Abstract: A point of sale terminal includes a computer, a keyboard, and a key-controlled prompting display for eliminating a need for the attendant to memorize sales information. The keyboard has a set of first item keys each of which corresponds to a different first item. The prompting display lists a large number of second items. The keyboard includes a set of category-representing keys each of which corresponds to a different category of second items available for sale. A selected category of items is displayed when the attendant actuates a category key. The display shows prompting indicia associated with each item. The keyboard includes a set of keys having indicia associated with the indicia displayed by the prompting display.

Abstract: A point of sale system includes at least one computer, a keyboard, and money receiving, dispensing and storing mechanisms. The keyboard has item keys corresponding to an item for sale, category keys, function keys and a numerical pad.A bill tendered as payment is detected when it enters an opening and, is drawn into a money belt device and to a viewing window. The bill can be accepted or rejected by an operator visually examining the tendered bill. A signal produced by acceptance of the tendered bill is received by the computer to produce change-due data. Each money belt device detects each bill dispensed as change and causes a feedback signal to be produced to dispense another bill as change or to discontinue payment. The money handling mechanisms are placed in a disarmed mode, under control of a computer, at the completion of each sales transaction, and in an armed mode, under control of a computer operated through the keyboard.