DE2945328A1 - Receipt printing system - Google Patents

Description

description

The invention relates to printing facilities and in particular on printer for printing transferable receipts for financial transactions and real-time communication Using the account information of a customer attempts to expedite money transfers and Credit deals have been undertaken by various manufacturers over the past few years. There are therefore facilities currently available for use in banking and as automatic payout machines (ATM) for dispensing cash to a customer are known. Point of sale devices are in the same way (POS) are available with which credit transactions can be carried out at retail outlets. These Techniques for confirming and verifying a loan are time consuming. By requiring withdrawal or Accountant staff lose significant hours in these deals. The invention sees Receipts for use by the customers and makes bank staff or the like to confirm the Loans or similar transactions can be dispensed with.

Require ordinary point of sale (POS) facilities the intervention of the merchant or his agent to check the credit. A validity form must also be provided or a guaranteed check inserted into the printer and appropriately aligned to a Receive receipt. The invention eliminates both the intervention of the merchant in a voucher business transaction as well as the need to align a document in the printer.

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Cash dispensers are currently available at bank counters, dispensaries and the like and require a supply of cash in them. However, such a stock is associated with a certain risk of loss. One Receipt issuing device, as described here, does not require such a supply of cash and therefore has the The advantage of greater security compared to conventional cash dispensing machines.

Many previous devices rely on one in the customer credit card stored information for account restrictions without direct access to the customer account to have. Still other devices use a local computing device to store daily business transactions data and cause a periodic, i.e. daily, addition of the account balance.

The invention brings about an improved operation of such devices in that the customer can communicate directly with the system via a terminal which has a keypad and a display which directly prompts the customer to take action via lights. The customer's business transactions can occur at a station remote from the merchant's withdrawal counter, and receipts are printed either on preprinted forms or on blank paper, which are presented to the merchant or his deputy without the use of a till and recognized as cash. This printer also uses duplicate forms to make a receipt copy for the customer and does not require the insertion and alignment of the forms within the printer. As mentioned above, the terminal can work together with basic data relating to the information about the customer account in order to check the account balance, debit the account and print and output a receipt for the requested amount. The customer lays down

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present the receipt to the merchant and use it to pay for the purchased goods instead of cash. The receipt is therefore independent of the goods purchased. When the receipt is presented to a bank or another institute that has the account data or has access to it, the merchant receives the equivalent value of each receipt credited in the same way as if he were to deposit cash. If the receipt presented by the customer is for a higher amount than the purchase price, the merchant will return cash to the customer. The present system therefore gives the customer a valid and certified check.

U.S. Patent 3,959,773 describes the use of a central bank computer which is provided with a vending machine and a Printer cooperates to carry out financial transactions and causes a printout on duplicate, prepared and hand-inserted forms. The term includes a first form showing the amount of the transaction and is therefore a valid receipt. The second form specifies the amount and the account balances and after the transaction and is given to the customer. During operation, the system debits the customer's account and the first form is issued by the issuer Personnel retained as a permanent record of the sale. However, this process requires action of the merchant or his agent and requires time on the part of the issuing staff. In fact, that works System like an automatic receipt printer for credit cards and it includes the steps of checking and debiting the accounts. The device also requires proper alignment of a credit card slip between the reel and one Print hammer of a printer.

As previously mentioned, the invention does not require the time of the dispensing personnel and rather sets the customer

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to complete the various steps required to obtain a printed receipt. In addition, the receipt is printed and output by the printer and therefore does not require the time consuming step of alignment a receipt about the business transaction in the printer.

There are devices for printing out legible, verifiable printouts, such as this one in in U.S. Patent 4,017,837, however, will effect These check printers do not transmit any information to a data store for the accounts, so they do not have any Can perform test or authorization functions. Similar to other devices discussed above In this printer, too, the printout is printed on a blank check form inserted for printing.

U.S. Patent 3,931,614 relates to credit terminals and describes a data terminal which cooperates with a central processing unit in order to obtain a loan to review and approve. A receipt is issued with an amount and an imprinted approval number wearing. U.S. Patent 3,970,992 describes systems for doing business in which a written Record of a business transaction of the user based on an information card issued by the user will. U.S. Patent 4,068,213 gives an output system for one Kaufmann, in which the account information is given on a card, the information from the system in each case is updated and a printed receipt and accounting record are made.

As another stand-alone device, Bunker Ramo Corporation is manufacturing a financial transaction terminal (FTT) and sold, which is described in the Technical Manual TM-398 available from Bunker Ramo Corporation.

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ben is. Such devices, which are used in connection with a customer's bank card, are for both the Use check checks as well as credit approvals. In addition, deposits, withdrawals, transfers, Advance orders and inquiries to and from an account made by the customer using this device will.

The invention provides a real time system for printing receipts that outputs a form to a customer, the can be designed multiple times.

With regard to printing, outputting and trimming, US Pat. No. 3,931 "761 describes a device that uses the full width of a paper_prints and a matrix printer used to issue cards on a computerized totalizing system. The cards are on a Tape that is unwound from a reel and cut with the aid of a cutting device that is one with a having immovable part cooperating movable cutting part. An electromagnet drives the moving part at. A synchronization disc is used in conjunction with a photocell to detect the position of the belt. None of the above-mentioned publications or the devices currently available on the market are to be used in a system in which a validated receipt is printed, an account is debited and the receipt from a paper supply is cut off and output.

