JP2019153069A - Receipt printer, sales processing apparatus, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a my basket service without preparing a bundle of tags at a checkout corner.SOLUTION: A receipt printer of the embodiment comprises a printing device, first processing means and second processing means. The printing device prints an image on a print medium. The first processing means causes the printing device to print receipt images for certifying contents of the transaction to transfer an article to a shopper. The second processing means causes the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to a container to verify that the article contained in the container has been transferred.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a receipt printer, a sales processing apparatus, and an information processing program.

In supermarkets and the like, a service called My Basket is provided.
In this service, a basket owned by a shopper is used both for carrying the picked-up goods in the store and for taking back the goods after accounting.
For this reason, in order to be able to confirm whether or not the accounting for the product put in the basket has been completed, for example, when the accounting is completed, a tag printed in advance such as a character message indicating that accounting has been completed I try to stick it to my basket.
Tags that are manufactured and bundled by the manufacturer are prepared at the checkout corner. A store clerk in charge of check-out takes out tags one by one from the bundle and sticks them to the basket.
For this reason, a space and labor for storing a bundle of tags is required.
Under these circumstances, it has been desired that the My Basket service can be provided without preparing a bundle of tags in the checkout corner.

JP-A-2006-9303

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a receipt printer, a sales processing apparatus, and an information processing program that can provide a my basket service without preparing a bundle of tags in a checkout corner.

  The receipt printer of the embodiment includes a print device, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit. The print device prints an image on a print medium. The first processing means causes the printing device to print a receipt image for certifying the content of the transaction for transferring the product to the shopper. The second processing means causes the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to the container in order to prove that the product placed in the container has been transferred.

1 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of a receipt printer 10 according to a first embodiment. The flowchart of the information processing by the processor in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the issued tag. The block diagram which shows the principal circuit structure of the POS terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart of the information processing by the processor in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of a receipt printer 10 according to the first embodiment. Note that FIG. 1 mainly shows elements necessary for describing the characteristic configuration and operation of the present embodiment, and includes other elements included in another known receipt printer of the same type, or any other elements. It does not matter.
The receipt printer 10 is used by being connected to the POS terminal 20 and issues a paper receipt in response to a print request from the POS terminal 20.

  The receipt printer 10 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a print unit 15, an interface unit 16, a transmission path 17, and the like. The processor 11, main memory 12, operation unit 13, display unit 14, print unit 15, and interface unit 16 are connected via a transmission path 17.

  A computer that performs information processing for controlling the receipt printer 10 is configured by connecting the processor 11 and the main memory 12 through the transmission path 17. The receipt printer 10 may further include an auxiliary storage unit connected to the transmission path 17, and the above-described computer may be configured by including this auxiliary storage unit as an auxiliary storage portion. For example, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is used as the auxiliary storage unit. As the auxiliary storage unit, an HDD (hard disc drive) or an SSD (solid state drive) can be applied.

  The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 11 controls each unit to implement various functions as the receipt printer 10 according to various information processing programs such as an operating system, firmware, and application programs.

  The main memory 12 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores the above information processing program in a nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 may store data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses a volatile memory area as a work area in which data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 11.

The operation unit 13 inputs an operation by the operator. The operation unit 13 can appropriately include various operation devices such as a touch panel, a keyboard, or a key switch.
The display unit 14 performs display for presenting various types of information to the operator. The display unit 14 may appropriately include various display devices such as a touch panel, an LED lamp, or a liquid crystal display panel.

  The print unit 15 prints an arbitrary image on a receipt paper as an example of a print medium under an instruction from the processor 11. The print unit 15 includes a known print device such as a thermal print device. As the receipt paper, for example, a so-called roll paper in which a long and narrow paper having a width of about several tens of centimeters and a length of several tens of meters is rolled is used. The print unit 15 includes a cutter that separates a part of the front end side of the receipt paper from a portion wound in a roll shape. The print medium is not limited to paper, and various types such as resin can be used.

A POS terminal 20 is connected to the interface unit 16 via a communication cable, for example. The interface unit 16 transmits / receives various data to / from the POS terminal 20. As the interface unit 16, an off-the-shelf device compliant with a well-known standard such as USB (universal serial bus) can be used.
The transmission path 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like, and transmits data and control signals exchanged between the connected units.

