GB2085359A - Improved voucher - Google Patents

Abstract

A universal voucher, for sales docket and purchase notes and sales and credit vouchers, has first 2, second 3, and preferably third, information sheets each including information recordal areas on both sides thereof. Duplicating means are provided for duplicating in the two directions so that information can be recorded on each side of the information sheets. The duplicating means for duplicating in one direction A may be one or more carbon leaves 6 according to the number of information sheets in the voucher set and the duplicating means for duplicating in the other direction may be a carbon leaf T or NCR-type coatings on the appropriate surfaces of the information sheets themselves. A barrier layer 8 may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved voucher This invention relates to an improved voucher and is particularly designed to replace the existing store sales docket and purchase notes and the sales and credit vouchers issued by credit card companies.

At present in larger stores, in order to keep track of stock, sales assistants often have to complete a sales voucher which records the details of a particular sale so that sold stock can be replenished. This information, for example, may be keyed into a branch terminal of a main stock computer located at a remote location such as the store's head office. In this way the main computer is updated continually as to stock carried by any particular branch.

However, whilst a sales assistant will normally only have to complete one such voucher, if there is a part exchange, for example, a credit or purchase note voucher will also have to be completed.

Alternatively, if a customer is making the purchase using a store credit card or a bank credit card, for example, then the sales assistant will also have to complete a second voucher. Moreover, each credit card company has its own type of voucher, often requiring the inclusion of different information, so that in all a sales assistant may have to contend with a selection of twelve or more different vouchers.

Each such voucher set must have at least two, and normally three copies; one for the store, one for the customer, and, in the case of most credit card companies, one for the company concerned.

Although, as indicated above, the present invention is particularly applicable to sales and credit vouchers, the term 'voucher' as used herein is intended to embrace any document which may require duplicate copies. Thus the present invention may have application, for example, in accounting generally.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a voucher set comprising first and second information sheets each including information recordal areas on both sides thereof, first duplicating means for duplicating in one direction and second duplicating means for duplicating in the other direction, the arrangement being such that information can be recorded on each side of both information sheets by removing the first duplicating means once the information to be recorded in said one direction has been completed.

In one arrangement the first duplicating means may be a sheet of carbon paper and the second duplicating means may be an NCR-type coating on the inside face of the first and second information sheet. Thus, in this arrangement the voucher may comprise a top information sheet having a NCR coating on its inner face, a sheet of carbon paper having an active duplicating face confronting the inner surface of the top information sheet, and a bottom information sheet having a NCR coating on its inner face.Information can then be recorded on both sides of the information sheets by writing on the outer surface of the bottom information sheet first so that the information is transferred by the carbon paper onto the inner surface of the top sheet, then turning the voucher over, removing the carbon sheet, and writing on the outer surface of the top information sheet so that the information is automatically recorded on the inner surface of the bottom information sheet by its NCR coating. It may be preferable that the carbon paper be secured releasably to an opposite stub to which the first and second information sheets are secured by perforated lines of weakening.

In another arrangement there is provided a voucher comprising first and second information sheets each including information recordal areas on both sides thereof, first and second duplicating leaves disposed between the information sheets and each including an active duplicating surface confronting the adjacent information sheet, and a barrier layer disposed between the first information sheet and the adjacent, first, duplicating leaf.

With this arrangement of voucher information can be recorded on one side of the first information sheet and it will be duplicated onto the reverse side of the second information sheet by the second duplicating leaf. Once the necessary information has been recorded on the one side, the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf are removed, the voucher turned over, and information recorded onto the front side of the second information sheet.

The latter information will then in turn be duplicated onto the reverse side of the first information sheet by the first duplicating leaf. In this way information is recorded on both sides of the two information sheets which may then be separated and one given to the customer and one retained by the store.

Preferably the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf are secured together so that they may be removed from the voucher set easily in one operation. Also, although it is conceivable to have the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf separate but interleaved with the rest of the voucher, it is preferable that the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf be secured releasably to the rest of the voucher, for example, by the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf being secured to a stub to which the first and second information sheets are secured by perforated lines of weakening.

Although only two information sheets have been specified it will be understood that three or more information sheets may be incorporated in the voucher. For example, for a voucher having three information sheets additional third and fourth opposed duplicating leaves may be required between the second and third information sheet, with a second barrier layer between the second information sheet and the adjacent, third duplicating leaf.

