EP2897109A1 - Automated cashier system with electronic cash unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a checkout terminal (1) system, the checkout system (1) being controlled by a checkout system software and comprising: a registering device (11) operated by the checkout system software for registering prices of a checkout terminal Number of sales items and is designed to calculate a final price; and a printer and / or display unit (12) coupled to the registration device (11) via an interface (112) adapted to receive an end price indicative indicative of the final price and to generate a purchase receipt (12-1) indicative of the final price. According to the invention, an electronic cash unit (13) is provided, which is coupled to the interface (112) and is designed to pick up the final price signal via the interface (112) and automatically accept cash and issue change in dependence on the tapped end price signal.

Description

The present invention relates to a cashier system for a checkout terminal according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and to an electronic cash unit for a checkout terminal cashier system according to the preamble of patent claim 15.

Checkout terminals are usually located in shops where customers can purchase certain goods, such as groceries, clothing, household goods, sports equipment, electronics, and other merchandise. After a customer has put together certain sales items, he brings them to a checkout terminal to pay for them. Typically, such a checkout terminal has a conveyor for transporting the respective sales items, a cashier area where a cashier for registering and selling the sales items is located, and a goods removal area where registered and sold sales items are collected so that the customer is there can pack and remove.

An essential part of a checkout terminal is a cashier system for processing the payment process. Known checkout systems for checkout terminals are on the one hand controlled by a cashier system software and on the other hand, at least partially manually operated by a cashier. For example, is usually the Cashier responsible for accepting cash from the customer and also give change to the customer.

A common checkout system for handling a payment operation has a registration device controlled by the checkout system software. By way of example, such a registration device comprises a scanner which scans and thus identifies barcodes located on the sales articles so that a sales price can be assigned to the respective sales articles. In any case, such a registration device regularly calculates a final price that a customer has to pay for the sales items put together by him.

The registration device of the prior art cash register system is further coupled to a printer and / or display unit and usually to a cash drawer. For example, the registration device transmits the final price calculated by it to the printer unit in the form of an indicative final price signal which, upon receipt of such a final price signal, generates a purchase receipt indicating the final price and outputs it. Alternatively or additionally, the registration device transmits the final price calculated by it in the form of the same or in the form of a further final price signal to a display unit which indicates the final price upon receipt of such a final price signal, for example on a display oriented to the customer.

Usually, the cashier hands over the proof of purchase to the customer, who then usually has the opportunity to pay the final price displayed on it by cash. Upon a corresponding instruction from the cashier, the registration device then transmits a control signal to the cash drawer, which then opens and transmits a corresponding confirmatory reply signal to the registration device. The cash drawer usually contains cash notes of various denominations as well as cash coins of various denominations. The cashier can then accept the cash from the customer, place it in the cash drawer and issue the corresponding change to the customer. The closing of the cash drawer usually triggers the transmission of a corresponding status signal from the cash drawer to the registration device. The registration device then knows that a new payment process can be initiated.

The cash drawer, the printer and / or display unit, as well as the registration device are usually different modules of the cashier system. That is, each one this module has its own housing and components of the respective modules are arranged within the respective housing. For example, the recording device is connected via an RS232 cable and / or via a USB cable to the printer and / or display unit and via a further data line with the cash drawer. The cash drawer containing the cash is usually connected only to the recording device, but not to the printer and / or display unit, as there is no technical need for the latter connection.

In order to save personnel costs and to increase the reliability of checkout terminals, it is desirable to design checkout terminals in such a way that they can fulfill their function largely without a personal cashier. Although much progress has been made in this regard in the registration of the sales items, which are registered, for example, fully automatically by means of tunnel scanners or similar facilities, the payment of the sales items, in particular by cash, the interaction of a cashier is required. This usually has to serve a cash drawer as described above, so that the payment process can take place.

Object of the present invention is to propose a cashier system for a checkout terminal, in which the presence of a cashier can be at least largely dispensed with.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a checkout terminal checkout system having the features of independent claim 1. Features of advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the subclaims.

