JPH04131992A - Rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain saving space and saving manpower and moreover to attain an unmanned operation by controlling a carrying means so as to hold and carry a rental article returned through a lending/returning port and to house in a fixed address position when returning is selected. CONSTITUTION:A upper guiding part 123 and a front-rear traveling driving part 125 of a carrier shaft 120 travels in front and rear directions along an upper rod 121 and a lower rod 122 and a manipulator 126 is driven in a vertical direction along the carrier shaft 120. Then, an assigned cassette 115 is held by the manipulator 126, it travels forward and the cassette is charged into a lending/returning part 130 at lending and besides, at returning, the cassette charged into the lending/returning part 130 is held, it travels backward and the cassette is housed in an original position. Thus, saving a manpower and saving the space can be attained, moreover, the unmanned operation is attained by employing a prepaid card or the like and also being open allay long.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a semi-automatic or automatic rental system for articles such as video cassettes, compact discs, books, etc.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, the rental business of video cassettes, compact discs, game software, etc. has become popular.

In such a rental business, for example, taking video cassettes as an example, a large number of video cassettes are displayed with titles visible on the walls and floors of the store, and customers can search for the one they want from among them.
The system is such that video cassettes are rented by paying a predetermined fee to a store clerk, and since there are usually many types and quantities of video cassettes, large-scale rental shops employ multiple store clerks.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Such conventional rental systems require a large display space because all video cassettes must be displayed so that they can be seen by customers. In addition, the lending process requires a lot of manpower, which incurs a lot of labor costs, and it takes time for customers to find what they want. , usually difficult and could not be rented after closing.

As described above, the conventional rental system has many disadvantages for both the vendor and the customer.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a rental system that saves space and manpower, and can also be unmanned by introducing a prepaid card.

[Means to solve the problem]

The rental system of the present invention includes a guide means for providing guidance such as operation methods and introduction of rental articles, means for selecting rental/return of rental articles, a rental/return opening for renting/returning rental articles, and a rental article. A rental machine main body having a storage section for storing at a predetermined address position and a transport means for grasping and transporting rental items, and a control device that controls the rental machine main body and performs lending/return processing, the control device comprising: When rental is selected by the rental/return selection means, the designated rental item is held and transported to the rental/return port, and when return is selected, the rental item returned through the rental/return port is held and returned. It is characterized in that the conveying means is controlled so as to convey and store it at a predetermined address position.

[Effect]

In the present invention, rental items such as video cassettes, compact discs, books, etc. are stored in a predetermined address position within the rental machine body, and users can request rental items by selecting rental items on the operation panel and operating keys while looking at the guidance screen. When a rental item is specified, the control device drives an automatic conveyance device within the main body to grasp the desired rental item and take it out through the rental opening.

Furthermore, when returning the rental item, if you insert the rental item through the return slot, the automatic transport device will automatically store it in its original position.

When lending/returning, by providing a card reader or a prepaid card reader, it is possible to completely unattend the lending by providing a card reader or a prepaid card reader, so that the rental is conditional on being a member and paying the fee with a prepaid card.

In addition, by installing a barcode reader and attaching a unique barcode to the rental items to indicate whether they belong to our store or not, it is possible to prevent items from other stores from being returned by mistake.

Furthermore, by installing a plurality of rental machines, connecting each control device to a host computer to manage them, and keeping track of the rental status, it is possible to improve services to customers.

