JPH01206494A - Video cassette lending device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save time for the action of a handler by disconnecting an empty slot from the correspondence relation to a video cassette and housing a video cassette to be returned in a new near slot. CONSTITUTION:The selection of the video cassette is received and this video cassette is retrieved from a video cassette file and discharged. Next, '1' is set in the flag of the video cassette, a slot number is erased, a file processing is executed and the number of the empty slot is written into an empty slot list. On the other hand, the return of the video cassette is received and the slot to house this video cassette is retrieved. The video cassette is housed in this slot, the number of this slot is erased from the empty slot list and flag of the returned video cassette is turned on '0', this slot number is written into the slot number storage area of a record and the action is terminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (AL Industrial Field of Application) This invention is a video cassette that is stored in a storage location such as a slot, and is ejected based on a customer's request, and the returned video cassette is stored in the storage location again. Regarding a cassette rental device.

(b) Summary of the Invention 1 The video cassette lending device according to the present invention prioritizes and stores empty storage spaces due to lending of video cassettes, etc., and stores them in priority order when the video cassettes are returned. Video cassettes are now returned to the storage location with the highest priority. The return time is shortened because the priority order is given in order of distance from the return gate.

(C) Conventional technology The video cassette lending device currently in practical use has multiple shelf-like slots in the device for storing video cassettes one by one, and the customer searches for the desired video cassette among them. This device releases the video cassette and stores the returned video cassette in an empty slot.

(Problem to be solved by the d+ invention By the way, in conventional video cassette rental devices, the video cassettes to be stored in each slot are associated on a one-to-one basis, and when a video cassette is returned, the first video cassette to be stored is The device was made to be returned to the slot in which it was placed.

This has the drawback that even if there is an empty slot near the return port, the video cassette must be transported a long distance, which requires time for the handler to operate.

In view of these drawbacks, the present invention provides a video cassette rental system that solves the above problems by separating the empty slot from the correspondence with the video cassette and storing the returned video cassette in a new nearby slot. The purpose is to provide equipment.

(e) Means for Solving the Problems This invention stores a plurality of video cassettes, removes the video cassette requested by the customer from the storage location and releases it, and returns the video cassette returned from the return slot to the empty video cassette. In a video cassette rental device that stores the video cassettes in a storage location, there is a storage means that prioritizes and stores empty storage locations in order from the one closest to the return slot; The video cassette is stored in a storage space with a high storage area, and the video cassette is stored in the storage area.

(f1 effect) In the video cassette lending device of this invention, empty slots due to lending etc. are stored in order of priority from those closest to the return slot.When a video cassette is returned, slots with the highest priority Store the items in order starting from the slot.This will shorten the return time and also
Generally, the return port and the ejection port are often shared, so video cassettes that are rented out frequently are stored near the ejection port, and the release time can also be shortened.

(g) Embodiment FIG. 2(A) is a front view of a video cassette rental apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. 2. The customer's control panel and video cassette are in front. A display panel 9 for displaying is provided. The operation panel located on the right side of the front has a cRTl screen that displays operation guidance etc. from above.
, a mode selection key 2 for selecting an operation mode such as lending or return, a coin insertion slot 3 into which coins are inserted, a card insertion slot 4 into which a card for identifying a customer is inserted, a bill insertion slot 4 into which banknotes are inserted. A change return port 6 for discharging change and a receipt discharge port for discharging receipts are provided. Further, titles of a plurality of video cassettes are displayed on the display panel 9, and each display block is arranged as shown in FIG. In the same figure (B), the display block includes a title display board 10 that displays the title and photo of the video cassette, and an inventory display LED that displays that the video cassette is in stock (not on loan).
12 and a cassette i selection key 11 which is pressed by the customer when selecting this video cassette. The display panel 9 is provided with 50 display blocks.

Further, a video cassette exit 8 is provided at the lower right portion of the display panel 9. A rented video cassette is discharged from this video cassette exit 8, and a returned video cassette is inserted into this video cassette exit 8. A barcode league is provided inside the videocassette exit 8 to read the title of the returned videocassette (the title is written on the videocassette with a barcode).

Slots for storing video cassettes are formed by partitioning the back side of the display panel into folds, and the video cassettes are transported between each slot and the video cassette exit 8 by a video cassette handler.

