WO2001004704A1 - Machine automatique pour distribuer des articles photographiques et similaires - Google Patents

Machine automatique pour distribuer des articles photographiques et similaires Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001004704A1
WO2001004704A1 PCT/IT2000/000278 IT0000278W WO0104704A1 WO 2001004704 A1 WO2001004704 A1 WO 2001004704A1 IT 0000278 W IT0000278 W IT 0000278W WO 0104704 A1 WO0104704 A1 WO 0104704A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
dispensing machine
user
dispensing
seats
machine
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2000/000278
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ivano Zorzan
Original Assignee
Nortech Italia Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nortech Italia Srl filed Critical Nortech Italia Srl
Priority to CA002378651A priority Critical patent/CA2378651A1/fr
Priority to AU58466/00A priority patent/AU5846600A/en
Publication of WO2001004704A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001004704A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0042—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for hiring of objects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
    • G03D15/001—Counting; Classifying; Marking
    • G03D15/005—Order systems, e.g. printsorter
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/62—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles

Definitions

  • Automatic machine (10) for dispensing photographic products and the like comprising a container (11) inside which there is at least a magazine costituted by one or more hive-shaped containers (12), each of said hive-shaped containers comprising a plurality of seats (13), a system for moving and handling (21, 22) the products which are housed within said seats (13) controlled by an electronic control logics, a data inputting (15) and displaying (14) device placed on the front part of said container, a device
  • a cashing device (18) for delivering outwards the products which have been withdrawn from said seats (13) , as well as a cashing device (18), characterised in that it further comprises a device (16) for collecting at least a roll of film to be developed, as well as a device (17) suitable for delivering a coded carrier to the user, in particular a magnetic or microchip card or a card provided of bar codes, whereby a code to be associated to the roll to be introduced within said dispensing machine (10) is bound to said carrier .
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it further comprises a device for reading and storing data which are associated to the user, in particular a magnetic or microchip card reader, or a biometric sensor.
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it further comprises a second dispenser (20) for selling 13
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it further comprises a device for verifying and validating the roll provided with a code that is introduced within said dispensing machine (10) .
  • Dispensing machine (10) according to- anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that it comprises a series of boxes suitable for containing printed photographs, each box being placed inside of a predetermined seat (13) . 6.
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it comprises memory means for storing the spatial position and the state, either empty or full, of each seat (13), as well as means for associating the code carried by said' coded carrier to a given box containing printed photographs .
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it further comprises means for transmitting to a remote location the data relative to the rolls of film to be developed introduced within the dispensing machine .
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that it further comprises means for receiving from a remote location and for storing the data relative to the position of 14
  • Dispensing machine (10) characterised in that said magazine is fixed inside of said container (11), and in that said moving and handling system (21, 22) comprises a device that is movable along three mutually perpendicular axes (X, Y, Z) .
  • the present invention relates to an automatic dispenser of photographic items and the like.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic dispensing machine provided with means suitable for receiving from an user one or more rolls of film to be developed and printed, as well as with means for delivering the developed photographs, and with possible means for delivering to the user different kinds of photographic material, following to a payment that may be carried out in different ways.
  • the invention finds its main application in the field of manufacturing automatic dispensing machines.
  • These automatic dispensing machines which can either be installed inside a room, or outside, are generally constituted by a metallic container inside of which there is a fixed or movable store having a plurality of seats or cavities, each housing a given article .
  • Each seat or cavity may normally be accessed to by opening suitable doors which are located on the front part of said container.
  • the payment of a given amount allows an user to access to a given seat and to the article contained therein.
  • the articles contained within said automatic dispensing machines can be of the most different type, e.g. cigarettes, flowers, foodstuffs, drinks, videocassettes , audio or video records, sanitary items etc.
  • Said device comprises a fixed magazine comprising a plurality of adjacent seats placed on respective rows and columns, each seat being suitable for housing a record carrier, at least an article handling unit for externally loading and unloading said articles through a slot, a device for reading an identifying label associated to each carrier, a device by means of which an user can select a given carrier, as well as an automatic payment means that, once activated, allows a carrier to be withdrawn from the device.
