JP7660873B2 - Label issuing device and label reading device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a label issuing device and a label reading device.

Conventionally, product labels printed with barcodes encoding product information are affixed to products. Then, by reading the barcodes with a reading means, the product is settled at a cash register or inventory is managed in a warehouse. However, there is a problem that, for example, if the product label is wrinkled or if part of the barcode is soiled, the barcode cannot be read by the reading means. As a result, it has been proposed to print a digital watermark on the product label, which can be printed over the entire product label and has excellent reading accuracy when read by a reading means such as a camera (see Patent Document 1). It is believed that the above problems can be solved by using such digital watermarks on product labels.

JP 2008-252482 A

However, since reading means capable of reading digital watermarks are not yet widely available, the inventors realized that there is a need to print product labels on which a barcode is printed together with a digital watermark. However, when a digital watermark is superimposed on a barcode, a new problem arises in that the contrast between the bars and spaces in the barcode is no longer obtainable, reducing the accuracy of reading the barcode by the reading means.

The object of the present invention is to provide a label issuing device and a label reading device that can reduce the deterioration of the accuracy of reading a barcode by a reading means, even when both a barcode and an electronic watermark are printed on a single product label.

The label issuing device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores multiple pieces of product information related to products, a print control unit that places on one product label a barcode in which at least one piece of product information stored in the storage unit is encoded and an electronic watermark in which at least one piece of product information among the product information encoded as a barcode is embedded, and generates print data that defines the placement of the barcode and the electronic watermark in different positions on one product label, and a label issuing unit that issues a product label in which the barcode and the electronic watermark are displayed in different positions by printing information based on the print data on the label.

The label issuing device of this configuration issues a single product label that displays both a barcode and a digital watermark related to at least one piece of product information, so that even if the product label is wrinkled or part of the barcode is dirty, it is possible to obtain the product information from the digital watermark. Furthermore, the label issuing device of this configuration issues a product label in which the barcode and the digital watermark are positioned in different positions on a single product label based on print data that defines the positions of the barcode and the digital watermark in different positions on a single product label (so as not to overlap each other), so that the contrast between the bars and spaces in the barcode is ensured. This makes it possible to reduce a decrease in the accuracy of barcode reading by the reading means, even when both a barcode and a digital watermark are printed on a single product label.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the product information coded as a barcode and the product information embedded as a digital watermark may be the same. In this configuration, the amount of information embedded as a digital watermark can be minimized.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the print control unit may generate print data that defines the placement of the digital watermark so that it surrounds the periphery of the barcode. In this configuration, the digital watermark can be placed widely on one product label. This increases the likelihood that the digital watermark can be read by the reading means.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the label issuing unit may issue product labels on which a digital watermark is printed so as to surround the printed barcode. In this configuration, the digital watermark can be widely arranged on one product label. This makes it possible to issue product labels that can increase the likelihood that the digital watermark can be read by the reading means.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the print control unit generates print data that defines the presence of a blank area around the barcode where no digital watermark is placed, and the label issuing unit may issue a product label that has a blank area around the barcode. This can further increase the likelihood that the barcode can be read by the reading means.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the print control unit may execute a first process to generate first data defining that a digital watermark is to be placed in the entire area of one product label, a second process to generate second data defining that a barcode is to be placed in a first specified area on the product label, a third process to generate third data based on the first data and the second data defining that the digital watermark is to be placed in a position on one product label different from the first specified area, and a fourth process to generate print data based on the second data and the third data. A label issuing device including such processes can generate print data defining that the barcode and the digital watermark are to be placed on one product label so as not to overlap each other.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the print control unit may execute a fifth process to generate fifth data that defines placing a barcode in a predetermined area on one product label, a sixth process to generate sixth data that defines placing a dividing line that divides one product label into two areas so as not to intersect with the predetermined area, a seventh process to generate seventh data based on the sixth data and the sixth data that defines placing a digital watermark in all areas of the two areas divided by the dividing line where the predetermined area does not exist, and an eighth process to generate print data based on the fifth data and the seventh data. A label issuing device including such processes can generate print data that defines placing a barcode and a digital watermark on one product label so as not to overlap each other.

In the label issuing device according to the present invention, the print control unit may determine the size of the product label based on the product information included in the print data. This configuration can prevent the product label from becoming unnecessarily long.

