Commodity sales data processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600031-B2
Application number	US-201514984136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Kaneko Toshihiro
• Nishiie Toru

Classifications

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G07G1/0018

  Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means · CPC title

• E05B73/0082

  for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title