Product Sales Data Processing Device

Abstract

To provide a commodity sales data processing device that enables effective utilization of a space from which a printer has been detached.SOLUTION: A commodity sales data processing device of an embodiment includes: a main body; an operation unit provided on an operator side of the main body; a display unit provided to stand from the main body and provided on a farther side of the operation unit and above the main body; and an attachment part provided on the left side or right side of at least one of the operation unit and the display unit on an upper surface of the main body and configured to attach a printer or a storage case detachably from the main body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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[0005]

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a merchandise sales data processing device.

Background Art

[0002] In stores such as supermarkets, department stores, and convenience stores, a merchandise sales data processing device such as a POS terminal is installed in a checkout section for settling the price of merchandise. The merchandise sales data processing device is a device that performs merchandise registration processing and settlement processing related to merchandise purchased by customers.

[0003] Such a merchandise sales data processing device includes a printer for issuing a receipt on which merchandise information and settlement information of the settled merchandise are printed. Although it is common for an operator such as a store clerk to receive the receipt issued from the printer and hand it to the customer, recently, there is a style (method) in which the customer makes the payment himself / herself and receives the issued receipt himself / herself.

[0004] In such a style, conventionally, the printer incorporated in the merchandise sales data processing device is removed from the main body and installed on the customer side so that the printer issues a receipt toward the customer. Therefore, the place where the printer was conventionally installed may become a dead space.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a merchandise sales data processing device capable of effectively utilizing the space where the printer has been removed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The product sales data processing device of this embodiment includes a main unit, an operating unit provided on the operator side of the main unit, a display unit erected from the main unit and located above the main unit, behind the operating unit, and a printable display unit on the top surface of the main unit, to the left or right of at least one of the operating unit and the display unit. Ta It comprises a mounting part that can be detachably attached to the main body. The mounting section allows the storage case to be detachably attached to the position where the printer was removed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a POS terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a POS terminal with a printer attached. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a POS terminal with the printer removed and the storage case attached. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the storage case. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the storage case with the lid open. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the printer viewed from the bottom. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage state of the gift certificates when the storage case is attached to the POS terminal 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a POS terminal with its storage case attached and the lid open. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a POS terminal with a tape cutter mounted on a storage case. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a storage case with a tray on the top surface. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment applies a POS terminal as an example of a product sales data processing device. However, the present invention is not limited by the following description of the embodiment.

[0009] POS terminal 1 performs sales registration and payment processing for products sold in the store. Product registration processing refers to the process of scanning or optically reading a barcode or other code symbol attached to a product being sold in a transaction with a customer who is purchasing products from the store, obtaining a product code based on the code symbol, and displaying product information such as the product name and unit price of the product, which is read from the product master (not shown) based on the obtained product code.

[0010] Furthermore, payment processing refers to processes such as displaying the total amount calculated by summing the prices of the products based on the product information of the registered products, calculating and displaying the change based on the deposit paid by the customer, instructing the change dispenser to issue the change, and instructing the printer to print a receipt with product information and payment information (total amount, tax amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc.).

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the POS terminal 1 of the embodiment. The POS terminal 1 comprises a main unit 2, a display unit 3 (display unit) for store staff, and a display unit 5 for customers. The main unit 2 incorporates a power supply unit and a circuit board on which electronic components are mounted (neither of which are shown). The main unit 2 also includes an operation unit 21, a card reader 8, a tray 22, a sponge 23, etc. A code reader (not shown) for reading symbols attached to products is also connected to the main unit 2. The tray 22 is formed, for example, from an L-shaped metal plate and is a tray for temporarily placing gift certificates or other monetary vouchers when received from a customer. The sponge 23 is a sponge that can maintain moisture for a long time by being soaked in water and is used to moisten the fingers when counting banknotes or gift certificates.

