Abstract: An electronic scale system having a plurality of electronic scales each having a device for entering and storing merchandise data with respect to many articles of merchandise. The stored merchandise data are automatically transmitted successively to the electronic scales in which the data are registered. The electronic scale system also includes a first memory for totalling and storing data such as prices obtained from the electronic scales according to codes, and a large-capacity memory for totalling and storing totals stored by the first memory for each prescribed period of time, so that the data can automatically be totalled. The electronic scale system further includes a computer for preparing merchandise data to be loaded in the electronic scales, and a transfer device for transferring the merchandise data prepared by the computer to the electronic scales either on-line or off-line.

Abstract: A weighing system for computing the prices of articles purchased by customers includes cards (4) containing codes for discriminating the customers. The card (4) is inserted in a card reader (16) attached to an electronic scale (1), and the prices of articles weighed by the electronic scale (1) are totaled for each of the codes of the cards (4).

Abstract: A thermosensitive label wherein plural kinds of color developing material for developing different colors at approximately the same temperature are applied to a label substrate at predetermined, separate locations, enabling characters of different colors to be printed on the same label by a thermal printer.

Abstract: A device for checking the printing circuit of a thermal printer wherein pulse currents are passed through only those of the heaters which correspond to printing data stored in a shift register via a power supply resistor and driver transistors to energize the corresponding heaters so as to effect color printing for one operation on heat-sensitive paper. The device comprises a self-examination control section for effecting at least one of the three types of checking, i.e., a check on the driver transistors for malfunction, a check on the heaters for malfunction, and a check on the shift register for malfunction, the arrangement being such that the printing circuit is automatically checked without actual printing operation by making use of the waiting time in which the thermal printer is not printing.Checking the printing circuit by the present device avoids delay in printing and dispenses with manual operation for checking.

Abstract: A shaping ferrous metal member used in a metal-working apparatus is heat-treated at about 1,000.degree. C. for several hours in an incompletely burning fuel gas, to provide a burned gas atmosphere composed of 0.5 to 5.0% of CO, 8 to 12% of CO.sub.2, 0 to 0.5% of O.sub.2. A tough iron oxide layer of high quality is tightly deposited with a uniform thickness by said heat-treatment on the surface of shaping metal member which is abrasively contacted by a sliding semifinished metal product. The advantageous effect of this method is that a consumable shaping metal member has a life 2 to 4 times longer than that of a metal member which is conventionally heat-treated in a completely-burning fuel gas.