The label reading device according to the present invention comprises a reading means for reading a product label issued by the above-mentioned label issuing device, and a reading control unit for decrypting the read information, the reading means reading both the barcode and the digital watermark printed on the product label, and the reading control unit may determine that the information decoded from the barcode and/or the digital watermark is product information relating to the product if it determines that at least one of the barcode and/or the digital watermark read by the reading means is decodable. With this configuration, it is possible to increase the identity between the information written on the product label and the information read by the reading means.

According to the present invention, even when both a barcode and an electronic watermark are printed on a single product label, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the accuracy of reading the barcode by the reading means.

1 is an external perspective view showing a weighing, packaging, and pricing device including a label printer according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the weighing, packaging, and pricing device of FIG. 1. Fig. 3A shows an example of a product label printed by the label printer of the embodiment, and Fig. 3B shows an example of a product label as a comparative example. 4A to 4D are diagrams illustrating the flow of print data generation processing according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a client terminal. 6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating the flow of print data generation processing according to the first modified example. 7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating the flow of print data generation processing according to a further modification of the first modification. 8A to 8E are diagrams for explaining the flow of print data generation processing according to a further modified example.

The following describes in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a label printer (label issuing unit) 11, applied to a weighing, packaging, and pricing device (label issuing device) 1, with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, identical elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

The weighing, packaging, and pricing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 weighs and packages products, then issues and affixes product labels L with information about the products printed on them. In the weighing, packaging, and pricing device 1 of this embodiment, after weighing the products, the weighing, packaging, and pricing device 1 pushes up products that are the contents placed on a tray, such as fresh food products, or products that are not placed on a tray, such as fruits and vegetables, against a stretch film that is kept taut, and folds the peripheral portion of the film to the bottom side of the tray or below the product, thereby wrapping the product in film, and then automatically or manually affixes the printed product labels to the packaged products. Below, we will briefly explain the configuration of the device, and then explain the process of issuing product labels for products placed on a tray and affixing the issued product labels to the products.

The weighing, packaging, and pricing device 1 includes a weighing and carrying mechanism 2 with a built-in weighing mechanism, a lift mechanism (not shown) located downstream of the weighing mechanism for lifting the products to the packaging station 3, a film roll support mechanism 4, a film delivery mechanism 5, a film transport mechanism 6, a folding mechanism 7, a sealing mechanism 8, a pricing machine 10, and a control device 9.

The weighing and carrying mechanism 2 is provided in the center of the front of the main body 1a. The weighing and carrying mechanism 2 has a weighing platform 21 that weighs the weight of products such as food placed on a tray by a load sensor such as a load cell, and a transport mechanism 25 that transports the products placed on the weighing platform 21 to the packaging station 3. When a product is placed on the weighing platform 21, the weight of the product is measured by a load sensor supporting the weighing platform 21, and the product is then transported by the transport mechanism 25 to the packaging station 3. The film roll support mechanisms 4 are disposed on both sides of the main body 1a and each hold a film roll. The film delivery mechanism 5 delivers the film pulled out from the film roll upward. The film transport mechanism 6 receives the film from the film delivery mechanism and transports the film to the packaging station 3, which is a space formed within the main body 1a.

The lift mechanism (not shown) raises the product received from the weighing and carrying mechanism 2 and lifts the film stretched over the packaging station 3 from below. The folding mechanism 7 wraps the product in the packaging station 3 by folding the film lifted by the product around the product. The sealing mechanism 8 applies heat sealing to the film folded over the bottom side of the product by the folding mechanism 7. The pricing machine 10 issues product labels L on which product information (weight, price, etc.) is printed, and affixes the product labels L to the products automatically or manually. The pricing machine 10 is located above the folding mechanism 7 and the sealing mechanism 8.

The price tagging machine 10 includes a label printer 11 and an attachment machine 12, which are integrally configured. The label printer 11 issues product labels L (see FIG. 3A) by printing information based on print data, which will be described in detail later, on the labels LR. The labels LR in this embodiment may be labels with a backing or may be backing-less labels without a backing. The label printer 11 stores a label roll on which the labels LR are wound around a core material or the like, and issues product labels L by printing information based on print data on the labels LR that are unwound from the label roll. The attachment machine 12 is provided so as to be movable between the label printer 11 and the product to which the product labels L are to be attached, and attaches the product labels L received from the label printer 11 to the product packaged in film.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a control device 9 having a display panel 91, operation keys 92, a control unit (printing control unit) 93, and a memory unit 94 is disposed on the top of the main body 1a. The control device 9 controls the operation of each of the above mechanisms (the weighing and carrying mechanism 2, the lift mechanism (not shown), the packaging station 3, the film roll support mechanism 4, the film delivery mechanism 5, the film transport mechanism 6, the folding mechanism 7, the sealing mechanism 8, and the pricing machine 10).

