Weighing and dispensing systems and weighing devices

Abstract

To provide a weighing sales system capable of providing an arbitrary quantity of articles.SOLUTION: A weighing sales system 1 includes a plurality of weighing devices 3 for weighing articles and an information terminal 4. The weighing devices 3 each include a detection processing unit 301 for detecting weight of an article and a communication processing unit 303 for transmitting the detected weight of the article and predetermined identification information. The information terminal 4 includes a communication processing unit 406 for receiving the weight of the article and the predetermined identification information, and an extraction processing unit 402 for acquiring article information from an article information storage unit 4A based on the predetermined identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for supplying an arbitrary amount of articles.

Background Art

[0002] Due to problems such as food waste loss, there is an expanding trend to recommend sales by weighing only the required amount. Along with this, self-weighing sales, where customers themselves make purchases, are also being reexamined, and further improvement in operability is demanded. In this regard, as shown in Patent Document 1, a system for weighing articles such as products and calculating the price is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above system, the operability is poor, and there is a demand for a weighing sales system that allows customers to easily operate and realizes a highly flexible operability.

[0005] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a weighing sales system capable of providing an arbitrary amount of articles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the weighing and selling system according to the present invention is a weighing and selling system comprising a plurality of weighing devices for weighing goods and an information terminal, wherein the weighing device comprises a detection processing means for detecting the weight of the goods and a first communication processing means for transmitting the detected weight of the goods and predetermined identification information, and the information terminal comprises a second communication processing means for receiving the weight of the goods and the predetermined identification information and an item information acquisition means for acquiring item information from a predetermined storage means based on the predetermined identification information. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view showing a weighing and dispensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an external perspective view showing the first unit that constitutes the weighing and selling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an external perspective view showing a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the internal structure of the above-mentioned weighing device, with (a) the closed state and (b) the open state. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the process of providing goods to a customer using the first unit described above, showing (a) the state in which goods are being supplied from the goods supply device to the weighing device, (b) the state in which goods have been supplied to the weighing device, and (c) the state in which goods are being provided from the weighing device to the customer. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the above weighing and selling system. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the above weighing and selling system. [Figure 8] This diagram shows an example of data stored in the item information storage unit. [Figure 9] This is a processing flow diagram showing the flow of processing performed by the weighing device among the processes performed by the weighing and selling system described above. [Figure 10]This is a processing flow diagram showing the flow of processing related to Example 1, which is performed by the information terminal, among the processing performed by the weighing and selling system described above. [Figure 11] The diagram shows the screen displayed on the information terminal and its transitions in the process according to the above embodiment 1, and shows (a) the state in which the first information display area is displayed as selectable, (b) the state in which the first information display area is selected, and (c) the state in which a label is issued. [Figure 12] This is a processing flow diagram showing the flow of processing related to Example 2, which is performed by the information terminal, among the processing performed by the weighing and selling system described above. [Figure 13] The diagram shows the screen displayed on the information terminal and its transitions in the process according to the above embodiment 2, and shows (a) a state in which the first information display area is displayed in a selectable state, (b) a state in which one first information display area is selected, (c) a state in which multiple first information display areas are selected, and (d) a state in which a label is issued. [Figure 14] This is a processing flow diagram showing the flow of processing related to Embodiment 3, which is performed by the information terminal, among the processing performed by the weighing and selling system described above. [Figure 15] The diagram shows the screen displayed on the information terminal and its transitions in the process according to the above embodiment 3, and shows (a) a state in which the first information display area is displayed in a selectable state, (b) a state in which one first information display area is selected, (c) a state in which multiple first information display areas are selected, and (d) a state in which a label is issued. [Figure 16] This is an example of a screen display when the symbol code for settlement is shown on the display unit of the information terminal in the weighing and selling system according to this embodiment. [Figure 17] This is an example of a screen display in which the location of the item supply device that supplies the items to be mixed is schematically displayed on the display unit of the information terminal in the weighing and selling system according to this embodiment. [Figure 18] This is an exploded perspective view showing a weighing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19]A side view showing the internal structure of the weighing device, showing (a) the closed state and (b) the open state. [Figure 20] A diagram showing an example of a status display shown on the second display unit of the weighing device, showing (a) the standby state, (b) the state where the weight fluctuates as an article is inserted, (c) the state where the weight of the inserted article is stable, (d) the state where the operation unit is being operated, and (e) the state where an article is supplied to the customer's container by the operation of the operation unit 74 and the measured value becomes "0".

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] ●Overview Hereinafter, a weighing and selling system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a weighing device constituting the weighing and selling system will be described with reference to the drawings. The weighing and selling system 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a device for weighing and selling articles according to the operation of a customer. In the present embodiment, the article is a product provided to the customer at the store, and more specifically, it is a food such as dried fruits, nuts, or beans. However, as long as it is an article suitable for weighing and selling, it is not limited to these articles. Further, the weighing and selling system 1 according to the present embodiment can be used not only when providing such example foods as articles to the customer, but also when receiving the supply of a predetermined amount of articles on the store side. Therefore, the weighing and selling system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described as providing a predetermined article including a product.

[0009] ●Configuration of the weighing and selling system 1 The weighing and selling system 1 is composed of a first unit U.sub.1, a second unit U.sub.2, a third unit U.sub.3, and an information terminal 4. However, regardless of the example of FIG. 1, the weighing and selling system 1 can also be composed of the first unit U.sub.1 and the information terminal 4. Further, the number of the article supply devices 2a and 3 constituting the first unit U.sub.1, the article supply device 2b constituting the second unit U.sub.2, and the article supply device 5 constituting the third unit U.sub.3 is not particularly limited.

[0010] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first unit U1, the second unit U2, the third unit U3, and the information terminal 4 are arranged on the shelf 6. The shelf 6 is composed of a pair of side plates 66, 67, a plurality of shelves 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 spanned therebetween, and a back plate 68.

[0011] The shelf 61 is provided at the uppermost stage, and the article supply devices 2a, 2b are arranged on this shelf 61. Further, unlike the other shelves 63, 64, 65 that project to the front, the shelf 61 has a shallow depth, and the upper part of the shelf 61 is open, so that a tall article supply device 2a can be arranged. The shelf 62 is below the shelf 61 and is provided below the article supply device 2a that constitutes the first unit U1, and the weighing device 3 is arranged on this shelf 62. The shelf 63 is below the shelves 61 and 62 and is provided at a position corresponding to approximately the middle stage of the shelf 6, and the information terminal 4 is arranged on this shelf 63. The space between the shelf 62 and the shelf 63 is relatively wide, but the space below the second unit U2 has a height because the shelf 62 is not provided, and the information terminal 4 is arranged at this position. The empty space beside the information terminal 4 arranged closer to one end side in the width direction is provided as a working space. The shelves 64, 65 are provided further below the shelf 63, and the article supply device 5 is arranged on these shelves 64, 65. In the example of FIG. 1, the article supply device 5 is arranged in two stages by two shelves 64, 65, but it can also be in one stage or three or more stages.

[0012] Here, an outline of the configurations of the first unit U1, the second unit U2, the third unit U3, and the information terminal 4 will be described. The first unit U1 is composed of one or a plurality of article supply devices 2a that provide an arbitrary amount of articles to customers, and a weighing device 3 provided for each article supply device 2a to weigh an arbitrary amount of articles supplied from the article supply device 2a.

[0013] Notwithstanding this embodiment, the number of item supply devices 2a and weighing devices 3 does not necessarily have to be in a one-to-one ratio. That is, multiple item supply devices 2a may share fewer weighing devices 3 than the number of item supply devices 2a, or conversely, multiple weighing devices 3 may correspond to fewer item supply devices 2a than the number of weighing devices 3. In this case, for example, the item supply devices 2a or weighing devices 3 can be moved in the parallel arrangement direction (left and right direction as shown in the figure) using rails provided on the shelf 6, or a relay pipe can be provided to connect the item supply devices 2a and weighing devices 3, allowing the relay destination to be switched as appropriate. Alternatively, the position of the item supply devices 2a and weighing devices 3 can be changed manually, and the desired item supply device 2a can be connected to the weighing device 3.

[0014] The item supply device 2a stores and holds items internally and supplies any desired quantity of items to the weighing device 3 according to a predetermined operation. When items are supplied from the item supply device 2a to the weighing device 3 according to the predetermined operation, the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the items and the device identification information of the weighing device 3 to the information terminal 4. The weighing device 3 then provides the weighed items to the customer. The information terminal 4 calculates the sales price based on the unit price and weight of the items associated with the device identification information.

[0015] The second unit U2 consists of one or more item dispensing devices 2b that provide a fixed quantity of items to the customer with each operation. The goods supply device 2b stores and holds goods internally and provides a fixed amount of goods to the customer for each operation according to a predetermined operation. When goods are supplied from the goods supply device 2b to the customer's container, etc., in response to an operation by the control unit, the goods supply device 2b transmits device identification information identifying the goods supply device 2b that supplied the goods, and information related to the number of times the goods have been provided, to the information terminal 4. The information terminal 4 calculates the sales price based on the unit price of the goods associated with the device identification information and the number of times the goods have been provided.

[0016] The third unit U3 consists of one or more article dispensing devices 5 that provide customers with any quantity of articles. The item supply device 5 comprises a holder for storing and holding items, a mechanism for taking out any amount of items from the holder, and a weighing unit for weighing the items inside the holder. When an item is taken out of the item supply device 5 using a pre-installed scoop, the item supply device 5 transmits the weight of the item inside the holder after the item has been taken out and the device identification information of the item supply device 5 to the information terminal 4. The information terminal 4 calculates the selling price based on the unit price of the item associated with the device identification information and the weight of the item before and after it has been taken out.

[0017] Furthermore, information regarding the weight of the item inside the holder after it has been removed is recorded, and for subsequent operations, the weight is considered to be the weight before the item was removed. If there is a change in weight during the subsequent operation, an error occurs, and data is output to force a store employee to intervene. Note that weight changes due to replenishment can be reset by a store employee, so no error occurs. Similarly, if a weight change occurs but no purchase or maintenance operation is performed on information terminal 4, an error occurs, and data is output to force a store employee to intervene.

[0018] Information terminal 4 receives predetermined information regarding the provision of goods from the first unit U1, the second unit U2, and the third unit U3, and issues labels and receipts according to said predetermined information, or outputs transaction data (e.g., purchase history, points, etc.) linked to the customer's membership code, etc. This information terminal 4 holds a memory unit that associates the device identification information of the weighing device 3, which constitutes the first unit U1, the device identification information of the item supply device 2b, which constitutes the second unit U2, and the device identification information of the item supply device 5, which constitutes the third unit U3, with the items. As a result, the information terminal 4 identifies the items supplied by the weighing device 3, the item supply device 2b, or the item supply device 5, calculates the sales price based on the weight and number of times the items were supplied, issues settlement labels and receipts, and outputs transaction data.

[0019] The customer has the discretion to choose which of the first unit U1, second unit U2, or third unit U3 to use. Therefore, the information terminal 4 is positioned approximately in the middle of the shelf 6 so that it is easily accessible to the customer regardless of which of the first unit U1, second unit U2, or third unit U3 is used, and so that the customer can operate it without having to bend down. Furthermore, the information terminal 4 is positioned below the first unit U1 and second unit U2, towards one end in the width direction (the side where the second unit U2 is located), and the space next to the information terminal 4 is provided as a workspace.

