Commodity sales data processing apparatus

• US 9,600,031 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Toshihiro, Nishiie, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US14/984,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20160231779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/028 with sliding bolt(s)
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/10 Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

In one embodiment, a commodity sales data processing apparatus has a data processing terminal and a docking station. Further, the commodity sales data processing apparatus has a connection mechanism and a lock mechanism. The connection mechanism connects the data processing terminal and the docking station in a separable state. The lock mechanism locks connection by the connection mechanism, so as to make the connection by the connection mechanism from in the separable state to in an inseparable state. Further, the lock mechanism releases locking of the connection by the connection mechanism when a specific key operation is performed.

Claims

1. A commodity sales data processing apparatus, comprising:

a portable data processing terminal having a first connector and a touch panel;

a docking station having a second connector which connects to the first connector and feeds power to the data processing terminal, when the data processing terminal is connected to the docking station;

a connection mechanism which connects the data processing terminal and the docking station in a separable state; and

a lock mechanism which locks connection by the connection mechanism, so as to make the connection by the connection mechanism from in the separable state to in an inseparable state, and releases locking of the connection by the connection mechanism when a specific key operation is performed.

2. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the touch panel is provided on a surface of the data processing terminal;

the docking station has a placing surface on which the data processing terminal is placed, while the placing surface contacts a rear surface of the data processing terminal that is an opposite side of the surface; and

the connection mechanism connects the data processing terminal placed on the placing surface to the docking station in the separable state.

3. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes;

an engagement hole provided in the data processing terminal; and

a hook provided on the docking station which enters into the engagement hole to engage with the engagement hole.

4. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the hook is provided on the docking station movably in a direction to engage with the engagement hole and in a direction to disengage from the engagement hole.

5. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the hook includes a locking portion formed at a tip side of the hook, and a step portion formed at a base end side of the hook; and

the locking portion enters into the engagement hole while making contact with an edge portion of the engagement hole, and the edge portion of the engagement hole enters into the step portion, and thereby the hook is engaged with the engagement hole.

6. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the hooks are provided by two at positions sandwiching the second connector therebetween, and the engagement holes are provided by two at positions corresponding to the two hooks, respectively.

7. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the two engagement holes are provided at positions sandwiching the first connector therebetween; and

the hooks enter into the engagement holes, respectively, when the first connector and the second connector are connected.

8. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the docking station has a guide protrusion which is fitted into the engagement hole, to perform positioning of the data processing terminal to the docking station, when the docking station connects to the data processing terminal.

9. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the guide protrusion is fitted into the engagement hole, to guide entering of the hook into the engagement hole.

10. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the lock mechanism locks movement of the hook in a state to be engaged with the engagement hole.