Food product scale

• US 9,494,460 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dyer, Debra L., Davis, Robert S., Highley, James E. Jr., Broering, Jill M., Knoop, Fredrick D., Blankley, Randy L. Jr., Dusing, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William
• Application Number:
  US14/322,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/771
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/36 Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3721 with particular representation of the result, e.g. graphic
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A scale includes a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed, an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations and a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information. The operator interface may be in the form of a touch-screen display that is used to facilitate ease of use and scale adjustment.

Claims

1. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh primary interface screen view for weighing operations and at which identity data regarding a given item to be weighed can be entered by an operator and item information for the given item responsively retrieved and displayed,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh primary interface screen view by dragging and dropping at least one grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons in order to shift the grouping from a first location on the item weigh primary interface screen view to a second location on the item weigh primary interface screen view, and the controller is configured to effect automated adjustment of locations of other parts of the item weigh primary interface screen view to accommodate the shift of the grouping;

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh primary interface screen view by dragging and dropping both a first grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons and a second grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons;

wherein the controller is configured such that the first grouping is movable between the first location on a left side of the item weigh primary interface screen view and the second location on a right side of the item weigh primary interface screen view, and the second grouping is movable between a top side of the item weigh primary interface screen view and a bottom side of the item weigh primary interface screen view.

2. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured such that both the first location and the second location are predefined locations.

3. The scale of claim 1 wherein:

the second grouping defines a metrology portion including at least a weight display field, a tare display field, a unit price display field and a total price display field.

4. The scale of claim 1 wherein:

the first grouping defines an operator input keypad portion.

5. The scale of claim 1 wherein the operator interface comprises a touch-sensitive display through which the dragging and dropping operation is achieved.

6. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured such that the second grouping defines a metrology portion including at least a weight display field, a tare display field, a unit price display field and a total price display field, and the second grouping defines an operator input keypad portion.

7. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh primary interface screen view for weighing operations and at which identity data regarding a given item to be weighed can be entered by an operator and item information for the given item responsively retrieved and displayed,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh primary interface screen view by dragging and dropping at least one grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons in order to shift the grouping from a first location on the item weigh primary interface screen view to a second location on the item weigh primary interface screen view, and the controller is configured to effect automated adjustment of locations of other parts of the item weigh primary interface screen view to accommodate the shift of the grouping;

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh primary interface screen view by dragging and dropping both a first grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons and a second grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons;

where the controller is configured such that the first grouping and second grouping are movable independently of each other.

8. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh primary interface screen view for weighing operations and at which identity data regarding a given item to be weighed can be entered by an operator and item information for the given item responsively retrieved and displayed,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh primary interface screen view as between a left-handed view and a right-handed view;

wherein the primary interface screen view includes an operator input keypad portion, in the left-handed view the operator input keypad portion is located on a left side of screen view location, in the right-handed view the operator input keypad portion is located on a right side of screen view location;

wherein the controller is configured such that in order to enable adjustment the operator input keypad portion is set as an active field group, and the adjustment is made by dragging and dropping the active field group from one side to another.

9. The scale of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to effect automated adjustment of locations of other parts of the item weigh primary interface screen view to accommodate the shift of the active field group.

10. The scale of claim 8 wherein the operator interface comprises a touch-sensitive display through which the dragging and dropping operation is achieved.

11. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh primary interface screen view for weighing operations and at which identity data regarding a given item to be weighed can be entered by an operator and item information for the given item responsively retrieved and displayed, wherein the primary interface screen view includes at least a first dynamic content area and a second dynamic content area adjacent the first dynamic content area,

wherein the controller is configured to enable display of the first dynamic content area to be hidden or turned off and in such case the controller is configured to effect automatic adjustment of a display size of the second dynamic content area to fill space previously taken by the first dynamic content area;

wherein the first dynamic content area includes multiple display fields, each adjacent the second dynamic content area, and all of the display fields of the first dynamic content area must be hidden or turned off in order for the controller to effect adjustment of the display size of the second dynamic content area;

wherein the first dynamic content area includes a country of origin display field, a best before date display field and a packed on date display field.

12. The scale of claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to enable the second dynamic content area to be set for display of one of (i) a plurality of item flash keys or (ii) a web interface.

13. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh interface screen view for weighing operations and at which item information for an item to be weighed can be displayed,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh interface screen view by dragging and dropping a first grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons in order to permit shifting of the first grouping back and forth between a left side of screen location on the item weigh interface screen view and a right side of screen location on the item weigh interface screen view,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh interface screen view by dragging and dropping a second grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons in order to permit shifting of the second grouping back and forth between a top side of screen location on the item weigh interface screen view and a bottom side of screen location on the item weigh interface screen view.

14. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh interface screen view for weighing operations and at which item information for an item to be weighed can be displayed,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh interface screen view by dragging and dropping a first grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons in order to shift the first grouping from a first location on the item weigh interface screen view to a second location on the item weigh interface screen view;

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh interface screen view by dragging and dropping a second grouping comprised of displayed fields, displayed icons or displayed fields and icons from one location on the item weigh interface screen view to another location on the item weigh interface screen view;

where the controller is configured such that the first grouping and second grouping are movable independently of each other.

15. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to present an item weigh interface screen view for weighing operations and at which identity data regarding a given item to be weighed can be entered,

wherein the controller is configured to enable adjustment of the item weigh interface screen view as between a left-handed view and a right-handed view;

wherein the item weigh interface screen view includes an operator input keypad portion, in the left-handed view the operator input keypad portion is located on a left side of screen view location, in the right-handed view the operator input keypad portion is located on a right side of screen view location;

wherein the controller is configured such that in order to enable adjustment the operator input keypad portion is set as an active field group, and the adjustment is made by dragging and dropping the active field group from one side to another.