EP2319028A1 - Printer for a cash register system - Google Patents
Printer for a cash register systemInfo
- Publication number
- EP2319028A1 EP2319028A1 EP09777684A EP09777684A EP2319028A1 EP 2319028 A1 EP2319028 A1 EP 2319028A1 EP 09777684 A EP09777684 A EP 09777684A EP 09777684 A EP09777684 A EP 09777684A EP 2319028 A1 EP2319028 A1 EP 2319028A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- printer
- computer
- control unit
- mini
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G1/00—Cash registers
- G07G1/0018—Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G1/00—Cash registers
- G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G5/00—Receipt-giving machines
Definitions
- the invention relates to a printer for a POS system having a computer having a number of interfaces for connecting a cash drawer, a keyboard, a customer display, an operator display, a scanner and / or a screen and a network interface, wherein the printer a printer housing, in which a printer control unit and a printer mechanism are arranged, and wherein the computer and the printer via a power supply with electrical voltage can be supplied.
- cash register systems for example, the POS system marketed by the applicant under the trade name "BeetIe", known for use in department stores, food stores and the like, which have a computer based on the proven PC technology
- the housing is preferably located on the sales counter or countertop of the cashier workstation and can serve as a stand for a flat screen display serving as a control display
- the computer of the cash register system is equipped with a variety of peripherals such as scanners, printers, customer display, cash drawer or the like connected via a multiplicity of standardized and / or trade-specific interfaces. sen. Individual peripheral devices such as a hand-held scanner are typically supplied with electrical current via the interface. Other peripherals, such as the printer, have their own power connector with a separate power supply.
- the disadvantage here is in particular the size of the cash register system.
- the available counter area should be used more for selling goods than for setting up a cash register system.
- the wiring of the computer and the peripherals and the provision of separate power supplies for individual peripherals are complex and expensive
- Object of the present invention is to develop a POS system such that the space required to set it up is reduced and the cost of wiring the computer with the peripherals and the power supply decreases.
- the invention is characterized in connection with the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the computer is designed as a mini computer with such a compact miniature housing that the mini computer is on the one hand integrated into the printer housing, and that the mini computer and the Printer on the other hand can be supplied via a common power supply with e- lektrischer voltage.
- the particular advantage of the invention is that the integration of the mini-computer in the printer housing a printer with an integrated computer and the usual Interfaces for connecting the keyboard, customer display, operating display, scanner, cash drawer, screen and the like arises. Integration into the network of the market is possible via an integrated network interface. Compared to the conventional POS systems known from the prior art, the required footprint is significantly smaller, leaving more room for the presentation of the goods. At the same time, modern mini computers have a reduced power consumption compared to conventional computers. As a result, can be dispensed with an active cooling, for example by means of fans, so that a very quiet and low-maintenance POS system is created. Since the power supply of the printer also supplies the mini computer with energy, no additional computer power supply is required. Cost advantages over the known solution therefore result from the omission of a second power supply unit, the integration in only one housing and the elimination of typically two connecting cables between the printer and the computer.
- the common power supply of the printer and mini-computer is arranged outside the printer housing.
- the power loss typical for power supplies falls outside of the printer housing, so that the thermal load of the miniature computer further reduced and can be dispensed with an active cooling fan cooling here.
- the waiver of the fan in turn favors the very quiet operation and reduces maintenance.
- the micro-housing of the mini-computer is arranged adjacent to the printer control unit. Mini computer and printer control unit can thus be connected to each other via a very short cable. Compared to the usual today connection by means of two cables can thus achieve a weight savings and cost reduction.
- the printer control unit assumes a printer emulation, a character preparation and / or a diagnosis.
- the printer control unit is connected to the mini-computer via a USB interface and has at least one microprocessor, a read-only read-only memory, a main memory and / or a motor control unit.
- the printer control unit is hereby virtually identical to today used in conventional POS printers printer control units.
- the combination of printer and computer is thereby possible in a very simple manner, since a functional integration, for example the transfer of tasks of the printer control unit to the mini computer, is dispensed with.
- the exclusive spatial integration and the use of proven assemblies reduce the risk of malfunctions and system failures.
- the printer control unit only comprises a programmable integrated circuit for fast signal processing of signals sent to and received by the printer mechanism (printing unit).
- the printer control unit is connected to the chipset of the mini-computer via a data connection using the PCI Express expansion standard.
