JPS61175896A - Electronic cash register - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is designed to count the cumulative number of prints from the beginning of use of a printing device that prints sales data on receipts in order to obtain a guideline for inspection and repair timing. related to electronic cash registers.

[Conventional technology] In general, the durability of electronic cash registers is longer due to receipts and journals (internal recording paper) than fixed parts such as electronic parts.
It is determined by the lifespan of moving parts such as printing devices, keyboards, drawer opening/closing devices, etc.

Among these movable parts, the printing device in particular has many mechanical components and is subject to significant wear and tear during operation. Therefore, printing devices are generally marked with a message such as ``This printing device guarantees printing of at least 100 million characters'' or ``The average failure rate of this printing device is 1 in 5 million lines'' when shipped from the factory. The lifespan of the lever printing device is displayed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as mentioned above, electronic cash registers that compensate for the estimated lifespan of the printing device by hundreds of millions of characters or tens of thousands of lines at the time of factory shipment have the following problems. there were. In other words, if the printing device of an electronic cash register in use installed at each user's sales floor malfunctions due to some reason, the service personnel of the store or manufacturer of the electronic cash register will be required to check the daily usage frequency. Because the failure cannot be accurately determined, it was not possible to determine whether this failure was a spontaneous failure due to the end of its life, or a failure due to some other cause.

In addition, it is desirable to inspect and repair mechanical parts such as printing devices at regular intervals even if there are no failures, but since it is not possible to obtain an estimate of how many characters have been printed cumulatively since the beginning of use, inspection There was also the problem of not being able to accurately determine the timing of repairs.

The present invention has been developed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable inspection and repair at optimal timing by counting the cumulative number of prints from the beginning of use of the printing device, and to prevent critical problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic cash register that can prevent major failures and extend the lifespan and reliability of the entire printing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The electronic cash register of the present invention has a printing device that prints registered data on receipts in a memory backed up by a battery, and the cumulative number of prints from the beginning of use of this printing device. A print number counter for counting is provided, and when a command to read the cumulative print number is inputted through the input means, the cumulative print number counted by the print number counter is printed out.

In addition to the above invention, in another invention, when the cumulative number of prints counted by the print number counter reaches a specified value preset for durability, etc., it is determined that the specified value has been reached. This is automatically notified to the user of the electronic cash register.

[Operation] With an electronic cash register configured in this way, the cumulative number of prints from the beginning of use of the printing device is counted in the print number counter, so the administrator or user of this electronic cash register can: If necessary, the current cumulative number of prints can be printed out by inputting a continuation command using the input means.

Further, in another invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect, when the cumulative number of prints since the beginning of use reaches a preset value for durability, etc., it is automatically announced that the specified value has been reached. .

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the electronic cash register of the embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a housing, and on the front of this housing 1, a keyboard 2 with keys for various sales registrations is provided.On the top of the housing 1, the department code of the sold product, the price 9, the total amount, etc. are displayed electronically. A display section 3 for displaying information is provided, and a receipt issuing port 4 is provided at the middle and lower portions, respectively. Journal monitoring window 5. A drawer 6 is provided. Furthermore, a display section 7 for customers having the same structure as the display section 3 is attached to the upper surface of the housing 1 using a support rod.

The keyboard 2 includes number keys 8 for entering the sales amount, number of items sold, etc. of the product. Various functions such as a department key 99 indicating the classification of products, a deposit/cash key 10 for calculating the total amount, and a successive key 11 for inputting a command to read the cumulative number of prints counted in the storage section. A key is placed. Furthermore, a control key 12 operated by a key is provided.

This control key 12 is a control switch for controlling the power on and off, and for instructing the central processing unit to execute various tasks such as [registration], [accounting], and [setting]. [Registration] is the process of storing the price of sold products in the storage unit, calculating the total price, etc., and printing the results on the receipt and journal (internal recording paper) using the printing device. . [Settlement Co.] is a job that prints out the sales total registered in the storage unit at the end of the day's work. Furthermore, [setting] is a task of presetting, for example, message characters to be printed on a receipt in the storage unit.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic cash register. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13 has a built-in arithmetic circuit, etc., and performs various arithmetic processing based on input information from the keyboard 2, as well as the address bus 14. Data bus 15. Through the control line 16, a ROM 17 that stores fixed data such as programs for each business, and a battery-backed RAM 18 that stores variable data such as registration data of each product manually entered are operated.

