EP2562723B1 - Device for handling vouchers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling vouchers, which comprises at least one sensor unit for detecting at least one feature of the supplied voucher.

There are various coupons known that are issued for example by a dealer or manufacturer of a product for free or as an addition to the purchase of a product to customers. Such vouchers are, for example, bundling vouchers that entitle to receive a free or reduced-cost addition of a product or service upon purchase of a good or service, discount vouchers that qualify for a discount over a certain amount or a percentage on the value entitle a product or category of goods, or loyalty vouchers for customer loyalty, for example in the form of loyalty points, which can serve in particular as a virtual currency. Also so-called information vouchers are known which entitle to receive information in the form of printed matter or downloads. Furthermore, vouchers in the form of vouchers are known, which are issued, for example, from automatic deposit return machines. All coupons may be limited to redemption in a particular store, for example, in an online store, and / or for a specific redemption period. The above and other of these coupons are also referred to as a coupon.

Vouchers are redeemed at checkouts of retailers, restaurants, or ticket counters by a cashier receiving the voucher, determining the value of the voucher, and entering the value of the voucher into the checkout system. Alternatively, a code of the coupon can be determined with the aid of a scanner, the code is checked by the cash register system and a value for the credit corresponding to the coupon can be determined. Subsequently, the voucher is canceled by the cashier manually. Furthermore, it may be necessary to keep the canceled voucher for billing purposes and / or to return it to the issuer of the voucher.

With this procedure, vouchers can not be validly or negligently voided, so that they can be redeemed several times. In the case of a multiple redemption of a voucher intended for one-time redemption, the merchant and / or the issuer of the voucher will be financially damaged.

The document US 4,788,419 describes a betting system in which the canceled betting tickets are not transferred to a collection container, but are returned to the bettors.

The document US 5,844,221 describes a method and system for redeeming coupons having a bar code. However, this system does not include a discount unit for the redeemed coupons.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for handling vouchers, which prevents vouchers can be redeemed several times.

This object is achieved with a device for handling vouchers with the features of claim 1. advantageous Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The device comprises a devaluation unit for debiting the voucher and a transport unit for transporting the voucher from a sensor unit to the devaluation unit. By means of the transport unit, a coupon detected with the aid of the sensor unit can be automatically transported to the validation unit and validated there in a revision-proof manner without an operator having access to the coupon detected by the sensor unit. This can prevent a scanned coupon from being used once more as a valid coupon.

The device enables fully automatic coupon receipt, validation and validation of the coupon. As a result, the handling process of the voucher at a so-called point of sale audit-proof and easy. In an advantageous embodiment, a message is sent to automatic clearing systems.

In an advantageous development, the sensor unit comprises at least one scanner. The scanner captures an image of the coupon and generates image data corresponding to the image. The image data is processed by means of an image processing algorithm. The image processing algorithm determines at least one feature that is characteristic of the supplied coupon. After that leads the Transport unit automatically assigns the coupon to the validation unit. The devaluation unit will invalidate the scanned coupon. Furthermore, an operator of the device, preferably a cashier, the value of the voucher can be issued for example via a display. As a result, this operator can credit the value determined to a bearer of the voucher or hand over the equivalent value. Vouchers are bundling vouchers, discount vouchers, loyalty vouchers, store vouchers, information vouchers or vouchers, as described above.

The devaluation unit preferably invalidates the supplied coupon irreversibly. This is done for example by punching the coupon, by introducing an imprint, by shredding the coupon and / or by printing or stamping the coupon with a suitable color, which is preferably detectable by means of the sensor unit.

Furthermore, the device has a control unit. This control unit determines the validity of the voucher with the aid of the feature that has determined the sensor unit or an image processing algorithm in processing the information determined by the sensor unit. Furthermore, the control unit controls the transport unit such that the transport unit transports this coupon from the sensor unit to the validation unit when the validity of the coupon is determined.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has an interface for transmitting at least data with information about the determined feature of the voucher. For example, the interface allows access to a database. With the aid of the feature determined, a value assigned to the feature or the coupon identified by the feature and / or an associated validity are read from the database. Furthermore, the status of the voucher can be updated in a record associated with the voucher in the database. In this way, it can be checked whether the same coupon or a copy or the original of the coupon has been redeemed, so that an abusive multiple redemption of the coupon is prevented.