The cashier system according to the invention for a checkout terminal, like a previously known cashier system, can also be controlled by means of a cashier system software. It has a common register for registering prices, a number of sales items, and for calculating a final price. This registration device is also operable by means of the cashier system software. Likewise, the cashier system according to the invention on a conventional printer and / or display unit, which is designed to receive an indicative end price for the final price and to create a final price indicating proof of purchase and / or to display the final price. The registration device provides the final price signal depending on the final price and transmits this via the interface to the Printer and / or display unit. In that regard, the checkout system according to the invention for a checkout terminal does not differ from a previously known cashier system.

It is possible that the cashier system according to the invention comprises only the printer unit, only the display unit or both a printer unit and the display unit. The phrase "printer and / or display unit" is intended to capture these three variants.

Instead of a conventionally provided manually operated cash drawer, however, an electronic cash unit is provided according to the invention, which is coupled to the interface and which is designed to tap the final price signal via the interface and automatically accept cash from a customer depending on the tapped end price signal and change to this issue.

The electronic cash unit thus replaces a usually provided cash drawer. Thus, the personnel costs associated with the operation of a usually provided cash drawer, can be saved. The electronic cash unit is designed, for example, to carry out a cash transfer between the customer and the cash unit fully automatically. The electronic cash unit is in particular designed to accept both coins and bills and, depending on the final price, to return change in the form of cash to the customer.

According to the invention, it is further preferably provided that the electronic cash unit is designed to communicate with the registration device in the same way as a manually operated cash drawer does. The electronic cash unit is preferably coupled in the same manner to the registration device as a manually operated cash drawer, for example via an RS232 cable and / or via a USB cable. In addition, the electronic cash unit of the cashier system according to the invention is coupled to the interface, which couples the printer and / or display unit to the registration device. In addition, the electronic cash unit uses the final price signal, which is actually intended only for the printer and / or display unit.

This has the advantage that when replacing the cash drawer by the electronic cash unit neither the registration device nor the printer and / or Display unit for the coupling of the electronic cash unit must be changed; In particular, the cashier system software does not have to be adapted. The registration unit need not be aware that it is not a common cash drawer, but an electronic cash unit. The electronic cash unit simulates the communication behavior of a usually provided cash drawer. This ensures that the cashier system software does not need to be adjusted and there can be an uncomplicated and quick replacement of cash draws by an electronic cash unit in bulk.

Existing cashier systems, where the manual cash drawer is to be replaced by the electronic cash unit, need not be adapted in any way. It is sufficient in each case that the intended manually operated cash drawer is separated from the cashier system, so for example appropriate connection cables are disconnected and instead of the cash drawer, the electronic cash unit is installed, can be coupled via the same, still existing connection cable to the registration unit. In addition, it is expedient to carry out a coupling to the interface between the printer and / or display unit and recording device, so that the electronic cash unit now provided can pick up the final price signal transmitted via this interface to the printer and / or display unit, in dependence on the tapped end price signal automatically accept cash and spend change. In this way, millions of existing checkout terminal systems can be retrofitted in a particularly simple manner. Basically, the cashier system software provided in each case does not realize the replacement of the cash drawer by the electronic cash unit.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the electronic cash unit is currency independent and can be used anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the dismantling of a conventional cashier system, ie a cashier system that does not have an electronic cash unit, but a manually operated cash drawer, easily possible and takes at most a few minutes installation effort. Furthermore, both conventional cashier systems with manual cash drawers can be installed in the same shop as well as cashier systems, which according to the invention have said electronic cash units. All existing processes for paying for sales items are basically retained.

For example, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the electronic cash unit not only has an interface for accepting cash and issuing change, but also an interface for reading a loyalty card, an empties note, a voucher, etc., so that such data in Cash payment process can be considered.

In addition, it is possible to run the electronic cash unit, unlike a manually operated cash drawer, as a safe, so as a security container. Typical cash drawers used at checkout terminals are usually easy to manipulate and open. In particular, it often happens in robberies that cashiers are asked to open the cash drawer so that the respective thief can steal the cash contained therein. Such a security gap does not exist with the electronic cash unit.

Another advantage of the cashier system according to the invention is the increased hygiene. For traditional cashier systems that have a cash drawer, the respective cashier often sorts both sales items, such as non-sealed foods, and cash, which makes it easier to spread bacteria and other pathogens. The use according to the invention of the electronic cash unit does not lead to such impurities.

In addition, the electronic cash unit is less error prone because it is not a cashier who oversees and handles the cash payment process, but the fully automatic electronic cash unit.