Next, the operation of the receipt printer 10 configured as described above will be described.
When the receipt printer 10 is set to an operation state in which a receipt is issued in response to a request from the POS terminal 20, the processor 11 executes information processing described below in accordance with an information processing program stored in the main memory 12.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of information processing by the processor 11.
As Act1, the processor 11 confirms whether or not the POS terminal 20 is being handled as a customer. “Handling with customers” means a state in which processing for registering purchased products and settlement of the price of purchased products is being performed. Then, the processor 11 determines Yes if the POS terminal 20 is being handled as a customer, and proceeds to Act2.
As Act 2, the processor 11 confirms whether or not a print request from the POS terminal 20 has been made. If the print request from the POS terminal 20 is not made, the processor 11 determines No and returns to Act1.
Thus, the processor 11 waits for a print request to be made during the period when the POS terminal 20 is being handled as a customer.

  The POS terminal 20 performs processing for registering the purchased product and settlement of the price of the purchased product as is well known. When payment is completed and a paper receipt needs to be issued, the receipt printer 10 is requested to print, and receipt data representing information to be printed on the paper receipt is sent to the receipt printer 10. The receipt data includes text data and image data representing a character string and an image to be shown on the receipt. The character string to be shown on the receipt may include a store name, store location, store phone number, transaction date and time, product name, unit price, discount amount, total amount, consumption tax, product score, settlement method, and the like. The image represented by the image data may include an image included in a receipt such as a store logo or an advertisement. It is arbitrary what kind of text data and image data the print data includes.

When a print request is made from the POS terminal 20, the processor 11 determines Yes in Act2, and proceeds to Act3.
As Act 3, the processor 11 receives receipt data transmitted from the POS terminal 20 using the interface unit 16. The processor 11 stores the received print data in the main memory 12.

  As Act 4, the processor 11 develops receipt image data representing a receipt image including various character strings and images indicated in the print data in the main memory 12. Thus, the receipt image proves the contents of the transaction for transferring the product to the shopper.

  As Act 5, the processor 11 operates the print unit 15 to print a receipt image based on the receipt image data developed in Act 4. Thus, when the processor 11 executes the information processing shown in FIG. 2, the computer having the processor 11 as a central part realizes a function as a first processing unit that causes a receipt image to be printed on a print device included in the print unit 15.

  As Act 6, the processor 11 instructs the print unit 15 to cut the receipt paper. When the cut is instructed from the processor 11 as described above, the print unit 15 operates the cutter and separates the area on which the receipt image of the receipt paper is printed. As a result, a paper receipt in which a receipt image is printed on one separated receipt paper is issued.

  As Act 7, the processor 11 deletes the print data and the receipt image data stored in the main memory 12. Then, the processor 11 returns to Act1.

Meanwhile, when the POS terminal 20 is not being handled as a customer, the processor 11 determines No in Act 1 and proceeds to Act 8.
As Act 8, the processor 11 confirms whether or not an instruction to issue a tag is given. Then, the processor 11 determines No if the instruction is not given, and returns to Act1.
Thus, the processor 11 waits for an instruction to issue a tag during a period when the POS terminal 20 is not handled as a customer.

  When the store clerk needs to issue a tag certifying that the account has been made to the user of the my basket service, the store clerk instructs the tag issuance in a state where the POS terminal 20 is not handled as a customer. The instruction is performed as, for example, a predetermined operation in the operation unit 13. The instruction may be performed as a predetermined operation in an operation unit provided in the POS terminal 20. For example, one of the buttons included in the POS terminal 20 is allocated for a tag issue instruction. When the button is operated, the POS terminal 20 notifies the receipt printer 10 that tag issue is instructed. Then, if an instruction to issue a tag is given, the processor 11 determines Yes in Act 8, and proceeds to Act 9.

  As Act 9, the processor 11 develops in the main memory 12 tag image data representing a tag image including various character strings and images that are determined in advance as tags. It should be noted that the specific image of the tag image is arbitrary, and is determined, for example, by the person in charge at the store where the receipt printer 10 is installed. The character string and image data included in the tag image and the data indicating the layout are stored in the main memory 12. However, these data may be stored in a storage device provided in the POS terminal 20 or a storage device provided in a server device with which the POS terminal 20 can communicate.

  Thereafter, the processor 11 executes Act5 and the subsequent steps in the same manner as described above. However, in this case, the processor 11 causes the tag image to be printed based on the tag image data as Act5. Further, the processor 11 deletes the tag image data as Act7.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the issued tag TG1.
This tag TG1 has a length in the longitudinal direction that is larger than the narrower width of the opening of the basket used in the my basket service. Therefore, the tag TG1 is pasted on the basket in which the product for which accounting has been completed is placed, across the opening. That is, the tag TG1 is a certificate attached to the basket in order to prove that the product placed in the container which is a container has been transferred. Thus, when the processor 11 executes the information processing based on the information processing program, the computer having the processor 11 as a central part serves as a second processing means for causing the printing device provided in the printing unit 15 to print the tag image which is the image of the above-mentioned voucher. Function.