In a particularly advantageous development, the data to be transmitted via the interface include information about the monetary value of the voucher, the discount value of the voucher, the expiration date of the voucher, the authenticity of the voucher, the type and / or the amount of an addition to be granted by the voucher. In this way, it is particularly easy to determine the value of the voucher. Furthermore, with the help of this information, a settlement between the issuer of the voucher and the voucher redeeming body can be carried out.

Furthermore, the device has an input and / or return area, through which the vouchers can be fed and / or are dispensable. In this way, the device vouchers are easily fed. Furthermore, vouchers that are not to be validated and / or validated vouchers can be issued again by the device.

It is particularly advantageous if the device has an input and output slot through which a combined input and return area is provided. As a result, a particularly simple mechanical construction of the device is possible. In addition, such an input and output slot facilitates the operation of the device, if only at a single point, the vouchers are fed and / or discharged.

The control unit controls the transport unit in case of invalidity of the voucher such that the transport unit transports the voucher from the sensor unit to the return area. This will return the invalid voucher. In particular, a voucher is invalid if it has been determined that it has already been used or the validity period of the voucher has already expired or has not yet occurred. Also, the coupon is invalid if the dealer does not accept this coupon, as he does not accept this specific coupon.

The device comprises a collection container for canceled vouchers or for their remnants. This collection container is for example a removable drawer or a bag. Preferably, this collection container is monitored by a level sensor. A service intervention for emptying or replacing this collection container takes place either at fixed time intervals or during an alarm message triggered by the filling level sensor.

It is advantageous if the device for handling coupons is integrated into a cash register system. In this case, data with information about the detected feature can be transmitted to a cash register control unit of the cash register system. The cash register unit then uses this data to check whether the voucher is valid. The result of the test, that is information about the validity of the voucher, is then transmitted to the control unit.

In another advantageous embodiment, the control unit of the device determines information about the voucher and transmits data with the information, in particular with information about the monetary value of the voucher, the discount value of the voucher, the type and / or the amount of an addition to the cash control unit of the POS system. Also in this embodiment, the POS system takes into account information about the value of the coupon in a bill with a customer. In this way, the customer comes to the equivalent of the voucher.

The sensor unit preferably detects a barcode present on the coupon. The barcode is in particular a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode.

In an advantageous development, the image data of the voucher generated with the aid of the sensor unit are stored. For a quick and clear creation of a file name, the hash code of the scanned coupon can be used. Additionally, when generating the file name, the redemption date of the coupon and / or a market number of the retailer redeeming the coupon may be prefixed and / or appended to the hash code. Alternatively or additionally, the redemption date and / or market number of the retailer redeeming the coupon may be added to the image data prior to generating the hash code. Furthermore, these data can be stored in a record associated with the voucher.

As a carrier material of the voucher can serve in particular paper, foil or cardboard. Thus, for example, a coupon on the packaging of a product may be appropriate, as is customary in so-called cross-selling. In this case, the material of the packaging is the carrier of the voucher. For other voucher forms must be glued to the validity of the voucher on a carrier card stickers or stamped images stamped. The voucher is only valid if either a minimum number of Sticked stickers or a minimum number of stamp images is stamped.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which illustrates the invention with reference to an embodiment with the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1

eine schematische geschnittene Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Handhabung von Gutscheinen und

Fig. 2

einen Programmablaufplan für ein Programm zum Steuern der Vorrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for handling vouchers and

Fig. 2

a program flowchart for a program for controlling the device.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional schematic representation of the device 10. The device 10 has a transport unit. This transport unit comprises a first pair of rollers 36, 38, a second pair of rollers 40, 42, a third pair of rollers 44, 46 and a fourth pair of rollers 48, 50 for transporting a voucher 12 along a transport path and four baffles 52, 54, 56, 58 for Guide the voucher 12 along the transport route. At least one roller of each roller pair is driven by means of a central drive unit (not shown) for transporting the voucher 12.

The voucher 12 is fed to the device 10 via an input and output slot 14 in the transport direction P1. A first sensor unit 16 disposed between the input and output slots 14 and the first pair of rollers 36, 38 detects a coupon 12 fed to the apparatus 10 via the input and output slot 14. Due to a coupon detected by the first sensor unit 16 upon detection of the coupon 12 generated control signal activates a control unit 18 of the device 10, the central drive unit for driving the roller pairs 36 to 50. The pair of rollers 36, 38 of the transport unit transports the voucher 12 at a detection range of a second sensor unit 22 over. In this case, the roller pairs 36 to 50 are driven at a constant rotational speed, so that the coupon 12 passes the detection range of the second sensor unit 22 at a constant speed. This second sensor unit 22, which in the exemplary embodiment is a scanner scanning the coupon 12 line by line, preferably an incident light scanner and / or a transmitted light scanner, generates image data of a picture image of the coupon 12 and transmits this data to the control unit 18.

