GB2457311A

GB2457311A - Secure cash register

Info

Publication number: GB2457311A
Application number: GB0802811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Adelani Fadahunsi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2008-02-15
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB0802085D0; GB0802811D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cash register 1 comprising a cash storage container 10, a purchaser's interface 20 having a screen 21 and a cash receiving aperture 22A, 22B connected to the cash storage container, and a vendor's interface 30 having a screen 33 and means 31, 32 to enter details relating to a purchase transaction. In normal use, a vendor enters the purchase transaction and the purchaser may deposit cash through the cash receiving aperture to the cash storage container without the need for cash to be handled by the vendor. The purchaser and vendor interfaces may be on opposing sides of the cash register, or alternatively may be housed in separate housings.

Description

Title: Retail Till The present invention relates to retail till.

Most retail outlets take payment for goods being purchased through a cash till which records the financial transaction and provides a closed storage box for any cash taken.

One problem with cash tills is that the till operator, usually a retail shop assistant.

has access to the cash so that an unscrupulous operator can fiddle or steal the cash.

Also thieves know that cash is normally present in such tills and can force open the till to steal cash or can demand that a till operator opens the till often threatening or harming the till operator.

The invention seeks to provide a solution the above problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a cash till comprising: a) a cash storage container, b) a purchasefs till interface having a screen and a cash receiving aperture connected to the cash storage container, c) a vendofs till interface having a screen and means to enter into the till a purchase transaction,

I

in normal use of the cash till a vendor enters the purchase transaction and the purchaser may deliver cash through the cash receiving aperture to the cash storage container without the need for cash to be handled by the vendor.

Preferably the purchaser's interface further includes a card reader for payment by credit or debit card instead of cash.

Preferably the purchaser s interface includes means to deliver change to the purchaser.

Preferably the cash storage container includes a security door through which cash can be removed from the container.

Preferably the vendor's interface includes a scanner and/or keyboard to enter purchase transaction details.

In one embodiment the purchaser's interface is one side of the till and the vendor's interface is on the other side or on top of the till. The vendor's and purchaser's interfaces may be housed in separate housings optionally joined together.

In one embodiment the till forms part of a retail cabinet and vendor's and purchaser's interfaces are on top of the cabinet, and the storage container is inside the cabinet. In another embodiment the till is free standing on a surface.

The cash till of the invention may be part of the till in the vending systems for products of co-pending patent application no the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment, and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a cash till 1.

Cash till 1 has a housing 2 formed into a retail cabinet 3.

Cash till housing 2 has a cash storage container 10 under the top of inside retail cabinet 3. Container 10 includes a security door IOA through which cash can be removed from the container. It is envisaged that the storage container may be a secure container similar to a safe.

On one side of housing 2 is a purchaser's till interface 20 having a screen 21 to display information purchase transaction information, and a cash receiving aperture in the form of a note slot 22A and a coin slot 22B connected to the cash storage container through a delivery chute (not shown). Screen 21 and slots 22A.22B are on top of cabinet 3. Interface 20 further includes means to deliver change to a purchaser in the form of note slot 23A and coin box 23B. Interface 20 also includes a card reader 24 for payment by credit or debit card instead of cash.

On the other side of housing 2 is a vendor's interface 30 on top of cabinet 3 having means to enter purchase transaction details in the form of a scanner 31 and keyboard 32. Interface 30 also has a screen 33 to display information purchase transaction information.

In normal use, a purchaser chooses goods to be purchased and stands adjacent the purchaser interface 20. A vendor stands or sits adjacent the purchaser's interface 30 and enters the purchase transaction using the scanner 31 and/or keyboard 32 which is made visible on the screens 21 and 33. The total purchase price is displayed on the screens 21 and 33 and the purchaser pays cash into slots 22A,22B with change being delivered through slots 23A.23B if the cash paid is above the purchase price.

Alternatively the purchaser can pay with credit or debit card using card reader 24.

it will be appreciated that no cash need be handled by the vendor (such as a shop assistant) and all cash paid in goes into the storage container 10. From time to time the storage containei-may be emptied of cash by an authorised person (such as a shop owner/manager or his/her agent like a security company) through security door I OA. This prevents theft of cash by the vendor, and external thieves are unable to force vendors to hand over cash.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a similar cash till to that shown in Figure 1 except that the housing is formed by two sub housings 2A.2B joined together with housing 2A supporting the purchaser interface 20 and the housing 2B supporting the vendor interface 30. The vendor interface 30 also has the scanner 31. keyboard 32 and screen 31 on top of the till. The use of separate housing allows each to be positioned at appropriate positions on the cabinet 3. The till may free standing on the cabinet 3 or any other place.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. Also one or more of the features of the invention shown in Figure 1 may be present in the invention shown in Figure 2 and vice versa.

The cash till of the invention may be part of the till in the vending systems for products of co-pending patent application no i)l'. IP) p' :g.id the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. -"I

Claims

CLAIMSI. A cash till comprising: a) a cash storage container, b) a purchaser's till interface having a screen and a cash receiving aperture connected to the cash storage container, c) a vendor's till interface having a screen and means to enter into the till a purchase transaction, in normal use of the cash till a vendor enters the purchase transaction and the purchaser may deliver cash through the cash receiving aperture to the cash storage container without the need for cash to be handled by the vendor.
2. A cash till according to claim I. wherein the purchaser's interface further includes a card reader for payment by credit or debit card instead of cash.
3. A cash till according to claim I or 2, wherein the purchaser's interface includes means to deliver change to the purchaser.
4. A cash till according to any preceding claim, wherein the cash storage container includes a security door or other means through which cash can be removed from the container.
5. A cash till according to any preceding claim, wherein the vendor's interface includes a scanner and/or keyboard to enter purchase transaction details.
6. A cash till according to any preceding claim, wherein the purchaser's interface is one side of the till and the vendor's interface is on another side or on top of the till.
7. A cash till according to any preceding claim, wherein the vendor's and purchaser's interfaces may be housed in separate housings optionally joined together.
8. A cash till according to any preceding claim, wherein the till forms part of a retail cabinet and vendor's and purchaser's interfaces are on top of the cabinet, and the storage container is inside the cabinet.
9. A cash till according to any of claims 1 to 7. wherein the till is adapted to be free standing on a surface.
10. A cash till according to any of the preceding claim whereby the storage container is cornpartmentalised and cash from different shifts may be stored separately.
11. A cash till substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.