FR2478851A1 - DEVICE COMPRISING THE ISSUE OF A TICKET FOR RECORDING THE PRICE OF A MERCHANDISE, SUCH AS A PRICE CALCULATOR SCALE COMPRISING A PRINTER AND METHOD USED - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE INCLUDING THE ISSUANCE OF A TICKET FOR RECORDING THE PRICE OF GOODS, SUCH AS A PRICE CALCULATOR EQUIPPED WITH A PRINTER. A SINGLE PRINTER 20 IS A NEEDLE PRINTER 21 FOR THE REPRODUCTION ON A TICKET-COUPON 19 OF VARIABLE DATA CONCERNING IN PARTICULAR THE UNIT PRICE, THE MASS OR THE NUMBER OF ITEMS AND FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF A FIXED GRAPHIC DESIGN SUCH AS A MERCHANT'S STAMP , CAPABLE OF INCLUDING A FIGURATIVE ELEMENT. THE FIXED GRAPHIC PRINT CONTROL PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED BY A PROM 47 MEMORY INTERCHANGEABLE PER MODULE.

Description

The invention relates to a device comprising the

  a ticket for the registration of the price of a

  such as a price calculator equipped with a printer, which also includes a price entry device which must be entered as a unit price and / or

  mass, for example price per kilogram, in a calcula-

  price. The invention also relates to a method

implemented in the device.

  The device also includes a calculator for determining a commodity price based on mass and for determining the total price of a product.

  group purchase comprising several separate products. This disc

  positive finally includes a printer that reports the

  desired on an information carrier, for example a strip of paper. The indications to be reported on the ticket are essentially divided into two groups. A group of the indication to be reported is constituted by a fixed graphic that includes text elements and / or given figures. In such a fixed graphic is included for example at the front of the ticket a stamp of the firm that includes the name of the firm, his address and / or a figurative emblem of this firm. In addition, it can also include in this graphic at the front of the ticket a nomenclature containing

  data on unit masses or types of prices.

  Finally we can include on this fixed graphics also the number of the scale used as well as other invariable data. The other group of indications to be reported on the ticket includes variable data which depend on the

  different items of each purchase of a group purchase.

  This group includes, for example, unit prices, the mass of goods, prices per unit of account, the code number of goods and other indications, which are naturally indicated according to the nature and quantity of the goods which must appear in them. . At the bottom end of the ticket is finally reproduced the sum

  final result of the group purchase.

  Known devices of this type require, for the manufacture of a ticket, a dual printer. All the reproductions belonging to the desired fixed graphic

  are shown on a snapshot, which requires, for

  the corresponding part of the ticket, a mechanism of intervention. As regards the transfer of the variable data, this requires a special printing mechanism comprising printing characters or other printing means that can individually report the desired numerical or alphanumeric symbols. The

  such a cliché takes time and is relatively

  Costly change or modification of the graphic design requires time-consuming editing. Such a printer is also cumbersome by the requirement

  an extra board and maybe a disturbing pattern-

  because of the necessary coordination in the process

  different parts of the mechanisms of

pressure.

  The object of the invention is to propose a device

  of the type described at the beginning which has only one

  and therefore, be robust to use and

  can be adapted rapidly to operating conditions

modified.

  This object is achieved, according to the invention, in a

  device comprising the issue of a ticket for the

  the price of a commodity, such as

  printer equipped with a printer comprising: - a device for entering the price per piece and / or the unit of account of the goods, - a calculator for the determination of a price according to the mass and the total sum of a group purchase, and

  - a printer, with advance of a support of

  training, such as a strip of paper, which proceeds on the extreme coupon of the information medium: on the one hand, to the impression of a fixed graphic which comprises elements of text and / or given figures, and, on the other hand, variable data from the input device and / or the computer, the

  extreme coupon that can be separated by tearing and

  ticket of this group purchase,

  in that the printer is a needle printer

  for the reproduction of both fixed graphics and variable data, this printer includes, in a socket, a modular part, and the modular part

  contains the correct order program for the

fixed graphics pressure.

  In this way one avoids above all the intervention, for the production of the ticket, of different printing systems, respectively for the fixed graphics on the one hand, and for the variable data, on the other hand. Such a needle printer is exceptionally compact because it comprises only one set of active printing elements per point, which, for example, does not

  require their arrangement on a single row.

