FR2490371A1 - Cash register with information display screen - uses microprocessor with memory system to permit user access to stock and price data - Google Patents

Abstract

A cash register (1) contains a microprocessor with dynamoc and static memories and includes a floppy disc assembly. Interfaces enable the processor to be connected to various peripherals including a keyboard (3) and display screen (4). The keyboard contains function and numerical keys as well as keys for the selection of families of articles. These enable references to be made to the memories for quantities in stock and price information. The cash drawer (7) is opened by a key. A printer (5) enables information displayed on the screen to be printed and connectors (8,9) permit connection to a central computer. A programmed voltage supply safeguards the memory when the power is cut off.

Description

 The present invention relates to a cash register including an electronic memory and intended in particular, but not exclusively, to be used in small or medium-sized stores, capable not only of recording data, but also of processing it so to deliver to the store manager overall results.

 Traditionally, cash registers include a data entry keyboard, an electronic or electromechanical calculation unit and a ticket printing unit which indicates to the customer the amount to be paid, the result of the multiplication of the unit price of each item by the number of these and the addition of partial results. They also include a cash drawer intended to receive payment from customers whose opening can be unlocked from the keypad.

Some more sophisticated publish not only tickets for customers, but also a control strip allowing a daily summary of sales.

Other machines store sales information on magnetic tape cassettes which can be read by automatic means.

 At the other end of the range and, in the case of large-scale stores, with centralized management, cash registers are replaced by computer terminals which consult stocks, issue invoices and delivery notes. Sellers, cashiers and managers then benefit from all the processing power of the central unit and the inventory of stocks can then be permanent, which allows significant savings at this level. However, for obvious economic reasons, such a system can only be implemented when there are many and concentrated outlets. On the other hand, the implementation of IT resources requires specialized personnel.

The present invention aims to allow isolated outlets to benefit from the advantages of computerized data processing at an affordable cost. Each case can thus constitute an autonomous processing unit, means being provided for collecting the data delivered by the case to globalize them at a higher level if this proves useful.

 According to the present invention, the cash register comprising a keyboard for entering data, a calculation unit and an editing unit is characterized in that the calculation unit consists of a microprocessor connected to a set of memories and a display device.

 Thus, the calculation unit is no longer reduced to a role of multiplication and addition of data but can calculate addresses in memory and control the display of the information contained in said memories, and the processing of data entered by programs contained in the memories.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned set of memories comprises a central memory constituted by a random access memory area and a read only memory area and a large capacity memory. By large capacity memory is preferably meant a flexible disk or floppy memory whose rapacity is certainly limited compared to heavy disk drives but one or two of which have sufficient capacity for the needs of a store of current size Disk drives
are preferred to the other types of memories currently on the market because they allow you a much faster access to the desired information than the memories with magnetic tape.

 According to another characteristic of the Warning, the read-only memory area includes a program, the initialization of which is controlled by pressing one or more keys on the keyboard, said program causing the display of all the data relating to the item selected by pressing the keys.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, pressing the stop button on the machine causes the initialization of a program carrying out the transfer of the information contained in the RAM into a disk drive (emptying of memory or "memory dump" according to English terminology). The purpose of this program is to preserve, whatever the cause of the machine interruption, the data already entered.

 One of the advantages of the present invention is that for the operator, everything goes as with a traditional machine and that it has the same keys as previously. However, the necessary information is stored and available at all times. This information mainly concerns the state of stocks, the sales figure, the VAT collected, the purchase prices etc ...

The manager can also know at any time what is his gross margin on a product or on all of the products sold, as well as his overall turnover.

It is understood that it is necessary to record the various products, their purchase price and their sale price as they enter the store.

 Another advantage of the invention results from the fact that the microprocessor being of a commercially available type and, for example, of the "Apple II" type (Trademark registered, it is possible to program it using a language Now classic software such as Basic, Assembler or Pascal, for example. There is no longer any need to develop a particular language. Although the user does not have to intervene in the internal logic of the machine, an additional input is provided. which allows the machine to perform operations that it is not necessary to provide on the usual machine.To this end, a conventional terminal keyboard can be connected to the microprocessor which then functions like a conventional computer.

 Finally, it is obvious that since commercial activities affect a great diversity, it is necessary to provide for several types of application. In fact, the billing needs in the hotel industry are significantly different from those of a food store, for example.