〔Example〕

Although the present invention is applicable to the rental of items such as video cassettes, compact discs, and books, an embodiment of a video cassette rental system will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video rental system that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the rental system of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the rental machine itself. . In the figure, 1 is a numeric keypad, 2 is a rental/return selection key, 3 is a card reader, 4 is a barcode reader, and 5 is a barcode reader.
is a prepaid card reader, 6 is a rental machine control device,
61 is a guide processing section, 62 is a collation processing section, 63 is a fee processing section, 64 is a rental processing section, 65 is a return processing section, 7 is member data, 8 is video cassette data, 9 is a storage device, 10 is a speaker, 11 is a display device, 12 is a rental/return opening/closing device, 13 is a transport device, 14 is a rewinding device, 100 is a rental machine body, 101 is a CRT, 102
is the numeric keypad, 103 is the rental/return selection key, 104
105 is a guide panel, 105 is a rental/return window, 106 is a barcode reader, 107 is a card reader, 108 is a computer system, 109 is a barcode writer, 111
~114 is a cassette tape rack, 115 is a video cassette, 120 is a transport shaft 1.121 is an upper rod, 122
123 is a lower rod, 123 is an upper guide part, 125 is a front-rear travel drive part, 126 is a manipulator/vertical travel drive part,
130 is a lending/returning section.

First, an overview of the rental system of the present invention and the rental machine itself will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rental machine main body 100 is equipped with a guide panel 104 consisting of a large TV for displaying the number of cassette tapes being rented and introducing new tapes on the front. CRTIO for displaying operating instructions, messages, tape data, etc.
I is also provided. Of course, only one of the CRTIOI and the guide panel 104 may be used. The operation unit is also provided with a rental/return selection key 103 for selecting whether to rent or return the tape, and a numeric keypad 102 for inputting a desired tape number, etc.
are also provided.

Further, the rental/return window 105 is a window for taking out a cassette that has been automatically transported from the main body of the rental machine, and for inserting the cassette when returning the machine. Of course, separate sections for rental and return may be provided.

The barcode reader 106 is provided to attach a barcode unique to our store to the cassette, and to read the barcode first with the barcode reader when returning the cassette to prevent cassettes from other stores from being returned by mistake. There is.

This system adopts a membership system, and a card reader 107 is provided to read a pre-issued member card so that only members can use it and determine whether or not the user is a member. Furthermore, by installing a card reader that can read prepaid cards, it is possible to make payments completely unmanned by paying with a card instead of using cash.

The main body of such a rental machine is a computer system 10.
The rental machine itself is controlled by a control device consisting of 8, and the data entered manually by the user is processed by the computer system 108, thereby controlling the rental machine itself. Of course, the computer system may be built into the rental machine itself. Note that the barcode writer 109 is for attaching a barcode to the cassette tape.

The rental machine main body 100 has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The one shown in Fig. 3 has a 4-block configuration in which four cassette tape racks 111, 112, 113, and 114 are arranged in two rows on both sides as shown in Fig. 3(a), and a transport device moves between the racks. It is supposed to be done. Each rack has a structure that can accommodate 15 cassettes and a total of 3,000 cassettes. Each rack is connected to one point of steel wire (A in the diagram).
), it can be rotated to the side and opened.
Used when replacing a large number of cassettes. Note that if the amount to be replaced is small, a lending/returning mechanism described later may be used. According to such a storage method, it is not necessary to make the title of the cassette visible to the customer, so a large number of cassettes can be packed into a small space, and the space can be used effectively to save space.

The cassette 115 stored in the rental machine main body 100 can be automatically taken out and stored.

That is, as shown in FIG.
and a lower rod 122 are provided, and an upper guide portion 123 and a front-rear travel drive portion 125 of the conveyance shaft 120 travel in the front-rear direction along the upper rod 121 and a lower rod 122, respectively, and a manipulator 126 travels along the conveyance shaft 120. , it is designed to be driven in the vertical direction. When lending, the designated cassette 115 is gripped by the manipulator 126 and the cassette is run forward, and the cassette is put into the lending/returning section 130, and when returning the cassette is grasped. It is designed to move backwards and stow away in its original position.

In this embodiment, the time required from designating a cassette to taking it out is approximately 50 seconds for the last cassette. Although not shown, the lending/returning section 130
There is a tape rewinding device inside, which ensures that returned tapes are rewound.

Next, the lending/returning process will be explained with reference to FIG.

