Device for handling individual processes

• US 20040026133A1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Murdter, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 6,900,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path

Abstract

The invention pertains to a device, especially a measuring device, for handling individual processes, in the course of which at least one value is generated, with a characterization unit, which can be operated to generate characterizing signals for characterizing the individual processes, and with a unit for assigning the values generated during the handling of the individual processes to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals, where the characterization unit has a receiver for receiving the identification signals which are generated in the vicinity of the device during the handling of the individual processes and which identify the processes, on the basis of which identification signals the characterizing signals are generated

Claims

1. Device, especially a measuring device, for handling individual processes, in the course of which at least one value is generated, with a characterization unit which can be operated to generate characterizing signals for characterizing the individual processes and with a unit for assigning the values generated during the handling of the individual processes to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals, characterized in that the characterization unit has a receiver for receiving the identification signals which are generated in the vicinity of the device during the handling of the individual processes and which identify the processes, on the basis of which identification signals the characterizing signals are generated.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a measuring device, especially a weighing cell for generating measurement signals such as weight signals, on the basis of which at least one value is generated.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by a control unit, which allows the device to handle at least two chronologically overlapping processes, at least one of which consists of at least two sub-processes, in the course of each of which a value is generated.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit is provided with a memory unit, in which the values are filed in such a way that they are assigned to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control signal-generating unit for generating control signals representing the beginning and/or the end of a process.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the characterizing unit has a transmitting unit for transmitting signals which initiate the generation of the identification signals.

7. Device according to one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the control unit can be operated to respond to the characterizing signals by calling up and/or printing out or displaying data assigned to the individual processes and/or by adjusting the settings of the device to the individual processes.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one element which generates identification signals, such as a container, is assigned to the device.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device can be operated to receive identification signals which identify individual device users who handle the processes.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transmitter which generates identification signals is assigned to the receiver.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmitter is designed as a transponder, which generates the identification signals in response to signals received by the transmitting unit of the device.

12. Device according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the transmitter is realized in the form of a finger ring or bracelet.

13. Network of devices according to one of the preceding claims with means for exchanging data between the devices and a central unit, preferably formed by one of the devices, by means of which the values generated in the devices and assigned to the individual processes are called up, printed out or displayed, and/or sent for further processing to a separate system.

14. Network according to claim 13, characterized in that each of at least two devices has its own transmitting unit, where a transponder is assigned to these transmitting units to generate the identification signals in response to the signals transmitted by the transmitting units.