GB2121576A - A pricing system for products - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for pricing products at a sales counter, comprising pricing mats mounted on a sales counter and having price and other product data affixed thereto. A stamping (printing) device 5 is connected to a memory unit 4 programmable with product data. Whenever the data in a product store location is changed, a "print" key is operated to cause printing of two product-data- containing labels (6, 7), adapted to be affixed to the pricing mats, one (7) facing a buyer and the other (6) facing a sales clerk. The clerk's label carries a code (A), whereby the key punching determined by this code serves to produce the data of this particular store location on the price tag (8) of a subsequently weighed product. This system is simple to use and facilitates keeping prices continuously up to date. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A system for pricing products The present invention relates to a system for pricing products at a sales counter, comprising a pricing mat mounted at the sales counter and to which price and other such product data can be affixed.

Finnish Patent publication 43461 discloses a pricing arrangement, wherein the pricing mats are designed as pendants that are slideably carried by a bar extending longitudinally of the counter and on which the product price can be visibly marked by means of individual, replaceable number tags. The ready-carved number tags are relatively expensive and, above all, replacing them for keeping price data up to date requires work and time. The prices are only visible from the buyer's side.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pricing system, capable of keeping the prices of products at a counter readily and quickly up to data as well as substantially facilitating the clerk's work in selling the products.

According to the present invention there is provided a system for pricing products at a sales counter, comprising a pricing mat, for mounting at the sales counter a printing device connected to a memory unit programmable with product data, said device being adapted, whenever the data in a product store location of the memory unit is changed, to produce two product data containing labels adapted to be affixed to the pricing mat, one label facing a buyer and the other facing a clerk, said other label carrying a code key, whereby said code key dictates the key punching required to re-produce the data of this particular store location on a price tag for a subsequently weighed product.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a general block diagram of an embodiment of a pricing system of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the application of this pricing system in conjunction with a scales, and Figure 3 is a side view of a pricing mat included in this system.

In the present embodiment, scales 1 are provided with a rapid-inquiry programming keyboard, com prising an alphabetical keyboard 2 and a numerical keyboard 3. By means of this rapid-inquiry program ing keyboard, an operator can write into a memory unit 4 kilogram prices, codes and product names of the commodities. This can be effected without codes or a code key after pressing a function key F.

Memory 4 is provided with a number of store locations that corresponds e.g. to the number of alphabetical keys. If necessary, the number of store locations can be increased by using various com binations of letters and/or numbers as a code key of store locations. The significance of this code key will be explained later. The product data or information written in memory 4 can be printed by means of a stamping device 5 on three different labels 6, 7 and 8, the significance of which is described hereinbelow.

Once the keyboard 2, 3 has been used to write necessary product information (e.g. title and kilogram price of a product) in one of the store locations of memory 4, pressing of a print key produces first a label 6 from said stamping device 5. This label 6, is intended for a clerks use and, thus, to be affixed to a pricing mat 9 so as to face the clerk. This label 6 is always and is positively obtained from the stamping device 5 when data in the store location has been changed. A special feature of this label 6 is that it is marked with a code key, in this case letter A, which dictates the key to be punched to provide the data of this particular store location on a price tage 8 for a product subsequently weighed.However, prior to issuing tags or labels 8, the stamping device positively issues upon pressing the key "print" another label 7, intended to be affixed to pricing mat 9 so as to face the buyer. Thus, both the sales clerk and the buyer are able to see desired product data on labels 6 and 7 affixed to the pricing mat 9. The labels can be so-called sticker labels, whereby it is simple to stick fresh labels on the old ones upon change in the product data. The pricing mats 9 can be made of plastic strips, as those are inexpensive and can be discarded when the number of superposed labels becomes excessive. Strips 9 can be affixed e.g. by means of a magnet 10 to any steel bracket or slat mounted on a sales counter.

From the code key A on label 6 facing him a sales clerk can see immediately which of the keyboard 2 letters he is to punch in order to obtain from the stamping device 5 a price tag or label for the product weighed. Thus, after placing the product on scales 1 for weighing, a clerk only needs to punch or press a single key determined by the code key in order to obtain a price tag 8, displaying e.g. the weight, kilogram price, price, selling data and product name of a weighed product. Affixing such a label on top of a package is also significant for a buyer who can check the label for the contents of a package without opening it.

Although, in the above described embodiment, the keyboards 2 and 3, as well as the stamping device 5, are shown in conjunction with scales 1, they can also be units which are independent of the scales or they can be located in the computer centre of a store. In the latter case, it is necessary to provide in the proximity of scales 1 a rapid-inquiry keyboard whereby a clerk can obtain the product data required for label 8 from a store location determined by the code on label 6.

In view of the above, it is clear that a pricing system according to the invention is able to offer e.g.

the following advantages; - a pricing system based on labels issued by the stamping device 5 and to be affixed by sticking is economical, substantially free of costs as compared with other pricing systems.

- The price index can be readily kept up to date.

- A clerk needs no operating instructions and need not memorize per unit prices.

- Saves time and work and eliminates rushing crowds at the scales.

- Avoids incorrect unit price punching.

- The customer's products are provided with a product name.

-The rapid-inquiry keys as such as directly available.

- It is possible to use a line code in connection with the price tage 8 produced by stamping device.

Claims (4)

1. A system for pricing products at a sales counter, comprising a pricing mat for mounting at the sales counter a printing device connected to a memory unit programmable with product data, said device being adapted, whenever the data in a product store location of the memory unit is changed, to produce two product data containing labels adapted to be affixed to the pricing mat, one label facing a buyer and the other facing a clerk, said other label carrying a code key, whereby said code key dictates the key punching to reproduce the data of this particular store location on a price tag for a subsequently weighted product.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programming keyboard of said memory unitcom- prises an alphabetical keyboard mounted in conjunction with scales.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the code key is one of the letters of said alphabetical keyboard.

4. A pricing system for products substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 with or without reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.