Further embodiments of the cashier system according to the invention for a checkout terminal will be described below. The additional features of these further embodiments may be combined with each other and with the optional features already described above to form further embodiments, unless expressly described as alternative to each other.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electronic cash unit has a simulator device, which is coupled via a connecting means to the registration device of the cashier system and is designed to simulate the communication device a communication behavior of a manually operated cash drawer. The simulator device of the electronic Cash unit is thus designed to simulate the communication behavior of a manually operated cash drawer identical. The electronic cash unit is responsive to signals received from the registration device via the first connection means in a manner similar to a manual cash drawer. This ensures that the cashier system software with which the registration device is operated does not have to be adapted in any way. In response to a particular signal that the registration device transmits to the electronic cash device, the registration device receives the same standard response signals as from a manually-operated cash drawer.

In an exemplary embodiment, this is expressed in that the simulator device receives a control signal from the registration device via the first connection means and provides a response signal in response to receipt of the control signal in response to a state of the electronic cash device of the registration device. For example, the control signal of the recording device is a signal indicating that a manually operated cash drawer is to be opened. In response, a normally-designed manually-operated cash drawer would open automatically, allowing a cashier to store cash in the cash drawer or take change out of it. Accompanying the opening would be the transmission of a corresponding status signal - such as "cash drawer open" - from the manually operated cash drawer to the registration device.

For example, the simulator device of the electronic cash unit replicates such behavior exactly. If the cash payment procedure is completed, the simulator device preferably transmits a corresponding status signal to the registration device which is identical to a signal that a manually operated cash drawer transmits to the registration device when the cash drawer is closed after a payment transaction.

Thus, the registration device does not "notice" whether it is dealing with a manually-operated cash drawer or with an electronic cash unit provided according to the invention. Thus, the cashier system software with which the registration device is operated need not be adapted in any way if a commonly provided manually operated cash drawer is replaced by said electronic cash unit.

The first connection means, by means of which the registration device is coupled to the electronic cash unit, in a preferred variant comprises a USB cable and / or an RS232 cable. These are the cables used to connect the usually manually operated cash drawers to the recording device. In a preferred variant of the cashier system according to the invention just these cables are maintained, so that the installation costs incurred when replacing the manually operated cash drawer by the electronic cash unit remains as low as possible.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cashier system according to the invention, the registration device is coupled to the printer and / or display unit via a second connection means. This second connection means preferably comprises the interface via which the electronic cash unit taps the end price signal communicated via the interface. Preferably, the second connection means comprises a USB cable and / or an RS232 cable. These are the cables with which usually the printer and / or display unit are connected to the registration device. This cable or these cables forms / form the interface between the printer and / or display unit on the one hand and the recording device on the other hand at least partially. The electronic cash unit accesses the end price signal directed to the printer and / or display unit via this interface. This can be done in different ways. For example, the second connection means comprises a kind of T-piece, so that the data traffic concerning printing processes and / or display operations is transmitted from the registration device, in particular the final price signal - not only to the printer and / or display unit but also, in other words, to the electronic cash unit. According to another example, the interface is arranged at an output of the registration device, via which the coupling of the printer and / or display unit takes place by means of the second connection means. According to another example, the interface is arranged at an input of the printer and / or display unit, via which the coupling of the printer and / or display unit to the registration device takes place by means of the second connection means. The coupling of the electronic cash unit to the interface takes place according to a further embodiment without contact. For example, the cash unit wirelessly picks up the terminal price signal transmitted via the interface by evaluating an electromagnetic field emitted by the interface.

In a preferred embodiment of the cashier system, the cash unit comprises, for the purpose of tapping the final price signal, a scanning device coupled to the interface. This scanning device is thus configured to tap off the data traffic between the registration device and the printer and / or display unit, which preferably takes place via the second connection means, and to identify the end price signal in this data traffic. According to an exemplary embodiment, this takes place in such a way that the scanning device of the cash unit picks up the data traffic between the registration device and the printer and / or display unit via the second connection means and detects at least one keyword in this data traffic. For example, the keyword is one or more words such as "total," "final price," "total," and so on. These keywords indicate that the amount of money following these keywords indicates the final price for the sales items. This final price forms the basis for the cash payment process to be settled automatically by the electronic cash unit.