In addition, a drawer control circuit 19 that controls opening and closing of the drawer 6
．． A control key input circuit 20 to which a command signal from the control key 12 is input. A keyboard input circuit 211 into which key signals from the keyboard 2 are input; a display section 3;
The display control unit 22 that sends display signals to the data pasco 5. Control I! 16 to the CPL 113.

In the RAM (Random Access Memory) 18, the stored contents are protected by the battery even if the power to the electronic cash register is cut off or the power is cut off due to an unexpected power outage. Also, in this RAM 18, as shown in FIG. 2, the sales amount of the sales product entered manually using each sales registration key of the keyboard 2 is stored.

A sales registration file RA1 that aggregates sales data such as the number of items sold, for example, by department. In addition to the work area RA2 for performing various calculations such as calculating the total amount, a print number counter RA3 is formed to count the cumulative number of prints PT from the beginning of use of the printing device 23.

The display control section 22 and the printer control section 24 are each composed of a one-chip microcomputer, and control the display section 3.7 or the printing device 23 according to commands from the CPtJ13. As shown in the figure, the printing device 23 includes a printing section 25. Paper feeding unit 26 that feeds receipts and journals. Stamp section 27. Stamp section 27. Stamps the store name, phone number, short messages such as "Thank you", and other fixed-form characters that do not change in customer traffic, on the first part of the receipt. It consists of a cutter part 28 for cutting the printed receipt.

After the CPU 13 has been installed in each sales floor of each user and has been put into use, the flowchart shown in FIG. It is configured to perform processing according to the following. That is, when the power is turned on using the control key 12, various initial processes are executed, and then the RA
The count value counted by the print number counter RA3 in M18, that is, the value of the cumulative number of prints PT from the beginning of use in the printing unit 25 of the printing device 23, is the value of the inspection and repair that is preset in consideration of durability etc. Specified number of prints P indicating the cycle
Check whether the TS has been reached. If the specified number of prints PTS has not been reached, the main routine of normal work such as [setting] and [registration] is started without doing anything.

If the count value PT of the print number counter RA3 has reached the specified number of prints PTS described above, it is determined that the cumulative number of prints PT since the beginning of use of the printing device 23 has reached the specified number of prints to be inspected and repaired PTSI: Then, this count value PT is sent to, for example, a print command to the printer control unit 24, and is printed out on the receipt along with a message such as ``The cumulative number of prints has reached the specified number for inspection and repair.''

Furthermore, after the cumulative number of prints PT reaches the specified number of prints PTS and the printout is performed, the administrator of the electronic cash register clears the count value PT of the print number counter RA3 in the RAM 18 to O by operating keys on the keyboard 2. Is possible.

Further, when a key signal is inputted by manual key operation from the keyboard 2 during the [registration] operation, for example, the CPLJ 13 executes key manual processing for the inputted key signal according to the flowchart of FIG. That is, when a 1-key signal is input from the keyboard 2 to the keyboard input circuit, the type of this key signal is first checked. Then, the key signals are normal numeric key 8, department key 9. If it is a sales registration key such as the deposit/cash total key 10, the normal key manual processing corresponding to the key is executed because the input is the sales amount 1 department code of the sales item, total amount calculation command, etc.

Further, if the input key signal is the key signal of the read key 11, it is determined that a command to read the cumulative number of prints has been input, and
The count value PT of the print number counter RA3 in the RAM 18 is read. Then, the read count value PT is printed out on the receipt by the printing device 23, together with a message such as [Current cumulative print count 1]. At the same time, display control unit 2
2 to display the read count value PT on each display section 3.7.

In addition, the printer control unit 24 can be used for C registration or [payment]
When various commands are inputted from the CPLJ 13 via the address bus 14 and the data bus 15 during business operations, the printing section 250, paper feeding section 26. Stamp part 2
7. The cutter portion 28 is driven and controlled. That is, the CPU
When a command is input from 13, the type of this command is checked.

If the command input at Pl is a print command accompanied by print data equivalent to one line on the receipt, first send only the print command to the print section 25 and set the print output mode of the print section 2.5. Arrange. Next, print data corresponding to one line on the input receipt is stored in its own print output buffer. Next, the number of printing digits ΔPT to be actually printed in one line of print data stored in the print output buffer is read out. This read number of printed digits ΔP is stored in the printed number counter R of RAM1'8.
Add to count value PT of A3. Print number counter RA
When the addition of 3 is completed, the printing unit 25 prints out one line of data stored in the print output buffer on the receipt.