  As described above, according to the receipt printer 10, it is pasted on the basket used in the My Basket service, and the product put in the basket has been accounted for, that is, the corresponding product has been sold. You can issue a tag to stick to your basket to prove it. This makes it possible to issue a tag that is manufactured and bundled by the manufacturer every time payment for a transaction using the My Basket service is completed and the tag needs to be affixed to the basket. , No need to keep. That is, it is possible to provide the my basket service without preparing a bundle of tags in the checkout corner. Further, the store clerk does not need to perform an operation of selecting and taking out one tag from such a bundle of tags.

  Further, according to the receipt printer 10, when the POS terminal 20 is being handled as a customer, it does not wait for a tag issue instruction and does not issue a tag. For this reason, the receipt issuance required upon completion of settlement can be promptly executed.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a POS terminal as an example of a sales processing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the POS terminal.
The POS terminal 30 includes a processor 31, a main memory 32, an auxiliary storage unit 33, an operation unit 34, a display unit 35, a reading unit 36, a printing unit 37, a communication interface 38, a transmission path 39, and the like. Note that FIG. 4 mainly shows elements necessary for the description of the characteristic configuration and operation of the present embodiment, and includes other elements included in another known POS terminal of the same type, or any other elements. It does not matter.

A computer that performs information processing for controlling the POS terminal 30 is configured by connecting the processor 31, the main memory 32, and the auxiliary storage unit 33 through the transmission path 39.
The processor 31 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 31 controls each unit to implement various functions as the POS terminal 30 according to an information processing program such as an operating system, middleware, and an application program.

  The main memory 32 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 32 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 32 stores an operating system and application programs in a nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 32 may store data necessary for the processor 31 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 32 uses a volatile memory area as a work area in which data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 31.

  The auxiliary storage unit 33 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage unit 33 is, for example, an EEPROM. As the auxiliary storage unit 33, an HDD, an SSD, or other known various storage devices can be used. The auxiliary storage unit 33 stores data used when the processor 31 performs various processes and data generated by the processes in the processor 31. The auxiliary storage unit 33 may store a part of the information processing program.

  Since the outline of the functions of the operation unit 34, the display unit 35, and the print unit 37 is the same as that of the operation unit 13, the display unit 14, and the print unit 15 in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The reading unit 36 reads data stored or displayed on the recording medium. The reading unit 36 may appropriately include a known reading device such as a barcode scanner, a magnetic card reader, an RFID (radio frequency identifier) reader, or an NFC (near field communication) reader.

The communication interface 38 performs data communication via the communication network 40. As the communication interface 38, for example, a known interface configured to perform a known process for data communication via a LAN (local area network) can be used. A partner of data communication by the communication interface 38 is a POS server or the like.
The transmission path 39 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like, and transmits data and control signals exchanged between the connected units.

Next, the operation of the POS terminal 30 configured as described above will be described.
When the POS terminal 30 is set to an operation state for dealing with merchandise sales, the processor 31 executes information processing described below according to an information processing program stored in the main memory 32 or the auxiliary storage unit 33.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of information processing by the processor 31. Note that the same operations in FIG. 5 as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As Act 11, the processor 31 confirms whether or not a commodity to be climbed is designated as a purchase target. If the designation is not made, the processor 31 determines No and proceeds to Act12.
As Act 12, the processor 31 confirms whether or not a tag issuance is instructed. If the instruction has not been made, the processor 11 determines No and returns to Act 11.
Thus, the processor 11 waits for designation of a product or an instruction to issue a tag.

  When the shopper carries a product to be purchased, the clerk performs an operation of designating the product as a purchase target. The operation is, for example, a known operation such as bringing the handy scanner included in the reading unit 36 close to the barcode displayed on the product. If such an operation is performed, it is determined as Yes in Act11, and the process proceeds to Act13.

  As Act 13, the processor 31 executes a registration process. In the registration process, the product designated as described above is registered as a purchased product, and other products are registered as purchased products as necessary in accordance with instructions from the store clerk, and a list of purchased products is created. It is processing. This registration process may be a process similar to that performed in another existing POS terminal of the same type. Then, the processor 31 receives the instruction to shift to the accounting process by the store clerk, ends the registration process, and proceeds to Act 14.

