JPS63147298A - Video tape renting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a videotape lending device for lending and collecting videotapes.

φ) Prior Art In recent years, videotape lending devices have been proposed that lend out videotapes unattended. This device selects and releases a customer-specified videotape from a shelf inside the device, and
This device stores video tapes returned by customers on the shelf and stores them until the next time they are rented.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, such videotape lending devices simply stored returned videotapes on a shelf;
It was not possible to check the videotape, which was returned unrewound.

If the videotape is lent out without being rewound,
Users had to rewind the video before they could see it, leading to poor service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a videotape rental device that can rewind a returned videotape and prepare it for the next rental.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems This invention provides a shelf for storing video tapes inside the device;
A videotape rental device having a videotape discharge port and a videotape return port on the front side of the device, and further comprising a transport device for transporting the videotape between the shelf, the videotape discharge port, and the videotape return port, The present invention is characterized in that the videotape transport device is provided with a videotape rewinding means for rewinding the videotape returned from the videotape return port and then storing it on the shelf.

(e) Function In the videotape rental device of the present invention, the videotape returned from the videotape return port is transported to a predetermined position on the shelf by the videotape transport device, but during this time the videotape rewinding means is driven and the videotape is returned from the videotape return port. The tape is rewound to the beginning position. After this, the video tape is stored on a shelf.

(fl Embodiment FIG. 3 is an external view of a videotape lending device according to an embodiment of the present invention. On the front panel of the device body 1, there is a display 21 for displaying videotapes currently being rented. Keyboard for specifying the tape 3.
4. Card insertion slot for inserting a credit card to identify the customer; Videotape return slot for returning video tapes 5. A videotape discharge port 6 is provided through which a rented videotape is discharged.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section of the audiotape lending device. The CPU 10, which is a control device, has a memory 1) for storing programs, data, etc.; and a floppy disk device 12 for accumulating and storing transaction data, etc. Communication control circuit 13 for communication such as credit card inquiries. A keyboard control circuit 14 and a card reader control circuit 15 that control input from the keyboard 30 are connected. The communication control circuit 13 is connected to an NCU/modem 16, and communicates with a credit host computer etc. via this NCU/modem 16. In addition, the card reader control circuit 1
5 is connected to a card reader 17 for reading a credit card inserted from the card insertion slot 4.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structural diagrams of a videotape storage shelf and a videotape transport device provided inside the apparatus. The video tape storage shelf 20 is divided into 10 vertical and 10 horizontal sections, and each section can store one video tape. That is, this video tape storage shelf 20 can store 100 video tapes. Video tapes are stored and removed from the side with the front lid facing down.

Horizontal rails 27, 27' are provided at the top and bottom of the front surface of the storage shelf 20, and guide plates 29, 29' are slidably attached to the horizontal rails 27, 27'. Further, the guide plate 29, 29' is connected to the motor 26 and the motor 26.
The belt 25, 25' is driven by a shaft 28 that transmits the driving force of the motor 26, and is moved in the transverse direction by the rotation of the motor 26.

Two vertical rails 24 are attached between the upper and lower guides vi29, 29', and the videotape conveying section 21 is slidably attached to the vertical rails 24. The videotape transport section 21 is driven in the longitudinal direction by a motor 22 and a belt 23 attached to an upper guide plate 29. i.e. motors 26 and 2
2 by appropriately driving the video tape storage shelf 2.
The videotape transport section 21 can be moved to a position facing all the sections of 0 and the videotape return port 5.

By the way, the videotape transport section 21 is formed into a cylindrical shape that can store videotapes with the front lid facing downward, and one opening opens toward the videotape storage shelf 20, and the other opening opens toward the front surface. It opens on the panel side. Inside the videotape transport section 21, there is a motor (not shown),
! A feeding belt is provided, and 20 video tape storage shelves are provided.
Removing the videotape from the videotape storage shelf 2
The video tape can be stored in the video tape 0 and the video tape can be discharged into the video tape discharge port 6.

When the customer presses the return key on the keyboard 3, the control section moves the videotape transport section 21 to the position of the videotape return port 5 and receives the videotape to be returned.

The videotape storage section 21 moves to a position opposite to a predetermined section of the videotape storage shelf 20 to store this videotape. During this movement, the videotape is rewound. FIG. 3B is a side view schematically showing the videotape rewinding device. A clutch 36 that transmits the rotation of the shaft 319 and the rewinding motor 30 to the shaft 31
A pin 35 for unlocking the videotape is attached to a stand 34, which rests on the belt 33. This belt 33 is rotated by a motor 32. As the belt 33 rotates, the platform section 34 moves back and forth. When the platform section 34 moves forward, the 40 reels 41 of the videotape stored in the videotape transport section 21, the shaft 31, and the lock 42 are connected to each other. The pin 35 is fitted, and the videotape can be rewound. At this time, the motor 36 rotates and rewinds the videotape to the beginning. When the load torque of the shaft 31 exceeds a certain value, the clutch 36 opens and the driving force of the motor 30 is no longer transmitted. Thereby, when the videotape 40 is rewound to the beginning, rotation can be automatically stopped.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the return operation of the control section of the videotape lending device. This operation starts when the return key included in the keyboard 3 is pressed.

First, step nl (hereinafter step ni will be referred to as ni).
The reception desk accepts the insertion of the credit card, and then the reception accepts the insertion (return) of the tape from the videotape return slot 5 (
n2). The data of the inserted credit card and video tape are read, and return processing such as payment of charges and issuance of receipts is performed (n3), and in parallel with this operation, processes from n4 to
Perform the storage operation of n6.

At step n4, the rewinding device is fitted to the videotape stored in the videotape transport section 21, and the motor 30 is driven.
Perform rewinding (n4). While performing this operation, the motors 22 and 26 are driven to move the videotape transport section 21 to a position facing the predetermined section (n6), and when rewinding is completed, the videotape transport section 21 is moved to a position facing the predetermined section. When the video tape is moved to the position, the conveyor belt in the video tape conveyor 21 is driven to store the video tape in the video tape storage shelf 20 (n6), and the operation is completed.

The videotape rewinding device (FIG. 1(B)) and n6
is opposed to the videotape rewinding means of this invention.

(g) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, returned video tapes can be rewound to the beginning position before being stored on the shelf. It can be stored and viewed immediately when borrowed. This can improve customer service.

Furthermore, by performing rewinding as a post-processing of the return, there is an advantage that the waiting time can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(A) and 1(B) are diagrams showing a videotape transport device and a videotape storage shelf of a videotape lending device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(B) shows a videotape rewinding device in particular. FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the videotape lending device;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are an external view of the videotape rental apparatus and a block diagram of the control section. 5-video tape return port, 20-video tape storage shelf, 21-video tape transport section, 30-motor, 31-shaft,

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) The device has a shelf for storing video tapes, and a video tape ejection port and a video tape return port on the front of the device, and furthermore, the video tape is stored between the shelf, the video tape ejection port, and the video tape return port. A videotape rental device having a transporting device for transporting the videotape, characterized in that the videotape transporting device is provided with a videotape rewinding means for rewinding the videotape returned from the videotape return port and then storing it on the shelf. videotape lending device.