JPS61229187A - 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 [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic cash register in which a printer for printing out registration data on receipts can be attached or removed as necessary.

[Prior Art] Generally, each electronic cash register employed in a POS (point of sale) system is connected to one store control unit by a transmission line. and the product code or department code of the product sold to the customer from the keyboard at each electronic cash register.

When product data such as sales amount is entered by key, this product data is processed and registered in its own sales registration file, and the registered data is printed out on a receipt and journal using a printer. Also, the product code and sales amount of the registered sales product.

Sales data such as the number of items sold is sent to the store control unit via a transmission path. The store control unit aggregates the sales data received from each electronic cash register into an aggregate file such as a PLLI file for each product code.

However, in some stores, there is no need to issue receipts at all electronic cash registers that make up the POS system, and it is sufficient to issue receipts only to customers who request receipts. Typically, in such systems, a printer is connected to only one electronic cash register, such as a master electronic cash register, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the entire system. Then, only when a receipt is required, the merchandise for sale is registered at an electronic cash register connected to a printer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, the POS system in which a printer is connected only to some electronic cash registers has the following problems. That is, in general, such printers are often removably attached to electronic cash registers. It is possible to immediately determine whether an electronic cash register is connected to a printer by looking at the electronic cash register, but the program for this electronic cash register is usually the same as the program for other electronic cash registers that do not have a printer connected. Therefore, it was impossible to determine whether or not the printer was actually properly connected and ready to print unless the product data was actually keyed into the electronic cash register and the registration process was executed.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, there is no need to issue receipts in normal sales operations. However, for example, in a master electronic cash register to which a printer is connected, there is a problem in that a receipt is always issued even though it is not necessary after registering a sale.

The present invention was developed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to ensure receipts by displaying that the printer is properly connected to the electronic cash register and ready to print. The purpose is to provide electronic cash registers that can be issued.

In addition to the above object, another object of the invention is to provide an electronic cash register that can easily change whether or not to issue a receipt by operating keys on a keyboard and can issue a receipt only when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic cash register that can prevent the issuance of receipts with registration data partially printed by prohibiting the input of the command to change the sheet issuance status during the registration process for one customer. It is about providing. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an electronic cash register that prints and outputs registration data to a printer that is connectably connected to a control unit via a transmission interface. The printer is provided with a detection means for detecting whether or not the printer is properly connected, and a display means for displaying that the detection means has detected the normal connection state of the printer.

In another invention, a stop key is provided for inputting a stop command to forcibly stop the printout operation of registered data by the printer, and the printer is properly connected to the transmission interface and the stop command is input. If the printer is not in a printable state, a message to that effect is displayed.

In addition to the above invention, in another invention, inputting a stop command using the stop key is disabled during registration processing for one customer.

[Operation] With the electronic cash register configured in this way, if the printer is properly connected to the transmission interface, a message to that effect is displayed.

In another invention, when a stop command is input using the stop key, the printing operation by the printer is forcibly stopped, and if the printer is properly connected and no stop command is input using the stop key. If the printer is ready for printing, a message to that effect will be displayed.

In yet another invention, a print stop command using a stop key is not executed during registration processing for a single customer.

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

Figure 2 shows the PO using the electronic cash register of the embodiment.
1 is a block diagram showing the entire S system, in which a plurality of electronic cash registers (ECR) 3 are connected to one store control unit 1 via a transmission line 2 in a closed loop. A printer 4 is connected to only one electronic cash register 3 among the plurality of electronic cash registers 3.

The store control unit 1 also includes each electronic cash register 3.
A tally file 5 made up of a storage unit such as a RAM that tallies the sales data of each product sent from the server is connected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic cash register 3 to which a printer 4 is connected.
A display section 10 consisting of a printable lamp 8 and a numeric character display section 9 is provided at the top. Furthermore, a card insertion slot 11 is formed on the front surface of the housing 6, and a drawer 12 for storing money is provided at the bottom.

The keyboard 7 has number keys 13 for entering numbers such as sales amount. Stop/cancel key 1 for forcibly stopping or canceling the print output operation of the printer 4
41 Various function keys such as department key and total key 1
5 are arranged.

The stop/cancel key 14 is a kind of double key, and when pressed once, a stop command is input, and when pressed the next time, a stop cancel command is input.

Further, a printer 4 that prints out registration data such as the total sales amount 9 on a receipt 16 is connected to the electronic cash register 3 via a connection cable 17.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electronic cash register 3. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) serving as a control unit that executes registration processing for product data such as the sales amount of sales products inputted from the keyboard 7. A ROM 20. which stores fixed data such as programs for executing registration processing tasks via a ROM 20. A RAM 21 which stores variable data such as a sales registration file for registering product data inputted from the keyboard 7 by department code, for example, controls a timer circuit 22 which measures time.

Further, the CPLJ 18 is connected to the keyboard 7, the drawer 120, the display section 10. A card reader 23 is connected to read card information of a magnetic card inserted into the card insertion slot 11. Furthermore, each pass line includes a transmission interface 24 for sending print data to the printer 4 and detecting whether the connection cable 17 of the printer 4 is properly connected, and a transmission interface 24 for sending print data to the store control unit 1. A transmission interface 25 for sending out is connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the RAM 21, in addition to a sales registration file R1 for registering product data input from the keyboard 7, print data to be printed out on the receipt 16 by the printer 4 is temporarily stored. Print buffer R2 to store
, a test character area R3 that stores test characters to be test printed to confirm that the printer 4 operates normally when the printer 4 is connected to the transmission interface 24; A numeric buffer R4 temporarily stores input numerical data, a flag area R5 stores a printer flag indicating that the printer 4 is properly connected to the transmission interface 24 and is ready for printing, and A flag area 1m11R6 and the like is formed to store a printer error flag indicating that the printer does not operate normally.

The CPL 118 connects the printer 4 according to the flowchart of FIG.
The device is configured to execute connection/disconnection setting processing. That is, when the power is turned on and various initial processes are completed, the system waits for a magnetic card to be inserted into the card insertion slot 11, and then the 11 card is inserted and the card reader 23 reads the magnetically recorded card information. If the card information entered is in the [setting] business mode, the program number is input using the number keys 13 of the keyboard 7 and the execution key, which is one of the function keys 15, is input. When the execution key is input, if the program number previously input at Pl and stored in the number buffer R4 is the connection declaration number, it is checked whether the printer 4 is properly connected to the transmission interface 24. . If the connection is normal, the printable lamp 8 of the display section 10 is turned on and the printer flag in the flag area R5 of the RAM 21 is set to 1. At the same time, the test characters stored in the test character area R3 of the RAM 21 are sent to the printer 4 to be printed out.

If the printer 4 is not properly connected to the transmission interface 24, an error message will be displayed on the numeric character display section 9 of the display section 10, and if the printable lamp 8 is lit, this printable lamp will be displayed. Turn off 8. Furthermore, set the printer flag in flag area R5 to O.
to be released.

If the program number in the number buffer R4 at Pl is a number indicating disconnection, the print ready lamp 8 is turned off and the printer flag is reset to O without doing anything, and the process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPLJ 18 to deal with the occurrence of an abnormal situation in the printer 4 during normal sales registration work. That is, when a key signal is input from the keyboard 7, the type of this key signal is checked. If it is a key signal from the numeric key 13, it is determined that the sales amount or the number of items sold has been keyed in, and the numeric data is stored in the -H numeric buffer R4.

If the input key signal is, for example, a function key 15 such as a department key, subtotal key, or total key, the controller confirms that the function key operation is correct.
The registration process (memory) is executed based on the previous numerical data stored in the number buffer R4. In other words, the sales amount and number of sales items of the key-input sales item are stored in the own RAM 2.
At the same time, the sales data such as the product code, sales amount, and number of items sold are sent to the transmission interface 25.1 in the sales registration file R1. The information is sent to the store control section 1 via the transmission path 2, and the totalization file 5 of the store control section 1 aggregates the information by product code, for example.

When the registration process is completed, among the registered data, data that needs to be printed out on the receipt, such as the total amount of sales 2, is edited and stored in the print buffer R2 of the RAM 21. Next, when it is confirmed in P2 that the printer flag in the flag area R5 is set to 1, connection information indicating whether the printer 4 is normally connected to the transmission interface 24 is read. If the printer 4 is normally connected at P3, the operating status of the printer 4 is read.

If the print data is being input, the RA is immediately
The print data read from the print buffer R2 of M21 is sent out to be printed out on a receipt by the printer 4.

Note that at this time, if the printer 4 is not in a state where print data is being input, a predetermined certain allowable time period elapses. If the printer 4 does not enter the print data input state even after the time measured by the timer circuit 22 has passed the allowable time, the printer 4 becomes unable to print due to some reason such as a malfunction. It is determined that this has occurred, and the printer error flag in the flag area R6 of the RAM 21 is set to 1, and an error message is displayed on the numeric character display section 9. Furthermore, the print ready lamp 8 is turned off.

Also, at P3, the printer 4 connects to the transmission interface 24.
Even if the printer is not connected normally, the printer error flag is set to 1, and the error display and print ready lamp 8 are turned off.

Roughly, the printer flag in the flag area R5 is set to O at P2.
If the registration data has been released, there is no need to print the registration data on the receipt, so the process of this flowchart is immediately terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process for forcibly stopping or canceling receipt issuance during the sales registration business period. That is, when a key signal is input from the keyboard 7,
Check the type of key signal. And stop/cancel key 1
If it is 4, it is confirmed at P4 that the printer error flag in the flag area R6 of the RAM 21 has been reset to O, and then it is confirmed that the registration process for one customer is not in progress. Next, in P5, it is checked whether the printer flag in the flag area R5 is set to 1 or not. If the printer flag has already been set to 1, it is determined that the stop/cancel key 14 input this time is a command to stop issuing a receipt, and the printer flag in the flag area R5 is reset to O. At the same time, the print ready lamp 8 is turned off.