- the programmable integrated circuit which can be designed as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), takes on the time-critical control of motors, thermal lines and / or print head.
- FPGA field programmable gate array
- printer emulation, character editing and diagnostics are implemented in the mini-computer. As a result, further costs, in particular for the printer control unit, can be saved.
- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer for a POS system according to a first embodiment
- Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer for a
- the printer 1 for a POS system consists essentially of the components mini-computer 2, printer control unit 3, printer mechanism 4 and memory 5.
- the components are mounted in a common printer housing 6. orders and are supplied via a common power supply 7, which is located outside the printer housing 6, with electrical voltage.
- the mini computer 2 has a compact miniature housing 8, in which a chipset 9 and an interface 10 for connecting the cash drawer 11, an interface 12 for connecting a keyboard 13, an interface 14 for connecting a customer display 15, an interface 16 for connecting an operating display 17, an interface 18 for connecting a scanner 19, an interface 20 for connecting a screen 21 and an interface 22 for connecting the mini-computer 2 to a network 23. Furthermore, the mini-computer 2 comprises an interface 24 for connection to the printer control unit 3rd
- the interface may conform to a common standard (USB, RS232, VGA, ...) or may be commercially specific.
- the cash drawer 11 is connected via a trade-specific data line 25 to the mini-computer.
- the keyboard 13, the customer display 15, the operating display 17 and the scanner 19 are connected via a USB cable 26 to the mini computer 2.
- the screen 21 is connected to the mini-computer 2 via a data link 27 which uses the DVI or VGA standard.
- the various peripherals can hereby have a separate power supply, not shown, or be supplied via the data line with electrical voltage.
- the peripheral devices may be connected to the mini-computer 2 via a connection standard other than the connection standard shown in FIG.
- the mini-computer 2 can wirelessly communicate with the network 23 via a WLAN connection.
- additional peripheral devices for example a hand-held scanner, to the mini-computer 2.
- unused additional interfaces are used.
- the mini-computer 2 is also assigned a memory 5.
- the memory 5 can be designed as a hard disk drive (HDD) or as a solid state drive (SDD).
- the printer control unit 3 has an interface 29 for connection to the mini-computer 2, a microprocessor 30, a rewritable read-only memory 31, a main memory 32 and a motor control unit 33.
- the interface 29 is in this case designed, for example, as a USB interface 29, so that the printer control unit 3 is connected via a USB cable 34 to the mini computer 2.
- the USB cable 34 may be made short.
- the interface 29 of the printer control unit 3 and the interface 24 of the mini-computer 2 are arranged facing each other.
- the printer control unit 3 is connected to the printing unit 4 via a data line 35.
- the printing unit 4 includes, among other actuators and sensors, not shown, the paper feed and feed, the printhead and a thermo line.
- the mini-computer 2 has the same function that a standard PC takes over in the POS systems known from the prior art. It serves the control of the various peripheral devices, the detection of the scanned goods, the determination of the purchase price and the like. Furthermore, the mini-computer 2 communicates with the printer control unit 3 in such a way that it triggers the print job and provides the information to be printed.
- the mini-computer 2 has a micro-housing 8, which is also known under the technical term Small Form Factor or SFF housing.
- the chipset 9 of the mini-computer 2 is designed to be particularly energy-efficient and has compared to comparable single-core processors about a factor of 10 reduced power consumption. Due to the significantly lower power consumption of the chipset 9, active cooling, for example by means of fans, can be dispensed with. As a result, the mini-computer 2 can be operated very quietly and performed low maintenance.
- the printer control unit 3 receives the print job from the mini-computer 2. It handles printer emulation, character editing, character sets, diagnostics, and and controls the actuators of the printer mechanism. Further, the printer control unit receives the signals provided by the sensors, stores them if necessary, and processes them further.
- the microprocessor 30 Master Control Unit, MCU
- the rewritable read-only memory 31 Flash
- the working memory 32 RAM
- the motor control unit 33 are provided.
- the mini-computer 2, the printer control unit 3 and the memory 5 may be mounted on a common, not shown, formed as a support plate carrier. Furthermore, the printer control unit 3 and the mini-computer 2 may be arranged adjacent, such that the mini-computer 2 associated interface 24 for connecting the printer control unit 3 and the printer controller 3 associated interface 29 for connection of the mini-computer 2 are facing each other. This allows a very compact design and efficient cabling of these components.