The invention overcomes the difficulties of the previous devices and provides a system for printing receipts which uses a microprocessor controlled terminal with a keypad and display. The terminal communicates with a data memory with the help of a higher-level processing device and a programming

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ble control unit or a central processing device. However, in principle, the entire processing are executed by the terminal and the higher-level processing device and the programmable Control units can be omitted. Because of a card, which is typically a plastic card with coded data magnetically recorded thereon, which is introduced by a customer, read out Information, as well as the account information stored in the data memory, is initiated by the superordinate Computer a printer for printing and issuing a cash / receipt, while at the same time the account of the Customer is charged for the amount of the receipt. The customer gives the receipt to a merchant to pay for Goods and / or as a receipt for their payment. Of course, similar systems can also work without a card work for some information and both the account number and a secret number via an immediate Accept key input by the customer, possibly with an identity check using an optical Fingerprint sensor or the like.

When used in multilingual areas, the information can be recorded on the customer's card and given to the higher-level computer for controlling the language of the business transaction. The receipt and also the prompt commands displayed on the terminal can therefore be in one of several languages, the selected by the host computer based on the information recorded on the card. The printer part the terminal includes a supply of media to be printed on as well as means for advancing the paper; through the printer part of the terminal and for cutting the printed forms. The cutting is carried out with the help of a new cutting device that uses a

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Multilayer paper as a medium to be printed enables to issue both a receipt and a customer receipt. The paper can be preprinted with the slip form and the printer can be the information such as the receipt amount, the account number, the point of sale and the like or the paper may be essentially blank. In the latter case, the printer prints the entire Output information on the form.

In either case, the paper has detectable characters and the printer has sensors for detecting the characters around the Determine the alignment of the receipt in the printer. Optical characters, such as blank lines, running along an edge of the paper can be used in conjunction with photoelectric sensing devices will. For different output formats, counting and spacing devices can be used within the terminal or of the higher-level computer can be provided to allow the passage of a certain number of characters before the Print the information on the paper to determine.

The invention thus relates to printers for printing validated receipts in financial transactions in one Real-time connection with the customer's account information. Devices are currently available for use in banking institutions that act as automatic payout devices for dispensing of cash to a customer are known. Likewise, are vending booths for carrying out credit transactions available from dealers. Such credit checking and granting techniques are time consuming and require bank staff for credit approval. The invention eliminates these disadvantages of the previous devices and enables improved operation of these devices by giving the customer direct contact with the system via a Terminal can work together, a keypad and a

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Indicator has the prompt lights for the instruction of the customer. It becomes a microprocessor controlled keypad and display terminal used. If desired, the terminal can be connected to a data memory with the help of a higher-level Processing device and a programmable control unit occur. Because of a plastic card, which carries magnetically recorded coded data and is introduced by a customer, read out information or the information entered directly by the customer via a keypad, as well as that stored in the memory Account information causes the data processing device to print and output a printer of a cash receipt, while at the same time the account ~ des Customer is charged for the amount of the receipt.

Refinements of the invention are set out in the subclaims specified.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with FIG Drawing. In detail shows:

1A shows a terminal used in the invention,

Fig. 1B shows a printer used in connection with the terminal shown in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the components of the system,

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the invention Terminals,

Fig. 4 is a ^{flow chart showing the operation of the system and} used in the terminal of the invention;

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6 is a top plan view of the printer showing the location of the printer, a cutter and a Sensor for a black point shows

7A is a front view, partly in section, of the printer according to the invention,

7B is a partial section of FIG. 7A showing the pivotable Storage of a movable cutting edge shows

FIG. 8 is a left-hand end view, partially in section, showing the cutting edge shown in FIG mechanism represents,

9 shows a profile representation of the movable cutting edge 7 and 8 and

10 shows the paper used in the invention and the black dots arranged thereon.

A terminal 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1A. The terminal has a numeric display for 12 digits with limited alphabetic display options and a decimal point, a keypad 14 with several programmable Control function keys 16 for business transactions and a block 18 with 12 number keys. Sixteen on Message displays specified by the user, the prompts for the user as well as the addressing of the The system and its operating status are shown at 20. The display can be liquid crystal display elements, Have light-emitting diodes or the like, while the message displays preferably consist of individual light-emitting Diodes or other light displays are formed that illuminate individually labeled blocks. Of the Terminal is a device controlled by a microprocessor,

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that with a card reader 72 for business transactions is integrated that reads data from a card 24 inserted by a user. The card reader enables Entering an account number of magnetically encoded plastic cards and can preferably cards with two Read tracks that are coded in accordance with the ΑΒΑ standard, although of course any other standard or a other format can be used. Other media can also be used as a carrier for the encoded data.