Therefore, in accordance with a preferred arrangement, there is provided a voucher comprising a first stub including a first and second information sheet releasably secured to the first stub and a first carbon leaf secured to the first stub and interposed between the first and second information sheets with the active duplicating surface of the first carbon leaf facing the first information sheet, and a second stub including a second carbon leaf interposed between the first carbon leaf and the second information sheet with the active duplicating surface of the second carbon leaf facing the second information sheet, and a barrier layer disposed between the first information sheet and the first carbon leaf, the second stub being releasably secured to the first stub by preferential release means which favours release of the second stub from the first stub rather than release of the first and second information sheets from the first stub.

Suitably the preferential release means comprises a perforated line of weakening between each of the first and second information sheets and the second stub.

As indicated above the present invention is particularly applicable to a universal sales/credit voucher and therefore a first side of each information sheet preferably includes a plurality of payment-type indication compartments e.g.: one compartment for each of cash, cheque, Club 24, Barclaycard, Access, American Express, Diners Club etc., a compartment for the customer's signature, and a space for recording information carried by a customer's card. The second side of each information sheet preferably includes at least a compartment for the description of the goods, a compartment for the quantity purchased and a compartment giving the selling price. In addition the second sides may also include compartments for a computer product code, unit price, VAT, and any discont or allowance being given on the unit price.The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1{x) is an enlarged diagrammatic perspec tive view of a first embodiment showing a complete voucher set for completion in the direction of arrow A; Figure 1f Y) is a perspective view of the voucher set shown in Figure 1(x), after completion in the direc tion of arrow A and partial separation, for comple tion in the direction of arrow B; Figure 2(M) is an enlarged diagrammatic perspec tive view of a second embodiment; Figure 2(N) is an enlarged diagrammatic perspec tive view of a variation of the embodiment shown in Figure 2(M);; Figure 3 illustrates are form of lay-out for one side of each information sheet of a credit voucher, Figure 4 illustrates are form of lay-out for the other side of each information sheet of a credit voucher; and Figure 5 illustrates are form of iay-out for the other side of each information sheet of a sales voucher.

In Figure 1 (x) a voucher comprises a first stub 1 having first and second information sheets 2 and 3 releasably secured to the stub along one edge, suitably by perforations. The opposite edge of each information sheet is releasbly secured to a second stub 4 by preferential perforations 5 arranged so that when pulling the two stubs apart perforations 5 will sever before the perforated lines of weakening connecting the information sheets to the stub 1.

Disposed between the first and second information sheets are first and second one-sided carbon leaves 6 and 7 having their active surfaces facing away from one another and confronting the inner surface of the respective adjacent information sheet. The first carbon leaf 6 is secured to the second stub 4 and the second carbon leaf 7 is secured to the first stub 1. So as to prevent recorded information being reproduced in mirror image on the inner surface of the information sheet 3 when writing on information sheet 3, a barrier layer 8 is provided which is secured to the stub 4. Once all the necessary information has been recorded on sheet 3 in the direction of arrow A, and via carbon leaf 6 duplicated on the inner surface of information sheet 2, the stubs 1 and 4 are pulled apart separating the stubs along perforations 5: this removes the first carbon leaf 6 and barrier layer 8.

The voucher is then turned over (Figure 1(Y)) and information recorded on the outer surface of the second information sheet 2 (in the direction of arrow B) which, via the second carbon leaf 7, is duplicated onto the inner surface of the first information sheet 3. In this way information sheets 2 and 3 have information recorded on both sides and they may be separated from the stub 1 and associated carbon by severing along their respective lines of weakening.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative arrangement where the first and second information sheets 9 and 10 are separated by a releasable one-sided carbon leaf 11 having its active surface confronting the 2nd information layer. The two information sheets 9 and 10 and the carbon leaf 11 are all connected to a common stub 12. Carbon leaf 11 duplicates in the direction of arrow A but, in order to duplicate in the opposite direction, the second information sheet must have an inner surface 13 which is provided with an NCR coating. With this arrangement recordal starts in the direction of arrow A and information is transmitted to the inner surface of the first information sheet 10 by the carbon leaf 11.The carbon leaf 11 is then separated from the stub 12, the voucher turned over and information recorded on the first information sheet, in the direction of arrow B, this will automatically be recorded on the second sheet by its NCR coating.