Depending on the configuration of the printer and / or display unit, the coupling of the electronic cash unit takes place, ie, for example, the coupling of the scanning device, to this printer and / or display unit. If the printer and / or display unit is merely a printer unit, then the second connection means is in the form of a printer cable (such as RS232 or USB) and the electronic cash unit is coupled to this printer cable to determine the final price. If the printer and / or display unit is merely a display unit, then the second connection means is in the form of a monitor cable (such as RS232 or USB or HDMI) which connects the recording device to a monitor of the display unit, and the electronic cash unit is paired with this monitor cable to determine the final price. If the printer and / or display unit is a printer unit and a display unit, then the second connection means is in the form of a printer cable and a monitor cable, for example, and the electronic cash unit is optionally connected to the printer cable or to the monitor cable or to both cables (Printer cable and monitor cable) coupled to determine the final price.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cashier system according to the invention, the cash unit comprises a control unit coupled to the simulator device and to the scanning device and a cash module coupled to the control unit with a first user interface for accepting the cash and to spend the change. The control unit of the electronic cash unit is preferably designed to coordinate the cash payment process. The cash module with the first user interface has, for example, a means for accepting bills and a means for accepting coins and a means for issuing bills and for dispensing coins. Coupled to the user interface is preferably a storage module for storing bills and coins so that cash entered by a customer can be carried into that storage module and to be dispensed to the customer change can be removed from this storage module and the customer can be returned via the first user interface.

The basis for the automatic processing of the cash payment process is the final price, which the scanning device has determined by tapping the final price signal which the registration device has transmitted to the printer and / or display unit. The scanning device is preferably designed to communicate the determined final price to the control unit of the cash unit, which then initiates the cash payment transaction. The control unit is also coupled in terms of communication technology to the simulator device, so that the simulator device can simulate the behavior of a manually operated cash drawer depending on conditions of the cash unit, that is, depending on conditions of the cash payment process and can transmit corresponding signals to the recording device.

For example, the control unit instructs a graphics driver module coupled to it to the cash unit to display information concerning the cash payment process, in particular the final price, on a display means of the cash unit. For example, the control unit only instructs the graphics driver module when the registration device has transmitted a corresponding control signal to the cash unit, for example a control signal which is indicative that a manually operated cash drawer is to be opened. Such a signal, according to an exemplary embodiment, initiates the automatic cash payment process. The graphics driver module displays the final price to be paid on the display means. For example, the control unit activates the first user interface so that it can accept cash from customers. Depending on the cash entered and the final price, the cash module, under instruction of the control unit, returns the change calculated by the control unit to the customer via the first user interface. After the change has been returned to the customer, points the control unit instructs the simulator device to transmit a signal to the registration device which is indicative of a closed manual cash drawer. This signals the registration device that the cash payment process has been completed and a next customer can be served.

In a particularly preferred of the cashier system according to the invention, the electronic cash unit has a housing in which the scanning device, the simulator device, the control unit and optionally the graphics driver module and the cash module are arranged. The electronic cash unit is therefore preferably designed as a stand-alone module having a housing in which all units are arranged, which are required to simulate a manually operated cash drawer and the settlement of a cash payment transaction.

Whether the electronic cash unit is equipped with a graphics driver module or not can be made dependent on the design of the cashier system: If this already includes a display unit, the provision of a graphics driver module in the electronic cash unit may be superfluous. However, if the cashier system includes only the printer unit, but no display unit, it is expedient to provide the graphics driver module in the electronic cash unit.

It is further preferred that the electronic cash unit is communicatively coupled exclusively via the first connection means and the second connection means to the registration unit. Via the first connection means, the electronic cash unit receives signals from the registration device, which are usually provided for a manually operated cash drawer. In addition, the electronic cash unit transmits signals to the registration device via the first connection means, which usually come from a manually operated cash drawer. As has already been explained above, the first connection means is preferably an RS232 cable and / or a USB cable. The second connection means couples the registration device in known manner to the printer and / or display unit. According to the invention, said interface means, which are already provided anyway, additionally provide said interface, which is preferably designed as part of the second connection means, and via which the scanning device of the electronic cash unit receives the final price signal that the registration device usually communicates with the printer and / or display unit. can tapped. In other words, the electronic cash unit can be connected to a recording device, such as a standard manual one serving cash drawer too. The only additional installation step required is the coupling of the electronic cash unit to the second connection means that couples the registration device to the printer and / or display unit. For this purpose, said interface is provided.

