Data processing system

This disclosure relates to a system for processing a plurality of random weight commodity packages in a supermarket utilizing a series of labels having nonrepretitive machine readable symbols thereon. The system includes a computer-scale having a data entry unit, a central computer including a memory bank, and a symbol scanner at a checkout station. Commodity-related data including the commodity identification and the price per unit weight are entered into the entry unit, most or all of the data usually being entered manually. The computer-scale includes means for serially weighing the packages, a price computer for computing the total package cost, and a printer for printing human readable data on a label. The system further includes means for applying a machine readable code symbol to each package, the symbol being located either on the above-mentioned label or on a separate label that is also attached to the package. The commodity related data, the weight, the total cost and the code symbol form a group of package-related data, and the data groups for the plurality of packages are transmitted to and stored in the central computer. The code symbols on the packages are scanned as the packages pass the checkout station in order to retrieve the commodity identification and the total cost of each package from the stored data groups. The groups of data may also be withdrawn from the central computer for data analysis purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In recent years supermarkets have become increasingly automated, and to 
this end, a machine readable code, such as the universal product code 
(UPC), or bar code, and a code reader have been developed and used in many 
supermarkets. The code consists of a series of bars printed on a commodity 
package or on a label attached to a package, and a scanner, which is 
normally located at the store checkout station, reads the coded 
information. The information includes the total cost of the package and, 
depending on the type of commodity, the name of a manufacturer, and an 
identification of the commodity. 
Proposals have been made to use the bar code in connection with random 
weight packages, such as with prepackaged meats in a meat display counter 
and with delicatessen foods. When used with prepackaged meats, it has been 
proposed to have some of the coded numbers designate the price and the 
remainder of the numbers identify the product and, perhaps, a department. 
In such a system, a printer is required at each weighing station, which is 
capable of printing information both in human readable form and in 
machine-readable bar code form. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,747 discloses a system as described above, that prints 
a bar code on a label, the code including the commodity price. U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 3,291,232 and No. 3,459,272 show examples of prior art systems 
wherein the data are printed in human readable form only. U.S. Pat. No. 
3,741,324 shows a computer-scale having a keyboard data entry and decoding 
system, and apparatus for handling human- and machine readable symbols. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,271 shows a computer-scale system connected to a 
central computer. 
The proposed arrangements described above have a number of disadvantages. A 
bar code printer must be provided at each weighing station, and a good 
quality printer has a high initial cost and frequently a high maintenance 
cost. Also, and more importantly, in the proposed systems the amount of 
information capable of being transmitted by a bar code is very limited. 
For efficient supermarket operation, the management would like to have a 
large amount of information regarding each package available for analysis, 
and past proposals have not been able to satisfy this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved 
apparatus and method which avoid the foregoing disadvantages. 
Apparatus in accordance with the present invention is for use in processing 
a plurality of commodity packages, and utilizes a series of labels having 
nonrepetitive numbers, or other symbols, preprinted on them in machine 
readable code form. The apparatus includes data entry-acquisition means 
which receives commodity-related data including the price per pound, 
commodity I.D., date, operator I.D., etc. A computer-scale successively 
weighs the packages and computes the total cost of each package. A label 
printer receives the weight and cost data for each package and prints this 
information on a label associated with the weighed package. The 
computer-scale further includes means that responds to each label moving 
through the printer and being applied to a package, which generates a 
symbol identifying signal. The commodity-related data, the weight and the 
cost data form a group of package-related data which is correlated with 
the label symbol, and the associated group of data including the symbol 
are transferred to a main or central computer, such as a central store 
computer. The groups of associated data for the packages are stored, the 
symbol serving as the address for each group. The apparatus further 
includes a scanner at a store checkout station for scanning the label and 
transmitting the symbol to the main computer for retrieving at least some 
of the data of the associated group, such as the commodity I.D. and the 
cost. The computer also includes means for retrieving one or all of the 
groups of data for analysis by management.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to FIG. 1, a system embodying the invention includes a 
computer scale 10 of the type commonly used in the meat departments of 
large supermarkets. The components include a scale 11, a price calculator 
or computer 12, a label printer 13, and means 14 for manually entering 
data into the computer scale. Such a scale normally also includes a switch 
16 which is actuated to initiate a package weight reading and to transmit 
the reading to the price computer 12 and to the label printer 13. A data 
buss 15 connects the various components of the computer scale 10. The 
price computer 12 receives a price per pound signal from the data entry 
unit 14 and a weight reading from the scale 11 for each package, computes 
the total cost of the package, and feeds the total cost figure to the 
label printer 13. The label printer 13 is preferably an alpha-numeric type 
which does not require print slugs or plates for operation. For example, a 
dot-matrix type of printer is suitable for use in the system. A strip 17 
of labels is fed past the label printer 13 and the variable package data 
are printed on them, as will be described in more detail in connection 
with FIG. 3 which also shows the labels. 
