Patent Application
20210304174
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-054850, filed on Mar. 25, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sales data processing device, such as a point-of-sales terminal, and a method of operating such a sales data processing apparatus.
In recent years, in stores such as supermarkets, convenience stores, and mass merchandisers, there is a case in which the commodity data processing and settlement processing (collectively referred to as “transaction processing” or “checkout processing”) at the sales data processing devices at the store can be switched between a clerk mode and a self-service mode. In the clerk mode, transaction processing at a sales data processing device, such as point-of-sales (POS) terminal, is performed by a store clerk. In a self-service mode, transaction processing (or at least some aspects thereof) is performed at a sales data processing device by the customer alone. At a busy time of the store, a clerk may switch a POS terminal to the clerk mode and performs the transaction processing. However, in a quiet time, all or some of the POS terminals at the store may be switched to the self-service mode so the customer can perform the transaction processing operations.
However, in order to switch a POS terminal from the clerk mode to the self-service mode, or to switch a POS terminal from the self-service mode to the clerk mode, typically, the POS terminal, as a whole, must be rotated by about 180° to switch between facing the clerk position or the customer position, as shown in the related art (see, for example, JP-A-2010-20370). However, in this case, when switching from the clerk mode to the self-service mode, it is also necessary to disable those devices and components which are unnecessary or undesirable for customer operation, but such an operation is cumbersome, thus the switching between the clerk mode and self-service mode is not easy.
At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sales data processing device and a method of operating a sales data processing device that permits the sales data processing device to be easily switched back and forth between a clerk mode and a self-service mode.
In general, according to one embodiment, a sales data processing device includes a display configured to rotate to face a first direction, from which a clerk operates the sale data processing device in a first mode, and a second direction different from the first direction, from which a customer operates the sales data processing device in a second mode. A detection unit is configured to detect whether the display faces the first direction or the second direction and indicate the first or second mode according to the detected first or second direction. A processor is configured to enable a first group of components to be operated in the first mode and to enable a second group of components to be operated in the second mode according to the indicated first or second mode of the detection unit.
Hereinafter, certain example embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the example embodiments, a point of sales (POS) terminal will be described as one example of a sales data processing device, but the present disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments.
Placement tables S can be arranged side by side in a store checkout region of the store. In some examples, only a single placement table S may be provided. The placement table S has a substantially rectangular surface and is a table on which the POS terminal 1, a money storage box 3, and an automatic change dispenser 6 are placed. One side of the placement table S (facing side in
In a transaction with a customer, the POS terminal 1 executes registration processing (processing related to obtaining commodity data for items being purchased in the transaction) and settlement processing for commodities being purchased by the customer. The POS terminal 1 reads code symbol, such as a barcode, attached to a commodity being purchased in the transaction and acquires a commodity code for specifying the corresponding commodity. The data processing executed based on the reading of the code symbol is a process by which the POS terminal 1 displays the commodity name and price of the corresponding commodity and also stores the commodity information in a commodity information unit (a registered item list) or the like, based on commodity information (commodity name, price, and the like) of the registered commodity obtained based on the acquired commodity code. In some examples, POS terminal 1 may capture an image of the commodity being registered and acquire the corresponding commodity code for the commodity based on the captured image.
The settlement processing is a process of displaying the total amount of money due in the transaction (based on the commodity information stored in the RAM or the like in the registration processing), a process of calculating and displaying change due amount based on the deposit received from the customer, and a process of instructing the change dispenser to dispense the change due. The settlement processing also can also include a process of dispensing a receipt on which registered commodity information and settlement information (total amount, deposit amount, change amount, and the like) are printed.
The POS terminal 1 includes a main body 2 and money storage box 3. The main body 2 has a power supply unit and a control circuit board built therein. In this example, main body 2 includes a keyboard 4, a display unit 5, a first printer 7, and a touch screen 10 (integrated with display unit 5). Further, the main body 2 is connected to a hand-held scanner 9 that can read a barcode attached to a commodity. The money storage box 3 includes a drawer 31 that can be opened toward the clerk side ST and the drawer 31 stores money received from the customer or reserve money to be handed to the customer as change.
The keyboard 4 (first device, first keyboard) is a keyboard operated by a clerk. The keyboard 4 is a keyboard provided in the POS terminal 1 and includes numeric keys for entering numbers and various function keys.