  As a result, the printer used to make a

  ticket saves space, so you can insert it

  easy poring inside a scale. Such a needle printer is also exceptionally inexpensive. The dot-acting printing elements can be used to reproduce not only alphanumeric symbols by activation of several elements and / or by repetitive activation of an element in a step-by-step process, but can also reproduce at the same time the figurative elements. desired fixed graphics of the ticket. This gives a surprisingly great freedom in the conformation of the fixed graphics. The control program for the activation of the printing elements for the reproduction of the fixed graphic is gathered in a modular part housed

247885 1

  in an easily accessible outlet of the printer.

  This control program is contained in the modular part by means of an integrated circuit and can be constituted by a PROM memory. In its state plugged into said socket of the printer, the control program contained therein is called when the moment has just postpone the fixed graphics on a ticket. This printing process is completely completed by the fact that the same needle printer is ready to carry on the ticket the desired variable data for the goods. To trigger the printer in order to postpone this fixed graphic on the information carrier, it is possible to provide a probe at the withdrawal station of the ticket-coupon of the printer. As soon as the ticket is filled and must be separated from the information carrier, this probe responds and acts for the proper control program

  the interchangeable part is called for the reproduction

  graphic design. According to a very simple embodiment, the probe consists of a separation knife movably mounted on the printer, said separation knife serving to separate the ticket from the end of the information carrier. When separating the ticket, the fixed graphic may be printed each time on a following part of the information medium which is part of the ticket for a

subsequent purchase.

  The objects of the invention are also achieved by a very advantageous method of trimming the printer member which determines the shape of the fixed graphic on the ticket. More precisely, the process concerns, as it

  will be explained later, the realization of a mode of

  particularly simple implementation of the fixed memory

  in the modular room characterizing the invention.

  By these means, which will be explained later in more detail, it suffices to use the fixed graphic desired by the representation on an original which may be a drawing, a photograph, or even a three-dimensional object. This original is explored and / or captured by a video camera or other input mode and, while adjusting the optical density of the image with respect to a reference value, it is converted into a succession of binary signals. This succession of binary signals may, if necessary, be corrected or supplemented, and then converted into a line representation on the video terminal of a dot image of the original. The number counted in lines of the points of the snapshot corresponds to the number of elements of the printer

  with needles. This raster image can be stored.

  Finally it is recalled to be programmed in the memory of the modular part. On the video terminal it is possible to judge the appearance of the raster image and to correct it by modifying each of the points of the raster image or by adding additional points. In this way, the appearance of the fixed graphic can be optimized to obtain a modular part with an impeccable memory containing the proper control program. The possessor of a shaped balance according to the invention can have a set of different modular pieces for different fixed graphics which can

  be used each, as needed, simply by

  hiding in the printer socket for reproduction

  fixed data on tickets. In this way, the

  The number of tickets can be changed in a very short time as far as fixed graphics are concerned. It would also be possible to connect a single modular part to a battery of independent scales through appropriate electrical connections which, for the reproduction of their fixed graphics, would take each time the control program in said modular room. Like this

  all the printers of the scales of an entire company

  can be obtained for all the tickets that they have to

  deliver, a particular graphic quickly adapted.

  All of this results in instant work relief.

247885 i

  Other characteristics and advantages

  from the description given below, only

  for example, an embodiment of the invention.

  For this purpose, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in

  which: - Figure 1 is a general view of a scale calculator of the price according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a section through the essential constituent part of the printer forming part of the balance of FIG. 1, - Figure 3 shows with magnification a partial view of an essential part of the printer of FIG. 2, - Figure 4 is an example of a ticket obtained by the printer according to the invention, - Figure 5 shows at a higher magnification a symbol reproduced by the printer of the invention, - Figure 6 shows the diagram. connecting the essential part of the price indicator scale, and Figure 7 is the overall representation

  means implementing the control member con-

form to the invention.

  The assembly represented in FIG. 1 comprises a price calculating scale constituted by the meeting of a mass determination unit 11 and a calculation unit 10. According to a variant, the units 10 and 11 can also be compactly assembled in a stacker

  unique. The unit of mass determination receives the goods

  said weighing device 12 on a weighing platform 13 actuating a weighing device of a type known per se, which is no longer shown and which produces a measurement signal, which is driven by a connecting cable 14 to the calculation unit

connected to it.