Fig. 1B shows a printer $ 0 in perspective. The printer has a cover 32, which is preferably locked with a lock 34, accessible paper roll. The printer housing includes an opening 36 for outputting the printed forms. The paper feed, printing and cutting operations are performed in a part 38 of the printer which is located in the each will be explained later. The printer has storage parts such as pillars 39 shown in Figures 7A and 8 for storage of the terminal 10 are attached to this. The pillars act with socket-like receptacles, not shown, in the Terminal 10 together in order to effect a fixed storage and a combination of terminal and printer.

As shown in Fig. 2, a terminal 40 comprises a keypad terminal 10 and a printer explained above 30 and is via a transmission path 42 acting in two directions with a programmed control unit 44 connected. Further terminals, such as the terminal, are connected to the control unit 44 in the same way. The control unit 44 can actually control the connections between the various terminals 40-46. The terminal 40 is designed so that money transactions are entered into a computer with it can, with such terminals already on the market

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and manufactured by Bunker Ramo Corporation and sold, which will be referred to as the monetary terminal. The principle function of such Terminals is the input of data via the keypad If in the case of the present invention a customer has a Credit receipt desires to pay for goods at a counter must first enter information into the system relating to the number of a bank account in order to debit it for the amount of the receipt. These Entry can be effected by reading a magnetically coded strip or a credit card. Of course can-the data optically, electrically or mechanically be coded or other identification devices used by the customer. The information can also be entered manually by the customer. One The second entry is provided and relates to the amount to be debited in each case. The information is via conventional Transmission lines transmitted to the control unit 44, their basic functions in the controller a number of terminals connected to it. The output signals of the control unit 44 are one in two Direction-acting line 48 given to a higher-level computer 50.

Often times the signals are for the terminal 40 and the higher-level Computer 50 different. Same differences can be found between the associated and in two There are transmission paths 42 and 48 acting in the directions. A primary function of the control unit 44 is hence in converting the data from lines 42 into such a form as accepted by computer 50 and appears on data line 48. The reverse process is also necessary when transferring data from the computer 50 can be given to the terminal 40 via the lines 48 and 42 via the control unit 44. An additional function

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the control unit is the limited checking and validation of messages. Such validation of the Message includes checking the format length of the messages.

The computer 50 is usually an existing computer, that controls the entire network. It is therefore often necessary to have a control unit 44 for transforming the data to use. The host computer 50 may typically be an IBM Series 370 computer. A data store cooperates with the computer 50 via a line 5 ^ effective in two directions. Typically contains a such data store 52 the account information for one Customer who wants a receipt to be issued. The computer 50 controls the logic of the business process, such as this will be explained in detail later.

Software can also be used for the computer 50, so that a control unit 44 is not required. However, if the computer 50 is to use the various functions of the Control unit 44 is to take over, however, longer processing times may result.

An example of a control unit 44 is one manufactured by Bunker Ramo Corporation and available as a Model 90 / 20C designated device.

In Fig. 3, a terminal of the present invention is in individual, which communicates with the control unit via line 42. The terminal is one of a customer operated device that is provided at the sales booth. This in the manner described above with the central Computer connected device is only operational when, communication link 42 and control unit 44 are both work to keep an active transmission link

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to establish the computer. The transmission connection can come from a trunk circuit with 1200 baud between between the terminal and the control unit and a trunk circuit that does not, for example, exceed 4800 baud the control unit and the computer. Up to 256 Terminals can be combined in a single control unit Bunker Ramo BCS-90 in order to reduce the connection lines and thus the costs. The units can be implemented in various combinations of Drop Sharers Modem Sharers (708022) and PCU Concentrators all available from Bunker Ramo.

In the drawing, the terminal is shown as being controlled by a microprocessor 60. In a typical way A Motorola 6800 microprocessor is used and in accordance with a program stored in a memory 62 operated. The memory can be a read-only memory (ROM) in which a fixed program for controlling the microprocessor is stored.

A typical business transaction begins with a customer enters a bank card with a magnetic stripe on it into a card reader 64. The one on the map or another Information encoded for the device used for this purpose is read by the card reader 64 and stored in the terminal. Then a secret code is entered by the customer via a keypad 66 on the terminal 10, which only the Known to customers. The code can be stored on the card for reading by the card reader 64- can be in the Memory 52 may be stored for the account information or can be included in the account number itself. The preferred embodiment uses the latter possibility whereby the number contained in the account number is decoded and compared with the keypad entry made on the computer

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50 occurs. The next step in the business process requires that the customer enter the desired amount on the keypad 14, the amount being given to the customer is displayed on display 68 for additional testing. Several Light displays 70 corresponding to the message displays 20 of FIG. 1A are used to guide the customer of keypad entries, as explained below.

