CA1314848C - Rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, and cassette boxes used for video cassettes - Google Patents
Rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, and cassette boxes used for video cassettesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1314848C CA1314848C CA000551245A CA551245A CA1314848C CA 1314848 C CA1314848 C CA 1314848C CA 000551245 A CA000551245 A CA 000551245A CA 551245 A CA551245 A CA 551245A CA 1314848 C CA1314848 C CA 1314848C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cassette
- machine
- delivery
- transporter
- box
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
- G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
- G07F7/069—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S194/00—Check-actuated control mechanisms
- Y10S194/906—Video cassette vendor
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S221/00—Article dispensing
- Y10S221/01—Storage retrieval
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S414/00—Material or article handling
- Y10S414/10—Associated with forming or dispersing groups of intersupporting articles, e.g. stacking patterns
- Y10S414/111—Audio or video cassettes
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present invention relates to a rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, this having a cabinet-like housing, two compartment systems that are arranged 90 as to face each other within the housing, these being used to store the cassette boxes that contain the video cassettes, with a computer controlled cassette transport system, which can be moved vertically and horizontally between the two compartment systems, and to accommodate cassette boxes and to move these from and to a specific storage compartment or the delivery/return chute within the housing, and having a reading system for reading the identification codes used to identify the cassettes, and with an operating area that is arranged externally on the housing and used to select the desired cassette and to withdraw or return a cassette, the operating field having an input keyboard and a display. The object of the invention is characterized by a cassette transporter (46) that can be moved along a horizontal or vertical guide and can be adjusted with the horizontal or vertical guide in the vertical or horizontal direction, respectively, the drive being operable simultaneously in the horizontal and the vertical direction, and a push-pull system (153) that is arranged on the cassette transporter (46) to transport a cassette box (44) from a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute into the cassette space of the cassette transporter (46) and vice versa.
(Figure 2)
The present invention relates to a rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, this having a cabinet-like housing, two compartment systems that are arranged 90 as to face each other within the housing, these being used to store the cassette boxes that contain the video cassettes, with a computer controlled cassette transport system, which can be moved vertically and horizontally between the two compartment systems, and to accommodate cassette boxes and to move these from and to a specific storage compartment or the delivery/return chute within the housing, and having a reading system for reading the identification codes used to identify the cassettes, and with an operating area that is arranged externally on the housing and used to select the desired cassette and to withdraw or return a cassette, the operating field having an input keyboard and a display. The object of the invention is characterized by a cassette transporter (46) that can be moved along a horizontal or vertical guide and can be adjusted with the horizontal or vertical guide in the vertical or horizontal direction, respectively, the drive being operable simultaneously in the horizontal and the vertical direction, and a push-pull system (153) that is arranged on the cassette transporter (46) to transport a cassette box (44) from a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute into the cassette space of the cassette transporter (46) and vice versa.
(Figure 2)
Description
The present invention relates to a rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, as is set out in the defining portion of patent claim 1.
A machine of this type is described in EP-OS 191 636. In this known machine a robot system is used, and this comprises horizontal, vertical and oblique movement axes and correspondir.g moveable elements. Various stepper motors are provided for these movements, each of which provide a drive by means of conveyor belts. In order to remove a cassette box, a guide track for the transporter that is moving in a transverse direction is inserted into a section of a compartment with a cassette box, and the guide track is raised in a vertical direction until it supports the cassette box. The cassette box is then withdrawn from the compartment. The transporter moving in a transverse direction can recover cassette boxes from both compartment systems. In the known machine the complete removal and return process takes place under computer control, DE-OS 34 337 09 describes a cabinet-like automat for the rental and sale of video film cassettes. The cassettes that are stored in compartments are pressed against a wall of the compartment by means of a springO This spring serves, in particular, to hold the remaining cassette when another cassette which is located in the same compartment is removed~ The mounting of the cassette boxes is thus slanted, and the arrangement of the cassettes is ' ~
shown in a viewing window such that the title of a cassette shown in a viewing ~indow can be read. However, this arrangement makes it possible to offer only a limited number of cassettes for sale or for rent since the viewing area and thus the number of cassettes that can be shown in this viewing area is restricted.
In a vending machine that is described in DE-OS 34 05 042 cassettes or similar box-like articles such as, for example, video cassettes, are delivered or returned. The video cassettes that are delivered from this known machine are coded by means of a bar code so that it is possible to move these cassettes further by means of this code and then track them. Within the machine, the cassette boxes are arranged in a frame having compartments that are tilted forwards and downwards. In each instance, the cassettes are held by a curved arm which frees the cassette by completing a rotary motion so that the cassette then slides from a rail. A receptacle that accommodates the cassette boxes standing vertically is provided for returning the cassettes. In this known machine, too, the number of stored cassettes is restricted because of the relatively large amount of space that is required~
It is the task of the present invention to create a machine for renting and vending video cassettes, ~his machine being of simple construction and having a very large cassette-storage capacity.
The present invertion provides a rental and vending machine for video cassettes and the liker comprising: a cabinet-llke housing, two compar~ment ~ystems arranyed opposite each other ~ithin the housiny and used to store cassette boxes that contaln the video oassettes; a computer controlled cassette transport system that i3 movable vertlcally and horizontally between the two compartment ~ sy~tems and operative to hold cassette boxes and to move them :~ between a speclfic storage compartment and a delivery/return chute within the hou~ing; a reader system for reading an identi~ication code t.hat 1~ used to identi.fy the cassettes; an op~rating area located externally on the housing and used to select the desired cassette and to issue and to return cassettes, the operating area having an input keyboard and a display; characterized ln that said transport system comprises a cassette transporter which can be movecl along a gulde ancl which can be adjusted with said guide in the vertical or horizontal direction by a drive that is operable simultaneously in the horizontal and the vertical direction; a pu~h-pull system belng attached to the cassette transporter and operable to move a cassette box out of a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute into the cassette space of the cassette transporter and vice versa.
The disclosed machine according to the present invention is distinguished by a particular expedient movement mechanlsm for the cassette transporter, since thls can be moved both horlzontally and vertically at the same time, which means that the processing time for an individual casse~te or cas~ette box can be greatly r~duced. The push~pull system can move the transported cassette '~3 ~" 131~848 4a into the associated compartment or can remove a cassette that i5 wanted and accommodate it in the cassette transporter. Because of this design it is possible to carry out cassette transport using only one transporter, and in particular without the use of cross rails, which require a large amount of installed space. Because of this, the number of storage compartments in a compartment system can be increased, and at the same time the distance between the two opposing compartment systems can be reduced. Thus the machine can be made more compact for a given storage capacity.
Furthermore, vertical and horizontal drive systems can be made up with the same locking and unlocking systems for the forward and return movement, so that the cassette boxes can be moved either horizontally or vertlcally into the appropriate storage compar~ments.
B
13~48~8 In order that cassette boxes from both compartment systems can be processed by means of -the cassette transporter it is preferred that the cassette transporter be fitted on both sides with a push-pull system~ A particularly advantageous confiyuration of this push-pull system consists of a gripper system, the gripper arms of which can be moved from a rest position within the cassette transporter in the direction of the particular storage compartment or of the delivery/return chute, and which can be brought into engagement with the cassette boxes by means of recesses or pegs. It is preferred that each gripper arm be in the form of a hinged lever with a cam-like pro~ile, against which a switch shaft that can be moved by a solenoid lies, by means of which the arm can be so controlled that when a cassette box is removed from a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute it engages with its recess in a corresponding opening in the cassette box because of a swinging movement and, when a cassette box is moved to a storage compartment or to the delivery/return chute it lies with its peg against the front side of the cassette box. Such a pivoting and advancing movement can be executed very simply, and with a minimum expenditure of force.
In order to render access as reliable as possible and, in addition, in order to be able to determine the movement time e~actly, the cassette transporter is in each instance locked in one position opposite the storage compartment that is addressed.
This is preferred for, proceeding from a new start of the ~36148~8 movement of the slide, in each instance, because of the time that has passed, the exact position of the cassette transporter can be determined. Any adjustment during the remo-~al process would incur a loss of precision. However, in order to permit operation of the machine during power outayes and the like, one embodiment of the present invention foresees that when the cassette transporter is not locked it can be moved horizontally and the whole of the horizontal guidance including that for the cassette transporter can be moved vertically by hand.
It is preferred that a friction wheel system be provided for the forward movement of the cassette transporter.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cassette transporter has a photoelectric barrier system in the area where the cassette box enters the transport space of the transporter.
This means that the position of the cassette box can be determined, i.e., it is possible to determine how far it has entered into the transport space, or the extent to which it has left this. Then, on the basis of the position of the cassette box which has been determined, the push-pull system can be used accordingly to move the cassette into the appropriate storage compartment.
It is preferred that in each instance the photoelectric barrier system includes a rocker arm, one end of which can be deflected 1 3 ~ 48~8 by a cassette box within the transport space, the other end of the rocker arm being moved ou~ of the photoelectric barrier system by such a deflection movement. This manner of determining the position is particularly simple and reliable. A further advantageous configuration of the machine is distinguished by the fact that a motor for driving the friction rollers to provide for complete insertion of the cassette box that is slid into the transport room is coupled to the photoelectric barrier so that, after both photoelectric barriers have responded and the motor has stopped, the cassette box is held centrally in the transport area.
A particularly reliable and simply constructed holder for the cassette boxes in the storage compartments is provided in that a spring catch system is provided in the rear of the storage compartments, this having a leaf spring that projects obli~uely into the cassette box path on one side, and a stop spring at the storage compartment end on the other side, and in that, on the side of the stop spring, there is a projection that can engage in an opening in the cassette box. In a further development of the present invention each of the storage compartments is provided with contacts that indicate whether or not the storage compartment is occupied~ This provides for increased safety and redundancy for determination by the computer, so that reliable monitoring as to which cassettes are still available is always in ef~ect.
.
, ''"~` ' . .. .
In a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, the inner end of the delivery/return chute is located so as to be adjacent to the path OL the cassette transporter. In this way, the movement path of a newly introduced cassette or for the dalivery of a sel0cted cassette is minimal.
In a further embodiment of the machina according to the present invention the delivery/return chute incorporates a shutter section having a front and a rear flap~ On the one hand, this parmits precise localization of the cassette and on ~he other prevents the insertion of a second cassette from the outside and also provides for precise control of the drive mechanism used to continue the movement of the cassette. Thus, a photoelectric barrier system can be arranged in the delivery/return chute which, when interrupted starts a motor drive for the cassette transport to the cassette transporter. A further advantage of the shutter system lies in the fact that the delivery/return chute is protacted against interference from outside.
In order to prevent blockage of the delivery/return chute, a counter can be provided which, when a cassette box is prepared for removal from the machine, starts a counting process and after a specific time period without any removal of the cassette taking place, initiates the return of the cassette box to its compartment.
In order to provide complete automation of the transport process, it is expedient that a scanning system be provided at the delivery/return opening which then reads the identification code. The code that is read is input to the computer which then determines the compartment address and controls the cassette transporter accordingly.
A particularly simple construction of the housing for the machine according to the present invention is provided in that in each instance two pivota~le doors, each having a compartment system for cassette boxes, are provided. The foremost door contains the delivery/return opening. Such a construction makes it particularly simple to fill the compartment systems since no more assembly work is required for this purpose. Maintenance operations are also made much simpler. For access to the compartments or to the transport mechanism all that is needed is to open one door. It is expedient that a third door be arranged on the front side of the housing, which is configured as an additional part, and which bears the operating area. The front area of th0 operating field can preferably be hinged away from the third door by means of a hinge. Most expediently, the operating area contains a title display with an associated display screen on which the titles selected from the title display can be shown in synchrony and on which operating instructions, a category selection and a code number selection can also be shown. This provides for greatly improved accessibility to the individual elements, in particular to the title display of the operating field. In addition, components can easily be replaced and can be matched more rapidly to requirements.
The present invention also creates a cassette box which is provided, in particular, to accommodate video cassettes and to be used in a machine according to the present invention. Such a cassette box has openings on the narrow long side at the front and the rear. The function of these openings is as follows. If the cassette box is arranged in a storage compartment, a rear opening i5 engaged with a projection on the sidewall of the compartment, there being in the rear area on this sidewall of the compartment a stop spring and, on the opposite sidewall of the compartment, a leaf spring. If the cassette box is now to be withdrawn from the storage compartment, the outer arm of the corresponding gripper arm of the push-pull system of the cassette transporter can engage in the opening that is located diagonally and thus towards the front, can tilt the cassette box, and then, using a recess in the gripper arm, draw it towards the transporter. If the cassette box is located on the opposite side in a compartment system, the two other diagonally opposed openings will be used.
In order to be able to read a so-called bar code, i.e., an individualizing code for the cassette, a cassette box according ~ 3 1 ~84~
to the present invention has preferably a long recess on a narrow lony side that is used to accommodate a bar code strip. Most expediently, there is on the cassette box an asymmetrically arranged code tag for identifying the object and the proper direction for insertion, the delivery/return chute having a suitable recognition marker system.
The present invention is described in greater detail on the basis of a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings appended hereto.
These drawings show the following:
igure 1: a perspective view of a rental and vending machine for video cassettes, according to the present invention;
Figure 2: a plan view of the machine shown in figure 1, with the doors open;
Figure 3: a view of the storage compartment construction;
Figure 4: a sectional view through a storage compartment that contains a cassette, this drawing showing the cassette in plan view;
Figure 5: a side view of a part of the delivery/return chute with the shutter system;
Figure ~: a view of the part as shown in figure 5, viewed from below;
Figure 7: a plan view of the cassette transport system with the guides;
1 31 48~8 igure 8: a view of the cassette transport system from below, in part broken away;
Figure 9: a side view of the cassette transporter;
Figure 10: a plan view of the cassette transporter with the cover plate removed;
Figure 11: a side view of the cassette transporter shown in figure 10;
Figures 12 & 13: an enlarged view of the mechanism shown in figure 10;
Figure 14: a view of the cassette transport system from below;
Figure 15: a side view of ~he vertical adjustment system.
Figure 1 is a general view of a rental and vending machine according to the present invention. Such machines can be set up, for example, in hotels and by or in business premises. The machine comprises a cabinet-like housing 10 and a section that is attached in the manner of a hinged door 12, the axis of the hinge being shown by the broken line 14. The door 12 has a lower panel 16 and an operating area 20 that has a deeply inset title display area 18. The operating area 20, which is slid in, lies with an extended side section 22 on the side panel 24 of the door 12.