[0020] ●First Unit U1 The first unit, U1, is a unit for selling by weight, providing customers with any quantity of goods. As shown in Figure 2, the first unit U1 has multiple item supply devices 2a and a weighing device 3 provided for each item supply device 2a. Each of the multiple item supply devices 2a and weighing device 3 has similar functions and structures and is provided for each type of item to be supplied.

[0021] ●Goods supply device 2a As shown in Figure 2, the article supply device 2a consists of a storage section 21 located above, a supply section 22 located below the storage section 21, an operating section 23 for supplying articles, and a supply port 24 for supplying articles to the weighing device 3. The storage unit 21 and the supply unit 22 are connected, and the items in the storage unit 21 are supplied from the supply unit 22 to the weighing device 3 via the supply port 24.

[0022] The storage unit 21 and the supply unit 22 may be integrally configured, or they may be detachably configured by a predetermined mounting mechanism. If they are detachably configured, the goods supply device 2a can be replenished by replacing the storage unit 21 in which the goods are stored. In addition, the expiration date of the goods may be managed in accordance with the replacement of the storage unit 21. In this case, for example, information such as the best-before / use-by date, best-before / use-by period, date, and replenishment amount is entered into the information terminal 4. The entered information may be printed on a label and attached to the storage unit 21 or to a management slip.

[0023] The storage section 21 is a part for storing articles and is a hollow container. The storage unit 21 can store a certain amount of goods inside, and the goods are discharged to the supply unit 22 through an opening provided at the bottom.

[0024] The supply unit 22 supplies the amount of goods corresponding to the customer's operation to the weighing device 3. The supply unit 22 is provided with a receiving port that communicates with an opening located below the storage unit 21 and a storage unit for storing articles. Below the supply unit 22 is a supply port 24 for supplying articles to the weighing device 3. A supply port 24a located below the supply port 24 opens and closes in response to an operation by the operating unit 23.

[0025] The operating unit 23 is the part that operates the opening and closing mechanism of the supply port 24a provided in the supply port section 24, and is operated by the customer. This operating unit 23 is, for example, an externally exposed lever, and when the lever is operated the supply port 24a is opened, the items in the storage section are supplied from the supply port section 24 to the weighing device 3.

[0026] The supply port 24 is located below the supply unit 22 and is positioned towards the front side of the article supply device 2a. This supply port 24 is directed toward the receiving-side opening 32a of the guide body 32 of the weighing device 3, and articles are fed from the supply port 24a through the receiving-side opening 32a into the guide body 32. Furthermore, the supply port 24 is shaped to narrow towards the weighing device 3 from the article supply device 2a, so that articles are supplied to the weighing device 3 via the guide body 32 without leakage.

[0027] Here, regarding the positional relationship between the item supply device 2a and the shelf board 61 on which the item supply device 2a is placed, the shelf board 61 is positioned on the bottom surface of the supply unit 22, avoiding the supply opening 24 located on the front side, and supports the supply unit 22 on the rear side of the supply opening 24. As a result, the supply opening 24, which is located biased toward the front side of the supply unit 22, is positioned in the depth direction of the shelf board 61, protruding from the front end of the shelf board 61. Furthermore, since the shelf board 61 supporting the supply unit 22 is shallow in depth and is located toward the back panel 68 side, the item supply device 2a fits without its front side protruding beyond the front of the shelf 6.

[0028] ● External configuration of weighing device 3 The weighing device 3 is a device that temporarily stores and weighs the items supplied from the item supply device 2a, and is located below the item supply device 2a.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, this weighing device 3 comprises a main body 31, a guide body 32, a display unit 33, an operating unit 34, and a support unit 35.

[0030] The main body 31 is a housing that is roughly rectangular in shape, and a guide body 32, a display unit 33, an operation unit 34, and a support unit 35 are provided at predetermined locations. The main body 31 has hollow sections that open at the top and bottom, and a guide body 32, which will be described later, is fitted into the hollow section through the opening 31a on the top side that communicates with the hollow section. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, which illustrates the internal structure of the weighing device 3, a pair of lids 341 and 342 are provided on the bottom side of the weighing device 3, which open and close in response to the operation of the control unit 34, which will be described later. The opening on the bottom side constitutes a serving port 31b that opens and closes with the pair of lids 341 and 342, and through this serving port 31b, the items contained inside the weighing device 3 can be discharged to the outside and provided to the customer.

[0031] Here, the upper opening 31a is formed along the length of the main body 31, extending from the front side of the main body 31 through the central part to the rear. Furthermore, the openable and closable supply opening 31b has a narrower opening width than the opening 31a and is located on the front side of the main body 31, at least on the front side of the support portion 35. Furthermore, the main body 31 is supported on the shelf 62 at a position on the bottom surface that avoids the serving opening 31b located on the front side, and is located on the rear side of the serving opening 31b. As a result, the serving opening 31b, which is located biased toward the front side of the main body 31, is positioned to protrude from the front end of the shelf 62 in the depth direction of the shelf 62.

[0032] The guide body 32 is a funnel-shaped component that is fitted into the hollow part through the opening 31a of the main body 31, and also serves as a tare container. As shown in Figure 4, the guide body 32 is provided with an engaging projection 321 on its side, which detachably engages with an engaging recess 371a provided in the weighing section 37 of the main body 31. This allows the weighing section 37 to measure the weight of the item contained within the guide body 32. Furthermore, by releasing the engagement between the engaging projection 321 and the engaging recess 371a, the guide body 32 can be removed or replaced as needed for cleaning or other purposes.

[0033] Furthermore, the guide body 32 is equipped with a receiving-side opening 32a and a discharge-side opening 32b on its upper and lower surfaces. When an item supplied from the item supply device 2b is received through the receiving-side opening 32a, the guide body 32 houses the item inside when the lids 341 and 342 are closed. When the lids 341 and 342 are opened, the item is discharged from the discharge-side opening 32b through the supply opening 31b to the outside of the weighing device 3, thereby allowing the item to be provided to the customer. The opening width of the receiving-side opening 32a is relatively wider than that of the discharge-side opening 32b, and is also wider than the opening width of the supply port 24a of the article supply device 2a. Furthermore, the guide body 32 is attached to the main body 31 such that the lower part of the discharge-side opening 32b fits inside the storage area of ​​the main body 31. As a result, the guide body 32 receives articles supplied from the article supply device 2a without any leakage.

[0034] The display unit 33 is implemented using a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays the weight of the item, the unit price of the item, and the selling price of the item according to its weight, as measured by the weighing unit 37, which will be described later. This display unit 33 is composed of three vertically arranged display units 33-1, 33-2, and 33-3. In this embodiment, display unit 33-1 displays the weight of the goods supplied from the goods supply device 2a to the weighing device 3, display unit 33-2 displays the unit price of the goods, and display unit 33-3 displays the selling price. In the example shown in the figure, the unit price of the goods displayed in display unit 33-2 is the price per 100g, but the unit weight is not particularly limited and can be the price per 50g, etc.

[0035] In this way, the weighing device 3 displays the weight, unit price, and selling price of the goods. As a result, customers can operate the goods supply device 2a to supply goods to the weighing device 3 while being aware of this information, and stop supplying goods once they have reached the desired quantity of goods in the weighing device 3.

[0036] The operating section 34 is the part that operates the opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the serving opening 31b. In this embodiment, the operating section 34 is realized by a lever that can be operated from the front side, and the opening and closing mechanism is realized by a pair of covers 341 and 342 that open and close the serving opening 31b by the operating section 34. Gear parts 34a, 341a, and 342a are provided at one end of the operating section 34 and the covers 341 and 342, respectively, and the gear parts 34a and 341a, and the gear parts 341a and 342a mesh with each other. When the operating section 34 is raised upward, the pair of covers 341 and 342 are in contact with each other and close the serving opening 31b, and when the operating section 34 is pushed downward, the meshing gear parts 34a, 341a, and 342a move in conjunction to separate the covers 341 and 342 and open the serving opening 31b. When the dispensing port 31b is opened, the items inside the guide body 32 are discharged from the dispensing port 31b through the discharge-side opening 32b, thereby providing the items to the customer.

[0037] Normally, the lids 341 and 342 are lowered by their own weight, closing the dispensing opening 31b, and the operating part 34 is raised accordingly. In this regard, a biasing means such as a spring may be provided separately to the operating part 34 to bias it upward, so that when it is not being pushed down, it will be reliably raised upward and the dispensing opening 31b will be closed. When the dispensing opening 31b is closed, the discharge of items from the guide body 32 is restricted, and the items remain contained within the guide body 32.

[0038] The opening and closing mechanism operated by the operating unit 34 to open and close the serving opening 31b is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, a shutter-like shielding plate may slide to open and close the serving opening 31b, or a lid-like shielding plate that covers the serving opening 31b may fit into and detach from the serving opening 31b to open and close the serving opening 31b. Furthermore, the opening and closing mechanism may open and close the supply port 31b by electrical control.

[0039] The support parts 35 are legs that support the weighing device 3 on the shelf board 62, and four of them are provided on the bottom surface of the main body 31. Although only two of the four support parts 35, 35-1 and 35-2, are shown in Figures 2 and 3, support parts 35-3 and 35-4 are provided at symmetrical positions in the width direction of each support part 35-1 and 35-2, respectively.

[0040] Each of the four support sections 35 is equipped with an independent height adjustment mechanism, and by adjusting the height of each support section 35 as appropriate, the main body 31 can be supported horizontally on the shelf board 62. Such a height adjustment mechanism can be realized, for example, by a disc-shaped base with a female thread in the center and a rod-shaped shaft with a male thread that screws into the female thread of the disc-shaped base. By placing the disc-shaped base on the shelf 62 and screwing the rod-shaped shaft into the female thread to an appropriate depth, the height of each support part 35 can be adjusted.

[0041] Furthermore, the support portion 35 is positioned on the bottom surface of the main body 31, biased towards the rear side. Specifically, of the four support portions 35, support portions 35-1 and 35-3, which are arranged side by side in the width direction, are located approximately in the center of the main body 31 in the length direction, while the other support portions 35-2 and 35-4, which are also arranged side by side in the width direction, are located near the rear end of the main body 31. The positions of these support portions 35 are such that they do not overlap the dispensing opening 31b, and are in a position that allows the weighing device 3 to be supported on the shelf 62.

[0042] Furthermore, the height adjustment mechanism provided in this support section 35 may be controlled by electrical control. In addition, in this case, the weighing device 3 may be equipped with a sensor that detects horizontality, such as a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor, and the height adjustment mechanism may be controlled so that the weighing device 3 becomes horizontal according to the detection result of the sensor.

[0043] ●Provision process of goods by the first unit U1 Referring to Figure 5, the process by which the customer operates the first unit U1 to receive the goods will be explained. When a customer receives goods from the first unit U1, they select the goods supply device 2b containing the desired goods and place a container C, such as a cup, bag, or bottle, below the supply opening 31b located on the bottom of the weighing device 3. Then, as shown in Figure 5(a), the customer operates the control unit 23 to open the supply opening 24a of the goods supply device 2b. In response, the goods stored in the storage section 21 of the goods supply device 2b are supplied into the guide body 32 of the weighing device 3.