Both the data entered via the keypad 66 and the card information read out by the card reader 64 are converted into a message in a buffer 72, the uses free access memory (RAM). Of course, other memories can also be used, known to those skilled in the art. The buffered message is transmitted via line 42 with the aid of a transmission unit 7 ^ transmitted to the control unit 44. The control unit is on receipt of the from the transmitter unit 7 ^ over the line The transmitted message will be transformed in the required manner and sent to the computer 50 again via the line 48 send out. An application program stored in the computer 50 checks the account number and the assignment between the PIN number and the account number and asks the account of the customer in the data memory 52 after a sufficient Cover. If all the answers are positive, i.e. the account number and its association with that given by the keypad entered PIN number has been checked and the account also has sufficient funds to issue the receipt the requested business transaction is validated. In this case, the computer 50 gives a suitable response message to the control unit 44 via the line 48 which contains the information to be printed on the receipt. These Information can be e.g. the date, the terminal designation

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number, the card number, the amount of the business transaction and the name and address of the branch, but without being limited to it. The control unit may give up after a required conversion the message received via the line 4-2 to the terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1A, which is sent via the in Receiver 76 shown in Fig. 3 is received. The information received is stored in the buffer after suitable buffering 72 is transmitted under the control of microprocessor 60 to printer 78, which is the printer shown in FIG. 1B 30 corresponds to what, together with simple commands for paper feed, to initiate printing, to print the received information to advance the paper to an aligned position and to activate a Cutting device for the printed document happens.

In addition to controlling the pushing, there are possible errors detects, such as the lack of paper, a defective paper transport or the like with the aid of a sensing device. In addition, the microprocessor 60 can cause the printer 78 to be examined and verified under control of over the keypad works e.g. messages entered by maintenance personnel. It goes without saying during this exam it is desirable that printing on the receipt does not result in a valid receipt. During this exam will hence an invalid message, such as alphabetic characters, is printed by printer 78.

Additional information contained on the customer's card and also the information entered via the keypad relate to the language in which commands are displayed and the receipt is also printed out. In a multilingual State, such as Belgium, where Dutch and French are spoken, the card can have a Dutch

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speaking customers are encoded to indicate the language of the customer so that the computer 50 via the The information returned to the terminal 40 by the control unit 44 is in such a format that the printer 78 receives data in Dutch. In addition, the message displays 20 on the front of the terminal 10 can double Include ads associated with duplicate messages in different languages. The one from the computer 50 received message can therefore be used to switch on one or another of the groups of displays 20, to display messages in one or the other language used in that country will.

When the application program existing in the computer 50 detects a reason that the transaction is not validated, such as an invalid account number, a mismatch between the input PIN number and account number or zn high requested amount in view of the existing coverage of the account, a rejection message is formed and transmitted to the terminal in the same way as the aforementioned message to the terminal 10, which includes the acceptance and printing of a receipt. The rejection message is received by the receiver 76 in FIG. 3 and used to display a rejection message either on the display 68 or via a message light 70, or to print an invalidation printout with the printer 78.

An operation of the system of the invention descriptive flow chart is shown in FIGS. 4 and S. The power-on state of the device at step 126 is shown in FIG. Starting with the switch-on

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When the status is reached, step 128 causes one of the message displays 20 on the terminal 10 to light up, in particular the message asking the customer to read the bank card. In the case of two languages, the the message flashing at step 128 takes place in both languages. If a customer because of the flashing at step 128 Message display pulling the bank card through the card reader at step 130 is shown at step 132 made a preliminary check for validity. If the microprocessor 60 proves a provisional invalidity or a read error is detected in step 132, is detected in step

134 switched on a second message display, which the Customer indicating the occurrence of a read error. The program causes the terminal to loop to step 128

135 returns. Step 132 can be in addition to checking on provisional signs of validity and reading errors also used to record the language used by the customer encoded on the card. The one that flashes at step 134 The message can therefore be in the language preferred by the customer. When the language of the prompts is controlled by the computer, however, no linguistic distinction is possible up to step 208.

If the read by the card reader 64- in step I30 If the card meets the validity check, a display is turned on at step 136 which prompts the customer to enter the Asks for a PIN number. Step 138 sets the PIN memory back and deletes it for the input of the PIN number from the customer. After step I36, a time monitoring step used to ensure that the PIN prompting indicator does not stay lit indefinitely remain. Therefore, when the customer leaves the terminal, the display is switched off after a certain delay time. The timeout step can also be a

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Reset button assigned or replaced by this » with which the customer can postpone the program up to a certain point, e.g. to postpone of the PHi memory. The keypad is displayed at step 140 switched on to indicate the customer's PIN number Accept key presses. When pressing the keypad several steps are used, to four Accept key presses from the customer, as well as corrections in the event of an error.

Specifically, step 140 detects the depression of a key on the keypad. At step 14-2 this becomes Pressing a correction key detected. The correction key is then actuated by the customer if an incorrect Entering the PIN number in step 140 is done. When the depression of the correction key is detected, the Loop 144 returning to reset step 138 for inclusion the appropriate PIN number. If the correct button was not pressed and the customer for some reason If the stop key is actuated at step 146, the program causes the device function to be interrupted at step 148 and the return of the device to the switched-on state of step 126. If a key is pressed and this is neither corrected nor interrupted by the stop key, step I50 is used to determine whether four Key presses were carried out by the customer. If the number of key presses is less than four, so the number received up to that point is stored and displayed at step 152, which loops the program 154 also to step 140 for receiving the next Key actuation returns. If four key presses have been detected, step 150 causes an advance to occur of the program through point I56 to step I58.