The front area 23 of the operating area 20 can be hinged away from the door 12 by means of a hin~e 25. The operating area 20 supports a display screen 26~ two rows of operating push buttons 23, four additional function keys 30, and a key pad 32. Behind the key pad 32 there is a slot ~4 to accommodate credit cards or ~, 1 31 ~8~8 the like. The titles which have been selected from the title display area 18 can be displayed simultaneously on the display screen 26. Furthermore, the dis~lay screen 26 can also show operating instructions, a category selection, e.g., for western cassettes only, or a code number selection.
At the front, to the right of the front area of the operating area 20 there is an opening 36, which leads to a delivery/return chute 38.
Figure 2 shows the machine illustrated in figure 1 opened up. In addition to the door 12, the machine has two doors 40, 42 that are hinged in the housing 10, each of which contains the compartment system~ The drawing shows the cassette boxes 44 that are contained in the compartments. The front hinged door 42 includes a section of the delivery/return chute 38 that extends towards the outside. When the two doors 40, 42 are closed, there is a channel or a free space left between them, in which the cassette transport system can move. This is shown by the dotted lines in figure 2. A slide, the so-called X-transporter (hereinafter called the cassette transporter 46) can move longways along the toothed racks 48. At both ends there are vertical toothed racks S0 that extend in the Y-direction. The Y-transporter 52 is arranged immediately in front of one toothed rack. The Y-transporter moves the X-axis with the X-transporter. A simultaneous movement of both transporters .
~ 3 ~ 4 8 permits the most rapid possible access to the desired cassette or compartment.
Figure 3 is a section through one compartment system. What is shown is one compartment width, which, multiplied six times, is approximately equal to the width of the door. Shown in this illustration are two vertical side walls 54, each of which supports horizontal rails 56 that extend to the sides, on which the cassette boxes 44 can be moved. Three cassettes will fit in each such a division, with each compartment having an address.
In figure 3, the front end of the compartments is in each instance on the left-hand side, whereas the rear end is at the right-hand side of the drawing. At the rear ends, the side walls in each compartment have projections 58 that extend obliquely towards the inside and these engage in corresponding openings in the cassette boxes and hold said cassette boxes within the compartments. In the front area there are also projections 60 that are triangular in plan view. These latter projections serve as locks for the cassette boxes, and when they are removed the cassette boxes are pivoted about these projections 60 in order to disengage from the projections 58. Figure 3 also shows the horizontal retainers 67 and 69. It is, of course, understood that other types of retainer rods can be used in order to form such a rack for the cassette boxes.
13148~8 Figure 4 shows a compartment in cross section and in plan view, with a cassette box 44 that has been inserted horizontally. As has already been explained with ~igure 3, the projection 58 engages in the rear opening 62 in the cassette box 44 and stops the cassette bo~. In addition, a stop spring 66 and a leaf spring 65 also serve to hold the cassette box. The stop spring 66 and the leaf spring 65 press the cassette box to the projection 58. In the cassette box there is also a front opening 62' that is diagonally opposite the opening 62. The gripper arm of the push-pull system engages in this opening 62' and pivots the casse~te box about the projection 60 and then draws it into X-transporter, i.e., the cassette transporter 46. An opening 64 is opposite the opening 62 and an opening 64' is opposite the opening 62'. The openings 64, 64' are used by opposite compartment systems.
In the case of the vertical accommodation of cassette boxes in suitably configured compartments, the rear projection 58 that is then underneath will be sufficient to hold the cassette box in its position. In order to remove the cassette box from such a compartment, the gripper arm of the push-pull system presses on the front area of the cassette box that is opposite the rear projection 58 and thereby lifts this out of the rear projection 5~ of the compartment by pivoting about the front projection 60.
Figure 5 shows a portion of the delivery/return chute 38 with part of a cassette box 44 that has been introduced from the outside. As the view from below (see figure 6) shows, at the start there is a shutter system 68 with flaps 70, 72; at approximately the level of the input side end of the first flap 70 there is a photoelectric barrier 74. The photoelectric barrier 74 is activated by the passage of the cassette box 44, which is to say that it generates a pulse. When this happens the flap 70 opens until it is in the position that is shown in figure 5, which then makes it possible to introduce the casset~e box 44 into the shutter system 68. In figure 5, the second flap 72 is closed. A fixed disc 78 is attached to the side wall 76 and this disc supports three photoelectric barriers 80a, 80b, and 80c.
Inside, this disc has an opening within which there is a further disc 82 which is able to rotate and which has a signal device 84 on the outside; this signal device interrupts the photoelectric barriers successively as the disc 82 is rotated. The disc 82 is connected by means of a shaft (not shown herein) to a cam wheel, and the flaps, coupled to this, move with it. From the position of the signal device shown in figure 5 the left flap 72 is opened. If the photoelectric barrier 80b is interrupted, the right-hand flap will be closed, whereas when the photoelectric barrier 80c is interrupted the left-hand flap is clos~d. When the signal device 84 is in a position between the photoelectric barriers 80c and 80a, the right-hand flap 70 is opened once again. A motor 86 with a pinion 88 and a bearing 90 is provided to drive the disc 82.
1 31 4~48 A second motor 92 with a pinion 94 and a gear wheel 96 is provided to drive a friction roller sys~em, of which the friction rollers 98 are connected by means of a notched belt 100.
The machine operates as follows. The activation of the photoelectric barrier 74 by the cassette box 44 that is inserted starts the motors 86 and 92. The activation of a second photoelectric barrier 102 confirms the position of the cassette box in the shutter system 68. If the photoelectric barrier 74 is no longer activated, the motor 86 is switched off. In contrast to this, activation of a photoelectric barrier 104 once again starts a further subse~uent drive, in order to move the cassette box from the delivery/return chute and pass it on to the X-transporter or the cassette transporter 46. Optionally, activation of the push-pull system of the cassette transporter 46 may be sufficient to do this.
An identification code reader is provided to read the code of the inserted cassette box 44 that is attached in a longitudinal recess 63 in the narrow longitudinal side of the cassette box.
The scanner beam is directed through an aperture 106 in the side wall 76 and onto the cassette box, which is to say, onto its code strip. The address, which is to say, the target compartment in the compartment system can be determined by means of this code.
In addition, on each cas~ette box 44 there is an asymmetrically arranged code tag 61 to identify the object and the applicable ~ 31 48~
direction of insertion, a recognition marker 59 being attached to a suitable location on the delivery/raturn chute 38.
Figure 7 shows the drive of the X-transporter or the cassatte transporter 46. A gear wheel 108 and a toothed rack 110 serve to drive the slide. Rollers 112 serve to guide this along the guide rails 1144 At the left-hand end there is a vertical chute 116 that is provided for a counterweight. At the side this has a flange 118 that is directed towards the toothed rack 110, in the recesses of which there are guide rollers 120 for the Y movement. A motor 124 that is mounted on a vertical mounting 122 operates a gear wheel 128 that runs on a toothed rack 126. A drive rod 130 serves to move the X bearing symmetrically and this is supported at the other end in a similarly configured vertical guide 131.
Figure 8 showæ the cassette transporter 46 as viewed from below.
The lower plate 132 is shown partially broken so that the motor 134 can be seen; this motor 134 drives the ~riction rollers 138 by means of a pinion 136. The motor 134 is activated by the photoelectric barrier 140~ It is switched on if an interrupter arm 142 interrupts the photoelectric barrier. The interrupter arms 142 are in each instance curved arms of a lever system 144 that can pivot about a shaft 146. At the end that is opposite the interrupter arm 142 the lever arm include~ a slot 150 that can be adjusted along a pin 148. The end of the lever arm that surrounds ~he slot 150 has a projection 152. If a force is exerted on the projection 152 from inside, the end of the lever ann moves on the slot guide towards the outside, which pivots the lever arm arrangement 144 and interrupts the photoelectric barrier, as is the case in figure 8 on the left-hand side, which is brought about by the insertion of a cassette box 4~. The motor 138 is then started and moves a cassette box that has been introduced into the transport area right into said transport area. The motor drive system is stopped if the second photoelectric barrier is also activated. This means that the cassette box 44 will then be held in the middle of the transport area of the cassette transporter 46.
