ES1274314U - Purchase management device (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Purchase management device, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1) with at least one connection (2) configured to connect to a cash register (3), a control unit and a data input peripheral (5) of a user, the device being configured to prevent a purchase receipt from being printed based on data entry and to send the receipt to the user electronically. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Purchase management device

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention refers to a purchase management device, which allows the seller or buyer to manage how the purchase ticket or receipt is generated. In this way, it manages to reduce the consumption of paper, ink ... and the generation of waste.

STATE OF THE ART

When a user makes a purchase, for example in a neighborhood store or in a supermarket, they must receive a ticket that lists the products they have bought and their price. This ticket, ticket or receipt is produced by a printer, often on thermal paper.

The first resulting problem is that a totally useless energy and waste expenditure is generated, since the ticket is very frequently discarded by the user in a short period of time. Only the most relevant purchases may require it to be kept.

When, in addition, it has been printed on thermal paper, it fades over time, so there is no record of the purchase made.

Some companies have created loyalty systems that allow you to enter a member number and send a copy to an application or email. However, this system is only applicable in very advanced cash registers and does not prevent the printing of the receipt. Furthermore, paper bonuses or discounts are generally produced, so that the generation of waste increases.

The applicant does not know of any solution to these cited problems that can be considered similar to the invention.

The invention consists of a purchase management device according to the claims. Its different embodiments solve the problems of the state of the art and provide notable advantages.

The device is intended to be connected to the cash register and the receipt printer, generally interposed between the two. However, it is possible to properly program the cash register to use other forms of connection.

For this, the purchase management device comprises a housing with at least one connection configured to connect to a cash register (optionally a second connection for a receipt printer), a control unit and a peripheral for inputting a user's data. . The device is configured to prevent the printing of a purchase ticket depending on the data input by the peripheral and to send the ticket to the user electronically.

Preferably, the input peripheral is an NFC reader that can perform both functions and connect with a mobile phone or the like.

The system may comprise an input peripheral close timer to limit the time of use of the input peripheral and continue printing if the user does not act.

Other variants will be shown in the remainder of the specification and are defined in the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included.

Figure 1: Scheme of embodiment according to a particular example.

MODES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of the invention will be briefly described, as an illustrative and non-limiting example thereof, applied to the field of ceramic components.

The device shown in figure 1 comprises a housing (1) with at least one connection (2). The connection (2) is prepared to connect to a cash register (3). If there is more than one connection (2), it will also be connected to the printer (4) plugged into the cash register (3). The device is thus in series with the printer (4).

The device comprises a control unit, for example a programmable logic board, with a memory to include the printer drivers to be able to interpret the orders sent to it and modify or stop them if necessary.

The device comprises an input peripheral (5), such as a keyboard, a touch screen, a barcode reader or, preferably, an RFID or NFC reader. In this way, it is possible to enter data, such as an email, a phone number or a membership number ... This input peripheral (5) is preferably integrated into the housing (1) and allows the identification of the user making the payment. .

The input peripheral (5) can also indicate to the user the option of omitting or not printing the ticket and of sending an electronic copy to a user's application or to his email. This indication can be by default, including it within the data of each user, so that just by identifying yourself it is possible to know the user's preferences. To do this, the device must be able to connect to a server that keeps this data, either directly or through the cash register (3). Likewise, this information can be included together with the identifying information received in the input peripheral (5) through the NFC or RFID.

If the user chooses to receive the ticket electronically, it can be sent to the application of their mobile phone over the internet, through the input peripheral (5) if possible. For example, the same NFC system can be used so that, once identified, the ticket data is sent to the connected mobile phone.

The mobile phone application will allow you to keep and examine the different accumulated tickets, and you can even search within them to locate specific purchases.

In use, once the items being purchased have been read, the seller proceeds to order the cash register (3) to finalize the transaction. It generally involves the printing of the ticket, so the cash register (3) sends the signal to the printer (4). This signal is intercepted by the device that offers the user or buyer the option to identify themselves. The user can be identified manually, with a card that is read by the input peripheral (5) (barcode, RFID ...) or preferably with the mobile, activating the NFC transmitter. You can also enter an email or mobile number, without the system really knowing who you are. If you wish, you can press a button or the like to not identify yourself and continue printing. This option can also be activated after a timer, or from the cash register (3), so that the process does not stop indefinitely. An indication, such as one or more LEDs, indicates to the user if he is in time to identify himself at the input peripheral (5).

The user can also identify himself on the device while the seller is identifying the items purchased or giving the change and, in this way, speed up the process. In this case, the device saves the user's selection in memory until the moment the ticket is issued.

If the casing (1) is connected to the cash register (3) and not directly to the printer (4), the cash register (3) will be programmed to receive a print acceptance signal from the device, so it will send the information so that the printer (4) cannot use it while it does not receive the acceptance, and only then will it communicate with the printer (4) so that it prints the ticket.

This invention makes it possible to adapt cash registers to an ecological system, which allows reducing the consumption of energy and materials, while simplifying the management of receipts for both individuals and companies. The application used for this on the mobile phone or on the computer can be accessible to different types of stores, instead of being limited to one store or group of stores.

Claims (1)

1- Purchase management device, characterized in that it comprises a casing (1) with at least one connection (2) configured to connect to a cash register (3), a control unit and a data input peripheral (5) of a user, the device being configured to prevent a purchase ticket from being printed based on data entry and to send the ticket to the user electronically. 2- Purchase management device, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second connection (2) configured to connect to a ticket printer (4). 3- Purchase management device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the input peripheral (5) is an NFC reader. 4- Purchase management device, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a closing timer of the input peripheral (5).