The display unit 5 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit 5 displays characters and images on a display surface 52. The display unit 5 is configured to be horizontally rotatable about a support shaft 51 (see
The touch screen 10 configured of a transparent touch panel is provided on the surface of the display unit 5. A clerk or a customer operates the touch screen 10 by pressing a position corresponding to a key displayed on the display unit 5. By doing so, the touch screen 10 permits selection of the keys, icons, and/or buttons displayed on the display unit 5. The touch screen 10 provides, for example, a commodity key for selecting a commodity, a closing key 101 that is to be operated for ending the commodity registration processing and moving to a closing (settlement) operation, or the like.
The first printer 7 (includes a thermal head, a storage unit for storing roll-shaped receipt paper, a conveyance unit (none of which is shown), and the like. The conveyance unit pulls out one end of the receipt paper from the storage unit and conveys the receipt paper, and the thermal head prints commodity information, settlement information, and the like regarding the commodity on the conveyed receipt paper. The first printer 7 dispenses the printed receipt toward the clerk side ST. The clerk receives the receipt dispensed by the first printer 7.
Further, the POS terminal 1 is connected to the money storage box 3 (first device). The money storage box 3 is installed under the POS terminal 1. The money storage box 3 may be referred to as a cash drawer 3 in some instances. The money storage box 3 stores the drawer 31 inside. The money storage box 3 opens the drawer 31 to the clerk side ST in response to an opening signal from the POS terminal 1. Further, the opened drawer 31 is closed in the money storage box 3 by the clerk. The drawer 31 stores marketable securities including money such as coins and bills. The clerk deposits the purchase price of the commodity from the customer and stores the money in the drawer 31. Further, the clerk takes out the change to be handed to the customer from the drawer 31.
Further, the POS terminal 1 is connected to the automatic change dispenser 6 (second device). The automatic change dispenser 6 is concerned with the price of commodity, stores the money input by the customer themselves, and pays out the change amount to the customer. The automatic change dispenser 6 will be described later with reference to
Further, the POS terminal 1 connects to the handheld scanner 9 (also referred to as a “touch scanner”). The handheld scanner 9 reads a symbol attached to a commodity by a clerk holding in hand. The POS terminal 1 acquires a commodity code that specifies the commodity based on the read symbol.
Further, as will be described in detail with reference to
The details will be described with reference to
Hereinafter, the POS terminal 1 that operates in the clerk mode (first mode) will be described.
In the case of
Next, the POS terminal 1 that operates in the self-service mode (second mode) will be described.
Next, the operation of the automatic change dispenser 6 will be described.
The bill insertion port 64 is an opening for inserting a bill. The customer inserts the amount of bills out of the price paid for the purchase of the commodity into the bill insertion port 64. The bills inserted into the bill insertion port 64 are stored in the automatic change dispenser 6 by denomination. The bill payout port 65 is a receiving port for receiving bills paid out from the automatic change dispenser 6 when a change is generated for the paid price. The customer themselves takes the change paid out to the bill payout port 65.
Next, the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 1 will be described.
The RAM 43 includes a commodity information unit 431. The commodity information unit 431 stores the commodity information of the data-processed commodity (the price of the commodity, the commodity name, and the like).
The memory unit 44 is a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disc drive (HDD) or a flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 44 includes a control program region 441, a commodity master 442, and a device list region 443. The control program region 441 stores a control program for controlling the POS terminal 1. The commodity master 442 stores commodity information for each commodity available for purchase at the store. The device list region 443 stores a list of first devices which are operable in the clerk mode and a list of second devices which are operable in the self-service mode. The device list region 443 will be described further with reference to
In addition, the control unit 400 is electrically connected to the display unit 5, the keyboard 4, the touch screen 10, the money storage box 3, the automatic change dispenser 6, the handheld scanner 9, the scanner 8, the first printer 7, the second printer 71, and the detection unit 11, via the bus 45 and a controller 46.
Further, the control unit 400 is connected to a communication unit 48 via the bus 45. The communication unit 48 connects to another POS terminal 1 or a store server (not shown) that is a higher-level device via a communication line to exchange information with each other.