[0012] The operation unit 21 is a keyboard equipped with a subtotal key, a credit declaration key, a numbering key for entering numbers, and various function keys. The card reader 8 reads card information magnetically or electrically by scanning or inserting a card, such as a credit card or a point card. In this embodiment, the operation unit 21 is positioned to the right of the main unit 2.

[0013] The employee display unit 3 is mounted vertically from the top surface of the main unit 2. Specifically, the employee display unit 3 is mounted on the top of a support column that extends upward from the main unit 2. The employee display unit 3 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The employee display unit 3 has a structure in which the display surface can rotate vertically and horizontally relative to the support column, and in Figure 1, it is installed on the right side of the main unit 2, behind the operation unit 21. The employee display unit 3 is installed facing the operator, such as an employee, standing in front of the POS terminal 1 (on the side of the mounting base 22 of the POS terminal 1). The employee display unit 3 displays text and images. A transparent touch panel 31 is provided on the surface of the employee display unit 3. By touching the touch panel 31 of the key portion displayed on the employee display unit 3, the employee can operate the keys displayed on the employee display unit 3.

[0014] The customer display unit 5 is, for example, made up of a liquid crystal display. The customer display unit 5 is installed on the back of the main unit 2 (opposite the staff display unit 3) facing the customer. The customer display unit 5 displays text and images.

[0015] Furthermore, the POS terminal 1 is equipped with a mounting section 7 on the main body 2. The mounting section 7 is a mounting section for detachably attaching the printer 6 and the storage case 4, which will be described later, to the main body 2. The mounting section 7 attaches either the printer 6 or the storage case 4 to the main body 2 (i.e., the POS terminal 1).

[0016] In this embodiment, the mounting section 7 is located close to the left side of the employee display section 3 and the operation section 21. The mounting base 22 is located in front of the mounting section 7, and the operation section 21 is positioned to the right of the mounting section 7 in the left-right direction of the main body 2, but not in front of the mounting section 7.

[0017] The attachment part 7 is formed by cutting out the left adjacent sides of the clerk display part 3 and the operation part 21 on the upper surface of the POS terminal 1 according to the shapes of the printer 6 to be attached and the storage case 4, so that the printer 6 and the storage case 4 can be fitted in. Inside the POS terminal 1, a key-shaped hook 71 is provided in the attachment part 7. The hook 71 is for fixedly mounting the printer 6 and the storage case 4 fitted into the attachment part 7 to the main body 2 of the POS terminal 1, and is provided in a total of four, two on each side of the bottom surface of the attachment part 7. Although only one side of the hook 71 (two) can be seen in FIG. 1, two hooks 71 are also formed on the opposite side.

[0018] When mounting the printer 6 to the attachment part 7, after electrically connecting the printer 6 and the POS terminal 1, the printer 6 is inserted into the attachment part 7, and the hook 71 is engaged with the hook hole 66 (both are shown in FIG. 6) formed on the bottom surface part 67 of the printer 6 and then mounted to the main body 2. In this state, the printer 6 issues a receipt on which the product information and settlement information related to one transaction are printed based on the information received from the POS terminal 1. When removing the printer 6 from the main body 2, the engagement between the hook 71 and the hook hole 66 is released, and the printer 6 is lifted upward from the attachment part 7 and removed.

[0019] The storage case 4 has a hook hole (not shown) with the same shape as the hook hole 66 formed on the bottom surface. When mounting the storage case 4 to the main body 2, after electrically connecting the storage case 4 and the POS terminal 1, the storage case 4 is inserted into the attachment part 7, and the hook 71 is engaged with the hook hole formed on the bottom surface of the storage case 4 and then mounted to the main body 2. The storage case 4 electrically connected to the POS terminal 1 detects, for example, the open / closed state of the lid 42 and notifies the POS terminal 1 of the information indicating the open / closed state of the lid 42. The POS terminal 1 receives the information indicating the open / closed state of the lid 42 notified from the storage case 4 and performs control according to the open / closed state of the lid 42. When removing the storage case 4 from the main body 2, the engagement between the hook 71 and the hook hole is released, and the storage case 4 is lifted upward from the attachment part 7 and removed.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the POS terminal 1 with the printer 6 attached to the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 6 is attached to the main body 2 almost without a gap.

[0021] The printer 6 includes a thermal head, a storage unit for storing roll-shaped receipt paper, a transport unit (not shown in either case), and the like. The transport unit pulls out one end of the receipt paper from the storage unit and transports it, and the thermal head prints product information, settlement information, etc. related to the products settled on the transported receipt paper. The printer 6 has an issuing unit 61, and the printed receipt is issued from the issuing unit 61. In the case of FIG. 2 where the printer 6 is attached to the main body 2, the issuing unit 61 is located on the side of the operator (e.g., a store clerk) of the POS terminal 1, and the printer 6 issues the receipt in the direction of arrow Y toward the store clerk operating the POS terminal 1. The store clerk receives the receipt issued from the issuing unit 61 and hands it to the customer.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the POS terminal 1 with the printer 6 removed from the attachment portion 7 of the POS terminal 1 and the storage case 4 attached to the attachment portion 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 6 is installed with the issuing unit 61 facing the direction where the customer is located so that a receipt is issued to the customer.

[0023] Note that the state of FIG. 3 is, for example, an arrangement style for infection prevention measures where the customer receives the receipt issued from the issuing unit 61 by himself. In such a case, an automatic change dispenser that pays out money such as banknotes and coins as change so that the customer can receive the change related to the transaction by himself is often installed near the POS terminal 1. The automatic change dispenser stores money inside. The customer himself inserts the money (coins or banknotes) to be paid into the automatic change dispenser and receives the change paid out by the automatic change dispenser himself. In such a style, a drawer for storing money and vouchers is not installed. In such a case, the storage case 4 is used as a voucher case for storing the vouchers received from the customer.

[0024] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the storage case 4. The storage case 4 in Figure 4 is, for example, a voucher case for storing vouchers. As shown in Figure 4, the storage case 4 comprises a housing 41 and a lid 42. The housing 41 is substantially the same shape as the printer 6 except in the height direction. The housing 41 has a hollow space inside. The housing 41 also has a protruding portion 45 that extends to the rear.

[0025] The lid 42 is attached to the housing 41 so as to be able to open and close with its lower edge as the pivot point. Figure 4 shows the lid 42 closed relative to the housing 41. The lid 42 is located on the operator's side when the storage case 4 is attached to the main body 2. The lid 42 has a slit 421, a handle portion 422, a keyhole 423, and a slit 424. The storage case 4 also has a flat top surface portion 43 on the upper surface of the housing 41. The slit 421 is a slit-shaped hole made in the lid 42 that connects the inside and outside of the storage case 4. The slit 424 is a slit-shaped hole made in the lid 42 that connects the inside and outside of the storage case 4, and is formed above the slit 421, approximately parallel to the slit 421.

[0026] The handle portion 422 is a hook that is held when opening and closing the lid 42. The lid 42 is opened by placing a hand on the handle portion 422 and pulling the lid 42 toward the operator. The lid 42 is closed by placing a hand on the handle portion 422 and pushing the lid 42 toward the opposite side of the operator. The keyhole 423 is a hole into which a key is inserted to switch the lid 42 between an open state and a closed state. When the lid 42 is closed, inserting a key into the keyhole 423 and operating it makes the closed lid 42 open or closed.

[0027] Figure 5 shows the storage case 4 with the lid 42 in the open position. As shown in Figure 5, the lid 42 is rotatably connected to the housing 41 by a pivot shaft 443 provided on the lower side of the housing 41, and the storage case 4 is opened and closed by the lid 42 rotating around the pivot shaft 443.

[0028] The housing 41 has a mounting section 411 and a mounting section 412 inside. The mounting section 411 is located at the bottom of the housing 41, and the mounting section 412 is located above the mounting section 411 at a predetermined distance. Both the mounting section 411 and the mounting section 412 are trays for stacking and storing gift certificates. The mounting section 411 stores gift certificates inserted through the slit 421. The mounting section 412 stores gift certificates inserted through the slit 424.

[0029] Note that the gift certificates stored in the mounting section 412 are stored further back in the housing 41 than the gift certificates stored in the mounting section 411. The storage state of the gift certificates stored in the storage case 4 will be described later in Figure 7.

[0030] Figure 6 shows that two pairs of hook holes 66 (a total of four) are formed at both ends (the upper and lower ends in Figure 6) of the bottom surface 67 of the printer 6. When the printer 6 is attached to the main body 2, each of the hooks 71 formed on the mounting part 7 engages with (fits into) the hook holes 66, thereby permanently attaching the printer 6 to the main body 2.

[0031] Furthermore, four hook holes corresponding to the hook holes 66 are formed on the bottom surface of the storage case 4 (not shown) in the same position as the printer 6. Each of the hooks 71 formed on the mounting part 7 engages with (fits into) the hook holes formed on the storage case 4, thereby permanently attaching the storage case 4 to the main body 2.

[0032] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage state of gift certificates when the storage case 4 is attached to the main body 2. As shown in Figure 7, when the storage case 4 is attached to the main body 2, the mounting section 411 and mounting section 412 are held in an inclined state. The mounting section 411 and mounting section 412 are inclined so that the side with the lid 42 is upward and the opposite side is downward. Gift certificates Ga inserted from the slit 421 are stacked on the mounting section 411. Gift certificates Gb inserted from the slit 424 are stacked on the mounting section 412. Gift certificates Ga placed on the mounting section 411 are placed inclined so that the part a closer to the lid 42 is positioned higher than the part b further from the lid 42, due to the inclination of the mounting section 411. Gift certificates Gb placed on the mounting section 412 are placed inclined so that the part a closer to the lid 42 is positioned higher than the part b further from the lid 42, due to the inclination of the mounting section 412.

[0033] The storage case 4 has a protrusion 45 formed at the rear of the housing 41, corresponding to the mounting section 412. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the gift certificates Gb inserted through the slit 424 and placed on the mounting section 412 enter the concave space formed by the protrusion 45 due to the inclination of the mounting section 412, and are stored further back than the gift certificates Ga placed on the mounting section 411. As a result, when retrieving the gift certificates Ga placed on the mounting section 411, the gift certificates Gb placed on the mounting section 412 do not get in the way.

[0034] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the main body 2 with the storage case 4 attached and the lid 42 open. As shown in Figure 8, the operating section 21 is positioned to the right of the mounting section 7 of the main body 2, and the width of the lid 42 is equal to or slightly shorter than the width L of the mounting base 22. Therefore, when the lid 42 is open, it is positioned on the mounting base 22 and does not cover the operating section 21. In other words, the lid 42 is positioned so as not to interfere with the operating section 21. Therefore, the operating section 21 can be operated with the lid 42 open.

[0035] The top surface 43 provided on the upper surface of the housing 41 of the storage case 4 has various uses. Figure 9 shows an example in which a tape cutter 9 is mounted on the top surface 43. The tape cutter 9 is fixed to the top surface 43 in a well-known manner.

[0036] Figure 10 also shows an example where a portion of the upper surface 43 is slightly recessed downwards to form a mounting surface 431. The mounting surface 431 is used, for example, when a customer places a gift certificate to hand to a store clerk. Because the mounting surface 431 is recessed, it prevents the placed gift certificate from falling out of the storage case 4.

[0037] As described above, the POS terminal 1 of the embodiment comprises a main body 2, an operation unit 21 provided on the operator side of the main body 2, a staff display unit 3 erected from the main body 2 and provided above the main body 2, behind the operation unit 21, and a mounting unit 7 provided on the top surface of the main body 2, to the left or right of at least one of the operation unit 21 and the staff display unit 3, for attaching a printer 6 or storage case 4 to the main body 2 in a detachable manner.

[0038] In this embodiment of the POS terminal 1, a printer 6 or a storage case 4 can be attached to the main unit 2. Therefore, when the printer 6 is removed from the main unit 2, the storage case 4 can be attached to the position where the printer 6 was previously mounted. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the space left over after removing the printer 6.

[0039] Furthermore, in the embodiment, when the POS terminal 1 is used in a style without a drawer by removing the printer 6 from the main unit 2, the storage case 4 can be attached to the position where the printer 6 was attached, allowing the gift certificates that were stored when the drawer was in use to be stored in the storage case 4.

[0040] The embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents.

[0041] For example, in this embodiment, the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21 are positioned on the right side of the main body 2, and the mounting unit 7 is positioned on the left side of the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21. However, this is not the only option; for example, the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21 may be positioned on the left side of the main body 2, and the mounting unit 7 may be positioned on the right side of the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21.

[0042] In this embodiment, the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21 are positioned on the right side of the main body 2, and the mounting unit 7 is positioned on the left side of the employee display unit 3 and the operation unit 21. However, the mounting unit 7 may also be positioned on the left side of the employee display unit 3 or the operation unit 21, or on the right side of the employee display unit 3 or the operation unit 21.

[0043] In this embodiment, the storage case 4 is positioned so that its lid 42 does not interfere with the operating unit 21 when it is open. However, positioning the storage case 4 in a way that it does not interfere with the operating unit 21 when its lid 42 is open is not a mandatory requirement.

[0044] In this embodiment, the storage case 4 is provided with a mounting section 411 and a mounting section 412, creating a two-tiered arrangement. However, the design is not limited to this; any one or more mounting sections are acceptable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 POS terminal 2 Main unit 3 Display section for clerks 4 Storage Cases 5 Customer display area 6 Printers 7 Mounting part 8 Card readers 9 Tape cutter 21 Control section 22 Mounting platform 41 cabinets 42 Lid 43 Top part 45 Protrusion 61 Publishing Department 66 hook holes 67 Bottom part 71 Hooks 411 Mounting section 412 Mounting section 421 Slit 422 Handle section 423 Keyhole 424 Slit 431 Mounting surface [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0046] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-24939

Claims

1. The main unit and The operating unit provided on the operator's side of the main unit, A display unit is erected from the main body and is located above the main body, behind the operating section, A mounting portion for detachably attaching a printer to the main body is provided on the upper surface of the main body, to the left or right of at least one of the operation unit and the display unit, Equipped with, The aforementioned mounting section allows the storage case to be detachably attached to the position where the printer was removed. Product sales data processing device.

2. The printer attached to the mounting part ejects a receipt towards the operator. Product sales data processing device according to claim 1.

3. The storage case is equipped with a lid that can be opened and closed, and the lid can be opened to the operator when the storage case is attached to the mounting part. Product sales data processing device according to claim 1.

4. The main body and, The operating unit provided on the operator's side of the main unit, A display unit is erected from the main body and is located above the main body, behind the operating section, A mounting portion is provided on the upper surface of the main body, to the left or right of at least one of the operation unit and the display unit, for detachably attaching a printer or storage case to the main body, Equipped with, The storage case is equipped with a lid that can be opened and closed, and the lid can be opened to the operator when the storage case is attached to the mounting part. Product sales data processing device.

5. The lid is opened to a position where it does not interfere with the operating part when the storage case is attached to the mounting part. Product sales data processing device according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The storage case is a voucher case capable of storing vouchers, and the lid has a slit for inserting the vouchers. Product sales data processing device according to claim 3 or 4.

7. The aforementioned gift certificate case, when attached to the main body, is capable of storing the gift certificates in an inclined manner, with the portion of the gift certificate closest to the lid positioned higher than the portion furthest from the lid, and the gift certificates stored in the upper section are positioned further back than the gift certificates stored in the lower section. Product sales data processing device according to claim 6.

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