Figure 9 shows the cassette transporter 46 from the side, i.e., as in figure 8, viewed from above. Between the lower plate 132 and the upper plate 156 there are pivoting gripper arms 154, the function of which will be described below. In addition, this drawing shows the return springs 158. Figure 9 also shows the adjustment of the lower roller 112 by means of an adjuster arm 160. A movement of the adjuster arm 160 to the ou~side pivots a plate outwards over a pin 162, so that the roller 112' is held securely in the pivoted position. Such a function is expedient to assemble the slide. Additional parts, which have already been described, bear the same reference numbers.
- -- ~ 20 -Figure 13 shows a motor 164 as well as a pinion 166 and two gear wheels 108, 168. The gear wheel 108 is engaged in a ~oothed rack 110. The motor 164 is used to drive the slide in the X
direction.
Figure 12 is an enlarged partial area of figure 10 and shows the cassette transfer mechanism between the storage compartment and ; the cassette transporter. The gripper arm system is shown. A
motor 170 is used to drive or operate the gripper arms 154 and in order to provide a locking function. The hinged outer lever 155 of the gripper arm 154 is configured with a cam-like profile and lies on a switch shaft 172 which controls the movement of the gripper arm or the outer arm of this. The outer arm 155 is configured with a peg 173 and a recess 174. Two additional positions of the outer arm 155 are shown by the dashed line.
Between the plates 156 and 132 there is a guide channel for the gripper arms. The extended gripper arms are moved back into their resting position by means of the return springs 158.
The construction that is foreseen for a cassette change is described in greater detail below, first with reference to figure 12. A counter cam 176 is engaged with a counter lever 178, the projection of which enters into engagement with the cam of the counter cam. Adjacent to the counter lever and coupled with it there is a positioning lever 182. This positioning lever can be engaged with a slide 184 that has a curved slot 186 that is 1 3 1 484~
coupled to a pin 188. A photoelectric barrier system (not shown herein) is provided to monitor and determine the position of the arms 178 and 182.
A solenoid 190 can be brought into engagement with one end 192 of a rocker arm 194 through a pin 191. The arm 194 has on the side that is remote from the solenoid 190 a recess 196, in which a tensioning lever 19~ can engage, whereupon it is held in this position and lies against the pin 188~
The slide is in the rest position when the motor 164 is locked by the heel of the positioning lever 182. This is the position for the removal or return of the cassette boxes. A change of cassette takes place as follows. When the slide 184 is released the gripper motor 170 rotates the cam wheel with the slide, whereupon the gripper arm 154 is activated and, depending on the storage compartment arrangement which is selected, the right-hand or the left-hand gripper arm is operated. By means of the switch shaft 172 which can be moved by the solenoid 200 the gripper arm is swung inwards (the position shown by the dotted line) and moved into the compartment or withdrawn therefrom. By virtue of a half rotation the tensioning lever 198 is tensioned and the gripper arm 154 is moved once again into the rest position.
In the last quarter, the pin 188 passes through the radial slot of the gripper arm, in that the cam wheel moves axially and 1 3 1 ~848 . . ~ "
returns under the action of the spring. The positioning arm 182 falls into the slide arm and releases the counter cam 176. A
photoelectric barrier switches the gripper motor 170 off and the movement motor 164 on. The gripper motor coasts in the radial slot.
In figure 14, the cassette transporter 46 is shown as viewed from below. Identical parts bear the same reference numbers as in the remaining figures. An adjusting solenoid 200 serves to adjust the switch shaft of the gripper arm. A guide 202 is provided for the gripper arm. In addition, below on the transporter there is a plate 204 on which the electronic circuit components are mounted.
Figure 15 shows the chute in detail. The mechanism during the movement in the Y direction is essentially the same as in the direction, so that the parts correspond (see, in particular, figure 12). For this reason, these will not be described again, but reference is made to the descriptions related to figures 7 and 10-13.
The operating area 20 can be closed off when not in use by a safety glass panel (not shown) that is guided to slide in the housing.
In this case the credit card slot would be re-positioned to a location where it is accessible when the safety glass panel is closed, and the latter could be opened only upon acceptance of approved credit cards.
A machine of this type is described in EP-OS 191 636. In this known machine a robot system is used, and this comprises horizontal, vertical and oblique movement axes and correspondir.g moveable elements. Various stepper motors are provided for these movements, each of which provide a drive by means of conveyor belts. In order to remove a cassette box, a guide track for the transporter that is moving in a transverse direction is inserted into a section of a compartment with a cassette box, and the guide track is raised in a vertical direction until it supports the cassette box. The cassette box is then withdrawn from the compartment. The transporter moving in a transverse direction can recover cassette boxes from both compartment systems. In the known machine the complete removal and return process takes place under computer control, DE-OS 34 337 09 describes a cabinet-like automat for the rental and sale of video film cassettes. The cassettes that are stored in compartments are pressed against a wall of the compartment by means of a springO This spring serves, in particular, to hold the remaining cassette when another cassette which is located in the same compartment is removed~ The mounting of the cassette boxes is thus slanted, and the arrangement of the cassettes is ' ~
shown in a viewing window such that the title of a cassette shown in a viewing ~indow can be read. However, this arrangement makes it possible to offer only a limited number of cassettes for sale or for rent since the viewing area and thus the number of cassettes that can be shown in this viewing area is restricted.
In a vending machine that is described in DE-OS 34 05 042 cassettes or similar box-like articles such as, for example, video cassettes, are delivered or returned. The video cassettes that are delivered from this known machine are coded by means of a bar code so that it is possible to move these cassettes further by means of this code and then track them. Within the machine, the cassette boxes are arranged in a frame having compartments that are tilted forwards and downwards. In each instance, the cassettes are held by a curved arm which frees the cassette by completing a rotary motion so that the cassette then slides from a rail. A receptacle that accommodates the cassette boxes standing vertically is provided for returning the cassettes. In this known machine, too, the number of stored cassettes is restricted because of the relatively large amount of space that is required~
It is the task of the present invention to create a machine for renting and vending video cassettes, ~his machine being of simple construction and having a very large cassette-storage capacity.
The present invertion provides a rental and vending machine for video cassettes and the liker comprising: a cabinet-llke housing, two compar~ment ~ystems arranyed opposite each other ~ithin the housiny and used to store cassette boxes that contaln the video oassettes; a computer controlled cassette transport system that i3 movable vertlcally and horizontally between the two compartment ~ sy~tems and operative to hold cassette boxes and to move them :~ between a speclfic storage compartment and a delivery/return chute within the hou~ing; a reader system for reading an identi~ication code t.hat 1~ used to identi.fy the cassettes; an op~rating area located externally on the housing and used to select the desired cassette and to issue and to return cassettes, the operating area having an input keyboard and a display; characterized ln that said transport system comprises a cassette transporter which can be movecl along a gulde ancl which can be adjusted with said guide in the vertical or horizontal direction by a drive that is operable simultaneously in the horizontal and the vertical direction; a pu~h-pull system belng attached to the cassette transporter and operable to move a cassette box out of a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute into the cassette space of the cassette transporter and vice versa.