The data entry unit 14 may have a conventional construction. For example, 
it may comprise an IBM Model 357 data entry device which includes a 
plurality of manually operated slide switches, each of which is settable 
to ten positions representing ten digits. This Model 357 includes other 
data entry means, such as a punched card and badge reader. After data are 
entered by setting the switches and insertion of the badge and cord, the 
data are transmitted to a computer memory or to a computer. Another 
example is illustrated in the drawings and includes a keyboard entry type 
device designed to receive manually entered commodity-related data. In the 
specific example illustrated and described herein, the data entry unit 14 
includes an alpha-numeric keyboard including a plurality of number keys or 
switches 21 for the numbers from 0 through 9, and conventional decoding 
circuits for converting the entered numbers to a form suitable for entry 
in a store computer 43. The keyboard also includes an "enter" button 22 
and a "ready" button 23, the enter button 22 being manually pressed after 
each data entry on the keys 21 and the ready button 23 being pressed after 
all of the data have been entered and the system is ready for operation. 
The data entry unit 14 further includes a plurality of specific data 
identification keys or switches 24, each of the keys 24 being associated 
with a particular piece of variable data, such as price per pound, a 
carcass identification number, operator I.D., etc. as shown in FIG. 1. The 
data are coded in the form of numbers, and prior to running or processing 
a particular commodity, such as a type of meat, to enter a piece of data 
the operator presses the appropriate key 24, enters the data number using 
the keyboard 21, and then presses the enter button before pressing the 
next key 24 and entering the next piece of data. As mentioned previously, 
after all of the data are entered in the unit 14, the operator presses the 
ready button 23 and then processes the particular commodity. All of the 
data entered in the unit 14 are stored in a data acquisition and 
transmission part 26 which makes the entered data available to the 
computer scale and to the central computer 43. 
While much of the variable data may be manually entered as described, some 
of the data may be automatically fed into the part 23. For example, the 
computer scale 10 may include an automatic tare feature, and tare may be 
measured and fed into the part 26 at the start of a run. Further, each 
commodity may be associated with a store code number, and a variety of 
commodity data may be contained in the central store computer memory. This 
data may include commodity I.D., price, tare, etc., and by simply entering 
the code number in the keyboard of the unit 14, this data may be 
automatically withdrawn from the computer memory and transmitted to the 
unit 26. 
With specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the strip 17 includes a plurality 
of labels 31a and 31b which, as supplied, are attached together along 
shear or separation lines 32. Each label is preprinted with the store name 
33 (FIG. 3) and headings 34 for the variable data to be printed. In 
accordance with the present invention, each of the labels further has 
preprinted thereon a nonrepetitive symbol 36 in code form. In a preferred 
example, the code symbols 36 on the labels comprise sequential numbers and 
it is preferred that a human readable equivalent number 37 also be printed 
adjacent the code number 36. The numeral 31a indicates blank labels before 
passing the printer 13 and the numeral 31b indicates labels after the 
variable data have been printed thereon. The label printer 13 further 
includes a severing mechanism, such as a shear 41 (FIG. 1), which 
separates each label from the strip 17 after printing. 
The system further includes means that responds to each label in or moving 
through the printer 13, and generates a signal that identifies the code 
symbols 36. Such means may take various forms. Where the symbols 36 
represent sequential numbers, such means may comprise a device that 
responds to the movement of each label through the printer or to the 
printing of data, and generates an identifying signal for each label. Once 
set to generate a signal identifying a symbol of a given label, the device 
automatically advances to the subsequent numbers in step with the movement 
of the labels through the printer. A simpler arrangement is illustrated in 
the drawings and comprises a reader or scanner 28 that reads the symbols 
36. At substantially the time that each label is printed, the scanner 28 
reads the symbol 36 on the label and generates a signal identifying the 
symbol, the signal being transmitted to the part 26. 