For storing accepted cash and change to be issued, the electronic cash unit preferably has a cash box, which is preferably designed as a security container. This increases the security of the entire cashier system. The fact that the cashbox is arranged inside the housing of the electronic cash unit, a third party, unlike manually operated cash drawer, no direct access to the cash contained therein. The cash box can be equipped with conventional security features, such as a Einärbetechnologie or the like, which is triggered in the presence of a manipulation attempt. Such security features are not easily implemented at usually provided manually operated cash drawer, since manually operated cash drawer are opened and closed regularly and thus in the context of manipulation attempts this normal opening and closing operations can be adjusted in a simple manner. This is not the case with a cashbox, which is preferably provided in the electronic cash unit, since it is not opened and closed like a conventional cash drawer.

A second aspect of the present invention is the electronic cash unit of claim 15. The cash unit according to the invention shares the advantages of the cashier system according to the invention. Preferred embodiments of the cash unit correspond analogously to the above-described embodiments of the cashier system, in particular as defined by the features of the dependent claims.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the figure.

The Fig.1 shows in a schematic and exemplary manner a block diagram of a cashier system according to the invention with an electronic cash unit according to the invention.

The cashier system 1 is designed for placement in a (in Fig.1 not shown) checkout terminal, which is usually in shops, such as supermarkets, can be installed. At such a checkout terminal customers of the shop should be able to pay the sales items they put together by cash. Operations in the cashier system 1 are controlled by a cashier system software.

The cashier system 1 has a registration device 11 which is operated by the cashier system software. The registration device 11 registers prices of a number of sales items and calculates, based thereon, a final price that a customer has to pay for the sales items he has put together. For example, the registration device 11 includes a bar code scanner, such as a tunnel scanner, which reads bar codes attached to the sales articles and assigns them to a sales price. In the present case, the exact manner in which the sales articles are registered is less important. It is essential that the registration device determines a final price and transmits this final price in the form of a final price signal via a second connection means 111 to a printer and / or display unit 12 of the cashier system 1. The printer and / or display unit 12 can optionally be only one printer unit, only one display unit or one printing unit and display unit. All three variants should be covered by the phrase "printer and / or display unit".

The printer and / or display unit 12 receives the final price signal and, depending on the final price, generates a purchase receipt 12-1 for the customer indicating the final price and / or displays the final price on a (in the Fig. 1 not shown) monitor or similar. at. The purchase receipt 12-1 is, for example, a standard receipt. The registration device 11, the connection means 111 and the printer and / or display unit 12 are designed as standard. The present invention provides no changes to these components 11 and 12.

The checkout system 1 further comprises a first connection means 113, via which the registering device 11 is usually connected to a (in the Fig.1 not shown) manually operated cash drawer is connected. In such a commonly provided manually operated cash drawer, cash, such as coins and bills, stored so that the customer to be paid cash can be stored there and can be removed to the customer to be returned change from the cash drawer. For these operations, the cash drawer is usually opened, for example by a flap mechanism or push mechanism, the cash drawer being instructed to do so by the registration device. For this For purposes, the registration device 11 transmits, for example via the first connection means 113, a corresponding control signal, which is indicative, for example, that the cash drawer is to be opened. After the cash drawer has opened, the cash drawer communicates via the first connection means 113 a corresponding status signal in response to the control signal to the registration device.

According to the invention, instead of such a manually operated cash drawer, an electronic cash unit 13 is provided, which, just like a cash drawer which is normally to be operated manually, is coupled to the registration device 11 via the first connection means 113. Furthermore, the electronic cash unit 13 is coupled by means of an interface 112 to the second connection means 111, which by default couples the registration device 11 to the printer and / or display unit 12.

The cash unit 13 is designed to carry out a cash payment process fully automatically. For this purpose, the cash unit 13 comprises a scanning device 131, which is coupled to the second connecting means 111 by means of the interface 112. In turn, the scanning device 131 picks up the final price signal which the registration device 11 transmits to the printer and / or display unit 12, so that the cash unit 13 can automatically accept cash from a customer as a function of the tapped end price signal and can return change thereto.