The disclosed machine according to the present invention is distinguished by a particular expedient movement mechanlsm for the cassette transporter, since thls can be moved both horlzontally and vertically at the same time, which means that the processing time for an individual casse~te or cas~ette box can be greatly r~duced. The push~pull system can move the transported cassette '~3 ~" 131~848 4a into the associated compartment or can remove a cassette that i5 wanted and accommodate it in the cassette transporter. Because of this design it is possible to carry out cassette transport using only one transporter, and in particular without the use of cross rails, which require a large amount of installed space. Because of this, the number of storage compartments in a compartment system can be increased, and at the same time the distance between the two opposing compartment systems can be reduced. Thus the machine can be made more compact for a given storage capacity.
Furthermore, vertical and horizontal drive systems can be made up with the same locking and unlocking systems for the forward and return movement, so that the cassette boxes can be moved either horizontally or vertlcally into the appropriate storage compar~ments.
B
13~48~8 In order that cassette boxes from both compartment systems can be processed by means of -the cassette transporter it is preferred that the cassette transporter be fitted on both sides with a push-pull system~ A particularly advantageous confiyuration of this push-pull system consists of a gripper system, the gripper arms of which can be moved from a rest position within the cassette transporter in the direction of the particular storage compartment or of the delivery/return chute, and which can be brought into engagement with the cassette boxes by means of recesses or pegs. It is preferred that each gripper arm be in the form of a hinged lever with a cam-like pro~ile, against which a switch shaft that can be moved by a solenoid lies, by means of which the arm can be so controlled that when a cassette box is removed from a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute it engages with its recess in a corresponding opening in the cassette box because of a swinging movement and, when a cassette box is moved to a storage compartment or to the delivery/return chute it lies with its peg against the front side of the cassette box. Such a pivoting and advancing movement can be executed very simply, and with a minimum expenditure of force.
In order to render access as reliable as possible and, in addition, in order to be able to determine the movement time e~actly, the cassette transporter is in each instance locked in one position opposite the storage compartment that is addressed.
This is preferred for, proceeding from a new start of the ~36148~8 movement of the slide, in each instance, because of the time that has passed, the exact position of the cassette transporter can be determined. Any adjustment during the remo-~al process would incur a loss of precision. However, in order to permit operation of the machine during power outayes and the like, one embodiment of the present invention foresees that when the cassette transporter is not locked it can be moved horizontally and the whole of the horizontal guidance including that for the cassette transporter can be moved vertically by hand.
It is preferred that a friction wheel system be provided for the forward movement of the cassette transporter.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cassette transporter has a photoelectric barrier system in the area where the cassette box enters the transport space of the transporter.
This means that the position of the cassette box can be determined, i.e., it is possible to determine how far it has entered into the transport space, or the extent to which it has left this. Then, on the basis of the position of the cassette box which has been determined, the push-pull system can be used accordingly to move the cassette into the appropriate storage compartment.
It is preferred that in each instance the photoelectric barrier system includes a rocker arm, one end of which can be deflected 1 3 ~ 48~8 by a cassette box within the transport space, the other end of the rocker arm being moved ou~ of the photoelectric barrier system by such a deflection movement. This manner of determining the position is particularly simple and reliable. A further advantageous configuration of the machine is distinguished by the fact that a motor for driving the friction rollers to provide for complete insertion of the cassette box that is slid into the transport room is coupled to the photoelectric barrier so that, after both photoelectric barriers have responded and the motor has stopped, the cassette box is held centrally in the transport area.
A particularly reliable and simply constructed holder for the cassette boxes in the storage compartments is provided in that a spring catch system is provided in the rear of the storage compartments, this having a leaf spring that projects obli~uely into the cassette box path on one side, and a stop spring at the storage compartment end on the other side, and in that, on the side of the stop spring, there is a projection that can engage in an opening in the cassette box. In a further development of the present invention each of the storage compartments is provided with contacts that indicate whether or not the storage compartment is occupied~ This provides for increased safety and redundancy for determination by the computer, so that reliable monitoring as to which cassettes are still available is always in ef~ect.
.
, ''"~` ' . .. .
In a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, the inner end of the delivery/return chute is located so as to be adjacent to the path OL the cassette transporter. In this way, the movement path of a newly introduced cassette or for the dalivery of a sel0cted cassette is minimal.
In a further embodiment of the machina according to the present invention the delivery/return chute incorporates a shutter section having a front and a rear flap~ On the one hand, this parmits precise localization of the cassette and on ~he other prevents the insertion of a second cassette from the outside and also provides for precise control of the drive mechanism used to continue the movement of the cassette. Thus, a photoelectric barrier system can be arranged in the delivery/return chute which, when interrupted starts a motor drive for the cassette transport to the cassette transporter. A further advantage of the shutter system lies in the fact that the delivery/return chute is protacted against interference from outside.
In order to prevent blockage of the delivery/return chute, a counter can be provided which, when a cassette box is prepared for removal from the machine, starts a counting process and after a specific time period without any removal of the cassette taking place, initiates the return of the cassette box to its compartment.
In order to provide complete automation of the transport process, it is expedient that a scanning system be provided at the delivery/return opening which then reads the identification code. The code that is read is input to the computer which then determines the compartment address and controls the cassette transporter accordingly.
A particularly simple construction of the housing for the machine according to the present invention is provided in that in each instance two pivota~le doors, each having a compartment system for cassette boxes, are provided. The foremost door contains the delivery/return opening. Such a construction makes it particularly simple to fill the compartment systems since no more assembly work is required for this purpose. Maintenance operations are also made much simpler. For access to the compartments or to the transport mechanism all that is needed is to open one door. It is expedient that a third door be arranged on the front side of the housing, which is configured as an additional part, and which bears the operating area. The front area of th0 operating field can preferably be hinged away from the third door by means of a hinge. Most expediently, the operating area contains a title display with an associated display screen on which the titles selected from the title display can be shown in synchrony and on which operating instructions, a category selection and a code number selection can also be shown. This provides for greatly improved accessibility to the individual elements, in particular to the title display of the operating field. In addition, components can easily be replaced and can be matched more rapidly to requirements.
The present invention also creates a cassette box which is provided, in particular, to accommodate video cassettes and to be used in a machine according to the present invention. Such a cassette box has openings on the narrow long side at the front and the rear. The function of these openings is as follows. If the cassette box is arranged in a storage compartment, a rear opening i5 engaged with a projection on the sidewall of the compartment, there being in the rear area on this sidewall of the compartment a stop spring and, on the opposite sidewall of the compartment, a leaf spring. If the cassette box is now to be withdrawn from the storage compartment, the outer arm of the corresponding gripper arm of the push-pull system of the cassette transporter can engage in the opening that is located diagonally and thus towards the front, can tilt the cassette box, and then, using a recess in the gripper arm, draw it towards the transporter. If the cassette box is located on the opposite side in a compartment system, the two other diagonally opposed openings will be used.
In order to be able to read a so-called bar code, i.e., an individualizing code for the cassette, a cassette box according ~ 3 1 ~84~
to the present invention has preferably a long recess on a narrow lony side that is used to accommodate a bar code strip. Most expediently, there is on the cassette box an asymmetrically arranged code tag for identifying the object and the proper direction for insertion, the delivery/return chute having a suitable recognition marker system.
The present invention is described in greater detail on the basis of a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings appended hereto.