On the basis of a control signal of a third sensor unit 24 arranged after the second sensor unit 22, the control unit 18 deactivates the drive unit. This control signal is triggered when the voucher 12 has passed the third sensor unit 24. The voucher 12 is then between the baffles 52 to 58 and the pair of rollers 44, 46, wherein the front of the voucher 12, the baffles 52, 56 and the roller 44 and the back of the voucher 12, the baffles 54, 58 and the roller 46th are arranged opposite one another. In this position, the coupon 12 is cached in a portion of the transport path while the validity of the coupon 12 is determined.

By means of an image processing algorithm stored in the control unit 18 and processed by the latter, the control unit 18 determines from the image data transmitted by the second sensor unit 22 a feature relevant to the validity of the voucher 12.

Via an interface 26, the control unit 18 has contact with a POS system, not shown. The control unit 18 transmits information about the determined feature to the POS system. The POS system determines a value and / or the validity of the voucher 12 from this information. The POS system transmits the information about the validity of the voucher 12 via the interface 26 to the control unit 18.

If the control unit 18 determines, with the aid of the information on the validity that the voucher 12 is valid, the control unit 18 activates the drive unit for driving the roller pairs 36 to 50 in such a way that the voucher 12 is fed to a validation unit. The cancellation unit has two shredder rollers 28, 29 driven by the central drive unit, which cut the coupon 12 into strips.

The control signal of the fourth sensor unit 30 detects the transport of the voucher 12 to the validation unit. In this case, after the advance of the voucher 12 at the fourth sensor unit 30, a preset follow-up time is waited until the drive of the roller pairs 36 to 50 and the devaluation unit is deactivated, so that the voucher 12 is safely shredded.

The strips produced by the shredder rollers 28, 29 fall into a collecting container 32 arranged below the shredding rollers 28, 29. In the embodiment shown, the collecting container 32 is designed as a bag. After shredding the voucher 12, the control unit 18 transmits to the POS system via the interface 26 the information that the voucher 12 has been canceled.

Determines the control unit 18 with the help of the information on the validity of the voucher 12, however, that the coupon 12 is invalid, it activates the drive unit such that the pairs of rollers 36 to 50 transport the cached in the section of the transport path coupon 12 against the transport direction P1, so that the coupon 12 is issued via the input and output slot 14 again. By evaluating the control signal of the first sensor unit 16, the control unit 18 detects the time when you the voucher 12 is issued from the device 10 and disables the drive unit of the roller pairs 36 to 50th

Furthermore, the device 10 comprises a display 34. With the aid of the display 34, in particular information about the operating state of the device 10 is displayed. In other embodiments, the device 10 has no display 34. Preferably, the first sensor unit 16, the third sensor unit 24 and the fourth sensor unit 30 are each designed as a light barrier.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for controlling the device 10. The process is started in step S10. Subsequently, it is checked in step S12 whether with the aid of the first sensor unit 16 a coupon 12 supplied via the input and output slots 14 has been detected. If no coupon 12 is detected in step S12, step S12 is executed again.

However, if it is determined in step S12 that a coupon 12 has been supplied, then in step S14 the drive unit is activated and the roller pairs 36 to 50 are driven. Thus, the coupon 12 is transported past the second sensor unit 22 at a preset speed, scanned line by line by the second sensor unit 22, and generates image data of the coupon 12. If the third sensor unit 24 detects the trailing edge of the voucher 12 (seen in the feed direction P1), the scanning operation is completed and the drive unit is deactivated. Subsequently, in step S16, the image data of the voucher 12 are searched by means of an image processing algorithm for identification features by which the detected voucher 12 is to be uniquely identified. In the present embodiment, the identification feature is a preset barcode. In other embodiments Other identification features can be specified. Subsequently, it is checked in step S18 whether an identification feature has been recognized. If it has been determined in step S18 that an identification feature of the voucher 12 could be determined, the process is continued in step S20.