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At step 158 another display is turned on, which instructs the customer to enter an amount, and the storage area for the amount is at step 160 reset or cleared to collect the amount from the keypad. At step 162 the keypad becomes Recording of a button actuation activated, which together with a monitoring time of seven seconds Step 164 occurs. When the delay time of seven Seconds have elapsed, the program advances via step 166 to point B of Fig. 5 "for validity check. If a correct or stop key is pressed, as shown at steps 168 and 172, the sequence returns the program through step I70 to receive a corrected one Amount back or it is via step 174-in interrupted in a similar way as described above for entering the PIN number. Steps 162, 164, 168, 172 and 176 therefore become the acceptance of the key presses used by the customer until a full amount has been received. When Enter to any When is pressed, step 176 causes the routine to go to point B in Fig. -5 for testing continues to run for validity. If none of the correction, stop, or enter keys are pressed, the step causes 178 the storage and display of the amount data entered up to that point and, via step 180, the respective Return to record more key presses from the customer. The amount entered is therefore considered complete viewed when either the seven-second delay time elapsed after a key was pressed or the Enter key is pressed. Of course, the delay time of seven seconds can also be used to interrupt of the business process or to transition to a different point in the program.

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The program continues in FIG. 5 at point B beginning with 186. Step 188 causes a to be turned on of the message displays 20, which asks the customer whether the displayed amount is actually the desired receipt amount correctly indicates. Various steps and a loop are then provided for the customer to see the displayed Amount as correct. Thus, at step 190, the system waits for any key presses of the Customers. If the correct key is pressed, step 192 causes the program to transition over the period 194 to step 156 to repeat the amount input process to start. If the correct key has not been pressed, the program proceeds to step 196 to determine if the stop button was pressed. If the stop button is pressed, the program will stop at step and returns to step 126 of the power-on state of the device. If neither the correction nor the stop button is pressed, the program determines at step 200 whether the enter key is pressed. If the result of this Embossing is negative, i.e. when the Enter key is not printed has been, loop 202 returns the program to step 190 for a key press of your Accept customers. The steps or the loop 190 to 202 therefore wait for the actuation of the correction, the Stop or Enter. Correction requires the customer to re-enter the amount while the The stop button interrupts the process, and pressing the enter button allows the program to exit the loop exit and turn on an indicator at step 204- indicating to the customer that the transaction has been carried out and asks the customer to wait until the completion of the transaction. At the step 206 is the terminal's microprocessor from the various The customer inputs a message. In particular

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the information read from the card, the entered PIN number and the requested amount converted into a suitable format of a message for transmission to the control unit 44. The step 208 is the transmission step to the control unit 44 and at step 210 the terminal waits for a response to the message transmitted in step 208.

When receiving a response message from the control unit, the terminal asks the received message during the Follow steps 212 and 224. At step 212, the terminal interrogates the message to determine whether the PIN number entered by the customer was correct and accepted. When the control unit indicates that If the PIN number was incorrect, the terminal indicates at step 214 that an incorrect PIN number was entered what is done by lighting up one of the message displays 20. At step 218 the terminal waits for this Depression of any key by the customer to indicate that the message was an unacceptable PIN number has been recorded. If seven seconds have passed without a key being pressed by the customer, the step 220 leads the program back to the switch-on state 126 via the step 222,> whereby the operating sequence is aborted. If the customer presses a key, the terminal's microprocessor returns at step 222 back to the switch-on state 126. The system can also return the operating sequence to step I38, whereby the entry of the PIN number is undertaken again if a key actuation occurs in step 218 which indicates that the customer has noticed a problem entering the PIN number.

If the response message from the control unit includes an indication that the amount entered by the customer is unsuitable

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is, step 224 directs the program to step 226 where an indicator is turned on to be shown to the customer indicates that an unsuitable amount was entered. If the amounts are e.g. the available funds in the account the display is turned on at step 226. Steps 228, 230 and 232 act in the same way Way like steps 218, 220 and 222.

If the message received by the control unit 44 does not display an unsuitable ΡΓΝ number or a contains unsuitable amount, the program proceeds to step 234 to indicate to the customer that the requested Receipt is printed. At step 236, the Receipt actually printed in the printer, this step being the printing of a dot matrix printer head on the paper, the advance of the form in the appropriate positions for printing, the advance of the Form in a certain position for switching on a cutting device and switching on the cutting device includes for issuing the receipt. In addition, error detection and investigation routines can be provided be. Therefore, if the paper is not fixed at the specific position, which is due to a paper jam, a lack of paper or other malfunctions can occur, an error display is displayed. Of course a self-examination process can be provided which can be used to interrogate various sensors to determine the exact status of the printer. In the same way, an examination method can be provided so that the maintenance personnel can query the device and can operate in its various functions. Since, however, transferable receipts are produced by this printer all investigation steps must include steps to ensure that there is valid evidence during

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of the exam cannot be printed. The maintenance staff can therefore order the terminal to print, however, it is determined by the program that the contents of the printed messages e.g. the complete alphabet, contain certain information or the like.

The step 236 therefore comprises substeps 238 for the paper feed, 240 for switching on the printer head, 242 for feeding the paper to the cutting point, 244 for detecting the orientation of a character on the paper, 246 to stop the paper feed mechanism and 248 to turn on the cutting mechanism.

