EP2052868B1 - Printer for printing out purchase receipts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of operating a printer in a POS system.

In the cash systems known today, the cash register receipt is printed out without intervention by the consumer. This happens regardless of whether the document is desired or not.

1. a. Das Kassensystem sendet automatisch den Ausdruck an den Belegdrucker. Der Beleg wird in jedem Fall durch den Drucker gedruckt.
2. b. Das Kassenpersonal fragt den Kunden, ob er einen Bon wünscht oder darauf verzichten will. Durch entsprechende Softwarelösungen wird das Auslösen des Druckvorganges unterbunden, wenn dies nicht gewünscht ist. Eine Variante dieser Technik ist, dass der Belegdruck durch das Kassenpersonal bewusst ausgelöst wird.
3. c. Ein Terminal (z.B. Parkscheinautomat) bietet dem Kunden einen Beleg an, und dieser löst den Druckvorgang selbst aus durch Betätigen einer dazu speziell vorgesehenen Taste.

A distinction is made between the following systems:

1. a. The POS system automatically sends the printout to the receipt printer. The document is always printed by the printer.
2. b. The cashier asks the customer if he wants a receipt or wants to give it up. Appropriate software solutions trigger the printing process prevented if this is not desired. A variant of this technique is that the receipt printing is deliberately triggered by the cashier.
3. c. A terminal (eg parking ticket machine) offers the customer a receipt, and this triggers the printing process itself by pressing a dedicated key.

All of these examples are a (total) system solution for controlling the printed output. It is not a pure printer solution or function that enables intervention after the print command has been triggered by the cash register system and that triggers the issue by releasing the customer. If the printout is requested by the customer, the print command is first generated in the POS systems described above and the data is sent to the receipt printer.

EP 1 006 499 discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

Object of the present invention is to provide a receipt printer for a POS system and a method in which a document is printed only on customer request out, the customer can trigger the printing process itself.

This object is achieved with a method having the features of claim 1 and the features of the claims back to this claim 2-13.

The invention provides that the document data is buffered in a memory of the printer, without triggering the actual expression. The cash register system thus always sends the complete document data and additional control data. The expression can be triggered by actuating an actuating means, for example in the form of a switch located on the printer or a module arranged outside the printer housing. In addition, the printout can optionally be triggered via a control command (software). Control commands that are necessary for the correct functioning of the printer are handled and answered independently of the print output data.

If the input means is not actuated within a certain time after the end of the payment process or before the conclusion of the next payment process of the subsequent customer, the stored document data is automatically deleted and / or replaced by the document data of the next customer.

By the present invention, the receipt or receipt printer at the checkout is no longer only the cashiers but primarily the customer made available. By offering the retail customer an operator interface, the present invention can autonomously decide whether to print out a receipt or to dispense with it. The invention makes the printer to a device that automatically takes over the caching of the necessary print data and offers them to the customer for printing and deletes in due course to receive for the next customer, the associated data again from the POS system and in turn to offer this.

This requires changes to the printer's own software and hardware in order to ensure the appropriate interface for the customer as well as the necessary data management.

The interface created for the customer consists of a display and a button. The ad informs the customer that data is available to him. The button allows him to initiate the expression.

The software changes in existing POS systems ensure that data from the cash register system are loaded into the printer and stored there, either by the push-button printed or overwritten by the next customer and its bonds.

While the receipt printer of the conventional type is a device that requires special operators (cashiers), the present invention is a combined hardware and software solution and thus a true self-service device, which the customer operates independently and gives him the choice to print or slip a receipt without.

Storage and storage time

It is required that the bond data be sent to the printer and held there in memory. The printer must detect the beginning and end of this data accordingly. This recognition can be done through key points such as a boning control cut command or the "open cash drawer" command. These commands clearly indicate the end of the receipt and are sent to the printer via the interface.

Upon receipt of the cutting command, a "fixed storage time" is granted. Only after its expiration the receipt is released for the expression by the customer. This storage time is controlled by the firmware.

Bonanfang and Bonende can on the other hand also be sent by a dedicated command from the POS application (for example, an ESC / POS command "Bonende"). Then it is a "variable storage time".

The data is buffered in both cases in the printer buffer (internal memory).

The printout becomes visible to the customer through the display on the printer.

Example of "fixed storage time":

$$\mathrm{Receive\; print\; data}=\mathrm{DOP\; function\; enable}\left(\mathrm{Start\; position}\right)\mathrm{Cut\; command}+\mathrm{x\; ms}=\mathrm{DOP\; data\; end}$$

Example of "variable memory" with ESC POS command:

• ESC FS GS FF n $$\mathrm{0}\mathrm{\le }\mathrm{n}\mathrm{\ge }\mathrm{2}$$
  
  • n = 0: DOP function disable (DOP = Demand On Printer)
  • n = 1: DOP function enable (start position)
  • n = 2: DOP data end

1. a. Die durch die Firmware vorgegebene Zeit überschritten (fixierte Speicherzeit) oder
2. b. DOP data end vom System gesendet wird (variable Speicherzeit).

In both cases, the incoming data is stored independent of interface (serial RS-232, or USB, or parallel, or E-thernet, or Bluetooth) until

1. a. The time specified by the firmware exceeded (fixed storage time) or
2. b. DOP data end is sent by the system (variable storage time).