The display panel 91 is a touch panel that displays various information to the worker and can accept operations by the worker. The operation keys 92 accept confirmation operations, etc. by the worker.

The control unit 93 has an input/output interface for inputting and outputting signals from and to the outside, a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which programs and information for performing processing are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a communication circuit, etc. Based on signals output by the CPU, the control unit 93 stores input data in the RAM, loads programs stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executes the programs loaded into the RAM to perform various processes.

When a product selected by an operator using the operation keys 92 is placed on the weighing platform 21, the control unit 93 calculates the price of the product based on the weight of the weighed product. The control unit 93 reads product information such as ingredients stored for each product from the memory unit 94 and controls the label printer 11 to issue a product label L on which the product weight, price, etc. are printed. The process of issuing the product label L will be described in detail later. The control unit 93 also executes a process of encoding the JAN code stored in the memory unit 94 as a barcode A3 (see FIG. 3A) and embedding the JAN code as a digital watermark A5 (see FIG. 3A). The control unit 93 controls the attachment machine 12 to attach the product label L to the film-packaged product.

The memory unit 94 stores multiple pieces of product information related to products. For each product, the memory unit 94 stores product information such as the product ID, manufacturer ID, product name, unit price, place of origin, processing date, expiration date, and JAN code. The memory unit 94 also stores a format that defines which product information is to be placed in which area of a single product label L.

As shown in FIG. 3(A), the weighing/packaging pricing device 1 is characterized in that it issues a product label L on which is printed a barcode A3 in which at least one piece of product information stored in the memory unit 94 is coded, and a digital watermark A5 in which at least one piece of product information from the product information coded as the barcode A3 is embedded. The weighing/packaging pricing device 1 of this embodiment issues a product label L on which the barcode A3 in which the JAN code, which is one piece of product information, is coded, and the digital watermark A5 in which the JAN code is embedded are arranged. The weighing/packaging pricing device 1 of this embodiment also issues a product label L on which the digital watermark A5 is displayed so that the barcode A3 is surrounded by the displayed periphery.

In this specification, the "area where the barcode A3 is displayed" refers to the area between the bars at both ends in the direction of the bar arrangement in the case of a one-dimensional barcode (synonymous with the first predetermined area PA1 shown in the lower row), and does not include the quiet zone (a blank area around the area actually printed as a barcode, the width of which is determined by the standard of each barcode) that is located outside the bars at both ends. In other words, "the barcode A3 is displayed so that the electronic watermark A5 surrounds it" means that the electronic watermark A5 may be placed in the quiet zone, or the electronic watermark A5 may be placed around the area where the quiet zone and/or blank area are added to the "area where the barcode A3 is displayed". Similarly, in the case of a two-dimensional barcode, the "area where the barcode A3 is displayed" refers to an area composed of a group of cells arranged in a lattice pattern, and does not include the quiet zones that are placed around these groups of cells. However, depending on the density of the placed digital watermark A5 and the accuracy of the reading device, placing a digital watermark in the quiet zone may make it impossible to read the barcode A3. In this case, the control unit 93 may be configured not to place a digital watermark in the quiet zone and/or margin area either (generating print data defined for placement).

In this embodiment, the electronic watermark refers to information that is visible to the human eye, but the embedded information cannot be discerned. An example of an electronic watermark is a background pattern (pattern) with embedded information that can be extracted when read by a scanner 103 (see FIG. 6) (reading means) or the like. More specifically, the electronic watermark in this embodiment refers to the above-mentioned background pattern printed in the background of human-readable characters and barcodes A3, etc. on a product label. Also, the electronic watermark can be read in its entirety by reading only a portion of it, and the information contained therein can be extracted without (even if) the entire watermark is not read by the scanner 103 (even if the entire watermark cannot be read).

The label printer 11 issues a product label L as shown in FIG. 3A by printing information based on the print data generated by the control unit 93 on the label LR. An example of the process flow when the control unit 93 generates print data will be described below. The control unit 93 places a barcode A3 in which at least one piece of product information stored in the memory unit 94 is coded, and a digital watermark A5 in which at least one piece of product information from the product information coded as the barcode A3 is embedded, on one product label L, and generates print data that defines the positioning of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 in different positions (so as not to overlap each other) on one product label L.