Upon completion of step 236 and its various Substeps, including failure detection and investigation procedures described above, but not shown are, step 250 brings the program to its own Switch-on state 126 back to the beginning of a new business transaction to be seen.

As previously described, the control unit 44 essentially serves as a summarizing means and as an embassy broker. Devices such as the Bunker Ramo PCU or other minicomputers such as the digital equipment Corporation PDP 11 can be used in the same way.

The functions of the part 236 of the program in Fig. Execute S, the printer is provided with a roll stock of documents 30 and transports the documents under the control of the program. The transport of the documents in relation to certain positions, in particular using alignment marks associated with the documents, is required in the printer, as is the ability to cut and output the documents under the control of the program. As before

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As explained, the printer can carry alphanumeric characters in one of several languages under the control print out the computer.

There are several ways of performing these above punctures Components shown in Figs. 6-8 are provided in the printer.

As shown in Figures 6-9, a roll of stock material 300 is on a spool 502 within the Printer housing 304 stored. The roll 300 is in one Recess arranged in the housing 304, which has a Cover 306 is accessible by means of a key lock 308 is closed. A cutting mechanism is located at 3 ^ 0 and is used in conjunction with FIGS. 7 to 9 described in detail. A printer head, preferably a dot matrix printer head, sold as a Model 7040T by the LRC Corporation, Riverton, Wyoming is shown at 312 and a paper feed device such as a Motor driven friction roller 314- works with an upper pressure roller 313 together. A paper release lever 315 can be used to manually release the paper path be provided to allow easy insertion of a new paper supply in the printer. A Probe 3I6 is provided next to the paper path for alignment marks on the paper when it is pulled from the roll 3OO. The characters can can be detected electrostatically, magnetically or optically. As shown in Fig. 10, paper 318 has “whether with or without a printed form division, optically detectable Characters 320, hereinafter referred to as black spots. The one from the sensor 316 at the Detection of the black spots 320 generated signals are transmitted to the microprocessor 60, which in turn Control signals for a motor for the friction roller

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the printer head 312 as well as for an electromagnet associated with the cutting mechanism 310. The use of characters on the paper allows the system of the invention to print receipts of different dimensions. That is, the operation of the system shown in Figures MA and 4B can easily be changed to include a step specifying the width of the printed format and a second step which produces a count corresponding to the desired width. The counter reading is reduced each time a black spot is detected until a counter reading of zero is reached, at which point printing and / or outputting can be continued in the same way as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4- B indicates where fixed-width preprinted sizes are used. Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of the components in a plan view showing a power cord 322 and a communication link 324 for use with the terminal's microprocessor. An ink ribbon 326 for use with printer head 312 is also shown in the figure. The ribbon 326 runs between two spools 328 and 330.

The cutting mechanism 3 "1O shown in FIG. 6 is in the individually shown in Figs.

The dimensions of the printer also determine the dimensions for all components arranged in it. Within the limited In the space, electromagnets are suitable as drive parts, but they only have a limited output power hand over. Maximum cutting efficiency must therefore be achieved by any cutting mechanism which is driven by the electromagnet, and the frictional losses between the cutting edges and the like must be minimal. The invention achieves such a

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greater efficiency by using point contact instead of line or surface contact between the cutting edges. Applying the cutting force between the cutting edges at one point gives one greater pressure and therefore better paper separation than when applying the same force on an elongated one Point, line or area. The cutting edges used here also have suitable curvatures provided to enlarge the point separation and thus achieving the desired cutting effect.

To achieve this result, a movable cutting edge is conveniently relative to an immovable one Cutting edge mounted to achieve point contact between the cutting edges. Because the cutting mechanism to be used together with a movable paper and because the paper is in several layers is present, a guillotin-type cutter is not suitable, as the cut paper tends to to show a deflection at the cutting edge, making that deflection more often on one or the other cutting edge Keeps hanging. In the invention, therefore, a pivotable cutting edge is used.

With such pivotable cutting edges, which have a scissor effect, the rotation of the movable cutting edge causes around the pivot point that the cutting point advances to the far end of the cutting edge. With this progression the point tends to be elongated with straight cutting edges. The movable cutting edge is therefore in the invention curved to maintain a limited area of contact between the cutting edges and a cutting point instead a cutting line or surface. Another curvature is provided on the cutting edge itself, around the

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To keep the cutting angle between the cutting edges essentially constant over the entire cutting stroke.

As shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, the cutting mechanism of the invention includes a frame member 332 having a fixed blade 334 supported thereon. A movable cutter 336, which is mounted at 338 on a projection 335 of the frame part 332, is actuated by an electromagnet 340 via a lever transmission. The lever transmission between the electromagnet 340 and the cutter 336 includes a lever 342 and a crank 344, which gives a pressing force to a widened horizontal portion of the underside of the cutting $ 36 ^ ⁸ contact area 346th

Springs 348 and 350 also act on the cutting edge Spring 348 performs two functions, namely moving To bring the cutting edge 336 back into its rest position after actuation by the electromagnet 340 and causes it in addition, a bias on the movable cutting edge 336 against the fixed cutting edge 334. The spring 350 causes a Clamping force against the cutting edge 336.