  The computing unit 10 comprises a device for

  15 which includes a keyboard for the entry of prices per piece or unit of account and various order buttons. There is furthermore a display device 16 which includes read windows of different types both on the visible side by the buyer in FIG. 1 on the invisible face in the same figure, in order to display in a readable way the unit price, the weight of the goods and the price determined by the calculator. Finally, the computing unit further comprises a printer 20 which, in the embodiment shown, is an integral part of the housing. If need be the printer can be arranged in a separate unit, provided that a suitable electrical connection is

  established. The printer 20 is used for issuing an information ticket.

  19 for a bulk purchase, the data for each

  products, such as prices and / or weights, being indi-

  on said ticket. Fig. 2 shows the construction of such a printer according to the invention and the Eig. 4

  gives the example of a ticket 19 issued by this machine.

  Such a ticket 19 contains, as is clear from FIG. 4, two parts 28, 29 essentially distinct. The first part is at the front of the ticket and reproduces a fixed graphic, which can be composed, as shown, of a stamp of the firm 30, a list of units 31, and possibly other fixed indications, such as for example an identification 32 of the device. In the stamp

  of the firm, in addition to a text 34, a part

  respectively, an emblem 35 of the firm and a frame 36. The list of units 31 gives the designations whose values must. be given numerically column by column

  in the lower part 29 of the ticket 19 which remains to be filled.

  In the first column appears the weight in kilograms.

  The median column shows the price per unit of account, that is, in each case, the price per kilogram

  merchandise, while in the last column it appears

  the calculation of the sales price determined from the previous values. In the lower part 29 of the ticket exclusively appear only variable data. In the structure of the tickets line by line appear the different items, goods constituting this group purchase. In the ticket shown in FIG. 4, the first three positions and the 5th

  item includes goods, the prices of which are determined

  mined each time by the weight and the price

  corresponding to the unit of account. At the 4th post did not

  a unit price, because the piece price of the corresponding merchandise sold in packaging was pre- At the bottom of the ticket appears the final sum

  resulting from the addition of the prices of goods are

in this last column.

  As shown in FIG. 2, it is the same printer, that is to say a needle printer 21 which is used both for the reproduction of the fixed graphics

  28 only for the transfer of the variable data 29 of the ticket 19.

  In the printer is an information carrier strip 17 wound on a roll 18 and can, in this case, receive a write by a thermal process. The roller 18 is disposed in a cylindrical bowl 53 located

  in the printer. The tape 17 is brought to the printer to-

  needles 21 passing over a bent rim of the bowl 53.

  From there the strip 17 is brought in front of a separating knife 26 by the opening 25 of a hatch 23, which completes

  a lower half of the casing 24 of this printer 30.

  As it is visible by the position of the hatch 23 represents

  it must be open in order to be able to access the inside of the bowl 53, for example to change the roller 18. Thanks to a transparent window

  We can see the reserve of the roll.

  the information medium 17 which protrudes from the opening of the hatch 23, can be pressed against the knife of

  separation, which causes the separation of this

  mity and which is then usable as a ticket for the purchase

  group. Further details will be given.

  The needle printer 21 comprises, as is clearly visible in FIG. 3 front view, a set of point elements 33, which here are arranged aligned on a row. Each of these elements 33 is provided with leads 37 for supplying electric current, with which the element 33

  is mounted on a support plate 38 of insulating material.

  The point surfaces of the elements 33 are arranged, if we refer to FIG. 2, on the free side facing the band 17 and can act by transfer on this band when the electric current passes through the associated conductors 37.

  The support plate 38 has at the ends of these conductors

  37 of the plug-in contacts 39 which cooperate with any possible complementary contacts 40 arranged on a conductive plate 41 disposed in the housing 24 of the printer. The support plate 38 is sufficiently flexible to be mounted with the curvature visible in FIG. 2. The zone of the support plate 38 comprising the thermally active elements 33 is held against a

  roller 44 by means of a pressure member 42 mounted

  The roller 44 comprises a drive, not shown, which serves to cause a defined transport of the web 17 in accordance with the invention.

  the thermal action of the elements 33. The elements 33 of the

  21 which are arranged in a line, as shown in FIG. 3, determine a line length which is equal to the desired width of the markings to be recorded on the strip 17. The support member 42 serves for a defined position of the element 33 with respect to the strip 17 passing in front of the roll 44. To engage the band 17, the support member 42 can be tilted back against the spring force

  43 mentioned to take an inactive position.