[0044] Once the desired amount of goods has been loaded into the weighing device 3, the customer operates the control unit 23 to close the supply port 24a, as shown in Figure 5(b). Furthermore, while goods are being fed from the goods supply device 2b to the weighing device 3, the display unit 33 displays the weight, unit price, and selling price of the goods fed into the weighing device 3, allowing the customer to operate the control unit 23 while keeping track of the amount of goods being supplied to the weighing device 3.

[0045] Once the customer has received the desired amount of goods from the weighing device 3, they operate the control panel 34 of the weighing device 3 to open the dispensing port 31b, as shown in Figure 5(c), and discharge the goods contained in the weighing device 3 into container C. Through the above process, the goods are provided to the customer by the first unit U1 under the customer's operation.

[0046] ● Hardware configuration of weighing device 3 As shown in Figure 6, the weighing device 3 is equipped with a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for performing information processing, and storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). It is connected to the display unit 33, as well as the communication unit 36 ​​and the weighing unit 37 via an interface circuit.

[0047] The communication unit 36 ​​is implemented by one or more communication means that enable connection with each terminal or device. For example, interconnection with the information terminal 4 is implemented by a wired or wireless LAN. Furthermore, if the communication unit 36 ​​is implemented via a wired LAN, the power supply for the weighing device 3 may be secured by PoE (Power over Ethernet) power supply from the information terminal 4 connected to an external power supply. However, this does not prevent the weighing device 3 from being directly connected to an external power supply or powered by an internal battery.

[0048] The weighing unit 37 weighs the items supplied from the item supply device 2a to the weighing device 3, for example, using a weight detection method with a load cell. As described above, a guide body 32 is detachably attached to this weighing unit 37, and thereby the weighing unit 37 weighs the items placed inside the guide body 32. This weighing unit 37 is more specifically composed of a weight detection unit 371 and an AD converter 372. The weight detection unit 371 is implemented by a load cell, and the AD converter 372 converts the analog signal input from the weight detection unit 371 into a digital signal. In the conversion to a digital signal, a range in which the weight value can be appropriately acquired is set, and the zero point and the maximum weighing value are recorded. The value converted to digital data is displayed as weight (weighed value) on the display unit 33.

[0049] In addition, the weighing device 3 may also be equipped with notification units such as a speaker or an indicator lamp. For example, when goods are being supplied from the goods supply device 2a to the weighing device 3 by the customer, the notification unit can emit sound or light to notify the customer when the weight of the goods supplied to the weighing device 3 approaches a predetermined weight. In this case, the manner of the sound or light may change as the weight of the goods approaches the predetermined weight. In addition, voice messages such as "Almost at the specified weight" or "Please supply little by little" may be emitted. The specified weight must be set by the customer initially, for example, by using a keypad on the weighing scale. Specifically, when a number is entered using the keypad while no weight has been detected, the display unit 33-1, which displays the weight, will change its display mode from that of the detected value, such as flashing a numerical value, and will switch to displaying the actual weight when the supply of goods begins. Furthermore, when purchasing goods by specifying the goods and weight using the information terminal 4, the same notification can be achieved on the information terminal 4 side by transmitting weight data from the weighing device 3 to the information terminal 4.

[0050] ● Software configuration of weighing device 3 As shown in Figure 7, the weighing device 3 includes, as software resources, an identification information storage unit 3A, a detection processing unit 301, a display control unit 302, and a communication processing unit 303.

[0051] The identification information storage unit 3A stores device identification information that can identify the weighing device 3. This device identification information is unique to each weighing device 3, and this device identification information allows a specific weighing device 3 to be uniquely identified from among multiple weighing devices 3. The device identification information only needs to be information that can identify a predetermined weighing device 3. For example, it can be composed of converter identification information held by the AD converter 372 that can identify the AD converter 372. Furthermore, the device identification information may be set using a DIP switch or the like provided separately on the weighing device 3. Furthermore, the identification information storage unit 3A may be provided with a relay located on the network between the weighing device 3 and the information terminal 4, and the relay may transmit device identification information to the information terminal 4. Alternatively, item identification information (PLU code) can be directly input and stored in the weighing device 3. In this case, the item identification information, along with the weight value, will be transmitted to the information terminal 4 instead of the device identification information.

[0052] The detection processing unit 301 detects the weight of the items fed from the item supply device 2a to the weighing device 3 by the weighing unit 37, and also detects the stability of the weight. Once the detection processing unit 301 detects the weight of the item inside the weighing device 3 and the weight is stable, the detected weight of the item and device identification information are transmitted to the information terminal 4.

[0053] The display control unit 302 controls the display unit 33 to display various information on the display unit 33. In this embodiment, the information to be displayed on the display unit 33 includes the weight of the item, the unit price, and the selling price. The weight of the item is obtained by the display control unit 302 from the detection processing unit 301 and displayed on the display unit 33. The unit price of the goods may be displayed by storing it in a separate memory unit provided by the weighing device 3, or it may be obtained from the information terminal 4 and displayed. The selling price is calculated based on the weight and unit price of the goods. The calculation process may be performed by the weighing device 3 or by the information terminal 4. The display control unit 302 displays the result of the calculation performed by either the weighing device 3 or the information terminal 4 on the display unit 33.

[0054] In this case, when the weighing device 3 is to obtain the unit price of an item from the information terminal 4, for example, when the weighing and sales system 1 is started, the weighing device 3 queries the information terminal 4, and the information terminal 4 transmits information regarding the unit price of the item provided by each weighing device 3 to each weighing device 3. Alternatively, not limited to when the weighing and sales system 1 is started, item identification information can be specified via the maintenance screen or by operation from the weighing device 3, and the information terminal 4 can transmit the unit price of the item corresponding to that item identification information to the designated weighing device 3. This is convenient because the selling price can be known at the time the item is supplied from the item supply device 2a to the weighing device 3.

[0055] Furthermore, if the weighing device 3 does not hold information relating to the unit price of the goods, and a change in weight is detected, the weighing device 3 may request the information terminal 4 to acquire information relating to the unit price of the goods along with the device identification information. Furthermore, the weighing device 3 may request information regarding the unit price of the goods from the information terminal 4 in response to the detection of a weight change, or the information terminal 4 may transmit information regarding the unit price of the goods to the weighing device 3 as needed. Alternatively, the information terminal 4 may set an update flag when the unit price of the goods is changed, and when the weighing device 3 accesses it, it may request an update of the information and transmit the updated information regarding the unit price of the goods to the weighing device 3. This can prevent the sale of goods at incorrect unit prices.

[0056] The communication processing unit 303 is a functional unit that performs data transmission and reception with the information terminal 4 and other higher-level devices via the communication unit 36, and realizes data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. The weighing device 3, via its communication processing unit 303, can transmit information to the information terminal 4 regarding the weight of the items supplied from the item supply device 2a as a result of weighing by the weighing unit 37. At this time, the weighing device 3 can refer to the identification information storage unit 3A and transmit device identification information along with the weight of the items as a result of weighing by the weighing unit 37 to the information terminal 4. The timing at which the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the item and the device identification information to the information terminal 4 can be, for example, when the weight is detected to be stable. In another example, it could be when the operation unit 34 of the weighing device 3 is operated and the item is actually provided to the customer.

[0057] Furthermore, the weighing device 3 may also be equipped with a timing function. A weighing device 3 equipped with a timing function can, for example, manage the current time, the remaining time until a certain time, or the elapsed time since a certain state was reached. In addition, the information acquired by this timing function may be provided to the information terminal 4. Furthermore, the weighing device 3 can be integrated with the article supply device 2a.

[0058] ● Hardware configuration of information terminal 4 Information terminal 4 is a device that performs input and output of predetermined information and issues payment labels for goods. This information terminal 4 acquires information about goods provided to customers from the first unit U1, the second unit U2, and the third unit U3, and accordingly issues payment labels printed with information for selling the goods provided to the customer.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, the information terminal 4 is equipped with a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing information processing, and storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), and is connected to the display unit 41 and the communication unit 42 via an interface circuit. Furthermore, an issuing unit 43 for issuing settlement labels is connected via a dedicated cable. However, in other examples, the issuing unit 43 may be integrated with other hardware.

[0060] The display unit 41 is implemented using a touch panel display or the like, and displays various information to the customer, such as the weighing results and sales prices of items. The display unit 41 can also receive various operations from the customer, and in this respect, it can be said to constitute an operation unit.

[0061] The communication unit 42 is implemented by one or more communication means that enable connection with each terminal or device. For example, interconnection with the issuing unit 43 is achieved by a predetermined dedicated cable. Interconnection with the weighing device 3 is achieved, for example, by a wired or wireless LAN.

[0062] The issuing unit 43 prints the print data generated by the information processing unit 405 (described later) onto a predetermined medium to produce a settlement label, and then discharges the settlement label from the label issuing slot 4a shown in Figure 1. The settlement label may be a paper receipt, or it may be a sticker that can be attached to a container or other item containing the goods.

[0063] In addition, the information terminal 4 may also be equipped with a scanner, audio output unit, tag reading unit, etc., depending on the sales method of the goods and other appropriate specifications.

[0064] The scanner unit is a functional unit that optically reads various types of information, and reads one-dimensional or two-dimensional codes that encode predetermined information. This allows, for example, item identification information and settlement information that can identify items to be encoded into a two-dimensional code, and the information can be obtained by reading the encoded information.

[0065] The audio output unit outputs predetermined information via sound. This allows for the output of, for example, voice guidance, error sounds, or operation sounds.

[0066] The tag reader unit reads and writes information to contactless IC tags. An example of a contactless IC tag is an RFID (radio frequency identifier) ​​tag, and the tag reader unit reads and writes information to the contactless IC tag using short-range wireless communication such as electromagnetic fields or radio waves. For example, information relating to the weight of the container holding the goods, or container identification information that identifies the container, can be written to a contactless ID tag, and a label incorporating the contactless ID can be attached to the container. Then, a tag reader can read the information relating to the weight of the container or the container identification information that identifies the container, and obtain the information necessary for settling the payment for the container.

[0067] Furthermore, the information terminal 4, like the weighing device 3, may also provide notifications regarding the supply status of goods from the goods supply device 2a to the weighing device 3 by displaying messages on the display unit 41 or by emitting sounds from a separately provided voice output unit. That is, the information terminal 4 may receive information related to the detected weight of the goods from the weighing device 3, and when the weight of the goods supplied to the weighing device 3 approaches a predetermined weight, it may notify the user by emitting sound or light or displaying a predetermined message.

[0068] ● Software configuration of information terminal 4 As shown in Figure 7, the information terminal 4 includes, as software resources, an item information storage unit 4A, a setting information storage unit 4B, a specific processing unit 401, an extraction processing unit 402, a calculation processing unit 403, a display control unit 404, an information processing unit 405, and a communication processing unit 406. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 406 establishes communication with the issuance processing unit 407. It should be noted that this lists at least the functional components necessary for information terminal 4 to cooperate with the first unit U1 and for the first unit U1 to provide goods; other functional components may be required when coordinating with the second unit U2 or the third unit U3.

[0069] The item information storage unit 4A is a storage unit that stores basic information about the item being weighed, such as the name of the item and its unit price. The data items stored in this item information storage unit 4A include, for example, item identification information, item name, weighing category, unit price, and unit weight, as shown in Figure 8. The information stored in the item information storage unit 4A may be received from a management device installed inside the store or from a cloud server located outside the store.

