Controller of merchandise sales data processing apparatus

• US 7,486,505 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kotani, Kazumi, Fushimi, Kazuhiro, Gocho, Katsumi, Shishido, Norifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/229,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-686, 361/725, 361/730, 361/724, 705/16, 705/17, 705/21, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0009 Details of the software in the checkout register, electronic cash register [ECR] or point of sale terminal [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A controller of a distributed POS terminal includes a control box frame which stores various hardware components for performing merchandise sales data processing, a top cover which covers an upper face and side faces of a control box frame, and a front cover which covers a front face of the control box frame. The control box frame includes a stepped part at a front portion thereof, such that a front portion of the control box frame is lower than a back portion thereof. When the control box frame is used for the distributed type POS terminal, an additional frame is fixed to the step portion to increase the supporting strength of the top cover. When the control box frame is used for an integrated POS terminal, the stepped part provides a space to place a keyboard.

Claims

1. A controller of a distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus comprising:

a control box frame having a frame structure and including a stepped part at a front portion thereof such that a height of the control box frame is lower at a front side than at a back side thereof;

at least one hardware component stored in the control box frame, for performing merchandise sales data processing;

an additional frame detachably fixed to the stepped part, for making uniform a height of the front portion of the control box frame extending to a top of the additional frame and a height of a back portion of the control box frame;

a top cover detachably fixed to cover an upper face and side faces of the control box frame; and

a front cover detachably fixed to cover a front face of the control box frame.

2. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical disk drive, including a tray that extends forwardly to have an optical disk placed thereon, is provided on the additional frame.

3. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fan extending downwardly from the additional frame and coupled thereto.

4. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a fan extending downwardly from the additional frame and coupled thereto.

5. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a speaker provided on the additional frame.

6. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a speaker provided on the additional frame.

7. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a speaker provided on the additional frame.

8. The controller of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a speaker provided on the additional frame.

9. A controller structure for a merchandise sales data processing apparatus, said controller structure comprising:

a control box frame having a frame structure and including a stepped part at a front portion thereof such that a height of the control box frame is lower at a front side than a back side thereof; and

at least one hardware component stored in the control box frame, for performing merchandise sales data processing;

wherein the controller structure is adapted for use in at least one of;

(i) a distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus and (ii) an integrated type merchandise sales data processing apparatus;

wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus comprises;

an additional frame detachably fixed to the stepped part, for making uniform a height of the front portion of the control box frame extending to a top of the additional frame and a height of a back portion of the control box frame;

a top cover detachably fixed to cover an upper face and side faces of the control box frame; and

a front cover detachably fixed to cover a front face of the control box frame; and

wherein the integrated type merchandise sales data processing apparatus comprises;

a main frame having a frame structure, and including a second stepped part at a front portion thereof such that the front portion of the control box frame is lower than the back portion of the control box frame, said main frame being adapted to store the control box frame such that the control box frame is freely removable from a back face of the main frame and such that the stepped part is positioned at the second stepped part when the control box frame is stored in the main frame;

a keyboard coupled to the second stepped part of the main frame; and

a display and a printer coupled to an upper portion other than the second stepped part of the main frame.

10. The controller structure according to claim 9, wherein the integrated type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises at least one decorative cover for covering at least one of a front face, the back face, and side faces of the main frame.

11. The controller structure according to claim 9, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises an optical disk drive, including a tray that extends forwardly to have an optical disk placed thereon, provided on the additional frame.

12. The controller structure according to claim 9, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a fan extending downwardly from the additional frame and provided thereto.

13. The controller structure according to claim 11, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a fan extending downwardly from the additional frame and coupled thereto.

14. The controller structure according to claim 9, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a speaker provided on the additional frame.

15. The controller structure according to claim 11, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a speaker provided on the additional frame.

16. The controller structure according to claim 12, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a speaker provided on the additional frame.

17. The controller structure according to claim 13, wherein the distributed type merchandise sales data processing apparatus further comprises a speaker provided on the additional frame.