Thus, after the weighing cell 11 has weighed an article and the switch 16 
has been actuated, the label printer 13 receives the computed total price, 
the price per pound figure and the weight figure and prints this data on a 
label, and this information is also fed to the data acquisition part 26. 
The scanner 28 reads the code symbol 36 on the label being printed, and 
this information is also fed to the data acquisition part 26. The symbol 
thus read is related or associated with the group of package-related data 
received from the computer 12, the scale 11 and the manually entered data 
in the unit 14, all of the data forming a group of package-associated or 
related data that has as its address the code symbol on the label 
associated with the particular package. 
This group of associated data including the code symbol is transmitted on a 
line 42 to a memory contained in, for example, the central store computer 
43. Therefore, as a series of packages are processed and labeled, the 
groups of data, each group being identified by a specific code symbol, are 
fed to the central memory bank and stored for future use. The store 
computer 43 preferably includes a conventional data withdrawal unit 44 of 
the type used in stores for inventory control, which retrieves the data 
from the central computer 43 for analysis purposes by management. 
In a typical supermarket operation, after a package of meat has been 
weighed and labeled, the package is placed in the fresh meat counter where 
it is later selected by a customer. The supermarket includes a checkout 
station 51 which normally includes a code scanner 52 and means for 
printing a receipt that is given to the supermarket customer after payment 
for the articles purchased. The clerk at the checkout station 51 passes 
each article past the scanner 52 which reads the code symbol 36 printed on 
the label, and the symbol is transmitted to the central store computer 43. 
In the case of the packages having the labels 31b thereon, the computer 43 
has all of the data related to each package, and receipt by the computer 
43 of the scanned symbol results in the total cost figure being retrieved 
from the computer 43 and fed to the receipt printer at the checkout 
station 51. The checkout station 51 preferably also includes a clock, and 
the time and data of purchase are transmitted to and stored in the store 
computer 43, and become part of the group of associated data for the 
package. In this manner, the data of packaging and the date of sale are 
both available for analysis. 
The store computer 43 preferably also includes a manual entry keyboard 53 
of a data terminal which enables a computer operator to enter a code 
symbol in order to modify or cancel the data associated with that symbol. 
For example, if a particular package is damaged, the label on the damaged 
package may be removed and the commodity repackaged, and by entering the 
UPC symbol in the keyboard 53 the data associated with the symbol may be 
canceled from the memory of the computer 43. If the price of a package is 
to be changed, the change may also be made through the keyboard 53. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the steps in a method of practising the invention. A 
strip of labels is preprinted with the nonrepetitive symbols at the step 
60. The strip of labels is placed in the label printer 13, and, at step 61 
a group of data associated with the commodity to be processed is entered, 
the data being entered manually and/or automatically as previously 
described. After the data have been entered, the operator precedes with a 
series of weighing operations by feeding the packages across the weighing 
pan of the scale 11 and actuating the switch 16 at the completion of each 
weighing operation. The weighing operation takes place at the step 62 and 
at step 63 the total cost of each package is computed, based on the weight 
and on the price per pound and the tare value entered at the step 61. The 
computed and entered information is sent to the printer and printed on the 
label at the step 64, and the system responds to the label and the symbol 
thereon, and generates an identifying signal. At approximately the time of 
printing, the group of data is passed to the computer memory at the step 
66 for temporary storage. After a package has been selected by a customer 
and given to a clerk at a checkout station, the symbol on the package is 
scanned at the step 67 which causes the commodity I.D. and the total cost 
figure for the package to be passed from the computer 43 to the checkout 
station cash register, where a receipt is printed at the step 68. The cash 
register at the checkout station, of course, also totals the cost of all 
of the customer's purchases and the clerk presents the receipt to the 
customer for payment. At the step 69, the package-related data stored in 
the computer memory are retrieved and analyzed to promote more efficient 
store operation. 
All of the components of the system may be conventional and commercially 
available types. The weighing cell 11 and the computer 12 may be of the 
character described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,712,395, 3,766,472. The printer 13 
may be a commercially available dot-matrix type, and the reader 28 may 
also be a commercial UPC bar code reader. The data entry unit 14 is 
preferably an alpha-numeric keyboard type. The computer components 43, 44 
and 53 may be parts of a prior art central store computer and the checkout 
station components 51 and 52 may also be of the character found in 
supermarkets in the United States. 
While the system has been described in connection with a meat weighing 
operation, it should be understood that it may also be useful with other 
types of commodities. 
It will be apparent from the foregoing that a novel and advantageous system 
has been provided. Through the use of the present system, the need for an 
expensive code printer at each weighing or processing station is avoided. 
Therefore, for a modest cost the preprinted labels may be of a high 
quality so that the code symbols are readily and accurately readable. The 
amount of package-related data that may be stored is relatively large, 
thereby promoting efficient store management. Still further, the 
package-related data are transmitted to the computer as soon as the 
package is wrapped and is immediately available for analysis. This is in 
contrast to prior art systems using a UPC symbol, wherein the data are not 
fed to the computer until the package passes the checkout station. 
While in the specific example of the invention described herein the label 
printer 13 prints the variable data on the label containing the code 
symbol 36, the invention is also broad enough to include an arrangement 
where the code symbol is on one label and the variable data is contained 
on a separate label. Such an arrangement requires two labels on each 
package, but such an arrangement would otherwise be the same as the 
preferred form described herein. The two labels may be applied to a 
package by hand, by separate label applicators, or by a single label 
applicator. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a specific example of a two-label system as discussed in 
the preceding paragraph. With reference to FIG. 4, a transfer & labeling 
machine (T & L) 75 moves a series of articles 76, such as packages of a 
commodity, across the pan 77 of a computer scale 78. The scale 78 includes 
a data entry unit 79 similar to the unit 14 where commodity related data 
are entered. The scale weighs each article 76, and the weight reading plus 
other data are transmitted to a label printer 81 which prints this 
information in human readable form on a label 82. A label transfer 
mechanism 83 then removes the printed label from the printer and applies 
it to the associated article. The label containing the human readable data 
is normally placed on the top side of the article so that it is easily 
viewed by a prospective purchaser. 
A U.P.C. label supply unit 86 is also provided, which supplies a series of 
labels 87 having nonrepetitive numbers or symbols in U.P.C. machine 
readable form thereon. The unit 86 may include a printer for printing the 
U.P.C. symbols, or it may contain a supply of labels having the U.P.C. 
symbols preprinted thereon. The supply unit 86 issues a label 87 for each 
article 76 passing the printer 81, and another label transfer mechanism 88 
picks up each label 87 and transfers it to the associated article 76. 
Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, each article 76 has two labels thereon, a label 
82 having human readable data printed on it by the printer 81 and a second 
label 87 having the machine readable symbol thereon. 
Also provided is a U.P.C. reader 91 which is located to scan the U.P.C. 
labels 87 on the articles 76. The symbol read by the reader 91 is 
transmitted to a store computer 92 which is also connected by lines 93 to 
receive the commodity data from the entry unit 79 and the weight and total 
cost information from the scale 78. The computer 92 includes a memory bank 
which stores the data associated with the U.P.C. symbol on each article, 
similar to the operation of the computer 43 shown in FIG. 1. The store may 
also include a checkout station 93 connected to the store computer 92, the 
checkout station 93 including a reader or scanner for the U.P.C. labels 87 
on the articles. As previously described, when a label 87 is scanned, the 
data stored in the computer 92 for the article associated with the scanned 
label is retrieved and is available at the checkout station for printing 
on a receipt. 
Thus, each article has the customary human readable label 82 thereon and a 
label 87 containing the U.P.C. identifying number or symbol. The label 82 
is normally placed on top of the article so that it can be viewed by a 
purchaser and the U.P.C. label 87 may be placed on the bottom or on the 
top of the article. The U.P.C. label could also be placed over an area of 
the human readable label 82. If desired, the U.P.C. labels 87 could be 
attached to the human readable labels 82 within the printer 87 or prior to 
the time that the labels 82 are loaded in the printer 81.