  The aforementioned bowl 53 comprises, outside the zone containing the roll 18, a housing 45 which serves for the implementation of a modular part - 46. This modular part contains a PROM memory 47, containing the control program for the fixed graphics 28 of the ticket 19. -The display members 48 which are connected to the PROi 'memory 47 protrude from the part

  46 and are connected by plugging into the box.

  45 with coupling members 49 housed therein and from which conductors 50 which lead to the

  conductive plate 41 previously mentioned.

  The conductive plate 41 is provided with a set

  electrical components, which serve to control and

  21 of this set includes a microprocessor 51, another memory 52 which contains in the PROM memory of characters the size and shapes of all available numerical or alphanumeric symbols that may have to be printed on coupon ticket 29 with fixed data. By simple exchange of the memory 52, one can also change after the fact the shape of the symbols for the variable data 29. Finally, the conductive plate 41 further comprises a contactor 54 to which it is connected by an electrical conductor. This contactor 54 is on the other hand in connection with the separation knife

  16 already mentioned, and intervenes as it will be exposed.

  The separation knife 24 is constituted by

  the toothed and sharpened extrenity of a blade 55 which can slide

  parallel to itself in a guide 56 and is connected to an organ. stopping device 57. This stop member 57 is provided with an angled arm 58 and rests

  fixed contact 59. The contact actuator of the contact

  57 already mentioned is located on the road to

  58. A spring 62 serves to support the swinging

  57 against a stop 60. The blade 55 can slide in the direction of the arrow 61 when the end of the strip 17 is pressed against the separating knife 26 to separate

  the ticket, as previously explained.

  the operating mode of the device will be better understood with respect to the diagram of FIG. 6, where is shown

  the constituent parts already described by the same figures

  than previously. The description given so far remains

  valid, even if the constituent parts are now

  reproduced schematically in relation to the representative

  concrete expression given in the preceding figures.

  1l When one detaches the extreme coupon of the band 17 on the separation knife 27 to obtain the ticket 19 of the purchase process that has just ended, the movement of the blade 55 actuates the switch 54 which, by the driver 63 of FIG. 6 of the microprocessor 51 is used to reproduce by means of the needle printer 21 the complete fixed graphic 28 at the top of the ticket 19 shown in FIG. 4. For this purpose, the microprocessor 51 cooperates, via the aforementioned conductors 50, with the memory which is in the modular part 46 and acts by the conductor 54 with the printer 21. This activates the elements 33 to the dot reproduction and sets in motion a drive mechanism 65 disposed in the printer in accordance with the actuation of said elements 33, so that the band 17 for reproduction advances a defined length. While the operator is still busy with the separation and handling of the ticket 19, this brief space of time is used to prepare and postpone the graphics

  fixed for the next purchase. From that moment the

  tif is immediately ready to work for other opera-

  operating conditions of the variable data 29

  the ticket shown in fig. 4.

  The goods 12 represented on the rocker 11,

  fig. 6, provokes, by the driver 14, a measurement signal

  it is connected to it, and the signal first reaches a signal converting unit 66 which transmits a signal corresponding to a conductor.

  to a main calculator 68, but which is also trans-

  put by another conductor 69, on the one hand, to the display device 16 and on the other hand, to the microprocessor 51. In the display device appears, in the first numerical indication zone, the weight of the goods 12. The valuation of this weight value for the printer is obtained only by a pulse from the input device, for which purpose a first one is used for this purpose.

  memory not shown, accessible to the microprocessor 51.