Next, in P2, if the command input from the CPU 13 is a receipt paper feed command, the paper feed section 26 is driven to feed the receipt by one line.

Also, if the command input from the CPU 13 at P3 is a stamp command, the store name is displayed at the head of the receipt.

It is determined that this is a command to print fixed-form characters such as a telephone number or a simple message on a stamp, and the stamp unit 27 is driven to print the above-mentioned fixed-form characters on a stamp.

Furthermore, if the command inputted from CPU 3 at P4 is a receipt cutting command, the cutter part 28 is driven to cut the receipt.

In the case of an electronic cash register configured in this way, the department (or item name) is printed on the printing device 23.

Every time data such as the total sales amount 1 is printed out, the actual number of digits printed at that time is added to the cumulative number of prints PT of the print number counter RA3 formed in the RAM 18. As mentioned above, the RAM 18 is backed up by a battery, so even if the power is turned off using the control key 12 or if the power is suddenly cut off due to a power outage, the number of prints will continue. The cumulative number of prints PT counted by the counter RA3 never disappears.

Therefore, the administrator of the electronic cash register can print out the current cumulative number of prints PT on the printing device on the receipt by manually operating the read key 11 of the keyboard 2, if necessary. As a result, it is possible to know the approximate time when the printing device of the electronic cash register should be inspected and repaired, so that the electronic cash register can be appropriately managed and operated. In addition, by periodically inspecting and repairing each time a preset number of prints PTS is printed before the end of its life, serious failures can be prevented, extending the lifespan of the entire printing device and increasing its reliability. and can be improved.

Furthermore, even if a failure occurs, since the cumulative number of prints PT up to now can be accurately grasped, it can be determined whether the failure is a natural occurrence due to the end of its life, or is due to some other cause.

Furthermore, if it is clearly due to wear and abrasion, statistical data on the cumulative number of prints PT at which the failure occurs can be collected and used as reference material when designing the next printing device.

Furthermore, when the cumulative number of prints PT reaches the specified number of prints PTS above, a warning message that the specified number of prints has been reached and the cumulative number of prints PT at that time are automatically printed on the receipt, so you can use the electronic cash register. Managers never miss the timing of inspection and repair. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the above-mentioned warning message and the printout of the cumulative number of prints PT are not executed during the actual sales registration even if the specified number of prints PTS is reached, and, for example, when the Asakako cash register is turned on. Since it is executed at the same time, it does not interfere with actual sales operations.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the cumulative number of prints from the beginning of use of the printing device is counted. Therefore, inspection and repair can be carried out at optimal timing, serious failures can be prevented, and the lifespan and reliability of the printing apparatus as a whole can be extended and reliability improved.

In addition, automatic notification is provided when the cumulative number of prints reaches the specified number of prints, so the administrator will never miss the time for inspection and repair.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows an electronic cash register according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 shows the block diagram showing the overall schematic configuration, Fig. 2 shows the main memory of the storage section, and Fig. 3 shows the main memory of the storage section. The perspective view showing the whole system and FIGS. 4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operation. 1...Housing, 2...Keyboard, 3.7...Display section, 4...Receipt issuing port, 5...Journal monitoring window, 6...Drawer, 8...Setting number Key, 9...Department key, 1゜...Deposit/Cash key, 11...Read key, 12...Control key, 13...CPU 11
7... ROM, 18... RAM, 23... Printing device, 24... Printer control section, 25... Printing section, 2
6...Paper feed section, 27...Stamp section, 28...
Part of the cutter, RA3...Print number counter. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic cash register that registers sales data of sales products inputted through a registration input device in a memory backed up by a battery, and prints out the registered data on a receipt using a printing device, the storage a print number counter provided in the printing device for counting the cumulative number of prints from the start of use of the printing device; an input means for inputting a read command for the cumulative print number; and a read command is received by the input means. An electronic cash register comprising: printing means for printing out the cumulative number of prints counted by the print number counter when input. (2) In an electronic cash register that registers sales data of sales products inputted through a registration input device in a storage unit backed up by a battery, and prints out the registered data on a receipt using a printing device, the storage a print number counter provided in the printing device for counting the cumulative number of prints from the start of use of the printing device; an input means for inputting a read command for the cumulative print number; and a read command is input by the input means. printing means for printing out the cumulative number of prints counted by the print number counter when the print number counter reaches a preset value; An electronic cash register characterized in that it is equipped with an automatic notification means for automatically notifying.