The device list region 443 stores information indicating which devices can operate when the POS terminal 1 is in the clerk mode and which devices can operate when the POS terminal 1 is in the self-service mode. The device list region 443 includes an overall device list 4431 (referred to as a “device list”), a switch-off list 4432, and a switch-on list 4433. The device list 4431 lists all devices connected to the POS terminal 1. The switch-off list 4432 stores information indicating which of the connected devices in the device list 4431 are permitted to operate when the detection unit 11 detects a switch-off. That is, the switch-off list 4432 stores information indicating which of the connected devices in the device list 443 operate when the display surface 52 faces the clerk side ST. In the example of
The switch-on list 4433 stores information indicting which of the connected devices in the device list 4431 are operable after the detection unit 11 detects a switch-on. That is, the switch-on list 4433 stores information indicating which of the devices in the device list 4431 operate when the display surface 52 faces the customer side SK. In the example of
The device setting unit 401 enables the first devices (the operable devices as indicated by the switch-off list 4432), to operate in the clerk mode (more particularly, when the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the clerk side ST). In this case, the second devices are inoperable (except the touch screen 10 which is usable in both the clerk mode and the self-service mode). When the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the customer side SK, the second devices (the operable devices as indicated by the switch-on list 4433) to operate in the self-service mode. In this case, the first devices (other than touch screen 10) are inoperable.
Specifically, when the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the clerk side ST (that is, when the detection unit 11 outputs the OFF signal), the device setting unit 401 sets the keyboard 4, the touch screen 10, the money storage box 3, the handheld scanner 9, and the first printer 7 to be operable. When the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the customer side SK (that is, when the detection unit 11 outputs the ON signal), the device setting unit 401 sets the touch screen 10, the automatic change dispenser 6, the scanner 8, and the second printer 71 to be operable.
The processing unit 402 controls whichever devices are enabled devices. Specifically, the processing unit 402 controls the keyboard 4, the touch screen 10, the money storage box 3, the handheld scanner 9, and the first printer 7 when clerk mode is enabled. The processing unit 402 controls the touch screen 10, the automatic change dispenser 6, the scanner 8, and the second printer 71 when the self-service mode is enabled.
The control unit 400 of the POS terminal 1 determines whether the switch of the detection unit 11 is turned on to determine whether the display surface 52 of the display unit 5 faces the clerk side ST or the customer side SK (ACT 11). When it is determined that the switch is off (No in ACT 11), the device setting unit 401 enables the first devices (the clerk-mode operable devices as listed in switch-off list 4432) to be operated (ACT 12). In this case, the control unit 400 sets the POS terminal 1 to be in the clerk mode.
Next, the control unit 400 determines whether the keyboard 4 is operated and data is input via the keyboard 4 (ACT 21). When the keyboard 4 is operated and data is input, the processing unit 402 executes data processing based on the input key data because the keyboard 4 was set to be operable in ACT 12 (ACT 22). After ACT 22, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11. When it is determined that the keyboard 4 is not operated (No in ACT 21), the control unit 400 determines whether the touch screen 10 is operated and data is input (ACT 23). When the touch screen 10 is operated (pressed) and data is input, the processing unit 402 executes data processing based on the input key data (ACT 22) because the touch screen 10 is set to be operable in ACT 12. After ACT 22, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
When it is determined that the touch screen 10 is not operated (No in ACT 23), the control unit 400 determines whether a symbol read by the handheld scanner 9 is input (ACT 31). When it is determined that a symbol read by the handheld scanner 9 is input (Yes in ACT 31), the processing unit 402 executes data processing related to the commodity based on the input symbol because the handheld scanner 9 was set as an operable device in ACT 12 (ACT 32). In ACT 32, the processing unit 402 acquires a commodity code that identifies a commodity being registered, then reads the commodity information for the commodity from the commodity master 442, and stores the commodity information in the commodity information unit 431. After ACT 32, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
When it is determined that the symbol is not read from the handheld scanner 9 (No in ACT 31), the control unit 400 determines whether a symbol read by the scanner 8 is input (ACT 33). When it is determined that a symbol read by the scanner 8 is input (Yes in ACT 33), the processing unit 402 neglects (ignores) the input symbol (discards the read symbol) and does not execute the data processing related to the commodity because the scanner 8 was not set as an operable device in ACT 12 (ACT 34). After ACT 34, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
If a symbol is not read from the scanner 8 (No in ACT 33), the control unit 400 determines whether the closing key 101 is operated (ACT 41). When it is determined that the closing key 101 has been operated (Yes in ACT 41), the control unit 400 executes the settlement processing based on the commodity information stored in the commodity information unit 431 (ACT 42).
Next, the processing unit 402 transmits a signal for opening the drawer 31 to the money storage box 3 (which was set as operable in ACT 12) (ACT 43). Then, the processing unit 402 transmits the commodity information and the settlement information to the first printer 7 (which was set as operable in ACT 12) (ACT 44). Then, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11. When it is determined that the closing key 101 has not been operated (No in ACT 41), the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
If it is determined in ACT 11 that the switch is on (Yes in ACT 11), the device setting unit 401 enables the second devices (the self-service mode operable devices as listed in switch-on list 4433) to be operated (ACT 13). In this case, the control unit 400 sets the POS terminal 1 in the self-service mode.