In operation, the paper to be cut travels along a path 352 until a black one is detected Spot by the sensor 316. The detection of the black spot and the transmission of this information to the Microprocessor 60 causes a command to be issued from the microprocessor to the motor for friction roller 314 to stop the paper advance and a subsequent command to operate the solenoid 340. The paper path 352 runs under the fixed cutting edge 334 and over the Cutting edge 354 past the cutting edge 336. The actuation of the electromagnet 340 therefore causes the pivoting

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Cut 336 up and clockwise in Figure 7A. The upward movement of the cutting edge 5-54- causes the paper to be cut between the cutting edges 334 and 336. A first rubber buffer 356, which is mounted on the frame part 332, noiselessly limits the movement of the cutting edge 336 and the armature of the electromagnet y \ Q . A second buffer 358 limits the downward movement of the blade and the corresponding movement of the armature of the electromagnet. The armature stroke can be adjusted using a bearing bracket 360 of the electromagnet.

The cutting edge 336 is at point 338 by a in Fig. 7B pivoted storage shown in detail. In particular, a bearing 362 loosely supports the blade on a post 364, which is on a part 365 of the frame part 332 with the help a screw 366 and a clamping nut 368 is attached. The screw 366 and nut 368 cooperate to adjust the clamping force of the spring 350 against the cutting edge. A hemispherical articulation point 370 from Nylon counteracts the cutting edge in order to generate the contact force of the cutting edge.

As previously mentioned, the movable cutting edge is 336 provided with a lateral curvature, which is concave in the direction of the fixed cutting edge, to the cutting effect to maintain a point during the movement of the blade 336. The curvature, which is stronger towards the far end, can be seen in FIG.

In addition, the cutting edge 354 is convex Provided curvature towards the fixed cutting edge to substantially reduce the cutting angle during the movement of the cutting edge 336 keep the same. The curvature of the cutting edge is in

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9 and given by the following equation: Y = AX (2X + 1),

where X and Y are the dimensions along the coordinates shown in Figure 9 and A is a constant which is the magnitude the change in curvature is determined. A suitable value for A in this application was 0.254 millimeters found.

The spring 3 ^ -8 which keeps the cutting edges in contact and the movable cutting edge as well as the armature of the electromagnet and the lever transmission in their rest positions returns, is arranged in such a way that it exerts its tensile force on the moving cutting edge both in the direction of the fixed cutting edge and in the direction of the rest position as the cutting process progresses. The increased tensile force in the direction of the fixed cutting edge is necessary to prevent the loss of the lever arm balance as the cutting progresses towards the far end of the cutting edge. The increased pulling force in the direction of the rest position is necessary in order to overcome the friction between the cutting edges and to accelerate the movable cutting edge when it returns to the rest position.

As indicated in the foregoing description, the present invention provides an apparatus for printing and issuing a receipt usable at locations removed from a database of account information are. The device can be provided at sales points, goods delivery points, such as gas stations, banks and the like and has a device for checking a business transaction and for debiting an account Customers. Of course, the device can also

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steps to credit a merchant's account, although that feature includes the arrangement of the Terminals at the dispensing counter makes it necessary and thus the working time to be raised by the dispensing staff enlarged.

The present description describes a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention for illustration purposes only, however, this is not limited to this. The person skilled in the art will immediately recognize equivalent changes to the embodiment described. Such changes However, modifications and equivalents are all covered the general inventive concept as outlined in detail in the preceding claims, if these be interpreted to mean that the gain is also obtained from all equivalents to which the invention is based relates.

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Claims (1)