Both the first connection means 113 and the second connection means 111 can be designed, for example, as an RS232 cable and / or as a USB cable. The interface 112, via which the scanning device 131 picks up the final price signal, can for example be integrated as a T-piece in such a cable, or at a signal output of the recording device 11 or a signal input of the printer and / or display unit 12. In the present case is under the The term "tapping" does not mean that the final price signal provided by the registration device 11 is now made available exclusively to the cash electric unit 13 and not the printer and / or display unit 12, but rather that the electronic cash unit 13 receives the same final price as the one Printer and / or display unit 12.

To adjust the communication behavior of a manually operated cash drawer, the electronic cash unit 13 further comprises a simulator device 132. The simulator device 132 is above the first Connecting means 113 coupled to the registration unit 11. Furthermore, the simulator device 132 is coupled in terms of communication technology both to the scanning device 131 and to a control unit 134 of the cash unit 13. The control unit 134 coordinates the cash payment process.

For issuing change and accepting cash, the electronic cash unit comprises a cash module 138 controlled by the control unit 134. For accepting and dispensing cash, a first user interface 138-1 is provided. By means of this first user interface 138-1, bills and coins may be entered into the electronic cash unit 13 by a customer, and bills of exchange may be issued in the form of coins and / or bills. To supply all components of the electronic cash unit 13 with energy, a power supply unit 137 is provided. This is power electronics coupled to the components of the electronic cash unit 13, said power electronic coupling not closer in the Fig. 1 is shown. Finally, the electronic cash unit also has a display means 136, which is controlled by a graphics driver module 135. The display means 136, the customer information 136-1, which relate to the payment process, displayed. For example, the display means 136 displays the final price that the customer has to pay for the sales items you have put together (present: EUR 11.11).

All components of the electronic cash unit 13 are arranged within a housing 139 of the electronic cash unit 13. This has the advantage that the electronic cash unit can be connected to the registration device as a single module, such as a manually operated cash drawer, by means of the first connection means 113.

The following is a complete, processed by the cashier system 1 cash payment procedure will be explained. The checkout system 1 is arranged, for example, in a checkout terminal of a supermarket. A customer compiles a plurality of sales articles and registers them with the registration unit 11. The registration device 11 thus registers the prices of the sales items put together by the customer and calculates a final price based thereon, which the customer has to pay for his sales items. After the registration device 11 has determined the final price, it provides a corresponding Endpreissignal and leads this Endpreissignal the printer and / or Display unit 12 too. The printer and / or display unit 12 thereupon generates a purchase receipt 12-1 indicating the final price for the customer and / or displays the final price to be paid to the customer.

The scanning device 131 of the cash unit 13 picks up the final price signal via the interface 112 during this data transfer. This can be done in different ways. For example, the scanning device 131 detects in the data traffic between the registration device 11 and the printer and / or display unit 12 a keyword such as "final price", "total", "total", etc. Behind such a keyword is usually indicated the final price that the Scan device 131 can determine in this way. This can be done wirelessly or by wire.

After the scanning device 131 has determined the final price, the scanning device 131 communicates the determined final price to the control unit 134. By means of the graphics driver module 135, the control unit 134 causes the final price 136-1 to be displayed on the display device 136 of the electronic cash unit. Thus, the customer is informed, which final price he has to pay by cash. At the same time, the control unit 134 instructs the simulator device 132 to indicate to the registration device 11 by means of a corresponding signal that a manually operated cash drawer is in the "opened" state.

Further, the controller 134, which is operatively coupled to the cash module 138, coordinates transactions in the cash module 138. The cash module 138 receives cash from the customer. In the example shown, the customer must pay 11 € and 11 cents. For example, the customer enters a 20 euro bill through the first user interface 138-1 and the cash module 138 returns a change of 8 € and 89 cents via the first user interface 138-1. For example, the cash module 138 outputs a 5 euro bill, a 2 euro coin, a 1 euro coin, etc. The control unit 134 registers that the cash payment operation has been completed and instructs the simulator device 132 to transmit a corresponding signal to the registration device 11. The simulator device 132 transmits a signal to the registration device 11, which is identical to a signal that transmits a conventional manually operated cash drawer to the registration device 11 when the cash drawer is closed after completion of the cash payment process by a cashier, for example by closing a lid the cash drawer or by inserting a drawer. The registration device 11 knows so that the cash payment process is completed and can handle a next customer.