  As Act 14, the processor 31 executes the accounting process. The accounting process is a process of calculating the price of the purchased product included in the above list and settling the price. This accounting process may be a process similar to that performed in another existing POS terminal of the same type. Then, when the settlement is completed, the processor 31 proceeds to Act4, and thereafter executes Act4-Act7 as in the first embodiment. That is, the processor 31 causes the print unit 37 to issue a paper receipt representing the contents of the transaction registered in the registration process and the accounting result in the accounting process. The processor 31 returns to the standby state for Act11 and Act12 when Act7 is finished. In this case, the processor 31 accepts a tag issue instruction after the printing of the receipt image by the print unit 37 and before a new product is designated.

  If the clerk needs to issue a tag to the user of the My Basket service, the clerk instructs the tag issuance when the POS terminal 20 is in the standby state of Act11 and Act12. The instruction is performed, for example, when a store clerk operates a tag issuing instruction button that is predetermined as one of the buttons of the operation unit 34. Then, if an instruction to issue a tag is given, the processor 31 determines Yes in Act 12, and performs Act9 and subsequent steps in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the processor 31 causes the print unit 37 to issue a tag.

  As described above, according to the POS terminal 30, tags can be issued as in the first embodiment, and the my basket service can be provided without preparing a bundle of tags in the checkout corner.

  Further, according to the POS terminal 30, the tag emission instruction is accepted only after the paper receipt is emitted and the processing relating to one transaction is finished, and until the first product relating to the new transaction is designated. For this reason, the receipt issuance required upon completion of settlement can be promptly executed.

This embodiment can be variously modified as follows.
The receipt printer 10 may be connected to an electronic cash register or the like instead of the POS terminal 20.

  The second embodiment can also be implemented in a sales processing device of a different type from a POS terminal such as an electronic cash register.

  In the first embodiment, a tag issue instruction may be accepted even during handling as a customer, and in the second embodiment during registration processing or accounting processing.

  The information processing program representing the information processing shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5 is the main memory 12 or the main memory 32 and the auxiliary storage unit 33 when the hardware of the receipt printer 10 or the hardware of the POS terminal 30 is transferred. Or may be transferred separately from the above hardware. In the latter case, the information processing program is recorded on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or transferred via a network. In the latter case, the information processing program is provided as an upgrade program and written to either the main memory 12 or the main memory 32 and the auxiliary storage unit 33, and the main memory 12 or the main memory 32 and the auxiliary storage unit 33. A case in which the information is used by replacing it with another information processing program of the same type already stored in one of them is assumed.

  A part or all of the functions realized by the processor 11 by information processing can be realized by hardware that executes information processing not based on an information processing program such as a logic circuit. Each of the above functions can also be realized by combining software control with hardware such as the above logic circuit.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Receipt printer, 11, 31 ... Processor, 12, 32 ... Main memory, 13, 34 ... Operation unit, 14, 35 ... Display unit, 15, 37 ... Print unit, 16 ... Interface unit, 17, 39 ... Transmission path, 36 ... Reading unit, 38 ... Communication interface, 20 ... POS terminal, 30 ... POS terminal.

Claims (6)

A printing device for printing an image on a print medium;
First processing means for causing the printing device to print a receipt image for certifying the content of a transaction for transferring a product to a shopper;
Second processing means for causing the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to the container in order to prove that the product put in the container has been transferred;
A receipt printer. The first processing means causes the printing device to print the receipt image in response to a request accompanying the end of the process for settling the price related to the transaction,
The second processing means causes the printing device to print an image of the voucher in response to an instruction to issue the voucher during a period when the processing is not performed.
The receipt printer according to claim 1. A computer provided in a receipt printer together with a printing device for printing an image on a print medium,
First processing means for causing the printing device to print a receipt image for certifying the content of a transaction for transferring a product to a shopper;
Second processing means for causing the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to the container in order to prove that the product put in the container has been transferred;
Information processing program to make it function. A printing device for printing an image on a print medium;
A registration means for registering the contents of a transaction for transferring a product to a shopper;
First processing means for causing the printing device to print a receipt image for certifying the content of the transaction registered by the registration means;
Second processing means for causing the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to the container in order to prove that the product put in the container has been transferred;
A sales processing apparatus comprising: An input means for inputting an instruction to issue the voucher after the printing device has finished printing the receipt image and before the registration is started by the registration means;
Further comprising
The second processing unit causes the printing device to print an image of the voucher in response to the instruction being input by the input unit.
The sales processing device according to claim 4. A computer for controlling a sales processing apparatus having a printing device for printing an image on a print medium;
A registration means for registering the contents of a transaction for transferring a product to a shopper;
First processing means for causing the printing device to print a receipt image for certifying the content of the transaction registered by the registration means;
Second processing means for causing the printing device to print an image of a voucher to be attached to the container in order to prove that the product put in the container has been transferred;
Information processing program to make it function.