FR2620842A1 - Automatic dispenser for video cassettes or similar objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus configured for storing, delivering and receiving objects which are similar in terms of their external shape, but different in terms of their identity, especially prerecorded video cassettes. The apparatus has the shape of a cupboard 1 exhibiting, on the customer side, a coded card reader 9, a dispensing aperture 7 and a terminal 8 for communication between the client and a computer 16. The objects are stored in individual housings 15 of a rotating magazine 13, their addresses and their identities being stored in memory by the computer. A transfer unit 17 moves only in translation in order to bring the objects to be delivered to a pivoting communication unit 5 and to bring the objects received back into the magazine 13. Application to the renting, lending or sale of video cassettes or similar objects.

Description

1 2620842

  AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR OF VIDEO CASSETTES OR OBJECTS

SIMILAR

  The present invention relates to an automatic device for storing and distributing objects which are substantially similar to each other in their external shape but different at least in their identity, in particular cassettes containing video recordings and rentals, the device comprising at least one store provided with individual housings for the objects, means for picking up an object from a given housing of the store and delivering it to a user, and means for

  command comprising a means of selecting the identity of the object.

  In this type of device, a distributor is known in which a store is formed by several rows of housings distributed on a flat vertical wall to contain video cassettes rented or sold. The identity of the cassette that each dwelling contains is listed, which provides the address of the cassette that a customer wishes to obtain. A sampling device and. transfer cassette moves in two perpendicular translations in front of the magazine, to

  bring the cassettes to the point where they are delivered.

  Such a device is quite bulky. In addition, the withdrawal and transfer device represents a relatively large and complex mechanical construction which increases the cost of the device and the

  operation is not always guaranteed in the long run.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a compact device making it possible automatically to provide a rental or loan service for video cassettes or other objects having a standardized shape and dimensions,

  including other recording media. The invention is aimed particularly at

  rement i Provide a device capable of delivering tapes to a subscribed customer, of subsequently receiving these tapes and putting them back in the store, and of developing the data necessary for invoicing

automatic to the customer.

  - 2- For this purpose, the invention provides an apparatus of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that it comprises a storage unit provided with a substantially cylindrical magazine, a dispensing member arranged to deliver to a user and for receiving from it one of said objects, a mobile motorized transfer unit facing the store at least parallel to the axis thereof and arranged to transport one of said objects in both directions between the store and the member distribution, means for identifying this object, and an electronic automatic control device comprising at least one terminal for communication with the user and means for storing the content of each dwelling

of the shop.

  In a preferred embodiment, the magazine is rotatable about its axis, which is vertical, and the storage unit includes motor means for rotating the magazine. In this store, the dwellings are divided into several floors separated by planes perpendicular to the axis of the store. The transfer unit comprises members for taking an object and means 2r for moving these members in radial translation relative to the magazine. Preferably, the transfer unit is arranged to take or return an object both on the side of the axis of the magazine and on the opposite side, and the organs of

  grip have friction rollers driven in rotation by a motor.

  In addition, the transfer unit advantageously comprises at least one member

  2- reading the identity of the object.

  The dispensing member preferably comprises a body provided with a compartment for an object to be delivered or received, this body being pivotable about a vertical axis between a position where the compartment is accessible with one hand of the user, and a position where the compartment

  is accessible to the transfer unit gripping members.

  The communication terminal can advantageously include a control keyboard, a message display screen, and a coded card reader. The device can also include a control terminal provided with a control keyboard and a display screen, the use of this terminal can be reserved for example to the operator of the device. A computer ensuring in particular the management of the stock of objects, the counting of

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  rentals and billing to the customer, can be integrated into the device.

  The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the

  following description of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the drawings

  attached, in which FIG. I is a perspective view of the exterior of an automatic apparatus for distributing and receiving rental video cassettes, as it appears to a client, FIG. 2 is a schematic view in vertical section of the device, the side accessible to the customer being on the left of the figure, FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the pivoting body of a communication unit of the device with the customer, FIG. 4 is a schematic view in horizontal section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, fig. 5 is a front view of a cassette transfer unit, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view in horizontal section along the line VI-VI

of fig. 5.