In terms of communication technology, the electronic cash unit 13 thus simulates exactly the same behavior as a conventional manual cash drawer. This causes that when a conventional manually operated cash drawer of a cashier system is replaced by the electronic cash unit 13, the registration device 11 does not even notice that it is now dealing with an electronic cash unit 13. Consequently, the cashier system software of the registration device 11 does not have to be changed, but can control the registration device in the usual manner. All the processes involved in paying for sales items are basically the same for the customer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Payment system

11

Recording device

111

Second connecting means

112

interface

113

First connecting means

12

Printer and / or display unit

12-1

proof of purchase

13

cash unit

131

scanning device

132

simulator equipment

134

control unit

135

Graphics driver module

136

display means

136-1

Information concerning a cash payment transaction

137

Power supply unit

138

cash module

138-1

First user interface

139

casing

Claims (15)

A checkout system (1) for a checkout terminal, the checkout system (1) being controlled by a checkout system software and having the following - a registration device (11) controlled by the checkout system software, adapted to register prices of a number of sales items and to calculate a final price; and a printer and / or display unit (12) coupled to the registration device (11) via an interface (112) for receiving a final price indicative of the final price and for producing a purchase receipt (12-1) indicating the final price; and / or designed to display the final price;
marked by - An electronic cash unit (13) which is coupled to the interface (112) and is adapted to tap the Endpreissignal via the interface (112) and automatically accept cash and issue change in response to the tapped Endpreissignal. The cashier system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic cash unit (13) has a simulator device (132) which is coupled to the registration device (11) via a first connection means (113) and is designed for the registration device (11). to simulate a communication-technical behavior of a manually operated cash drawer. A checkout system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the simulator means (132) is adapted to receive, via the first connection means (113), a control signal from the registering device (11) in dependence on a state of the electronic cash unit (13) of the registering device (11). 11) to provide a reply signal in response to the receipt of the control signal. Cashier system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control signal of the registration device (11) indicates that a manually operated cash drawer is open. The cashier system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the reply signal of the simulator means (132) indicates that a cash drawer to be operated manually is opened. Cashier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connection means (113) comprises a USB cable and / or an RS232 cable. A checkout system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the registration device (11) is coupled to the printer and / or display unit (12) via a second connection means (111) and the second connection means (111) 112). The cashier system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the second connection means (111) comprises a USB cable and / or an RS232 cable. Cashier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cash unit (13) comprises a scanning device (131) coupled to the interface (112) for picking up the final price signal. The cashier system (1) according to claims 7 and 9, characterized in that the scanning device (131) is designed to pick up the final price signal via the second connection means (111) occurring data traffic between the registration unit (11) and the printer and / or Display unit (12) tap and to detect in this at least one keyword. Cashier system (1) according to claim 2 and according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the cash unit (13) to the simulator means (132) and to the scanning device (131) coupled to the control unit (134) and a to the control unit ( 134) coupled cash module (138) having a first user interface (138-1) for accepting the cash and dispensing the change. A checkout system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the cash unit comprises a graphics driver module (135) coupled to the control unit (134) for outputting information (136-1) relating to a cash payment transaction, in particular the final price Display means (136) of the cash unit (13) is formed. The cashier system (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the cash unit (13) has a housing (139) in which the scanning device (131), the simulator device (132), the control unit (134) and the graphics driver module (135) and the cash module (138) are arranged, wherein the cash unit (13) communication technology exclusively via the first connecting means (113) and the second connecting means (111) to the registration device (11) is coupled. A checkout system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cash unit (13) comprises a cash box for storing accepted cash and change to be issued, the cash box being designed as a security container. Electronic cash unit (13) for a checkout terminal (1) of a checkout terminal, the checkout system (1) being controlled by a checkout system software and having the following - a registration device (11) operated by the checkout system software and configured to register prices of a number of sales items and to calculate a final price; and - One via an interface (112) to the registration device (11) coupled to the printer and / or display unit, which is to receive one for the final price indicative final price signal and for creating a purchase price indicative of the final price (12-1) is formed;
characterized in that - The electronic cash unit (13) to the interface (112) is coupled and is adapted to tap the Endpreissignal via the interface (112) and automatically accept cash in response to the tapped Endpreissignal and issue change.

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