These drawings show the following:
igure 1: a perspective view of a rental and vending machine for video cassettes, according to the present invention;
Figure 2: a plan view of the machine shown in figure 1, with the doors open;
Figure 3: a view of the storage compartment construction;
Figure 4: a sectional view through a storage compartment that contains a cassette, this drawing showing the cassette in plan view;
Figure 5: a side view of a part of the delivery/return chute with the shutter system;
Figure ~: a view of the part as shown in figure 5, viewed from below;
Figure 7: a plan view of the cassette transport system with the guides;
1 31 48~8 igure 8: a view of the cassette transport system from below, in part broken away;
Figure 9: a side view of the cassette transporter;
Figure 10: a plan view of the cassette transporter with the cover plate removed;
Figure 11: a side view of the cassette transporter shown in figure 10;
Figures 12 & 13: an enlarged view of the mechanism shown in figure 10;
Figure 14: a view of the cassette transport system from below;
Figure 15: a side view of ~he vertical adjustment system.
Figure 1 is a general view of a rental and vending machine according to the present invention. Such machines can be set up, for example, in hotels and by or in business premises. The machine comprises a cabinet-like housing 10 and a section that is attached in the manner of a hinged door 12, the axis of the hinge being shown by the broken line 14. The door 12 has a lower panel 16 and an operating area 20 that has a deeply inset title display area 18. The operating area 20, which is slid in, lies with an extended side section 22 on the side panel 24 of the door 12.
The front area 23 of the operating area 20 can be hinged away from the door 12 by means of a hin~e 25. The operating area 20 supports a display screen 26~ two rows of operating push buttons 23, four additional function keys 30, and a key pad 32. Behind the key pad 32 there is a slot ~4 to accommodate credit cards or ~, 1 31 ~8~8 the like. The titles which have been selected from the title display area 18 can be displayed simultaneously on the display screen 26. Furthermore, the dis~lay screen 26 can also show operating instructions, a category selection, e.g., for western cassettes only, or a code number selection.
At the front, to the right of the front area of the operating area 20 there is an opening 36, which leads to a delivery/return chute 38.
Figure 2 shows the machine illustrated in figure 1 opened up. In addition to the door 12, the machine has two doors 40, 42 that are hinged in the housing 10, each of which contains the compartment system~ The drawing shows the cassette boxes 44 that are contained in the compartments. The front hinged door 42 includes a section of the delivery/return chute 38 that extends towards the outside. When the two doors 40, 42 are closed, there is a channel or a free space left between them, in which the cassette transport system can move. This is shown by the dotted lines in figure 2. A slide, the so-called X-transporter (hereinafter called the cassette transporter 46) can move longways along the toothed racks 48. At both ends there are vertical toothed racks S0 that extend in the Y-direction. The Y-transporter 52 is arranged immediately in front of one toothed rack. The Y-transporter moves the X-axis with the X-transporter. A simultaneous movement of both transporters .
~ 3 ~ 4 8 permits the most rapid possible access to the desired cassette or compartment.
Figure 3 is a section through one compartment system. What is shown is one compartment width, which, multiplied six times, is approximately equal to the width of the door. Shown in this illustration are two vertical side walls 54, each of which supports horizontal rails 56 that extend to the sides, on which the cassette boxes 44 can be moved. Three cassettes will fit in each such a division, with each compartment having an address.
In figure 3, the front end of the compartments is in each instance on the left-hand side, whereas the rear end is at the right-hand side of the drawing. At the rear ends, the side walls in each compartment have projections 58 that extend obliquely towards the inside and these engage in corresponding openings in the cassette boxes and hold said cassette boxes within the compartments. In the front area there are also projections 60 that are triangular in plan view. These latter projections serve as locks for the cassette boxes, and when they are removed the cassette boxes are pivoted about these projections 60 in order to disengage from the projections 58. Figure 3 also shows the horizontal retainers 67 and 69. It is, of course, understood that other types of retainer rods can be used in order to form such a rack for the cassette boxes.
13148~8 Figure 4 shows a compartment in cross section and in plan view, with a cassette box 44 that has been inserted horizontally. As has already been explained with ~igure 3, the projection 58 engages in the rear opening 62 in the cassette box 44 and stops the cassette bo~. In addition, a stop spring 66 and a leaf spring 65 also serve to hold the cassette box. The stop spring 66 and the leaf spring 65 press the cassette box to the projection 58. In the cassette box there is also a front opening 62' that is diagonally opposite the opening 62. The gripper arm of the push-pull system engages in this opening 62' and pivots the casse~te box about the projection 60 and then draws it into X-transporter, i.e., the cassette transporter 46. An opening 64 is opposite the opening 62 and an opening 64' is opposite the opening 62'. The openings 64, 64' are used by opposite compartment systems.
In the case of the vertical accommodation of cassette boxes in suitably configured compartments, the rear projection 58 that is then underneath will be sufficient to hold the cassette box in its position. In order to remove the cassette box from such a compartment, the gripper arm of the push-pull system presses on the front area of the cassette box that is opposite the rear projection 58 and thereby lifts this out of the rear projection 5~ of the compartment by pivoting about the front projection 60.
Figure 5 shows a portion of the delivery/return chute 38 with part of a cassette box 44 that has been introduced from the outside. As the view from below (see figure 6) shows, at the start there is a shutter system 68 with flaps 70, 72; at approximately the level of the input side end of the first flap 70 there is a photoelectric barrier 74. The photoelectric barrier 74 is activated by the passage of the cassette box 44, which is to say that it generates a pulse. When this happens the flap 70 opens until it is in the position that is shown in figure 5, which then makes it possible to introduce the casset~e box 44 into the shutter system 68. In figure 5, the second flap 72 is closed. A fixed disc 78 is attached to the side wall 76 and this disc supports three photoelectric barriers 80a, 80b, and 80c.
Inside, this disc has an opening within which there is a further disc 82 which is able to rotate and which has a signal device 84 on the outside; this signal device interrupts the photoelectric barriers successively as the disc 82 is rotated. The disc 82 is connected by means of a shaft (not shown herein) to a cam wheel, and the flaps, coupled to this, move with it. From the position of the signal device shown in figure 5 the left flap 72 is opened. If the photoelectric barrier 80b is interrupted, the right-hand flap will be closed, whereas when the photoelectric barrier 80c is interrupted the left-hand flap is clos~d. When the signal device 84 is in a position between the photoelectric barriers 80c and 80a, the right-hand flap 70 is opened once again. A motor 86 with a pinion 88 and a bearing 90 is provided to drive the disc 82.
1 31 4~48 A second motor 92 with a pinion 94 and a gear wheel 96 is provided to drive a friction roller sys~em, of which the friction rollers 98 are connected by means of a notched belt 100.
The machine operates as follows. The activation of the photoelectric barrier 74 by the cassette box 44 that is inserted starts the motors 86 and 92. The activation of a second photoelectric barrier 102 confirms the position of the cassette box in the shutter system 68. If the photoelectric barrier 74 is no longer activated, the motor 86 is switched off. In contrast to this, activation of a photoelectric barrier 104 once again starts a further subse~uent drive, in order to move the cassette box from the delivery/return chute and pass it on to the X-transporter or the cassette transporter 46. Optionally, activation of the push-pull system of the cassette transporter 46 may be sufficient to do this.
An identification code reader is provided to read the code of the inserted cassette box 44 that is attached in a longitudinal recess 63 in the narrow longitudinal side of the cassette box.