  Referring to Figures I and 2, the apparatus described here by way of example is in the form of a cabinet having a metal outer casing I and which can be mounted on rollers 2 to form a transportable assembly. On its front side 3, that is to say on the side accessible to the customer, the casing 1 has a prominent housing 4 containing a communication unit 5 formed by a body pivoting about a vertical axis 6, opposite d a window 7 formed in front of the client in the case 4. Above this, a display monitor 8 with a cathode screen is provided for communicating information to the client. A reader 9 of coded cards, for example with magnetic, electronic or optical coding, is placed facing the customer below the opening 7. The rear side 10 of the device has a door allowing the operator to access inside the device and to control certain functions by means of a particular terminal comprising a monitor 11 and a keyboard

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not shown.

  In the central part of the device is a storage unit 12 comprising a rotary magazine 13, an electric geared motor 14 for driving the magazine, and conventional control and indexing members to ensure obtaining angular positions of the magazine 13 by means of the geared motor 14. The magazine 13 has the shape of a cylindrical drum with a vertical axis comprising here, on its periphery, ten

  radial housing stages 15 for standard recording cassettes

  very video. In this example, each floor has thirty individual housings 15, so that the storage unit 12 can contain up to three hundred different cassettes, the identities and the addresses of which are housed in a computer 16 which manages all of the

  operation of the device, as will be described later.

  A transfer unit 17 is placed between the communication unit 5 and the magazine 13 and it is movable in vertical translation on guides 18, in front of the ten floors of the magazine 13 and on the back of the unit 5. The translation members and indexing the transfer unit 17 with respect to the different store floors are conventional and, to simplify the drawing, they are not shown. They can advantageously include a chain and pulley drive which allows rapid movements and a

precise indexing.

  Figs. 3 and 4 show the pivoting body 5 forming the communication unit

  cation. This body is mounted in bearings by means of a lower pin 20 and an upper pin 21 driven by a geared motor 22 incorporated in the body 5. This body is cylindrical and, in its lower part, it contains a compartment 23 for a video cassette 24, this compartment having a flared opening 25 on the so-called front side of the body 5. The opening 25 is surmounted by a keyboard 26 with sixteen keys which is connected to the computer 16 and which forms with the monitor 8 a communication terminal between the client and computer. The body 5 is arranged to pivot back and forth between a so-called open position, its front side provided with the opening 25 and the keyboard 26 is accessible to the client through the opening 7, and a so-called closed position o this front side faces the magazine 13 and the passage of the transfer unit 17, to allow the transfer of a cassette between the transfer unit and the compartment 23 and vice versa. In

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  this position, the opening 7 is completely closed by the back of the body 5.

  In compartment 23, one or more probes 27 are provided to detect and transmit to the computer the presence of a cassette 24 and its

  correct positioning at the bottom of the compartment.

  The structure of the transfer unit 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. This unit comprises a chassis 30 provided with lateral guide bushings 31 to 33 which slide freely along two vertical columns 18, the chassis being driven in translation and kept in position by an endless chain 34. The members for indexing the unit 17, in relation to the different levels of the magazine 13 and the communication unit 5, are provided for

  preferably on the drive pulley (not shown) of the chain 34.

  Furthermore, the unit 17 is supplied with electrical energy by a cable 35

  and it is connected to computer 16 by a cable 36.

  The chassis 30 is open at its front end 38 located on the side of the communication unit 5, as well as at the opposite end 39 located on the side of the magazine 13. It contains a carriage 40 which is arranged to take up a cassette video 24 and transport it inside the chassis 30, and to move in horizontal translation relative to this chassis so as to emerge from it either by the opening of the face 38, or by that of the face 39 , to engage slightly, respectively in the flared opening of the compartment 23 of the communication unit or, on the other side, in a similar flared opening of the desired housing 15 in the magazine 13. For this purpose, the carriage 40 is carried and guided by two cylindrical rods 41 sliding in corresponding ball bushings 42, and it is driven in translation and positioned by means of an electric motor 43 associated with a

  feed screw 44, engaged in a tab 45 of the carriage.