- the support plate does not have to be designed as a separate component. It can be part of the printer housing 6.
- the power supply unit 7 supplies the assemblies, which are arranged in the printer housing 6, of mini computer 2, printer control unit 3, printer mechanism 4 and memory 5 with energy.
- the power supply 7 itself is in this case arranged outside the printer housing 6. As a result, the resulting waste heat does not fall within the printer housing 6 and can be removed in a simple manner.
- the power supply 7 is connected via a not shown Asked mains cable connected to a power grid, also not shown.
- a printer 1 ' has a printer control unit 40 arranged in a printer housing 6', which has an interface 41 for connecting the printer control unit 41 to a mini-computer 2 'and a programmable integrated circuit 42.
- the programmable integrated circuit 42 may in this case be designed, for example, as a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
- the mini-computer 2 has an interface 43 for connecting the printer control unit 40. Its further structure is similar to that of the mini-computer 2 of Application Example 1.
- the same reference numerals denote the same components and component functions.
- the printer control unit 40 and the mini-computer 2 ' are coupled to one another via a data line which uses the PCI Express expansion standard (PCI: Peripheral Component Into Connect).
- PCI Peripheral Component Into Connect
- the mini-computer 2 ' takes over the control of the printer mechanism 4.
- microprocessor 30, rewritable read-only memory 31, memory 32 and motor control unit 33 has the printer control unit 40 only a programmable logic 42, which is designed as an FPGA.
- the FPGA takes over the time-critical control of motors, thermal line and / or print head.
- the printer emulation, character editing, fonts, diagnostic function and the like are implemented centrally in the mini-computer 2.
- the connection 44 by means of PCI Express here represents an expansion standard, which serves to control peripheral devices with the chipset 9 of the mini-computer 2 '.
- the printer control unit 40 can be performed very inexpensively by dispensing with microprocessor 30, memory 31, 32 and motor control unit 33. At the same time can be realized by a substantial functional integration of mini-computer 2 'and printer control unit 40, a particularly compact design of the printer 1'. Overall, the printer housing 6 'can be made particularly compact, so that an extremely small footprint over conventional POS systems can be realized. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102008038329A DE102008038329A1 (en) | 2008-08-19 | 2008-08-19 | Printer for a POS system |
PCT/EP2009/005682 WO2010020344A1 (en) | 2008-08-19 | 2009-08-06 | Printer for a cash register system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2319028A1 true EP2319028A1 (en) | 2011-05-11 |
Family
ID=41202690
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09777684A Ceased EP2319028A1 (en) | 2008-08-19 | 2009-08-06 | Printer for a cash register system |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110134482A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2319028A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102008038329A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010020344A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5379837B2 (en) * | 2011-09-06 | 2013-12-25 | 東芝テック株式会社 | Electronics |
CN111768573B (en) * | 2020-05-14 | 2023-08-25 | 江苏建筑职业技术学院 | Underground logistics system and collecting terminal for same |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5707162A (en) * | 1993-11-24 | 1998-01-13 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Modular information processing apparatus |
JP3399051B2 (en) * | 1993-11-24 | 2003-04-21 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | POS terminal and its printing device |
US6042007A (en) * | 1998-10-16 | 2000-03-28 | Ncr Corporation | Self-service computer assembly with integrated receipt printer |
JP3983453B2 (en) * | 1999-04-27 | 2007-09-26 | 株式会社リコー | Image information processing apparatus and image information processing system |
US6710895B1 (en) * | 1999-11-16 | 2004-03-23 | Cyberscan Technology, Inc. | Compact configurable scanning computer terminal |
US7986420B2 (en) * | 2006-11-29 | 2011-07-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Sensing paper jam, out-of-paper, and cover open in a printer |
US8291819B2 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2012-10-23 | Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc. | Rotary endorser for document processing employing a shape memory alloy actuator |
-
2008
- 2008-08-19 DE DE102008038329A patent/DE102008038329A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2009
- 2009-08-06 EP EP09777684A patent/EP2319028A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2009-08-06 WO PCT/EP2009/005682 patent/WO2010020344A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-08-06 US US13/057,565 patent/US20110134482A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2010020344A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2010020344A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 |
US20110134482A1 (en) | 2011-06-09 |
DE102008038329A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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Effective date: 20110107 |
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Extension state: AL BA RS |
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DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
17Q | First examination report despatched |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED |
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Effective date: 20140929 |