[0070] Here, the measurement classification refers to a classification related to measurement. Weighing category "0" corresponds to the weighing category "variable weight". Variable weight is a sales method in which the selling price is determined based on a predetermined unit price per unit weight ("100g" in this embodiment) and the weight to be sold (weighed value). For items in weighing category "0 (variable weight)", the weight to be sold is required when determining the selling price. In this embodiment, at least in the first unit U1, the item is provided in variable weight.

[0071] When the weighing category is "0 (variable weight)", the unit price column stores the unit price per unit weight, and the unit weight column stores the unit weight. For example, in the case of an item with item identification information "SH001" (item name "AAA"), it is stored that the unit price per 100g is 250 yen. Therefore, for an item with item name "AAA", if the weighed value is 50g, the selling price will be 125 yen, and if the weighed value is 200g, the selling price will be 500 yen.

[0072] Measurement category "1" corresponds to the measurement category "fixed weight". Fixed weight is a sales method in which the selling price is determined based on a predetermined unit price per unit quantity (in this embodiment, "1 piece") and the sales quantity converted from the unit weight. Furthermore, for items in weighing category "1 (fixed weight)," weighing the items is necessary because the quantity of the item is calculated or estimated from the unit weight (weight of one unit) and the weighed value, and the selling price is determined from the calculated or estimated quantity of the item and the unit price per unit quantity. In this embodiment, the items are provided in fixed weight in the second unit U2. Furthermore, weight errors in individual items can be corrected using the accuracy correction function provided in counting scales, etc.

[0073] When the weighing category is "1 (fixed weight)," the unit price column stores the unit price per unit weight (i.e., quantity "1"), and the unit weight column stores the unit weight corresponding to quantity "1." For example, in the case of product "SH103" (product name "ABC"), it is stored that the unit price per item (weight 80g) is 90. Therefore, for example, if the weighing value of product "ABC" is around 85g, the selling price will be 90 yen for one item, and if the weighing value is around 150g, the selling price will be 180 yen for two items.

[0074] The setting information storage unit 4B stores setting information that associates device identification information that can identify the weighing device 3 with item identification information of the item provided by the weighing device 3. By referring to this setting information storage unit 4B, the items to be provided to the customer by the predetermined weighing device 3 can be identified. As described above, the device identification information that can identify the weighing device 3 can be replaced with converter identification information that can identify the AD converter 372 provided by the weighing device 3. In this case, the converter identification information is associated with the item identification information.

[0075] When the identification processing unit 401 receives the weight of an item along with the device identification information from the weighing device 3, it refers to the setting information storage unit 4B based on the device identification information to identify the item identification information associated with the device identification information.

[0076] The extraction processing unit 402 performs a process to extract information necessary for executing a predetermined process from each storage unit. For example, the extraction processing unit 402 extracts item information such as the name and unit price of an item by referring to the item information storage unit 4A for an item identified by the identification processing unit 401. In this respect, the extraction processing unit 402 constitutes an item information acquisition means that acquires item information from the item information storage unit 4A.

[0077] The calculation processing unit 403 performs a process to calculate a predetermined value based on various numerical data. The calculation processing unit 403 calculates the sales price of the goods provided to the customer based, for example, on the weight of the goods received from the weighing device 3 and the unit price of the goods extracted by the extraction processing unit 402. If a paid container is provided to the customer when the goods are provided, the cost of purchasing the container can also be added to the calculation of the sales price.

[0078] Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 403 can calculate the total sales price by adding up the sales prices of multiple items when multiple items are provided to a customer.

[0079] Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 403 can calculate the weight ratio of multiple items when multiple items are provided to a customer. In other words, it can express the proportion of multiple items provided to a customer as a ratio. Such calculation processing is useful, for example, when the items are coffee beans or nuts, and the items are sometimes mixed in a predetermined ratio.

[0080] The display control unit 404 causes the display unit 41 to display various types of information. The information to be displayed includes information extracted from the item information storage unit 4A by the extraction processing unit 402 and information related to the sales price of the item calculated by the calculation processing unit 403. The display control unit 404 also displays on the display unit 41 information that has been appropriately processed and edited from this information and configured as selectable information (the first information display area described later), as well as an operator that accepts the completion of item registration and accepts a request to issue a settlement label.

[0081] The information processing unit 405 generates print information related to the content to be printed on the settlement label. The print information generated at this time includes at least information related to the sales price of the goods calculated by the calculation processing unit 403, as well as settlement information necessary for settling the goods, such as information such as the name of the goods stored in the goods information storage unit 4A and information related to the weighing result of the goods by the weighing device 3. The print information generated by the information processing unit 405 is sent to the publishing processing unit 407. Furthermore, the printed information, or the settlement information contained in such printed information, can be encoded into one-dimensional or two-dimensional codes.

[0082] The communication processing unit 406 performs data transmission and reception with the issuing processing unit 407 and with the weighing device 3 in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. The information terminal 4, via the communication processing unit 406, can receive information related to the weight of an item along with device identification information from the weighing device 3, and can also transmit print information to the issuance processing unit 407. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 406 may also perform data transmission and reception with higher-level devices via wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. It may also perform data transmission and reception with external servers via a network such as the Internet.

[0083] The issuing processing unit 407 controls the issuing unit 43 to print the print information generated by the information processing unit 405 onto a predetermined medium and issue a settlement label.

[0084] In addition to these functional units, the information terminal 4 also includes configuration files related to the GUI layout and other settings displayed on the display unit 41.

[0085] Furthermore, the software resources of the information terminal 4 described above can be distributed or consolidated onto any of the hardware resources through appropriate design, and the hardware resources can also be configured as a physically integrated device or as separate devices.

[0086] For example, in the embodiment described above, each weighing device 3 may be equipped with an item information storage unit 4A and a calculation processing unit 403 in place of, or together with, the information terminal 4. In this case, the weighing device 3 may transmit the unit price information of the item along with the device identification information and the weight information of the item to the information terminal 4, or the weighing device 3 may calculate the sales price of the item to be offered to the customer from the unit price and weight of the item, and then transmit the calculated sales price to the information terminal 4. [Examples]

[0087] ●Processing flow In the weighing and selling system 1 according to this embodiment, the processing related to Embodiment 1, which is performed when goods are provided to the customer by the first unit U1, will be explained with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Furthermore, before using the weighing and selling system 1, the store associates each weighing device 3 with the item identification information of the items provided to the customer via each weighing device 3 and stores this information in the setting information storage unit 4B.

[0088] Furthermore, if a paid container is offered to the customer, the information terminal 4 accepts the customer's order for the paid container. For example, the container purchase operation involves displaying a container selection screen by size on the display unit 41 for the customer to select, and then registering the selected container as a product. Alternatively, the system may read an IC tag pre-attached to the actual container using a tag reader unit, or read a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code affixed to or printed on the actual container using a scanner, and then register the identified container as a product.

[0089] As shown in Figure 9, when a customer selects an item supply device 2b containing the desired item and operates the operation unit 23, and the item is supplied from the item supply device 2b to the weighing device 3 (S101), the detection processing unit 301 detects the weight of the item supplied to the weighing device 3 using the weighing unit 37 (S102).

[0090] When the customer finishes supplying the goods from the goods supply device 2b to the weighing device 3, the detection processing unit 301 detects that the weight of the goods placed in the weighing device 3 has stabilized (S103). In response, the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the goods and the device identification information of the weighing device 3 stored in the identification information storage unit 3A to the information terminal 4 (S104).

[0091] Once the customer has finished supplying the desired amount of goods to the weighing device 3, they operate the weighing device 3 to put the desired amount of goods into a container (S105). The customer repeats the operation until they receive all the desired items (S106).

[0092] In the above example, regarding the processing performed by the weighing device 3 in response to the customer's operation of the weighing device 3, when the detection processing unit 301 detects that the weight of the item has stabilized, the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the item and the device identification information of the weighing device 3 to the information terminal 4. In contrast, in another example, once the weight has stabilized, the customer may press a predetermined completion button to finalize the weight of the item, and the data related to that weight may be stored in memory. In this case, after the weight of the item is finalized, when the customer operates the operation unit 23, the item is provided to the customer accordingly, and the weight of the item and the device identification information of the weighing device 3 are transmitted from the weighing device 3 to the information terminal 4. Here, until the operation unit 23 is operated, additional items can be supplied to the weighing device 3, and when the customer presses the predetermined completion button again, the weight of the item is updated, and the data related to the updated weight is overwritten in memory. Furthermore, when the customer operates the control unit 23, the weight of the item and device identification information are transmitted to the information terminal 4, and when the control unit 23 returns to its original state, the weighing device 3 automatically performs a zero reset. At this time, if the weight of the item remaining in the weighing device 3 is above a specified value, an error may be reported. The state of the control unit 23 at the start of operation or during operation can be determined, for example, by providing a predetermined completion button and a switch on the control unit 23.

[0093] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, when the information terminal 4 receives device identification information and information related to the weight of the goods from the weighing device 3 (S201), it calculates the sales price of the goods provided to the customer (S202). Here, we will explain the details of the process for calculating the selling price of an item. First, the identification processing unit 401 identifies the item associated with the device identification information received from the weighing device 3 by referring to the setting information storage unit 4B. For the identified item, the extraction processing unit 402 extracts information related to the unit price of the item from the item information storage unit 4A, and then the calculation processing unit 403 calculates the selling price of the item based on the unit price of the item and the weight of the item received from the weighing device 3. If a paid container is provided to the customer when the item is provided, the cost of purchasing the container is added to the calculation of the selling price.

[0094] Furthermore, the information terminal 4 stores information regarding the weight of the items received from the weighing device 3 and information regarding the calculated selling price in a temporary storage area, etc. However, even if the information regarding the weight of the items is received or the selling price is calculated multiple times, the accuracy of the information will not be compromised as long as the information is overwritten and registered each time.

[0095] Once the selling price of an item is calculated, a first information display area corresponding to the item for which the selling price has been calculated is displayed on the display unit 41 (S203). As will be described in detail later, the first information display area is a button (preset key) that accepts a selection operation to complete the registration of the item as an item to be settled and to issue a settlement label, and displays information such as the weight and selling price of the provided item. Once the customer has received all the desired items, a first information display area corresponding to all the items is displayed on the display unit 41. The customer then selects the first information display area corresponding to the item for which they wish to complete the registration as a purchase item and request the issuance of a settlement label (S204).

[0096] When a customer selects a predetermined first information display area, the information terminal 4 displays an operator on the display unit 41 to accept a request to issue a settlement label for the item corresponding to that predetermined first information display area, along with the completion of the registration of the item (S205). When the operator is pressed, thereby receiving a request to issue a settlement label (S206), the information processing unit 405 generates print information relating to the content to be printed on the settlement label (S207). The print information generated at this time includes information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area and information relating to the sales price of the item.

[0097] The print information generated by the information processing unit 405 is transmitted to the issuance processing unit 407, which controls the issuance unit 43 to issue a settlement label (S208). The settlement label issued at this time displays information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area, as well as the sales price of the item, which is appropriately coded and displayed.

[0098] The customer selects each item received using the first information display area and requests the issuance of a settlement label, and receives settlement labels for all items received (S209). Customers who receive a settlement label dispensed from label dispenser 4a input information such as the sales price of the goods printed on the settlement label into a store terminal or similar device provided for settlement and perform a settlement operation according to the prescribed payment method. Through the above process, the customer can receive the desired quantity of goods.

[0099] Furthermore, to prevent customers from forgetting to take their payment labels, a sensor may be installed to prevent this and notify customers if they forget to take their labels. Furthermore, the settlement process for items using settlement labels may be carried out by a store employee after receiving the settlement label from the customer.

[0100] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the weight of the item detected by the weighing device 3 stabilizes, the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the item and the device identification information to the information terminal 4. However, this timing can also be set to when the operation unit 34 of the weighing device 3 is operated and the item is actually provided to the customer. Furthermore, the weighing and selling system 1 may also be configured to detect if the operating unit 34 of the weighing device 3 is operated while the detected weight of the item in the weighing device 3 is not stable, and to output an alert if this is considered an unauthorized operation.

[0101] Furthermore, the weighing device 3 may be configured to automatically reset the weight detection value to zero (a process that sets the measured value at that point as the zero reference) after the operation unit 34 has been operated and the goods have been provided to the customer. In this case, if there are still goods remaining in the weighing device 3, it is advisable to display a message such as "There are still goods remaining" on the display unit 41 to alert the customer. This ensures that the customer receives all of the goods without leaving even a small amount behind. On the other hand, if there are no goods remaining in the weighing device 3, or if the amount is so small that a zero reset is acceptable, the zero reset may be performed without any notification. This ensures that the weight detection value is reliably reset to zero each time without requiring the customer to request a zero reset, and that an accurate weight value is detected.

[0102] ●Screen example Figure 11 illustrates an example of the screens displayed on the information terminal 4 and their transitions during the process of providing goods to a customer according to the above embodiment 1. Figure 11(a) shows a screen displaying information about items provided to a customer. On this screen, a first information display area G11 is displayed, which is generated for each item provided to the customer. This first information display area G11 displays the name of the item, unit price, weight, sales price, and an image of the item. This first information display area G11 is also configured as a button that can be pressed on the screen, and pressing it allows the user to select the item to be registered as a settlement item and to be selected for issuing a settlement label. Note that the information displayed in the first information display area G11 in the example shown in Figure 11(a) is just one example; other information about the item may be displayed, or different information or less information may be displayed.

[0103] Figure 11(b) shows the screen when the first information display area G11-1 is selected by the customer from the screen shown in Figure 11(a). On this screen, the content corresponding to the selected first information display area G11-1 is enlarged and displayed in the center, and below it, the operator G12 is displayed, which accepts registration completion and requests for issuance of settlement labels for the items indicated by the first information display area G11-1. In addition, the message "Please issue the label" is displayed at the top of the screen, prompting the user to press the operator G12.

[0104] Figure 11(c) shows the screen and the state of the information terminal 4 when the operator G12 is pressed, as shown in Figure 11(b). From the label issuing slot 4a of the information terminal 4, a settlement label R for the item corresponding to the first information display area G11-1 is ejected in response to the pressing of the operator G12. The screen displays the message "Please take your label" at the top, prompting the user to take payment label R.

[0105] When the customer pulls out the settlement label R from the label dispenser 4a, a screen appears in which the remaining first information display areas G11-2 and G11-3 can be selected, and the customer performs the same operation on first information display areas G11-2 and G11-3 as they did on first information display area G11-1.

[0106] Furthermore, the weighing and selling system 1 does not prevent multiple customers from operating it simultaneously. Therefore, under operating conditions that allow multiple customers to operate the weighing and selling system 1 simultaneously, the first information display area G11 generated in response to the operations of multiple customers will be displayed on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 4. However, since the issuance of the settlement label R is performed in response to the selection of the first information display area G11 and the subsequent pressing of the operator G12, customers can select only the first information display area G11 corresponding to the items they received and receive the settlement label R without mistakenly selecting the first information display area G11 displayed in response to the operations of others.

[0107] Furthermore, in cases where the operation is completed for each item, as in this embodiment, and under operating conditions where one customer exclusively operates the weighing and selling system 1, the first information display area G11 may not be displayed on the screen of the information terminal 4, and a settlement label R may be automatically issued for each item in response to the operation of the weighing device 3. [Examples]

[0108] ●Processing flow In Example 1, a settlement label was issued for each item provided to the customer, but in Example 2, a settlement label is issued for multiple items together. The process related to Example 2 will be explained with reference to Figure 12. The operations and processes performed by the weighing device 3 are the same as in Example 1, and here we will describe the processes in the information terminal 4. Also, some of the processes are the same as in Example 1 described above, and the same parts may be denoted by the same reference numerals as in the example in Figure 10.

[0109] First, the information terminal 4, as in Embodiment 1, receives device identification information and information related to the weight of the item from the weighing device 3 (S201), calculates the sales price of the item provided to the customer (S202), and displays the first information display area corresponding to the item for which the sales price has been calculated on the display unit 41 (S203).

[0110] Then, once the customer has received all the desired items, a first information display area corresponding to all the items is displayed on the display unit 41, and the customer selects from among them the first information display area corresponding to the item for which they wish to complete registration and for which they wish to request the issuance of a settlement label (S301).

[0111] If multiple first information display areas are selected (S302), the calculation processing unit 403 sums up the sales prices of the items corresponding to the selected multiple first information display areas, and the summed sales price is displayed (S303). On the other hand, if only one first information display area is selected, the sales price of the item corresponding to that selected first information display area is displayed on the display unit 41.

[0112] Furthermore, in accordance with the customer's selection operation, upon completion of registration of the item corresponding to the first information display area selected by the customer, an operator for receiving a request to issue a settlement label for the said item is displayed on the display unit 41 (S304).

[0113] When an operator is pressed, and a request is received to register an item corresponding to the selected first information display area and to issue a settlement label (S305), the information processing unit 405 generates print information relating to the content to be printed on the settlement label (S306). The print information generated at this time includes information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area and information relating to the sales price of the item. If multiple first information display areas are selected, the print information also includes information about the items corresponding to those multiple first information display areas and information relating to the total sales price of those multiple items.

[0114] The print information generated by the information processing unit 405 is transmitted to the issuing processing unit 407, which controls the issuing unit 43 to issue a settlement label (S307). The settlement label issued at this time displays information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area, as well as the sales price obtained by summing the sales prices of the items, which are appropriately coded and displayed, and the information of multiple items is combined into a single settlement label.

[0115] The customer selects all items provided using the first information display area and requests the issuance of settlement labels, and receives settlement labels for all items provided (S308). Upon receiving the settlement label dispensed from label dispenser 4a, the customer enters the information relating to the sales price of the goods printed on the settlement label into a store terminal or similar device provided for settlement, and performs a settlement operation according to the prescribed payment method.

[0116] Through the above process, a single payment label is issued for all items selected by the customer. As a result, this process is less time-consuming than issuing a payment label individually for each item.

[0117] In this embodiment, the operator is displayed when the first information display area is selected. However, regardless of this, the operator may always be displayed on the display unit 41 and enabled to be pressed when the first information display area is displayed on the display unit 41, or when the displayed first information display area is selected. Furthermore, if only one first information display area is displayed on the display unit 41, the operator may be displayed regardless of the selection operation of the first information display area, and the operator may be allowed to be pressed. In this case, if the state changes from displaying only one first information display area to displaying other first information display areas, resulting in multiple first information display areas being displayed, the operator may be temporarily disabled and then re-enabled when any of the first information display areas are selected.

[0118] ●Screen example Figure 13 illustrates an example of the screens displayed on the information terminal 4 and their transitions during the process of providing goods to a customer according to the above embodiment 2. Figure 13(a) shows a screen displaying information about items provided to a customer. On this screen, a first information display area G21 is displayed, which is generated for each item provided to the customer. Similar to the first information display area G11 described above, the first information display area G21 displays predetermined information and is also configured as a button that can be pressed on the screen. By pressing it, the user can register the item as an item to be settled and select it as an item for which a settlement label should be issued.

[0119] Furthermore, a second information display area G22 is provided at the bottom of the screen, which displays the number of items corresponding to the selected first information display area G21 and the total sales price obtained by adding the sales prices of the items corresponding to the selected first information display area. Note that in Figure 13(a), since the first information display area G21 has not yet been selected, the number of items in the second information display area G22 is displayed as "0" and the selling price is also displayed as "0 yen".

[0120] Furthermore, a "Call Staff" button G24 is provided at the top of the screen for summoning a staff member. When the "Call Staff" button G24 is pressed, a notification is sent to the staff member's terminal, and upon receiving this notification, the staff member goes to the information terminal 4 that initiated the call. The "Call Staff" button G24 can also be configured using a mechanical key. The "Call Staff" button G24 is pressed when there is a malfunction in the device or when a customer has any difficulty operating it. For example, it is pressed when a customer has accidentally dispensed more items than desired from the item dispensing device 2a to the weighing device 3 due to an operational error. Even if more items than desired have been dispensed to the weighing device 3 in this way, as long as the items are still in the weighing device 3, that is, before they are placed into the customer's container, the items can be returned by the staff member who was called. The "Call Staff" button G24 may be displayed on the screen at all times, or it may be displayed only when staff intervention is likely to be required. Furthermore, in cases where staff intervention is definitely required, such as due to a device malfunction, staff may be called automatically even without the customer pressing the "Call Staff" button G24.

[0121] Figure 13(b) shows the screen when the first information display area G21-1 is selected from the screen shown in Figure 13(a). On this screen, the selected primary information display area G21-1 is displayed with a thick border, distinguishing it from the other unselected primary information display areas G21-2 and G21-3. In the secondary information display area G22 at the bottom of the screen, the number of items is displayed as "1" and the selling price as "537 yen," depending on the primary information display area G21-1 selected by the customer. Furthermore, at the bottom of the screen, next to the secondary information display area G22, is displayed an operator G23 that accepts a request to issue a settlement label upon completion of registration for the item corresponding to the selected primary information display area G21-1.

[0122] Figure 13(c) shows the screen when the first information display area G21-2 is selected from the screen shown in Figure 13(b), thereby selecting multiple first information display areas G21 (G21-1, G21-2). On this screen, the selected primary information display areas G21-1 and G21-2 are displayed with thick borders, distinguishing them from the other unselected primary information display area G21-3 by a different display method. In addition, in the secondary information display area G22 at the bottom of the screen, the number of items is displayed as "2" and the sales price as "1689 yen" (the sum of the sales prices of the selected items), depending on the primary information display areas G21-1 and G21-2 selected by the customer. Furthermore, at the bottom of the screen, unchanged from the state in Figure 13(b), the operator G23 is displayed, which accepts a request to issue a settlement label upon completion of registration for the items corresponding to the selected primary information display areas G21-1 and G21-2.

[0123] Furthermore, on the screen, the first information display area G21 corresponding to items that have been registered can be displayed separately from the first information display area G21 corresponding to items that have not been registered, thereby preventing customers from missing any steps regarding the items they have received. Furthermore, when the first information display area G21 corresponding to the items provided to a designated customer is displayed, the first information display area G21 corresponding to items provided to other customers may not be displayed until processing for that designated customer is completed. In this case, if there is a first information display area G21 that is displayed on the screen but not selected, an error may be notified. Also, if processing for other customers is not performed until processing for one customer is completed, the selection of the first information display area G21 may be made unnecessary. However, it is preferable to have the customer select the first information display area G21 for final confirmation. Furthermore, if the customer realizes a mistake at this point, they will need to have a store employee perform an operation such as cancellation, so the customer presses the "Call Employee" button G24 (or the mechanical key provided for "Call Employee" if one is provided) to call an employee. Note that customers may be allowed to perform the cancellation operation, but from the standpoint of preventing fraud, it is preferable to have an employee intervene. However, the system may determine the customer's membership rank, etc., and allow customers with a certain membership rank or higher to perform the "cancellation operation". In that case, it would be good to provide customers with guidance such as, "Please bring the item(s) you wish to return to a store employee."

[0124] Furthermore, if multiple customers are allowed to operate the system simultaneously, the incorrectly displayed first information display area G21 will be left unattended. Therefore, the incorrectly displayed first information display area G21 may be erased from the screen using timer control. However, considering the possibility of fraudulent operation, it is advisable to record operation logs or prompt store staff to confirm the operation using a terminal or other device used by staff, depending on the situation.

[0125] Figure 13(d) shows the screen and the state of the information terminal 4 when the operator G23 is pressed, as shown in Figure 13(c). From the label issuing slot 4a of the information terminal 4, a settlement label R is dispensed that summarizes the items corresponding to the first information display areas G21-1 and G21-2 selected by the customer, in response to the pressing of the operator G23. The screen displays the message "Please take your label" at the bottom, prompting the user to take payment label R.

[0126] When the customer pulls out the payment label R from the label dispenser 4a, the screen displaying the remaining first information display area G21-3 is displayed, and the customer performs the same operations on the first information display area G21-3 as they did on the first information display areas G21-1 and G21-2.

[0127] In this embodiment as well, a settlement label R may be automatically issued for each item at the time the weighing is completed. However, when the weighing operation for a predetermined item is being performed on one weighing device 3, that is, when the weighing operation for another item is performed on another weighing device 3 before the item is provided to the customer by one weighing device 3, the screen shown in Figure 13 should be displayed to prompt the customer to select the first information display area G21. In response, the customer can select the first information display area G21 corresponding to the item they weighed and receive the settlement label R. Furthermore, with respect to the first information display area G21, which had multiple displays, when some of the settlement labels R have been issued and only one remains, the remaining settlement label R may be issued automatically, or the settlement label R may be issued after selecting the first information display area G21, as in previous operations.

[0128] Furthermore, the system may allow customers to declare their intention to purchase multiple items together at the time they begin the operation, as in this embodiment. That is, a button to declare "bulk purchase" may be provided on the initial operation screen, and upon pressing this button, the system may accept an operation to issue a settlement label R for multiple items together, as in this embodiment. In this case, as described above, it is not necessary to control the display of the operator G23 on the screen, which accepts the request to issue the settlement label R, in response to the selection of the second first information display area G21; the operator G23 may be displayed from the beginning. Also, if the operator G23 is displayed from the beginning in this way, if a customer who had planned to purchase multiple items together changes their mind to purchasing only one item during the operation, they can simply press the operator G23 displayed at that time to receive the settlement label R and end the operation. Furthermore, this operation of declaring a "bulk purchase" can also be applied to the operation of issuing a settlement label R that displays the weight ratio of multiple items, as shown in Example 3 described later. In addition, if one customer is allowed to exclusively operate the weighing and selling system 1, the customer can make a bulk purchase and receive a corresponding settlement label R without having to select the first information display area G21, which is convenient. However, this does not prevent simultaneous operation by multiple customers. [Examples]

[0129] ●Processing flow In Example 2, a single settlement label was issued for multiple items. In Example 3, the weight ratio of multiple items selected by the customer is calculated, and information related to the weight ratio is displayed on the screen when the settlement label is issued and on the settlement label itself. The process related to this Example 3 will be explained with reference to Figure 14. The operations and processes performed by the weighing device 3 are the same as in Example 1, and here we will describe the processes in the information terminal 4. Also, some of the processes are the same as in Example 1 described above, and the same parts may be denoted by the same reference numerals as in the example in Figure 10.

[0130] First, the information terminal 4, as in Embodiment 1, receives device identification information and information related to the weight of the item from the weighing device 3 (S201), calculates the sales price of the item provided to the customer (S202), and displays the first information display area corresponding to the item for which the sales price has been calculated on the display unit 41 (S203).

[0131] Then, once the customer has received all the items they desired, a first information display area corresponding to all the items is displayed on the display unit 41, and the customer selects the first information display area corresponding to the item for which they wish to have a settlement label issued (S401).

[0132] If multiple first information display areas are selected (S402), the calculation processing unit 403 calculates the combined sales price and weight ratio for the items corresponding to the selected multiple first information display areas (S403). The calculated combined sales price and weight ratio are displayed on the display unit 41 (S404). The weight ratio of the items in the display unit 41 is displayed, for example, as "Weight ratio 2:3 (Item A / 160g: Item B / 240g)". On the other hand, if only one first information display area is selected, the sales price of the item corresponding to that selected first information display area is displayed on the display unit 41.

[0133] Furthermore, in accordance with the customer's selection operation, upon completion of registration of the item corresponding to the first information display area selected by the customer, an operator for receiving a request to issue a settlement label for the said item is displayed on the display unit 41 (S405). When an operator is pressed, and a request is received to register an item corresponding to the selected first information display area and to issue a settlement label (S406), the information processing unit 405 generates print information relating to the content to be printed on the settlement label (S407). The print information generated at this time includes information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area and information relating to the sales price of the item. If multiple first information display areas are selected, the print information also includes information about the items corresponding to the multiple first information display areas, the sum of the sales prices of the multiple items, and information relating to the weight ratio of the multiple items.

[0134] Furthermore, if multiple first information display areas are selected (S408), along with the generation of print information, information relating to the weight ratio of the multiple items is registered as blending information in a predetermined blending information storage unit (S409).

[0135] The print information generated by the information processing unit 405 is transmitted to the issuing processing unit 407, which controls the issuing unit 43 to issue a settlement label (S410). The settlement label issued at this time displays information about the item corresponding to the selected first information display area, the total sales price obtained by adding up the sales prices of the items, and information related to the weight ratio of the items, which are appropriately coded and displayed.

[0136] The customer selects all items provided using the first information display area and requests the issuance of settlement labels, and receives settlement labels for all items provided (S411). Upon receiving the settlement label dispensed from label dispenser 4a, the customer enters the information relating to the sales price of the goods printed on the settlement label into a store terminal or similar device provided for settlement, and performs a settlement operation according to the prescribed payment method.

[0137] Through the above process, a payment label displaying the weight ratio is issued for items selected by the customer. As a result, for example, if the items are coffee beans or nuts, the customer can use the weight ratio as a reference to obtain coffee beans or mixed nuts blended to their liking.

[0138] ●Screen example Figure 15 illustrates an example of the screens displayed on the information terminal 4 and their transitions during the process of providing goods to a customer according to the above embodiment 3. Figure 15(a) shows a screen displaying information about items provided to a customer. On this screen, a first information display area G31 is displayed, which is generated for each item provided to the customer. Similar to the first information display area G11 described above, the first information display area G31 displays predetermined information and is also configured as a button that can be pressed on the screen. By pressing it, the user can select the item to be registered as a settlement item and to be eligible for issuing a settlement label.

[0139] Furthermore, a second information display area G32 is provided at the bottom of the screen, which displays the number of items corresponding to the selected first information display area and the total sales price obtained by adding the sales prices of the items corresponding to the selected first information display area. Note that in Figure 15(a), since the first information display area G31 has not yet been selected, the number of items in the second information display area G32 is displayed as "0" and the selling price is also displayed as "0 yen". Furthermore, a "Call Staff" button G34 is provided at the top of the screen, configured in the same way as the "Call Staff" button G24 described in Example 2.

[0140] Figure 15(b) shows the screen when the first information display area G31-1 is selected from the screen shown in Figure 15(a). On this screen, the selected primary information display area G31-1 is displayed with a thick border, distinguishing it from the other unselected primary information display areas G31-2 and G31-3. In the secondary information display area G32 at the bottom of the screen, the number of items is displayed as "1" and the selling price as "537 yen," depending on the primary information display area G31-1 selected by the customer. Furthermore, at the bottom of the screen, next to the secondary information display area G32, is displayed an operator G33 that accepts a request to issue a settlement label upon completion of registration for the item corresponding to the selected primary information display area G31-1.

[0141] Figure 15(c) shows the screen when the first information display area G31-2 is selected from the screen shown in Figure 15(b), thereby selecting multiple first information display areas G31 (G31-1, G31-2). On this screen, the selected primary information display areas G31-1 and G31-2 are displayed with thick borders to distinguish them from the other primary information display area G31-3 that is not selected. Additionally, in the second information display area G32 at the bottom of the screen, the number of items is displayed as "2" and the sales price as "1689 yen" (the sum of the sales prices of the selected items), depending on the first information display area G31-1 and G31-2 selected by the customer.

[0142] Additionally, the second information display area G22 shows the weight ratio of the items corresponding to the first information display areas G31-1 and G31-2 selected by the customer. Furthermore, at the bottom of the screen, unchanged from the state shown in Figure 15(b), the operator G33 is displayed, which accepts a request to issue a settlement label upon completion of registration for the items corresponding to the selected first information display areas G31-1 and G31-2.

[0143] Figure 15(d) shows the screen and the state of the information terminal 4 when the operator G33 is pressed, as shown in Figure 15(c). From the label issuing slot 4a of the information terminal 4, a settlement label R containing items corresponding to the first information display areas G31-1 and G31-2 is dispensed in response to the pressing of the operator G33. The screen displays the message "Please take your label" at the bottom, prompting the user to take payment label R.

[0144] When the customer pulls out the settlement label R from the label dispenser 4a, the screen displaying the remaining first information display area G31-3 is displayed, and the customer performs the same operations on the first information display area G31-3 as they did on the first information display areas G31-1 and G31-2.

[0145] According to the weighing and selling system 1 of this embodiment, customers can receive the desired quantity of goods with simple operation. Furthermore, the weighing and selling system 1 offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of operability, allowing for the issuance of individual settlement labels for multiple items received by the customer, or for a single settlement label to be issued for all items. In addition, by displaying information related to the weight ratio of multiple items, customers can receive goods mixed in any weight ratio they wish.

[0146] Furthermore, the processing performed by the weighing and selling system 1 according to this embodiment consists of two main modes. In one mode, in response to the customer's operation of the weighing device 3, the information terminal 4 acquires the weight of the item and device identification information from the weighing device 3, and calculates the price based on the unit price and weight of the item. In the other mode, the information terminal 4 accepts the customer's specification of the desired item (it can also accept the specification of the desired weight), and when the customer operates the weighing device 3, the information terminal 4 acquires the weight of the item from the weighing device, and calculates the price based on the unit price and weight of the item. In the latter case, since one customer has exclusive use of the weighing and selling system 1, it is possible to avoid the specification of items by other customers and to operate smoothly.

[0147] ● Additional function configuration In the weighing and selling system 1 according to this embodiment, when a paid container is provided to the customer, the information terminal 4 is equipped with a container information storage unit necessary for selling the container to the customer. The data items stored in the container information storage unit include, for example, container identification information, container weight information, and container price information. The container identification information is information that can identify a container, and for example, it is information that can identify each of the following: My Container (a container brought by the customer), Store Container S (an S-sized container provided by the store), Store Container M (an M-sized container provided by the store), and Store Container L (an L-sized container provided by the store). This information about the containers allows us to include a price corresponding to the container in the sales price when providing containers to customers.

