Store-level marketing system
First Claim
1. A store level marketing system which comprises:
- means for dispensing a document containing printed promotional offers available to a consumer;
said dispensing means including a printer;
means for activating said dispensing means;
means associated with said activating means for selecting a unique identification number to be assigned to said document and for determining said offers to be made available to said consumer and for causing said document with said unique identification number to be printed and dispensed;
said selecting means instructing said printer as to the identification number, the offers and the product information to be printed on said document;
said printer comprising means for holding a supply of paper to be fed into said printer, a printing head assembly for placing printed matter on a surface of said paper, and means for substantially removing curls in said paper;
said printer having a casing;
said curl removing means comprising an attachment pivotally mounted to the sidewalls of said casing; and
said attachment having two side arms and a means for introducing a reverse curl to said paper being fed into said printer.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a store level marketing system and a unique printer to be used in the system. The store level marketing system includes an activation device for initiating use of the system and for providing the system with information about the consumer using it, a network interface or computer for selecting a series of offers/discounts to be printed on a piece of paper, and a printer for printing a paper document containing the selected offers/discounts. The system further includes a checkout station which communicates with the network interface or the computer to provide it with information about the purchases made by the consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the printer is a thermal printer provided with a mechanism for substantially eliminating any curl in the paper being fed into the printer. The curl eliminating mechanism includes a tube which is pressed against the paper to impart a reverse curl to the paper which is opposite to the natural curl of the paper.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A store level marketing system which comprises:
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means for dispensing a document containing printed promotional offers available to a consumer; said dispensing means including a printer; means for activating said dispensing means; means associated with said activating means for selecting a unique identification number to be assigned to said document and for determining said offers to be made available to said consumer and for causing said document with said unique identification number to be printed and dispensed; said selecting means instructing said printer as to the identification number, the offers and the product information to be printed on said document; said printer comprising means for holding a supply of paper to be fed into said printer, a printing head assembly for placing printed matter on a surface of said paper, and means for substantially removing curls in said paper; said printer having a casing; said curl removing means comprising an attachment pivotally mounted to the sidewalls of said casing; and said attachment having two side arms and a means for introducing a reverse curl to said paper being fed into said printer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A printer for providing printed documents on paper comprising:
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means for holding a supply of paper to be fed into said printer; a printing head assembly for placing printed matter on a surface of said paper; means for substantially removing curls in said paper; said printer having a casing; said curl removing means comprising an attachment pivotally mounted to the sidewalls of said casing; and said attachment having two side arms and a means for introducing a reverse curl to said paper being fed into said printer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for printing and dispensing a paper document containing promotional incentives and/or offers to a consumer, said system comprising:
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a printer mounted within an enclosure, said printer being in communication with a means for instructing said printer to issue said paper document to said consumer; said printer comprising a printing head assembly, a supply of paper supported by holder arms mounted to a casing surrounding said printing head assembly, and means for substantially removing curls from said paper being fed into said printing head assembly; said curl removing means comprising an attachment mounted to sidewalls of said casing, said attachment being pivotally movable relative to said casing and being maintained in an operational position by spring means connected to said attachment and to said casing; said attachment having two side arms and a tube positioned between said side arms; and said tube contacting said paper prior to said paper being introduced into said printing head assembly and introducing a reverse curl into said paper. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A store level marketing system for use by retailers comprising:
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an enclosure positioned at a retail location; said enclosure including an external activation device for allowing a consumer to identify himself or herself; a computer connected to said activation device for receiving consumer identification information from said activation device;
said computer being connected to a data base containing a number of promotional offers available to said consumer and information to be dispensed to consumers and consumer profile information;said computer being programmed to select at least one of said promotional offers available to said consumer and said information based upon said consumer identification information received from said activation device; a printer housed within said enclosure in a vertical orientation; said printer receiving instructions from said computer to print a document containing a unique identification code and said selected at least one of said promotional offers and said information; said enclosure including a gravity chute aligned with an output of said printer for receiving said printed document, said gravity chute including a rear wall, sidewalls, a cover plate, finger means for holding said printed document, and a slot in said cover plate to enable said consumer to remove said printed document from said chute; at least one checkout station at said retail location; said at least one checkout station including means for scanning said printed document and for forwarding a signal about said identification code to said computer so that said computer cancels said identification code, thereby preventing re-use of said printed document; and said computer receiving information from said check-out station about consumer purchases and storing said purchase information in said data base as part of said consumer profile information. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A store level marketing system for use by retailers comprising:
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an enclosure positioned at a retail location; said enclosure including an activation device for allowing a consumer to identify himself or herself; a computer connected to sa id activation device for receiving consumer identification information from said activation device; said computer being connected to a data base containing a number of promotional offers available to said consumer and said data base further containing consumer profile information; said computer being programmed to select at least one of said promotional offers available to said consumer based upon said consumer identification information received from said activation device; a printer housed within said enclosure in a vertical orientation; said printer receiving instructions from said computer to print a document containing a unique identification code and said selected at least one of said promotional offers; said enclosure including a gravity chute aligned with an outlet of said printer for receiving said printed document; at least one checkout station at said retail location; each said checkout station including means for scanning said printed document and for forwarding a signal about said identification code to said computer so that said computer cancels said identification code, thereby preventing re-use of said printed document; and said computer receiving information from said at least one check-out station about consumer purchases and storing said purchase information in said data base as part of said consumer profile information.
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37. A store level marketing system which comprises:
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means for dispensing a document containing printed promotional offers available to a consumer; means for activating said dispensing means; means associated with said activating means for selecting an identification number to be assigned to said document and for determining said offers to be made available to said consumer; said dispensing means including a printer for printing said document containing said identification number; a checkout station having means for scanning said identification number on said document and codes on products purchased by said consumer; said scanning means communicating with said selecting means so as to provide said selecting means with information about said identification number and said products purchased by said consumer; said printer having a casing and means for substantially removing curls in paper on which said document is printed; said curl removing means comprising an attachment pivotally mounted to the sidewalls of said casing; and said attachment having two side arms and a means for introducing a reverse curl to said paper which is fed into said printer. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification