GB2029992A - Improvements in or relating to price computing weighing scales - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a price computing weighing scales (1) including a weighing pan (2) for goods to be weighed, means (3) for setting the basic price of the goods, and display areas (4, 5, 6, 7) for displaying the weight, basic price, and sale price of the goods. The scales includes a plurality of memories (S1, S2) each arranged to store the sale price of a corresponding transaction or the sale prices of a series of corresponding transactions. Each memory (S1, S2) is selectable by means such as keys (A1, A2). Thus, two or more sales assistants can use the scales simultaneously by selecting the corresponding memory (S1, S2) to record details of their transactions, and two or more customers can be served simultaneously. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to price computing weighing scales The invention relates to price computing weighing scales, for instance, of the type including a weighing pan for receiving goods to be weighed, an adjusting means for the basic price of the goods, display areas for the weight, the basic price and the sale price of the goods, at least one memory for receiving the individual sale prices of a plurality of goods which are weighed excessively, sum display of the sum med individual sale prices and, where appropriate, with a printing mechanism for printing the displayed values on a cash slip or the like.

In conventional weighing scales which indicate price optically, which may also compute price elec tronically without memory, and/orwhich print-out the entered data, the weighing scales can be readily operated by a plurality of persons which alternate in any desired sequence. Each individual weighing operation inclusive of setting of the basic price, placing the goods to be weighed on the weighing pan and automatic indication and/or computing of the sales price of the relevant goods is performed separately. Storing of individual sales prices, their formation and print-out cannot be performed in the weighing scales themselves but, if necessary, must be carried out separately either by hand or by means of a computer or calculator.In electronic price computing weighing scales of the type described hereinbefore which incorporates a memory, sum display and, where appropriate, a printing mechan ism, the above-mentioned procedures, more particu larly storing and summing as well as print-out, all take place in the weighing scales themselves. This gives rise to the difficulty that each individual sales operation relating to a specific customer must be completed before the weighing scales are again available for the next sales operation with respect to another customer because the single available mem ory is seized. Weighing of goods for two or more customers in direct succession with interruptions by different operators of the weighing scales (sales personnel) is not possible in this case with a single weighing scales.To enable two or more sales persons to serve several customers with such weighing scales simultaneously and parallel it is necessary to provide a number of weighing scales corresponding to the number of sales persons.

Placing several weighing scales on one and the same counter, for example in a butchers shop, is uneconomical if consideration is given to the price that the actual weighing operation is relatively short in relation to the total time of a sales procedure, so that the weighing scales and its functions are not utilized for a prolonged period. Furthermore, often there is no space for several weighing scales on one sales counter.

According to the invention, there is provided a price computing weighing scales comprising a weighing pan for receiving goods to be weighed, adjusting means for setting the basic price of the goods, display areas for displaying the weight, the basic price and the sale price of the goods, at least two memories for receiving the individual sale prices of a plurality of goods which are weighed successively, and a sum display for displaying the summed individual sale prices, each memory being arranged to be allocated for recording the individual sale prices of goods associated with a corresponding sales procedure, there being provided selection means for providing selective separate access to each memory. It is thus possible to provide an electrical price computing weighing scales on which several sales operations can be performed side by side by a time nesting procedure.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of price computing weighing scales; and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the weighing scales of Figure 1.

The electric price computing weighing scales 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a known manner a weighing pan 2 for receiving goods to be weighed, for example a portion of sausage. A keyboard 3 comprising a plurality of keys forms a setting device for the basic price of the goods, i.e. the price per unit weight, for example DM/kg or /lb. One display region 4 of the weighing scales comprises three zones 5,6 and 7 for displaying the weight, the basic price and the sales price of the weighed goods. The casing 8 of the weighing scales contains an electric memory for receiving the individual sales prices of a plurality of goods which are weighed successively.

The casing 8 of the weighing scales also contains a known electric computer or calculator which sums stored numerical values after triggering a summing key 9 and displays the sum thus determined in the zone 7. In another embodiment ofweighing scales, not shown in the drawings, a printing mechanism for printing out the indicated prices on a cash slip or the like is provided. Two keys Al, A2 as well as two signal lamps B1, B2 are provided in the region of the keyboard 3 on the weighing scales 1. The function of these keys and signal lamps will be subsequently explained.

In the circuit diagram of Figure 2 the computer, which is surrounded by the weighing scales casing 8 and can be controlled by the keys of the keyboard 3, is designated R. The computer R is preceded by switching means V which in turn are connected to two memories S1, S2 which are provided in the weighing scales casing. A contact L of a switch V, which can be actuated by the previously mentioned keys Al, A2, establishes a selective electrical connection between the computer R on the one hand and the memory S1 or S2 on the other hand so that operation of the summing key 9 (Figure 1) causes the numerical values stored in the appropriate memory to be summed and to be displayed.

Each memory S1, S2 is associated with one of the above-mentioned signal lamps B1, B2 which are illuminated when numerical values are entered into the corresponding memories. The keys Al, A2 are advantageously constructed as illuminated keys and are illuminated after being operated so that it is always possible to recognize which of the memories is in operation by being connected to the computer R to store the data related to the weighing operation that has just been performed. Separate signal lamps, performing the same function, can be provided instead of constructing the keys Al, A2 as illuminated keys.

The weighing scales described above can be operated in the following manner. The memories S1, S2 are associated with a first and a second sales person respectively. Before the first sales person performs a weighing operation for a first customer, the person depresses the key Al associated with the memory S1 so that the values associated with this operation, i.e. the sales price of the weighed goods, are stored in the memory S1. When the key Al is depressed the associated signal lamp indicates that the particular memory has been selected. As soon as a numerical value is entered into the memory S1 the signal lamp B1 indicates that the memory has been seized. Before the first customer decides on a further purchase, which frequently occupies a prolonged time, the second sales person can complete a weighing procedure and where appropriate a sales procedure for a second customer.To this end the second sales person depresses the key A2 associated with the memory S2, stores the values defined by the weighing scales in the memory S2 and sums them afterthe completed weighing procedure is completed. Thereafter the first sales person can perform further sales to the first customer by again depressing the key Al and thus selecting the associated memory S1. In this way the weighing scales can be better utilized because different customers can be dealt with simultaneously and side by side.

If necessary, the keys Al, A2 can also be used for a single sales person to serve simultaneously two customers and then storing customer related values in the memories Sl,S2 before the total is calculated for each customer and the sales procedure is completed.

In another embodiment of the invention, a larger number of memories with associated selector keys and signal lamps can be provided in place of only two memories S1, S2. The circuit diagram of Figure 2 shows two additional memories with the associated keys and signal lamps S3, S4; A3, A4 and B3, B4 in broken lines. Depressing the appropriate selector key A enables values for any desired customer to be entered into the appropriate memory in any desired sequence for storage and call-up.

It is particularly advantageous to arrange the signal lamps, which indicate the selection or seizing of a specific memory, so that they can also be inspected by the customer. In this way the customer can check that only the goods required by the customer are entered into the corresponding memory and are computed at the end.

The memory Scan be selected by tumbler switchyes with or without an additional visual display, instead of being selected by keys, and where appropriate this provides greater safety against unintentional malfunctioning.

Before a sales person operates the summing key 9 to trigger the process of summing and display of the total sales price, the person must check whether the memory associated with the person has been selected. If another memory was selected by de pressing of the key associated therewith at that particular time it will be necessary for the appropri ate operator to select the corresponding memory by depressing the associated key.

The system described is contructed so that, when summing and sales price display are triggered by an operator depressing the summing key, the appropri ate memory content is automatically erased immedi: ately thereafter. The signal lamp associated with the key A, which indicates selection of the relevant memory, and the signal lamp B ("memory seized") are extinguished on completion of summation.

Unless tumbler switches, which provide mechanical locking, are used for selecting the memory, the electric circuit is designed so that only one memory can be selected at any time.

Claims (7)

1. A price computing weighing scales comprising a weighing pan for receiving goods to be weighed, adjusting means for setting the basic price of the goods, display areas for displaying the weight, the basic price and the sale price of the goods, at least two memories for receiving the individual sale prices of a plurality of goods which are weighed successively, and a sum display for displaying the summed individual sale prices, each memory being arranged to be allocated for recording the individual sale prices of goods associated with a corresponding sales procedure, there being provided selection means for providing selective separate access to each memory.

2. A weighing scales as claimed in claim 1, in which each memory is associated with a respective signal lamp arranged to be illuminated by access to the memory.

3. A weighing scales as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the memories are associated with respective signal lamps are arranged to be illuminated when the memories are allocated.

4. A weighing scales as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which tumbler switches are provided as the selection means for controlling access to the memories.

5. A weighing scales as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which keys are provided as the selection means for controlling access to the memories.

6. A price computing weighing scales, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A price computing weighing scales, including a plurality of memories or memory location, each arranged to store data relating to a corresponding transaction or series of transactions, there being provided means for permitting access to a selected one of the memories.