  By means of the input device 15, as further shown in FIG. 6, drivers 71, 72 can be immediately sent to the main calculator 68, or the unit price can be transmitted by means of

  driver 72 via a memory 70

  set with a fixed price list. In both cases

  this signal is also transmitted by means of the conductive ---

  to the display device 16, where the corresponding value appears in the central reading window, while this pulse is also transmitted via the driver 74 to the microprocessor 51, that is to say to the memory already described which is associated with it. The fact that the unit price appears immediately or indirectly

  depends on the position of a contactor 75, which can be low--

  eg by means of a control knob not shown

  15. In that of the positions shown in contactor 15, the button control of the input device immediately determines the unit price. In the other position of the switch 15 the control of the buttons in the input device consists simply of forming a code number which delivers from the tuned memory 70 the value contained therein under this number to the conductors 72, 73, 74. In the main computer 68, the unit price of a product is recorded numerically by the driver 72 and the value

  of the mass supplied by the computing unit 68 by the

  67, from which the corresponding price of the

  which is sent in the form of a trans-

  placed by the conductors 76, 77, on the one hand to the display device 16, where this price appears in the last reading window and, on the other hand, also by the driver

  77 to the microprocessor 51 and its associated memory.

  Now that the variable data associated with the merchandise 12 has been established and made visible and that the merchandise 12 must be taken into account in the purchase, the microprocessor 51 is then controlled, for example, by means of a button not shown in FIG. input device 15, to cause the needle printer 21 to report the values that it has in stock or that are in the memory associated with it, these values being respectively the

  measured mass, the unit price and the price of the goods.

  This occurs while the microprocessor 51 takes

  the PROM 52 which has already been mentioned, by means of a

  78 and according to the signals which are received by the conductors 69, 74, 77, the data necessary for the representation of these symbols, said microprocessor 51 then controlling accordingly the needle printer 21 by means of the control conductor 64. At the same time, the activation of the printing elements 33, and the driving of the transport member 65, are also caused. A row of the variable data can be reproduced. coupon 29 of ticket 19 of the

  Fig. 4. It would also be conceivable to provide a

  who would store multiple data points

  variables 29 or even all posts and who, then,

  in one operation all the variable data

on coupon 29 of ticket 19.

  It is obvious that to obtain another fixed graphic on the ticket 19, it suffices simply to exchange the modular piece 46 against another suitable one, which is

  then in place in the housing 45 of the printer 20.

  In fig. We can see next to a representative

  schematic representation of how simple a PROM memory 47 for the modular part 46 can be provided with the

  control program for fixed graphics.

  On an original or document 79, the shape of the desired graphic 80 is shown. It is shot with a video camera 81. After this

  optical transformation, a video electrical signal,

  Also, all the synchronization signals of the video camera are transmitted to a demodulator 83 via a conductor 82. Here, the graphic information is separated from the synchronization signals and both are transmitted by

  via a conductor 84 to a communication device

  Mande 85 constituted by a microprocessor. In a comparator circuit provided therein and which is connected upstream of the microprocessor, the graphical information available in the form of an analog signal is transformed into a high and low bit signal. An adjustable reference value

247885 1

  determines, during this binary conversion, whether, in this designal suite, a high signal or a low signal appears in a given place. This reference value is

  set for a determined optical density of the document 79.

  A conductor 86 serves to transmit a succession of binary signals to a modulator video 87 arranged subsequently and which, according to other synchronization signals, transmits a signal via a conductor 88 to a video terminal 90,

  o nowadays a 91 raster image produced by the success-

  binary signal, contains the desired graphic 80.

  The number counted per row of points 92 that results is smaller than / or equal to the number of printing elements 33 in the needle printer, which has already been mentioned,

  as shown in partially exploded view in FIG. 3.

  From this raster image 91 the transformation now operated for the document printer 80 is now visible in

  printing points. We can still make changes.

  To make such corrections, an image scanner (scanner) is used which is connected to the

  control device 85 by a driver 89.

  A controller 93 carries a command 94 whose action causes the conversion to a signal in the opposite direction of a determined target point 92 '. It can be assumed, for example, that an error

  appears as black dots 921, which can

  From the graphic 80 of the document 79, can be changed to a complementary signal, that is to say a white point. This change is recorded by the controller and the corresponding corrected signals are then transmitted by

  the conductors 86, 88 to the video terminal 90.

  At the control device 85, it is still possible to

  stringing, by means of a conductor 96, a keyboard 95, using

  buttons from which text data can be inserted.