  • Said handling unit comprises a pair of carriages which are parallel to each other and movable along vertical guides, as well as a slider that is movable along a second horizontal guide connected to said carriages; a blocking element for handling the carriers is rigidly fixed to said slider.
  • Said blocking element comprises movable jaws and a device for automatically modifying the distance between the jaws along a further guide.
  • the opening and closing operation of the doors is controlled by a suitable computer, that is on its turn connected to a device for identifying the user (i.e. through a magnetic card) and for carrying out the payment (i.e. through banknotes or credit card) .
  • the present invention aims to provide a new kind of automatic dispensing machine that allows an user to directly deliver a roll of film to be developed and to successively withdraw printed photos in a size and in a number of copies that is determined by said user.
  • the automatic dispensing machine comprises a container housing a series of seats which are suitable for receiving rolls of film to be developed, as well as at least a door, that is placed on the front part of the dispensing machine, through which an user can introduce one or more rolls to be developed and printed in the machine.
  • the dispensing machine comprises means suitable for univocally identifying the roll or rolls inserted in the machine by the user, means for associating said roll or rolls to one or more of said seats, as well as means for displacing said roll or rolls towards its/their associated seat or seats.
  • the dispensing machine comprises data computing, storing and displaying means allowing a skilled operator who withdraws the rolls from predetermined seats, to reintroduce the printed photos within the same seats in order to allow the user who had required the developing and printing service to successively withdraw the photos.
  • the automatic dispensing machine comprises a suitable control software, a data inputting keyboard and a suitable display by means of which the user can input a series of possibly pre- selected requests, such as for instance the number of copies to be printed and/or their size.
  • the dispensing machine can be provided with means both for issuing a card including the user's identifying data, and for reading said card if it is already available.
  • the automatic dispensing machine comprises a magazine housing a series of items which can be selected by the user, as well as means for dispensing said items to the user after a given amount has been paid; for example, said items can be constituted by various material such as new rolls of film, audio or video cassettes, batteries, disposable cameras, etc.
  • This kind of dispensing machine can be installed anywhere, thereby allowing a series of selling points to be created and widening the selling network of a given commercial business.
  • fig. 1 shows a schematical perspective exploded view of a dispensing machine according to the invention
  • - fig. 2 is a flow-sheet showing the general operation of a dispensing machine according to the invention
  • fig. 3 is a flow-sheet showing the operation mode "roll acceptance" of the dispensing machine according to the invention
  • - fig. 4 is a flow-sheet showing the operation mode "delivering of photos” of the dispensing machine according to the invention
  • fig. 5 is a flow-sheet showing the operation mode "selling of items” of the dispensing machine according to the invention.
  • reference sign 10 generally indicates a machine for automatically dispensing photographic products and the like according to the present invention.
  • Said machine 10 has a structural shape that is similar to the one of a per se known -dispenser for renting videocassettes .
  • the dispensing machine comprises a metallic container 11, whose rear part is provided with a series of modular hive-shaped containers 12, whereby each container 12 includes a series of seats 13; each seat is suitable for housing an item whose overall dimensions are compatible with those of the seat.
  • said modular hive-shaped containers 12 form a magazine for storing developed photos .
  • each seat 13 the operator, in this case the person who manages the dispensing machine, inserts a suitable box containing the photos which have been printed starting from a roll of film introduced into the dispensing machine by the user according to the operating way that will later be described in detail.
  • dispensing machine 10 is provided with a suitable displaying device, e.g. a monitor 14, as well as with a keyboard 15 through which the user can input different data.
  • a suitable displaying device e.g. a monitor 14
  • keyboard 15 through which the user can input different data.
  • monitor 14 is constituted by a so-called "touch-screen" monitor that allows a data input by the user through touching predetermined portions of said monitor; in this case keyboard 15 can be eliminated.
  • the front part of dispensing machine 10 comprises a door 16 that can be opened by means of the electronic control logics of the dispensing machine; the opening operation of door 16 (that is designed in order to prevent any accident), gives access to a chute (not illustrated in the figure) through which the user can introduce one or more rolls of film to be developed into container 11.
  • the front part of container is provided with a second door 17 (that is designed in order to prevent any accident too) that can be opened by means of the electronic control logics of the dispensing machine; the opening operation of said second door 17 allows the user to withdraw a box (not illustrated in the figure) inside of which there are the printed photos.
  • the front part of the container is provided with a cashing device 18 which, depending on circumstances, may be constituted by a device for accepting coins and/or banknotes, or by a credit card reader; alternatively, a device for identifying the user can be constituted by a biometric sensor that associates, for instance, a given user to his fingerprint.