The scanner beam is directed through an aperture 106 in the side wall 76 and onto the cassette box, which is to say, onto its code strip. The address, which is to say, the target compartment in the compartment system can be determined by means of this code.
In addition, on each cas~ette box 44 there is an asymmetrically arranged code tag 61 to identify the object and the applicable ~ 31 48~
direction of insertion, a recognition marker 59 being attached to a suitable location on the delivery/raturn chute 38.
Figure 7 shows the drive of the X-transporter or the cassatte transporter 46. A gear wheel 108 and a toothed rack 110 serve to drive the slide. Rollers 112 serve to guide this along the guide rails 1144 At the left-hand end there is a vertical chute 116 that is provided for a counterweight. At the side this has a flange 118 that is directed towards the toothed rack 110, in the recesses of which there are guide rollers 120 for the Y movement. A motor 124 that is mounted on a vertical mounting 122 operates a gear wheel 128 that runs on a toothed rack 126. A drive rod 130 serves to move the X bearing symmetrically and this is supported at the other end in a similarly configured vertical guide 131.
Figure 8 showæ the cassette transporter 46 as viewed from below.
The lower plate 132 is shown partially broken so that the motor 134 can be seen; this motor 134 drives the ~riction rollers 138 by means of a pinion 136. The motor 134 is activated by the photoelectric barrier 140~ It is switched on if an interrupter arm 142 interrupts the photoelectric barrier. The interrupter arms 142 are in each instance curved arms of a lever system 144 that can pivot about a shaft 146. At the end that is opposite the interrupter arm 142 the lever arm include~ a slot 150 that can be adjusted along a pin 148. The end of the lever arm that surrounds ~he slot 150 has a projection 152. If a force is exerted on the projection 152 from inside, the end of the lever ann moves on the slot guide towards the outside, which pivots the lever arm arrangement 144 and interrupts the photoelectric barrier, as is the case in figure 8 on the left-hand side, which is brought about by the insertion of a cassette box 4~. The motor 138 is then started and moves a cassette box that has been introduced into the transport area right into said transport area. The motor drive system is stopped if the second photoelectric barrier is also activated. This means that the cassette box 44 will then be held in the middle of the transport area of the cassette transporter 46.
Figure 9 shows the cassette transporter 46 from the side, i.e., as in figure 8, viewed from above. Between the lower plate 132 and the upper plate 156 there are pivoting gripper arms 154, the function of which will be described below. In addition, this drawing shows the return springs 158. Figure 9 also shows the adjustment of the lower roller 112 by means of an adjuster arm 160. A movement of the adjuster arm 160 to the ou~side pivots a plate outwards over a pin 162, so that the roller 112' is held securely in the pivoted position. Such a function is expedient to assemble the slide. Additional parts, which have already been described, bear the same reference numbers.
- -- ~ 20 -Figure 13 shows a motor 164 as well as a pinion 166 and two gear wheels 108, 168. The gear wheel 108 is engaged in a ~oothed rack 110. The motor 164 is used to drive the slide in the X
direction.
Figure 12 is an enlarged partial area of figure 10 and shows the cassette transfer mechanism between the storage compartment and ; the cassette transporter. The gripper arm system is shown. A
motor 170 is used to drive or operate the gripper arms 154 and in order to provide a locking function. The hinged outer lever 155 of the gripper arm 154 is configured with a cam-like profile and lies on a switch shaft 172 which controls the movement of the gripper arm or the outer arm of this. The outer arm 155 is configured with a peg 173 and a recess 174. Two additional positions of the outer arm 155 are shown by the dashed line.
Between the plates 156 and 132 there is a guide channel for the gripper arms. The extended gripper arms are moved back into their resting position by means of the return springs 158.
The construction that is foreseen for a cassette change is described in greater detail below, first with reference to figure 12. A counter cam 176 is engaged with a counter lever 178, the projection of which enters into engagement with the cam of the counter cam. Adjacent to the counter lever and coupled with it there is a positioning lever 182. This positioning lever can be engaged with a slide 184 that has a curved slot 186 that is 1 3 1 484~
coupled to a pin 188. A photoelectric barrier system (not shown herein) is provided to monitor and determine the position of the arms 178 and 182.
A solenoid 190 can be brought into engagement with one end 192 of a rocker arm 194 through a pin 191. The arm 194 has on the side that is remote from the solenoid 190 a recess 196, in which a tensioning lever 19~ can engage, whereupon it is held in this position and lies against the pin 188~
The slide is in the rest position when the motor 164 is locked by the heel of the positioning lever 182. This is the position for the removal or return of the cassette boxes. A change of cassette takes place as follows. When the slide 184 is released the gripper motor 170 rotates the cam wheel with the slide, whereupon the gripper arm 154 is activated and, depending on the storage compartment arrangement which is selected, the right-hand or the left-hand gripper arm is operated. By means of the switch shaft 172 which can be moved by the solenoid 200 the gripper arm is swung inwards (the position shown by the dotted line) and moved into the compartment or withdrawn therefrom. By virtue of a half rotation the tensioning lever 198 is tensioned and the gripper arm 154 is moved once again into the rest position.
In the last quarter, the pin 188 passes through the radial slot of the gripper arm, in that the cam wheel moves axially and 1 3 1 ~848 . . ~ "
returns under the action of the spring. The positioning arm 182 falls into the slide arm and releases the counter cam 176. A
photoelectric barrier switches the gripper motor 170 off and the movement motor 164 on. The gripper motor coasts in the radial slot.
In figure 14, the cassette transporter 46 is shown as viewed from below. Identical parts bear the same reference numbers as in the remaining figures. An adjusting solenoid 200 serves to adjust the switch shaft of the gripper arm. A guide 202 is provided for the gripper arm. In addition, below on the transporter there is a plate 204 on which the electronic circuit components are mounted.
Figure 15 shows the chute in detail. The mechanism during the movement in the Y direction is essentially the same as in the direction, so that the parts correspond (see, in particular, figure 12). For this reason, these will not be described again, but reference is made to the descriptions related to figures 7 and 10-13.
The operating area 20 can be closed off when not in use by a safety glass panel (not shown) that is guided to slide in the housing.
In this case the credit card slot would be re-positioned to a location where it is accessible when the safety glass panel is closed, and the latter could be opened only upon acceptance of approved credit cards.
Claims (24)
1. A rental and vending machine for video cassettes and the like, comprising: a cabinet-like housing, two compartment systems arranged opposite each other within the housing and used to store cassette boxes that contain the video cassettes; a computer controlled cassette transport system that is movable vertically and horizontally between the two compartment systems and operative to hold cassette boxes and to move them between a specific storage compartment and a delivery/return chute within the housing; a reader system for reading an identification code that is used to identify the cassettes; an operating area located externally on the housing and used to select the desired cassette and to issue and to return cassettes, the operating area having an input keyboard and a display; characterized in that said transport system comprises a cassette transporter which can be moved along a guide and which can be adjusted with said guide in the vertical or horizontal direction by a drive that is operable simultaneously in the horizontal and the vertical direction; a push pull system being attached to the cassette transporter and operable to move a cassette box out of a storage compartment or the delivery/return chute into the cassette space of the cassette transporter and vice versa.
2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the push-pull system is provided on both sides on the cassette transporter.
3. A machine as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the push-pull system of the cassette transporter is formed by a gripper-arm arrangement, the gripper arms of which can be moved from a rest position within the cassette transporter in the direction of the particular storage compartment or the delivery/return chute and which can be brought into engagement with the cassette boxes by means of recesses or pegs.
