Scanner with coupon validation

A point-of-sale product and coupon bar code reader system for retail stores, including a product bar code reader having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying in the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means connected to the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• decode means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code using the same bar code decoding software used for purchased products,
• correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with information representing purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the coupon reading means including movable door means providing an opening for insertion of a coupon, serving as said redemption coupon receiving means, beam diverting means for diverting the product bar code reader's reading beam to scan a coupon when it is placed through the coupon opening, and coupon securing means for engaging a coupon and delivering it into a secure area after the coupon has been determined to be valid and redeemable.

A point-of-sale product and coupon bar code reader system for retail stores, including a product bar code reader having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying to the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means connected to the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• decode means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code using the same bar code decoding software used for purchased products,
• correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with information representing purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the redemption coupon receiving means comprising an openable door adjacent to the product bar code reader for receiving coupons entered by an operator, and wherein the coupon reading means comprises movable mirror means for diverting the reading beam of the product bar code reader to a coupon scanning location when a coupon is to be read, and further including isolation means for sealing the scanning optics of the product bar code reader from a path through which the coupon travels.

A point-of-sale product and coupon bar code reader system for retail stores, including a product bar code reader having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying to the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means connected to the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• decode means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code using the same bar code decoding software used for purchased products,
• correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with information representing purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the coupon reading means including movable door means providing an opening for insertion of a coupon, serving as said redemption coupon receiving means, beam diverting means for diverting the product bar code reader's reading beam to scan a coupon when it is placed through the coupon opening, and coupon cancellation means for cancelling the coupon and preventing future use of the coupon after it has been determined to be valid and redeemable.

A point-of-sale bar code reader for retail stores, having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the housing of the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying in the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means associated with the scanning optics of the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon using the same reading beam used in the scanning optics, when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code, and correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with a list of purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the coupon reading means including movable door means providing an opening for insertion of a coupon, serving as said redemption coupon receiving means, beam diverting means for diverting the product bar code reader's reading beam to scan a coupon when it is placed through the coupon opening, and coupon securing means for engaging a coupon and delivering it into a secure area after the coupon has been determined to be valid and redeemable.

A point-of-sale bar code reader for retail stores, having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the housing of the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying in the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means associated with the scanning optics of the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon using the same reading beam used in the scanning optics, when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code, and correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with a list of purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the redemption coupon receiving means comprising an openable door adjacent to the product bar code reader for receiving coupons entered by an operator, and wherein the coupon reading means comprises movable mirror means for diverting the reading beam of the product bar code reader to a coupon scanning location when a coupon is to be read, and further including isolation means for sealing the scanning optics of the product bar code reader from a path through which the coupon travels.

A point-of-scale bar code reader for retail stores, having a housing, a reading beam, scanning optics for producing scan lines with the reading beam, collection optics and bar code decoding software, and for reading and verifying the use of redemption coupons bearing bar codes, as well as reading items for purchase in a consumer transaction, comprising,

• redemption coupon receiving means associated with the housing of the bar code reader,
• coupon detection means for signifying in the decoding software that a redemption coupon is being read, as opposed to a purchased item,
• coupon reading means associated with the scanning optics of the bar code reader for scanning and reading a redemption coupon using the same reading beam used in the scanning optics, when a redemption coupon is placed at said redemption coupon receiving means,
• means for decoding the redemption coupon's bar code, and correlation means for comparing the decoded information from a redemption coupon bar code with a list of purchases as determined from bar codes of purchased items in the same consumer transaction, and for determining whether the consumer should be credited in a redemption amount associated with the coupon, based on whether an appropriate qualified item has been purchased to qualify for coupon redemption, and
• the coupon reading means including movable door means providing an opening for insertion of a coupon, serving as said redemption coupon receiving means, beam diverting means for diverting the product bar code reader's reading beam to scan a coupon when it is placed through the coupon opening, and coupon cancellation means for cancelling the coupon and preventing future use of the coupon after it has been determined to be valid and redeemable.