This system uses a membership system, and only members can use this system. In addition, member data 7 includes, for example, member number, name, address, telephone number, member registration date, as shown in Figure 4.
Data such as the rental date of the cassette and the return slot are created as a file. Regarding the 3,000 volumes of cassettes stored in the rental machine, as shown in Figure 5, the cassette number, barcode data to distinguish whether it is from our store or another store, the genre of the cassette content, the first screening date, and the title. , the leading actor, an address indicating the storage location of the cassette, data indicating whether or not the cassette is present indicating whether it is being lent out, the number of times the cassette has been lent out, etc. are stored as video cassette data.

Next, the lending/returning process will be explained.

First, when a customer wants to borrow a cassette, he inserts his member card, the card reader 3 reads the data, and the verification processing section 62 refers to the member data 7 to confirm whether or not he is a member. If you are not a member, the information processing unit 61 displays a message such as “You cannot rent the item because you are not a member. Please complete the procedure to become a member.” If the information processing unit 61 confirms that you are a member, the information processing unit 61 will guide you through the speaker 10 or display device 11 about the next operation method, and then press ``
Please press the rental selection key.'' is displayed.

When the rental selection key 2 is pressed, a search item menu is displayed on the display device 11 as shown in FIG. 6(a). The search item menu includes, for example, genre, first screening time, title, leading actor, etc. For example, when you select the genre item, period drama, western drama, youth drama, science fiction, etc. are displayed as shown in Figure 6(b).
Further, the desired cassettes are accessed by sequential selection. In addition, when the leading actor is selected in Figure 6 (a), A, B, C, D, etc. are selected as shown in Figure 6 (C).
Actor names will be displayed, and you will be able to select the desired actor and access the cassette.

As you operate the numeric keypad 1 and make selections according to the guidance, the rental processing section 64 performs search processing by referring to the video data 8 accordingly, and displays the results on the display device 11.
to be displayed. Then, when the desired rental number is displayed, select it using the numeric keypad 1 and the display screen 1
1 displays a message such as "Please pay the fee," so when the card is inserted into the prepaid card reader, the fee processing unit 63 will drop a predetermined fee, and as a result, the rental processing unit 64 will send the transfer device 13, The rental/return opening/closing opening 12 is operated to rent out the cassette.

When returning the item, the barcode reader 4 first reads the barcode and compares it to determine whether or not it is from our store. Then, insert your member card into the card reader, and when your membership is confirmed, a message will appear on the display bag W11.
Please press the return selection key" will be displayed. When you press the return selection key 2, the return processing unit 65 will
When the return opening/closing port 12 is opened and the cassette is inserted therein, the cassette is rewound by the rewinding device 14, and then stored in the original position by the conveying device 13. If the return gate has passed and it is necessary to collect a late fee, the fee processing unit 63 calculates the late fee, displays the shortfall amount through the guidance processing unit 61, and pays with a prepaid card. This completes the return process.

The storage device 9 stores rental/return data,
This allows for statistical processing of rental/return data later.

Next, the rental/return processing flow will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the lending processing flow when unmanned.

In the rental machine control device, when a member card is first inserted, it is determined whether the member is a member or not (step 201).
, 202). If the user is not a member, the process ends, and if the user is a member, a search item screen is displayed when the rental key is selected (steps 203 and 204). When a search item is keyed in, search processing is performed (step 205).
206), if there is a corresponding cassette, all the corresponding cassettes will be displayed (207.208)
. If there is no matching cassette, or if the matching cassette is displayed but you want to borrow something else, press the search again key and go to step 204 again.
The search item screen will be displayed again, and you will have to try again. If there is no corresponding cassette and the end key is turned on without keying in the cassette number, the process ends (step 211).

When a predetermined one of the displayed cassette numbers is keyed in (step 209), the charge for that number is displayed (step 212). Then insert your prepaid card and if the balance on the card exceeds the charge (Step 2)
13,214), the balance will be deducted from the card balance (
Step 215), after which the cassette is transported and the lending slot is opened (steps 216 and 217);
It will be rented out. If the remaining amount of the prepaid card is insufficient, the process ends and no lending is performed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the return processing flow when unmanned operation is performed.

At the time of return, the member card is used to determine whether the cassette is a member or not (steps 220, 221). If the member is not a member, the process ends, and if the member is a member, when the return key is pressed, the bar code reader reads the bar attached to the cassette. Read the code (steps 222 and 223)
. As a result of reading the barcode, if the cassette is not our store's cassette, the screen will display the cassette difference (step 22).
4°225) End the process. As a result of reading the barcode, if it is a cassette from our store, it is determined whether the return is within the deadline (step 226). If it is not within the return deadline, display the overdue amount (step 227), have the customer insert a prepaid card, check whether the remaining amount is sufficient, and if so, perform the deduction process (step 228).
- 230), if the remaining amount is insufficient, the process will be terminated and a refund will not be possible. If there is no need to collect the fee within the deadline, or if the fee has been deducted, the return slot of the main unit will open (step 231), and when a cassette is inserted into it, the tape will be rewound. The cassette is gripped, transported, and stored in its original position (steps 232-234).

Note that the rental machine itself and the rental machine control device are usually 1
One to several rental machines will be installed at each store, but if the store becomes a chain store, a large number of rental machines will be installed in total, and these rental machine control devices will be installed at the 9th store. As shown in the figure, if you connect to a host computer and manage it all at once, you can analyze what kind of cassettes are popular and what kind of cassettes are unpopular, etc.
Furthermore, since the overall rental status can be grasped, it is possible to improve the service to customers by, for example, preparing a large number of popular cassettes.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the rental machine.
FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the storage section, FIG. 10(a) is a side sectional view, FIG. 10(C) is a front view, and FIG. 10(d) is a plan view. In the figure, 160 is a transport shaft, 161 is a rack side manipulator, 162 is a vertical drive section, 163 is a lower guide, 164 is an upper guide section, 170 is an operation section side manipulator, 181.182 is a rental box, 183
is the return box.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), 4
1 cassette tape rack 151, 152, 153.1
54 are arranged in two rows in the middle and two rows on both sides of the four-row one module configuration, and in the figure, two modules are shown side by side.

Then, as shown in the front view of FIG. 10(C) and the plan view of FIG. cassettes are carried out and stored.

Each rack has 15 stages, and one module has 3,000 rolls, as in the case of FIG. 3.

When renting, the conveyor shaft 1 is
60 runs between the racks, and the rack side manipulator 16
The gripping part 161a of No. 1 moves in the direction of the cassette to grip the cassette, and then retreats to change the direction of the gripping part 161a to 90.
゛Rotate to change direction forward and backward. And conveyance axis 1
60 travels and hands the cassette to the manipulator 17G on the operating section side (Fig. 10 (b), (d)), and the manipulator 170 on the operating section side carries the received cassette and puts it into the lending boxes 181, 182. .

To return the cassette, grab the cassette from the return box 180 using the operation unit side manipulator 170 and then use the rack side manipulator! 61, rack side manipulator 161
The direction of the gripping part 161a is changed by 90 degrees, the conveying shaft 160 runs in the opposite direction to that at the time of lending, and the gripping part 161a moves to a predetermined position to store the cassette.

In the case of this embodiment, since the traveling distance in the front and rear direction is shorter than that in the case of FIG. 3, the opening time required for rental can be shortened.

In addition, in the above explanation, we explained an unmanned rental system as an example, but it does not necessarily have to be completely unmanned. Payment may be made through a store clerk, and in that case, a barcode reader, prepaid card reader, etc. is not necessarily required, and payment may be made in cash.

Additionally, in the case of an unmanned store, if the screens and operation parts are exposed outside the store, the store can operate 24 hours a day while remaining closed. In addition, although the above explanation was about renting video cassettes, it can be done in exactly the same way for compact discs, books, etc. By using this system, it is possible to save space, labor, and manpower. be able to.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, rental items such as video cassettes can be stored all at once in a small space, and rental/return processing can be performed by key operations on the operation unit, resulting in labor and space savings. Furthermore, by introducing prepaid cards, etc., it is possible to achieve complete unmanned operation.
It is now possible to operate business hours, and we can accurately understand customer needs through computer processing of rental data, etc.
It becomes possible to prepare rental items according to needs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video rental system that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the rental system of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the rental machine body, Figure 4 shows member data, Figure 5 shows video cassette data, Figure 6 shows search items,
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the rental processing flow when unmanned, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the return processing flow, Figure 9 is a diagram showing the management system using a host computer, and Figure 10 is a diagram showing the rental machine and other equipment. It is a figure showing an example of. ■...Numeric keypad, 2...Rent/return selection key 3
...Card reader, 4...Barcode reader, 5.
. . . Prepaid card reader, 6 . . Rental machine printing device, 61 . . . Guidance processing unit, 62 .
63... Charge processing department, 64... Rental processing department, 6
5... Return processing department, 7... Member data, 8...
・Video cassette data, 9...Storage device, 10...
-Speaker, ll...Display device, 12...Rental return opening/closing device, 13...Transport device, 14...Rewinding device, 100...Rental machine body, 101...
CRT, 102... Numeric keypad, 103... Rental/return selection machine, 104... Guide panel, 105...
・Rental/return window, 106...Barcode reader, 1
07...Card reader, 108...Computer system, 109...Barcode writer, 111-+1
4...Cassette tape rack, 115...Video cassette, 120 is the transport shaft 1.121 is the upper rod, 12
2... Lower rod, 123... Upper guide part, 12
5... Front-rear travel drive unit, 126... Manipulator/vertical travel drive unit, 130... Rental/return unit. 1ml Applicant Kent System Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Masanobu Hirukawa (7 others) Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 10 (d), 150

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) Guidance means for providing guidance such as operation methods and introduction of rental items, rental/return selection means for rental items, rental/return gate for renting/returning rental items, and placing rental items at a predetermined address location. A rental machine main body having a storage section for storing rental items and a conveyance means for grasping and transporting rental items, and a control device that controls the rental machine main body and performs rental/return processing, and the control device is configured to select rental/return. When rental is selected by means, hold the specified rental item and rent/rent it.
This rental system is characterized by controlling a conveying means so that the rental article is conveyed to a return port, and when return is selected, the rental article returned through the rental/return port is grasped and conveyed, and is stored at a predetermined address position. (2) The rental machine main body further includes a card reader for reading a member card, and the control device performs rental/return processing on the condition that membership is confirmed. Rental system listed. (3) The rental machine main body further includes a prepaid card reader for collecting fees, and the control device performs rental/return processing on the condition that the fee is paid with a prepaid card. Rental system listed. (4) Furthermore, the rental machine main body is provided with a barcode reader for reading the barcode attached to the rental item, and the control device is provided with the condition that the barcode is read by the barcode reader when returning the rental item. Claim 1 characterized in that the return process is performed on
Rental system listed. (5) The rental machine main body further includes a card reader for reading a member card, a barcode reader for reading barcodes attached to rental items, and a prepaid card reader for collecting fees, and the control device is equipped with a card reader for reading a member card. A verification processing unit that collates read data from readers and barcode readers; a fee processing unit that performs fee collection processing according to the reading results from prepaid card readers; a guidance processing unit that performs guidance processing for users; 2. The rental system according to claim 1, further comprising: a rental processing section when selecting a rental; and a return processing section that performs a return processing when selecting a return. (6) The rental system according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a screen display and/or an audio output device. (7) The rental system according to claim 1, wherein the rental item is a video cassette, and a tape rewinding device is provided at the rental/return slot. (8) The system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rental machine bodies are provided, and a control device of each rental machine body is connected to and controlled by the host computer. system.