In this embodiment, the control unit 93 generates print data that places on one product label L a product name A1, which is one of the product information stored in the memory unit 94; a price A2, which is one of the product information stored in the memory unit 94 and is the unit price multiplied by the weighing value from the weighing platform 21; a barcode A3 in which the JAN code stored in the memory unit 94 is encoded; and a digital watermark A5 in which the JAN code is embedded. In other words, print data is generated in which the product information obtained by decoding the barcode A3 and the product information obtained by decoding the digital watermark A5 are the same. In addition, the control unit 93 employs a method of arranging the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 in different positions on one product label L by arranging the digital watermark A5 so as to surround the barcode A3.

The method of generating such print data will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 4(A) to 4(D). The control unit 93 generates first data that defines the placement of the digital watermark A5 over the entire area of one product label L as shown in Figure 4(A) (first process). The size of one product label L is stored in the memory unit 94 or the like. Next, the control unit 93 generates second data that defines the placement position of each piece of product information when it is assumed that product information other than the digital watermark A5 is printed on the product label L as shown in Figure 4(B) according to a format that defines which product information is to be placed in which area of one product label L (second process).

When the arrangement direction of the bars constituting barcode A3 is defined as the first direction and the extension direction of each bar is defined as the second direction, the first specified area PA1 in which barcode A3 is arranged is a rectangular area having four corners, consisting of two points that are both ends in the second direction of the bar arranged at one end in the first direction, and two points that are both ends in the second direction of the bar arranged at the other end in the first direction. This definition of the first specified area PA1 is one example. The first specified area may be, for example, an area in which all the bars are included and has sides that are parallel to the extension direction (second direction) of each bar.

Next, the control unit 93 generates modified second data based on the second data, which defines that a frame-shaped second predetermined area (blank area) PA2 surrounding the outside of the product label L is to be placed on the product label L, as shown in FIG. 4 (B). The second predetermined area (blank area) PA2 may completely include the quiet zone, may include a part of the quiet zone, or may be a separate area that does not include the quiet zone. The control unit 93 may directly generate modified second data without generating second data, or may generate modified second data by modifying second data that has already been generated. Next, the control unit 93 generates third data based on the first data and the modified second data, which defines that the digital watermark A5 is not placed in the first predetermined area PA1 and the second predetermined area PA2 on one product label L, as shown in FIG. 4 (C) (third process). Next, based on the second data and the third data, the control unit 93 generates print data that defines the placement of a barcode A3 in which the JAN code stored in the memory unit 94 is encoded and an electronic watermark A5 in which the JAN code is embedded, as shown in FIG. 4(D), on one product label L, and that defines the placement of the barcode A3 and the electronic watermark A5 in different positions (so as not to overlap each other) on one product label L (fourth process).

The control unit 93 controls the label printer 11 to print information based on the print data generated by the above-described process on the label LR, and issues a product label L as shown in FIG. 4 (D).

The product label L issued in this manner can be read, for example, by a scanner (reading means) 103 provided in a client terminal (label reading device) 100. The client terminal 100 is placed, for example, in a store or the like, and used for sales management. As shown in FIG. 5, the client terminal 100 includes a control unit (reading control unit) 101, a display unit 102, a scanner 103, and a communication unit 104.

The control unit 101 has an input/output interface, storage media such as ROM and RAM, a CPU, a communication circuit, etc., and performs various processes by storing input data in the RAM, loading programs stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executing the programs loaded into the RAM based on signals output by the CPU. If the control unit 101 of this embodiment determines that at least one of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark read by the reading means can be decoded, it determines that the information decoded from at least one of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A is product information relating to the product.

The scanner 103 reads both the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 printed on the product label L and transmits the read information to the control unit 101. The display unit 102 is a unit that displays various information, and in this embodiment, displays product information decoded from the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 read by the scanner 103. That is, the display unit 102 in this embodiment displays the JAN code decoded from the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5. In addition, if the display unit 102 cannot decode both the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 read by the scanner 103, it displays that fact. The communication unit 104 is provided so as to be able to communicate with, for example, a server device. Information for decoding the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 read by the scanner 103 may be obtained via the communication unit 104, or may be obtained from a storage unit or the like provided in the client terminal 100.

