JPH10264934A - Rental article and apparatus for renting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an article body difficult to be damaged in managing rental articles and also to simplify a reading sequence for an information indicating part by allowing the information indicating part attaching to the article inside from outside a case. SOLUTION: A video cassette V in a case is equipped with an information indicating part L for displaying identification information or the like for identifying recorded video contents so that it can be read by a bar code M on an end face V3 entering a case V2 of a video cassette body V1. The entire case V2 or a portion corresponding to the information indicating part L is formed of a transparent or semitransparent resin material to allow the bar code M of the received video cassette body V1 to be optically read by a bar code reader from outside. Thus in a series of operation for renting the video cassette V, the video cassette body V1 can be handled while being received in the case V2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lending article having an information display section for readablely displaying information for managing lending, which is attached to the article body, and a lending apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-306581, an information display unit for displaying information for managing lending in a bar code is attached to a disk such as a compact disk or a video disk as an article body. When the disc is loaded on the disc player, its information display section is read by an optical sensor or the like provided on the disc player side.

[0003]

According to the above prior art, when the article main body is stored in the case, it is necessary to take out the article main body from the case when reading the information display section, and the article main body is easily damaged. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the reading procedure of the information display unit is complicated. In order to solve this drawback, it is conceivable to store the article main body in a case provided with an information display unit and read the information display unit attached to the case. There is a drawback that the combination with the corresponding case is apt to be mistaken, and the management of the rental articles becomes complicated. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and without complicating the management of lending articles, the article main body is hardly damaged when reading the information display section, and the reading procedure of the information display section is simplified. The purpose is to be able to be.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for rent which is attached to the article main body from the outside of the case without removing the article main body from the case when reading the information display section. The part can be read. Therefore, without complicating the management of rental goods,
When reading the information display section, the article main body is less likely to be damaged, and the reading procedure of the information display section can be simplified.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information display unit provided on the article main body is covered with a transparent or translucent material case so as to prevent the information display unit from being damaged or stained while preventing the information display unit from being damaged or stained. The display unit can be optically read from the outside of the case.

In the rental article according to the third aspect, since the information display section is displayed by a bar code, the information display section can be easily read in a non-contact manner, and the bar code has a plurality of bars radiating. It is arranged along a plurality of directions that spread out, so if the article body is stored in the case so that the emission center of the barcode is held at a fixed position, Barcodes can be read in either direction, and the information display section can be read properly, with fewer restrictions on the storage position of the article body in the case, and the information display section reading procedure is further simplified. Will be possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the bar code comprises a plurality of annular bars arranged concentrically, so that the concentric portions of the bars are held at a predetermined position. Is stored in the case, even if the storage posture of the article body is shifted in the circumferential direction around the concentric portion, the barcode can be read along any direction passing through the concentric portion, In properly reading the information display section, the restriction on the storage posture of the article main body in the case can be further reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the bar code comprises a plurality of arc-shaped bars arranged concentrically in a state of overlapping radially over a central angle exceeding 180 degrees. If the article main body is stored in the case so that the concentric part of the bar is held at a fixed position, even if the storage posture of the article main body is shifted in the circumferential direction around the concentric part, the concentric part is The barcode can be read along any direction that passes, and the area required for attaching the barcode while minimizing the restrictions on the storage position of the article body in the case, so that the information display section can be read properly, Can be reduced.

In the article for rent according to claim 6, the article body is formed in a disk shape, and the bar code is attached concentrically with the center of the disk, so that the center of the disk is held at a fixed position. If the main body is stored in the case, the bar code can be read along any direction passing through the center of the disk even if the storage posture of the article body with respect to the case is shifted in the circumferential direction around the center of the disk. In addition, it is easy to appropriately read the information display unit attached to the article main body which is easily rotated and moved in the circumferential direction in a case such as an optical disk on which video and music are recorded.

[0010] In the article for rent according to claim 7, a transparent plate portion is provided on the main body of the article over both front and back surfaces so as to be concentric with the center of the disk, and a bar code is provided on one side of the transparent plate portion. Since it is attached so that it can be read from both front and back, the bar code is simply attached to only one side of the transparent plate part, and when storing the article main body in the case, the front and back of the disc-shaped article main body are not distinguished. The bar code can be read even when the article is stored, and in order to properly read the information display section, the restriction on the storage posture of the article body in the case is further reduced.

In the rental article according to the present invention, the article bodies having different diameters are housed separately in cases of the same shape while holding the center of the disk at the same position regardless of the size of the diameter. Therefore, when reading the information display section, it is possible to handle the article bodies having different diameters in the same manner in the same manner, and in order to properly read the information display section of the article body having the different diameter, the handling of rental articles is further increased. Can be simplified.

