS terminal 1B otherwise. Specifically, the POS terminal 3B has a control unit 300, a staff-side display unit 31, a customer-side display unit 32, a code reading unit 33, and a tag reading unit 34, which are the same function units as the control unit 100, staff-side display unit 11, customer-side display unit 12, code reading unit 13, and tag reading unit 14 of the POS terminal 1B, respectively. Furthermore, the weight information acquisition unit of the POS terminal 3B acquires the weight information of the weighed products based on the information of the weighed products, in accordance with the following example. The information of the weighed products is appropriately coded and printed on the accounting medium issued by the label issuing device 3C, for example.

[0105] <Third aspect: Example of calculation based on the sales price included in the symbol code (Third weight information acquisition unit)> If the selling price of a bulk-sold product is encoded in the symbol code issued for that product, the code reading unit 33 first reads the symbol code to obtain the selling price and product identification information such as the item name and PLU. Then, based on the product identification information, the unit price information of the bulk-sold product is obtained from the product master. The product weight of the bulk-sold product is obtained by dividing the selling price of the bulk-sold product by the unit price.

[0106] <Fourth aspect: Example of obtaining weight information contained in a symbol code (Fourth weight information acquisition unit)> If the weight of a product sold by weight is encoded in the symbol code issued for that product, the code reading unit 13 reads the symbol code to obtain the product weight.

[0107] <Fifth aspect: Example of acquiring product information based on individual identification information of weighed products (Fifth weight information acquisition unit)> In this example, each bulk product is assigned an individual identification information (pack ID), and a production file for each individual product is stored in a predetermined storage means provided in the store controller SC, etc. The production file stores production data such as the PLU number, product name, price, product weight, manufacturing date, expiration date, foreign object inspection information (foreign object inspection result), and foreign object inspection date and time, associated with the individual identification information. Here, even if the PLU number and product name are the same, different packs will be assigned different pack IDs if the actual products (packs) are different. This pack ID makes it possible to individually identify each product in the production file, pack by pack. Individual identification information (pack ID) is appropriately coded and attached to the weighed products. This code is read by the code reading unit 13 to obtain the individual identification information (pack ID), and the product weight associated with the individual identification information (pack ID) is obtained by referring to the production file.

[0108] The label issuing device 3C, like the label issuing device 2C in Embodiment 2, weighs the bulk goods purchased by the customer and issues an accounting medium for each product according to the weighed value and product information. The POS terminal 3B registers the products based on the accounting medium issued by the label issuing device 3C. However, unlike Embodiment 2, the label issuing device 3C in this embodiment does not perform discount processing. Furthermore, the determination processing unit may or may not determine whether or not a discount is applied and notify the customer based on the determination result.

[0109] Furthermore, the label issuing device 3C issues price labels and total labels, similar to the label issuing device 2C in the above-described embodiment 2. However, as described above, the label issuing device 3C in this embodiment does not perform discount processing, so even if the bulk-sold goods meet the discount conditions, the accounting amount of the goods, which are coded into symbol codes or stored in the store controller SC, is the regular selling price before the discount. Furthermore, product information, which is appropriately coded and printed on price labels and total labels, may include information such as the unit price per 100g, product weight (net weight), and tax amount, depending on the application.

[0110] The Store Controller SC, as in Example 1, is a higher-level device that handles core business operations such as customer management and order management. This Store Controller SC may consist of multiple server devices depending on the specific business operation, or it may be configured as a cloud server. Furthermore, the Store Controller SC referred to here can be composed of any other server, such as a store server, regardless of its name.

[0111] ● Processing flow using POS terminal 3B Next, the process of selling products using the POS terminal 3B that constitutes the product processing apparatus according to this embodiment, along with the processes executed by the POS terminal 3B, will be explained with reference to Figure 16. For items sold by weight, the accounting medium is issued in advance by the label issuing device 3C. The accounting medium issuance process is carried out in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment 2, and a price label and a total label are issued. However, in this embodiment, after the total label issuance operation is performed, no discount is applied in the judgment processing by the judgment processing unit or in the calculation of the accounting amount, and a price label based on the regular selling price is issued.

[0112] First, for weighed goods for which a price label has been issued, the POS terminal 3B performs a product registration operation in accordance with the product specification input operation (S301). Product registration is performed by reading the symbol code printed on the price label with the code reading unit 33. However, it may also be performed by using a preset key or entering a product number.

[0113] When a bulk-sold product is registered in this product registration process, if it is determined by referring to the special sale master that a discount condition has been set for the bulk-sold product (S302), the weight information acquisition unit acquires the product weight as the weight information for the bulk-sold product (S303). The weight of the product will be obtained in one of the third to fifth manners described above, depending on how the weighed goods are handled.

[0114] Once weight information is obtained, the notification processing unit notifies the status of the fulfillment of the discount conditions (S304). Specifically, the determination processing unit refers to the discount conditions of the registered weighed goods and determines whether a discount is applicable based on the weight of the registered weighed goods and the information of already registered weighed goods. That is, it determines whether multiple goods that meet the discount conditions have been registered, and whether the total weight of the target weighed goods exceeds a predetermined weight. Based on this result, the notification processing unit notifies whether the discount conditions have been met, and if not, what kind of goods and in what weight need to be purchased to fulfill the discount conditions.

[0115] Thereafter, similar to the processing of POS terminal 1B in Example 1, product registration is repeated for all items to be purchased. Once the registration of all items is complete (S305), the system accepts a closing operation, such as pressing the subtotal key (S306). In response, the judgment processing unit, based on the contents of the registered items, refers to the discount conditions to determine whether a discount is applicable, and if so, which items are discounted and by how much (S307). The accounting processing unit applies the discount if applicable, calculates and finalizes the accounting amount for the registered items to be purchased (S308). Once the closing operation is complete, accounting information is generated in POS terminal 1B, and settlement processing based on this accounting information can be performed (S309). Once the settlement processing is complete, a receipt is issued, and the series of steps is finished.

[0116] The POS system 3A or POS terminal 3B comprising the product processing device according to this embodiment also enables discounts on bulk-sold products, thereby promoting sales of bulk-sold products. In particular, it is possible to acquire the weight of products in accordance with various sales methods for bulk-sold products and issue price labels with discounts corresponding to the weight of the products.

[0117] ●Summary of Embodiments The present invention relates to a product processing device for applying discounts to products sold by weight.

[0118] Traditionally, sales promotions have been based on the number of items purchased, such as mix-and-match promotions offering discounts for purchasing a certain number of specific products, or set-and-match promotions offering discounts for specific product combinations. On the other hand, in recent years, the practice of selling by weight, as exemplified in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-241342, has been re-evaluated, and there is a demand for new promotional methods for selling by weight as well.

[0119] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to promote the sale of bulk-sold products by enabling discounts on bulk-sold products.

[0120] To achieve the above objective, a product processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a first determination processing unit that determines whether a predetermined product sold by weight, for which discount conditions are set based on a combination of multiple products sold by weight and the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of one or more products in the combination, has been registered as a product to be purchased; a second determination processing unit that determines whether the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of the products sold by weight for which the predetermined discount conditions are set exceeds a predetermined weight; and an accounting processing unit that performs a discount on the sales price of the predetermined product sold by weight if the total weight exceeds the predetermined weight set by the predetermined discount conditions.

[0121] The device may further include a first weight information acquisition unit that acquires the weight of the product from a weighing unit on its own or from an externally connected weighing unit.

[0122] The system may further include a second weight information acquisition unit that obtains the weight of the product based on the input of the number of items to be placed.

[0123] The system may further include a third weight information acquisition unit that obtains the coded sales price of the weighed product from the symbol code of the weighed product, and obtains the product weight by dividing the sales price by the unit price based on the unit price information of the weighed product.

[0124] The system may further include a fourth weight information acquisition unit that obtains the coded weight of the weighed product from the symbol code of the weighed product.

[0125] The system may further include a fifth weight information acquisition unit that, based on the individual identification information of the selected weighed product, obtains the weight of the product associated with the individual identification information by referring to a predetermined storage means.

[0126] The system may further include a first display unit that, when a bulk product with the aforementioned discount conditions is registered as a product eligible for purchase, displays the bulk product with the aforementioned discount conditions in a manner different from other products registered as products eligible for purchase.

[0127] The system may further include a second display unit that displays the predetermined discount conditions and / or the conditions necessary for the predetermined discount conditions to be met when a bulk-sold product with the aforementioned discount conditions is registered as a product eligible for purchase.

[0128] A computer program according to another aspect of the present invention causes the computer to perform the following: a first determination process to determine whether a predetermined bulk product, for which a discount condition is set based on one or more combinations of bulk products and the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of the bulk products constituting the combination, has been registered as a product to be purchased; a second determination process to determine whether the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of the bulk products registered as a product to be purchased, for which the predetermined discount condition is set, exceeds the predetermined weight; and an accounting process to perform a discount on the selling price of the predetermined bulk product if the total weight exceeds the predetermined weight set by the predetermined discount condition.