A system of removable keys allows each keyboard to be adapted to the type of activity for which it is intended.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example, with reference to the drawings which represent:
- Fig.l, a perspective view of a cash register according to the invention;
- Fig.2 a block diagram of the same machine;
- Fig.3, a view of a cash register keyboard according to the invention;
- Fig.4, a diagram of the microprocessor keyboard interface.

In FIG. 1, the machine comprises, inside a bodywork 1, a central unit 2, including a microprocessor 21, a RAM area 22 and a ROM area 23 (not shown in the Fig. 1). Interfaces make it possible to connect the processor 21 to various peripherals which consist in particular of a keyboard 3, which according to the invention is typically a conventional cash register keyboard, comprising function keys, numeric keys and keys of articles which can be switched to alphabetic keys; a display device 4 which may consist of a cathode-ray tube for television or of a liquid crystal or light-emitting diode panel; at least one printer 5, for example in åiguillest
In addition to the elements mentioned above, the peripherals include at least one flexible disk memory unit 6 (floppy disks) which is preferably located below the counter which supports the machine. At the lower part of the body 1 is provided a cash drawer 7, the opening of which is controlled by the keyboard 3 and which is intended to receive the cash delivered by the customers in payment for their purchases. Connectors 8 and 9 allow to connect the cash register respectively with a central computer or slave cash registers for example and with a stabilized power supply inside which are provided autonomous means in the event of a power cut for any reason,
The previously mentioned elements have the same references in Fig. 2. The keyboard 3 is connected to the microprocessor 21 by an interface circuit 32 which will be described below. The microprocessor is also connected to a random access memory 22 (the capacity of which can be from 16 to 48 kilobytes or more, depending on the needs to control stocks to be managed) and to a ROM 23 of the ROM or PROM type which is intended for the cabling of software functions such as for example the call in RAM of the data contained on the floppy disks, when pressing the keys of selection of an article. 't' disk drive 6 is connected to microprocessor 21 by an interface 26.

Behind the connector 9 is connected a programmable de-power-off circuit 29 which automatically saves the data contained in the random access memory by causing their transfer to disk before confirming the stopping of the operation of the machine. The power supply 19 is itself constituted by a booster-booster irr # ni mu an accumulator in buffer.

The printer 5 is connected to the microprocessor 21 by an interface 25 of known type. The same is true for the interface 24 for connecting the processor to the video monitor 4 and for the interface 26.

 The keyboard 3, represented in FIG. 3 comprises, from left to right of the Xigure, a set of function keys 31, a set of numeric keys 33 and a set of keys 34 for selecting families of articles and. articles within the same family.

the numeric keys, in addition to their usual function, can be used to enter in memory the reference of a product or service, the quantity in stock, the purchase price and the sale price, this introduction does not occurring only during machine initialization.

The function keys may vary depending on the intended use and may for example include: a key
ON / OFF for switching on and off, a program selection key, a message deletion key, a VAT selection key, a>'operations + and - key, a Total Customer Number selection key etc. .

Controlled by the keyboard, the cash register executes five types of programs
a) Initialization;
b) Cash register;
c) Recording of entries in stock;
d) Processing of recorded data;
e) Machine stop.

When the machine is first started, the number of items making up the stock, the references of these items, their purchase price and the name of the supplier are stored. The same goes for the multiplier coefficient of each item, a coefficient used to determine the sale price from the purchase price. This information is saved on a floppy disk and, by simply pressing an item selection key, is transferred, for the item considered in random access memory and displayed on the device 4. Preferably, the code of each item is worn on the label so as to simplify the work of the cashier, who is immediately informed of all the data relating to the article in question and, in particular, of the selling price, calculated by the machine, which will appear alone on the ticket or invoice.

 After initialization, the machine functions like an ordinary cash register, for the cashier. That is to say that it optionally types the number of the seller, possibly the number of the customer, and selects the article either by a key, or by several keys respectively of "family of article" then of selection in family. By entering the number of items sold, the cashier immediately obtains the subtotal for this item. When all the items sold have been registered, the overall amount to be debited is obtained by pressing the "TOTAL" function key and it is possible to register the payment method by a special code. What the cashier does not know is that hitting the number of items sold, for a single type of item, automatically causes this number to be subtracted from the initial stock, which is thus updated instantly.

 Of course, the stock is renewed as purchases are made. When goods are returned to stock, the program used is the same as during initialization.