  In addition to the document 79 or in place of a document 79, these textual data, which are numbers or letters, can appear for control on the video terminal 90. Specialized control buttons 97

  can facilitate the choice of the positioning of the reproduc-

  alphanumeric symbols on the display of the video terminal 90. A control printer 99, for example a

  thermal printer is additionally connected by a

  In this way it can be controlled which final shape has now reached the graphic stored in the device. The image is then readable on a paper strip 101 delivered by the printer 99. The triggering of the control printer 99 is obtained by a button 102 incorporated into the

keyboard 95.

  Finally, a programmed device 100 is further connected by a conductor 103 to the control device 85 already mentioned. The control device 85 now extracts the shape of the desired final graphic, which is already constituted by raster points and programs the PROM memory connected to the device 100. In this one there is only one control program, which is in a condition to subsequently produce in the needle printer 21 the same fixed graphic that can be controlled in the already mentioned control printer 99. The triggering of this programmed process can also be obtained from

  keyboard 95, on which is provided a button suitable for

  104 for program control. The programmed PROM ready ready for use, can now be put in place in the device 100 and a modular part is introduced into the housing after having been properly connected by a connector to be able to be used in the device of the invention. the way visible in fig. 2. By means of the device shown in FIG. It is possible, if the raster image 91 of the document is fixed and stored, to produce a desired number of PROM memories.

  having the same control program.

Claims (10)

  1. Device involving the issue of a ticket for the registration of the price of goods, such as   price calculator scale equipped with a printer   relating to: - a piece-rate and / or unit-of-account entry device for the goods, - a calculator for the determination of a price according to the mass and the total sum of a purchase grouped, and   - a printer, with advance of a support of   training, such as a strip of paper, which proceeds on the extreme coupon of the information carrier to the print: - on the one hand, a grading   fixed pixel which comprises text elements and / or given figures, and, secondly, variable data coming from the input device and / or the computer, the extreme coupon being separable by tearing and serving as a ticket. of this group purchase, characterized in that: the printer (20) is a needle printer (21) for reproducing both the fixed graphic (28) and the variable data (29), the printer comprises, in a plug (45), a modular part (46), and - the modular part (46) contains the appropriate control program for printing the fixed graphic (28). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the modular part (46) contains a circuit   integrated, such as PROM memory (47).   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and   2, characterized in that the withdrawal station of the ticket-   -coupon of the printer (20) is provided with a probe (55) and the probe (55) is a trigger of the printer (21) for the reproduction of the fixed graphics (28) on the support information (17).   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the probe consists of a separating knife (26) mounted for the separation of the extreme coupon of the   information carrier (17) constituting ticket (19).   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized   in that the separating knife (26) is connected to orga-   stopping means (57) which cause translation movement (61) of the knife (26) against a return force member (43)   determining its starting position.   6. Device according to one of claims 4 or 5,   characterized in that it comprises, in the path of the separating knife or its locking members (27, 28), a control member of an electric switch (54) connected to a control member (51) of the printer (20), which unfolds the reproduction process of the fixed graphics (28) on the information carrier.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that, due to the separation of the ticket-   -coupon (19), the fixed graphic (29) can be printed on a following part of the information carrier (17), which serves   ticket (19) for later purchase.   8. Method of adjusting a printer body   of the device according to claim 1, which defines the   me of the fixed graphics on the ticket, characterized in that it captures in video (81) an original (79) in any shape, even non-rasterized and having the desired fixed graphics (80) and, while adjusting the optical density of the image with respect to a reference value, it is converted into a succession of binary signals, this sequence of signals is corrected if necessary or it is completed, after which it is converted into a representation by lines on a video terminal (90). a raster image (91) of the original (79),   the number counted in rows of the cliché points (92) corre-   one of the elements (33) of the needle printer, this raster image (91) is stored and finally recalled and programmed in the modular part, which is used to reproduce the control program (47) for the fixed graphics. 247 & 85I   9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that, in order to carry out a correction, the image points (92) which can be selected in the raster image (91) are modified, each time, in a complementary representation of the raster image (91). appearing on the terminal video (90).   10. Method according to one of claims 8 or 9,   characterized in that, to complete the raster image (91) of the original appearing on the video terminal (90), complementary figurative elements are introduced by points.