The weighing and packaging pricing device 1 of the above embodiment issues a single product label L on which both the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 related to at least one piece of product information are displayed. Therefore, even if the product label L is wrinkled or a part of the barcode A3 is soiled, the product information can be obtained from the digital watermark A5. The label printer 11 of the above embodiment issues a product label L based on print data that defines that the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 are arranged in different positions on a single product label L. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the product label L shown in FIG. 3(A) printed based on the above print data ensures contrast between the bars and spaces in the barcode A3, compared to the product label L0 in which the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 are arranged so as to overlap each other (to be in the same position). This makes it possible to reduce the decrease in the reading accuracy of the barcode A3 by a reading means such as a scanner, even when both the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 are printed on a single product label L.

In the weighing/packaging/pricing device 1 of the above embodiment, print data is generated that defines the placement of the electronic watermark A5 so that it surrounds the barcode A3. This allows the electronic watermark A5 to be placed widely on one product label L, increasing the likelihood that the electronic watermark A5 can be read by the scanner 103.

The weighing, packaging, and pricing device 1 of the above embodiment issues a product label L on which a digital watermark A5 is printed so as to surround the printed barcode A3. This allows the digital watermark A5 to be widely arranged on one product label L, thereby increasing the likelihood that the digital watermark A5 can be read by the scanner 103.

In the above embodiment, if the client terminal 100 determines that at least one of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 read by the scanner 103 can be decoded, it determines that the information decoded from at least one of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 is product information related to the product. This makes it possible to increase the identity between the information written on the product label L and the information read by the scanner 103.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

(Variation 1)
The print data generated by the control unit 93 is not limited to print data generated by the above-mentioned process, and may be print data generated by, for example, the process described below. The print data generation method according to this modified example will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 6(A) to 6(D).

The control unit 93 generates fifth data (fifth process) that defines the position of each piece of product information when it is assumed that product information other than the digital watermark A5 is printed on the product label L, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), according to a format that defines which product information is to be placed in which area of a single product label L. The fifth data in this embodiment defines that the barcode A3 is to be placed in the first predetermined area (predetermined area) PA1.

Next, the control unit 93 generates sixth data (sixth process) that defines the positioning of the dividing line L1 that divides a single product label L into two areas as shown in Fig. 6 (B) so as not to intersect with the first predetermined area PA1. Next, based on the fifth data and the sixth data, the control unit 93 generates seventh data (see Fig. 6 (C)) that defines the positioning of the electronic watermark A5 in all areas of the area A11 (hatched area) on the side where the first predetermined area PA1 does not exist, of the two areas A11, A12 divided by the dividing line L1 (seventh process).

Next, based on the fifth and seventh data, the control unit 93 generates print data that defines the placement of a barcode A3 encoded with a JAN code and a digital watermark A5 embedded with the JAN code on one product label L as shown in FIG. 6(D), and the placement of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 in different positions (so as not to overlap each other) on one product label L (eighth process). The control unit 93 controls the label printer 11 to print information based on the print data generated by the process described above on the label LR, and causes the product label L as shown in FIG. 6(D) to be issued.

In addition, FIG. 6(B) shows an example in which the control unit 93 places a straight dividing line L1 in the left-right direction (so as not to intersect with the first specified area PA1) above and slightly spaced from the barcode A3. However, the dividing line is not limited to a straight line and may be a curved line. The dividing line may also be a broken line. For example, for the barcode A3 shown in FIG. 6(A), a broken line or curved line may be placed a certain distance away from the barcode A3 and passing above and to the right of the barcode A3 as the dividing line.

In the above modified example, the control unit 93 divides one product label L into two regions as shown in FIG. 6(B), but as shown in FIG. 7(B), the control unit 93 may divide the label into three regions A11, A12, and A13 by dividing lines L1 and L2, and generate seventh data defined to place electronic watermark A5 in the two regions A11 and A12 other than the region A13 in which the barcode A3 is placed, as shown in FIG. 7(B). Then, the control unit 93 may generate print data based on the fifth data and the seventh data, as shown in FIG. 7(D), in which the barcode A3 encoded with the JAN code and the electronic watermark A5 embedded with the JAN code are placed on one product label L, and the barcode A3 and the electronic watermark A5 are placed in different positions (so as not to overlap each other) on one product label L.