If the printer flag in flag area R5 has been cleared to 0 at P5, the stop/cancel key 1 that was entered this time
4 is a release command for canceling the printing stop, and checks whether the printer 4 is normally connected to the transmission interface 24. Then, only when the connection is normal, the printer flag is set to 1 and the printable lamp 8 is turned on. Further, if the printer 4 is not properly connected to the transmission interface 24, an error message is displayed on the numeric character display section 9 of the display section 10.

Also, if the printer error flag in flag area R6 is set to 1 in P4, it is naturally impossible to print out the registered data on the receipt, so the printer flag is reset to O and the printable lamp is set to 1. Turn off 8.

If the electronic cash register is configured in this way, the electronic cash register that is used by connecting the printer among the electronic cash registers that make up this system at the time of installing the PoS system or before starting the sales registration business. In principle, it is possible to set whether or not to issue a receipt by connecting the printer 4 to the printer 4 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Therefore, for electronic cash registers to which the printer 4 is not connected, it is only necessary to set that the printer 4 is not connected from the beginning.
It is possible to set the same control program for all electronic cash registers 3 making up the OS system.

Further, for the electronic cash register 3 to which the printer 4 is connected, the fact that the printer 4 is properly connected to the transmission interface 24 and ready for printing is indicated by the lighting of the print ready lamp 8 on the display section 10. Therefore, before key-inputting the product data of the sales product from the keyboard 7, the salesperson can confirm in advance whether or not a receipt with the registration data printed for the customer will be issued.

In general, by operating the stop/cancel key 14 on the keyboard 7, it is possible to issue receipts only to customers who request them. Therefore, consumables such as receipt paper for the printer 4 can be saved, and since there is no need to operate the printer 4 for customers who do not request a receipt, it is also possible to improve sales processing efficiency.

Furthermore, even if the stop/cancel key 14 of the keyboard 7 is pressed by mistake during the sales registration process for one customer, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The release command is not executed. As a result, the printing operation is not suddenly stopped during printout, or the printing operation is not suddenly started midway through.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the printer displays that it is properly connected to the electronic cash register and is ready for printing, receipts can be reliably issued.

Furthermore, since it is possible to easily change whether or not to issue a receipt by operating keys on the keyboard, receipts can be issued only when necessary, improving work efficiency in sales registration work.

Furthermore, during the registration process for one customer, execution of the above-mentioned instruction to change whether or not to issue a receipt is prohibited, so it is possible to prevent the issuance of a receipt on which only part of the registration data is printed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an electronic cash register according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a POS system incorporating the electronic cash register of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the main memory of the storage section, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the operation. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Store control unit, 2...Transmission path, 3...Electronic cash register, 4...Printer, 5...Tally file, 7...Keyboard, 8...Printable lamp ( display means), 9... numeric character display section, 13...
Number key, 14...Stop/cancel key, 15...Function key, 16...Receipt, 17...Connection cable, 18...CPLI (control unit), 20...
・ROM, 21...RAM, 22...timer circuit,
23...Card reader, 24.25...Transmission interface. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic cash register in which a control unit executes registration processing for product data such as the sales amount of a sales product inputted from a keyboard, an electronic cash register is provided that can be freely connected to the control unit via a transmission interface. a printer that prints out the registration data that has undergone the registration process when connected, a detection means that detects whether or not this printer is properly connected to the transmission interface; An electronic cash register comprising: display means for displaying that a normal connection state of a printer has been detected. (2) In an electronic cash register in which a control unit executes registration processing for product data such as the sales amount of a sales product entered by key input from a keyboard, an electronic cash register is provided that can be freely connected to the control unit via a transmission interface. a printer that prints out the registration data that has undergone the registration process when connected and connected; a stop key that inputs a stop command that forcibly stops the printer from printing out the registration data; a detection means for detecting whether or not the printer is properly connected to the transmission interface and is in a printable state where the stop command has not been input; and a display indicating that the detection means has detected the printer in the printable state. An electronic cash register characterized by comprising: (3) In an electronic cash register in which a control unit executes registration processing for product data such as the sales amount of a sales product inputted from a keyboard, an electronic cash register is provided that can be freely connected to the control unit via a transmission interface. a printer that prints out the registration data that has undergone the registration process when connected and connected; a stop key that inputs a stop command that forcibly stops the printer from printing out the registration data; a detection means for detecting whether or not the printer is properly connected to the transmission interface and in a printable state where the stop command has not been input; and a display means for displaying that the detection means has detected that the printer is in the printable state. and means for disabling input of a stop command using the stop key during registration processing for one customer.