Cash register

An early mechanical cash register was invented by James Ritty and John Birch following the American Civil War.

James was the owner of a saloon in Dayton, Ohio, US, and wanted to stop employees from pilfering his profits.

For example, the Rittys’ patent application filed in 1879 for their “improved cash register” describes the device as follows: “The machine consists, essentially, of an inclosed case or frame provided with an index dial and indicator operated by a system of levers or keys and connected with a series of co-operating disks marked with numbers on their peripheries, a row of which numbers are disclosed by a transverse opening or openings in the case to show at a glance the sum-total of cash receipts.” [7] Since the registration is done with the process of returning change, according to Bill Bryson odd pricing came about because by charging odd amounts like 49 and 99 cents (or 45 and 95 cents when nickels are more used than pennies), the cashier very probably had to open the till for the penny change and thus announce the sale.

The business owner could read the receipts to ensure that cashiers charged customers the correct amount for each transaction and did not embezzle the cash drawer.

[9] It also prevents a customer from defrauding the business by falsely claiming receipt of a lesser amount of change or a transaction that never happened in the first place.

Increasingly, dedicated cash registers are being replaced with general purpose computers with POS software.

[citation needed] Today, point of sale systems scan the barcode (usually EAN or UPC) for each item, retrieve the price from a database, calculate deductions for items on sale (or, in British retail terminology, "special offer", "multibuy" or "buy one, get one free"), calculate the sales tax or VAT, calculate differential rates for preferred customers, actualize inventory, time and date stamp the transaction, record the transaction in detail including each item purchased, record the method of payment, keep totals for each product or type of product sold as well as total sales for specified periods, and do other tasks as well.

Many businesses also use tablet computers as cash registers, utilizing the sale system as downloadable app-software.

The till is usually a plastic or wooden tray divided into compartments used to store each denomination of bank notes and coins separately in order to make counting easier.

When a transaction that involves cash is completed, the register sends an electrical impulse to a solenoid to release the catch and open the drawer.

[citation needed] Some cash drawers are designed to store notes upright & facing forward, instead of the traditional flat and front to back position.

Some cash registers require a numeric password or physical key to be used when attempting to open the till.

[citation needed] Generally requiring a management key, besides programming prices into the register, are the report functions.

[citation needed] Registers will typically feature a numerical pad, QWERTY or custom keyboard, touch screen interface, or a combination of these input methods for the cashier to enter products and fees by hand and access information necessary to complete the sale.

Normally, an employee is watching over several such checkouts to prevent theft or exploitation of the machines' weaknesses (for example, intentional misidentification of expensive produce or dry goods).

Payment on these machines is accepted by debit card/credit card, or cash via coin slot and bank note scanner.