  A support guide 46 defines a compartment for a cassette 24, together with pairs of lateral rollers 47 and 48 provided with rubberized tires 49. The rollers 47 are drive rollers connected together by a belt 50, and one of they are connected by a belt 51 to an electric motor 52 for driving it in rotation in both directions. The rollers 48 are simple pressure rollers which rotate freely and can slide transversely as indicated by the arrows B, being pressed against the cassette 24 by springs to allow its

  friction drive against rollers 47.

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  The unit 17 is equipped with several sensors 53.r detecting the presence and the correct positioning of the cassette 24. There is also a detector 55 cooperating with a longitudinal plate 54 of the carriage 40 to indicate the longitudinal position of this carriage. These devices are known to those skilled in the art and need not be described here. Furthermore, the unit 17 advantageously comprises a head 56 for reading the identity of the cassettes which is in this case a number or the title of the video recording or recordings contained in the cassette. This identity is recorded in a standardized location on the edge of the cassette, for example in the form of a bar code or a recording.

  magnetic, the read head 56 being of the appropriate type.

  As part of an automatic video cassette rental service, the

  operation of the device is as follows when used by a customer.

  In the rest position, the communication unit 5 is closed, that is to say turned towards the side of the magazine 13. The customer inserts his coded card into the reader 9, the reading of which is transmitted to the computer 16. If the card is accepted, the latter controls the pivoting of the unit 5 to give the client access to the keyboard 26 and to the compartment 23. The client then dials his personal code number on the keyboard, which the computer compares the card code and customer file data stored in its memory. If the customer's code is accepted, the monitor 8 displays a menu of possible operations and asks the customer if he wishes to collect or return one or more cassettes. By a series of simple actions on the keyboard, guided interactively by the screen of the monitor 8, the customer

  can view and select the operations he intends to perform.

  If the customer wants to pick up a cassette, the screen displays the corresponding instructions, as well as the different genres of films available, then the film titles that are available at that time in the store 13, for the genre chosen. The client chooses a film by vertical displacement of an index such as a field highlighting the title of the film, by means of the keyboard 26, then the communication unit 5 closes and the computer 16 controls the desired displacements of the magazine 13 and the transfer unit 17 to place this unit opposite the housing 15 containing, according to the memory of the computer, the cassette 24 of the chosen film. L. -carriage 40 of unit 17 then moves horizontally to engage in the entry of housing 15 while the drive rollers 47 are rotated, so that the cassette 24 is gripped between the rollers 47 and 48 and driven to the inside of the carriage 40, while the latter is retracted to its central position. The transfer unit 17 moves vertically up to the level of compartment 23 of the communication unit 5, then the carriage 40 and the rollers 47 are actuated to introduce the cassette 24 fully into the compartment 23. At the same time time, the identity of the cassette is checked by the reader 56 and memorized. Once the carriage 40 is removed, the unit 5 pivots to present the cassette to the customer, the removal of the cassette being detected by the sensors 27. The computer 16 stores the output of the cassette on the one hand in the file customers, and secondly in the store occupancy file. Monitor 8 then returns to the main menu. The client can then again request another film or announce on the keyboard 26 the end of the operations, in which case the communication unit closes. If the client wishes to return a cassette, he selects this operation by typing on the keyboard the corresponding code indicated to him by the monitor 8, and he introduces the cassette into compartment 23. Once this is in place and after a safety delay , the unit 5 closes and the computer 16 controls the transfer of the cassette to a free slot 15 whose address it stores. This transfer is carried out by the unit 17 contrary to what has been described above. The identity of the cassette is read when it enters the unit 17 and it is controlled by the computer which can accept or refuse it. If the cassette is accepted, the computer records its return in the aforementioned files and it can directly calculate the price of

  rental for subsequent invoicing.