That is to say that after pressing a special key, which can possibly be locked by a key, we hit the code which addresses a floppy disk, the wording, possibly the modification of the purchase price and the multiplying coefficient, the rate of VAT etc ... The movement of entry in stock is thus recorded. Preferably, all the data relating to the different articles is stored on a floppy disk and the programs are recorded on the second floppy disk. Indeed, the capacities of these memories are of the order of 100 kilobytes and in general, at least two floppy disks are necessary.

It is however obvious that the present invention is in no way limited to the use of flexible disks and that it is possible to use heavy disks or any other memory with rapid access.

 At the end of each day and more generally at any time during which the machine is not used as a cash register, an operator, who may be the cashier herself, may request various information such as the correlation of inputs and outputs. of stocks, the overall turnover, the overall profit margin the articles on which there is a risk of a stock-out, the turnover rate of the different articles, and the processing of files such as that of suppliers, of VAT collected, deductible VAT, customers etc ...

 These results can not only be displayed on display 4, but also printed out using print # 5.

Of course, these various operations can only be carried out as long as the corresponding programs have been introduced into the machine. As has already been pointed out, it is possible to write these programs to use a widely used computer language such as Basic, Assembler or Pascal, which allows easier access to the various functions of the machine. The main programs are available from the manufacturer. However, it is possible for a user, by connecting to input 8 an algihabetic keyboard to modify the original programs at will and according to his own needs.

 It is also possible to connect to an input such as 8 a "pencil" bar code reader for example.

In another vein, an output can allow, by connection with a second printer, to directly edit the states mentioned above or the purchase orders, depending on the state of stocks for example.

 As previously mentioned, the keyboard is preferably adapted to the type of activity in which the cash register is to be used. This adaptation is done very simply by substituting some of the keys for others, as known per se.

Of course, the programs are also adapted to the type of activity considered. In addition, a set of boxes can be connected to a high-power central computer which accumulates all the results stored in each box by interrogating them sequentially,> via MODEM.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the interface 32 which brings together the keyboard 3 and the microprocessor 21. The purpose of this interface is to convey to the input of the processor 21 a succession of bytes characteristic of typing on one or more keys on the keyboard 3. Hitting a key causes a link in a tin point of the matrix formed by the conductors Xo to X9 and Yo to Y9.-The circuit 35 consisting of a set of registers, dtune clock and d '' a read-only memory generates, according to the key characterized by the doublet Xn, Yn, the code associated with the key on outputs 52 to 58.The outputs of circuit 35 are connected to circuits 37 and 38 which allow the adaptation of the new calves logic on the bus of processor 21,
The circuit 36 receives through 39 and transmits control signals from the processor 21, performs the address decoding and performs the synchronization with the circuits 35 and 37. It generates on the other hand, through the invve.intermediate of the connection 42 an indicator of the presence of a character on the last most significant bit or binon of the processor 21 as well as an interrupt signal on the connection 40. The information is transmitted to the processor 21 by the conductors 44 to 51.

 It goes without saying that the present invention is in no way licit to the embodiment which has just been described and represented and that numerous variants can be introduced, in particular by mabstStution of equivalent technical means, without going beyond the scope of said invention. Thus, for example, the display panel 4 can be mounted on an arm allowing the reading by the customer and the cashier or can comprise two display faces. Similarly, the printer 5 can be a "flat" printer

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 10 Computerized cash register, comprising an alphanumeric keyboard, a calculation unit and an editing unit, characterized in that the calculation unit consists of a microprocessor connected to a set of memories and to a display device . 20 Cash register according to claim 1, characterized  in that the above-mentioned set of memories comprises at least  a read-only memory in which at least one is stored  routine for calling up data relating to an article, initialized  by entering the article code on the keyboard. 30 Cash register according to one of claims 1 or 2,  characterized in that the aforementioned set of memories  includes at least one flexible disk drive. 40 Cash register according to claim 3, characterized  in that it has two flexible disk drives including  one is assigned to the memorization of the programs and of which  the other is assigned to the storage of relative data  to items in stock. 50 Cash register according to one of claims 1 or 2,  characterized in that the aforementioned set of memories  includes at least one heavy disk drive.  60 Cash register according to any of the claims  previous, characterized in that a cable program in  in read-only memory causes the automatic transfer of  information contained in RAM on a disk during  when the machine stops. 70 cash register according to any one of claims  previous, characterized in that it comprises at least  a connection to which a peripheral can be connected  such as an alphabetic keyboard, a fast printer, a  reader, or a modem. 80 Cash register according to any one of claims  previous, characterized in that the disk drives  above are connected to the central processor by inter  through a flexible connection.