Next, the control unit 400 determines whether the keyboard 4 is operated and data is input (ACT 41). When the keyboard 4 is operated and data is input, the processing unit 402 neglects (ignores) the key data from the keyboard 4 (ACT 42). That is, processing unit 402 does not execute the data processing based on the key data from the keyboard 4 because the keyboard 4 was not set as an operable device in ACT 13. After ACT 22, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11. When it is determined that the keyboard 4 is not operated (No in ACT 41), the control unit 400 then determines whether the touch screen 10 is operated and data is input (ACT 43). When the touch screen 10 is operated and data is input, the processing unit 402 executes data processing based on the input key data because the touch screen 10 is set as operable in ACT 13 (ACT 44). After ACT 44, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
When it is determined that the touch screen 10 is not operated (No in ACT 43), the control unit 400 determines whether the symbol read by the handheld scanner 9 is input (ACT 51). When it is determined that a symbol read by the handheld scanner 9 is input (Yes in ACT 51), the processing unit 402 neglects (ignores) the input symbol because the handheld scanner 9 was not set as operable in ACT 13 (ACT 52). That is, the processing unit 402 does not execute the data processing based on the symbol input from the handheld scanner 9.
When it is determined that a symbol is not read from the handheld scanner 9 (No in ACT 51), the control unit 400 determines whether a symbol read by the scanner 8 is input (ACT 53). When it is determined that a symbol read by the scanner 8 is input (Yes in ACT 53), since the scanner 8 was set as operable in ACT 13, the processing unit 402 executes the data processing for acquiring the commodity code that identifies the commodity based on the read symbol, reading the commodity information from the commodity master 442, and storing the commodity information in the commodity information unit 431 (ACT 54). After ACT 54, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
When it is determined that a symbol is not read from the scanner 8 (No in ACT 53), the control unit 400 determines whether the closing key 101 has been operated (ACT 61). When it is determined that the closing key 101 has been operated (Yes in ACT 61), the control unit 400 executes the settlement processing based on the commodity information stored in the commodity information unit 431 (ACT 62).
Next, the processing unit 402 transmits the amount to be paid by the customer to settle the transaction based on the settlement processing to the automatic change dispenser 6 (which was set operable in ACT 13) (ACT 63). Then, the processing unit 402 transmits the commodity information and the settlement information to the second printer 71 (which was set as operable in ACT 13) (ACT 64). Then, the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11. If it is determined that the closing key 101 has not yet been operated (No in ACT 61), the control unit 400 returns to ACT 11.
As described above, the POS terminal 1 performs data processing for selling a commodity whenever the commodity information is input, and includes the display unit 5 that enables the display surface 52 for displaying information to be directed to the first direction from which a clerk operates the POS terminal 1 in the clerk mode and the second direction (which is different from the first direction) from which a customer operates the POS terminal 1 in the self-service mode. The detection unit 11 detects whether the display surface 52 faces the first direction or the second direction. The setting unit 401 enables the first devices, which are those connected devices that can be used when the POS terminal 1 is operated in the clerk mode, if the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the first direction. The setting unit 401 enables the second devices, which are those connected devices that can be used when the POS terminal 1 is operated in the self-service mode, if the detection unit 11 detects that the display surface 52 faces the second direction. The processing unit 402 controls the first devices when they are enabled and the second devices when they are enabled.
Such a POS terminal 1 can automatically operate in the appropriate manner for the clerk mode or the self-service mode according to switching of the facing direction the display surface 52 or other triggering event. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between the clerk mode and the self-service mode.
For example, in an embodiment, the keyboard 4, the touch screen 10, the money storage box 3, the handheld scanner 9, and the first printer 7 are the first devices, and the touch screen 10, the automatic change dispenser 6, the scanner 8, and the second printer 71 are the second devices. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and what is used as the first device and what is used as the second device may be appropriately selected depending on the necessary usage status of the POS terminal 1 in the clerk mode or the self-service mode.
The control program executed by the POS terminal 1 of an embodiment can be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) as a file in an installable format or an executable format.
Furthermore, a control program executed by the POS terminal 1 may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. The program executed by the POS terminal 1 of the embodiment may otherwise be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.
Further, the control program executed by the POS terminal 1 of an embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-054850 | Mar 2020 | JP | national |