4. A machine as defined in claim 3, wherein each gripper arm is in the form of a hinged arm with a cam-like profile, against which lies a switch shaft and which can be moved by means of a solenoid, by means of which the arm is controllable such that when a cassette box is removed from a storage compartment or from the delivery/return chute it engages with the recess in a corresponding opening of the cassette box as a result of a rotational movement and during the transportation of a cassette box to a storage compartment or to the delivery/return chute lies with its peg on the front side of the cassette box.
5. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cassette transporter can be locked in a position opposite the storage compartment that is addressed.
6. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein when not locked the cassette transporter can be moved horizontally in said guide and said guide together with the cassette transporter can be moved vertically by hand.
7. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a friction wheel system is provided for moving the cassette boxes.
8. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cassette transporter has a photoelectric barrier system in the area in which the cassette boxes enter the transport system.
9. A machine as defined in claim 8, wherein the photoelectric barrier system includes a rocker arm one end of which can be deflected by a cassette box which is located within said transport system, the other end of the rocker arm being moved out of the photoelectric barrier system by such a deflection movement.
10. A machine as defined in claim 8, characterized in that a motor, driving friction rollers that ensure the complete introduction of a cassette box that is slid into the transport system, is connected to the photoelectric barriers, the cassette box being held centrally in the transport space after both photoelectric barriers have responded and the motor has come to a standstill.
11. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a detent spring system is provided at the rear, within the storage compartments and has a leaf spring that projects obliquely into the cassette box path on one side and on the other side a stop spring at the end of the storage compartment, and wherein on the side of the stop spring there is a projection that can be brought into engagement with an opening in the cassette box.
12. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage compartments are in each instance provided with contacts that indicate the filled state of the compartments.
13. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner end of the delivery/return chute is arranged adjacent to the path of the cassette transporter.
14. A machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the delivery/return chute includes a shutter section with a front and a rear flap.
15. A machine as defined in claim 13, wherein within the delivery/return chute there is a photoelectric barrier system which when passed through starts a motor drive for moving the cassette to the cassette transporter.
16. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a counter, whereby once a prescribed counter state has been exceeded from the time that a cassette box has been prepared for removal from the delivery/return chute, the cassette box is moved back into its compartment.
17. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a sensing system is provided on the delivery/return chute, this reading the identification code.
18. A machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing has two hinged doors, each of which has a compartment system for the cassette boxes, the front door containing the delivery/return chute.
19. A machine as defined in claim 18, wherein on the front side of the housing there is a third door configured as an attached section which supports the operating area.
20. A machine as defined in claim 19, wherein the front section of the operating area can be folded away from the third door by a hinge.
21. A machine as defined in claim 19 or 20, wherein the operating area contains a title display with an associated display screen, on which the titles selected from the title display can be indicated in synchrony and on which operating instructions, a category selection, and a code number selection can be represented.
22. A cassette box, in particular for a video cassette and intended for use in a machine as defined in claim 1, characterized by the box having openings on its narrow long sides at the front and the rear.
23. A cassette box as defined in claim 22, characterized by a long recess on a narrow long side thereof, said recess being used for accommodating an identification code strip.
24. A cassette box as defined in claim 22 or 23, characterized by an asymmetrically arranged code tag for identifying the cassette and the correct direction for inserting a corresponding cassette identification system being associated with the delivery/return chute.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3637894 | 1986-11-06 | ||
| DEP3637894.1 | 1986-11-06 | ||
| DE19873702407 DE3702407A1 (en) | 1986-11-06 | 1987-01-28 | RENTAL AND SALES MACHINE, ESPECIALLY FOR VIDEO CASSETTE, AND CASSETTE BOX FOR VIDEO CASSETTE |
| DEP3702407.8 | 1987-01-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1314848C true CA1314848C (en) | 1993-03-23 |
Family
ID=25849112
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000551245A Expired - Fee Related CA1314848C (en) | 1986-11-06 | 1987-11-06 | Rental and vending machine, in particular for video cassettes, and cassette boxes used for video cassettes |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4995498A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0414668B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1314848C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3702407A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK374688A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO882984L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1988003688A1 (en) |
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| US9104990B2 (en) | 2009-09-05 | 2015-08-11 | Redbox Automated Retail, Llc | Article vending machine and method for exchanging an inoperable article for an operable article |
| US8996162B2 (en) * | 2009-09-05 | 2015-03-31 | Redbox Automated Retail, Llc | Article vending machine and method for exchanging an inoperable article for an operable article |
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| WO2013019818A2 (en) | 2011-08-02 | 2013-02-07 | Redbox Automated Retail, Llc | System and method for generating notifications related to new media |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4519522A (en) * | 1981-07-06 | 1985-05-28 | Photo Vending Corporation | Apparatus and method for storing and retrieving articles |
| CA1207411A (en) * | 1983-01-07 | 1986-07-08 | Alfield Industries Limited | Article dispenser |
| US4598810A (en) * | 1984-04-17 | 1986-07-08 | Abm Industries, Inc. | Apparatus and method for vending and accepting return of re-usable articles |
| FR2563985A1 (en) * | 1984-05-14 | 1985-11-15 | Gille Pierre | Automatic cassette dispensing device, in particular for video cassettes |
| WO1986002758A1 (en) * | 1984-10-22 | 1986-05-09 | Nyegaard Kim D | Modular vending machine |
| EP0207148A4 (en) * | 1985-01-02 | 1988-07-04 | Abm Ind Inc | Vending machine and method. |
| CA1260117A (en) * | 1985-02-14 | 1989-09-26 | Nelson Vending Technology Limited | Automatic vending machine |
| US4734005A (en) * | 1985-07-19 | 1988-03-29 | Marvin Blumberg | Vending machine for video cassettes |
| US4839505A (en) * | 1986-05-29 | 1989-06-13 | Videomat Associates | Apparatus and method for storing and retrieving articles |
| DE3723539A1 (en) * | 1987-07-16 | 1989-01-26 | Wolfgang Schreiber | Machine for dispensing products, especially video cassettes, for payment |
| US4858743A (en) * | 1987-07-31 | 1989-08-22 | Datavend, Inc. | Vending machine and method for automatic vending and returning of merchandise, particularly video cassette tapes |
| US4903815A (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1990-02-27 | I.V.D.M. Ltd. | Automatic vending machine and system for dispensing articles |
-
1987
- 1987-01-28 DE DE19873702407 patent/DE3702407A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1987-11-05 WO PCT/DE1987/000496 patent/WO1988003688A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1987-11-05 US US07/353,670 patent/US4995498A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-11-05 DE DE8787907093T patent/DE3783471D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-11-05 EP EP87907093A patent/EP0414668B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-11-06 CA CA000551245A patent/CA1314848C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1988
- 1988-07-05 NO NO882984A patent/NO882984L/en unknown
- 1988-07-06 DK DK374688A patent/DK374688A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO882984D0 (en) | 1988-07-05 |
| NO882984L (en) | 1988-07-05 |
| EP0414668B1 (en) | 1993-01-07 |
| US4995498A (en) | 1991-02-26 |
| DK374688D0 (en) | 1988-07-06 |
| DE3702407A1 (en) | 1988-05-11 |
| EP0414668A1 (en) | 1991-03-06 |
| WO1988003688A1 (en) | 1988-05-19 |
| DE3783471D1 (en) | 1993-02-18 |
| DK374688A (en) | 1988-07-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |