Electronic scales for trading today help not only determine the mass of goods, perform the functions of a calculator, calculate the cost of products, remember the amount of recent purchases, print price tags, but also operate in shopping centers in self-service mode, and are also widely used in distribution packaging centers, in warehouses etc.
Areas of use
Electronic scales are classified as commercial, warehouse (commodity), portioned (packing). In the modern trading industry, the list of involved weighing equipment is quite large. There are only three main areas of application.
Electronic scales for trade are used in stores. Basically, these are system devices with the function of printing labels, cash add-ons with the ability to connect to POS-terminals. Scales are often used in reception areas and in warehouses.
The specificity of the work is the need to interact with relatively heavy and bulky packages. For this reason, platform scales of various carrying capacities and sizes are used at such facilities. In addition, some retailers use electronic floor scales with stamps for acceptance to enable control marking of incoming goods. Weighing equipment is also used at packaging sites in distribution centers and supermarkets.
Warehouses almost always operate equipment designed for loads weighing up to 600 kg, as well as electronic floor scales for masses over 600 kg.
Weight selection
According to most experts, the selection of weighing equipment always depends directly on the format of the point of sale, its budget and needs. In small shops, markets and other small kiosks where goods are sold through the counter, the most commonly used electronic trading scales with a two-sided display. Such equipment calculates the cost of goods, sums up the price of several types of suspended products, determines the tare weight and makes delivery calculations. In large hypermarkets, for example, label printing equipment is widespread. Such scales are used in packing shops, trading floors, as well as behind the shelves in the fish and meat departments.
Packing scales
Electronic commodity packing scales have a wide range of applications. Devices of this type are often used in food production, in stores for packaging products in catering establishments, subject to the technology of portioning dishes according to the technological map.
Filling and counting devices are used in the process of weighing piece goods. In non-food stores, for example, electronic table scales allow you to pack nuts, screws and other accessories on packaging with high accuracy. Filling and laboratory devices are used in the chemical industry, pharmacies for particularly accurate weighing and preparation of drugs. In such scales, the restriction function, the ability to change the measure in percent and carats, and the counting mode are very convenient. Weight limitation is carried out by giving a sound signal, notifying that the specified required mass has been gained.
Warehouse scales
Warehouses use new weighing equipment with a label printing function. For the first time, a series of such scales was proposed in early 2008. The need to develop this type of equipment is dictated by the need for manufacturing enterprises and warehouses for scales with an increased platform and a maximum weighing limit for marking and packaging products. Electronic commodity scales with label printing make it easier to record goods.
Scales in small shops
In small shopping pavilions or in stores with a small area, it is enough to use equipment with minimal functional equipment. Such scales consist of a platform and a display on which the seller and the buyer can see the weight and cost of the goods. For the most part, such devices on the market are represented by inexpensive products of domestic or Chinese manufacture.
Electronic table scales in large stores
On large trading floors where bar-coding is used, more sophisticated equipment is used - POS scales for cash registers or check-in devices for working in trading floors. Such equipment is part of the general information systems of stores and has several advantages that allow you to efficiently and competently organize the trading process.
Using the functions of remote administration, you can always replenish and update the database of scales, without interrupting work. At the same time, service speed increases, and retailers' investments are justified. In addition, the equipment design is more advanced.
In addition to the trading floors, scales for weighing products are also used when receiving goods. It uses platform devices of the simplest configuration, as well as with advanced terminals that can quickly transmit and receive information about received goods.
The principle of operation of electronic scales
In electronic equipment, weighing occurs due to the operation of the sensor, which transmits a load signal to the indicator. Subject to all operating rules, such a balance will last a long time. The main thing is to observe the restrictions on the weight of products when working. On scales with a load limit of 100 kg, 150 kg goods cannot be weighed. If these conditions are not met, the sensor may fail over time.
Electronic scales for trade can be connected to computers and used as part of measuring automated systems.
Some models are equipped with PLU hot keys, which activate a memory cell with a set price per kilogram of a particular product. The range of products can be very large, therefore, it is possible to program only the cost of the most popular goods. All actions are reduced to pressing only one key.
Other devices have more memory cells, which can be activated by entering an individual code and then pressing the PLU key.
Electronic scales for trade can have a function of counting the goods sold. This makes it possible for store owners to conduct their own independent marketing research, to make informed purchases, since at the end of the day you can get the most accurate data on the number of specific goods sold during working hours.
Self-Service Scales
The main difference between self-service and retail stores is that each product is labeled. The device prints labels with information about the name and cost of the goods, price per kilogram, weight, shelf life.
Electronic trading scales according to maximum weighing limits are divided into three main categories: up to 6, 15 and 30 kg. In departments where light products are weighed, such as gastronomy or sweets, devices for 6 kg are placed. This is due to the division price, which is 2 grams in such scales. Accordingly, the cost can be rounded most accurately. Scales for 15 and 30 kilograms are installed in the meat, fish and vegetable departments. In devices up to 15 kg, the division price is 4 g, and up to 30 kg - 10 g.
Conclusion
In the packing shops, special devices with a thermal printer are used. Self-service scales are placed in trading floors. When working behind the shelves, equipment is selected depending on the specific needs of the department. For example, for fish products, a pendant printing device made of stainless steel is used. In the distribution departments, packaging or commercial printing devices with a platform of the same material are used.
Schemes of electronic scales for trade include special sensors that record the mass of products, supplying relevant information to a digital indicator. The indisputable advantages of such devices include the simplicity of the weighing procedure, reliability, the ability to automatically calculate the cost, based on the weight and price of the goods per kilogram. When compared with mechanical scales, we can conclude that digital units are more resistant to platform displacement and mechanical stress. According to the purpose of the device are classified into trade, commodity (warehouse) and packaging (portioned).