Figures 3,4 and 5 merely show preferred lay-outs but attention is directed to tick boxes 15 on the sales and credit preferred vouchers which enable the different vouchers of each company to be replaced by two universal vouchers, all the necessary infor mation required by each company being recorded either on the front or back surface of each information sheet.

In order to safeguard the security position regard ing the use of these vouchers it is preferred that they are used in conjunction with some form of store terminal so that the vouchers are worthless until they have been through the terminal. Here a transact tion number will be printed which validates the sale or refund.

A suggested procedure for using the voucher of the present invention is as follows: The sales assistant complete the details on the "Sales Docket" (Figure 5) i.e. Description of goods, Product Code, Quantity, Unit Price; D and A (Dis count or Allowance either in s or as a percentage) and the Selling Price. If a purchase note (PN) is involved its number and value can be shown. The PN value is deducted from the Selling Prices to arrive at the Total Sales Value.

The 'Sales Docket' is now given to the customer who is asked to take it to the Cash Desk and pay for the goods. While the customer is away the sales assistant will pack up the goods. Should the customer be delayed, at the Cash Desk, the sales assistant will attend to the next client. In this way if staff are not waiting at the Cash Desk, they can actively increase customer flow. Instead of the customer standing around, his time is used to improve a store's service.

After the cashier has processed the transaction she will hand the 'Receipt' voucher to the customer who will return to the sales assistant. By looking at the righ-hand side for the transaction number it can be shown that payment has been made. The goods are then handed over.

Claims (12)

1. A voucher set comprising first and second information sheets each including information recordal areas on both sides thereof, first duplicating means for duplicating in one direction and second duplicating means for duplicating in the other direction, the arrangement being such that information can be recorded on each side of both information sheets by removing the first duplicating means once the information to be recorded in said one direction has been completed.

2. A voucher set according to Claim 1 wherein the first duplicating means is a sheet of carbon paper and the seccond duplicating means is an NCR-type coating on the inner faces of the first and second information sheets.

3. A voucher set according to Claim 2 wherein the first and second information sheets are joined releasably to a first stub.

4. A voucher set according to Claim 3 wherein the carbon paper is secured releasably to a second stub opposite to the first stub to which the first and second information sheets are secured.

5. A voucher set according to Claim 1 wherein the first duplicating means is duplicating carbon leaf the active duplicating surface of which confronts the inner face of the first information sheet, the second duplicating means is a duplicating carbon leaf the active duplicating surface of which confronts the inner face of the second information sheet, a barrier layer being disposed between the first information sheet and the adjacent, first duplicating leaf.

6. A voucher set comprising first and second information sheets each including information recordal areas on both sides thereof, first and second duplicating leaves disposed between the information sheets and each including an active duplicating surface confronting the adjacent information sheet, and a barrier layer disposed between the first information sheet and the adjacent, first, duplicating leaf.

7. A voucher set according to Claim 6 wherein the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf are secured together so that they may be removed from the voucher set easily in one operation.

8. A voucher set according to Claim 7 wherein the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf are secured releasably to the rest of the voucher by the barrier layer and second duplicating leaf being secured to a stub to which the first and second information sheets are secured releasably by perforated lines of weakening.

9. A voucher set comprising a first stub including first, second and third information sheets releasably secured to the first stub, a second stub including first and second carbon leaves interposed respectively between the first and second, and the second and the third, information sheets, with the active duplicating surface of the first carbon leaf confronting the second information sheet, and the active duplicating surface of the second carbon leaf confronting the third information sheet, and an NCR-type coating on the inner surface of the first and third information sheets, and on both surfaces of the second information sheet, the second stub being releasably secured to the fist stub by preferential release means which favours release of the second stub from the first stub ratherthan release of the first and second information sheets from the first stub.

10. A voucher set according to Claim 9 wherein the voucher set is a universal sales/credit voucher, a first side of each information sheet including a plurality of payment-type indication compartments, a compartmentforthe customer's signature, and a space for recording information carried by a customer's card, and the second side of each information sheet including at last a compartment for the description of the goods, a compartment for the quantity purchased and a compartment for the selling price.

11. A voucher set according to Claim 10 wherein the second sides also include compartments for, a computer product code, unit price, VAT, and any discount or allowance being given on the unit price.

12. A voucher set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.