[0148] Furthermore, if containers are provided to the customer, the selection of the container may be made after the customer receives the goods. For example, after the goods are provided to the customer, the weighing device 3 transmits the weight of the goods and device identification information to the information terminal 4. After the first information display area is displayed on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 4, a container selection screen is displayed after a certain period of inactivity (e.g., a few seconds), and the container selection is accepted from the customer.

[0149] Furthermore, the information terminal 4 can output information such as the sales price, weight, and name of the items included in the printed information as settlement information in various forms, either in place of or in conjunction with the settlement label. If a customer has been assigned a predetermined membership code, the settlement information may be linked to that membership code and transmitted to the POS terminal for settlement processing. This allows the customer to enter the membership code into the POS terminal to retrieve the settlement information and perform the settlement operation.

[0150] Furthermore, if a dedicated application program stored on a customer terminal such as a smartphone owned by the customer enables the process from item registration to settlement, it is also possible to connect the information terminal 4 and the smartphone via short-range communication and transmit settlement information. For example, as shown in Figure 16, the connection information with one-time information added is converted into a symbol code and displayed in the symbol code display field G4 provided on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 4, and authentication is performed by photographing the symbol code with the camera of the customer terminal. Note that Figure 16 is an example in the above-described embodiment 1 in which a first information display area G11-1 is selected by the customer and the symbol code display field G4 is provided on the screen where the operator G12 that accepts registration completion and the request to issue a settlement label is displayed, but the symbol code can be displayed similarly in the other embodiments 2 and 3 as well.

[0151] Furthermore, if the information terminal 4 provides multiple items to a single customer in a predetermined weight ratio, it may store the weight ratio as information relating to the mixing ratio of the items, along with identification information, in a predetermined distribution information storage unit, and enable output of the mixing ratio information as needed. For example, once an item is provided to a customer, identification information is assigned to the information relating to the mixing ratio of those items and registered. This identification information is then presented to the customer either directly or coded and printed on a settlement label, written to a predetermined IC tag, or displayed on the display unit 41. The customer can retrieve the information relating to the mixing ratio of the items by directly inputting the identification information into the information terminal 4, or by having the coded identification information read by a scanner or the like separately provided by the information terminal 4, and then refer to the mixing ratio to receive the items in the desired mixing ratio.

[0152] In this case, the company may accept information from the customer regarding the weight of the mixed product they wish to purchase, and then calculate and present to the customer the weight of each individual item required to receive the mixed product at a predetermined weight, based on a predetermined mixing ratio. Alternatively, instead of the weight of the mixed product, the company may accept information regarding the selling price of the mixed product, and then calculate and present to the customer the weight of each individual item required to receive the mixed product at a predetermined selling price, based on a predetermined mixing ratio and the unit price of each item.

[0153] Furthermore, the weighing and selling system 1, which acquires identification information linked to the mixing ratio, may also assist customers in receiving goods in a predetermined mixing ratio. Specifically, the type of goods and their target weight may be displayed on the screen of the information terminal 4, and an LED lamp or the like separately provided on the corresponding goods supply device 2a may be lit or flashed, or the target weight may be displayed by flashing on the display unit 33-1 that displays the weight.

[0154] Furthermore, regardless of whether goods are provided to customers, stores or other establishments that provide goods may pre-register the mixing ratios of multiple goods in a predetermined mixing information storage unit, allowing customers to refer to or select from the store's recommended mixing ratios. If various recommended mixing ratios are offered to customers for selection, each may be configured as a preset key and displayed on the display unit 41.

[0155] Furthermore, when registering information related to the mixing ratio of items in this manner, if the system receives identification information for a predetermined mixing ratio from a customer, the display unit 41 may guide the customer to the location of the item supply device 2a that provides the items to be mixed. For example, as shown in Figure 17, a schematic diagram of the weighing and selling system 1 is displayed on the display unit 41, and the location of the item supply device 2a that provides the items to be mixed is displayed on the schematic diagram. In the example in Figure 17, the locations of the three items to be mixed are indicated by numbers, and the weight to be provided for each item is displayed. This allows customers to easily identify the supply device 2a that provides the necessary items for their blending. In particular, customers will not be confused even if the layout of the supply device 2a that provides the specified items changes. Furthermore, if there is a change in the specified items or if an item is out of stock, an operator (calling a staff member button) for calling a staff member may be displayed, or a staff member may be called automatically. Alternatively, a message of apology and guidance to that effect may be displayed to the customer, along with information on alternative items or suggestions for alternative blending ratios. In addition, customer assistance may be provided when providing information on alternative items or suggesting alternative blending ratios, as described above.

[0156] Furthermore, a separate POS terminal is installed within the store that processes the payment for goods based on the payment labels issued by the information terminal 4. This POS terminal is a store terminal operated by the store staff or the customer themselves. The staff or customer inputs information such as the sales price of the goods printed on the payment label into the POS terminal and performs the payment operation according to the prescribed payment method.

[0157] Furthermore, with respect to the above-described embodiments 1 to 3, the weighing and selling system 1 may be configured to allow selection of operation modes corresponding to each of the processes described in embodiments 1 to 3. In addition, the operation mode setting may be changed arbitrarily by the customer during operation using a predetermined mode switching button or the like. This allows, for example, when multiple items are provided to a customer, the system to be configured to display the weight ratio if the customer wishes to display it, and to be configured to display the weight ratio if it is not appropriate (i.e., when the items are not mixed).

[0158] Furthermore, in the sale of goods by the first unit U1, the system may accept the customer's specification of the desired weight and selling price of the goods, calculate and display the selling price corresponding to the desired weight, or calculate and display the weight corresponding to the desired selling price. Alternatively, the system may compare the weight of the goods desired by the customer with the weight (measured value) of the goods supplied from the goods supply device 2a to the weighing device 3, and display the remaining weight until the desired weight is reached. Such displays may be shown on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 4, or on the display unit 33 of the weighing device 3.

[0159] Furthermore, in the sale of goods by the first unit U1, the selection of goods can also be directly accepted at the information terminal 4. In this case, it is not necessary to receive device identification information from the goods supply device 2a to identify the goods.

[0160] ● External configuration of the weighing device 7 according to another embodiment Another embodiment of the weighing device 3 described above, weighing device 7, is shown in Figures 18 (exploded perspective view) and 19. The weighing device 7 comprises a main body 71, a guide body 72, a first display unit 73, an operating unit 74, a support unit 75, and a second display unit 76.

[0161] The main body 71 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing formed by combining a lid-shaped first member 711 and a box-shaped second member 712, and a guide body 72, a first display unit 73, an operation unit 74, a support unit 75, and a second display unit 76 are provided at predetermined locations. The main body 71 has hollow sections with openings at the top and bottom, and a guide body 72, which will be described later, is fitted into the hollow section through an opening 71a on the top side that communicates with the hollow section. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, which illustrates the internal structure of the weighing device 7, a lid 741 is provided on the bottom side of the weighing device 7, which opens and closes in response to the operation of the control unit 74, which will be described later. The opening on the bottom side constitutes a serving port 71b that opens and closes with the lid 741, and through this serving port 71b, the items contained inside the weighing device 7 can be discharged to the outside and provided to the customer.

[0162] Here, the upper opening 71a is formed along the length of the main body 71, extending from the front side of the main body 71 through the central part to the rear. Furthermore, the openable and closable serving opening 71b has a narrower opening width than the opening 71a and is located on the front side of the main body 71, at least on the front side of the support portion 75. Furthermore, the main body 71 is supported on the shelf 62 at a position on the bottom surface that avoids the serving opening 71b located on the front side, and is located on the rear side of the serving opening 71b. As a result, the serving opening 71b, which is located biased towards the front side of the main body 71, is positioned in the depth direction of the shelf 62 to protrude from the front end of the shelf 62.

[0163] The guide body 72 is a funnel-shaped component that is fitted into the hollow part through the opening 71a of the main body 71, and also serves as a tare container. As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the guide body 72 is provided with an engaging projection 721 on its side, which detachably engages with an engaging recess 771a provided in the weighing section 77 of the main body 71. This allows the weighing section 77 to measure the weight of the item contained within the guide body 72. Furthermore, by releasing the engagement between the engaging projection 721 and the engaging recess 771a, the guide body 72 can be removed or replaced as needed for cleaning or other purposes.

[0164] Furthermore, the guide body 72 is equipped with a receiving opening 72a and a discharge opening 72b on its upper and lower surfaces. When an article supplied from the article supply device 2b is received through the receiving opening 72a, the guide body 72 houses the article inside when the lid 741 is closed. When the lid 741 is opened, the article is discharged from the discharge opening 72b through the supply opening 71b to the outside of the weighing device 7, thereby allowing the article to be provided to the customer. The opening width of the receiving-side opening 72a is relatively wider than that of the discharge-side opening 72b, and is also wider than that of the supply port 24a of the article supply device 2a. Furthermore, the guide body 72 is attached to the main body 71 such that the lower part of the discharge-side opening 72b fits inside the storage area of ​​the main body 71. As a result, the guide body 72 receives articles supplied from the article supply device 2a without leakage. In this embodiment, the receiving-side opening 72a has a circular shape with an annular peripheral wall, but it can also be configured with the same shape as the receiving-side opening 72a of the weighing device 3 described above.

[0165] The first display unit 73 is implemented using a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays the weight of the item, the unit price of the item, and the selling price of the item according to its weight, as measured by the weighing unit 77, which will be described later. This first display unit 73 is composed of three first display units 73-1, 73-2, and 73-3 arranged vertically side by side. In this embodiment, for example, the weight of the goods supplied from the goods supply device 2a to the weighing device 7 is displayed on the first display unit 73-1, the unit price of the goods is displayed on the first display unit 73-2, and the selling price is displayed on the first display unit 73-3.

[0166] In this way, the weighing device 7 displays the weight, unit price, and selling price of the goods. As a result, customers can operate the goods supply device 2a to supply goods to the weighing device 7 while being aware of this information, and stop supplying goods once they have reached the desired quantity of goods in the weighing device 7.

[0167] The operating section 74 is the part that operates the opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the serving opening 71b. In this embodiment, the operating section 74 is realized by a lever that can be operated from the front side, and the opening and closing mechanism is realized by a lid 741 that opens and closes the serving opening 71b by the operating section 74. Gear parts 74a and 741a are provided at one end of the operating section 74 and the lid 741, respectively, and the gear parts 74a and 741a mesh with each other. When the operating section 74 is raised upward, the lid 741 closes the serving opening 71b, and when the operating section 34 is pushed downward, the meshing gear parts 74a and 741a work together to open the serving opening 71b. When the serving opening 71b is opened, the articles inside the guide body 72 are discharged from the serving opening 71b through the discharge side opening 72b, thereby providing the articles to the customer.

[0168] Furthermore, the lid 741 is equipped with a spring 741b as a biasing means, which biases the lid 741 to move downward. As a result, when the operating part 74 is not being pushed down, it is reliably raised upward, and the dispensing opening 71b is closed. When the dispensing opening 71b is closed, the discharge of items from the guide body 72 is restricted, and the items remain contained within the guide body 72. The opening and closing mechanism may also be electrically controlled to open and close the serving opening 71b. Alternatively, the lid 741 may normally lower due to its own weight, closing the serving opening 71b, and the operating section 74 may rise accordingly.