  As already mentioned, the operator of the device has his own terminal, comprising a keyboard, the monitor 11 and also a device for identifying the cassettes, such as a bar code reader pen or the like. . The computer 16 can advantageously be loaded with a special program of use by the operator, for loading and updating the stock of cassettes in the storage unit 12. The computer can in particular record the identity a new cassette, from c: ..: player, indicate on the monitor in which housing 15 this cassette should be stored, and rotate the magazine 13 to bring this housing in front of the operator. If the operator wants to remove a film from the stock, he gives the number of the cassette on his terminal. Computer

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  then displays the number of the corresponding accommodation and it brings this accommodation

within reach.

  An obvious advantage of such a device is to allow an automatic rental service operating without permanent staff, therefore 24 hours a day, every day of the week. In addition, the control of the device by a computer and in an interactive way by the user makes it possible to offer the customer complete information on the current state of the stock of cassettes available, as well as all the instructions necessary for the operation of the device. In addition, it is very easy to automate the invoicing of rentals, to block the use of the device by unauthorized customers, and to establish rental statistics for each cassette, or for each title in the case where some highly demanded titles are planned for several copies in the stock. On the other hand, a variant of the device could be provided in which the magazine is not rotatable and

  the transfer unit circulates around the store.

  Although the invention is described above with reference to a particular embodiment, this embodiment can be subject to multiple modifications or variations obvious to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the computer 16 does not need to be integrated into the device, but could be located remotely and also be used for other tasks. In this case, it would suffice to integrate into the device a microprocessor control unit which coordinates the operation of the various units of the device and the transmission of information from and to the computer. We could also have a group of devices that are connected to the same computer, each device containing a variable portion of a large stock that is common to them. Furthermore, the application of the invention is not limited to the field of video cassettes; it can also be considered for the loan, rental or sale of all objects having standard shapes and dimensions, for example musical cassettes, discs, books or any articles provided with standardized packaging.

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Claims (10)

Claims   1. Automatic device for storing and distributing objects which are substantially similar to each other in their external shape but at least different in identity, in particular cassettes containing video recordings and hired out, the device comprising at least one store provided with individual housings for objects, means for picking up an object from a given accommodation in the store and delivering it to a user, and control means comprising means for selecting the identity of the object, characterized in that it comprises a storage unit (12) provided with a substantially cylindrical magazine (13), a distribution member (5) arranged to deliver to a user and to receive from him one of said objects (24), a transfer unit motorized (17), movable opposite the store (13) at least parallel to the axis thereof and arranged to transport one of said objects in both directions between the store and the distribution member, means of identification (56) of this object, and an electronic automatic control device comprising at least one terminal (8 and 26) for communication with the user and storage means (16) of the content of each housing (15) in the store . 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the magazine (13) is rotatable about its axis, which is vertical, and in that the unit   storage comprises motor means (14) for rotating the magazine.   3. Apparatus according to claim I or 2, characterized in that the housings (15) are distributed in the store in several stages separated by   planes perpendicular to the axis of the store.   4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer unit (17) comprises members (47, 48) for taking an object and means (40 to 43) for moving these members in radial translation by report to the store.   5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the transfer unit (17) is arranged to pick up or return an object both on the side (39) of the axis of the magazine and on the opposite side (38), and in that the - 10 - 2620842   gripping members include friction rollers (47) driven in rotation by a motor.   6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the transfer unit (17) comprises at least one member (56) for reading the identity of the object. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing member (5) comprises a body provided with a compartment (23) for an object to be delivered or received, this body being pivotable about a vertical axis between a position o the compartment (23) is accessible to one hand of the user, and a position o the compartment is accessible to   transfer unit gripping members (17).   8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication terminal comprises a control keyboard (26), a screen (8)   message display, and a coded card reader (9).   9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a control terminal provided with a control keyboard and a display screen (II).   10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a computer (16) is integrated in the device.