Furthermore, in order to place the digital watermark A5 in the similar areas A11 and A12, two areas A13 and an area consisting of the above-mentioned areas A11 and A12 may be identified by an L-shaped bent dividing line L10 consisting of a straight line L11 that is part of the dividing line L1 and a straight line L12 that completely coincides with the dividing line L2, and seventh data may be generated that is defined to place the digital watermark A5 in an area other than the area A13 where the barcode A3 is placed.

In this way, the control unit 93 does not necessarily need to arrange the electronic watermark A5 so that it surrounds the barcode A3 on all four sides, i.e., top, bottom, left and right, but may arrange the electronic watermark so that it is located on one, two or three of the top, bottom, left and right sides when viewed from the barcode A3.

(Variation 2)
The print data generating method according to the second modification will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

The control unit 93 generates first data that defines the placement of electronic watermark A5 in the entire area of one product label L, as shown in FIG. 8 (A). Next, the control unit 93 generates second data that defines the placement position of each piece of product information when it is assumed that product information other than electronic watermark A5 is printed on the product label L, according to a format that defines which product information is to be placed in which area of one product label L, as shown in FIG. 8 (B). In this embodiment, the second data defines that barcode A3 is to be placed in first specified area PA1. Note that the second data does not necessarily have to be generated in a state in which barcode A3 is actually placed in first specified area PA1.

Next, based on the first data and the second data, the control unit 93 generates fifth data that defines the placement on one product label L of a product name A1, which is one of the product information stored in the memory unit 94, a price A2 obtained by multiplying the unit price, which is one of the product information stored in the memory unit 94, by the weighing value obtained by the weighing platform 21, and a digital watermark A5 with an embedded JAN code, as shown in FIG. 8(C).

Next, the control unit 93 generates barcode image data BD consisting of a barcode A3 and a frame portion F surrounding the barcode A3, as shown in FIG. 8(D). In other words, the barcode image data BD is slightly larger than the size of the barcode A3. The frame portion F is a blank area in which no information such as text is written. The control unit 93 overlays the barcode image data BD on the fifth data capable of issuing a product label L as shown in FIG. 8(C), thereby generating print data that defines the arrangement of the barcode A3, in which the JAN code is encoded, and the digital watermark A5, in which the JAN code is embedded, on one product label L, as shown in FIG. 8(E), and the arrangement of the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 on one product label L so that they do not overlap each other.

(Variation 3)
The weighing/packaging/pricing device 1 of the above embodiment and modification 2 has been described with an example in which a blank area is formed around the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 is placed around the blank area, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the digital watermark A5 may be placed in the blank area.

(Variation 4)
In the above embodiment and modified example, the product information coded as the barcode A3 and the product information embedded as the digital watermark A5 are completely identical, but in addition to the product information coded as the barcode A3 (JAN code), other product information (for example, information on allergenic ingredients, the transportation route from processing to sale, information on inspection records, or URL information of a web page where such information can be viewed) may be embedded. Also, the product's individual identification number may be embedded as a digital watermark. Since a digital watermark can generally contain a larger amount of information than the barcode A3, various information can be further included in addition to (a part of) the information in the barcode A3.

(Other variations)

In the above embodiment, the control unit 93 generates data that defines that the digital watermark A5 is to be placed in the entire area of one product label L as shown in FIG. 4(A), and then generates data that defines that the digital watermark A5 is not to be placed in the second predetermined area PA2 of one product label L as shown in FIG. 4(C). However, this is not limited to this example. For example, the control unit 93 may generate data that defines that the digital watermark A5 is to be placed as shown in FIG. 4(A), and then divide this data into a predetermined number (e.g., four) and superimpose the divided data around the area where the barcode A3 is placed (e.g., on all four sides). Even in this case, the control unit 93 can generate print data that defines that the digital watermark A5 is to be placed around the barcode A3.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the control unit 93 has been described as generating print data in which the digital watermark A5 is arranged so as to form a continuous image, but it may also generate print data in which the digital watermark A5 is arranged so as to be divided into two or more areas.

In the above embodiment and modified example, an example was given in which a product label L with product information printed on a label LR with a liner was issued, but a product label with product information printed on a linerless label may also be issued. In this case, the control unit 93 may determine the size of the product label based on the product information included in the print data. This configuration can prevent the product label from becoming unnecessarily long.

In the above embodiment and modified examples, the product label L issued from the label printer 11 has been described as being used for sales management purposes in a store or the like, but it may also be used for inventory management, distribution management, and the like in a warehouse, processing center, and the like. In this case, examples of the product information coded as the barcode A3 and the product information embedded as the digital watermark A5 include barcoding and digital watermarking the identification number of the product, and barcoding and digital watermarking information such as the name of the store to which the product is delivered, the product name, and the quantity.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, the barcode A3 is positioned at the bottom left of the entire product label L, but the barcode A3 may be positioned anywhere on the product label L. The control unit 93 appropriately sets the area of the electronic watermark A5 according to the position of the barcode A3.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, an example was shown in which one barcode A3 is placed on the product label L, but the number of barcodes A3 is not limited to one. When the control unit 93 places multiple barcodes A3, the barcodes A3 and the electronic watermark A5 are placed so that none of the barcodes A3 overlaps the electronic watermark A5.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, the barcode A3 placed on the product label L is a so-called one-dimensional barcode, but this is not limited to the above. For example, a so-called two-dimensional barcode (e.g., QR code (registered trademark), etc.) may be placed instead of the one-dimensional barcode.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the control unit (print control unit) 93 that generates the print data is built into the main body of the weighing and packaging pricing device 1, but the control unit 93 may be provided, for example, in an external server that can communicate with the weighing and packaging pricing device 1. That is, in the weighing and packaging pricing device 1 according to the modified example, the control unit 93 provided in the external server acquires information from the storage unit 94 and generates the above-mentioned print data, and the label printer 11 provided in the main body of the weighing and packaging pricing device 1 downloads or receives the above-mentioned print data from the control unit 93 and prints information based on the print data on the label LR, thereby issuing a product label L in which the barcode A3 and the digital watermark A5 are displayed in different positions.

In the above embodiment, a label issuing and attaching device with a weighing function and a packaging function that weighs a product and then packages it in film has been described as an example, but the present invention may also be applied to a product label issuing device that only has the function of issuing product labels. The present invention is applicable to various devices that have the function of issuing product labels.

1...Weighing and packaging pricing device (label issuing device), 9...Control device, 10...Price labeling machine, 11...Label printer (label issuing section), 93...Control section (printing control section), 94...Storage section, 100...Client terminal (label reading device), 101...Control section (reading control section), 102...Display section (reading control section), 103...Scanner (reading means), 104...Communication section.

Claims (6)

A storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of product information relating to products;
a print control unit that generates print data that defines a barcode in which at least one of the product information stored in the storage unit is encoded and a digital watermark in which at least one of the product information encoded as the barcode is embedded on one product label, and that generates print data that defines the barcode and the digital watermark to be disposed in different positions on one product label so as not to overlap each other;
a label issuing unit that issues the product label in which the barcode and the digital watermark are displayed at different positions so as not to overlap each other by printing information based on the print data on the label ,
the print control unit generates the print data in which the digital watermark is defined to be placed so as to surround a periphery of the barcode;
The label issuing unit issues the product label on which the digital watermark is displayed so as to surround the periphery of the barcode . the print control unit generates the print data in which a margin area in which the digital watermark is not placed is defined around the barcode;
The label issuing device according to claim 1 , wherein the label issuing unit issues the product label having a margin area around the barcode. The print control unit
A first process for generating first data defining placement of the digital watermark in the entire area of one of the product labels;
a second process for generating second data defining a position of the barcode in a first predetermined area on the product label;
a third process for generating third data based on the first data and the second data, the third data defining that the digital watermark is to be disposed in a position different from the first predetermined area on one of the product labels;
3. The label issuing device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a fourth process of generating the print data based on the second data and the third data. The print control unit
a fifth process for generating fifth data defining an arrangement of the barcode in a predetermined area on one of the product labels;
a sixth process for generating sixth data that defines a dividing line that divides one of the product labels into two regions so as not to intersect with the predetermined region;
a seventh process for generating seventh data based on the fifth data and the sixth data, the seventh data being defined so that the digital watermark is placed in all areas of the two areas divided by the dividing line, the area not including the predetermined area;
3. The label issuing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an eighth process for generating the print data based on the fifth data and the seventh data. 5. The label issuing device according to claim 1 , wherein the print control unit determines a size of the product label based on the product information included in the print data. A label issuing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , comprising: a reading unit for reading the product label issued by the label issuing device; and a reading control unit for decoding the read information;
The reading means reads both the barcode and the digital watermark printed on the product label,
A label reading device in which, if the reading control unit determines that at least one of the barcode and the electronic watermark read by the reading means can be decoded, it determines that the information decoded from at least one of the barcode and the electronic watermark is the product information regarding the product.

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