[0012] In the rental apparatus according to the ninth aspect, a desired lending article among a plurality of lending articles stored in the article storage section is carried out to the article take-out section based on a lending command,
The information display unit attached to the article main body is read by the reading means from outside the case. Therefore, in a series of lending operations when lending the lending article, the article body can be handled while being stored in the case, so that the article body is not easily damaged and the handling of the lending article can be simplified.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a desired lending article out of a plurality of lending articles stored in the article storage section is carried out to the article take-out section based on a lending command and attached to the article body. The read barcode is read from the outside of the case by the reading means. Then, when reading the barcode, since a plurality of bars are read along a radial direction passing through the concentric portion of the barcode arranged concentrically, the article main body is held such that the concentric portion is held at a fixed position. Is stored in the case, the bar code can be read along an arbitrary direction passing through the concentric portion even if the storage posture of the article main body is shifted in the circumferential direction around the concentric portion.
Therefore, in a series of lending operations at the time of lending the lending article, the article body can be handled while being stored in the case, so that the article body is not easily damaged and the handling of the lending article can be simplified, and In order to properly read the information display section, it is possible to reduce restrictions on the storage posture of the article main body in the case.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a video cassette V (hereinafter simply referred to as a video cassette) in a case as an example of a rental article according to the present invention.
Is configured such that a video cassette main body V1 as an article main body is housed in a case V2. The end face V3 of the video cassette main body V1 which is inserted into the case V2 includes:
An information display section L for displaying information for managing lending such as identification information for identifying recorded video content in a bar code M readable manner is attached thereto, and the case V2 is entirely formed so that the inside thereof can be seen through. Are formed integrally with a transparent resin material, and the stored barcode M of the video cassette body V1 is optically readable from the outside of the case V2 by a barcode reader 20 described later.

FIGS. 2 to 14 show an automatic lending / returning device N for the video cassette V, and an operation unit A for lending / returning.
A front panel C1 is provided on both the left and right sides of the cabinet C. The front panel C1 has a cassette slot C3 for inserting and removing a video cassette V from the outside. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, inside the cabinet C, two cassette storage shelves H (Ha, Hb) as front and rear as an article storage section for storing a plurality of video cassettes V, for lending or returning. The cassette loading / unloading section B where the video cassettes V are temporarily placed, the cassette transport apparatus G for transporting the video cassettes V between the cassette storage shelves H and the cassette loading / unloading sections B, and the operation of the automatic lending / returning apparatus N Is provided with a control device E described later.

Each of the cassette storage shelves H (Ha, Hb) is configured by arranging a plurality of cassette storage portions 71 capable of individually storing the video cassettes V one by one in the vertical and horizontal directions. As shown in FIG. 10, the cassette transport device G is disposed between the two cassette storage shelves Ha and Hb with the cassette loading / unloading sides facing each other,
The cassette carry-in / out sections B are arranged on both left and right sides of a cassette storage shelf Ha provided on the front side of the cabinet. Then, the rental video cassette V stored in the cassette storage shelf H is carried out to the cassette carrying-in / out section B as an article take-out section based on the lending command from the control device E, and is temporarily stored in the cassette carrying-in / out section B. The returned video cassette V is stored in the cassette storage shelf H based on a return command from the control device E.

The operation unit A is turned on in a recess C2 formed in the front panel C so as to select a card reader 1 for reading data recorded on a user's identification card or a rental or return. Select button 2 to be displayed 2, touch panel 3 for inputting identification data of video cassette V to be borrowed and expected return date, etc. 3, money amount display section 4 for displaying a lending fee 4, bill insertion slot 5, change return slot 6, display of lending fee The system is provided with a receipt printer 7 for printing and issuing a receipt and a receipt of the returned video cassette V and a speaker (not shown) for guiding operation procedures by voice.

Each of the cassette loading / unloading sections B is shown in FIG.
(A) and (b), a front door 10 that swings open and close the cassette slot C3 in the front-rear direction of the cabinet so that the video cassette V for lending or return can be inserted into and removed from the cassette slot C3. A rental / return shelf 11 for mounting and supporting a video cassette V for carrying in / out is provided. The front door 10 is provided with two hinges 14 with two right and left dampers 14 on a door support 15 fixed to the back side of the front panel C1. , A coil spring 13 that swings around the horizontal axis X1 and urges the front door 10 to swing open, a locking mechanism F that locks the front door 10 in a closed state, and opening and closing of the front door 10 An open / close detection sensor 10a for detecting a state is provided.

The lending / returning shelf 11 is integrally fixed to the back side of the front door 10 and is provided so as to swing together with the front door 10. As shown in FIG. Four cassette mounting grooves 16 are provided so that the cassette mounting grooves 16 can be arranged and supported in a line in the left-right direction in a vertical posture along the front-rear direction.
6 are arranged at a fixed interval 16c at a depth shallower than the mounting height of the video cassette V so that a finger can be inserted between adjacent video cassettes V and a desired video cassette V can be gripped. The upper entrance of the cassette mounting groove 16 is formed as an opening 16b for taking in and out the cassette.

Then, the lending / returning shelf 11 rotates integrally with the swinging of the front door 10 around the horizontal axis X1, and the cassette loading / unloading section B moves as shown in FIG. The transfer posture for holding the video cassette V with the cassette loading / unloading opening 16b of the loading groove 16 facing the inside of the cabinet, and the cassette loading / unloading opening of the cassette loading groove 16 as shown in FIG. 16b to the outside of the cabinet from the cassette slot C3.
, And is configured to be switchable to a loading / unloading attitude for holding the cassette loading / unloading section B based on the detection result of the open / close detection sensor 10a.