BUNKER RAMO CORPORATION, 900 Commerce Drive, Oak Brook, Illinois United States of America Receipt printing system Claims 1. System for issuing validated, transferable documents in a customer transaction, characterized by a transfer device (10, 30) between a customer and the system including first input means (16, 18) for receiving from Customer generated input data, a first output device (12, 20) to generate prompts for the customer and to display business transaction related! Information, a second output device (30) for outputting a transferable receipt about one of the customer requested specific amount that a device (302, 312) for issuing the receipt on a supply of record 030023/0629 ORIGINAL INSPECTED (οββ) aaasea telex os-aesao TELEQRAMS MONAPTH blecopier tion material (300) and a device (312) for issuing of the receipt on a supply of recording material (500) and means ($ 02, 310) for dispensing the transferable Receipt to the customer by a data store (52) relating to an account assigned to the customer Contains information by means (44, 50) for transmitting of information between the transmission means (10, 30) and the data memory (52), by means for checking the data entered by a customer and by a device for debiting an account with the amount over that the receipt is issued. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission device (10, 30) is a microprocessor control device (60) for itself and that the device (44, 50) for transmitting information has a data processing device (50) for communicating with the data memory (52), for Requesting the customer and providing information from the data store for display on the first output device (12, 20). 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first output device (12, 20) a first part (12) for displaying which relates to the transaction related information and a second part (20) for generating the prompt commands for the customer. 4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3> characterized in that the first input device (16, 18) has a keypad for manual data entry by the customer and that also a second input device (22) is provided for reading encoded data from an identification device (24) of the customer. 030023/0629 ^ i ": - '' 10 yr.p-i COPY 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the identification device (24) has a A credit card that carries magnetically encoded information. 6. System according to claim 4 or 5 »marked by means for detecting an error in reading the encoded data. 7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that g e k e η J indicates that the means for checking the input data includes means for checking one of the account of the Customer assigned personal identification number (PIN) having. 8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7 »thereby g e k e η J indicates that the means for checking means means for checking the balance for size of the amount requested by the customer. 9 · System according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the device (312) for Issuing the receipt has a device for writing on the recording material (300) and that the device (302, 310) for outputting the receipt a cutting device (310) for the recording material with a fixed cutting edge (334) and a movable cutting edge (336) cooperating with this, which around a pivot point (338) is pivotable, a device (313> 314) for advancing the recording material and a device (316) for detecting includes the advancement of the recording material to a specific location. 10. System according to claim 9> characterized that the recording material (300) is paper, that the means (302, 310) for outputting the receipt also one Means (302) for receiving a paper roll in the transfer means (10, 30) and that the means 030023/0629 _{nniriKlil IKlcp} _ _rTrn QQPY ORIGINAL INSFcCTtD (312) has a printing device for writing. 11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that that the recording material (300) is a multilayer paper, a first copy of which is provided by the printing device (312) is printed, which forms the receipt, and the other copies take imprints of the receipt to To produce receipts of the receipt. 12. System according to claim 10, characterized by one with the movable cutting edge (336) coupled electromagnet (34-O) ₃ by a holding device for actuating the electromagnet and by a crank (244 ·) for coupling the electromagnet with the movable cutting edge wherein the switch-on device is responsive to signals from the microprocessor control device "(60) and the printing device (312) is responsive to information contained in signals from the data processing device (50). 13 system according to claim 12, characterized in that that the first output device (12, 20) responds to signals from the data processing device (50). 14. System according to one of claims 10 to I3, characterized · that the data processing device (50) also generates signals that the printing device (312) and the first output device (12, 20) for the output of information in one of several languages in accordance with the requirements of the identification device (24) caused information received, which is given by the customer to the second input device (22). 15. System according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the movable cutting edge (336) a first device for maintaining a minimal cutting 030023/0629 COPY _ 5 - when the movable cutting edge is around the pivot point ($ 38) pivots. 16. System according to claim 15 »marked thereby. net that the movable cutting edge (336) has a second device to compensate for the decreasing lever arm when the movable cutting edge around the pivot point (33 &) pivots. 17 · System according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the movable cutting edge (336) has a ' elongated cutting edge (354) and that the first means is a first curvature of the cutting edge, which in relation is convex on the fixed cutting edge (334). '18. System according to claim 17, characterized net that the second device has a second curvature is at the cutting edge (354), the second curvature being a curve transverse to the cutting edge and the The cutting edge is further removed from the fixed cutting edge (334) by the second curvature at those points which correspond to the Pivot point (338) are closer than those points further away from the pivot point. M 9 ·) Procedure for transferring a credit from a first party who has an account to a second party using an electronic data processing device which is a microprocessor-controlled transmission device with a first input device for receiving input data generated by the first party, the first input device being a keypad for manual data entry by the first party and a second input device for reading encoded data from an identification means, which of the first Party is presented to a second output device 030023/0629 COPY Issuing a transferable receipt for an amount determined by the first party, a data memory that Contains information about the account belonging to the first party, a data processing device for data transmission between the transmission device and the data memory, a device for checking the of the input data entered first party and means for debiting the account of the first party via the has a certain amount, characterized in that a transferable receipt of the first party certain amount is issued electronically that the account of the first party is electronically debited that the transferable receipt is presented to the second party and that the transferable receipt against goods with a first value and is exchanged for a credit with a second value, the first and second Value result in a sum equal to the specified amount. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that for outputting the document Identification device, which is presented by the first party, introduced into the second input device that input data are given to the first input device by the first party, that the input data be checked with the help of the data processing device that the account of the first party with the help of Data processing device is burdened that the transferable document on a multiple layers on top of each other having Paper is printed that this paper is advanced that the advance of the paper up to one certain point is detected and that the transferable document is cut off. 030023/0629 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that an electromagnet when cutting is switched on that a movable cutting edge is pivoted from a rest position and that the movable cutting edge is moved back to the rest position. 22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the following when testing Steps are performed: (a) entry of a secret number by the first party, (b) verification of that by the first party entered secret number with information associated with the account of the first party, (c) entering the specific Amount into the first input device, (d) check with the help of the data processing device whether the account has sufficient credit in excess of the specified amount; and (e) notifying the first party each at the verification steps (b) and (d) detected error '. 25- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized characterized in that the outputting comprises the steps of: (a) detecting a code on a Identifier used by the first party in the second input device is introduced, (b) transmission of the captured code to the data processing device, (c) Selecting one of several languages by the data processing device in accordance with the detected Codes and (d) printing the transferable receipt in one language in accordance with signals sent by the data processing device be generated. 030023/0629