In step S20, information about the determined identification feature is used by the control unit 18 to read out information about the validity of the voucher 12 from a database connected to the control unit 18 via the interface 26. In step S22, it is then checked whether the voucher 12 is valid on the basis of the information read from the database. If so, the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, the control unit 18 recognizes the equivalent value of the voucher 12 and transmits information about the equivalent value via the interface 26 to the POS system. Subsequently, in step S26, the redemption of the coupon 12 is stored in the database, and the flow advances to step S34.

In step S34, the voucher 12 is supplied by activation of the drive unit of the roller pairs 36 to 50 and the shredder rollers 28, 29 of the devaluation unit and canceled there. The control signal of the fourth sensor unit 30 detects the delivery of the voucher 12 to the validation unit. The voucher 12 is considered to be canceled as soon as the voucher 12 completely passes through the fourth sensor unit 30 and a pre-set lag time has elapsed. Subsequently, the drive unit is deactivated and the process is ended with step S36.

If it was determined in step S18 that no identification feature was detected, or it was determined in step S22 that the coupon 12 was recognized as invalid, corresponding information is output via the display 34 in step S28. Furthermore, information is requested as to whether the invalid voucher 12 is to be output again from the device 10. To input this information, a suitable input device of the device 10 and / or a corresponding input option in the POS system is provided, wherein the information is then transmitted via the interface 26 to the control unit 18. In particular, the display 34 may be designed as a so-called touch screen, which has correspondingly marked input fields. Subsequently, it is checked in step S30 whether there is information for issuing the voucher 12. If this is the case, the process is continued in step S32. In step 32, the control unit 18 activates the drive unit of the roller pairs 36 to 50 such that the roller pairs 36 to 50 transport the coupon 12 counter to the transport direction P1 to the input and output slot 14 until the first sensor unit 16 detects that the coupon 12 is being reissued has been. Subsequently, the drive unit of the roller pairs 36 to 50 is deactivated and the process is ended in step S36.

If it is determined in step S30 that the coupon 12 should not be reissued, the one already described above Step S34 is performed, in which the voucher 12 is invalidated and the process is ended in step S36.

In an advantageous development of the process is automatically restarted after step S36 in step S36 again with step S10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption

12

Voucher

14

Input and output slot

16

first sensor unit

18

control unit

22

second sensor unit

24

third sensor unit

26

interface

28, 29

shredder roll

30

fourth sensor unit

32

Clippings

34

display

36 to 50

roller

52 to 58

baffle

S10 to S36

program step

Claims (7)

1. Cash register system comprising
   an apparatus (10) for handling vouchers (12),
   having a sensor unit (22) for sensing at least one feature of the voucher (12),
   having a cancellation unit (28) for cancelling the voucher (12),
   having a transport unit for transporting the voucher (12) from the sensor unit (22) to the cancellation unit (28),
   having a control unit (18) and
   having a reservoir (32) for cancelled vouchers (12),
   wherein the apparatus (10) has a submission area and a return area that allow the vouchers (12) to be introduced and dispensed, and
   wherein, if the voucher (12) is invalid, the control unit (18) actuates the transport unit such that the transport unit transports the voucher (12) from the sensor unit (22) to the return area.
2. Cash register system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (18) takes the validity of the voucher (12), as ascertained by means of the sensed feature, as a basis for actuating the transport unit such that, if the voucher (12) is valid, the transport unit transports the voucher (12) from the sensor unit (22) to the cancellation unit (28).
3. Cash register system according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus (10) has an interface (26) for transmitting data with information about the validity of the voucher (12).
4. Cash register system according to Claim 3, characterized in that the data comprise information about the monetary value of the voucher (12), discount value of the voucher (12), expiry date of the voucher (12), authenticity of the voucher (12), type and/or amount of a bonus.
5. Cash register system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the apparatus (10) has a combined submission and return area (14).
6. Cash register system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data with information about the sensed feature can be transmitted to a cash register control unit of the cash register system, wherein the cash register control unit uses the data to check whether the voucher (12) is valid, and the result of the check, the validity of the voucher (12), can be transmitted to the control unit (18).
7. Cash register system according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit (18) of the apparatus (10) ascertains the data about the voucher (12) and transmits data that comprise information about the monetary value of the voucher (12), the discount value of the voucher (12), the type and/or amount of a bonus to a cash register control unit of the cash register system.

Images