GB1019702A - Apparatus for use in connection with the sale of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,019,702. Checking cash etc.; statistical apparatus. E. E. JONES. March 31, 1964 [March 29, 1963], No. 12588/63. Headings G4M and G4T. A sales system includes a plurality of sales devices each adapted to read cash or credit cards, sales tags, and operator identifying cards, and to transmit this information to a data processor which transmits the total back to the sales device where it is printed on a receipt. A plurality of sales devices 11 are connected to a central station 12. If, for example, a sale is to be recorded at the first device 11, a customer's credit card or a cash sale card is inserted in a slot 20, Fig. 2, (not shown). This closes a micro-switch 90 and thus closes a 6-way switch 133. An energizing signal from the central station via a uniselector 26 is thus supplied through the switch 133 to a line 92 and starts a motor 50. The signal also operates a relay 93 to open a switch 45 which causes a lamp 44 in every sales device to be extinguished indicating that one sales device is in use and that no other sales device can be used. The card also closes a second micro-switch 100 to engage a one-revolution electromagnetic clutch 108 controlling a cam drive. The card, either for cash or credit, is embossed and is used as a printing plate to record " cash sale " or the customer's name and account number on a receipt roll 52. A camcontrolled anvil 116 is raised periodically for this purpose. A carbon ribbon 54 is inched as necessary. During the printing, the card feed rollers 95, 96, which rotate continuously, have the pressure between them released by rotation of cams 112, 113, so that the card is stationary during printing. The card also bears the information in coded form on its other face, which information is read at 23 and transmitted to the central station as the card is fed out. The sales tags which are inserted next may print the type of article, e.g. " coat " or may only bear coded information giving the price &c. This information is read and transmitted to the central station where it is processed at 27 and punched on tape at 29; it is then read at 31 and retransmitted to the sales device along lines 85. The sales device includes a print drum 56 which rotates continuously when the motor 50 is operating and drives a drum 79 having contact pairs 80 which connect various combinations of lines 82 to signal the position of the drum 56 to the central station which, via lines 85, 86, selectively energizes coils 71 to position interposers 68 between a bar 65 and print anvils 67. The bar 65 is periodically raised and according to the positions of the interposers 68, corresponding anvils 67 are raised to cause selected data as read from the punched tape to be printed on the receipt. When all the sales tags have been fed through the sales device the operator's identification card is inserted. This prints the word " total " on the receipt and transmits the operator number to the central station. The central station then calculates the total and this is read back from the punched tape and printed on the receipt at the sales device. Thus the operator can see from the receipt that the information is recorded correctly at the central station. If the transaction is for credit the central processor checks a " black list " and operates a warning light 128 at the sales device if the customer's number is found on it.