The lock mechanism F fixes the left and right locked pins 40 inside the front door 10 and projects so as to enter the movement path of the locked pins 40 accompanying the swing of the front door 10. Two latch locks 42 having right and left latch pawls 41 which are biased, and a solenoid for retracting each of the latch pawls 41 from the movement path of the locked pin 40 against a biasing force by a release wire 43. 44 are fixed to the front door 10, and the left and right locked pins 40 are locked by the locking claws 41 to lock the front door 10 in the closed position. When the solenoid 44 is energized in response to a release command from the control device E, the two locking claws 41 are retracted from the movement path of the locked pin 40 to release the locking, and the front door 10 is coiled. Due to the urging force of the spring 13 and the damper action of the hinge 14 with a damper, it slowly swings to the open side, and the lending / returning shelf 11 is raised to the front side of the cabinet and is placed on the lending / returning shelf 11. The video cassette V for lending is taken out, and the video cassette V for return is switched to a loading / unloading posture suitable for placing on the lending / returning shelf 11. Also,
When the front door 10 is opened, the energization of the solenoid 44 is stopped, and the locking claw 41 enters the movement path of the locked pin 40. In this state, the front door 10 is pressed against the urging force of the coil spring 13. When the locking pin 40 is swung to the closing side by manual operation, each of the locked pins 40 is
5, the locking claw 41 retreats against the urging force, the locked pin 40 enters the inside of the locking claw 41, and the front door 10 is locked in the closed position, and is lent / returned. Shelf 11
Is configured to be switched to the transfer posture.

Each of the cassette mounting grooves 16 is provided with a mounting surface 16a for supporting the video cassette V so as to be slidable in the transfer posture. A projection surface 17 which is bent in a U-shape when viewed from the side is formed so that the video cassette V can be smoothly transferred to and from a transport carriage 50 described later. On the back side of the front panel C1, a pressing plate 12 for pressing the upper portion of the video cassette V mounted and supported in the cassette mounting groove 16 by its own weight in the transfer position is provided. It is mounted so that it can swing up and down while restricting the downward swing range.

The cassette mounting groove 16 is configured to mount and support the video cassette V with its barcode M side facing downward, and the door supporting base 15 has a mounting surface of each cassette mounting groove 16. A reflection type photo sensor 19 for detecting presence / absence of the video cassette V mounted through a through hole 18 formed in the video cassette 16a, and a bar code as reading means for reading a bar code M of the video cassette V A reader 20 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, the photo sensor 19 for detecting presence of goods and the bar code reader 20
Lending / returning shelves 1 along guide rails 21 fixed to
The slide table 22 is mounted on a slide table 22 that can slide back and forth in the direction in which the video cassettes V mounted on the apparatus 1 are arranged, that is, in the cabinet width direction. A bar code reader 20 is provided so as to be freely movable in the arrangement direction of the video cassettes V on the lending / returning shelf 11 by providing a reflection type slide position detecting photosensor 24 for detecting the position.

The slide table moving device 23 moves the slide table 22 on a wire 27 wound around a drive pulley 25 and a driven pulley 26 rotatably supported on the upper surface of the door support table 15 around the longitudinal axis Y1. The drive pulley 25 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by driving an electric motor M1 connected to and fixed to the lower surface of the door support table 15, and the slide table 22 is reciprocated. The slide position detecting photosensor 24 detects the reflected light from the light reflecting plate 28 provided corresponding to each cassette mounting groove 16, and determines the position of the slide table 22 corresponding to the cassette mounting groove 16. Each light reflection plate 28 is configured to detect
2 is attached to a plate member 29 erected along the second movement path. Then, by sliding the slide table 22 back and forth, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the rented or returned video cassette V mounted on each cassette mounting groove 16 and read the barcode M thereof. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the two cassette storage shelves H is configured by arranging cassette storage portions 71 on shelf plates 70 provided in upper and lower tiers in the cabinet width direction. Each of the shelves 70 is formed substantially in an L-shape in a side view including a cassette mounting plate 72 and a back plate 73 fixed to the cabinet C side, and a front side end of the cassette mounting plate 72 and a back plate. A large number of round bars 74 welded and fixed to the upper end of 73
The space between adjacent round bars 74 is formed as a cassette storage section 71 having a mounting surface 71a for slidably moving and supporting the video cassette V for rent.

A protruding surface 77 is formed at the front end portion of the mounting surface 71a so as to be positioned upward in the middle of the video cassette V in and out of the video cassette V in a side view so as to be conveyed. The configuration is such that the video cassette V can be smoothly transferred to and from the carriage 50 and that the mounted video cassette V can be prevented from rubbing. Each of the cassette storage sections 71 has a video cassette V one by one, with the thickness direction in the horizontal direction, a horizontal posture along a cabinet front-rear direction having a front-rear width larger than the height, and an upper part thereof is round. The bar 74 is configured to hold the bar code M side downward with the bar 74 protruding above the upper edge of the bar 74. The back plate 73 has a rectangular hole 75 corresponding to each cassette accommodating portion 71.
The light reflection tape 76 adhered to the back side of the back plate 73 is made to face the front side of the shelf plate from the hole 75, and a reflection type presence detection photo provided in a cassette transfer device J described later. Video cassette V stored in sensor (not shown)
It is configured to detect the presence or absence of

The cassette transfer device G is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cassette holding unit that is operated to move to an article transfer position for a plurality of cassette storage units 71 and rental / return shelves 11 and holds a video cassette V to be transported with the barcode M side facing downward. 82 and its cassette holding portion 82, each cassette storage portion 71, and the lending / returning shelf 1
1, a transport trolley 50 as a moving body for transporting articles provided with two cassette transfer devices J for transferring video cassettes V, a transport trolley 50 to each cassette storage section 71 and a rental / return shelf. And a moving device 51 for reciprocating the moving device 11.

The moving device 51 can be moved up and down along substantially the entire vertical height of the cassette storage shelves H along the cassette loading / unloading sides of the front and rear two cassette storage shelves Ha and Hb. Cassette storage shelf H on the back side
a drive elevator device 53 that drives and raises and lowers an aluminum alloy lift rail 52 having substantially the same length as the width of b, and a drive that reciprocates the carrier 50 along the lift rail 52 over substantially the entire area in its length direction. And a traveling device 54,
Is configured to move to a cassette transfer position with respect to the plurality of cassette storage units 71 and the lending / returning shelf 11 by traveling along the elevating rail 52 and elevating the elevating rail 52.

The drive elevating device 53 includes a cabinet C
A pair of upper and lower pulleys 55a, 55b rotatably supported on the left and right sides around the horizontal axis, and the pulleys 55a, 55b.
The drive shaft 5 that connects the two left and right timing belts 56 wound around the lower pulley 55b to each other.
7 and a guide column 5 that guides the ascending and descending direction by rolling an ascending and descending electric motor M2 linked to the chain 7 and guide rollers 58 for ascending and descending provided at both left and right ends of the ascending and descending rail 52.
9, the left and right timing belts 56 are connected to the left and right ends of the elevating rail 52, and the timing belt 56 is rotated by forward and reverse drive rotation of the electric motor M2 for elevating and lowering to drive up and down. A light-shielding plate 61 that is provided at one end of the lifting rail 52 and that shields a transmission-type photosensor 60 for detecting a lifting position is attached to the cabinet C side corresponding to the height of each shelf 70.

As shown in FIG. 12, the transport carriage 50 includes left and right upper flanged wheels 62 which roll separately along upper left and right side edges of the lift rail 52, and a lower part of the lift rail 52 from both left and right sides. Each of the lower flanged wheels 63 sandwiching and rolling is fixed to a carriage frame 64 supported at two front and rear portions in the traveling direction, and the cassette holder 82 and the mounting base 65 of the cassette transfer device J are fixed. ing.
The drive traveling device 54 includes a pair of left and right pulleys 66 rotatably supported on both ends of the lifting rail 52 around a horizontal axis.
a, 66b, a timing belt 67 wound around those pulleys 66a, 66b, and one pulley 66
and a traveling electric motor M3 for driving and rotating b.
The timing belt 67 is connected to the lower end of the bogie frame 64, and the transport belt 50 is driven and driven by rotating the timing belt 67 by forward and reverse drive rotation of the electric motor M3 for running. A cable bear 68 for protecting a signal input / output cable and the like is connected to the lift rail 52 side and the cabinet C side.

The two cassette transfer devices J are shown in FIG.
14, as shown in FIG. 14, a downwardly U-shaped machine frame 80 which is attached to the mount 65 at intervals along the traveling direction of the transport vehicle 50 and is fixed to the mount 65, A cassette holding portion 82 for holding the video cassette V transferred by each cassette transfer device J is formed between the right and left side plates 81 fixed at intervals on both left and right sides of the cassette transfer device J. The cassette holding section 82 moves the transport carriage 50 to a predetermined cassette storage section 71 or a cassette transfer position with respect to the cassette mounting groove 16 of the lending / returning shelf 11, and the cassette storage section 71 or the cassette mounting section. A cassette support surface 82a for mounting and supporting the video cassette V slidably along the cassette insertion / removal direction with respect to the mounting groove 16 is provided.

In each of the cassette transfer devices J, the transport cart 50 is stored in a predetermined cassette storage section 71 or the rental / return shelf 1.
In a state where the video cassette V is moved to the cassette transfer position with respect to the first cassette mounting groove 16, both front and rear surfaces of the video cassette V to be transferred in the cassette transfer direction are locked by a pair of locking pieces 84a. The transfer arm 84 that slides and moves the V along the mounting surface 16a of the cassette mounting groove 16 and the mounting surface 71a of the cassette accommodating portion 71 and the cassette supporting surface 82a is moved vertically by the lifting rail 52. The moving cassette is configured to be disengaged from the upper portion of the video cassette V.

More specifically, a slide arm 83 guided and supported slidably in the cassette transfer direction by a fixed rail 86a provided above the machine frame 80, and further slidably provided with respect to the slide arm 83 Transfer arm 84, slide arm 83 and transfer arm 8
A cassette transfer device J is provided by providing a slide drive device 85 that slides the cassette transfer device 4. Then, two downward U-shaped slide guides 87 parallel to each other are provided.
a and 86b are fixed to the lower surface of the slide arm 83 side by side, and one slide guide 87a is fixed to the fixed rail 86.
a to guide and support the slide arm 83 so as to be slidable, and the other slide guide 86b.
Is externally fitted to a fixed rail 86b fixed to the upper surface of the transfer arm 84, the transfer arm 84 is slidably guided and supported by a slide arm 83, and the cassettes in either of the front and rear cassette storage shelves Ha and Hb are provided. The transfer arm 84 is slidably provided also toward the storage section.

The slide drive device 85 includes a rack gear 8 provided on one side edge of the slide arm 83 along the longitudinal direction.
5a, two pinion gears 85b meshing with the rack gear 85a, and a transfer electric motor M4 for driving and rotating these pinion gears 85b via reduction gears 85c.
And two pulleys, a first pulley 85d and a second pulley 85e, which are rotatably supported around the longitudinal axis at both ends in the sliding direction of the slide arm 83, and the ends are wound around the first pulley 85d. A first wire 85f connected to the machine frame 80 and the transfer arm 84 and a second pulley 85e are wound around the first wire 85f and crossed with the first wire 85f in a plan view. And a second wire 85g connected to the transfer arm 84, and a cable carrier 88 for protecting a power supply cable to the transfer electric motor M4, a control signal input / output cable, and the like is conveyed. The truck 50 and the lift rail 52 are connected to each other.

As shown by the cassette transfer device J on the left side in FIG. When the loading electric motor M4 is rotated a predetermined number of times in either the forward or reverse direction, the slide arm 83 slides in the corresponding direction, and as shown by the right cassette transfer device J in FIG. Is slid toward the cassette storage portion 71 or the cassette mounting groove 16, the first wire 85f is pulled out, and the transfer arm 84 further slides with respect to the slide arm 83, and the cassette storage portion 71 or When the transfer motor M4 is rotated a predetermined number of times in the reverse direction in the cassette mounting groove 16 in this state, the transfer arm 8 There is configured to return movement to the standby position.

On the lateral side of the carriage frame 64, two transmission type photo sensors 69 for detecting the traveling position are mounted at intervals in the traveling direction. A cable bear guide 88a that supports the cable bear 88 connected to the 50 side during traveling and a light shielding plate 69a that shields the traveling position detecting photosensor 69 from light are attached to the cassette housing 71. , A light transmitting hole 69b for position detection is formed.

Next, the control of the automatic lending / returning device by the control device E will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. The control device E includes a main control unit 30 that controls the lending / returning operation based on operation information input from the operation unit A, and storage data and rental data of the video cassette V stored in each cassette storage unit 71. And the like, and a transfer control unit 32 for controlling the transfer operation of the cassette transfer device G. The transfer control unit 32 includes a lifting control device 33, a travel control device 34, and a transfer control An apparatus 35 is provided, and the main control unit 30 and the transport control unit 32 are provided so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The main control unit 30 turns on the selection button 2 when confirming the customer data input from the card reader 1, executes the control in the lending mode when "lending" is selected, and selects "return". Then, control in the return mode is executed. When there are a plurality of video cassettes V to be rented or returned at the same time up to a maximum of four, the plurality of video cassettes V are grouped together and the control in the rent mode or the return mode is executed. .

In the lending mode, the presence or absence of the video cassette V is confirmed from the data stored in the storage unit 31 based on the data input to the touch panel 3 and
If there is a video cassette V, the rental fee is displayed in the amount display section 4.
When the displayed fee is input, the video cassette V is loaded from the cassette storage 71 into the cassette loading / unloading section B.
Is input to the transport control unit 32. The rental / return shelf 11 in which the video cassette V transported by the transport cart 50 is operated in the transfer posture.
When the video cassette V is transferred to the empty cassette mounting groove 16, the bar code reader 20 is moved to confirm whether or not the video cassette V is the video cassette V input to the touch panel 3. The barcode M of the video cassette V is read.

Then, when it is confirmed that the video cassette V transferred to the cassette mounting groove 16 is the video cassette V input to the touch panel 3, the release instruction from the main control unit 30 is issued. When the solenoid 44 is energized, the front door 10 is opened, the lending / returning shelf 11 is operated in the loading / unloading position, the video cassette V is taken out of the lending / returning shelf 11, and the front door 10 is closed. Is detected, the receipt is printed by the receipt printer 7 and issued.

In the return mode, the main control unit 30
Solenoid 44 is energized in response to a release command from
When the front door 10 is opened, the empty lending / returning shelf 11 is operated in the loading / unloading position, and the returning video cassette V
Is placed on the lending / returning shelf 11, and when it is detected that the front door 10 is closed, the bar code reader 20 reads the bar code M of the video cassette V, and the lending corresponding to the video cassette V is performed. The data is read from the storage unit 31, and if an additional fee is required, the fee is displayed on the amount display unit 4. Immediately when the additional charge is not required, or when the additional charge is required, the receipt is printed and issued by the receipt printer 7 and the video cassette V Is input to the transport control unit 32 for transporting the data to the predetermined cassette storage unit 71.

When the control data is input from the main control unit 30, the transport control unit 32 inputs necessary control data to the elevation control device 33, the traveling control device 34, and the transfer control device 35. Have been. The elevation control device 33
Determines the elevation height of the cassette transfer device J based on the input control data and the detection result of the elevation position detection photosensor 60, and the cassette transfer device J determines whether or not the cassette In order to stop the video cassette V at a position where the video cassette V can be transferred to and from the return rack 11, the drive of the electric motor M2 for elevation is controlled. The traveling control device 34 determines the traveling position of the transport trolley 50 based on the input control data and the detection result of the traveling position detecting photosensor 69, and moves the cassette transfer device J to a predetermined cassette storage portion 72 or The drive of the traveling electric motor M3 is controlled so as to stop at the lateral position where the video cassette V can be transferred to and from the rental / return shelf 11. The transfer control unit 35 moves the transfer arm 84 to a predetermined cassette
Or, it is configured to control the drive of the transfer electric motor M4 so as to be inserted into the lending / returning shelf 11 and deliver the video cassette V to / from the cassette storage unit 71 or the lending / returning shelf 11. I have.

Then, in taking out the video cassette V from the cassette storage section 71 in the lending mode and taking out the video cassette V from the lending / returning shelf 11 in the return mode, as shown in FIG. After the transfer arm 84 is inserted into the upper part of the video cassette V to be moved, the lifting rail 52 is lowered to lock the front and rear locking pieces 84a of the transfer arm 84 as shown in FIG.
Then, when the transfer arm 84 is returned to the standby position, the video cassette V slides on the mounting surface 16a of the cassette mounting groove 16 and slides on the cassette supporting surface 82a. Move to Fig. 15 (c)
As shown in FIG. 7, the video cassette V is configured to be transported while being held in the cassette holding portion 82. still,
FIG. 15 shows the taking-out operation from the lending / returning shelf 11, but the taking-out operation from the cassette storage section 71 is also performed in the same manner, and the video cassette V to the lending / returning shelf 11 in the lending mode. When the video cassette V is stored in the cassette storage section 72 in the loading or return mode, the transfer arm 8 is moved in the reverse order of the above-described removal operation.
4, the description of which is omitted.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 17 shows a compact disk P (hereinafter simply referred to as a compact disk) in a case as another embodiment of a lending article according to the present invention. The disc body P1 containing music as the article body is housed in a case P2 in a positioned state. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, around a center hole P3 for mounting the disc body P1 on the disc player, a transparent plate P4 transparent on both front and back surfaces is concentric with the rotation center X of the disc body P1 as the center of the disc. On one side of the transparent plate portion P4, an information display portion L for readable display of information for managing lending such as identification information for identifying recorded music content is provided. ing.

The case P2 is configured so that the center hole P3 of the disk main body P1 is locked by the locking projection 126 and positioned, and the whole is integrally formed of a transparent resin material so that the inside can be seen through. The information display section L of the stored disk body P1 is configured to be optically readable from outside the case P2.

The information display section L displays a plurality of annular bars with a bar code M in which the plurality of annular bars are arranged concentrically so that the plurality of bars are arranged along a plurality of directions which spread radially. As shown in FIG. 19, the doughnut-shaped label M having the barcode M printed on both sides thereof
1 is attached to one side surface of the transparent plate portion P4 concentrically with the rotation center X of the disk body P1, so that the barcode M is concentric with the rotation axis X of the disk body P1 and a barcode reader described later. At 101, it is attached so that it can be read from both sides of the disk body P1.

In the case P2, as shown by a phantom line in FIG. 17, a small-diameter disk main body Q called a so-called single CD is also housed with its center hole locked in the same manner as the disk main body P1. Is configured. Therefore, the disk bodies P1 and Q having different diameters from each other.
Respectively hold the center of the disk at the same position regardless of the size of the diameter, and maintain the same shape of the case P2.
Are stored separately.

FIG. 21 shows an automatic lending / returning device R for the compact disk P. An operating unit R1 for lending / returning similar to the operating unit A shown in the first embodiment, and a compact disk P from the outside. A front panel R3 having a disk insertion / removal opening R2 for insertion / removal is provided at one end of the cabinet R4. A detection sensor 10a is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, inside the cabinet 4, two disk storage shelves 102 as left and right as an article storage section for storing a plurality of compact disks P are provided.
A disk loading / unloading section 103 in which a compact disk P for lending or return is temporarily placed;
A disk transport device 104 for transporting the compact disk P between the disk drive 2 and the disk loading / unloading section 103;
A control device 105 for controlling the operation of the return device R is provided.

In each of the disk storage shelves 102, a plurality of disk storage portions 107 for individually storing storage cases 106 each storing a plurality of compact disks P collectively are arranged vertically and horizontally. 23, as shown in FIG.
4 is arranged between the two disk storage shelves 102.

As shown in FIG. 20, the storage case 106 is provided with a plurality of shelves 108 for storing one compact disk P in such a manner that each of the compact disks P is inclined downward downward toward the back side. On the side, the compact disc P is stored in the storage case
There is an opening for pushing out from 06.

As shown in FIG. 22, the disk transport device 104 uses a transport device 112 provided with a case carrier 110 provided in a cantilever manner in the same manner as in the first embodiment. It is configured to be able to reciprocate between the disk loading / unloading unit 103 and a desired disk storage unit 107, and the storage case 110 is moved to the disk storage unit 107 by driving the transfer electric motor M4. A fork device 113 is provided for taking out and out.

Then, the rental compact disk P stored in the disk storage shelf 102 is stored in the control device 10.
5, and the storage case 106 is carried out to the disk carrying-in / out section 103 as an article take-out section based on the lending command from
The return compact disk P temporarily stored in the disk loading / unloading section 103 is stored in the storage case 106 based on a return command from the control device 105, and the storage case 106 is stored together with the storage case 106 in the predetermined disk storage section 107. It is configured so that:

The disk loading / unloading section 103 has the structure shown in FIG.
3, as shown in FIG. 24, an unloading extruder 109 for extruding a predetermined lending compact disc P from the storage case 106 mounted on the case carrier 110, and a compact disc P or disc extruded from the storage case 106. A disk container 114 for storing the compact disk P returned from the inlet / outlet R2, and a disk container 1
An electric motor 115 that drives and swings around the vertical axis Y over a transfer position located on the lateral side of the case carrier 110 and a disk loading / unloading position facing the disk loading / unloading port R2 is provided. I have.