[0169] The support section 75 is a leg that supports the weighing device 7 on the shelf board 62 and is provided on the bottom surface of the main body 71. In this embodiment, the support section 75 consists of two support sections 75-1 (only one is shown in the figure) arranged side by side in the width direction and one support section 75-2 provided behind the support sections 75-1, but the number is not particularly limited as long as the weighing device 7 can be stably installed.

[0170] The support section 75-1 is equipped with a height adjustment mechanism that allows for height adjustment, and by appropriately adjusting its height in relation to the support section 75-2, whose height is fixed, the main body 71 can be supported horizontally on the shelf board 62. Such a height adjustment mechanism can be realized, for example, by a disc-shaped base with a female thread in the center and a rod-shaped shaft with a male thread that screws into the female thread of the disc-shaped base. The height of the support part 75 can be adjusted by placing the disc-shaped base on the shelf 62 and screwing the rod-shaped shaft into the female thread to an appropriate depth. In this embodiment, the support portion 75-2 does not have a height adjustment mechanism. However, in other embodiments, the support portion 75-2 may also be equipped with a height adjustment mechanism.

[0171] Furthermore, the support portion 75 is provided on the bottom surface of the main body 71, biased toward the rear side. Specifically, two support portions 75-1 are provided in the width direction approximately in the center of the length direction of the main body 71, and support portion 75-2 is provided near the rear end of the main body 71. The position of these support portions 75 is such that it does not overlap the dispensing opening 71b, and is in a position that can support the weighing device 7 on the shelf board 62.

[0172] Furthermore, the height adjustment mechanism provided in this support section 75 may be controlled by electrical control. In addition, in this case, the weighing device 7 may be equipped with a sensor that detects horizontality, such as a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor, and the height adjustment mechanism may be controlled so that the weighing device 7 becomes horizontal according to the detection result of the sensor.

[0173] The second display unit 76 displays a status indicator showing the operating status of the weighing device 7. This second display unit 76 is located below the operation unit 74 and is implemented using a liquid crystal display or the like.

[0174] Figure 20 shows an example of a status display. Figure 20(a) shows the state where the indicator light is off, and in this state the weighing device 7 is in standby mode. When an item is placed into the guide body 72 from this state, the status display changes to the one shown in Figure 20(b).

[0175] Figure 20(b) shows the state in which an item is placed into the guide body 72 by the operation of the weighing device 7 and the weight is fluctuating. This status display is shown until the weight of the item stabilizes, at which point it transitions to the status display shown in Figure 20(c).

[0176] Figure 20(c) shows the state where the weight of the inserted items has stabilized. If additional items are inserted, the status display returns to that shown in Figure 20(b). Furthermore, if the control unit 74 is operated from this state, the status display transitions to that shown in Figure 20(d). If the weight stabilizes at a weight other than "0g", it is assumed that the customer has left the weighing device 7 during the operation and left without purchasing the items, or has moved to the information terminal 4 without completely transferring the items to the container (without transitioning to the screen shown in Figure 20(e)). In either case, an error occurs. In the former case, the device is left at the first stable weight, so an error message may be displayed on the first display unit 73 or the second display unit 76, for example. In the latter case, the weight stabilizes once, and then remains stable for a predetermined period of time, so a notification such as "There are items remaining. Have you put them all into the container?" may be given via voice or on the screen of the information terminal 4. The screen display may be in conjunction with or separately from the display on the information terminal 4, or it may be displayed on the display of the weighing device 7 if the device has a display of a size or type that can display messages, or a status display that can be distinguished from the first weight stabilization may be output to the second display unit 76. Furthermore, in this state, it is preferable to change the appearance of the button (preset key) on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 4 that accepts the selection operation to complete the registration of items to be settled and to issue settlement labels, or to hide it, in order to prevent the system from proceeding to label issuance.

[0177] Figure 20(d) shows the state in which the operating unit 74 of the weighing device 7 is being operated. This status display is shown until the weighing value from the weighing unit 77 becomes "0" (a small error may be tolerated). In this state, sales data (device identification information, selling price, net weight, etc.) is not transmitted, and once the weighing value becomes "0", the status display changes to the one shown in Figure 20(e). In addition, when the status display shown in Figure 20(d) is displayed, the goods are being supplied from the guide body 72 to the container, so it is not a problem for the weight value to change in the subtractive direction. However, if it starts to change in the additive direction midway through, it is possible that goods have been added to the guide body 72 intentionally or accidentally. In such cases, an error status display may be shown, and this may also be notified on the information terminal 4. Furthermore, the information may be output to an external device outside the weighing and selling system 1 to notify the administrator, etc.

[0178] Figure 20(e) shows the state where goods have been supplied to the customer's container by the operation of the control unit 74 and the weighed value has become "0". The weighing device 7 transmits sales data to the information terminal 4 when the weighed value stabilizes at "0g". Once the weighed value stabilizes at "0g" and the status display shown in Figure 20(e) is displayed, the supply of goods is considered complete, and even if the actual weighed value fluctuates up or down, the displayed weighed value is forcibly corrected to "0g" and the status display is maintained. Upon completion of sales data transmission or notification from information terminal 4, the status display on the second display unit 76 returns to the status display shown in Figure 20(a). Accordingly, the weight of the item displayed on the first display unit 73-1 and the sales price displayed on the first display unit 73-3 are also reset to "0".

[0179] The weighing unit 77 has the same function as the weighing unit 37, and weighs the articles supplied from the article supply device 2a to the weighing device 7, for example, using a weight detection method with a load cell. As described above, a guide body 72 is detachably attached to this weighing unit 77, and the weighing unit 77 weighs the articles placed inside the guide body 72.

[0180] ●Summary of Embodiments This invention relates to a technology for supplying any quantity of articles.

[0181] Due to issues such as food waste, there is a growing trend towards promoting sales by weight, where customers purchase only the amount they need. Consequently, self-service weighing and dispensing is also being re-evaluated, and further improvements in usability are required. In this regard, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-317990, a system is known that calculates the price by weighing goods or other items.

[0182] However, the above system has poor usability, and there is a need for a weighing and selling system that is easy for customers to operate and offers a high degree of flexibility.

[0183] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a weighing and dispensing system that can provide any quantity of goods.

[0184] To achieve the above objective, the weighing and selling system according to the present invention is a weighing and selling system comprising a plurality of weighing devices for weighing goods and an information terminal, wherein the weighing device comprises a detection processing means for detecting the weight of the goods and a first communication processing means for transmitting the detected weight of the goods and predetermined identification information, and the information terminal comprises a second communication processing means for receiving the weight of the goods and the predetermined identification information and an item information acquisition means for acquiring item information from a predetermined storage means based on the predetermined identification information.

[0185] The first communication processing means may transmit the detected weight of the article and the predetermined identification information when the detected weight of the article becomes stable.

[0186] The weighing device may also include a dispensing port for discharging the articles contained within the device from the bottom, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the dispensing port.

[0187] The information terminal may also include a first display control means that, based on the item information, displays on the display unit an operator that accepts the completion of registration of the item, along with information relating to the weight of the item and the sales price corresponding to the weight of the item.

[0188] The device may also include a selectable information display area provided for each item weighed by the weighing device, and a second display control means that, when multiple information display areas are selected, displays on the display unit the sum of the number of items corresponding to the selected information display area and the selling price of those items.

[0189] A weighing and selling system according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, for each of a plurality of items, a first information display area is provided which can be selected and operated, a second information display area which, when a plurality of the first information display areas are selected, displays the number of items corresponding to the selected first information display areas and the sum of the selling prices of those items, and an operator which accepts the completion of registration of the items corresponding to the selected first information display areas, and when the operator is pressed while a plurality of the first information display areas are selected, the weight ratio of the items corresponding to the plurality of selected first information display areas is output.

[0190] A weighing device according to yet another aspect of the present invention comprises a main body for housing articles, a weighing unit for weighing the articles housed in the main body, a display unit for displaying the weighed weight of the articles, a support unit provided on the bottom surface of the main body for horizontally supporting the main body, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing an opening for dispensing the articles housed in the main body, wherein the main body is provided with an input opening on its top surface that opens from the front through the central part to the rear, into which the articles are inserted, and the dispensing opening provided on the bottom surface on the front side of the support unit.

[0191] According to the weighing and selling system of the present invention as described above, a system is provided that can provide any quantity of goods, is easy for customers to operate, and offers a high degree of operability. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0192] 1: Weighing and dispensing system 2a, 2b, 5: Goods supply device, 21: Storage section, 22: Supply section, 23: Operation section, 24: Supply port section, 24a: Supply port 3: Weighing device, 31: Main unit, 31a: Input slot, 31b: Dispensing slot, 32: Guide body, 33: Display unit, 34: Operation unit, 35: Support unit, 36: Communication unit, 37: Weighing unit, 371: Weight detection unit, 372: AD converter, 3A: Identification information storage unit, 301: Detection processing unit, 302: Display control unit, 303: Communication processing unit 4: Information terminal, 41: Display unit, 42: Communication unit, 43: Issuance unit, 4A: Item information storage unit, 4B: Setting information storage unit, 401: Identification processing unit, 402: Extraction processing unit, 403: Calculation processing unit, 404: Display control unit, 405: Information processing unit, 406: Communication processing unit, 407: Issuance processing unit 6: Shelf 7: Weighing device, 71: Main body, 71a: Input slot, 71b: Dispensing slot, 72: Guide body, 73: First display unit, 74: Operation unit, 75: Support unit, 76: Second display unit G11, G21, G31: First information display area G12, G23, G33: Controls G22, G32: Second information display area R: Settlement label U1: First Unit U2: Second Unit U3: Third Unit

Claims

1. A weighing and selling system comprising multiple weighing devices for weighing goods and an information terminal, The aforementioned weighing device is The main unit and A guide means for accommodating the aforementioned article, A weighing means for weighing the weight of the article contained within the guide means, A first display means for displaying the weight of the weighed item, An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the opening for the article housed within the guide means, The system comprises a first communication processing means that transmits the weight of the detected article and predetermined identification information, The main body is provided with the measuring means and the guide means is fitted into it. The top surface of the main body is open from the front through the center to the rear, The bottom surface of the main body is provided with the supply opening which communicates with the opening on the top surface. The aforementioned information terminal is A second communication processing means for receiving the weight of the article and the predetermined identification information, The system includes an item information acquisition means that acquires item information from a predetermined storage means based on the predetermined identification information, A weighing and selling system characterized by the following:

2. The first display means comprises a first display area for displaying the weight of the weighed item, a second display area for displaying the unit price of the item, and a third display area for displaying the selling price calculated from the weight and unit price of the item. The weighing and dispensing system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned weighing device is The system further comprises an operating means for operating the opening and closing mechanism, The weighing and dispensing system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned weighing device is The weighing device further comprises a second display means that displays, in different ways, a standby state, a state in which the weight is fluctuating, a state in which the weight value is fluctuating in the subtractive direction, and a state in which the weight value has fluctuated in the subtractive direction and the weighed value has become "0", as a status display indicating the operating status of the weighing device. A weighing and selling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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