When a customer rents out a video cassette, he or she first inserts a card. At this time, the inventory display LED lights up. When the desired video cassette is in stock, the user presses the rental key among the mode selection keys. Next, when the user presses the cassette 1-1M selection key 11 of the video cassette he or she wishes to lend and inserts the fee, the video cassette is ejected, the change and cash register 1- are ejected, and the card is returned.

When returning the video cassette, the user inserts the card, selects the return mode, and inserts the video cassette to be returned into the video cassette exit 8.

If the inserted video cassette is correct, the card will be returned.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the video cassette lending device. The control section 20 is composed of a microcomputer, and has a built-in memory 21 and a memory card interface 22. The memory card interface 22 has a memory card 23 which is an IC card.
is inserted. This memory card 23 stores a list of video cassettes in stock and data on their storage slots.

The control unit 20 also includes a CRT unit 24 that controls the display of the CRTI, a keyboard unit 25 that controls pressing of the mode selection key and the cassette selection key, and a card reader that reads data on the card inserted from the card insertion slot 4. A unit 26, a cash handling unit 27 that controls the release of inserted cash and change, a printer unit 28 that prints receipts and journals, and a video cassette handling section 29 that transports video cassettes inside the device are connected. This video cassette handling section 29 also has the barcode reader. Further, the control unit 20 is connected to the center via a modem 30.

FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of the memory of the video cassette lending device. FIG. 7A shows the structure of the video cassette 7) file. A record is created for each video cassette in this file, and each record includes the tape number assigned to each video cassette, the title code assigned to each title, the slot number in which the video is stored, A flag indicating the lending status of the cassette, the lending date, and the code of the lending customer are stored. When the flag is "'0", this video cassette is in stock in the device. When the flag is "1", this bidet is being rented out to a JJ upper set customer. At the time of rental, the flag is "°1".
The slot number is deleted at the same time.

CB) in the same figure is an empty slot list. In this empty slot list, slot numbers that have become empty due to video cassette lending, etc. are stored in order from the one closest to the video cassette exit 8. When a video cassette is returned, the video cassette is stored in the empty slot with the highest priority, and when the video cassette is lent out, the priority of the empty slot as a result of this lending is compared with other empty slots. and store it in the priority position in the list.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video cassette lending device. Accept the card insertion with nl, then n2
to authenticate the card. Next, a function key (rent key, return key, etc.) is pressed (n3). n
The key pressed in step 4 is determined, and if it is a loaned key, the process proceeds to steps n5 and below, and if it is a return key, the process proceeds to steps n9 and below.

05 and below are lending operations. The selection of the video cassette is accepted at n5, and this video cassette is searched from the video cassette files and released (n6). Next, set the flag of this video cassette to 1°, erase the slot number, perform file processing (nl), and write the empty slot number to the empty slot list (nl).
8).

On the other hand, 09 and below are return operations. At n9, the return of the video cassette is accepted, and a slot for storing the video cassette is searched for (nlO).

Store the video cassette in this slot n11), delete this slot number from the empty slot list, set the flag of the returned video cassette to "0" n12), and write this slot number in the slot number storage area of the record. (n13), the operation ends.

The empty slot list corresponds to the storage means of the present invention,
nlO to n13 correspond to storage means of the present invention.

(b) Effects of the Invention According to this invention, the returned video cassette can be stored in the empty slot closest to the return slot, so the return time can be shortened. . Additionally, since the return port and the ejection port are generally shared, this allows the recently returned video cassette to be stored in a nearby slot. can also be easily done. This results in
Video cassettes that are borrowed frequently are stored nearby, which has the advantage of allowing them to be borrowed and returned in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of a video cassette rental device which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(A)
, (B) is an external view and an enlarged view of the display block of the video cassette lending device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of the video cassette lending device, and FIGS. 4 (A) and (B) are the video cassette lending device. It is a partial configuration diagram of the memory of the lending device, in which (A) shows a video cassette file and (B) does not show an empty slot list. 8-Videocassette person exit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a video cassette lending device that stores a plurality of video cassettes, removes a video cassette requested by a customer from its storage location and releases it, and stores the video cassette returned from a return slot in an empty storage location, A storage means for storing empty storage spaces at that time in order of priority starting from the one closest to the return slot; and when the video cassette is returned, the video cassette is stored in the storage space with the highest priority at that time. A video cassette rental device comprising a storage means and the following.