After storing the obtained data, the printer is notified of print readiness by an optical display (e.g., LED or LCD display) to the customer. This display can be installed directly on the printer or connected externally to the printer.

Release and print out the data and storage time stored in the printer

Only after the optical display lights up, the push-button is released for printing. The printout is now ready for printing. Pressing the button prints the data from the memory or buffer.

The data can also be released by means of an ESC / POS command. As a result, the receipt printout can also be "remotely operated" by the cashier.

If there are vouchers or receipts that must be printed in any case, this can be done via appropriate control commands. This can e.g. be required for lottery tickets, pawn certificates, warranty certificates. In this case, the free choice of the customer, whether he prints a receipt, not desired. The present invention then ensures that a receipt is also created.

Delete the stored data and status queries

1. 1. Der Kunde fordert einen Ausdruck durch Betätigen des Tasters an;
2. 2. Der Kunde wünscht keinen Ausdruck und verlässt ohne Betätigen die Kassenzone. Der Drucker muss dann dem nächsten Kunden zur Verfügung stehen;

There are two situations that the present invention has to cope with:

1. 1. The customer requests an expression by pressing the button;
2. 2. The customer does not want a printout and leaves the checkout area without being pressed. The printer must then be available to the next customer;

In the first case, the display goes out after pressing the button, the data is printed out and the memory is emptied.

In the second case, the data will be kept until the next print command. The next print data for the next customer overwrites them. The visual display goes out after a specified period of time.

The "new" data is saved and the indicator lights again.

Apart from the essential functionalities for the present invention, querying the printer status is still like given and necessary. Status queries such as "cover open", paper endings, "busy" or similar are recognized and answered by the printer firmware. This is done in parallel with the operation of the present invention.

A POS system with printer is in FIG. 1 shown. The cash register system has a cash register 4 with money compartment 5, display 8 and keyboard 6. Via a data cable 8, the cash register 4 with the printer 1 in conjunction. This has a document tray 3 and the input means 2 in the form of a button. The button 2 can have a lighting, with the customer can be displayed that the document is ready to print. Z'.B. the button should be backlit in green. With a red illumination of the button, however, the customer is informed that a print-out is currently not possible.

The data flow and the function releases are in FIG. 2 graphically illustrated.

Advantages of the invention

The main advantages of the present invention are cost savings and environmental protection.

The cost savings result from a reduced paper consumption, since not every customer requires a receipt. It is essentially printed only if the receipt is also required. This results in a longer usability of the printer due to lower pressure and thus less wear. Replacement investments are needed about 30% later. Also results in a lower power consumption through reduced use of the printer and a lower waste and reduced cleaning costs due to contamination by discarded Bons. Also, in conventional receipt printers, no major changes or only minor modification the software be performed to convert them into a printer according to the invention. Furthermore, the present invention contributes to the environmental protection because of lower paper and power consumption. Also, the printers can be used longer due to the lower print volume.

Claims (13)

1. Method for operating a printer for a point of sale system, the printer having an interface for the data processing device controlling the point of sale system, via which data processing device control commands and print data are transmitted to the printer, the printer having a memory, in which the receipt data to be printed are storable, and in that the printer has a data processing device and at least one input means for manual actuation by an individual, it being possible to arrange the input means a switch located on the printer or in a module arranged outside the printer housing, characterised in that firstly the manual actuation of the input means triggers the printing process of the receipt data already completely stored in the memory of the printer and in that the data processing device of the printer either deletes the receipt data following successful printing thereof or following a predetermined period of time, unless the input means has been actuated within this period of time, or the data processing device of the printer replaces and/or overwrites the receipt data stored in the memory with new receipt data, as soon as these receipt data are transmitted from the point of sale system.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the data processing system of the printer ignores further actuations of the input means following successful printing of the receipt data or deactivates the input means.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the data processing device of the printer ignores actuations of the input means or deactivates the input means, unless the input means has been actuated within a predetermined period of time after the complete receipt data has been obtained or receipt data of a new receipt has been fully transmitted.
4. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the data processing device of the printer activates a notification after the receipt data from the point of sale system has been obtained, which notification indicates that the receipt is ready to be printed.
5. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the data processing device of the printer unlocks or activates the input means after a predetermined period of time after the complete receipt data has been obtained.
6. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the receipt data transmitted by the point of sale system is stored in the memory of the printer, the receipt data associated with a receipt only being released to be printed when all receipt data of that receipt has been transmitted.
7. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that receipt data for a maximum of two receipts are stored in the memory of the printer.
8. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the printer has a further input means, by means of which it is possible to initialise deletion of the receipt data currently ready to be printed or deactivation of the input means for printing the receipt data in such a way that third parties no longer have the possibility to unauthorisedly print the receipt.
9. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the only control element arranged on the printer and accessible to the customers is the input means.
10. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the printer is a receipt or till receipt printer.
11. Method according to Claim 10, characterised in that the point of sale system has a data processing device, which sends receipt data to the receipt printer, the sent receipt data being stored in the memory of the receipt printer, and printing of the receipt data only taking place following successful actuation of the input means.
12. Method according to Claim 11, characterised in that printing of the receipt data is only possible following complete transmission of the all receipt data of a receipt, this being communicated to the customer visually and/or audibly.
13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the data processing device of the printer activates the input means after all receipt data of a receipt has been received and deactivates the input means, unless the printing of the receipt within a predetermined period of time following activation of the input means has been initiated through actuation of said input means.

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