  • said device can be provided with a chute
  • Cashing devices 18 of this kind are well known to the skilled technicians, and they do not require any further description.
  • dispensing machine 10 further comprises a device 19, whose outlet is placed on the front part of container 11, for issuing a card provided with an identifying code that can electronically be read by the control logics of dispensing machine 10.
  • Said card that can physically be constituted by a magnetic card, a microchip card, or provided with a bar code etc., is associated to a series of adhesive labels having a numeric code that is univocally associated to said card.
  • device 19 is suitable for expelling a box that bears said identifyng codes and that contains said card.
  • a suitable reader verifies and validates then the introduction of the roll by means of the user.
  • front part of container 11 further comprises a conventional dispensing device 20, e.g. a system for delivering a series of objects placed on a rack, in order to sell some further accessories (for example new rolls of film, batteries, disposable cameras, etc.).
  • a conventional dispensing device 20 e.g. a system for delivering a series of objects placed on a rack, in order to sell some further accessories (for example new rolls of film, batteries, disposable cameras, etc.).
  • the access to selling device 20 is always controlled by monitor 14, keyboard 15 and cashing device 17. Inside container 11 there is a system for withdrawing the photographs which are present within seats 13 of hives 12.
  • This system that is connected to the eletronic control logics of dispensing machine 10, comprises a carriage 21 movable along two perpendicular axes; said carriage supports a handling device 22 that is movable along a third axis Z which is perpendicular to X, Y axes.
  • handling device 22 withdraws a given box placed inside a seat 13, and delivers it to the user in correspondence of door 17.
  • dispensing machine 10 The overall operation of dispensing machine 10 according to the present invention is shown in the flowsheets of figures 2 to 4 and can be described as follows .
  • the user who has to deliver on or more rolls of films to be developed introduces into the dispensing machine a minimum starting amount (i.e. 500 or 1000 restaurant Lire, approx. EUR 0,25 to 0,50) and obtains from the machine a card provided with several adhesive labels (or, according to another form of embdiment , a box that is already coded for introducing the rolls therein and 10
  • the acceptance of the roll by dispensing machine 10 causes a signal to be issued by the electronic control logics of the dispensing machine.
  • Said signal is transmitted, through suitable means, (e.g. through a local area network or a modem) to a personal computer that is owned by the dispensing machine manager, who withdraws then the roll to be developed.
  • suitable means e.g. through a local area network or a modem
  • the manager places the photos inside a suitable box and places the latter within a given seat 13 of the dispensing machine.
  • the manager informs the control logics of the dispensing machine about the spatial position of the container which, on its turn, bears the code associated to the user's card.
  • the subsequent introduction of the prompted amount causes the delivering procedure to be switched on (see fig. 4), whereby carriage 21 and handling device 22 are activated.
  • the invention has been described with reference to a form of embodiment according to which the hive-shaped containers 12 provided with seats 13 for the printed photos are fixed inside container 11, and the dispensing machine is provided of a system for moving and handling the boxes along three mutually perpendicular axes; however, according to a form of embodiment the hive-shaped containers are mounted on a rotating drum, and the -handling device is only movable along Y and Z axes; in this case the movement along X axis is carried out by rotating said drum.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine automatique (10) destinée à distribuer des produits photographiques et similaires, cette machine comprenant un conteneur (11) à l'intérieur duquel est placé un magasin constitué d'un ou plusieurs récipients (12) en forme de ruches, chacun de ces récipients en forme de ruches présentant une pluralité de logements (13). La machine de cette invention comporte également un système permettant de déplacer et de manipuler (21, 22) les produits insérés dans ces logements (13), ce système étant commandé par un dispositif logique de commande électronique. De plus, un dispositif de saisie (15) et d'affichage (14) de données est placé sur la partie avant dudit conteneur, qui comprend en outre un dispositif (17) destiné à distribuer les produits préalablement retirés de leurs logements (13) et un dispositif d'encaissement (18). Cette machine est par ailleurs munie d'un dispositif (16) conçu pour recevoir au moins un rouleau d'une pellicule destinée à être développée, et d'un dispositif (17) qui fournit un support codé à l'utilisateur, ce support se présentant en particulier sous la forme d'une carte magnétique, d'une carte à puce, ou d'une carte avec un code à barres, le code destiné à être associé au rouleau qui doit être introduit dans ladite machine de distribution (10) étant lié à ce support codé.
PCT/IT2000/000278 1999-07-08 2000-07-05 Machine automatique pour distribuer des articles photographiques et similaires WO2001004704A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002378651A CA2378651A1 (fr) 1999-07-08 2000-07-05 Machine automatique pour distribuer des articles photographiques et similaires
AU58466/00A AU5846600A (en) 1999-07-08 2000-07-05 Automatic machine for dispensing photographic items and the like

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITVR99A000057 1999-07-08
ITVR990057 IT1314943B1 (it) 1999-07-08 1999-07-08 Distributore automatico di prodotti fotografici o simili.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001004704A1 true WO2001004704A1 (fr) 2001-01-18

Family

ID=11428743

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2000/000278 WO2001004704A1 (fr) 1999-07-08 2000-07-05 Machine automatique pour distribuer des articles photographiques et similaires

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5846600A (fr)
CA (1) CA2378651A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT1314943B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001004704A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004114232A1 (fr) * 2003-06-26 2004-12-29 Riello Technoware Engineering Spa Dispositif de deplacement d'objets contenus dans un distributeur automatique

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986002758A1 (fr) * 1984-10-22 1986-05-09 Nyegaard Kim D Machine distributrice modulaire
FR2724739A1 (fr) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-22 Kis Installation automatique integree pour effectuer en continu le developpement de films photographiques et le tirage et le developpement d'epreuves photographiques
EP0769720A1 (fr) * 1995-10-17 1997-04-23 Direct Station interactive pour la collecte de travaux photographiques
US5664253A (en) * 1995-09-12 1997-09-02 Eastman Kodak Company Stand alone photofinishing apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986002758A1 (fr) * 1984-10-22 1986-05-09 Nyegaard Kim D Machine distributrice modulaire
FR2724739A1 (fr) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-22 Kis Installation automatique integree pour effectuer en continu le developpement de films photographiques et le tirage et le developpement d'epreuves photographiques
US5664253A (en) * 1995-09-12 1997-09-02 Eastman Kodak Company Stand alone photofinishing apparatus
EP0769720A1 (fr) * 1995-10-17 1997-04-23 Direct Station interactive pour la collecte de travaux photographiques

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004114232A1 (fr) * 2003-06-26 2004-12-29 Riello Technoware Engineering Spa Dispositif de deplacement d'objets contenus dans un distributeur automatique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1314943B1 (it) 2003-01-16
ITVR990057A1 (it) 2001-01-08
CA2378651A1 (fr) 2001-01-18
AU5846600A (en) 2001-01-30

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