[0129] A weighing device according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes: an identification processing unit that identifies a weighed product received as the object to be weighed; a weighing unit that weighs the weighed product; a calculation processing unit that calculates a sales price based on the weighed value for the identified weighed product; an accounting processing unit that performs a discount on the sales price based on predetermined discount conditions determined by a combination of one or more weighed products and the total weight obtained by summing the product weights of the weighed products constituting the combination, and the fulfillment of the discount conditions; and a notification unit that notifies the other weighed products that constitute the discount conditions together with the weighed product received as the object to be weighed.

[0130] The notification unit may further notify the predetermined discount conditions and / or the conditions necessary for the predetermined discount conditions to be met.

[0131] In the case of weighed goods for which the aforementioned predetermined discount conditions have been set, an accounting medium may be issued when the selling price is calculated. In the case of goods for which the aforementioned predetermined discount conditions have not been set, an accounting medium may not be issued when the selling price is calculated.

[0132] According to the product processing apparatus of this embodiment described above, it becomes possible to offer discounts on bulk-sold products, thereby promoting sales of bulk-sold products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0133] 1A, 2A, 3A: POS system 1B, 2B, 3B: POS terminal 2C, 3C: Label printing device 11: Clerk side display section 12:Customer side display section 13: Code reading unit 14: Tag reading unit 15:Measuring part 21:Display section 22: Publishing Department 23:Measuring part 31: Clerk side display section 32:Customer side display section 33: Code reading unit 34: Tag reading unit 100, 200, 300: Control Unit 101, 201, 301: CPU 102, 202, 302: ROM 103, 203, 303: RAM 104, 204, 304: Interface circuits SC: Store Controller

Claims

1. A first determination processing unit determines whether a combination of multiple bulk-sold products, each of which can be assigned a different unit price, and whether a bulk-sold product in that combination, for which a discount condition is set based on the total weight obtained by summing the weights of one or more bulk-sold products, has been registered as a product eligible for purchase. A second determination processing unit that determines whether the total weight of the weighed goods registered as eligible purchase items, for which the discount conditions have been set, exceeds a predetermined weight, The system includes an accounting processing unit that, when the total weight exceeds a predetermined weight specified in the discount conditions, deducts a discount from the total amount of the selling price based on the unit price corresponding to the weight of the weighed goods. Product processing equipment.

2. The system further includes a weight information acquisition unit that, based on individual identification information that identifies each selected bulk product individually in each pack, obtains the weight of the product associated with the individual identification information by referring to a predetermined storage means, Product processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. When a bulk product with the aforementioned discount conditions is registered as a purchase item, the system further includes a first display unit that displays the bulk product with the aforementioned discount conditions in a manner different from other products registered as purchase items. Product processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When a bulk-sold product with the aforementioned discount conditions is registered as a purchase item, the system further includes a second display unit that displays the predetermined discount conditions and / or the conditions necessary for the predetermined discount conditions to be met. Product processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A first determination processing unit that determines whether a combination of multiple weighed goods, each of which can be set to a different unit price, has been registered as a purchase target product, and which has a discount condition set based on the total weight obtained by summing the weights of one or more weighed goods in the combination. A second determination processing unit determines whether the total weight of the weights of the weighed products registered as purchase items exceeds a predetermined weight, in which the aforementioned discount conditions have been set and different unit price settings are possible for the weighed products. The system includes an accounting processing unit that, when the total weight exceeds a predetermined weight specified in the discount conditions, deducts a discount from the total amount of the selling price based on the unit price corresponding to the weight of the weighed goods. Product processing system.

6. For computers, A first determination process determines whether a combination of multiple bulk-sold products, each of which can be assigned a different unit price, and whether a bulk-sold product in that combination, for which a discount condition is set based on the total weight obtained by summing the weights of one or more bulk-sold products, has been registered as a product eligible for purchase. A second determination process that determines whether the total weight of the weighed goods registered as eligible purchase items, for which the discount conditions have been set, exceeds a predetermined weight, If the total weight exceeds the predetermined weight specified in the discount conditions, the accounting process of applying a discount to the total amount of the selling price based on the unit price corresponding to the weight of the weighed goods is performed. Computer program.

Images