As shown in FIG. 25, the unloading push-out device 109 inserts the push-out arm 117, which is held by the guide roller 116 with a flange and is slidable in the longitudinal direction, into the storage case 106, and inserts the compact disc P The swing arm 118 having an elongated hole 119 slidably engaged with the pushing arm 117 is pushed out toward the disk container 114 side, and is horizontally moved by the urging force of the tension spring 120 and the ON / OFF operation of the solenoid 121. The extruding arm 117 is configured to be swung about the axis to move back and forth.

When there are a plurality of compact discs P for lending or returning, the disc container 114 is configured to store the compact discs P one above the other. A bar code reader 101 serving as a reading means for reading the bar code M of the stored compact disc P is attached. At the lower part of the disc container 114, only the compact disc P stored at the lowermost portion slides out of the container. A disk return opening 122 and a compact disk P stored at the bottom of the disk return opening 122 are pushed out from the disk return opening 112 into the storage case 106 of the case carrier 110 which is waiting rearward at the transfer position. An extrusion device 123 is provided.

The carry-in push-out device 123 is provided with a push-out protrusion 125 on a belt 124 driven and rotated along a slit-like long hole formed in the bottom wall of the disk container 114, and drives the belt 124. With the rotation, the protrusion 1
At 25, the compact disk P is pushed into the storage case 106. The bar code reader 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a bar code M which is fixed to a substantially upper portion of the center of the disk container 114, and reads a bar code M along a concentric portion of an annularly arranged bar, that is, a radial direction passing through the center of rotation of the disk main bodies P1, Q. It is configured as follows.

The control block diagram of the lending / returning control by the control device 105 is the control device E shown in the first embodiment.
Therefore, the control operation will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG.

The main control unit 30 turns on the selection button 2 when confirming the customer data input from the card reader 1, executes the control in the lending mode when "lending" is selected, and selects "return". Then, control in the return mode is executed. When there are a plurality of compact discs P to be rented or returned at the same time, the plurality of compact discs P are integrated to execute control in the lending mode or the return mode.

In the lending mode, the presence or absence of the compact disk P is confirmed from the data stored in the storage unit 31 based on the data input to the touch panel 3, and if there is the compact disk P, the lending fee is displayed in the amount display unit. 4, and when the displayed fee is entered, the storage case 10 in which the compact disc P is stored.
6 from the disk storage unit 107 to the disk loading / unloading unit 103
Is input to the transport control unit 32.

When the storage case 106 is transported to the disk loading / unloading section 103, the vertical position of the transport trolley 111 is moved so that a predetermined compact disk P is pushed out to the disk container 114 side and inserted into the disk container 114. The control data for adjustment is input to the transport control unit 32, and the compact disc P is loaded into the disc container 114 by the operation of the unloading extruder 109. Each time the compact disk P is inserted into the disk container 114, the barcode reader 101 checks whether the compact disk P is the compact disk P input to the touch panel 3 or not. Is read. When a predetermined compact disk P is pushed out of the storage case 106,
Each time, the storage case 106 is replaced with the original disk storage unit 10.
The control data for transporting the paper to be stored in the storage unit 7 is input to the transport control unit 32.

When it is confirmed that the compact disk P in the disk container 114 is the compact disk P input to the touch panel 3, the disk container 11
4 to the disk loading / unloading position so that the disk P can be removed.
When the front door R5 is opened and it is detected that the compact disk P is removed, the front door R5 is closed, a receipt is printed and issued by the receipt printer 7, and the disk container 114 is returned to the transfer position. Rock it.

In the return mode, control data for transporting a storage case 106 having an empty shelf 108 in which no compact disk P is stored from the disk storage shelf 102 to the disk loading / unloading section 103 is input to the transport control section 32 and Then, the empty disk container 114 is driven to swing to the disk loading / unloading position to open the front door R5.

The bar code reader 101 reads the bar code M of the compact disk P each time the return compact disk P is loaded into the disk container 114, and stores the rental data corresponding to the compact disk P in the storage unit 31. , And if an additional charge is required, the charge is displayed on the amount display section 4. Immediately if the additional charge is not required, or if the additional charge is required, the additional charge is input. Then, the front door R5 is closed, the receipt is printed and issued by the receipt printer 7, and the disk container 114 is returned to the transfer position and rocked.

Then, control data for adjusting the raising / lowering position of the transport carriage 111 is input to the transport controller 32 so that the compact disk P in the disk container 114 is pushed out to the empty shelf 108 of the storage case 106. The compact disc P by the operation of the loading extrusion device 123
Is stored in the storage case 106, and control data for transporting the storage case 106 to the original disk storage unit 107 is input to the transport control unit 32.

When the control data is input from the main control unit 30, the transport control unit 32 inputs necessary control data to the elevation control device 33, the traveling control device 34, and the transfer control device 35, and Storage case 106 is the disk storage unit 1
07 and the disk loading / unloading section 103, and control is performed such that the vertical position of the transport trolley 11 is adjusted. The storage unit 31 is configured to update the data stored in the compact disk P each time the compact disk P is inserted into or removed from the storage case 106.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of the bar code M attached to the disk main body P1 shown in the second embodiment. A plurality of arc-shaped bars are provided with a central angle θ exceeding 180 degrees. The bar code M is printed on the front and back surfaces of the fan-shaped label M1 on the transparent plate P4 at the same position as the rotation center X of the disk body P1. Stick it in a core shape
Are provided concentrically with the rotation axis X of the disk body P1. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 27 shows another embodiment of the bar code M attached to the disk body P1 shown in the second embodiment, and a plurality of similar polygonal bars arranged in parallel to each other. The labels are printed concentrically on the label M1. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.
In FIG. 27, the barcode M is configured by arranging decagonal bars in a concentric manner parallel to each other. For example, the barcode M may be configured by arranging octagonal bars. Bar codes M can be configured by arranging arbitrary polygonal bars.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 28 shows another embodiment of the barcode M attached to the disk body P1 shown in the second embodiment, in which a plurality of bars are provided along each of a plurality of radial directions. They are arranged and printed on the label M1. The barcode M is provided with a radial barcode M2 in which bars of a fixed length are arranged along a plurality of radial directions, and a barcode portion M3 connecting the bars of the radial barcode M2. It is configured. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 29 shows another embodiment of a compact disk P in which a disk body P1 is housed in a case P2. This case P2 is a transparent resin sheet having flexibility. A bag-shaped protection sheet P5 is formed, which is formed by laminating materials vertically and formed into a thin bag shape, and sandwiches the disk body P1 to prevent the disk body P1 from being stained or damaged. A fitting member P7 that fits into the center hole P3 of the disk main body P1 is provided in the sheet material portion P6 that closes the disk opening P8 of the case P2, and the fitting member P7 is fitted into the center hole P3. The disc main body P1 is configured to be stored in a positioned state. Then, the disk slot P of the case P2
8 so that the sheet material portion corresponding to 8 is not blocked.
5, a bar code M attached to the stored disk body P1 can be optically read from the outside of the case P2 through a transparent sheet material portion facing the bar code M. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

[Other Embodiments] The information display unit may be configured to be readable from the outside of the case through a window formed in the case. 2. The information display unit may be configured by a magnetic tape on which information for managing lending is recorded, and may be configured to be readable by a magnetic head from outside the case. 3. It may be a digital video disc, a laser disc, or a lending article in which a book is stored in a case as an article body. 4. The barcode constituting the information display section may be printed on the article body. 5. The position where the information display section is provided on the article main body and the number of the information display section can be changed according to the type of the article.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video cassette.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing the inside of the automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the inside of the automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a cassette loading / unloading section.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a main part of the storage shelf.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of the storage shelf.

FIG. 10 is a main part plan view showing the inside of the automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a main part of the transfer device.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a main part of the transfer device.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a main part of the transport vehicle.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a main part of the transport cart.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory view of the transfer device.

FIG. 16 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a compact disc.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a disk main body.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a label on which a barcode is printed.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a storage case.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a main part showing the inside of the automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 23 is a main part plan view showing the inside of the automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 24 is a side view showing the inside of an automatic lending / returning device.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a main part of the disk loading / unloading unit.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a label on which a barcode is printed.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a label on which a barcode is printed.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a label on which a barcode is printed.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the compact disc.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20, 101 reading means 71, 107 article storage section B, 103 article take-out section L information display section M barcode P4 transparent plate section V, P rental article V1, P1 article body V2, P2 case X disk center θ center angle

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An article for lending, wherein an information display unit for readablely displaying information for managing lending is attached to an article body, wherein the article body is stored in a case, and the case is A lending article whose information display section is configured to be readable from the outside of the case. 2. The case, wherein at least a portion corresponding to the information display section is formed of a transparent or translucent material, and the information display section is configured to be optically readable from outside the case. Item for lending according to 1. 3. The lending article according to claim 2, wherein the information display unit is configured to display a plurality of bars with bar codes arranged in a plurality of directions extending radially. 4. The lending article according to claim 3, wherein the bar code is formed by concentrically arranging a plurality of annular bars. 5. The lending article according to claim 3, wherein the bar code is formed by concentrically arranging a plurality of arc-shaped bars in a radially overlapping manner over a central angle exceeding 180 degrees. 6. The lending article according to claim 4, wherein the article main body is formed in a disk shape, and the bar code is provided concentrically with the center of the disk. 7. The article main body is provided with a transparent plate portion transparent on both front and back surfaces and concentric with the center of the disk, and the bar code is provided on one side surface of the transparent plate portion from both front and back surfaces. 7. The lending article according to claim 6, which is readable. 8. The article bodies having different diameters are housed separately in the case having the same shape while maintaining the center of the disk at the same position regardless of the size of the diameter. Item for lending according to any one of the above. 9. The lending apparatus for lending articles according to claim 1, wherein the lending article is stored in the article storage section for storing a plurality of the lending articles. A lending apparatus comprising: an article take-out unit for taking out a lending article based on a lending instruction; and a reading unit for reading an information display unit of the lending article carried out to the article taking-out unit. 10. The lending device for lending according to claim 4, wherein the lending device stores a plurality of the lending items, and the lending device stores the lending items. An article take-out unit for taking out the lending article based on the lending command, and a reading unit for reading a bar code of the lending article carried out to the article take-out unit, wherein the reading unit is concentric with the bar code; A lending device configured to read along a radial direction passing through the part.